Aras Auto-8

A torrent of steam, utterly unimaginable in quantity, was gushing from the monster's... from the magical stones attached to the monster.

"Hey, I don't know about that. How much steam is even coming out?"

The steam erupted from every part of its body, filling the air so thickly it was like a fog had settled around it.

Could it really have been active in the bottomless swamp thanks to this steam emission!?

The truth can't be confirmed, but at least ordinary flames and arrows seem ineffective.

Still, there's one thing I haven't tried yet.

My lightning remains.

The lightning definitely worked before, but I don't know how much that steam might weaken it.

Still, I'll test each one step by step. Fortunately, the shackles are still on me. They're loose, but might still be useful for something.

"Not yet! His movements are still sluggish. Now's the chance—shoot the poisoned arrows!"

At the shout of someone, the hidden mercenary group began launching a barrage of poisoned arrows.

The demon beast let out a continuous burst of steam in response.

The sheer volume of steam altered the trajectory of the arrows, causing them to fall harmlessly to the ground without striking the beast.

More arrows were fired, and small barrels filled with oil were launched using a catapult, yet their trajectories shifted once again, causing explosions that deflected harmlessly, protecting the creature itself.

The steam produced showed no sign of stopping, obscuring its form completely. This couldn't continue! The demon beast would vanish from sight.

Picking up the arrow lying on the ground, I launched it with all my might using the wind crystal. Just barely, the arrow reached the creature's skin and sharply sliced through its hide.

Though this wound won't bring it down, it's not a problem. The poison coating this arrow takes effect as soon as it penetrates. It would be a great relief if this could weaken the steam just a little...

For a split second, the demon beast appeared as though it had stumbled on one leg, but it quickly rose and violently kicked off the shackles, launching itself forward with tremendous force.

I activated the wind mage stone at my waist and dodged swiftly and widely.

Why isn't the poison working?

The charge continued, steam increasing until mist began to fill the air.

As I evaded the charging demon beast, I kept observing.

Upon closer inspection, I could see something resembling sweat on the demon beast's body.

Could it really be overcoming the potent poison through metabolism!? What absurd creature are you, demon beast?

Fire and poison are ineffective.

Honestly, I don't have many viable options left here. I must strike precisely at its weakness and deliver the electric attack I possess.

Fear is spreading through the surroundings, where nothing seems to work. I must rally them somehow, no matter how slightly.

"It's going to be alright! We still have strength left! Don't give up!"

The knight captain, who had silently appeared on the scene, seemed to be thinking the same thing.

Yet the monster, now freed from its restraints, moved freely, and its steam emissions made it nearly impossible to land hits on the distant attacker—how could they possibly strike it down?

As if to deny them even a moment to think, it suddenly charged forward with fierce intensity.

Reacting too slowly, I hadn't even had time to activate my wind crystal—but somehow managed to barely dodge it using only my own strength.

...Huh? Why did I dodge it?

I should have been grazed, or at least unable to avoid it without using my wind crystal.

Its breath grew heavy as it stared at the ox-like monster. Clearly different from the state it had shown before. It seemed the previous actions hadn't been in vain after all. At the very least, fatigue and damage had accumulated.

I must not give up—there's still more to go.

The steam thickened, making it harder and harder to see into the distance.

If this continues, I’ll be the one worn out first. But even so, there are only limited ways to hit the crossbow bolts at the lightning.

The only way to send an arrow through that steam is to use a wind crystal to blow it away. With that decided, there's nothing left but to act.

I channel magic into the wind device on my back. My target is the counter.

Dodge as it charges in, then strike from close range.

I brace myself and dash toward the bovine monster. Responding in kind, the beast charges forward as well.

At the moment our bodies collided, I activated the gem on my back with even greater force.

My body twisted through a trajectory impossible in nature. Surprisingly, my consciousness sharpened and the movements of objects seemed to slow down.

Our eyes met, our gazes crossing.

The remaining horn appeared to twitch slightly, but before that, I altered my flight path.

A powerful force pressed against my body, forcing me deeper than my physical limits should allow.

Skillfully circled around the side of the monster's body.

