The hidden piece of Farune Island was the Sea Fury. The difficulty of this event, which occurred when tribute was destroyed while fewer than twenty people occupied the island, was determined by the number of occupants. With five to nine people, the number of ordinary monsters increased. From ten to fourteen, a fourth wave was added and the final boss appeared. At fifteen to nineteen, some of the final boss penalties disappeared.
I didn't think I was going to assault a rank 3 in such an unprepared state...
I could only sigh the more I thought about it. My target was the boss of the third wave. If the event was held with six people, the fourth wave would not even begin. My plan was to catch large quantities of trash mobs and collect mana stones and essences to sell and, if possible, supply a rank 4 essence to feed Erwen. But nothing went as planned.
...Why does my life always turn out like this?
It was not enough for the event to start with the highest difficulty. The number of occupants gradually decreased until ten people were found in the last wave. Not even the essence of Elfroth turned out as expected. Of course, if the final boss spit out an essence, that could be overlooked as trivial.
But it would be hard to catch.
In this situation, survival was more important than loot. That was the rank 3 monsters in this game. We may have been scouts who reached the sixth floor, but like ten people who had never fought together as a team, this was an impossible beast to hunt.
But what can we do? We have to try.
Got up.
«Power will disappear soon». The priestess spoke as if she had been waiting.
«How much time is left exactly?»
«Ten minutes.»
So, ten minutes...
I nodded and looked around. I could see Patzran and Amelia talking in the distance.
«A rank 3 monster, are you sure?»
«The truth doesn't change just because you don't believe it».
«You speak as if you have seen it with your own eyes. Hazard Detection is not such an accurate skill. I have heard that information is transmitted in the form of forms and senses, so it is often exaggerated or underestimated.»
It was a doubt and a meaningless conversation. I moved away from them and approached another: Missha Karlstein, my oldest comrade who had been with me the longest in the labyrinth.
«Bjorn…»
Although I can't call her my lover.
I smiled bitterly and asked: «How are you doing?».
«I think I should ask that...»
«I'm fine. A little unwell, but it must be because I've slept a lot».
After that, I chatted with Missha for a while. It wasn't to tell her a secret plan that he couldn't tell anyone else, but because he hadn't had a proper conversation with her yet. After we met, I spent the day knocked out and once I woke up, the last wave started, which left me no time for that.
«I was very worried».
«I'm sorry... That woman seemed to know you so I couldn't leave her-»
«You're supposed to say: 'I won't make you worry anymore'».
"Valley. No lo haré. ⁇
Well, that solves that problem. What are we talking about now?
«Anyway, I'm glad everyone is okay. I was very worried, to be honest. For some reason, I had a strange feeling...»
«A strange feeling?»
«...Nothing to worry about. Come to think of it, I was just eager to be away from you».
True, people used to be like that. Normally, negative thoughts painted a clear picture in the head.
«...But is it okay that we are chatting like this?»
Why not? That priestess is also sitting there praying.
Mr. Bear was even writing a letter. Was it because he came back from the dead once? As soon as he found out that a rank 3 monster had appeared, it seemed like he remembered things he hadn't told his wife.
«Urakburak! Why are you doing something so useless? You can tell your child's name yourself once you leave!»
«Whatever you want, tell me. What name would suit a girl? You are too... ahem, a woman».
What, was he really naming his son right now? It made me anxious... I wished he would stop raising those flags.
«...This reminds me of that time.»
«Oh, when were we stuck on the first floor?»
«Yeah. The atmosphere was like that then.»
So? Compared to then, this was nothing. Even Raven left a will and asked us to bring it to town if he didn't come back. Most of that will was about money.
«Anyway, Bjorn, you're the same now as you were then.»
«About not leaving a will?»
«Sí.»
I ended up chuckling. There was no one outside the maze to whom I could give my will in the first place, and even if I died, I didn't want to reveal my identity. It would be a much better memory.
«But Missha, you didn't leave a will either».
