The formation was set, each class standing in positions chosen after much deliberation.
Melee dealers were placed among ranged ones, while squads made up solely of knights stood on the flanks.
This was no crude formation with ranged simply in the back and melee upfront.
Everyone took positions to maximize stability and enable strategic action in various situations.
I was no exception.
Tight.
My position was right in front of the stone gate.
And notably, no comrades surrounded me.
Which meant only one thing.
“……”
From now on, I alone must withstand that beast.
Of course, that didn’t mean I was displeased.
I agreed this was the best method.
[Grrr……]
The beast from the story appeared between the stone gates, letting out a low growl, scanning me with its gaze.
Well, it might find it strange to face a single person standing there with just a shield.
‘Eyeing me.’
Maybe because it was my first time facing a first-grade monster?
I tensed up without realizing it, my joints stiffening.
But the stronger the enemy, the more the barbarian’s fighting spirit flares.
Tight.
I clenched the shield tightly and looked up at the creature.
Its body was twice as large as mine, even in my [Giant Form].
Considering it was a quadruped, it was effectively several times bigger.
On top of that colossal body were three tails with red fur and eyes that looked like they belonged in mythology, surrounded by a dark red mist, exuding a mystical aura.
So what of it?
“Well, haven’t you seen a barbarian before?”
It tilted its head slightly, like a dog hearing human speech.
It was the perfect moment to begin the battle.
“Behel–Raaaaaaaaa!!”
With a battle cry, I swung with all my might.
Thud–!
I struck its snout full power, but the beast didn’t even twitch, as if it were merely tickled.
Still, did my first strike count?
“……!”
It was impossible to follow with the naked eye.
When I regained focus, its massive jaws were clamping down on my shield, biting up and down.
Surprisingly, laughter escaped me despite the shock.
Normally, a shield caught in those jaws would have turned to scrap.
But mine was different.
‘It’s indestructible, damn it.’
No matter the first-grade monster, it couldn’t break a shield with the “indestructible” option stamped on it.
The problem was, I was weaker in strength.
‘Oh? Damn…!’
The beast bit the shield and lifted me up, shaking its head wildly.
I felt like I was going to get motion sickness, but letting go of the shield here would be madness, so I held on as hard as I could.
Fortunately, reinforcements arrived soon after.
[Gahwyn Vesillus casts the first-grade offensive spell [Orb of Cataclysm].]
The expedition’s chief mage gathered magic power from dozens of mages to complete a first-grade offensive spell.
————!
A flash lit up, and when I came to, I was rolling awkwardly on the ground.
I quickly got up and checked the center of the battlefield, seeing the beast badly injured.
[Groooooo–!!]
Its hind leg was hit, fur burned off, limping badly.
But I was perfectly fine.
Sure, it was a first-grade spell detonated right beside me…
But unlike in the Bloodred Fortress, I wasn’t turned into raw meat.
[The damage was dealt by a bonded ally.]
[The Light of Trust protects the character from said damage.]
I had already cast a bonding spell with the old mage.
That’s why my “trust” stat was 12.
Not taking damage from allies was an enormous advantage in this world.
‘They need to gather magic and chant again, so the next bombardment will be in about 3 minutes.’
From now on, everyone had plenty to do.
Three minutes isn’t short when fighting a first-grade monster.
[Kashan casts [Sammyan].]
Its three tails spread wide, the eyes on their tips opening big.
And then…
Pew! Pew! Pew-!
Like a railgun from a movie, beams shot out.
‘Left tail curses magic damage, right tail lowers defense against physical damage, center tail summons token mobs with mixed damage.’
Recalling the effects of each tail, I blocked the beams as best I could.
[Defense successful.]
[Aegis Barrier absorbs all damage.]
[Defense successful.]
[Aegis Barrier absorbs all damage.]
[Defense successful.]
[Aegis Barrier absorbs all dam…]
Normally, it was a skill that struck indiscriminately, but maybe due to high threat, all attacks targeted me.
However…
[Character loses balance.]
While I was blocking well, suddenly my foot slipped, losing my stance.
The beam struck my body, exploiting the gap.
Fortunately, it wasn’t serious…
[All damage received by character is increased by 10%.]
That was the defense-lowering tail, right?
I couldn’t let the stacks get too high.
‘Damn luck.’
Normally, I wouldn’t have made such a mistake.
But I don’t blame myself.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a mistake but an effect of its skill.
The [Ominous Prophecy] fixed my luck stat * Novelight * (Continue reading) at -200.
