“…I am sorry! Let’s go!”
“Tch! Thunder Arrow!”
With a slight click of my tongue, I cast a spell towards those who had escaped from the fortress, making sure the trajectory narrowly missed them. I had to be extremely cautious not to hit them directly because the key to the operation was “to have the commander or someone of equivalent rank return alive”.
“I won’t let you pass!”
“I’m ready for you!”
Saying so, the two knights who remained behind to buy time for the commander and the others sprang into action. One of them raised a shield in the path of the spell I had unleashed, while the other swung their sword high and charged forward. Their flawless coordination without needing any eye contact… it was truly the mark of professional soldiers, huh?
“That’s why it’s such a shame, really.”
Naturally, I hadn’t set up this ambush on my own. The first trap was set using Shishu’s threads that hooked them in the first place, and I used Wool’s cry to put them to sleep. If so, what happened to the other party member and his two familiars?
“Stone Pillar!”
“The side is wide open! Charge!”
“Wooaah!”
A huge stone pillar emerged from the right side of the knight who had blocked the Thunder Arrow with his shield. From the left, a large monkey riding a horned wolf and carrying a fairy on his shoulder charged forward. With approaching magic attack from the front, it was impossible to defend against assaults coming from both sides using just the shield.
The stone pillar that came from the right was met with the sword’s blade to lessen the impact, and Tess’s magic was blocked by the shield. However, Sei’s staff-based martial arts and the horns of his familiar, Phil, struck directly. Having previously applied [Enchantment] to everyone and given Sei’s martial arts’ ability to penetrate a certain percentage of damage even through sturdy armor, the attack should have dealt some damage, regardless of the knight’s armor capabilities.
“Gahaaa!”
“Hey, you’re still alive?!”
While I was talking to the commander and the other knights, Sei and his familiars had been hiding on the flank of the group. The reason why I was generously providing them with an explanation of my scheme, like the foolish villains often do in mangas (with some parts omitted), was all as a means to buy time.
Of course, I also had that desire to follow the standard villain cliche of revealing my grand plan, but that was just for fun!
“…do you even have the time to worry about others?”
“Whaaa…!?”
The charging knight heading toward me seemed to have terrible luck. At the exact moment when he was distracted by his companion behind him, he triggered the [Trap Magic] that I had set up just before launching a surprise attack from the treetops.
“Earth Hole… magic sure makes pitfall traps quick and convenient.”
“Yo-you coward!”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Now, Star Magic Circle Activation, spell adjustment, paralyze.”
“Ughhh…!”
I used a [Curse] spell to paralyze the unfortunate knight who had fallen into the pitfall trap. The knight, who was probably of a higher level than me, stopped moving, probably because I took into consideration the possibility of resistance and multiplied the spell’s effect by five times.
“Get rid of them. I’m heading over to assist the others.”
“””Kotsukotsukotsu…”””
I soared thanks to the effects of the “Moonlit Robe” and then I issued orders to my new minion, the Ushi-oni. While clicking his teeth as usual, the Ushi-oni silently descended into the pit.
“Eeek… Gyaaaaaaah…!”
Surely, that knight must have had his vital points shredded by the Ushi-oni’s sickle-like blades and thick spikes inside the pitfall. No matter how high his level was, once his head and torso were separated, death was inevitable. Though it was my command, I should offer my condolences. Namu namu.
“I won’t let you. Holy Shield.”
It seemed like the other knight, the one who fell victim to the surprise attack in the opening move, was still giving problems to the others; well, that surprise attack alone wouldn’t bring him down. Even though the surprise attack had succeeded, his level was higher than even mine. It was impossible to defeat him with only Sei and his familiar’s attacks.
In the end, it seemed like everyone except me was fighting, but avoiding death against that kind of opponent was the best they could manage. If my Holy Shield hadn’t arrived in time, either Sei or Phil would have been cut down.
“Thank you!”
“You’re a lifesaver!”
That was indeed the case, as everyone except Sei was incapable of playing the role of a vanguard. While Shishu technically had a front-line position, her main combat style leaned more toward assassination, much like Ruby’s. So, in practice, only Sei, who was armed with a weapon, could engage in melee combat.
