Chapter 691 - The Decisive Battle
We left the castle gate and moved west along the castle wall toward the area where the basement was located.
"Is it around here?"
"Yes. This spot should be right above the underground passage's exit."
The underground passage continued west, then curved left toward the southwest. From there, it went straight until it reached the outside.
"Can you guide us to that exit?"
"Yes, I can give you the general direction."
"Please do."
With El-san giving us directions, Lupi and the others took the lead. I was riding Rigel, while El-san floated beside me. Shal and the other Cait Siths, along with Kuro and the Ghillie Dhus, surrounded Mion and Emeraldia-san.
"Kururu?"
"Yeah. Let me know if you find anything."
I had Raz, who was tucked in my hood, keep an eye on the sky. Kuro and the others also seemed to want to go up, but this time I asked them to stay by Mion's side.
"Woof."
Lupi and the others seemed to notice something, all looking in the same direction. When I activated Shared Presence Detection...
"What is it?"
"Hyenas, maybe. They're watching us from quite far away..."
They seemed wary of our large group.
"What should we do?"
"We don't have time to spare, so as long as they don't attack, let's leave them be."
"Understood."
They would likely run if we approached, and they might try to surround us while we were busy chasing them. As we moved forward cautiously...
"It seems I was right. It is here."
"I see. So this is how it looks."
I dismounted from Rigel and looked at the exit of the underground passage. There was a hole in a gentle downward slope, with the remains of what used to be Magic Safety Fences discarded around it. The area from this exit to the coast was open, offering a view of the sea.
"May I scout from a bit higher up?"
"Yes, please."
Being able to fly was such an advantage in times like this. El-san rose steadily and circled the area.
"Will she be okay?"
"El is... strong. She'll be fine..."
Emeraldia-san said. She was trusted to guard the White Dragon Princess, after all. Come to think of it, Seth said he had raised his skill levels by training with NPCs. Maybe I should ask for training too...
"Something is coming!"
"!!"
In the direction El-san pointed her spear... what was that? Wings like a dragon's? I could see something flying toward us.
"Woof!"
"Bow!"
Lupi entered combat mode, and Leda and Roy mirrored him, bracing themselves with their legs spread wide. Shal and the others drew their rapiers, preparing for a counterattack.
"Mion! Cast the blessings on everyone again!"
"Yes!"
The flying object grew larger and larger until its grotesque form was fully visible.
"El-san! Get down!"
"I may have drawn it to us. My apologies!"
Descending, El-san said this as she readied her spear next to Lupi.
"No, it's fine. It's an opponent we'd have to deal with eventually anyway."
As it drew closer, its abnormality became clear. It was a Chimera-like creature, a fusion of various monsters, and its size was immense. It had two heads... one of a lion and one of an Armor Bear. What was that torso? The tail was a snake? The legs were a Griffon's, but those wings... were they really a dragon's?
"Those are Wyvern wings."
"A Wyvern..."
I could see the name [Necrophager] written on its red nameplate. If it got a bit closer, my Appraisal might work, but...
"GRAAAA!"
The Necrophager used its two heads to intimidate us from above. In response, Lupi and the others let out low growls.
"GRAWR!"
"Quick! Water Shield!"
I cast a Water Shield to block the Fireball launched from the lion's mouth, but could this really stop it?!
"Eternal Great Shield!"
A massive shield appeared in front of El-san as she thrust her left hand upward, completely blocking the Fireball that had punched through my Water Shield. Before I had time to be amazed...
"It is disadvantageous to be attacked one-sidedly from above."
"Shou-kun!"
I knew exactly what El-san and Mion wanted to say.
"Emeraldia-san, can I ask this of you?"
"Yes. I just need to... bring it down?"
"Yes!"
The moment I answered, Emeraldia-san leaped into the air, transforming into a jade-colored dragon. Even when faced with a dragon larger than itself, the Necrophager didn't stop its intimidation.
"GRAAA!"
It launched another Fireball, but the thick Water Shield Emeraldia-san produced extinguished it. She then whispered something... Spirit Magic? Something happened, and several holes appeared in the creature's wings. Losing all flight control, the Necrophager plummeted straight down.
"GRAAA..."
It crashed headfirst. Its left front leg (?) was bent at an impossible angle, but its bloodshot eyes still held a glimmer of madness.
"AWOOO!"
Purple lightning wreathed Lupi's body, and cold air began to overflow from beneath Rigel's feet. The unprecedented aura emanating from the two of them showed just how dangerous this thing was.
"I will intercept its attacks. Deliver the finishing blow while I do."
"Understood!"
Though battered, the Necrophager struggled to its feet. As if it felt no pain, it lunged forward with all its might, only for El-san's great shield to block it. But...
"Shou-kun! The snake tail!"
"Lupi!"
"AWOOO!"
Lupi's Garm Lightning struck the snake tail. While it was paralyzed...
"Rigel! Pin it down!"
"Snort!"
Rigel's Frost Pillar pierced its hind leg, freezing it in place.
"Here I go!"
As El-san pulled back her great shield to create an opening...
"Kuru!"
Raz fired two flaming arrows. The moment they hit each head, I activated Stealth and...
Backstab!
I drove my blade into the medulla oblongata of the closer head, the Armor Bear!
"Ugh!"
My Kukri Knife was repelled with a dull metallic sound. I had hit its vitals, yet it was deflected?!
"Nya!"
"Nya! Nya! Nya!"
Shal and the others rushed in with rapiers to follow up on my miss, but they were blown away by the thrashing Necrophager's wings.
"Leda! Roy!"
"Bow!"
Leda and Roy went to retrieve the injured ones and carry them back to Mion.
"Mion, please!"
"Heal!"
With that, they were safe, but this opponent might be too much for Shal and the others. It would be tough for Rake and his group too, and since the Black Hyenas were still watching from a distance, I wanted them to prioritize guarding Mion.
"Sorry! Shal, Rake, you guys protect Mion!"
"Nya!"
"Grrr!"
"Shou-kun! Appraise it!"
That's right! Appraisal! Find its weakness!
[Necrophager]: An artificial monster created by ancient mages. It has the ability to consume other Magic Stones and absorb their power. It went berserk due to mana deficiency during the Calamity. It destroyed the cages of the research facility and has absorbed other Necrophagers and island creatures that were being raised similarly.
What? This thing is...