These two burly men were ridiculously muscular, but their physiques were different from Kase’s natural brawn.
Green scales of varying sizes dotted their exposed faces. They had jet-black vertical pupils, and the whites of their eyes were a sickly yellowish-green, giving them a bizarre appearance.
’What kind of Demons are these? Why weren’t they in the books?’
"They’re not Evil Demons..."
"They’re Dragon Vein Creatures."
Orelia and Ale spoke one after the other, with a rare hint of anger in the latter’s tone.
’Dragon Vein Creatures? That must mean mortals with the blood of a Giant Dragon.’
’I remember there was a Green Dragon that got killed in the Sharp Teeth Forest near Three Bays City. Judging by the look of these two...’
’A White Dragon breathes frost, a Golden Dragon breathes fire... so what about a Green Dragon? Damn it, more than half of the protections we put up before coming in have worn off.’
Having pieced it together, Colin pulled out a Potion and shouted, "Quick, drink the Weak Antidote!"
His companions immediately sprang into action, each pulling out a prepared Potion and downing it.
Meanwhile, the two Samurai, armed with Hand Axes and Short Swords, flicked their wrists. Two Hand Axes spun like discs through the air, one heading for Orelia and the other for Ale.
Kase raised his right hand toward Ale, and a burst of ethereal blue flame erupted beside her. A Shield forged from an ancestral spirit materialized at her side. The Hand Axe struck, and the Shield shattered with a soft HUM.
Orelia blocked the other Hand Axe with her Shield.
Confirming his companions were safe, Colin rushed forward.
The dapper young man looked at him.
The man slowly began to speak. In a language Colin had never heard but whose meaning was perfectly clear, he said, "Drop your weapon."
’We’re in the middle of a battle. Dropping my weapon is clearly the smart thing to do. If I just drop my weapon, I won’t be a target anymore.’
As he was thinking this, Colin unhesitatingly threw down his Hand Half Sword.
The two Samurai charged forward.
"Why’d you drop your weapon? Colin!?" Kase’s voice yelled from the side.
He charged forward to intercept one of the Samurai, but the other quickly dodged around the Half-Orc and rushed toward the back line.
’What is Kase talking about? Isn’t this what I’m supposed to do?’
While thinking this, Colin reflexively glanced at the Samurai who had gotten past Kase.
He reached for his Casting Materials and quickly chanted a spell. Before the expressionless brute could take two steps, he erupted into howls of crazed laughter under the influence of Tasha’s Hideous Laughter.
Colin could feel the opponent’s resistance was surprisingly weak, which probably meant his Perception Attribute wasn’t very high.
He immediately aimed for the back of his opponent’s neck, preparing to strike with his blade.
But just then, he realized his hands were empty. He had no weapon to attack his opponent with.
’Wait! Why did I drop my weapon?’
Colin glanced back at the Hand Half Sword on the floor and cursed inwardly. ’Damn it, Command?’
Command. A Tier One Magic spell effective on any creature within a twenty-meter radius of the Caster. It forced the target to obey a simple order, though a high enough Perception Attribute could grant immunity.
But there was no time for that now. Colin quickly drew his Dagger.
Just as he was about to advance, the handsome young man shouted again in that unintelligible language.
At his shout, several monsters the size of lionesses charged out from a small door in the back.
These things looked like crocodiles with longer legs and shorter snouts. Their bodies were covered in yellowish-green scales, and they had dorsal fins running down their backs.
With a flick of his wrist, Colin sent a Flaming Arrow crashing onto one monster’s head.
The creature’s menacing crest of horns was instantly scorched black. It immediately began to roll on the ground in pain, clawing at the injury.
’This thing isn’t very strong,’ Colin assessed.
"Weapon!"
Ale’s voice came from behind him. Taking the hint, Colin spun around and dashed for his Hand Half Sword.
FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH!
Ale’s magical support arrived. Three golden Scorching Rays shot past Colin, and a series of piercing wails mixed with laughter echoed through the cellar, so loud it was painful.
Colin scooped up his Hand Half Sword and once again fell into his Sword Dance stance.
The panting of the beasts came from behind him, so close he could almost feel the heat of their breath.
He glanced back and saw three of the monsters closing in on him.
’I hope these damn gang members built this place to last...’ Colin thought as he stretched out his hands. A wave of fire from his Burning Hand spell crashed forward.
After completing the Casting, he immediately gripped his sword with both hands and thrust toward where one of the monsters had been standing—the surrounding wooden pillars were too dense to allow for a swing.
He felt the blade sink into flesh.
The other two monsters crashed through the flames, charging him from the left and right.
In that instant, the flames dissipated.
Colin clearly saw the handsome young man at the back, now isolated, staring at him and chanting a Spell.
Time seemed to freeze. The movements of everyone around him suddenly slowed to a crawl.
A thousand thoughts flashed through Colin’s mind in an instant.
’This is the perfect chance to take out that Caster. Letting him keep casting spells from the back is a terrible idea.’
’But if I charge him, what happens to Orelia and Ale?’
’These monsters aren’t dead yet. Kase is tied up with several monsters and that big Samurai; he can’t break free to help. The other Samurai is only temporarily controlled by Tasha’s Hideous Laughter. His resistance to the Magic is weak, but what if... ’
Just then, Orelia charged past Colin, her Shield raised.
She charged with unstoppable momentum, attempting to slam her Shield into a monster that was pouncing on one of her companions.
At the same time, the handsome young man’s spell was complete.
A head-sized ball of cyan energy flew toward Colin, striking him square in the chest.
The moment it hit, Colin felt as if his very organs were being shaken apart.
He felt like he’d been hit head-on by a truck, and his entire body went flying backward.
A sweet, coppery taste welled up in the back of his throat. Every bone in his body felt like it was rattling and clattering like wind chimes in a hurricane.
With a sudden jolt of clarity, Colin instantly completed a Casting.
Silvery mist erupted from the seams of his Armor, completely enveloping him and teleporting him to the furthest point possible behind the handsome young man.
He was still staggering uncontrollably the moment he landed.
It was only thanks to his Sword Dance stance and his twelve-point Agility Attribute that he managed to steady himself enough to thrust his Hand Half Sword at the enemy.
The cold glint of his blade tore through the last of the silver mist.
The handsome young man reacted quickly, leaping back to evade the attack, but the sharp tip of the sword still left a bloody line across his cheek.
Without a word, the man drew the Swift Sword from his belt.
He leveled the glittering point of the blade at the opponent before him.