[Enemy Type 1: Cursed Abomination Lv.52]
[Combat Tactic: Active Decoy]
[Combat Directives: aggressive singular confrontation, diversionary physical direct attack, dodge priority, block priority, minimum exertion cost]
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[Enemy Type 2: Dark Spawn Lv.14]
[Combat Tactic: Passive Offense]
[Combat Directives: passive coordinated elimination, swift subjugation, physical direct attack, physical projectile attack, low mana-cost magical attack, minimum exertion cost]
A strategy focused on energy preservation and minimizing injury risk.
Sigyn wanted us to fight a prolonged battle.
We would not be killing the chimera and achieve our objective any time soon. Though it did not seem to be possible whether we wanted to or not.
"Master's orders are here!"
I announced to my comrades.
I continued as I obliterated five Dark Spawn with a fire spell.
"Don't bother seeking out all the Dark Spawn! Conserve your energy! Just take care the ones that are in your way!
"No need having all five of us attacking the chimera! One person will draw its attention and keep it occupied! Jonah, Shanny, Devisha, the three of you will take turns every five minutes!
"Devisha will take the first turn! Darius and I will protect her from the Dark Spawn!"
Upon my instructions, Jonah and Shanny immediately retreated from the chimera, leaving the Tsahanam assassin to confront it.
The enchanted ring on Devisha's finger then glowed up and enveloped her with magical energy.
[Ring of Malaikat (A-) is taking effect!]
['Devisha (★★★)'s agility and stamina have increased by 10 for a period of time!]
We had added another function to Devisha's ring.
On top of the gravitational spell which allowed her to walk on any surface, Devisha's ring could also manipulate her stats.
The ring could increase Devisha's strength, agility, and stamina to certain degree for a duration of time.
She could even further enhance the enchantment by only increasing two stats or a single stat at once.
The duration of the enchantment depended on the degree of status enhancement that Devisha applied to herself.
It also affected the time she had to wait before being able to activate another status enhancement. The weaker the enhancement, the shorter Devisha had to wait.
It took a while for Devisha to grasp the enchantment's timing and cooldown period.
But she was now able to keep track of all the enchantments she casted on herself and used them to her advantage in battle.
Screech!!!
Devisha charged at the chimera and attacked one of its legs.
[This monster is immune to physical attacks!]
No wound, as expected.
Devisha then leaped away to dodge the chimera's claws. She retreated further till the beast could not reach her with its limbs.
After Devisha had created considerable distance with the monster, the two scimitars on her hands were suddenly engulfed in a flash of light.
The two curved swords disappeared and got replaced with a pair of daggers.
It was another new function we added to Devisha's ring.
The magic equipment could also summon weapons for her, as well as returning them back to the War Storage in the lobby.
This function allowed Devisha to switch between weapons more efficiently.
Paired with her status enhancement function, Devisha's ring made her more versatile as well as increasing her unpredictability.
Flash! Swoosh!
Devisha threw her daggers at the chimera and immediately summoned another pair and another.
Thanks to her enchanted ring, she was able to throw dozens of daggers in mere seconds.
[This monster is immune to physical attacks!]
[This monster is immune to physical attacks!]
[This monster is immune to physical attacks!]
None of Devisha's assaults could wound the chimera in any way.
But she managed to draw the lion head's attention which controlled the chimera's movement.
The bull and the lizard were still attracted to the remainder of us.
They constantly sent torrents of fire and dark liquid balls all over the rise.
Screech! Boom! Splash!
The pressure of the enemy attacks on us did not significantly reduce with this new strategy.
But at least we did not waste most of our energy trying to injure the chimera.
Swiishh…
The black pools created by the liquid balls evaporated into thick dark mist like before. Slimy figures immediately emerged from within the screen.
[Dark Spawn Lv.14 x???]
"Here they come!"
I warned my comrades.
"Darius, you and I will intercept any Dark Spawn targeting Devisha! Jonah, Shanny, the two of you will protect us instead!"
