𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔𝟓
“Jayer’s Guardian Shield, Elsyke’s Phantom Shift.”
[S-rank Skill. Jayer’s Guardian Shield is activated.]
Pat-
Leaving a phantom behind, I move next to Gatovel. The phantom, of course, rushed towards Gatovel, and Gatovel also tried to deal with my approaching phantom, but I aimed for the gap created at that moment and immediately swung my shield.
“Thunder Strike!”
Kwaaaang!!-
[Skill Damage! 10,408.]
“Ugh!”
Perhaps due to the impact worthy of damage exceeding 10,000, Gatovel staggered for a moment. It goes without saying, but there was nothing as simple as attacking at this moment.
‘Let’s see you die!’
[Skill Damage! 12,340.]
[Skill Damage……]
I swung my shield again and hit the remaining two attacks, but surprisingly, Gatovel did not die. Perhaps because it was a High-ranking Demon, its vitality was extraordinary.
“Heh heh, I can’t watch this anymore. Eliminate them all. Especially that woman of light, make sure to secure her corpse.”
At that moment, another High-ranking Demon, Losmo, who had been observing the current fight, also moved.
‘I haven’t even dealt with this guy yet, and now those guys are joining in.’
“Ust, take care of that side!”
I had no choice but to entrust it to Ust for now, but this time, the players who had been watching stepped forward and seemed to be dealing with those Intermediate Demons.
“They’re coming! Everyone, get your act together!”
“I know without you telling me!”
Kwakwakwang!-
But even with Ust helping, would they be able to stop them?
While pushing Gatovel with the phantom, I glanced over and saw the players struggling to hold them back, to the point where I was speechless.
“Damn it, why are they so strong?!”
“Don’t stop healing!”
It seemed like they were barely holding on thanks to fighting near Ust and having a healer among the players.
‘Their skills aren’t completely lacking…… Huh?’
“Aack! I can’t anymore!”
“What do you mean you can’t?! Hold on until the end!”
“Their attack power is no joke!”
At first, I thought their skills weren’t completely lacking since they endured the Intermediate Demons for a while, but it seemed I was mistaken. The player who had endured several attacks cried out that they couldn’t hold on any longer, and Nayra spread the light she had shown earlier for that player.
“Oh Light! Dispel the darkness of this place!”
Pabbat!-
“Kyaaack!”
“Oh, they’re retreating!”
The Intermediate Demons who had been rushing towards the players retreated back behind the trees to avoid the light, and Nayra used that opportunity to cast support magic as well.
“Shield of Light that blocks darkness!”
However, from my perspective, Nayra’s support seemed like a temporary measure. Moreover, even with Nayra’s support, I judged that it would be difficult for the players to handle the Intermediate Demons with their current skills, so I decided to gradually increase the number of phantoms.
“Insolent b*tch!”
“I’ll tear you to shreds!”
As expected, as soon as the light disappeared, the Intermediate Demons who had been hiding behind the trees rushed out, and I responded with Phantom Shift.
“Elsyke’s Phantom Shift!”
Even if the phantoms can’t actively use skills like me, they can still eliminate Intermediate Demons without much trouble. So, I thought that summoning just 3 or 4 would turn the tide of the battle, but an unexpected interference came in.
[The Intermediate Demon ‘Batroc’ uses Mind Control.]
[Control of the phantom is transferred to Batroc.]
‘Huh?’
At that moment, black fog emerged from the body of the third phantom created, and it turned around and ran towards where the players were. Startled by the phantom’s actions, I hurriedly reached out to stop it, and as soon as my hand made contact, its stealth was released, revealing that the phantom’s target had changed to me.
‘This damn!’
Kwaang!-
[You have taken damage! -1.]
Fortunately, my defense was higher than its attack power. Therefore, even the phantom’s attacks didn’t deal any damage, but considering the players who were blocking the Intermediate Demons, it wasn’t a good situation at all.
[The Intermediate Demon ‘Batroc’ uses Mind Control……]
As expected, the phantom that was swinging its hammer towards the Intermediate Demons was caught by the Mind Control skill and immediately changed its target to attack the players.
