Chapter 62

The Scissor Mantis came rushing like an avalanche, but thanks to the Iron Spiders' efforts, most of them were held back. Still, over two thousand of these monsters charged forward without engaging the Iron Spiders.

"This side has about 700. It's a bit fewer, but we can handle it!"

"Right! Let's go, everyone! Put some spirit into it!"

Kongou raised his axe and roared, while the leader of the Martini group began preparing magic to join the fight with his companions.

The Scissor Mantis could be seen approaching rapidly. These creatures, which feed on humans, swayed their dull-colored bodies and moved their many legs at high speed. Their dull bodies were harder than metal, and their scythe-like limbs were sharper than any blade. Moreover, they could fly.

"Stop them here! Not a single one must get through! Everyone, cast your spells!"

"Understood!"

A samurai in warrior armor raised his large sword and gave the command. The samurai group began casting spells in a well-organized manner, a level of training that far surpassed that of the adventurers.

"Fireball"

"Fireball"

"Fireball"

"Fireball"

The samurai group created fireballs the size of humans and launched them at the approaching Scissor Mantis. The high-temperature fireballs flew in parabolic arcs and struck the Scissor Mantis, causing massive explosions that burned the monsters with flames and heat.

"Sure enough, the samurai are formidable. We can't match their combat power."

"They are a trained army, after all."

Fireballs were continuously launched, and the number of Scissor Mantis rapidly decreased. However, new Scissor Mantis emerged from behind them.

"Leader, isn't this strange? There are far fewer samurai than expected."

"Indeed. They're supposed to be guarding the civilian sector, but there are fewer than 200. It's too few."

Swallow frowned, puzzled, and voiced her concern. Kongou also felt it was odd. Normally, there would be more security samurai. Perhaps they decided to rely on quality over quantity, given the elite appearance of the samurai under their serious-looking captain?

But such thoughts were fleeting.

"The bigwigs have their own reasons. Our job is to defeat the enemies in front of us!"

"Right. Let's attack too."

Holding their spears, Kongou's companions laughed and began gathering mana. Kongou also concentrated mana into his axe.

"Right. Let's start the attack! We'll show the samurai the power of adventurers!"

Kongou raised his axe, which glowed red with intense heat, and swung it horizontally. A heavy slicing sound echoed, and a red blade of energy was released from the axe.

"Red-Heat Axe Blade"

The red blade flew low to the ground, slicing through the Scissor Mantis. The Scissor Mantis, cut in half, burst into flames due to the high heat of the blade, but the subsequent ones approached without hesitation, even if they were partially burned.

"Spear Tip"

"Rain of Arrows"

"Wind Blade"

"Water Breath"

"Flame Breath"

Each adventurer cast their spells and charged at the Scissor Mantis that had emerged. Other adventurers also cast spells, and the Scissor Mantis were defeated in explosions. The Scissor Mantis fell apart into pieces, and the peaceful party venue quickly turned into a battlefield filled with the stench of death.

"Rear guard, keep casting spells! We'll engage in close combat soon."

"The larvae are not our problem, but be careful of the adults and the large ones in the back."

"Right!"

Kongou tightened his grip, his muscles bulging as he swung his axe at the approaching Scissor Mantis. Despite its hard body, the Scissor Mantis, about two meters in size, was cut through by the force of Kongou's axe.

"Chirp chirp chirp"

The Scissor Mantis behind the fallen one made a grating sound and swung its scythe-like arm. The arm of the Scissor Mantis, which had an unnatural sheen, glinted dully and attacked Kongou with wind-like speed.

Kongou, swinging his axe with all his might, could not avoid the attack and was hit directly. However, this was within his expectations.

With a metallic sound, Kongou's "Magic Barrier" easily deflected the attack. He pulled back his axe for a counterattack and cut through the Scissor Mantis.

"Too bad. That level of attack won't break my armor!"

Kongou's "Xuanwu Type 15" armor, though old, was equipped with various defensive spells and significantly enhanced his defense. The "Magic Barrier" consumed a lot of mana, making it highly compatible with Kongou, who played the tank role.

"Battle Roar"

"Roar!"

Kongou roared like a fierce beast, casting a spell. "Battle Roar" increased his physical abilities and provoked the less intelligent enemies to focus their aggression on him.

The sound, infused with mana, shook the air and stirred the minds of many Scissor Mantis, increasing their hostility.

This spell was not suitable for a battlefield swarming with enemies, as it would cause them to attack the user en masse. However, Kongou deliberately used it, taking the risk.

