The Nameless Extra: I Proofread This World

From the moment Noelle brought up her plan, Ruvian had already figured out how to optimise it, to push it further than a simple hit-and-run tactic.

He had been watching carefully during Airin’s demonstration, not just the spell she used, but the way the Scarix responded to pressure.

It was true that, as a general rule, Lesser Voidspawn lacked higher reasoning. They were creatures driven by instinct, and by raw predatory behavior.

But instinct did not equate to stupidity. Instinct, when honed by survival, could appear dangerously close to intelligence.

And this Scarix possessed a clever instinct!

From the way it fought Airin, Ruvian had noticed subtle choices in its movements. It didn’t simply charge the nearest target blindly. But it tested their distance and gauged its enemy.

When confronted by overwhelming force, it disengaged rather than stubbornly pushing through. That alone separated it from mindless beasts.

More telling was what it had done during their earlier clash.

It had slipped past both vanguards at the precise moment, identified the slight delay in their recovery, and chose that instant to break through.

And it hadn’t aimed for whoever was closest; it knew that removing the backline would destabilize the entire formation, and so it targeted Corwin, the long-range support at the rear.

”You alright?”

Ruvian asked, his eyes never quite leaving the beast as it prowled in a loose circle a short distance away.

Corwin rolled onto his side with a groan and pushed himself up. He dusted off his sleeve, wincing once before forcing a small grin.

”Thanks, Ruvian. I’m alright. Just a bit surprised.”

Griffer jogged over, spear still in hand, jaw tight.

”Dammit. Sorry. I let it past me.” he scratched the back of his neck, avoiding Corwin’s eyes for half a second.

Melia planted her fists on her hips and shot him a flat look. ”Yeah, it’s Griffer’s fault. It came from his side. And he just let it slip through.”

”What? Hey!” Griffer straightened, affronted.

”It was too fast for me! You saw how it dashed, right?!”

”Pretty sure that I saw you closing your eyes,” Melia shot back, though the corner of her mouth curved slightly.

Noelle let out a sigh that turned into a quiet chuckle. ”Can we argue after it’s dead?”

”Alright. But it wasn’t me to begin with.” Griffer huffed, adjusting his grip on the spear, and stepping half a pace in front of Corwin without thinking.

”Geez, I’m just joking.” Melia bumped her shoulder lightly against his arm as she moved into position.

”Ouch!”

Griffer rubbed his arm.

’Haa... these kids.’ Ruvian sighed.

The Scarix lowered its head, tongue dragging slowly across the torn scales at its flank. Dark blood glistened between its plates.

Studying the beast, Noelle continued:

”I don’t think it’ll rush us the same way again. It’s weaker now.”

Ruvian gave a small nod.

Noelle was right.

With the beast injured, especially along the side it relied on most for its movement, it was bound to adjust its pattern of attack. A wounded creature would not repeat the same mistake twice.

”Still, don’t lower your guard. Some beasts tend to fixate on the one who wounded them, be careful,” Ruvian said.

Noelle stole a quick glance at Ruvian, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. ”O-Of course. That goes without saying.”

Griffer snuck a quick look back with a frown and muttered something to himself. ’Ruvian, you bastard! I should be the one who says that!’

Maintaining his calm, Ruvian continued.

”We’ll strike first. From the way it’s acting, it has no intention of charging again. It’s holding back, waiting for us to attack so it can respond with a counter.”

Griffer let out a tight grin, fuelled with competitiveness and said: ”Then I’ll lead the charge.”

Ruvian gave a casual nod in response.

Once everyone had agreed, Griffer did not wait for a second. He leaned forward and broke into a steady charge, spear angled low at first, then rising smoothly as he closed the distance.

The Scarix immediately lifted its head and narrowed its eyes at him.

Seeing Griffer was approaching closer and closer, the beast lurched as well. Its foreclaw tore through the air with a sharp hiss.

Griffer pivoted on his front foot and brought the shaft of his spear across his body. The hardened wood caught the claw cleanly, redirecting it to the side instead of blocking it head on. The impact vibrated up his arms, but his stance held.

’I can get stronger, as well!’

He stepped in rather than back.

The spear tip flicked forward in a quick thrust toward the beast’s shoulder. The Scarix twisted, its scales scraping against the spear’s steel, and snapped its jaws toward his torso.

But Griffer had already reacted. He drew the spear back and rotated the shaft horizontally. The bite clamped down on wood instead of flesh.

”This is not food, you beast!”

A grin flashed across his face. With a sharp pull, he wrenched the weapon free before the beast could crush it.

From the right, Noelle came to support him.

She flowed in behind Griffer’s advance, her twin daggers held low and close to her body. When the Scarix shifted its weight to press against Griffer, she slipped into the space it exposed.

Slash!

Her strike carved across the injured flank.

It was shallow, but enough to aggravate the wound. The beast recoiled with a guttural snarl and swung its tail toward her.

However, before it could connect, Melia stepped in from the opposite side.

Her gauntleted fists came up in a tight guard. She intercepted the tail with both forearms, bracing her legs against the ground.

The impact forced her back half a step, but she absorbed the force and shoved it aside. In the same motion, she drove a short punch into the beast’s ribs.

The dull thud of reinforced metal against scaled hide echoed through the clearing.

In the end, the Scarix was confused as it found no clear target.

Whenever it turned toward Noelle, Griffer’s spear darted in to harass its vision and force it back.

And whenever it snapped at Griffer, Melia already closed the gap and struck its side, disrupting its balance.

There was simply no opening for the Scarix to attack!

And finally, from a short distance behind them, Ruvian had already finished preparing his spell.

All he needed now was the precise moment and a clear opening to release it without endangering his teammates.

Then, as the opportunity arose...

He launched his spell.

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[Chapter 93: Working as A Team (4)]

Plot Points= 14,080