If you've ever been hit by a car, you know it happens in an instant and can never be undone. Just like this moment.
«Prepare for battle!»
At the same time that my scream cut through the stillness, the dwarf's sword spun at breakneck speed and stabbed into the wizard's shoulder blade.
¡Crujido!
It was the kind of creepy sound of torn flesh that wakes you up to reality. When that sound reached my ears, my body was already moving forward with all my strength.
Dash.
My goal was to rescue Raven.
«¡Kyaa!»
Crossing the distance at high speed, I picked up Raven in my arms and backed away quickly. Hans G's tank did the same with his wizard.
«Both of you, wake up!»
The blunt-armed warrior standing in the distance pulled Hans G and the fairy archer behind him by the neck. This siege formation arose naturally. Numerically and qualitatively, we had an advantage. If so, how would the dwarf resolve this unfavorable situation?
While everyone remained attentive to the development of the situation, the dwarf took out the ax stuck in the magician's shoulder and called someone by name.
¡Shoop!
« ¡Hans Chrisis! »
Eyes gathered inside the suffocating air. However, Hans G remained silent and trembling.
Then the dwarf shouted again, accusingly: «Do you want your secret to be discovered?».
I felt like my head was vibrating. Hans G's secret could only be one thing.
The dwarf continued: «Well, if you wish, I will exile you myself. Hans Chrisen is an evil spirit. I have proof of this in my backpack-«.
«Guys! Stay away from him!» For now I sent a warning. If the dwarf had definitive proof, Hans G's betrayal was a fait accompli.
«Evil spirit? You think I'm going to believe...»
I arrived a step too late.
¡Whooooshh!
The lizard summoned by Hans G spat fierce flames towards the blunt warrior.
«By...qu..» He collapsed to the ground, covered in flames.
«Sorry». Hans G grimaced in pain, walked over to the dwarf's side and said something I couldn't understand. «What are you doing? S-Miss Meirin, come here, quick!».
«...W-what are you saying?! Do you want me to go there after doing this terrible thing?!»
«You're not thinking about abandoning me, are you? We are from the same place. We have to go everywhere together! I-I have done all the dangerous things for us!»
It was a very sudden turn of events. «Ha, you thug bastard!» As soon as I saw the archer fairy's wrinkled face, the situation was clearly drawn in my head.
I can't believe they're both players.
Seeing that even the dwarf seemed surprised, it seemed like he didn't know anything about this. He had probably discovered some evidence during the night watch and threatened Hans G, and that was it.
When Hans G screwed her, leaving her with no options, the fairy archer screamed in annoyance and walked to the dwarf's side. «Dwarf! You better keep your promise and take me to Noark».
«...Of course! Come on, help me!»
This is well twisted now.
My head hurts. We clearly had the advantage in numbers so far. But now, we were the side with one less person. Team leader Hans G was already passed out from shock, but his combat ability was zero, even if he woke up. Furthermore, defeating them even in these adverse conditions did not solve all of our problems. After that, a bleak future awaited us as the five of us had to fight the battle boss.
Damn, and there's a double between us to begin with.
It was a long and winding road, to say the least. The curses came too naturally.
Even taking into account the Hans effect, isn't that too much?
The complaints also came involuntarily, but... Well, what are you going to do?
«¡Behell-aaaaaaaaaaa!»
We had no choice but to try. No long words were needed. The time to talk had passed.
¡Boom!
The moment I activated gigantization and ran forward, a gray vortex swirled around me.
¡Shaaaaa!
This was one of the sorcerer's many attack abilities. Since it was not a physical damage skill, not even I could withstand it with the naked body without injuries. But we were also a team.
«Hair Sheardiem.»
A veil of mana covered my skin, which in the game was conveniently called the Mana Shield. This was why mages were important in Player vs. Player. Its mana efficiency could be very poor and therefore wasteful for hunting, but not against people. Consumption would be high on both sides.
Whoooom.
When my vision cleared, the dwarf was in front of me.
Pum.
He jumped high with his short legs and hit me in the face with his shield. The damage itself wasn't very great, but my body in Gigantization was helplessly pushed back thanks to its ability, Polar Shield. It gave a knockback bonus to a push and reduced the impact of a block.
Goteo.