Immediately, I fired the special arrow into its weak point. Then, using the wind magic stone mounted on my staff, I accelerated the arrow.

The arrow struck deep with perfect precision, delivering significant damage all on its own.

The monster let out a sound unlike any I'd ever heard before.

Purple lightning surged from the spot where the arrow had pierced, racing across the creature's body. It seemed I had successfully paralyzed it.

The second charge was clearly slower, making it easy to dodge.

And without forgetting, I fired another special arrow.

I repeated this several times.

In total, four arrows now pierced the concentration point of mana.

The bovine monster was completely sluggish. It seemed attacking the mana convergence points was indeed very effective. The risk had definitely been worth it.

That meant I could now take the time to carefully prepare for a maximum-power lightning strike.

Just as I thought that, I let my guard down for a single moment. Clearly, I still lacked combat experience.

The monster, guided by instinct, didn’t miss that instant. The direction of the steam erupting from its body suddenly changed—like a jet propulsion system.

The parts that grew like feathers touched the ground, transforming into six legs as it charged forward at high speed.

In an instant, I activated a wind-based magic item to propel myself backward, trying to escape the impact. But the monster was faster—its momentum forced me to collide head-on.

I felt my strength being forcibly drained from every part of my body. No, it wasn’t just that—I was overwhelmed by immense inertia, my arms and legs too heavy to move.

Slowly, an indescribable pain and strength began to return.

I couldn’t help but praise myself for not letting go of the cane.

Relying on the faint trace of consciousness left within me, I activated the healing crystal embedded in the cane.

A greenish-white light enveloped my entire body, fading away as if being sucked in.

The pain vanished, and suddenly I became aware of my surroundings. The ground was just seconds away! Instinctively, I activated the wind crystal on my back once more, deliberately launching myself into the air.

I remembered there was a river behind me.

I felt a sensation that was both soft and hard against my back, along with a chill.

I must have absorbed some of the impact. I continued to recover further.

Struggling to regain composure, I stand up. The water reaching up to my knees speaks of the river's chill.

Clearly, a current different from the river's flow had developed, and I could feel the force of the water on my body. Looking in that direction, I saw the monster was also in the water.

It seems I'm being targeted completely—almost as if they're saying they'll bring me down.

As if telling a story, the monster glares at me with sharp eyes.

The monster is definitely capable of moving quite well even in water. Here, I'm at a disadvantage... I have to get out of here quickly!

But... just as if it had read my thoughts, the monster takes its next action.

Using the river's water, the monster releases steam that rapidly expands, covering the surroundings with an intensity unimaginable before.

A thick fog had formed. Visibility was less than a meter. If this continued, there'd be no way to tell where the demon would strike from.

Suddenly, the flow of water shifted, and I leapt blindly into what seemed like a random spot. In an instant, something like a demon rushed past me sideways.

If I kept using such reckless tactics, I'd be defeated in no time. Recovery wasn't infinite. I'd already expended a significant amount of mana just a moment ago.

I don't know where I am. Relying on sight alone is a losing game. I need to switch to detection magic right away.

"Alright there, mage?"

Suddenly, a mercenary hidden nearby calls out. They can't see me, but I can hear them.

"I'm fine! My vision's bad. You can't handle this on your own! Stay back!"

"You can't possibly handle this alone!"

That much was already clear the moment I was driven into this corner. Still, I’ll survive no matter what.

"Handle it somehow! Keep your end ready for combat!"

I check the detection of the exploration magic, listening to the fading shout of "Don't die!"

I quickly detect the monster's presence and glance in its direction. Sensing it's moving toward me, I dodge using a wind-based magical device.

How exactly is the monster sensing me? No time to worry about that.

I had already memorized the terrain around here. Thanks to that, I managed to scramble onto the riverbank. During that time, it charged at me twice, but I barely dodged each time.

Yet my increasingly heavy legs told me my magic energy was nearing its limit. I can no longer cast my strongest spell. There's simply not enough magical energy left.

I have to settle this quickly!

The mist hasn't cleared even after reaching the riverbank, so it's no ordinary fog that will vanish with a little effort.

And I have no idea where the opponent will strike from next.

A faintly cold mist brushed against my cheek.