To start off, one.

I plunge my dagger into the throat of a goblin running towards the town.

Then, the second one.

I slash open the side of the goblin that was running next to the first, making it bleeding out and reduce its HP to zero.

My pace is good.

I activate my 《Dash》 ability while moving, eliminating time loss to the greatest extent possible.

The twelfth.

An orc swings at me.

— Ability 《Pierce Death》

A sword technique unlocked at【Assassination】level 4.

It’s a critical-oriented sword skill; although the base attack power is low, it has a high critical hit rate which makes up for the lacking damage.

My target is the forehead.

Over the past few days I tested the conditions for a critical hit while in battle.

Indeed, aiming for a creature’s vital points results in a higher occurrence rate.

I dodge the orc’s attack and plunge my dagger.

Of course, it’s a critical hit.

The orc’s HP vanishes in a single stroke of my sword technique.

Having defeated the sixty-seventh.

I have to end my 『Ability Release』 soon, or my ST will be in jeopardy.

A hobgoblin swings its club and charges at me.

Perfect timing.

I store my dagger, its durability reduced by messy usage, in the sheath at my waist.

At the moment I receive the hobgoblin’s strike, I activate an ability.

— Ability 『Snatch』

An 【Assassination】 ability that allows you to steal your opponent’s weapon in combat.

The activation conditions are strict, making it cumbersome to use, but if successful, you can steal your opponent’s weapon.

I catch the attack from the club with my palm.

At that moment, having activated 『Snatch』, the hobgoblin’s attack was cancelled.

I instantly acquire the 【Club Technique】 skill and raise it to level 2.

— Ability 『Power Strike』

Its weapon having been stolen,  the hobgoblin becomes stupefied,.

A full swing of the club lands on its face.

With this, sixty-eight.

Before I end the 『Ability Release』, I set one trap.

— Ability 『War Cry』

An ability available at level 1 of 【Club Technique】, its effect attracts the attention of surrounding enemies to the user.

Monsters in the vicinity rush towards me all at once.

I no longer need the club.

Tossing it at a random goblin to rack up kill count, I retrieve the 【Iron Spear】 from my inventory and equip it.

In the heat of battle, nobody will notice a bit of inventory use.

I acquire the 【Spear Technique】 skill and raise it to level 3.

From here, managing ST is crucial.

I want to refrain from the unnecessary use of abilities.

Once I lure in enough monsters, then activate an ability.

— Ability 『Whirlwind』

An ability unlocked at level 3 of【Spear Technique】.

A convenient area of effect ability that consumes little ST and can be used at a low skill level.

However, as it’s an ability unlocked at a low level of 【Spear Technique】, its power is naturally low.

But it excels in its stun capability.

『Whirlwind』, released with a motion that swings the spear widely, scatters the approaching monsters.

Immediately, I store the spear in my inventory and switch to an iron sword.

— Ability 『Gale』

This skill, unlocked at【One-handed Sword Technique】level 4, is a rare long-range attack within one-handed swordsmanship.

The attack range varies depending on the charge time. With a maximum charge of 10 seconds a 10-meter attack can be launched.

However, any damage taken during the charging period is increased, and the attack is also cancelled.

But after releasing『Whirlwind』, there are no monsters approaching me.

At 7 seconds of charging 『Gale』, the stunned monsters recover.

They start approaching again.

8… 9… 10, now!

I draw the iron sword held at my waist in one swift motion.

The wind, released as a slashing wave, bisects the surrounding monsters in a single stroke.

How many monsters did I defeat?

The kill count is… 99?

One short.

This is bad.

30 seconds for 『Ability Release』.

10 seconds from stealing the club to 『War Cry』.

5 seconds for the 『Whirlwind』 motion.

And now, 10 seconds for 『Gale』.

All that remains is 5 seconds.

But all the monsters that were around have been defeated.

Completely, this entire area has become a blank zone.

4 seconds remaining.

I use 『Dash』 to rush towards the nearest goblin.

3 seconds remaining.

Will I make it?

…Impossible.

The distance of just a few meters feels extraordinarily far.

Should I use 『Gale』 again?

No, that takes at least 3 seconds to activate.

Adding the time until the direct hit makes it 4 seconds.

Even if I had targeted the goblin at the 5-second mark and activated it, it would have been out of attack range.

Isn’t there another way?

Remaining, 1 second.

There was… a way.

I draw the 【Iron Dagger】 from my waist sheath and hurl it at the goblin.

A no-motion attack without using a skill.

This is the fastest attack in my current situation.

Remaining… 0 seconds.

The iron dagger pierces the goblin’s forehead.

Its HP drops to zero.

What about the award?

 

＊＊＊

 

『Monsters defeated within one minute: 100』 — Achieved

Acquired the award 【Monster Hunter】

 

＊＊＊

 

Good!

Looking at my SP, a massive number of points have been added.

With this, I’m ready to tackle the boss.