Immediately after being pushed back, leaving behind long footprints, the beast warrior came stabbing. The expected target was my delicate eye.
«Oh no!» Missha, who was hiding behind me, jumped up and countered the beast swordsman.
Okay, then I'll leave it to Missha.
¡Wiiiip!
Blocking the arrows flying head-on with my shield, I made my mace fall on the head of the dwarf who was landing on the ground. But what was this?
¡Klang!
It was a blow accompanied by Swing. Even if the head was protected with a shield, it should have been crushed entirely. That's what also happened with his double. Why was the shield intact?
Damn sea.
The cause was quickly known. Her earrings emitted the same light as the shield.
¿2.988?
It was natural that the result would be different than with double. A numbered object could not be copied. With a premium item like that, the difference was heaven and earth.
¡Bang!
Just then, an explosion occurred in the dwarf's rear field due to Mr. Bear's explosive arrow. Hans G summoned a ground Berg in time, leaving no casualties, but as the wall collapsed, Raven's magical attack continued.
¡Ddddddd! ¡Kablam!
Lightning split in dozens of directions and struck. One of them caught up with Hans G and knocked him down. Of course not for long, because there was a priest there.
¡Whoosh!
Within seconds, Hans G regained consciousness and used his summoned beast to spit flames. The objective was our rear. Raven had just used a spell and, from the angle, she couldn't stop him either, so Mr. Bear's summoned beast, Bear, just absorbed it with his body.
«Woom!» Bear howled as if this were nothing. Spirit beasts had high resistance to mana.
Ugh, at this level, team battle is on another scale.
Afterwards, Karui's priest finished his preparations and began to draw serious invocations.
«Grrrrrr...» An army of undead began to emerge from a sinister colored portal created in the air. Coincidentally, we had the perfect opponent for this.
«Behell-aaaaaaaaaa!» Ainar ran away brandishing his great sword, without needing my orders.
¡Bang! ¡KABLAM! ¡Bang!
Every time he used the Repeated Slash, explosions would explode and sparks would fly. Furthermore, if she was injured, she regenerated herself with Wings of Greed. Of course, if he used skills like that without control, he would run out of PM.
[Ainar Fenelin has killed the enemy. Satiety is activated and soul power is restored].
Ainar's Hunt imprint specializes in slaughter, you see.
¡Bang! ¡Dddddddd! ¡Woooom!
Various abilities exploded from all directions, causing a cacophony of sound. Each person did not only face a specific opponent. Sometimes we had to go back to help our colleagues. Thus continued a fierce battle in which the winner was indiscernible.
«Do you know something?» The dwarf slammed a punch in my face and spoke to me for the first time during the battle.
I wanted to ignore it, but I responded: «What are you going to die soon?».
«No. That you are the core of your team».
Wasn't it obvious? Whenever I could, I ran here and there, destroying formations and dealing damage to the enemy while protecting myself from all the arrows and magic that crossed my path. On the other hand, what the dwarf did was follow me while I did it and prevent me from getting too out of control.
«In other words, if you and I disappear at the same time, we will have a much greater advantage».
"...¿Which?"
The dwarf smiled and shouted: «Jainen! Now!» Jainen was the name of Karui's priest. The dwarf screamed over and over again to give orders since they had no team voice magic.
[You have entered special terrain Crossroads of Destiny].
The surroundings, which had exploded like fireworks, turned dark. Furthermore, the sound of the fierce battle ceased and everything fell silent. That made me laugh.
I was wondering what you were going to do. Did you use the Crossroads of Destiny? Dwarf bastard, do I seem that easy to you?
The Crossroads of Destiny, a unique power only operable by a Karui priest, was simple. It sent two designated targets into an isolated space. For reference, this ability could only be used when designated individuals were hostile to each other, and only when one of them emerged victorious or power was isolated from the outside could they return.
Clic.
A switch clicked and the surroundings lit up. It was atop a stone statue the size of a building dozens of stories high. Well, to be precise, it was on top of the palm of the statue. When I looked up, I could see the face of the statue looking in that direction, the face of the evil god Karui that I had only seen in books.
«You're not surprised», the dwarf murmured slowly about ten meters away from me.
I couldn't stand it and asked: «With what confidence have you brought me here?».
«...Do you know this place?».
