Chapter 55: 1st Mission - 3

I went straight to the peak-level private stage steel rhino and the archers stood about 15 feet behind me and started attacking it.

I could feel the rhino's anger as soon as the first arrow hit its body. The arrows didn't make a scratch on its skin, but they got the attention of the target and gave me an opening to hit it without any resistance from it.

I used the opportunity and covered the golden sword with my wind ability to make it even sharper and vertically slashed it toward the neck of the rhino. My sword hit its target and made a small crack in the rhino's neck.

I was a bit surprised as this attack was by using my full power and with the two-handed sword, it increased my attack power by a notch. But it was only able to make a scratch on the steel skin of the rhino which was in the peek-level private stage rhino.

Still, I recovered from that as fast as I can and attacked it with another slash this time horizontally, and found it had not even made a scratch on its body.

Now I realized that the neck is the soft spot for the rhinos and started targeting it so I could finish this hunt as quickly as possible. I also started the mana exercise from the start as I was unable to do it due to the pain it gave me if I was not doing anything.

It was very painful on the 1st move of the 1st set, but I controlled myself from shouting as it might attract Kamran's focus and would put him in a dangerous situation. My muscles got stiff because of this, but I continued my battle as it will help me to focus on something other than the pain that is in my body.

I started the mana exercise while I was in a battle as I know it will give a bit of boost to my attach power and will end this fight sooner.

The rhino turned its head towards me to hit me with its horn after my 2nd attack, but I was able to dodge it. But my movement was limited due to the muscle stiffness I have right now because of the mana exercise pain.

I got away just in time from the horn attack and the rhino was again distracted by an arrow that hit it in the face. But after a second, the rhino again focused on me as I was the closest human to it who is causing trouble to it.

I again used my sword to poke the neck of the rhino, but it was able to defend my attack using its horn and again tried to attack me using its hind limbs. I moved away from the rhino to dodge the attack and started to focus on my defense too.

The rhino charged toward me using the small distance I created to escape from its attacks and used its horn to attack me. I dived to my right side and was able to escape the charge. I even realized that I am too weak to kill it with my current power.

I look at the archers and nodded my head. They were only asked to distract the rhino so I can fight against it to hone my swordsmanship by Karman which they were doing till now. The archers nodded their heads and started to attack the rhino with their full power.

The rhino stared at them with anger flaring in its eyes as their attacks are starting to cause pain. I could also see a lot of cracks on its body by the arrows. Not it became my task to keep the rhino distracted so it will not charge toward the archers.

I held the sword in my right hand and activated the golden shield using the bracelet in my left hand. I used 'wind steps' to go in between the archers and the rhino and started to distract it using the shield.

The archers had ice affinity which slowed down the rhino and the piercing effect of their arrows started to create small injuries on its body. I used my sword and shield to attack it every few seconds so I can keep it distracted.

I was able to overcome the muscle stiffness from the mana exercise and started to move freely, but the pain was still there and I was still in the 1st move of the 1st set. I am unable to complete the 1st move as it is causing more pain than usual.

After some time I could see the rhino being covered by a thin layer of ice and it is getting weaker by the minute. "Allen, start attacking it with your full power," one of the archers told me and I covered the sword with my mana again and hit the rhino from the side.

I was shocked to see a big crack appearing on the place I hit. I first thought it was on the ice, but when I focused, I found that it was on the steel skin of the rhino. I also saw the arrows starting to pierce the skin easily.

I used my shield to defend against the horn attack of the rhino, but I was thrown a few meters back by the attack. I immediately stood up and used 'wind steps' again to move in between archers and rhino.

It started charging toward me and I used my sword to stab its head. I was still pushed back due to the force of the charge. It also helped me to pierce it deeper than my previous attacks.

When I tried to take my sword out, the rhino flicked its head in pain which threw me away a few meters. It took me a few seconds to stand as I was getting fatigued due to a higher-level monster for more than 5 minutes and constantly being hit by its attacks.

I know I can't continue like this and it will be difficult for the archers to kill it without my help. So I again went near the rhino and started harassing it with my sword and shield.

I was so tired that I was about to fall any minute. Only with sheer willpower, I was able to stand and continue the fight. We fought for another 2 minutes before an arrow pierced the rhino's right eye and killed it.