Chapter 77

"Useless!?"

Eva, who had just cast a high-powered attack spell, exclaimed in shock.

"Whaaaaat!? Retreat! Temporary retreat!!"

Raidock hastily shouted.

As we turned around to retreat, shouting "Ohhhhh!" and such, the path of corpses that had been there was now blocked by a new giant frog, the Baron Frog.

"What the...!?"

"No way!? It didn't move that quickly just a moment ago!?"

"Did we get set up!? This frog is smarter than we thought!?"

"Smarter than Jitaro!?"

"What do you mean!?"

The situation was so serious and dangerous that it made us want to crack a joke.

What should we do!?

"...Craft! Cast one attack spell! Save your remaining power!"

"Got it!"

After Raidock lifted the restriction, various magic options flashed through my mind.

Ice-based... In this state, with half my body submerged in water, it would be the worst choice.

Lightning-based would also be dangerous; everyone would get electrocuted.

Light or darkness-based wouldn't be very effective.

So, it came down to wind or fire. However, the "Inferno Cyclone" that contains both attributes is a wide-area spell and isn't suitable for our current situation, surrounded by enemies.

Moreover, the target, Titan Duke Frog, is mostly submerged in the swamp, so it's questionable how effective fire-based spells would be.

Seeing my hesitation, Eva, the excellent magician of the Casper sisters, shouted.

"Craft! Can you use 'Water Blade Wave'!?"

Her voice made me snap to attention. "Water Blade Wave" is a powerful spell that generates ultra-compressed water blades to slice through enemies. In this situation, with water all around, its power would be even greater.

But there's an even better spell!

"Die, you frog! 'White Freeze Blade Flash Slash'!!!"

I cast a spell that is even more advanced than "Water Blade Wave."

A giant ice blade, twice my height, formed into a crescent and flew at high speed to slice the giant boss frog in two.

"Geckooooo!!!"

Disgusting bodily fluids splattered.

But considering the power of the spell, it didn't seem to have much effect!?

"Craft! Did you see that!?"

Eva shouted.

"See what?"

"Yes! The ice blade was probably dispersed by magic on the frog's surface!"

"What!?"

One of the many defensive spells can convert physical attacks into magic and reduce their power. Was that it!?

"Bardack! Any attack spell will do!"

"Got it! 'Ice Spear'"

Bardack, quickly understanding my intent, created and launched an ice spear.

I focused on sensing the flow of magic.

The moment Bardack's ice spear pierced the body of the Titan Duke Frog, the magic spread rapidly across its surface from the impact point.

"What's that reaction!?"

"What!? What just happened!?"

Upon closer inspection, there was a slight wound at the impact point.

However, the way the magic spread was abnormal.

Normally, when magic is used to defend, it spreads like water spilling from a high place, splashing and dispersing from the impact point.

The attack that couldn't be fully converted would penetrate.

But the way the magic spread this time was like water spilling from a high place and spreading instantly without splashing.

My "White Freeze Blade Flash Slash" managed to wound the frog because of its immense power and the large amount of magic used, which couldn't be fully converted.

"Damn! Craft! Is there any way to deal with this!?"

Raidock shouted while fending off the whip-like tongue attacks from all directions.

As expected, the Titan Duke Frog's forked tongue regenerated immediately after being cut, a common ability among soft-bodied monsters.

Reifan and Morda were also desperately protecting us with their shields.

But maintaining the status quo was the worst option. We needed a quick solution.

What can we do!?

Our original plan was to defeat the Baron Frogs with swords and bows to clear a path, then pummel the boss frog, Titan Duke Frog, with magic.

Since the magic was almost ineffective, the only option was to retreat.

No, wait.

"Raidock! Switch between physical and magical attacks!"

"What!? No, it's worth a try... Alright! Raidock and Camille will attack the boss! Meanwhile, Eva and Bardack will use magic to keep the surrounding frogs at bay! Bows too! Reifan and Morda, protect the magicians with all your might! Craft, you decide for yourself!"

"Understood!!!"

Raidock, quickly understanding the plan, changed the formation.

Raidock and Camille, who had been reducing the number of surrounding Baron Frogs, now attacked the boss frog, Titan Duke Frog, while Eva and Bardack used magic to keep the Baron Frogs at bay.

Sollar and Jitaro also provided support.

"Raidock! Avoid combos and use high-damage single attacks!"

"Got it!"

I had an idea, so I focused on Raidock.

"Camille, sync with me! 'Mighty Arm Strike'!!"

"...'Dark Dance of Death'"

The two of them delivered powerful physical attacks to the same spot, crossing their strikes.

The impact blew away the slimy fluid on the frog's surface, and the blades cut into the soft-looking body, activating the technique and causing a massive spray of blood. It was clearly more effective than my "White Freeze Blade Flash Slash" from earlier.

I didn't miss this small opportunity and cast the spell I had prepared.

"Water Blade Wave!!!"

The ice blade slipped between Raidock and Camille and struck the wound they had created.

It was a lower-power attack spell than before. Normally, it wouldn't deal significant damage, but my attack spell managed to wound the boss frog as effectively as Camille's sword technique.

"What!?"

Raidock shouted.

"Craft!"

"I think the slime on the frog's surface is nullifying the magic!"

"So, physical attacks will work!?"

"Probably! ...But, will the number of attacks be enough!?"

"Quite... difficult! This frog has high regeneration!"

"Trouble..."

I asked Raidock to use high-damage single attacks to blow away the fluid.

While it's not certain, considering that the magic worked in that state, it's almost certain that the fluid is dispersing the magic.

If that's the case, the method to defeat this boss frog would be to remove the fluid first and then cast attack spells.

"Craft! Can't you use wind or fire magic to blow away the fluid!?"

"Idiot! That magic would be nullified too!"

I called Jitaro an idiot, but his idea wasn't wrong in direction. We just needed to blow away the fluid with wind or fire.

"Then, why don't we gather firewood and burn the frog!?"

"Idiot! In the middle of this swamp, that's too...!"

I called Jitaro an idiot again, but at that moment, a scene flashed through my mind.

It was the day after the Golden Dawn repelled the Cockatrice stampede.

We had collected the Cockatrice corpses, which had only their magic stones removed, and burned them in a large pit.

It was impossible to burn so many Cockatrices with just firewood, so I used the alchemy I had created.

"I see! Combustion powder!"

The combustion powder, which I had made in large quantities at the guild's request, burns much more efficiently than oil. Moreover, it's a powder, making it suitable for use on the frog.

"Raidock! I have an idea! Can you spread the powder I'm about to take out as evenly as possible on the enemy!?"

I lifted a barrel from my spatial storage.

I had received a barrel of leftover combustion powder as part of my reward.

"On that huge body!?"

The Titan Duke Frog is even larger than the Baron Frogs. Only about half of its body is above the water, but it's still massive.

It wouldn't be a problem if it were stationary, but it's a monster.

It moves and attacks.

"...What should we do?"

Raidock, while cutting through the approaching tongues, gritted his teeth. It was clear he was thinking hard.

At that moment, Camille, carrying dual swords, slid across the water and retreated toward me.

Among us, Camille's movements were the smoothest, even with our restricted movement.

"I'll do it."

The usually quiet Camille muttered softly.