If there's one biggest difference between Aster's time and the current generation, that is the absence of standard games. Of course, it's not like it completely disappeared from circulation, but only a few have time to spare playing games.
As such, the "standard" procedures for hunting certain monsters have been lost, and treated as "arcane knowledge."
The use of healing on undead monsters to damage them was one of those. Of course, using holy element attacks was a commonly discovered trait, but nobody would even think of healing the enemy, after all. As such, it became a forgotten knowledge lost due to the long passage of time.
"Haaap!"
Now that the eight mummies were hit by the healing spell, their bodies became sluggish, almost losing half of their mobility. Furthermore, their defenses became literally paper-like, making it easy for everyone else to damage them.
"Holy Smite!"
"Void Palm!"
"Twin Fang!"
In concert with Aster, the three girls rained down concentrated attacks on the closest mummy. As one would expect, it couldn't survive over everyone's combined might, as its body started to dissolve into an incorrigible meat blob on the ground, releasing dangerous-looking purple smoke.
"Lory! Put on your mask properly!" Aster warned.
With one look, he could tell that it was either cursed or poisoned, but the air purifier in their masks should be able to block it out, at least.
After seeing her readjust her mask, Aster turned to the next mummy and swung his sword.
"...!"
But after the weakening effect of the heal ended, even after activating his Physical Enchant and enhancing his strength, his sword barely scratched the bandages wrapping the enemies.
*SQUELCH!*
Rather than slashing attacks, Liz and Tina's blunt attacks were more effective, deforming the mummy under their combined might. Kali, similar to Aster, could no longer damage the mummies, so she changed her plan to slowing down and distracting the rest instead.
"Minor Area Heal!"
As if she were waiting for the timing, Cassy's second heal came over and hit three of the seven remaining mummies. They got weakened once more, and Aster and the rest didn't waste this chance.
Aster, Tina, and Liz, all picked a single target each, and let out their strongest attack.
"Mana Slash!"
*CRACK!*
Suddenly, the face part of the sarcophagus cracked, spreading from the head to the toe part in a flash. Fragment by fragment, pieces fell off, gradually revealing the monster hidden inside.
"...!"
The monster inside it was almost as big as the sarcophagus. Its height was over 4.5 meters, with a body that was almost perfectly preserved, without a part rotting at all. However, the only thing that Aster didn't expect, was that the enemy was not a zombie, but looked like a giant Pharaoh instead.
It had healthy-looking chocolate brown skin and piercing red eyes that stared back at Aster despite her wearing a jackal headdress. She had perfect proportions, almost as if she were a famous gravure model.
Cold sweat soaked Aster's back as he felt the almost unbelievable amount of mana emanating from the figure.
[Invaders... So you're the ones who woke me up.]
The pharao's voice echoed directly inside their heads, but the enemy didn't simply relay its words but also inflicted them with extreme discomfort.
"Agh!"
Aster felt like his head was being split open; his vision flashed white from pain for a moment!
"M-Minor... Area Heal!"
Cassy's healing came at that moment, quickly removing the headache they were suffering from. Everyone panted heavily, feeling the gap between their strengths even before they fought. .net
"Retreat!"
And of course, Aster didn't think twice and commanded everyone to escape. If they fought, he was quite sure that they would only end up wiped out.
Everyone ran fast, returning to the door behind them, which had closed earlier. Tina and Liz stood guard, with Aster in their middle, keeping watch of the rear.
*BAM!*
However, the door was locked shut. It didn't open, and neither did it budge from Kali pushing at it!
"Vornak Kryzor Miltryn Scalvok Hyslor!" Aster even tried the passphrase, but the door didn't even respond.
"No way..."
Despair slowly swallowed them, as the pharaoh stepped forward, walking to where they were—their death was approaching.