Jill''s ...... behind?"
Carla asked back.
''Yes. As you''ve seen from the way Jill has fought so far, she can do everything on her own. She has the offensive power to kill an enemy with a single blow, the defensive strength to withstand any attack, the agility to hunt down fleeing enemies, and the stamina to traverse a dungeon by herself. So there is no need to fight in coordination with friends. In fact, a half-hearted attempt to work in tandem with her companions would only serve to diminish her strength. However, there is only one adventurer who has the potential to work with Jill without dragging her down. That is you, Carla."
"......"
You are at best a C-class in terms of power and toughness, but in terms of agility, you have the potential to be an S-class. By getting behind Jill, he can add more depth to Jill''s offensive capabilities. Of course, this is no half measure. Not only do I have to keep up with Gilles, who is even faster than I am, but I also have to be able to outrun him.
Roland, accompanied by Carla, visited Gilles.
Jill, can I have a word?"
Yes," he said. Yes, sir?"
Jill responded with a cool face despite all the fighting and forced marching she had done yesterday.
Her stamina is absolutely bottomless.
From today on, I want you to explore with her, Carla.
When I said this, Jill smiled a troubled smile.
''Well, Mr. Roland. With all due respect, my style is unique,......, and, well, I''m afraid she won''t be able to exert her strength by forcing herself to fit in with me."
Don''t worry," he said. All you have to do is explore as usual. Carla will take care of you.
Huh.
Roland briefly explained Carla''s style and left the rest to the two of them.
The "Spirit Alliance" entered the "wasteland" where A-class monsters were stirring.
Even after entering the "Wasteland," the tactics did not change much.
Jill led the way in defeating the enemy, and the troops followed her lead.
The only difference was that Carla was right behind Jill.
Jill glanced back at Carla.
(Hmmm. She''s following me. She seems to have no problems with agility and stamina. (As expected, she has been trained by Mr. Roland.)
Jill was relieved.
It didn''t seem that she would be that much of a liability.
From this point onward, when the A-class monsters were rife, even the quintessential Jill could not afford to follow her allies.
Especially in recent years, Jill had become accustomed to fighting alone and was not confident in her ability to coordinate.
(Roland-san said it would be okay, though. I''m not confident. Carla. She seems to be an excellent thief (shifu), but I wonder if she''ll be able to coordinate well with us.)
Leon was in close contact with Roland and was in command of the troops.
He asked, "Roland, it looks like Carla is now behind Gilles, but are you sure you want Elio and Hans to stay in place as they are now?"
I''m not sure I''ll be able to do it," he said. All A-Class members except Carla should be placed in the main group as they are. Carla is the only one who can keep up with Jill''s movements.
Soon it was time to put their partnership to the test.
As Jill was advancing through the dungeon, the cliff suddenly moved with a tremor of the earth.
Phew!"
Jill stopped and took on a fighting stance.
What she thought was a cliff turned out to be a "mountain ogre.
The "Mountain Ogre" got up and struck him with its long, burly arm.
Jill quickly jumped back and dodged.
He immediately counterattacked, but before Jill''s blade could pierce his rocky torso, the "Mountain Ogre" backed up and dodged.
（Agility is not that fast. But it has a long reach.)
The enemy''s attack must be dodged with a single stroke of the paper, and the distance must be closed at once to attack.
Jill decided so and waited for the next attack from the "Mountain Ogre.
The "Mountain Ogre" launched a fist.
（Here it comes!)
Jill did not jump back this time, but stepped forward.
She dodged the outstretched arm of the Mountain Ogre and tried to get into its pocket.
However, the Mountain Ogre, perhaps reading this, tries to use its other hand to get rid of it.
(Tsk).
Jill stops advancing and tries to jump back.
If he dodges, the "Mountain Ogre" will lose his position.
This would be the perfect opportunity.
However, he felt something hit his back.
"Bloop!"
What? Carla?"
While Jill was bumping into Carla, the fist of the "Mountain Ogre" was coming at her.
Jill has no choice but to defend herself.
She was dexterous enough to be blown away while protecting Carla on her back.
The two of them landed on the ground after being blown away to some extent.
（I was surprised. (Were you clinging to my back the whole time?)
Jill was more impressed that Carla had been snugly attached to her back the whole time than angry that her chance had been thwarted.
She had thought that Carla would have run off to a corner to get away from the situation.
(I thought I was moving quite recklessly, but he was able to keep up with me. Not only is he highly agile, but he also reads well?