«Yes, but...» Missha interrupted herself.
It seemed like he wanted to tell me something, so I cut it firmly. «Let's stop depressing talks. So we came back alive, right? This time it will be the same».
«...Yes. I'll believe it because you say so».
Afterwards, we left the present and had an informal conversation.
After some time passed, Amelia called me. «Barbarian. It's time».
Moments of calm always passed quickly.
«Haha, a rank 3 monster. How exciting!» Ainar was holding a large sword that he had been sharpening sharply with a whetstone in his spare time.
«Honestly, Miss Ainar... Is this the time to get excited? When could we all die?» raven scolded her.
«Yes, now. Stop fighting. Everyone, take this». Mr. Bear delivered a letter covered in crooked writing to his comrades.
The priestess also stood up after a long prayer. «May the light shine on the path we take.»
«Missha.»
«Sí.»
After sending Missha back, I stood in front of the formation, holding my mace and shield. Before long, the barrier around us shattered.
[Destruction of Evil has been cancelled.]
It was time to roll the dice.
«¡Keeeeek!»
As soon as Destruction of Evil rose, the group of monsters camped in front of the barrier began to attack and Raven released the command words for the magic circle she had prepared beforehand.
«¡Sartum Ebehel!»
It was military magic that ordinary magicians could not learn, because its lethal power was abnormally high compared to its rank.
[Arua Raven has cast rank 4 Collapse attack magic.]
At the same time that the magic circle radiated light, red whites appeared in the vital points of the hundreds of monsters that were running towards us.
¡Crackkk!
About two seconds later, an explosion occurred from inside, and numerous monsters were torn to pieces. A group of rank 6 monsters were practically swept away with a single stroke of magic. Of course, this result was not obtained without a price.
«...Now I will rest.» With this spell, Raven had consumed almost all the mana she had and we could no longer expect support from her. His role was to conserve his mana and replenish MP until the final boss arrived.
«¡Behell-aaaaaahhhhh!»
Therefore, the remaining enemies depended on us.
«Keeeeeek!» The dense group of monsters was wiped out, but monsters kept appearing everywhere.
¡Chomp, chomp, chomp!
Just by activating Gigantization, I focused on only fulfilling the barrier role so that my companions could comfortably send damage. Anyway, this firepower was enough for the trash mobs.
Wiiip! Stab! Kwaaaaaaang!
The three-person ranged damage composition consisted of Erwen, Nebarce, and Mr. Bear.
[Ainar Fenelin has killed the enemy. Satiety has been activated and soul power restored].
Ainar demonstrated his true courage by facing multiple weak enemies. Rank 4 scout Patzran also played the role of a person and Missha used her unique speed of movement to get over me and get rid of enemies heading to the rear.
Fights really well.
The most impressive was Amelia. She turned down the position I assigned her, saying she would take care of it herself, and she was really capable of doing it.
Cut!
The number of monsters that disappeared like the light from the blows of that woman's dagger while she danced among them like a detached platoon exceeded ten. If the number of doppelgangers summoned through Self-Replication was counted, the number was at least fifteen. That worried me a little.
«Wouldn't it be better to conserve a little strength?». MP was one thing, but the part that worried me the most was mana, another resource consumed when using an Aura. Using it to the fullest this way, you might not be able to use it for the boss later.
«I know my condition better, so stop giving me orders».
«...If you say so.» What could he say when she talked like that? If she had a brain, she would be able to handle it on her own. She had more live combat experience than me, anyway.
I just had to do my job well.
Holding a shield, I focused solely on blocking the approaching monsters. Sometimes I wielded the mace, but only enough to push back enemies and not judge that my MP should be saved for later. Unless he used Swing, he had to hit the monsters at least ten times to kill them.
«The monsters are also gradually decreasing».
The more mana stones spit out by the monsters began to pile up around us, the more the number of monsters in droves decreased.
«This could mean that the priestess's prayer worked!»
