Aaron's jaw dropped. "What is that thing?!"
"First time seeing one?" I asked. Though, admittedly, this was the first time I'd seen one in person too.
I scraped my sword against my shield, producing a sharp, grating sound of metal on metal.
"Nobody panic! That pig has a brain and a heart too. Keep stabbing it, and it'll die."
"Better than hundreds of goblins!" Jenna quipped.
Ping!
In that instant, Jenna fired an arrow. Spinning as it flew, the arrow embedded itself deep into the ogre's lower belly.
"KRAAAH!" The ogre roared, spitting saliva, but continued walking as if nothing happened. Each footstep gouged out clumps of earth.
Jenna scratched her cheek and chuckled nervously. "Or maybe not? Are the goblins better after all?"
"We'll find out when we kill it," I replied grimly.
I glanced back. The other three looked tense, but there was no sign of fear. Good. As long as they performed their roles, we could definitely clear this.
"Attention! Roles assigned. Iolka, deploy a wall of fire near the dam."
"A fire wall?"
"Keep the goblins from approaching until the reinforcements arrive."
"I can do that, but what about that monster?"
"I'll handle the pig. Aaron, you protect Iolka. Jenna, observe the situation and help either me or Aaron. Use your judgment."
"Yes," Aaron replied.
"Okay!" Jenna agreed.
"Everyone, positions!"
Iolka ran towards the riverbank facing the dam and began casting. Aaron quickly followed, deflecting a bolt aimed at her. Jenna, acting as the link, nocked an arrow and watched the situation unfold.
Picking up a stone from the riverbank, I hurled it at the ogre's face. The ogre scowled in annoyance and lumbered towards me. I drew my sword and readied my shield.
"KUOOOOOH!" With a monstrous roar, the ogre brought its iron hammer crashing down.
I dodged lightly on the balls of my feet. Clumps of earth and muddy water flew high into the air from the hammer's impact.
'One hit and it's lights out.' A shield is only useful if it can handle the force behind the blow.
I leaped back, avoiding the hammer as it swung through the churned mud.
Ping! Jenna's second arrow struck the ogre's right deltoid muscle.
"Kiaaaah!" The goblins started swarming towards the dam.
[Ignite!]
Fwoooosh!
Fire erupted between the riverbank and the goblins, rushing across the distance. The goblins hesitated before the wall of flames. Seizing the opportunity, Aaron's spear pierced a goblin's head. Iolka kept chanting with her eyes closed, maintaining the flames rather than launching them. Despite the pouring rain, the fire blazed fiercely without losing intensity.
The ogre retrieved its hammer and brushed its shoulder. The arrow embedded in its muscle slid out smoothly. Jenna, preparing a third arrow, cursed, "Muscle-bound freak."
"It won't work unless it hits a vital spot. Don't waste arrows," I warned.
"Where exactly are the vital spots?"
"You figure it out!"
I dove forward in a roll. The hammer smashed the spot where I'd just been. Instantly getting up, I swung my sword in a wide arc. A line of blood sprayed from the ogre's right arm. The ogre ignored it and swung the hammer sideways. I dodged.
'Can't make a deep cut unless I get my stance right.'
I glanced sideways. Aaron was holding his own, but I couldn't guarantee how long he could protect Iolka. The goblins, figuring things out, were switching from melee to ranged attacks, firing bolts or throwing stones if they didn't have crossbows. If even one bolt or stone hit Iolka, the balance would be broken.
'Take the risk.'
The ogre hefted its hammer high and brought it down.
Bending my knees slightly, I darted inside the ogre's guard. Just as the hammer's edge threatened to crush the back of my head, I raised my shield and pulled my left arm back, parrying by deflecting.
KRAGAGAGAK!
An intense shock, feeling like bone warping, slammed into my left arm. Ignore the pain. I slid under the ogre's feet and gripped my sword hilt short. Pouring strength into my right arm, I thrust the blade tip towards the ogre's groin. A squelching sensation shook my hand.
'So, it was male.'
Sticky blood poured from between its legs. Pulling the sword out, I quickly scrambled back.
"KUOOOOOOH!" The ogre let out an unearthly shriek. It went berserk, swinging the hammer wildly in all directions – not aiming, just flailing against the pain.
I put several meters between myself and the creature. Rotating my left arm sent a sharp pain deep inside. Felt like I'd damaged the bone, but it wasn't broken. Still usable, somehow.
"KUO, KRAAAAH!" The ogre, unable to tell friend from foe, smashed its hammer down, turning several goblins into paste.
Ping! At that moment, one of Jenna's arrows pierced the ogre's left eye. The ogre dropped its hammer and went completely mad, spinning in circles and jumping frantically.
"Huu."
Taking a running start, I closed in on the ogre. Leaning back, its log-like fist grazed my nose. Forward again. The ogre's back bent. I saw a gap between the iron plates covering its left chest. Gripping my sword hilt tightly, I thrust towards its heart. Bulging pectoral muscles resisted the blade's entry. I twisted the sword as I pushed. The throb of its heart pulsed through the blade tip.
FWOOSH!
When I pulled the sword out, a fountain of blood spurted from the gap between the plates.
