Chapter 29

Three Tin Knights draw their swords at me.

...Three of them are at 【Lv: 40】.

If it were just these, I might have tried to eliminate the monsters by leaving the duo and Lucie behind.

However, the main body is still waiting.

These are merely the limbs of the <Master of Dreams>.

"Aah, aah..."

A voice like that of an infant echoes.

I explained to Lucie that I would somehow draw their attention and escape, but that was a lie.

As a heavy knight, I lack speed.

While I might be able to evade the Tin Knights, it’s impossible to run from the <Master of Dreams> here, who wields magic.

I will defeat the <Master of Dreams> here.

The odds are bad, but it’s not impossible.

"Ogyaa... Ogyaaa..."

From around the corner, a greenish form approaches, floating near the ceiling.

It has an incomplete human form, resembling a fetus.

Its eyes are mere hollows, its limbs are short, and its body is curled up.

And it has a long, slender tail.

"You’ve come... the <Master of Dreams> of this <Toy Box of Angels>... Embryo!"

The infant-like creature opens its mouth... or rather, a mouth-like opening.

A giant single eye appears inside, scanning the surroundings and locking onto me.

"Ogyaaaaa!"

The infant monster... the <Master of Dreams> Embryo.

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Monster: Embryo

Lv: 50

HP: 42/42

MP: 49/60

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Its stats are quite low for a 【Lv: 50】 monster.

The problem is that it’s immune to damage.

The three Tin Knights it commands are not weak.

Moreover, Embryo itself is floating and moving around as a rear guard, making it almost impossible to attack it with anything other than magic or projectiles.

Worse still, its flesh is highly defensive, and you can’t deal significant damage unless you attack its weak point, the eye.

In short, to defeat Embryo, I need to dodge the relentless attacks of the three Tin Knights while targeting its weak point, the eye.

Even if my level were sufficient, it would be impossible to defeat it without the front and rear guards fulfilling their roles perfectly.

Honestly, I would have liked Lucie and the duo to stay.

The woman was a magic-specialized class.

If the heavy knight took the front and absorbed the Tin Knights' attacks, the jester could confuse and disrupt their movements, and the magic-specialized woman could provide support and healing from the back, making the defeat of Embryo much easier.

However, this is not a game.

The duo was quite terrified.

They probably lost a companion.

It’s impossible to command them in this critical situation.

"But because of its sharp nature, if I can hit its weak points effectively, it’s not impossible to defeat it at a low level... Let’s do this, Embryo. Don’t worry, I won’t run; I’ll face you head-on."

Embryo closes its eye and rises higher.

It will enter a defensive stance to hide its weak point until it launches a magic attack.

At the same time, the Tin Knights draw their short swords and charge at me.

I open my <Status>.

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【Skill Tree】

[Remaining Skill Points: 12]

<Heavy Armor Oath> [20/100]

<Defense Boost> [0/50]

<Basic Swordsmanship> [5/50]

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The use of skill points here is decided.

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【Skill Tree】

[Remaining Skill Points: 5]

<Heavy Armor Oath> [27/100] [＋7]

<Defense Boost> [0/50]

<Basic Swordsmanship> [5/50]

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[You have obtained the normal skill <Shield Bash> because <Heavy Armor Oath> is at [27/100].]

<Shield Bash> is a skill that uses a shield to push back an opponent.

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<Shield Bash> [Normal Skill]

Push the enemy with your shield and knock them back forcefully.

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Specifically, it’s a contest of [Defense + Attack / 2]. If you win, you can knock the opponent back by that value.

If you hit them against a wall or the floor, you can also deal damage.

This skill is useful for dispersing the enemy.

I block the attack of the leading Tin Knight with my <Mad Ghost Shield> and simultaneously push it back.

"<Shield Bash>!"

The second Tin Knight’s blade comes at me immediately.

I parry it with <Parry> and use the momentum to block the third Tin Knight’s blade.

Embryo’s magic attacks are <Silf Cutter> and <Thunderstorm>.

However, it won’t use them in a way that involves the Tin Knights.

Here, I can focus on the Tin Knights.

I circle around the second Tin Knight’s right side and release a <Disarm> attack, reducing its attack power by one level.

I continue to evade the relentless attacks of the Tin Knights and use <Shield Bash> to avoid facing all three at once, while looking for opportunities to use <Disarm>.

I keep an eye on Embryo, even though it’s not moving.

If it unexpectedly uses <Silf Cutter>, I could be killed in one hit.

A Tin Knight slashes at me from a blind spot with a jerky movement.

I deliberately let it hit me.

It has been 47 seconds since I first used <Disarm> on it... now, the effects of two <Disarm> attacks are overlapping, reducing its attack power by 40%.

The conditions for the skill are met.

"<Wall Return>!"

The Tin Knight that slashed my back stiffens and is blown backward.

It hits the ground, its left shoulder dislocates, and it stops moving like a broken puppet.

I’ve taken down one of them...

But I can’t relax. In fact, this is where the real challenge begins.