Chapter 854: A Choice of Three (4)
The Spirit Warrior, summoned through the Aegis Dragon Armor. (Hanho)
Hmm, calling him Spirit Warrior all the time is a bit… (Hanho)
Let's just call him Aegis for short. (Hanho)
[Uooooooooooh─!!!] (Aegis)
Aegis roared as if enraged that the enemy was still breathing. (Hanho)
The deafeningly grand shout was truly intimidating, making me anticipate what kind of strike would follow. (Hanho)
And then…………
"… Huh?" (Hanho)
What the. (Hanho)
Swoooosh…….
Why did it just shout and disappear? (Hanho)
Ah, does the roar have some kind of additional effect? (Hanho)
It wasn't an intuitive ability like slashing the enemy with a greatsword, so I had no way of knowing. (Hanho)
But… (Hanho)
「Until the end of the battle, the damage dealt will increase by the sum of all resistance stats.」
Right, it must have been something good. (Hanho)
Nothing bad would have happened to me. (Hanho)
After all, when it disappeared, the effect wasn't like scattering into smoke, but more like it was seeping into me. (Hanho)
I'll figure that out later………… (Hanho)
Kabooooom!
Ka-kaboom!
The bombardment continued.
Even without the mages, there were still ranged attackers like Supernatural Ability users and archers left. (Hanho)
「A layer of Tetrasea's pity is peeled away.」
Just as another layer of the shell was peeled off like that. (Hanho)
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“Entering Phase 3!” (Armin)
Phase 3 referred to the next stage, when the ranged attackers' firepower was cut by more than half due to skill cooldowns, MP consumption, or casting times. (Hanho)
“All forces, charge!!” (Hanho)
“Waaaaaaah!!” (Survivor)
“Let's goooooo!!” (Survivor)
From now on, the melee attackers would be deployed. (Hanho)
An environment where they couldn't do much. (Hanho)
The pain they had to endure during the battle despite that. (Hanho)
And on top of it all, the optimal position of simply hitting an enemy that wasn't fighting back. (Hanho)
Perhaps because these three situations overlapped, the morale of the melee attackers was higher than ever. (Hanho)
「Mamon Magnus has cast [Spinning Strike].」
「Mikhail Rektas has cast [Crushing Blow].」
「Creed Allen has cast [Cheap Shot].」
From the hammer-wielding warrior spinning and striking with a two-handed hammer, to the knight hacking away with a sharp aura. (Hanho)
Even those who weren't specialized combatants, like the scouts, used everything they had to unleash their maximum DPS. (Hanho)
"So that Rogue does know how to fight." (Hanho)
For some reason, it felt like the first time I'd seen the Rogue do anything, but it must be my imagination. (Hanho)
He must have done something while I wasn't looking. (Hanho)
Surely he wasn't just freeloading for several waves? (Hanho)
「Ainar Fenelin has cast [Trident].」
Ah, for the record, Ainar was only using [Trident], not [Focused Shot]. (Hanho)
That's because she had to save her fully stacked [Regression]. (Hanho)
“Behel—Laaaaaaaaaah!!” (Hanho)
Ah, for the record, I also joined the melee attackers this time and swung my hammer. (Hanho)
And………… (Hanho)
「The character has cast [Swing].」
K-k-k-k-k-crack!
What, why did it break the moment I hit it? (Hanho)
Did I just happen to land the last hit? (Hanho)
「A layer of Tetrasea's pity is peeled away.」
I couldn't be sure, but just like that, the eighth shell peeled off earlier than expected………… (Hanho)
「A layer of Tetrasea's pity is peeled away.」
The ninth shell didn't take long either. (Hanho)
The truth is, melee attackers don't necessarily have lower DPS than archers or mages. (Hanho)
It's just harder for them to deal damage. (Hanho)
Crack-!
