After closing the distance by about half, I could see our opponent.

“It was an Earth Wyrm after all. Selma, what do we do?”

　After confirming the identity of the enemy, I asked Selma about our battle plans from here on.

　Earth Wyrms look like quadrupedal wingless Dragons.

　They are large, with an average length of four metres.

　And even so, they still move quickly.

　However, their scales are softer compared to other Dragons.

“Demonic beasts… only that one? Orn, can you hold it?

“No problem.”

　Earth Wyrms are certainly quick, but their reaction times aren’t as fast.

　If I seize the initiative, we can handle it without any issue.

“Good. Then, Orn and Will, subjugate. Just in case, Lain, construct a formula. If it looks like it’s going to take a while, Lain, step in to assist with an attack. I will time activation…… [Vanguard Up].” 

　After Selma gives her instructions, she applies a buff to Will.

　[Vanguard Up] refers to activating five of the six basic types of support magic, excluding [Magic Up], simultaneously through parallel construction. 

　I also activate [Quadruple] [Agility Up] on myself. 

　As we cast these buffs, the Earth Wyrm, having recovered somewhat from the damage, notices us and fires another mana bullet.

“I’ll take the front! Orn, go around the back!”

　Saying this, Will again erases the mana bullet with his double-bladed sword and charges toward the dragon.

　Since I have to take the long way around, Will, of course, makes first contact with the Earth Wyrm.

　The Earth Wyrm lunges at Will.

“Yeah, yeah, fix on me!” 

　Will doesn’t block it but instead, while parrying with one side of his double-bladed sword, swings down with the other side and slams the Wyrm’s face into the ground. 

(Excellent!)

　I couldn’t help but admire him in my mind.

　That was how refined and outstanding his movements are.

　As the distance between me and the Earth Wyrm shortens to only a few metres, I also prepare to attack. 

　–But I felt killing intent from behind me.

　Quickly, I kick the ground and leap into the air as something passes right under me.

　Mid air, I look and see a Hide Turtle, a turtle-shaped demonic beast that can melt into its surroundings.  

　The Hide Turtle is about one metre long and can be found all over the lower layers.

　As the name “Hide” implies, it can transform itself to blend its body into the environment of a floor.

　A demonic beast that excels in surprise attacks. 

　However, its attack power is low, so that’s one good thing.

　Well, though I say it’s low, if it gets you at a critical spot, you’ll be injured enough that you won’t be able to return to the frontlines. 

　It’s extremely troublesome when it appears together with other demonic beasts. 

(Didn’t even notice. As usual, it’s good at hiding.)

　In the air, I shoot three [Rock Arrows] at the Hide Turtle.

　All three are on target, but they hit its hard shell and shatter on the surface without penetrating.

　But that’s okay.

　Seeing the [Rock Arrows] suddenly crumbling apart in mid-air should let everyone in the Rearguard know where the Hyde Turtle is. 

　Leaving the Rearguard to deal with that Hyde Turtle, I use [Magic Convergence] to create a foothold.

　I step on it and rush full speed towards the Earth Wyrm.

　Thanks to Will’s efforts in gaining the Wyrm’s attention, it completely fails to notice me in its blindspot. 

”[Strength Up], [Dexterity Up], [Sharpness Up]!”

　After buffing myself, I wield my sword with both hands.

　At the place where the scales are melting due to Lain’s [Super Explosion], I slash the sword diagonally.

　Just before the blade lands, I activate [Impact] and bisect the Earth Wyrm. 

“Seriously, one slash…….”‘

　Will mutters in a tone of either shock or surprise.

　The Earth Wyrm disappears in a black mist and only its magic stone remains in its place. 

　After confirming that, I immediately turn around and catch sight of the Hide Turtle. 

　White smoke was rising around the Hide Turtle.

　In the next instant, the Hide Turtle is frozen.

　After that, it’s pierced by multiple [Fire Javelins] launched by Lain and disappears into black mist. 

“Nice work, Orn. I can’t believe you’ve gone and cut a demonic beast on this floor in half! Is that the [Impact] thing? Ridiculous.”

　Will praises as he approaches me.

“Because Will, you were drawing all the attention so I could concentrate on attacking. Still, you were great. Double-bladed swords are known for being hard to handle, but you’ve completely mastered it.” 

　A Defender who can parry an opponent’s attack while counterattacking, huh?

　To describe it, a counter-type, perhaps.  

　More so than a normal Defender who blocks and receives attacks, parrying would reduce the shock impact that one had to endure. 

　This is also another idea I never considered.

“Well, I’ve trained quite a lot. Going about it normally, I wasn’t able to protect my comrades. Ain’t no point if your posture gets broken after stopping an attack. I looked for a style that would let me receive enemy attacks while still always able to stay on my feet, that’s how I ended up with this style.”

