Groooaaarrr!
A massive silver serpent roared right in front of us. The sound was so deafening it felt like my eardrums would burst.
This boss is far too high-level for your current party! Retreat is strongly recommended!
All movement speeds greatly reduced!
Retreat is strongly recommended once more!
Shut up. Retreat? Who the hell decides that?
Basilisk. This guy's a field boss. If the deep-end boss at the edge of the West Forest is the Orc Warlord, then this beast rules the mid-depths of the Scorching Desert. It should be at the edge of the mid-depths, but it looks like the events of Act 3 kicked things forward early.
Yeah. This thing shouldn't even be here originally.
"A... ah..."
"Ugh..."
Erhan and the others started trembling at its appearance. No surprise there—kids who'd only fought animals and small slimes suddenly facing a house-sized monster head-on? Anyone would freak out.
Kalen didn't flinch. He glanced at the Basilisk, then at me, gripping his sword and shield tighter. As expected of an unbreakable knight's resolve.
"Ugh, urk..."
Erhan whipped himself into shape, clutching his sword with shaking hands, but Silbi was in full panic mode.
Tsk. This is why newbies are...
Target is of commoner bloodline.
"Silbi. Snap out of it."
The mage, whose eyes had lost focus, jolted and bowed her head at my words.
"Y-yes! Ah... s-sorry!"
"Everyone, don't shake. I'm here. And more importantly, if we don't take this thing down right now, Bilrum won't make it back in one piece."
At my words, they calmed down enough to nod.
"Adrian, what should I do?"
"Listen up from now on. Erhan and I will take the front. Kalen, protect Silbi."
"Understood."
"Silbi, time your strongest spells perfectly and intercept nonstop. Aim for its eyes if you can."
"I'll... I'll do my best!"
She nodded, clutching her long staff tight. I turned to Erhan.
"Time to test your limits, Erhan."
"...Yes."
"Swallow your fear. Overcome it. I'll only get to save you once."
"...Once."
"But don't forget—even that one time costs me massively."
He nodded, gripping his sword harder.
"The rest is on you. Can you do it?"
"Yes. I will... I absolutely will."
Of course. If you die here, I die too. Hell, if you die, this whole world vanishes. Everything I've done so far turns to bubbles.
Even so, the reason I put him on the front lines was...
"Hero Sword... I'm ready, senpai."
His hair turned pure white, his eyes crimson, power radiating as he looked at me. The guy who'd faced countless despairs, never giving up, always smiling as he raised his sword.
I believed in the potential I'd watched for over ten thousand hours, up close.
For the protagonist to become a hero, he needs to grow. Throw trials at him, make him break through walls on his own. Leave him be, and he'll never become a hero.
My days as Erhan were over. Now, as his reliable senior, I had to guide the path and let him shatter his own limits to become a hero.
"Then let's begin. Trust me, and fulfill your roles."
""""Yes!"""
And so, our all-or-nothing battle began.
Erhan gripped his sword tight and kicked off the ground.
Word was, his senior had accomplished great feats. They'd fought together before. The reliable senior charging ahead recited advice in his mind.
—The Basilisk's attacks fall into three categories. First, full-body petrification like what hit Bilrum—comes from its 'eyes,' so never look directly at them in battle.
Eyes. Just don't look at the eyes. Its body was huge anyway—plenty of places to hit.
—Second, its back is too tough even for you right now. Covered in scales that resist all physical damage, sword or otherwise. So where to strike? The belly. The white underside.
I see it. Up top, his senior was drawing its gaze with insane maneuvers.
—Third, it's surprisingly agile and quick despite its size. But it always telegraphs. If the head moves, it'll headbutt. If the tail twitches, tail strike incoming.
Dodge, and when you cut, avoid the blood.
—Blood...? Why?
—Its blood is a deadly poison. Hmm, tail's moving. You dodge sideways; I'll go up.
...Up?
