Chapter 24
Hmm, no enemies. No, that isn't a problem in itself. Advancing while defeating enemies that aren't particularly strong is a bit of a hassle, and if they're Skeleton-type creatures, we don't need the drops anyway.
However, with no enemies at all, I can't help feeling that there's nothing ahead. We've walked quite a distance, and if this turns out to have been a wasted trip, it could affect everyone's morale. Please let there be something! I couldn't help praying for it.
"…Stop."
Ruby's order comes flying back to us. Did she find something?
"There's a large open space a little farther ahead. Something was moving around in it."
Yes, bingo! There really was something here after all. Now, the question was whether that something was our enemy or not. I wanted to avoid an unnecessary confrontation, but if it came to a fight, we would give it our all.
"Let's go. Gengoro will take the lead. Jigoro, move up front. Ruby, stay beside Iris."
We changed formation and proceeded into the wide-open space.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
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You and your companions have discovered the hidden area 'The Cave's Hidden Altar.'
You have been awarded 10 SP as a discovery reward.
――――――――――
That information flowed through everyone's minds. The space Ruby had found must have been 'The Cave's Hidden Altar.' At first glance, it really did look like some kind of sanctuary. At the very back stood what appeared to be an altar, with six coffin-like objects arranged around it. To put it bluntly, the place was creepy.
The thing Ruby had said was moving was a humanoid monster dressed in tattered, filthy clothes from a foreign land—or perhaps I should say, in Chinese-style clothing. How did I know it was a monster? Its marker was pitch-black!
Judging by its posture, the monster was probably in the middle of praying to the god it worshiped. Its movements seemed to follow Chinese customs as well. I can't remember the exact name, but it was repeating an ancient Chinese ritual known as tonshu or keishu. Wasn't that something you did toward a god?
Well, whatever. This is a world inside a game, so I suppose that's just how things are. In any case, it seemed we had interrupted it at an important moment.
"…Who are you?"
Oh, it seemed the praying monster had noticed us. Without even turning around, it asked in a voice steeped in displeasure. I suppose we should answer.
"Sorry to interrupt your prayer. We were merely exploring this cave."
"No, I know exactly who you are. You are apostles of Aruru, are you not?!"
Aruru? That was the name of the Goddess of Light and Order. In that case, it was absolutely mistaken. After all, we'd slaughtered the hero and all his companions, who apparently happened to be that goddess's favorites!
"That's not it. We are…"
"No point in talking! Aruru's apostles must die! Kill! Kill! Kill! KILL! KILL! KILL! DIIIEE!"
"Yeah, there's no talking to this guy."
Jigoro seemed to be right. At first, our opponent had spoken quite clearly, so I thought it might possess reason. But this was its reaction upon seeing us, even though we made no attempt to hide that we were monsters. It had clearly lost its sanity.
The bastard finally turned to face us. Its face was bloodless, and its eyes were murky and lifeless. I see. It was undead, like us.
"Looks like a fight can't be avoided. Everyone, get ready!"
"Come forth, my friends!"
"What?"
The lids of the coffins beside the altar were blown off from within. Two kinds of monsters emerged. One group consisted of four Skeleton-type monsters, while the other was two famous monsters with talismans stuck to their faces, creatures familiar from movies and the like.
"Skeleton monsters and… jiangshi?"
That's right, jiangshi. Living corpses created through the resurrection arts of Chinese Taoism. They were said to possess tremendous physical strength, and the more advanced ones could even wield supernatural powers.
And the Skeleton monsters were… four-armed Skeletons. Every bone except the shoulder blades was humanoid, but they had two shoulder joints, with a pair of arms attached to each. What in the world was that? Let's Appraise them.
――――――――――
Race: Jiangshi Lv23
Job: Martial Artist Lv3
Skill: 【Punch】
【Kick】
【Acrobatics】
【Strength Enhancement】
【Defense Enhancement】
【Night Vision】
【Superhuman Strength】
【Status Ailment Immunity】
【Light-Attribute Vulnerability】
【Fire-Attribute Vulnerability】
Race: Chimera Skeleton Warrior Lv15
Job: Warrior Lv5
Skill: 【Swordsmanship】
【Spearmanship】
【Shieldsmanship】
【Polearmsmanship】
【Night Vision】
【Status Ailment Immunity】
【Light-Attribute Vulnerability】
【Blunt Attack Vulnerability】
Race: Undead Mage Lv25
Job: Advanced Necromancer Lv5
Skill: 【Punch】
【Kick】
【Mana Control】
【Earth Magic】
【Dark Magic】
【Holy Magic】
【Summoning】
【Enchantment】
【Necromancy】
【Curse Arts】
【Night Vision】
【Superhuman Strength】
【Status Ailment Immunity】
【Light-Attribute Vulnerability】
【Fire-Attribute Vulnerability】
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Oh-ho, a Chimera Skeleton Warrior, is it? It was probably created with Necromancy. Which meant I might be able to create one myself. Heh heh, I could feel my creative impulses coming alive.
