Mud violently flung everywhere.
However, the kick of the black horse’s hooves pierce through the mud and our pace was reliably steady.
Has the temperature gotten lower?
The breath leaked out from Slei’s mouth like a white smoke as it drifted to our backs.
Seeing us suddenly turning and heading straight towards them, the monsters showed bewilderment for a moment.
However, they were now already…
“Did the prey finally decide to stop running away?”
—delighted as they too advanced towards us.
Tugging on her bridle, I directed Slei to turn to the left.
With Pigimaru’s tentacles, I scattered out my Abnormal State Skill diagonally to the right.
A group of monsters followed suit as we changed our direction.
Some of the monsters magnificently slipped in the mud.
Everytime the monsters rolled over, mud wrapped around their body as if forming a shell around them.
However, the monsters who had fallen were just a drop in the ocean compared to the amount of monsters following behind them.
There were only a few of them who have fallen to the side.
……This would be a tough battle just for one person.
[Do you like acting like a human that much, you bastards?]
Perhaps, these Golden-eyed monsters really like them— Humans, that is.
At that time back when I was in the Disposal Ruins, I had vaguely noticed it.
Those monsters’ attachment to humans.
It may not just be limited to the monsters in that ruins.
“Humans” were mouth-watering toys for monsters and the Human-Faced.
They have high intelligence.
Sometimes, they would possess a sacred noble will.
Some other times, they would express their ugly, evil emotions.
Whether it’s breaking them…
Damaging them…
Playing with them…
They’re the perfect toys that they could ever have.
Their targets may even include Elves or Leopardkins.
[Well, there are also Humans that want to make other Humans into their toys……—– <Dark>]
The monster who has lost its sight falls down on the mud.
Splasshhhh!
Abnormal State Skill.
Range.
Effect.
Within these two points, <Paralyze> would be the easiest one to use.
The skill’s maximum range.
There’s a wide range of choices I could pick on how to deal with them after I paralyzed them.
However, this skill has a weak point that would sometimes become fatal for me.
In order to activate a skill, it is necessary for me to speak the skill name with a certain volume in it.
And, <Paralyze> is the only “three syllable skill” among my skills.
(T/N: Originally five character skill for pa-ra-ra-i-zu)
That means— It takes more time to invoke this skill compared to my other skills.
I have tried rapidly speaking its name before to invoke it in the past.
However, it didn’t invoke.
I need some adjustment in the speed when you speak of this skill’s name.
In short, “quick-casting this skill by rapidly speaking” isn’t possible.
And that slight difference of seconds uttering that “single syllable” could distinguish victory and defeat against a formidable enemy.
For this reason…
[<Dark>]
Regardless of the effect of this skill, the skill that I could invoke the fastest would be <Dark>.
In fact, <Dark> would be the only skill that I would be able to hit the Human-Faced after changing directions.
They had already assumed that I would use <Paralyze> or <Berserk>.
However, a “single syllable word” suddenly came out of my mouth.
Naturally, their reaction was delayed.
As a result, I took away their sense of sight.
Confused, they fell down on the ground and dragged the monsters around it.
This is also a result that I had expected.
After they got used to the 3 syllable word and 2 syllable word, I suddenly attacked them with a 1 syllable word.
The reason why I have held back on using <Dark> before is for this moment.
This is one of my hidden cards.
It seems that I’m successful with this plan.
However, <Dark> only takes away the target’s sight— it can’t kill them.
Attacking with all that I can, I flee, run, scamper and ride away— while shooting my skills towards them.
However, I feel like the amount of monsters hasn’t decreased from what I’m seeing.
More and more, the distance away from the monsters had been getting closer.
However, it will be just for a bit longer.
The number of trees that have been knocked down is beginning to be noticeable.
I’ve finally returned to the area that we’ve passed earlier.
Slei, who had been showing fatigue, squeezed out her remaining strength and sped up even more.
Just a bit more.
And then…
[We made it.]
We’re finally within range.
This is the spot where I’ve scattered my paralysis a while ago.
This is where I’ve paralyzed dozens of monsters that have been stuck.
———Badump———
An intense heartbeat resounded.
I dislike this.
A Human-Faced.
I could see a Human-Faced that appears to have been paralyzed.
The monsters surrounding it must have been trying to intercept or delay any hindrances huh.
