NOVEL NEXT Ch. 25
Chapter 25 - Gargoyle Subjugation (1)
In the practical test of the original
One was to earn points by dealing with a large number of weak monsters with low scores, and the other was to earn a large number of points at once by hunting high-grade monsters.
Of course, it was generally more difficult to hunt high-grade monsters than to hunt a large number of low-grade monsters.
But the reason this strategy worked was because of the test’s characteristic that the scores increased exponentially.
A stage 1 monster was 1 point, a stage 2 monster was 2 points, a stage 3 monster was 4 points, a stage 4 monster was 8 points…… it increased like that. If you caught a high-rank monster, you also got bonus points.
In addition, in the case of a tie, there was the advantage that the side that caught a high-rank monster was ranked higher.
As you may have noticed from the goal of ‘subjugating the Gargoyle’ that I mentioned earlier, the strategy I chose was the latter.
There were many reasons, but the most crucial one was…… unlike the usual case, my fighting style and abilities were not suited for catching monsters in a high-volume, low-margin manner.
[ Strength : D- ]
[ Agility : C+ ]
[ Stamina : D- ]
[ Intelligence : B ]
[ Mana : F+ ]
[ Dexterity : B+ ]
The reason was my damn poor stamina. Since my stamina stat was D-, my combat endurance was significantly low, and because of this, the former method, which required repeated battles, was quite tricky.
The question of how I would catch a Gargoyle, which is a strong one even among the intermediate-to-high-level monsters that were designated as stage 9 in the academy entrance exam, would remain…… but I was confident.
‘I can’t do it alone, but with Yuna, it’s possible.’
Therefore, Yuna and I are moving like this to catch the Gargoyle, the highest-grade and highest-point monster in this test.
The Salamander, which was stage 10 in the entrance exam, was excluded because its nature was so violent that it could attack other monsters as well.
Anyway, for that reason, I’m moving with Yuna to the area where the Gargoyle spawns, but…….
“…….”
There’s something strange about Yuna following me. She seems to be trying to say something, but then stops, and when I turn around because I feel her gaze, she avoids my eyes.
‘Well, it’s probably fine.’
She seems to have some distracting thoughts, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s probably not a serious matter. Thinking about Yuna’s character and past, there’s no reason for it to be. On the contrary, she might be in the middle of organizing her thoughts.
Anyway, I led Yuna and continued to move to the Gargoyle’s spawn point. Originally, the basic method for searching for a monster is to detect the unique mana wavelength of that monster…… but thanks to the game, I knew the location from the beginning.
When we got somewhat close to the Gargoyle’s spawn point, I looked back at Yuna again.
“Uh, huh? Wh-why?”
Yuna answered with a flustered voice, as if she was surprised by me suddenly turning around.
“We’re almost there, so I thought I should tell you about the Gargoyle’s strategy.”
“Ah. Th-that’s right! The strategy, that’s good!”
It’s a bit concerning that her voice shows she’s not keeping her composure…… but, it didn’t matter.
“From now on, I will tell you about the Gargoyle’s strategy.”
No, to be honest, it was better for me that she couldn’t keep her composure.
***
She didn’t know the exact reason, but Yuna found it hard to compose herself.
The cause was the somewhat restless and ticklish sensation she had been feeling for a while.
“From now on, I will tell you about the Gargoyle’s strategy.”
But Rain, who had no way of knowing Yuna’s situation, began to calmly talk about the strategy.
His tone was calm, without any wavering, as usual.
‘Ugh, I need to concentrate.’
Yuna tried to compose herself somehow and began to listen to Rain’s story.
She thought it was not polite to be absent-minded in front of someone who was taking the test so seriously.
And the impression Yuna had while listening to the strategy was as follows.
What the heck, let’s just do it.
Although her concentration was a bit off due to distracting thoughts, Yuna had gained some confidence from her previous experience.
She had said it was a monster from stage 9 of the entrance examination, but to be honest, for Yuna, who had been eliminated at stage 3, she had no idea how strong it was.
A Gargoyle, an intermediate-level monster created by the magic of a high-level monster, with a hard, rocky body imbued with mana.
When she first encountered its magnificent and huge demonic form, she flinched, but until then, Yuna’s confidence had not been broken.
Since Rain had said it would be possible, Yuna had no doubt in believing him. It was the words of the one person who had recognized her, after all.
-When the Gargoyle first attacks, it will definitely attack with the trident in its right hand. It’s a monster designed that way. I will take this attack. I have the advantage in responding to physical attacks.
As he had said, as soon as the battle began, Rain rushed towards the Gargoyle, drew its attention, and induced an attack.
And.
Clang-!
Clang-!
Clang-!
When Rain successfully defended against the heavy and fierce series of trident attacks, her confidence even surged.
She could see that his strategy was working perfectly.
When an opening was created by that one round of attacks, Yuna recalled the strategy that Rain had explained again.
-And you can attack the Gargoyle by aiming for that opening. The vital point is the heart, but you don’t necessarily have to aim for the vital point.
-Please attack with the highest possible firepower, cloaked in mana. I already know you have excellent mana.
-The goal is to deplete the mana that the Gargoyle is cloaked in for defense.
The fact that the instructions Rain had given were something Yuna was quite confident in was also encouraging. Yuna’s mana level had been evaluated as B-grade during the entrance examination.
This was a mana level comparable to that of a fairly high-ranking Magic Department student at the academy.
Yuna drew up the mana in her body quickly while holding her sword. Then Yuna’s golden eyes shone, and a blue energy flickered around the blade of her sword.
Dash-!
