Reincarnated as the Weakest Magical Beast

Far away, a group of adventurers was locked in a desperate struggle for their lives.

"AAAAH! FIREBALL!!!"

The pink-haired mage screamed, her voice raw as she hurled a blazing sphere of flame. It streaked through the rain-soaked night and slammed into a Lesser Death Bear.

BOOOOM!

The blast tore through the beast's skull with a thunderous explosion, searing away half its face in a spray of fire, flesh, and bone. The monster staggered, let out a guttural roar, then collapsed with a heavy, earth-shaking thud.

But before anyone could exhale in relief, another Lesser Death Bear burst through the trees, its hulking body crashing through branches like kindling. Its glowing red eyes locked onto them as it barreled forward.

The pink-haired mage's lips moved frantically. "F-Fire barri—"

SLAAASH!!!

The bear's claws carved through her midsection in a single swipe. Her body split apart like fragile parchment—upper half and lower half severed cleanly. Her eyes widened, still frozen in disbelief, as her torso hit the ground with a wet smack. Blood erupted in a violent fountain, spraying across the mud, painting the battlefield crimson.

"L-LIERA!!! NOOOOOOO! W-WHAT THE FUCKKK!!!"

The blonde-haired mage, who was standing right nearby, shrieked, her voice shattering into hysteria. She dropped to her knees, her hands shaking violently as warm blood splattered across her robes.

"T-TANKS! WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE TANKS?!"

But as her eyes darted across the chaos, the truth struck her like ice.

The tanks…

They were gone!

Two warriors and a berserker lay twisted and broken across the field, their armor ripped open, their insides clawed out and spilling across the mud. Their weapons lay snapped, their lifeless eyes staring upward into the cursed blood-red sky.

Only one man still clung to life.

"HAAAAA!!!"

With a hoarse roar, a knight in battered, blood-soaked armor charged forward. His body was covered in wounds, his shield splintered and dented, but still he forced himself on. He slammed the shield into the chest of the charging Death Bear, the impact ringing like thunder!

BAMMM!!!

The beast skidded back a step, snarling, and the knight planted his feet, his arms trembling but unyielding.

For a brief moment, against all odds, he had forced the monster back, buying precious seconds, just enough to save the blonde-haired mage from certain death!

But it wasn't over.

The Death Bear only staggered for a heartbeat before lurching back to its feet, its skull-like face twisted with undead malice. With a bone-rattling snarl, it lunged again, slamming full force into the knight's shield.

BOOOOM!!!

"AAARRRGHHH!!!"

The knight roared, his body buckling as the monster's sheer weight and power crashed into him. His boots sank ankle-deep into the mud, gouging trenches as he fought to hold the line. The shield shrieked and groaned, cracks spiderwebbing across its battered surface.

The truth was clear—he was already weakening. His armor was mangled, blood leaking through every joint in his steel plate due to the Bleed debuff he was currently suffering from. And on top of that, were also a max limit of Fatigue stacks as well.

"KATHY! SNAP OUT OF IT—NOW, PLEASE!!!" he bellowed, spittle flying from his teeth.

"R-RIGHT! I—I'm sorry!"

The blonde mage, Kathy, flinched awake from her terror. Her fingers fumbled, slick with sweat and blood, as she raised her staff. Words stumbled from her lips, rushed and panicked:

"ARCANE ARROW!!!"

FWOOOOSH!!!

A lance of shimmering blue light shot forth, streaking through the rain. It whistled like a blade through the air before striking the beast's flank with a crack, impaling its rotting hide. Blue sparks hissed as the arrow burned deep into its flesh.

The Death Bear roared in fury and thrashed violently, ripping chunks of its own flesh open as it writhed.

But it did not stop.

"AAARRRGHHH! IT'S NOT ENOUGH!!!" the knight bellowed, his shield creaking under the relentless assault. "YOUNG LADY—PLEASE!!!"

Further back, apart from the carnage, another figure stood poised.

A girl with short purple hair, dressed in finely tailored adventurer's attire that gleamed even through mud and blood. Her silver longbow shone in the dim light, its string drawn so taut it groaned. Her arms quivered from the strain, veins standing out, her jaw clenched with fury.

"Tch! I'm charging! HOLD ON!!!" Mary shouted, her voice filled with so much frustration.

Unlike the others, Mary was clearly of noble blood, her presence standing apart from the battered, lower-born adventurers who fought alongside her.

As Mary drew her bowstring tighter, the arrow began to glow brighter and brighter, pulsing with raw energy.

"PLEASE! I… CAN'T HOLD MUCH LONGER!!!" the tank bellowed, his arms trembling.

The Death Bear roared and pressed harder, its massive frame looming over him. Suddenly, it coiled back and swung its monstrous claw.

BAM!!!

The blow crashed against the shield, the sound of metal reverberating through the forest.

And then another—

CLANGGG!!!

This time, the shield shattered into pieces!

"NOOOOO! ARONNNN!!!" the blonde-haired mage shrieked, her voice cracking as her heart dropped into despair.

Aron, the last tank, was thrown back, crashing into the dirt. His shield—his final line of defense—was gone. Helpless, he could only stare up as the Death Bear loomed over him, its arm raised high, claws gleaming with blood. Death was already falling upon him.

