Ice lizard extermination II

The first class three magic beast that runs into our road is a wind marten. As I try to get closer, I can hear Henry telling me to slow down, but I'm already on my way. I'm not August, but I can take a wind marten hands down.

As I walk toward the wind marten, a bunch of mice, frogs, and other tiny magic beasts get flung towards me by the wind marten, as they use their own magic to create icicles, rock shards and other small weapons around or in front of themselves. It really doesn't care about the safety of the weaker ones at all. Polar opposite of me.

I know how terrifying it is as the weak guy to see what you're up against, so even if I don't really have the proper technique, I can at least try to ease their minds by showing them how strong I am. The marten itself should be about as strong as the ember wolf I fought earlier, but my armour and sword are a lot better than my robe and sickle. I would also like to believe that my combat skills have improved since then.

I easily cut every class two beasts being used as ammo in half with a single slash per beast. While I'm cutting them, I dodge and parry the small icicles, shards and other ammunitions the ones not get launched are shooting. The fire ones can't even reach me with their weak flames. At close-range fire is the most annoying to deal with, so Andy has been taking care of them with some well-placed knives. As I get within a few metres of the marten, it switches tactics and starts trying to cut me with wind blades as it wriggles to escape. It's too slow, and I can easily catch the wind slices before they hit me. The residual wind doesn't even damage my plate armour.

When I finally get within range of the Marten, I cut it three times. It stops moving, and the wind around me lets up. One class three beast taken down, now I'll do as Henry said and make sure not to exhaust myself. When a class four beast appears, I have to make sure I'm ready to engage. Or if someone gets overwhelmed.

My idea seems to have worked, as our second ranger starts loosing arrows, taking out the swarm of rank two beasts one at a time. Out of the frontliners shaking in their boots, only one is still not fighting. I wouldn't say the morale on the front is perfect, but they are able to fight, for now.

We are working together with one more party in a fairly narrow street, the second closest to the shore. The other party has one ranger and four frontliners. If you add Andy, Henry, and me, that makes a total of eight. I've already taken down eight class twos, our secondary party, and Andy have taken at least twenty. If we take out one or two more class three beasts, that's our estimated part of the first wave taken care of. As I think about how much easier things are going than I expected, I can hear a scream from one street further.

"Line breached, we're getting overrun!"

After a quick nod from Henry, I run to the back of our line into a narrow alley. Before me, I can see the vast ocean, but this isn't the time to take in the scenery. Before I turn the corner toward the broken front, I can see three people cowering. As I approach, they're running from the battlefield. One of them has lost an arm. As for the front, there are two class threes, an ice wolf and a light Weasel. Of course, there's also a swarm of class two small fries.

Unlike our narrow street, this is a boulevard. Because the line got breached, the swarm of small fries has managed to completely surround the dozen of frontliners and is making their way toward the backline, archers and other supporters alike. August's old sword is shorter than my scythe was, which is a little bit annoying when fighting such a large horde. It more than makes up for this flaw by having the entire length being razor sharp. I easily manage to cut through two class two magic beasts in one hit, as I quickly run out of the alley, cleaving a massive hole in the stream of enemies heading toward the backline.

I do feel a bit sorry for the frontliners, but I have to focus on relieving the back first. The backline is only four people, and three are not proficient at close-quarters-combat. Once they get surrounded, the speed at which magic beasts get defeated will be lowered significantly, while the chances of human casualties will be very high. I can't hold back the entire boulevard and advance on my own. I'm stuck running from one side of the road to the other, holding the line.

"I'll hold the line, so if you can help me out after you defeat everything that's already passed me, it would be great!"

I have to fall back ever so slowly as I stab and slash through the class two beasts, but every so often, I notice some slipping past at the very edges of the road. This boulevard is waaay too wide for me to handle on my own! But at this rate, I have already defeated dozens of class two beasts by myself... Surely their numbers are going down? As I'm cleaning up class two magic beasts, mostly dodging their projectiles, I notice some exceedingly fast icicles. As I dodge out of the way, I get hit by a beam of light.

It seems the class three beasts have pinpointed the reason their plan is not quite as effective as anticipated. I would have preferred if they didn't take countermeasures against me. At least this should ease the burden on the frontline. If there are only class two beasts fighting them, they should be able to free themselves.

Fighting two class threes and some class two, though... I think I might have to stay on the defensive as I wait for others to arrive. I jump over a few hares and rodents, trying to cut at the ice wolf. I should at least give the impression I'm not fully focusing on defense, right? If my memory serves me right, ember wolves weren't the only ones with low constitution, so I might even be able to defeat it, which would make my life a lot easier. As I do so, I notify people of something else that would be even greater.

"Some help would be much appreciated!"

The wolf easily dodges my attack, so I take out an ice rat with the swing instead. With my current armour, the simple attacks from the class three beasts don't do much, and the attacks from the class two aren't effective at all, but I feel very surrounded and a bit uneasy.

As if summoned by my call, Leo breaks through the line of rodents behind using both his main sword and shortsword, as he and the rear guard protecting the archers finally relieve enough pressure to fully clear the archers for ranged support. Leo takes control of this part of the battlefield.

"Okay, everyone, I'm taking temporary command. Archers, try to distract the weasel!
Front line, try not to get hit by the weasel while taking out as many class two as you can.
The three of us are going to clear out everything between the front and back.
Francis, I'll leave the wolf to you!"

The backline swordsman focuses on keeping the back rodent-free while Leo clears a path as I chase the wolf. Unlike the marten, the wolf seems to be cautious of its class two allies, slowing down its movement as it dances around them instead of sprinting through them.

"All Class fours are on the move, lines two, five, and six, prepare for a big fight!
Nearby lines, try to support if possible!"

As I hear our shinobi announce this, I feel slightly guilty for leaving. Leo probably feels the same way, because we're both here, while we are most likely needed where we were. Line two is where Henry and Andy are. They can maybe take out a class four between them, but one line just got two class four beasts. If that's them, there is no way they can hold the line.

With Leo's help, I can easily catch up to the wolf. I slash at its head, but it dodges. I anticipate as much and kick it with my new steel boots. The impact still hurts my toes on the inside, despite the leather and wool lining. It has the intended effect of throwing the wolf on its side, though. It doesn't even try to get up. It releases a massive magic circle, creating a wall of ice between us, but Leo cuts me a passage through the wall, and I easily finish the wolf off. The weasel retreats even further to the back as it keeps on firing light attacks at the front line. Leo signals me to return to line two.

"We can handle things here. You should return to your own line!"

He says this as if it's only because of a rational decision, but I know that's only half the reason. He's at least as worried about Henry and Andy as I am.