Aegis Sentinel Ring (3)

The female Sentinel Strider that was in the air beside my right side was now in an attacking position. Three long tails with blades were about to whip and cut me. For some reason, its terrifying face was emanating an aura of anger.

At this moment, I couldn't form a shield on the right side of my body. There wasn't enough time. Gritting my teeth, Quantumorph Artisan dissolved my boots and gauntlets. Then, it transformed them into full armor covering the right side of my body with Titanite Steel material.

'Ugh!'

Three blades struck the right side of my body, producing a loud clashing sound of metal. I was thrown away from the temple, rolling and crashing into ruins multiple times.

The force was so great that the ruins I collided with were destroyed instead of stopping me. Because of the impact, it was somewhat difficult to position my body correctly using Short-Range Telekinesis.

As if taking advantage of my current weakness, the male Sentinel Strider faced me and opened its mouth wide, as if splitting apart. It was the same move used by the D-level Sentinel Strider I had killed.

A crazy scream mixed with the cries of several creatures burst out, followed by a powerful blast and several wind blades coming toward me. The speed was extremely high since air has very little mass.

Caught off guard due to the impact, I didn't have time to form another armor. But I strengthened my defense using Arkium, even though it wasn't as strong as Titanite Steel armor. The strong gust and several wind blades hit me. I was thrown further back. When hit by the gust, it felt like being struck by several trucks, and the wind blades cut through some of my clothes and skin. Fortunately, they weren't too deep or cut through parts of my body, thanks to the Arkium enhancing my defense.

I rolled on the ground again. This time, there weren't many ruins, so I could easily position my body using Short-Range Telekinesis and my physical abilities.

I then threw my Hazslicer towards the male Sentinel Strider that had blown me away with its magical wind scream. To make it faster, I exerted more power with Arkium and was aided by a push from Short-Range Telekinesis.

Quantumorph Artisan then reformed the Titanite Steel gauntlets and boots. I briefly used the Gallean Stance, intending to charge and attack the male Sentinel Strider at close range. This was to prevent the male from using its fast maneuvers too much.

Before I decided to advance toward the male, I glanced at the female for a moment. It happened in an instant, but the female only ran towards a gap in the trees.

'Hm?'

I didn't think too much about it. The important thing was that the female wasn't attacking along with the male.

Using Mach Momentum Dash, I sped toward the male Sentinel Strider at high speed. I used a similar approach as when I closed in on the female to hit her with a home run. However, I also combined it with Air Step, making quick, erratic zig-zag movements. I also modified the gauntlets, adding blades.

At that moment, Hazslicer had been parried by the male Sentinel Strider and bounced back, causing a clash of metal sounds. I quickly positioned myself in front of the male Sentinel Strider.

'Rift Edge Slash!'

I slashed towards the male Sentinel Strider's neck by jumping because it was larger and taller. As expected, it managed to dodge by leaping slightly backward. Not only dodging, but its tail also came into play. It thrust one of its tails towards me at high speed.

With my body's flexibility and the help of Short-Range Telekinesis, I twisted my body to the right. Then, with Air Step and the burst of speed from Mach Momentum Dash, in the blink of an eye, I landed on the left side of the male Sentinel Strider.

Quickly, I used Hammerbolt Hit, combined with Avalanche Impact, to strike the left side of the Sentinel Strider.

The hit was successful. The male Sentinel Strider was thrown, but not too far. While still in the air, I caught my sword that was thrown into the air. After landing, without hesitation, I used Mach Momentum Dash again toward the male Sentinel Strider.

It didn't shoot blade projectiles at me. Instead, it prepared to attack. Then, from behind, I could sense something shooting rapidly toward me. Without looking, I knew it was a long-range attack from the female, firing blade projectiles.

I didn't turn and block it; instead, I dodged while sliding on the ground. I managed to evade everything, but the male in front of me used three of its tails to slash at me from all directions.

Maximizing the Arkium circulation to trigger my reflexes, I dodged two attacks and blocked one slash. It wasn't in an attacking position now. It jumped back to avoid my next attack.

Mach Momentum Dash brought me closer to the male, and then I used Rift Edge Slash while enhancing my strength and speed with Arkium. Since I knew Rift Edge Slash alone wasn't enough to wound it.

I aimed for the neck again. However, it managed to dodge slightly. My slash hit its chest. Hazslicer, with the Rift Edge Slash technique, managed to wound it, but it wasn't too deep.

Not wasting this moment, I closed in again and delivered a flurry of continuous slashes, pushing the Sentinel Strider back. It didn't just stand there. The male easily parried all my attacks.

