If you've ever been hit by a car, you know that it happens in an instant, and nothing can be fixed. So it is at this moment.

"Get ready for battle!!

At the very moment when my scream cut through the silence, the dwarf's axe shot at breakneck speed and plunged into the mage's shoulder.

*Crunch!*

It was the eerie sound of flesh tearing, forcing him to return to reality. When the sound reached my ears, my body was already rushing forward with all its strength.

*Jerk*

My goal is to save Raven.

"Kyaa!"

Quickly covering the distance, I picked up Raven in my arms and quickly stepped back. Hans G's tank did the same.

"Both of you, wake up!"

A blunt warrior standing in the distance pulled Hans G and the elf archer behind him, hiding them behind him. The siege formation arose by itself.

We have an advantage both numerically and qualitatively. And if so, how does the dwarf plan to resolve this unfortunate situation?

As everyone watched warily, the dwarf pulled out an axe stuck in the mage's shoulder and shouted out the name of one person.

"Hans Krissen!"

Eyes gathered in the suffocating air. However, Hans G was silent and trembling.

Then the dwarf, calling again, shouted:

"Do you want your secret to be revealed!?"

It seemed that the head was vibrating. Hans G's secret could only be one.

The dwarf continued.

"All right, if you want, I'll get you out of there myself." Hans Christen is an evil spirit! I have proof of this in my backpack-...

"Guys! Get away from it!

I immediately sent a warning.

If the dwarf had convincing evidence, then Hans G's betrayal was already a fait accompli.

But...

"An evil spirit?" Do you think I'll believe -...

I was a step too late.

*Uuuuh!*

Summoned by Hans G, the lizard spewed furious flames towards the blunt warrior.

"In... Ahh...

He collapsed to the ground, engulfed in flames.

"M-I'm sorry..." Hans G squeezed his eyes shut, walked over to the dwarf and said something incomprehensible. "Wh-what are you doing?" Miss Meyrin, come here, quickly!

— ... Oh-what are you talking about?! Do you want me to go there after you've done this horrible act?!

"You're not thinking of leaving me, are you?" M-We're from the same place. We must go everywhere together! I... I've done all the dangerous things for us!

It was a very unexpected turn of events.

"Ha, you damn snot!"

As soon as I saw the distorted expression on the elf archer's face, the situation began to take shape clearly in my mind.

I can't believe they're both players.

Judging by the dwarf's surprised face, it could be assumed that he didn't know about it either. Most likely, he had just found some evidence during the Night Watch, threatened Hans G, and that was it.

When Hans G betrayed her, leaving her no choice, the elven archer gave a cry of frustration and headed for the dwarf.

"Dwarf!" You'd better keep your promise and take me to Noark!"

—... Of course! Come on, help me!

How everything spun.

I even had a headache. A moment ago, we clearly had an advantage in numbers. But now we had one less man on our side than they had.

The guide of the Hans G team had already passed out from shock, but her combat effectiveness was zero even if she hadn't passed out. In addition, even defeating them in such unfavorable conditions did not solve all our problems. After that, a bleak future awaited us - the five of us had to fight the boss.

Damn, there's still a Double among us.

The path ahead was, to put it mildly, long and winding. Curses poured in by themselves.

Even with the Hans effect, isn't that too much?

Complaints also broke out involuntarily, but... What can you do?

'Behellaaa

We had no choice but to try.

***

There was no need for long words. The time for talking is long gone.

*Woouuh!*

As soon as I activated [Gigantization] and rushed forward, a gray vortex swirled around me.

*Shaaaa!*

This was one of the sorcerer's many attacking skills. Since this skill didn't cause physical damage, even I wouldn't be able to just take it on my naked body without injury. But we were a team.

"[Teyrun Sheardim].

I was covered by a veil of mana, which was conveniently called [Mana Shield] in the game. That is why magicians were important in PC. Their mana efficiency could be too low and therefore wasteful to hunt, but not against humans. Consumption will be high on both sides.

*Uuum*

When my vision cleared, a dwarf stood in front of me.

*Boom*

On his short legs, he managed to jump high and hit my face with his shield. The damage itself was not great, but my body in the state of [Gigantization] was helplessly knocked back due to his skill [Bipolar Shield]. It gave a bonus to recoil when pushing and reduced the force of the blow when blocking.

