Chapter 36 - The New Lineup
—This is exactly what it means to feel light on your feet. I was only now realizing just how important stable footing is for someone who lives and dies by their mobility.
I had to hand it to the old man. The synergy between the sandy terrain and the conger leather was perfect, of course, but now I felt like I could handle that mob train while humming a tune—okay, maybe I’m exaggerating.
But the fact remains that I was in top form. My hands, which had been bare until now, had excellent grip thanks to the gloves. As a Desert Serpent’s massive jaws closed in on me, I used Quick Change and slammed a warhammer into its side in a wide arc.
The strike, bordering on an exploit with its fraudulent super-heavy weight, generated the force of a truck collision, shattering the conger eel’s cheek and deflecting its massive, charging body.
When a creature takes such a severe blow to the head, it's bound to be dazed, big or small. This being a game made that even more certain. I moved to follow up on the conger eel as it lay sprawled on the sand—
“Whoa…”
I instantly abandoned the attack. The sign I caught in the corner of my eye was a spray of sand bubbling up like boiling water. Just as I leaped back, several shadows shot out from the sand, blocking my view.
Enemy Name: [Serpent Sucker]—I doubt the name has anything to do with soccer, but in any case, this was the other of the two mobs that spawn in this desert.
In a word, they were desert piranhas. The differences from real piranhas were their fifty-centimeter length and the fact that their dorsal fins had edges as sharp as daggers.
Their main attacks were ramming and biting, just like the conger eels, but personally, I found these small fries far more troublesome than the big ones.
Why? Because these little bastards only show their faces above the sand when they attack.
They are a source of stress, traveling in packs of at least four or five, acting as a posse for the Desert Serpent and taking cheap shots.
Considering the presence of these small fish, I actually find the hellscape of mob training to be easier. In a battlefield where so many giant bodies are clashing, they get crushed by the swarm of conger eels and wiped out on their own without me having to do a thing.
Four Suckers appeared. I managed to slice two of them in half while they were in mid-air, but the other two escaped back into the sand. To make matters worse, the stunned Serpent recovered.
I nearly clicked my tongue in annoyance but swallowed it down, remembering I had an audience. Come to think of it, that warhammer home run was probably a failing grade as an example. I should try to fight with a little more restraint.
“Well, fighting with just a sword now and then isn’t so bad.”
I gripped my [White-Flawed Straight Sword] and faced the Serpent, which was foolishly charging head-on again. About one second flat until we crossed paths—the moment the sand on my left and right began to bubble, timed with the big guy’s approach, I crushed my own margin for error.
Leaving the Suckers’ spawn points behind, I dove under the Serpent’s jaw. The Desert Conger Leather Boots gripped the sandy earth firmly, and as my body came to a halt directly beneath its defenseless throat,
“—Hraaaah!!”
I thrust my sword’s point upward toward the heavens with all my might. As Halzen had told me, these creatures are clad in an armor of sand, giving them resistance to blades. That’s why piercing attacks are somewhat more effective than slashes.
It wasn't as effective as a blow to the head or an attack from inside its mouth where the armor didn't matter, but I had struck its throat. Whether it’s a fish or anything else, that's a clear weak point for any living thing. A crimson damage effect erupted explosively, and the Serpent’s massive body bucked as if it couldn't take the pain.
Normally I would leap into the air to follow up, but I calmly reminded myself to stick to a “sensible fighting style” and remained on the ground.
Now then, what to do—should I clean up the pests first?
The Suckers I left behind had already submerged themselves in the sand again. To get rid of them, I had to wait for them to reappear, but I had already figured out their pattern.
They have two main attack timings. The first is when they piggyback on the Serpent’s attack, and the second is—
“When they try to interfere with a follow-up on their boss, right?!”
The moment I took a deliberately large step toward the knocked-back Serpent, the sand in front of me bubbled up again. When you’ve already predicted your opponent’s move, and they’re kind enough to telegraph their location, there’s only one way to deal with them.
I thrust my already-poised sword toward the marker, and the Sucker, pierced in the sand, exploded into motes of light.
Surprise attacks and simultaneous assaults. Once you shut down these troublesome factors, dealing with the charge of a slow-moving small fry is simple. I leisurely countered the last one that popped out a moment later, and with that, my numerical disadvantage was over.
Without any annoying interference, I could now cook up a single conger eel however I pleased, even without taking to the skies. I calmly proceeded to carve up the remaining Serpent, consciously restraining my usual aerial maneuvers.
◇◆◇◆◇
“—And that’s about it. These are the only two types of enemies that appear in this area, and I should have drawn out all of their attack patterns.”
This was Sora’s second time visiting the flowing sand desert. The first time was more of a scouting run, where Sora was terrified of the giant conger eel, and I was so hyped up that I was just lost in the thrill of the fight.
As a result, Sora had learned practically nothing, so I was now giving her a proper lecture.
“…………”
I thought I had put on a rather good demonstration, but Sora herself was wearing a rather peculiar expression.
“Um… if you have any feedback, I’m all ears.”
“No, um… I was just thinking that you can fight normally too, Haru-san.”
…Right. Thank you for a comment that perfectly summarizes your usual opinion of me.
“Ahaha… I mean, it was very helpful. You’re amazing, Haru-san.”
Whether she read my thoughts or not, the follow-up she delivered with a placating smile stung.
