There didn’t seem to be an end in sight. With every knight we struck down or killed, another one charged in from beyond the mist. Slowly but surely, our small clearing had been flooded with the rose-infested knights.
A sword swung at my head and shuddered upon impact. I was way too solid for a weak attack like that, so I let most of them land. One of my floating hands flew forward and caught the knight responsible by its cracked helm and lifted it into the air.
It was heavy, but my strength stat exceeded that. Its body remained in a fighting stance, even when elevated above the ground. It wasn’t until I slammed it repeatedly into the ground that it went limp.
Not bad, but I’ve got something even stronger!
Beams of crimson fired off from around me and lit up the small army of knights. The intense heat singed the grass around us as they burst forward in all directions.
“A–Atlas…?!” My sudden magic attack caught Veyra by surprise. She shot me a pouting glare as she aimed her bow.
Sorry ‘bout that, Veyra. I just need to finish off a few of them since this is getting a bit risky.
“It’s…not that…!” She fired off another arrow, and with the downtime between notching the next, she pointed something out. “You…used… too much.” Her trembling finger pointed out the massive figure that emerged from the mist, entering our clearing.
Thin legs, no, it’d be more accurate to call them twigs stepped into the circle. They’re tiny pitter-patter was easy to miss, but the presence the monster carried was another thing entirely. Its slender body warped along the torso with a bend that couldn’t be considered natural in any way, with a hole at its centre that pulsed with green energy.
Rhythmically, like powerful heartbeats, the glowing mass at its centre continuously seeped out a green gas. My eyes strayed from its core, up to the hollowed eyes that suddenly flared to life with white embers. I was surprised that something so slender managed to give me so much fear. To an unnatural amount.
Just what the heck is that thing…? Did all those flames just now alert it to us? Was I overdoing it a little? I wasn’t able to test what was seen outside the clearing, but from the events in front of us, it was safe to assume some monsters were able to see us when we couldn’t see them.
Seriously, what’s with my luck today?!
{Deep Forest Natch Witch Lv29}
{Condition: Enraged}
{Holds a high amount of mana. Target is weak to physical damage}
That’s it enraged…?! I studied the absent expression it bore at me and shivered on the spot. It’s giving off a seriously scary energy… would it be alright to have Veyra fight it?
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My attention shifted to Veyra as I extended my thoughts to hers,
Veyra, make sure to keep your distance and wear it down. No matter what, you can’t get hit!
“At…las?” She returned a concerned expression.
I’m sorry, Veyra. I know you must be pretty worried, but I swear you’ll level up from this. Just a bit more… we only need to fight a bit more! I thought to myself.
The earth shuddered under the high pitched scream it let out. “Riiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaghhhh!!!!!!!!!”
The rose-infested knights stood in place, creepily readying their weapons in unison like a band of dolls. Then, as the witch raised her hand to us, the knights attacked in droves.
I had a feeling something like this would happen. Please, just let this be an easy fight so we can get out of here!!
The ground morphed under the knights and rose into the air with rows of pillars. After launching them a bit, the pillars pulled back into the ground and loosened into mud. I was safe to fly over them, but as soon as the knights walked into the trap, they sank like rocks.
Veyra, make sure not to move! Okay?
She nodded back and drew another arrow. One by one, she launched her arrows into the roses that bloomed across their bodies. She was seriously impressive, able to hold her own against so many of them.
Still, it wasn’t enough.
The chunk of stone I commanded burst through one of the knights, and it fell lifeless to the ground. The rose around its arm was blown away completely, leaving nothing but dying vines wrapped over what remained. The grinding hiss of its armour sliding across the ground crept towards me in one motion. I blocked the onslaught of vines that burst from the knight's body, but was repelled back.
Wh-what the hell?! These things…can still move? I tried to stay upright, but immediately felt the sudden tug of vines wrap over me. What are they–
{Target is attempting to take control of your consciousness}
{Attempt has failed}
You slimy punk! It’s not enough that you have that knight's body, but now you’re getting greedy with me!
I commanded a wave of fire and burnt the vines off of me in a flash of heat. As the last embers of the attack scattered to empty air, the knight in front of me was freed of any vines or roses and dropped into scattered pieces of armour.
{100 Exp Gained}
Swish!
My attention whipped away from the notification screen to the thorned vine aimed at my head. I wasn’t fast enough to dodge, so I erected a wall in front of me using skills, but…
A crack spread across the wall's surface, and in less than a second, I felt the overwhelming pressure of the vine crash into my torso.
I was forced through the air like I weighed nothing more than a feather and plunged into the ground. I wasn’t sure if my species, the Oblivion Wraith, was meant to be durable, but I never thought I’d be pushed around so easily in this life. It had been a long time since anything was able to hit me back like that.
“Atlas!!”
The clearing was slowly consumed with white fog. I lost my control for a second there, but managed to extend it a bit more and secured the area between Veyra and me.
Sorry, Veyra… I got a bit sidetracked, but I’ll end this soon. I promise. Just keep yourself safe until that opening comes, ‘kay?
There was no answer, probably because I didn’t sound too convincing. But it didn’t matter. I knew I’d win, and I’m sure she didn’t doubt me either.
My eyes strayed towards the witch. She aimed a hand out to me with a slow, menacing gesture that said she wanted me to bring the heat.
My levitating hands both froze in place, balled into fists.
Alright then, you damned twig… I’ll crush you.
?
