I Have a Task Log

Kase was pinned down by a Drow and a giant spider. The Half-Orc had tossed aside his Giant Axe and was now wielding a Battle Axe and an Ice Short Spear. Even so, he was struggling to land a blow on the slippery Drow Warrior.

Ale and Orelia’s situation was even worse.

Besides a Drow Warrior, they were also being swarmed by several giant spiders.

Although the spiders had already been heavily wounded by the Range Magic, neither of them was skilled in close combat. They would likely fall before they could finish off all the spiders.

’This is no time to rest, Colin.’

As he told himself this, Colin pushed himself up from the ground with difficulty and shuffled toward the Female Drow.

He hadn’t taken more than two steps when a strange sensation welled up inside him...

’No, that’s not right. The sensation is coming from the soles of my feet.’

Faint tremors traveled up through the soles of his feet. They felt like a mysterious code, or perhaps a melody with a strange rhythm.

’Am I just that badly poisoned?’

Just as Colin had that thought, a stone wall in front of him—five meters wide and two meters tall—suddenly vanished as if it had never been there at all.

Colin was startled by the sight.

From his vantage point, he could see a small room behind where the wall had been. On the far wall of the room was a masterfully carved relief sculpture.

The relief depicted a gracefully dancing woman draped in a thin veil. She had long, Elf-like ears and held a Scimitar in each hand.

This carving was identical to the one he had seen when he obtained Sword Dance...

’This isn’t the time to worry about that.’

Colin steeled himself, dragging his weakened body toward Dorn.

He walked to the entrance of the secret room and tilted his head to glance inside.

The same carving adorned all three walls of the chamber. In the very center sat a sealed marble sarcophagus. The entire room was spotless, without a single speck of dust.

To the left of the sarcophagus was a weapon rack. To its right was an armor stand.

The weapon rack was empty, but a black cloak hung from the armor stand.

Colin’s eyes immediately locked onto the cloak on the armor stand.

A Panel appeared before his eyes.

[Elf Dance / Rare-Level Magic Item]

[Silent Melody: Only a Murmurer can activate this equipment’s effects and sense the Cloak’s Magic Radiance. The attunement process is also far faster than with other Magic Equipment.]

[Defensive Sword Dance: While wearing this Cloak, you project an illusion that makes you appear to be in a slightly different location. Any creature attacking you has a -2 penalty to hit. The Cloak’s effect is suppressed for six seconds after you take Damage. The effect is also suppressed if you become immobilized.]

’A Rare-Level Magic Item?’

After reading the effects, his body moved faster than his mind could think.

He snatched the Cloak from the armor stand, draped it over his shoulders, and charged toward the Female Drow.

Whether it was from finding the equipment or from the effects of [Refuse Death], Colin felt a new surge of strength.

He could feel the magic of the equipment rapidly synchronizing with his soul, like two identical melodies merging from scattered solos into a seamless duet.

A Magic Item that would normally require hours of wear to attune had instead bonded with Colin in an instant.

Meanwhile, Dorn was still locked in combat with his opponent.

He parried the lashing Snake Whip with the Dagger in his right hand.

With his left hand, he continuously formed Small Knives of Mind Energy, hurling them at the Female Drow to inflict Damage. The two were at a stalemate.

This wasn’t because Dorn was weak, but because the Female Drow was exceptionally strong.

Normally, with their studies focused on various Divine Arts, most Priests don’t train extensively for close combat. Drow Priests, however, were different.

Or, to be more precise, any "defective" ones who failed to excel in close combat had already been culled by Drow society.

Colin charged forward, his Speed even a little faster than before he was injured.

He gripped Burning Blood with both hands, activating the Magic Power stored in his Armor to enhance his own Power.

The blade of his Hand Half Sword gleamed with a blood-red light as he aimed a horizontal slash with the flaming weapon at the Female Drow’s back.

The Female Drow leaped back and swung her whip, its serpentine tails lashing out at her opponent.

Thanks to his Helmet’s night vision, Colin could clearly see the surprise on his opponent’s face.

The Cloak’s effect was only a "-2 penalty to hit," but even [Burning Blood] after a [Blood Sacrifice] only granted a two-point bonus. This just went to show how powerful the Cloak truly was.

This time, only one of the three whip tails lashed toward Colin.

He paid it no mind, continuing his attack.

Just then, a Dagger flew past the Female Drow. Colin heard a sharp DING!—it had most likely deflected the incoming whip tail.

At the same time, Dorn’s voice rang in Colin’s mind.

[Mess this scumbag up!]

’You bet I will.’

Colin mercilessly slashed at his opponent’s arm. With a sharp CLATTER, several thumb-sized metal scales were sent flying. The flames from his sword burned away half of the Female Drow’s cloak.

On the other side, a silver light flickered in Dorn’s hand as he continuously attacked his opponent with Daggers formed from Spiritual Energy.

The Drow raised her left hand, attempting to begin Casting.

Unleashing his final [Counterspell], Colin strode forward, closing in on his opponent’s flank while gathering all the remaining energy of his [Emerald Flame Sword] into his blade.

A weapon like a long whip loses much of its power once its range advantage is gone.

WHOOSH!

Colin swung his sword again, leaving another gash on his opponent.

In that same instant, the Female Drow drew a Dagger from behind her back. She ducked low and thrust it straight at Colin’s thigh.

Eager to end it all, Colin ignored the attack and swung his sword backhandedly at her neck.

But just as the Dagger was about to strike, an ethereal blue light flared at his side, deflecting the blade—its edge blackened with some unknown substance—and sending it flying.

At the same time, just as his flaming blade was about to strike the Female Drow, the Snake Whip in her hand twisted and coiled, blocking the sword that threatened its master.

Colin steadied his stance, bringing his crossed arms before his chest with the sword’s point aimed at his opponent’s face—the Key guard.

’That Shield just now... must have been Kase’s ability, right?’

Just as he was thinking this, a figure came flying from the other side of the corridor and crashed into the Female Drow, sending her staggering.

Looking closely, he saw the flying figure was a beheaded Drow Warrior.