[The Cursed Abomination is evolving!]
The last time the chimera did something like this, monster-hatching thorns began shooting out from the lion head's mane.
What terrible thing would it do now?
Screechh!!!!
The lizard head at the chimera's tail began to writhe.
Thick dark mist was pouring out of its jaw.
Burst!
Instead of liquid balls, a large stream of dark liquid flowed out of the lizard's mouth.
The lizard directed the stream all over, almost the entire rise got drenched with the dark liquid, turning the ground into pitch-black surface.
Swiishhh….
Dark mist manifested from where the black substance was, which was everywhere.
And from the vast pools emerged Dark Spawn thrice as much as they were summoned before.
[Dark Spawn Lv.14 x???]
Previously, when the Dark Spawn was only emerging from singular black pools, they were numbered in dozens.
This time they were certainly over a hundred.
Shanny would not be able to intercept all the Dark Spawn that will go after Jonah. And it would be dangerous if Jonah had to divert his attention while fighting the chimera.
We needed to adjust our strategy.
"Devisha, help Shanny defend Jonah! Darius, I'll leave the Night Terror to you! I will take care of the Dark Spawn instead!"
My comrades did not question me.
They knew we had to adapt to the changing situation.
Devisha then dashed toward Shanny and Jonah while Darius rapidly shot down the flying creatures all around us.
Time to do my part.
Maha Topan.
I forged four deadly twisters and unleashed them onto the Dark Spawn.
Dozens of the slimy creatures were eradicated each second.
Burst!
But the lizard head continued pouring more dark liquid in abundance.
The large pools evaporated into dark mist which then summoned more Dark Spawn.
They almost recovered their number even after my heavy assault.
Screech!!!
A big lump suddenly formed along the lizard head's throat.
It was trying to push something out of its jaw.
Whoosh!
A large slimy round object shot out from the lizard's mouth.
Crash!
Unlike the previous liquid balls which splashed into pools, the round object crashed heavily on the rise like catapult projectile.
What could it possibly be?
Before I could observe the hard round object further, another lump formed on the lizard head's throat.
Whoosh! Crash!
The lizard launched another round object. And another and another.
Whoosh! Crash! Whoosh! Crash!
Over a dozen of the mysterious projectiles were scattered all over the rise.
The lizard did not particularly aim at my comrades when shooting out those objects. It simply wanted to release them for the sake of it.
Zingg!
Peculiar lights flashed in the sky.
Another signal from Sigyn.
Suddenly, all the round objects the lizard shot out were now marked with shining crimson crosses.
[Urgent Order:]
[IMMEDIATE ERADICATION!]
Sigyn wanted us to destroy those round objects immediately.
Better not doubt their order.
"Darius, aim your explosives at those targets Master just marked!"
The archer and I proceeded to direct our assaults toward the round objects.
Our exploding arrows and fire spells obliterated most of them instantly.
Krrchh!
"Hm?"
Darius frowned.
He nodded to one of the round objects he just destroyed.
"Is that a corpse that just fell out from it?"
My eyes widened at what I witnessed.
"They're eggs! Destroy them all quickly!"
Darius and I rapidly attacked the round objects.
We tried to destroy them all.
But we had to divert our attacks to take care of any incoming Dark Spawn and Night Terror. Not to mention, the lizard head kept launching more and more of the round object.
Crack!
One of the eggs we missed shattered by itself.
Crash!
A huge scaled arm suddenly burst forth from inside the egg, snatched one of the passing Dark Spawn, and crushed the feeble creature to death.
Kroaahhh!
The entire egg exploded and emerged from within a giant hunched figure about only half the size of an ogre.
It had limbs like tree trunks and fists as big as boulders. Glistening pitch-black scales which looked as tough as steels were enveloping the creature's entire surface.
[Deathbringer Lv.23]
"The fuck is that creep?!"
Shanny shouted once she noticed the giant.
Zingg!
More lights flashed in the sky. Another signal from Sigyn.
[Designating 'Elimination Priority' for 'Party 1'.]
[Heroes in 'Party 1' will tend to eliminate the listed enemies based on the designated order.]
[Elimination Priority: Deathbringer Lv.23 (first priority) – Night Terror Lv.15 (second priority) – Dark Spawn Lv.14 (third priority) – Cursed Abomination Lv.52 (lowest priority)]
Maha Haljantarr.
A powerful stream of lightning burst from my fingertips and struck the scaled giant.
Kroaaahh!
My lightning spell penetrated the creature's tough surface and caused the thing to explode from the inside, reducing it to piles of flesh.
"If you see one of them, kill it immediately! Better yet, kill them while they're still inside their eggs! We don't need more enemies making our battle tougher than it already is!"
I ordered all my comrades as I obliterated another Deathbringer that just came out of its shell.
Shingg!!!
At the same time, bright bluish-white light pierced through another portion of the dark clouds below the rise.
[Field formation is complete!]
[Master, the rearguard can now be deployed.]
[Extend a helping hand to the heroes in distress!]
The clouds parted and revealed underneath them a huge straight paved road lined with barracks and warehouses at each side.
[Pirate Lv.16 x160]
[Pirate Captain Lv.19 x37]
[War Hound Lv.14 x56]
An army of pirates had spread themselves on the huge road.
They formed layered formations which I recognized as the enemy formations that Master would use against the second rearguard in our mock battles.
If this was where the second rearguard would be deployed, then their objective must be somewhere along the huge road.
I was correct.
Right at the end of the wide path was a round harbor facing a raging dark sea. Another altar of the goddesses statue was placed at its center.
And like with the first rearguard's altar, there were formidable foes guarding the site.
Three large crimson-scaled winged lizards. A new type of monster.
[Tamed Juvenile Wyvern Lv.22 x3]
Other than the lizards, there were also peculiar-looking pirates guarding the altar.
A huge muscular man wielding two heavy swords. And a tall masked man with a silver trident.
[Danger!]
[Junao the Giant Killer Lv.26]
[Danger!]
[Minea the Sea Hunter Lv.26]
Quite a challenge.
The Quintal Trial refused to make it easy for us heroes.
Now who would Master choose to tackle this obstacle?
[Choose the rearguard.]
[Designated Parties - Party 1 (on the field), Party 2, Party 3, Party 4 (on the field), Party 5]
[You have selected 'Party 3'.]
[Party Composition - 'Ulrica (★★★★)', 'Matrias (★★★)', 'Harisse (★★)', 'Maura (★★)', 'Selin (★★)']
[Would you like to deploy them?]
[Yes (selected)/ No]
A pool of bluish-white light manifested on the other end of the huge road.
From within the radiance emerged Ulrica, Matrias, and three armed women of Party 3.
I immediately reached out to the Near-Kin. My voice was also broadcasted to the other members of Party 3 so they would understand the situation.
"Ulrica, there's no time! Reach the altar located at the harbor ahead of your position!"
[The place with the statue of the winged maidens? Master has just dropped a signal ordering us to go there too.]
"That's right! It's important that you reach the statue as soon as you can! Be wary of the strong enemies around the altar!"
[Understood! Leave these matters to us, southlander! We'll be there in no time!]
The Near-Kin replied convincingly.
I heard her war cry before the communication line was disconnected.
[FOLLOW ME, MY FELLOW WARRIORS! BY THE TEARS OF INDRA!]