Everyone prepared to execute Hayato's plan, but before they could do that, they needed some kind of weapon. Empty hands wouldn't be enough, so they searched the cave.
While searching the cave, Souta's sharp eyes caught something near a corner of the wall. Several jagged rock formations jutted upward from the ground. He crouched, tested one, then snapped off two sharp tips with effort. The broken pieces fit neatly in his grip, rough, but deadly enough, like small daggers.
He returned to the group, holding them up. "Look, guys. I found some pointy rocks over there." He gestured behind him.
Reina's eyes lit up. She nodded slightly at Souta. "Oh, good. You found some speleothems."
Takumi tilted his head, eyebrows knitting together. "Spele… what now?"
Reina sighing and explained calmly, as if answering a class question. "Sigh, Speleothems are secondary mineral deposits formed in caves by groundwater, mostly calcium carbonate. They're named based on where they grow. Some hang from the ceiling, others rise from the ground."
She glanced at the broken rocks in Souta's hands. "What Souta found are probably stalagmites."
Yuna blinked, clearly lost. "…What?"
Reina turned to her with a flat, deadpan stare. "A pointy rock that grows from the ground," she said simply.
Yuna's face relaxed and smile in realization. "Oooh... Got it."
Reina added, pointing upward, "And the ones above us are called stalactites."
Takumi and Yuna nodded in unison. "Oooh... Yeah, we get it." Both of them glanced at Reina with open admiration *she's really cool and really smart. *
All of them looked ready and prepared, though Miyu and Takumi were still feeling scared little by little.
Hayato explained his plan. Reina, Miyu, and Takumi would stay at the back, providing long-range attacks and support. Yuna and Hayato would charge the kobolds and take them down one by one, while Souta and Riku distracted the other two.
All Souta and Riku had to do was keep the enemies busy. If anything went wrong, the long-range attackers and Miyu's support would step in immediately.
That was Hayato's plan.
The Execution of Hayato's Plan Begins.
The four of them slowly entered the kobolds' lair, moving as quietly as possible, while the remaining three stayed behind, watching and ready to assist.
Suddenly, one of the kobolds turned its head, its sharp ears twitching as it sniffed the air.
Hayato tightened his grip on the long rock that looked like a baseball bat, took a slow breath, and shouted, "Now!"
"Reinforce!" Riku shouted, activating his skill. His body hardened temporarily as he slammed into the first kobold, tackling it head-on.
Souta dashed forward and whispered, "Swift Edge." His skill activated, temporarily enhancing his speed and agility as he rushed toward the third kobold.
Meanwhile, Yuna and Hayato charged the second kobold together.
"Power Surge!" Yuna shouted as her strength surged. She drove her fist into the kobold's face, forcing it to stagger back. The creature straightened and glared at her with a fierce, murderous expression before lunging toward her.
Hayato leapt forward and swung his long rock, striking the kobold's head. It collapsed to the ground, but only for a moment. The kobold roared loud, it pushed itself back up and rushed at them again.
Its claws extended from its fingers as it slashed wildly at Yuna and Hayato. Both of them dodged repeatedly, narrowly avoiding the attacks.
Yuna countered with another punch, slamming her fist into the kobold's stomach. Still, it wasn't enough.
The kobold again roared loudly and retaliated, its claw striking Yuna
"Yuna, look out!" Hayato shouted.
Everyone's attention snapped toward her.
Yuna saw the kobold's claw coming straight at her. She froze and instinctively closed her eyes.
"Protection!"
Someone shouted.
The impact never came.
Confused, Yuna slowly opened her eyes. A bright, translucent shield had appeared in front of her, stopping the kobold's attack.
It was Miyu.
She stood behind them with both hands raised, her face pale with fear as she maintained the spell.
Everyone let out a breath of relief.
"Good job, Miyu!" Hayato shouted.
"Yeah, nice one!" Takumi added.
But Miyu's arms trembled as she struggled to keep the shield intact. The kobold snarled and continued slashing at it again and again. Thin cracks began to spread across the glowing barrier.
Then Reina raised her hand and pointed at the kobold attacking Yuna. "Flare!"
A small fireball shot forward and struck the kobold, forcing it to stagger back with a sharp cry. It wasn't enough to defeat it, but it bought them time.
Takumi felt pressured since everyone was working so hard. He activated his skill and shouted, "Precise Shot!" He focused on the kobold's eye and threw a rock, hitting it.
Precise Shot enhances Takumi's accuracy for about 44% and eyesight, allowing him to land the critical hit.
Then Hayato saw an opening and activated his skill. He spoke with confidence, posing as if in a sword stance, and said, "Aura Infuse!" His long rock, shaped like a bat, glowed light blue, enhancing its durability and sharpness.
Hayato shouted, "YAAAHHHH!" Then he leapt forward in front of the kobold and swung, hitting and wounding it.
Yuna followed with a series of rapid punches, and the kobold finally collapsed.
Hayato stepped forward and said, "To be sure," then swung the rock again, striking the kobold's head to make sure it was dead.
After that, they rushed forward and saw Riku, covered in bruises, with parts of his uniform torn from scratches. Thanks to his skill, the kobold hadn't been able to pierce his body, but it had left marks on his skin.
Yuna stepped forward again. She lowered her body and launched an uppercut at the kobold, sending it stumbling backward.
Hayato followed up with a quick slash to its body, but the kobold still remained standing.
Riku rushed in, grabbing the kobold from behind, and shouted, "Do it, now!"
Yuna attacked it with a rapid series of punches. When she felt her skill beginning to fade, she pulled back, and Hayato stepped in, slashing repeatedly until the kobold finally collapsed, dead.
The three of them rejoiced, catching their breath after the fight.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind."You three, done?"
They spun around, startled, and froze in shock. It was Souta. His uniform was scratched and worn, but his body was unharmed.
Their eyes then fell on the kobold Souta had been supposed to distract. It was already dead, its face charred with burn mark, bruised from small rocks, and its eyes pierced by two rocks, the very ones Souta had been holding.
Hayato stepped forward, curiosity on his face. "What happened?"
Souta replied calmly, his tone steady. "When I was dodging the kobold, I got tired of waiting, so I attacked too. I strike it many time, but attacks didn't work, and I almost got myself killed. Then Takumi threw a rock, hitting the kobold's forehead and knocking it back slightly. After that, it went berserk, attacking me faster than before. I was barely able to dodge with my skill. Then, suddenly, my body started glowing brightly, and I moved even faster. Small bursts of fire launched from me, hitting the kobold's face. Takumi kept throwing rocks, adding more damage. Finally, when I saw an opening, I rushed forward behind the kobold back, and stab both of its eyes with the pointy rocks I've been using as a weapon."
Yuna couldn't help but admire Souta, amazed at how he had fought the kobold all on his own.
Then, suddenly, their status windows popped up in unison.
[Congratulations on defeating your first monster! You have gained experience.]