Warrior

The situation left everyone trapped between retreat and a fight they might not survive.

Even if they could retreat, Leia would be caught between the Boarfolk Warrior and the second Boarfolk. She would almost certainly die.

But if they stayed...

The Boarfolk Warrior had not stopped attacking. Everyone there might...

"Snort! Feeble humans, die!"

It charged another two steps, raised its black metal Spiked Warhammer high, and brought it down toward Chris's head just as he got to his feet!

Whoosh!

Rain raised his hand, ready to use his last Freezing Ray without holding anything back to save Chris. But a silver flash suddenly streaked toward the Boarfolk Warrior like lightning.

At almost the same instant, someone appeared in front of Chris.

Rain faltered before he could cast.

Bang!!

Grand blocked the Boarfolk Warrior's second blow with his shield.

The silver crossbow bolt had forced the Boarfolk Warrior to turn its head slightly, and this time it had not built up momentum with a charge. The huge Spiked Warhammer only drove Grand back two steps.

"Quick! Fabian, Rain, get Chris out of here! I can't hold it for long!"

Grand's face twisted and the veins in his neck bulged as he shifted his footing and shouted.

As he saw it, they might have stood a chance if Chris had not been injured.

But Chris could barely fight now, and Rain, an Apprentice Mage, had already cast Freezing Ray twice. The battle had fallen apart.

That was why Grand had made his decision so quickly.

Even in such desperate circumstances, Grand, a teammate Rain had only just met, had stepped forward to hold the enemy off and give his companions a chance to retreat.

A surge of courage rose in Rain's chest.

Human courage deserved a song of praise! For some reason, the thought sprang to mind.

Grand roared and braced himself to withstand the Boarfolk Warrior's third Spiked Warhammer blow with everything he had.

Hiss!

To Grand's astonishment, another blue-white beam, slightly thicker than a thumb, shot past him and struck the Boarfolk Warrior square in the eye!

"Awooo!"

Grand easily dodged the third blow, gaining a moment to rest his trembling shield arm.

A third Freezing Ray!

He realized then that Rain, the newest member of the team, could cast a third spell.

Relief surged through him, but he quickly understood that this only improved their position. They were nowhere near turning the battle around.

"Despicable human spellcaster! All you do is attack from hiding. You'll pay for this!"

The Boarfolk Warrior clutched its injured eye. White frost covered the corner of that eye and spread across its forehead as it howled in fury and swung its head from side to side!

It was using its remaining eye to locate Rain.

Judging by its injuries, the Boarfolk Warrior had lost sight in only one eye. It could still see with the other, and its powerful constitution meant its fighting strength had barely diminished.

But sometimes confidence was worth more than gold!

Rain's unexpected third Freezing Ray had struck with enough precision to blind the Boarfolk Warrior in one eye. Fabian's eyes flashed, and panic gave way to delight on his face.

A fierce, desperate look crossed his face. He took two long strides and swept around to the Boarfolk Warrior's flank.

Then he leaped into the air, throwing his full weight and momentum behind the dagger in his right hand.

In an instant!

A silver blade flashed downward like lightning toward the side of the raging Boarfolk Warrior's neck.

A Combat Technique?

Even from several meters away, Rain was captivated by the strike. If he was right, Fabian had used some kind of Rogue Combat Technique.

Rain's guess was correct. It was Backstab, a Rogue Combat Technique!

As the name suggested, Backstab was an ambush launched from behind, usually aimed at a vulnerable spot.

Fabian's dagger was aimed at the carotid artery on the right side of the Boarfolk Warrior's neck.

If it struck true, even a Boarfolk Warrior with a Challenge Rating as high as two would suffer a devastating wound.

But when someone who was not a Professional forced himself to perform a complete Combat Technique, it tore some of his muscles and fascia. The consequences were severe.

He could usually unleash such a powerful attack only once in a fight, after which his fighting ability would drop sharply. That was why Fabian had not used it earlier.

If it landed, though, it would all be worth it.

Everyone knew that, and Fabian, the one using Backstab, knew it better than anyone.

The dagger carrying all four of their hopes was about to pierce the Boarfolk Warrior's thick neck hair and hide, then sink deep into its flesh.

Suddenly!

As though sensing mortal danger, the Boarfolk Warrior instinctively jerked its head aside.

Pfft!

Fabian's dagger still plunged into the Boarfolk Warrior's neck, but it landed slightly off target.

Instead of piercing the carotid artery, it sank into the thick trapezius muscle at the back of the neck, between the rear of the skull and the shoulder blade.

That muscle bulged high. Its thickness and toughness were plain to see.

And so...

Fabian's dagger was sharp, his Backstab was nearly flawless, and the blade sank almost halfway in. Even so, it failed to inflict a fatal wound.

At most, the injury was moderate.

"Awooo!"

Fabian tried to pull out his dagger and retreat, but his expression suddenly changed!

He felt the blade catch. The Boarfolk Warrior's swollen muscle had clamped down on his dagger and held it fast.

That moment's delay was enough. The Boarfolk Warrior swept its thick right arm out as if swatting a fly, hurling Fabian several meters away.

Bang!!

Fabian hit the ground hard. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his face went deathly pale.

Before Fabian's strike, the Boarfolk Warrior had intended to kill Rain, the "despicable spellcaster," first. Now its attention had shifted.

Fabian had caused it terrible pain, and the Boarfolk Warrior, Shattered Tooth, decided to kill him first.

It spun and charged at Fabian, who was struggling to rise from the ground.

"Snort! You filthy bug—die!"

Before it could bring its Spiked Warhammer down again, a gray figure rushed in from the side. A silver sword flashed toward its ribs.

It was Grand.

Under ordinary circumstances, the Boarfolk Warrior would probably have blocked or dodged Grand's Blade Pierce.

But Rain's Freezing Ray had blinded it in one eye, badly impairing its vision on that side. Fabian's Backstab had also left it seriously wounded.

Fabian had coated his dagger with Paralysis Poison before the fight. The Boarfolk Warrior's constitution was formidable, but the poison would still have some effect.

All those factors came together.

Grand thrust with all his strength. The Boarfolk Warrior did not notice the attack until the blade had cut through its leather armor and pierced the flesh of its abdomen.

At the sight, Fabian's and Chris's eyes widened with delight. Their expressions seemed to say, We've got it now!