The scene shifted to inside Illeves. There, those with the power to fight had all joined in the defense battle. Although the previous day’s murder case was treated as a major incident, it would be foolish to quarrel in the face of the immediate crisis. Thus, at least on the surface, there was unity in the battle.
However, the rift between the resident NPCs and the wanderers had not been bridged. In fact, it was deepening. The residents were suppressing this growing divide with the rational thought that unity was necessary to win the war.
“Until when are we just going to hole up here?”
“It’s easier to go out and fight, isn’t it?”
A siege is a test of patience, but not everyone can fully commit to waiting. A few, not understanding the necessity of the siege, were growing increasingly restless.
“Don’t be stupid. If we do that, we’ll just get crushed. Think before you speak, idiot.”
“What did you say!? You looking to die?”
Moreover, there wasn’t a strong bond among the players themselves. Players who participated in the event as guilds or parties were added to the defense force as a unit. These numerous groups were sent to defend each fort so that their strength would be evenly distributed, with solo players being placed to even out any disparities in strength.
Thus, the strength at each fort was about the same. However, it was impossible for everyone gathered at the same fort to get along with each other. While some cooperated, others created an almost hostile atmosphere, as if sharing the same air was unpleasant. Some groups were so disorganized that they hadn’t even decided on a leader.
While their relationship wasn’t terrible, it was true that they were tense to the point where they were constantly bickering.
“Don’t start fights just because you’re irritated! We’re in the middle of a battle!”
“Well, the event itself is a defense battle, so it can’t be helped.”
“Don’t fan the flames with unnecessary remarks!”
“Plus, making a fuss like those guys on the first day and getting banned from the blacksmith’s shop is just plain stupid, right?”
“Ugh…!”
“Right…”
However, upon being reasoned with by other players, they quickly ceased their hostilities. This was because they were aware of the various incidents that had occurred in the last two days.
After the battle on the fortresses ended, players who had died and respawned in Illeves rushed to repair their equipment and replenish their consumables. In the world of the game, the time for repairs was significantly shortened thanks to production skills and magical repair tools; it was obviously different compared to reality.
But there were limits to this. Especially since FSW operated on the simulated world system WSS, it was impossible for weapon repairs to be immediate. However, having just finished a fierce battle, players were eager to repair their gear quickly in preparation for the next fight.
Moreover, as more players with the same idea arrived, the outcome was predictable. The blacksmiths in town were swamped with long queues.
“Mostly, potions are in short supply because some idiot has bought them all. If we go out, the priests will be worked to death.”
The issue wasn’t just with the blacksmiths. Players also flocked to the tool shops to replenish their consumables used in battle. However, due to some players hoarding various potions, the shops were sold out.
Trouble in crowded areas is almost a staple in any MMO. Despite its near-realism, this was still within the realm of a game. The anonymity was high; avatars bore little resemblance to their real-life counterparts. Unless players chose to divulge personal information, discerning one’s true identity was difficult. This transformation into a new self often emboldened players, leading some to adopt arrogant and overbearing attitudes.
Problems arose in various places, but the most frequent were players insisting on prioritizing their needs over NPCs’ tasks and high-level players demanding that lower-level players yield their place in line.
The former deepened the rift between players and NPCs, while the latter exacerbated tensions among players. It was a bitter irony that humanity, presumed to be intelligent, still couldn’t unite even in such circumstances.
“GOGAAAAAAHHHH”
“Eeek!?”
“Whoa!?”
At that moment, the roar of an unusually large monster echoed across the battlefield. It drowned out the myriad shouts of humans and monsters, along with the noise of thrown rocks and magical blasts. Even the players, who had been idly chatting, were startled into silence by the deafening sound.
“Hey, the enemy is retreating, isn’t it?”
“Does this mean we’ve won?”
However, their concerns were unfounded. The enormous roar of the monster seemed to be a signal for retreat. But this didn’t mean the event was over. It was merely a pause, a reset. Every player understood this. They had merely survived the first wave of this tower defense game.
