Since ancient times, there have been scam techniques like Multi-Attribute Technique, Attack Absorption Technique, and Absolute Defense Technique.
The Skeleton Instructor’s [Death Field Attack Absorption Barrier] was a triple scam technique possessing features of Multi-Attribute, Attack Absorption, and Absolute Defense.
“Ugh. How do we break through that?”
“It’s sneaky, but I envy it. If only we could learn something like that combo technique, we’d become incredibly strong.”
Titosso and Jiang couldn’t hide their gloomy mood as they watched the Skeleton Instructor’s scam combo. If Valefor Wasabi-senpai were to fall, that terrifying wicked technique might just overwhelm them.
“Do you think Wasabi-senpai can win…?”
“She’s a graduate, after all. There must be some way.”
Jiang’s words were right. Although the Skeleton Instructor was stronger than the usual instructors, Wasabi-senpai was also a graduate from one of the Three Great Traitor Families.
Having successfully graduated despite being practically enemies of the Empire faction meant that she wasn’t your average graduate.
“I think that senpai is probably an upper-class graduate!”
“Upper-class graduates are stronger?”
“Upper class in lower grades means they possess strength above the second year. So, of course, fourth-year upper class is on a different level!”
“Strength of the sixth year…? Eek! Just how strong is that?!”
To someone like Titosso, who couldn’t even fathom the strength of a fourth year, the sixth year was a terrifying unit that sent shivers down his spine.
Of course, there is no actual sixth year in regular education. Graduate students just accumulate years to become fifth, sixth years, and beyond just adding another first year.
Second-year graduate students. That level of strength is brutally strong.
“Depending on the laboratory of the faculty, it’s different, but normally, with that level, one could either assume the role of a special attribute tower master when going outside or establish their own castle as a lord, and could likely receive a barony in any country!”
“Eh? Just a baron?!”
“A barony usually has at least three castles!”
“Eek!! So being a baron is that amazing?! Then how awesome is Countess Arcadia?”
“Since it was originally a duke’s domain, she’s certainly more impressive than an average baroness, right? But if her military strength doesn’t back it up, one never knows when she’ll be swindled!”
An average baroness would enjoy the convenience of automatic functions comparable to Gift Academy students in their 7th to 8th year or graduate students in their 3rd or 4th year.
In my standards, that’s somewhat strong?
With battle gear like armor and producing golems, leading armies onto the battlefield, they can crush monster hordes outside of special fields without a sweat.
In special fields like the Underworld…?
They’d end up like the Empire’s force, getting wiped out!
Just because they’re somewhat strong in the neighborhood doesn’t mean they can strut around with their shoulders high, only to get massacred while boasting about going on a treasure hunt in the Three Great Forests!
“If Arcadia-senpai created such a legion, she might barely make it back with the remaining soldiers!”
“So weak…! How scary is this world, where such high-ranking people become mere survivors?”
“Right? If it’s frightening, don’t get too full of yourself! Go back to the academy and train diligently! Who knows when a wicked being might jump out from some special field and wreck havoc, just like the Skeleton Instructor!”
While Titosso’s Academic Will was bubbling up, Valefor Wasabi-senpai also started thinking.
Instead of doing the futile task of fighting the powers of the Death Field, she strategized to find and eliminate the sorcerer to prevent any further enhancements to the Death Field.
[Wasabi Poison Mist]
[High-Speed Ejection]
[Jet Stream]
[All Mana Vine]
She formed poisonous mana into particle form, then ejected and flung it at high speed. The jet stream extended the wind throughout the entire maze, further spreading the particles, and with All Mana Vine, she added all mana to her perception senses.
In other words, this was a detection technique.
If any substance or enemy reacted to the poisonous mana, she could immediately sense their location, size, shape, damage taken, mana resistance, and toxin resistance.
Typically, it wouldn’t be something that could make the head explode.
‘If Titosso uses that, will he start nosebleeding?’
Blood might flow more than it should from a place it shouldn’t.
Jiang seemed likely to end up at the nosebleed level.
It was undeniably a top-tier advanced technique, requiring practice in mana techniques and mana control to handle it.
“Geh geh geh! Poison Spore Ejection, what a perfect fit for the Death Field to absorb Skeleton students!”
The Skeleton Instructor absorbed the toxic spores that touched the walls of the maze, introducing a new attack method: [High-Speed Toxic Spore Ejection] into the Death Field Maze.
“You tried your best to detect me, but Undead don’t feel pain! Your detection technique only made me stronger; it was useless!”
