6 Chapter 6 : Killing monsters

Sorry for the late chapter. I had a busy week. I guess that's what going back to school is like. Higher education is more violent than I expected but I'll try to keep on updating regularly.

The chapter might be a little unedited and lacking as I'm finishing it at like one AM but I ain't sleeping before I post the chapter. Sleep is for the normal and smart, and I ain't either of them.

Hope you enjoy it anyway and see you below. :D

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The cleanup started easily, with the group destroying three minor hilichurl camps and a few stray monsters without a sweat. The samachurl in one of the camps surprised Mordred a little by how weak his magecraft was, but this was the only unexpected part until now.

Not far from them was a camp much larger than the previous ones. Where the smaller ones had around six or seven monsters, this one had around twenty, and they were led by a three meters tall churl with a wooden shield. (around 9 feet 10)

"So, how are we going to do it? I target the big guy first while you stall the group until I finish and reinforce you? A night attack?"

"The foul beast's armament is akin to an impregnable fortress, therefore, projectiles reinforced by mine Edelstein der Dunkelheit wilt fail to overcome these defenses. While one might use the flames of judgment and pierce them, fate will punish one foolish enough to do it by striking him with a blazing shield. This Prinzessin advisest thou to divert him and have faith, for I will strike him once the other fiends perish."

"Then we got a plan, if he lives long enough for us to need it."

On these words, Mordred Mana Bursts in front of the giant monster and swings her sword at him. In reaction to that, the Mitachurl blocks her strike. He is successful but is left unbalanced, leaving an opportunity for Mordred to strike once more. Her slash manages to injure one of his thighs, but it is a superficial wound.

'That's weird, did my reach change? It shouldn't be, I stopped aging the day Mother cursed me.'

Without time to dwell on this thought, she dodges the creature's shield. She attacks him several times, studying his parries and his weak points. By doing so, she also weakens the shield. After a few more exchanges and having gotten used to the different reach, she decides it's time to eliminate him.

'He has a tough shield, but he has even tougher luck and I'm about to show him why.'

Strengthening her blow with a large amount of mana, she cuts through the shield and then kills the monster with a clean strike to the head.

Looking around to see if Fischl needs help, she sees her piercing the last hilichurl in the throat with a lightning arrow, decapitating him.

"I see you're not half bad in a bigger fight, kinda expected to have to finish the job for you. It's a surprise, but it's a welcomed one."

"Daring to look down upon this Prinzessin? This boldness of thine is quite impressive, but seeing that thou recognized thy mistake, I will forgive it. Rejoice and sing my holy name, for few have had such an honor since my arrival in this world."

"So, you think we're finished here, or are there others to kill before dealing with the Ruin Guard?"

"The sinful fiends have received retribution, their fate has been cut short. We might tackle the world-ending calamity once the cycle of life and death will have been completed once. Let thine body find solace in the hours of rest the Prinzessin offers you."

Nodding and starting to prepare a camp a few minutes away from the Temple, Mordred realizes something.

'I will need to eat, and I can't do that with my helmet. There was no problem during my expeditions for the king because I could do it alone in my tent, but right now I'm just an adventurer. My tent is too small and it's just us two. I'll have to do it later, when I'm on guard duty.'

"Eat first, I'll eat while you sleep to keep me awake."

"Eh? Are you sure? Ahem! Thou needn't force thyself to fast while this Prinzessin feasts. Mortals should accept sustainance when their mortal shell requires so."

Blushing at her slipup, Fischl tries to make Mordred reconsider but is unsuccessful. While the archer eats dinner, the knight reads about the Ruin Guard they'll have to face.

'Heavy armor plating that resists most if not all attacks and covers everything other than the quite obvious weak point, homing missiles that can easily kill a trained knight, and punches strong enough to break a boulder to smithereens. They really chose a target where you need a good archer's support to win. The archer hits the weak point and destroys the coming missiles while the heavy hitter tries to break through the reinforced parts. Sounds like a pain, but a job's a job.'

After a peaceful night, the two adventurers prepare and soon, they approach the Thousand Winds Temple. The temple reminds Mordred of the Roman Colosseum, as they are both gigantic amphitheaters. The main difference, however, is that the Temple is in ruins, beyond disrepair. The once majestic stone arena is now but a fragment of its former self.

In the center of the arena, a machine of death and destruction wanders aimlessly. The four meters tall war machine is seemingly humanoid, with two long arms almost reaching the floor. Its glowing, orange eye in the upper middle of its torso is its weakness but the machine's movement makes it a difficult target. (around 13 feet 2)

"So that's a Ruin Guard, huh?"

Letting that thought slip, Mordred turns to Fischl.

"Hope you're ready cause it's time."

"How absurd to think I wouldn't be prepared to hunt this lawless beast. I fought much worse when chaos ruled upon the Immernachtreich."

As they say that, they split up, Mordred charging towards the Ruin Guard, followed by Oz, while Fischl moves to a backward spot from which she can shoot the enemy without exposing herself to the frontlines.

At that moment, the machine notices them and starts advancing towards Mordred.

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Here goes the sixth chapter.

I don't have much else to say today, so if you have any ideas on how I can improve myself or about some bonus content I could put at the end of chapters, I'd be thankful.

That's all for me today, CrystalEnBoite signing out to get some sleb. :D