Chapter 70

"Whoa!"

Some chunk of iron let out a scream and flew into the sky. With her ice-blue eyes sparkling, Miu clasped her tiny hands together in prayer.

"Thank you, Mr. Tank."

The iron spider, now a heap of scrap, rolled on the ground, scattering sparks and smoke. Thank you for enduring so well. Thanks to you, I was able to master Thief IV.

The nine shining stars of Thief IV on the status board. Good job, Miu. You've mastered Thief.

Hawk Miu

Level 43

Thief IV: ★★★★★★★★★

Hunter I: ★★★★

HP: 338

MP: 198

Strength: 131

Stamina: 157

Speed: 403

Magic: 89

Luck: 226

Unique Skills: Lockpicking IV, Steal IV, Hide IV, Sense Presence I, Aim I, 100% increased attack power when equipped with a dagger, 50% increased attack power when equipped with a bow or gun

Skills: Thievery Master, Dagger Techniques IV, Bow Techniques I, Basic Holy Magic III, Basic Holy Area Magic II

A simple skill setup. I might need to level up my holy magic a bit more. It's essential for solo hunting.

But not now. Now it's time to take down the King Mantis.

"Area Minor Healing II"

As the tank was thrown far away, turning into a pile of scrap, I cast a healing spell on the guy I glimpsed. The magic barrier should protect him, so being thrown shouldn't be a big deal. I'm not sure if a mage would recover quickly with just 10 HP restored, but oh, he's running away from the hatch. Good to see he's okay.

I let out a victorious roar and face the King Mantis, who is brandishing six scythes. It's finally one-on-one time.

I hold my Queen Dagger sideways and swallow hard. Even I'm nervous.

I wonder if he'll drop good loot. Miu prayed for the flying scrap, but will it come true? The King Mantis drops good loot too.

"Miss Seina! Please remove this wind barrier! We can't help!"

The captain of the samurai group is asking Seina for help. Seina, they're calling you.

"Hey! You're going to fight alone?"

Ms. Kongo. Don't ask such obvious questions.

A wall of tornadoes has formed behind me. It's a secondary effect of using 'Tornado Sword' repeatedly at high speed, creating a large storm wall. The raging storm stands between me and Ms. Kongo. It's the result of using 'Tornado Sword' effectively.

The dark space is filled with a storm that seems to slice anything that enters. The reason to fear is the mantis carcass sliced and scattered on the ground. It looks like the wind blades are raging like a storm.

In reality, it's just the power of a strong fan, but the people outside don't know that. They believe that if they enter, they'll be reduced to meat chunks. It's strange to think that, but some monsters did cross the storm wall unharmed. I won't tell them, though.

Moreover, if I fight this thing normally, someone will definitely die. I want to clear this stampede with zero deaths. If someone dies, I'll cry my eyes out.

"Let's go, King Mantis!"

I kick off the ground and charge at the King Mantis. My speed is even faster than before, thanks to the proficiency bonus, which significantly increased my speed. The total speed bonus from Thief IV is equivalent to 40 levels. The already fast Thief has become even faster.

In the game, Thief IV had more moves and was responsible for using items and opening treasure chests, but in reality, the setup is significantly different.

"Jiji jiji"

The King Mantis, a monster with six scythe-armed limbs and an eight-legged body over six meters long, faces me. Its body is a vivid emerald green, and its compound eyes shine like a mirror ball, staring at the small and cute Miu.

"Gii"

Just as I thought I heard a wind slicing sound, a scythe was already in front of me, aiming for my temple. Given its size, it would likely crush Miu's head to pieces.

"Huu"

I exhale and crouch to dodge. However, the other five scythes are already blocking my escape routes, attacking me from all directions. It's a smart move, reacting to my initial dodge and launching an effective attack. It's a clever opponent.

Two scythes from the left, timed to slice me horizontally. Two more from the right, and the last one is poised for a follow-up attack. All of them move at a speed like the wind.

"But, that attack is effective for your size."

It doesn't matter to me. Your size is your weakness. My thoughts accelerate, and I adapt to the high-speed battle. The world slows down, and the enemy's attacks seem to move in slow motion.

I sidestep to the left and roll under the scythe, lying flat on my back. The scythe is as long as Miu's height, and I can lie on its blade. I feel the cold, smooth surface of the scythe as I roll over it.

I roll over the blade and do the same for the next scythe. It should have attacked me diagonally, not horizontally.

