The Elf Who Extended a Helping Hand

The chase continued.

After stepping out of the mist's range, Rhode repeated the same trick once more, and Thick Fog once again shrouded the swamp.

If it were ordinary fire and water, it would naturally be impossible to create such dense fog—this was the effect after Rhode enhanced it with magic.

The side effect was that his mana was rapidly depleting.

After just three uses, he could feel the mana within him nearly bottoming out.

It was a pity he hadn't taught Miss Serie beforehand; otherwise, with her mana level, she could have released it many more times.

"That's enough. Leave the rest to me." Miss Serie naturally noticed the wrongness in Rhode's complexion and thus spoke up to stop him from preparing to release a fourth fog.

"It shouldn't be far now. Once we cross that slope, we'll reach the swamp's edge."

Rhode had looked at the map before setting out, and since they had already advanced some distance before the battle began, they quickly arrived near the swamp's edge.

Of course, this journey was not without Miss Serie's violent path-clearing.

Whenever a Monster crossed the Thick Fog to block their way, Miss Serie would either fire a Light Arrow straight through its skull or unleash a Light Pillar Magic resembling a bomb, clearing out a vacuum zone.

This left Som behind them watching with wide-eyed astonishment.

Only now did he realize that in their earlier comparison, this Elf before him had already been holding back immensely, even using only the most basic Light Arrow to attack him.

At that moment, the ground shook violently.

A Monster, a full three meters tall and covered head to toe in black scales, burst out from the earth, blocking their path.

"Magic Scale Beast!?" Miss Serie's expression shifted drastically. "Som, take Rhode and go first!"

Miss Serie had not expected that this swamp would harbor such a Monster.

This kind of Monster was practically a natural counter to mages—the black scales on its exterior could nullify most magic, and even the highest-level magic among the Elf race would struggle to kill it in one blow.

For a moment, Miss Serie's face turned extremely grim.

If they were held up by this Magic Scale Beast before them, the massive horde of Monsters behind them would surround them again, and then they truly wouldn't be able to escape.

Unfortunately, Som was still too inexperienced now; otherwise, a pure warrior like him would be the greatest asset against this kind of Monster.

Not giving them much time to hesitate, the Magic Scale Beast roared and lunged at the group. Miss Serie fired a volley of Light Arrows at it, but they were all absorbed by its scales.

Miss Serie retreated repeatedly to dodge the Magic Scale Beast's strike, but it charged at her again, only to be sent flying by a collision from the Dwarf Som.

"Didn't I tell you to take Rhode and go first?" Miss Serie's expression was full of displeasure.

"I tried, but Mr. Rhode wouldn't agree." The Dwarf Som scratched his head innocently.

"I won't abandon you alone."

Rhode grinned as he came to Miss Serie's side. He had also noticed earlier that Miss Serie's attacks were nullified by the beast's scales.

"Looks like it's a Monster specialized against mages," Rhode remarked. He hadn't expected this world to have such a cheaty Monster.

"Yes, their only weak point is their eyes, but that depends on actually hitting them."

Even the Magic Scale Beast's eyelids were protected by scales; even if one aimed at its eyes, as long as it closed them, it could easily block the attack.

"I'll try to hold it off and create an opening. You see if you can hit its eyes."

"How are you going to hold it off?"

Rhode didn't answer. Instead, he stepped forward. "Close your eyes!"

Then, light blazed from his hands.

The Dwarf Som was only half a second late in closing his eyes and felt as if his eyeballs were being scorched.

Such blinding light forced even the Magic Scale Beast before them to shut its eyes.

"Now!" Rhode withdrew his magic and turned his head. "Som, throw the axe. Remember to use a skill."

The Dwarf Som forced his eyes open, locked onto the Magic Scale Beast's position, and hurled the axe. The Battle Axe's mana was maximized, and the moment it made contact with the Magic Scale Beast's body, a thunderous explosion rang out.

The violent shockwave nearly knocked them off their feet. The petite Miss Serie was caught off guard and her body toppled, but Rhode managed to grab her in time.

The Magic Scale Beast was sent tumbling backward by the blast. The scales around the corner of its head and eyes shattered, revealing the soft skin and blood-red pupil beneath.

Seeing this, Miss Serie seized the opportunity and leaped up, both hands condensing a dazzling Light Lance.

The Light Lance struck the Magic Scale Beast's head with precision, piercing through its skin and driving straight into its eye, but it failed to kill it completely.

Miss Serie wanted to move in for the finishing blow, but the Monsters behind them surged forward like a tide.

"Go!"

Rhode grabbed Miss Serie's hand in return, and the three of them charged with all their might toward the slope.

After crossing the slope and stepping onto solid ground, Som collapsed on the spot. "Alive... we're alive."

A hundred meters away, a sea of Monsters stretched beyond sight, though they seemed to have no intention of leaving the swamp.

Rhode panted heavily, looking at the Monsters not far off. "Why aren't they chasing?"

Miss Serie breathed in short, rapid gasps, her beautiful golden eyes also filled with confusion. "Not sure. Perhaps they're unwilling to leave this swamp territory."

Rhode shook his head, not quite convinced by that explanation.

"These monsters should be under the Demon Race's control—in theory, they shouldn't have a concept of territory."

Miss Serie was about to speak, but a commotion rippled through the monster horde, drawing everyone's attention.

The previously heavily wounded Magic Scale Beast roared and charged at them, a Light Lance still lodged in the corner of its eye, its entire head dyed crimson with blood—yet it seemed utterly unaffected by the injury.

Seeing this, Rhode quickly grabbed Miss Serie's small hand, ready to flee again, but she wouldn't budge.

"No need. It's the only one that broke out."

It turned out that only the Magic Scale Beast had emerged from the Swamp; the other monsters remained rooted in place, unmoving.

"I see."

Rhode raised his guard again, and the Dwarf Som hastily grabbed his Battle Axe and stood up.

It seemed Miss Serie had no intention of running. Still, against a monster this badly wounded, they should be able to handle it.

"As long as the armor's broken, it's much easier."

When the Magic Scale Beast reached them, Miss Serie first cast a magic barrier to block its attack, then sent all her spells hurtling toward its head.

In an instant, a massive gash was torn open across the beast's skull.

Such a severe injury would have killed any other monster outright, but the Magic Scale Beast remained in its frenzied state.

This made Rhode sense something was off.

Just as he was about to warn Miss Serie, the Magic Scale Beast suddenly veered and charged straight at him and Som.

Rhode quickly prepared to cast a spell, but before the beast could reach them, it was sent flying by a Sword Qi attack.

It tried to rise, but its assailant gave it no chance. Starting from the massive wound on its head, a single sword stroke cleaved the Magic Scale Beast's skull in two.

Only after the beast was fully dealt with did Rhode see clearly: the one who struck was a man with the appearance of an Elf, dressed like a martial monk.