Bam!
The jet-black energy leaking from the blade in streams was truly ominous and razor-sharp. But once you knew it was a Demon Knight's skill, no effect could be more fitting.
"Urk!"
"Hiding behind your shield like that, you look just like a baby turtle...!"
"You bastard...!"
Provoked, the priest ground his teeth before raising his mace.
"The Lord is with me!"
Suddenly, radiance scattered through the darkened forest. The mace glowed with brilliant white light, as if it were a light source itself.
I couldn't recall the skill name, but was that roughly an attack buff? No, a defense buff?
Either way, getting hit by it hurt just as much as before. Due to the matchup, the priest's attacks dealt 1.3 times normal damage to me.
So I quickly retreated. I didn't know the exact level difference, but one hit could easily take half my health or more. Better to play it safe from the start.
Thud, thud.
Rather than pursuing me, the priest lightly tapped his shield with the mace, spreading the light to it.
Cheater. In the original game, buffs only worked on weapons.
"Hup!"
He then slammed down his rectangular greatshield and charged, swinging the mace.
It wasn't a hard attack to dodge. Priest classes prioritized strength over agility, so their speed was glacial.
But just because he couldn't hit me didn't mean I had the advantage.
My attacks didn't land on him at all. It was all because of that greatshield he held.
"You cowardly bastard...!"
Who was the real coward hiding behind a 100% guard-rate greatshield? Unless I bashed it aside or backstabbed him, I couldn't deal any damage...!
Worse, if I even tried a backstab, he'd spin around with the shield up to follow me. With plate armor underneath making his defense ironclad, he wouldn't even allow a single backstab.
What a repulsive priest.
'Should I aim for the head instead?'
I pondered while glaring at the embodiment of disgust.
He wasn't wearing a helmet, so a targeted head strike should at least crit.
But how to pierce that massive shield? No way.
'If I overwhelm it with brute force.'
A skill... maybe a skill could do it? Even at 100% guard rate, maxing out stagger would force the shield open.
"Tch."
Screw it. A prolonged standoff was exhausting anyway.
Might as well roll the dice now.
"I'll sever your neck and offer it to those you've harmed!"
"Hoo...."
I gripped my sword tightly.
My plan: leap over the shield and strike. Only possible in VR, not on PC, but it required skill.
Still, by my assessment, I wasn't terrible at this, nor lacking in drive to try. Worth a shot.
Worst case, it was a game—I could respawn.
With that in mind, I took a deep breath, then kicked the two-hander I'd planted in the ground like a pole. The rebounding blade spun smoothly into my grasp.
Clang!
I then smashed the top of the shield. It tilted slightly, drawing a groan from behind the gap. Even though my attack shouldn't have connected, his reaction was spot-on.
"You think you'll lose?!"
He charged with shield raised, like a bull barreling toward me. But with one death on the line, it wasn't that scary.
Instead, I mechanically recovered the two-hander, shifted one hand from the grip to the ricasso, and flipped the blade overhead.
Thud!
At the same time, I leaped like I was jumping. My foot planted on the tilted shield face, wall-running style.
"...!"
He realized and tried shoving me off with the shield, but I didn't go flying like in a cartoon.
In that instant my body clung to the shield, I spun the overhead blade. Using my ricasso hand as pivot, I rotated the sword and thrust the edge downward.
Positioned right, the blade now cleared the shield.
The white edge cleaved down beyond the shield.
"Kuh!"
Crunch!
I'd aimed for the head, but it struck the shoulder. The pauldron blocked any flesh wound. Shame.
I wanted to press the attack, but gravity was pulling me down. As I felt my body sliding off the shield, I thought.
Hmm. If I fall like this, that mace coming from the left will nail me.
Just in case, I activated the 'Survival Instinct' skill. A translucent arrow pointed to the shield's right side—a safe spot even if the mace swung.
So I shifted my weight sideways. Smart move. It let me dodge the follow-up overhead mace smash.
Whoa, that was close. I rolled again upon landing, fully escaping the priest's range.
"You demon—."
Still, solid result. No damage, but I got right up to the brink of success.
At least I nailed the scene. Everything's recorded, so I'll check the footage later.
"You zealot scum...!"
I forced down my grinning eyes and snarled fiercely before rolling.
That positioned me diagonally behind the priest.
And he was slowed, shield planted in the ground with the mace stabbed ahead.
"Pay for letting your tongue run wild!"
Such a golden opportunity? No way I'd miss it. This time for sure—a real hit—!
"Flames, burn my foe to ash!"
I activated the skill and swung down—had it not been for the incantation from across the forest.
"Another rat?!"
Whoa. Another one now? At this timing?
No mercy on progression. Made to pass event?
I didn't bother hiding my grimace and fell back. A fireball slammed where I'd stood, erupting in a pillar of flame.
Definitely a mage-class skill.
What to say? Even a casual gamer would balk at this.
Dumping a healer-tank & DPS combo on you mid-story or event? Higher level than the player too?
Bit unethical, no? Can't blame me for coming to a high-level zone first—this quest linked straight from the tutorial.
"Archmage!"