Holding that sword, Yuna quickly approached the Gargoyle. And she raised her sword high and brought it down on the back of the defenseless Gargoyle’s head.
“Hmph……!”
Crash-!
It was a single blow cloaked in mana, without any technique. A talent bestowed by the heavens, but only for 7 days. Yuna did not yet have the precision to accurately aim for the vital point.
But the explosive roar, unbelievable to have come from a sword strike, proved the power contained in that simple blow.
‘I can do it too!’
That power was enough to make even the stage 9 monster, the Gargoyle, stagger, and confirming that fact, Yuna was further encouraged.
With that confidence, Yuna recalled the second strategy that Rain had told her - that is, the strategy she had to perform herself.
-After the trident attack, the Gargoyle will immediately breathe fire from its mouth. When I disengage after blocking the trident attack, the Gargoyle’s attention will be drawn to you, Yuna-ssi.
-Yuna-ssi, you can defend against the fire with your mana. Then I will aim for the opening and attack again.
Thump-thump-thump-!
As soon as she recalled that strategy, Rain immediately retreated. It was a fast and fluid movement.
“This time it’s a barrier!”
Yuna raised her sword and once again quickly drew up the mana in her body. A round, blue mana barrier was created around her.
As could be felt from her excited voice, the current Yuna had confidence.
It was a field where she was originally confident in using her mana, and she had gained confidence in her own skills by dealing with Bruno’s gang earlier and successfully landing a blow on the Gargoyle.
But that confidence…….
Fwoooosh-!
As if the processes that had been built up before were meaningless, it scattered like a bubble after barely blocking the Gargoyle’s first breath.
***
“……Huh?”
A single word filled with bewilderment.
A cold sweat trickled down from Yuna’s short black hair. It might have been the sweat from the heat transmitted from beyond the mana barrier. It was an attack with that much overwhelming mana and heat.
“Well done.”
Slash-!
Along with the sound of a cool sword strike, a word of praise was heard from Rain, who had taken the Gargoyle’s rear.
But for the current Yuna, it was just a sound that didn’t reach her ears.
‘Next…… what do I do?’
Drip.
The cold sweat that had trickled down Yuna’s cheek fell to the ground.
And while taking that attack, Yuna instinctively felt it.
The next attack, she would never be able to block.
That she would fail.
And so, hesitation gnawed at Yuna’s heart.
Clang-!
Clang-!
But time did not wait for the hesitating Yuna. Rain was already enduring the Gargoyle’s attacks, waiting for Yuna.
“Now!”
“Uh, uh……!”
When Rain created an opening and shouted, Yuna finally readjusted her stance and rushed in.
“First, what I can do now……!”
Fwoosh-!
It was a blow delivered after barely composing herself while muttering so, but the sound it made when it struck the defenseless Gargoyle’s rear was definitely lighter than the previous attack.
‘Did I run out of mana!’
Yuna could finally realize her own mistake.
The first attack was certainly powerful, but it was a blow that did not consider the pace of the battle.
And because of that, she had used up a considerable amount of mana, and now she lacked the mana to be used for the following attacks and defenses.
“Grrr……”
With a creepy growl, the Gargoyle, which had turned around, stared at Yuna with its red, shining eyes. As if to prove that Yuna’s turn had come.
“Ah, ah……”
Yuna’s voice trembled. Although the Gargoyle she was facing was a virtual monster without a physical body, it was a strong one even among the intermediate-level monsters.
And the momentum that came from that strength was more than enough to make an academy student who had run out of mana tremble with fear.
“Yuna-ssi, defend!”
From the other side of the Gargoyle, Rain’s voice was heard. Only then could Yuna compose herself, but…… there was nothing that would change just by composing herself.
Gooooo-.
Flames are gathering in the Gargoyle’s mouth.
Yuna’s intuition was screaming that with the weak amount of mana she had left, she wouldn’t be able to resist those flames, that she would lose.
I can’t do it.
That one sentence rose up to just below Yuna’s throat. But Yuna did not let it out. No, she couldn’t.
In that fleeting moment, Yuna looked at Rain beyond the Gargoyle.
At the one person who had recognized her, a failing student, in a vast ocean where she didn’t even know what to do.
She didn’t want to disappoint him.
She didn’t want to make him think that the expectations he had for her were misplaced.
“Uwaaaaaah-!!”
Yuna shouted loudly and squeezed out her mana. She knew. That with this amount of mana, she wouldn’t be able to overcome the Gargoyle’s breath. That she would lose.
But still, Yuna could not back down.
Fwoooosh-!
Flames spewed from the Gargoyle’s mouth and rushed towards Yuna.
‘How stubborn.’
Even if I do this, if I fail, I’ll disappoint him all the same.
That thought flashed through Yuna’s mind.
When I open my eyes, it will be the waiting room. What should I apologize to Rain for? That thought also came to her at the same time.
Yuna squeezed her eyes shut. In 1 second, it was clear that she would be ejected to the waiting room with the sensation of magic enveloping her body, just like in the entrance examination. Just like that time when she had been miserably defeated.
“…….”
But, that didn’t happen.
“Ugh……?”
What she felt was the same heat, and…… the sensation of the ground she was still standing on.
Yuna slowly opened her eyes.
Then, where Yuna opened her eyes and looked - in front of her was a man’s back.
“Fortunately, I wasn’t late.”
The boy, Rain, turned his head and looked at Yuna. The boy’s face that Yuna saw was like the surface of water without a single ripple, with a calm expression without a single hint of agitation.
That composure was all too natural. After all, all the processes that had happened in the battle so far, including Yuna’s frustration…… were all part of the ‘strategy’ that the boy had set up.