The Ferocious Beast Zone of the Twilight Zone.
In the desolate landscape of jagged, towering rock mountains, one thing stood out.
“That ridiculously huge, jutting mountain…”
“Yeah, it’s rumored to be the Feral Beast Zone where the ‘Hanji’ lives.”
The “Hanji,” a Gargoyle Feral Beast, is apparently a hot topic in human cities.
Even if it’s a Feral Beast from the depths that they’ll never set foot in, the rumors never cease.
One of those rumors is that the “Hanji” lives in an exceptionally steep place.
There are so many mines in the Goronomua Mountains that it’s hard to count, but it’s said to live on a mountain far taller than any of them.
“I’m half-skeptical, but I think it’ll serve as a landmark at least.”
“Yeah.”
It’s too far away to read the Mana concentration, but let’s make that our provisional destination.
It was visible to the north before I entered the Queen Ant’s nest, so it shouldn’t be completely off the mark.
“Well, for now, we need to pay more attention to our surroundings than to things far away. It’s a Ferocious Beast Zone, and if we’re unlucky, we might run into a Dire Beast right off the bat.”
“That’s worrying. If it looks dangerous, please help me.”
“Yeah, I’ll help you then, so fight without worry.”
Though, I don’t think that’ll happen at all.
After that, we traveled along the mountainside for a while, and eventually discovered a Demon Beast.
“There’s one on the other side of that mountain.”
“Okay.”
Discovered, or rather… heard? Fiss picked up the sound of its footsteps.
With her Level up in the past few days, she has more Mana to spare, and she can now keep Physical Keen active at all times.
It’s true that if she enhances all five senses, her Mana recovery can’t keep up, but if she only enhances her hearing, she can do it semi-permanently.
Thanks to that, her search range has expanded beyond her line of sight.
We secretly looked down at the Demon Beast in the valley.
“Oh, a Dire Beast… a manageable (….) opponent.”
“…Then, I’ll go.”
Saying that in her usual tone, Fiss jumped out.
She rushed down the almost vertical cliff with great momentum. It’s a feat of strength thanks to her extraordinary physical abilities.
The Demon Beast stopped at the sound of the cliff being scraped.
As soon as Fiss landed on the ground, the Demon Beast turned towards her.
“Gyukeke.”
The Demon Beast grinned, seeing that it was just a single girl.
It probably thought of the girl, who was only up to its waist, as a tasty prey.
The creature, which looked like a larger and more ferocious version of a normal Gargoyle, casually swung its arm.
In sync with the movement of its arm, rock arrows flew out of the air. They were long enough to pierce a human body, more like stakes than arrows.
“Huu!”
But, of course, Fiss dodged them.
Even though she had already used various enhancements, she approached without being grazed by the Dire Beast’s attack.
“Gegururuu!”
The Gargoyle’s response to having its attack dodged was simple.
Increase the number of rock arrows. That’s all.
However, there should have been a difference between the two that would make even a simple barrage of attacks fatal.
Fiss’s Level is 44, while the Dire Beast’s is at least 50.
And she hasn’t yet reached the Third Canon, which is considered equal to a Dire Beast in Arcana Rank.
Normally, she wouldn’t even be a match.
“Gegyuu…?”
However, the result was different.
The small girl slipped through the Gargoyle’s crude barrage with minimal movement.
She probably doesn’t block with her axe much because she judges that she can’t take it head-on.
Even an attack that’s just a jab for the Dire Beast would be quite heavy for Fiss if she took it head-on.
When she can’t dodge and has to take it, she angles the blade, making it so she deflects instead of blocking.
The difference in raw power is obvious, and that’s why I’m impressed.
“(Even with this much of a difference, she can fight…)”
In the few days it took to reach the Ferocious Beast Zone, I noticed her peculiarity.
There were various reasons for noticing, but to put it simply, Fiss is a genius.
Her Mana perception is sharp. Even if a Skill is used in a surprise attack, she always braces herself before it’s released.
Her Mana manipulation is skillful. Not as much as Paula, but if her Mana is hidden, it’s almost impossible to sense.
Her magical sense is outstanding. This is even more so than Paula. She can easily complete a spell just by me explaining a little about it.
I only know Paula as a mage other than Fiss, but I know that it’s not normal to learn magic at such a high pace.
“(Besides, she’s amazing even without magic.)”
Her natural talent is also demonstrated in combat.
An observational eye that perceives subtle movements, the ability to make decisions in a crisis, and the technique to efficiently control her body.
She wasn’t taught any of it, but she possesses all of them at a high level.
The Gargoyle, realizing that rock arrows weren’t effective, tried to take down Fiss with various other means, but she evaded all of them unscathed.
Even if you take into account that she had already practiced most of the attacks with the Greater Beast Gargoyle, it’s an impossible level of skill.
“Ge, gegyaa!”
The Gargoyle seemed to be terrified of the girl who was steadily approaching.
It turned its back and started to flee.
The distance is still more than ten meters.
Its leg strength seems to be about the same as Fiss, and if you include the interference of Skills, it might be able to escape.
“Useless.”
Fiss kicked a pumpkin-sized rock that was lying at her feet.
It accurately hit one of the Gargoyle’s legs, causing it to stumble.
This is also something that is normally unthinkable.
It’s not something you can do on the spur of the moment, kicking a rock that accurately.
“Ge, gege.”
As she approached the Demon Beast that had fallen on its butt, she swung her double-bladed axe.
As if to stop it, the Gargoyle put one arm forward,
“Gegyaa!”
“Physical Extend – Arm!”
Fiss dodged the rock arrows that were released in sync with the movement of its arm by flying diagonally forward.
Then, she swung down her extended arm, sinking the axe deep into the Gargoyle’s shoulder.
Blue blood gushed out from the gap between the blade and flesh.
The Gargoyle stretched out its arm to pull out the axe, and then noticed the girl approaching right in front of it.
“Take this!”
With her hand still gripping the axe, she canceled the extension of her arm.
Fiss, who had been rapidly approaching as her body was pulled by the contraction after the cancellation, unleashed a roundhouse kick.
Her kick pierced through its jaw, shaking the Gargoyle’s brain.
“Goodbye.”
Then, she quickly pulled out her axe and slashed at the Gargoyle, which was exposing a defenseless opening.
She sent its thick neck flying into the air.
“It’s over.”
“Good work, you’re not in any danger even against a Dire Beast.”
I also jumped down into the valley and praised her as usual, and then headed to prepare the Gargoyle.
Then, in the middle of that, she said something.
“By the way, my Attribute Sublimated during the fight just now.”
…It seems that the growth of my disciple knows no bounds.