The Author's POV

"If I'm not wrong those are Black-shelled scorpions"

John pointed out as he looked into the distance. I nodded my head.

"They indeed seemed to be black-shelled scorpions"

Black-shelled scorpions were ranked monsters. They were named as such because of the black shell that coated their outer layer. They were generally the size of an adult's thigh, and they were renowned for their powerful stingers that had a strong paralyzing effect.

"How many points was that again?"

"Should be about three per kill"

Standing by the side, Asim responded. Nodding his head, John looked at Melody who was next to Aerin.

"How many monsters within the vicinity?"

Closing her eyes, using her skill Melody calmly responded, "I only feel twelve entities in front of us. So they should all be black-shelled scorpions"

"Great, then that means we can secure 36 points"

"Yup"

"So how should we go about this?"

The Black-shelled scorpion's method of attack was quite simple. Incapacitate the prey with their stinger and then kill them with their sharp claws. What made them especially troublesome was their tough outer layer that was hard to crack.

In short, within a short period of time, they couldn't be killed easily. Fortunately, we had John with us.

He was a great meat shield. As long as he tanked, given enough time we could easily crack the outer layer.

...and John knew this.

"I'll do the tanking, you guys get rid of them"

He then patted his chest.

"I can more or less resist poisons"

Having trained for all sorts of situations like this, John was indeed immune to most poisons.

Unless they were extremely strong ones, he could continue defending without needing to worry about getting poisoned.

"I see...As long as we keep the scorpions in check, we shouldn't be able to face any problems"

Aerin nodded in agreement. She also believed this was the best strategy.

'No, this strategy won't work'

After subtly touching my chin, I shook my head.

We six were definitely enough to kill a black-shelled scorpion. But what worried me was the fact that there wasn't just one scorpion.

"....can I say something?"

"What?"

After a bit of thought, I decided to voice out my concern. Instantly everyone's attention was gathered towards me.

"Frankly speaking. If we follow this strategy we are going to die"

With a solemn face, I broke the news.

Though we wouldn't die literally since the academy professors were hiding in the distance, we'd fail the class.

Simply put.

This strategy was not going to work.

"Huh?! Do you even pay attention in class? If you properly paid attention you'd know that this is the best possible strategy"

Hearing what I had to say. Aerin and Melody aside, everyone's faces became dark.

"What are you talking about?"

"If you want to say something, at least say something useful"

"No, I get that, but haven't you guys noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

I shook my head and pointed in the distance. Towards where the scorpions were located. I then elaborated.

"That they scorpions aren't too far from each other. Once we create enough of a commotion when attacking one scorpion we'll attract the other scorpions and our situation will turn into a six vs twelve. Not that I doubt any of your abilities but, we can't handle twelve ranked monsters at the same time..."

"..."

"..."

Silence fell. Everyone's previous thoughts of fighting the scorpion disappeared. The ones who were trying to argue with me before didn't even look me in the eyes.

do you

the silence was Aerin. To which I

still follow the previous plan, but we'd need to target each scorpion individually. In short, we need to lure them to us

scorpion was easy. As long as

gonna

thought, Aerin lifted her

I can

of my sword, I

terms of crowd controlling and baiting, there was no better

unfortunately, have not managed to increase to the greater realm

asking Donna, but she told me she couldn't help me with

did however tell me that she knew someone who could help me. That was

the end, I was still unable to

my current level was good

"You can do that?"

"Yes, I can"

then let's

came to a decision. Standing by the side John's eyes narrowed slightly before he nodded his head too. Following John, everyone else also

with that

"Nothing to complain"

'Bunch of ass-lickers'

fame, I was still not as famous as Aerin and John who had been there for a long

natural that they

"Haa...Alright, let's start"

'”Swooosh!

three circles in the air. Instantly, three translucent rings appeared before me. Noticing

"What's that?"

that a skill or

obviously a sword

towards the rings. With me being one of the people who

corner of

that this was just merely a

"Hup!"

towards the scorpion in the distance. Watching my rings fly

a long-range

"I do"

was Aerin. Unsheathing her rapier she asked, "What do you need me to

much, I just want you

"Very well"

Aerin took a stance.

"Huu..."

platinum blonde hair fluttered slightly and her rapier became dyed in green. She then

"Hyaaa!"

Wiiiiing'”!

the rapier became dyed completely in green. Following her shout, a beam of light shot towards the scorpion in the distance.

and the scorpion's

"Skreeee'”!"

the other scorpions in the vicinity, but after

"Haa...haa...was that good enough?"

"Sure"

my head to the side, I nodded my head. Inwardly I was shaking

was pale and her breathing

you think you can fool

that she was acting. Despite her ragged breathing and slightly pale face, she

wanted to make herself

Mind games.

you exhausted, let me

"It's okay I'm fine"

Aerin put on

'Seriously?'

'”Swoosh!

proceeded to ignore them and

"Skreeee'”!"

more enraged. Swinging its claws and tails it tried to attack the

that I'll let

when the scorpion was running in the opposite direction that I wanted it to

"Skreeee'”!"

as the scorpion hit the ring, the ring instantly broke. But

the air, I replaced it. This repeated three times until the scorpion was finally within ten meters of where we were hiding. Turning my head to the

"Ready?"

"Mhm"

"Yes"

heads, everyone

other one so we no longer

"Go!"

translucent shield before him, he jumped up and tackled

"Huuup!"

"Skreeee'”!"

colliding with the scorpion, John managed to push

"Support me!"

of the scorpion on him, John

its weak

a streak of light, Aerin dashed before the scorpion and stabbed towards one of its joints. Asim and the others followed her example and