A year has passed since Ben arrived in this world. He learned a lot about magic from the book he borrowed from Roubaul. He also kept training and getting stronger everyday.
Their job was to hunt like usual, and they went deep into the forest. They continued observing the Lizardmen who haven't made any move since they found the nest 9 months ago. However, there was a change, they found trails of Lizardmen around their village.
"The Lizardmen might attack any moment now. The scouts saw them preparing their weapons. There are around 231 Lizardmen that are capable of fighting, so we need to be careful." Roubaul instructed everyone.
"What's our plan, gramps?" Ben asked.
"Stay in the village and wait for them. We'll prepare some defensive measures to fight them here. We'll prepare traps around the village that can help to break their scales." Roubaul told them.
"Won't it be better to take the initiative? They won't suspect us attacking their nest at all. Although they're intelligent, they're not human. They won't have any defensive mechanism that can protect their nest from us. We have mapped their nest, so we have a big advantage over them." Ben informed the others.
"No. It's not that easy. Lizardmen scales are very tough. It can even protect them from your roar." Roubaul revealed.
"What?! Are you serious?" Ben exclaimed in surprise.
"Yeah. Many people hunted them for their scales and never returned. Lizardmen have strong scales and tough bodies so don't underestimate them!" Roubaul said in a warning tone.
Ben was surprised to learn that his roar couldn't break the Lizardmen's scales. His Sun Dragon Roar was a basic Dragon Slayer spell, but it was very powerful. Even Roubaul had to admit that Ben's spells are very strong now, and he could be considered a high C-Class mage, almost a B-Class.
Even so, his spell couldn't break a Lizardmen's scales that easily. He needed a lot of hits before he could slowly break the scales. Lizardmen are a species that have immense durability after all. People even consider them to be a human version of a dragon, although that's clearly an exaggeration.
Ben finally agreed with the plan and they all start preparing it. The guild members placed a lot of traps in the forest around the village. They're not a rich guild, so their traps consisted of rocks or wood.
"Gramps, if my Sun Dragon Roar can't break their scales, these traps won't do it either." Ben pointed out.
"What else can we do? We don't have a lot of resources to make strong traps. At least these will weaken their scales a little. If we have empty lacrima crystals then I will be able to turn them into explosive lacrima. That will break some of their scales or at least weaken them." Roubaul declared.
"Lacrima?! I know where you can find a ton of lacrima crystals." Ben exclaimed.
"Really?!" Roubaul gasped.
Ben remembered the cave he found while leaving the forest after arriving in this world. That cave is filled with a lot of lacrima crystals. If he could take those lacrima crystals, Roubaul would be able to turn them into weapons.
"If you can take those crystals, we will have more chances to win this. But can you take them today?" Roubaul asked him.
"Yeah, but I'll need Wendy's help to get there faster to carry more crystal." Ben answered.
"Okay then. You guys get the crystals while we protect the village." Roubaul instructed.
"Okay." Ben nodded.
Ben took 2 pick axes and a wooden cart to carry the crystals. Then he led Wendy to the cave containing the lacrima crystals. Wendy enchanted Ben to make his body lighter, so he can run faster. Ben also used his element to make him run even faster.
Ben pulled the cart with Wendy and their pick axes in it too. He followed the direction A.I Chip showed him. A.I Chip marked the cave's location, so he doesn't need to use a map again. They arrived in 15 minutes and immediately entered the cave.
"This place hasn't changed one bit." Ben said.
"Is that all the lacrima crystals?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah, let's get to work! We need to be quick." Ben responded.
Ben and Wendy begin to collect the lacrima crystals. They took as many as they could and fill the cart until it was full. They finished collecting crystals after 30 minutes and the cart is filled to the brim now.
The two then return to the village with the cargo. They needed to be fast, but also careful because the cart might flip, or the wheels might break. Of course Wendy put an enchantment on Ben to make him stronger and faster.
They arrived in the village within a hour, and luckily the Lizardmen didn't appear. They took the crystals to Roubaul and he was surprised by the quantity and quality of the crystals.
"These are good lacrima crystals. We can make a lot from it." Roubaul smiled.
"You can make them later, there are a lot of crystals. Hurry up and make the explosives!" Ben yelled.
"Ah, that's right." Roubaul said.
He then started to process the lacrima crystals into explosives. Ben and Wendy were tired, so they just sat there looking at Roubaul. Ben was watching the process intently. He was really curious about the creation of magical items.
Usually craftsmen would shape their crystals into balls, but they don't have time for that so Roubaul just cut the crystals into the right sizes. Then he started to put spells into the crystals.
"So he's just installing spells into the crystals?" Ben asked.
"Essentially, yes. But it's not as easy as that. It needs precision and a understanding of the spell that you want to install into the crystal." Roubaul explained.
"Ooh, maybe I'll learn it. It's very useful after all." Ben remarked.
Ben and Wendy watch the process. Then sometime later, the alarm went off.
"They're here." His eyes narrowed.
Ben placed all the completed explosive crystals in a bag. Then he ran outside with Wendy to defend the village. When they arrived at the border, they saw a lot of Lizardmen. Their wood and stone traps were triggered by them, but it didn't leave a injury.
"Tch, as I thought wood and stones weren't enough." He muttered.
Ben distributed the crystals to his guild mates. Then they began to throw the crystals at the lizardmen. The crystals explode and push the lizardmen back. It also broke and cracked their tough scales slowly.
Roubaul kept creating the explosives at a fast rate. Some women kept taking the crystals and distributing them to their guild mates. They continued using explosive lacrima until they eventually ran out of them. Now their only option was to take them head on.
"WENDY, STAY AT THE REAR AND PROVIDE SUPPORT!" Ben hollered.
"GOT IT!" She yelled back.
Wendy backed off and Ben ran towards the enemy. He then covered his hands in plasma.
"Sun Dragon Plasma Strike!" He launched a series of punches and kicks. The Lizardmen's scales were cracked and broken by the explosive lacrima, but they're still tough. Ben can't imagine how tough the scales are undamaged.
He jumped and struck a Lizardman in the jaw, which made it fall and broke the jaw's scales. The Lizardman was injured, but Ben also took damage. The sharp scales were also a weapon, in addition to being a shield.
"I need more power." He said.
He increased his magic power to make it stronger. This way, he would break the scales before it touched his skin and hurt him. Ben tried it on another Lizardman and he was right. His fist didn't hit the tough scales because they were destroyed by his magic.
He grinned and resumed battling the lizardmen. He used his fists and feet to attack them. He was punched on occasion, and it really hurt. Fortunately Wendy cast a healing spell on him right after he was injured.
Ben and his guild mates continued fighting the lizardmen for ten minutes. It wasn't easy to fight the lizardmen and break their scales even after they were cracked by the explosive lacrima. He noticed that the others were being pushed back by the lizardmen.
"EVERYONE, GATHER THEM IN ONE SPOT! I'LL USE SOMETHING BIG!" Ben yelled.
"OKAY!" They yell back.
"WENDY, HELP THEM!" He ordered.
"ALRIGHT!" Wendy exclaimed.
His guild members exert more strength to push the lizardmen into a single spot. Meanwhile, Ben sucked sunlight into his mouth to restore energy.
"EVERYONE, GET BACK!" Ben shouted.
Everyone else retreated as a big magic circle formed above him. Then a miniature sun formed on the magic circle.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Supernova!" Ben fired the miniature sun at the lizardmen. It produced a massive explosion that engulfed the lizardmen. The magic was based on a supernova, but it's power was nothing compared to the real thing. Regardless, it was enough to defeat the lizardmen.
"Hah, I did it." Ben smirked.