After listening to Ferro’s narration, Angel’s expression was not so optimistic: "This method could work, but the process of accumulating the fireball and deceiving the mechanical head’s perceptions isn’t that easy."
In Ferro’s plan, Angel controls the fake "Ferro" to hold off the mechanical head, while he secretly accumulates the fireball cluster within the illusionary realm. Once it’s ready, he uses the flame spell, catching the mechanical head by surprise, and then concludes it.
Everything seems reasonable, but to achieve it perfectly, one must be extremely fortunate.
Firstly, the fake "Ferro" must hold off the mechanical head for a minute without being discovered. This likelihood is relatively low because with the dense barrage similar to washing the ground with water bullets, illusions can’t use flame spells and will likely alert the mechanical head to the false nature of the illusion.
Secondly, Ferro must be stealthy during the accumulation of twenty-five fireball clusters.
This is still very difficult to achieve because the flame spell isn’t an ordinary flame spell. It involves the fire vein.
Angel himself isn’t confident in using illusion techniques to conceal the fluctuations of the fire vein... After all, this already involves the power of laws, and Angel has never perceived the fire vein before.
Even if he really managed to use illusion techniques to cover up the fluctuations, it would likely require a significant number of illusion nodes. By then, the mechanical head might not have detected the fire vein, but there’s a good chance it would notice the illusion’s fluctuations.
Thirdly, the effective range of Ferro’s flame spell isn’t large. To unexpectedly trap the opponent, it must be released at close range. Once they get closer, it becomes easier to be prematurely exposed.
So, although Ferro’s plan seems perfect, there are many potential flaws in the middle.
Nis also understood Angel’s point. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "You’re right, but we don’t have any other options unless the two of us expose ourselves to directly constrain that hunk of metal."
"But if we expose ourselves, that hunk of metal will likely swiftly merge into the water ripples. Moreover, I believe someone is definitely controlling this hunk of metal from behind. If they see us, they will surely come up with a counter plan."
Therefore, currently, it’s best that neither of them reveals themselves. Just push Ferro to the front stage, while they hide as secret weapons until the appropriate time to make their entrance.
Nis: "Actually, we shouldn’t think too much. Maybe the heavens are on our side."
After saying this, Nis turned his gaze towards Reynaud, the implication was clear.
The favored child of fortune, John’s counterattack!
With him here, Ferro’s flawed plan might actually become fortunate enough to succeed.
Angel also understood Nis’s hint. He had considered Reynaud, this lucky charm, but after thinking it over carefully, he still felt it wasn’t quite right.
Reynaud is indeed fortunate, but his luck seems to be solely directed at him alone. For Ferro’s plan this time, Reynaud is equivalent to a mere spectator, with no active participation at all. Would his luck really extend to Ferro because of this?
Nis: "Then what do you suggest we do?"
Angel paused for two seconds, remained silent, and instead raised his head to look at the distant fake "Ferro" still dodging the water bullets.
The mechanical head’s water bullets continued to shower down like rain, but the density was less concentrated, allowing "Ferro" more room to dodge.
At first glance, this seemed like a good thing, but Angel didn’t think so.
If the mechanical head were still focusing its attacks on the fake "Ferro", it would mean it hadn’t discovered "Ferro" was fake. But as it began to lower density and expand the attack range, it showed it was already suspecting "Ferro".
Once the mechanical head confirms "Ferro" is fake, regardless of whether it guesses it’s an outsider’s involvement, its mode of response will accordingly change.
This is unfavorable to them.
"That mechanical head seems to be testing if Ferro is fake." The people present weren’t stupid, even Nausicaa realized the mechanical head’s change.
Nis also nodded, pondering, "Yes."
"So what do we do now?" Reynaud asked.
Nis rolled his eyes at Reynaud, "I was about to ask you what to do. Isn’t that hunk of metal from your lab? Why do you look so clueless?"
Reynaud awkwardly tapped his cheek, "I didn’t know the lab had this thing, or maybe I did... but I forgot?"
While Nis and Reynaud conversed, Angel gazed into the distance, murmuring to himself, "If only my illusions could cast real flame spells..."
Nis’s eyes lit up, "Exactly, if your illusions could cast real flame capabilities, it should fool that metal hunk. Plus, the denser the surrounding flame aura, the more it could obscure Ferro’s flame spell fluctuations, allowing the plan to proceed, achieving two goals!"
Angel: "...Unfortunately, I can’t unleash flame capabilities."
Angel isn’t completely incapable of flame spells, as an Alchemist, he has profound research in fire elements, but his flame techniques are more about support rather than attack, entirely unsuitable for this battle.
Most importantly, Angel’s level of fire control isn’t high. If he used it, it would likely immediately alert the opponent.
"I’m not good at it either," Nis said dejectedly.
Just when the atmosphere felt heavy, a voice suddenly reached everyone’s ears.
"Flame abilities, I can do it!"
Looking back, it was Dangross, hanging on the Blood Night Shelter, who had spoken.
Everyone was initially stunned, but soon, they seemed to understand something and looked at Dangross’s eyes, slowly lighting up.
...
"Go on!" Nis said to Dangross, "It’s up to you to shine today."
Dangross was still a bit bewildered, it didn’t expect that casually responding would lead to suddenly being pulled onto the stage?
This is really watching as the stage suddenly came to its feet.
"I, I..." Dangross glanced fearfully back at Angel, then at Toby.
Angel hesitated for a moment and patted Dangross, "If you’re unwilling, we have other plans, you can choose to refuse, no one will blame you."
Although Angel had a certain plan to ensure Dangross’s safety as much as possible, nothing is absolute, and risks still exist, especially in the initial few seconds when Dangross replaces the illusion, the risk factor is extremely high.
If Dangross refused, Angel would understand and respect its choice. After all, Dangross isn’t their pet, it has no reason to take such a big risk for them.
Angel thought after saying this, Dangross would choose to retreat, but to his surprise, Dangross didn’t back down. Instead, it made a decision and even brought up conditions to Angel.