I walked briskly while checking the notification.
The superior skill of [Paralyze], the one I used most frequently.
However, the name did not give the impression of a simple upgrade.
If anything, it felt more like a lower-tier skill at first glance—
"No, that's wrong."
It would be premature to judge my status abnormality skills based only on standard preconceptions.
At first glance, it looked useless.
But depending on how it was used, it could become something extraordinary.
The other skills also possessed power that surpassed initial expectations.
These "misfit" status abnormality skills had saved me countless times.
There would definitely be a use for it.
"I'll test it out at an appropriate time."
But right now, checking on those two came first.
I hurried back to Pigi-maru and Slei.
▽
Both Pigi-maru and Slei were still alive.
However, Slei had released his transformation and was quite exhausted.
Even after releasing the transformation, there was still a wound on his right hind leg.
I tied the wound with a strip of cloth and lifted Slei onto my shoulders.
At his first-form size, I could carry him.
The fact that he felt lighter than expected was probably thanks to the status correction.
I did not know whether it was the [Attack] or [Stamina] correction that was helping.
…Well, the numbers are the same anyway.
In any case, I was grateful for the correction values.
▽
"Pa… Kyuu…"
"It's fine, just relax and rest."
The ground was covered in puddles of muddy water.
I took one step on the soft, muddy earth.
I walked through the forest carrying Slei on my shoulders.
Pigi-maru was coiled around my waist, resting.
Perhaps because of the exhaustion.
The strength with which he coiled around me was weak.
"Sorry for pushing you two so hard."
The rain that had been so violent had already stopped.
As if it had timed its end with the conclusion of that slaughter.
The overcast sky had begun to be dyed with a clear crimson.
The sun would soon set completely.
Were Seras and the others still waiting in that cave?
…If it were just me, I would not mind walking through the night.
I was used to the dark.
But considering Slei's current condition, I could not push too hard.
The sound of droplets falling from leaves.
The setting sun dyed the complicated, maze-like sea of trees…
Plop.
A droplet fell from the tip of my hair to my toes.
I moved that toe forward.
The scars of slaughter constantly entered my field of vision.
Trees splintered and torn apart.
The claw marks silently told the intensity of the killing.
The area was overflowing with the corpses of monsters.
Occasionally, groans could be heard from somewhere.
There were still poisoned monsters left.
"Now then."
The ravaged path continued ahead.
I looked toward the end of the path.
"How well the map in my head matches our current location…"
The situation had not allowed me to constantly keep track of our position while fighting.
"Well, if I follow these scars, I should eventually make it back."
"Pakyu… u…"
Slei began wagging his tail.
"Hm? What is it?"
His tail kept pointing in a certain direction.
"You want me to go that way?"
"…Pakyu."
"You… can you really smell Seras and the others even in this state?"
"…Kyun."
An affirmative, faint voice.
"—Understood."
I followed Slei's guidance and advanced further.
Along the way, Pigi-maru showed concern for me.
I told him I was fine.
"I'm an E-rank hero who has surpassed LV 2000, after all."
Even though I was disposed of.
It was good that Seras was not here.
If she had been, she would have seen through my "I'm fine."
"I never thought I could face that many and come out completely unharmed… But—"
The reason I had survived that life-or-death struggle.
There had also been a large gap in the strength of the humanoid species.
Yes—there had been no Soul Eater-class ones.
The smiling face I had encountered early that morning in front of the ruins.
There had been none at that level.
If the average strength of the humanoid species I had fought today had been at the Soul Eater level, it would have been over.
"That one was acting as a lid to keep the battle-hardened disposers from coming to the surface… So of course they would station something exceptional there."
That said, among the ones I fought today, there had been some clever monsters.
I had experienced that firsthand.
However, the monsters drawn in by those roars…
"The most vicious and intelligent ones might not have been lured by that."
The underground ruins scattered throughout the Demon Zone.
The higher-class humanoid species might still be hiding there, holding their breath.
I could not completely discard that possibility.
"It might be dangerous to assume the Soul Eater is the highest rank among humanoid species…"
For a while, I continued walking mindlessly.
I let out a breath.
"…Yeah, that makes sense."
If they found weakened prey, of course they would act that way.
There was no reason to let it escape.
Monsters were gathering.
However, this could also be viewed positively.
It was an area where the monsters that had fallen out were leisurely wandering.
I had finally made it back this far.
"..."
The strength of the monsters was moderate.
Right now I was carrying Slei.
My own exhaustion was also becoming quite noticeable.
If they kept pressing with numbers, it would be tough, but—
"Well, with this number and quality, I can manage somehow. In that case… Status, open."
Testing the new skill.
MP consumption: 5000.
The other skills had been 10.
…It had jumped up considerably.
Still, I had over 60,000 MP remaining.
Using it once should not be a problem.
No matter what the effect was, if it did not work, I could just handle it with my usual skills.
Fierce monster roars shook the twilight.
Monsters attacked all at once from all directions.
Slei and Pigi-maru tried to act.
I stopped them, telling them to leave it to me.
"[Slow — Delayed Effect Grant]."
Now, what kind of effect is this—
"…—!?"
My eyes widened.
What first locked my gaze was the status display.
The MP section.
It was decreasing at a terrifying speed.
"What… is this skill? This is on the level of when I'm connected with Pigi-maru… No, maybe even worse—"
Then I noticed.
While my attention had been taken by the unexpectedly fast MP consumption—
Arrows and spears had been fired from left and right.
But as expected, their aim was not very good.
Especially the spear, which had missed completely.
