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

it will take quite a while for them to get

"I guess..."

nodded, agreeing with

to observe from the back. My eyes currently focused on the

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

she's as strong as the normal

omit

***

Clank―!

"Whooooo!"

the hard fur of the mammoth, which further enraged it and caused it to trash around

the stalactites that hung above the ceiling of

to construct the cave, held an incredible amount of weight—came

"Argh!"

"Watch out!"

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

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

the sheer size of the stalactites made sure that no demon survived, smashing their cores alongside their

demons have fallen so

asked, overlooking the entire battlefield from

linger over the mammoth as her eyes her glare became

Marquis ranked demons, with several already heavily

seemingly prepared for the question

"Ten already?"

features as

more than

Her uncle 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

"Enough!"

same couldn't be said for her

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

if she were alone, it'd prove to be an annoying foe for her...but she

answer was enough to appease her uncle for

he

"Yes, I know, but—"

"Did the shot miss?"

this time, her gaze focused on

it a point to keep a close eye

spite or annoyance. It was more

cowards. The hooded's figure style was

course, although she liked courageous soldiers, it didn't mean she liked reckless ones. Had the individual missed, it would've

wrong. For those who died...they were merely not good

soldier had to adapt to any situation that

they had gained a good advantage. It was now up to them to

right side! At its belly! That's

a loud shout coming from the distance that once again caught Priscilla's attention

'Another hooded figure?'

yelled was donning a black hood, the same kind of hood as the

giving seemed to be directed toward another hooded figure who had managed to get on the right

its right side, you fuckwit! That's where the mammoth's

words were

beast, walked up to it, and then made

both, but much to her surprise, he

SHAAA!