"To think the Inquisitor would suffer like this."
I furrowed my brow, nearly relaxing at the voices. Archmage and Inquisitor were 3rd job names for mage and priest.
"Though late, I'll assist."
Game genre shifted, jobs lost meaning—confirmed in trailers—so now just titles.
"Archmage? Hah, sages are nothing special! Mingling with lunatics and attacking passersby!"
So screw courtesy! Even if jobs mattered, same deal!
"Passerby? You demon-contractor trash, playing innocent?!"
Meanwhile, priest spouts perfect lore lines. Can't ignore that.
"Contract? Did you say contract?"
Sounds like I contracted with the guy who killed my family.
I'm dedicating my life to demon hunting over that—such a misunderstanding would snap me.
"Hah! Blinded by the Lord's light, are you?!"
I channeled the rage with a sharp laugh, scraping my voice raw.
Self-praise, but the deep-seated fury came out muffled and raw.
Perfect if my face matched. Can't see it myself. Dark anyway.
"Fools like you aren't even needed by the Lord! I'll rip you apart for the wild dogs!"
"You dare, traitor?!"
"...? Wait...."
The Archmage tried speaking, but we gripped our weapons faster.
「Hostile target within 10m radius.」
Screeech!
A chilling metallic scrape pierced my ears before we moved.
The popup halted me instinctively. Priest too—his glow froze.
"Filthy cur, called a friend?!"
Ignoring him, I strained my ears. Alert senses picked up presences: treetops, underground.
Dozens converged in one spot. Even darkness couldn't hide it.
"...Wondered what demon evaded sight so well. Medusa, eh."
The mage muttered, loud enough for us. I knew already, but.
「Medusa│A demon formed by hundreds of snakes centered on one red snake. Disperses upon sensing danger.」
As the window explained, Medusa was a snake swarm. Grotesque form, scatters on near-death, reforms around the red snake—tricky.
"Hah."
But so what? Huntable mob, so counters exist.
Focus: its entrance timing, and it being a demon.
"Demon...!"
Story confirmed! No other explanation for this timing!
Use it to ally with them? Original script?
"Perfect timing, vermin!"
Nah, rejected!
My concept: extremely antisocial, uncooperative crew. Especially after brawling non-stop.
"Behold death!"
I spun toward it, diving in with a manic grimace—hatred for demons overriding anger at them.
Priest and mage forgotten, no hesitation. They were secondary now! Urgh.
"To my blade victory, to the heavens glory!"
Unlike the glowing priest, I lacked confidence against snakes in pure dark.
I bellowed and lit my lantern. Medusa needed color distinction—light essential.
"What...."
Dazed voice behind? Whatever. Avoid backstab now, good enough.
Even if hit... I'd braced for death. 'Priest knows how to fight—backstabs are fair game.' End of thoughts.
But would I? Ruins story. Even without slip-up, I'd wreck them soon anyway.
Screeech!
Anyway, I plunged the two-hander into Medusa's body first. Dozens of snakes sliced, plopping down.
New snakes filled gaps. Survivors lunged with tongues and fangs.
Ignored. Low pain sensitivity—no hurt. HP barely ticked.
Gauntleted hand churned the swarm.
Sss!
Ah, how I'd craved this in original play.
Snake bites? 2 dmg, 5 dmg. Better tank hits, grab core. Original: chip HP till scatter, hunt red snake.
"You...!"
Snakes on neck and limbs, I found the red one. It writhed to escape my grip.
But awkward to attack like this.
I flung the red snake aside like trash, grabbed the two-hander from the swarm.
Long blade pulled free, dripping crimson blood and lantern-reflected gleam.
Slash!
Before it fled, blade cleaved it. Long body split, spilling blood.
But just in case. Too close to tail—might live.
Stab!
I yanked and smashed again. Head shattered—post-mortem twitch or survival instinct.
Splat!
Vertical after horizontal. But demon hatred wouldn't end here.
I ground the blade. Seeing the mush? Satisfying. Details like this sell the concept.
「LEVEL UP!」
「❖ Danger Lurking in the Northwest Forest
∎ Search for the Demon Hidden in the Northwest Forest
∎ Demon Eliminated 1 / 1
∎ Retrieve Proof of the Hunt 0 / 1」
Quest updated meanwhile.
Core dead, snakes scattered. Chilling, slimy snakes sloughing off.
"Hah...."
Grinning at dead Medusa. No mirror, but not pretty—more cackle than smile.
Blood-soaked grin? Madman look best case.
Wait, for demons, madman fits—good if so.
Anyway. Quest done. Left: mage and priest....
Fresh off demon kill, hyped. They resented my 'demon' mislabel—expect fiercer response.
Good. Immersion max!
Crack, crack.
I rolled my stiff neck, slung sword over shoulder like flicking it. Kept demon thirst and madness in my stare, smile wiped.
"Not interrupting vermin-killing? Praise for zealot's last wits."
Knew it might derail story slightly.
But if my lines break it? Could be fun.
They gave this freedom—devs confident in handling.
"Now, time to tear that mouth as promised."
Do what I want. Concept non-negotiable.