Sacrificial Pawn (3)
Sacrificial Pawn (3)
A 4th-grade explorer who uses Aura.
He must have thought it was a hopeless situation.
Well, the old would have.
Whoosh!
Of course, I haven’t completed my Aura setup yet.
A 5th-tier Adamantium greatsword and Aura?
My Moonstone shield would surely turn into scrap tal in an instant.
But…
“You look like you would be fun to cut.”
…[Dungeon and Stone] isn’t a ga you play with just HP/MP or item level.
4th-grade, swordsman, 3rd-grade tank, whatever.
It’s a hardcore ga where a single misjudgnt can lead to your character’s death.
“Fun to cut, my ass.”
No matter how strong you are, you die if you take a fatal blow.
In that sense…
“Co at .”
…he’s not an unbeatable opponent.
Although there’s a penalty of having to finish the fight quickly since enemies are also coming from behind…
…it’s just a matter of discarding sothing.
“Barbarians are all the sa, they don’t know their place.”
I just pray.
That he’s not prepared.
There’s no ti to scout, figure out his skills and equipnt, and strategize safely.
The winner and the loser will be decided in an instant.
As it always has been.
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”
I discard my fear.
Tadat.
I hear him pushing off the ground.
Whoosh!
He charges towards through the fog, a giant for a human, over 190 centiters tall.
Whoosh!
His greatsword swings.
Tadat.
I hurriedly dodge to the side instead of blocking with my shield.
It’s not because I’m worried about my expensive shield, but because it’s pointless.
If you discard sothing, you have to gain sothing in return.
Like this.
Slash!
His greatsword cuts through my left arm above the elbow.
“Mr, Mr. Yandel…!!”
I beco one-ard in an instant.
It’s my second ti experiencing this since the battle against Riakis, the Lord of Chaos.
I’m not particularly depressed.
I discarded any naive thoughts of winning with all my limbs intact the mont I saw him.
Sizzle!
I aim my severed arm at him and spray acidic blood like a fountain.
“Aaaaaaaaaak!!”
It hits his eyes.
‘Jackpot.’
I blinded him in exchange for my arm.
Of course, it won’t last long…
“Raven, use Lava Eruption!”
I give the order and cling to him.
He can’t hurt with Aura at this distance since he’s using a greatsword.
If I hadn’t blinded him, I would have had to sacrifice sothing else to get this close.
“But then Mr. Yandel will also…!”
“It’s fine, just do it!!”
“Okay…!”
I hurriedly hold my breath and tense my muscles.
It’s similar to when I was wrestling with the troll on the 4th floor.
“You bastard!!”
Fierce resistance.
Scales appear on his body.
It’s one of the effects of [Test Subject], which temporarily increases physical stats.
I expected it since he uses Aura…
‘As expected, he’s a stat-heavy build.’
Coincidentally, I’m also a similar type.
“Stay still.”
I use [Gigantification] again.
I judged that I would have recovered enough MP to use it for about 30 seconds since I haven’t used it for a few minutes.
“Ugh.”
He groans and bends his waist as the weight suddenly increases.
Whoosh, whoosh!
He swings his greatsword around wildly while carrying on his back. Aura cuts through the walls of the passage.
“Are you scared because you can’t see?”
“I’ll kill you!!!”
“Everyone, get back!!”
Misha and the others can’t attack because he’s flailing around.
But it’s actually good for .
Thanks to his struggle, the other enemies can’t easily approach to help him.
“You idiot.”
“Aaaaaak!!”
He leans forward as if trying to throw over his shoulder.
But so what?
Clinging to the enemy like a pervert is one of a tank’s basic skills.
Thud!
Our bodies collapse and are entangled.
It’s far from a scene from a romance movie.
Maybe the final brawl in a thriller movie.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
He finally lets go of his greatsword and starts punching in the face.
Of course, it’s not a problem.
You can’t use Aura with your hands.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
I can endure physical attacks with my Physical Resistance.
Well, his Strength is high since he’s using an Adamantium greatsword, so my brain is shaking…
But it’s just a minor injury compared to my severed arm.
“Sir Kesial!!”
The enemies, who couldn’t approach before because of his wild sword dance, charge towards as it ends.