And as expected, the other ones were jiangshi. Their levels were high, and their Skills seemed specialized in close combat. They would be troublesome opponents.
But even more dangerous was the Undead Mage who had spoken first. Its level alone put it on par with the monsters that appeared in 'Azure Moon's Trial.' On top of that, it had acquired the abyssal magic Skills Necromancy and Curse Arts.
It even possessed an evolved form of Light Magic! Why did it have that despite its Light-Attribute Vulnerability? I had to keep firmly in mind that if it hit me, I could die instantly.
"Jigoro, take down the Skeletons as quickly as possible! Iris, provide support! Gengoro and Ruby, keep the jiangshi occupied! They're higher level than you, so don't overdo it! I'll support everyone!"
"Got it! Raaagh!"
I hurriedly issued my orders. Right now, all we had to do was what was necessary to win!
"Magic Circle deployed. Magic Boost, Magic Boost, Magic Boost…!"
After applying three layers of Magic Boost to myself, I rapidly sent Enchantment buffs to Jigoro, Gengoro, Ruby, and Iris. Our opponent could use magic equal to or greater than mine. We couldn't afford to let our guard down.
"Ugh?!"
What? Jigoro had been beating the Chimera Skeleton Warriors with ease, but his movements suddenly stopped? Wait, was he paralyzed? This was Curse Arts, wasn't it? I wouldn't let it happen!
"Dispel! Iris!"
"Yes! Light Ball!"
"Thanks!"
The instant he could move again, Jigoro crouched beneath the spearhead of a Chimera Skeleton Warrior that had rushed up before him. Iris's spell struck the torso of the one that had missed its thrust.
"Hraaah!"
With its health suddenly reduced, the Chimera Skeleton Warrior took a clean hit to the head from a kick delivered by Jigoro's powerful leg. Its head shattered on the spot. That finished one of them. Hmm, the Undead Mage was trying to cast a spell. Was it aiming at Jigoro?
"I won't let you! Remote activation: Triple Magic Circle, Magic Shield!"
I deployed three Magic Shields right in front of the Undead Mage and rammed them into its spell, canceling it out. It had probably been trying to use Dark Lance.
Caught in the backlash of its blocked spell, the Undead Mage tumbled backward. This was our chance!
"Gengoro, Ruby! Time for magic! Remote activation: Twin Magic Circles, Flame Thrower!"
At my signal, the two of them leaped backward. My magic circles appeared where they had been standing and behind the jiangshi, and Fire Magic erupted. It was fire, their weakness, and the attack came from an evolved Skill. The strike tore huge chunks out of both their health bars.
Flame Thrower normally couldn't hit anything outside close range, but by setting its origin point with magic circles, it could be used effectively without approaching. It's all about ingenuity.
"Let's finish them in one go! Gengoro, Ruby! Aim for their legs!"
"Sure thing."
"Haaah!"
They answered my unreasonable-sounding request without complaint. Gengoro severed a jiangshi's tendon with one precise stroke, sending it tumbling, while Ruby used that impressive speed to deliver a dagger strike that cleanly severed one of the other jiangshi's ankles.
"Lava Shot!"
I fired Lava Shot at the fallen jiangshi. Lava Shot had the property of remaining on the ground after impact. The two of them had effectively been thrown into the crater of a volcano.
As expected, they burst into flames. The jiangshi became living fireballs, but somehow managed to crawl out of the pool of lava. I suppose that's what you get from higher-level opponents. But they were already checkmated, weren't they?
"Hmph!"
"No!"
Gengoro and Ruby were waiting where the jiangshi crawled out. They mercilessly cut off their heads, and the two jiangshi stopped moving.
"Oraaahhh!"
As for Jigoro, he had already finished off all the Chimera Skeleton Warriors. Iris's precise support seemed to have played a part, but even so, overwhelming four monsters of equal rank was impressive, to say the least.
"Only the Undead Mage remains! Jigoro and Gengoro, close in and don't give it time to cast! Be careful, it can fight at close range too!"
"Got it, boss!"
"Sure, sure!"
"Ruby, circle around behind it and keep it distracted! Don't let it focus on those two! Iris, provide magical support with me!"
"Yes!"
"Leave it to me!"
Jigoro and Gengoro ran toward the Undead Mage, which had gotten back to its feet. They were only a few seconds away, but that was more than enough time to cast a spell. The spell it chose would probably be…
"Earthquake."
