Pallas's POV
Goddess of defence, that's what they call me. A nickname like that can only be earned because I'm the best at what I do and I always look good while doing it. To take the opponent's blow head on and buy enough time for my comrades to counter-attack.
Sometimes I myself is the one who has to dish out that counter, but the fact remains unchanged.
I am the goddess of defence, and defending is what I do best.
(GROOOAAAARRRR)
But there are times that simply defending is not enough. This is one of those times.
"AGH!" I screamed as I blocked the wyvern's mighty 'punch', though my gigantic shield remained firm and pristine the power behind that blow rattled every single bone in my body. I was also sent skidding backwards, further proving just how strong the enemy is.
"Pallas-nee!"
"Stay back Lumiere!"
"B-but, you're wounded!"
As expected of a first-class healer, not only is she good at alleviation she's also skilled at detecting 'invisible damages'.
I glanced down at my left arm, one carrying my so-called impenetrable shield, it looks fine on the surface but I know that it's only a blow or two from breaking. Clicking my tongue I fixed my stance and eyed the monstrosity in front of me, putting up a brave face within this peril.
An element-less Wyvern, a dragon sub-species with difficulty rank of A-.
To elaborate, threats that exceeded the parameter of C-rank are further divided into three classes. Minus (-), Normal ( ), and Plus (+). Those extensions are more than enough to prove that there are monsters out of our league.
But that doesn't mean we can't take on the difficulty of A-rank. Yes, it will require thorough preparation and an exhaustive, high risk, execution where there is no room for any errors. But nonetheless, it is possible.
If you're keen enough to read in between the lines it's only possible if 'ALL OF US' join forces. So to do so individually is nothing short of a death wish.
(GROOOOAAAAARRR)
It let out another roar of intimidation, though perhaps it is simply angry because we're on its way.
I might be the best at what I'm doing but keeping a full-grown wyvern from entering is something I only wish I can do. No, the reason why there are zero casualties up until this point is that Lumiere is also here.
Had it been any other of our party member that accompanied me this scuffle would have escalated into town immediately, bringing forth damages and bloodshed of an innumerable level.
Even if I stand in front of the city's mouth and provoke it there is no guarantee that it would simply ignore me and opted instead to ransack through the town. It has enough agility to escape, and the only thing keeping it from doing just that is Lumiere's [Wall of light].
Two translucent walls. Standing tall and mighty despite looking exactly like brittle glass. This spell is the pinnacle of defensive spells of the light element, one that she reached through honing her ability non-stop throughout her short life.
The two erected wall were placed to limit his entry. Basically, I instructed her to place it on the left and right making it so the only way to get in is through the middle, to get through ME first.
Alas, this is nothing more than a ploy to buy time, one that I'm afraid it has already seen through.
Crouching on all four. Two front legs that double as wings adorned with claws that could easily tear through steel, it's hind-legs were a mass of muscles no-doubt being the accumulation of years and years of living.
But its most terrifying feature came from the eyes. The pair of orbs radiate glints of intelligence and patience, I remember Troika telling me that the most dangerous of predator is not the strongest nor the fastest but the smartest.
And another trait of an element-less beast is their above-average comprehension. Could it be that is the reason it hasn't try to fly or scale the wall is that it already knows those options would give me an opening?
Then I only have one option left. I'll have to bet it all on this next attack.
"Lumiere, if I fail, shut off the walls and teleport us out of here. The people should have evacuated, so hopefully, there won't be too much casualty...."
"....."
The word tasted bitter on my mouth, but sugarcoating it will do no good.
There are times where an adventurer must make the pragmatic decision of sacrificing others on their stead to prevent larger loss. We are the only ones capable of protecting the people, dying a meaningless death is the last thing we can afford to do.
That said however I have no intention of backing away easily. I'll settle it all with this one strike!
"Here I go.... [For the mark of each strike never truly vanish]."
With that chant my preparation is complete. This is a technique that I can only use once a week, a full counter of the sort that allows me to channel the force of my enemy's attack into my own. A revenge strike that reverts the damage I block into raw power.
To my displeasure, the wyvern seemed to notice that I was up to something. It responded with a furious roar and charged forwards, looks like an animal is still an animal on its core.
"[Return Thrust]!"
I unleashed a flurry of thrust that is undodgeable even for a beast of its level, to further ensure my victory I imbued what remains of my aura into flames to further strengthen my final assault.
Explosions filled my vision as my attack landed. Even for a last-ditch attempt, I know that this is more than enough to end a wyvern with the exception of water/ice types.
Unknowingly however I had underestimated my enemy.
(GROOOOAAAAAR)
Another raging roar was unleashed as the smoke clears.
Impossible! That attack should have heavily wound it! How did he come out unhurt!?
I warily eyed the beast with newfound fear, and then I realized it didn't.
