Volume 3 Chapter 22 Clay's Determination
Clay was strategizing in front of Windy.
After all, the opponent was a Silver-rank adventurer. Sword, bow, and torch, a veteran among veterans.
Moreover, in terms of age, they were probably just slightly younger than Alex. Normally, they would belong to the younger age group.
So, this rank means exactly that. A genius, a skilled individual, and probably crazier than anyone else here.
Clay gave a signal.
"Our basic formation will be as usual. Keep a wide distance. Stay as far away as possible."
""Understood.""
Ice and Toxy dispersed. They vanished into the Forest. Windy raised the corner of their mouth at their decisive movements.
"Even if you call them rearguards, isn't sending them so far away that they disappear a bit too much? You won't know the timing for support like this, right?"
"Are we so foolish as to not have considered that?"
"It's said that talent and skill don't always go hand in hand (not proportional)."
Clay said with a smile.
"That's none of your business. ―――Quake."
He stepped forward, raised his arm, and began with a warm-up. How will this turn out?
"As a vanguard, you lack power."
With just a flick of their fingers wrapped in wind, Clay's sledgehammer was stopped. He felt shaken, but quickly regained his composure. It was all part of the act. The goal was to break Clay's spirit, so he couldn't afford to falter.
"Well, how about this then?"
After stepping back once, he shifted the bandages and traced the rune for 'crush.' To mask it, he shouted, "Rock Hammer!"
A huge chunk of earth clung to the swinging sledgehammer. A massive rock hammer followed, delayed behind the sledgehammer, releasing a hidden rune of crushing.
But Windy didn't take the hit. They leaped back to dodge it. Clay had a sense of Windy's true essence as an adventurer.
"...Is that it again? What is it? It feels strangely eerie. It seems like it could be easily accepted from an outsider's perspective. Yet, my intuition screams to avoid it."
"I wonder. I think you'll understand once you experience it."
"Unfortunately, I know that my intuition never betrays me."
With those words, Clay becomes convinced.
In essence, the adventurer named Windy relies on their genius, especially their intuition. They can instinctively avoid things like surprise attacks.
Clay learned this type of fighting style from Alex.
'Geniuses are those who grasp what is necessary before learning it. In other words, they simply act on animalistic instincts. So, they surprisingly fall into traps that even animals would avoid.'
Clay's strategy takes shape. He whispers to the snowman Ice hidden in his bosom.
"Set up traps. I want them combined in five layers."
"Kippi"
In a low voice, the snowman whispered back to Clay. In response, several snowmen quietly emerged from hiding.
Clay thought to himself. To move Windy, he needed to be a real threat. If there was no need to move, then he wouldn't. He made that decision. And so...
"Toxy-san, let's do this together."
While giving instructions through the snowmen, Clay prepared his sledgehammer.
Now, let's showcase the magic learned during the Wyvern's time.
"Create Rock."
As Clay stomped, the ground beneath Windy's feet rose up, swallowing them.
"Hmm."
Clay then made his move. Quietly tracing the 'acceleration' rune in his hand.
"Rock Hammer, Quake."
He swung the vibrating hammer of entwined rocks down. It was a surefire combination. An attack synchronized with immobilization. And at that moment, Toxy's poison arrow was flying towards the target.
But Windy reacted.
"Wind Cutter, Wind Spring!"
The trap Clay made with magic was shattered by Wind's blade, and then Windy quickly retreated using the wind spring.
However, he anticipated this emergency escape.
"Now, Toxy!"
Toxy's poison arrow turned from solid to mist and spread around.
"――――!"
Windy's eyes widened, and then they quickly closed them and jumped back, guarding themselves. At that moment, Snowman jumped in.
"Kippi!"
Ice's breath froze the ground. Windy landed, but then they realized they couldn't move and opened their eyes――――
"Earth Cannon!"
Clay's sledgehammer hit the ground, creating a simple cannon that shot rocks. It was a direct hit.
"I see. Even from a distance, your teamwork is impressive."
But Windy said,
"I'm invincible against long-range attacks. Wind Shield."
A gust of wind rose around Windy, easily deflecting the large rock Clay shot and the poison arrows Toxy fired.
"Is that all――――?"
Then Windy noticed,
Clay running towards them, hidden behind the large rock.
"Rock Hammer, Quake!"
The runes on the hammer had six effects: acceleration, crush, penetration, weakening, curse, and accuracy. This was the limit for now. But it was a powerful strike that could crush even a wyvern. And at this moment...
Hidden within the barrage of attacks was a sure powerful blow. Clay swung with all his might, and the sledgehammer wrapped in rock headed towards Windy.
With a boom, a shockwave spread around.
There was a solid hit. Clay's sledgehammer dug into the ground. Did I defeat them? Such thoughts crossed his mind.
Cracks appeared in the rock surrounding the sledgehammer.
"―――Impressive. This isn't a typical copper-level battle."
A loud noise echoed. The large rock shattered. From it emerged Windy, with their butler outfit dirty, white gloves torn, and eyes gleaming as they looked at Clay.
"Oh, you ruined my clothes. But it's fine. It's been a while since I've been this excited. I never thought I'd be pushed this far!"
"...It didn't work."
"It didn't work!? No, it did! Just making me use my Storm Arms is a big achievement!"
Windy's arms were covered in wind, roaring loudly. It was like the tornado that had lifted everyone earlier. The visible storm around their arms turned them into deadly weapons.
"This magic is forbidden by my lady because it ruins my clothes. But it's one of my favorite magics. Without it, I feel restricted!"
Windy charged. Clay swung "Rock Hammer!" to counter, but Windy's storm arms easily shattered it.
"...!"
"Hahaha! This is so fun! I love using this against magicians who fight with big, hard magic! The Storm Arms crush their attacks and their pride!"
Clay's sledgehammer was grabbed and consumed by the storm, breaking down. But Windy gripped it tightly, creating a crack on it.
Windy laughed.
"It's a fragile weapon. A talented adventurer like you should get something better."
His weapon, rune, and pride are shaken and shattered.
Clay stepped back, trembling. But still, he played his role as the commander.
"Abandon the second objective. Protect the primary objective. Group up and flee as far as possible."
"Kippi..."
Snowman responded and then melted into the air.
Clay took a deep breath and assumed a stance, imitating Wade. Windy narrowed their eyes with a smile.
"Desperation? Good. I'll train you. You'll get stronger. I promise."
"Haha... How many times will I have my pride shattered? Well, whatever. I'll just do my best."
"Not giving up is important for adventurers. There are too many obstacles."
"Create Rock."
Clay created a rough sledgehammer from the ground. He picked it up and swung it.
"Storm Arm."
Windy's storm arms raged.
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