“Whoa! Take that!”
“We did it!”
“I’m so tired…”
“Phew, I can finally log out and take a break.”
“Yes! Leveled up!”
Having said that, it was also true that they were able to repel the monsters without suffering much damage. Therefore, the majority of the players were cheering in victory. There were those cheering in triumph, those relieved at the lull, and those delighted about leveling up from the experience gained in the battle.
“It’s him…!”
“He’s definitely there.”
“Looks like he’ll show up next time.”
Among them, however, there were players who were not rejoicing. These were the ones who had previously been killed by the troll king, the source of the earlier roar. This group included Luke, the only player currently holding the title of “Hero”, and the other members of his party.
“What do you think about today’s attack?”
“Seems like they were just testing the waters. If that troll king shows up, the gates will almost certainly be breached.”
The gates of the city of Illeves were robust, undoubtedly stronger and sturdier than those of any fortress. Furthermore, the durability of the city gates was so high that players who had come from other fortresses were confident that these gates would hold.
However, from the perspective of the players who were fighting in the central fort, they thought that this might not be enough. After all, the troll king was a monster that had destroyed a fort’s gates in an instant. To him, the difference between a fort’s gates and the city’s might be as negligible as the difference between toilet paper and a wooden door.
“We can’t afford to be complacent.”
“We don’t want to mess up this event.”
“That’s obvious, especially for us in the role of leaders.”
Luke and his party had managed a heroic last stand during their retreat from the fortress, buying time and successfully allowing the fortress’s commander and many players to escape alive to Illeves. As a result, they were chosen as the leaders of the players assigned to the central fort. Even those who were not happy with this decision remained silent, understanding that any conflict could turn the event into a disaster.
“Still, we can’t be too happy. The surprise attack from the monster’s rear was a failure.’
They had no way of knowing that the failure of the surprise attack was due to Isam’s sabotage, but the news had already spread. Had it been successful, it might have inflicted damage on the enemy while boosting their own morale. But that turned out to be an unfulfilled dream.
“Anyway, let’s take a break! I’m thirsty.”
“Haha, that’s right, let’s do that.”
◆◇◆◇◆◇
“Gaaaaaaaah!”
Sir troll knight, I’m sorry for underestimating you and thinking we could easily win against you! This guy was strong! Incomprehensibly strong! What is this guy!?
We were fighting it using our numerical advantage to the fullest, yet it felt like walking a tightrope. A wrong decision about who does what and when could lead to a brutal fight where someone might nearly die. He might be stronger than the Tarrasque field boss. How is that possible!?
Of course, there was a reason for this. I learned later that monsters directly ordered by the King receive a status boost. In return, defeating them yields an enormous amount of experience. It’s tough to interfere with their mission, but it’s worth the effort.
“Guwaa! Isam-san!”
“I know! Light Armor!”
Even now, Eiji had surely diverted the attack of the troll knight with his shield, but his large body was blown away, suffering slight damage. The Light Armor spell of my [Holy Magic] was peeled off at that moment, so I quickly reapplied it.
I don’t understand the logic behind his attack, but it must be the effect of some martial technique I didn’t know about. Perhaps, forced knockback and piercing damage? If so, isn’t that too strong?
“Ah! That was close, wasn’t it!?”
With our sturdy tank, Eiji, gone, the vanguard was in a pinch, especially Usaji, who was being targeted. It’s no surprise since she was slashing wildly with her twin swords imbued with the fire element.
Usaji managed to backflip and avoid a strong shield bash coming right at her, but the troll knight seemed to use a martial technique in his attacks that generated a shockwave. She was blown away by the wind pressure and fell down.
It seemed she wasn’t hurt, but falling in the midst of battle was a bad move. Not missing this opportunity, the troll knight immediately swung his axe for a follow-up attack. If she, with her weak defense, were to take a direct hit, it might very well die then and there.