Then, on the last attack, it released more power. The parry sent me flying backward. I didn't tumble but landed safely.

As I landed, the female's blade projectiles came at me again at high speed. There was no point in blocking them, so I dodged.

'Tch, just staying back and attacking me from behind.'

The attack pattern was the same again. While I was busy dodging, the male charged at me ferociously. Its three tails swung rapidly, delivering slashes from three sides.

Each attack was so fast that I had to use a lot of Arkium to block and dodge them all. Some attacks slipped past my defenses, ending up cutting my clothes and skin.

Then, on the last attack, its three tails attacked simultaneously from one direction from my left side. Creating a massive burst of power.

I managed to block it with Hazslicer, but I was thrown far to my left. At that moment, I took the opportunity to glance at the female. She was ready to shoot me again.

'She doesn't attack up close. Is it because she's protecting her eggs, or is she weak from just laying eggs? Or both?' I thought while in the air, panting.

I was already tired by now. Facing one A-level Sentinel Strider with high strength, defense, and speed for this long was already impressive, in my opinion. If I prolonged it further, I would definitely lose. I had used Rift Edge Slash and Hammerbolt Hit more than usual. These high-level techniques drained a lot of my Arkium.

'If my assumption that the female is weak and protecting her eggs... maybe...'

Then I grinned. This is a bit cruel, but, well, I have no choice. You tried to kill me.

While still in the air, the female fired her blade projectiles again. Same pattern again? I hoped so.

I immediately used Short-Range Telekinesis, landed faster, and stored Hazslicer in the storage ring. I headed straight for the female using Mach Momentum Dash while forming a smaller Swordhammerbat, about 50 cm. I ran quickly while dodging the blade projectiles shooting at me. After evading, my Swordhammerbat returned to its usual size, a thick-bladed sword hammer 1.5 meters long.

The male screeched loudly, emitting a Territorial Roar, and chased me frantically.

'Panic, aren't you? Of course, you are! How could you not be?' I thought, grinning wickedly behind my helmet.

I used my quick movements again as when I hit the female with a home run earlier. But this time, I pushed myself harder to be faster so the male couldn't catch up.

I also forced myself to form rocket thrusters on the Swordhammerbat while twisting my body to the right for a wind-up. This was a gamble as I was getting more tired and my Arkium was depleting. Because of this, the helmet, gauntlets, and boots created by Quantumorph Artisan disappeared from my body. Only the Swordhammerbat and a thick bracelet connecting the Swordhammerbat's chain remained.

*BAM*

In the blink of an eye, I was in front of the female, twisting my body to the left along with the rocket thruster, Hammerbolt Hit, Rift Slash Edge, Avalanche Impact, and Short-Range Telekinesis all active simultaneously.

I also used Short-Range Telekinesis on the female Sentinel Strider's body to freeze her momentarily, as before. But I saw her moving one of her tails. I was slightly worried, but she didn't attack me. Instead, she moved the egg behind her deeper into the tree gap.

'You can move, but to protect your child and not attack me? Respect! But sorry!' I thought.

And, BAM!!! I hit again, slightly hitting the tree trunk and the female's body. She was thrown far into the air.

*SCREEAAGH##$:#+?!$

"Home run!" I said coldly, with a strange smile.

This time, the second hit, the female screamed in pain while emitting a Territorial Roar. Maybe she was trying to use a mental attack on me. Too bad. Your hope is dashed, Mama Sentinel! I wasn't affected.

I still maintained the rocket thruster and all my technique combinations, even though it consumed a lot of Arkium. I was really pushing myself this time.

'I'm exhausted! But...this...!'

And the reason I was doing this was for the moment that was about to come.

The male Sentinel Strider charged at me wildly, emitting a strange sound from its Territorial Roar.

'You're panicking. And that's your mistake!' I thought, grinning wickedly.

At that moment, I spun around and faced the male Sentinel Strider. I widened my eyes and activated Short-Range Telekinesis, sacrificing more Arkium so I could halt its charging speed. Actually, Short-Range Telekinesis alone wasn't enough to stop the male's current speed. But, I felt something strange with my eyes. And I felt that I could stop the male Sentinel Strider right now.

And sure enough, it stopped right in front of me. This was my chance! I knew this would be over quickly. So, I slammed the Swordhammerbat into the male's body with full force using the same technique combination I used to hit a home run on its 'wife.'

*BAM!!!*

For some reason, I felt my home run hit was stronger this time than before, but who knows.

*CRAARRCCHHH*

"Second home run, you bastard!" I shouted, grinning.

'Or is it the third home run?' I thought.