Carla, on the other hand, was struggling to keep up with an opponent who was harder than ever to get behind.
(d*mn. This guy is also absurdly fast at falling back. It''s fast and hard to predict. Roland, you''re so easy on him, telling him to work with Gilles.)
I''m sorry, Carla. Are you okay?"
No, that was my fault. I''ll be careful next time."
Jill glances at Roland.
Loran gestured for the fight to continue.
(So Carla''s not a problem. I understand.)
Jill put Carla out of her mind and headed toward the "Mountain Ogre" again.
Carla hurriedly followed behind Jill.
(She is much quicker and less predictable than Elio. How to follow behind without getting in Jill''s way: ......)
Carla followed behind Jill at a greater distance than usual.
(Here, at this distance.)
(...... far away)
Leon, as a fellow rear-guard swordsman, watched Carla''s positioning with interest (he had just led his troops into position and finally caught up with them when he received word that Jill had started the battle).
Carla''s position was too far away for a rear-guard thief.
(If I were to get behind a shieldman, I''d be worried that I wouldn''t be more attached to him. ...... ) The distance was appropriate for Jill to be behind him.
I''ll be fine. Leon."
Roland?"
Carla chose that distance because she had skin in the game. Perhaps that distance is appropriate."
Hmph. Well, I guess so."
Leon, for what it''s worth, also recognized Carla''s sense of style.
If you ask her to do the work of looking for an opportunity from behind the shield user, I have never seen anyone better than her.
Status of Carla Grazia
Arm strength (power): 40 (?10)-50
Endurance: 30 (10) - 40
Agility: 90 (?30)-100
Physical strength (stamina): 110 (?30)-130
(Carla''s status is being restored. I''ve shaken off the distractions by focusing on my true role. After all, a rear-guard bandit (shifu) is her true calling.)
Jill accelerated.
She closed the distance while sneaking through the attacks of the "Mountain Ogre.
Carla was careful not to get caught in the aftermath of the Mountain Ogre''s attack, and kept a constant distance from Jill as she followed.
(I''m in the pocket. Earlier, from here, she had made a sharp back step. ......)
Carla focuses her attention on Jill''s feet and the position of her center of gravity.
By doing so, she can even grasp the movement of the "Mountain Ogre.
Jill''s body falls forward.
But it is a feint.
The sound of the Mountain Ogre''s arm slicing through the air is heard.
The axis of Jill''s body shakes slightly.
（Here!)
Jill and Carla flew backwards at the same time.
Speed, distance, timing.
Everything was exactly the same, a single, unruffled, shadowy movement.
Leon was astonished.
(Whoops! They can fly backwards from that position? What the hell kind of move is that? (Jill and ......, Carla too)
The "mountain ogre" collapsed.
Seeing this, Jill jumps into the chest of the "Mountain Ogre.
The silver sword pierced through the heart of the Mountain Ogre.
However, the sword enters slightly shallowly.
(d*mn.... I''ve lost my touch.)
It had been a long time since I had moved with such full agility.
Therefore, it can be said that it is inevitable that the aim is a little shaky with equipment that has not yet been fully adapted.
However, since the sword is specialized for stabbing, it was not possible to just slice through with brute force, and it was necessary to pull it out.
At that moment, Jill felt something pass through her body.
（What?)
Without thinking, I look behind me.
Carla was holding a sword against Jill''s back.
(Was that a "shadow strike" sensation?)
Carla''s shadow strike, riding on Jill''s thrusting blade, pierced the thick breastplate of the "Mountain Ogre.
The "Mountain Ogre", pierced through the heart, collapses from the feet up.
[Carla Grazia''s Skills and Status]
Shadow Strike": A (up1)
Agility: 100 (up10)-110 (up10)
[Jill Irwin''s status].
Agility: 100-105
(Here Carla''s agility has exceeded Jill''s agility. Has she learned from watching Jill''s movements? She has also improved her speed in "Shadow Strike" and is now in the "A" class. (......) Remaining issues are
Skill and Status of Carla Grazia
Kaiten Sword Dance: B to S
Agility: 100-105 to 12 0-130
(The remaining issues are "Kaiten Ken Dance" and agility (agility) 120-130. (Can you derive it?)
As Jill and Carla continued on, they met a bipedal dragon that came striding toward them.
It was carrying a large shield on its back.
It was a "shield dragon.
As soon as the "shield dragon" saw Jill, it raised the shield on its back and charged at her.
I want it!"
Jill also readied her shield and ran into the "Shield Dragon.
