My purpose in coming to this mine was half to subjugate the 〖Feral Beasts〗, and the other half was to collect Mana Minerals.
It was worth the time, and I was able to acquire many useful minerals, including Mana Crystals and high-purity explosive stones.
However, as I collected a large amount of minerals, a problem arose. The capacity of 〖Weapon Storage〗 was being strained.
Not only the mountain of Mana Minerals, but also the materials from the 〖Feral Beasts〗 were taking up a considerable amount of capacity.
Even with the Space Expansion bag that Paula-san gave me, the limit was starting to become visible.
Therefore, after subjugating the “Hanji,” I organized my 〖Weapon Storage〗.
I sorted out the minerals I had obtained in the lower-tier Lesser Beast Domain and Long Beast Domain, but I felt it was a waste to just throw them away.
I wondered if there was a way to utilize them, and then it occurred to me to process them into bullets for 〖Thousand Blades Burst〗.
I compressed the Mana Minerals that I wouldn’t use into several metal rods.
The capacity of 〖Weapon Storage〗 is consumed according to the volume of the stored items, not the mass.
Therefore, the metal rods compressed to the limit took up less space than before.
Well, the capacity I freed up that way is already starting to fill up again with the remains of that machine god… but that’s fine for now.
“(〖Thousand Blades Burst〗!)”
The metal rods had been charged with 〖Mana〗 to the point just before the activation of 〖Thousand Blades Burst〗 before being stored. I poured the last drop of 〖Mana〗 into them.
Immediately after, metal blades of various colors and textures were scattered in all directions.
No, it wasn’t a lukewarm phenomenon like “scattered.”
It was like a balloon bursting, a bomb exploding, a volcano erupting.
It was a rapid and intense scattering worthy of the name “Burst.”
“(But, they all have some kind of defensive technique. That’s how it should be.)”
A skeleton grew a large tombstone to use as a shield. A Black Shadow rolled behind the skeleton and shared the tombstone shield. A Dragon simply countered with a fiery breath.
Each of them defended themselves in their own way, but even so, it seems they weren’t unscathed.
The tombstone was easily destroyed, and the skeleton and Black Shadow behind it were slashed.
The Dragon’s breath was not enough to deflect all the metal blades, and it suffered injuries to its limbs.
“(It was worth making the bullets out of metal!)”
The speed of the blades scattered by 〖Thousand Blades Burst〗 is not affected by the weight of the material.
Therefore, the heavier and harder the material, the higher the power of this 〖Skill〗.
Even when I was using wood, it had the speed and sharpness to be a painful blow to 〖Feral Beasts〗.
Now that it has changed to metal, its power is obvious.
“(It’s far from a fatal wound, but then I just have to follow up, 〖Thousand Blades Burst〗!)”
I immediately detonated the next round that I had prepared.
The 〖Feral Beasts〗, whose defenses had been stripped away by the first shot, tried to endure by putting their wings and arms forward, but the metal blades, greatly enhanced by 〖Storm Strike〗, inflicted even deeper wounds than before.
The 〖Feral Beasts〗’ postures collapsed.
A slight gap appeared in their loose coordination.
“(〖Air Jump〗! First, the Dragon, it’s you!)”
The skeleton and Black Shadow were clustered in one place, and the Dragon was somewhat isolated.
I’ll try to inflict an effective blow before reinforcements arrive.
“(Mimicry Cancel, 〖Replicant Form〗!)”
I mimic weapons suitable for fighting the Dragon.
I changed the two Forest Shackles in front to Poison Whips.
I changed the weapon on the left side to a Poison Sword and a Forest Turtle Halberd, and the right side to a Poison Spear and a second Poison Sword.
“Graaaah!”
“(〖Whip〗, Double!)”
I dodged the slashing wave that the Dragon released from its claws with a change in body shape, and swung the long-range Poison Whips.
The sound of the Poison Whips tearing through the air echoed, and the Hydra fangs at the tips gouged the Dragon’s scales on its arm.
The giant dragon, howling in pain, took a step forward as if to vent its anger, and swung the opposite arm diagonally.
“Gyaulrah!”
“(Too slow! 〖Air Jump〗, 〖Falling Strike〗, 〖Compact Slash〗, Double!)”
I kicked off the air and dodged straight down.
Since it was a dodging action, 〖Blink〗 was naturally activated, and I slashed at the incoming arm with two Poison Swords.
Because 〖Cross Counter〗 was applied, the wounds were deeper than the whip strikes.
“(〖Replicant Form〗, Rock Cannon Fire!)”
I mimicked four Rock Cannons on the front of my body, and immediately charged them with 〖Mana〗 and fired.
However, even while being pushed back by the rocks, the Dragon advanced and bared its fangs.
I deliberately took a step back,
“(Lightning Strike!)”
“Gyuwoh!?”
I released a Lightning Strike.
The Dragon’s mouth, which was not protected by scales, was exposed to the electric shock, and its eyes rolled back.
