NOVEL WEB Chapter 166
Bang!
The Red Lamia raised her serpent tail like a giant ancient tree, swinging it down fiercely toward me.
Kbang, Kwaang!
With two fierce strikes, the tail of the Lamia obliterated the cave floor. The crater left in the solid rock was a clear testament to the immense power contained within that sturdy tail.
Of course, I had already used ‘Counterattack’ to catch the Red Lamia from behind. I immediately thrust Astaroth towards her back.
My blade, infused with starlight, broke through the magical protection enveloping the Lamia’s body, inflicting wounds on her naked upper half, which was in human form. Perhaps it was because her upper half was human? Blood spattered not blue, but red.
Sssss-!!
Furious, the Red Lamia coiled her body back.
Using her whole body in a rotation pattern, I quickly activated ‘Block’.
Kakakang!
A powerful three-spin. Even though I used the ‘Block’ skill, which can withstand all attacks, I felt a significant shock reverberate through my body.
Drip drip.
The backstep judgment is also there. If I don’t just guard, it’s a strong pattern capable of pushing me back.
I frowned at the slight damage transmitted through my sword.
This spinning pattern is surprisingly tricky.
A single attack could be completely neutralized by timing it right with a ‘Just Guard’, but this one spins three times. The second and third rotations come in after the Just Guard timing ends.
Dealing with such a pattern feels like walking a tightrope. It sweeps around the entire area with a serpent lower body as huge as a giant tree, making it impossible to dodge easily. Of course, it’s possible to avoid damage using Backward Evasion or double attacks to the left or right, but…
Sssss-!!
Kang, Kang, Kang, Kaang!
“Tsk.”
While confronting the Red Lamia, I also eyed the ‘Blue Lamia’ in the distance, launching blue magical poisoned darts at me.
These guys have ranged patterns. Furthermore, their close-range patterns intertwine organically, pressuring me with overlapping attacks without my notice.
The long-range magical poisoned dart pattern from the Giant Lamia is a projectile that can be blocked, which is fortunate, but the firing interval is quite fast. It doesn’t give me a moment to break my blocking posture. While one of them is launching a long-range attack, I’m inevitably forced into a defensive position.
In that case, I might as well…
Tath!
I immediately used Backward Evasion to create distance from both Lamias.
Woowoo!
Red magical energy gathered in the Red Lamia’s hand, and blue magical energy in the Blue Lamia’s hand.
Papapapat!
Soon, fast and fierce magical poisoned darts began pelting my body mercilessly.
Tatatat!
I adjusted right and started to run in a large circle around the Lamias’ nest.
If I create distance from both of them, it’s actually fine. If I don’t care about the close-range pattern, I can simply avoid them.
Shwoosh! A terrifying sound tore through the air as a red magical poisoned dart aimed for my neck; I twisted my head to dodge and quickly lowered my stance. Woowoo! Starlight gathered on the sword I held backward.
Spapapat!
Starlight Swordsmanship. A ranged attack skill for swordsmen.
In a situation where the two are close together, and I need to deliver effective damage from a distance, this skill is perfect.
As the starlight gushed from my sword and struck the Lamias, they twisted their bodies and began launching rapidly accelerating magical poisoned darts a second time.
The poisoned darts flying from both creatures were faster than the Black Dragon’s spear. The number of projectiles increased with each passing moment. Now, it was becoming increasingly impossible to dodge.
Spinning.
I extended my sword diagonally downward, then slowly lifted it while dancing.
How would it look from the outside? The sword dance that Melissa did was beautiful. I wonder if my flailing looks like a sword dance too? To be honest, I was just swinging the blade imbued with energy at high speed.
Puhuhuhuk!
In an instant, the starlight around me began to deflect the magical poisoned darts, sounding scary like a swarm of bees hitting the window.
[Blade Barrier. Activate!]
Hooong!
Astaroth fits me perfectly. But the experience packed inside is enough to create a heavy sound of air slashing.
Spapapat!
The starlight that quickly gathered around my body scattered and swept over the two Lamias.
And on top of that, it also hit the pile of eggs stacked around the edge of the nest.
Kwahk, Kwajijijik!
The unhatched eggs shattered, grotesque flesh pieces flying everywhere. I dodged slightly as they soared toward me, smirking.
Gross. This is definitely not like an egg.
That was the intended effect.
These eggs will undoubtedly become a hindrance later.