“We won’t let you! Face us instead!”
“We’ll back you up~. Mee~mee~.”
“Stop right there!”
We were not about to let this attack go unchallenged. From behind, Sei charged in and struck the troll with his staff; Wool used his cries to induce sleepiness; and Shishu scattered sticky threads at its feet. Yet, they were sadly shown the brutal reality of the level difference. The staff attack was mitigated by its armor; the cries weren’t strong enough to induce a sleep status ailment, and the thread restraint lasted barely a second.
“Go, go, go! And then, self-destruct!”
However, our offensive didn’t end there. Seventh Armor summoned crows for a suicide attack, immediately causing them to self-destruct. This scattered sharp, pointed feathers like anti-personnel landmines, stabbing into the troll knight. Most were deflected by the monster’s armor, but a significant of those feathers surely penetrated through the gaps.
“Gab!… can’t stick on, huh!”
Right after the explosion, Moth-san bit into the neck of the troll knight, attempting to suck its blood. But he was swatted away like a human brushing off a mosquito. He narrowly avoided being hit but couldn’t transition into bloodsucking.
Still, thanks to everyone’s efforts, Usaji had enough time to regain her footing. She quickly stood up, launched a restraining spell at the troll knight, and took some distance. Then, as Eiji moved forward, Shiitake used her own spell.
“Now! Earthquake!”
“Bwoooooo! Helmet Cleave!”
The troll knight lost its balance due to the shaking ground caused by the earthquake spell from [Earth Magic]. Taking advantage of this, Eiji unleashed his most powerful martial technique of his [Axe Mastery] skill. It was a fearsome strike that greatly reduced defensive power and had the capability to shatter armor.
Unable to avoid the high-powered blow that ignored its defenses, the troll knight, didn’t just take the hit passively. As it took Eiji’s helmet cleaving strike on its shoulder, it simultaneously struck back with its shield, sending Eiji flying.
“Guha!? This… incredible strength!”
“No, it’s enough! This bought me enough time!”
While my companions were engaged in battle with the troll, I wasn’t just idly standing by. The troll knight, due to its healing abilities, needed to be dealt a significant blow to be defeated. So, at the moment it suffered major damage, I was preparing a spell powerful enough to finish it off.
“Great magic circle, activation! spell adjustment! Blast away, Magic Bomb!”
“Gaaah…!?”
I released the Magic Bomb, a spell of the [Explosion Magic] skill, amplified to its limit by the great magic circle and spell adjustment. The Magic Bomb was the spell with the shortest delay between activation and causing damage to the enemy. It also had the combined attributes of [Fire Magic] and [Wind Magic], with half of its damage treated as a fire attribute, which would target the troll knight’s [Fire Weakness].
“Gohaah…”
With a blast loud enough to rupture eardrums, my spell exploded, engulfing the troll knight in a fiery tornado. As the dust and debris cleared, the troll knight lay there gasping for breath and on the brink of death.
Having sustained considerable damage and still being alive after enduring such a powerful spell, one could not help but admire the enemy’s resilience. However, that was all it was—mere survival. The arm that once wielded a weapon had been torn off, and the face inside the helmet was obscured by damage effects. In reality, it might have resembled a keloid. It was likely just a stroke of luck that any of its health remained.
“Well, it’s still alive, huh?”
“Quite tenacious, isn’t it?”
“Let’s finish this quickly.”
Seeing the troll knight literally one blow away from defeat, we exchanged glances to decide who would deliver the final strike. All eyes turned to Eiji, who had valiantly served as our tank from the start of the battle.
“Me, you say?”
“Of course. This battle would have surely fallen apart without Eiji.”
“That’s right. Finish it quickly. It seems to be healing even now.”
“Then, without further ado… Hmph!”
Urged by his friend Usaji, Eiji cast aside any hesitation and swung his axe, decisively beheading the troll knight.
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