Our goal for today was to scout the dungeon and layout the funds, which is why we tried to refrain from engaging in combat. Sean suggested that I come in his place inside the dungeon as I'm pretty curious about it.
Since he also wanted to try out his trap ideas, he remained outside along with Anna to ease the party. Now that I think about it, I sure hoped we have another close-range combatant...
Brandon slashed his greatsword with astounding force, but his blade struck some branches along the way that not only weakened his strike but also made the root branches expel some of the dirt, causing dust to blur our vision.
Luckily, Denis is able to thrust his zweihänder forward, stabbing the 6-foot kobold which then disintegrated. Noticing this, the rest of the kobolds sprinted towards us, extending their sharp claws as weapons.
"Don't let your guard down!" Denis warned Brandon, but more of letting his guard down, it feels like he's distracted. As I drew my sword from my storage ring, the two already positioned themselves in front of me, as if acting like guards.
Guards? Do they think I can't fight? The thought clicked in my head as I removed the sheath of my sword. I don't need to show all my skills, I just need to show that I am competent.
Kobolds rushed one after the other. Brandon blocked magnificently, but because of his sword's size, he wasn't able to fulfill a counterattack, causing a stalemate between him and the Kobold.
On the other hand, Denis is redirecting and parrying the kobold's attacks, but his counterattacks barely damage the hide of the kobolds.
With that in mind, I decided to support them. Because of my current sword, I doubt I would be able to cut through the hide of these kobolds without my sword breaking. Instead, I'll focus on support.
Starting with Denis, who looks like he's being overpowered by sheer numbers, I rushed and aimed my strike at the kobold's weak spots; specifically the tendons.
Although I have no clue whether dungeon spawns have vitals or not, because of their humanoid form, I decided to just go and do it.
Fortunately, I succeeded in offsetting the kobold's balance, giving Denis the opportunity to regain his composure and successfully vanquish the spawn. I turned my glance at Brandon who's kobold had already turned to ashes and disappeared as well.
Howls echoed through the dungeon halls as more of the Kobolds began appearing one after another, giving us no time to relax.
Circulating and infusing mana through my body, I strengthened my body to face off some of these myself. As I wouldn't be able to deal heavy damage despite my incorporated sword styles because of my blade, that doesn't mean all I can do is support.
Although supporting Brandon and Denis would probably pass the realm of competency, if I let the kobold's number increase, it wouldn't be a matter of competency anymore.
With that in mind, I analyzed the body of the kobold as I ran towards them. Other than the tendons of arms and legs, the only other thin part would be its waist. But it could be said that its body is just that big that it makes its waist look small.
I thought back to when I first fought a second-grade chimera beast. Because of its familiar structure, I knew where to attack and what to avoid.
Incorporating the same technique, I studied the kobolds as I dodged their attacks. Imagining it as a human, I thought of the muscle structure and recalled the weak parts of it.
I glance at its neck covered in fur that resembled a lion's mane. I don't know if it is vulnerable enough for me to cut, but the problem would be how to cut it first.
I focused on my breathing as I calmed my mind. Turning my attention to another kobold, I used my small frame to easily escape its grasp before slicing both the tendons of its legs.
It wouldn't disintegrate since the damage I caused isn't enough to be considered fatal, but it was enough for me to use the immobilized kobold as a foothold to trim and decapitate the other kobold's head.
Unfortunately, my strike was shallow and didn't fully decapitate it, leaving the spine. Whilst mid-air, I delivered another kick that fully beheaded the kobold.
Before falling down, I spun along with my downward momentum to decapitate the other I used as a foothold before turning my sights to Brandon and Denis who seem to be finishing up as well.
"We need to report this back quickly," Brandon said as he sheathed his giant sword. I caught glimpses of him glancing at me, but Denis and I simply nodded before following up.
"You were pretty amazing back there," a hand stroked my hair, messing it slightly. I looked to see Denis who has a childish grin on his face before responding.
"You guys were pretty good too," I responded. From the files I read, most of them haven't previously entered a dungeon and only have minor experience with chimera beasts, so it's amazing how adaptable they are.
Denis crossed his arms as a smug appeared on his face, "Right? Though, it would have been better if Brandon wasn't distracted."