　Will speaks with a faraway look in his eyes.

　I’ve heard rumours about the circumstances surrounding the death of the former Ace, Albert.

　If those rumours are true, Will must have been working desperately over the past year.

　Otherwise, I don’t think he’d be able to stand here now.

　We’re chatting casually, but at the same time, Will and I take a backstep. 

　As a result, the distance between us opens up considerably.

　Immediately after that, a mana bullet passes between us.

　Yes, there had been another Earth Wyrm.

　On my left, about fifty metres away.

　The other Wyrm was underground. 

　At the time I’d cut the first Earth Wyrm, it had suddenly showed its face from under the ground and looked at me. 

　Demonic beasts generally target areas with more people. 

　So, we had purposely exposed an opening and induced it to attack us instead of the three Rearguard.

　Well, since the Defender Will is here, he might’ve attacked us even without us doing this, but just in case.

<Orn, Will, that was helpful.>

　Selma’s voice echoes in my head.

　This is Selma’s Talent, [Telepathy].

　I experienced it for the first time during our meeting earlier, and I can still hear her voice cleary now even though we are quite far apart.

　As I’d anticipated, it’s quite the extraordinary Talent.

<Wasn’t much. Still Orn, aren’t we on the same wavelength?>

<You wouldn’t normally think it’d crawl out of the ground, right? It was good that Will seemed to be thinking the same thing. To be safe, I was constructing a formula to support Will, but it was all for nothing.>

<Ha ha ha. Too bad!>

<Save the chatter for later. Orn, can you jump?>

　Selma asks me the question I’d been anticipating.

<Of course. I’m the former Enchanter of the Hero Party, you know? I’ve already constructed 80% of the formula.>

<As expected. Then, Will in front, Orn from the back. We’ll finish if off with magic. Two of you, hold it down for a few seconds.>

<Sure thing!>

<Got it!>

　While Selma took this chance to construct a magic formula, the two other members in the Rearguard launch attack magic to restrain it while inflicting damage.  

<Alright, done! Will, go for it!”>

<Anytime you’re ready!>

　Will reacts to Selma’s call, readies his double-bladed sword, and disappears from the centre of my field of vision.

　Then, in the corner of my eye, he moves in front of the Earth Wyrm. 

　Confirming that, I channel magic into the formula I’d been constructing.

“[Space Leap]!”

　After activating the magic, my view changed, and the back of the Earth Wyrm was now right before my eyes. 

　[Space Leap] is one type of support magic.

　The effect is to move the target to a desired location.

　However, if there’s already something at that destination, it won’t be activated.

　Therefore, it’s not possible to move an object directly into the body of an opponent as an attack.

　It’s said that [Space Leap] is the most difficult among all support — no, all magic in general, to construct a formula for. 

　There are no ranks in support magic, but if there were, it would definitely be in the special grade.

　The formula is so complicated that even I, who is confident in my formula construction speed, takes a few seconds.

　Powerful magic that can cause suprise attacks, but it requires a fairly precise setup.

　Therefore, it’s not possible to use it in a situation like the midst of battle, where things change moment to moment. 

　Even though I can use [Space Leap], why can’t I use advanced magic……

　Will and I pincer the Earth Wyrm. 

　While the two of us cut it up, we nail it to the spot. 

　Immediately after using [Space Leap], there’s no room to spare for constructing formulae for other magic.

　Besides, the objective this time is to stop the Earth Wyrm in its tracks, so I don’t use [Impact].

<Activating attack magic. Countdown! Five, four, three–>

　Selma’s voice rings in my mind.

　I deal one final deep slash to its hind leg joints and then take distance from the Earth Wyrm. 

　When the count reaches zero, the ground around the Earth Wyrm turns into a swamp.

　The Wyrm is caught in the swamp, and in addition is enveloped by riding mud. making it immobile. 

　Right after, a huge thunderbolt from the sky strikes the Wyrm with a thunderous roar. 

　Thunder-type special grade magic, [Mjolnir].

　Not like the earlier simplified [Super Explosion], but Lain’s serious special grade magic.  

　The swamp was instantly vaporised and the surrounding area turned into glass.

　Even with that, despite being full of wounds, the Earth Wyrm still hasn’t collapsed. 

　Then Lucre’s follow-up attack, [Ice Javelin], flies in, piercing its body and turning it into black mist.

“……No other demonic beasts, good work!”

　Will observes the area. confirms that there are no more demonic beasts, then approaches me with a raised hand.

“Ah, good job too, Will.”

　I hit his hand and give a high-five as I send a few words of appreciation to Will. 

　For the first battle with this party, I think it was pretty good.

–

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