The three girls don't really know what to do in this situation and the fact that they can't use their real powers added significant stress on their mind in addition to the fear of death.
"What should we do Kaichou?" Aika asked as they watch the Minotaurs frantically running towards them and readied their weapons.
"We would be at a big disadvantage if we put up a defensive fight so we have to take initiative. Put down the bags and put on every dagger and potions we have on your bodies. One dagger could only slice a bit of their flesh before it breaks so be sure to only use them on critical moments." Sona instructed and opened fire towards the oncoming Minotaurs with her short bow. However, just as she expected, her bow is ineffective as it was easily blocked.
Aika and Koneko hurriedly threw down their supplies and took out small pouches to strap it on their bodies along with daggers in their holsters. While the potions are strapped on their legs, the daggers went around their waist as another means of protection on top of their existing armors.
"I'll hold off those three with weapons! Go!" Sona then aimed her hands towards the heads of three Minotaurs holding a club each and muddy water immediately started gathering when three small magic circles appeared in front of her hand , covering their sights and drowning them which made them panic and threw off their weapon so that their hands can be used to remove the ball of mud on their heads.
At the same time, Aika and Koneko started running towards the other three to disrupt their momentum, buying them the much important time for either help to arrive or the first three Minotaurs drowns to death. While it's unknown when will the help arrive they knew that it would take around 15-20 minutes for a Minotaur to drown to death. If they can last that long, then they would have a chance to kill them all.
"O-oi... Another incantation less magic? And is she using three of them? How's that possible?" Tiona asked the others due to another unbelievable sight. Although the magic is simple and weak, the fact that it appeared without even voicing a single word and three at the same time at that is already a ridiculous notion.
Riveria, the leading expert among them, couldn't answer her question. Although she too can use smaller versions of her actual magic, she can't do it cast it multiple times at the same time.
"Maybe they're related to that strange man and woman that we met on deep floors?" Tione muttered while also taking a peek at Medusa but failed to get any reaction from her.
"What's this...? Can't they see us? And Riveria, can you tell me what language they're using?" Bete asked and Riveria only shook her head. All this time, they can't understand the thing they're saying because the girls are talking in Japanese, "However, the fact that they can't seem to see us and has to be because of that." Riveria then pointed at the token that Medusa dropped while looking at her.
Medusa, in response, nodded and explained, "It's a stack of two different barriers. The first one a sound-blocking barrier while the second one is a light-bending barrier that paints a fake image for those who're outside of the barrier. The small tremor earlier is just a small bonus so that it'll be more believable."
Riveria didn't think that she would explain it for real so she could only ask again, "Are you related to a man name... Uh... Totallylegitimatemerchant?... Or was it Totallynotascammer?"
"Pfft... Hehe..." Despite looking all serious, Medusa couldn't help but giggle a little bit at Riveria's words, "It's very likely that I know the guy you're talking about. I won't give any more answers beyond that."
While they're talking, Aika and Koneko kept running around the three Minotaurs and baiting them. Although they can't beat the Minotaur in any parameters, even if they boost themselves, the barbaric ways of the Minotaurs put them on a slight advantage. Aika and Koneko thought that it's easier than they thought and they only had to wait for the other three to drown before they launch their attack.
But because of this, Medusa and the Loki Familia furrowed their brows while Bete commented, "Tch... They're getting complacent... Woman! Stop with this nonsense! Once they're caught off guard, they are going to die! And it would be too late to save them!"
And just as they expected, the Minotaurs, as if they planned it, suddenly behaved differently. Instead of the completely chaotic moves until now, as if someone just commanded them, the three Minotaurs suddenly covered each other's back. This sudden change of pattern immediately caught them off-guard and the Minotaurs all focused on the faster one, Koneko.
In a blink of an eye, the Minotaurs pivoted themselves and trapped Koneko in the middle of their formation, "Koneko!!!" Aika shouted at her.
Koneko wanted to use the Flash Step, but if she did so, the sudden unplanned use of it would damage her legs and it'll be harder for her to move again. In addition to that, if she got a bit wrong with her execution, she'll smash towards one of the Minotaur and her situation will become a lot more dangerous.
Those two reasons added up and became the reason for her to hesitate, and that hesitation became her undoing. Even if she wanted to use it now, it's already too late as the Minotaurs suddenly attacked at the same time.
Koneko was able to dodge the first three attacks, but she had no choice but to escape to the air by jumping straight up. Although she became more vulnerable, she intended to create a foothold using Mana. However, that too is already too late as one of the Minotaurs suddenly grabbed a stone as big as a fist and threw it to her. Without being able to dodge, Koneko was hit straight to her stomach breaking the daggers covering it and recoiled back for a few meters, "!? Guhah!!!!!"
" "Koneko!!!" " Another shout from Aika and Sona came, but that can't do anything.
To make it worse, Koneko landed and rolled just behind one of the Minotaurs and it immediately turned to her direction, intending to kick her head away. If this hit, Koneko would be lucky if she could keep her head on her shoulders.
Aika immediately used Flash Step without any regard to the consequences it would do to her legs and reappeared between the Minotaur's foot and Koneko. She wanted to drag Koneko away, but because of the rashly used Flash Step, her legs couldn't move properly for a short amount of time so she could only use one of her short swords, aligned with her arm, to block the incoming attack.
When they're about to make contact, a blue magic circle suddenly appeared in front of Aika's sword and blocked the foot. However, the hastily created barrier was immediately shattered and hit Aika's sword. Although it reduced some force behind the kick, it still immediately broke the sword and Aika was left to block it with her own arm which immediately broke too, but was enough to protect her and Koneko as both of them flew away. Due to an awkward angle that Aika is positioned, she and Koneko flew to different locations and hit the wall.
Sona wanted to help them, but due to her casting barrier to help Aika and Koneko, one of the Minotaurs she's holding back was released and it immediately grabbed its weapon. It knew that it would be dangerous to be drowned again so instead of running towards Sona, the said Minotaur instead threw its weapon towards her.
Sona then hastily released the remaining muddy water from the other two Minotaurs and did her best to cast the strongest barrier she can in front of her head where the flying club is aimed.
The club made contact with her barrier but it didn't last more than one second and shattered it. But thanks to that, she was able to significantly reduce the force behind it. However, she was also left unguarded and the club hit her head which made her fall to the ground with broken glasses and a large amount of blood flowing to the ground.
The situation was instantly turned against them.