But…
“Ar, are you really going to shoot…?!”
…they’re too late.
“What are you asking?!”
The spell is complete.
“…Iherno Wature Tunbar!”
The 4th-grade fire-attribute attack spell, ‘Lava Eruption’.
Whoosh!
Blackish-red lava spews from Raven’s staff and engulfs us.
I imdiately change my position.
From pinning him down and choking him…
…to being on the ground and him on top.
“Let go, you barbarian…!”
He shouts as his vision returns.
He must have seen the lava coming towards us.
“Why? Don’t you like hot things?”
Then you should have increased your Fire Resistance, you bastard.
“No!!”
I squeeze my eyes shut.
And at that mont…
Whoosh!
…a scorching heat that feels like it will lt everything engulfs .
“Aaaaaaaaaak!”
And at the sa ti, I feel sothing flowing down my skin.
The flowing substance quickly cools and hardens.
「Character’s health is below 50%.」
「All resistance and defense stats are increased due to the passive skill [Hero’s Path].」
Fire Resistance from the 3rd stage of the Undying Engraving.
Magic Resistance from the Manticore.
And the Orb of Fire.
‘This much even with all that…’
My whole body feels hot and itchy.
It’s like I drank a potion.
Pain pierces through my Pain Resistance.
But so what?
I don’t want to feel pain?
That’s sothing I’ve already discarded.
I repeat, this world isn’t kind.
‘…Should I have asked her to cast ‘Cold Blood’ too?’
I dismiss the weak thought.
Raven’s mana is already running low.
I have to conserve resources.
“Keuheok.”
I push the guy, who’s turned into charcoal, and get up.
It feels like my insides are cooked and turned into sausage.
And sothing crispy falls off every ti I move.
Is this what they call crispy on the outside, soft on the inside?
“Hey, Mr. Yandel? Ar, are you okay?”
“…I’m just a bit burnt.”
“A, a bit burnt…”
It’s a price I have to pay for defeating an Aura user in such a short ti.
And the bleeding from my elbow has stopped.
The fire magic cauterized it.
It’s a win-win—
“Keugh.”
Damn it, why is this bastard still alive?
Don’t tell he also has Fire Resistance?
I hurriedly turn towards the shield I threw away earlier and reach out with my remaining hand as he also gets up.
That’s when…
「Character’s Soul Power is insufficient.」
「[Gigantification] ends.」
My body loses balance and tilts as [Gigantification] ends.
And my hand, which was almost reaching the shield, moves away.
Thump!
A chill runs down my spine, even though my whole body is burning.
If he takes out his greatsword now…
No, even if he just takes out a dagger and stabs my neck, it’s ga over.
The worst-case scenario plays out in my head.
But…
“Keu, keuheok.”
…when I hurriedly turn around and check, he’s running away.
Staggering, but at a fast pace.
“…….”
My body freezes at the unexpected sight, and then…
…I let out a sigh of relief.
‘I’m lucky.’
He couldn’t let go of his arrogance.
So he tried to block alone, even though he had companions.
“Huff, huff, heugh…”
He couldn’t give up on the hope that there would be another chance.
So he chose to run away to survive, even though he had a chance to kill .
I can understand his feelings.
“You, damn barbarian…”
To him, the battle with wasn’t about survival.
There was no reason for him to risk his life.
That’s why…
…our positions are reversed now.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I grab the greatsword he left behind instead of my shield. The Strength I obtained from the Ogre is enough to wield an Adamantium greatsword with one hand.
“…Bl, block !”
I hurriedly chase after him.
The distance closes in an instant.
His gait is weak, as if he’s taken a lot of damage.
Soon, I’m within sword’s reach.
“I’ll take your head.”
Being a swordsman isn’t bad either.
Slash!
I grin at the satisfying sensation from the tip of the sword and shout,
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”
I survived.
At least for now.
___________________
It took about 2 minutes to encounter the 4th-grade Aura user and behead him.
That’s what battles are like.
It doesn’t take long for a winner and a loser to be decided.
Even a knight who’s trained his entire life…
…or a high-ranking explorer who’s been in and out of the labyrinth countless tis…
…can lose their life in an instant. That’s this world.
