Chapter 172: For the Sake of a Story Not Yet Known (3)
Chapter 172: For the Sake of a Story Not Yet Known (3)
For a brief moment, I felt as if my eyes met Iona’s in the distance.
I couldn't be certain, though, as a skeleton charging with a raised axe immediately blocked my view.
“Gueeeeeeeh…!”
The axe blade was jagged and saw-like, chipped and rusted. It looked like a weapon where the risk of tetanus was far greater than the threat of a clean cut. Instead of recoiling, I threw myself toward it.
Thud!
A dull sound echoed as the handle of the axe, rather than the blade, collided with my shoulder.
The startled skeleton clattered its teeth, trying to bite my neck in desperation… but it was a second too late.
I was already swinging my dagger at its cervical vertebrae.
Crack!
Regrettably, the dagger’s additional effect didn't trigger, but perhaps thanks to the Strength stats I’d accumulated, the creature’s neck snapped instantly.
I had only detached the head; the skull was still intact, so the skeleton didn't crumble but instead flailed about blindly.
That was exactly what I intended. It was about time.
Wrapping my arm around its spine, I charged forward, leading with my shoulder.
I wasn't using it as a shield. It was just a pile of bones, after all; it wouldn't be very effective at blocking attacks.
The reason I bothered to grab it was simple: to swat away the nets being hurled by the Fishermen.
Swish—!
The moment I spotted a net flying from a short distance away, I planted my right leg firmly, using it as an axis to spin rapidly.
As I completed the rotation and returned to my original position, I hurled the skeleton I had hooked on my arm.
“Haaah!”
The soaring bones struck the exact center of the net.
The headless skeleton became entangled, and the net was knocked back along its original trajectory.
“Kupata haki!”
I heard a Fisherman’s curse from afar—whatever it meant—and ignored it as I hurriedly arched my back.
Clang!
A sword and a spear crossed right where my neck had been a split second ago.
Fisherman Soldiers had closed the distance, swinging their weapons from both sides simultaneously.
Taking advantage of the moment their weapons tangled and they faltered, I unleashed the magic I had prepared.
“Thunder Bolt!”
I didn't use a staff to guide the direction; I simply let the magic erupt with me as the center.
It consumed a significant amount of mana and lacked precision… but right now, that didn't matter.
My mana was still plenty, and the monsters were close enough that even a rough shot would hit.
Cr-cr-crackle—!!
My vision flickered with blue light.
“Mwili… mwili!!!”
“Inaungua!”
The electrocuted Fishermen shrieked, black smoke billowing from their eyes, noses, and mouths.
Using Telekinesis, I snatched their limp weapons and fired them forward.
Thanks to the omnidirectional Thunder Bolt clearing the immediate area, the blades flew straight and true, piercing the foreheads and hearts of two bewildered Fishermen.
Judging by the tangled nets they were holding, they must have been the ones who threw them at me earlier.
I sprinted down the now-unobstructed path.
The monsters that had belatedly regained their senses rushed me all at once… but they couldn't cluster as densely as before.
That was enough.
Staring straight at the sword of the leading Skeleton Knight, I recalled my memories from the days of H&A.
A vertical strike. Judging by how its legs were shoulder-width apart and its toes were turned inward, this was definitely the formal swordsmanship of the Levanthin Empire.
An honest, sturdy style… that masked a highly technical one.
If you clashed blades even once or twisted your body to dodge, you’d get caught in its flow and have your ankles seized.
It was a quintessentially Imperial style of swordsmanship, designed to pin an enemy down so they could be overwhelmed by other elites or sheer numbers.
Therefore, one had to either deliver a blow powerful enough to break their posture entirely… or parry every single follow-up technique.
I thrust out the hand holding my staff toward the sword falling in a straight line toward my forehead.
At the same time, I took a large step diagonally forward with my right foot.
Shatter—!
With the sound of breaking glass, the Shield I had cast in advance was smashed to pieces. However, it had done its job; the sword was deflected to the side.
The Skeleton Knight, now in a low-hanging posture, had eyes that glowed with a blue light.
As if it had been waiting for this, it followed up with a diagonal upward slash.
I knew this pattern.
Twisting my wrist, I slammed the staff into the creature’s joint.
Thwack!
Perhaps because it was hit before it could put strength into the swing, the Skeleton Knight was easily intercepted.
Staggering, the creature suddenly gripped its hilt short and thrust the sword forward.
Of course. A vertical slash is followed by a horizontal or diagonal slash, and the combo ends with a thrust.
Whoosh! The cold blade lunged toward me… but its trajectory was diverted as it struck the dagger I had positioned in advance.
Screeeech—!
Sparks flew as the sword grazed past my ear.
Simultaneously, I aimed my staff at its exposed flank.
“Surge forth! Water Cannon!”
This time, the mana gathered at the tip of the staff transformed into a high-pressure jet of water.
Kwoooooo—!
Unable to offer any meaningful resistance, the Skeleton Knight was blasted away by the torrent. The time elapsed so far: a mere two seconds.
Even for an enhanced undead said to be several times stronger than a normal skeleton, was this all it amounted to?
My confidence that I could break through grew stronger.
If it were an opponent with high intelligence, like a Cultist, they would realize their attacks were being read and switch to an unpredictable style… but monsters aren't like that.
They are driven by instinct; unless given specific orders, they tend to fight exactly how they always do.
In other words, they move according to the patterns I know.