Its right arm was burned and charred to the point where it dangles lifelessly. This wyvern... It sacrificed a limb to lessen the damage of my attack!
"Lumiere get us!?...."
Ignoring its now functionless limb the beast charges once again. I raised my shield to buy myself some time, it should take only a few seconds for Lumiere to cast teleportation.....!?
(GROOOOAAAAARRRR)
Fear filled my being as realization dawned on me, it was only after it jumped over my downed body that I figured it out.
I underestimated it again.
It had switched its target from me to Lumiere, that vile beast somehow knows that she's completely defenceless.
I shouted at her, telling her to protect herself. Only to once again realizes that she's on the middle of casting teleportation and had probably run out of energy.
Was it really the end of the line for her. Will, it comes for me next?
Is this really how it ends?
....
"FUUUUUUCKIIIIIINGGGGGG HEEEEEEEECCCCKKKK!"
I didn't know it back then, both the moment that crude shout reached my ear, we were already saved.
XxX
Advice for those who are willing to listen. When one of your 'friends' ask you to use your aura to decrease friction, don't do it.
A lesson I learned while sliding towards a wyvern with its jaw wide open and claws ready to shred whoever it is dumb enough to go towards the fucking thing.
Oh wait, that's me. Thanks a lot, Midori you fucking dick.
Rewind is required for further understanding.
"We're almost there! Just a bit more!" Koen informed, striding a few paces in front of us. This is him slowing himself down FYI. He would've arrived ages ago had it not been for the rest of us, guess the law of ninja being faster than the other classes are true even in other worlds.
All of us are now fully armed with our individual bread and butter after a quick stop at a surprisingly cooperative weaponsmith's shop.
Turns out Aogiri and Momoiro did more than just surveying that particular establishment. Mr. husband over here just so happen to resemble the elderly shop owner's deceased son. And just like the businessmen they are the happy couple unhesitantly used that to their convenience.
Long story short we now got an endless stream of steely goods as long as Aogiri is with us.
Koen with twin daggers on each arm, and a lot more dangling from his belt. Aogiri and Momoiro are carrying a two-handed sword and a spear, two more copies strapped on their backs in case the first one breaks. While I am fully loaded with two slabs of giant shields, both meant to be used one at a time and not at once.
Yep, out of this group, I'm the most ripped. And the best part is I'm not even the slowest.
"You okay there Midori!? Should we slow down more!?"
"Don't patronize me! I'm barely keeping up because that's how it's supposed to go!"
Being the only one with the non-physical credentials, our glasses-wearing mage is struggling to keep up with the rest of us.
"Alright! Just tell me if you need a piggyback ride. I'm sure I can manage a few more pounds!"
Giggles erupted and I'm more than assured that I'm now at the top of Midori's hit-list.
Yep, I just can't resist making fun of him while ushering my own masculinity. I'm a human after all.
"You know what? I think I just got the thing that'll help me keep up...."
I might have let the moment get into my head because I stupidly and willingly volunteered for his so-called 'next experiment'.
And that's the story of how I ended up sliding 400 meters right into a charging wyvern. I might as well be riding on a silver platter to make it even fancier.
'Okay less sarcastic comment and more self-preservation.' I told myself.
The best way to start things off is with a battle cry.
"FUUUUUUCKIIIIIINGGGGGG HEEEEEEEECCCCKKKK!"
Chide my rudeness all you want, but that did a great job on clearing my head.
I began to assess the situation I am in. There's me, back flat against the ground. And then there's the wyvern, six or eight times my own weigh, attacking with enough force to flatten even if I defend perfectly (which I always do).
My back is against the wall on this one, or the ground if you want to get all literal.
But, for someone like me only, this actually works in my favour.
"HAH!"
I unleashed a [shield blast] to counter his strike. A translucent, yet incredibly sturdy rectangular aura projectile shooting from one of my shields. It's basically an [aura blast], but instead of firing bullet I modified it so that it fires shields instead.
It may look like throwing a wooden plank to stop a runaway tank, but from what Midori read about aura (right before I started making fun of his physical limitations) is that this particular life-force could perfectly replicate the source's physical condition.
And I'm sturdy as hell. Not only that this situation also allows me to put 'that' into use.
With a loud thud, my aura blast/shield clashed with the beast's claw's, and to everyone's shock (though I don't know whether or not that oversized lizard even feel such a thing) my impromptu defence managed to sent the wyvern back.
"H-how?...." The girl, who I had unknowingly protected uttered in amazement.
"Basic physics. Angle and all that watchmacal." That was my secret.
Since the Wyvern's attack wasn't perfectly perpendicular to the ground the impact that my shield absorbed decreased by at least a considerable margin. This is a trick that I learned in my previous life, though I only learned the truth behind such a thing in my current life. Years ago in middle school to be exact.