“Ainar!!”
I throw the greatsword I was holding at Ainar without even savoring the victory.
“Huh? Huh?”
What is she panicking about?
Take what you can get.
I thought of you as soon as I saw it.
‘It’s a sha.’
I pick up the shield with my empty hand and deliberately look away from the corpse.
Phew, I feel like there would be more useful items if I looted him further.
‘But there’s no ti.’
I discard my greed and look ahead.
“Sir Kesial is down!!”
“Kill them!!”
The enemies, who had hesitated because of ‘Lava Eruption’, have regained their composure and are charging towards us.
I drag my battered body forward.
Because that’s my role.
Shield Charge.
I hold the shield with my remaining arm and charge, putting my weight into my shoulder.
The level of explorers on this side is much higher than on the outside, perhaps because we’re almost at the destination.
That Aura swordsman from earlier is a good example.
Clang.
A potion flies towards and shatters.
I feel a gentle burning sensation on the wound, as if soone is cauterizing it with fire, instead of a sharp pain from being stabbed with a stiletto.
“It’s the high-grade potion that Mr. Yandel likes!”
Right, no wonder.
‘I feel energized.’
Let’s try again.
We’re almost there.
The goal is right in front of us.
“I’ll help too!”
Ainar stands next to .
“What about Raven?”
“I left her with Beefcake!”
Good judgnt.
Raven probably told her to do that.
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!”
I stop checking our location using the terrain.
I focus solely on this mont.
“Misha! Stick close behind !”
Just a little further.
“Erwen! Now! Use it!”
Right, just a little further.
“Keheuk! N, no. Not now…”
“Yandel! Raven’s out of mana!”
That’s when Raven’s magical support, which was being provided by the bear-like man, ends.
It ans we can no longer use [Oxygen Explosion] to forcefully open paths when they’re blocked or when our speed slows down.
“Ah, no! Lena…!”
Another one dies as our speed decreases.
It’s the sorcerer from Takelan’s team.
She was a support-type sorcerer who specialized in defense and support, and she was a great help in protecting the rear…
“We were almost there…”
It will be even more difficult from now on.
I clench my teeth and push aside my guilt.
“Damn iiiit!!”
I don’t have ti to cover my ears.
And even if I did, I shouldn’t.
It was my decision.
Choice and focus.
What to discard.
And what I can’t discard.
What I want to protect.
“…Misha!”
“Don’t worry! I can still fight…!”
Everyone is pushing forward with one mind, in the midst of this fierce battle where anyone could die.
After so ti…
“This way!”
…a dark passage appears.
We imdiately change direction and enter the passage as soon as we see it.
“Erwen, visibility!”
“Ye, yes!”
Erwen summons a fire spirit to illuminate the surroundings, replacing Raven, who’s out of mana.
A passage with colorless crystals scattered here and there.
There are no explorers from the city side waiting to greet us.
But…
“Bjorn! They’re not following us!!”
As if this is the turning point, the chase stops.
Right, the area is divided from here.
“Don’t let your guard down and keep moving.”
It’s too early to relax.
I don’t slow down and continue forward. We can rest, drink potions, and reorganize after we’re safe.
About 3 minutes later…
…we encounter the group we’ve been wanting to see.
“Halt.”
A group of ten knights.
The surroundings are filled with naked corpses.
They must be from Noark.
It was a good thing we risked our lives to co here.
I feel reassured just by thinking that they’re on our side—
‘Huh?’
The knight I make eye contact with draws his sword and slowly takes a step forward.
Aura is surging from his sword.
I hurriedly shout,
“We’re not enemies! We have identification ta—”
Ah, my arm… I left it there.
“I don’t have one, but the others do!”
I quickly add, but the reaction is cold.
“You’re trying to trick us with a pathetic act. You ca from the path that’s occupied by Noark, and you’re talking about identification tags?”
Phew, it’s understandable that he doesn’t believe us.
We look like we’re disguised to infiltrate as spies.
Then what should I do?
Would he believe if I tell him about my title, Little Balkan?
Just as I’m contemplating…
“Misha, take off your ring and show it to him.”
…I realize there’s a better way.
Coincidentally, I received an item for this kind of situation.
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