For some reason, the impact felt especially good since a while ago. (Hanho)
I'm not sure if it was just my imagination, but it seemed like I kept landing the last hit. (Hanho)
Anyway, is this the last one now………..? (Hanho)
If we peel off just one more layer, we can finally see that thing's soft inner flesh. (Hanho)
But… (Hanho)
'How long will it take to break that one layer?' (Hanho)
It felt a bit daunting now. (Hanho)
It's not like the last shell is especially tough due to the skill's properties or anyth… (Hanho)
「The duration of [Grace] has ended.」
In the end, we ran out of time. (Hanho)
To put it simply, we now had to break through that shell, which had reached its maximum resistance stats, on our own. (Hanho)
Therefore………… (Hanho)
"Everyone except the knights of the 4th Company, fall back!" (Hanho)
I had the melee attackers who had been diligently dealing damage pull back, maintaining the front line with only the knights. (Hanho)
After all, there was no other answer but 'Aura'. (Hanho)
Whoooosh-
90% defense penetration and 90% magic resistance penetration.
The indisputably strongest skill in [Dungeon & Stone], 'Aura'. (Hanho)
However, even with that, the final shell surrounding the creature was not easy. (Hanho)
Scrape! Scraape!
The knights' expressions looked quite bewildered. (Hanho)
I guess since learning to use Aura, they'd never heard a sound like that when swinging their swords. (Hanho)
Scrape!
The Aura that used to slice through steel like tofu was being blocked before it could even penetrate a single joint's length. (Hanho)
It was a simple calculation. (Hanho)
If the physical resistance was 10,000, even ignoring 90% of it, 1,000 still remained. (Hanho)
Scra-scrape!
It was basically like beating a monster with 1,000 physical resistance with a bare sword, without Aura. (Hanho)
But even so, there was no alternative. (Hanho)
Because it was Aura, it was at least cutting in little by little. (Hanho)
If we were to hit it, we probably wouldn't even leave a scratch. (Hanho)
"Bjorn……!" (Ainar)
Ainar, who had approached me at some point, called my name like someone who urgently needed the restroom, but I shook my head firmly. (Hanho)
“Wait, it’s not time yet.” (Hanho)
The knights alone are enough to peel off the last layer. (Hanho)
Even if it feels a little uncertain, we have to believe it. (Hanho)
Because that's the only way to catch that thing. (Hanho)
Besides, look. (Hanho)
Zzzzt-
Just as no tree can withstand repeated axe blows. (Hanho)
Zz-zzzzzt!
As the dents increased, cracks gradually began to form on the shell that had seemed so tough. (Hanho)
With the knights' fervent slashes, the shell, which had been cracking more and more, crumbled with a shattering sound. (Hanho)
The moment we had finally been waiting for. (Hanho)
There was no time to spare for cheers of joy. (Hanho)
“Ainar, now!” (Hanho)
The moment I shouted, Ainar, who had been waiting with her stacks full, threw her spear. (Hanho)
「On the next strike, the ‘Soul Tracker’ effect will be added.」
The inner flesh, hidden inside the shell, looked so small and even more fragile compared to before. (Hanho)
Pwoooooooosh—!
The spear, shot like an arrow from point-blank range, pierced its flesh all too easily. (Hanho)
And………… (Hanho)
[—!!] (Tetrasea)
Unable to even scream, the creature bent its back like a drawn bowstring.
It looked like it had taken a fatal wound, but………… (Hanho)
'It's alive.' (Hanho)
It was just a little short of stopping its breath. (Hanho)
Therefore………… (Hanho)
"What are you all doing! Get in there now!!" (Hanho)
The knights, of course, and every melee attacker nearby swarmed it, hacking at the creature that was now nothing but soft flesh. (Hanho)
Stab!
They plunged an Aura-clad sword into its eye. (Hanho)
They cut off its fingers by placing a blade and smashing a hammer on top, and shoved spears into the holes on its skin that spewed bodily fluids. (Hanho)
Chwaaaaaa!
Every time a weapon was swung or pulled out, red blood, not acidic fluid, gushed from its body. (Hanho)
"Damn it……!" (Survivor)
“Die, monster!!” (Survivor)
“Please, just die…………!!” (Survivor)
Everyone was desperate. (Hanho)
I hadn't said it out loud, but everyone knew instinctively. (Hanho)
That there were no more cards left to play. (Hanho)
We had poured out all the firepower we possibly could. (Hanho)
So, all that was left was the report card. (Hanho)
Would we bear fruit? (Hanho)
Or would it all end meaninglessly? (Hanho)
[—!!] (Tetrasea)
The creature only twitched in the face of the one-sided violence, unable to offer any resistance. (Hanho)
No, forget resistance, its struggles were even weakening. (Hanho)
But was it because of that? (Hanho)
Thump—!