"That wasn't my fault okay," Brandon sneaked a response to Denis' claims, "I didn't expect White to know how to use a sword." I could see him looking a bit embarrassed as he scratched the back of his head.
He does have a point though. If I look at it from his standpoint, what he probably thinks is that I'm just a regular kid with a bit of smarts and has a noble friend going for him.
"I would have only been a liability if I couldn't have," I responded calmly. Brandon responded with a simple chuckle before speaking up, "yeah, sorry about underestimating you."
"Apology, forgiven," I crossed my arms and smiled proudly. Denis and Brandon let out laughter at my jokingly impudent action, to which I broke as I laughed with the two.
Then suddenly, our rings began to glow as the talisman came out and decayed apart. "Shit!" Brandon cursed as he started running, "Let's hurry!"
Since the three of us didn't use the talisman, it could only mean that who used it is one of the members outside of the dungeon. We quickly ran outside the dungeon to see everyone fighting against bipedal lizard-like creatures, around 5 feet in height.
There needn't be orders given as we quickly joined the fray. "What happened here?" I asked. "There was a Gila camp nearby and they accidentally saw us," Sean responded, but he kept his attention focused on the beasts.
I surveyed the surroundings, checking if anyone's in a dire situation. Leyla, weirdly enough, Is just pulling the string of her bow and releasing it like a harp. She wasn't firing arrows, but it's as if she's coalescing air to form wind arrows that pierce through the Gila's heads with amazing accuracy.
Cyrill was aggressive, no, more like reckless. He's even more destructive than Sean as he uses all of his movement for both offensive and defensive as if he's a cyclone.
Although I expected as much, Anna came like a storm, effortlessly slashing the Gilas one after the other. As creatures who actually live, the unpleasant sensation of pain in their bodies must have made it easier for her to attack them regardless of which spot she strikes at.
With Brandon coming to Layla's aid and denis helping out Sean, I also ran towards where the Gilas are crowded and aided Anna. Not even ten minutes have passed as we successfully annihilated around 30 of the Gilas.
"I'm... tired," Anna, with a blank expression, said as she fell. She would have fallen in the grass, but since the blue blood of the Gilas is everywhere, I just followed her request and caught her.
But I honestly didn't think I'd be tired as well. As soon as I caught her, my own body failed me as I fell down to the grass. I remembered my raincoat has repulsion properties, so I just hoped the blue blood wouldn't leave some stains.
Anna looks like a fine and graceful teenager, but I'm a child. It kind of feels like having the books in the castle's library fall over you, and I'm talking about the thick kinds.
"You guys good?" Layla called out. The rest are already busy gathering and burning the beasts' corpses. Anna, being disabled that she is, is given consideration.
Since I'm the youngest, my body at least, I wasn't asked to.
"Yup," I responded, "We're going to need that wheelchair though." I turned my attention to Anna who's busy snoring. She was probably running Mana infusion while keeping her attribute active the whole time.
Followed by the fact that we had to walk a rather rough path and that they were making the traps earlier, I guess it's only reasonable that she's pretty drained.
"Also, I think that question should be asked to the guy right over there," I added, gesturing at Cyrill who laid down the bloodied grass, huffing noisily from exhaustion, without a care in the world.
Leyla chuckled before reassuring me, "don't worry about that guy. he's probably just tired from all those rash actions of his. Anyways, the carriage will be here soon, do you think we can wake her up?" Leyla shifted her gaze to Anna, still unconscious above me.
Although she does deserve a rest, I'm pretty much having a hard time breathing here, so I'd prefer it if she rests somewhere else. "Can you wake her up?" I asked Leyla. She observed Anna closely, before sighing in resignation.
"She looks really drained, so I'll just carry her," Leyla answered. "Are you sure? You're probably also tired from your magic tool," I asked again. I did think her bow had a striking design, but it wasn't till I saw her in action that I remembered that her bow was a magic tool.
"Don't worry about it. It's a magic tool that makes use of the ambient mana in the surroundings, so it doesn't have a toll on my body," She reassured. With that, I let her peel Anna away from me as she saddlebacked her.
Leyla would probably cry in back pain later, but I have nothing to do with that. "Are you guys ready over there?" Sean called out to us. He's already done packing and his bright expression tells me he probably has some great ideas in store for traps.
With that, our scouting mission is over.