THUD! The ogre's massive body collapsed into the mud. Blood-tinged rainwater splashed up to my waist.
"Kiiii..." The goblins watching this spectacle hesitated.
Spitting out the rainwater that had entered my mouth, I approached them. Just as I was about to separate one goblin's upper and lower body, Jenna yelled, "Oppa!"
"What?"
"I think there's another one!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than a heavy thudding shook the ground.
I smashed a goblin's head with my shield and stepped back. Through the pouring rain, another thick silhouette emerged.
"Stay calm. We'll handle it just like the last one."
"But that one... it's acting strange," Jenna observed.
"Strange?" The ogre stared intently at its fallen kin lying in the rain, then turned its gaze towards the dam where the wall of fire blazed.
"Lure it," I ordered Jenna.
"Yes!" Jenna's arrow struck the new ogre's armpit.
"KRAAAAH!" The ogre roared, turning back towards Jenna.
"That's right. Come to me..."
The ogre lowered its stance and began running towards the dam.
'Damn it.'
"Stop it!"
Ping! A second arrow pierced the ogre's calf. The ogre snorted and kept running. Goblins in its path were flattened or sent flying.
"Has that bastard lost its mind?!"
The wall of fire could stop goblins, perhaps, but it wouldn't penetrate the ogre's thick hide.
Ditching my shield, I gripped my sword and ran towards it. Too slow. Can't reach it.
"Aaron, don't let it reach the dam!"
Aaron intercepted the ogre. His spear pierced its knee. The ogre roared in pain but rushed past Aaron.
'It's going to destroy it regardless of dying?!' An unexpected lunatic appeared.
With incredible speed, Jenna ran towards the ogre, climbed onto its armor, and scrambled onto its back. Drawing her dagger in a reverse grip, she repeatedly stabbed the space between its neck and shoulder, its trapezius muscle.
Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab!
"KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"Wh-What is that thing?!" Iolka cried, hastily breaking her casting and fleeing sideways.
The ogre ignored goblins, rocks, fire, everything, and sprinted towards the dam.
'Too late.'
"Get down!" I yelled to Jenna. She somersaulted off the ogre.
Splashing through the river water, the ogre slammed violently into the center of the dam. Crack. With the sound of splitting stone, a large hole appeared in the dam, and water surged through.
"..."
The river's water level began to rise rapidly. Only then did the sound I heard on the 7th floor echo again – the thundering sound of hooves tearing up the earth.
"Kyaro!"
I thrust my sword into a goblin's mouth. The blade pierced its tongue and exited the back of its neck. This one was the last. The ogre, having completed its mission, was swept away by the river's current and disappeared somewhere. Kicking the fallen corpse, I muttered, "We failed."
"Then..." Aaron started.
"Let's go back. Time for plan B." Is there a plan B? I quickly ran through the possibilities. Without reinforcements, 370 of us had to hold off over 3,000 goblins. I clenched my teeth. Some unforeseen madman ruined everything. But I couldn't just stand here stunned. Whether a way existed or not, I had to find one. I retrieved my shield and slung it on my back.
The sound of hooves grew louder, but the river was swelling rapidly. We wouldn't make it in time. I barely managed to swallow the sigh trying to escape my throat.
"Wait," Iolka said.
"What is it?"
[Draste Shiradus.]
Iolka's eyes flashed blue. A boulder beside the riverbank lifted abruptly into the air.
[Move!]
Following Iolka's gesture, the boulder floated through the air and slammed into the crack in the dam. The torrent of water pouring through the hole instantly subsided.
Iolka swept her wet hair back and smirked. "Hey, you..."
"Telekinesis is the most basic of basics in magic. Humph, didn't know that, did you?"
"If you could do that, say so sooner!"
"This mission would have failed without me...!" Iolka swayed, about to fall.
Aaron quickly rushed over to support her.
"Thank you. You have manners. Unlike some people. I... Keeack!"
I grabbed Iolka's cheek and pulled. "Who told you to hide your abilities, huh? I distinctly recall telling you to list all the magic you can use."
"Its suthuh bafic thpell I dithub think ib wath worf menthoning!"
"Enough." I released her cheek. Iolka glared daggers at me, pouting, but rubbed her cheek. "Anyway, thanks to you, we survived. I appreciate that. Everyone, regroup. Drink your potions."
Moving back to the shade of the previous tree, we regrouped. We brushed off mud and drank potions. Iolka looked unusually pale and exhausted, gagging several times even while drinking the mana potion.
"Wish this rain would stop," Jenna said, wringing out the hem of her dress. Water poured from the fabric.
The sound of hooves was right upon us now.
A cavalryman at the lead waved a red banner bearing the image of a lion. Behind him, hundreds of horsemen surged from the forest. Clad head-to-toe in plate armor, their healthy steeds galloped through the mud without slowing.
"All forces, advance! Show them the might of the Iron Lion Cavalry!" the leader roared.
"Captain, the river..." one rider pointed out.
"Who cares! Cross it!"
"Yes, sir! All units, ford the river!"
Starting with the banner bearer, the cavalry plunged into the river. Even the strong current couldn't stop their charge.
[Human Cavalry Lv.??? X 458]
[Ally NPC 'Iron Lion Cavalry' joins the field!]