Inside the slow-motion world of my Thought Acceleration, I catch the images of the future shown to me by Foresight.
The future where Arava activates a magic spell.
At this class of Monster, they'd normally use magic without hesitation.
Arc did too, which means they possess that level of intelligence.
Naturally, a being with that kind of intelligence isn't going to use a spell less efficient than its breath attack without thinking about it.
Dodge.
A sharp earth spear erupts from the ground right where I'd been standing moments ago.
Basically an earth version of the Dark Spear, huh?
If I'm remembering right, it was called Earth Spear — a Tier 3 Earth Magic spell.
But while the Dark Spear is the type that launches toward the target, the Earth Spear transforms the ground at the target location directly into a spear.
If I'd stayed right there, I'd have been skewered.
The tricky thing about Earth Magic is that, on top its elemental magic effects, it also carries physical destructive force.
At first glance it looks plain compared to fire or water, but in reality it's a combined physical-and-magical attack.
When it comes to resistance, I can brush off ordinary magic without taking damage.
But when physical destructive force is thrown into the mix, the equation changes.
Did Arava anticipate my dodge? It kept spawning new earth spears one after another.
As expected of a creature with the Precise Magic Power Operation Skill — its spell construction speed was insane.
Well, not as fast as me, though.
With my Thought Acceleration and Foresight firing on all cylinders, none of those spells could land a hit.
But Arava knew that too.
Its real objective was to cut off my escape routes.
I kept dodging spell after spell, being cleverly herded until I finally arrived at a spot where earth walls already stood blocking three sides.
And at the entrance I'd fled through, another wall sprang up in an instant.
Earth Magic's Earth Wall.
Surrounded on all four sides, the only escape route I had left was upward.
And up there, Arava was already unleashing its breath attack.
Only a split second remained before impact.
Dodging was impossible.
Under normal circumstances.
Teleport.
Once again, I teleported directly above Arava's head.
For the second time, a Dark Bullet to the head mid-breath.
Hit.
The same scene unfolds directly below me.
The only difference from last time was that Arava had launched itself into the air.
Arava plunging downward.
A pursuing Dark Spear.
But just before slamming into the ground, Arava righted itself and lightly kicked off the earth, evading the incoming spear.
And right where it dodged — a waterfall of poison.
I'd cranked Poison Synthesis to maximum output and chained it continuously to create this cascade of venom.
A torrent of lethal poison and paralytic toxin — and Arava blew it all away with a single breath.
Poison droplets scattering everywhere.
I wasn't exactly expecting damage from it, but come on — blown away by a casually fired breath? Give me a break.
Arava aimed up at me and started spitting out breath attacks in rapid succession.
I dodged that anti-air barrage using my Spatial Maneuver.
And while I was at it, I spun a net with my Universal Thread and launched it with my Throwing Skill.
Hehehe.
Yes yes, I finally got my dream Throwing Skill!
Well, actually it was a derivative that popped up once I maxed out the Throwing Skill.
It costs MP and the level is low so the speed isn't that impressive — honestly, it's better to just throw things with regular Throwing — but this is a matter of pride, you know?
The thread, shot out in a compact ball, was spread into a net shape right in front of Arava's eyes using Thread Manipulation.
Maybe Arava remembered getting cut by my thread earlier, because it dodged the net with exaggerated caution, wide-eyed and wary.
A fair reaction, honestly.
The thread I'd used last time had offensive properties attached, but the true nature of spider thread is to ensnare.
The thread I used this time was loaded with adhesive stickiness.
Even Arava, if it got caught in this thread of mine, would have a hard time breaking free.
If it's going to be that wary of my thread, that actually works in my favor.
I dispersed thread from above.
Arava hated that — it dodged, it deflected with breath, and then came after me directly to eliminate the source.
Using Spatial Maneuver, Arava closed in on me.
Oh, welcome!
The threads that looked like they'd been scattered haphazardly were all connected by threads so thin they were nearly invisible to the eye.
Those base threads? They led straight to my feet.
With Thread Manipulation, I yanked the entire bundle of threads toward me all at once.
At the same time, I fired a Dark Bullet at Arava.
Spider threads closing in from behind.
A Dark Bullet hurtling from the front.
Dodge the Dark Bullet, and the threads catch up.
Dodge the threads, and you take the hit.
Which one does Arava choose?!
Arava chose.
Neither of them.
Its breath attack cancelled out the Dark Bullet.
And then it charged straight through the resulting shockwave without hesitation.
Crap!
I barely dodged the fangs lunging at me.
It grazed me just enough to chip away some of my HP satiation reserves.
That was close.
I nearly failed to dodge because of all the thread I was managing.
When you're pulling this much thread, your movement naturally gets restricted.
Teleportation, too, won't work unless I've pre-cast the spell in advance — in a snap situation like this, I can actually use it.
The reason it looks like I'm casually dodging enemy attacks with Teleport is because I'm making maximum use of Thought Acceleration and Foresight.
I use Foresight to read the opponent's moves ahead of time, and Thought Acceleration to jump into spell construction instantly.
It looks like I'm teleporting on the fly, but I'm actually preparing in advance.
Arava's move just now caught me a bit off guard.
I'd figured one of the two — thread or Dark Bullet — would be effective.
Guess I've still been underestimating Arava.
Time to refocus.
Both Arava and I still have plenty left in the tank.
The battle continues.