Aside from the skill 'aegis,' CC gave me another four skills. Two of them are useful when it comes to negotiating or talking to someone.
The other one is called 'vault' which allows me to create a pocket dimension for carrying items. And actually, I'm using it now as that is where I stored our things for this herb gathering.
And the other one is called 'counterstrike.' According to CC, using this skill will let me learn and counter opponent techniques mid-battle.
At first, I thought it was just like 'foresight,' but it's not. Foresight allows you to predict the opponent's move, but this one will help you know not the opponent's next move but rather his weakness and how you can easily outsmart him.
Now that Livius mentioned the monsters, I hate to say it but I guess I still need to be prepared for that.
Just because I said I didn't want to encounter any monsters doesn't mean they won't show up now. I entered a secluded area where they might be hiding, and they could attack anytime they wanted.
I remember when Sebastian suddenly told us what happened on their expeditions when he lost his arm. He said that the moment the nightpiercer attacked them and he protected Father from it, he accepted that it was the end for him.
Therefore, I shouldn't just expect monsters will be easy to deal with like my duel with Aldric.
Although CC can help me figure out the monster's capabilities and weaknesses, that is not enough to survive because I lack a very important matter—experience. I never fought a monster before.
As a mob character in this series, Nicodeim never had the chance to even see a single monster. He died young, he didn't even get a chance to have a girlfriend! Now I pity my situation.
Surviving a villain was already a full-time job. Now monsters? This world had it out for me.
I stopped from walking and held my waist on each side. "Hmmm…" I look around the area. "This spot is not bad, I guess we can stay in here for a night later," I said as I was talking to myself.
I stretch my arms. "Seeing this quiet spot makes me crave some lunch. Maybe we should eat first and I'll do the preparation after lunch—"
"NO—!"
I immediately look back at where I left Livius when I hear his shout. I didn't sense any harm with the barrier I put in him, but that shout was enough to convince me something had happened to him.
"Liv—!" I ran as fast as I could. And the moment I reached the spot where he was, I saw him on the ground trying to distance himself from a group of monsters.
I don't know what kind of monster they are, but they are tree-like creatures with glowing green eyes and bark-like skin in humanoid forms.
To be precise, there are five of them and all of them are looking at Livius as if they are ignoring me.
'Foresight,' I said in mind to read their attacks.
And right after I used that skill, I saw that they would use their skill to manipulate a vine from a tree to strangle Livius. Of course, the barrier will protect him from its attack but I don't know when it will last as I only possess a basic grade of it.
So the moment the vines move, I immediately infuse lightning magic in my hands and strike the vines they're manipulating. Because of that, they finally noticed me.
"Oh, that's my way of saying hello!" I said.
A loud noise from them echoed in the forest as if it were their answer to what I had said.
I looked at Livius. "Hey, this is not the time to be amaze to them. Get up from there and stay away from here if you wanted to be alive!" I shouted.
That made him look at me while his eyes widened and his mouth was slightly opened.
"Stand up!" I shouted again so he could go back to his senses. Finally, it worked and he panicked to stand up.
As he ran, I used that opportunity to use my other skill, 'vault,' to get a sword—one of the system's perks for emergencies like this.
I don't know if this weapon can slash these creatures but this is all I got by now.
They try to manipulate the vines again and this time, they are planning to attack me. I slashed at the vines. Lightning crackled through the blade to burn them back—but they just regrew, relentless.
It's exhausting to evade and attack those vines at the same time. My heart pounded. I hated this. Hated not being in control. Damn it, I wasn't ready to die—not yet.
Even if I wanted to use the skill 'counterstrike' badly, I still can't. Casting my lightning magic quite using a large amount of mana and it makes my mana drain fast. It is not going to be good if I use my mana again.
HP: 1005/1650
MP: 226/960
SP: 403/1320
They attack me again and I successfully dodge them by rolling to the ground which leads me near to Livius. "Hey… buddy…" I said as I caught my breath. "You already pick… many kinds of herbs, right? Is there… anything from that… that can help me replenish my stamina and mana?"
He bit his lips as he looked down. "I-I'm sorry, my lord! All I have… are herbs for colds—nothing else!"
"Then just use your light magic to at least heal my body! That is… enough… for now…"
He swallowed hard as he looked at me intensely. "Yes, my lord."
Livius immediately stands up and covers me from the attacks of monsters as he still has the 'aegis' with him. It protected him from the hits of vines. I should thank CC because that barrier will buy me some time to recover.
Livius's hands trembled as he pressed light magic to my chest. "M-my l-lord," he said.
I just lean on the tree while waiting for him to heal me until the barrier I put in him breaks.
"What?" I asked, still catching my breath. "Don't tell me you're gonna fight that monsters? It's not the time for a prank, buddy!"
He still looking seriously at the part where he heals me while speaking. "That monster… I believe… it is called… Spriggans. They had an advantage in battle… as we are in their domain," he explains.
I nodded. "Yeah, that's what I thought too."
Now I wonder if monsters reside in a domain that they probably had an advantage or it's just a coincidence that they live here.
"But… I know that… they are weak with fire," he said while he still healing me.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I thought CC could always be there to help me, but I guess having a small amount of mana can restrict me from using its skill.
"Well, buddy," I said as I sighed. "I'm sorry to disappoint you but I think we need to find another spot where we can rest for the night. Because this spot will be on fire…"
His eyes are at my chest with an intense look. He swallowed hard before he spoke. "Kaiden and I n-never encounter a m-monster before… that's why… I don't know how to deal—"
He didn't finish what he was saying as the barrier protecting him suddenly broke. His eyes widened and his lips slightly opened as he immediately looked at the spriggans at his back.
"You already did what you need to do, that is enough," I said as I stood up. "Stand back again."
We are in the middle of a battle with a monster and it's getting awkward that he still gets the chance to start a drama just to say that.
"Yes, my lord!" he said rapidly as he did what I said.
Livius is indeed a huge help, he just not only helps me analyze the monster's weakness but also helps me get back my stamina as if I got respawned in a battle again.
"Seems this battle is indeed different from what I have with Aldric," I commented as I smirked.
I ignite my magic through my hands and use it to burn the dry leaves and twigs everywhere. That made the Spriggans stand back a little but it is not enough to scare them off.
Instead, they make an irritated sound again as if they are complaining for burning the forest. They start manipulating vines again to attack me, making me realize that burning some dry leaves and twigs is not enough to make my plan work.
Again, I just dodged all the vines and used my sword to cut through it. But I am not using magic to make it explode again, I learned my lesson.
[NOTICE: Counterstrike ready.]
Finally. I could return the Spriggans' attacks with interest.
As they lashed out with vines again, I noticed something. The vines regrew fast—but the base of the Spriggans' limbs took longer to reform.
Got it. They're slow after an attack. That's my opening.
I grinned. "I didn't expect to enjoy testing this skill so much."
The Spriggans growled, their glowing eyes narrowing as they advanced.
"But too bad," I said, lunging forward. "You won't get another chance."