McGillis (Rayos) VS a Large Monster.
McGillis’s weapon was the wrong kind, only managing to chip away at its thin hide.
Despite launching a barrage of attacks, the monster was too agile to hit.
Neither side could land a decisive blow, and time simply slipped away.
“DIE!”
“You will be!”
THUMP! SLASH!
He dodged a wide-swinging attack and immediately counter-attacked with a flash to its ankle.
McGillis distanced himself from the monster without even glancing at the wound that healed instantly.
“Hiiiee…”
Phasis desperately evaded the pebbles and stones flying from the aftermath of the battle.
His body was covered in scrapes and dirt.
(Seriously, can’t you just die already? Can I run? *Glances*)
McGillis was locked in a struggle with the monster, and now might be his chance to escape.
But if he were found, he wouldn’t be able to talk his way out of it later and would be eaten alive.
(Damn, someone just die already…)
It was a battle between monsters. The residual shockwaves had been relentless, and if he hadn’t dealt with them, he would have been seriously injured. These shockwaves kept coming, again and again.
Phasis desperately wanted either McGillis or the large monster to die and end the fight.
“Become the offering to my dream already—!!”
“THE OFFERING IS YOU, HUMAN!!”
This time, McGillis went on the offensive. The monster tried to counter.
McGillis pulled back, and the monster’s attack missed.
They glared at each other.
The monster’s damage was naturally healing, but it had decreased slightly.
It maintained a confident stance, not attacking, as if not to let McGillis notice? Perhaps it had a taunt skill. McGillis, however, didn’t fall for the bait.
He remained still, thinking about whether he should use his possessed magic power soon. He was committed to counter-attacking only after the monster attacked.
“……”
“……”
Hubbub.
“A big one!?”
“Whoa—!!”
“So, so big…”
The incredibly loud and prolonged battle sounds finally stopped.
Adventurers, like hyenas, had been waiting to scavenge for scraps.
Adventurers, like onlookers, wondered what kind of daredevil had been fighting.
Such adventurers appeared near Phasis.
This was deep in the hunting grounds. Some adventurers were mixed in who were faster to reach here.
With this many people, many had come with the optimistic thought that they could escape if they weren’t targeted.
The minority, veterans, had come trembling, expecting to be saved.
“HUMANNNN”
“Tch”
The monster was strong. But being surrounded by an increasing number of humans was annoying.
McGillis harbored anger towards the adventurers (the onlookers) who had let him miss the timing to use his hidden magic.
He contemplated killing a few of them and set aside the immediate threat of the monster.
“……Un (Yeah)”
“……Un (Yeah)”
A silent truce was reached through mere glances.
McGillis rushed towards Phasis, while the monster charged at the adventurers who had appeared.
“What!? What are you doing?!”
“Fei, I’m a little tired. Let’s leave this place ♪”
“Eh, no…”
Phasis swallowed his words, thinking that a monster like you couldn’t possibly be tired!?
While McGillis was looking for a place to rest, the large monster observed the adventurers who had rushed at it.
“Guhh”
“You’re supposed to be fighting that thing!”
“Help—!? I can’t handle thissss!!!”
It was tragic. But there was also a sense of self-inflicted misfortune.
It was their fault for coming out of mere curiosity. I didn’t incite them.
Even if they complained when they returned to town, it wasn’t a criminal act.
(I absolutely have to escape from the ‘Scrap Class’. There are many witnesses. I can get away. At worst, I can just blame everything on McGillis (the monster)… and I’ll be free ♪! Alright! When we get back to town, I’m counting on you guys (whoever survives) ♪!)
“Hmph. Be my offering.”
The large monster absorbed the possessed magic power of the adventurers it had killed, which was released into the atmosphere (as mana). It healed its accumulated damage with this. It then allocated the remaining mana to existence evolution and physical enhancement.
With each adventurer who died from being bludgeoned with clubs, trampled with immense force, or swatted away, its power and speed increased.
“R-RUNNNNNN!!”
“RUN TO THE TOWNNNNNN!!”
The veteran adventurers who had led the group swiftly issued clear instructions and calls.
The confusion gradually subsided.
They fled towards the town… the frontier city of “Gallons Pay.” They evacuated, retreating like scattered rabbits.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaahhh!”
“WAIT! MY OFFERINGS! SO… AGILE…”
Who should it kill? It had been prioritizing those with seemingly high possessed magic power, but…
Once they committed to fleeing, they escaped its attack range in an instant.
The truce was over! It began searching for McGillis.
“HE ESCAPED TOO… Hmph. NEXT TIME I FIND YOU, I WILL DEFINITELY CLAIM YOU.”
The large monster returned to its lair.
McGillis and Phasis, who were nowhere to be seen, headed towards another hunting ground.
Was it okay to rest, McGillis?
“…Haaー”
Phasis merely nodded, as if to say he knew.
He followed McGillis’s back.
It was past noon.
They could still hunt small monsters.
“Hurry up and follow, okay?”
He couldn’t use magic.
Should he consider it saving his possessed magic power?
Or should he see it as having lost an opportunity to know how effective his magic would have been against the (large) monster?
McGillis took his frustration out on Phasis, urging him to hurry.
“Yes!”
It was unreasonable. But. If the adventurers who had suffered damage in town made a fuss, he figured he could endure it as it might free him from this relationship.
