Chapter 279 - Whirlpool (5)

“You just felt like you had to? How does that even—!”

Uh, I think I just hit a sore spot.

Before this could turn into a lengthy conversation, I cut her off and changed the subject. We could give each other feedback later.

“Right, so what's next? What should we watch out for?”

As I spoke, I hurried up to Stormgush and thrust my shield forward. That left Raven no choice but to stop scolding me and continue her explanation.

“Next is an Ability called [Ley Line]. When it uses it, the ground turns red... Ah, now! Dodge, Mr. Jandel!!”

Stormgush's second Active Skill, [Ley Line].

RUMBLE!

A mark appeared beneath the target, followed a moment later by an erupting column of air.

Just like this.

FSSSH!

Whew. It sprang that on me so suddenly I almost got hit.

“Everyone, fall back! A [Whirlpool] will form in the hole any second!”

Anyway, [Ley Line] didn't just deal powerful burst damage. It also left a hole that spewed out a [Whirlpool].

Incidentally, both its name and its effects were identical to the skill used by the miniboss, the Siren Queen...

WHOOOOOSH!

Getting hit by that would leave you suspended in midair until your companions rescued you, draining MP the entire time.

Well, my weight made me immune to the knockup, but...

'It'll still steal my MP.'

It had to be avoided at all costs. All the more so if you weren't as heavy as me.

“Don't bunch up! Spread out!”

The first Ley Line appearing nearby made the battle drastically harder. Having to dodge the whirlpool on top of everything else limited our room to maneuver.

For now, though, there was an easy solution to this attack pattern too.

“We're fighting on the move from now on!”

We just had to relocate. This bastard was the only thing left on the island anyway, which effectively made the entire island a boss room. There was no reason not to take advantage of such a spacious battlefield.

'... Not that we can keep this up for long either.'

That was one of the things that made this monster so tricky when you lacked damage. As it kept using [Ley Line], the usable map would inevitably shrink.

And in the meantime...

“Huh? Why's the seawater all the way up here...?”

One of Parune Island's features was that, once the fourth wave began, the sea level rose until everything but the island's center was submerged.

“Mr. Jandel! This is bad! The water keeps rising! Wh-what do we do?”

What did she mean, what do we do?

For now, we had to keep moving as we fought.

“Maintain formation and head for the center!”

Fortunately, no one questioned my orders. It wasn't as though any of them had a better idea.

「Stormgush has cast [Tyrant's Roar].」

Anyway, Stormgush brought out more skills while we fought and moved.

“Lady Ersina! This is the one I mentioned! Purification, quickly!”

[Tyrant's Roar] was an insane area-of-effect skill that inflicted an actual stun within a ten-meter radius for up to two seconds, though the duration decreased in proportion to Mana Resistance and Mental stats.

The priestess's Purification countered it easily.

「Stormgush has cast [Bloodline of the Storm].」

A berserk skill that temporarily sent its Regeneration and Physical stats skyrocketing?

“Everyone, stay back!”

I just took every damn hit and held out. My shield and armor ended up full of holes, along with various parts of my body, but...

The priestess's healing was enough to keep me going through that.

'As for my equipment... Repairing it later is going to cost a pretty penny.'

I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt, but considering this was a raid against a rank-three monster, it was a price worth paying.

Of course. My life mattered more than money.

“It's stomping! Everyone, get back!”

Stormgush cycled through those four skills repeatedly, and as the battle wore on, the team grew familiar with its patterns.

But it was too early to relax. It still had three more skills it hadn't used.

'Fucking rank-threes.'

That was the crucial difference between rank-three and rank-four monsters. Not only were their base stats different, but the number of skills they possessed was on another level entirely.

What's more, monsters this powerful generally had innate abilities beyond the skills obtainable through their Essences. A Vampire's dark magic, for example.

'This one's was weapon proficiency.'

In the game, “weapon proficiency” granted stat bonuses to a host of combat factors, including critical hits, Precision, evasion, and block success rate. Stormgush had a high level in it.

Was that why?

'It sure knows how to use that spear.'

For a monster, its thrusts were vicious. It wasn't simply relying on brute strength. How should I put it? It felt like there was some finesse mixed in.

*'Anyway, it'll start using the remaining patterns once its HP gets low...'

“Mr. Jandel, did you hear me? We'll all be in danger once it starts using that Ability. We have to think of something now...!”

No need to shout.

I'd already thought it all through. I'd only been waiting because producing a solution the instant she finished explaining would look suspicious, as though I'd had it ready all along.

Plan A and Plan B.

Once again, I had two plans. A was the best option, and B was the fallback.

The only problem was...

'The variables.'

There was no cheesing our way through this plan. We were about to face a more advanced kind of combat than anything we'd experienced against lower-ranked monsters.

