Team attack!
The bats don't stay still, they start to circle me and get into a position of attack, they are rather spread out, three on one side, two on the other and one very high up.
this is my second time fighting a group of opponents, though they feel different compared to the hornets.
Looking at the way they are organized.. Well, It's technically a good enough formation? I guess? ...but I get the feeling that they are working separately of eachother, only taking advantage of the situation to kill me, then decide who gets to eat the prey.
i mean, they aren't nearly as organized as the flying deaths were, also though the formation is passable the one the hornets had was way more efficient, sure they had more numbers ..but the vampire bats are still supposed to be smarter no? And even i could come up with a better formation.
In the end It doesn't matter though, I am killing all of them, and gaining skills from them, that's decided, they will be my stepping stones.
The three on my right immediately dive in after me, they are far too slow though.
I jump back dodging as a different bat-
SCREECH!!
The bat that was higher up fired it's sonic attack at the same time I dodged, the bats that had dived in are hit by the attack, their incredible hearing makes the attack even worse for them, their ears start to bleed, they fall on the ground completely disoriented.
...uh you hit your teammates bud, you should really be ashamed-
SCREECH!!
I jump back again ..these guys don't care at all about eachother do they? I was right, they aren't a group monster, they just seem to be sharing a target..
Me!
The two bats that hadn't attacked dive in at the same time as I start to land.
The one bat that seems to love screaming is preapering for another song for his trash but deadly rock album.. I could take advantage of this.
I run, some other bats come towards me as the screaming bat predictably-
SCREECH!!
...it was aiming for me, but I dash forwards at the last moment, the bats that come in after me, and as expected they get hit, their ears explode.. and they fall on the ground with this five out of the six bats had their ears exploded, all from the same one bat.
Said bat doesn't seem to be deterred, in fact it almost looks happy.
In fact.. I am starting to think it used me as a distraction to kill the others!
It starts making weird noises, I can't quite describe it, but I think it's happy?
...you like that your friends can't fight anymore huh? Let me guess, you think you will eat us all?
SCREECH!!
..why did I think you would do anything else?
But I do have an idea.
I quickly open a portal in front of me.. the sound waves enter and-
"..learn how awful of a singer you are."
A portal opens behind the bat, from it the sonic waves come out, and reach him from behind, he screeches but this time in pain, and he falls from the high up in the sky he was.
[Acquired skill [Sonic attack Resistance] success].
With this, you know how truly awful your music album is.. I mean you made deaf 5 of your listeners plus yourself, you really have no talent, 0 stars.
..unless we are talking about the murder or deafening effectiveness, in that case I give you 3/5 stars, now take your passing grade with you, and go to hell with it!
I use Spacial hold, I drag it over, now that [Spacial Dominion] became stronger it's really easy.
How do? Well let me explain.
In the past, [Spacial hold] was like making a hand and grabbing something, anything at all.
But now? I have someone called [Select space].
With it, I can kinda like... make an area around me or somewhere else, and in that area I will then know the precise coordinates of space, and have an easier time manipulating it.
Using it with [Spacial hold]?
Instead of a hand like grab ...a whole cube of the space the bat is in, and around it is grabbed, then pulled towards me.
When the bat is right in front of me I bring my tail over.. time to test this.
I activate [Sharpen] my tail goes back a bit and whips forward!
Shooosh.. slice!!!
The Vampire Bat is cut in its lower half, blood splashing from it, flowing down the ground and in me too!
"E-ew!!"
...urg.. disgusting.
But it's not over.
As the vampire bat screeches in pain, my tail goes and cuts its wings off, and then to finalize silent it.. its head is swiftly sent flying.
Urg.. disgusting and cruel..
[Acquired skill [Slashing Resistance] success].
....at least it was worth it.
I can't let myself be held down by my feelings when the enemy deserves it, this thing wouldn't have had mercy on me, and it's not like an Armorsaurus situation, that It was just defending itself and I could just leave, no this thing was a traitor, it knew what it was doing..
So I won't allow myself to feel bad.
I move to another one.
I have nothing against you ..ok that's a lie, you tried to kill me so I do have some things against you ..still this is going to be so painful that I am sorry.
I deactivated [Sharpen], it would die too quickly otherwise.
I coldly get a bit close my sharp tail in a stabbing position.
"Sorry.. but you asked for it ...a little bit."
This one I have The less of a justification, still I will try to end it as soon as possible.
