THE BATTLE AGAINST A GENIUS

It was been 4 days since we both began our journey for my magic bag. We're currently staying at a rented place here in the city but at this moment, we are celebrating our successful quest. This time it was Roe II's treat here at a certain eat-all-you-can restaurant and we are in full burst. During our travel at the time from the wyvern's dungeon until we reached the city, we encountered no monsters along the way. It was indeed an amazing flight journey that we rode hours until we were able to reach the city gates.

"Spade, we are landing near the gates." Roe commanded

"Is it fine? It looks like we have a welcoming party." I replied

"It's fine. They'll notice us as adventurers once we got down." She reassured.

As our wyverns touched the ground, many adventurers came to the gates and surrounded us. Thinking we are enemies, they gave us a warning.

"Identify yourselves. If not, we will attack without mercy!" an adventurer shouted at us.

"Take it easy fellow adventurers. I am a summoner and this is my companion, a mage. We came at the city to rest and have a nice meal from our long trip. We are tired. Do you plan to keep us longer in our agony?" Roe II cleared out to the other adventurers.

"We're sorry. We are just trying to be cautious. Lately, many villages and cities has been attacked by monsters. Please proceed." the leader of the group announced.

After the little ordeal at the gates, we went straight to a restaurant. Right now, we are the center of attraction in the restaurant which Roe II is actually enjoying it. I wasn't getting attention much from the people because I looked like one of the people of the land because of my simple outfit however Roe II was different. Aside from her striking outfit and her good weapon in display, she also resembles Shiroe of Log Horizon which strikes the most. They loved the stories she tell and her jolliness as she eats with the other customers.

This went on and on but suddenly the place was disturbed by the city's siren wailing all over the place. I know this can't be good judging from the faces the players are making. Everyone got out of the restaurant to see what was going on but only to our surprise, the place was already swarmed by monsters.

"This is bad. The monsters are already in the city. Spade, let's help everyone." Roe II shouted.

"A lot of people are losing consciousness. It must be a kind of poison or sleeping powder from the moths. Look! Their MP are not recovering at all even if gave them MP recovery potion. What's going on sister Roe?" I asked.

"My guess is the same as yours, Spade. Perhaps someone is controlling or giving orders with these monsters. Look for an unusual monster. Perhaps they have a leader somewhere. Ask also some help from the other adventurers." Roe II requested.

"How about I'll create a party who will fight the boss in case there is one? Let's put my skills to use." I asked.

"Alright. While I would be looking for the leader, look for capable players who can join the party. You can at least look for 4 more. We don't have much time to ask more than that." Roe II cleared out.

"I'll look for capable fighters near the restaurant. Let's contact each other whoever will be done earlier. I'm off"

"Be careful Spade" Roe II yelled as she rode away with her summoned monster.

The street was a mess with all the magic skills being casted it was hard to find capable players. After a while of convincing high level players, I was able to add 4 members for the party with a total of 6 players all in all. I got an archer, a monk, a guardian and a swordsman who looks all decent in skills and strength. Moment later Roe contacted the party saying she was able to find the leader of the monsters. As the party were able to receive the location, all ran towards the eastern gate. I scanned my skills menu to check my available buff skills that I can offer to the party. I haven't yet familiarize myself in all of my buff skills effects but I have the idea what it can do just by the name it suggests. I had my "Party Bless" healing buff, "Mana Bless" MP buff, sharp edge party buff which increases critical damage and "Rebellion Sword" party buff which increases damage output.

"Let's hurry. The enemy is just past the gates." I said to everyone.

As we pass through the gate's arc, we saw a figure that looks like a human but on its back are similar to that of the wings of a moth.

"Mage, it looks like someone is in front of the monster." The monk asked.

"It's one of us. She's a summoner. Let hurry to her side and give her our aid." I replied.

There was only Roe II and a monster in a human-like form outside the city walls when the party managed to reach the city gate.

"You're just on time. How many did you manage to invite for the raid?" Roe asked.

"I found four; a monk, an archer, a swordsman and a guardian. Can we manage to defeat that with just the six of us?"

"We'll do. But first we need to find out our enemy's attacks. We can't just have a go blindfolded. What do you think?" Roe asked me directly.

"I'm not really well versed with the system so I think we should also ask our companions about it. Maybe someone would volunteer to be our tank while we figure out our enemy's techniques. "

"You're right. Unless we know what we are dealing with, we can't fight with all we got. Let's ask them about their opinions." Roe said as she called the attention of the other four to approach her.

"Everyone, our enemy is a level 80 boss and we don't even know its abilities and name besides controlling the monsters that is attacking the city. If it's not too much, I would like to ask a volunteer to be our tank. He'll try to absorb its attack while the rest will do a counter and figure out its techniques and weakness. Don't be troubled because we have a capable healer with us." Roe II announced to the four.