Upon my orders, Jonah and Shanny immediately formed a defensive line around Darius and I.
The shepherd and the former maid swiftly struck down any Dark Spawn approaching us.
Darius and I then took aim toward the ones rushing toward Devisha.
Swoosh!
Boom!
Twelve Dark Spawn got eliminated by our arrows and spells.
Devisha continuously threw daggers at the chimera to draw its attention. She tried to maintain her distance as to not increase the risk of being struck by the beast's giant claws.
Once the three-headed beast noticed the rest of us, the Tsahanam assassin would summon her scimitars again and charged at the beast's leg to taunt it.
[This monster is immune to physical attacks!]
Screech!
The chimera pursued Devisha once more.
Its bull head and lizard tail kept spreading chaos all over the rise, however.
Whooosh!
Swiishhh….
[Dark Spawn Lv.14 x???]
More slimy figures emerged from the newly-created black pools.
Darius and I proceeded to intercept any that was after Devisha while Jonah and Shanny protected us.
The cycle continued till five minutes had passed since Devisha took charge as decoy.
"Devisha, withdraw! Jonah, take her place!"
I ordered.
The shepherd then rushed toward the chimera as the Tsahanam assassin dashed back to our position.
Darius and I swiftly eliminated the surrounding Dark Spawn to secure the formation shift.
Jonah replicated Devisha's strategy using his main spear and throwing spears.
He would charge onto the chimera's leg and strike it with his main spear, drawing its attention.
The shepherd would then create some distance between himself and the monster and started attacking it with his exploding throwing spears.
Boom!
[This monster is immune to physical attacks!]
[This monster is immune to magical attacks!]
We still could not injure the monster.
But it maintained its attacking pattern that we had no problem challenging the chimera for another five of minutes.
"Jonah, withdraw! Shanny, take over him!"
I ordered my comrades.
The former maid proceeded to strike down six Dark Spawn in a single slash to carve open a path.
With her way clear, she charged at the chimera and struck it on the leg.
[This monster is immune to physical attacks!]
Shanny had captured the monster's attention.
She did not replicate her comrades' strategy by creating distance with the chimera and attacking it from afar. Her sword and shield simply were not suited for such tactic.
But Shanny had observed the chimera long enough and had grasped its pattern of attacks quite well.
She was able to directly confront the monster while perfectly anticipating its counterattacks and dodged them.
"What's our plan now, Fina?"
Jonah asked as he pierced two Dark Spawn with his spear.
He went on while stabbing another three.
"I think we've got the monster's abilities figured out. We just need to find a way to actually injure it."
Indeed.
We now could anticipate all of the chimera's actions.
It basically had three main forms of assault.
The claw swings with its legs. The fire torrents from the bull head. And the monster-spawning liquid balls from the lizard tail.
But were these truly the extent of the chimera's abilities?
I doubted the previous scout squads were annihilated by these basic attacking patterns.
Yes. They definitely would not be killed by these simple assaults. Especially Rizarde's party.
"Stay alert!"
I told my comrades.
I went on while intercepting five Dark Spawn with a fireball.
"We will be patient and keep observing the monster. Maintain your guard. Anticipate any sudden changes!"
After observing the previous scouting attempts, I knew it would be crucial to take note of the mission's duration.
Something always happened after certain interval in the twentieth floor's mission. And that something always turned things for the worse.
It had been nineteen minutes since the Quintal Trial began.
If my observation was accurate, then something dangerous was about to happen soon.
Time to find out what it was.
Screech!!!
The chimera's lion head suddenly let out a terrible noise.
It began grunting heavily, as if it was in terrible pain.
[The Cursed Abomination is evolving!]
Upon the notification, the large thorns which made up the lion head's mane began to writhe.
"Something's wrong with the monster!"
Shanny shouted as she retreated a few steps from it.
A light flashed in the sky and from it descended a signal from Sigyn.
[Urgent Order:]
[TAKE COVER!]