Before doing anything, Erik checked the Lomalins' statistics. They were all at power level 13 but were the usual weak creatures. However, Erik knew these monsters were at least level 11, not even a month ago, meaning they were slowly increasing their power. Erik didn't know how, but for sure, there was one clear thing: something bad was happening around New Alexandria. Since the monsters were weak enough, he started counting down to attack.
"3...2...1...GO!"
Erik, Elena, and Anderson charged at the Lomalins, with Robyn and Judith following them. Erik's four team members were nervous. It was the first time they fought thaids or killed another creature, and they were scared of what could happen if one of their attacks missed its mark.
Elena was the most scared of them all, as she was on the frontlines, but contrary to Anderson, she didn't have mighty powers. And for sure, she wasn't as calm as Erik. Anderson was more or less calm; he was nervous but not as much as to suddenly miss easy attacks or freezing because of fear.
Judith and Robyn were tense, but not as much as the front liners. They played a critical role but didn't have to face the thaids directly.
Erik didn't waste time, and the first thing he did, was slash at a Lomalin with his sword. He didn't even need to use his power since his blade was sharp from the start.
However, Elena and Anderson hesitated and lost some precious time. Though, seeing Erik quickly killing the thaids, they both gathered courage and charged at a Lomalin each. They used their swords just like him, ending the life of the two creatures in a matter of moments. Only 12 thaids were still alive.
The beasts charged at the five students. Erik didn't waste time and felled another beast, with Anderson and Elena doing the same. At the same time, Robyn and Judith attacked. The young woman went on Elena's side since she saw that she was still scared by the beasts.
The dagger user plunged her blades inside the Lomalin's head, killing it on the spot. While Robyn used his power to attack a Lomalin approaching Anderson, ending its life.
Like that, five more thaids died, leaving only seven thaids alive. However, these were now very close to the front liners, gnashing their mandibles and growling.
Moreover, the Lomalins started channeling mana, creating a mana exoskeleton around themselves, making it harder for the five students to kill them.
There wasn't a problem for Erik since he could change the sharpness of his weapons and quickly pierce the Lomalins' defenses, but for the others, it wasn't like that.
Anderson could kill one more creature since his claymore was pretty heavy and he was physically strong, but Robyn and Judith were having trouble. Elena was in between the two situations; she could also sharpen her sword. However, her wasn't a power specific to that task like Erik's, so it required much more mana.
"Ok, if a situation like this occurs, take your time to retreat and slowly damage the opponent," Erik said. The others listened to his advice since it looked like he was a thaid expert. Erik didn't need to do as he had just said, but giving his comrades enough fighting experience was necessary.
They were used to fight against humans, but these were never life-or-death fights. This time, they risked big, so they tried to play safe.
"In the meantime, Judith, I want you to go behind the Lomalins and pressure them! If we are lucky, they will be distracted enough to not pay attention to us frontliners..." Erik added.
"Ok!"
So, as they retreated, Elena and Anderson slashed their swords. However, after their hesitation and fear went away, they started putting more strength into their attacks, and their training started kicking in.
Initially, they had trouble damaging the Lomalins, but after a couple of minutes, they started killing them again. At the same time, Judith circled the Lomalins, even with a bit of fear. However, she quickly discovered that the beasts were much slower than her, so she started kiting them with great efficiency.
After five more minutes, all the thaids died, and a sudden notification appeared in Erik's vision.
[MULTIPLE HOSTILE LOMALINS KILLED: MANA ABSORBING PROCESS STARTING.]
[0%...1%....5%...30%...70%...100%]
ραпdα nᴏνɐ| сom [MANA SUCCESSFULLY ABSORBED, STARTING CONVERTING PROCEDURE.]
[3...2...1...0]
[MANA SUCCESSFULLY CONVERTED INTO EXPERIENCE. 105 EXPERIENCE POINTS AWARDED TO THE HOST.]
<I don't get that much experience anymore since I'm now level 15...> Erik thought. However, he quickly noticed that he got the experience even from the creatures he didn't directly kill. This meant that the system did absorb mana from nearby dead creatures. If he could take advantage of this feature on a battlefield, he would become immeasurably strong in a short time.
[NOTICE: THE ACTIVE ABSORPTION RANGE IS TEN METERS. DNA POINTS ARE REQUIRED TO INCREASE THE RANGE. WARNING: IF TOO MUCH MANA IS ABSORBED, THE SYSTEM WILL CEASE THE ABSORPTION PROCESS TO AVOID UNWANTED MUTATIONS INSIDE THE HOST.]
<Ah, right. If I change the DNA too much, I can become a monster,> Erik thought.
The fight was not that hard. There wasn't a single person panting or out of breath.
"As I've said, it was not that hard..." the awakener said.
"Yeah..." Anderson replied. "But how could you be so calm?" he then added. "I almost thought it wasn't the first time you did something like that."
Erik decided to bullshit him. After all, he couldn't say that he was actually right.
"You know what happened between me, Logan, Conal, and Orson, right? You think all of that didn't make me mentally stronger?" In truth, all of that would have made anyone weaker, if not crazy. However, Anderson didn't know it since he was never abused in all his life. So, he simply agreed.
Elena then asked Erik a question. "Where did you learn all of these thaids strengths and weaknesses?"
"From multiple sources, but there is a book I recommend to you. It is called 'Thaid Science,' and Jucas Finch has written it."
Elena looked at Erik with a look of determination. She decided to read that book.
"We should probably leave soon," Erik suggested, and everyone nodded.
"Now... I have to ask a much more important question: do you think you can handle another Lomalin group? Specifically, a bigger one?"
Since the students got a little bit used to killing the thaids, they had a slightly less conflicted look on their faces.
It was clear that killing something was not easy. However, they knew that here or in the militaries, they were bound to kill thaids and that, regardless, these were humanity's natural enemies. They didn't have to feel bad or guilty about their deaths. They had to kill more than fifteen beasts if they wanted to have a shot at the competition.
"It's ok for me..." Anderson said.
"Yeah, the same here."
"Yes."
"Yeah, let's go."
"Good. However, this will be a slightly different fight. Since the thaids will be in higher numbers, we must adopt a kiting strategy. Hit and retreat. It won't be difficult; Judith, you have seen how easy it is to run away from them. What do you think?" Erik asked.
"It should be feasible... I think..."
Elena nodded at this, but Robyn was unconvinced.
"I don't know, jumping from 15 to 50 is a lot..." he said. However, he turned to look at Anderson. He was the highest-ranked student on the team and was among the best of the whole peasant rank. So, his opinion mattered to him.
Both Erik and Anderson noticed Robyn's look. The young man thought about it for a bit and then said.
"Until now, Erik gave us good advice. He is even the most knowledgeable about thaids in the entire group. If he thinks we can do this, I have no reason to believe otherwise," Anderson said.
Erik nodded at his friend and resumed his speech. "Good, since we all agree. Please, Judith, send your hounds to them. I want to be sure there is no nearby threat. Large Lomalin groups usually attract Crombos..."
"Understood, let me summon them."
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