And...

Someone unlucky would get hurt. They might even die.

All I could do was hope. I knew it was selfishness dressed up as altruism, but if someone had to suffer...

'Patzran, Ersina, Nevarche, Amelia.'

Please, let it not be one of us.

“Th-there's nowhere left to run!”

Just as I reaffirmed my priorities, Patzran shouted.

SHAAAAASH!

Water was rising ahead of us.

Escaping by boat or anything of the sort was impossible. Ever since the end of the first wave, hundreds of tornadoes had been raging around the island.

'... At this point, more than half must be underwater.'

We didn't have much time left.

“We're going that way!”

I led the group toward the island's center by the most roundabout route possible. Then I made one request of my companions.

“We need to deal as much damage to it as possible.”

It would be hard, but we'd have to push ourselves even harder in this fight.

“Do you have a plan?”

Amelia asked, and without hesitation, I laid out the plan I'd already worked through.

“... You came up with that just from listening to the mage?”

The male swordsman gave me an odd look when I explained.

“But will it work? From what you've told us, it sounds far too implausible and dangerous.”

The priestess voiced her concerns.

And...

“Bjorn is a great warrior! He knows how to fight better than anyone!”

Aynar shouted, never missing an opportunity to brag about me to others.

“You're... taking that role all by yourself again, nyah?”

Misha murmured with a hint of sadness, then offered to join me.

Of course, I refused. Quite apart from how much I cared about her, this was the most efficient allocation of our people.

Then what was the verdict from Raven, efficiency personified?

“It's not a bad plan. Especially since you've accounted for the possibility of failure.”

Good. You approve too.

“You don't sound like you're trying anything underhanded. Very well. We'll do it your way.”

Even Amelia, whom I'd secretly been most worried about, agreed to my plan, taking a load off my shoulders.

That surprised me a little. I'd never expected her to accept that role so readily.

When I hinted at my puzzlement, Amelia said something unexpected.

“Your words carry weight.”

Huh?

“I know what you mean.”

Patzran, who'd been bickering with Amelia all this time, nodded.

“You didn't despair at all, even when we heard a rank-three monster had appeared.”

That was just because I'd known about it for ages...

“Perhaps this is how those people felt when they decided to follow you that day.”

The priestess brought up the battle against Noark on the first floor as well.

“Bjorn, son of Jandel. A TITAN who forges a path ahead of all others, born to fulfill the mission of this age.”

Even hearing that, I didn't really understand. It just left me feeling unsettled.

I didn't think I'd shown them anything particularly noble—

“In a situation where nothing was certain, seeing you reunite safely with your companions convinced me. Destiny walks with you.”

Hah. This was the problem with religious types.

“... What are you talking about?”

I couldn't help sighing.

After all, they could call me a hero or whatever they liked, but I knew what I really was. Just moments ago, I'd been praying that we, at least, would come out safe, even if these people died.

And yet...

'Why the hell are you doing this to me?'

My warrior's heart thudded heavily. Was this a barbarian's instinct to live up to people's expectations?

“VEHELLLAAAAAA!!”

Forget it. Time to fight.

Before I could feel any more responsible for them, I threw myself into the battle and cleared my head.

「Stormgush has cast [Eye of the Storm].」

This again.

“Everyone, fall back!”

The instant the whirlwind erupted, I closed in and started holding it in place.

WHIIIIISH!

The storm was so fierce I could barely see in front of me.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. A wish was only a wish, after all. I could pray all day, but who died and who survived wasn't mine to decide.

BOOM!

It was just like this whirlwind.

What awaited at the end of that wind's course was for heaven alone to decide.

“Mr. Jandel, there's nowhere left to retreat.”

After weathering another [Eye of the Storm] and moving a little farther, we reached the island's center.

A clearing that seemed hidden amid the undergrowth. The white stone tower in its center. Even the dark bloodstains scattered across the ground.

The place where, just yesterday, I'd spent what felt like an eternity praying that everyone was safe.

“W-water's coming in from every direction!”

The entire island apart from this spot was submerged. Now we could see the sea whichever way we looked.

「Stormgush has cast [Ley Line].」

[Whirlpools] spewed from the holes Stormgush had punched into the ground on our way here, mixing with the water and raging around us.

SHAAAAAAASH!!

If this had been a game, I probably would've been pleased. Such a grand atmosphere, worthy of a boss battle.

THUD!

Stormgush reached us and slammed the shaft of its trident into the ground.

「Stormgush has cast [Rain Ritual].」

One of the three remaining skills it began using once its HP dropped to seventy percent or below.

'Okay, looks like we've managed its HP well.'

It was about time to settle this.

