"Let's just hit 'em! We'll break through!" Rasie interjected with a smirk, her hand already itching to grip the hilt of her sword. "Use all your skills... except for this purple-haired guy, he can just watch."
This woman is unbelievable... Fyar could only stare at Rasie with an expression of disbelief.
Zaefal sighed, massaging his temples. "Don't be reckless, Rasie," he said, his voice sounding tired. "We have to save our energy for the boss. Besides, we don't know how many of them are really there. It's too risky."
"I agree with Zaefal," Illya added gently.
"Tch," Rasie hissed, looking away.
"The book said they usually travel in packs of up to fifteen," Fyar explained calmly, trying to bring logic into the discussion. "If we attack directly... it's a waste of energy. It's not efficient."
"Enough with the theories, purple hair!" Rasie snapped, losing her patience. The smile on her face now looked mocking. "Hurry up, what's your plan?!"
So annoying, Fyar cursed in his heart, his jaw tightening slightly.
"Well?" Zaefal prompted, his eyes on Fyar, waiting for the rest of the explanation.
Fyar looked at his companions in turn, then asked hesitantly, "It would be more efficient if we didn't kill them and just passed by; it would save magic for stronger enemies."
"You want us to just walk past them and ignore the corpses lying there?" Zaefal raised an eyebrow.
Fyar nodded.
A sudden silence fell over the group.
Rasie, who had been leaning against the hill, immediately stood up straight and took a step forward. "Are you crazy?! Where is your brain, purple hair?!" she shouted, her face red with anger. "To hell with efficiency! Those are people, you idiot! They deserve a proper burial!"
"Fyar... Rasie is right," Illya chimed in, her voice soft. "Those are human beings. Try to think of their families waiting for them at home. Waiting for news..."
So they're still normal. Thank goodness. Fyar could understand their reaction. He felt a little ashamed of his own question.
Fyar bowed his head slightly. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "You're right. I... forgot about that. Thanks for reminding me."
Illya gave a small nod, her gaze softening. Rasie was still visibly upset, but she remained silent.
Zaefal sighed. "So, do you have a plan to kill them?"
Fyar lifted his head, a faint smile on his lips. He raised his pistol. "Of course I do." He turned to Illya. "But I might trouble you a little, Illya."
Illya tilted her head. "Mmm?"
Fyar then looked at Rasie. "You too, Rasie."
"Heeh? If the plan is interesting, I'll do it," Rasie replied, the smile that had vanished now returning to her face.
Fyar then laid out his plan. Their reactions were varied. Rasie roared with laughter, while Illya looked at Fyar with concern. "Are you sure, Fyar? Isn't this... quite risky?"
Fyar just shook his head. "It's safe."
Zaefal patted Illya's shoulder gently. "Trust him, Illya."
They immediately got into their respective positions. Illya was at the top of the highest hill, Fyar descended alone into the valley, while Rasie and Zaefal hid on the right and left sides of the hill.
Fyar walked slowly down the slope, his eyes focused as he aimed at the pack of foxes that were tearing apart the corpses in front of him.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Three gunshots shattered the silence. Three bullets hit three different monsters in the stomach. As Fyar expected, they didn't go down immediately; they were only lightly wounded and growled in anger. All the foxes now stared at Fyar with savage gazes.
They're not charging right away. They're waiting for their companions to come out first so they can attack all at once. Heh, cowardly monsters. Fyar chuckled, then resumed shooting at the pack's bellies.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
One by one, the foxes that were hiding among the giant mushrooms began to emerge, until their numbers now reached fourteen. They sniffed the air, making sure that Fyar was indeed alone. Thanks to Illya's magic, Rasie and Zaefal's presence would not be detected for the next two minutes.
The pack of foxes finally began to run toward Fyar at high speed. The sound of their heavy paws pounding on the pink grass sounded like an approaching rumble.
Fyar stood his ground, aiming and firing his pistol rapidly, this time targeting their eyes.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Two foxes fell to the ground instantly, and another was blinded in one eye. However, the blind fox and the other eleven continued to charge toward him. A cold sweat began to form on Fyar's temple as he watched the twelve horrifying monsters ready to tear him apart.
When the distance between them was short enough, Fyar shouted, "Now, Illya! Zaefal, Rasie!"
"Teleport!" Illya yelled from the top of the hill. Instantly, Fyar vanished from the valley and reappeared beside Illya.
"Neni!" Illya shouted again. From the ground below, a thick stone wall erupted, splitting the twelve foxes into two groups of six. Along the wall, six sharp stone spears shot out, impaling the bodies of the foxes and pinning them in place. After casting two major spells, Illya immediately collapsed, exhausted and gasping for breath.
Rasie and Zaefal appeared from both sides. Rasie leaped from the top of the slope. "Fire!" Her sword was instantly engulfed in flames. She landed in the middle of the six pinned foxes and immediately moved. Her fiery blade danced, slashing necks, piercing hearts, and cutting through the monsters' bodies in a series of fast and brutal movements.
On the other side, Zaefal ran toward the remaining six foxes. "Void," he said coldly. His purple sword was cloaked in a dark aura. His movements were calmer than Rasie's, yet far more deadly. Each of his slashes not only left a wound but also absorbed the life from the monsters, causing them to wither and crumble into black dust.