At that fact, Mr. Bear and the others seemed delighted, but I was calm. That was because he knew that all the monsters we had been fighting until now were the ones roaming the island in the third wave, without being captured. In the fourth wave there were no ordinary monsters. True, that's how it should have been if this game had a conscience. How were we going to catch a rank 3 boss monster if this place was also riddled with trash monsters?
«Let's increase the pressure!» In any case, the positive news raised the group's morale.
«It seems there are no more in the area».
Time passed and the mobs were finally cleaned of garbage. We quickly collected only the mana stones, reorganized our formation, and took a short break while we waited. Only about ten minutes passed like this.
«Is here». Nobody asked in which direction. Everyone raised their heads and turned to the same point when they heard Amelia's murmur.
Burn.
Beyond the bushes where loud footsteps could be heard, the monster crossed a tree and was seen.
¡Boom!
«Kwohhhhhh!» This was the first rank 3 monster we faced.
Seeing him, Raven shouted out the information she knew. «...It's a Storm Gush!»
Storm Gush was a rank 3 aquatic monster nicknamed the Sea Ogre. To categorize it in more detail, it was similar to a crustacean, not to mention its lobster-like appearance. Its body, four meters high, was covered with thick, hard shells, but its basic shape was that of a lizard.
¡Bum!
Its long tail served as a counterweight and its snout protruded. He walked on two legs and brandished a gun even with that absurd physique.
¡Bum!
When the monster fully revealed itself, everyone swallowed.
«Is a monster of rank 3...»
It was a non-standard monster that the seventh floor clans had to fight by the dozens. He had fought many monsters of this size, but the ominous presence this guy gave off was different from those. Still, he would be nothing comparable to the Lord of the Floor.
I hurriedly shouted: «Prepare for battle!».
Why are you all blank? We are now within your reach.
«¡Kwohhh!»
Holding a huge harpoon in his hand, the boss charged at us, moving with incredible agility that was hard to believe coming from that bulky body. I immediately activated Gigantization (Transcendence) mode. You had to match sizes to fight with a guy like that.
[The physique will grow in proportion to the Strength].
My warrior's body began to swell in an instant. As he charged, the monster's gaze began to slowly change, from looking at simple prey to facing an enemy. True, the last time I measured my height in this state, I was just over four meters tall. He probably never knew there could be a human at eye level.
«Behell-aaaaaahhhhh!» Soon, with Wild Burst, my physique stats jumped and I ran forward. If they surpassed me in strength in the first exchange, they would surely look at me badly.
¡Kwaaaaaaclaim!
As soon as I took a few steps, his trident hit my shield. «Strong» was not enough to describe the blow.
So, even in this state, I am dominated.
Even bumping into him made me back away. I hadn't experienced that since I received the Soul Impression Union. Not that I didn't come with a knockback bonus, but since Gigantization was applied to my equipment, it had become much easier to talk about my weight in units of tons.
«What are you doing? Attack!»
As soon as they threw me back, Ainar brandished his great sword of Adamantium.
[Ainar Fenelin has launched Control of Savagery. All conditional trigger effects of the next attack are converted to Cutting Force].
This was one of several conversion-type abilities that converted bonus effects into slashing force on hit. In addition, the weight of the greatsword and the kinetic force of the descending blow were added.
"Kak!
However, Ainar's greatsword only penetrated half an inch, leaving a scratch on the armor. Instead of seeing this as Ainar's lack of ability, it was more correct to see that monster as atrocious. It was not in vain that he was called the Sea Ogre. His physical resistance was insane. But that didn't matter, because our main harmer was someone else.
«I'll borrow this». Shortly after, Amelia got off my shoulder and jumped, stabbing the dagger into the monster's shoulder. The dagger was submerged with an aura that had the effect of ignoring physical resistance by 90%.
Stab!
Amelia's dagger moved deeply to the handle before coming out.
¡Soooot!
