POV: Narrator
The sword and the spine clashed—everyone heard the sound of metal striking metal, despite one of the weapons being biological in origin.
The longsword was the first to give way under the force of its opponent, forcing the Guild Master to step back.
Taking advantage of the opening, Chryssia swept her lance at him.
The Guild Master ducked to avoid the strike that could have taken his head clean off.
At that exact moment, several projectiles flew toward Chryssia, accompanied by the greatsword hunter who struck her in the back.
Even with Chryssia's formidable defenses, the greatsword managed to slice through her scales and flesh, leaving a bloody gash across her back.
Likewise, the projectiles hit her body—some embedded themselves in her flesh, others left only marks on her skin.
Chryssia had seen all these attacks coming, of course—but she hadn't wanted to lose the chance to take out the Guild Master, though in the end, she failed.
And speaking of the Guild Master, seeing a breach in his opponent's defenses—created both by her failed strike and the follow-up attacks from his allies—he didn't hesitate to slash with his weapon.
While Chryssia mentally noted every wound she'd received, she noticed the Guild Master making a move.
Before she could react, she received a massive slash across her abdomen.
Blood poured uncontrollably from the wound, the cut stretching from one side of her stomach to the other.
She staggered back a few steps, one hand pressing over the injury—and took the opportunity to strike the greatsword hunter in the leg with her tail.
Half the hunters stared at Chryssia, who despite clutching her wound, kept bleeding profusely. The other half focused on the hunter lying on the ground, screaming endlessly, his leg bent the wrong way.
POV: Chryssia
Why isn't it working? I wonder, looking down as a pool of blood begins to form at my feet.
The wound is severe, and I've already lost several liters of blood—but honestly, I don't care.
As long as I don't die, my regeneration can heal almost anything. I'm not sure if the Guild Master actually managed to cut my stomach open, but I'm not worried.
And the blood loss? Even less concerning—I'm about four meters tall, so logically I have more blood than three grown men combined.
Besides, my regeneration also speeds up my body's blood production.
What worries me is one simple thing:
Why do my abilities… feel weaker?
Sure, by gaining and merging skills I've been getting stronger—but I feel like I should be much stronger than I am now.
…Something's missing, and I don't know what it is.
I stop thinking about it and refocus on the fight—just in time to notice a female hunter attacking me with a charge blade.
I twist my body slightly to avoid the strike, but in the end, I retreat further to evade the elemental discharge.
At that moment, two dual-blade hunters attack me from the sides. I hit one in the ribs with my tail, and strike at the other with my lance—
—but he dodges by sliding along the ground, managing to slash my leg.
Unfortunately for him, it doesn't stop me from kicking him like a soccer ball, sending him flying and breaking a few ribs in the process.
I step back further so the Guild Master can't reach me, and I set my sights on another group of hunters—deciding to test something.
A sword-and-shield hunter attacks as I reach the next group, slamming his shield against me. I counter with a knee to break his guard, then thrust my lance into his head.
I hear his neck snap, and I ignore the sound.
Another hunter yells in rage and charges me—but before he reaches me, there's a small explosion at his side.
The blast throws him off balance, but doesn't injure him. I hear the other hunters shouting something, but I can't make out the words.
I understood what happened, but not how. I had used [Potent Gunpowder Creation] with [Cloud], so the explosion must have been caused by my skill—
—but what triggered it?
I focus on the charging hunter again, specifically on his belt, and I see it.
A small device like a lighter—just a metal wheel and a flint. The wheel spun every few seconds, producing a spark.
The damn thing was nearly silent, and the hunters had brought some kind of old-fashioned lanterns with them, so the sparks didn't stand out.
Then I remembered—the last time I fought hunters in the Ancient Forest, I'd used my gunpowder explosions to escape. So now they knew what to expect.
How the hell could they make something like that with their level of technology? …Right, this is the same world where charge blades and switch axes exist. In hindsight, it's not that surprising.
I activate [Thunder Core], covering my hands in lightning, and slash at the hunter with both hands. He can't block either strike, so I leave a massive wound across his abdomen—one that doesn't bleed because I cauterized it with my lightning.
Before he can hit the ground, I kick him toward a bowgunner who was aiming at me.
I keep using [Potent Gunpowder Creation]. I can't wipe them out with one huge explosion like I planned, but at least I can hinder their movements.
I leap backward, slam into a female hunter behind me, then spin my lance in a wide arc around my body, driving back three more hunters.
I look around—and see over thirty hunters still charging at me or aiming their weapons.
"This is going to be a long night."