Or is it that its abilities were lower than before?
No, it doesn’t matter.
The reason why doesn’t matter.
All that matters is the fact right in front of my eyes.
It’s only the fact that there’s a Human-Faced paralyzed over there.
I observed the Human-Faced for the time being.
Exuding anger, filled with frustration, and overflowing with hatred.
Based on what I see, I’ve judged that the probability that it’s just a camouflage is quite low.
It’s not pretending to be paralyzed.
Therefore…
[<Berserk>]
Without reservations, you could now die.
With the Human-Faced leading the group, I invoked Berserk on the other paralyzed monsters following it.
Ear-piercing hoarse screams arose around the place.
A geyser of blood sprayed towards the skies.
The spouting blood mixed along with the rain, making the nearby area rain in monster blood.
<Your level has increased.>
Like a black bullet bathing in the bloody rain, we continued running.
<Lv 1903 → Lv 1921>
I took a glance at my status display.
My MP has completely recovered.
[………………….]
The crystal ball behind Slei’s neck caught my eyes.
Its light has slightly weakened.
I had been worried about this for a while now.
Perhaps, her third form gradually consumes the magic energy she had stored.
She would need sustained magic energy in order to maintain this form.
It’s not just the combination technique with Pigimaru.
Slei also needed to be continuously supplied with magic energy.
I poured my magic energy into the crystal.
After injecting my magic energy, her running speed slightly improved.
Lowering my posture, I whispered into Slei’s ear my instructions.
After I finished saying my instructions, I said.
[The crucial moment is about to come. Can you endure it for a bit more?]
[Bururururuuuu!]
“Leave it to me!” or so I feel like she cried out.
I gently caressed Slei’s neck.
[……………….]
Are you both ready?
I asked Pigimaru and Slei.
However, Pigimaru and Slei could escape when they needed to.
They’re a monster and a magical beast.
If they were to get their distance from me, the two of them might be able to successfully escape from these monsters.
Poke poke
I could feel Pigimaru’s slightly tough tentacles poking my shoulders.
[Hmm?]
[Piii!]
A cry that sounds like he’s rebuking me.
……Don’t tell me… DId he guess what I’m thinking about?
The worst thing that could happen would be that I would make Pigimaru and Slei escape.
I loosely held Pigimaru’s protrusion.
As if I’m making him feel relieved, I gently caressed him with three of my fingers.
[You understand it yourself, don’t you? I’m a gentle person… I rescued you back when you were being bullied.]
[Pyuuuu…]
“Funnnn….” I snorted.
[Idiot, why are you thinking like I’m going to die?]
[Puii?]
[It’s just that I was thinking about one of my plans until it’s the end. Moreover… Until I could make that f*cking goddess cry out until she can’t anymore, I will not die…]
[——Puiii!]
The startled Pigimaru suddenly signalled.
There’s also some of Pigimaru’s “roots” on my back.
Up until now, he had been telling me the direction and distance from the monsters behind my back with his roots.
[……They’re near.]
They can’t be avoided,
I can’t escape from them anymore.
I look up in the sky.
[………………….]
This heavy rain could possibly be fortunate for us.
The rain washes away our scent.
It makes it easier for us to avoid the monsters that track us by scent.
Depending on the method, we could even easily erase our presence.
The strategy that we will be using from here on out would be to repeatedly raid and retreat.
We will disperse the enemies little by little as we withdraw, then assault the isolated enemies when we find an opportunity.
It’s a strategy that’s quite similar to crushing enemies one after another.
I make Slei turn around.
It’s a really splendid turn filled without any wasted movements.
The efficiency of her eight legs were quite astonishing.
Her multiple legs allowed movements that wouldn’t be possible for a four-legged animal.
Her eight legs were assisting each other.
What’s noteworthy though is her tight turn earlier.
A tighter turn allows her even finer movements.
Therefore, it increases the efficiency of our evasion.
[……Fuuu.]
I stabilized my breathing.
For the time being, refining magic energy takes a toll on my body.
However, I don’t have the leisure to worry about the fatigue it brings.
[My MP should be enough…]
After that…
[—would be us, killing each other.]
▽
While the mud soaked in rainwater splashed about as Slei leaped through…
[Gyoruuueeehhguegyoooruuuaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh——-!]
Screams of monsters resounded around one after another.
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