As I thought! The ground suddenly began to shake, and I lost my balance. Jigoro and Gengoro kept running without wavering, thanks to the superhuman balance unique to real-life cheaters.
Grrr, what are they, elite athletes or something?! Their physical abilities must be even greater than that!
"Shah!"
"Chei!"
Jigoro's straight punch and Gengoro's sharp sword thrust struck at the Undead Mage. The former aimed for its solar plexus, while the latter targeted its neck.
This game was designed with an emphasis on realism, so even against a higher-level opponent, striking a vital point could kill it easily. That was why I had been able to kill the hero's warrior companion with Magic Sword.
In that sense, the health bar was only a rough guideline. Hitting a vital point cleanly was extremely difficult, so it didn't matter to ordinary people. But monsters like them took full advantage of it. It was so unfair!
"Kaaaah!"
Thanks to that mechanic, I thought either hit would inflict massive damage. But the level difference really was enormous. The Undead Mage dodged the two attacks, which were so fast that even our own eyes could barely track them. We wouldn't manage this without support.
"Take this!"
Ruby had approached silently from behind and spat out the acid used while feeding, keeping the enemy in check. Ruby must have anticipated that the poisoned dagger wouldn't work against Status Ailment Immunity. Unlike poison, acid that melted flesh and weapons was a purely physical attack, so it couldn't be nullified. It was a precise move.
"Trap set, Water Lance, Thunder Arrow, Thorn Whip!"
Perhaps unwilling to be doused in acid, the Undead Mage tried to kick Ruby away in annoyance. I didn't miss the opening. I set a trap in a certain spot and cast three kinds of magic. The water spear soaked it to the skin, lightning numbed its body, and the thorns wounded and bound it.
None of them targeted its weaknesses, so they had little effect. Paralysis naturally didn't work, and it tore the thorns apart in an instant. But all I needed was to buy this one moment.
"Divine Beast Form! Oraaahhh!"
Wrapped in a golden aura and lightning, Jigoro slammed his fist into the enemy with all his might. With a series of crunching sounds, as though something were being crushed, the Undead Mage was sent flying like a character in a comic. The instant it crashed into the wall, that spot exploded. Of course, it wasn't a coincidence.
"Heh heh heh, just as I predicted."
It was my Trap Magic, with a Magic Bomb planted inside. It seemed to have worked perfectly. My companions could see the locations of the traps I'd set, so Jigoro had punched it in that direction.
But this wasn't over yet. From here on, we would destroy it without giving it a chance to do anything!
"My minions, hold it down! Iris! Fire Enchantment!"
"…! Yes!"
My summoned Skeleton Warriors used every ounce of their strength to pin down the Undead Mage's limbs. The difference in strength was overwhelming, so this would only matter for a few seconds. But they had bought enough time for Iris to use the tentacles she'd prepared to extend at any moment.
Fire Enchantment was the worst possible match for Iris's tentacles, which had Fire-Attribute Vulnerability, and their surfaces had already begun to char. They looked as if they might burn through at any moment.
Our allies were supposed to be immune to friendly fire, yet they were dealing damage? That was a minor but interesting discovery.
Still, being restrained face-down after the explosion naturally made it difficult to move. And once that happened, it was forced to expose its completely unguarded back.
"Fire Enchantment. Go, both of you!"
"I'll go first!"
Using the time we'd finally managed to create, I applied Fire Enchantment to the weapons of Jigoro, Gengoro, and Ruby. Their ordinary attacks should be considerably more effective now.
Ruby climbed onto the Undead Mage's back and drove the enchanted dagger into its heart. The Undead Mage let out an inhuman scream. Perhaps it could feel its body burning from the inside.
"Take this!"
"This is the end!"
Fortunately or unfortunately, its suffering didn't last long. Jigoro's fist punched a hole through its torso, and Gengoro's sword decapitated it, ensuring that it would never feel pain again.
――――――――――
You won the battle.
Your Race level has increased. You gained 1 SP.
Your Job level has increased. You gained 1 SP.
【Staff】 level has increased.
【Mana Control】 level has increased.
【Water-Ice Magic】 level has increased.
【Fire Magic】 level has increased.
【Tree Magic】 level has increased.
【Lava Magic】 level has increased.
【Lightning Magic】 level has increased.
【Explosive Magic】 level has increased.
【Void Magic】 level has increased.
You have learned a new Mana Interference spell.
【Summoning】 level has increased.
【Enchantment】 level has increased.
【Magic Circle】 level has increased.
【Necromancy】 level has increased.
【Curse Arts】 level has increased.
【Trap Magic】 level has increased.
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Yes, we won! It was our victory! …Wait, is it really over already?