He remembered it all. The tail smashing the ground like a falling building. Yet the guy running beside him not only dodged but leaped onto the tail and dashed up the massive serpent's body.
Unreal movement. Only someone who'd lost all sense of 'fear' could pull that off.
Then, multicolored magic blasts from behind exploded on the snake's jaw, black smoke rising to obscure its 'eyes.'
Silbi's magic.
Yeah... now!
Erhan kicked off with all his might, charging and swinging his massive sword full force.
"Haaaaah!"
Splat!
It dug in deep.
—Grrrrraaaah!
The beast's roar echoed. Erhan swiftly withdrew, backing up to see the gushing blood melting the ground.
Glancing back, Kalen-senpai had blocked the splashing venom headed for Silbi with Ice Crystal Shield Art.
Erhan gripped his sword and charged again. Hero Sword backlash incoming. A bit reckless, but fine. Just endure it. Finish it before time ran out!
"Haaah! Hero Sword: Spinning Slash!"
Crimson mana infused the blade. Erhan pulled it back, spun wildly, slashing in all directions.
A technique he'd devised after his midterm massacre by the knight department topper. Mana-hungry, but doable now.
The blade carved countless wounds into the snake's soft white belly. Dodging venom nimbly, he swung relentlessly.
At this rate, we can win!
Right as he went to kick off again.
"...Urk?!"
"Erhan!"
His body wouldn't move.
...Why? No, he knew. He'd burned through stamina lately. Just two days ago in the expedition, he'd carried Bilrum while overusing Hero Sword to escape.
The backlash... now?!
"No."
Everyone was fighting for their lives. He couldn't be a burden. Not after this chance someone set up!
But his body wouldn't obey.
And in that instant, he spotted the tail twitch. Before he could react, a massive shadow loomed overhead.
Body frozen. Sword too heavy to lift. White hair back to black, eyes dimmed.
"This... is..."
"I said I'd give you one chance."
A familiar voice, and a small blue orb exploded at his feet, blasting him far back.
"...This is why newbies exist. Why veterans have to clean up."
Mysterious words. Newbie? Veteran? What?
Opening his eyes, the guy who'd shoved him out was now in the attack's range instead.
"...Senpai! No! I... grk...!"
Pain surged if he moved; he gritted his teeth. Then a gust whooshed past.
"Ice Crystal Shield Art: Basic."
Kalen-senpai thrust his massive shield forward, ice expanding to envelop him.
But.
"Urk, Adrian! The shield!"
"...Drop it. Durability's at its limit."
Kalen released it instantly, scooping Adrian under his arm and retreating. The ice shattered soon after, steel shield fragmenting too.
Then a single line.
"Bad call. Can't hold anymore. Everyone, fall back."
"...Adrian!"
"No shield means no frontline for a tank."
"I have a sword."
"Fall back. That's an order. Kalen, protect them from there."
He swung his hand; a gale hurled the three outward.
Dagger in one hand, long staff in the other. Laughable getup, but he stared up at the Basilisk, muttering something.
Then... the three witnessed the unbelievable.
Sheesh. This is exactly why you don't bring newbies to high-level dungeons. Look, they're about to wipe.
Kalen's shield breaking was unexpected, but fine. I was gonna swap it anyway—that weekly dungeon drop wouldn't cut it in Act 3. Better it shatters now.
So thinking, I looked up at the Basilisk.
"Judging me the biggest threat, huh."
—Grrr rumble.
"Good. I'll play. But I'm a busy man."
Stamina was razor-thin. No long fight over 30 minutes.
So, dump all cards and end it fast.
Charge. Dodge tail and head, parry dagger. Left-hand dagger aggravates Erhan's wounds; right-hand staff carves runes with mana into them.
My damage on this thing? Pathetic. Status ticks at best.
But if one hit's weak, do it a hundred times. Hundred not enough? Thousand.
