radicalducati Page 329
Page 329
After another loud bang, the second sentry was also reduced to fragments.
However, because both sentries carried warning bells, the bells still rang, alerting the people in the cave, even though they didn't report the danger immediately.
Hearing the increasingly noisy sounds coming from the cave, Shalltear's lips curled into an elegant yet cruel smile, and her eyes glowed red.
Logically speaking, she shouldn't have taken such a high-profile action.
This could give the people inside time to prepare, or allow them to escape.
Instead, they should use silence magic to eliminate the sound so that the people inside won't be on guard, or use invisibility to sneak over, or use deception to control the sentries and launch a coordinated attack from the inside.
In short, a direct, head-on attack is the least desirable tactic.
However, since the former bandit leader who had just turned into a vampire fragment said there was only one entrance and exit, Shalltear, with a sense of contempt, thought that it would be fine to force their way in.
Moreover, she had heard Lord Nidhogg say that stealth was simply a matter of killing everyone who saw you to make it a successful stealth.
Being a fool, she obviously couldn't imagine that even if a minor leader did have a secret passage, he wouldn't be qualified to know about such things.
If she's approaching it casually and lacks the ability to identify enemies, she'll obviously suffer in this regard.
Fortunately, her anxiety to complete the task has made her quite serious now.
"You climb up the nearby tree to keep watch, and you guard the cave entrance to prevent anyone from escaping."
Before the two vampires could respond, Shalltear rushed into the cave entrance impatiently.
Just as I reached the doorway, I felt the ground suddenly collapse as my feet slipped and the entire area caved in.
As the stronghold of a medium-sized mercenary group with more than seventy members, it's impossible to just leave it with only two sentries and ignore it.
This seemingly loose posture was meant to mislead the enemy, as was the chaotic commotion inside.
The purpose was to make the attackers think that the people in the camp were not vigilant at all, thus making them lower their guard and fall into the trap located at the camp gate.
But how could such a simple trap possibly be a match for Shalltear?
She's not very bright, but that's because in most cases, she can get by by sheer brute force without using her brain.
Although she lost her footing, her explosive power allowed her to use the momentum in an instant to get away from the trap.
"What a bunch of unlovable little mice, always digging holes everywhere, Arlins~"
Shalltear's lips curled down slightly, and a hint of displeasure flashed in her eyes. Although she hadn't fallen into the trap, just stepping on it made her feel insulted.
Now that they've come to us, why don't they just obediently gather together and reduce their workload?
Why don't these mere maggots of humanity act according to the wishes of Shalltear, the Guardian of Nazarick?
Thinking about this, Shalltear felt increasingly unhappy.
"If there are no targets that satisfy me, I'll just chop them all into pieces and feed them to my lovely kin."
Thinking of the other person's tragic death, Shalltear's mood improved somewhat, and she walked gracefully into the cave.
What was originally just a chaotic commotion was suddenly filled with many real screams.
Meanwhile, Brian, who was tending to his hard-won longsword in his room, heard screams and sounds of fleeing coming from inside the cave and decided to go out and see what was going on...
A sea of corpses and blood.
No, it should be said that there were only small hills of scattered corpse fragments, but no sea of blood.
Because all the blood seemed to be alive, it gathered on the top of the monster's head, forming a demonic blood sphere.
"Tsk... I've never seen magic like this before. Is it a magic caster...?"
Even Brian, who had been on the battlefield, felt that the scene before him was a bit too horrific.
However, he was not afraid of it.
Although he joined this mercenary group, it didn't mean he recognized its strength. He simply joined a mercenary group randomly to hone his combat skills.
In fact, even the leader of the mercenary group was just a barely passable rookie in his eyes.
The other members were just a bunch of lackeys.
Such a weakling would be nothing more than easy prey when facing a powerful enemy, no matter how many came. In his eyes, it was nothing out of the ordinary. He was capable of wiping out an entire mercenary group.
And without a doubt, he is different from the weak!
He is a strong man!
"Hmm, I should say it's the faith-based magic chanter Arlins, who worships vampires and the god-ancestor Cain Abel."
Looking at Brian, whose demeanor was unlike any of the bandits she had previously dismembered, Shalltear answered his questions with great interest.
However, judging from her casual attitude, it is clear that her so-called faith is just lip service.
"Cain Abel of the gods... I've never heard of him. He probably is some unknown evil god. Whatever..."
