The Water Magician

A few days after eating the grilled piranha.

Today is another day to go hunting in the afternoon.

The location is the usual Eastern Forest.

There are many lesser rabbits and lesser boas.

Occasionally, a normal boa might appear, but it's not a threat to Ryo at this moment.

He still couldn't envision a victory against the assassin hawk, but in ground combat, he would likely not lose.

"This is definitely not arrogance."

Just after saying that out loud, a greater boa appeared right in front of him.

However, even a greater boa was no match for Ryo right now...

Suddenly, he heard a rustling sound from behind.

Turning his head just slightly to look back... there was another greater boa.

([Ice Armor])

In that moment, he lost sight of both greater boas in front and behind him.

"[Ice Wall Level 5]"

He generated ice walls level 5 in front and behind him.

The generation speed was about zero-point-one seconds.

Each day, the generation speed was increasing.

However, it was still cutting it close.

Almost simultaneously with the creation of the ice walls, the greater boas charged in from both directions.

One was aiming low to sweep Ryo's legs.

The other was targeting his upper body from a higher position.

Their movements were clearly coordinated.

Due to the impact from the greater boas, the third layer of the ice walls was destroyed from both the front and back.

What a terrifying charge it was.

Ryo jumped sideways between the ice walls and cast at the same time.

([Ice Path])

Both beasts were near the area where Ryo had been. He made their movements difficult by making the ground slippery.

But even if their movements were restricted, the greater boas had their own means of attack... yes, they had long-range attack methods.

In that regard, they were completely different from lesser boas!

Countless, truly innumerable stones were generated around the two greater boas.

"What is with that number...? [Ice Wall Level 5][Ice Wall Level 5][Ice Wall Level 5]"

He layered the ice walls level 5 to counter their numbers.

Finally, the stones were launched.

When they collided with the ice walls, it created either a splash of water or a cloud of dust, obscuring his vision.

At that moment.

Whoosh.

A stone collided with Ryo's right side.

"Ugh!"

Another struck his left shoulder.

"Ugh! [Ice Wall All Directions]"

Using the obscured vision to his advantage, the greater boa was 'bending' the stones.

It had slipped past the side of the ice wall level 5 and hit Ryo directly.

"I didn't expect it could bend..."

It was damage inflicted due to his lack of combat experience.

Both the armor on his waist and the bracers on his left hand were shattered from the impact of the stones.

"[Ice Armor]"

He quickly regenerated his armor.

However, there was not much margin for error.

The only protection he had was a simple ice wall.

It did not have the durability of the ice walls level 5.

Yet, beneath the greater boas was an ice path.

They shouldn't be able to move.

They shouldn't be able to, but...

"Can they really not move?"

The greater boas had legs capable of generating charges that approached the speed of sound.

That power and speed were produced by hooves that could dig into the ground.

Could it be that with time, they could run on the ice with their claws...?

The greater boas he had hunted before had indeed stumbled several times on the ice path.

However, just because that particular specimen had stumbled does not mean others would do the same.

Just like humans, some may fall often while ice skating, while others can even jump.

First, it’s troublesome to deal with two at once.

He should take them down one by one.

Which one to target...?

They had attacked from the front and back.

The one attacking from the front might be the leader or more experienced, like the one-eyed assassin hawk.

Then, he should take out the one that attacked from the back first.

When facing multiple enemies, one common strategy is to strike the enemy’s head first to confuse them.

However, another strategy is to weaken the enemy’s forces by attacking the weaker foes first, then dealing with the tougher ones last.