"That thing looks cool..." I muttered to myself as I gazed upon the massive armored guardian before us. It stood at an imposing ten feet in height, fully clad in ornate armor.
My companions were equally entranced by the sight of the guardian, their eyes wide with awe.
Suddenly, the guardian, which had been sitting motionless in front of a grand throne, began to stir. Its empty eye sockets emitted a menacing crimson light as it used its rusty broadsword like a cane to help itself stand.
Every movement it made produced a grating, screeching sound that assaulted our ears, and I had to cover mine to shield them from the deafening noise.
"It's about to att-!!?"
My warning was cut short as the guardian unleashed a blinding flash of light, appearing dangerously close to us. Its massive sword swung down, and we scrambled to get out of the way just in time.
We leaped and scattered, with Occiditis taking the initiative to lift me and place me in a safer location. I didn't have a moment to thank her, my focus fully on the looming guardian.
The guardian's sword had become lodged in the wall, and it was now struggling to pull it free.
"The best way to defeat the guardian might be to break its heart," I suggested in a hushed tone, stepping back to allow my companions to take the lead.
"Isn't that a given?" Reaper rolled her eyes.
I fell silent, letting them continue with their plan of coordinated attack.
And thus, I decided to observe them from behind.
***
Clang-!
The resounding clash of metal echoed throughout the chamber as Reaper single-handedly held off the guardian's enormous sword, using her scythe's handle as a makeshift guard.
"Urgh... Ha!"
With a determined grunt, she managed to push the guardian's sword away, swinging her scythe upward and tightening her grip.
In perfect coordination, Occiditis launched a frontal assault, her nimble figure soaring into the air. She propelled herself with the aid of Wind Magic, her foot landing a precise, devastating blow to the guardian's head. It fell to the ground, disconnected from its body, but the body continued to stand..
"It's still alive...?" Odium abruptly took off her aim and looked at the guardian, who was beginning to recover.
The severed head was drawn back to its neck by eerie, foggy tentacles, reattaching itself seamlessly... Seems like it required more than just physical strikes.
"I suppose breaking its core is the only solution..." Reaper muttered, her gaze briefly flickering towards Saber.
Upon clicking her tongue in frustration, a bullet suddenly whizzed from behind her, piercing through the Guardian's armor.
"Nice shot, Odium!" Reaper praised.
In quick succession, a fiery projectile shot from Solis' direction hit the guardian, halting it just as it was about to swing its massive sword toward them.
"Focus on the front, Reaper." Their leader warned as she slowly took her katana out.
When they saw the guardian struggling to get up after getting hit by Solid, it became evident to them that though the Guardian had resistance to physical attacks, it was still vulnerable to one thing...
It was magic.
As the others continued their relentless assault on the guardian, Saber chose to watch their efforts from a safe distance.
"They can probably finish it on their own..." he murmured, leaning against the wall in a seemingly relaxed manner.
Five minutes had passed since the battle began. Saber was confident that as long as he remained hidden around the corner, the guardian would ignore him.
"...?"
However, he overlooked a crucial detail: this world was nothing like the light novels, manga, or anime he had enjoyed in his previous life.
In real life, there were no guarantees that an enemy would ignore your presence during a fight.
"Ah...?"
He noticed that Reaper was thrown aside, hitting the wall as she coughed out blood.
"[Target identified...]"
Suddenly, the guardian's robotic voice echoed through the chamber as it abruptly changed its course, heading straight for Saber.
"Contractor!"
Saber swiftly drew his short sword, holding it defensively in front of him as he prepared for the guardian's attack.
"Argh-!?"
The force of the impact sent him hurtling into the wall, much like what had happened to Reaper earlier. On top of that, one of the healing potions he had stored in his pocket shattered, its contents spilling across the wall.
"Damn... That potion was expensive..." Saber coughed, blood staining the corner of his lips... I'll make sure that I don't make the same mistake twice.
"Contractor, are you alright?" Solis rushed to Saber's side, her concern evident in her voice, and began to cast a healing spell on him.
Saber remained silent for a moment, wiping away the blood from his lips with the back of his hand. Then, he reached into his pocket pouch, and a sinister grin began to form on his face.
"Hehe... Hehehe...."
Solis couldn't help but notice the unnerving expression, and strangely, it sent shivers down her spine.
"What is that...?"
It wasn't the intimidating guardian they were currently facing that frightened her...
It was the unsettling smile that formed on Saber's face.