In the game, all you had to do was clear the monsters that spawned in each stage, but this world was different.
I couldn't just pass by people caught in the wave and in danger.
Because of that, we who had stepped in to resolve the situation had to pay extra attention to rescuing people.
“Mommy!”
While the Empire’s Hunters and soldiers were locked in fierce battle with the rampaging monsters.
In a place beyond their reach, a rabbit beastman who appeared to be a child was surrounded by them.
It seemed she had perhaps sprained her foot, as she couldn’t get up from her spot.
“Blanka! Let me go, my daughter is over there!”
The rabbit beastman presumed to be the mother had tried to hurry to rescue the child.
But she was being pushed back by the crowd and unable to break free from the people around her restraining her.
Having grasped the situation up to that point, I moved immediately.
‘Running there would be too late. In that case…’
I just had to fly.
I held out my left palm toward a building in sight.
I infused the Demonic Silver Thread with mana, activating the built-in magic.
From the palm of my right hand wearing a black glove, a mass of webbing erupted.
The mass of webbing that shot straight forward stuck to the wall of the target building.
Grasping the webbing, the silver thread, I lifted my feet from the ground.
*Fwoosh!*
I soared up like a pendulum.
Furthermore, I treaded on empty air with aerial steps, adding propulsion.
Reaching the desired height in one breath, I released my right hand.
The silver thread connected to my palm snapped.
A sensation of falling crept over me.
Yet without fear…
Toward the building wall near the rabbit beastman.
I fired the silver thread once more.
This time, I fell down in a curve.
Soon, calculating the appropriate timing, I released the silver thread from my hand and landed.
Right in the center where the monsters were encircling, the spot where the rabbit beastman was.
“Huh? Kyaa!”
“Hold on tight.”
Seemingly startled by my sudden appearance, the beastman with rabbit ears perked up.
Tears welled in her round, red eyes.
I smiled brightly to reassure the rabbit beastman.
Then I held her tight with my left arm so I wouldn’t drop her.
*Grrrr!*
The monsters lunged, but it was futile.
Having fired the silver thread with my right hand moments before, I quickly got away from the spot with the rabbit beastman.
Reduced to dogs chasing a chicken, they could only look up at me and bark.
In doing so, they had left themselves wide open.
A subspace opened behind them.
Yeon Haneul, Yong Haerang, and Bak Sagun appeared from there and ambushed them.
They had no chance to counterattack properly and were forced to meet their deaths.
Turning my back on that sight, I withdrew to a safe place to let the rabbit beastman down.
“Oh my, my baby!”
“Your mom is coming over there. Hop hop, run over to her quickly. Hold Mom’s hand and take shelter.”
“Yes! Thank you, mister!”
The rabbit beastman who gave me her thanks ran to her mother with light steps.
Leaving them hugging each other behind me, I decided to finish resolving the situation.
To do that…
‘We have to subjugate the Legion Commander.’
I raised my head.
Not far away, the Legion Commander Livid Equilius, whose body was larger than the buildings, came into view.
It was exuding a pressure befitting a 5th-rank monster.
Fortunately, I wasn’t intimidated.
Thanks to the message that appeared before my eyes.
[You have been exposed to Pressure.]
[All stats decrease by 15%.]
[Skill ‘Courage Lv 7’ activates.]
[Preserves up to 17% of the stats decreased by Pressure.]
[Decreased stats are restored.]
[Concentration and evasion rate increase by 15% due to skill ‘Courage Lv 7’.]
But while I might be fine, my friends’ circumstances were different—they couldn’t easily resist the Pressure.
‘It’s too much for us to handle on our own.’
To land a meaningful blow on a 5th-rank monster, one of your physical abilities had to exceed 80.
Not accounting for the effects of Pressure, those currently meeting that criteria were me, Yeon Haneul, Gang Hanbyeol, Min Arin, Yong Haerang, Cha Eunsol, and Lisa.
If the seven of us fought with our lives on the line, we could subjugate it.
Though sacrifices would be inevitable.
‘That won’t do. It’s too reckless.’
From the start, it wasn’t a simple 5th-rank monster, but a Legion Commander leading an army.
The subjugation difficulty rose even higher.
So to subjugate it safely, we had to combine our strength with the Empire’s Hunters and soldiers.
Above all…
‘We need the World Tree’s help.’
According to the game’s progression.
People receive the World Tree’s Blessing, which temporarily raises all stats, in the process of stopping the wave.
Furthermore, Lisa awakens her Gift.
‘Lisa has already awakened the power to manipulate space through the Witch’s Core. If she awakens once more here…’
She’ll obtain the power to manipulate time.
Surely that power would greatly lighten the burden of battle.
I decided to look forward to that moment.
* * *
Empress Elena, whom she had followed like a mother, and at times like an older sister.
She didn’t want to stand idly by as the capital he had protected with her life was destroyed like this.
She absolutely could not back down.