*Hum*

Immediately after I was thrown back, leaving a long trail, the Beastman Warrior stabbed with his sword. The expected target was my unprotected eye.

"Oh, no!"

Mike, hiding behind me, jumped out and parried the blow of the swordsman beastman.

Okay, then I'll leave it to Misha.

*Weeeep!*

Using my shield to deflect arrows flying from the front, I brought the mace down on the dwarf's head as he landed on the ground.

*Boom!*

But what was it?

It was a blow followed by a [Swing]. Even if he had protected his head with a shield, the shield would have shattered into pieces. At least, that was the case with his Double. Then why is the shield intact now?

Bloody hell.

I found out the reason quickly. His earrings emitted the same light as his shield.

… №2988?

Unsurprisingly, the results are different from the Double. A numbered item could not be copied. In the case of such a high-end item, the difference was like heaven and earth.

*Bach!*

At that moment, Mr. Bear's explosive arrow exploded in the dwarf's rear camp.

Hans G summoned the Earth Beetle in time and made no casualties, but when the wall collapsed, Raven's magical attack continued.

*Kwang!*

Dozens of lightning bolts fell from the sky.

One of them hit Hans G and knocked him down. Of course, not for long, because there was a priest there.

*Uuuuh!*

A few seconds later, Hans G came to his senses and used his summoned beast to spew out flames. The target was our rear. Raven had just cast a spell and I couldn't stop it, so Mr. Bear's summoned beast just blocked it with its body.

"Wum!"

The bear howled as if it were nothing. Spirit Creatures possessed high Magic Resistance.

Hmm, at this level, team fights take on a completely different scale.

After that, the priest of Karui finished his preparations and began to summon monsters in all seriousness.

"Grrrrr...

An army of undead poured out of the ominous-colored portal in the air. By coincidence, we had just the perfect opponent for this.

'Behellaaa

Without waiting for instructions, Einar rushed forward, brandishing her sword.

*Bach! Bach! KABOOM!*

Every time she used [Second Strike], explosions would be heard and sparks would fly. In addition, if she was injured, she would be recovered with the help of the [Wings of Greed]. Usually, if she used all the skills without restriction, she would be without Soul Power.

But...

[Ainar Feneline killed the enemy. [Predation] activated, Soul Power restored].

Imprint Einar specialized in murder.

*Bang! Dddddddd! Boom!*

Various skills burst out from all sides, creating a cacophony of sounds. Everyone faced more than just one specific opponent. At times, we had to retreat to help our teammates. And so the fierce battle continued, in which it was impossible to say who had the upper hand.

"You know what?" The dwarf who had stabbed his knockback shield in my face spoke to me for the first time in the battle. I wanted to ignore him, but I replied:

"That you're going to die soon?"

— No, I don't. That you are the core of your team.

Isn't it obvious?

At every opportunity, I ran back and forth, breaking the formation and inflicting damage on the enemy, hiding behind a shield from arrows and magic that came across my path. On the other hand, the dwarf just followed me and didn't let me roam.

"In other words, if you and I disappear at the same time, my team will be in a much better position.

—... What?

The dwarf grinned and shouted.

"Jainen!" Immediately!

Jainen is the name of the priest of Karui.

The dwarf had to shout over and over again to give orders, as they had no command voice magic.

[You have entered the special area "Crossroads of Fates"].

The surroundings, which exploded like fireworks, darkened. In addition, the sounds of fierce battle ceased, and silence reigned.

I couldn't help laughing.

I was wondering what you were going to do...

But did you use Crossroads of Fate?

Dwarf bastard, do I really seem so simple to you?

***

Fate's Crossroads is a unique power available only to the Priest of Karui. The effect was simple: She sent two targets into an isolated space. For reference, this skill could only be used if said individuals were hostile to each other, and only when one of them won or if the supply of power from the outside world was cut off, could they return...

*Click*

There was the sound of a switch clicking, and it became lighter all around. I was standing on top of a stone statue the size of a building a dozen stories high. More precisely, I was standing in the palm of the statue. I looked up and saw the face of the statue looking down at me, the face of the evil god Karui, whom I had only seen in books.

"You're surprisingly unfazed," the dwarf muttered leisurely about ten meters away.

I could not resist and asked:

"With what confidence did you bring me here?"

— ... Do you know about this place?

