I Hate Systems

Note: There will be a POV shift to Regriel for the next few chapters. This will allow you to experience CC's plans first-hand and not be dumped as exposition.

"Everyone, get ready!" Rikune said, condensing two Crescent Moon energy blades as they expanded in length and pierced through the sides of the Haggons' thighs. Though, they didn't even seem to care about the injury, rushing towards Rikune in an effort to slam her into a paste.

In the meantime, Regriel and General Artica activated their respective Armaments, slamming the energy blades into the ground to use the rebound from its expansion to be sent flying backward. This allowed them to distance themselves from Rikune.

Once they were out of her range, Rikune condensed twelve Crescent Moon energy blades that expanded like a ribcage, piercing through the two Haggons. A couple of the same energy blades emerged from her feet, sending her flying a bit up into the air. This way, she didn't suffer from any recoil due to the charging momentum from the Haggons when they impacted her energy blades.

The twelve Crescent Moon energy blades expanded in size, piercing deeper into the Haggons as they began to grate into their flesh. And right at this time, Rikune retracted them, causing them to shrink. But, thanks to their curvature, when they shrunk, they tore through the body of the two Haggons, injuring them profusely.

The Haggons were angry at her as they were unable to even touch her. But, no matter how much they flailed their hands, they were unable to attack her. The moment they slammed their powerful fists onto one of the Crescent Moon energy blades, Rikune retracted them instantly, causing them to miss the blow.

And right as their fists passed by, she condensed the Crescent Moon energy blades once again, accurately piercing into the wounds, further increasing the damage as they began to expand.

The regeneration of the Haggons kicked in, swiftly closing up any and all the injuries she inflicted on them when Chikon, the insect-type Darble Puppet flew above them, staying beyond their range as Wakuta slammed two energy blades—shaped into a needle—onto the two Haggons, one per each, beginning to absorb their Darlac.

She then slammed an energy blade into Rikune, deftly adjusting her position according to the movement of the three fighting parties below, gushing in the excess Darlac into Rikune's body.

"Hah!" Followed by a shout, Rikune condensed a couple more Crescent Moon energy blades, piercing them through the foot of each Haggon, nailing them into the ground, preventing them from moving.

She then did the same, piercing more than four energy blades into each of their arms, anchoring them all to the ground before condensing an energy blade that scraped their neck.

Using the curvature of her Crescent Moon energy blade, she extended and retracted it, making it act like a saw that rapidly tore through the Haggon's neck. Moreover, she increased the frequency of the expansion and retraction, repeating the motion more than a hundred times a second, swiftly cutting through the Haggon's neck.

She did the same to the second Haggon too, sighing in relief as she pierced a couple more Crescent Moon energy blades through their heads, noticing the heads stop regenerating as the signs of life left their eyes.

For a moment, she staggered, retracting all her energy blades, muttering with a frown, "I expended 100 Darlac just to kill two Haggons?"

"Are they that troublesome?" Regriel muttered, calming his thumping heart after witnessing the sheer disaster of a fight, "Before, you made it look easy while severing its hand."

"I attacked the joints to perfectly sever it without attacking the bones." Rikune exhaled slowly, "And, I had time on my side to calmly position myself and target it. But here, they were rushing at me mindlessly. I had to ensure the shockwaves from their impact wouldn't reach me through my energy blades. The moment it does so, I would die."

"Since I have to be careful, I attacked many times just to pin them down first." She said, "But even then, I wasted a lot than I had assumed. How the heck did the regular Warriors from the Great Megwest Empire deal with these monsters?"

"Don't be disappointed that much, Aunt." Princess Raecha lowered Chikon, saying, "You aren't aware of the best means to dispose a Haggon. Once we determine their weakness, you won't have to waste this much Darlac to dispose them."

"Besides," She laughed, "With Regriel and Wakuta, we don't need to worry about injuries or Darlac consumption. We can experiment to our heart's content."

"Well, you are right about that." She said, hurrying into the forest to notice the head of the Wooden Puppet present in the hands of a Haggon that had picked it up in curiosity.

Then, upon smelling it to see that it wasn't food, it lightly exerted strength on it, shattering it into pieces.

"Dammit!" Rikune cursed, springing towards it as she unleashed more than ten Crescent Moon energy blades, instantly pinning the Haggon to the ground while Princess Raecha hovered in the air, positioning herself behind its head as Chikon opened its mouth, unleashing a think energy blade that was shaped like a pike.

The pike pierced into the Haggon's head, boring a small hole as she deactivated the pike, activating it again to make it hit the same place. Thanks to Rikune holding it down, the Haggon was unable to retaliate as she deactivated and activated the pike numerous times, using the force behind its expansion to increase the depth of the hole she poked in its head.

Once twenty seconds had passed, her pike managed to squash the Haggon's brain into mush when Rikune said, "Alright, you can stop now. It's dead."

Rikune retracted her energy blades and retreated quickly, watching the massive Haggon's body collapse on the ground, breaking a couple of trees in the process, causing faint quakes.

"Fuck! That scared me!" Princess Raecha screamed at the overbearing noise caused by the Haggon's fall, "Aunt, why didn't you make it fall slower like before?"

"You think it is possible for me to do it in battle all the time? We have to get used to the sounds." Rikune retorted, "Let's just consider this as training."

Regriel then brushed through the fragments of the Wood Puppet's head, noticing a tiny scroll within. In it was a map of Level 3 where a place was marked, with a set of words written underneath, "Let's meet here."