Brian crouched with his front foot and pushed off the ground with his hind foot, assuming a posture of gathering power by shrinking the ground. At the same time, he began to exert force with the hand gripping the hilt of his sword, facing Shalltear in a posture similar to the Iaijutsu.
"Bryan Angraus".
Although the opponent looks like a slender little girl who seems like she could be broken with little effort, it is only natural to be two-faced when facing a monster.
Furthermore, although faith-based magic chanters are classified as magic chanters, they actually also have professions like priests who are skilled in melee combat.
Judging from the opponent's performance, he was able to kill so many mercenaries single-handedly. Although they were all small fry, he was undoubtedly a formidable enemy.
Facing a formidable enemy, he announced his name.
"So you're Brian Anglaus! That's wonderful that you've come to me of your own accord!"
His response was one of amazement, like a little girl receiving a birthday surprise, which almost made Brian think the other person was his admirer.
"Then, please use your so-called martial arts skills to show me."
Shalltear clasped her hands together as if making a plea, but her tone was more like someone holding a cat treat and telling a kitten that can do a backflip, "Please perform for me, and I'll reward you!" This made Brian feel a little uncomfortable.
I feel looked down upon.
The thought flashed through Brian's mind.
Although he disliked that arrogant attitude, it was exactly what he wanted.
He used this arrogant mentality on many occasions to defeat monsters stronger than himself.
As for temporary unpleasantness—
Just a casual remark before the other person is about to die is enough to make those unpleasant feelings return to them tenfold.
Thinking this, Brian slowly exhaled, becoming even more focused, but said aloud:
"Heh, there's no need to use martial arts to deal with a little girl like you."
This is a lie used to deceive the enemy.
In fact, Brian was completely focused at this moment, reaching a state where his consciousness could clearly perceive the surrounding sounds, air, and sensations.
This is precisely his unique martial art – the Domain.
Furthermore, before leaving the house, he had already used potions and magical items to enhance himself, so he was undoubtedly in his strongest state at this moment.
If it were someone like Cocytus, a master of weaponry, they might be able to sense the difference in Brian's demeanor and the atmosphere around him, thus concluding that he might have used martial arts techniques.
However, for Shalltear, who is not very bright, even if a knife cuts her, she probably wouldn't be able to tell whether the other person used martial arts techniques.
After all, for her, losing ten drops of blood, twenty drops, or fifty drops makes no real difference.
It's just a minor scratch anyway.
"Eh... I see." Shalltear blinked. "Is it because you can't see the difference between us? Then let me humiliate you first."
"After all, although I've heard that you can use martial arts, there's no evidence to prove it... Let me confirm it properly!"
"You should be almost ready by now."
Brian didn't respond, but maintained his deep breathing, because even when he was highly focused, speaking was a burden.
That would render all the previous efforts of holding one's breath and concentrating useless.
"—Alright, let's begin!"
Shalltear shrugged at Brian, who remained silent, and then walked forward with a light step, looking completely unguarded. It was more like she was going on a picnic in the countryside than to fight.
This attitude is a complete disregard for what is being done...
Brian couldn't help but complain in his heart, but he only thought it to himself and didn't say anything to disrupt his breathing.
In this world, humans are by no means the main characters.
They lack special abilities such as claws, hard skin, and night vision. Their physical abilities are weaker than those of other races, and they are not even outstanding among humans as a whole. They can be said to be the most mediocre race.
Even their lifespan is among the shorter ones.
Humans of the same level are nothing more than moving pieces of meat in the eyes of other races, and are very easy to capture.
Perfect timing! Let me show you just how capable the humans you look down on really are!
Brian counted Shalltear's steps in his mind, waiting for the moment she stepped into his domain, and for her to be instantly attacked in a vital spot, revealing surprise, despair, and anger in her eyes.
There are three steps and two steps left.
……step.
The next second—
—I'll take your head!
Brian, having uttered those harsh words in his mind, unleashed his pent-up energy in an instant, transforming it into a blinding blade of light that slashed straight towards Shalltear's neck.
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Two Fingers That Couldn't Be Bending with Two Hands
laugh--
The air was sliced through by the sharp blade, producing a piercing, ear-piercing sound.
If we had to describe the speed of this move, only lightning would be the most fitting word.
The moment I saw the light, my head was already off.
It takes millions of hours of practice to reach a level that can be described as godlike!
If a weapon can kill a creature by hitting its vital points, then all that matters is the skill of hitting those vital points.