At that moment, Yuika felt the thread connecting her to the Minotaur fray and break.
Even though she tried to reel it in with her senses, she could not get a hold of it.
The magic went — missing.
“‘Minorin 3’, come here!”
For the sake of checking, she tried to call it back, but all the same, the Minotaur did not move.
Skull Mask landed softly on the ground, tapped the chest of the Minotaur and muttered something to it.
Following that, the Minotaur tilted its head slightly and then suddenly swung its Great Axe.
Driven by the centrifugal force, the iron mass slammed into a nearby Ogre.
Its solid stump-like neck was severed, and its head fluttered in the air.
A deadly critical blow.
“What?”
Many of the weapons that the Dark Smiths wielded had special Gifts sealed within.
Yuika’s first suspicion was that it was the “Confusion” abnormal condition.
However, the Minotaur did not even spare a single look for the Skull Mask that was the closest.
“‘Oga 4’, attack ‘Minorin 3’!”
At Yuika’s command, another Ogre reacted and swung a Club towards the Minotaur.
The hilt of the Great Axe blocked the forceful attack, causing the two demons to stiffen.
Skull Mask easily moved around them and leapt.
As soon as the Short Sword pierced the back of the Ogre’s head, the thread was lost again.
“Is a Gift for controlling monsters sealed in that weapon?”
There was a similar situation in the battle against the Lich.
The power of [Phantasmagoric Needle] conflicted with the Lich’s power to subdue the undead, causing the Skeleton Knight to be unable to act.
“No, it looks different from that time.”
It was Rowe who answered.
“There’s no sign of resisting. Perhaps it’s a Gift to dispel magic.”
“If so, that’s bad.”
Yuika, realising the danger with both her instinct and reasoning, foresaw what would happen from here.
Skull Mask moved agilely. These strength-type monsters would not be able to catch it. And with each attack, they would lose 2 units from their fighting forces.
If they continued to attack at this rate, the situation would only become more unfavourable. However, if the monsters are ordered to retreat, they would be chased from behind and end up having to fight in a melee.
While fighting herself and while her allies are being turned into enemies, it would be impossible to give precise instructions.
Then, rather than that…
In terms of speed of decision-making and boldness, there was no one better than Yuika.
Even Rowe, who sometimes showed extraordinary flashes of inspiration when it came to devising strategies, was not as good as her when it came to commanding on the field.
“All units, jump into the lava pool!”
Following Yuika’s order, the monsters began to rush over with heavy feet.
At the back of the Demon Atelier, there was a pool of lava that scorched the ground. Without a single moment of hesitation, the monsters leapt into the pool and were swallowed up as fumes were emitted.
The only monsters left were the Skull Mask, standing still stunned, and the Minotaur and Ogre that had been freed from [Phantasmagoric Needle].
Although the difference in fighting strength had been reduced, it could be said that the biggest uncertainty had been eliminated.
Though even if they could tide through this battle, it was certain that their next one would be a bitter fight.
Despite anticipating this, Yuika still decided that they should obstruct Skull Mask’s actions.
“……As decisive as ever, how nasty.”
”Twilight’s Sword” had pre-planned strategies for how to dispose of the monsters that were controlled. They were already psychologically prepared for this.
Yuika smirked in return and asked,
“Magikan. Can you get rid of ‘Minorin 3’ and ‘Oga 4’?”
“Well, since we are separated by quite a bit of distance. But this will be the last of my magic.”
Discovering the figures of the humans near the entrance of the passageway, the Minotaur and Ogre roared and aimed for them.
Magikan fired his “Light Blade” consecutively, knocking down the 2 monsters.
Now only Skull Mask remained.
It was a strange monster that suddenly appeared in the Dungeon Oasis on the 50th Floor, had taken Magikan hostage, and then disappeared after blabbering about itself.
A mask in the shape of a skull, hair of random length and colours. Only weapon was a Short Sword. Armour was metal plate mail, gauntlets and boots also made of metal.
Yuika was on maximum alert.
This monster had strange speech and behaviour, but it had even more frightening characteristics.
The Short Sword held by the Skull Mask was clearly a countermeasure against [Phantasmagoric Needle].
