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?"

the battlefield from beside

get rid of the beast. If you were to help out,

"I guess..."

agreeing

to observe from the back. My eyes

the Duchess. If she

all, she's as strong as the normal

to omit the last

***

Clank―!

"Whooooo!"

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

and the stalactites that hung above the ceiling of

rock that was used to construct the cave, held

"Argh!"

"Watch out!"

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

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

the stalactites made sure that

have fallen so

entire battlefield from a safe corner

over the mammoth as her eyes her glare

lost about ten Marquis ranked demons, with several

replied, seemingly prepared for the question

"Ten already?"

appeared on Priscilla's pristine features

than she

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!"

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

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

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

was enough to appease her uncle for a

brief moment as he once

"Yes, I know, but—"

"Did the shot miss?"

her gaze focused on

has made it a point to keep a close eye on the individual ever since they engaged the mammoth

out of spite or annoyance. It was more out

courageous people to cowards. The hooded's figure style

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

didn't miss their shot, they did nothing wrong. For those who died...they were

a soldier had to adapt to any situation

advantage. It was

side! At its belly! That's

loud shout coming from the distance that once again caught Priscilla's attention as she slowly turned

'Another hooded figure?'

noticed that the person who had yelled was donning a black hood, the same kind of hood as the one

giving seemed to be directed toward another hooded

side, you fuckwit! That's where the

were rather

watched as the figure leisurely approached the beast, walked up to it, and then made its way underneath it in

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

SHAAA!