The Genius Wizard Who Uses Fists - Episode 21 (18/201)
Episode 21. Knights and Mages (3)
If you were to name the most valuable item in Last Savior, it would undoubtedly be the Elixir. Divided into high, medium, and low grades, it’s essentially a consumable that randomly boosts stats.
In this game, raising stats is brutally hard. My magic power’s still stuck at 3 despite training nonstop. But the Elixir bypasses all that—no conditions, just pure stat gains. No wonder veteran players, starving for progress, treat it like liquid gold.
‘And this bastard drops low-grade Elixir materials.’
The claw marks trailing through the dirt were unmistakably from its tail. The knights flipped through their monster manuals, frustration mounting as they found nothing.
“We need to report this to headquarters. The protocol for unidentified monsters is clear.”
“Hmm…”
Torres massaged his temples.
Following protocol was one thing, but calling off the search after just two hours? The lord of Bahal himself had joined this expedition. Returning empty-handed would be a humiliation.
“This is Zone 1. Even if it’s undiscovered, it’s probably low-grade.”
“Even low-grade monsters are dangerous if we don’t know their traits!”
Torres glanced at me, conflict written on his face.
Beyond the frontlines, even veterans tread carefully. Retreating to regroup was the logical choice—if we lacked intel.
“Need a hand?”
“Help? You know what this thing is?”
“Obviously. It’s a Basilisk.”
“A Basilisk?”
Common in other games, but here? In Last Savior, Basilisks were rare event monsters. Normally, you’d have to comb the deepest swamps near the frontlines just for a chance to spot one. Finding it here? Sheer luck.
“Zed, do you know its weakness?”
“Naturally.”
My confidence did nothing to sway the knights. They turned to Torres, dismissive.
“Lord Torres! You’d trust a mage’s word?”
“Mages are deceitful snakes! We should follow protocol and retreat!”
Ah, there it was—the tension I’d felt all day. Their glares during the search made sense now.
“Don’t trust me? Then leave.”
“A mage has no place giving orders!”
‘A mage’? These idiots were itching for a fight.
As my temper flared, Torres intervened.
“Enough. I’ll hear him out before deciding.”
“Why entertain this Arahant? His words are worthless!”
“I said,” Torres snapped, icy, “I’ll decide.”
The knights fell silent.
I shrugged. “Basilisk’s a mid-grade monster. You’re a 6th Circle with twenty 5th Circle knights. Easy work—if you exploit its weakness.”
“How would you know what we don’t?”
“Guess the Arahant keep better records. Saw it in our family’s monster manual.”
The knights bristled at the implied slight.
“Arahant couldn’t possibly know southern monsters! Is this a ploy to mock Bahal’s knights?”
“Got proof it’s southern-exclusive? You’re the ones disrespecting an Arahant heir.”
“You insolent—! A mana-less half-penny like you dares—?!”
Half-penny. Even borrowed flesh couldn’t dull that sting.
“Silence!” Torres barked, dropping formalities. The knights froze.
Frontlines or not, disobedience here meant death.
“Zed, I apologize for their conduct. I meant to ease tensions, but—”
—Grrrrrl!
“What—?!”
A guttural roar erupted behind us. The knights snapped into formation, swords drawn—smooth, practiced motions. Torres took position at the center, blade gleaming.
“Battle stations!”
Auras flared—azure at the core, surrounded by white—as the knights fell into perfect ranks.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The ground trembled under heavy footsteps. Not one creature. Multiple.
From the right—
—Kreeeaaaa!
A three-meter monstrosity burst through the brush. Dark green scales. Jagged horns. A Basilisk.
“Scatter!”
Boom!
It lunged, jaws snapping where knights had stood moments earlier. Panic flashed across their faces.
“Torres! There’s another!”
“What?!”
—Kraa-BOOM!
The second Basilisk cratered the ground where Torres had been. He rolled aside, barely avoiding becoming lunch.
“Focus fire on the right!”
—Swoosh!
Dozens of sword auras streaked toward the beast—a dazzling barrage. Yet the Basilisk barely flinched.
“No effect…?!”
The knights scrambled, too busy dodging to counterattack. Distant strikes glanced off its hide, leaving no mark.
“This is Zone 1! How—?!”
Zones 2 and 3 required 7th Circle leaders. Zone 1? Low-grade fodder. But these knights, though well-trained, were greenhorns.
Only I could salvage this mess.
‘Your move, lizard.’
