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I use Shell Fang on the Black Roc’s chest, but there’s hardly any effect. Considering it’s a unique named monster, it makes sense that it’s tougher than other Rufus.

The Black Roc starts flapping its wings, creating a powerful gust of wind that is imbued with magic. That’s clearly an attack so I instantly deploy a barrier for me and Clarissa.

As the Black Roc gains height, the wind ceases and I dispel the barrier. I have no option but to use middle level spells to hit it from this distance.

“Thunderstorm!”

I shoot a tornado of lightning into the sky, but it gets evaded. Hitting a fast enemy with a heavy attack like that is hard.

“Grr!”

Clarissa tries shooting a barrage of light as well, but the Black Roc easily dodges it by maneuvering through the air. Then, the Black Roc turns around to counterattack, flapping its wings as a large magic circle materializes in the air.

The patterns on the magic circle tell me it’ll be a wind spell, but that’s all I can get from it. Either way, I have to raise a barrier. I’m just barely done raising the barrier when there’s a loud impact. The Black Roc’s magic is already here.

Somehow the barrier lasts through the attack. But the attack isn’t just a single hit, there’s a second and a third hit right after, which make the barrier creak.

“You good, boss?”
“Yes, I can keep going.”
Clarissa sounds worried, but I’m still good.

I might not be the best at making barriers, but as long as I keep channeling mana into it, it should keep its shape. And I’m confident in my mana pool.

“Squeeeeeee!”

The Black Roc stops its magic and bellows loudly. At first, I assume that he got annoyed by my defense, but that’s not it. It’s looking away from me, staring intently into the forest. Something’s coming.

“Boss, enemy.” Clarissa also notices and bares her fangs in that direction.

Rustle, rustle.

There’s a weird sound like something being dragged through the forest. But once it shows itself, I realize it was more of a creeping sound. It’s like a giant snake made of twisted vines, a twisted neck, and a large flower lined with teeth in the center as a mouth. There are smaller vines sprouting out all over its body, which end with mouths, claws, or some weird sacks.

“It’s a Cruel Predator.”

That’s a carnivorous plant monster, and I’m pretty sure it’s on the same rank as Comet Wolves. This has to be the monster Ruri mentioned. The sound of fighting and the stench of blood likely lured it here, but I really wish it had just ignored us!

Now there are three sides to the battle, me and Clarissa, the Black Roc, and the Cruel Predator. That last one is the first one to move. I brace myself, but its target isn’t me or the Black Roc, but Natalia who’s lying down a distance away. The Black Roc also utilizes that timing to swoop down. This is bad!

“Claire, stop the Cruel Predator!”
“Woof!”
“Sparkling Lightning Discharge!”

Clarissa dashes to bodyslam the Cruel Predator, while I distract the Black Roc. The Cruel Predator staggers violently from the hit and then gets tangled around Clarissa. At the same time, the Black Roc stops a distance away from me just as I start fighting back, then returns into the air.

“You take care of that one, Claire! I’ll keep the Black Roc busy!”

I tell Clarissa to focus on the Cruel Predator, while I focus my attention on the Black Roc. It uses its wind magic again, so I raise my barrier like earlier. But this time, it doesn’t attack only with magic, but also charges at me trying to break through. Its sharp talons strike the barrier many times, breaking it apart. The attack didn’t end there though, as it continues trying to get to me.

“Damn youu!”

I strengthen my body, speed myself up with wind magic, and use gravity magic to increase the power of my fists as I begin pummeling back. The sound of my fists hitting its talons makes terrifying sounds, which repeat time and time again. I’ve always been confident in my strength, but rather than retaliating, I feel like I’m being pushed back. My fists get bruised and bloodied, but I can’t stop here.

“Sparkling Lightning Shock!” I try striking with all my might at once, but the Black Roc quickly flies back to dodge it. As a result, all I end up accomplishing is leaning my body forward, leaving myself completely open.

“…!” I can tell the Black Roc’s talons are already swinging towards my head. I messed up! Just as I’m thinking that, Natalia comes from the side and pushes me out of the way.

“Take this!”

I turn around while I’m still falling and see Natalia, her feet still wobbly, standing between me and the Black Roc. Then a strange rift forms between the two, like a mouth that takes hold of the monster’s foot.

“Scree!” The Black Roc flaps its wings violently, trying to free itself, creating powerful gusts of wind that force me to squint.

“Take this!” Natalia repeats that, and the rift seems to bite down harder. There’s a dull sound, and the Black Roc’s foot gets bitten off.

“Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” The Black Roc cries painfully, but quickly recovers its balance and tries to attack with its remaining foot. Somehow, Natalia doesn’t seem to even think of dodging, though. She’s about to push herself too hard again!

I quickly stand up and run as fast as I can with Full Divine Wind. Meanwhile, the Black Roc’s foot takes hold of Natalia. I jump up while keeping all my speed and grab Natalia’s weak hand. I’m not letting go this time; I’ll stay here!

Fulfilling orders efficiently is the nature of magic automatons, like our most basic instinct. My human mind has always been repressing that, thinking like a regular living being, and sometimes acting in less than ideal ways.

So once I stopped thinking for myself and instead relied on those magic automaton basic instincts, some of my subconscious limiter was released, allowing me to act with a lot more efficacy. In a way, it was like switching auto-pilot on.

That’s a bit of a double-edged sword, though, as I essentially threw away my ability to judge other factors while only focusing on my main objective. All I did was to stay alive while continuing to fight, while considering my mana consumption or feeling human emotion became secondary.

My consciousness also takes a back seat, making it harder to switch off that mode. At least I’m not fully unconscious like the fight against the golem before, where I had to be given a direct master order to stop.

On top of that, since my consciousness is registering everything that happens in auto-pilot, I also get to absorb more information. The only downside being that it places a heavier mental burden.

I couldn’t think of any other way to fight against so many Rufus, though this is still the first time I’m trying this out.

Just when my mana and sanity were running dangerously low, Olivia arrived with impeccable timing. Thanks to her, I get to rest for a bit and recover mana and sanity. But when I look for her again, I notice she’s fighting the black Rufu. I’m not entirely sure of everything that’s happening, but it’s clear she’s being pressured. I have to help her somehow.

All my magic guns are completely out of bullets though; I’ve already burned through them before. Still, I have to do something. I ignore the haziness shrouding my view and stand up on wobbly feet to rush to Olivia’s aid.

Is there anything I can do to fight? I know the black Rufu is stronger than the regular ones, so is there anything I can do without guns? A magic blade won’t do much, my nerve threads neither, and I still suck at magic.

But then the earlier fight flashes in my mind. Right, I should have enough mana for that. Not to mention that that’s the only magic spell I’m actually good at. Just as I think that, I see Olivia’s hit miss, and the black Rufu using that window to counterattack.

I’m not going to let that happen. I tackle Olivia out of the way, and then activate my magic.

“Take this¹!” An entrance into my magic storage opens up and bites onto the Rufu’s foot.

“Scree!” The Black Roc cries loudly while flapping its wings wildly. Earlier I managed to tear an entire house from its foundation, but I guess I haven’t recovered enough strength just yet.

“Take this²!” I repeat as I gather more mana, and this time the opening manages to chomp off the Black Roc’s foot.

Hahah, you got what you deserve! Maybe I went a bit overboard though. I can’t really dodge this…

1. Robinxen: You all really like saying that.
2. Robinxen: And again…