Streaks of lightning came from the Hagrefir's horns and chased Salazar everywhere he went as he dodged left and right. The terrifying brute could not seem to do any significant damage to him, but neither can he damage it back. The thick lush fur and solid metal-like skin made the impact of his kicks inert. The balanced ballad of trading empty blows was disrupted by a sudden attack from behind the Hagrefir. Greyson had arrived in the midst of the battle using [Wind Tunnel] and was still in time to help Salazar.
“I'm here to help, captain. I'm sure Katja and the buffoon are on their way as well.”
They had never encountered a Hagrefir before. All they knew were from nursery rhymes and vague raid reports that didn't add up much due to the survivor's PTSD. The best anyone could do is survive long enough for a special subjugation squad to cage and lock them up.
Salazar's [Demon's Eye] can discern the weakness of everything it encounters. The glowing golden eyes peered into the monster's inner Ember, revealing more than what he wanted. It has been twice now that he saw a giant monster with no weakness. The Hagrefir and…. Kaiser. Salazar snapped his fingers, using his Spark, [Hell's Entourage] to split his Ember into six perfect clones.
“Greyson, stay far in the rear. It has a long reach due to its limbs and lightning attacks.”
“Understood, Captain.”
They coordinate their attacks by using the clones as a distraction while Greyson aims for the joints using [Silent Slice]. Greyson gritted his teeth as his attacks barely did any damage.The strategy wasn't effective for a prolonged fight. Greyson was struggling to maintain his composure due to the constant usage of his Ember and Salazar divided his strength by using [Hell's Entourage].
Many of the surrounding trees were already cut down due to the Hagrefir's soon rampage. The debris was everywhere and limiting the space for movement, cornering them into predictable patterns that the Hargefir could counter or defend against.
Suddenly, a rustling sound from far left grew louder and an explosive flash of green flames went past, causing the Hagrefir to be startled. Katja came out from the same direction. Her hair and fur looked messy and her clothes disheveled, while being covered in leaves.
“What took you so long? I thought you guys were behind me? And where's the mongrel?”
“I'm right here!”, Kai came back around and sent a high speed kick to the Hagrefir's face.
The kick had enough power to force the monster down on its knees but not strong enough to keep it down for long as it stood up and shrieked once more.
“Damn, that's one tough bastard. My leg is kinda numb after that. So what's the plan?”
“Stay alive.”
“I was hoping for something more, but I guess beggars can't be choosers.”
Salazar went ahead and disrupted the incoming attack with a kick to the same area where Kai struck, yet the monster was still unaffected. Salazar's hunch was disproven. He had hoped Kai's attack would be of use.
“Guys, I have an idea. Katja, can you make some chains?”
“I could, but I don't think it's gonna be durable enough to hold it for long.”
“It's okay, we just need a few seconds. Captain Demon, we need your clones to chain its limbs so that it won't move. Is it possible?”
“It's worth a try.”
“Grumpson, can you aim your [Wind Tunnel] at the monster?”
“My name is Greyson!”
“Yea yea, everyone knows the game plan now. We'll hold down the beast using chains and we'll use [Wind Tunnel] as an accelerator and use the trees as ammo.”
“A high velocity impact, it might work. Let's try this plan out.”
Katja conjured up her [Tri-Star Chains] and gave it to the clones while Kai broke the fallen trees into several pieces. Salazar and his clones encircled the Hagrefir, confusing the beast and wrapping it up using the chains.
“Quick, use your spark!”
“You don't need to tell me twice, mongrel!”
Kai threw the cut up trees into the [Wind Tunnel], making it accelerate and quickly impacting the beast. But it wasn't enough. The dozens of debris being thrown towards it wasn't enough damage to pierce through its skin.
Annoyed by their attack, the Hagrefir became frantic and broke free from the chains then proceeded to throw the surrounding debris at the four combatants. Salazar elegantly dodged left and right while holding his hand behind his back. Greyson Sparked [Silent Slice] at the ones approaching him and Katja uses her feline reflexes to dodge. Meanwhile Kai was flipping around and using the recoil from [Inferno Steps] to blast away the debris. Shrapnels of white bark flew everywhere and annoyed the other three.
“Hey, watch it! I'll scratch your face if you end up giving me a splinter!”
“Stupid mongrel!”
“Hahaha, well, that's certainly one way of thinking on your feet.”
The plan was a failure but none of them were injured, so Salazar thought it was an acceptable outcome. Kai shrugged their remarks as he is only utilizing the techniques he knows.He understands this isn't a time for experimenting Sparks. However, Salazar thought differently.
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“Newbie, can you adjust your blast?”
“I'm not sure, you mean make it into a gentle tap?”
“I mean condense the blast into a pinpoint strike.”
“Kinda risky, but I'll try.”
“Good, Greyson, prepare cover for him.”
“Yes, Captain!”
Greyson Sparked [Silent Slice] to draw the beast's attention while Kai used [Inferno Steps] to circle around the Hagrefir and send a kick to the back of its neck. Then he adjusted the blast at the point of impact, imagining the blast and turning it into a gunshot. The kick and blast connects and burns the fur but only grazes the skin. The attack had more drawbacks than advantages. Kai's leg had begun to feel numb from the recoil.
“Is there no way to beat this thing?”
“Sorry to say, no one's able to.”
“Then why are we fighting here, captain? Shouldn't we head to Halcyon for reinforcements?”
“It's too far from here, dumbass. We don't have enough stamina or rations to safely get there!” Katja hissed at Greyson's stupidity.
Kai took a few seconds to catch his breath,”we could take turns leading the beast towards Halcyon, but that's still risky. We would have to stay focused for days.”
