Published at 15th of January 2022 04:22:07 PM

492 Scapegoats

I should check the details of the shub-nigguraths and the black youngs skills. Theres a lot of them that are new to me, and they seem impossible to guess from the name alone. Ill start with the shub-nigguraths [Feast of the Young Goats], [Feast of Calamity], and [Harvest Feast].

Normal Skill [Feast of the Young Goats]

Allows for the creation of [Black Young] from the users mouth.

However, the health of the [Black Young] continuously falls, and so it will die within a day if nothing is done.

I had guessed that might be what the skill did. It simply produces the [Black Young]. The shub-niggurath has [Rest], so its probably acting as their life support.

Normal Skill [Feast of Calamity]

Emits a black light.

All those touched by the light who lack sufficient magical strength are transformed into [Black Young].

By reducing the affected range, it is possible for the threshold to be raised.

This is probably the skill responsible for the anecdote about the village in the species explanation. The black lizard is only one rank lower than it, so I dont think shed be affected, but I should probably be careful to keep its attention focused on me. Im just glad that this place isnt somewhere like a red ant nest. If it was, I could have easily ended up surrounded by a hundred [Black Young].

Normal Skill [Harvest Feast]

This skill can be activated in the bodies of those nearby who possess the [Black Blaze] characteristic skill, or who have been inflicted with the [Cursed] status condition by the user.

Causes the body to burst into flames from the inside.

This sounds like another annoying one. The black young I checked earlier had the [Black Blaze] skill. Their stats arent that high, but if they surround me and then explode with [Harvest Feast], I might not be able to ignore them.

I should also check the black youngs skill, [Substitute].

Normal Skill [Substitute]

When the users master receives damage while nearby, the user can take that damage instead.

This one might be the most troublesome of all. The shub-nigguraths attack and speed are high enough that I cant look down on it. But with how many black young there are that can each nullify one of my attacks, I can easily envisage this fight becoming drawn out.

As I was once an ouroboros, I understand. While it still has plenty of black young, the shub-niggurath can attack recklessly.

It seems like this fight could be surprisingly tough. I might have no choice but to deal with its kin first. But theres the issue of how close they have to be in order to take the damage for it. If they run around, it could be hard to kill them all. No, theyve already scattered.

As long as those small ones are around, it seems the main body wont take any damage. Theres a few things I want to try, but Either way, Id like their numbers reduced. Could you focus on the ones that have dispersed? Until youre done, Ill keep the main body busy.

Got it, well take care of the scattered ones. It galls me to admit it, but Im no match for the monster in the centre.

Volk glares at the shub-niggurath through thinned eyes. It seems he understands just how dangerous it is That lump of flesh is stronger than Dragon King Eldia and Magic Beast King Beelzebub. If this world were a game, itd totally be a hidden boss. It far surpasses the Saint in terms of pure strength.

The small ones arent too tough. Theyre faster than a troll mandragora, but their only attack is [Clay Gun]. You dont have to worry about them other than that. Although, while theyre near the big one, its possible theyll suddenly explode.

It feels a bit dissatisfying. Would you mind if I made a selfish request?

Hm?

Its an unexpected question. At this time, what could Volk possibly want to ask?

To be safe, I think the lecherta and treant need to be protected. However Id like to fight separately this time.

Volk swings his golden sword. Aah, I see, hed like to try it out

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I glance at Aro and the others. The atlach-nacha has crossed her arms with a look of uninterest, but Aro, the black lizard, and treant-san all nod in assent. It should be fine, I think.

Then, a pairing of Aro and the black lizard would be good, I suppose.

Aro and the black lizard twitch. They glance at each other, both with a look of dissatisfaction I-it doesnt seem like theyre quite on bad terms, but they do seem to struggle with each other a bit.

Treant-san watches over Aro and the black lizard. Its expression is as unchanging as ever, but I can somehow sense a smile.

Treant-san, did you forget that this means youre going to be paired with atlach-nacha? As I think that, the atlach-nacha reacts.

.Eh!? Why?!

The atlach-nacha sends a delayed reproachful glare at Volk. Is treant-san that bad for you!? Whats so bad about treant-san!?

But, Volk has already charged forwards. If I dont start fighting right away, the shub-niggurath could target him.

Im reluctant to change Volks pairings without consulting him. I feel bad, but lets go with his idea for now. For that matter, try to get along a bit better please.

The treant shakes its trunk in bewilderment, but then stops as the atlach-nacha glares at it When treant-san became B+, it felt a bit like it was usurping its seniors, but now things are back to normal.

Its okay, treant-san. You still have room to evolve. The next time you evolve, Im sure youll become L+ rank and grow even stronger than me, let alone the atlach-nacha.

Now then, while Aro and the others thin down their numbers, I need to keep the main body occupied. Each time I hit it, it should also kill another of its scapegoats. Ill draw its attention, while looking out for opportunities to cut them down.

Oo, OoOOOOOOoO

The shub-nigguraths countless mouths moan. Next to it, two spheres of earth float up. Its preparing two simultaneous [Clay Spheres] It looks like its about to get serious, too. The scattered black young begin to crawl towards me.

Ill draw their attention all at once! I rake my foreleg in a wide arc, releasing a maximum-length [Dimension Claw]. A huge line carves into the ground, cutting through four of the black young in a spray of green blood.

It also hits the shub-niggurath. Its huge body trembles, and the two [Clay Spheres] collapse to the ground. A black young next bursts into a shower of green blood, apparently having taken the damage for it.

The shub-niggurath begins to charge towards me with a strange gallop. It probably judged that it was bad to let me keep doing that. Its as fast as youd expect for a maximum level rank. I charge forwards to meet it.