Enough time has passed that my crazed motivation for [Arcadia] has started to settle down. Recently, even when I get into the zone during a fight, I don’t just snap like I used to… but it seems the initial impression I gave is hard to shake.
“Well, if it was helpful, I’m glad… Think you can handle the front lines?”
“Well…”
Unlike before, we were now a double front-line composition, but there was a huge gap in every respect between me, who had been charging in headfirst, and Sora, who had yet to learn a single skill.
Naturally, there were many things that I could do that Sora could not. I would, of course, provide as much support as possible, but having watched Sora’s struggles these past few days, I understood just how difficult it was to stand on the front lines without any relevant skills.
“—I’ll be fine. I’ll do my best.”
But if she herself says so with such strength, then there’s no need for words of doubt. As for me, I will simply do my utmost to fulfill my noble duty of supporting my cute partner.
“Alright. Then let’s stick to the plan. I’ll draw their attention, and you act as the skirmisher. I’ll definitely catch the big one’s aggro, but I don’t think I can round up all the small ones, so be careful.”
“Understood. Watch my feet, right?”
“Exactly. There’s a slight lag between when the sand bubbles and when they pop out, so don’t panic.”
To my teacherly advice, Sora gave a cheerful “Yes!” With a smile at my obedient and earnest student, we began our assault on the ‘Great Flowing Sand Cavern.’
“—Ngh, Sora!”
“Yes!”
The Serpent, having missed me as I dodged by a hair's breadth, crashed its face into the sand, leaving itself open. In that instant—as soon as my call reached her—Sora closed the distance without hesitation and swung her straight sword with force.
Slashes are not very effective against the Serpent, but that’s only when its sand armor is intact. Sora aimed for the conger eel’s neck—a weak point she herself had created with a previous attack, a spot where the sand armor had been stripped away.
“Hyaah!”
Her war cry may have lacked some intensity, but her gaze and her swordsmanship were nothing to be trifled with.
The straight sword, held in both hands, swung upwards, striking the small gap in the armor with precision. Not content with a single blow, Sora skillfully manipulated her body, which was pulled along by the force of the upswing, shifted her center of gravity, and brought the sword down for a second strike in a fluid motion.
Although her avatar appears to be that of a slender girl, her STR is higher than mine, so her sword is far from powerless. Furthermore, when it comes to the accuracy of her sword strikes, she is definitively better than me.
The Serpent writhed as its weak point was struck by two precise blows, then exploded into motes of light. As I watched—
“To say she has no talent with this… that’s a stretch…”
I muttered softly. The girl stood in my line of sight. As she exhaled and sheathed her sword with a clean motion, the sight was so impressive that I might have found myself captivated if I let my guard down.
Sora possesses a certain timidity, but she is by no means a coward. That was my impression after having her on the front lines for several days.
When facing a terrifying-looking monster for the first time, she often hesitates or lets out a scream. However, that timidity is of a common sort that anyone would have.
In fact, even if it is a game, how many women can calmly charge in to slash at a monster that could swallow them whole?
Sure, with enough time and play, one could build up a tolerance, but Sora has been in this virtual world for less than a week. Her adaptability and courage are quite remarkable.
My personal opinion is that, when it comes to the sword, she probably has better sense than I do. How do I put it… every single swing she makes looks so refined, so elegant—whoops.
“Looking good.”
I smiled at Sora as she crunched through the sand towards me, and she smiled back happily.
“Yes! As long as I’m careful, I think I can handle the monsters in this area with room to spare!”
“Yeah. Which means the only remaining problem is…”
Some time had passed since we began our assault. I folded my arms as I gazed at the sand tower that had been gradually getting closer.
“I’ll be seeing it for the first time, but… was it really that strong?”
It seems that in Sora’s mind, I’ve been categorized as something along the lines of “an indescribably out-of-the-ordinary, off-the-rails, dimension-hopping battle maniac with a crazy high tension who does the unreasonable with a smile, all while wearing the skin of a beginner.”
While I admit my faults, it’s a deeply unflattering assessment… but it seemed she was questioning why someone like me would have challenged it alone in the past and then deemed it an “impossible game.”
“Well, part of it is that the gimmick is tough for a solo player… but that thing is bad news. It’s on a different level from the enemies we’ve fought so far.”
In my opinion, the boss monster that rules this flowing sand desert is Arcadia’s beginner stopper.
It’s the kind of thing you have to diligently level up for, form a party, meticulously decide on roles and strategies, and challenge with an abundance of equipment and items. It’s a so-called “great wall” that you can only begin to contend with after doing all that.
“Can we defeat it with just the two of us…?”
A worried murmur. I wish I could laugh it off as always, but this time, even I couldn’t feel completely confident.
…My previous attempts were a complete rout. It felt like I had been confronted with the “limits of a solo player” in an online game.
“I have a plan, and a chance of winning.”
My response was more subdued than usual, but perhaps it was still reassuring enough for Sora, as her expression brightened—though I wonder what her reaction will be after she hears the details of that plan…
“We’re nearing the end, so I think it’s about time I start explaining the boss—but first, I’ll tell you the conclusion.”
“?”
Given how things have been up to now, Sora probably unconsciously assumes this time will be the same.
Our journey so far is a case in point. That is, a formation where I’m the main, and Sora is support… but this time is different.
“In this boss fight—you, Sora, are the key.”