A new monster had appeared, and everyone instinctively readied for battle. The gargoyle before them was a formidable opponent, its massive form soaring through the air, making it an especially tricky foe to deal with. But its real challenge wasn't its size, it was its seemingly impenetrable defense.
The gargoyle's body was entirely made of stone, giving it a natural armor far superior to any flesh-and-blood creature. To make matters worse, its wings were enhanced by magic, making them incredibly tough and resilient. In some ways, this creature was like a mini-boss, with a defense level that could rival an actual boss monster.
In the game, defense mechanics like this weren't an issue, as players could always find a way around it, but in reality, there was no such exploit to rely on. Despite this, the gargoyle's wings were still significantly reinforced by magic, making it an incredibly tough opponent to crack.
The real surprise, however, came when the group realized the creature's behavior didn't match its fierce appearance. In the game, gargoyles would actively attack, finding weaknesses in their enemies to exploit.
But in reality, this gargoyle seemed more cowardly. When it realized it couldn't overpower the group, it resorted to a defensive stance, wrapping itself up in its wings to absorb their attacks.
No matter how much they hit it, their strikes either bounced off or had their damage severely reduced. Its defense was ridiculous, even when Bete slammed into it with his most powerful kicks.
The group's combined effort left the gargoyle's wings cracked, but only slightly. By now, the damage they had dealt would have been enough to take down a boss, yet the gargoyle only bore minor damage.
"Why is this guy so cowardly? And his defense is too high!"
Bete growled in frustration. His legs were numb from repeatedly kicking the stone creature, and it was clear that their physical attacks weren't going to be enough to bring it down quickly.
"That's just how gargoyles are," Onion Knight said, equally frustrated as he shook out his arms. His hands were sore from the impact, "They're built for survival, like rocks in a pit: tough, smelly, and impossible to budge. It's no wonder people hate fighting these things!"
The group had been chipping away at the gargoyle for a while now, and they were growing increasingly annoyed by its resilience!
"Alright, everyone, let's change our approach. Focus on breaking one of its wings first, but leave the other intact!"
Finn's eyes suddenly flickered as he spoke. His words left everyone stunned for a moment, but soon, they all understood what he meant. The message was simple: since this material had such strong defensive properties, it would be excellent for crafting armor or shields.
In this world, many materials couldn't be used because the blacksmiths lacked the skills to forge them properly. Instead, they often focused on enchanting weapons to enhance them. As a result, high-quality weapons were rare.
However, Orario was known for its advanced smithing techniques. If they could bring these materials back and craft a sturdy shield from them, it would be incredibly valuable. Plus, the gargoyle's corpse remained intact even after its death, which was a huge bonus.
With a lot of effort, the group finally managed to break one of the gargoyle's wings. At this point, though, the gargoyle was filled with a desperate desire to survive, fiercely using its wings to shield its body.
If it weren't for Finn's team being numerous and able to attack from different directions, they would never have been able to take it down.
Facing such a creature alone would be a life-or-death struggle. The gargoyle was quite clever; knowing it couldn't win or escape, it cocooned itself with its wings. Unfortunately for it, it encountered Finn's team, a formidable force, leading to its eventual demise. Finn and the others also managed to cut off its wings.
"We won't have to deal with something like this again. I really hope we don't run into more of these creatures!"
Bete said, staring at the dead gargoyle. Ever since they arrived in this world, every time they encountered a new type of monster, more of them seemed to appear later.
So, it was likely this wouldn't be the only one.
"Gargoyles are rare creatures. We can only hope they won't appear in large numbers, but it's certain we'll encounter them again. When you do, make sure to use enough force to kill them quickly. Don't let their wings trap you!"
Onion Knight said. He knew gargoyles were not common, but it was better to be cautious since they were such a tough opponent.
The best strategy was to defeat them before they realized they couldn't win, which would force the gargoyles to attack more aggressively rather than hide behind their wings.
Everyone nodded in agreement to the Onion Knight's advice, then they continued their journey forward. Though the City of Sins wasn't as revolting as the dungeon they had been in before, its eerie atmosphere remained just as oppressive.
Before long, the group came across a powerful weapon lying ahead.
"It's a large Demon-Hunting Bow, designed specifically to fight large creatures like gargoyles. If there's a bow nearby, there should also be large arrows made for it. Search around, and it'll be easier to handle the gargoyles later!"
The Onion Knight said upon seeing the bow. It was similar to the Dragon-Hunting Bow, powerful enough to take down large beasts. The Demon-Hunting Bow, however, was specifically crafted to target dark creatures like demons and gargoyles.
As for the Dragon-Hunting Bow, it had a very specific purpose to hunt dragon. Though it could be used against humans, its massive arrow shafts were more like short spears, packing a strong punch. After a bit of searching, the team found about ten arrows, more than enough.
"You need tremendous strength to draw this bow. Gareth, this one's for you, it's your kind of weapon!"
Finn tried pulling the bowstring but found that the amount of strength required was too much for him. Being an agility-based fighter, he wasn't fond of such heavy weapons.
On the other hand, Gareth, while primarily a tank, was the strongest among them, making him the best fit for this bow.
However, it was strange to see a shield-bearing warrior turning into an archer.
"This is a fine bow, but I'm not really a fan. I still prefer heavier weapons!"
Gareth said with a sigh. It wasn't that he disliked the bow, but being a dwarf, he preferred heftier weapons. Finn also had another reason to pass on the bow, as his small stature didn't suit such a massive weapon.
Gareth, though powerful, had short arms, making it hard for him to fully utilize the bow's potential. It was a bit of a predicament.
In the end, the bow was handed over to Tiona. Since she was a strength-based fighter too, she could handle the bow better than someone like Bete. Plus, as an Amazoness, Tiona had mastered archery skills, making her the perfect fit for the Demon-Hunting Bow.