Riser

25-261

Added 2025-09-13 21:15:51 +0000 UTC

EP.261. [Charlotte Identifies the Minotaur’s Weakness.]

“It’s under the jaw! Judging by the way the Minotaur’s internal energy flow starts beneath the jaw, the armor there should be relatively weak, Greatsword Eugene!”

In Charlotte’s eyes, shining with holy power, the Minotaur’s massive body was reduced to something like an electronic signal, forming a map of its energy flows. Through this, she identified the starting point of its mana activity: right beneath the Minotaur’s jaw.

“How weak do you think it is, Bishop-Nun Charlotte?”

Eugene asked for a more detailed assessment. After all, “weak” is only relative. If he attacked carelessly, he risked triggering the Minotaur’s violent counterattack, which could endanger not just himself but also the nuns. Ideally, the fight should end in a single blow, or at most two exchanges.

“Given the energy flow, I’d estimate the durability there is at least one-third, maybe up to forty percent, of the rest of the Minotaur’s hide.”

Charlotte answered Eugene’s question. The stronger the mana emission at the source, the higher the basic durability. The brightness of the mana flare at that spot, and the strength of the mana flow throughout the body, are clues to gauge this.

“One-third, huh…”

Hearing Charlotte’s analysis, Eugene muttered as he watched the Minotaur’s hands swinging toward him, focusing on its lower jaw.

‘If the hide’s durability is between one-third and forty percent, ordinary attacks won’t be enough. Especially since I can’t fully concentrate my strength in this situation.’

He calculated the overall damage he could inflict. The Minotaur stood 15 meters tall, its head enormous. Even if he pierced the hide at forty percent durability, reaching the crown would be another matter. If he failed to kill it in one blow, the enraged Minotaur would go berserk, putting Eugene, Charlotte, and the other nuns at risk.

‘I need to assume fifty percent durability and break through. Only then can I end this in a single, almost decisive strike.’

Eugene decided to focus his power, assuming fifty percent durability for the Minotaur.

‘That means I’ll need to go all out… but I’ll need time to gather mana.’

To completely penetrate fifty percent of the Minotaur’s durability, Eugene would need to channel all his power into the attack. A normal greatsword strike was about forty to fifty percent of his power, maybe sixty percent if he pushed himself. Beyond that, it wasn’t just about muscle and weight it was about gathering and focusing mana. To strike the Minotaur’s weak point in one blow, Eugene needed a window to gather the remaining forty percent of his strength.

‘Of course, the Minotaur isn’t just going to stand there and let me gather power.’

Since the enemy wouldn’t just wait, Eugene had to buy time himself.

“Bishop-Nun Charlotte!”

He called out to Charlotte again.

“Yes, what is it, Greatsword Eugene?”

Charlotte was swinging her saint’s flail with all her might. Although Eugene had already taken out the mutant golems, lesser monsters were still pouring in from behind the Minotaur.

“Move slowly backward while taking them out!”

Eugene requested that Charlotte reposition to the rear.

“Move back? But then it will be harder for the crossbow squad to cover you, Greatsword Eugene!”

Charlotte objected, not understanding the request. The distance between Eugene and the melee nuns was about 20 meters, and the crossbow nuns were another 20 meters behind that. Since the effective range of the Holy See’s crossbows was 50–60 meters, moving back would make it difficult to provide meaningful support.

“Yes, I know. But right now, it’s more important for me to have space to move than to have rear support. Please do as I ask, Bishop-Nun Charlotte.”

What Eugene needed now was not support fire, but maneuvering room. He made his request firmly.

“Understood. I’ll do as you say, Greatsword Eugene. Please, defeat the Minotaur!”

Once again, Charlotte showed Eugene her overflowing trust.

“Sisters! Fall back in formation and keep fighting as you go!”

Charlotte immediately ordered the nuns of the Radiant Goddess Association to withdraw, and the melee and crossbow squads retreated in intervals, fighting the monsters as they went.

‘Okay, this should do.’

Thunk!

Once the nuns were about 20 meters farther away, Eugene gripped his greatsword tightly.

“Let’s get started, Minotaur!!!”

KAAAAANG!!!!

He then met the Minotaur’s swinging fists with all his strength.

KAAANG! KANG! KAAANG! KAAANG!!

“You think I was scared just because I was dodging? Not a chance! I was just being careful not to hurt my allies in this cramped space, you dumb beast!!!”

He kept parrying, not backing down at all. In fact, he provoked the Minotaur even more, daring it to use all its strength against him.

“KRUUUUUUUUUGH!!!!!”

The Minotaur roared even louder.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

At the same time, steam-like breath blasted from its huge nostrils.

“UOOOOOOOOH!!!”

Pshhhhh...!! ... BWAAAAAH!! VWOOM! VWOOM! BWAAAAAH!!!

The Minotaur became visibly more excited, its body turning slightly red. It howled like a mad bull, swinging its huge arms even more wildly at Eugene.

‘Yeah, go wild like that.’

Grinning…

Eugene watched the rampaging Minotaur with a confident smile.

“I’ll dodge everything! Easily!”

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!!

Despite his smile, Eugene’s next moves were all evasive.

“See? I’m dodging perfectly, not threatened at all! Your fists can’t even touch a hair on me, you beast!!”

He wasn’t just dodging he was making a show of it, using every bit of space the nuns had cleared to weave around the Minotaur’s savage attacks.

‘Alright, time to get started.’

Eugene’s eyes turned serious.

Fssssss...

At the same time, blue mana began to gather around his greatsword.

‘I need to focus. Just having time isn’t enough; I need a situation where I can dodge easily like this.’

He began gathering mana for his finishing move.

Eugene had deliberately provoked the Minotaur to enrage it. He knew from the monster manual that Minotaurs, being highly aggressive, would go berserk when provoked.

‘When it’s enraged, it’s easier to read its attack patterns through mana, and its movements get bigger, making it even easier to predict.’

Instead of reacting, Eugene read and anticipated the attacks, allowing him to gather mana efficiently. The Minotaur’s huge body made it easy to read the flow of energy during its attacks, so by provoking it, he maximized that energy flow. As a result, the Minotaur unleashed its power without restraint, attacking with huge, predictable movements, while Eugene used the space to dodge and gather mana.

‘Thanks to Charlotte, my mana control has reached a certain level. I never could have pulled this off before.’

This strategy required a high level of mana control. In a real battle, a single mistake could be fatal, but after his intense night with Charlotte, Eugene was brimming with confidence.

After about five minutes of skillfully dodging the Minotaur’s attacks and focusing mana into his greatsword,

‘I’m ready!’

He felt he had enough power to pierce the Minotaur’s skull.

PAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAT!!!

Eugene quickly retreated.

“KRUUUUUUUUUUUUGH!!!”

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Minotaur chased after him.

“You think I’m running away, huh?”

PAPAT! PAT! PAPAPAT!

Eugene zigzagged forward with mana footwork.

“KRUUUUGH! GRUGH! UOOOOOOOH!!”