A strong, inexplicable intuition bloomed within me. (Hanho)
“Just a little more!” (Hanho)
Not the intuition of a Barbarian's body specialized in hunting and combat. (Hanho)
But the intuition of a [Dungeon & Stone] gamer who had tenaciously dug into a single game for nearly a decade. (Hanho)
「The Lord of Tears, Tetrasea's HP is below 1%.」
It was now closer to 0 than to 1. (Hanho)
Just one more step. (Hanho)
We just needed to take one more step from here. (Hanho)
The moment that number reached 0, this grueling battle would be decided, and the future would be set. (Hanho)
Right, so just— (Hanho)
-Plink.
The moment I swung my hammer to contribute even a little bit. (Hanho)
Plip, plop…
I stopped moving and stared blankly upward. (Hanho)
Plip, plop.
Not many, but distinct raindrops were falling. (Hanho)
The meaning behind those few raindrops was all too clear. (Hanho)
The cause: not enough time. (Hanho)
Or not enough damage. (Hanho)
Whatever the reason, the result wouldn't change. (Hanho)
「Tetrasea ends its long-held pity.」
Plan A has failed. (Hanho)
—
Thump—!
Time flows slowly. (Hanho)
Extreme concentration, manifested at the crossroads of life and death. (Hanho)
Thump—!
Raindrops falling one or two at a time. (Hanho)
This is the beginning. (Hanho)
Soon, a downpour unlike any we've ever seen will cover this canyon. (Hanho)
Thump—!!
We ended up in this situation after all. (Hanho)
We poured everything we had into it, pushing it to the very, very end. (Hanho)
We were just one spoonful short of turning that 1 into a 0. (Hanho)
But… (Hanho)
'Not yet…….' (Hanho)
It's not all over. (Hanho)
We just have to walk a much harder path than before. (Hanho)
'As long as the possibility isn't 0%.' (Hanho)
I have to at least give it a try. (Hanho)
Thump-!
The moment I made my decision, the time that had been flowing slowly returned to its normal pace. (Hanho)
「Tetrasea’s HP is restored by 10%.」
Tetrasea's body, which had been a tattered mess, was healing rapidly. (Hanho)
This was the effect of [Self-Pity]. (Hanho)
Upon completion of the cast, the creature instantly recovers HP in inverse proportion to the number of shells destroyed. (Hanho)
If not a single layer had been broken, it would have returned to full health. (Hanho)
'…
10% is manageable.' (Hanho)
This was also part of the basis for my current decision. (Hanho)
「All of Tetrasea's resistance stats and Natural Regeneration are gradually increasing.」
After recovering its HP once, its stats increase exponentially over time. (Hanho)
If my memory is correct, it takes about 15 minutes for all its resistance stats and Natural Regeneration to reach their maximum values… (Hanho)
'But right now, it's actually weaker.' (Hanho)
The resistance stats that had temporarily reached their maximum through [Self-Pity] had returned to their original values. (Hanho)
「The Lord of Tears, Tetrasea, has cast [Twisted Patience].」
Well, there is the increased Regeneration Ability from [Twisted Patience], but… (Hanho)
“What are you all doing!!” (Hanho)
The opportunity hasn't completely disappeared. (Hanho)
For the next 3 to 4 minutes………… (Hanho)
If we can make good use of this Golden Time, we still have a chance to win. (Hanho)
Therefore. (Hanho)
"Keep attacking!!" (Hanho)
I urged on the survivors, who were stunned by the sight of the creature instantly recovering from its injuries. (Hanho)
"Ah, ah……!" (Survivor)
"Aaaaaah!!" (Survivor)
Snapping out of it at my shout, the warriors and knights began to slash again. (Hanho)
Of course, unlike before, it wasn't easy. (Hanho)
Shwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!
