While the rewards are amazing, I realise one problem, I used all my strength into that one strike that I cannot even channel mana properly on a whim, rendering fire enhancement useless.
...
I grab my sore arm holding the sword.
This guy is in a high Foundation Establishment realm, Seven Stars of Sword won't work on him because of the difference in cultivation.
"Now now, it seems that you have used most of your strength on that attack, let me deal with you first." The leader says.
!
He appears in front of me as I take out the Neptune artifact and brace for impact. His greatsword slams down onto the shield with immense force, surrounding ground breaks and folds upwards as a whirl of wind blows Mina and Julius away.
I cough out a little blood as my hands become numb.
Shit... My injury from the tournament has still not recovered.
I jump back away from the leader, if not for Neptune, I would already be dead.
!!
Suddenly, Mina jumps from behind and kicks the leader. He flies towards the trees and crashed deep into the ground, Mina has stopped suppressing her strength.
Oh right! I have Mina here!
Now that I have accomplished the quest, I can just let Mina take care of him.
"Are you okay?" Mina asks.
"Yeah, do you mind if you take care of the leader? I will support you from behind and get rid of the hindrance."
Mina nods.
Her black hair becomes glowing red as her eyes start to turn red. The atmosphere's heat increases like a volcano about to explode.
I look around to see only Mina, Julius, and myself, the remaining knights had run away shamelessly.
"What the... So there was a hidden trump card huh... Girl, you are not my target, fuck off-" The leader says.
A whirlpool of flame rises around the bandit as an eruption of heat surrounds him. "Y-You."
"I won't let you hurt my junior." Says Mina.
Junior? Who's your junior?
A pillar of volcanic material engulfs the leader as he shouts in agony. Things are going well.
I duck a charging bandit's attack to get behind and stab his nape with my sword.
Julius attempts to fight off the bandits as they push him to the ground. He is panting vigorously as he grasps his chest.
...
I wanted to save him but seeing that he has gritted his teeth and stood up despite his inexperience, I decided to let him do his thing. He won't die, he is a protagonist.
Julius and Mina will be one of the pillars of humanity in the world, I cannot obstruct their growth as it will affect my family's safety in the long run.
I tilt my head to avoid a thrust attack and slice off my attacker's arm with a follow-up decapitation. I look back to see Mina barraging the leader with attacks.
However, he is still alive... How?
"You brats... I will show you the power of the Tiger Bandits!"
He takes out several broken artifacts from his storage ring and throws them on the ground before taking out a baton. He raises his baton in the sky as the sky darkens.
!!!
That baton... It can't be...
Mina, aware of the situation, instantly uses her killing move, a large flame javelin materializes and flies towards the leader.
!
The leader smirks. "I still have thousands of defensive artifacts, you cannot do anything to me-"
The first layer of protection breaks instantly as the javelin touches it.
"W-Wait- huh? Wait wait! Stop!"
All of the protection scrolls, barriers, and armour, break one by one.
A normal-looking spell that has been enhanced a thousand times to the point it becomes a very deadly weapon. That's Mina "killing move".
However, Mina's killing move has one flaw, it's too fast for her to control it properly at her current strength.
I stand beside the leader and pull him aside at the perfect moment to dodge the javelin thrown.
!!!!!
The javelin hits the trees behind and an explosion similar to a Dragon's breath ensues.
Huff... Huff... Shit.
"What are you doing?" Mina says.
"Wait, don't kill him yet," I say.
I step on the leader's head as I pry the baton away from his hand.
...
The mana in this baton isn't pure, it was injected.
I knew it... A prototype artifact is also known as an artificial artifact.
"How did you get this," I say.
"W-What? Uh, I-I found it on the floor-"
"Don't fucking lie to me! Did you get it from a black hair black eye boy who wears a green hoodie with blue jeans?" I say.
"N-No I really found it on the floor!!" The leader says.
You have to be fucking kidding me...
There's only one person who can produce artificial artifacts, the future demon lord. The future demon lord is an outworlder transmigrated into a demon, the antagonist of this world. However, he might also be the protagonist in the demon's perspective, I must find him before he becomes too powerful, Jackpot number 3!
I stomp on the leader's head, killing him.
...
Mina stares at me.
"Hey Mina, do you mind if I use demonic magic for a bit."
!!
"You know demonic magic?"
"Yeah, just to get information on the Tiger Bandit's main base," I say.
Mina throws a glance at Julius, he is laying on the ground after his intense fight with the bandits, his body full of wounds and blood. The remaining bandits have been taken care of, leaving a bloody battlefield of corpses.
Mina erects a barrier of noise cancellation and illusion.
"It's safe to do so now, don't let anyone know if you are going to use demonic magic in the future." Says Mina.
As if I will, I'm just asking you so you won't kill me. If Mina showed hostility, I planned to play it off as a joke. If all else fails, I also have a teleport scroll to escape.
"Rise," I mumble. Grey dust accumulates around the leader's corpses and dissipates to reveal a skeleton. The skeleton gets up and kneels to me.
As an adventurer, I came across many random shits. One of which is a "necromancer for beginner" book I found in an abandoned dungeon. At first, because of the 'professional' title, I thought it was pure bullshit. Until I actually tried it and it worked. Pretty stupid but because the book is only for beginners, the maximum amount I can summon is one skeleton.
Mina is unfazed by the necromancy.
"Tell me, where is the base of the Tiger Bandits."
!
Although it cannot talk, it can subconsciously communicate with me.
I smile. "The Tiger Bandit's base, I know where they are."
"Are you planning to fight them?" Says Mina.
"Of course."
...
"You will die. The chief leader of Tiger Bandits is a Core Formation. Not to mention your internal organs..." Says Mina.
Mina noticed my injuries.
"Say, Mina, why are so you worried about me?" I ask.
"We are both disciples of master Rein. I am your senior and I am partly responsible for my junior's safety."
"Uh... Yeah..." I scratch my head.
"I will not let you go." Mina draws her sword.
...
I walk to her sword, the tip plunges into my skin. A blood trail drips down.
...
"You are that determined?" Says Mina.
"Of course."
...
Rein... I've heard of that name before. A Master of fire, Genius of witches, many titles were given to her. Rumours said that Rein only pass down her teachings to people she deemed worthy. Is that why Mina pays so much attention to me?
"Do you have a plan?" Mina asks.
"I do, one that can kill a core formation even when I'm only a Qi Condensation. But I will need your help." I say.
Mina sighs. "Fine."
I look at the shop.
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{Welcome to the dimensional shop}
Daily Deals:
- 5x Qi Condensation pill (100 points)
- 1x Myriad Sword Array[tier 1] (90000 points)
- 1x Dragon's heart (10000000 points)
- 10x elixir pills(5000 points)
(Search:___________)(filter)
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Qi Condensation Pills.
Pills that increase your cultivation.
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Elixir Pills
Heals one's injuries instantly upon consumption.
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I won't be able to defeat a core formation even if I break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. But that will only be the case IF I play fair...