A dark green fluid emerged from the wound due to the pressure difference, but it was not a significant blow. This monster was not so weak that such a wound could leave him sore or interfere with his movements, and in addition, it had high regeneration.
¡Whoom!
The boss monster then launched its sharp claws at Amelia. It was a quick move that could double my agility, but it wasn't enough to catch a true agile fighter.
Dash.
As soon as Amelia dodged the monster's retaliation by taking a step back, I shortened the distance to prevent it from continuing to run amok. The fact that he lacked the strength to score one on one wasn't a big problem right now.
Pushhh.
I may have been the main tank, but I didn't have to block him by myself. A single movement of the spear could have pushed me back, but there were several warriors who could distract him from the sides.
«Shell lizard! Stay away from Bjorn!»
I quickly gave orders. «Missha, Patzran! You help too! Keep your distance and approach only when he is attacking me!»
This was the first priority for close-range damage dealers in a raid. As soon as the front line was prepared according to my instructions, the battle was established.
"¡Kwoohhh!"
I was in charge of the big hits. If they pushed me back, short-range damage to me would come in to divert attention. Using that opening, I closed in again to attract attention while Amelia sent damage. This process was repeated.
«The wound is already healing. Raven, start releasing Intensify! And tell us everything you know about this monster!»
Repeating a series of processes, Raven unleashed support magic while informing us about this monster in real time. «S-soil! When Storm Gush hits hard, you have to walk away! It's a move he makes when he uses a special ability called the Eye of the Storm».
The data was insufficient to call it strategy, but even this was something I had not explained to my comrades beforehand. How was I going to tell them a strategy? All they knew was that the monster was rank 3, and nothing more.
But since Raven knows him well, I won't need to step forward.
If Raven wasn't here, I would have had to do the briefing, because the risk was too high to pretend to learn as I went. In a fight with a monster like this, a single blow could cause a fatal wound. For example...
[Storm Gush has released Eye of the Storm.]
Yeah, like that thing Raven just told us about.
Boom.
After the monster stomped on the ground with its foot, in a second, a vortex was created within a fifteen-foot radius and sucked everything in.
¡Wiiiip!
The wind pressure could be felt even from a step back.
«Back!»
Just in case they were dragged by him, everyone took another step outside the radius. Of course, I did the opposite.
Dash.
Instead of backing away from the radius, I pushed my body into the whirlwind.
«B-Bjorn? Where are you going?»
Since Storm's Eye was an aurora-type ability, that whirlwind lasted five seconds around the monster, not where it was created. Simply put, if the monster charged at us, there was a chance that someone would get caught in it. Someone had to take care of containment to be safe.
¡Whiiiipppp!
As soon as I entered the radius, the wind roared and enveloped my body but did not suck me towards the monster like a magnet.
[Your total weight is more than 907.1847 kg. Ignoring the special Eye of the Storm effect].
It would have been stranger if this body could be blown away by the mere wind.
¡Latigo!
The real problem was that the trident stuck in an environment where it was difficult to even open its eyes. To be honest, I didn't even see it coming.
¡Bang!
My hand moved on its own and blocked the spear. Was it thanks to being reckless with my body until now?
Wow, did I react to this?
Now, my body reacted before my head.
¡Bang! ¡Pum! ¡Pum!
Relying on intuition to block the spear three more times like that, the whirlwind subsided before I knew it.
Okay, so I should be able to extend the distance now.
Dash.
When I backed away, I could hear Raven's screams, which were being drowned out by the wind. «Mr. Yandel, what are you doing? I just told you!»
It was resentment towards a member who did not follow instructions, but as a barbarian, he only had one thing to say. Like «I forgot» it was a bit of a stretch even for me...
«Oh, I'm sorry. I felt like I needed to do that».
You're the wizard, you should have told me before that heavy people might not be absorbed, so I should go in and grab the monster. Tsk, these native wizards. Don't your books explain those basic things?
For me, it was unfortunate.