I drew the short sword at my waist.
Compared to Seras, my skill with the bow was like night and day.
I could deflect arrows of that level with this.
I made the judgment in an instant and was about to move when—
"...Eh?"
Slow?
The spears,
the arrows,
even the monsters' movements.
Even the droplets falling from the branches were slow.
Everything was subtly—
Slow.
But only I was moving normally.
Only I could move at normal speed.
There was no change or discomfort in my own movements.
That was why I had been slow to notice the change from [Slow].
"And…"
It was not slow enough to call it "slow motion."
What about Pigi-maru and Slei?
When I called out to them,
"Pii."
"Pakyu~."
They responded normally.
Their cries were not slowed down.
Was it because they were in contact with me?
Or else…
Perhaps anything within a certain radius of meters was unaffected?
Or maybe both…?
"…I'm going to let go for a moment, Slei."
I thrust my arm forward.
The approaching speed of these monsters…
I had plenty of leeway on my side.
There did not seem to be any risk of falling into danger given the situation.
In that case—I might as well test it quickly.
"[Paralyze]."
[Cannot be used in conjunction.]
So it could not be used together with the superior skill.
Next,
"[Dark], [Berserk], [Poison]."
[Cannot be used in conjunction.]
None of the skills could be used together.
"Please use them individually. Well…"
I reversed my grip on the short sword and quickly closed the distance to the monsters.
"Depending on how I use it, it seems like it could be quite versatile."
While walking, I took a stance.
I passed beside the slowed spear.
The world was still maintaining its slowness.
I reached right in front of the monster that had thrown the spear.
The monster looked confused.
That was understandable.
"I should check this too."
I thrust my empty left hand forward and advanced.
Then, when I got within a certain distance—
"Gu… ru…? Gau—!"
The monster's slowness disappeared.
But as soon as it began moving normally, I quickly pulled my hand back.
The monster was once again pulled back into the world of slowness.
In other words,
"It's a range effect?"
When something enters within a one-meter radius of me, the slowness disappears…
That must be why Pigi-maru and Slei are unaffected?
"Then…"
In one step, I quickly closed in on the monster.
Hyu.
I slashed the monster's throat with the blade.
Bshuu!
I understood the range where the slowness disappeared.
And this [Slow] state…
"The opponent's defensive movements become quite delayed."
In other words, it became much easier for me to land attacks first.
Critical points would also be easier to target.
It must be terrifying for the opponent.
An attack is coming right in front of them.
Yet the movement to defend against it is delayed.
I turned on my heel.
To deal with the remaining monsters.
There were three left.
All three had expressions dyed with confusion and terror.
"…Wait a second?"
When I activated it…
I had not had all four monsters in my field of vision.
I had been attacked simultaneously from front, back, left, and right.
Yes, the monsters had attacked from all four directions.
The property of my previous status abnormality skills had been this:
"They cannot be activated unless the target is in my field of vision."
However, this new skill,
"If the target is within range, it can affect all of them even if they are not in my field of vision…"
I see—so this is a "superior" skill.
I thought quickly.
For example,
In a situation where I absolutely did not want to be hit by a surprise attack or ambush.
It felt like its true value could shine there.
Or when I wanted to somehow escape the opponent's attack range.
If used well, it seemed like it could also be useful for evasion and defense.
"I should also verify the maximum range it can affect later. And also…"
Whether targets in direct contact with me can move without being affected.
Slei's tail was being swung vigorously.
It occasionally exceeded a one-meter radius—or so it seemed.
But the movement of his tail was not slowed.
In other words… as long as they are in contact with me, the other party can also move?
"Hm? What is this number…?"
I noticed an additional display next to the MP indicator.
Remaining: 1359 / 5000
Remaining: 1313 / 5000
The number was steadily decreasing.
…Ah, I see.
"So the effect duration lasts until the 5000 MP consumed at activation reaches zero."
For this new skill.
There was a clear division of "5000 MP worth" per use.
What did that mean?
"I cannot pour all my MP into a single use."
In other words, I could not use it continuously for a long time by consuming all my MP.
5000 MP consumed per use.
One segment.
Once 5000 was used up, it would automatically cancel like earlier.
"So I cannot use the tactic of repeatedly granting and canceling in quick succession."
"Continuous use during cooldown is not possible."
Convenient powers always come with some kind of restriction.
That is how the world works.
No…
Even so, my status abnormality skills are still far too convenient.
I turned around and continued walking.
"Anyway, I've grasped the properties of [Slow]—to a certain extent."
After that, I could just handle things as usual.
"So, with that said… —!?"
My knee almost buckled.
But I steadied myself.
…My legs are pretty worn out.
I sheathed the short sword.
Since it was on cooldown, I could not use [Slow] right now.
But that was fine.
I put strength back into my body and thrust my arm forward as usual.
"Fighting this number in my current state is a bit tough… but I'll take care of you with my usual skills."
Then,
"Pa, Pakyu!"
Suddenly Slei became excited.
"…I know."
There was one strange one mixed in.
In my current state, it looked a little troublesome.
It was approaching with tremendous speed.
...
If possible, I wanted to deal with this one first.
I pointed my hand toward it.
The other monsters were also approaching, but the one I should deal with first was this—
Zban!
The monster's body was sliced apart.
An arc of blood was drawn in the air.
"Grrru… Garururururuu…"
I lowered my arm.
"I see."
So that was why Slei had been excited.
…Well, I had anticipated that this would appear.
"Finally found you, my master Touka."
From behind me came Eve Speed's voice.