A loud screech reverberated in the cavern. The loud shriek of the sonic bats echoed in my ears. It caught me off guard.
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」
Even though my hearing had been incapacitated, my trusty skill still had my back. Utilizing the sudden emergence of a sense of urgency, I take a step backwards. A shadow flew past me, just a couple from my face.
Looking closer at the shadow, I noticed that it was one of the sonic bats. According to my internal clock, it had been almost an hour since my battle with the annoying beasts begun. Yes, annoying.
The sonic bat flew past and away from me. It re-grouped with all the other bats currently encircling me like a tornado of darkness. Then, more bats came to attack me. Unlike the previous bat that just launched itself at me, this group seemed to be a little more organized.
The group split, five to my left, one to my right. They seemed to be planning to hit my blind spot. This wouldn't work, of course, thanks to my 「Instinct」 skill.
As I predicted, the group of five sonic bats rushed at me first. They moved with cruel fluidity as they maneuvered in midair. They each targeted different areas of my body.
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」
A chill ran up my spine. Looking at the five sonic bats flying in the air, not one hitting other, I focused on my attention at my back.
The five bats finally flew towards. I divided my attention, cutting out any unnecessary thoughts. I couldn't use 「Horizon Oath」 because of the sonic bat's ability. This left me with no other choice. Even though it was risky, I had to do it.
Further focusing on the adversity in front of me, I cut out everything else.
The droplets of water dripping from the ceiling, to the subtle draft of air, down to the presence of the fifty – or – so sonic bats on standby.
I erase all of it. Every single one.
Suddenly, my mind felt clearer. Unlike the pseudo – calmness that my spell puts me in, this was way beyond that.
With my newfound sense of clarity, I look all around me. Unlike before, where I would either rely on my skill or physically check with my own eyes, I didn't have to do any of that. My selective focus let me view the things all around about a quarter slower than I normally would.
I noticed that the sonic bats were aiming at my right shoulder, left arm, left knee, left heel, right thigh, and finally….
I sweep my sword behind me. The lone bat flew as if attracted to my blade, it's small torso bisected in half. It was targeting my nape.
「Your attribute 'Absorption' is activating」
「No applicable skills can be obtained from the target」
Turning my attention back to the five sonic bats in front of me, I pull out my recently collected dagger. With my hands full of blades, I dash towards the sonic bats.
Even with my focus stretched to it's limit, the bats were still moving faster than I could recognize. Instead, I opted for a different approach.
Tracing the bats' movements with my eyes, I attempt to predict their trajectories. It was extremely difficult. My brain felt like it was dipped In hot water as I continuously analyzed and calculated the beasts' path.
After what seemed like an eternity of familiarizing myself with the beasts… I finally found it.
The bats' movements suddenly felt familiar and predictable, despite our hour-long acquaintance. The bats moved and weaved around me, each one waiting for the perfect moment to strike. They were all still faster than I could see, of course. Still, this was a big step forward. If I could pull this off with these bats, I could use on anybody.
I strike the bats. I made sure to hit them just as they made a turn, lowering their chances to evade my blade. This worked, easily slicing them to bits. Still, there was still a lot of them.
I couldn't keep this up
Using this much concentration was still too much for me to handle. Though I could train my endurance, right now is what's important.
After a few seconds, my mind eventually gave out. The pressure building up in my head exploded like a dynamite, giving me a headache rivaling 「Horizon Oath」's aftereffects. I felt like a kettle on the brim of boiling over.
My vision was once again filled with the color of the world. The ambient noises that I had so desperately tried to erase returned, ruining my inner calmness.
Looking around once more, I notice that more than six bats were littered I the earthen floor. They were all bisected in two, some having lost their wings and limbs, eventually bleeding out.
Ironically, it would seem that I was too focused on defeating them that I couldn't even tell which bat I was killing. A screech interrupted my contemplation.
Casting my gaze upwards, I stare at the source of the sound. My mind was still too fragile to be hearing such things.
With it's wings spread wide was a giant bat. It's body was almost triple my size. It's wingspan stretching much farther. It had a well – built frame, probably from the constant death that seemingly surrounded the labyrinth.
The giant sonic bat glared at me with it's blood – red eyes, it's fangs peeking out of it's mouth. After a minute – or – so of staring at each other, the beast relented.
Then, with one quick motion, one definitely unbefitting it's large frame, the beast dashed towards me.