It squirms a bit.. maybe it going to try to fire a sonic attack? Or better was..
My tail goes forward like a thrusting sword, it pierces the vampire bat in its chest, it squirms.. but then!
Pained squeak.
As my tail pulls out it it, only to stab it back in!
The bat keeps squeaking in pain, as I stab it repeatedly with my tail.
..look I am sorry, and some might say this is against what I said I would do earlier, buuut I do have a bit of a grudge against these bats, even then it might seem cruel, unfortunately I couldn't give it a peaceful death because I really want the resistance, Besides.. it was trying to eat me, it deserves a bit of punishment right? I feel bad for it though.. so I am doing it as fast as I can so as to not prolong it's pain.
[Acquired skill [Pierce resistance] success].
[skills: [Pierce resistance] [Blunt resistance] [Slash resistance] acquired. Combining and upgrading to [Phiscal attack Resistance] success].
..and done.
This was kinda disgusting though..
I say looking over the mutilated corpse of the bat.. I am not proud of that.
..my tail quickly slashes it's throat, I don't want it to suffer anymore.
I look over and see the other bats terrified..
"..don't worry, your deaths will be much quicker."
The bats shriek and perhaps call for help? ..too bad no one will come.
...
...
I finished putting the last of the bat's corpse's in my pocket dimension.
Said pocket dimension had become a lot larger since last time, I am glad that evolution helped me with that because ...the size of it before was honestly miserable.
Since then, I just kept walking through the cave, it shouldn't take long to reach the doors.. I kinda lost track of the time though, but I know I am getting closer because of perfect memory..
...
After a little while I reach the lake, the first lake I saw, this means I am pretty close to leaving this place.. thank god! I couldn't take eating bats or anything else.
When I am outside I will have a proper meal somehow.. I will find a way!
As I walk through the borders of the lake.. I can't help but look at myself and urg..
God.. my reflection is..
...what? I said I was going to accept beings a girl now..?
Hmf! I will have you know that, that is not! And I repeat NOT! The reason why I am saying "urg", I don't go back on things like that so easily you know? Get it through your heads! ...though I admit that the whole accepting myself thing is still a work in process.
The real reason, the thing that made me react this, was my state!
Here I am, a horned, ogre like girl, with a sharp silver tail, that almost looks like a stinger or blade, wearing nothing more than a long brown cloak..
All covered in blood..
..yeah.. there is blood on my face, my hair has some, my clothes are full of it and it's almost dripping from my tail.. I feel sick looking at myself!
I want to take a bath!! ...but I can't here, I need to find a river outside.
Ah.. outside, how do I long for you!
I can't even believe that my, stay in doors as maximum as possible, self is having thoughts like this.. give it to the place to make me feel like this.
..hopefully I don't meet anyone in the way though, because not only am I covered in blood ...I am also practically naked!
...that's right, this cloak is everything I have on my body, the clothes the goblins have me? Too small! They ripped apart when I evolved.
Urg.. so here I am naked, and bloody, coming out of one of the most dangerous caves in the world.
People might think I am some kind of demon, and I don't mean as a species but like.. as an omen of death!
...but that's not all.
I barely glance at my reflection embarrassed..
..why did I have to be so attractive?
Like.. sure, nothing about me is overly big.. but that's the point! It's not exaggerated in the slightest.. I.. urg! no! It's not time to gush about my body..!
Out of this cave I go!
...
...
After a bit more of walking.. I finally see it.. there you are you damm door! How much I missed you! My heart fills with love for your old school dungeon looks, and cold yet caring personality! You who hold the warmth of the sun that is so dear to me on your other side, Now here we are reunited like two destined souls pulled together by fate! ..and do forgive me for considering breaking you down that one time, mistakes happen alright?
Now that I am done romancing a door, I can finally enter her ...quite literally.
..yep time to phase.
I take a deep breath.. this is going to suck..
"...let's.. just do it.."
One.. two and..!
Three!
I activate the skill and phase through the door ...but something is different.
....huh? The feeling it's.. weaker?
..it doesn't feel like I am about to be crushed by an infinite nothingness quite yet, more so like I am in a large space that is trying to accept me.
...!!??!
Suddenly the crushing nothingness returns full force.. quickly closing in on me!!!
S-shiiit!!!
I end my phasing.. falling back on the ground of the normal world..
..what.. the hell.. was that!?!!
..I.. ok phasing is still dangerous ...but it seems I have extra time now.