In this aura, countless such things happen during battle.
Like this.
[Evasion failed.]
A blow I thought I dodged pierced me.
[Critical hit.]
[Damage taken by character is greatly increased.]
My arm went numb from a blow that could’ve broken joints.
Meanwhile…
[Kashan casts [Life Leech].]
Translucent red threads drew from the bodies of all expedition members in the library, connecting them to Kashan.
Its only healing skill.
With over 200 people inside, its injuries healed quickly, but since we knew how to counter it, it wasn’t a big problem.
Fortunately, 80% of our melee were knights.
“Cut the threads!”
“Use your auras!”
As soon as the threads appeared, knights placed around swiftly sliced them, interrupting the healing.
Normally, the threads took half a dozen hits to cut, but in front of an aura with 90% physical and magic resistance ignore, they were instantly severed.
‘Okay, healing interrupted.’
There was a cooldown, so about two minutes remained before it could heal again.
“Charge!!”
At the commander’s order, dozens of knights drew swords and charged the beast.
Still, after over a week of fighting and living together…
The fear that it might suddenly turn on us remained, but somehow, I secretly hoped.
“Nia Lapdonia…!”
I hoped many would survive.
Screech, thud-! Ka-bang-!
The knights’ auras ensured reliable damage, while ranged dealers with firepower worthy of expedition membership tore Kashan’s hide apart in real time.
This was a strategy impossible under normal circumstances.
First-grade monsters require insanely high threat levels.
‘If threat level exceeds 500, all monsters prioritize attacking the wearer.’
Without the ‘Aegis Barrier’ effect with this trait, knights would have been shredded by its teeth and claws by now.
‘Still, the firepower’s good. They might have beaten it even without me.’
Ah, after losing about a hundred men, that is.
How many lives did I save just by being here?
I hope the commander recognizes my contribution–
[Kashan casts [Flame of Doom].]
Then, red shadows began to spread on the ground.
The second most dangerous thing we judged in preparation.
“Evacuate immediately!!”
The deputy commander playing operator screamed at the top of his lungs.
Ka-bang-!
A pillar of flame shot up from the area where the shadow had appeared for about a second.
It was almost an instant-wide area attack.
‘That’s where Raven is…’
In a dizzy moment, I turned my head to check and saw Raven being dragged out by Ainard’s collar through fleeing panicked mages.
‘Phew… safe.’
But it was too early to be completely relieved.
[Flame of Doom] had follow-up hits.
“Mages, set up protective barriers!”
The deputy commander’s order was immediately followed by mages activating protective wards.
Unlike the first hit, the follow-up had much less damage and could be blocked by wards…
Swoosh–!
Barriers formed around the fiery pillar’s base one after another.
And then…
Tudududududu–
Dodging the rain of fire, rear forces rushed into the barriers.
But unfortunately, some failed to evacuate.
“No, no…!”
“…Aaaah!”
A mage and the archer assigned to aid his evacuation were engulfed by the fire rain and melted away.
Seeing their deaths, a knight grit his teeth and shouted.
“Elton Passior from Squad 2, Quilcon Vetlrun from Squad 3, and two more warriors!”
In any situation, battle reports come first in a soldier’s mind.
‘I need to focus too.’
First-grade monsters’ skills should be considered instant death.
Even a beam from [Sammyan] would kill a dealer in one hit.
If I don’t do my job well, people will die.
So…
“Behel–Raaaaaaaaa!!”
I cast [Wild Surge], raising my threat once more, then clung tightly to the beast.
Time passed.
“The chant is complete!”
“Squads, all fall back!”
As the magic finished, the knights who had surrounded me all stepped back.
Then once again–
————–!
The first-grade magic hit the beast’s body squarely.
Was this time a more lethal spot?
[Kashan casts [Flame of Doom].]
At the same time the beast used another area attack–
[Kashan casts [Death Sentence].]
It unleashed a new skill.
The one we had judged most dangerous during simulations.
[Death Sentence].
It sounds like an instant death skill, but strictly speaking, it isn’t.
It’s just very similar.
[The next damage dealt increases greatly in proportion to the luck stat.]
Damage amplification depending on luck.
‘[Death Sentence] damage amplification is 200% per 10 luck.’
Exactly the essence of a first-grade monster.
But the problem here was Kashan’s base luck stat.
According to extensive research, Kashan’s luck is about 500.
Which means…
‘10,000%.’
If hit, you’re basically dead.
A first-grade monster’s normal attack can kill even high-ranking knights in one or two hits.
