Flash (2)

Minotaurs.

If the world of Etius were a typical fantasy game, that name would be insignificant.

In most games, Minotaurs rarely appear, and even when they do, they are nothing more than grotesque-looking, slightly strong grunts.

However, in this world where Gods exist, the Minotaurs, whose names are clearly engraved in myths, hold a different status.

Hybrids born between cows and humans created by the Gods, their cursed bodies, while not quite demigods, are close to it.

Just one of them would be an overwhelming challenge, but there were many. A number befitting to bring despair to humanity.

"Aster!! Get inside the barrier!"

Hector's voice came from atop the barrier.

"Those things are too dangerous! We need to use the barrier and fight back!"

Hearing Hector's words, Aster narrowed his eyes and watched the Minotaurs slowly approaching.

"...No."

Aster, who had descended beneath the barrier, was feeling the full force of the Minotaurs' power throughout his body.

The moment he retreated behind the barrier, the Minotaurs would break through.

He didn't know the specific method.

But whatever it was, those cows would easily break through the barrier.

Aster did not move from his spot. As soon as he understood Aster's intention, Hector shouted towards the left.

"Magic unit!! Move! Construct a magic barrier and prepare to fire!!"

The mages, who had been storing their power, all began chanting at once. They had been waiting for such monsters. It was their turn.

However, cold sweat was dripping from those who were chanting.

'Those things...'

It was true that they had been waiting for strong monsters, but they had not expected such absurd creatures.

Monsters of the abyss that they only saw in textbooks. Moreover, not just one, but many. They had heard the news of a Cyclops appearing in Yeranhes last winter, but this was too much.

"Fire!"

At Hector's shout, the mages' magic rained down all at once. The most effective single-target attack magic was poured onto the Minotaurs.

The pouring magic created a thick cloud of dust. It was a magical attack that would leave no trace of any ordinary monster.

"...Phew."

Seeing that, Aster let out a long sigh.

He looked at his sword once and checked his equipment. He examined his condition with sunken eyes.

Soldiers, knights, mages.

No one expected anything after the dust cloud rose.

Swoosh-

The dust cleared, and the cows revealed themselves.

Perhaps a little soot-stained, the Minotaurs were excessively unharmed.

And yet, their leisurely pace remained the same.

Neither faster nor slower.

The mages' simultaneous firing not only failed to inflict a single scratch on the Minotaurs,

It didn't even provoke a moment's annoyance.

"..."

Everyone watched the cows' advance in silence.

There were no shouts, no screams, no cries of despair.

Even Hector was speechless, his mouth frozen shut.

What should they do with them?

How could they stop them even a single step?

"...Ah."

But the cows didn't even give them time to despair.

As they walked leisurely, their eyes glanced down.

The corpses of the winged creatures that Aster had dropped to block the monsters' advance.

One of the cows looked at it for a moment, then,

Thwack-

With a light foot movement, it kicked it,

Shwaaaack!!

The pile of corpses split the air with a sonic boom.

"Huh!"

Clang!!

The corpses crashed into something in front of the barrier and fell.

It was a magic barrier that the mages had set up beforehand.

But it was all broken by that one attack. They couldn't stop the next one.

The cows continued to advance.

In front of them were the next monster corpses.

Just one attack from one of them had broken all the magic barriers.

That attack, simultaneously,

Whiiiish!

Flew towards the barrier.

The corpses of the monsters rained down on the barrier in an instant. The soldiers on the barrier blankly watched the approaching mountain of corpses.

This time, Aster's sword stretched out.

Slice

Most of the corpses floating in the air were cut in half almost silently. Aster used his aura to perfectly cut through all the flying monsters.

However,

Thud! Kaboom!

A few, whose momentum was not dead, crashed into the barrier or swept away the soldiers on it.

"Kwaaack!"

"Aaack!!"

Screams rang out from atop the barrier, and the soldiers belatedly realized their despair. Soldiers who hadn't been hit by the recent attack also screamed in panic.

"Get a hold of yourselves! Hold your positions!"

Hector issued instructions to the knights on the barrier, and the knights' voices echoed everywhere. However, it was not easy to calm the soldiers who had once panicked.

Aster's brow furrowed beneath the barrier.

Aster was a swordsman. If the barrier was damaged even though he had cut through everything, he had no further means of response.

There was only one way.

"Stop."

His voice reached out and touched everywhere.

It didn't seem like he had raised his aura much, but his voice clearly reached the entire barrier and the ears of the Minotaurs.

"My name is Aster Evans."

Aster spoke politely even to the monsters.

"Defeat me first."

At that, the cows' eyes turned towards Aster. Boredom could be seen in their eyes.

A mere human was spouting nonsense. They had come to break the barrier. They had come to break the barrier and send monsters to ravage all the humans.

No matter how strong that one human was, what reason was there to accept such a fight? The cows completely ignored Aster's words and looked for another corpse. If there were no corpses, they planned to throw a living monster.

"...As expected."

Aster took his stance. Still, the middle stance with a sword in each hand. A basic stance that even seemed clumsy.

"Are you cows so you can't understand human speech?"

They didn't hear that murmur, but Hector realized that Aster's aura was expanding even further.

'He can use an even stronger aura than that!'

Hector looked at Aster below the barrier. In the current situation, Aster was the only one they could hope for.

Aster, who had shown equal or better strength against the Shepherd of Manggot.

'Aster hasn't used his divine power yet! If he borrows the power of 'Baldur', he might be able to kill those monsters!'

It was a reasonable expectation. Aster's greatest talent was being loved by Baldur.

However.

"...Aster?"

Even as Aster further amplified his aura, there was still no sign of him using divine power.

In an attack stance, with time running out before the Minotaurs threw another pile of corpses.

There was no sign of Baldur's appearance.

"No way, no way... No way, Aster!"

A chilling guess crossed Hector's mind, and he unconsciously shouted.

Aster briefly lowered his head. He looked at the sword he held in both hands.

The vertically raised blade reflected the sunlight.

"Lord Baldur."

Aster called his name.

The God who loved him.

The name of long-standing grace that had helped him whenever he faced hardships and adversity.

After reciting that name, Aster chuckled.

"Abandon me."

Immediately after those words,

The aura that had been swirling around Aster vanished completely.