52 Steel Determination (1/2)

Greater Steel Doll

HP: 50000/50000

”Keep them distracted while I go to find the order. Focus on just blocking the boss' attacks, don't go for counterattacks.”

The trio nodded at Shesmu's words and sprang into action.

”Kazumi, Amaterasu, take care of the fodder. I'll take the boss.”

”Understood!”

The trio slowly made their way towards the dolls. Through their prior experience, they knew that these dolls have a short aggro range. This lets the party control with more reliability the aggro of all the monsters.

In the meantime, Shesmu put down DepressedRyan on the ground gently. While looking at Ryan, Shesmu felt something sink in his heart. Ryan, just when are you going to wake up? He then stood up and made his way towards the carving. This time, the number in question was a hundred.

From the corner of his eyes, Shesmu could see that Leo was holding the aggro of the Greater Steel Doll. Its attacks were rapid and had a strong knockback effect. The monster would swipe with its claws and Leo would be pushed half a meter after a successful block.

However, even though Shesmu was worried, he couldn't do anything about it. The only thing he should have focused on was finding the order as soon as possible so as to help his comrades faster.

Shesmu ran with all his might towards the carving and activated the blue gem. The order was shown in front of him: Nine, ninety-nine, ninety, nineteen, twenty-nine, sixty-nine, zero.

Shesmu repeated the numbers in his head three times to remember them before dashing out of the crater-like carving. He scanned the monsters to check for their numbers, only to stop at the boss. Its number was zero.

”Guys, kill nine first! Leo, switch with me!”

Kazumi and Amaterasu who were handling three dolls each at this point lunged at number nine simultaneously. Two swords pierced its chest and neck before the metal doll fell on the ground, lifeless.

Shesmu ran towards the Greater Steel Doll, sword high up in the sky. The boss, seeing the massive openings left by Shesmu, switched targets and swiped its claws at Shesmu's sides. However, the crunchy feeling of breaking bones and tearing flesh never came, and the image in front of it disappeared.

Shesmu appeared next to the boss and activated CrossSlash, before swinging his sword at its left side.

Ting!

Shesmu slashed at the monster with a sword full of green and black energy. He pushed it with incredible impact resulting in a reverberant noise.

”Ninety-nine!”

Leo understood the order and looked around. Once he identified the monster numbered ninety-nine, he jumped at it and cut open its neck using a Slash Cancel.

The Greater Doll saw Shesmu barking the order and thought of it as an opportunity. It lunged at him with incredible speed, expecting to pierce his heart and end his life when he suddenly disappeared from its vision while it was mid-jump.