The beast, obviously wary of my abilities, leapt backwards to increase our distance. Looks like this guy is a lot smarter than I thought, but its arm is already toast (no pun intended) so that's a plus.
"P-Pallas-nee...."
That's must be the name of the wounded woman not far from here. Looks like the wyvern is so wary of me that it opted not to finish off a downed prey.
In other words, It knows that I'm stronger than I look. The one time someone noticed my strength and its not even a human. Sounds about right.
"Y-you have to save her...."
This girl, trusting a complete stranger to save a wounded comrade. Either she is too trusting, or just that desperate. Her whole RPG priest getup didn't really help me on discerning which.
"Will do. You better get out of here though, I'd rather have to protect just one person instead of two people."
To my surprise, she nodded and scrambled to the direction where I came from. Adventurers here are sure far more reasonable than the ones in the manga or anime.
With the priest gone, there is only three of us now. Me, the Wyvern, and the wounded adventurer in between. I should really do something about that last one.
I slowly advanced towards the decked defender (I can tell one of my own kind pretty easily), forging ahead with the utmost of vigilance to keep the beast at bay.
I successfully arrived at the woman named Pallas.
"You okay over there?"
"(heavy breathing)..... My aura.....Is completely depleted.....We must.... flee...."
"Can't. We want to keep property damage to a minimum, besides there's no telling whether or not have everyone been evacuated."
I can tell that she wanted to snap at me but doesn't have the energy to do so.
"Don't worry, you already did a great number on the thing. And it's not like I'm alone. I just need to buy some time until my friends arrive...."
I probably should have also added 'while also singlehandedly protecting the two of us and preventing that thing from entering the town', but I don't want to worry her. So...
"Here we go...."
The wyvern broke into a sprint at that exact moment, making my worst fear a reality as it exhibits an unbelievable speed for an animal with one broken limb. It wasn't heading towards us, however, and is instead dashing in a semi-circular direction.
It's trying to circle around us.
"As if!" With angry noise, I slammed both of my shields against the ground. Fucking lizard ignored me completely since I'm immobile (thanks to my extra baggage), and I'm going to make sure that he pays dearly for that.
"[BLAST (DUAL)]!"
Once again my defensive tool betrayed it's intended purpose and fired a perfect aural copy of itself. This time the bullet's size was twice as large because I fired two at once.
Like a runaway bulldozer, my 'shields' ploughed through the ground and hit the oversized reptile, sending it flying to the outer jungle and toppling some trees.
It got back up in less than a second.
"Amazing...." Pallas dumbfoundedly commented. I would've broken into a grin if it weren't for this annoyingly resilient and smart iguanid.
(GROOOOAAAAAR)
The glare Wyvern now directed all of its attention to me. I don't need to worry about it running away anymore.
And that's because I pissed it off so much, there's nothing else in its mind besides ripping me apart.
"Sorry about this, but um... you might want to hold on to something."
"Wha?..."
She couldn't even finish her sentence. With 3/4 of its full force the Wyvern charges at us, I'm confident that I can guard against any of its attacks.
Protecting someone while doing that on the other hand... Won't be that easy.
I clicked my tongue, looks like this is going to be a tricky job after all.
Speaking of which, WHERE THE FUCK ARE THOSE FOUR!?
(BOOM!)
Something exploded on the Wyvern's space, robbing it of one eye and charring the rest of his feature.
"If you pour too much aura into a weapon with aura conductivity it will result in detonation. As proven just now."
I know that condescending voice anywhere.
"Took you guys long enough. I almost finished it off by myself."
Midori snorted. "I can tell from the way you charge in earlier, clearly you have a plan."
"Please, like you have a sure kill plan of your own."
He smirked to my counter. Goddamnit this guy is smart.
"Just did."
"Fuck off."
"Now-now, no need to curse. Midori-kun, didn't you say that Akaba is crucial to this plan?" Momoiro's revelation was so shocking my anger actually vanished.
"That's right! Midori-chi said something about your great resilience and defensive capability!"
"Sturdy and steadfast." Koen and Aogiri added. Are you two sure you're not talking about another person named Midori?
"I believe all of you simply misheard me saying 'we need a meatshield', preferably a disposable one."
Yep. Whoever it is those three are talking about, it can't possibly be Midori. With that said.
"Do you have a plan though?"
He snorted again. "Of course I do. You'd probably die though, considering the nature of your role. Which is little to no importance."
Skipping right to threatening? Fine by me.
"Oh please, it'd be probably up to me to pick up what's left of your improv tactics later on."
astonishingly he didn't return my jab.
"We'll see...."
So it's like that huh....
"Let's get this over with then!"
All five of us smiled. Sorry lizard, but you're as good as dead.