Chapter 295
Eiji drew the Hell Beasts' attention at the front lines, Toji cut through countless enemies, and Wool managed both strengthening and attacking with his cries. As expected, my companions were all excellent.
"I must do my part as the leader too... All right, activate the Grand Magic Circle: Black Hole."
I cast Black Hole, currently the spell with the highest attack power. The Grand Magic Circle took a long time to activate in exchange for increasing magical power, while my staff's magic-stone absorption function enabled sustained combat. Under these conditions, this was the greatest firepower I could produce.
The spell I activated in the middle of the horde took the form of a pitch-black sphere, sucking in and compressing the surrounding Hell Beasts one after another. Since evolving, my magic has grown so powerful that even I find it a little intimidating. Was it because I had become a Race with 'King' in its name?
In any case, it seemed that everyone's efforts had bought enough time for the Centaurs to recover. Behind me, they had regained their vigor and were standing up. I wanted them to take on that dangerous role again.
"Izam-dono, we have recovered. We shall return to the battlefield once more."
"Yes, please do. Also, are the three proving useful?"
By 'the three,' I meant Raga, Kanna, and Sei. They had accompanied the Centaurs, and I had begun to worry whether they were contributing enough as a fighting force. I thought I sounded like a mother, but when something concerned me, I could not help worrying about it.
"Indeed. All three are excellent warriors. They have been a great help to us as well."
Regtus-dono nodded magnanimously. It seemed that they had been making full use of their martial prowess. Just hearing that was enough for me.
"Izam-sama. I will go inspect the forest."
"The Dark Elves' position? I understand. However, if your magic power runs low, don't push yourself and rest on Shiratsuki. You are a valuable healer, after all."
"I am well aware of that. Then, I shall be off."
"...Mikero must be far busier today than I was during the previous battle."
My mutter was drowned out by the Centaurs' war cries before anyone heard it. I glanced at the forest where the Dark Elves had created an improvised fortress through magic, the place Mikero was heading toward. However, I reminded myself that I should concentrate on the battle as well and turned my attention to the front.
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The Hell Beasts continued charging into the forest that had suddenly appeared at the foot of the hill. However, most of them seemed to be heading in the same direction for some reason. It was as if they had some sort of objective.
One reason was their savagery and lack of intelligence, but the main reason was something else. They were being drawn in by the indescribably pleasant fragrance drifting from deep within the forest.
"Heehee, how simple."
The Hell Beast lured into the forest by the scent of Aja fruit—which had even ensnared Karnagtur—was killed by an arrow through the head before it could hear the woman's mocking voice. Most of the Hell Beasts that entered the forest met the same fate.
The archer who had fired that arrow was Arana, one of the Dark Elf warriors who had created this forest and one of the first Dark Elves Izam had encountered. Their tactic was to hide among the treetops and fire arrows at the crowns of Hell Beasts passing beneath them.
Even if the Hell Beasts were too numerous, those that ate Aja fruit would certainly become paralyzed and unable to move. All the Dark Elves had to do was deliver the killing blow, so they did not allow even a single Hell Beast to pass through to the other side of the forest.
"At first, I thought, 'A Reaper?' But she's an amazing craftswoman."
The attacks combining 【Ambush】 and 【Assassination】 were powerful. Against ordinary Hell Beasts, they could almost certainly kill any individual that did not possess an abnormally large amount of health. This was due not only to the archers' skill, but also to the bow and arrows.
The bow Arana lovingly stroked had been made by Iris as a prototype. Iris had long been interested in a type of bow called a compound bow, fitted with pulleys at the top and bottom, and had created this new weapon through repeated trial and error.
The arrows were Iris's work as well. The fangs of Corundum Lizards, which had been hunted in large numbers to equip the Undead unit, were used as arrowheads. The fangs were slightly heavy, but had high penetrating power, further increasing the arrows' chances of succeeding in an ambush.
However, as Dark Elves, they had certainly felt a sense of aversion when they saw Iris. The 'Dark Forest of Temptation' where they lived was also home to Reapers, a Race akin to Iris, and they had fought them for years as a threat within the same habitat.
When they encountered a Race their people had opposed for generations, they could not help feeling uncomfortable even when they understood intellectually that the individual was a player. Moreover, since that player was one of the companions Izam, their supreme commander, trusted most, it was only natural for them to have mixed feelings.
The appearance of the compound bow Iris had created was also a problem. Few people wanted to try a weapon they had never seen or heard of before, such as a bow fitted with pulleys.
