34 The worst opponen (1/2)
”Evlin, we don't really know how fast or strong Daren really is... So we need to work assuming the worst-case scenario ok?”
”OK!”
”We need to assume he has much more speed and power than anyone you've faced before. Trying to face him in close-combat is probably a dead-end. I'm pretty sure your wood armor would be as helpful as a piece of paper against those claws...”
”So should I do my usual strategy and keep my distance while shooting at him?”
”No... If he really is that fast he will probably catch up to you before you even get a chance...”
”Then...”
”Your best option is to rely on earth magic attacks. You won't try to use Sphinx or the knives tight?”
”I don't want to... I need them to see that I'm not some crazy girl who just keeps boosting herself with random power-ups to win her fights...”
”Then... We will need to take a page from your fight against the ogre...”
”The ogre...?”
”Yes, the one who was immune against your attacks... You defeated him using gravity right?”
”Yeah, but in that case I made him fall from a cliff... We are on an open field right now...”
”Then make a cliff! Just keep avoiding Daren's attacks and find an opening to raise him in the air with your magic and let gravity do the rest.”
”Ok but, how am I going to dodge his attacks?”
”You won't be dodging, you will be blocking it!”
”Eh...?”
”Just remember this... Never point your crossbow at Daren, always keep it aimed at your feet!”
”Ehh...??”
The conversation with Ashley flashed before Evlin's eyes as soon as the fight started. She noticed Daren beginning to move and her fist instinctive decision was to shoot the ground beneath her own feet to raise a massive rock shield to block his claws.
Daren's attack was blocked and he kicked the earth shield to leap backwards creating some space between the two.
She realized what Ashley was trying to say. It would be impossible to actually hit Daren thanks to his speed, but if she kept her crossbow aiming down she would be able to hit the ground fast enough to create a defense for herself.
”So this crossbow is meant to be your staff...?”
”Pretty cool huh? I bet you never seem a mage like me before.”
”Heh... You look less like a mage and more like a huntress with that weapon... Let's see if you can stop me again.”
Daren vanished. He moved so fast that all Evlin could see was the after-image he left behind. Thanks to his black fur he could easily blend in with the night. The only indicator for his positioning were his flashy red eyes, moving like neon lights towards her.
She acted on instinct again and shoot the ground below one more time in order to raise another shield behind her. Daren's claws collided with the earth shield again only this time he completely destroyed the shield catching Evlin by surprise.
Pieces of rubble started to fly from the destroyed shield and almost hit her on the head. Using her legs boosted by healing magic she backed away from the spot and started to shiver thinking Daren would use this chance to strike her down. To her surprise, he had not moved. He seemed to be analyzing the broken shield.
”... I figured this was some kind of special material... But this is just a regular piece of rock...”
”...”
”Guess I have nothing to worry about then...”
Daren disappeared again. Evlin couldn't keep track of him this time. She panicked and shot the ground again, this time creating a surrounding wall covering all her directions. She heard the sound of stone breaking from her left side and immediately shot the ground on that angle, summoning a huge spike of stone aimed at Daren.
Daren noticed the spike and grabbed it with both hands, crushing it into pieces and turning the rock into a pile of rubble.
Evlin was starting to panic again. Just what was this guy? He took her attack like it was nothing. On top of that, his claws could break her shields like they were made of chocolate. If she took a hit from those she would be dead on the spot.
After finishing off the spike, Daren started to spin and slammed Evlin with his tail. A wave of pain started to move across her body as she was sent flying backwards. Even with a boosted defense from healing magic, she still felt immense pain just from a tail swing. What would happen if she got hit by his fist?
”Do you get it now...? This is the kind of power we need to defeat the goddess. Not some silly magic tricks or anything like that... Just pure raw strength!”
Daren rushed towards Evlin's side, stole her crossbow, and shattered into pieces.
”This fight is over... Just give up and go home, little girl...”
”...”
Evlin took a glance at the rest of the group sitting on the log. They were looking at Daren with respect and at her with pity. She understood it now. The point of this fight was to prove what was the best choice to deal with the goddess after all. Daren was trying to prove that the power of curses was superior to the power of magic.
Something snapped inside of Evlin. She was consumed by immense anger for some reason. She didn't care if people thought she was a bad leader or whatever, but trying to prove their superiority by mocking her skills with magic, her skills that she went through so much hard work to obtain, the one thing she knew she was good at in this world? She would not let Daren take her pride away from her so easily.
”The heck do you mean by 'over'...???”
She grabbed the broken pieces of her crossbow and modeled it together with the rest of her armor creating gauntlets for each hand. Daren reacted with shock.
”How did you...”
”You think just because I'm a mage you can beat me by breaking my staff?? Well, bad news for you, I'm the one mage in this world whose staff you can never break!!”
She slammed her gauntlets onto the ground and several stone hands started to emerge trying to grab or punch Daren. He was taken by surprise but quickly regained his composure and started to swing his claws and destroying the hands.
After he was done, he realized that Evlin was now gathering more earth magic around her and emerging it with herself. She was using earth magic to produce more rocks and modeling magic to change it into some kind of armor that was covering her whole body. Daren understood her intentions.
”You will try to fight me hand-to-hand? You really must have a death wish...”