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Chapter 172.2: 2nd Decoy Tactic
The deep acid bog that I prepared was still ready to swallow any stupid raptor that tried to jump over it. Even if it was trying to withdraw, it would still have to fight the same acid bog next time. If it could escape from Rem-Minotaurs, that’s it.
「Ignore the small fries. But no matter what, we cannot let the red raptor escape.」
Bottomless acid bog in the front, and Minotaurs Rem in the back.
I re-summoned the high zombies to this place just to make sure that everything went according to my plan. Since the one who followed Rem-Dark Knight had been annihilated by the raptors, I just needed to consume my mana to summon seven new high zombies.
Moreover, I added thirteen skeletons as a freebie!
As a result, great chunks of my mana were consumed at once to summon them. But then, the scale of this battle was tilting toward us now. And now, I just need to persevere.
「UGOGOGO, GUGAAAAAAAAAA!」
Minotaurs Rem raised a warcry along with the high zombies and skeletons. Together, they were rushing toward the enemy camp, aiming to kill the other party’s general, the red raptor.
「KYOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
Thus, a grand monstrous battle between a mixed army of Minotaurs Rem+high zombies+skeletons against the raptor army unfolded on the other side of the acid bog.
Minotaurs Rem whose power rivaled that of Rem-Dark Knight brandished her greatsword and mace, mowing one raptor after another. The fearless high zombies and skeletons were heading toward the raptors, opening a path toward the red raptor.
But then, the raptors were charging toward the high zombies with a similarly fearless spirit, they tore the high zombies’ bodies with their claws and fangs as they succumbed to death one after another. The skeletons were easily destroyed by them too.
「Then, let’s increase the number.」
I still had some mana left. I could replenish the high zombies and skeletons anytime I wanted to. It might be seen as a poor human-wave tactic, but hey, there are only seven of those high zombies. Uhm, I might be able to raise the upper limit if I kept using it though.
Moreover, my mana was draining at a rapid pace

「GRRR, KYOAA, GYOAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
Well then, now that they realized they’re slowly but surely being cornered, they finally prepared huh.
They then looked at me who was standing grandiosely, crossing my arms on the other side of uncrossable acid bog with a look that looked like they wanted to chew me alive.
It seems they finally decided to go with the do-or-die plan to kill me.
「OOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
All the raptors suddenly jumped into the acid bog at once under the order of red raptor.
「Black Hair Bind」
Naturally, all of them sunk into the acid bog, no one could even touch my feet. Given the depth of this acid bog, they might be able to stack corpses up to the surface after throwing the entire raptor troops into the bog.
But then, there was no way I’m gonna let you do that.
Just to be sure, I hindered their movements with 『Black Hair Bind』 and dragged them steadily into the bog.
「GUAAAA! GYOAAAAAAAAAAA!」
Death wails resounded across the battlefield. Or rather, this wasn’t a battlefield anymore, this was a slaughterhouse for those raptors. I did feel bad for doing this to them, but I wasn’t that powerful to be able to show some mercy to them.
「GUOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Look, neglience will cost your life.
The one that came from above while raising enraged cries was, of course, the red raptor.
They failed to make a bridge as their comrades sunk into the bog, one after another. But still, it was enough for an impromptu bridge.
The red raptor made one splendidly using of its comrades who had yet to sink completely into the bog to cross the bog to kill me who was in a completely defenseless state wearing only a trunk―― And pushed its claws and fangs to prey on me.
「I’ve been waiting for this you know――Blackhair Bind.」
I wouldn’t feel any pain at all since this was only 『Twin Shadow』. And since there was no such danger, the 『Pain Return』 didn’t activate either.
But still, it could use 『Black Hair Bind』. Since it couldn’t feel pain, I could use it to fight with my all until it died.
「KUWAAAAAAAAAA!?」
「Ahaha, finally noticed huh. The reason you lost is you can’t see through this fake me.」
The moment its claws and fangs sunk into my weak, white skin, the red raptor finally noticed that the one they attacked wasn’t a human due to lack of blood.
The shadow body which was nothing more than a lump of mana was truly irksome. It’s awful, right? Chewing on a body that was even less voluminous than water.
By now, the red raptor might’ve realized it was all set up to bait them to rush toward me. They might be trying to strike a killing move and restraining me.
And yet, like a dying, mad warrior, they cut the black hair that bound their body with their saw-like tail blade and used their claws to tear my shadow with terrifying agility.
But no matter how fast you move, it wouldn’t change your fate who was trapped in there right at this moment.
「HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
Reaper’s scythe, no, berserker’s blade had already descended from above.
Mei-chan, who was standing by on the 3rd floor of the hotel, leapt and descended to this place.
Well, the distance between this place and the hotel aside, the red raptor would retreat once it sensed Mei-chan was coming.
Thus, Mei-chan couldn’t hide too close to this place, and she had to finish them off in one swift attack. This was a certain kill trap that made full use of Mei-chan’s physical strength to jump over several tens of meters.
I used my shadow to lure the red raptor into a trap, so Mei-chan would finish them off.
「Fuuh, it went according to plan.」
I, who returned to my real body after my shadow got annihilated, was looking at the scene of our victory which comprised of the raptors scattering around as they escaped and Mei-chan smiling happily as she raised the decapitated head of the red raptor to me who was watching from the top floor of the hotel.
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TN: Next month back to normal schedule