Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 117: The Monsters of Mattarglos

Ba-Ba-Bang! Ba-Ba-Bang!

The heavy mercato of Daniel's rifle echoes off of the trees and deep into the distance, drowned out by subsequent shots that seem to summon the voice of the thunder god. Hekate has gotten used to the suddenness of the shots, helped immensely by her helmet having sound-dampening to protect her sensitive ears.

Her own magic-powered ice blaster is much quieter, all but coughing up a magic orb of concentrated energy that explodes ice magic when it contacts, and she does her best to sow chaos in the ranks of monsters rushing around them.

Neith is at the front, dashing with blindingly fast speed towards the fast-moving wind weasels; magic-evolved benkis that Hekate has decided to call kamaitachi, thanks to Daniel mentioning their similarity to the mythological spirit beasts of Earth's Japan.

Senn, who is skillfully weaving magic spells that spread and intercept the kamaitachi, disrupting their wind magic, remarks loudly over the noise, "It seems an entire colony has been mutated by the source."

Daniel crouches to Veiranoei's level, who is in agony from pain in her ears. He forgot about her sensitive ears, and he replies to Senn, "Is it normal for multiples of a group to evolve together?"

"It is more common than not, I'm afraid."

Daniel withdraws gatonine-friendly earmuffs from his bag, putting them on the gatonine knight. She looks at him, and he mouths very clearly and deliberately, "I'm sorry." She nods with watering eyes, holding the earmuffs over her ears.

Hekate remarks, "I feel your pain, Veira! You'll feel better!"

Not one to wait on results, he withdraws one of his marked water skins, providing it to Veiranoei. She hesitates, but he insists, and she drinks. She almost chokes, surprised by the taste, but she drinks some.

The alabaster liquid, for where it comes from, is effective as a healing potion, as well as a stamina recovery agent. He's not sure if it also recovers mana for mages, but given that Shek and Skloe have minimal mana themselves, it's probably just the first two effects, which are plenty.

Surprise spreads across Veiranoei's face, and she taps on the earmuffs. "I-I can hear again... And the pain."

"It's a special healing drink. You alright?"

Dirt and wind spray across them, and Daniel hugs her, shielding her. One of the kamaitachi just lunged in, but Kera'tai was quick enough to intercept it with water magic. She's now holding it off of the ground as she surveys the monsters around her. "They do not seem to care that they are out-classed."

"There's very little incentive for them to retreat," replies Doephluev, suspending several of them off the ground with magic. She uses her right hand to cast another spell as well, and spikes of rock suddenly sprout out of the ground, impaling the four kamaitachi. "They can only get stronger if they defeat us."

"Like the feldroks?" asks Daniel, surprised by this piece of information.

"Not to the same extent," replies Vaergraes. "But, undoubtedly, they can and will absorb our mana."

Veiranoei, now embarrassed that Daniel is still holding her, finally squeaks, "Um, I'm... I can fight again, m-... D-... Your Grace."

"Daniel is fine, especially in battle." He helps her up. "Sorry again about that. I didn't think about your ears."

"Your staff... it's... unreal." She watches Hekate fire her ice blaster. Unlike the rifle, it has to be cycled each time, lest there be a risk of the mana crystals dumping magic continuously and exploding the weapon. Still, she is able to fire a powerful ice spell every few seconds without any sort of chanting or catalysts other than the blaster.