“Fnnnnn…”

Though I joined in the battle against the lesser monsters, it couldn’t really be said that I contributed much. August took down the bigger ones that broke through the barrage, while Teresa used a mix of magic to handle the rest.

Perhaps if I used 【Danrem’s Thread】 for a big hit, the outcome would be different, but that would mean I’d be unable to use ranged attacks for the next ten minutes. Not a practical option.

“Take this!”

I kicked an incoming boar, and as it stumbled, the snakes delivered the finishing blow.

Using 【Shadow Sword】 requires careful positioning. If I fail to finish off an enemy in one strike, it leaves me vulnerable. While my defensive capabilities have been enhanced by blessings and artifacts, that doesn’t mean I can afford to take hits.

It’s not flashy, but I decided to stick with this steady approach. The boss seemed to be under control, so I turned to check the situation and met Zighart’s gaze.

“Hmm?”

He gestured as though pulling back a bowstring—not just by chance, either. Was he asking me to shoot?

The boss hovered in the air, flapping its wings. Its movements were more akin to a hummingbird than a mantis—though it lacked any of the cuteness.

If I could just disrupt its balance, I might be able to bring it down. However, its exoskeleton repels magic. While the impact would still transfer through, achieving the necessary force would be tough for Zighart to manage alone in his current state.

It looked like it was my turn.

The boss moved with purpose but not at high speeds. Its back was cracked, fragments of its exoskeleton flaking off. Zighart’s magic hadn’t pierced through but had inflicted considerable damage. If I hit it in the same spot, I might be able to break it completely.

Shooting directly might involve Zighart in the attack, but if I aimed diagonally upward, it should be fine. The target was floating in midair, after all.

The risk of drawing its attention toward me was there, but if that happened, Zighart could attack from behind. This could work.

“I’m heading to the mantis. The rest is up to you!”

I informed August and Teresa as I moved to leave my position. Even if I hadn’t been much help, it was only polite to let them know.

“! Understood! If you fail, return without hesitation!” August said, slashing through monsters with confidence.

With that encouragement, I decided to act. I wagged my tail visibly so Zighart would see my signal and left the area.

◇

“Now then…”

Taking on an attacking role wasn’t going to be easy.

Using 【Danrem’s Thread】 required me to remain completely still—even floating, that left me vulnerable. Additionally, if I missed, there’d be a ten-minute cooldown before I could fire again.

August had assured me he’d cover for me if necessary, but the fierce battle raging behind me made me hesitant to impose further on them. If possible, I wanted to finish this myself.

That said, finding the right position to strike proved challenging. I kept moving, trying to line up a shot, but I lacked experience fighting creatures like this Giant Mantis. I had no insight into its patterns, nor the skill to exploit an opening with precision.

“Fnnnnn… Here should do.”

I couldn’t afford to overthink. There was no point in worrying about what I couldn’t do. I just had to focus on avoiding a misfire and leave the rest to fate.

“Hah!”

I activated 【Danrem’s Thread】 and began my preparations to fire.

Seeing this, Zighart switched to a different type of magic, firing small orbs of light in rapid succession like a machine gun. While not particularly powerful, they were clearly a nuisance to the boss.

It seemed risky for Zighart to attract attention like that, but Alec had slipped into position to back him up if needed. The teamwork between those two was impeccable, allowing me to aim without rushing.

◇

After a tense wait, the opportunity finally arrived.

The boss grew irritated by Zighart’s barrage and moved to attack him, only to have Alec intercept it. Forced to retreat and reassess, the boss hovered in place for a moment. It likely realized Zighart’s attacks weren’t strong enough to be a real threat. But that, too, was part of Zighart’s plan.

Even so, the Giant Mantis retained a certain composure, likely because it could flee if things turned dire. Its strength was undeniable, but its confidence gave me the opening I needed.

“Here goes nothing!”

I steadied 【Danrem’s Thread】 and fired at the exposed, damaged shell on its back.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Sera・【Hideout】 +1 【Prayer】【Mira’s Blessing】【Wind’s Mantle】・【Floating Orb】 +1 【Shadow Sword】【Scarlet Bee’s Needle】【Fairy’s Eye】【Dragon’s Lung】【Amber Sword】【Danrem’s Thread】【Snake’s Tail】【Ankle Bracelet】【Amber Shield】【Purple Wings】・3 cards

Seriana・【Range Identification】・【】・28 cards
Elena・【】・【Green Fang】【Amber Sword】・3 cards
Alec・【Power Strike】・【Red Shield】【Fierce Horned Trumpet】・5 cards