Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys

Seemingly slow to react, Rein focused intently and held his breath as he approached within about ten meters behind the Scaled Whisker Ironback Turtle; the creature still hadn't moved.

Rein's expression turned solemn as his legs suddenly exerted force. With a "thud!" sand erupted from beneath his feet, and he shot toward the Scaled Whisker Ironback Turtle like an arrow released from a bow!

The specifics of a stealth attack?

With a hammer, what technique do you need? The simpler, the more brutal, the more effective!

If the opponent's shell is the hardest part, then shatter it from the hardest point!

"Limit Break!"

"Huge Strength lv3!"

"Strength Burst!"

"Earth-splitting Hammer!!!"

Rein, leaping through the air, seemed to have ballooned to at least twice his size. His muscles and fascia tensed like the fully drawn string of a powerful bow, and he raised the dark pig head hammer above his head before fiercely striking down at the center of the Scaled Whisker Ironback Turtle's shell!

Just as Rein forcefully pushed off the ground, the Scaled Whisker Ironback Turtle's fist-sized eyes suddenly popped open, sensing the danger.

However, since Rein had attacked from behind and was already directly above the shell, he was in the Ironback Turtle's blind spot.

So, the Ironback Turtle stretched its neck, looking quickly left and right, but failed to spot its enemy, which caused a look of confusion in its large eyes.

But the next second!

A huge crash resonated from the center of its back!

"Clang!!!"

Sparks flew everywhere!

"Crack!!!"

The two sounds almost overlapped!

Under the effects of 'Hammer Mastery lv3' along with the double special effects 'Shock lv2' and 'Accuracy lv2,' Rein's strike had the power of a 205mm howitzer shell.

"Augh!"

Accompanied by the Scaled Whisker Ironback Turtle's scream, its shell—seven or eight meters in diameter and thick—was completely shattered by Rein's ferocious blow.

Especially at the center, which was completely fragmented.

If someone had observed Rein's entire stealth attack from a distance, they would notice.
Stay connected through empire

If the Scaled Whisker Ironback Turtle's shell were compared to an iron basin, then the small black hammer, the size of a fingernail, had just smashed into it, causing the Ironback Turtle's limbs and neck to catapult outward!

Rather comical!

But just when Rein was about to follow up his attack, a thick yellow energy covered the Scaled Whisker Ironback Turtle's body, blocking all subsequent hammer blows.

At this moment, the battle's vibrations caused all the surrounding sand to scatter.

Rein got a clear look at the full span of the turtle's shell, which closely resembled fossil giant tortoise shells from his previous life, with a dozen mountain-like ringed scales. Now, the tops of these 'mountains' were glowing with yellow light.

This mysterious side of energy fluctuations?

It must be the Scaled Whisker Ironback Turtle's special ability, which is the earthen yellow shield Hass mentioned.

Seemingly frightened by Rein's combat prowess, the Scaled Whisker Ironback Turtle, displaying no desire to continue fighting the 'little one' in front of it, opted to make a break for the nearby sea, protected by its strongest defense.

This immediately changed Rein's expression!

The sea was not his battleground.

Right away, Rein increased the frequency of swings with his pig head hammer, causing the yellow shield to "bang, bang" under the blows. Although the color faded slightly, the yellow shield stood firm, like a rock immovable by the seaside waves.

Indeed, only witchcraft can defeat witchcraft, right?

However, Rein didn't believe in such superstitions!

Add points!

As the remaining Skill Points on the attribute panel dropped from 2→1, Tokkal Hammer Technique was also instantly raised to lv7 level, equaling the Giant Bear Sword Technique.

Suddenly, fragments of memories about practicing Tokkal Hammer Technique flooded into Rein's mind.

These fragmented memories of hammer skill practice flashed one by one in Rein's mind and swiftly integrated into his muscle memory. It was as if he had spent over a year devoted to practicing Tokkal Hammer Technique in some mysterious space, all by himself.

However, there was a difference. With a lv3 Hammer Mastery boost, at this moment, the hammer skill's power was no.1 among all his Extraordinary Combat Skills.

When Rein gripped his pig head hammer again, a special feeling dawned on him.

This sensation was not the familiarity of the proficient level, but rather a deeper connection to the essence of the weapon.

"Thud!!!"

The hammer crashed down again!

This time, the Scaled Whisker Ironback Turtle looked terrified and desperately bolted into the sea, because its yellow shield trembled violently under the hammer's blow, on the verge of collapsing!

-----------------

One day earlier.

Outside an interrogation room at Meister County Prison.

An informant was reporting to Magis about the situation concerning a prisoner:

"The man's name is Ville, originally a bandit who roamed the Wild Wolf Hills. A few days ago, he got drunk in Old John's bar in County Town, got into a fight, and was reported by someone. After the County Town patrol verified the complaint, he was brought here," the confidant reported.

"He was initially set to be executed by hanging, but since you said to investigate the hideout through various channels last time, we planted informants among the prison inmates," the confidant continued.

"After learning this, he claimed to have crucial information to report!"

"We've provisionally examined it and it seems legit. Also, the guy proposes that if his information is true, he wants his freedom. I can't make that decision on my own, so you need to come in person, sir," the confidant added.

"Hmm, well done," Magis patted the confidant's shoulder.