Still.. that was terrifying, I won't use it unless absolutely necessary.
..I slowly get up, my eyes a little bit.. well they almost hurt.
It's the first time I feel the sunlight in my new body, also most of my new life I spent in that cave, so I shouldn't be surprised that I am not accustomed ..still though!
The sun! How much I missed you! I would hug you if it was phiscally possible and safe!
"..I am.. outside.."
I survived the journey.. I can't help but let out a sigh, this is so.. I don't even know how to express it anymore, I guess I am proud and happy..? Of myself!? What kind of rare once in a million years event is this..!? Hehehe... I deserve cake honestly..
"..cake.. food.. I need good food!"
Even those roasted pieces of meat that the goblins back home made would be better than the hellish things I ate in the cave! ..well besides the slime but I digress.
"..time to hunt!"
Yeah no time to waste! I will get moving.. kill some tasty monster in the forest, and eat something decent for the first time in forever!
...
...
A barely visible figure runs through the forest as fast as she can, so fast in fact that most humans would barely see her.
Her body red with blood, her clothes rags, her intimidating horns, tail and fangs would make even the more experienced human adventurers get on guard, or ask for help.
That figure ..is me! I won't even try to hide it! I am absolutely disgusting right now!
So I will move as quickly as I can, like this I won't be seen, and I will be able to find a good meal ...and strike it down before it can even think of running away!
I could move even faster too ...if I knew how to teleport!
Honestly.. I am starting to think that [Spacial Dominion] isn't just a tool to manipulate space, if it was, then teleportation would be easy.
My current theory is that I am missing something about the unique skill, I mean it's a unique skill! It's supposed to let me manipulate the laws of reality itself! ..but everything I did with it up until now could have been done with [Spatial Domination] an extra skill, A high end one.. but still!
That being said, for now at least, there's nothing I can do about it, so I will just keep practicing.
While I was thinking that, my Magic sense + All of Space Detection felt something.. I stop dead in my tracks as, what I can only describe as a beam of light shoots past where I was standing.. hitting a tree and cutting it in half!
Wha-!?
I don't have a second to breathe as more and more of these lazers shoot towards me, I jump back.. but my path is blocked by more of these things!
They are way too fast for me to dodge, I don't have a choice but to activate my phasing at the last moment.
I phase through the beams, my body going to the deal place for a moment.. but a moment only as I come right back, and then land on my feet using [Magic Sense] to locate the enemy ..or enemies I suppose, I feel them, there are many of them
....they aren't nowhere near close to me though.
Are they seriously sniping me? Urg.. well I just have to-
But I have no time to finish the thought as more of these white beams shoot towards me.
Ok! Enough!
I use [Thought acceleration] to the maximum, while using parallel processing to both dodge, and think clearly, I have been training this by thinking about multiple things at the same time while walking, and analysing [Unlimited Imprisonment] while talking to Veldora.. it should be good enough for combat.
As I do that, I dodge while being able to think more clearly...
Yes!
Now.. how the hell do I get closer? It's like I have a firing squad shooting at me!
Ok! Don't panic, concentrate!
..alright. first things first, raveling by foot is a no.
There's no way I can get closer without taking damage ...and I would rather avoid that.
Sure I have self regeneration ...but I would still be starting the fight injured.
Also it drains magicules to heal, and the healing is nowhere near as fast as Rimuru's so I would be fighting hurt for the majority of the time too.
Overall a horrible idea.
...
A beam bigger than the others flies through the forest, I dodge the smaller ones and see it coming, I jump to go over it but-
!
The beam of light does an arc mid air! It flies straight at me in the air.. I have no way to dodge.
As it approaches to and "hits", I vanish from this world.
...what?
No! I didn't die! I phased to avoid it!
I feel this place slowly starting to reject me again, the stability is falling quickly, I can almost feel the nothingness starting to approach ...ok, no out of here!!
I phase back to the normal world and land safely.
The beams stop for a moment but only a moment ..then they come back at full-force!
I jump back, no big lasers this time, so for now I am good, seriously though?! A homing attack!?
Urg.. how annoying...
..ok now, what do I do???
Uh.. I could run but-
The assault is non stop.. if sure I could probably escape, even if not unharmed.
...but what's the guarantee that they won't give chase? I would just be putting myself in an even worst position!
In the end, all I can do fight.
But how do I get close?
...in reality we all know the answer.
I need to-
I am abruptly Interrupted by a giant white lazer!
It's the homing one again!
