At that moment, time seemed to stand still.

This first Jackal Wolfman to charge up was likely the one that had just broken down the door.

Colin carefully sized up his opponent.

The creature was about the same size as an ordinary Jackal Wolfman. He wore thick Beast Hide Armor, one of his arms had been severed, and he clutched a Battle Axe in his remaining hand.

What stood out was the creature’s abnormally shrunken stomach and astonishingly low body fat, which made its muscles look all the more terrifying.

There were no other Jackal Wolfmen behind him. ’This isn’t a good chance to attack,’ Colin thought.

At the same time, of the few people at the front, only Kase reacted, thrusting his spear forward.

In that instant, Yenogu the Poison Fang pushed through the thrust of the Ice Short Spear and violently slammed the shoulder of his severed arm into the Insect Shell Shield.

BAM!

A gust of wind, thick with the stench of decay, rushed over them.

Kase was sent flying like a dark blur, tumbling backward along with Yenogu the Poison Fang.

’That impact felt like a Siege Hammer...’

’No,’ Colin’s heart sank, ’it was even stronger than a Siege Hammer!’

The Jackal Wolfmen behind them swarmed forward, intending to exploit the opening Yenogu the Poison Fang had created.

Colin extended his hands and began to chant a Spell.

At that same moment, however, he heard a sudden whoosh from behind.

’That must be Yenogu the Poison Fang trying to stop my Casting. I don’t need to look back to know. There’s still time to cancel Burning Hand and use the Shield spell for Defense.’

Savage, hyena-like faces swarmed toward him.

’But if I miss this chance, will I have another one to cast a spell? If all the Jackal Wolfmen behind them rush in, it’ll be hard to get them all grouped together again!’

Colin chose to trust.

To trust that his teammates could stop the terrifyingly strong Yenogu the Poison Fang.

The last syllable of the Spell fell from his lips.

A storm of Flame erupted from his palm, engulfing the charging Jackal Wolfmen and turning the entire stairwell into a sea of fire. Piercing screams instantly erupted.

Colin glanced back.

Kase had the shaft of his Ice Short Spear pressed against Yenogu the Poison Fang’s neck, desperately trying to pull him back, but his trembling hands betrayed that his strength was failing.

Seeing this, Colin rushed forward and plunged his sword into Yenogu the Poison Fang’s chest.

However, his opponent retreated with a powerful shove, pulling the Hand Half Sword from the wound while simultaneously slamming Kase into the wall. The Half-Orc was stunned by the impact, sliding to the ground and coughing heavily.

The sound was so harsh Colin winced in sympathy for his companion.

He glanced behind him.

Orelia, who had been at the rear, had already moved up with her Shield to fill the gap in the line. The two soldiers were desperately using their Short Spears to halt the monsters’ advance. It was thanks to Burning Hand that the Jackal Wolfmen’s charge had been halted; otherwise, the monsters behind them would have long since swarmed up.

’So, I don’t need to worry about our rear for now.’

Seeing Yenogu the Poison Fang about to turn and attack the fallen Half-Orc, Colin charged forward and thrust his blade with all his might.

The one-armed Yenogu the Poison Fang brought his Axe down on the blade of the Hand Half Sword.

Colin felt his blade twist like a noodle. A painful numbness shot through the web of his thumb, his fingers, and his wrist. It was only by exerting all his strength at the last moment that he kept his weapon from being sent flying.

’That strength... it’s terrifying...’

Colin retracted his sword and swung again.

But before his blade could connect, the creature charged, leading with the shoulder of its missing arm.

He heard a sharp exhalation as a feeling of suffocation washed over him.

’That thing knocked the air right out of my lungs...’ Already used to being sent flying, Colin controlled his center of gravity and landed steadily on his feet, gasping for breath.

Kase, who had fallen behind their foe, scrambled to his feet and charged, slamming his Shield hard into the creature’s back. However, Yenogu the Poison Fang threw a back-elbow that smashed him to the ground again.

"He’s a tough one. Incredibly strong."

Kase, who had landed next to Colin, pushed himself up, grumbling in frustration.

"Colin, my Light Ball spell leaves behind a portion of its energy after it hits, marking the enemy’s weak point."

Orelia’s voice called out from behind him.

Hearing this, Colin understood her plan.

’Once the Tiefling and the soldiers deal with the remaining Jackal Wolfmen, they’ll be free to help. For now, all Kase and I can do is hold off this terrifying Yenogu the Poison Fang.’

’But can we really hold him off?’

Colin took a deep breath, using his own voice to banish the fear from his heart. "His left arm is gone, you know that, right?"

The Half-Orc didn’t respond, simply raising his Shield and silently charging toward their opponent’s right flank.

Colin moved, pushing himself to his limits to charge forward with his companion and keep pace with him.

Yenogu the Poison Fang met their charge head-on.

He swung his Axe first, smashing it down on Kase’s Insect Shell Shield. From his position behind, Colin saw Kase’s entire body go rigid, every fiber of his being straining against the weight of the blow.

At the same time, the frost-wreathed Short Spear was not idle.

It pierced through the Jackal Wolfman’s Beast Hide Armor and sank into its lower abdomen.

In the next instant, the Jackal Wolfman rose onto the balls of his feet.

As if dancing, he used the rebound from striking the Insect Shell Shield to pull free of the Short Spear and spin his body around. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

’Is this thing’s coordination for real?’

Colin immediately raised his blade to block the Battle Axe swinging from the other side. Even so, the Axe pushed past his Hand Half Sword and struck his shoulder with a loud CLANG of metal on metal.

"Heh heh heh..."

A strange cackle reached his ears.

Out of the corner of his eye, Colin saw the muscles in Yenogu the Poison Fang’s neck bulge. His Attack Prediction Specialty kicked in, and he instantly realized the malformed creature’s intent.

’He’s going to bite my neck!’

Rising on the balls of his feet and twisting his waist, he drove his elbow up high into his opponent’s chin.

Yenogu the Poison Fang grunted.

He twisted his wrist, catching the blade of the Hand Half Sword with the hook of his Battle Axe, and violently yanked it back.

Colin’s Power was no match for his opponent; he could only watch helplessly as the creature flung his weapon away.

At the same time, Yenogu the Poison Fang raised a leg and stomped on Kase’s Shield, kicking him away.

The Half-Orc needed a moment to regroup.

In that instant, it became a one-on-one confrontation between the now-unarmed Colin and Yenogu the Poison Fang.

’The creature chose the opponent it thought was weaker, intending to pick us off one by one.’

Colin took a step back and drew the other Hand Half Sword the old veteran had given him. After being serviced by the Dwarf, the weapon was now indistinguishable from any ordinary Hand Half Sword.

’Isn’t it ready yet...?’

WHOOSH!

A Light Ball as bright as a thousand suns flew past Colin’s cheek and struck Yenogu the Poison Fang squarely in the chest.

The terrifying Magic Energy burned away the monster’s ribs and knocked it back several steps. The remaining energy from the Divine Art then pulsed with a faint glimmer at the stump of Yenogu the Poison Fang’s severed arm—that was its weak point!

’Now’s my chance!’

Colin charged forward, intending to finish this troublesome opponent once and for all.

The light faded.

And in that instant, Colin clearly saw the Jackal Wolfman’s expression.

Its ugly, hyena-like face was baring its teeth. It looked as if it were...

Smiling?