* * *

[Rain Ritual].

One of Stormgush's three core skills.

Its effect was simple.

PITTER-PATTER.

It rained.

Incidentally, when the rain fell on Stormgush, its Regeneration and overall Physical stats increased dramatically, while characters suffered all kinds of debuffs.

Of course, that was a minor problem. The real trouble lay in the next pattern.

“What are you all doing? Stick to the plan!”

At my shout, everyone except the back line rushed at the monster.

I did the same.

[ROAAAAAR!!]

Unlike before, I charged in with absolutely no concern for my own safety.

That was our plan, after all. All or nothing.

The instant it used [Rain Ritual], we'd pour in every bit of damage we had and finish it in one go.

So there was no reason to hold back. The more injuries I accumulated, the easier it would be for my companions to deal damage.

THUNK!

Mister Bear's arrow pierced its hard shell and sank deep. It probably hadn't done much damage to the flesh underneath, but...

「Avman Urigfried has cast [Hungry Claws].」

That arrow dealt damage over time. The more arrows lodged in it, the more pressure it would be under.

Misha was next.

「Misha Karlstein has cast [Enhancement].」

「Misha Karlstein has cast [Cold Concentrate].」

As always, Misha used [Enhancement] on [Cold Concentrate], raising her Cold Affinity, the stat that scaled her cold damage.

Then she unleashed an active power of Scadia, the Glacial Magical Beast she'd contracted as her Spirit beast through the Frost Spirit Ring.

「Misha Karlstein has cast [Absolute Zero].」

[Absolute Zero].

The second power she'd newly acquired after receiving the royal family's reward and drinking dozens of bottles of Beast Blood.

「The character's first strike unconditionally inflicts the status effect 'Frozen.'」

White frost coated her sword, and Misha swung at the monster.

Her target was its right arm, the one holding the trident.

CRACKLE.

Its forearm froze solid.

Of course, with its high Mana Resistance and enormous body, only the arm was affected by 'Frozen,' but...

This had all been setup in the first place.

「Misha Karlstein has cast [Shatter].」

An Active Skill that dealt increased damage to Frozen enemies. On top of that came the rank-five skill she'd obtained as a reward from the royal family.

「Misha Karlstein has cast [Mutation].」

「Agility is temporarily converted to Strength.」

A skill that would remain useful well into the late game for Misha, who lacked Strength.

BANG!

The dual-wielding Misha's second blade slammed into its frozen arm.

But had only the shell frozen?

CRACKLE.

Fragments flew as though ice were shattering, but its thick arm remained intact. Then again, even if she'd gone all out, severing a rank-three monster's arm in a single blow would've been stranger.

“My turn!”

The moment it went berserk and targeted Misha, Aynar charged in and brought her sword down on the wrist where the shell had shattered.

But...

CLACK!

Even with [Wildness Control] drastically increasing her Cutting Force, it wasn't enough. Her blade bit deep into the flesh, only to catch on hard bone.

[ROAAAAR!!]

“A-Aynar!!”

As though protecting its arm, the monster twisted around and knocked Aynar away with its tail.

'Damn it.'

Even Aynar would have a hard time getting up after that...

That was what made rank-three monsters frightening. Even without skills, every single basic attack could prove fatal...

「Stormgush has cast [Eye of the Storm].」

Motherfucker, it was using that again now?

I dashed forward, feet pounding the ground, just as my companions retreated.

And then...

“VEHELLLAAAAAA!!”

Hold it in place, even if it killed me.

After five seconds that felt unusually long, the whirlwind cleared.

“Mister, get back!”

Ah, you were ready now too.

I quickly stepped aside so I wouldn't get in Erwin's way.

That was when it happened.

「Erwin Fornacci de Tersia has cast [Focused Fire].」

The rank-four Essence she'd obtained as a reward from the royal family.

Her skill was ready. Its MP consumption rose exponentially with casting time, and its damage increased accordingly.

Had she poured all her MP into it?

The mass of light gathered on the arrowhead looked seriously—

WHIZ!

Erwin released the string, and the arrow shot out like a flash of light.

KABOOOOOM!

It struck the monster's upper abdomen.

She seemed to have aimed for where its heart was likely to be. The head was a weak point too, but a difficult one to hit.

[ROAAAAAR!!]

Stormgush let out an anguished roar.

But its movements were unhindered. Unfortunately, the arrow apparently hadn't pierced its heart.

Not that I was terribly disappointed. Even if it had hit, it would've been hard to kill the monster in one shot. Rank-three monsters didn't die instantly just from having their hearts pierced...

“Huh?”

Just then, Stormgush made a motion it hadn't shown us before.

「Stormgush has cast [Stormcall].」

A skill it used at forty percent HP.