Even if their numbers are vast, the monsters here are ultimately just Ghouls, Skeletons, and Fishermen. None of them have particularly complex patterns.
Though there are some powerful subspecies, their roots are the same, so their attack patterns are bound to be similar.
The only thing that mattered was to keep running without rest.
By staying in constant motion, I avoided being surrounded. As long as I could maintain a 1-on-1 or 2-on-1 situation, my task became extremely simplified.
After all, every attack unfolding before my eyes was something I had experienced countless times in H&A.
Furthermore, thanks to my Excellent Memory trait, the experiences were as vivid as if I had just seen them.
The trajectory of a sword, the timing of a flying net or spear, the gap where claws emerge, the range of a poison spray.
All of it was clearly mapped out in my head. All that remained was to react accordingly.
My body moved exactly as I thought. There was no need to conserve mana.
The Endless Mana trait didn't just increase the total amount of mana; it provided a massive bonus to mana recovery.
On top of that, I was currently under the effect of continuous recovery from potions.
All I needed was the courage to dance on the edge of a blade.
…And I had long since steeled myself for that.
I hadn't forgotten the lesson I learned while fighting Edmerec.
That was why, even while facing a horde of monsters, my task was a simple, repetitive process.
I would spot the precursor to an attack with my eyes, then twist my wrist or strike a joint. Then, I’d shove magic into the opening that appeared.
I’d accurately gauge the attack range and wedge myself into the blind spot. If I had the leeway, I’d bury my dagger into the enemy’s neck.
After buying a brief moment like that, I’d blast a path open with prepared magic and start running again.
It might sound impressive when put that way, but to put it simply, it was just a cycle of parrying, just-guarding, and chanting spells.
For anyone else, it might be impossible, but for me, with the System Correction, it was well within the realm of possibility.
I am, after all, a veteran of H&A.
I might not be able to discover ingenious strategy routes, and I might fumble if things deviate slightly from my expectations…
But when it comes to things I already know, I have more confidence than anyone else.
I might not be able to defeat every monster, but breaking through is definitely doable.
However, there was a different reason why I had hesitated until the end, and why Carla and Elisha had tried to stop me.
I had been weaving through the monsters for a while when suddenly, the creatures that had been rushing as if to crush me stopped in their tracks. Then, as if possessed, they began to back away, forming a wide circle.
It was as if they were creating an arena.
Some of them surrounded me in a wide perimeter, while the rest resumed their march toward their original target, Iona.
They’re later than I thought. Is Iona fighting that well?
I stopped my tirelessly moving legs for a moment and looked toward Iona.
It was still a battlefield where grand magic was exploding left and right. However, there was one figure leisurely drifting out from that chaos.
A beauty with purple hair, fluttering a pointed tail as she flew toward me.
The horns sprouting from her head and the long bat wings at her waist were striking.
The woman, a quintessential succubus, widened her eyes and began to make a fuss.
“Oh my? Oh my goodness? You really are cute, aren't you? You’re exactly my type… it’s almost a waste to kill you.”
The woman subtly twisted her body, emphasizing her chest.
“Come here. It’s okay. Big sister won't hurt you~ You’ve worked so hard, haven't you? It’s okay to rest for a little while.”
Even though there was a fair distance between us, I knew this woman, who exuded a scent so sweet it tickled the tip of my nose.
Melonia the Sweet.
The Archbishop of Ugly Prosperity, the Evil God representing lust.
A succubus, already a master of seduction, would be incredibly powerful once bestowed with the Authority of Prosperity.
Despite my guard being up, Melonia’s sweet scent was enough to make my head spin.
Judging by how the monsters surrounding us were all Fishermen—and males at that—they must have been instantly charmed by her as well.
“Ugh… k-kh….”
“There we go. You’re doing great. Yes. Come, let big sister hold you.”
As I approached with hazy eyes and a staggering gait, Melonia slowly descended to the ground.
The breasts revealed between her wide-open arms boasted an extraordinary bounce.
“Ah… breasts….”
“My word… I thought I only liked your face, but up close, your vitality is even more incredible…?”
The innate traits of a succubus and the Authority of Ugly Prosperity were formidable, but even without them, Melonia was an incredibly attractive woman.
Long, wavy purple hair. Her features, which looked innocent at first glance, gained an air of sensuality from a single beauty mark beneath her eye.
And then there was her figure. Voluptuous breasts and hips that seemed to be the very definition of femininity.
She was a woman you couldn't help but stare at just by her standing there. That was Melonia.
As the distance closed, my eyes naturally drifted to her outfit, which barely covered her vital areas.
The tight-fitting clothes and the overflowing skin.
“Hehe. I knew I liked younger men. If only everyone were this easy to win over.”
With a confident smile, Melonia thrust her chest forward, and I leaned my head in as if entranced.
It was as if she were telling me to embrace her as much as I wanted.
Toward those naturally swaying breasts. Toward that soft, supple flesh…….
I drove my dagger straight in.
Shirr—!
“How…?!”
Melonia scrambled backward in a panic. However, she was either a split second too late or her breasts were simply too large; she ended up being grazed on one side.
Even though it was a shallow strike, it had hit its mark, and the dagger began to glow with a white-hot light.
Flash!
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Watching Melonia scream as one of her breasts was scorched in the blink of an eye, I pulled the corners of my mouth into a smirk.
“0.7 Fays.”
They aren't even that big.