I land on the ground, leap up, and parry the follow-up attack with the Queen Dagger. The impact sends me flying, but the Queen Dagger holds firm.

"The Queen Dagger can't be broken by your scythes. It's a queen-level weapon."

I bounce off the ground like a ball, stand up without hesitation, and regain my composure.

The distance is set. It's my turn now.

"Phantom Step II"

I take complex steps, swaying my small body. Filled with magical power, I use the Thief's ultimate skill.

My body leaves multiple afterimages, making it difficult to determine which one is real.

"Phantom Step II" increases my speed by 40%. If that were the only effect, it would be the same as "Thief Step II," but it has another effect.

It creates phantoms that increase my evasion against both physical and magical attacks. In the game, it was a useful skill for solo challenges.

I was curious how it would work in reality, but the enemy's sharp attacks became slower and more hesitant.

A scythe swings down, aiming for my afterimage. I sidestep sharply and dance around the incoming scythes, evading them with grace.

My steps, now much faster, allow me to move several meters with just one step. To the King Mantis, it must look like I'm teleporting. Moreover, the afterimages are being cut without any resistance, making the King Mantis doubt if I'm even there. Its attacks become even slower.

"It's my turn now."

I release the power of the Queen Dagger, targeting the King Mantis.

"Before the queen, kneel!"

"Pressure"

The Queen Dagger glows eerily, distorting the space. The King Mantis's body sinks into the ground, and its movements become even slower due to the supergravity. Using the Queen Dagger drains my MP, and with continuous magic use, it's about to run out.

"Gii"

It's just an area attack. The King Mantis rises and spreads its wings toward me, preparing for "Super Vibration Wave."

"Defense"

I cross my arms as the King Mantis's wings tremble. A massive amount of mana gathers, distorting the space around it.

"Super Vibration Wave"

A sharp sound, and the space explodes. Everything is shattered into fine dust, which scatters around me. The dust cloud blocks my vision, and the King Mantis disappears from sight.

"Phew! That was close!"

I glance back, sweating. I'm glad the Kongo sisters weren't there. The ground behind me where I stood is now a deep gouge, with only the grass remaining. It's a terrifying amount of power.

With the dust cloud obscuring the enemy, I check its location.

"Inspect"

"King Mantis: Level 50. Weak to fire"

I slowed its attack speed with the phantom and debuffed it. Physical attacks were manageable, but magical attacks were useless.

My robe is tattered, and my body is covered in wounds. Large reaction moves deal massive damage if not defended. Without the "Magic Armor" equipped, my durability is low. I've taken nearly 200 damage, with flesh torn and bones visible, and my teeth are chattering.

You're tough, King Mantis. It hurts a lot. It's the kind of pain that makes you want to cry. But it won't slow me down. This body is game-spec. As long as I have 1 HP, I can fight normally.

While still in the dust cloud, I use a healing spell to take advantage of the King Mantis's inaction.

"Minor Healing III"

The wounds close, the chattering of my teeth stops, and the tattered robe returns to its original state. But it's just a temporary fix. The damage is still there, and I've only recovered about 20 HP. Still, it's good that it looks healed, and the pain has lessened.

The battle continues.

"I need to do more damage."

I crack my shoulder and bare my fangs in a predatory grin.

"Hide IV"

It's your fault for creating an environment where I can lose you.

I fade into the air, moving silently toward the King Mantis. My Thief IV movement is so refined that I don't make a sound or disturb the dust.

I approach the King Mantis, which is on guard but hasn't noticed me. I move behind it, grinning mischievously, and channel magical power through my body.

"Weapon Disarm IV"

I raise the Queen Dagger in my small hand, and a massive energy blade slices through the King Mantis's body.

With a crack, the severed wing of the King Mantis flies into the air.

"Gii?"

Surprised, the King Mantis turns around, and I smirk at it.

"Mass-produced bosses don't have skills to prevent equipment destruction. I knew that, of course."

"Steal IV"

I wave my hand, and the flying wing disappears, appearing in my item box as "King Mantis's Wing." I smile smugly and wave my hand invitingly.

"Even if you're a higher-level enemy, you're still a mass-produced boss. You're no match for me."

"Gii!"

Realizing instinctively that its wing has been taken by a small being, the King Mantis lets out an angry cry and raises its scythes.

I wipe the blood from my forehead, injured from the "Super Vibration Wave," and crouch like a leopard, ready to end the fight.