The fairy named Tess, who was always by Sei’s side, along with everyone else, had been providing support with magic and various other skills, yet it seemed the difference in their basic stats was too great. But from here on out, there was no need to worry; now I would also join the battle.
“Summon, Skeleton Guardian, Defense Boost, Defense Boost, Defense Boost… is that sufficient?”
The creature summoned by my [Summoning Magic] was a Skeleton Guardian clad in heavy armor. It was the evolved form of the Skeleton Shield Warrior, an undead monster with defense-oriented stats that I was able to summon after acquiring the “three-stage evolution” spell.
“And then, Undead Boost. Go forth.”
With the defense-specialized Skeleton Guardian enhanced further by my [Enchantment] and [Necromancy], it would surely be tenacious enough to serve as a tank in Sei’s stead.
“Gnuuuh! To think a summoned creature would be this tough!”
And the Skeleton Guardian proved its durability beyond my expectations. It was intercepting every sword strike with its shield. Despite the level difference, it seemed that the defense of a creature focused so heavily on protection was not easily breached.
“Good, good. Then, let’s give him a sound beating.”
“Roger that!”
“Wow, we’re totally playing the villains here.”
“…There is power in numbers, after all.”
While the Skeleton Guardian was engaging the knight, I bombarded him with my magic from a distance, while Sei and his familiars launched close-range attacks from behind, steadily whittling down the enemy’s health. Adding to the assault, Shishu periodically sprayed thick, sticky webs to hinder the knight’s movements.
It almost gave me the illusion that we were in a party, battling a boss. Or perhaps it was indeed much the same.
“Argh…! At the very least, I shall take you down with me!”
The knight, battered and bruised from our relentless assault, spurred his injured body into a charge towards me. It seemed he was determined to take me down with him, even at the cost of his own life.
“Gachigachigachi!”
“Damn, is this a “taunt”? But…!”
The Skeleton Guardian had apparently used “taunt”, which was a martial technique from its [Shield Mastery] Skill. This was a technique synonymous with the role of a Tank, meant to draw enemy attacks towards the user. According to the gaming terminology I had recently learned, this was what one would call “aggroing”.
“Nuooooh!”
“Eh!?”
However, the knight took an action that was quite surprising. Although he should have been forcibly distracted by the taunt, directing his attention and stance towards the Skeleton Guardian, he struck the guardian’s shield with his own, and in that instant, it was as if the taunt’s effect had worn off, and he snapped his gaze back towards us!
I later came to understand that this was an aspect of how the taunt mechanic worked. While this martial technique could forcibly draw an enemy’s attacks, its effect would diminish with each attack made by the taunted enemy. Simple AI driven by basic instincts could easily be manipulated, but it seemed players or pseudo-personality AIs could resist after several attacks. Furthermore, I learned that the greater the level disparity, the higher the chance of successfully resisting the taunt.
Incidentally, after this mechanic became widely known among players, the ability to counter a party’s tank became an essential skill in a party-versus-party battle. Conversely, parties with a tank who could adeptly time their taunting skills enjoyed an exceptionally high win rate.
But let’s leave that aside. In short, the knight had managed to weaken the “taunt”s effect with a single attack, thereby resisting and breaking free from its effect. However, the immediate issue wasn’t about how he did it, but the fact that the knight was already upon me. Damn, what do I do now?
“Diie! Shield Bash!”
“Guooh!?”
Realizing that my defensive magic wouldn’t be ready in time, I instinctively raised my staff in defense. The knight, carrying his momentum, swung his shield with all his might to bash me. Though I managed to avoid a direct hit, the impact that ran through my arm was incredibly powerful!
Damn it, I’ve taken a tremendous amount of damage, haven’t I? More than half is gone!? The shield’s attack must have been a blunt force blow, and the use of a martial technique in the attack probably added to the impact. I really need to master the art of parrying such blows. Even in times like this, I have to be able to properly deflect…
“Let’s escape to the sky for now.”
“Don’t run away, coward! Flying Slash!”
