Volume 1 Chapter 78 Griffin & Netherwolf
"Okay. When we get on the road, ask for a signal."
The unidentified black beast is still running along the highway, growling lowly.
It runs parallel to our carriage, waiting patiently for us to lose our patience and come out.
Thanks to Edward, I have had some time to think about it, but it seems the monster has no intention of letting us go.
Even if we manage to outmaneuver them, it's the same if it keep chasing us using the griffin. Either way, there's no other choice but to defeat them here.
"Ark-sama. I feel something strange from those monsters... It's hard to express in words."
Fatina muttered, a little puzzled, as she drew her sword. It seems she also sensed something from these monsters. Perhaps it's because of her skills like [Sword Saint] and [Magic Resistance].
"I'll deal with the black wolf. Meanwhile, Fatina, please protect the carriage from the griffon."
Based on the magic power consumed by 'Miasma Wave' earlier, the attacks unleashed by the black beast are comparable to S-Rank class or even more powerful. It's uncertain whether even a group of high-level adventurers could win if they fought directly.
On the other hand, since the griffin is A-Rank, Fatina, who has become strong enough to defeat Shade in one blow, should be able to counter with a skill like [Sword Saint] that I don't have.
It would be best to cast [Instant Death Magic] on both and defeat them together, but if they escape the effective range, the effect will disappear. To target both at once using the (Ruin) with the ability of 'Multiple Chant' , it is necessary to capture them within range simultaneously or some kind of trigger is needed.
For now, it's certain that we should defeat the black beast on the ground first and then deal with the griffin.
"Understood. I think it's easier to fight if we stop the carriage, but what should we do?"
"It's better not to stop. Another monster might launch a surprise attack the moment we stop."
Edward interjected from the side. I shared his opinion.
These two, for reasons unknown to us, are coordinating to ambush us. This means there may be other monsters lurking in the forest, waiting for an opportunity.
Therefore, stopping our movement here is not a good idea. The carriage sitting there would make an easy target, and if it's destroyed, we'd lose our means of travel. If that happens, reaching Metis safely becomes uncertain.
"Mel, do you have any idea about the true identity of that monster?"
"N-no, I have no idea at all..."
I asked Mel just to be sure, but her response was as I expected.
If it's something released by the Kingdom Knights like in Iria, they would surely try to capture Mel alive.
However, the attack unleashed earlier was filled with the intent to kill, sparing no one.
"Mel, please stay inside the carriage."
"...Okay. I'll at least put up some protection."
Instead of saying that Mel would fight too, she casted protection on everyone. Soft blue light enveloped our bodies.
"I'll climb up on the carriage's canopy. Fatina, can you attack from the coachman's seat? If a griffin comes, I want you to intercept it."
"Yes, I can do it."
"Alright, have you discussed everything?"
Edward glanced at us.
"Yeah. Whenever you're ready to hit the road."
"I see. Then I'm counting on you. There's a deep valley ahead. Make sure you don't fall off."
Edward cracked his whip, and the horses accelerated even more as the carriage darted back onto the road.
Now we were faster than the pursuing dark beast, which increased its speed to catch up with us.
I climbed onto the canopy and drew my sword from its sheath. I prepared myself to chant immediately once I entered the range of (Ruin).
'Skreee!!'
At that moment, the Griffin circled around to the front of the carriage and let out a high-pitched cry.
Its wings flapped intensely, and suddenly, several crescent-shaped blades, shining with a greenish hue, appeared and were unleashed.
The created blades resembled Wind Attribute Magic used by humans and were similar to Allen's Sword Skill, Aquaflow Cavern.
"Haahhh!!"
Before I could chant (Death), Fatina swiftly swung her sword, unleashing several pitch-black slashes. The shining blades and slashes clashed fiercely in the air, neutralizing each other and dispersing into mist.
Something was definitely not right.
I hadn't anticipated this kind of attack. It was because I had never heard of a Griffin having such magic means of attack.
If it were a mutated species, it should have undergone a significant physical transformation like the Shadow Chimera or Lizardman. This monster appeared to be a normal Griffin in appearance, but something was different. It had been "enhanced by some kind of power".
"Kuh!!"
Fatina attacked again, but the Griffin swiftly dodged it. It was still out of (Ruin)'s range. At the same time, the black beast was approaching from behind.