“Wha, what’s this?!”
“The clone has been taken! We have to stop it!”
Fortunately, someone with quick situational awareness immediately realized what had happened, but that wasn’t enough. It was obvious that they, who were already struggling to block the Intermediate Demons, would crumble like a sandcastle with the addition of my phantom, which was even stronger than those demons.
“Thunder Strike!”
Kwaaaang!!-
[Skill Damage! 8,555.]
Even so, a phantom is a phantom, and due to its low vitality, it was possible to eliminate it with a single attack. After eliminating one phantom in that manner, I quickly ran towards the remaining phantom that was attacking the players.
‘Huh? When did that guy die?’
One player had already died in that short amount of time, showing just how strong the phantom was. However, if I left it alone, they would all be annihilated, so I ran without hesitation and destroyed that phantom as well.
“Th, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
In a way, it was my fault.
Moreover, there was no time to rest. The last remaining phantom was also under Mind Control and was running towards us.
Kwaaaang!!-
[Skill Damage! 14,924.]
‘But what do I do now?’
The skill I considered my trump card had been blocked. Originally, multiple phantoms should have wiped out all the demons here, but ridiculously, they were all falling into the hands of the demons, leaving me feeling slightly perplexed.
‘Well, it’s not an irreversible situation.’
It was annoying, but it wasn’t a disadvantageous situation. If I eliminated them one by one with Thunder Strike, we would inevitably win in the end, so it was rather an advantageous situation if anything.
And as I thought that and moved, I heard the shout of Gatovel, whom I had been fighting against until just now.
“Ugh, trying to stop me with such a clone!”
‘Did he deal with the phantom?’
If it weren’t for that Intermediate Demon Batroc or whatever, I could have already killed him with the phantom’s cooperation. However, having left my position to deal with the controlled phantom, I confirmed that even that phantom was now gone and decided to face Gatovel again.
“I will kill you with my power!”
“Power?”
At the word “power,” I remembered the Intermediate Demon from the previous B-rank quest using a strange special skill. It seemed like these demons each possessed something called “power.”
Anyway, Gatovel, who was rushing towards me, used that so-called power.
“It’s too late for regrets!”
‘Huh?’
Puck!-
“Huh?”
Suddenly, something seemed to shoot out from Gatovel’s body, and I felt a small impact on my face. Surprisingly, I was hit before I could even recognize it.
[You have taken damage! -1,380.]
‘What kind of attack is this?’
The damage itself wasn’t dangerous, but the problem was that I couldn’t recognize the attack. Is this his power? Perhaps the fact that it’s impossible to recognize is his power.
“How do you like it?! My power!”
Puck!-
[You have taken damage……]
At the same time, another unrecognizable attack struck my body, followed by Gatovel’s fist.
‘This crazy b*stard!’
Even if I could block the fist attacks, his power was hitting me. Moreover, seeing the same damage being dealt continuously, it seemed like fixed damage. Furthermore, since I couldn’t create an opening with Phantom Shift, all my attacks were being blocked by his fists.
‘Tsk.’
I hate to admit it, but his skills seem to be superior to mine.
“Armor of Protection!”
Chaeng!-
[The Armor of Protection takes the impact in your stead……]
In any case, I didn’t intend to waste time against him, so after using Armor of Protection, I launched a more aggressive attack, but he, sensing my intentions, focused on evasion and only used his power.
‘Wow, this dirty b*stard.’
To put it nicely, he’s a guy who knows how to fight, and to put it badly, he’s nothing but a coward. However, there was one thing that Gatovel overlooked: the existence of the skill I had acquired.
“Dynamics.”
Kwaaaang!-
If skills can’t be overcome with skill, then I’ll just overwhelm him with skills.
As I used Earth’s Dynamics at the timing when he entered the range, Gatovel’s body was momentarily stopped, and I decided to seize the opportunity and finish him off.
“Thunder Strike!”