Of course. It was a kind of dueling ground, a place isolated from the outside environment where you had to fight only with your individual talent. But he brought me here?
«How ridiculous».
Seeing my expression, the dwarf frowned. «You think too much about yourself, barbarian».
So, you genuinely thought putting up with me was doable. That, by holding me here, the outside would emerge victorious and let you return.
I smiled.
I thought about saying something, but it was a waste of time. I also didn't find any reason to do it. It was enough to demonstrate it with my barbaric actions.
«Behell-aaaaaaaaaa!» No questions or answers were needed. Ending the talk there, I charged at my enemy.
¡Dash!
The dwarf backed away, as if he had decided to stay here. It was a meaningless fight. How fast could I run with those short legs? He even seemed to realize that this option was impossible and grabbed his shield.
Voom.
He swung the shield with the intention of pushing me away, but the only reason I let him hit me before was because his companions kept creating distractions.
Latigo.
Turning my body slightly to avoid it, I struck with my mace.
¡Klang!
A clear blow sounded from the shield raised above the dwarf's head. Of course, that wasn't a problem.
¡Klang!
If one time wasn't enough, then two.
¡Klang!
If not twice, three.
¡Klang!
Wow, this was like playing whack-a-mole or something. No matter how many times I hit with my mace, the dwarf's shield was still sturdy.
«I told you... I can hold on».
Your breathing is labored. Anyway, I guess this is what you put your faith in. How unfortunate. I never thought you'd get into the feint.
¡Klang!
After hitting thirteen more times, I faked another blow and quickly extended my hand somewhere.
¡Voom!
I pulled on her earring. There was no way a numbered object could be damaged with a force like this, but meat didn't count.
Riiip.
The fragile earlobe was torn and the earring fell off.
No. 2,988, Guard Corps Mark.
It didn't come with stats or special effects, but wearing it increased a shield's shock absorption by a whopping 50%. I never thought I would get this main item here.
«...Give it back to me!» The dwarf reacted a moment later and pounced on me like a madman. Of course, everything I was able to do for him was a big, strong brand.
"Bam!
An exciting roar erupted from the shield that reflexively protected his head. Ugh, this was more like that. I could feel the congestion that gripped me disappear.
In that sense, let's do one more.
"Bam!
The dwarf staggered greatly, holding the half-wrinkled shield.
¡Crunch!
Taking advantage of the fact that he had let his guard down, I hit him with the mace on top of the head. That being the end, the dwarf collapsed. However, seeing how space was maintained, it was not an instant death.
He fainted?
Be that as it may, he had a very robust body.
Anyway, that's good.
I rummaged through the dwarf's bag and pulled out an object. It was none other than the test tube that contained the essence of the Manticore. Looking at this, I suddenly remembered this guy's phrase during the dice roll.
«Luck is on my side».
It was the number one inappropriate phrase for me. It was a bit ironic: The guy who said that phrase was doomed to die soon, and I was in the opposite position. Perhaps luck was a harbinger of misery.
«And to think that the test tube of the expandable bag remained intact». I smiled with satisfaction and said: «Luck is on my side».
This should be fine. Everything else had cost me a lot to achieve. I swallowed the essence into the test tube.
[The Manticore Essence has seeped into your soul].
¡Dddddddd!
Right at that moment, I felt vibrations throughout the space. No wonder he hadn't died yet. Finally, he was dead.
The body will return to its original place, so I can clean it up later...
When I closed my eyes and opened them again, I saw a familiar forest. I quickly scanned my surroundings. It hadn't even been five minutes since they took me there.
¡Kwa claim! ¡Craccckk! ¡Pum!
The battle continued. However, it seemed that a retreat had been repeated since my disappearance, because the battlefield had moved slightly, to a place located about 70 meters from where I was. Even at first glance it seemed necessary for me to join my fellow fighters as quickly as possible.
Hmm, this distance seems appropriate.
Thus, I manifested my newly acquired ability, the active ability in the yellow essence of the Manticore.
Jump.
Feeling my body lighten, I jumped vigorously.
[Jump power value increases 10 times in a jump and deals a strong hit to the surroundings upon landing].
My body flew in a steep parabola and hit the midrange team's core formation.
¡Baaannggg!
I finally got a transport skill.