The concentrated scarlet beam flew like a bullet, crushing the opponent's head like a hammer blow crushes a ripe watermelon. Blood splashed in all directions, showering the Black Scripture group with blood. Each of its members began to look around in panic, looking for the source of the threat that had taken the life of their squad's trump card.
Nobody was in a hurry to change the owner of PMK, which did not play a special role.
To activate a world-class item, you first need to take it off the old woman. The problems don't end there, the item still needs to be equipped, and only then used. Overall, it will take about twenty seconds at best, so I wasn't worried about the enemies taking advantage of the chance at the most unexpected moment.
- Hello! - having wished everyone good health, I dispelled the invisibility, personally showing myself to the disheveled squad. - It is extremely unfortunate that due to the misunderstanding that arose, you lost one of your allies, - the apology came out without a bit of sympathy, as they say, he who brings up bygones is lost.
What's past is past.
- Battle formation! - the leader did not lose his head, and very quickly gathered the entire group around him.
The mages began to prepare a spell, the tank stood up to protect vulnerable allies, and the rest of the squad looked for a good chance to attack.
In their view, there was only one enemy, but that was a fatal mistake. Their real, threatening enemy was now slowly circling the assembled flock of sheep.
Amazingly, the herbivores had not yet realized that they were surrounded by a real predator.
- You are rushing things, - throwing a warning, I wanted to activate the amulet to release a noble aura. Everything would be fine, but as practice has shown, it only slightly replaces my own aura, formed due to mixing the flesh of different high-ranking creatures. Perhaps, with the amulet, I seem not like a hero from legends, but a slightly positive creature. Consider that I mixed two opposite poles together, but "a little" is better than "nothing" that artifacts of complete concealment provide. - Battle is the lot of those who desire glory. I came with a question, - a benevolent attempt to reduce the enemy's pressure in order to get away from the point of no return.
- You, bastard, you killed Lady Kaire! - I was accused of murder in one breath. To this statement I wanted to answer: I protest. Indeed, if a person is found next to a corpse, it does not mean that he is the murderer.
"You are mistaken, before killing her I wanted to ask her a few questions concerning a world-class item," now I will have to use the staff of the damned prophet to guarantee the old woman's escape from the clutches of death, handing her over for a thorough interrogation.
"You don't even hide your intentions!" the knight with two shields was damn right. Dangers are like weeds, they are best pulled out as early as possible, and with the roots.
"I want to ask one single question," I politely addressed the leader of their group. "Are you familiar with the word Yggdrasil?" Intensifying my perception, I immediately realized that some of them trembled upon hearing my question. Some showed a puzzled expression. So, the information is kept secret, but those who showed emotions are best remembered. They need to be interrogated with special care, without missing a single moment.
"That can't be," the guy with long hair narrowed his eyes and clenched his teeth. "Where from... well, it doesn't matter..." What a pity, he remembered in time that it was best not to answer questions directly. Even with a question you can give out a lot of information, secret information at that.
"It's a pity, in that case, we'll fight you personally," I continued, turning my gaze to Kurumi. "Shoot the ladies in the left leg, and the men in the right," indicating who and where to shoot, so there was no need to worry about those who could interfere with the duel.
Time stood still, and space turned grey – the colour of emptiness.
Interestingly, the ward decided not to give the enemy a chance to dodge by freezing the space. The helmet protects me from stopping, but the Black Scripture was less lucky. Ten shots flew out of the meter-long rifle in an instant, guaranteed to hit stationary targets. This is great, since you won't have to spend money on resurrecting unwanted elements.
Time resumed its course, and the world returned to its colors, replacing silence with screams and curses emanating from crippled opponents.
- What? - pointing the tip of the spear at me, the only walking person took a few steps back, looking at his comrades without some limbs in shock. But... I didn't even use the message, and if they had a trump card, they could have tried to defend themselves with it, having heard my words. - Monster... - returning to his composure, the guy clenched his teeth and the shaft of the magical weapon tighter.
"Captain, run, we..." the girl was cut off by another shot from invisibility, separating her hand from her arm. This is all the initiative of Kurumi, one of the most chaotic NPCs of Nazarick, since I created her like that.
"You can attack first," I suggested politely. "Don't worry, you are not the target of an attack from stealth," it is better to give the enemy a hint of who and how can attack him, so that he does not lose all his fighting spirit ahead of time.
"Monster, do you think you can revel in your own power?" The opponent finally took action, asking angrily, activating his techniques. In this world, they work differently than in Yggdrasil, something unique to this world.
But when the magic system from the game appeared is a good question.
Perhaps the broken transfer time ruined the grand meeting of the guilds.
If we assume that other players got here before me, they could have spread the knowledge from the game. I wonder if they are called gods?
