The Kicked Out S-Rank Appraiser Creates The Strongest Guild - Chapter 77

Chapter 77   Hope in the midst of chaos

The Great Alliance successfully managed to retreat from the territory of the ‘Giant Fire Dragon Grand Fafnir’, but a new threat soon descended upon them.

Dragons, stirred by Grand Fafnir’s roar, began to show unusually active behavior and attacked the Alliance.

“Ten ‘Fire Dragons’ coming from the right!”

“Damn it, not again.”

“Tch, one after another.”

“Deploy the ‘Fire Shield’ on the right flank!”

The members of the ‘Guardians of the Magic Institute’ with remaining endurance for the ‘Fire Shield’ deployed to the right flank.

“Damn it, what are the Alliance Guild members doing? It’s just us, the ‘Guardians of the Magic Institute’, fighting here.”

“Calm down, Sein. They can’t handle the firepower of the Fire Dragons.”

“Useless fools!”

Even so, the ‘Guardians of the Magic Institute’ adeptly handled the ‘Fire Dragons’, taking them down one by one.

“Alright, we can do this.”

“Don’t rush. Take them down one at a time.”

Just as the threat of the ‘Fire Dragons’ seemed to be subsiding and the army began to relax, a sudden rain of arrows fell on the left flank.

“What the? What’s going on?”

“Arrows? Why are we being shot at? Could it be…?”

A squad bearing the emblem of a white wolf on their shoulders emerged from behind the rocks.

It was the archer squad of the Thieves’ Guild ‘White Wolf’.

“Is that the Thieves’ Guild?!”

“Damn, at a time like this…”

“‘Guardians of the Magic Institute’ are already occupied with the ‘Fire Dragons’. Alliance Guild, handle this.”

Arl issued the order, but the morale of the Alliance Guild, still uncertain about their rewards, was low. They hesitated, avoiding combat and showing no eagerness to drive off ‘White Wolf’ for the Great Alliance.

As a result, ‘White Wolf’s’ archers steadily wore down their health and equipment.

“Damn it, I’ll go. Move aside!”

Sein grabbed his sword and shield, attempting to fight, but with his degraded equipment and lowered stats, he couldn’t break through the hail of arrows. Instead, he took an arrow to the shoulder.

“Ugh!”

“Captain! Are you alright?”

“It’s no use. Fall back.”

“Damn it. If only I had the ‘Dragonhead Gauntlets’, I could wipe them out in an instant.”

Sein yanked the arrow from his shoulder, frustratedly slamming it into the ground.

Watching the battle from a slightly elevated position, Jamil and Rodo quickly noticed Sein’s exhaustion.

“Look at that guy, he’s totally worn out.”

“Analyze him.”

“Yeah.”

[Sein’s Status]

Strength: 40-90

Endurance: 40-90

Agility: 40-90

Stamina: 50-130

Magic: 1-130

Jamil smirked.

“How is it?”

“His magic power is at its minimum, 1. That guy can’t fire the ‘Dragonhead Gauntlets’ anymore.”

“Is that so?”

“Alright. Advance the melee units. No need to fear the ‘Dragonhead Gauntlets’ now.”

The attacks from ‘White Wolf’ grew increasingly fierce.

The Great Alliance was forced into a defensive position, and one by one, members were captured.

Just when the right flank finally finished off the ‘Fire Dragons’ and rushed to assist the left flank, the thieves had already gained sufficient loot and were retreating swiftly.

“Damn it, they got away.”

“Those guys sure know how to run fast.”

“What should we do? Pursue them?”

The still energetic members of ‘Guardians of the Magic Institute’ showed their eagerness to chase after ‘White Wolf’ to Arl.

“No, let’s leave them be. Right now, our priority is to return to the city. But if ‘White Wolf’ comes again…”

“Vice-Captain! Another group of ‘Fire Dragons’!”

“Damn it, again?!”

The Great Alliance (in reality, primarily ‘Guardians of the Magic Institute’) was forced to deal with the ‘Fire Dragons’ once more.

And, as if anticipating this, ‘White Wolf’ attacked again.

“Damn it, not again.”

“Why do these thieves always get lucky with ‘Fire Dragons’ attacks?”

(There’s something strange about this.)

Arl also felt something suspicious about the behavior of the ‘Fire Dragons.’

(The ‘Fire Dragons’ keep attacking us and never go towards ‘White Wolf.’ This can’t be a coincidence. Could it be some kind of skill?!)

“Look, they’re descending along the river.”

Jamil pointed towards the river.

“Hit them with the ‘Fire Dragons’ fire breath from the opposite side of the river.”

“Got it.”