Kwaaaang!!-
Earth’s Dynamics had the effect of stopping the opponent for 1 second, so there was no way he could avoid it. After receiving all of my Thunder Strike attacks, he collapsed with a look of injustice, and I managed to eliminate one High-ranking Demon.
[You have gained 350,000 combat experience!]
[Ding!~ You have acquired ‘High-ranking Demon’s Mark’.]
‘The experience is like this?’
Of course, it’s not a small amount. Rather, it’s quite high compared to normal monsters. To be precise, it’s about the same as a boss monster? And since I had defeated a High-ranking Demon, I was thinking that I could finally breathe a sigh of relief when a problem arose elsewhere.
“Aack! I’m dying!”
“How can a High-ranking Demon be this strong?!”
‘Is the other High-ranking Demon attacking as well?’
Thinking that, I looked back and saw that, as expected, the High-ranking Demon Losmo was piercing and killing the players in the front line with his long spear. At the same time, the formation began to crumble, and I could see the remaining players turning gray one after another.
‘This is crazy!’
The players were literally dying in an instant.
Seeing that, I immediately ran towards Losmo. If the players were wiped out, all that remained were Nayra and Nabek. Two NPCs, that is. I was relieved that Ust was there, but if a High-ranking Demon directly intervened, the story would be different.
“Giant’s Sprint!”
Conversely, if I could just catch that High-ranking Demon, the subsequent crisis would be as good as nonexistent. Thinking that, I ran at a tremendous speed exceeding 1,700 and collided with Losmo.
Kwaaaang!!-
[Skill Damage! 11,375.]
‘This guy doesn’t get blown away either.’
Apart from the skill damage, he didn’t fly back. That means his strength is higher than mine, which exceeds 2,000 including Giant’s Sprint. However, he must have felt the impact, as Losmo, who stepped back one or two steps, immediately glared at me.
“Ugh, why is the guy Gatovel was fighting here……”
The High-ranking Demon briefly turned his head towards where Gatovel was and then showed an expression of understanding, but I didn’t pay attention and attacked again.
Chaeng!-
“……?”
However, Roar of the Thunder Dragon was deflected before it even reached his body, and upon seeing that, I immediately stepped back to figure out what had happened, but he leisurely looked away, regardless of what I did.
“So you were the one who created the phantoms earlier. Defeating Gatovel is impressive, but you’re not strong enough to defeat me.”
“What was that just now?”
“Let’s see what you’ve got!”
Losmo’s right arm was long and pointed like a lance. Naturally, it seemed to be his weapon, as he thrust it at me with great speed, but Nayra, who was behind me, didn’t just stand and watch.
“Give more courage to those who fight!”
[NPC ‘Nayra’ uses Holy Courage.]
[Strength and Agility increased by 150.]
‘150?’
Strength and Agility increased by 150. Calculating this numerically, it’s the same as equipping one more Unique item. Especially in a situation like this, where our stats are similar, it’s the best support skill.
I dodged Losmo’s spear, which had become slower than before, to the side and dug in as deep as possible.
“Thunder Strike!”
Chaeng!-
As before, the attack was deflected. But without faltering, I attempted a second attack, and I could see that it landed properly.
[Skill Damage……]
‘What’s the principle behind that protective shield?’
At first, I thought it deflected damage below a certain threshold, but after experimenting with Thunder Strike, it seemed that wasn’t the case. It seemed like I might understand if I fought a little more, but I didn’t want to go that far.
Kwaaaang!!-
Meanwhile, Ust’s Dark Ray swept over Losmo, and I could see that the attack, now with an added freezing effect, froze Losmo’s body slightly.
In addition, being frozen has the effect of lowering agility. Realizing this, I approached again and swung my shield, and Losmo, after allowing my attack once again, stepped back and spoke in a tone as if he hadn’t expected it.
“You’re stronger than I thought. I understand why Gatovel was defeated.”
“Isn’t it your turn now?”
“I apologize, but your defeat is that you couldn’t defeat us until now.”
“……?”
What’s he talking about? Is there a time limit or something?
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