She too would stake her life to protect this country.
Lisa, resolved with a firm heart, did not hold back her strength.
“Ugh…”
Her head throbbed.
It was from continuously deploying magic.
Moreover, using her Gift in succession had also strained her heart.
Even so, Lisa hid her pain and endured.
Rummaging through her pockets and grabbing whatever her hands found, she downed mana recovery potions, already numbering more than she could count.
The regional commander cooperating in the Legion Commander’s subjugation worried about her.
“Your Highness, please don’t overdo it and rest for a moment. We will handle the Legion Commander.”
“No. Everyone is struggling—I don’t want to rest comfortably alone. More importantly, is the evacuation complete?”
“Yes, thanks to Your Highness, the evacuation of all civilians in this area has been completed.”
“That’s a relief. Our room to maneuver will be a bit freer now. What about the support troops?”
“They say the 2nd Knight Order has been deployed. However… the roads are blocked here and there, so it seems time will be delayed… Therefore, including the Knight Commander, those with fast feet are heading here first.”
“…I hope they arrive as soon as possible.”
It was regrettable, but for now, they had no choice but to resolve it with the people present.
For a moment Lisa’s expression darkened, but she quickly steeled her resolve.
She shouted to Gang Hanbyeol and Nam Yuri, who were running across the rooftops.
“Hanbyeol, Yuri! The buff effect will end in fourteen seconds! I’ll open a subspace three seconds before that, so move to the rear in time!”
“Got it!”
“Okay!”
Gang Hanbyeol and Nam Yuri responded.
The two who had inflicted wounds on the Legion Commander’s face jumped into the subspace as Lisa signaled.
She, who had been waiting in advance, granted them buffs.
In the meantime, the Legion Commander fought with Yong Haerang, Min Arin, and Cha Eunsol, who had advanced to the front line.
It swung a massive club to shake off the three and create an opening.
At that moment when its focus was drawn…
*Tap! Pshhk! Fwing!*
Do Gyeonu, who had been behind the Legion Commander, took action.
Leaping from the building rooftop, he moved through the air as if on a swing using the silver thread.
Then at one point, he cut the silver thread and floated up into the air.
*Fwing! Pshhk!*
In midair, Do Gyeonu twisted his body toward the direction of the Legion Commander.
Soon, he blasted the silver thread toward the Legion Commander’s back.
The silver thread shot without being bent by the wind stuck to the Legion Commander’s armor.
The corner of his mouth rose slightly.
*Fwhiiish!*
Do Gyeonu, shortening the length of the silver thread held in his left hand, flew toward the Legion Commander.
By the time the creature belatedly noticed his presence and turned its head toward him, the distance was nearly closed.
It was nothing short of misfortune for the creature.
“I’ll be taking that eye.”
The Legion Commander’s red eye went wide seeing Do Gyeonu right in front of its face.
Do Gyeonu didn’t miss the绝佳 opportunity that had come unintentionally.
His azure sword brimmed with mana and emitted a blue light.
Immediately after.
*Skaaak!*
The azure sword slashed horizontally across the red eye.
Do Gyeonu, who had stepped on the Legion Commander’s shoulder, immediately leaped down to the ground.
Then, moving through the air with the silver thread and putting as much distance as possible from the creature, he turned back.
────!!!!!
The Legion Commander let out a shriek.
The creature, covering its gushing eye, was writhing in agony.
A chance for victory had come in a stagnating battle that had produced little in the way of results.
People pressed their advantage and bombarded the creature.
Yeon Haneul unleashed the magic she had been preparing, and Min Arin and Cha Eunsol added their strength.
Lisa also did not hesitate to support them.
Without a moment’s rest, she analyzed the battle situation, created subspaces at key points, and granted buffs at the right times.
Nevertheless.
‘Shouldn’t it have fallen after taking this much damage? No matter how much a Legion Commander it is…’
Though the Legion Commander had lost one eye, it had not lost its will to fight.
With half its armor gone, the creature swung its club wildly as if it still had boundless energy.
‘Unless it’s being supplied from somewhere, it shouldn’t have energy to spare…’
It was strange.
Could it be related to the black energy covering the capital’s sky?
Come to think of it, she thought she had seen it in a dream where Veronica appeared.
Lisa bit her lip as her thoughts reached that point.
‘Could this be the doing of that Eye… It’s ominous. Inauspicious.’
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t afraid.
But Lisa knew that if she showed fear, people’s morale would drop.
She decided not to give in to despair and to uphold her convictions.
As if responding to her resolve.
*Hwaahk!*
Far away.
The World Tree, visible from anywhere in the capital, emitted white and yellow light.
That light drove away the black energy covering the sky.
At the same time, it warmly embraced the people in the capital.
Healing their minds and bodies.
Not only that…
“Ah…”
Lisa could feel the World Tree’s energy permeating her heart.
The pain that had gripped her heart vanished, and she recognized the rising power.
