The wraith who was more experienced seem to atleast be more aware of the light and how to deal with. The wraith took a step in front of the young ghoul and took the blast solely with its sword.
The light I had unleashed seemed to bend around the sword as if it would wrap around them. However upon getting closer, the light faded.
If they didn't think I was a threat before, they should atleast know their mistake now. Not to mention, while some adventurers had holy spells, I doubt any other adventurers were able to craft holy swords. With them believing Devin is dead, they are also unlikely to suggest any deals.
I unsheathed the two short swords from my side and prepared myself for a fight. The blades of light I can produce with these are less than the larger sword, but fighting with two short swords has always been more comfortable for myself.
The wraith lowered its sword. At the same time the young ghoul raised her arms and a mist began to form around the entire area.
If they broke vision from me, I wouldn't know whether they were going to run away or attack me outside of my vision. Normally, I would think that they are aiming to escape, especially since I already killed a wraith, regardless of how new it was.
The only issue was that the wraiths have a higher intelligence. They had just formed these patrols and they wouldn't want other humans to know about the ambushes that waited in the forest. Had I not come accompanied by skeletons, they would've run. But with knowing this, would they still play it safe?
With the two of them beginning to fade from my vision, I began charging forward. At first, it looked like I could see an outline of their figures through the mist. However, I had also been channeling mana into my eyes since the moment the girl lifted her arms.
The figures in the mist were part of the illusion magic. While the girl continued to channel her magic and didn't move, the wraith had crept to my right side, opposite of where Devin sat.
What to do? I could act like I don't notice him at first, and react at the last minute. However even if I had the advantage of knowing, I would still have to make an effort to block or dodge his attack, thus taking no advantage from my knowledge.
If I acted on the wraith, he would notice I deviated from my original path and with one step, he would know I've seen through their magic.
I could also charge one sword with mana, and launch the attack at the girl, while using the other to block the incoming attack from the wraith. However, the wraith would likely notice me focusing mana and defend the girl, before going on the offensive. That was, afterall, what he did when I launched my first attack with the larger sword.
I did have one more advantage. The pair think that I am higher skill because I wielded a mana based attack. If I was going to do another ranged attack, they would expect it to be mana imbued. However, theres no rule saying I have to use mana. Theres also no reason that I have to follow rules of combat, such as never throwing your sword.
As the wraith drew closer, I threw my manaless sword in my left hand towards the position I believed the girl to be. I purposely threw it softer and slower. It would still be enough to kill the girl, but I wanted the wraith to have time to react to the sword.
As the wraith pivoted to change direction, so did I. Its eyes were no longer on me, and as it went to block the swords path, I arrived overshoulder the wraith.
I continued to ignore the use of mana, and swung my sword in a clean path across the wraith's neck.
My plan worked a lot better than I had expected. The sword I had thrown, cleanly stuck itself into both her jaw and neck. The head of the wraith rolled neatly nearby.
A smile crept on my face. I'd be the first person to use wraith materials in my crafting. I have no idea what the effects are, but its got to be good. No one in 40 years has been able to kill a wraith.
I could use the ghoul for materials...but keeping a rotting child's corpse in my apartment is a bit too much, even for a material enthusiast like myself. They were human at one point afterall.
I turned towards Devin, who continued to not move. He should be able to see now that the ghoul's fog is gone. He should be happy to have revenge for Mary, even if he wasn't the one to do it. However, he continued to sit motionless.
I'd experienced this despair once before. I think, although it was some time ago, Lily had told me when I first came to this world, I had barely moved for almost a week. Most kids end up upset when they're transported to this world without their parents.
I placed my fingers between Devin's jaw and his neckline.
He wasn't suffering through the despair that made someone wish for death, because he already had no pulse.
If you lived in a world with monsters, magic, and a very large tower, what would you really do?
Would you become the knight on a quest to conquer the tower and thus save the world?
Would you build a harem of women you'd never get in your old world?
Or, would you become a twisted blacksmith and hope to consume the world before it consumes you?
Comments (0)
See all