Lightning Strike has lower power than arrows or Rock Cannons, but its responsiveness is second to none. It is the result of increased proficiency in the 〖Unique Skill〗 itself through repeated use of Electrification.
It will work as a deterrent better than anything else against any Demon Beast other than those of the earth element.
“(〖Rampage〗, 〖Charge Thrust〗, Quadruple!)”
“Guooooh!?”
At that moment of hesitation, I charged. I thrust all four weapons into it.
I couldn’t gain enough speed because I didn’t have much of a running start, but the power was more than enough thanks to the activation of several 〖Skills〗. The four weapons pierced through the scales and tore through the flesh.
“Guh, ruah…!”
The Dragon groaned while spitting blood.
I immediately canceled the mimicry, pulled out the weapons, and jumped to the side.
“(Is it time up?)”
“Hyukooooo!”
Immediately after, a large number of arms rushed to the place where I had been standing.
The wasteland was scraped away by the 〖Feral Beast〗’s grip.
“(〖Compact Shot〗)”
“Hyoh!”
I shot a Mana-Absorbing Arrow from the Poison Bow.
I didn’t forget to charge the bow with 〖Mana〗 and apply 〖Poison〗 to the arrow. I haven’t had a chance to use it before, but the Poison Bow also has this effect.
The skeleton received the released Mana-Absorbing Arrow with its arms crossed.
The arrow began to absorb 〖Mana〗, but it was quickly pulled out and discarded.
“(〖Poison〗 doesn’t work on this one, huh?)”
I made that judgment based on the fact that the skeleton didn’t show any signs of suffering.
Although there is flesh on its arms, most of its body is bone. It’s not surprising that 〖Poison〗 doesn’t work.
With that information in mind, I turned my attention to the other 〖Feral Beast〗 that was coming towards me.
The Black Shadow, which had been watching from behind without going to the Dragon’s aid, was now running towards me.
“Kekakakaka!”
“(I definitely don’t want to take your hits, Lightning Strike, 〖Whip〗!)”
While retreating, I released lightning towards the Black Shadow’s right foot to guide its path. Then I struck with the whip.
The Poison Whip caught the shadow’s flank, and pieces of shadow flesh scattered.
The scattered pieces of flesh disappeared as if melting into the air.
It didn’t seem particularly fazed, but it seems the damage was definitely inflicted.
The Black Shadow was still swinging its arm, but it was paying attention to the other Poison Whip. It was probably trying to dodge the second attack, or crush it with its brute strength.
Well, what you really should be careful of is the Poison Whip that I just swung.
“(〖Strangulation〗!)”
“Kukieh…!”
The Poison Whip, which had lost its speed after gouging the flesh, suddenly wrapped around the Black Shadow’s neck with the ferocity of a wild snake.
And immediately, 〖Blink〗. I passed through the Black Shadow’s side with a nimble movement.
The Black Shadow’s 〖Speed〗 is average, so it couldn’t react to my high-speed evasion and couldn’t stop its feet.
As a result, the Poison Whip that was strangling its neck applied force in the backward direction.
The Black Shadow stretched out its arms to try to tear the Poison Whip, but it was too late, and its neck was pulled, causing it to lose its balance.
“(〖Throwing〗!)”
Then, I slammed the Black Shadow, which was floating in the air, hard into the ground.
Combined with the strangulation, it should have been a very painful blow. But the Black Shadow melted into the ground, reducing the damage.
That’s right, the Black Shadow has a 〖Skill〗 that allows it to turn itself into a shadow.
I can’t tell from the outside whether it’s completely unscathed or if it took some damage.
“(〖Compact Slash〗… oh, it hits?)”
I saw the shadow start to move to return to the skeletons, and swung the halberd and the Poison Sword on my right side to prevent it from escaping.
Honestly, it was a desperate attack, but the Poison Sword severed its right thigh.
The severed part stopped moving on the spot, and its shadow form was canceled, and it materialized. Then, it melted away as if dissolving.
“(Hmm, so shadow transformation isn’t an invincible 〖Skill〗 after all.)”
The Black Shadow, which materialized next to the skeleton and the Dragon, had its right leg severed midway.
It must be from the poison sword.
Well, it doesn’t seem like the 〖Poison〗 is working on him either.
If it were just the poison sword, I could have chalked it up to his shadow form, but I also stabbed the tip of the poison whip into his neck when I tightened it.
If it doesn’t work after all that, it’s probably safe to assume he’s just immune to it.
(In the end, the 〖Poison〗 only worked on the Dragon, huh? As expected of a 〖Feral Beast〗.)
I thought as I looked at the three 〖Feral Beasts〗, who had regrouped.
Perhaps they were wary of me, as they remained huddled together and didn’t try to move. Since the Dragon was affected by the 〖Poison〗, time was on my side, but…
(──I’m also worried about Fiss. 〖Storm Strike〗 is ready, and I can see a path to victory. I’ll hunt them down at full speed!)
With renewed determination, I ran towards them.