Of course I do. It was a kind of dueling ground, a place cut off from the outside world, where you had to fight using only your individual strength.

And he brought me here?

"How ridiculous!

Seeing my expression, the dwarf frowned.

"You think too highly of yourself, barbarian.

So you sincerely believed that you could defeat me like this?

Or that by keeping me here, the outside forces will win and allow you to return?

*Smirk*

I was thinking of saying something, but it was a waste of time. And I did not find any reasons for this. It was enough to prove it by his actions, as a barbarian.

'Behellaaa

No questions and answers needed. Having finished chatting, I rushed at the enemy.

*Jerk!*

The dwarf stepped back, as if he had decided to hang out here. It was a pointless struggle. And how can you run fast on such short legs? He even seemed to realize that this option was impossible, and raised his shield.

*Woowoom*

He swung his shield, intending to push me away, but I only let him hit me earlier because his teammates were constantly distracting me.

Turning my body slightly to dodge him, I brought my mace down on him.

*Klang!*

A clear blow rang out from the shield raised above the dwarf's head. Of course, this was not a problem.

*Klang!*

If one time was not enough, then it was necessary to do two.

*Klang!*

If not two, then three.

*Klang!*

Wow, it was like a game of "Catch a mole" or something.

No matter how many times I struck with my mace, the dwarven's shield held.

"I told you... I will endure.

Breathing became intermittent. Anyway, I guess that's what you believed. For some reason, I felt sorry for him. I would never have thought that you would really fall for this bait.

*Klang!*

After I fell thirteen more times, I pretended to hit again and quickly stretched out my hand somewhere to the side.

And...

—…!

I tugged at his earring. There is no way that a numbered item could have been damaged with such force, but flesh is not a numbered item.

*Tear*

The soft earlobe was torn, and the earring fell out.

No2988, "Badge of the Guards Corps".

It did not give any special characteristics or effects, but wearing it increased the cushioning of the shield by as much as 50%. I would never have thought that I would get this basic item.

— ... Give it away! The dwarf belatedly understood the situation and rushed at me like a madman. Of course, all I could give him was a big and hard mace.

*Bam!*

From the shield with which he reflexively protected his head, a rumbling sound escaped.

Oh, my! As if relieved after a long constipation.

On that note, let's hit it again.

*Bam!*

The dwarf staggered violently, holding a half-bent shield in his hands.

*Crunch!*

Taking advantage of the fact that he lowered the guard, I brought the mace down right on the top of his head. That was the end of it, and the dwarf collapsed to the ground. However, judging by the fact that space did not collapse, it was not an instant death.

Maybe he lost consciousness?

Anyway, his body was damn strong.

In any case, this is good.

I rummaged through the dwarf's bag and pulled out the item. It was nothing more than a test tube containing the essence of Manticore. Looking at this, I suddenly remembered this guy's phrase during the roll of the dice.

"Luck is on my side."

The most inappropriate phrase No1 in my life. It was a bit ironic: The guy who said that phrase was soon doomed to die, and I was in the opposite position. Perhaps luck was an omen of misfortune.

But...

"To think that the test tube in the expandable backpack was still intact.

I grinned and said:

"It seems that luck is on my side.

Everything should be fine with this. Everything else I achieved on my own.

I took a sip of the essence from the test tube.

[The essence of the Manticore penetrates your soul].

*Dddddddd!*

At that moment, I felt a vibration throughout the space.

It was surprising that he was still alive. At last he died.

The corpse will return to where it disappeared, and I can deal with it later...

When I closed my eyes and opened them again, I saw a familiar forest. I quickly scanned the surroundings. Less than 5 minutes later, I was taken there.

*Kwaaaang! Crack! Boom!*

The battle was still going on. However, it seems that after my disappearance, there was a retreat, as the battlefield moved slightly and was about 70 meters away from me.

I needed to join my fighting comrades as soon as possible.

Hmm, that kind of distance seems quite appropriate.

In this way, I manifested my newfound ability, an active skill in the yellow essence of the Manticore.

[Jump].

Feeling that my body was lighter, I jumped up with all my strength.

And...

[The value of the Jump Force is increased by 10 times and causes a strong effect on the surrounding area when landing].

My body flew down a steep parabola and slammed into the center of the dwarven team.

*Baaaannggggg!*

I finally got the mobility skill.