Salazar nodded in agreement. He came to the same conclusion as Kai when the battle started,”we have to find a way through its thick skin somehow.”
“If physical blows don't work, could we try poisoning it?” Katja added while dodging the Hagrefir's attacks.
“Futile option. No ordinary poison works on a Hagrefir.”
“So the only option is to hit it from the inside out with physical blows right? Dynamites sure would come in handy.” Kai had an epiphany as soon as he said those words and looked at Katja with wide eyes and sly grin.
“Yo, Captain Demon and Sir Grumps-a-lot, can you two aggro it? I've got an idea, but we need some time.”
“I fucking said my name is Grey-”
“Understood, just try to be quick about it. Let's go Greyson. ”Salazar interrupted Greyson before he could finish his sentence and went ahead with his clones. He didn't like following Kai's orders but he respects Salazar way too much to care and followed his lead.
“Kat, do you guys have explosives in this world? Something that would cause a similar blast like my Spark.”
“I've heard of mines, TNT and C4 before, but I don't know what they look like.”
“Okay i'll draw it out, we'll go with a simple timer bomb.”
Kaiser drew a schematic of a simple timer bomb on the ground. Katja tried and failed to conjure up the explosive at the first few tries but finally succeeded in time. Three of six clones were obliterated by the Hagrefir and Greyson was starting to get low on Ember.
“Captain, Greyson, move back!”
Kai went past them in a green flash , dodging around the Hagrefir's attacks and trying to get close near its mouth. The Hagrefir used lightning from his horns. Unable to dodge fast enough, Kai was struck and caught mid air but Salazar's clones striked its arms, freeing Kai from its grasps but he was a half second too late. Kai was in pain, a few of his ribs seemed to be broken, but there was no time to recover.
He quickly used [Inferno Steps] once more and went around and along its back, then shoved the tiny bomb inside its mouth and started the timer.
“Have a taste of this, you big lump of anger management issues!”
5…… The Hagrefir frantically tried to hit Kai who was on top of him. 4…. Kai took the blows while making sure it didn't spit out the bomb until the last second. 3…. Kai gritted his teeth and held on tight as the Hagrefir struck him again with lightning. 2……It was time. He quickly jumped off and took distance. 1…. The Hagrefir had no time to think. 0…it tried to scream, but got cut off mid way by the bomb's blast, exploding its head from the inside out. It's blood splattered .
The tall body of the monster went and fell to its knees before slumping and falling down altogether. The blood from its head flowed out like a gentle stream.
Salazar quickly sat down after confirming the Hagrefir's death. He couldn't believe they managed to beat a Hagrefir, let alone with the help of a newbie soul. Kai laid not far from the corpse with some of the blood splattered on his clothes and body. Katja came over and tended to the worn out Greyson, taking out and sharing a precious Ember Flask from her waist pouch.
“No, Katja! You need to keep that!”
“I'm just giving you a bit, I don't want you to go into Zero state after we just survived hell.”
“Fine! But i'm paying it back once we get to Halcyon”
“Sure sure, now open your goddamn mouth before i have to choke and open it for you”
Salazar went to check on Kai and if he needed medical attention. It was a surprise to see that he was already recovering by intaking the Ember from Hagrefir's corpse directly. The burnt wounds from the lightning strikes have begun to clear up and his skin began to heal by itself.
“Trying to understand you makes me more confused every time.”
“What do you mean? I'm just a simple man that's only good at fighting.”
“Indeed you are.”
“Are they always bickering like that?” Kai looks at Katja and Greyson messing around.
“They've always been like that. They came to the village near the same time with their owners. After Greyson lost his owner, Katja's been looking out for him like an older sister.”
“Yeah. Definitely sounds like her. I'm sure she's gonna nag at me too after this.”
“Hahaha, sadly I can't help you with that one.”
“Well, at least help me up. We gotta get this corpse back to the village. I'm sure we can get good materials from it, right Foraging Squad Captain Salazar?” Kai gave a sly smirk.
Salazar sighed as he accepted Kai's teasing. Kai saw through his intentions to gain the Hagrefir corpse as a bargaining chip to increase the economy and reputation of the village. He realized that Kai was no mere newbie at all.
Salazar sighs and helps Kai to stand up, “Right.”
After they recovered enough from the fight, they took all the corpses back towards the village. When they arrived, everyone gathered around them at the front gate and saw their worned out appearance.
“Captain, are you injured? Did the newbie get in the way and caused this?!”
“Calm down. The newbie did nothing wrong. If anything, he was a big help. He even helped us defeat a Hagrefir.” Salazar uncovered the cargo to reveal the corpses. Several Karchag and a Hagrefir.
The villagers and a few Squad members' jaws dropped at the sight. Despite the proof they couldn't believe that Kai killed a Hagrefir.”
“We will gain glory and fame as we claim the kill and report it to Halcyon, and it's all thanks to Kai!” Salazar grabbed Kai's arm and held it up high. Everyone started cheering after they realized what it could mean for them in the future.
“I can't take credit for this alone!” Kai went and grabbed Katja's and Greyson's hands and held them up.
“We all played a part in it! The Captain, Me, Katja and Greyson!”
The cheers grew louder. Katja blushed as her tail wagged gently. Greyson felt unsure of the praise but accepted it as he looked at Kai in a new light. Meanwhile, Salazar watched from the side with a smirk that everything went according to his plan. The Village morale was at an all-time high. They gained a new strong ally in Kai as he is not only a strong fighter but a proxy of Lord Hayashi Retsu of the High Council.
The day ended with a feast, celebrating the abundant harvest and their potential future.