Chapter 11

"Huh? No way an F-Rank adventurer can go toe-to-toe with a monster like that!"

"Idiot! Shut up! Let's get out of here while we still can! If he gets killed, we're next!"

The adventurers were making a commotion from a distance.

But that was fine.

Anyone who wanted to run could go ahead and run.

Even if they tried to help, F-Rank adventurers who couldn't read the monster's movements, had low Defense, and wore cheap armor wouldn't be able to handle Mad Head.

They'd last ten seconds, tops.

I was Level 16, while Mad Head was Level 40.

One direct hit could take even me, a defense-focused Heavy Knight, out in a single blow.

Its movements were easy to read, but the level gap made it terrifyingly fast.

The paralysis caused by Mad Head's Trait 〈Paralyzing Poison Flesh〉 wore off on its own after three minutes on average.

If I could hold out until then, Goutan should be able to recover with Tail's 〈Heal〉 and get back in the fight.

I'd endure these three minutes, even if I had to fight for my life.

"Bwoaaaaah! Bwoaaaaah!"

Mad Head swung both arms wildly.

I kept moving to dodge its attacks, never staying within reach of one of Mad Head's arms.

Mad Head's broad swings were easy to read.

So I should have been able to dodge its attacks reliably, but...

"Guh!"

A blow came flying down from overhead.

I dodged to the right while using 〈Parry〉 to deflect its claws to the left, barely avoiding them.

Even so, the impact sent me flying and rolling across the ground.

The difference in our stats was just too much.

In 〈Magic World〉, I could've completely dodged an attack like that...

The situation was as bad as it could get.

I'd wanted to play it safe, but I never thought I'd end up facing an enemy so much stronger than me one-on-one without any preparation.

"H-Hey, isn't that Heavy Knight fighting on equal terms with the monster that sent Goutan-san flying?"

"Don't be stupid! He's clearly losing! It's a miracle he's still alive!"

I could hear the adventurers shouting from a distance.

"Hey... Is that guy smiling?"

When I heard that, at first I thought he meant Mad Head.

But I soon realized the corners of my own mouth had curled up.

"This is rough... I wanted to avoid this kind of situation, but strangely, I can't say I hate it."

High risk, high reward.

It was a common situation in 〈Magic World〉, too.

The death penalty for losing made it awful in terms of efficiency, but a man who doesn't get fired up when his abilities are tested to the limit isn't a man.

I changed tactics.

At my current Level, it seemed I wouldn't be able to evade everything if I let Mad Head attack me without interruption.

I needed to attack it myself, if only to keep it in check.

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【Skill Tree】

【Remaining Skill Points: 0】

〈Oath of Heavy Armor〉[15/100]

〈Defense Boost〉[0/50]

〈Beginner Swordsmanship〉[5/50]【+5】

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I opened 〈Status〉 and put all my points into 〈Beginner Swordsmanship〉.

It would've been better to raise 〈Oath of Heavy Armor〉 first, or use an item to add a new Skill Tree and invest in that, but I didn't have much choice.

In the end, I'd planned to pick up the Skill unlocked at [5] in 〈Beginner Swordsmanship〉 sooner or later anyway.

【You acquired the Normal Skill 〈Striking Slash〉 because 〈Beginner Swordsmanship〉 reached [5/50].】

All right...!

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〈Striking Slash〉【Normal Skill】

A technique that strikes a target at point-blank range with the flat of your sword.

It makes it easier to deal damage even to highly defensive foes.

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〈Striking Slash〉 is considered one of the duds in 〈Beginner Swordsmanship〉.

That's partly because nearly everyone wants the Trait unlocked at [10] that raises your Attack while wielding a sword, so the Skill gets mocked more than it deserves.

In practice, giving up the reach advantage of a sword to leap onto an enemy doesn't suit a swordsman's fighting style. As for its secondary effect, the general view is that you shouldn't pick a fight with an opponent so much stronger that you can barely deal damage in the first place.

But this Skill meshes perfectly with a Heavy Knight's low Attack and high Defense.

A Heavy Knight can keep enduring the enemy's attacks with their stats while steadily dealing damage with 〈Striking Slash〉.

And in 〈Magic World〉, leveling up is basically all about how many enemies stronger than you can hunt.

〈Striking Slash〉 is useful because it can deal damage to just about anyone.

"Bwoaaaaah!"

I deflected another one of Mad Head's blows with 〈Parry〉.

I was still sent flying by the impact I couldn't fully deflect, but I drove my sword into the ground, used the momentum to spin halfway around, and rolled beneath Mad Head's legs.

"Bwo...?"

Mad Head lost sight of me.

"〈Striking Slash〉!"

I pressed in close behind it and struck Mad Head at point-blank range as if punching it.

I smashed through its core beneath its thick hide.

"Bwo!"

Mad Head's massive body lurched, and it hurriedly turned toward me.

Then it began swinging its arms wildly.

If its movements got erratic, they'd be easier to read.

I ran around to stay out of Mad Head's attack range, using 〈Parry〉 to deflect the attacks it swung at me as it pursued.

Whenever I spotted an opening, I countered with 〈Striking Slash〉, keeping Mad Head from attacking me unopposed.

But since I couldn't completely nullify Mad Head's attacks with 〈Parry〉, my HP had taken a serious hit.

I managed to land 〈Striking Slash〉 a fair number of times, but Mad Head had too much HP for that to be enough.

"Bwo... Grrrr...!"

Mad Head seemed deeply frustrated that it couldn't finish off an opponent clearly weaker than itself.

It slammed one massive arm into the ground and threatened me, as if to say it would finish me off with its next attack.

"You're right, Mad Head. This is where the real fight starts... But sorry, taking you down isn't my job."

"Grr...?"

Seeing me lower my sword, Mad Head made a puzzled sound.

"〈Dragon-Slaying Cleave〉!"

Behind Mad Head, Goutan leaped high into the air and brought his axe down toward its crown.

Blood sprayed from Mad Head's head, and its massive body collapsed.

〈Dragon-Slaying Cleave〉 is a wide-swinging Skill designed to land a critical hit.

It's powerful, but it has a long motion and leaves a huge opening. It's also difficult to land a solid hit on a moving target, so chances to use it are limited.

But the enraged Mad Head had been focused on me.

It was too slow to notice Goutan approaching from behind after he'd recovered his HP and shaken off the paralysis.

【You gained 330 experience.】

【Your Level increased from 16 to 23.】

【You acquired 7 Skill Points.】

Most of the experience should've gone to Goutan, but I still got an extraordinary amount.

The Skill Points were a nice bonus, too.

I got back more than I'd spent.