Chapter 19: The Rescuing Elf
The chase continued.
After they exited the range of his first cloud of fog, Rhodes repeated the trick, and a dense fog once again enveloped the swamp. Ordinary fire and water, of course, couldn't create such a thick fog; this was the result of Rhodes's magical enhancement. The side effect, however, was a rapid drain on his mana. After only three uses, he could feel his own mana reserves hitting rock bottom. It was a shame he hadn't taught the spell to Serie beforehand; with her mana pool, she could have cast it many more times.
"That's enough. I'll take it from here," Serie said, noticing the pale look on Rhodes's face. She stopped him just as he was about to cast the spell a fourth time. "We should be close. Once we're over that hill, we'll be at the edge of the swamp."
Rhodes had looked at the map before they set out, and they had already covered a good distance before the fighting began. They were indeed close to the swamp's edge. Of course, this was in no small part due to Miss Serie's violent method of clearing the path. Whenever a magical beast managed to get through the fog and block their way, she would either shoot it through the head with a single light arrow or unleash one of her light-pillar bomb spells, clearing out a path of scorched earth.
The sight of it left Somme, who was running behind them, completely dumbfounded. He now understood that in their previous spar, the elf had been holding back tremendously, using only the most basic of light arrows against him.
Just then, the ground began to tremble violently. A monster, three meters tall and covered in black scales, burst from the earth, blocking their path.
"A Scale-Fiend!?" Serie's expression changed drastically. "Somme, get Rhodes out of here!"
She had never expected to encounter such a creature in this swamp. This type of monster was a natural enemy to mages. The black scales covering its body could nullify most magic; even the highest-level elven spells would have difficulty killing it in one hit.
Serie's face turned grim. If they were held up by this Scale-Fiend, the massive horde of magical beasts behind them would surround them again, and they would truly be trapped. It was a pity Somme was so inexperienced. Otherwise, a pure warrior like him would have been the greatest asset in dealing with a monster like this.
They didn't have much time to hesitate. The Scale-Fiend roared and charged at them. Serie fired a volley of light arrows at it, but they were all absorbed by its scales.
Serie retreated, dodging the Scale-Fiend's attack, but it charged at her again. Fortunately, Somme managed to slam into it with a shoulder charge, knocking it off course.
"Didn't I tell you to get Rhodes out of here?" Serie asked, her expression one of extreme displeasure.
"I tried, but Mr. Rhodes wouldn't go," Somme replied, scratching his head innocently.
"I'm not leaving you alone."
Rhodes came to Serie's side with a grin. He had also noticed that Serie's attacks were being nullified by the monster's scales.
"Looks like a monster that specializes in anti-mage combat," Rhodes remarked. He hadn't expected to encounter such an unfair creature in this world.
"Yes. Their only weakness is their eyes, but only if you can hit them."
Even the Scale-Fiend's eyelids were covered in scales. You could aim for its eyes, but if it closed them, it could easily block the attack.
"I'll try to hold it and create an opportunity. You see if you can hit its eyes."
"How are you going to hold it?"
Rhodes didn't answer. Instead, he took a step forward. "Close your eyes!"
Then, a brilliant light erupted from his hand. Somme, who had been half a second too slow to close his eyes, felt a searing pain in his eyeballs. The blinding light forced even the Scale-Fiend to shut its eyes.
"Now!" Rhodes dismissed the spell and turned his head. "Somme, throw your axe! Use its skill!"
Somme managed to force his eyes open, and after pinpointing the Scale-Fiend's location, he threw his axe. The magical energy of the weapon was at its maximum. The moment it made contact with the Scale-Fiend's body, a deafening explosion ripped through the air.
The violent shockwave nearly knocked them off their feet. The diminutive Serie was thrown off balance, but Rhodes managed to catch her just in time. The Scale-Fiend was thrown backward by the explosion, the scales around its eyes shattered, revealing the soft skin and blood-red pupils beneath.
Seizing the opportunity, Serie leaped into the air, a spear of brilliant light condensing in her hands. The spear struck the Scale-Fiend's head with unerring accuracy, piercing through its skin and into its eyeball. But it wasn't enough to kill it.
Serie wanted to press the attack, but the tide of magical beasts was surging towards them from behind.
"Go!" Rhodes pulled Serie back, and the three of them made a desperate dash for the hill.
After scrambling over the hill and setting foot on solid ground, Somme collapsed. "We... we made it."
A hundred meters away was a sea of magical beasts, an endless horde. But for some reason, they showed no signs of leaving the swamp.
Rhodes gasped for breath, looking at the distant horde. "Why... why aren't they chasing us?"
Serie, also panting, looked on with confusion in her beautiful golden eyes. "I don't know. Perhaps they are unwilling to leave their territory in the swamp."
Rhodes shook his head. He didn't quite believe that. "These beasts should be under the control of the demons. They shouldn't have a concept of territory."
Serie was about to speak, but a commotion from within the horde drew their attention. The Scale-Fiend they had grievously wounded was roaring and charging towards them, the spear of light still sticking out of its eye, its head a bloody mess. It seemed completely unfazed by its injuries.
Seeing this, Rhodes quickly grabbed Serie's hand to flee again, but he couldn't move her.
"It's fine. It's the only one that came out."
Only the Scale-Fiend had left the swamp. The other magical beasts had all stopped at the edge, unmoving.
"I see." Rhodes raised his guard again, and Somme quickly grabbed his axe and got to his feet. It seemed Miss Serie didn't intend to run. A single, heavily injured monster… they should be able to handle it.
"It's much easier now that its armor is broken," Rhodes said.
As the Scale-Fiend charged at them, Serie first threw up a mana barrier to block its attack, then directed all of her spells at its head. In an instant, a large hole had been blown open in the monster's skull. An injury so severe would have killed any other magical beast, but the Scale-Fiend was still in a berserk rage.
This made Rhodes feel that something was wrong. Just as he was about to warn Serie, the Scale-Fiend suddenly changed direction and charged at him and Somme.
Rhodes quickly prepared to cast a spell, but before the monster could reach them, it was sent flying by a blast of sword energy. It tried to get up, but its attacker didn't give it the chance. Starting from the massive wound on its head, a single sword stroke split the Scale-Fiend's head in two.
After the monster had been completely dispatched, Rhodes finally got a clear look at their rescuer. It was an elf, dressed in the style of a warrior-monk.