“In the Adventure Department’s fourth-year lecture [Encounter with Undead Beings], Professor Glashalabollas mentions that immunity to certain attributes can conversely detect and nullify ‘invariance’ from those immune responses.”
“…What?”
Valefor Wasabi-senpai reached out toward somewhere in the maze.
“The Skeleton-shaped Space that not even Wasabi Spore Blast could break through. I already noticed that you’re there!”
[Hand Cannon]
[Wasabi Full Charging]
[Auto-Targeting]
[Area Expansion]
[Penetrating Shot]
[Melt Firing]
[Firing]
[Continuous Firing]
[Triple Attack]
[Multi-Hit]
[Multi-Critical]
[Critical Enhancement]
[Increase Critical Damage]
As the hand cannon that came from her void pocket fired, a frightening beam shot through the walls of the maze.
“ACK!”
The pained scream of the Skeleton Instructor!
As the long-desired wish she had earnestly imagined while listening to Professor Sadako’s lecture became a reality, Titosso yelled while clutching a handful of popcorn.
“That’s it, Wasabi-senpai! Please defeat that wicked Skeleton Instructor!”
“For that person’s sake, I could do three assassinations without charge.”
“The Wasabi family may be seen as the Three Great Traitor Families by the Empire, but to us, they are honorable liberators! Oknodie, keep pushing forward!”
Sorry to Titosso who was in high spirits, but my [Mana Enhancement] and [Clairvoyance] magic could clearly see the results of Wasabi-senpai’s attack.
“Sorry to say this while all excited, but we should retreat, right?”
“No way…?”
Titosso’s pupils were shaking.
Before he could even spew out some words, an immense mana reaction began to coalesce all over the walls of the maze.
[How dare you damage my domain. For a rookie with flesh, you did reasonably well. As a reward for your effort, I’ll show you my true strength.]
The tone of the Skeleton Instructor’s voice changed.
Countless beam projectiles, fired from the abundant scams of the Death Field, flew towards the center where Wasabi-senpai stood.
BOOM!
The open ground burst apart as Wasabi-senpai staggered and fell.
Before her was a shadow in the form of a giant, menacing figure looming behind the humanoid skeleton.
[The Mana Refinement Technique possesses the effects of both muscle compression and mana compression, but if the compression ratio exceeds a certain level, the entire body is compressed as well.]
[My strength, born of a giant’s body and compressed into a human form; if you can endure it even once, I’ll commend you.]
A huge mana sphere began to form in the Skeleton Instructor’s outstretched palm, filled with the five elements of the dark dimension [Fear][Disgust][Sorrow][Despair][Nihilism] swirling inside.
Not only did it possess physical destructive power, but it also shook the psyche of the target, destabilizing mana stability and nullifying defenses, acting as a dual-attack technique on both mind and body.
The Skeleton Instructor’s special Dark Ball struck down upon Wasabi-senpai.
“We must leave now!”
If Wasabi-senpai blocked it, the Skeleton Instructor would be momentarily hindered, and if Wasabi-senpai fell, it would start targeting us next.
Thanks to pulling out a Homunculus from the cockpit, I took out the golems I could fit in my backpack and led them as a means to break through the maze.
[Wasabi Technique]
[Golem Auto Guard]
[Sticky Poison Ground]
[Shield Generation]
[Wasabi Poison Mist]
[Antidote Barrier]
Amidst the hustle, we couldn’t miss a beat, blocking with golems against the rising poisonous punches, and laying down shields on the sticky poisonous ground I had developed adapted from Jiang’s technique to clear a path.
The Wasabi Poison Mist erupting from all around protected Titosso and Jiang with the strength of the toxin resistance I possessed.
“Let’s run!”
“Doesn’t the Death Field need to destroy the core to exceed the rate of territory expansion?!”
“Indeed, Jiang has done well with his review, hasn’t he?”
“Eheh, I’m a bit… No, now’s not the time for compliments.”
But I ended up receiving a glare and scolding from Jiang, who seemed annoyed by my attempt to lighten the tension.
“Ugh. Still, you haven’t said anything wrong.”
“Have you got any reassurance?”
“I didn’t bring you here for that; I’ve got a special bodyguard!”
Outside the Death Field, I felt an amused emotional reaction as if saying what kind of commotion is this.
Even within the turbulent emotions of the Death Field, a presence with an enormous power was noticeable, simply by harboring emotions, it communicated its meaning throughout the space.
The Hanshe and Master Dito, the top-tier powerhouse, was looking down at us from the ground.