Rodo put his lips to the horn and played a melody audible only to dragons.

It was the skill ‘Dragon Whistle.’

The ‘Fire Dragons’ wandering in the sky received the message from Rodo and turned their wings.

Immediately, the sounds of shouts and screams echoed from where the ‘Guardians of the Magic Institute’ were located.

“Alright, it worked.”

“Hehehe, let’s enjoy ourselves again with a one-sided hunt where they can’t fight back.”

One of the ‘Guardians of the Magic Institute’ couldn’t endure the sneaky attacks of ‘White Wolf’ any longer and shouted in protest.

“Enough already, you bastards! Is this how you repay us who fought for the city? Without gathering items yourself, you just snatch what others have gained. And now, you attack us from behind after we’ve fought so hard and worn ourselves out? Such cowardly tactics! Is this how you operate? Have you no pride as adventurers?”

“That guy’s saying something,” Rodo said.

“Haha, can’t hear a thing. Keep attacking,” Jamil laughed mockingly.

The Great Alliance continued to be ambushed repeatedly by the combined forces of ‘Fire Dragons’ and ‘White Wolf.’

With each attack, the Great Alliance’s stamina, equipment, and morale were further depleted.

Eventually, members of the allied guilds began to surrender to ‘White Wolf.’

“Help us! We won’t resist anymore.”

“We surrender, don’t shoot!”

Seeing this, Sein was horrified.

(What?! You idiots, if you surrender now…)

At this point, the Great Alliance’s strategy relied on the remaining strength of the ‘Guardians of the Magic Institute’ to handle the ‘Fire Dragons,’ while using the allied guilds as a shield against ‘White Wolf’s’ attacks.

If the allied guilds surrendered, they could no longer withstand ‘White Wolf’s’ assaults.

Sure enough, ‘White Wolf’s’ melee units didn’t accept the surrender of the allied guild members but instead charged at them.

The allied guild members were driven back under attack and ended up in the midst of the ‘Guardians of the Magic Intitute,’ who were currently engaged with the ‘Fire Dragons.’

The Great Alliance was thrown into utter chaos.

“Uwaaaah!”

“Gyaaaaah!”

The members of the ‘Guardians of the Magic Institute’ tried to fight back, but the allied guild members, in a state of panic, fled towards them, preventing them from properly readying their weapons and leaving them exposed to the enemy’s attacks.

Finally, one of the magic knights had their armor shattered, taking massive damage. The rare metals they were carrying scattered around them. Thieves swarmed to collect the rare metals.

Sein stood in shock.

(All those rare metals we worked so hard to gather…)

“Calm down. We need to regroup somehow.”

In one corner of the allied guild, there was a movement to repel ‘White Wolf.’

(That is…)

Arl looked over and saw a warrior from a minor guild fighting with a shield and armor coated in blue.

It was Elio and the members of ‘Dawn’s Shield.’

Elio single-handedly held back the charging heavily armored thieves and even pushed them back, creating a chance for the ‘Guardians of the Magic Insitute’ to regroup.

“Wow, those guys are really something,” one of the magic knights remarked, impressed.

“I’m not familiar with that equipment. Is that an emblem of a spirit holding a hammer on their weapons?” another mused.

“In any case, they certainly helped us. Deputy Commander, let’s use this opportunity to regroup,” another knight urged.

“Yes, anyone who’s free, get your ‘Fire Spears ready. While Blue Armor is holding them off, use the space behind them. Prepare for a counterattack!” Arl instructed.

“Remember the pride of the magic knights. Our strength lies in being mages who can also excel in melee combat! Cut down the enemy with your blades, stab them relentlessly. Push forward without yielding a step and rout the enemy!” Sein rallied his comrades.

The ‘Fire Spears’ were originally designed for use against the ‘Fire Dragons,’ but they also functioned effectively as weapons against humans.

The heat emitted by the spirits residing in their silver tips was powerful enough to melt iron, pierce shields, and penetrate armor.

The ‘Fire Spears’ unit was deployed to deliver a decisive blow to ‘White Wolf.’

However, as soon as the ‘Fire Spears’ struck the shields of ‘White Wolf,’ they were rendered useless.

(What… what is this?)

One of the magic knights noticed that his ‘Fire Spears’ wasn’t emitting flames properly.

The shields of ‘White Wolf’s’ melee unit contained ‘Silver-crushing Stone,’ which was the worst possible match for the ‘Fire Spears,’ neutralizing their power.

The attacks of the magic knights were deflected and they were swiftly counterattacked. Surrounded and wounded, they were stripped of their rare metals.

“This… this can’t be…”

Sein trembled as he watched the dire situation unfold.