I try to run from it but the other ones cut me off..
Why.. why is their team work so good!?
I can't even stand still or open a portal to try to eat the lasers.
they are too fast and coming from multiple directions!
And if I stop to try to make a bigger portal.. I would get hit by the ones that are already on their way!
Is this revenge for me trash talking the bat's team work!? I apologize ok!!!
Urg! I can't dodge I have to..
I phase through, immediately vanishing from this world.
And as soon as I enter this place..
!!!
The nothingness quickly closes in threatening to crush me!
I come of the this place abruptly, falling and rolling in the ground.
This.. was my last phase for a while, if I go there again I am dead.
I quickly get up ...I can already feel the lazer.
I am so done with this.. I am genuinely so angry.
This is the first time I have been pushed like this.. and by such an unfair strategy too!
Shooting and waiting out of my range, so you can slowly kill me.. urg..!!
I hate this.. I hate this damn feeling of powerlessness!
...but I know what to do.
The lazers resume, multiple beams of light shooting towards me.
..this time I barely move, I got a general idea of their size and length thanks to [Quick learning], so dodging them is easier now.
Still.. I wouldn't be able to dodge a homing one plus the barrage.
In other words my plan is the same.
I need to get into my attackers range.
And the only way to do this is..
Teleportation.
I couldn't do it before on its own, I just didn't understand how it worked enough.. and I didn't have a way to gain knowledge over it.
..but now, with [Select space], I should be able to do it, I can see the space coordinates.. it's not necessarily easy, but together with [Spatial Domination] if I try hard enough, while imagining myself going from one space coordinates to the other, without moving through it, it should be possible.
I was planning on testing it on a safer place but.. screw it! It's all or nothing!
"..I am done being on the defensive!"
I dash forward, barely dodging the lazer beams that pass near me.
I need to get closer.. close enough I can select the space near the enemy, so I can teleport to them!
I dash on, the lazers get more accurate because of my approach.. they are grazing me but I don't care! I am pissed!
Even if I didn't have [Pain nullification], I would have still kept going!
I finally get close enough, I can feel their auras in front of me!
Now [Select space]!
Instead of a normal big bubble around me.. I extend the selection to the space in front of me like a cylinder, extending forward towards them.
A bigger stronger one is fired.. a homing one definitely.. but I don't stop, I keep running towards it, and when it's about to hit me-
-[Spacial domination].. lets go!
Using everything I have, I focus all of the [Parallel processing] into preapering the coordinates, imagining it, and then activating it!
As the lazer aiming for my face.. as if to try to take me out in one hit-
-I vanish.
But this time I didn't phase.. no...
[Acquired Extra Skill: [Spatial Motion] success].
[Extra skill [Spatial Motion] has been integrated into Unique skill [Spacial Dominion], Extra skill [Spatial Motion] has been integrated into Extra skill [Spatial Domination] succesful].
...yes, I finally did it, I feel the stress leave my body ...well a little bit, but it's not the time to commemorate its-
..it's.. the time to.. oh.. ohhh..
...I look forward to see my enemy, the ones who attacked me and caused me so much anger and some pain even, being by far my hardest battle so far.
...but what I see shocked me.
"...unicorns?"
..yes, you heard me right.
Unicorns.
B+ rank monsters.
Each one stronger than the average adventurer by far!
..but that's not the problem.
The problem is.. numbers.
How many you ask?
"...20 unicorns.."
...20.
20 B+ plus ranked monsters and-
I look up, the one on top, their leader.
They.. ....no she? ..for some reason I can feel it's a she.
...she looks down at me, though she is a Unicorn, I can feel it.. feel that her expression like she is seeing a pile of dirty.
She stands tall and, her aura flares.. her horn glows with power.
This.. energy.. she is stronger than the Tempest serpent.
...she is an A rank magical beast.
"..!"
I feel a weird force pushing into my will, it's similar to how I was overwhelmed with feelings that weren't mine.. but this one is pushy!
..and I am not feeling that again!
I forcefully shrug off the sensation and take a deep breath.. holding my ground.
This.. thing tried to do a mind attack on me.
With [Magic sense], I feel the other unicorns surround me.
The leader stands still.. almost as if hesitant for a moment, I keep holding my ground, even though I am clearly in a bad position.
...I am surrounded by a small army of B+ beings, being led by a magical beast who is by far my strongest opponent so far.
"...this isn't good."
...Is all I can think about before the leader charges at me.