[The World Tree’s Blessing reacts with the bloodline of the Grace Imperial Family.]
[It awakens the holy and sacred power that has been diluted over long generations.]
[The Gift awakens.]
[Grace of Platinum (40% → 70%)]
* * *
Under the black sky, brilliantly shining platinum particles settled into our bodies.
It was the World Tree’s Blessing.
‘It happened just when we needed it most.’
The accumulated fatigue from the grueling battle felt somewhat relieved.
Stamina and mana on the verge of depletion recovered somewhat, and vitality surged.
All important combat stats were temporarily enhanced.
The accumulated experience ripened, leading to increases in all physical stats.
Various other effects were granted as well.
Having checked the specific changes through the messages floating before my eyes, I felt nothing but fortified.
“It’s the World Tree’s Blessing!”
“The World Tree is cheering us on!”
Meanwhile, it wasn’t just my friends and me who received the World Tree’s Blessing.
The others were the same.
They too, feeling pride like me, shouted in jubilation.
The morale that had been flagging as the battle with the Legion Commander continued flared up.
It was an encouraging situation.
But unable to be satisfied here, I glanced at Lisa.
‘If the progression hasn’t deviated, then from Lisa right now…’
Right at that moment.
From Lisa, who struck the ground with her staff with a *thud*, a brilliant and dazzling haze rose up in waves.
Her blonde hair and blue eyes sparkled ethereally.
The haze rippling with platinum color suddenly swept over my friends and me.
In that moment, we realized our stamina and mana had completely filled.
“This is…”
While my friends were astonished, with even small scratches healing cleanly.
I, who had been a veteran of the game in my past life, accepted the situation with satisfaction.
It was Lisa, who had newly awakened her Gift, activating magic that completely restored stamina and mana.
‘According to the settings mentioned in the game, hadn’t it been described as magic that reverted one to their state from twenty-four hours prior?’
Additionally, because its effect was enormous, there was a restriction that it could only be used once per day.
Recalling the information in my head, I soon decided to rouse my friends who were standing there in shock.
“Get a hold of yourselves. Are you going to keep standing there like that? Lisa restored us perfectly, so let’s hurry up and take that thing down.”
“…That’s right, everyone. I’m quite shocked too, but let’s save being shocked for after everything is over. Right now, we need to defeat the Legion Commander.”
“Ah….”
Lisa, who seemed exhausted after expending a considerable amount of power, backed me up as well.
Only then did my friends come to their senses and nod.
Having decided to face the Legion Commander again, we advanced onto the battlefield.
‘He has no chance of winning anymore.’
Hunters and soldiers, their morale restored, were moving actively all around us.
They attacked the Legion Commander and his subordinate monsters from every direction.
Just then, the commander of the Second Knight Order and some of his knights joined the battle as well.
And so, the tide was turning.
We, too, stepped into that current.
Yeon Haneul, split into several bodies, distracted the Legion Commander, frequently slamming Sanullim down where his gaze did not reach.
Each time, the creature roared loudly after having the top of its foot or its fingers crushed.
Meanwhile, Go Eunbi, Park Sagun, and the triplets followed her lead, grating on his nerves with relentless persistence.
And in the air…
Whoosh!
Min Arin and Cha Eunsol combined their strength to create a massive blaze.
Fire and wind mingled as one, swelling the flames into a raging inferno that soon fell upon the Legion Commander’s head.
Engulfed by the inferno, the Legion Commander thrashed violently.
It was right then.
“Have a taste of my fist.”
Yong Haerang leaped out of the subspace Lisa had created in midair.
He dropped toward the Legion Commander.
Soon, as the distance closed, he thrust out his gauntleted hand and struck the creature hard in the face.
The creature’s face snapped to the side.
Then, losing its balance and staggering, it finally toppled over sideways.
Nam Yuri did not miss that chance and placed her hand on the ground.
In that instant, a pillar of spikes shot up from the earth and pierced the Legion Commander.
With a hole torn through its shoulder blade, the creature rose to its feet with a scream that seemed to rip its throat apart.
After rolling across the ground to shake off the flames, its entire body was charred black.
Crackle!
The Legion Commander was dying.
Kang Hanbyeol and I kicked off the ground.
Exchanging glances, we split apart and pressured him from different directions.
From his perspective, it must have been maddening.
That was why we kept striking and retreating, driving him out of his mind.
‘Now.’
That was when I glimpsed an opening.
An opening to sever the Legion Commander’s life.
I infused mana into the Ultramarine Sword.
‘If I want to minimize damage to the city….’
Lion Divine Star and Lion Flash Road, which could cause widespread damage, were out of the question.
Then there was only one option.
Reaching that conclusion in an instant, I swung the Ultramarine Sword.
Lion Iron Sword
A massive sword made of iron sand shattered the Legion Commander’s armor and, at the same time, cleaved through his heart.
And thus, the creature vanished.
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss