“Physical attack resistances include slashing and piercing, and it has resistance to water, wind, and lightning! It’s a versatile type capable of using both evolved close-combat skills and evolved magic. Be very cautious!”
“Aight!”
As soon as the enemy’s details had been briefly conveyed, Jigoro charged head-on. It was typical of him, but since his specialty of punching attacks was effective against this opponent, I didn’t stop him. Besides, it would be useless to stop him anyway.
“Looks like there’s a role for me too, then.”
“And for me as well!”
The ones who stepped forward were Eiji and Sei. Eiji drew his shield and axe that were made by Iris. This axe was blunt for a blade, and its attack attribute was blunt attacks even though it was an axe. However, since it was an axe, it could be used with the martial techniques of [Axe Mastery]. Eiji would likely take on both defensive and offensive roles this time.
As for Sei, needless to say, his weapon of choice was a metal-crushing staff, a standard blunt weapon. His skills had apparently improved even further during the recent expedition, so I was eager to see him demonstrate his full capabilities in this battle.
“I’ll take the front lines too. Nenashi-san, please take care of me.”
“Haha! Leave it to me!”
Mikelo and Nenashi also joined the vanguard. Mikelo, wielding two shields, could serve as a tank just like Eiji. Though he didn’t match Eiji in strength and defense, he had a plethora of healing options at his disposal. He could sustain himself in battle for an extended period by healing himself with his [Healing Magi] and [Soul Magic].
Nenashi had shed his disguise in the midst of fishing, revealing his true form as a thorny plant. His job was to extend his tendrils to bind and restrict the enemy’s movements. Of course, limiting the enemy’s mobility would make the battle easier.
Until now, most situations had been dealt with either by my magic or Iris’s tentacles, but Nenashi’s vines offered a power that surpassed them. Therefore, it seemed likely that we would rely more on him in future battles.
“In that case, I shall focus on harassing the enemy,” Genjuro said.
“As usual, we should stick to hit-and-run tactics.”
“All the magic I can use is ineffective against the enemy? It seems I might not be able to contribute much this time.”
Genjuro drew his spear and took a stance while Hanna and Roja started to create distance and prepared to accelerate. Genjuro, who was mainly skilled with bladed weapons, was at a disadvantage in this fight, so he would play a supporting role, as he suggested. The effectiveness of the duo depended on Roja’s leg strength for their blunt attack power, so they needed some distance before they could unleash their full potential. They couldn’t afford to rush forward right away.
The other members also acted based on their understanding of each other’s unique abilities. I couldn’t afford to be outdone!
“Karl, please support Jigoro and the others. I’ll chip away at the enemy with my magic.”
“Goooooh.”
Karl probably wanted to go on a rampage with all his might, but I decided to prioritize Jigoro for now. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get a chance to let loose to your heart’s content next time.
I jumped on his back and stroked his neck from behind. Then he narrowed his eyes happily and flew away while purring. First of all, let’s start by strengthening everyone using [Enchantment].
“What’s with this?! I can’t cut through these whiskers at all!”
“It’s all squishy and weird! Gross!”
“Could it be because of its resistance to slashing attacks? It’s an unpleasant feeling.”
Below, a fierce battle unfolded between my companions and the enemy. The Elderwise Catfish was perplexing everyone with its unusual whiskers. It skillfully entangled their weapons, attempting to strip them away or strangle them outright.
Those armed with slashing weapons tried to sever the whiskers. However, Ruby’s dagger, Shishu’s bladed leg, and Usaji’s twin swords all failed to make a cut. These whiskers were resilient to slashing attacks, and were surprisingly elastic, bouncing their blades back like rubber.
“It’s so hard! Did you hear that sound? It was like a ‘clang’ almost metallic!”
“You’re too relaxed about this.”
“Gah, I aimed for the eyes but it bounced off!”
“Is it not reacting at all? I wonder if magic works on it…”
The rear guard also joined the attack, but it seemed their efforts were having little effect. Their strikes were thwarted by the fish’s hard scales, preventing any significant damage. I wondered if my joining the fray would make any real difference. There had to be some way to break through…
“Wha? Even when cut, the whiskers reconnect?”
“It’s endless…isn’t it!”
While I was pondering over this, only Genjuro managed to successfully slice through the whiskers. However, to our dismay, the cut ends fused back together. Not only was cutting through them a challenge, but they also possessed a high regenerative ability, making any attempt to sever them seem futile.
Therefore, those tasked with dealing with the whiskers quickly abandoned the idea of cutting them off and decided instead to knock them aside. It wasn’t a practical solution, but preventing the whiskers from moving freely was sufficient because…
“Hahahahaha! Such dull magic won’t hit me!”
This was due to Jigoro’s presence. While everyone else struggled with the whiskers, he was relentlessly pummeling the Elderwise Catfish. If the whiskers were retracted to attack Jigoro, it was clear they would be met with a barrage of his blows, so the enemy couldn’t afford to withdraw them.
In response, the Elderwise Catfish countered Jigoro with magic. It used three types of spells, but none could hit Jigoro. His exceptional reflexes and the capabilities of his avatar allowed him to dodge with acrobatic grace.
“Orraa!”
“Gyubabo?!”
Jigoro didn’t just dodge; he went on the offensive. He closed in and delivered a powerful kick to the soft underbelly of the Elderwise Catfish; this spot was less protected compared to its hard-scaled back. The kick seemed to have a significant effect.
