Elf Defense Magic

"So that's how it is."

Rhode did not feel much regret. He had only asked casually, after all. Blacksmithing was not his goal.

"Still, maybe I can create magic with a similar effect, like temporarily enchanting weapons."

Only Serie heard Rhode's murmur to himself. The corners of her lips lifted slightly as she looked forward to seeing what kind of magic this man would create.

But for now, they had to defeat this Dwarf who did not know his place.

In the clearing not far from the village, Rhode raised an Illumination Technique in his hand, brightly lighting the entire area. He had also checked with a Detection Spell and found no Monsters nearby, so there was no need to worry that the light would attract them.

Amuro looked at the glowing orb in Rhode's hand. It was far more useful than a campfire for lighting, and the sight made him itch with envy. Unfortunately, Dwarves could not learn magic. No matter how badly he wanted to, there was nothing he could do.

Not far away, Serie stood casually. She looked completely unguarded, yet Som, standing opposite her, did not dare lower his guard in the slightest.

He took a deep breath and adjusted his grip on his axe. The silver-white battle axe reflected a faint gleam beneath the Illumination Technique.

"Ready?"

Som had just been about to answer when Serie attacked, raising her hand and firing a vast rain of Light Arrows.

"Be careful!" Rhode cried out in alarm.

If she accidentally killed him, this would turn into a serious problem.

Serie did not answer. In truth, she had already held back. The Arrow Rain was much weaker than usual and would at most leave him bedridden for a week or two.

Besides, he wanted to adventure in the Mythical era. If he could not even dodge an ambush like this, then he might as well stay obediently in the village.

Startled by Serie's sudden attack, Som immediately began evading on instinct.

But as soon as he dodged the first wave, the next wave came close behind it.

Unable to dodge in time, Som could only swing his battle axe and knock down every Light Arrow. Even so, the recoil forced him back again and again.

"Let's see how long you can last." Serie wore a teasing smile.

Som drew a deep breath. He could not hold out for long by defending blindly. He had to take the initiative if he wanted even a sliver of hope.

He knew the Elf before him was a powerful mage. He had already witnessed the strength of her magic during the battle that day.

But he would never admit defeat so easily.

He had to go out and adventure. Only then could he earn the villagers' approval.

He suddenly stomped forward, his battle axe carving a silver arc through the air.

"Too slow."

Serie did not even move her feet. She merely raised a hand lightly.

A translucent Magic Barrier appeared out of thin air. The battle axe struck it with a loud clang, and the rebounding force made Som's palm go numb.

What a dirty trick, Elf Defense Magic.

Som grumbled to himself.

"If this is all you've got, I suggest you give up!" Serie raised an eyebrow.

His strength was lacking, and his agility was only average. His physical condition was decent enough.

His combat skills were crude, but there was unexpectedly a trace of seasoned cunning mixed in. He had most likely learned from Amuro, naturally inheriting some of his style.

But he was still too inexperienced. In all likelihood, he had only ever fought Monsters that invaded the village.

Faced with Serie's mockery, Som gritted his teeth and suddenly changed tactics.

He retreated several steps, threw his battle axe spinning through the air, then quickly circled behind her and pulled out two small hand axes from his back, hurling them forward.

He sure had plenty of weapons, but he was clever too.

Rhode, watching from the side, nodded to himself.

Serie's Magic Barrier only covered the area directly in front of her. By attacking from two directions at once, Som made it impossible for Serie to defend against everything.

"Oh?" A flicker of surprise passed through Serie's eyes. A Magic Circle flashed in her hand, followed by another wide barrage of Light Arrows.

The Magic Barrier blocked the spinning battle axe, while the thrown axes from the other direction were shot down by the Arrow Rain. Some of the arrows also landed on the ground in front of Som, forcing him into an abrupt stop.

"Not a bad reaction," Serie commented. "But there are too many openings."

She had not moved even once from beginning to end. Her overwhelming strength was obvious.

Som raised a hand and summoned the knocked-down battle axe back into his grasp. The familiar sight made Rhode keep thinking of a certain hammer-wielder.

"Is that the effect of an Enchantment?" he asked Amuro, who was watching nearby.

"Yes. And it has another effect besides that."

"What effect?"

"Explosion!"

Before Rhode could ask further, Som had already attacked again. It was the same motion as before, and it was likewise blocked by Serie's Magic Barrier.

But this time was different.

Som grinned as the Rune on his battle axe lit up with a blinding red glow, followed by a resounding boom.

The blast wave tore up the surrounding turf. If Amuro had not given prior instructions, the Dwarves in the village would probably have rushed over by now.

Amid the smoke and dust, Serie's golden hair fluttered faintly. The Magic Barrier before her had already vanished.

"That was way too reckless!"

Seeing that Serie was unharmed, Rhode finally let out the breath he had been holding and shot Amuro a dissatisfied look.

Amuro was rather embarrassed as well. Scratching his head, he said, "Ahem, I didn't expect that unfilial brat to dare do something like this. Good thing Miss Serie is all right."

Som, who had launched the attack, was sent flying by the blast wave and lay unconscious on the ground. Aside from some scorched black marks on his armor, he did not seem seriously hurt.

"Are you all right?"

Rhode hurried over and looked at Serie with concern.

"I'm fine. I just didn't expect him to be able to break my Magic Barrier."

She did not dislike Som's life-risking fighting style. Besides, after being caught off guard by Rhode's Light Arrow before, she had developed the habit of layering two Defense Magic spells on herself.

Thus, Serie could be said to be completely unscathed. She had only lost a little magic power.

"But he must have concentrated all his strength on destroying the barrier. Otherwise, he could not have broken an Elf magic barrier."

An Elf magic barrier could be called the strongest Defense Magic in this world. Som had actually shattered it through brute force, and that made Serie regard him in a new light.

"Teach me that next time." Rhode was clearly envious after seeing Serie's Magic Barrier.

"Certainly."

Amuro also stepped forward at this point. "I'm sorry, Miss Serie."

"He is very talented. Given time, he will surely become a powerful warrior."

Even with the aid of other power, this was the first time Serie had encountered someone who could forcibly break Elf Defense Magic through sheer strength.

Serie's tone was calm, but it was enough to fill Amuro with delight. If she were not a mage, he would have wanted his son to take her as his master right then and there.

Unbeknownst to them, Som's ears twitched slightly as he lay off to the side.