That said, they could not simply reject the new weapon their supreme commander had given them so generously. However, when Kirils, the other of the two Dark Elves Izam had first encountered, accepted it and tried using it, they discovered that their reaction had merely been a kind of prejudice. A masterpiece made by a top-class player artisan could not possibly be an unusable weapon.
From then on, the Dark Elves changed their attitude toward Iris and apologized for their earlier rudeness. They also began actively adopting the weapons she had made.
"It has the clear drawback of being prone to breaking if you use it improperly, but the arrows have tremendous power, and the bow is much lighter than it looks. Yes, it's a fine bow."
Even while muttering to herself, Arana never stopped firing. During that time, she pierced and slaughtered many Hell Beasts.
However, there were also a fair number of individuals that did not fall for the lure of the sweet scent. Most of them were either high-level individuals or possessed unusual forms that lacked a sense of smell. A proper plan had also been prepared for dealing with such individuals if they tried to leave the forest from somewhere outside the area where archers hid in the treetops.
"Gogeeeeh!?"
"Bugoo!? Fgoooh!"
"Hahahaha! Caught you!"
The Hell Beasts racing through the gaps between the trees were attacked by a lone shrub growing in isolation. Its true identity was Nenashi, who had been lying in wait for Hell Beasts that came near him.
If the Hell Beasts had possessed enough intelligence to sense that a lone shrub standing out among the towering trees was suspicious, his ambush would not have succeeded. However, it had been established beforehand that most Hell Beasts lacked intelligence. Thus, this ambush succeeded because it was bound to succeed.
"Hmm... It is regrettable that even if I earn battle honors, no visible results remain."
"Indeed, you are right. How is the battle progressing?"
Nenashi had slain every Hell Beast within reach of his vines, but seeing them vanish without leaving anything behind made him complain despite himself. Just then, Mikero arrived overhead riding a flying Golem.
Mikero made his magic eye shine and healed Nenashi before asking him about the current situation. By using his treatment rounds at various locations, he was also sharing information that could not be conveyed through chat alone.
"There is no problem yet, Commander. The Dark Elves are all master archers. Most of the beasts are defeated before reaching this point. Some get past the arrows, but the Dark Elves are all renowned warriors, each the equal of a thousand. And with Shifune's efforts as well, we have not let a single one escape."
"Not including yourself is very modest of you. I understand. Then I will go treat her."
"Please take care as well, Commander!"
With Nenashi's voice at his back, Mikero headed toward the area assigned to Shifune. There, he found her in the middle of fighting a large Hell Beast.
"Kichichichi!"
"Aaaah!? I like insect-like monsters and feel a kinship with them, but that appearance is absolutely impossible! I'll take you down!"
The Hell Beast Shifune was fighting looked like a cockroach. Its black, glossy body was covered in a film of oil, while its six legs belonged to soft-bodied creatures like octopuses, complete with suckers. Even Shifune, who had chosen an insect avatar, was so unnerved by its grotesque appearance that she felt chills.
However, this Hell Beast's strength was genuine. It vibrated its wings and sprayed highly toxic oil, then tried to set it alight by breathing flames onto it. When Shifune dodged, it bent its writhing legs like whips and slammed them down.
The strength packed into its legs was tremendous, enough to snap a tree with one swing. It could even seize the trees with its suckers and hurl them at Shifune like spears.
Shifune was extremely fast, so she dodged all of its attacks. She also counterattacked with her threads time and again. However, the oil film on its surface neutralized the threads' adhesive power, preventing her from hooking or binding it.
The Hell Beast did not possess particularly high defense, so Shifune could easily have torn it apart with her legs. Nevertheless, she refused to do so because she did not want to touch it directly.
"Ugh... I don't even want to touch a cockroach in a game! Now I'm mad! Take this! Sword Thread Dance!"
"Gidididiii!?"
Shifune rapidly fired countless plate-like threads from the tip of her abdomen. Their edges were thin like blades, and their shape closely resembled a whip-like sword called an urumi.
The threads spread out to surround the Hell Beast, then converged and tightened around it. The Hell Beast seemed to try to flee, but Shifune's threads gave it no time to do so and tore it apart in an instant.
"Come on! This martial technique uses so much magic... I hope no more Hell Beasts like that show up..."
Mikero had watched the battle from beginning to end. Agreeing with Shifune's sentiments in his heart, he approached her to treat her wounds.