Chapter 33 – Battle of Attrition

On the other side of the cave. Doyle was stuck in a bitter struggle against the mutated goblin warrior.

“Wgaaa!!!”

It heaved an earth-shattering howl as it swung its giant arm at him.

“Ha!”

Doyle raised his giant shield and used all his reinforcement combat skills to strengthen his defense.

[Mana Enhancement]

[Sturdy Body]

[Mighty Power]

His body glowed a faint red as he pushed his mana and body to their limits.

“Boom!”

A small shockwave exploded as the goblin’s giant arm struck Doyle’s shield. The ground beneath him cracked and shattered as he was pushed away, leaving a visible trail behind.

“This monster…” Doyle whispered with gritted teeth, blood seeping out from the corner of his mouth, his arms numb.

“Ahh!!!”

Doyle roared as he charged towards the monster. He swung his shield at its smaller right side, briefly staggering it before slashing at its wide-open chest with his sword.

‘Its muscles are abnormally tough!’ This thought flashed through Doyle’s head as he felt his sword penetrate its skin, only to get stuck in its thick muscles.

Facing the abomination’s counterattack, Doyle jumped back while placing his shield in front of him.

“Bang!”

The monster’s strike sent him, a 300-pound man, flying. He rolled a few times on the ground to defuse the impact, sending several still surviving goblins crashing aside, before finally standing up and placing his shield in front of him.

“Ha– Ha– Ha–”

Doyle panted, blood seeping from a scratch on his forehead and flowing across his face.

“This abomination has to be one of the strongest rank 1 monsters I have ever faced. Even stronger than an orc chief or an adult ogre.” Doyle muttered with a solemn expression.

His expression turned even worse when he saw the thin wound on the abomination’s chest slowly but visibly closing up.

“And it even has great regeneration. Great, we’re basically facing a weakened version of a troll.” He said as he wiped the blood on his face while vigilantly watching the approaching abomination.

“Gaa!!!”

The abomination howled as it rushed towards him. Each step left deep pits on the ground, shaking the cave.

“Iron Skin!!!”

Doyle gritted his teeth and roared. He used his trump card combat skill to reinforce his strength and defense before rushing towards the goblin abomination with his shield in front of him.

“Boom!!”

Their collision shook the cave.

“Ugh!”

Doyle groaned as he was pushed back step by step; his arms shook as he was barely managing to remain standing. Each step back he took left a deep crater on the ground.

He was getting overwhelmed.

Just as he was about to be sent flying again…

“Lightning Bolt!”

Aaron's shout suddenly sounded, followed by a cyan bolt of lightning falling on the abomination’s back.

“Gah!!!!”

The abomination heaved an earth-shattering howl. Distracted by the pain, its pushing power weakened. And Doyle didn’t miss this opportunity.

“Ha!”

He screamed as he pushed with all his might, driving the abomination back. Followed by a mighty cleave, his sword left a long diagonal wound from its shoulders to its waist.

The abomination roared in pain as it stepped back, leaving small craters with each step it took.

From the corner of its eyes, it noticed a faint shadow on the ground, flickering as the flames on the wall danced. It was Kyle.

He had appeared next to it at some point. And before it could react, he slashed the tendons on its right leg.

“Gwaah!”

The abomination howled, its right leg losing strength, causing it to fall on its knees. Kyle didn’t waste this opportunity.

His sword flashed toward its neck, penetrating its skin and gradually cutting through its swollen muscles.

However… It suddenly stopped.

The abomination’s right hand was clenching the blade of the sword, stopping it from going any further. Its inhuman, blood-red eyes locked onto Kyle’s, overflowing with malevolence.

“ROAR!!”

It roared as its massive left arm shot towards Kyle, intending to grasp and crush him.

Kyle gritted his teeth as he tried to free his sword. However, the sword got stuck deep into the abomination’s hard bones. He was unable to pull it away.

Doyle suddenly burst in from the side, his shield crashing into the abomination at breakneck speed.

The impact staggered the abomination, loosening its grip on the blade, allowing Kyle to pull his sword away and jump back.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mind it.”

Doyle said as the two regrouped, vigilantly facing the abomination.

“This monster’s defense and strength are at the top of rank 1, making it incredibly difficult to defeat. However, it’s not without weaknesses.” Doyle said as he caught his breath.

The abomination was swaying slightly. Its injuries healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, its muscles squirming as it looked at them with eyes filled with malice.

“It’s not very fast, and its reactions are often a beat too slow. Most importantly…” Doyle paused.

“Roar!”

The abomination trembled as its muscles squirmed faster and faster. It expanded even further, nearing 4 meters tall. Blood oozed from every corner of its body as its skin tore.

“It’s very unstable. Since we interrupted the ritual, the transformation couldn’t be completed. Now, it’s on the verge of losing control. All we need is to stall for a while, and it will fall apart on its own.” He said with a serious expression on his face.

“Don’t forget about Tina and Luke, Captain Doyle. It shouldn’t take them long to come back. As long as we stall it until they’re back, our chance of winning will increase even further.” Aaron confidently said.

Kyle’s grip clenched as he listened to their conversation.

With the defense and regeneration speed of this abomination, they currently have no effective way to take it out. They can only seek the chance to win through a battle of attrition.

‘This is the first time my attack power has fallen behind. My sword no longer provides an overwhelming advantage at battles of this level.’

He thought as he looked down at the sword in his palm, its edge flashing as the torches’ light fell on it.

“Roar!”

The abomination howled as it ran towards them, every step leaving a blood-filled crater behind.

“Prepare for battle!” Doyle shouted as he placed his shield in front of him.

Kyle took his stance and sharply looked at the incoming abomination. Aaron downed his second magic potion as he pointed his staff at it, ready to unleash his spells at a moment's notice.

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