"You're pretty quiet," I noted in surprise, holding out my palm to the side to intercept the spear attack aimed at my temple. "Usually beginners say: die or be killed, revealing their location. I praise you, you used the speed boost, quietly went around from the side and attacked in a vulnerable place in your opinion. Excellent," while praising, my tail increased in size and fell with force on the enemy, throwing him back like a football player throws a football.
- Cough... - spitting out blood, following the scrolling across the battlefield, the enemy with trembling legs began to rise.
- Hee-hee... - a melodic laugh, but so frightening, as if death was breathing down my neck. - Maybe I should shoot him? - a bold suggestion from my ward, but it's too early to rush.
"I'm sure he'll surprise us with something else," I turned slightly, losing sight of my opponent, and addressed the girl, asking her to wait.
At that moment, the guy's battle spear began to glow golden, it seemed like he had used a priest skill or something similar. A moment later, the enemy threw the spear, or rather the golden arc, with all his might, aiming at my heart.
«Mirage»
The body was enveloped in a dark red sphere, as soon as the enemy attack touched it, it immediately changed its trajectory. In Yggdrasil, those who specialized in long-range attacks had the worst time. The fact is that the developers really burned out with the implementation of balance, adding a bunch of items and skills that leveled all throwing weapons.
Peroroncino was especially bitter about this. He had to upgrade his bow so much so that it would kill at least someone that all the guild members felt sorry for him. And even after all the upgrades, the bow still had a negative effect related to the strict requirement for the shooting range. The closer the target, the less damage.
- Amazing, he appreciated the moment and took advantage of the chance, - the praise became fatal for the guy, after which his face distorted into an unpleasant grimace. The most resilient people most often break fatally. Out of habit, so to speak.
- Who are you...
"Aura of Ten Thousand Death"
Releasing my trump aura, which hit all targets at once and took away fifty percent of their stats, I looked like nothing less than a monster in the flesh. Judging by the fact that the painful cries from the wounded evaporated like drops of water under the scorching sun. Even Kurumi became more obedient, stopping constantly shooting off those limbs of enemies that did not ask for it.
But the greatest effect was produced on the captain, it seems, this is his rank or nickname. That's what the blonde called him, who is trying to quietly crawl away into the forest. With her speed, she will finish in two hours at best.
- Ha... ha... - gasping for air, the strongest man in their squad fell to his knees, looking in disbelief at the aura floating in space. - New Evil God...
- Your fighting spirit is broken, turned inside out, disgraced. You fought beautifully, but greatness is not at the beginning of the battle, but at its end. To kneel before the enemy is extremely annoying. Do not become weak, get up, strengthen your knees and try to stand against me with your head held high and your spear raised high.
"You're a sadist, daddy..." the girl in the red and black dress teased me with a grin. The apple probably doesn't fall far from the tree. When I designed her settings, I may have been putting my perverted desires, dormant deep inside me, into her.
Although, there is no need to go into finding out the reason for the change in my character. What difference does it make, it is necessary to live by past dreams and ideals, unless nothing has changed in the present.
"Mass paralysis"
Still waiting for no action from the enemy, I used mass paralysis in the area. My ally's immunity kicked in, but the others were less lucky and all of them stopped moving.
- Be so kind as to hand them over to our dear researchers for questioning, and ask the demon to supervise everything, then return. As for this dress, - I gestured towards the former owner of the PMC. - Give it to the keeper of the treasury, it will be there until we find a suitable wearer, - giving orders to subordinates makes life much easier.
True, it took a lot of time to resurrect one person and transport the cripples. In total, we lost half an hour, but the prisoners are in a safe place, and the information about what happened is completely confidential. But, probably out of habit, I am in no hurry to name the names of my subordinates, even with protection.
While waiting for my departed ally for a long time, I wanted to do something, so I leaned against a tree, thinking about my next steps.
- And where to now? - the magical gates not far from me opened, and Kurumi came out of them, immediately asking about further actions.
- Try not to attack anyone from the people. According to the legend, we are humble researchers from distant places, who have heard about a threat of global scale - if a simple, not yet mature boss can be called by such a formidable title. - We will try to gain the trust of the locals and, if we are lucky, after killing the chimera, we will get to the ruler of these lands.
- Oh, and we'll get a reward? - the girl elegantly placed her index finger on her lips and smiled sweetly. I just want to pet her like a kitten.
"And what reward would you like?" I asked casually, continuing to support the support, standing with my back close to the tree.
— I don't even know… Maybe shopping in the capital? — A fairly harmless request, it can be easily implemented. It's decided, shopping is shopping. — The capital… burning in flames, — the clarification sounded more ominous, especially from the girl with a red and golden eye. A symbol of bloody luxury? Maybe, maybe.
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