Until then, the creature had shown no reaction to being slashed at the whiskers or attacked on the scales, but this time, it groaned in pain. Could this mean the belly was its weak point? It seemed worth testing further.
“Kal, can you grab it and take off?”
“Gruuh!”
Kal nodded as if to say, “Of course.” I was counting on him!
“Iris, Nenashi! Release your tendrils for just a moment!”
“Okay!”
“Understood!”
Iris and Nenashi released the tentacles and vines that bound our enemy at my call. The suddenly freed Elderwise Catfish sensed that and squirmed and made a quick attempt to flee. If it managed to dive back into the river, it would be nearly impossible to chase it. We couldn’t let it escape at any cost!
“Karl!”
“Gooooooooooooh!”
Karl dove from the sky sharply, closing in on the Elderwise Catfish in a rapid descent. Despite the surprise attack from above, the Elderwise Catfish retaliated with magic even as it tried to escape. It seemed to be acting more calmly than I expected.
But it was all futile. As a mage myself, it was obvious I’d use magic for defense. I employed protective spells to safeguard Karl. I was the leader of this guild full of weirdos. So I can do this much!
“Gubba!”
“Goooooh!”
In a desperate attempt reminiscent of the phrase “a cornered rat will bite a cat”, the Elderwise Catfish lashed out with its whiskers in a last-ditch effort to fend us off, just as it was about to be captured. But this was the moment to push through with sheer force!
“Karl! Go for it!”
“GROOOOOOOOON!!!”
Karl tightened his grip, ignoring the punishing whiskers and forcibly embedding his claws into the body of the Elderwise Catfish before biting down and using all his strength to lift it.
“Flip it over now!”
“Guoooaahh!”
Karl actually welcomed the whiskers entangling him, as it meant there was no chance of the creature escaping. He arched his back and executed a move akin to a shoulder throw before slamming the Elderwise Catfish’s head into the rocky ground.
The Elderwise Catfish was thrown headfirst to the ground and began to thrash violently under Karl’s hold. This was probably because its vulnerable belly was exposed.
“Both of you, restrain it again! Star Magic Circle Activation, Black Thread.”
“Leave it to us!”
“Of course!”
Iris and Nenashi, along with my magic, tightly bound the exposed Elderwise Catfish, leaving it completely at our mercy, ready to be dealt with however we pleased.
“Is this what they call ‘like a carp on the cutting board’?”
“This one’s a catfish, though.”
“Gyububububu!”
Despite the Elderwise Catfish’s desperate resistance with its whiskers and magic, the sheer number of opponents it was facing was overwhelming. It was impossible for it to deal with everyone, and its health visibly dwindled.
Especially with the blunt force attacks, its health was significantly chipped away. The belly seemed to be its weak point, yet it appeared to have some resistance. Had this resistance been a weakness instead, perhaps the damage could have caused instant death. I have to be more careful about blunt attacks in the future.
“How nice to claim the best part for myself.”
The final blow was delivered by Hanna’s two-edged Halbred and the attack was further strengthened by Roja’s charge as it deeply slashed through the catfish’s belly. The first battle on the Timbrica continent was successfully concluded in our favor.
“Hmm, that was somewhat unsatisfying,” Jigoro said.
“Fumu, the foe was tough but ultimately unsatisfying,” Genjuro added.
The two battle maniacs in our guild seemed somewhat disappointed. Indeed, the opponent did not give the impression of being skilled in combat. I guess this is the extent of a fish’s AI.
Nevertheless, the production team, led by Iris and Shiitake, hastily began skinning the creature. They were happy to see the items obtained, so I guess they would be able to use them in a variety of ways. It might be time to consider upgrading my own armor and consulting with them might be a good idea.
“Hey, Isam, can I have a moment?”
While I was lost in thought, Ruby suddenly leaped onto my shoulder. She whispered into my ear with a serious tone. it seemed like there was something on her mind that was bothering her.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s something in the bushes on the bank behind us… It’s staring right at us.”
“Is that so…?”
Ruby, who possessed an assassin-type job, had a skill called [Visual Sense]. This skill allowed her to detect the field of vision of recognized enemies and sense gazes directed at her. According to Ruby, it was akin to what a protagonist in a stealth game could do. I wasn’t familiar with such games, so the analogy didn’t quite resonate with me, but some of our members seemed to understand the reference.
But leaving that aside. According to that skill, something appeared to be observing us. Since Ruby had noticed it, it seemed unlikely that the observer had better stealth skills than her. However, we couldn’t afford to let our guard down.
“It’s getting late, and I was hoping to log out soon… but it can’t be helped. Ruby, try to lure it out if possible. Do you need backup?”
“I’ve already informed Shi-chan, so it’s all good. I will go then!”
After bouncing lightly and landing, Ruby started to move towards the bushes behind without making a sound. She was almost colorless and transparent, and she was probably making full use of her stealth skills by taking advantage of her small body. I didn’t dare look that way in fear that the creature would notice my gaze.
As I anxiously awaited some action to unfold behind me, a minute passed without any sign or sound. Knowing something was there but having to wait was quite nerve-wracking.
“Ah, Isam. Can you look this way?”
“Ruby? What’s… oh…?”
When I heard a voice from behind me and turned around, I found a little girl standing there holding Ruby in her arms. Huh? What? Who… who might this be?
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