Until now, there had been no reports of monsters investigating the skills of adventurers and then even preparing a response.
To begin with, the reason why humans with inferior Statuses compared to monsters could gain an advantage in battle was because they could construct strategies based on prior knowledge of monsters’ traits.
If there are other beings like Skull Mask that can support monsters during battles in the position of a strategist, future labyrinth challenges would surely become much more difficult.
She wanted to dominate it with [Phantasmagoric Needle] and obtain information from it if possible
“Berii, Nuuk. This guy is different from any monster we’ve faced up to now. We don’t know what tricks it might have. Don’t get careless.”
“Got it.”
“Understood.”
Yuika, with her Estoc at the ready, took the lead and dashed forward.
Slightly behind her, Berri and Nuuk followed on the left and right wings.
[What the heck. Even though I thought it was going to be a little more interesting. ……]
In their field of vision, they saw the monster tilting its head as though this didn’t concern it.
It noticed their movement and waved its weapon from side to side as if to show off.
[Ah, this? This Is a Short Sword with [Unravel]. You guys seem to be able to control monsters, so, I had it made in a hurry. There wasn’t enough time, so I only got 1 made. How’s it?]
–Without listening.
“[Spring Hare].”
[Whoa!]
The thrust aimed between its eyebrows was dodged by it bending over backwards.
In battles with monsters, there were few occasions when Yuika started the attack. If she were to faint from an unexpected attack, that moment would herald their defeat.
Therefore, Yuika’s style — “Twilight’s Sword”‘s style was to have her comrades and controlled monsters to cooperate and weaken the enemy, and the final blow would be her [Phantasmagoric Needle].
But now, there were no controlled monsters.
She could act to her heart’s content as an offensive Light Warrior.
Although Lesser Demons were not so different from humans in terms of size, there was a considerable difference in their Statuses.
Their Strength, Endurance and Explosive Power were twice as high, and Magic Power was more than thrice. Even with the adjustments from Adventurer level, it was not an opponent that could be beaten in a direct fight.
Even so, they were able to somehow hold their own thanks to the “techniques” they had inherited from other humans
As a Temple Maiden of the Earth Mother Goddess, Yuika was provided a gifted education from an early age in order for her to be able to conquer Labyrinths, and she had become a master of the Estoc.
Judging the distance, not allowing any attacks, while feinting — she struck with an offensive active Gift.
“[Rippling Moon].”
The tip of her sword was placed at the centre of its metal armour.
A concentric wave of air currents spread out from that point, and after a moment, Skull Mask was blown backwards.
Though it was a weapon with the ‘Piercing’ element, her Gift was able to impart it with additional ‘Striking’ damage and a knockback effect.
[Boo-hoo!]
Following that momentum, the monster was about to fall into the lava pool, but it spun around, adjusted its stance, turned its feet in the direction it was pushed towards, and stayed in the air.
[Dangerous!]
After he landed lightly on the ground, Skull Mask raised one of its legs.
[Ah, this. They’re called [Sky Step] boots. You can take one step in the air. How’s it?]
“……”
This monster was an idiot, Yuika concluded.
Was it not common sense to not reveal information about a Gift to an opponent you were fighting with your life on the line?
It was like –a young boy proud of his possessions.
“Princess, I’ll get it.”
Berii overtook Yuika and went in front of her.
In an instant, she closed the gap with Skull Mask and overwhelmed it with a number of blows.
A tremendous speed that Yuika had never seen before.
Perhaps she was using the magic that improved Explosive Strength — “Winds Lull” in both her hands and feet.
And it was also stacked.
It was magic that was physically demanding and had a time limit, but since it was impossible to predict what this opponent might do, a short-term battle was ideal.
If so–
Leaving the front to Berii, she and Nuuk supported from the left and right.
Behind it was a pool of lava. And from 3 sides, it was attacked by weapons with 3 different elements: Slash, Pierce, and Strike. Even Skull Mask would have nothing to spare and was forced to defend itself.
As its Strength and Endurance were sapped, it’s balance was broken, when–
“[Leg Blade].”
Berri’s low kick settled it by hitting the knee, Skull Mask collapsed.
–