Suddenly—

"POWERSHOT!"

An arrow burst forth, blazing like a beam of light. It streaked through the rain and slammed into the Death Bear's chest.

BOOOOM!!!

The creature's body erupted violently, half of it blown apart in a shower of gore. The monster collapsed instantly, dead before it even realized what struck it!

However, that was all they could do. Their fate hadn't improved. Their chances of survival hadn't risen even a fraction.

Because from the suffocating darkness, five more Lesser Death Bears emerged.

"No…" Kathy collapsed to her knees, trembling so hard her staff slipped from her hands. Tears streamed down her face, mixing with the rain. "I… I don't want to die… please!"

But then—

"You won't die!" Aron, the knight, growled, his battered frame rising once more. His voice carried such raw conviction that even Kathy's sobs were cut short. Blood ran freely down his dented armor, his legs unsteady, yet his will unbroken.

He lifted his hand skyward and roared a chant:

"O' heavens above, heed my vow!

By steel and by faith, I shall guard!

Let your light descend—

GUARDIAN ANGEL!!!"

SHWIIINGGG!!!

At his words, a radiant pillar of light thundered down from the heavens, parting even the storm clouds above! His back erupted with brilliant wings of radiance, each feather scattering into glowing embers that danced through the rain. In his hands, a blazing shield and a sword of pure light materialized, gleaming with divine brilliance!

It was an Epic-tier skill for tank warriors, known as [Guardian Angel].

Upon casting this ability, the user would be blessed with the divine protection of angelic power. For one whole minute, they would be completely invulnerable to any physical attack.

However, the cost of activating this skill was so steep that it was meant only for the most desperate of last resort. Because each use of Guardian Angel demanded a sacrifice of five entire levels.

But well, five levels… was still far cheaper than losing one's life!

"I'LL HOLD THEM BACK!" Aron bellowed, his voice carrying over the battlefield. "Please, Kathy—take the young lady and get the fuck out of here! Get her to the safe point!"

"No… Aron…" Mary's voice cracked. Her hand trembled, her noble composure shattering as tears welled in her eyes.

"Please, milady." Aron finally allowed himself a faint, weary smile. "It has been my greatest honor… to serve you…"

"NOW GO!!!" he roared, wings flaring with holy fire.

"Q-QUICK! MILADY, WE HAVE TO GO!!!" the blonde mage screamed, grabbing Mary's wrist with desperate force and dragging her toward safety.

And so, even though it tore her heart to shreds, Mary had to swallow her tears and leave Aron behind.

Because… that was the only way.

One death… was still better than all of them dying together here.

…

As they fled through the rain and mud, the clash of steel and roars of beasts thundered behind them. It was Aron's desperate last stand.

Then, finally… a scream split the night.

Mary dared to glance back. The shining pillar of light had already faded.

Because now… one minute had passed.

The effect of Guardian Angel had worn off.

***

And so, they ran and ran…

In Ashbane Forest, though most of its depths teemed with horrors, there were sanctuaries—rare safe points where adventurers could rest. By the very laws of this land, no monster could step foot inside those sacred boundaries.

Mary and Kathy were close to one now.

So close.

They could already see it—the faint purple glow shining through the storm, radiating from a towering statue of the god who ruled this domain, the one who forged and governed its dungeons and monsters.

"Look! Milady! We're almost there!!!" Kathy cried, her voice straining, legs pumping with the last of her strength.

Mary pushed herself harder too, lungs burning, sprinting as though her soul itself were fleeing her body.

But then—

BOOOOM!!!

The treeline exploded outward. A shadow barreled into them, its hulking form blotting out the light. Another Death Bear lunged from the darkness, its massive arm swinging wide.

CRAAACK!!!

The strike smashed into Kathy's ribs, the sound of bones shattering piercing through the storm.

"KARGHHHH!!!"

Blood spewed from her mouth as her body was hurled against a tree. The impact shook the trunk, bark splintering, before she crumpled to the ground like a broken doll—unconscious instantly, her limbs twisted at unnatural angles.

"NOOO! KATHYYY!!!" Mary's scream tore her throat raw, her face twisting in horror.

And just like that… it was only her and the beast.

Her knees buckled.

She collapsed into the mud, trembling, her whole body refusing to obey.

"No… no, this can't be… this can't be happening…" she whimpered, her lips pale and quivering. Fear crushed her chest like an iron weight, cold and heavy as chains of lead that bound her to the earth.

The Death Bear turned its glowing eyes toward her. It lumbered forward slowly, each step deliberate, savoring the kill.

"Mom… Dad… I'm sorry…" Mary's voice broke.

"Selene… I'm sorry… I wasn't able to save you…"

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she closed her eyes, bracing herself, praying for a quick death.

The beast charged, claws raised, gleaming under the bloody moonlight.

But at that very moment—

A blade arc, wreathed in roaring black fire, carved through the air from behind Mary!

The moment the arc met the charging Bear…

FWWOOOMMM!!!

Flames surged violently, swallowing the beast whole!

With a thunderous rip, its body burst apart, splitting into two burning halves that collapsed to either side, sizzling into the mud.