Chapter 64
I seize the utterly defenseless Aerial Eagle as it slowly approaches me, then crush it through sheer grip strength, just like Jigoro.
Skill: 【Dragon Factor】. I gained this Skill when I incorporated the bones of a Lesser Small Naga. It grants an absurd power-up when I'm at death's door. Since I hadn't come close to dying since the Moon-Obsessed Idiot battle, I'd even forgotten it existed.
Normally, I wouldn't have this kind of grip strength, but 【Dragon Factor】 has greatly increased all my stats. This much is easy. I feel about as much resistance as I would from a stick-shaped snack.
"K...!"
"Kek...!"
Oh? The birds are plummeting like flying insects after someone sprays them with insecticide. Could 【Dragon Factor】 be strengthening the effect of 【Abyssal Aura】? And not just its effect, but its range as well? That's amazing.
"Kii!"
"Kiki!"
Two birds that were lucky enough to avoid 【Abyssal Aura】 come diving at me. The pair consists of an Aerial Eagle and an Iron Woodpecker. Since that worked against me earlier, they're trying the same approach. However...
"Too slow."
"!?"
The two birds' movements are far too slow for me now. I don't even feel the need to deflect them.
So I casually swing my scythe, placing its blade in the path of their flight. The speed of my swing has increased tremendously as well, and I bisect the Aerial Eagle and Iron Woodpecker without them even being able to evade.
I felt almost no resistance when I cut them. With every stat enhanced, apparently I can deal somewhat excessive damage to monsters of this caliber. To them, my scythe must look like the Grim Reaper's own.
"Only the boss left, then."
In the meantime, Jigoro and Ruby seem to have finished off the Aerial Eagles that were working with the Twin-Headed Wind Eagle, while Iris and Genjuro have finished off the birds that survived my aura.
The only survivor is the boss, the Twin-Headed Wind Eagle. We managed to drive it this far because everyone did their job properly, and normally, we should all be the ones to finish it off together.
"But this won't satisfy me after I nearly died. Allow me to be a little selfish, everyone..."
After muttering that, I point the tip of my staff at the Twin-Headed Wind Eagle.
"Dark Lance."
My mana recovery speed has increased as well, so I had recovered enough mana to fire one Dark Lance. I poured all the hatred in my heart into it and unleashed the Dark Lance.
"!?"
What I fired was a truly ordinary Dark Lance, without any magic circle or spell adjustments whatsoever. And yet what manifested was a gigantic conical spear at least ten meters long.
It was an unbelievable size. Although somewhat shaken, I fired it immediately. The enormous Dark Lance hurtled toward the enemy, trailing a black tail. I have to admit, it was a spectacular sight!
"Kikii!?"
The Twin-Headed Wind Eagle cries out in astonishment at the spear that would certainly kill it if it were hit. It sounds almost like a scream, and I'm sure that's not my imagination. If I were in its place, my face would have gone white with fear. Though it doesn't have a face that can go pale.
In any case, the Twin-Headed Wind Eagle rises into the sky at full speed. It's trying to evade the spear by flying along a complex trajectory. I'll use 【Mana Precision Control】 to make the Dark Lance pursue it.
However, the Twin-Headed Wind Eagle has excellent aerial maneuverability, while my Dark Lance is so huge that it can't turn sharply. That proves fatal, and my Dark Lance dissipates without ever demonstrating its power. It seems to have the advantage in a dogfight. Naturally—it is a bird, after all.
"I see. Then it's time for my final trump card."
"Kyeeeaah!"
Having successfully evaded the obvious threat, the Twin-Headed Wind Eagle comes straight at me. It must not want to let me do anything else.
I can understand how it feels. Imagine it: an enemy that should have been on the verge of death suddenly powers up, then wipes out its entire entourage in an instant. Of course it would want to defeat me as quickly as possible.
At this point, it's hard to tell which of us is the boss. Well, since I'm aiming to become an unofficial villain, perhaps this is just right.
But if it comes closer of its own accord, that's actually convenient. Why? Because I don't know the range of my trump card, either.
"Well then, to see just what it can do, how about becoming my test subject? ... Dragon Breath, Gaaaaaaaaah!!!"