Right after that, the carriage turned and the scenery on the road changed.
Just to the right, there was a big, deep valley that followed along the road.
It was the place Edward mentioned earlier.
The bottom of the valley was pitch black, and I unable to see anything. There were no fences or anything to prevent a fall, so it wouldn't end well if someone fell.
'Skreee!'
As if it had planned this moment, the Griffin that had been waiting in the sky flew down towards the carriage. It must have decided that long-range attacks wouldn't work and switched to a direct attack.
Almost at the same time, the black beast also rapidly approached the carriage. It was an ambush from both sides.
──And that means, both monsters entered the range of [Instant Death Magic] at the same time.
"Oblivion, devour everything and return to nothingness── (Ruin)"
I point my sword at the black beast and point my left hand at the griffon.
Due to the effect of "multiple chants", the "instant death magic" (Ruin) is activated on the two bodies.
In order to reap their lives, skeletons appear before the monsters and wield sickles.
'Skreeeee!!'
'Rrrooarr!!'
A magic defense barrier appeared in front of the griffon.
Originally, the griffon didn't have such an ability and I should have been able to kill it with one blow.
However, even though the two monsters let out painful cries, they did not move away from the carriage. Although it is a monster, its tenacity is frightening.
I display my status and check my physical strength and magic power.
It has been strengthened overall in the battles so far, but as a compensation for multiple activations of (annihilation), two numbers decrease surprisingly quickly.
"Ark-sama!"
Fatina swung her sword. With a swift movement, her slash pass throught the skeleton and struck the griffin.
It seemed to be the final push, as the magic barrier shattered into pieces with a loud noise.
The slash pierced through the barrier and directly hit the left half of the griffin's body, tearing it apart. At the same time, the spell "Ruin" was lifted.
'Grrrrr!! Rrrooarrr!'
The remaining black beast let out a roar, despite being attacked by the spell "Ruin," and approached the carriage, getting dangerously close. This monster seemed to have a higher durability compared to the griffin's barrier. Well, it might be more accurate to say that the effects of the barrier weren't working as intended, just like how "Insanity" didn't affect the wraith. Perhaps it's an issue with their attributes.
I could feel my strength gradually fading. My stamina was only at half.
"Light, heal the wounds of that person── (Cure)"
Then, I felt a little bit of my strength return.
When I turned around, Mel was standing on the canopy, and she was casting healing magic (holy magic) on me.
However, even if my physical strength is restored, my magic power will be depleted this time.
"Then how about this?"
I gripped my sword tightly with both hands and jump towards the beast's back as it continued to run. With that momentum, I thrust the sword deeply into its neck.
If it receive (Ruin) on its body and can't fight back, then attack it directly. Unlike the miasma wall created by the Lich, magic defense cannot block non-magical attacks.
'Grrrroooaaarrr!!'
The black beast let out a powerful scream. I immediately kicked its body and flew again, landing on the canopy.
'Grrrr! Rrroarrr────!!"
With the mithril sword thrust deep into its back, the beast rolled down the road and began to rampage, struggling as it fell into the valley, colliding with a rock wall on the way and disappearing into the darkness at the bottom of the valley. .
"Are you okay!? We made it through this time!"
"Yeah. It seems like we managed to defeat it."
As Fatina asked from the front of the carriage, I turned forward and my field of vision opened up. I could see a vast expanse of earthy land and mountains in the distance. We had finally made it out of the forest.
"Good grief. I thought for sure we were done for this time."
Edward said in his usual tone, exhaling a breath of relief.
"But seriously, what in the world were those monsters back there?"
"Yeah. It almost seemed like...they were following some kind of intention. At least, that's just how it felt to me..."
The two of them were discussing the monsters we encountered earlier. There were certainly a lot of mysteries.
The coordination between the monsters, and the clearly unusual griffin.
Was it just a coincidence that we encountered them? But even if that were the case, they weren't like the usual monsters you find on the surface.
If that's the case, could it be possible that they were created in the dungeon, like the Shadow Chimera that attacked Voltana?
I quickly returned to the back of the carriage, feeling suspicious about the mysterious attacker. With a sense of urgency, we hurried back on the road towards Metis.
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