Chapter 574 – A Battle by a Hair’s Breadth

Tauro and the others rushed out beyond the village perimeter and, using the shared vision from Seth and the other doll golems, he knew exactly which direction the vampire Wolves were heading. Concealing their presence, they lay in wait.

Tauro in particular activates light, dark, and water spirit magic with the ability “Multiple chanting” in order to finish off the large one he had identified. By precisely controlling them with Magic Manipulation (Extreme) , he created his own original concealment spell—“Hidden Form.” Blending seamlessly into the forest, he also makes full use of his ability “Presence Blocking”.

He was in perfect condition.

A total of four monsters, three vampire wolves and one large wolf, approached the village without noticing Tauro’s party.

There’s no wind.

They hadn’t detected anything yet.

The monsters passed directly in front of Tauro, who blended into the forest by his concealment spell. Just as he moved to take the large one from behind—

The large wolf reacted.

“(A faint breeze… it caught my scent!?)”

Indeed, though nearly imperceptible, a slight wind had blown from Tauro’s direction toward the monsters.

Sensing him by smell, the large wolf immediately released a thick mist from its body.

“Illusion magic won’t wor— … is this real fog!?”

Tauro hadn’t been shaken by the failed ambush, but he was startled to see—through his True Eye—that the wolf, which was supposed to rely on illusion magic, had produced actual mist.

Meanwhile, within the fog, Aeris and the others engaged the Bloodsucking Wolves in battle.

Tauro tried to join them, but the large wolf that had spread the mist now stood before him. Though his vision was completely white, his Presence Detection ability confirmed it.

“…a failed ambush and low visibility. A slightly unfavorable setup?”

Drawing his short sword Tauro Kai from magic storage, Tauro took his stance.

The wolf appeared to be using an advanced “inhibition” ability against detection—but Tauro possessed Anti- inhibition, which nullified all obstruction-type abilities, so no matter how much he tried to take away his vision and enveloped him in fog, Tauro could perceive the wolf’s silhouette through his ability “True Eye”.

“I can’t read the fine movements… but you’re aiming for my throat, aren’t you!?”

As the wolf lunged through the mist, Tauro takes out his prized Guardian Doll Round Shield from storage and blocked the bite just before it could clamp down.

At the same time, he channelled magic into Tauro Kai. The blade extended into a blade of light, and he thrust in a counterattack.

The wolf twisted gracefully, evading the strike, and disappeared back into the mist.

Tauro tracked it with True Eye—but the wolf seemed to realize it was being seen. It began zigzagging unpredictably within the fog, circling and probing.

“Smart too…”

Tauro muttered as he retracted the glowing blade. Its light would betray his position.

Despite its massive body, the wolf moved with terrifying speed and closed in again.

“Pella—this time I’ll land it for sure. Cover me!”

Tauro chose a strategy to block the enemy’s attack with the slime emperor Pella and make sure his attack worked.

Pella shed it’s disguise and deflected the wolf’s razor-sharp claw attack from its front paws just before it reached Tauro’s neck.

In that instant, Tauro thrust again—light blade aimed straight at the wolf’s throat.

It was a perfect, by a hair’s-breadth exquisite attack —

But shockingly, hidden beneath the wolf’s thick fur was a collar. The blade struck it and bounced off.

“!—A collar!?”

Startled, Tauro faltered.

The wolf seized the moment and retreated into the mist once more.

Then—

“Kyain!”

A short yelp echoed from the direction of Aeris and the others.

Then again—

“Kyawn!”

“Gyan!”

Through True Eye, Tauro confirmed it—his companions had defeated the Vampire Wolves.

He turned his gaze back—

For a split second too late.

The large wolf lunged with its fore claws. Pella blocked them easily—

But it was a feint to attract it.

The true attack came from its jaws, snapping toward Tauro’s head with lethal fangs.

Even Pella was a fraction too slow against the two-part assault.

And then—

A shockwave tore through the mist from the side.

The blast struck the wolf full-on, hurling its massive body away and mowing down trees in its path.

Tauro and Pella were caught in the fringe of the impact. Not a direct hit—but enough. They were blasted backward. Tauro slammed into a tree, coughing blood. Pella flattened limply, as if it was dissolving.

Seth arrived at the scene, accompanied by Adam and Eve.

Seth immediately ordered the two dolls to finish the wolf, while he himself rushed to pick up Tauro.

“…Nice call, Set… You chose the shockwave over letting me get instantly killed by those fangs… I’d have made the same choice… I’m regenerating with Super Recovery… In the meantime… can you heal Pella with a potion…?”

Tauro handed Seth a special high-grade potion.

Seth nodded, gently laid Tauro down, then ran to Pella, who had been damaged and weak, and used it.

Brilliant light enveloped the slime. In moments, Pella regained vitality and sprang up energetically—then zipped back to Tauro’s side.

“…it was unexpectedly strong…”

Tauro still couldn’t stand up because of the damage, so he lay down and took out a potion from the magic storage, drank it all, while speaking to Pella and Seth

Adam and Eve returned, dragging the wolf’s corpse behind them.

The fog created by the wolf monster began to thin.

From within it, Aeris and the others called out anxiously, checking on Tauro.

Tauro hadn’t regained enough energy to respond properly. So until his companions reached him, he laid there quietly—his head resting on Set’s lap.