I open my mouth as wide as I can and unleash the ultimate technique that can only be used once while 【Dragon Factor】 is active, Dragon Breath. A thick jet of black flame bursts forth from the mouth of my silver mask with tremendous force!
"G..."
The Twin-Headed Wind Eagle hurriedly uses its four wings to take an evasive course, but it gets caught in my Dragon Breath. Engulfed by the black Dragon Breath that seems capable of burning even the sky, it vanishes without so much as a death cry.
Oh, right! I can't loot its items!
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You won the battle.
You defeated the Field Boss, Twin-Headed Wind Eagle.
You are the first party to defeat the Field Boss, Twin-Headed Wind Eagle.
Everyone has received special rewards and 6 SP.
Starting next time, you can choose whether to fight Field Bosses.
Your Race level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.
Your Job level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.
Your 【Staff】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Scythe Arts】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Intelligence Enhancement】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Mental Enhancement】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Health Recovery Speed Increase】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Mana Recovery Speed Increase】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Mana Precision Control】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Holy Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Dark Magic】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Summoning】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Enchantment】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Magic Circle】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Necromancy】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Spirit Summoning】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Evil Arts】 Skill level has increased.
Your 【Appraisal】 Skill level has increased.
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My Dragon Breath kept extending higher and higher, powerful enough to pierce through and scatter the clouds. Its range is absurdly long! It's practically a strategic weapon!
Since the city of Fars is visible from the mountaintop, there's a good chance someone saw my Dragon Breath. But they won't be able to uncover the truth. They have no information to base their deductions on in the first place.
After all sorts of speculation fly around, the best they can do is arrive at some incorrect conclusion like the 'I = Event Monster' theory. Fufufu! Human players, panic to your hearts' content!
Even so, that power was truly incredible. If I fired it at the mountain, it would probably punch a hole through it, and if I fired it at Fars, the city would likely disappear in a single shot. I would be massacring NPCs, and I also know a Grave Keeper there, so I absolutely won't do that, though.
"Oops...!"
My health is constantly regenerating as well, and it has finally recovered to ten percent. But that caused 【Dragon Factor】 to wear off. Once the stats it had enhanced returned to normal, my strength suddenly left me and I staggered.
In hindsight, my stats must have been enhanced to such an extent that they distorted my bodily senses. 【Dragon Factor】 has strict activation conditions, lasts only a short while, and can't be activated again for a full day in real time—or four days in-game—once used. But its power not only lived up to those restrictions, it far exceeded my expectations.
Still, I have to nearly die to use it, so if you ask whether I want to use it again, my answer is complicated. No, firing Dragon Breath was exhilarating, so I do want to use it again. If only there were a Skill or piece of equipment that always left me with exactly 1 HP...
"Izam!? Are you all right!?"
Iris comes rushing over, shouting as she does. As though even taking the time to run over would be a waste, she extends her tentacles and checks my body over.
I understand that it's my fault she was worried, but even in a game, I don't think a girl should be touching a man's body so casually. Though it's only tentacles and bones! The scene must look absolutely ridiculous.
"That was awesome! So that's the power of a dragon!"
"Hahaha! Even though you stole the best part from us, I'm not disappointed at all! We got to see something even more amazing!"
"Indeed! That was splendid!"
The three of them are incredibly excited by my true final trump card. They chatter away with sparkling eyes—though Jigoro is the only one with actual eyeballs. Apparently, none of them are worried about me at all.
If anything, Iris is so kindhearted that she's more worried about me than excited about Dragon Breath. It's heartwarming. Her appearance aside.
"I'm sorry! It was because of my carelessness that you nearly died, Izam..."
Ah, so that's what she had been worrying about. Then I have to reassure her.
"Everyone makes mistakes. From now on, just remember to pay attention to what's behind you as well."
"...Yes! Understood!"
Good. I'm glad she's feeling better. Even though Iris initially said she was bad at fighting, she's been influenced by us quite a bit. I don't regret it, though.
All right! Now that the boss battle is over, I'll heal up and try the map's incantation...
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A monster egg is about to hatch. Remove it from your inventory.
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Eeeeeh!? Now of all times!?