An acid rain so heavy it was hard to open one's eyes. (Hanho)
The barrier from the main force that had been acting as a roof against the rain was no longer there, and ・・ (Hanho)
Whoosh~! (Hanho)
As the rain began to fall again, acid flowers grew like crazy, and those flowers in turn created summoned creatures made of acidic fluid. (Hanho)
Because of that, the melee attackers diligently dealing damage were inevitably exposed to the full force of the acid damage……….. (Hanho)
"Aaaaaaaargh-!" (Survivor)
“Ah, I can't see…………!" (Survivor)
Screams erupted from all sides. (Hanho)
Tssssssssss!
Even if new flesh grew back immediately thanks to Divine Power, the pain etched a deep mark on the mind. (Hanho)
“Please die, you monster…………!” (Survivor)
“Everyone, snap out of it! It only recovered a little, isn't it actually easier to cut now than before!” (Survivor)
“Ignore the summoned creatures! Trust the priests!” (Survivor)
“Kill it!!!” (Survivor)
Aura, hammers, spears, axes… (Hanho)
Various weapons were swung without rest, cutting and piercing the monster's flesh. (Hanho)
And………… (Hanho)
Shwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!!!
As the slashing continued, I could feel the downpour growing even more intense in real time. (Hanho)
Simply put, it meant that for now, our DPS was higher than its regeneration. (Hanho)
"Viscount, we're ready!!" (Armin)
Good news came from the main force, which had been holding on by replacing the absent warriors with summoned creatures. (Hanho)
While the melee attackers were engaged, the main force had finished their cooldowns and casting, preparing for a second bombardment………… (Hanho)
“Everyone, fall back!!” (Hanho)
The moment the melee attackers dealing damage appropriately fell back and created distance. (Hanho)
Ka-ka-ka-boooooom-!
Pwoosh!
KABOOM!!
The bombardment began and continued relentlessly for several dozen seconds. (Hanho)
The rising dust cloud quickly settled in the pouring rain, soon revealing the creature's wretched state. (Hanho)
Its hide was torn wide open. (Hanho)
Bone was exposed through deep wounds. (Hanho)
A severed arm. (Hanho)
A caved-in skull. (Hanho)
Unidentifiable chunks of meat were scattered nearby. (Hanho)
It was clearly on the verge of death. (Hanho)
A combined assault from the melee attackers, centered on the knights, would give us a good chance of winning. (Hanho)
Shwaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
As proof, hadn't the downpour become much rougher than before? (Hanho)
Of course, we couldn't let our guard down. (Hanho)
This was the Golden Time, before its resistance stats and Natural Regeneration increased to an unmanageable level. (Hanho)
We had to use this time thoroughly. (Hanho)
“What are you all doing! Get back on it!!” (Hanho)
As soon as my order was given, the waiting melee attackers approached the creature once again. (Hanho)
Even as they groaned from the pain of their bodies burning. (Hanho)
“Grrrr……!!” (Survivor)
“Shiiiiiiiit!!” (Survivor)
“Please, just die already…………!!” (Survivor)
They endured through sheer grit and malice, swinging their weapons. (Hanho)
Surely, the monster's miserable state played a part in their fervor. (Hanho)
It was obvious to anyone that the creature was on its last legs. (Hanho)
“We just have to kill it…………!” (Survivor)
“The priests will heal our wounds!” (Survivor)
“Aaaaaaaargh!!” (Survivor)
Just a little more, just a little more………… (Hanho)
United in heart and mind, they swung their weapons more desperately than ever, but the creature's life thread was tough. (Hanho)
Stab! Stab!
Slice!
Ten seconds. (Hanho)
Kaboom-!
Slice, slice. (Hanho)
Pwoooosh!
Twenty seconds, thirty seconds, forty seconds… (Hanho)
They continued to drive in their weapons, severing its joints. (Hanho)
“Dieeeeeeeee!!” (Survivor)
With injuries that would have made any ordinary monster turn to light and disappear long ago, the creature tenaciously held on. (Hanho)
Fifty seconds, sixty seconds… (Hanho)
Just as the melee attackers' bloody struggle had continued for nearly a minute. (Hanho)
At this very moment, when the strength of each and every person was more crucial than ever. (Hanho)
“Sh, shit……!!" (Creed)
Along with a curse that seemed to indicate a decision had been made. (Hanho)
「Creed Allen, due to excessive pain, has given up the fight and is leaving the area.」
Another deserter had appeared. (Hanho)
