"This thing resembled an 'Earth Elemental Giant Spirit,' something rarely seen in this era. No, its color was different from what the books described. A normal earth elemental aggregate should have been yellow, and it shouldn't have carried such intense malice."
As Miss Benanis spoke, the three prepared for battle.
The monster emerging from the woods noticed them as well. It halted and let out an angry roar, then raised its enormous, hard right arm in front of itself. Moving far faster than its sluggish walk from before, it charged sideways at them in a stream of earth-colored light.
"Move!"
The well-informed witch shouted a warning and hurriedly dodged aside. Since the monster's true target was Shade, Luvia easily evaded it as well.
Shade alone remained where he was. He intended to test the monster's strength.
"Heaton Seal!"
The Moonbeam Greatsword pierced the ground, and his left hand formed a seal. A spherical shield shimmering with golden light immediately blossomed around Shade. But the next moment, as the gigantic rock body, half again as tall as Shade, crashed into him, its heavy yellow-brown elemental power shattered the shield. The golden barrier burst like fragile glass, and the shockwave sent Shade flying. He rolled twice across the snowy ground before struggling to his feet, certain that he had suffered internal injuries.
"Can't take it head-on. This isn't a simple physical attack."
"I told you, it's an elemental aggregate!"
Miss Benanis shouted.
"Don't try to get close and fight it in melee. Use ranged thaumaturgy!"
"Got it!"
Luvia, who had long been prepared at the side, hurled the fireball in her hand, which was as large as a human head. The fireball struck the Earth Elemental Giant Spirit's right shoulder. After a booming explosion, it had only blasted away a quarter of