The Author's POV

"Whooooo!"

The Abyssal Mammoth raised its tusk into the air and let out a ferocious cry, much like the way a trumpet would sound. Simultaneously, its body raised up on its two legs―exposing its fluffy underbelly in the process—with its legs smashing down against the ground when coming down.

Rumble! Rumble!

The cave began to shake as a result of the mammoth's violent movements, and the color of the mammoth's eyes shifted to an ominous crimson hue.

"Not good; it's agitated!"

"The cave will collapse at this rate!"

Confronted with an unexpected circumstance, the demons began to panic a little. However, the panic didn't last too long. After all, they were all seasoned veterans.

It didn't take long before the order was restored, and immediately after, every demon began forming formations and barking orders at each other.

"Aim for the underbelly! That's its weak point!"

"Make sure you don't kill it!"

"Coming!"

Boom―!

The cave began to shake once more, and the combatants on both sides—the mammoth and the demons—engaged in a struggle with one another.

'This is worse than I anticipated..."

As I turned my head to look at Amanda, I heaved a sigh of exasperation and gazed at her with a frown.

It wasn't just her; everybody else was affected by it as well. They were getting to the point where they were a real pain to deal with.

...but I couldn't really blame them, to be honest. It was my choice to bring them along, and I was aware from the very beginning that the more mana, or demonic energy, they used, the more their minds became corrupted by the demonic energy.

It was also the reason why I avoided using my powers as much as possible.

Really...

If there was anyone to blame, it was me.

Xiu―! Xiuuuu―!

"Whoooooo!"

Amanda's arrows tore through the air as she continued to shoot in the direction of the mammoth. They rode through the air like silver bullets, arriving at the beast in a matter of seconds.

Ca―! Clank!

Unfortunately, when they collided with the mammoth's hide this time, unlike her first attempt, the arrows were deflected away and sent careening aimlessly toward the ground.

I wasn't surprised by this.

After all, there was a significant gap in the level of strength that existed between the Mammoth and Amanda. The simple fact that she had been successful in obtaining a hit in the first place was mind-boggling in itself.

Of course, it would have never occurred if it had not been caught off guard. But that was the whole point.

"Are you not going to make a move?"

asked, observing the battlefield from beside

take quite a while for them to get rid

"I guess..."

agreeing with her

to observe from the back. My eyes

argument for the Duchess. If she were to make a move, things would turn

as strong as

to omit the last

***

Clank―!

"Whooooo!"

into the air as weapons and claws struck against the hard fur of

and the stalactites that hung above the ceiling of the cave began to fall

the cave, held an

"Argh!"

"Watch out!"

pretty one as dark blood spattered all over the cavern, and the demons didn't even get a chance to

luck, some managed to survive due to the fact that their cores

the stalactites made sure that no demon

many demons have fallen

the entire battlefield from

to linger over the mammoth as her eyes her glare became

far, we've lost about ten Marquis

replied, seemingly prepared for the question

"Ten already?"

features as her brows

more than she had

spoke, his voice brimming with caution. "I believe that the reason for the losses is due to none other than the premature shot that was made at the very beginning. Had it not

"Enough!"

cut, her expression remaining the same. The same couldn't be said for her voice as a bone-chilling

We're here to test them. If it were up to me, I'd have killed the beast a while

of. Sure, if she were alone, it'd prove

to appease her uncle for a brief

he once again opened

"Yes, I know, but—"

"Did the shot miss?"

her uncle again; this time, her gaze focused on the hooded figure that

to keep a close eye on the individual ever since they engaged the mammoth with their

spite or annoyance.

The hooded's figure style was to her

she liked reckless ones. Had the individual missed, it would've been a whole different

wrong. For those who

soldier had to adapt to any situation that was presented

was now up to them to exploit that advantage and seal the

At its

once again caught Priscilla's attention as she slowly

'Another hooded figure?'

yelled was donning a black

the instructions that she was giving seemed to be directed toward another hooded figure

fuckwit! That's where the mammoth's

words were rather

it, and then made its way underneath it in

due to the chaos, or the figure's skills, or perhaps both, but much to her surprise, he stood right

SHAAA!