The heavily armed knight and the "shield dragon" clashed like a bullfight, and then they pushed each other shield to shield as if they were in a fierce battle.
Jill tried to pierce the enemy''s shield with her sword.
The sword pierced through the shield, but did not hit the "shield dragon.
It was extremely difficult to pierce a dragon hiding in a large shield with a sword.
(Did I miss it? But then, Carla''s "Shadow Strike" can be used at ....... (Ugh)
Jill felt something hit her in the side.
It was the tail of a "shield dragon.
The tail of the "shield dragon" has a spear on the end.
Jill pulled out her sword as quickly as she could, but was blown to the side, missing her chance for a "shadow strike.
Carla rushed to Jill''s back.
Jill. Are you okay?"
I''m not sure I''m going to be able to do it. No problem."
(A large shield that makes them miss their aim, and a long supple tail that allows them to bypass the large shield and attack. Then ......)
Until you can use your agility to get around the one that doesn''t have a shield.
Jill feints, swings from side to side, and then tries to go around.
However, the "shield dragon" reads her movement, and she holds up her shield.
（He can''t get around it! This guy looks slow, but he''s surprisingly smart.)
The "Shield Dragon" measures the distance between the two and rushes forward again.
Jill has no choice but to catch it.
Then, she quickly moves away to avoid the tail.
(I can avoid it, but I can''t pull it over. If this continues, it''s going to be a war of attrition. What should we do? (Do you want me to use Carla?)
As Jill was thinking about this, the "shield dragon" let out a deafening cry.
Then the surrounding rocky shadows suddenly became noisy, and dragon tribes such as "Fafnir the Fire Dragon" and "Lizardman" began to appear in their midst.
（Oh no! Did they call my friends?)
As long as they cannot break through the shield of the "shield dragon," if they call in their friends, there is a possibility that they will be further attacked from the flanks.
(What do we do? What do we do, Mr. Roland?)
Jill glances at Roland again.
''Jill. "Jill, increase your agility and respond. Carla, get more distance between you and Jill."
(Nah.)
（What?)
Both Jill and Carla look up.
''Lo, Mr. Roland. We couldn''t break through the shield of "Shield Dragon," and with the newcomers gathering, it''s a quintessential .......
Yes," he said. So, "Shield Dragon" can be put off until later. We''ll just flank them and put pressure on them, and then we''ll start clearing out the small fry around them.
I see. Then ......"
No, wait a minute!
Carla raised her voice in protest.
''What about me? Jill''s agility is S class. If you get any closer, ......"
Carla. Your agility has exceeded Jill''s at this point."
What?
(My agility exceeded Jill''s?)
Now you should be able to handle being even closer to Jill.
But," he said, "there are a lot of enemies out there. I don''t care if I have Jill''s endurance (toughness), my endurance (toughness) is not enough to withstand the attacks from all around me.
Yes," he said. So you''re going to stay behind Jill and use your agility to play with the enemies around you.
(Playing with the enemy while staying behind Jill?)
Remember Jill''s backstep. If you incorporate that same effect into your lateral movements, you will naturally find the answer.
In the meantime, the dragon tribes were approaching.
The "shield dragons" were also pressing in.
Lizardmen" came from the side of the shield, and "Fafnir" came from the upper side of the shield.
Carla. Let''s go!
Ggh. We have to do it.
The two started running.
They dodge to the side when the "shield dragon" rushes forward.
Then, "Shield Dragon" immediately stops and points its shield at them.
The "shield dragon" stops.
In that split-second, he hits .......
A flash.
Jill decapitates the lizardman coming from the side of the shield.
The Lizardman dies before he knows what hit him.
However, the dragon tribe is not defeated.
The tail of the "Shield Dragon" is coming from the opposite side of the "Lizard Man," and the "Fafnir" is circling behind him, spitting "fire breath" at him.
Both the tail and the tip of the "Fafnir"''s mouth were facing Carla.
(Is the target ...... me? !)
Carla had to deal with Jill, "Shield Dragon" and "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" in three directions at the same time.
However, this situation awakened Carla''s new strength and made her choose the best solution.
Reflexively, Carla made a gesture to go in the opposite direction of Jill.
The dragons were caught by her movement.
Immediately after the attack was unleashed, Carla suddenly accelerated in the opposite direction, disappearing from the dragons'' field of vision and following behind Jill.
The monsters stand still for a moment, unsure of what has just happened.
In the meantime, Jill killed another "lizardman".
The monsters regain their composure and attack Carla once more, but again their "fire breath" and spear tails come up empty.
