The air thrummed with tension the moment the first Taurox bellowed. Its roar shook the undergrowth, a deep, primal sound that made the forest itself seem to flinch. Five hulking beasts stood before them—massive, bull-like creatures with shoulders as broad as boulders, thick hides like tempered leather, and twisted horns that gleamed like polished ivory. Their nostrils flared in unison, hot breath rising in plumes.
Omina didn't hesitate. "Yoshiya—buffs!" she barked.
"On it!" His voice cut through the tension like steel. He raised his staff, mana pulsing. "Blessing! Protect!" A faint glow wrapped around Omina's limbs, amplifying her speed and reinforcing her armor. A translucent barrier shimmered briefly before sinking into her figure like a second skin.
The lead Taurox pawed the ground—then charged.
The world blurred. Trees snapped like twigs under its rush, roots tore free, and a storm of dust rose in its wake. Omina launched herself sideways in a fluid roll, her boots digging into soft earth as the beast thundered past, barely missing her by inches. The shockwave of its passing alone was enough to rattle her bones.
Before it could turn, she dashed forward—blade drawn in a silver arc—and slashed at its flank. Sparks exploded off its hide. "Tch—hard as stone," she hissed, springing back before the beast's tail could whip around.
The other four joined in, splitting like wolves around prey. Trees fell in a domino of splintered trunks as they tried to corner her. But Omina was faster. She darted between roots and boulders, twisting through narrow gaps, forcing the Taurox to crash into obstacles one after another. Yoshiya trailed behind, not to fight—but to anchor. His staff rose and fell in a relentless rhythm.
"Barrier!"
"Protect!"
"Heal!"
Each word sent waves of light washing over her. Whenever a horn grazed her or a flying splinter cut through her side, warm magic sealed the wound in seconds.
One Taurox charged from the left. Another came head-on. She sprinted toward a cluster of trees, then suddenly leapt, twisting her body mid-air. The two beasts collided with an explosive BOOM, their horns locking. The impact shook the clearing. Before they could disentangle, she landed lightly behind them and slashed at their hind legs—shallow cuts, but enough to enrage.
Yoshiya's heart pounded. They're too strong to brute force. We need to move. He glanced at the foothills of the nearby mountain, where jagged rocks jutted from the earth like teeth. "Omina! The rocks—draw them in!"
She didn't need more explanation. "Got it!" she called back, grinning fiercely.
She pivoted and sprinted toward the foothills. The Taurox herd followed like an avalanche, snorting and roaring, pulverizing everything in their path. Hit and run became her rhythm: dash in, slice at a joint or eye, then vanish before the counter. Every charge brought the herd closer to the rocky terrain.
The ground shifted beneath their hooves as dirt gave way to stone. Here, the beasts lost their natural advantage—their massive frames struggled for traction, hooves clattering on uneven surfaces. Omina seized the moment.
She sprinted up a sloping boulder and flipped over the lead Taurox's head as it charged. Its horns gouged deep into the rock, shattering chunks. She landed behind it and slashed at the base of its neck—a clean strike that finally left a shallow but visible wound.
"Nice!" Yoshiya shouted. "Barrier—refresh!" Another shimmering dome flared around her just in time to deflect debris from the Taurox's thrashing.
The herd fanned out, but the terrain cramped their movement. Two of them tried to flank her on the incline, but their own charges sent them colliding against stone outcroppings, horns cracking rock and shaking the slope. She rolled aside, dust coating her armor, eyes sharp.
Another came straight at her, faster than the rest—a bull twice her height, muscles rippling under thick hide. Omina crouched low, blade poised. "Alright, big guy…"
It charged.
She didn't meet its strength head-on. She sidestepped at the last heartbeat, letting it ram headlong into a massive boulder behind her. The impact split the stone clean in half, fragments raining down. As it staggered, she jumped onto its back, using its horns as leverage. Her sword plunged down between its shoulder blades—but again, its hide was like armor. She gritted her teeth, forcing the blade deeper inch by inch.
The Taurox bucked violently. She was flung off, tumbling across the rocks. Pain flared down her side. "Omina!" Yoshiya shouted, staff glowing. "Heal!"
Warmth surged through her body as broken bruises stitched themselves back together. She coughed, rolled to her feet, and sprinted just in time to avoid another horn swipe.
All five Taurox regrouped, forming a loose semicircle. Dust swirled. Their eyes glinted with savage intelligence now—no more blind chasing. They pawed the rocky ground in unison.
"Yoshiya," she said, panting but grinning, "this is getting fun."
He gave a tight smile, sweat on his brow from constant casting. "Your definition of fun is terrifying."
The largest of the herd lowered its head. The others followed suit. Omina tightened her grip on her blade, heartbeat syncing with their stomps.
Then they charged all at once.
The ground quaked. Dust exploded upward like a curtain. Omina ran straight toward them—then dove to the side at the last second. The Taurox plowed through the narrow pass between two rock formations. Their combined momentum shattered the natural pillars, leaving them disoriented and stumbling. She pounced on the lagging one, slashing at its hindquarters in a blur.
Yoshiya extended his staff. "Barrier—fortify!" A barrier flickered briefly across the rocky pass, forcing the Taurox to split and funnel themselves into awkward angles. One tripped against jagged rocks; another skidded and smashed into its ally.
The fight became a maelstrom of motion—Omina weaving through stone and horn, Yoshiya keeping her alive by a hair's breadth. Blow after blow chipped at their defenses, her sword finally leaving visible lines across thick hides. But their endurance was monstrous. Each time one staggered, it came back swinging harder.
A Taurox slammed into a boulder near her; the shockwave launched her backward. She landed hard, breath knocked out. Another beast lunged. Yoshiya slammed his staff into the ground, shouting, "Barrier!!"
The magical wall exploded into place just as the horns hit. The barrier shattered, but the impact was blunted, giving her the split-second she needed to roll away.
Dust, roars, magic, and steel blended into one relentless storm. There were no pauses now. Only instinct, movement, and survival.
---
By the time the sun began to dip toward late afternoon, the rocky foothills were littered with broken stone and horn marks. The Taurox herd was still standing—bloodied, enraged, but very much alive.
Omina stood on a jagged ledge, sword drawn, chest heaving. Yoshiya behind her, staff glowing faintly, face pale from mana drain.
The five beasts stalked closer, encircling them again—but this time, their escape routes were gone. The circle was tight. Their horns lowered.
Surrounded.
Outnumbered.
No way out but through.
Omina cracked her neck and grinned. "Round two?"
Yoshiya lifted his staff. "Always."
The Taurox roared as one, the sound rolling across the mountainside like thunder.