That's when I noticed.
From behind Geranium, an invisible Safran was approaching.
Even if one turns invisible, saintly sword wielders can pinpoint their location with magic detection.
Thus, it's likely that both Platanus and Geranium were well aware that Safran, having hidden in the shadows, was observing the situation.
Yet, Platanus coordinated with Safran to charge at Geranium.
At this moment.
When Amaranth, Cineraria, and Jasmine were all absent, and Geranium was acting alone, this moment was the only chance for a turnaround, they judged.
That's not it, both of you.
With my abnormal dynamic vishion, I could clearly see the movements of the two.
Platanus thrust his spear-shaped Senri Sword directly at Geranium from the front, while Safran threw his Vacuum Sword from behind.
The spear-shaped Senri Sword, wielded by Platanus, had an overwhelmingly longer reach than Geranium's sword-shaped Shastifol, the Timeflow Sword.
Moreover, Platanus, a master of spear techniques, wasn't foolish enough to be overconfident.
In an instant, targeting the forehead, throat, and solar plexus - the critical points concentrated on the body's median line, he rapidly thrust his spear.
Safran threw his pair of twin swords, the Vacuum Swords, which arced like boomerangs, attacking Geranium's body from both sides.
Three points by Platanus, two by Safran.
A total of five simultaneous attacks.
All were lethal strikes from the divine Saintly Swords, capable of slicing through iron.
Though it seemed slow to me because of my enhanced perception from being continuously possessed by Holly, in reality, it was an attack and defense happening in less than a second.
Such an attack could not be defended against without preparing a saintly sword like the Rakshasa Sword, which forms armor.
Alternatively, jumping into the air to escape was an option, but
"Hmm,"
Geranium, without moving a step, defended against all the attacks on the spot."Uh!?"
"Eh!?"
Platanus halted with the Senri Sword still in hand, and Safran's thrown Vacuum Sword fell to the ground.
Geranium's actions were simple.
He deflected both Vacuum Swords coming from left and right with his Timeflow Sword and parried the Senri Sword thrust directly at him with the same sword.
In an instant, he effortlessly blocked all five deadly strikes aimed at him from five different points with just one sword.
So, it's different. It's not like what you two think.
This isn't an opportunity.
It's just that Geranium whimsically decided to engage with us.
According to what I've heard from Holly, stopping time with the Timeflow Sword becomes more difficult the more magical power the target possesses.
Yet, he was able to stop time for Shion.
This indicates that Geranium's mastery of the Timeflow Sword is beyond common sense.
Meaning, in terms of increasing his own speed of movement, he is extraordinarily advanced.
We shouldn't try to compete with him in speed or frequency of attacks.
He's not someone who can be dealt with by numbers or attack frequency.
Unable to give up, Platanus and Safran launched a fierce attack from both front and back.
Platanus exploited the reach difference between spear and sword.
Safran took advantage of the numerical difference between dual wielding and single wielding.
They sandwiched Geranium from front and back, initiating close combat.
But it was futile.
Literally, the thrusts and slashes that were too fast for the eye to catch from both directions were all blocked.
He's a monster.
Not a force that overwhelms adversaries with overwhelming destructive power like Shion or Amaranth.
Just swinging a sword with the simple ability to accelerate his own movements, he deflects all attacks aimed at his body.
The speed of his slashes is beyond human perception.
If he decided, he could kill all people around him in the blink of an eye with his speed.
There's absolutely no way to win a close combat fight against him.
Above all, all I can do is watch...!
However, Platanus and Safran took an unexpected action.
Safran stepped within the range of Geranium's Timeflow Sword... within striking distance, and simultaneously Platanus emitted a loud sound from the Senri Sword.Platanus launched an acoustic attack on Geranium, involving Safran in the process.
It might seem like he's attempting to take down the enemy along with an ally, but that's not the case.
Safran's Vacuum Sword possesses the ability to vanish and silence sounds.
The Senri Sword's acoustic attack, which uses sound vibrations to internally shred an opponent's body, is devastating, but ineffective against someone wielding the Vacuum Sword.
This means it's a coordinated attack possible only because of those two.
If Geranium made even the slightest move to cover his ears from the sound attack, he'd be vulnerable to Safran's strike from behind.
I didn't think they could win, but I believed they could definitely inflict damage.
"Ah!"
Safran screamed, spat blood, and was blown backward, while Platanus froze without uttering a sound.
"Platanus!"
I shouted in horror.
Geranium had only taken simple actions.
He kicked Safran from behind and sliced Platanus from the front.
The speed was so fast that Safran, merely kicked backward, was thrown against the castle walls, motionless.
Platanus, not even realizing he had been cut, stood still for a moment before,
"Cough..."
Spewing a vast amount of blood and collapsing forward.
He was clearly mortally wounded.
"Platanus! Platanus, hold on!"
I rushed to Platanus, desperately pressing down on the wound.
He had a deep cut from his shoulder.
"Platanus! Hang in there! Keep using the possesshion! It increases your healing power, so keep it up!"
"…Crow… Lord…"
"Platanus! It's okay! Saintly Sword wielders have high healing powers! Don't give up!"
"…Disobeying orders… this condition… my apologies…"
"No! Don't you dare, Platanus! If you die, I'll be furious! I'll scold you for being useless!"
I was wailing like a child, clinging onto Platanus.
Platanus, coughing up blood, placed his hand on my head,
"…Ha ha…"
Seeing my tear-streaked face, he smiled as if happy.While laughing, he stopped moving.
"Ah, no...!"
It's hopeless.
It's all over now.
Someone, please come quickly.
Iris's Ice Sword could stop Platanus's bleeding.
Cattleya's Explosive Sword could even give Geranium a good fight.
So, please, both of you, hurry up and come.
Watching Platanus's blood flowing out in front of me, my thoughts completely halted.
I don't care if Geranium kills me right now.
If he wanted to, he could kill me in an instant.
That doesn't matter; just please, someone stop Platanus's bleeding.
"...Strange, isn't it?"
Before I knew it, Geranium stood behind me, tilting his head with his Time Sword pressed against my neck.
I hadn't noticed Geranium standing behind me or the sword at my neck.
Geranium could kill me anytime he wished.
Why doesn't he do it?
"Every time I think about killing you, I get chills, and all the hairs on my body stand on end. Why is that? Do you have some kind of trump card?"
If I had one, I would have used it by now to protect Platanus and Safran.
I'm wailing here because I have nothing.
"I have a bad feeling. Something tells me nothing good will come from killing you. Well, it's not precognition but a prediction based on experience."
Geranium casually explains why he hasn't killed me yet when, from the courtyard's open sky, someone clad in full armor jumps down from the roof.
It was Amaranth, clad in the armor-like Saintly Sword, the Rakshasa Sword.
Do they only make entrances from high places?
"Ah, Amaranth, is it? How did it go?"
Amaranth glanced at me, soaked in Platanus's blood, but immediately kneeled before Geranium.
"I've dealt with the wielders of the Explosive Sword and Ice Sword."
He stated it plainly, as if to cast me into the abyss.
At that moment, I finally understood.
There's talk of the worst situations, but there's no bottom to the worst or the lowest.There are situations worse than the worst imaginable in this world.