Leon frowned at the change in the war situation.
What is it? It looks like the monsters have been attacking in the direction of the day after tomorrow for a while now, what are they doing?"
Hate control."
Hate control?"
Look closely at Carla''s movements. After deliberately getting into the focus of multiple monsters, she is guiding the direction of the attack with subtle gestures at the timing when the enemy enters the preliminary movement of the attack. The line of sight, the center of gravity, the direction of the body. That alone triggers the enemy''s attack and evades it at high speed. It is an advanced technique that only those with agility over 100 can perform."
What? How is that possible?"
When Leon strained his eyes to look closely, he did indeed see Carla stop for a moment and sway her body slightly in time with the preliminary movements of her enemies.
It was a subtle movement that made me want to attack, and if I did not look closely, I could not tell it was a feint.
Whoa. Indeed.
Jill often steps backward rapidly after entering the enemy''s pocket to break the opponent''s stance, but what Carla is doing is a version of that move. What Carla is doing is an application of this move. She is inviting the enemy to attack with a slight swaying movement to the side.
Seriously? While keeping up with Jill''s movements, she is able to control the hate of monsters coming from all directions. Such a feat of detachment. ......"
（Were you inspired by seeing Jill''s (S class) movements up close? Carla is trying to broaden her fighting style here. If she keeps this up, she''ll be at ...... in a few more days.)
Jill was also beginning to notice something was not quite right.
(What? Suddenly the pressure from the monsters seems to have lessened. Is Carla doing something? (Well, whatever it is, ......)
This is the last time."
Jill jumps up and skewers the last "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" as if it jumped up.
All that''s left is ...... you."
When Jill confirms that Fafnir is dead, she does not wait for it to crash, but flies toward the "shield dragon" using the dead body of Fafnir as a springboard.
However, "Shield Dragon" did not give in.
It never let Jill take its back, but instead, it hid behind its shield as it faced Jill.
Carla, while keeping her back to Jill, was also aware of the "shield dragon''s" hate.
The "Shield Dragon"''s attention, which had been focused on Carla until a few moments ago, was increasingly focused on Jill.
Carla had already grasped the habit of Jill''s movement.
The axis of Jill''s body shook.
The next moment, she would accelerate to the right.
(If we go ...... the opposite way here!)
As Carla predicted, Jill accelerated to the right.
The "shield dragon" was so caught up in the movement that it missed Carla''s acceleration to the opposite side.
Carla easily slipped inside the shield.
The "Shield Dragon" is surprised to see Carla, who has somehow entered his pocket, but quickly lets go of his shield and avoids a slash.
(d*mn, it missed. But ......)
Jill stuffs it from the other side.
Oooohhhh."
The "shield dragon" intercepts Jill''s slash with its tail.
The "Shield Dragon" blocks Jill''s slash with its tail, and then it pushes its tail against Jill''s and runs away.
Ugh. Oh no!
While Jill is struggling with her tail, he jumps off the cliff behind her and tries to save himself.
(She gets away. No, we''re almost there. ......)
Carla stepped on the ground as never before.
(If only she were faster!)
In an instant, Carla is on the back of the "Shield Dragon", and with enough agility, she unleashes a "Kaiten Ken Dance"!
The slash of the "Kaiten Kenbai" cut the back of the "Shield Dragon" to pieces.
The slash, which clearly extended the distance and attack range compared to the previous one, awakened Carla''s dormant memory deep within her.
(This was ...... father''s doing ......)
Ignoring his admonition to "never come in," Carla once snuck into the practice hall where her father was performing a secret ritual and secretly watched what he was doing.
What she saw there was a strange sight of candles being cut far beyond iai sparring.
Carla was often fascinated by the mystical sword dance performed by her father.
This scene was similar to the image of the slash that she had just performed with her own hands.
Jill was also amazed at Carla''s agility.
（How fast she is! (How fast she is!) If it is only agility, she might be comparable to Yugan''s. (......)
[Carla Grazia''s status].
Agility: 120 (up20) - 130 (up20)
Kaiten sword dance: S (↑2)
(Carla finally has more agility than Jill. She also has a "Kaiten Sword Dance" (......?)
Roland looked over the description of the "Kaiten Sword Dance" and noticed something unusual.
The explanation of "Kaiten Kenbai" S.
By releasing sword techniques while spinning, it extends the distance and power of the sword.
If the class is advanced, it is possible to shower a wide range of slashes.
(NEW) "Dragon Burial Dance" which weakens the power of the dragon tribe is granted.
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