The battle appears to unfold in real-time, but in reality, it operates in turns.
Attack.
Defense.
Counter.
Dodge.
It’s a strategic clash like rock-paper-scissors, reacting organically to timing and circumstances. And now marked the peak of their all-out offensive.
-KRAAAH!
I calmly tracked the creature’s movements. The key to safely handling a Basilisk starts with blocking its first pattern. Soon, the monsters crouched low, bodies trembling violently.
“Now! Everyone, drop flat!”
“What?”
“Trust me! Get down now!”
Torres reacted first to my urgent shout. As he lowered himself, the others began following one by one. Just as I confirmed everyone was down and started to crouch myself, I spotted a knight still standing tall.
“I said get down, you idiot!”
I rushed over and yanked the knight to the ground.
The moment we hit the dirt, the Basilisk whipped its massive tail. A spray of venomous needles erupted from its tip, embedding mercilessly into trees and rocks around us.
“H-huh?!”
“Those hurt like a bitch if they hit. You owe me your life.”
“Uh… uh…”
“Wake up, dumbass!”
I slapped the stunned knight’s cheek and rose.
Two minutes until the venom needles regrow. If we don’t finish this before then, we’re screwed.
Walking forward, I addressed Torres.
“Their next strike will aim low. Dodging’s not an option.”
“Do you actually know their weakness?”
“Do what I say.”
Last Savior isn’t some braindead game where high stats and gear let you bulldoze through everything. Without overwhelming specs, intel matters more.
That’s why even low-tier magical beasts need studying.
And why noble houses maintain exhaustive bestiaries—each specimen requires different tactics.
A Basilisk’s thick hide nullifies swords below 7th-circle grade.
Fire’s their weakness—ideal approach is melting them with Blue Flame, the pinnacle of fire attributes.
Alternatively, sheer mastery could force a kill through raw skill.
If both options fail, only one path remains.
“Zed! Where’s the weak point? Tell me if you know!”
“I’ll handle it directly. But with two targets, I need backup.”
“…You’ll do it yourself? Seriously?”
“No time. Help or don’t.”
“Why ask? We’re friends—I’m worried about you!”
Touched he still cared mid-battle.
When I waved off his concern, Torres barked at the knights.
“Understood! Bahal Knights now follow Zed’s orders!”
They’d rather die than accept a mage’s help—pride runs deep. These knights would choose death over my assistance.
But wartime commands are absolute. Their knightly code outweighed mage prejudice.
To the reluctantly nodding knights, I issued orders.
“Draw their focus—we’ll handle them one at a time! Take the left one!”
“All heard me? I’ll lead. Keep its attention locked!”
True professionals adapt instantly. Torres and the knights reformed ranks, unleashing concentrated attacks to hold the target’s gaze.
-KRAAAGH! GRROWL!
Worthy of Bahal’s lord.
Torres didn’t test waters with long-range slashes—he charged straight into the beast’s maw, sword blazing. Though facing an unknown monster, his azure mana burned brighter than fear.
“Shield our lord!”
The knights, initially hesitant at their lord’s fierce engagement, now burned with battle fervor.
As Torres pressed the frontal assault, the others executed flanking strikes—a seamless pincer tactic without needing orders.
The enraged beast gradually shifted position, exactly as planned.
‘Still the coolest guy around.’
Couldn’t just watch my favorite character carry everything.
Torres’ lead-by-example attitude infected even me.
[Trait: ‘Tenacious Challenger (S)’ activated]
[All stats temporarily +10]
[Cast: ‘Total Body Enhancement’]
-BZZZT!
Golden electricity wrapped my form. Every cell vibrated with power, senses sharpening exponentially. My lips curled upward unbidden.
-GRRRRL!
“Your fight’s with me.”
-ZIP!
I exploded forward. The beast’s pumpkin-sized eyes bulged at my sudden acceleration. Its tail lashed out, but I vaulted over the strike.
‘There!’
Only one weak point—equivalent to a human’s crown.
Hovering mid-air, the vulnerability lay bare. I plummeted toward it fist-first.
-CRUNCH! SNAP!
My knuckles met skull. The impact sent jarring vibrations up my arm—familiar from breaking jaws, but never a magical beast’s cranium.
-GRUOOO…
A perfect weak point hit.
With 70 Strength boosted by Total Body Enhancement, the force proved sufficient. The creature shuddered violently before faceplanting, going limp like a discarded puppet.
-PSSHHH!
Moments later, a familiar item materialized above its corpse.
