Chapter 315: Strength Check

315 – Strength Check

I peer around the cave to check each out each enemy. There had been seven, but I’ve since taken out one of the archers and one of the twin swordsmen. The other twin swordsman is still alive, but he’s not in any state to fight. He doesn’t have a weapon. He might still be present, but it should be fine to think of it as there being four enemies left.

Remaining are the felis huma swordsman who cut open my abdomen and one of the archers. There’s also the pink haired mage and as well as a large swordsman standing in front of her to protect her.

At the back of the cave, the Lithovar children are bound with rope in a messy line. Trying to bite through the rope covering their mouths, they watch me through tearful eyes. They shouldn’t know who I am, but they can tell from the situation that on their side. Even so, anxiety is mixed into their gaze.

However… That pale man and Tolman aren’t here. Even when they’re trying to fight me, is their main force acting separately? Maybe they’re meant to buy time while other units go off to mess with the forest children. If so, it’s even more important that I break through here. The last time they were provoked, the village collapsed, after all.

“Why’s he still so energetic? Weren’t that a bit shallow, eh, Nell? Hey hey, do it properly now.”

The large man protecting the mage tuts his tongue. He’s…

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[Baris Baradenda]

Species: Earth Huma

Condition: Power, Quick

Lv: 27/45

HP: 162/162

MP: 99/99

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Baris Baradenda… His status seems to be that of a typical, sword-wielding human. He doesn’t have any technique skills, but his stamina, attack, and speed are all outstanding. In terms of monsters, he’s a red ant-type.

Guys like him are more dangerous than those with half-baked skills, but his status isn’t too impressive. He’s a bit stronger than their average soldier, but nothing I need to be cautious of. His stamina might be a bit high, but he still won’t be able to fight after taking a direct hit. But if he moves in coordination with the others, killing him will take some time.

The one to be cautious of is… That mage he’s protecting. I shift my focus to her.

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[Nowell Nogmark]

Species: Earth Huma

Condition: Normal

Lv: 36/60

HP: 176/176

MP: 142/274

Attack: 49+14

Defence: 78+55

Magic: 277+62

Speed: 53

Equipment:

Hand: [Mithril Longstaff: B]

Body: [Mithril Breastplate: B]

Characteristic Skills:

[Grisha Language: Lv7] [Mage Talent: Lv6]

Resistance Skills:

[Magic Resistance: Lv4]

Normal Skills:

[High Rest: Lv1] [Wide Rest: Lv4] [Care: Lv3] [Quick: Lv4] [Wide Power: Lv5] [Fire Wall: Lv4] [Flash: Lv3] [Berserk: Lv4] [Stone Spear: Lv2]

Title Skills:

[White Mage: Lv6] [Black Mage: Lv3] [Angel of the Battlefield: Lv-] [Starved Hunters Battalion Commander: Lv-]

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Nowell Nogmark… A battalion commander. It looks like she’s the one who cast the status-correcting magic on Baris. It seems she’s focused on support and healing, but has a few ways to attack. If she keeps healing and disrupting, there’ll be no end to the fight. I should prioritise her.

But the one who is could potentially make a decisive attack against me is the one clinging to the ceiling over there, the felis huma. His acceleration when he activated his skill was formidable.

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[Nell Nefarious]

Species: Felis Huma

Condition: Power, Quick

Lv: 38/90

HP: 192/192

MP: 65/65Attack: 212+65

Defence: 151+55

Magic: 82

Speed: 398

Equipment:Hand: [Mithril Sword: B]

Body: [Mithril Breastplate: B]

Characteristic Skills:

[Battle Instinct: Lv-] [Beast-God’s Protection: Lv-] [Grisha Language: Lv4] [Swordsman Talent: Lv8] [Wild Intuition: Lv8] [Presence Perception: Lv7] [Soft Steps: Lv6] [Night Vision: Lv6] [Kinetic Vision: Lv7]

Resistance Skills:

[Physical Resistance: Lv6] [Cutting Resistance: Lv7] [Paralysis Resistance: Lv2]

Normal Skills:

[Bite: Lv7] [Scratch: Lv6] [Cat Fake: Lv7] [Godspeed Flash: Lv5] [Total Concentration: Lv6] [Dragon Felling Thousand Cuts: Lv3]

Title Skills:

[Beastman: Lv-] [Hunter: Lv8] [Former Gladiator: Lv-] [Acrobat: Lv8] [Sword King: Lv8] [Swordsman of the Falcon: Lv-] [Starved Hunters Unit Member: Lv-]

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Speed 398!? He’s absurdly strong. Why does he have such an incredible speed? As expected, my base speed is faster, but his attack reached me thanks to the support of [Quick] and his skill.

He also has a bizzare number of characteristic and title skills related to sword use. It’s clear he’s used to handling a sword. His status is a bit imbalanced, but he’s far more formidable than any of the battalion commanders.

It’s plain to see that they’ve sent their best soldiers to fight me. Various high-level commanders and captains have been thrown together. They’re stronger than those I’ve fought so far.

I also can’t make full use of my humanised body. It doesn’t look like I have much margin for error in this battle. How I fight will greatly depend on whether I want to kill the felis huma swordsman, Nell, right away, or whether I kill the battalion commander Nowell before moving onto the unsupported Nell.

“Jem-sam! Please don’t stop your hand! It’s reaction speed is ridiculously fast! The moment there’s an opening, we’re all dead! You might not be able hit it, but it’s important to keep it distracted! Belmond-san, please escape if you can! We’ll draw the ouroboros towards us!”

Nell shouts. Hearing him, the archer who had been standing astonished hurriedly nocks another arrow. The older brother survivor of the swordsman twins leans against the wall as he stand up, his breathing ragged.

“Cheh… Sorry, but I’m retreating. I don’t plan on dying for nothing!”

“That’s not for you to decide. I’ve already used my magic to strengthen you, so it would be a shame for it to go to waste. [Berserk]!”

Nowell swings her staff. Light shoots from its tip towards the twin called Belmond.

The moment it touches him, his face changes.

“Guu… GUUUUU!”

His hand that had been feebly resting on the wall clenches shut, his nails scraping through earth. Even though several of his bones should have broken when his brother crashed into him, he charges towards me, heedless of his lack of a sword.

“His inability to think is annoying, but a wall is still far more useful than a coward.”

Nowell remarks, smirking… As I thought, taking out their support first would be best.