Chapter 826 Number's Game (3) - Thinning The Enemy

With perfect teamwork, the two fought the orcs surrounding them. Slaying all the orcs below Tier 5 with ease. It did not take long for the orcs to realize they were simply sending lambs to the slaughter. With a mighty below, the captain had everyone withdraw as the shamans aimed their magic at their enemy.

Massive elemental attacks of all types filled the air. Ready to turn the offenders, who stood back-to-back to ask, into burnt leftovers. However, as they launched their spells, nothing came of it.

Confused, the shamans wailed their arms, trying to get the spells to listen to them. And the next second, the barrier and spells all disappeared. Followed not a second later by a dozen simple Tier 1 spells that embedded itself in the eyes of the shamans.

Which was then further followed up by Kafsilos. Rings of flame surrounded the shaman. Blinded and in extreme pain, feeling the heat sent them into full-blown panic.

The captain tried his best to return order to the shamans. However, he was soon welcomed by a thrust of a spear. Having to focus on his own survival, he slammed the weapon to the side and charged the silver-haired elf.

Now, of course, Eldrian had been picking their targets with a plan in mind. They had started with the weakest group, the goblins, so he could watch what Two was capable of when given full reign to use all the mana in their soul.

So far, Two had limited himself to low Tier spells, however, his use of them was surgical precision. And here he had waited for just the right time to break the enemy's spells and cancel their barriers.

Sending their minds into a panic before attacking them. Focusing first on disabling them and then killing. Their screams growing fainter by the second.

It was efficient, and Eldrian was confident to leave the magical department to him. Meanwhile, Ceph's speed meant they could always retreat and attack as they wished.

Blocking the chieftain's blade with his spear's shaft, Eldrian smiled while being pushed back. This was going to be a longer fight. Luckily, the orc was far too slow. His strength might be more than Eldrian's, but the difference in agility was too much.

Dancing around the orc's mighty swings, Eldrian easily found opportunities to strike with his spear. Quick, shallow wounds that slowed the orc even more. His regenerative ability draining his stamina. Soon, he was heaving and puffing. Shouting for assistance.

However, the shamans were no more, and the warriors were being kept at bay by Ceph and Two. The rest of the orcs often ended up in the way, unable to contribute but not wishing to run—for that was the height of shame for an orc and would mean their deaths.

They instead milled about, standing in the warrior's way and being used by Ceph to keep the opponents he faced at a manageable amount.

'How long before you kill the chieftain?' Ceph asked, quickly struggling to keep the others from interfering. The warriors were not dumb. Realizing the green-haired elf's plans, they focused instead on keeping him pinned down to offer support to their leader.

[Orc Chieftain (Elite), Tier 6, Level 38]

[HP: 8.7k/9k]

[Stamina: 3k/7.5k]

[...]

'He's nearly exhausted. You can shift to focusing on defeating those you are fighting. I should be able to handle those who come my way.'

Relieved, Ceph did just that. Using the magical support from Two to focus more on killing than dancing. And, when he got a chance, he jumped back and summoned his own magic. His small wings glowed green as he channeled his mana. Sending a massive wind blade that severed the orcs before him in half.

That wasn't enough to kill them. However, it disabled them all. They screamed and shrieked in pain, and Ceph weaved between them to end their misery. None of the orcs managing a defense.

On Eldrian's side, he was now facing ten warriors. The chieftain having fallen back to try to recover. However, the situation with these orcs was much the same. While there were a few more agile in the group, none of them had more than 600 agility. Most only had around 400, a little over half what Eldrian had.

He used that speed advantage, along with Elemental Alignment, to flicker between his foes. Slaying one after the other. While resilient, it was now clear that the orcs died just like any other humanoid upon having their head destroyed.

So, that was just what Eldrian did. His spear glowing green, he struck. Piercing their neck or head and letting the wind surrounding his blade burst. The internal damage often outright killing or beheading his target.

Jumping to the side, Eldrian used a burst of wind to vault over his surrounding enemies. Watching where the chieftain had thrown a spear. It was a good attempt, however, his roar had allowed everyone to know something was coming.

'Mmm, I think this type of group will be our limit,' Eldrian mumbled while reaching the apex of his jump.

While Ceph's stats were beastly, in his elven form, he only had attributes around the six hundreds. In the worst case, he would fight enemies at the same level as him. His magic, however, will always be there to tip the scale.

As for fighting in his alicorn form, while possible, it was not optimal. Not in a chaotic melee. The lithe frame his elven form offered was simply better at avoiding damage. Granted, most attacks would glance off his coat, however, just one successful attack landing would be a problem.

'Two, what's your analysis?' Eldrian asked, curious how the magic side was going. Outside of slaughtering the weaker orcs and managing their flow, Two was also occasionally buying Ceph time by interrupting one of his foes.

These interruptions were often a mix of Tier 1 and 0 spells, temporarily blinding the target or making them flinch. Extremely cost efficient, something Eldrian was not known for.

'The shaman's magic was weak. Barely any contest in breaking the barrier. Heck, I can even cast within it. However, if they are stronger, we would have been surrounded and forced to flee.'

'Alright, then we will aim for groups with a maximum of Tier 6 in them,' Eldrian replied, sticking his landing amongst a bunch of weaker orcs. Despite knowing they were outmatched, the orcs charged Eldrian with vigor.

However, they all fell easily with a few swings of the wind aligned Crystoi. Which Eldrian returned to normal after emptying a position for himself.

'The wind's effective against them. Much more than the fire or ice alignment. But... it costs so much mana.' Eldrian exhaled, half in a sigh and half simply readying himself for the next part of the battle.

He hadn't quite realized how much mana would drain with its attacks. He was basically out of mana for his own use.

Dodging the charging warrior's attack, Eldrian asked Two to do some damage. As he slid his back blade through the orc's side and block the next orc's attack with the front, Two struck the former with Velona Pagetou (Tier 2 Frost Needle) in the back of its neck. Followed up with Pyrovolida, right where the icicle had formed a wound.

Diving into it, the firebolt expanded and exploded, sending a head flying. A head that landed with a thud as Eldrian thrust his spear through a new arrival's heart. Sparing just a glance, Eldrian got shivers.

Two was ruthless. That certainly did not look like a painless death, with how the wound was irregular. As if ripped from the body, instead of severed.

While thinking this, Eldrian also realize he would never have been able to perform such an attack. Not while attacking, dodging, and counterattacking against multiple foes. The precision and focus required to land such an attack was simply not something he could spare.

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