136. Tract Lance Stampede 1

North and west sectors of the Elven Forest. Once known as the Tract Lance Woods, this region now overflows with魔獣. In addition to the original Tract Lance, their numbers keep swelling due to high concentrations of Miasma.

Some have even begun evolving further—into vicious Elder Tract Lance, and even larger, more dangerous Gigant Tract Lance.

The Miasma and the Tract Lance are causing ordinary forest plants and trees to wither away rapidly.

When enraged, Tract Lance sprout thick branches like spears, thrusting them in all 360 degrees. It's nearly impossible to close in with physical means.

And since Tract Lance wood makes excellent material for magic staves—indicating high magical conductivity—it also resists magical attacks and possesses strong magic resistance.

Worse still, when enraged, Tract Lance lifts its roots from the ground and moves like an octopus.

Even more troublesome is the vine that lives in symbiosis with it. The vine moves like a tentacle, wrapping around prey to capture it. Once caught, it squeezes with immense force. Tiny thorn-like protrusions on the vine pierce the body, draining the victim’s bodily fluids.

The vine sustains the symbiosis by splitting off portions to extend the Tract Lance’s reach, covering longer-range attacks than its branches alone could manage.

Now, these Tract Lance are migrating en masse from the northern sector to the western sector.

The Tract Lances moving from the western sector toward the southern sector encounter a solid barrier erected between the regions. A precautionary wall, built just in case—but now, for the first time, proving its worth.

Elven adventurers have been assigned to guard the fortress connecting the west and south sectors. These Tract Lances are acting violently, too fierce for ordinary adventurers to handle. So they’re narrowing the passage, forcing the enemy into small groups, hoping to manage them through coordinated strikes.

From atop the fortress, mages counter with spells.

“Mages—just harass them! Don’t let them get near the gate or the wall!” the adventurer shouted.

“Anyone confident in defense—go in!”

With decent defensive capability—say, a skill like Magic Mantle, or equipped with shield and armor—you can stand up to them, even with a great axe, if you’re careful.

Elves, as everyone knows, are masters of the bow. And this time, Shiro has handed them a large supply of a special item.

“Archers—full volley!”

The elves fired in unison, arrows flying toward the Tract Lances.

At the moment the arrows struck, a sharp *crack!* echoed through the air—electric shock flared, bright light bursting from the impact. The Tract Lances, along with their vines, froze in place.

“Whoa! Incredible! The Tract Lances are stopped!”

“The vines are blackened!”

All stared, stunned by the effect.

What Shiro had been busily crafting was a spear that delivered an electric shock on impact. Designed to stick easily onto existing spearheads. The shock was tuned to maximum effect—specifically for tree-based targets. Now it felt like lightning had struck.

Thus, adventurers and soldiers held the fortress, steadily and surely slaying monsters as they advanced.

◇

North of the fortress, the Hero Group was engaged in battle.

“Ooh, tentacles,” Makoto said.

“Yeah, tentacles,” Masaki echoed.

“Don’t just stand there yakking—attack!” Mizuki snapped.

Having spent so much time together, she’d memorized their patterns and now scolded them without mercy.

Masaki and Mizuki unleashed magic attacks on the Tractus Lance—primarily ice and earth-based spells. Fire magic was off-limits; the forest was already too dangerous to risk igniting. Plus, the Tractus Lance was resistant to water magic, so that was out too.

Makoto charged forward as always, hacking relentlessly at the Tractus Lance.

What everyone found impressive was his impossible agility—dodging vines and branches that lashed out in every direction with ease. Thanks to Shiro’s holy sword and Makoto’s skill, he could sever a trunk up to two meters in diameter with a single swing.

“Still, that’s some incredible movement… and that reckless cutting style,” Masaki said, shaking his head.

“Haha, classic Makoto. But he’s definitely gotten better. Looks like he’s slicing through it like water now,” Steven said.

“…Well, Steven’s right. Makoto’s grown a bit, I suppose,” Mizuki replied.

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