150 damage per strike? Ten thousand after a hundred, one-fifty thousand after a thousand.
Scrape scales, embed magic inside. My go-to for big game.
Land, spot incoming tail 0.2 seconds ahead. Optimal timing—later means death, sooner shortens its next wind-up.
Leap, land. Repeat, dodging by a hair.
Work. Not a hunt or raid—just labor.
Final rune carved, I landed lightly. Sheathed dagger, twirled staff, straightened tie.
Then...
Groooaaarrrroooo!
Brilliant magic circles bloomed inside its body. Wind blades, fireballs, summon lightning, create water, ground lock—all erupting from wounds, shredding, burning, shocking, crushing it with rock.
Grraaaah...!
A death rattle, massive body crashing down.
Thud...!
I nullified the sandstorm with remaining mana, surveying the scene.
Building-sized silver snake, down.
Not over yet. Approached, smashed staff into forehead gem, shattering it.
—Grraaah...
Now, truly done.
You have slain the Basilisk, Little Lord of the Scorching Desert!
You defeated an enemy impossible at your current level! Additional special rewards queued!
First clear of a glorious field boss! Secure two confirmed rewards!
Yeah.
Acquired!
Additional drops: Basilisk's Venom Fangs, Mid-Grade HP & MP Potions, and more!
Low-tier wind spells at max level now cast instantly without extra time!
Nice.
One remaining reward secured!
This is hunting.
Casually confirmed the rewards and turned back. They were all just standing there, heads bowed.
"...Sorry. I... I was too weak."
Erhan looked utterly ashamed.
"It's fine."
"R-really...?"
"I said it's fine."
This kid... he's a first-year. Barely half a semester in.
For a guy like that to face a Basilisk without running and actually land wounds? Huge deal.
Newbies tag along on vet raids, catch flak, cause wipes—what's new? Everyone learns that way. Who hasn't been a noob?
"...But I hope you learned something today."
"Yes. I realized you should only challenge when you're at full strength and dead certain you can win."
...Hm.
From clueless newbie to perfect mid-tier mindset already?
Mid-tiers become experts, experts rot into vets after ten thousand hours, turn demonic—that's me.
Mid-tier caution: spec up fully before bossing. No arrogance. This raid taught him that—solo deaths way less likely now.
Self-reflection starts, path to hero opens. Good.
I pulled a small vial from my pocket and tossed it to him.
"...This is."
"Antidote. Feed it to Bilrum back home; he'll recover clean."
He bowed again.
"Thank you... really, thank you. Um, payment—I don't have much, but..."
He fumbled for coins, so I said flatly,
"Payment received."
"...Huh?"
"The Basilisk corpse and the debt I just placed on you. That's payment. Now hurry back and treat Bilrum. Time-sensitive, right?"
Tossed him boss-drop HP/MP pots and camping gear too. He bowed, face screaming eternal gratitude.
"I-I'll never forget this kindness. I'll repay it someday."
"Got it? Go. Conserve Hero Sword, use it decisively when needed."
"I'll remember!"
He and Silbi kept looking back, waving till they vanished.
Yeah. Screw cash. Not hurting for it, not desperate enough to take a freshman's pocket change.
Basilisk ownership plus a future debt from the hero? Way better.
Once he beheads the Demon King and says, "I support Adrian becoming Repelheit Marquis," Ebnis's base crumbles overnight.
"...Adrian."
Kalen approached, looking glum.
"Yeah, shield's toast. Sucks, but inevitable. Was planning an upgrade anyway."
"Sorry. If my Ice Crystal Shield Art was stronger, if I'd trained harder..."
This guy and his self-flagellation.
I karate-chopped his forehead lightly.
"Yow?!"
"Enough. It was just too strong. Come help with this. Fangs first."
"W-what are you planning?"
Well.
"Duh? Dismantle it."
"...The whole thing?"
Obviously. Leave treasure like this behind?