“Ah, it’s hopeless,” Arl said, throwing in the towel.

“Sein-chan, continuing to fight will only waste our strength. Our only option now is to scatter and retreat to the city.”

“Damn it. For us, a venerable guild, to have to turn our backs on mere thieves and flee… Damn it! What a disgrace!”

Thus, the great alliance was broken and forced to retreat.

Elio and the members of ‘Dawn’s Shield’ stood their ground and fought against ‘White Wolf’ until the end.

However, this decision backfired, leaving them completely stranded.

Elio took the rear guard, securing an escape route for the entire guild as they hurried towards the city.

“Hang in there. Just a little more,” Leon, the leader, called out to Jeff, the archer.

Jeff, barely able to breathe, leaned on Leon’s shoulder and stumbled along. He had sustained serious injuries in the unfamiliar chaotic battle.

“I’m sorry. It’s because of me,” Jeff said weakly.

“What are you talking about? We’re here to help each other in times of trouble. Now, if you have time to complain, you have time to walk,” Cecil, the thief, said, trying to cheer him up.

Elio watched Jeff with concern while guarding the party. With this group, he was the only one capable of fighting the monsters in the area effectively. They had reached the forest at the base of the mountain, but due to the rampaging ‘Fire Dragons’ packs, the monster distribution had significantly changed. Powerful monsters from the upper ‘Metal Line’ now roamed the area.

(If we can just make it to the city… Please, no more monsters.)

However, Elio’s prayers went unanswered. An ear-splitting screech filled the air, and a large shadow covered them.

Elio looked up, alarmed.

“Damn. It’s a ‘Fire Dragon.'”

(We’re in trouble. We’ve been spotted.)

“Damn it,” Elio muttered, drawing his short sword and raising his shield to face the ‘Fire Dragon.’

He blocked the dragon’s attacking claws and counterattacked. The ‘Fire Dragon’screeched in displeasure and retreated into the sky.

“Everyone, I’ll hold it off here. Take Jeff and run,” Elio commanded.

The three others, though reluctant, followed his instructions, knowing they would only be a burden if they stayed.

Realizing its claws were ineffective, the ‘Fire Dragon’ began attacking Elio with its ‘Fire Breath.’ However, the dragon’s flames couldn’t penetrate Elio’s armor.

But Elio couldn’t attack the dragon either, lacking any anti-air weapons.

Elio and the ‘Fire Dragon’ glared at each other, gauging their distance. The dragon flapped its wings angrily, causing a loud rustling noise.

(Get angry, get angry. As long as it’s focused on me, it can’t touch the three of them. If I can just wear it down…)

However, Elio’s hopes were dashed by the sound of screams from the three. Another ‘Fire Dragon’ had blocked their path.

(What? There’s another one?)

Cecil drew her short sword and took a defensive stance, but against the flying, steel-scaled ‘Fire Dragon,’ it was a hopelessly inadequate weapon.

“Forget about me. Just run,” Jeff groaned.

“Don’t be ridiculous. We’re not leaving you,” Cecil replied firmly.

Leon grimaced in frustration. The choice was clear: abandon Jeff or face the party’s annihilation. The weight of the decision was crushing.

The ‘Fire Dragon’ began to gather ‘Fire Breath’ in its mouth.

(Damn it, is this the end?)

Suddenly, three red arrows sliced through the sky. They struck the ‘Fire Dragon,’ piercing its wing and throat. The dragon staggered, its ‘Fire Breath’ sputtering out ineffectively before it crashed to the ground.

(What? We’re saved?)

Leon stared in disbelief at the fallen ‘Fire Dragon.’

“Are you alright?”

Startled, Leon turned toward the voice. Standing there was a playful-looking young man and his composed sister.

“That attack just now… was that you?”

“Yes, we’re from the guild ‘Pegasus Archers.’ You guys have a partnership with ‘Arsenal of the Spirits,’ right?”

Hans raised his ‘Dragon Pierces the Sky Ryuu ‘ bow, showing the emblem engraved on it to Leon.

“That equipment…!”

Leon recognized the familiar emblem on the unfamiliar bow and arrows—a spirit holding a hammer.

“That’s right, it’s the new ‘Dragon Pierces the Sky Ryuu’ from ‘Arsenal of the Spirits.’ Laurent told us not to get involved with the Great Alliance, but when we saw the emblem on your weapons, we knew we had to help. As fellow ‘Arsenal of the Spirits’ fans, it was our duty.”

Hans flashed a friendly smile.

“Now that we’re here, you’re safe. We’ll protect you from the threat of ‘Fire Dragon’ all the way to the city.”