Even I, with high physical resistance, would have my bones broken if I failed to block it.
Of course, if I properly ‘guard’ with my shield, I’d take no damage…
[Defense successful.]
[Aegis Barrier absorbs all damage.]
The problem is, it all depends on luck.
‘Phew…’
Fortunately, I successfully blocked the first [Death Sentence].
But maybe because I knew there was no guarantee it would happen next time?
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
My heart pounded and suddenly my legs weakened.
Forcing strength into them, I calculated how many times were left.
‘Three to four.’
If I can take it down quickly, three.
If slower, four.
The number of [Death Sentence] attacks I must endure.
‘Can I block them all properly?’
I chuckled to myself.
Whether I block them or not wasn’t the point.
Even if I fail, I’ll endure.
Even if my limbs are torn off, my insides burst, I’ll stand and fight.
Then it’s all solved.
[Kashan casts [Life Leech].]
Thus, a large-scale battle like I had never experienced before continued.
Everyone did their best in their roles.
[Kashan casts [Flame of Doom].]
Flame pillars soared again, reports of casualties came in, and the only consolation was that my comrades’ names were not among the dead.
[Gahwyn Vesillus casts the first-grade offensive spell [Orb of Cataclysm].]
For the third time, the spell struck its head.
True to its rank, the monster still moved stubbornly, glaring at me.
[Defense successful.]
[Aegis Barrier absorbs all damage.]
I was lucky to block the second [Death Sentence].
[Kashan casts [Cross of Fate].]
The beast cast a skill used when its HP fell below 50%.
Pew! Pew! Pew!
Even then, beams from its tails kept flying toward me, occasionally piercing my defenses.
Damage increased, curses stacked.
[The plague wolves charge the area with the highest density.]
Token monsters were summoned.
Meanwhile, [Flame of Doom] exploded at my position.
With it charging, evasion was impossible.
[Character’s HP is below 20%.]
[Passive skill [Path of the Hero] raises all resistances and defenses.]
My body felt like melting, but I didn’t actually melt.
Flesh was seared and torn, organs cooked, breathing was difficult, but thanks to magic resistance, I avoided instant death.
And so, I wouldn’t fall.
Swoosh–!
Receiving the priest’s heal, I gripped my shield and stepped forward.
And then–
[Kashan casts [Death Sentence].]
The third [Death Sentence] was cast at a perfect moment.
“……”
Time seemed to slow, my mind accelerated.
Only one question filled my head.
‘In this state.’
Could I survive getting hit by that?
I asked myself and the answer was simple.
No, I couldn’t survive.
Like 1 plus 1 equals 2 — such obvious cause and effect.
The moment I realized it, my vision whitened.
But time never stopped.
[Defense successful.]
[Aegis Barrier absorbs all damage.]
The beast’s swung paw slammed down on my shield.
Truly, I blocked it properly without suddenly falling or such mishaps…
“……”
It didn’t feel real.
Did I really, truly survive?
“Kuh-uck…!”
Oxygen flowed through my open mouth.
I must have unconsciously forgotten to breathe.
Taking a deep breath at once, my still-burning lungs felt like they were on fire.
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
Even so, my heart pounded wildly.
And then–
“Elwen Fornaci di Tersia summons [Dark Spirit King Dichloe].”
A familiar dark orb began firing wildly.
The moment for the expedition to unleash their concentrated firepower had finally come…
‘Yeah, with this condition, we can probably finish it before the fourth one–.’
Variables always come unexpectedly.
“Uh…?”
Suddenly, my foot slipped as if I stepped on something slippery, sliding forward.
[Character trips over foot and falls.]
When I came to, the only thing before me was–
Not the towering library ceiling, but the beast’s jaws, poised to strike.
Crunch, crunch.
The sound of the beast chewing my head whole.
Huge teeth scraping against my skull.
Hearing that, I thought–
‘That’s unexpected.’
My senses were sharp, but I didn’t feel much pain.
[Character has sustained serious brain damage.]
[Character falls unconscious.]
That was my last memory.
“Elwen Fornaci di Tersia casts [Focused Shot].”
“Kashan has been defeated. EXP +9.”
“Achievement unlocked.”
Condition: First first-grade monster defeated.
Reward: Soul power permanently increases by +10.
“Record viewing privileges granted to the top contributor.”
“The hidden First Expeditionary Record Archive has been revealed.”
“Character is recovering.”
“Character is recovering.”
“Character is recovering.”
“Character is recov…”
“……”
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