It was foolish to face such a dangerous opponent head-on. I simply took to flight and escaped into the sky. However, the knight pursued me before releasing a flying slash in my direction. I quickly dove into the cover of the nearby trees to dodge, but the tree that was struck bore a deep scar afterward.
It seemed like what he used was a superior version of my own “flying slash” which was a martial technique of the [Scythe Mastery] skill. This technique must have been a general martial skill within the capabilities of slashing weapons. Ugh, if I took a hit like that in my current state, I’d be done for. You can’t underestimate the fragility of a mage’s endurance!
“Stop ignoring me!”
“Gaah…”
However, the knight’s counterattack ended there. Sei, who had been following from behind, struck him strongly with his staff.
“It was all in vain…”
With his all-out assault failing to bring down even one of us, the knight fell. Good, we won.
――――――――――
Race level increased. Gained 1 SP.
Job level increased. Gained 1 SP.
The level of [Lightning Magic] skill has increased.
Newly learned “lightning rod” spell.
――――――――――
Mufufu, the experience points were indeed tasty! I executed the finishing touches on the plan myself, gained a hefty sum of experience points, and even acquired a new spell. Things were going quite smoothly for now.
“At times like this, complacency is the greatest enemy. ‘Tighten the straps of your helmet upon victory’, right?” I muttered.
“Isam, what’s the matter?”
“Oh, nothing at all. Let’s head back to the hideout. The others who went to the fortress should be returning as well, no?”
After the last knight had fallen in battle, I nonchalantly tossed his body into a pit and used [Earthen Magic] to alter the terrain with “Earth Change”, filling in the hole. I had already stripped away his armor and weapons, so burying him was just a matter of personal satisfaction.
I’m not one for senseless killing, but I don’t shy away from it when necessary. That said, it doesn’t mean I’m devoid of guilt or anything of the sort.
Well, getting sentimental isn’t like me. It’s time to head back to the hideout.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
While Isam and his group were ambushing Sir Baccheshof’s party, fierce battles were raging at other fortresses as well. The defenders and raiders fought valiantly, but the situation at each fortress looked grim. Some were already preparing to escape, while others, depending on the commander’s decision, were ready to fight to their last breath, using the fortresses as their final stand.
“Gyaaaaaah.”
“Hahaha… What is this impossible game?”
Amidst this chaos, there was one fortress where the defenders were hardly given a chance to resist. It was one of the five, located at the center.
This stronghold had not employed strategies like Isam’s, nor did it harbor any uniquely evolved races like him, nor did it have attacking monster players with superhuman abilities like Jigoro or Usuba. In terms of numbers, the horde was actually fewer when compared to the others.
Yet, why were they overwhelmingly trampled? The sole and most significant reason was the presence of the leader of the monsters currently marching southward… their king and his retinue.
“Advance! Slaughter all these frail beings!”
“”””GGGOOOAAAHHHHHH!!!””””
Led by their king, the morale of the monsters was incredibly high. It seemed like madness had overtaken them—they appeared to fear neither injury nor death; they just relentlessly pressed forward without hesitation.
However, if it were merely ordinary monsters launching the assault, they might not have been perceived as a serious threat. Among them was a creature so fearsome that the others seemed almost cute by comparison.
“Guhahahahaha! The weaklings must be eradicated!”
“Ugh! What?”
“Our tank… killed instantly, even with a shield…”
The greatest threat was the king himself. A monstrous beast nearly twice the size of a normal troll, he wielded a massive axe that matched his stature and rampaged wildly, decked in armor crafted from the hides and scales of other monsters. At this point, it would likely take dozens of the strongest players to stand a chance against him.
“What the hell is even this troll Kiiiiing?!”
“This is it—a fight to the death! Chaaaaarge!!”
The players who bravely challenged him were, without exception, cut down, with their light particles scattered as they died. They were disposed of as casually as if swatting away irritating dust.
Within less than five minutes, the fortress fell. All but a few players were wiped out, and the majority of the defenders were slain. Later, the players who respawned in Illeved were reminded of that monster’s strength.
And then they realized it. If they didn’t defend seriously, an entire city could be wiped off the map.
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