Chapter 46: Encounter (3)
Chapter 46: Encounter (3)
Once visibility was somewhat secured, the two advanced safely, soon reaching the perimeter Grace had established.
Beyond the point where Grace’s Sword Energy had last cleared the path, the grass still grew thick, reaching above their waists. Grace felt it would be too much of a burden to use her Sword Energy to clear the brush again.
Channeling her aura was taxing for her current state. Although she had recently leveled up and recovered a portion of her strength after having sex with Han Shin—who had absorbed the mana of a dungeon core—she still didn't have much power to spare.
The dungeon they had entered was estimated to be E-Rank. While she had enough energy to use her Sword Energy a few more times, the field stretched out in every direction with no end in sight. Since she didn't know how much longer they would be walking, using her power recklessly was highly inefficient.
Grace hesitated for a moment.
Should we lure the enemies here? Or should we keep moving forward?
Ultimately, it came down to those two choices.
She had to decide carefully, as she didn't know what kind of monsters inhabited this place. However, given the terrain, her Light magic—the sphere of light—would be visible from anywhere on the plains. The monsters were bound to come toward it eventually.
When they first entered, the area had been shrouded in thick darkness. She was the one who had brought light into this space. It was a beacon that would inevitably draw attention; it would be stranger if the monsters didn't react.
While we moved those twenty meters, the ground didn't cave in... the grass wasn't trampled... and I didn't feel any vibrations. It’s likely not a large monster...
Grace began to narrow down the possibilities based on the information she had gathered.
If they were creatures that moved underground, the field wouldn't be this pristine...
In a field like this, the roots of the tall grass would be tangled like a spiderweb, spreading extensively beneath the surface. If a monster lived underground and dug tunnels, the field wouldn't be so lush.
Drawing from her experiences in Nippur, Grace continued to narrow the scope.
"Han Shin, I believe our enemies will be small monsters that move in packs."
"Right."
Han Shin nodded, lowering his spear slightly to prepare for enemies that might leap at them.
Just then, they saw the grass swaying in the distance. Something was cutting through the brush, rushing toward them. The problem was that it wasn't just one or two. The grass was shaking violently in a fan-shaped formation, converging on their position—a sign that a significant number were approaching.
Noticing the anomaly immediately, Han Shin and Grace slowly backed away. It was clear the creatures were charging toward the light of Grace’s spell. They must have been quite far off, only now reaching their location.
In a way, it was lucky for them. It was easier to deal with enemies that revealed themselves. Fighting a large number in an open field was a challenge, but it was far less dangerous than wandering through waist-high grass trying to find them.
They’re fast.
Sensing that they were small but agile, Han Shin regulated his breathing and gripped his spear tighter, ready to react at a moment's notice.
Kyahhh!
With a sharp screech, green reptiles burst through the grass. They looked remarkably similar to the dinosaurs commonly known as Raptors. In fact, most people simply referred to them as such.
Though they were only about a meter tall, Han Shin knew how dangerous they could be. These monsters were actually quite well-known to the general public on Earth. Their appearance was strikingly similar to the raptors seen in movies, which was the primary reason for their fame.
When portals first appeared and monsters spilled out because they weren't cleared in time, Raptor packs had caused countless casualties. They were pack hunters, and despite their small size, they possessed lethal capabilities that were terrifying to ordinary humans. Their bite force could easily crush steel, and their claws were razor-sharp—especially the hooked ones.
Back then, some fools were fascinated by the sight of real-life movie monsters, but they quickly turned into cold slabs of meat once they became the prey.
Raptors were a significant threat to Awakeners as well. Because they attacked in packs and were small and nimble, it was common for inexperienced Awakeners to get injured or even killed.
As the years passed, research on them continued, and the average skill level of Awakeners rose through training at the Academy. They weren't as notorious as they once were. The problem was that Han Shin hadn't gone through the Academy; he had only been an Awakener for about three weeks.
Thwack!
"Gack!"
A dark green Raptor lunging at Han Shin was sent flying, its neck shattered by the side of his spear. Han Shin, who had been bracing himself with intense focus, reacted with surprising speed. He had landed a clean hit with a perfect counterattack. It was a feat worthy of self-praise, and it gave him a surge of confidence.
To be honest, while he had gained hunting experience alongside Grace in previous dungeons, he couldn't deny that he had mostly been protected by her. The situation was similar now.
However, Han Shin had grown up with the perception that Raptors were dangerous monsters. Now, using a spear in actual combat for the first time, he was handling himself better than he had expected. He felt like he was truly fighting for the first time, and his confidence soared.
Grace wanted to praise him, but she didn't have the chance as she was busy slicing through the Raptors lunging at her and bashing them away with her shield.
Usually, Raptors found in dungeons formed packs of about fifty. When one group attacked head-on like this... another group would often circle around to launch a flanking maneuver for a lethal blow.
Kyahhh!
"Han Shin! Behind you!"
Slash!
The moment Grace shouted her warning, Han Shin spun and cut down three Raptors lunging from his flank in a single motion. Black blood sprayed into the air, staining the grass dark.
They were outnumbered, but Grace was highly experienced in dealing with these types of monsters, even if she had never seen a "Raptor" before. During her time as a knight, she had been sent on subjugation missions even as a trainee to deal with pests that harassed the common folk. Even then, she had excelled.
Grace intentionally made her movements larger to draw the Raptors' attention. Her goal was to pull the aggro toward herself and disperse the attacks on Han Shin to ensure his safety. It worked exactly as she intended.
She ruthlessly cut, stabbed, and shield-bashed the lunging Raptors. Thanks to her, Han Shin was able to gain high-quality combat experience despite it being his first time using a spear.
Han Shin had been good at parrying from the start, but as he continued to swing the spear, he became more accustomed to it, and his movements grew more fluid. These were things that couldn't be learned through practice alone. By facing the relentless waves of Raptors, he filled in the gaps in his skills on his own.
Moving his body frantically and wielding his spear, Han Shin finally delivered a diagonal blow with the butt of his spear to a Raptor lunging from behind. He then gripped the shaft short and drove the blade into the head of the fallen creature.
"Huff... huff..."
Han Shin braced himself for the next attack, but he soon realized the bloodlust had vanished. The swarming Raptors were gone.
His entire body was drenched in sweat. However, he hadn't sustained a single injury. He felt an immense sense of satisfaction from having experienced his first real battle. Compared to the days when he was overprotected by Grace, he had clearly improved.
Of course, Grace’s help was huge this time, too...
He knew it, but he couldn't suppress the smile spreading across his face.
Grace immediately noticed his excitement. Han Shin wasn't very good at hiding his emotions, so his joy was plain to see. Knowing why he felt that way, Grace felt happy as well, seeing her lord and man in such high spirits.
In her eyes, Han Shin had fought better than expected for his first time using a spear. Regardless of the weapon, she was proud to see him becoming more accustomed to combat.
"You did well, Han Shin. I think it would be best to rest for a moment before we move on."
"Yeah. Thanks, Grace."
Since the dungeon hadn't been cleared yet, Grace deduced there was at least one more pack of Raptors and a Core Monster acting as the boss. She decided they should take a short break. She was fine, but she judged that Han Shin needed the rest.