Chapter 60

00060 Mage and Alchemist (Rare) =========================================================================

The tail, which had been swaying gently, suddenly curved and stretched out straight. It seemed to be aiming for Yujeong’s upper body, particularly her neck, which was a target for a fatal strike. I tried to step forward in a hurry, but I was taken aback by Yujeong’s next move.

“Hn!”

Yujeong let out a strange battle cry, bent down, and then kicked off the ground, sliding almost parallel to the floor as she moved forward. The tail, which had been aiming to pierce her neck, only sliced through the air. At the same time, Yujeong changed direction by placing one hand on the ground, and her path curved into a semicircle. This change in direction allowed her to quickly circle around to Renga’s back.

Renga, whose rear had been taken, hung her tail in shock before turning her body with a flushed face. However, by then, Yujeong’s dagger had already mercilessly cut across Renga’s neck. After confirming Renga, who had reflexively grabbed her neck and collapsed, Yujeong immediately ran towards me.

I stared at Yujeong, who was smiling brightly, with a dazed expression. Ahnhyun, following me, was about to run forward but stopped and let out a loud exclamation, clearly surprised.

Until now, Yujeong had not been able to fully utilize her strengths. Of course, I acknowledge the potential of her agility and magic ability scores. However, their combat styles are fundamentally different. Ahnhyun, who excels in strength, durability, and stamina, can perform above average by sticking to the basics and using orthodox methods.

On the other hand, Yujeong, who excels in agility and magic, needs to apply unconventional tactics and a kind of intuitive play in combat. Moreover, with her short-range daggers, it would be difficult for her to shine in regular combat, though she might excel in chaotic battles.

Until now, I had placed Ahnhyun above Yujeong in terms of pure combat ability. However, I now felt the need to revise that opinion. Her clean and simple movements were highly efficient. The scene Yujeong just demonstrated left a deep impression on me. If she could consistently show such movements in combat...

“Sssss!”

The sound of Renga’s anger reached my ears. Seeing Yujeong regaining her stance inside the formation, I nodded slightly. Yujeong’s face, which had been flushed, now broke into a continuous smile, as if she had read my expression.

The atmosphere of this battle seemed to be turning in our favor. It was the first time since entering the pitch-black forest that I felt a sense of satisfaction.

At that moment,

Bang!

Several Rengas, who were relatively close, let out fierce roars and leaped into the air. They jumped so high, about three meters, that everyone was momentarily stunned.

Yujeong, Ahnhyun, and I had all killed Rengas, but the most impressive performance was given by Yujeong. Given that Rengas are known to be highly enraged by the killing of their own kind, they were all targeting Yujeong.

I had never seen Rengas jump that far before. However, knowing their target, I realized the need to protect Yujeong. A downward aerial attack from the air would have a terrifying destructive force, and it would be difficult for Yujeong to block it without taking damage.

However, our group, riding the momentum, did not stand idly by. As if determined not to lose to their seniors, Sol stepped forward with her staff and began to chant a spell at high speed. When the Rengas descended from the air, she extended her staff.

“Shackles!”

As Sol’s clear voice rang out, the bodies of the descending Rengas stiffened and they fell helplessly to the ground. We, who had been handling the Rengas one by one, looked at Sol with admiration. Any spell can be extended to target two or three people, depending on the user’s skill, and this was Sol’s first successful attempt. Although it was less powerful than a single-target spell, it was sufficient to immobilize the Rengas in mid-air.

Sol, who had been looking at the Rengas with a sharp expression that didn’t match her innocent face, immediately relaxed when she noticed our gaze. We had started by handling seven Rengas, achieving results that exceeded our expectations.

However, about a dozen Rengas remained, their eyes turning red with rage. They were all raising their claws, emitting a killing intent, and slowly advancing towards us. I took a step back into the passage we had entered, raising my sword to the upper position to secure a retreat.

“Kraa!”

The Rengas howled and several of them leaped at us. However, I was not particularly worried this time. Although these Rengas were slightly different from the ones we knew, our group seemed to be riding a wave of momentum. Ahnhyun and Yujeong were taking more daring stances than usual.

My sword met the terrifyingly swift claws, and that moment marked the resumption of the battle. Engaging in direct combat, I could clearly see the differences from the regular Rengas. Their quick movements, the realization of my strength, and their strategy of targeting us together. They would also retreat when things got a bit dangerous and then re-engage with their allies, using a rotational attack pattern.

Initially, I had been a bit relaxed, but I quickly regained my focus and began to adjust the battlefield. If it had been the first battle at the entrance of the pitch-black forest, the group would have collapsed long ago. However, with my appropriate support and Ahnhyun’s inspired spearplay, we were not just holding our ground but gradually overwhelming the Rengas.

Yujeong, who had been focusing on defense, was now actively swinging her daggers. Although she had a few minor injuries, she was steadily reducing the number of Rengas. This was the moment when her dual daggers, which excel in chaotic battles, shone.

The tide turned