I need to utilize my newly acquired wide area skill to the fullest.
Sssss-!!
Kyaaaaah-!!
Woowoo!
The Lamias seemed angrier than when I interrupted their rendezvous. With expressions twisted like wrathful spirits, they began gathering magical energy in their hands again.
“That won’t do.”
Swoosh.
I immediately slid forward, positioning myself.
Just before the third magical poisoned dart attack launched, I succeeded in slipping between the Red Lamia and Blue Lamia.
Bang.
As I entered within their close combat range, both Lamias raised their tails in unison towards me.
Kbang, Kwaang!
Tath. In an instant, I leaped from the ground, stepping on the serpent bodies of the two, and slashed with One Flash.
Papak!
Sure enough, the swordsman’s ultimate move, One Flash, tore through the sturdy scales of the Lamia, leaving visible wounds. Even their magical protection was simply split apart. But the Giant Lamia’s tail is as big as my torso. Getting jabbed by a whale with a kitchen knife doesn’t hurt much. Is it that Named Enemies have a vast amount of HP proportional to their size?
Sssss-!!
Immediately, Blue Lamia and Red Lamia, coiling again, began spinning simultaneously.
Hooong!
A rotating attack using their massive serpent lower bodies, sweeping over more than half of the combat area. It’s undoubtedly a pattern that’s difficult to counter.
But what if I overlap the patterns of the two?
“With just one Backward Evasion, it’s possible to counteract.”
Tath.
Dodging the terrifying body rotation attack through space, I immediately raised my sword and began to slash diligently at the bodies of the two Lamias.
Papapak!
Amidst the erratically flying chunks of Lamia flesh, I couldn’t help but smile.
What? This is easier than I thought?
The multi-bosses I faced until now were all tricky. It’s not just doubling the difficulty when facing two.
The reason is that each has different attack patterns. Even simple sword swings must be blocked twice if the timing is off. Especially against the Named Enemies in the ‘Ice Castle of the Frozen Land’, the spear and shield foes had different ranges, timings, and methods. When I faced them alone, I had to exert extreme focus.
But if the patterns are the same like these Lamias?
After luring out one long-range pattern, I just overlap them to trigger the close-range pattern simultaneously.
Sssss-!!
I gleefully plunged my blade into the two Lamias, who were charging toward me with their serpent tails trying to crush me, continuously giggling as I sliced them up.
“Heeheehee!”
The faces of the Lamias, attacked by me, bore expressions of grievance.
It’s a human face, so they can express all sorts of emotions. But why do they look so wronged? Didn’t they try to eat me anyway?
Well, I did interrupt their rendezvous. I killed their soon-to-be offspring too. From their perspective, a demon is an understatement. Who’s really the Demon Race and monster here?
Still, that’s a no-go! It’s a death sentence!
[Hidden Named]
[Level 55 Red Lamia]
[HP 42,149,655 / 70,000,000 (60%)]
[Hidden Named]
[Level 55 Blue Lamia]
[HP 41,998,124 / 70,000,000 (60%)]
Sssss-!!
“Ah.”
As I avoided the incoming attacks and leapt across the increasingly large patterns, I was taken aback by their bizarre behavior.
The sound of the serpents sliding over the rock with a shick-shick noise was chilling.
The Lamias suddenly abandoned me and began moving somewhere.
This is definitely a special pattern.
Seeing via the Named interface that both Lamias’ HP had dropped to 60%, I raised my sword, watching closely for their next action.
Where the eggs were, only red and blue magical energies swirled above the remnants of the eggs.
Soon, both Lamias delved into that magical energy.
Woowoo!
A red and blue barrier was generated around them.
A shielding gimmick?
Feels reminiscent of damage-reducing shields I often saw from Named enemies in Elite Dungeons. There must be a mechanism to disable it, right?
For now, let’s check how much damage reduction there is by pouring some sword energy into it.
Spapapat!
As the starlight blade energy from my sword hit the body of the Red Lamia…
Woowu!
A strange sound emitted as it was absorbed. Then…
Spapapat!
It burst forth toward me.
“Huh!”
Degu-ru-ru.
I was startled. This was unexpected. Dodging the blade energy with a big roll, I stared blankly at the two Lamias, who approached me once again.
That barrier is not a damage reduction shield.
The fact that my blade energy was sent back means…
“A reflection barrier…?”