Dozens of nearby Scissor Mantis targeted Kongou, turning to face him and gathering.

"There are fewer coming than expected, but it can't be helped."

In the battlefield, where magic and mana were swirling, Kongou's sound waves were likely too weak and had dissipated.

With a grim smile, Kongou used his next spell as the Scissor Mantis' scythes approached.

"Adamantine Body"

Kongou's mana shimmered like glass powder, and his "Magic Barrier" became multilayered. He withstood and deflected all the attacks from the approaching Scissor Mantis.

"Haha! What do you think of my invincible defense?"

"Adamantine Body" was the unique spell that gave Kongou his nickname. For a few minutes, it created a multilayered magic barrier, forming a strong defensive wall.

Kongou slightly bent his knees and circulated his mana throughout his body. His mana formed an aura that flickered, and he took a deep breath before directing his axe at the swarming Scissor Mantis.

"Explosive Axe"

"Roar!"

The axe, glowing with intense heat, heated the air. The axe, infused with his spirit, struck the Scissor Mantis and caused a massive explosion. The swarming Scissor Mantis were all shredded and easily defeated.

"Nice! Cleared!"

Kongou made a victory pose and grinned ferociously.

"Still as flashy as ever."

"Be careful with your mana. There are still many Scissor Mantis left."

Kongou's companions laughed and continued the battle, accustomed to his bold fighting style. As a leader, he had always used the same combo to defeat large numbers of enemies during escort missions.

"No problem. I can use this combo a few more times."

"Don't think you can handle the adults with this."

Swallow pointed to the adult Scissor Mantis. They had blended into the crowd, and although it was thought they had been defeated by the "Explosive Axe," they had quickly retreated and flown away, avoiding the attack. Their bodies were slightly injured but far from fatal.

"Damn! They have sharp mana detection."

They had sensed the mana gathering for his martial arts and avoided the attack. Unlike the larvae, the adults had some intelligence and a sense of danger.

"Chirp chirp chirp"

The Scissor Mantis made a chirping sound and vibrated its wings.

"Vibration Wave"

The moment Kongou felt the air vibrate, his magic barrier shook, and he was knocked back by the force, sliding along the ground.

One of the spells used by the Scissor Mantis, the "Vibration Wave" emitted from their wings, had a powerful range attack that pushed Kongou and his companions back, turning the grass into dust and scattering fine soil.

"The adults are a different league from the larvae. They're troublesome!"

Kongou closed the distance and swung his axe, but the Scissor Mantis deflected it with its scythe. His companion's spear thrust was also avoided as the Scissor Mantis spread its wings and retreated.

"No good! We can't afford to fight the adults while dealing with the larvae!"

The leader of the Martini group, who was also fighting an adult Scissor Mantis, called out in frustration. They were struggling, and the other parties were also in a tough battle.

Indeed, for a B-rank group of six, the adults were a formidable opponent. The Martini group and other adventurers were at a disadvantage. The samurai group, fighting a group of adults, seemed to have no spare capacity to help.

"It seems the adults decided not to target the tank, Leader."

"Maybe they thought a metal block wouldn't be tasty. Smart thinking!"

"More are coming! We can't hold them off!"

Several adult Scissor Mantis and hundreds of larvae emerged from the burning forest, ignoring the samurai and adventurers, and headed towards the fleeing civilians.

It seemed there was a smart one among them, deciding to target the weaker, defenseless civilians rather than the tougher opponents.

"Damn, we're stretched thin too."

Kongou, deflecting the continuous scythe attacks with his axe and using his magic barrier for defense, shouted in frustration. The adults were too strong.

The civilians were still within range, even though they were far away. The monsters were within striking distance.

The adult Scissor Mantis chirped and spread their wings, flying to close the distance quickly.

They raised their scythes to strike the people at the back from the air.

"Damn, no one can go to their aid."

The strike of an adult Scissor Mantis could break an adventurer's magic barrier. The civilians would be killed with a scream. It was a moment that would turn into a scene of horror.

The Scissor Mantis raised their arms, but their heads suddenly dropped, and their bodies swayed in the air before falling.

Something small appeared and disappeared, flickering like a phantom in the sky, and the adult Scissor Mantis' heads were cleanly cut off and fell.

"Huh? What happened?"

"Something small...?"

Kongou, surprised, watched the scene while fighting. The larvae, ignoring the fallen adults, continued to head towards the civilians.

A small figure in a robe appeared as if seeping from the space and readied a short sword.

"Tornado Blade"

The small figure, with a cute, bird-like cry, blurred and spun, slicing the larvae into pieces.

"What just happened?"