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

while for them to get rid of the beast. If you were

"I guess..."

nodded, agreeing with her

from my position and continued to observe from the back. My eyes

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

she's as strong

to omit the last

***

Clank―!

"Whooooo!"

the air as weapons and claws struck against the hard fur of the mammoth, which further enraged it and caused it to trash around with

hung above the ceiling of the cave began to fall

held an incredible amount of weight—came hurtling down toward a series of demons, impaling their bodies

"Argh!"

"Watch out!"

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

some luck, some managed to survive due to the fact that their cores were not

stalactites made sure

many demons have fallen

entire battlefield from a safe corner

continued to linger over the mammoth as her eyes

far, we've lost about ten Marquis ranked demons,

prepared for the

"Ten already?"

appeared on Priscilla's pristine features as her brows momentarily moved

was more than she

"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 been

"Enough!"

The same couldn't be said for her voice as a

not here to coddle them into defeating the beast. We're here to test them. If it were up

wary of. Sure, if she

was enough to appease her

he once again

"Yes, I know, but—"

"Did the shot miss?"

her gaze focused on the hooded

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

out of spite or annoyance. It was more out of

courageous people to cowards. The hooded's

she liked reckless ones. Had the individual missed, it

wrong. For

soldier had to adapt

advantage. It was now up to them

At

was a loud shout coming from the distance that once

'Another hooded figure?'

was donning a black hood, the

woman based on how clear it was, and the instructions that she was giving seemed to be directed toward another hooded figure who had managed to get on the right side

fuckwit! That's

words were rather

approached the beast, walked up to it, and then made

or the figure's skills, or perhaps both, but much to her surprise, he

SHAAA!