"I'll do it. I just need to hold up the enemy right? It is all up to the healer if this thing will work or not." The guardian claimed as he looked on me with doubtful eyes.

I ignored the enemy's taunt and instead positioned myself behind everyone to prepare for the battle.

"Alright everyone, let's get started. Guardian, lead the way while the other will follow behind and prepare for a counter- attack. Is everything clear?" Roe II asked.

"It's just a simple tactics everyone can follow. I'll stay on the sides to prepare my assaults." The archer said.

"No questions here. Let's just smash this thing and get it over as soon as possible." The monk said as he clattered his fist together.

"Alright! Plan defend-counter, let us commence!

The guardian runs towards the enemy with the swordsman and monk behind him. As the three reached the enemy's reach, I activated my two attack enhancement buff increasing each party member's attack and critical hit damage while the enemy casted a spell and hit the guardian directly reducing his HP to half. A split-second after the spell, the counter- attack group launched a full scale attack. The enemy took every attack directly reducing its HP half of its original value. It is like we are having a contest of who's going down first. After the enemy received the attacks, its real name was revealed. The name was identified as the "Genius of half value" and it is on level 80. The enemy has the ability to half its opponent's HP in an instant which takes one minute before it can cast the same skill. I positioned myself farther behind Roe II and the archer for wider and better scope of the battlefield. As everyone prepares for the second attack, I observed the other party members and they don't even look nervous but instead they were smiling. Perhaps it's been like this for strong players to seek strong enemies; after all, it was how players were able to get stronger. Roe II gave the command for another attack and the guardian gave a frontal assault with the two other members behind him preparing for the counter-attack. Immediately, I casted the healing buff for everyone.

"Everyone, you have a ten second window with the healing buff before it wears off. Attack with all you've got. That healing buff can restore your HP in a mere second." Roe II announced to everyone.

The guardian who seemed to be hesitating a little earlier was now attacking with the others in front. While everyone was delivering their own attacks, I was waiting for the opportunity to strike as I watch everyone's status including the enemy's. As the enemy's HP drops to 25%, it was able to deliver another skill to the four members who dealt huge damage. The five who have gone all out were knocked back and received minimal damage; however something was on their status screen. There was a green unknown icon in each status bar in them but I can see no ailments in each party member. It wasn't poison or paralyzing effect and we don't have any idea what it is so Roe II ordered a temporary retreat for a while to see the skill's effect. I checked everyone's status and noticed my buffs were wearing off which is supposedly not yet. Everyone who was affected by the enemy's skill had their max HP and max MP decrease in half too so it led us to deduced that maybe he casted a skill that halves everything including skill's effects and probably even attack damage. We thought that if the battle will take more time the outcome might be reversed so without ado, the party members started another all-out assault. I simultaneously casted my two damage buff skills as they attack the enemy while watching their HP. As the enemy's health bar turns red, the enemy transformed into a giant beast and went on a rampage hitting all the party members except me who is little far from the enemy. Everyone was blown away from the enemy but I managed to jump above it just in time to dodge its shockwave. Being the one farthest from the enemy, dodging the attack was possible considering my high stats. Looking at the other members who was paralyzed by the shockwave, I had no choice but to engage the enemy not later than sooner or else the party would be annihilated. I prepared myself for my attack as I descend towards the monster, took my staff in position and gave my best blow on the enemy's head. The enemy went down and disappeared from our sight.

As I walk towards everybody, I saw the amazement on their eyes.

"Are you really a mage with that kind of fighting style?" the monk asked.

"We never saw a mage fight like that. Even more with the staff which you used like it was a sword or something similar to it." The archer said.

Without anything in response, I went with Roe II as she disbanded the party. The monsters that are inside the city were starting to retreat however there were some that won't.

"Most of the monsters attacking the city are retreating but I can still see some monsters that won't leave. Let's not waste time bothering each other's business and instead let's go and help the others who are defending the city", Roe II sermons.

It was already late in the morning when I woke up. I saw Roe II packing some of her things and when she saw me awake, she offered me to have breakfast together. Last night's ordeal was chaotic but it was good, it didn't take the city too much damage. As we walk together going to a restaurant, we noticed their gazes on us. They don't seem to be afraid of us but I got the feeling that we are being watched like we were celebrities. When we entered the eatery, everybody kept quiet as they look on us. We just ignored their actions as we pass by them and then I heard whispers. I can't pick up what they are whispering about but I heard the word "berserk healer". It wasn't like this yesterday where everyone was approaching us but instead today, they look like they were intimidated by our presence. Roe II broke the silence and asked if there's a problem and just then that everyone took of their gazes on us. We went out of the city just after we ate our breakfast and talked about what we are going to do next. She decided to continue her observations on other cities going west while I decided to go east and meet the people she told me who are trying to solve this world's mysteries. Before we said our byes, she asked me to deliver a letter to Shiroe which contained information about her investigations. Then, we parted ways with the memories of our travels we had together.