For over a century, the Evil Lion Subnock had reigned as the apex predator of the Sabnock Plains—a territory known as the Magical Wilds.
His kin, the Corrosion Beasts, were formidable in their own right, though they lacked the overwhelming power of their master.
Five of the monsters emerged from the tall grass, their numbers almost mirroring the size of the survey party—excluding Priest Rail, who served strictly as a healer.
Whether they were driven by the scent of their slaughtered kin or the sight of their burning home, they let out a collective roar of fury and lunged.
"Everyone, stay alert!" Rest issued a sharp warning to his team.
For everyone except Lyubase, this was their first encounter with this specific species.
"Watch out for their saliva! It’s highly corrosive. Even a drop could be fatal. Keep your distance!"
"Understood!"
Despite the warning, Lyubase lunged forward, closing the distance with the nearest beast in a heartbeat.
"Gyao!"
"Too slow."
The Corrosion Beast tried to intercept him, but Lyubase’s blade had already found its mark. A blur of steel shredded the creature's long tongue before it could lash out, followed instantly by a clean strike that severed its forelegs.
"Gya..."
"It’s over."
As the beast lost its balance, Lyubase delivered a final, decisive flash. The monster’s head fell to the scorched earth. Though it was only his second time facing them, his victory was absolute; he hadn't allowed the enemy to get anywhere near him.
"Hah!"
"Gyaaao!?"
Nearby, Yuri sent a stone skittering across the ground with a powerful kick. It accelerated to the speed of a bullet, punching straight into another beast's skull with a sickening crack.
"The finishing blow!"
"Gy...!"
With the beast reeling and its movements sluggish, Yuri closed the gap in a flash. She delivered a kick like a reaper's scythe, cleaving the monster’s massive body clean in two.
There was no trace of physical enhancement magic in her movements; her raw strength alone was simply monstrous. If she had been kicking a soccer ball instead of a monster, the ball undoubtedly would have ruptured the moment she made contact.
"Thunder Bolt!"
Isis fought with the calculated precision of a classic mage, maintaining her distance and firing powerful spells from the safety of the rear.
She specifically utilized electrical attacks to numb the beasts and arrest their movements. Even if a Corrosion Beast managed to survive the first bolt, it collapsed helplessly under the weight of a second and third.
"Ooooooooooooh!"
Argyle, the veteran knight who hadn't had much of a chance to shine during the survey, stepped forward to intercept a beast that had closed in on him.
Rest watched with a hint of worry, but the veteran expertly evaded the creature's acidic spray, countering with a mana-infused blade.
"Air Slash!"
"Gyao!"
The wind magic riding the edge of his blade tore through the beast's face. It was still alive, but Argyle followed up with a relentless second and third strike.
"Hah!"
Seeing his opening, he delivered the final blow. He stepped inside the monster’s reach and drove his blade into the back of its neck, piercing the medulla oblongata—the vital center of its nervous system—to end its life instantly.
Argyle might have been sidelined during the exploration phase, but in the heat of combat, his experience was undeniable. He was every bit the veteran knight he claimed to be.
"Gyao!"
The last remaining Corrosion Beast turned on its heels, attempting to flee. Having seen its pack slaughtered, it had apparently judged the situation hopeless.
"Well, that’s a smart move for a beast."
It was a clever decision, but Rest had no intention of letting it escape.
"Amaterasu."
"Gya..."
Rest unleashed a concentrated beam of light, aiming for the retreating monster's flank.
He hadn't been standing idly by while his comrades fought; he had been using his Dark Star to absorb and store the surrounding light energy.
I changed the method a bit this time, throttling the amount of light I absorbed... but it looks like I can still kill an enemy of this level with ease.
Determined not to hinder his allies by plunging the area into total darkness, Rest had settled for a slight dimming of the surroundings. While the gathered energy was less than usual, it was more than enough to finish the job if he took a few extra moments to focus.
The beam pierced straight through the Corrosion Beast from its tail to its head, killing it instantly.
"Yeah, that works. Combat over."
Rest scanned the area. There were no signs of further reinforcements. The final engagement of the day had concluded without a hitch.
Between himself, Lyubase, Yuri, Isis, and even Argyle, the party had more than enough combat power. As long as they remained vigilant, the rest of the survey should proceed smoothly.
"G-good work, everyone."
Only Priest Rail looked slightly awkward. As the party's healer, he’d had absolutely nothing to do. Given that everyone had emerged from the fray completely unscathed, Rest figured the priest would just have to forgive them for the lack of work.