Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

While talking, the students got a little distracted. But they didn't forget to keep track of where they were. However, even if they got lost, they still left a trail of monster corpses they could follow.

Although the monsters in the forest were extra ferocious, it seemed they had trouble sensing each other due to the underworld energy everywhere. They were like bags of water among other bags of water in an ocean. There was no clear distinction between them all.

Deep in the forest, where the competition and fighting between the monsters had dwindled and there was no one to cull the population, there was an incredible amount of monsters. As if that wasn't enough, the students started encountering monsters that had adapted to the underworld energy.
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It wasn't perfect yet, but the monsters started regaining a semblance of sanity and cognition. Their bodies were still wrecks from the toll the underworld energy put on them. But the ones who adapted could also use that underworld energy to grow stronger.

So far, the strongest monster they had encountered was a five-legged wolf. Other than its extra leg, the underworld energy hadn't changed it. But it was stronger and faster than anything they had encountered before, at least during this trip.

Since it still died at the hands of the Frost Imp, Blackfire Hound, and Midnight Butterfly, it wasn't a match for Jigak. It was probably also a few degrees of strength shy of the tiger that was still haunting Dukiel's dreams.

But it gave them a start when it appeared and threw itself at Zach's barrier with dark saliva dripping from its fangs. Fortunately, even when spread out to cover all the students, Zach's barrier was strong enough to repel the wolf's attack, which focused on taking them by surprise, not breaking through the barrier.

Yanael and Alzara stayed by Zach's side while some of the other familiars quickly intercepted it before it could attack again. The wolf put up one hell of a fight and didn't stop trying to attack them until the Hound stomped on its head, flattening it.

However, the students couldn't breathe their sighs of relief just yet. That wolf was only the first of many monsters that were strong enough to fight A-rank familiars on equal footing.

The familiars had to team up to take down each and every one of them. The only familiars that didn't need help yet were Yanael and Alzara, though Alzara had yet to step into battle. She was content protecting Zach by his side. Besides, the other familiars could still handle the monsters that came.

The other S-rank familiars hadn't grown much yet. It was the same for all the second familiars. Technically, Alzara hadn't grown much in the way of combat since she was summoned, either, but she didn't need to.

And she certainly didn't need to take away this opportunity for growth from the other familiars and their summoners, even if Zach was curious about how she fought.

Wolves, apes, snakes, beetles, spiders, deer, panthers, eagles, sparrows, pigeons, boars.

All kinds of monsters with various mutations and alterations brought about by underworld energy attacked Zach and the others in a continuous, seemingly endless stream. The students were getting weary. They had a hard time sleeping or relaxing, even with Zach's barrier, which had yet to break.

Their familiars were also showing the side effects of fighting for over a week straight.

Yanael didn't look tired, but the stains of blood, gore, and mud on her dress were proof that she couldn't fight at her best. If she could, she would have avoided dirtying her maid outfit. It would clean itself after a while, but even that timer seemed to have slowed down due to how tired she was.

Aside from Alzara, however, Yanael was still in the best condition. She was a little too tired to fight without remaining spotless.

The other familiars were tired enough to start racking up injuries. Surprisingly enough, the one familiar in the worst state was Violina's Frost Imp. It had used its magic-like attacks too much and seemingly drained itself. It was forced to resort to physical violence.

It was just that it wasn't built for fighting tooth and nail against monsters twenty times its size with more muscle, fangs, and claws. Although small and agile, the Frost Imp got sent flying into nearby trees on more than one occasion.

Violina tried to get it to calm down and take a break to recover some of its strength or at least let it heal a little. But it stubbornly refused and kept flying at, biting, and scratching the monsters that came at them. It would not let itself get outdone by the shiny Transformation Cube, radiant Angel, or any of the A-ranks.

Violina even tried tying it down to the Ice Spirit, but the Frost Imp just slipped out like a rabid dog. She was starting to get frustrated.

Zach, on the other hand, was interested and curious. He knew familiars had personalities, not just his battle maids. They also had differing amounts of personality. Nessa's Millipede was pretty tame but could be prickly or cuddly. Anerias' Hound was very protective of Anerias until it received a steak or a big bone. It could be bribed with food and belly scratches.

Dukiel's Sentinel appeared emotionless and without personality, but Zach could tell there was some softness inside that hard outer shell. It was the same with Violina's Ice Spirit.

However, it was the first time he had seen such determination in a familiar and such refusal to listen to its master's request. But it also didn't seem like it was disregarding Violina like a mad familiar or anything. It was just stubborn, strong-willed, and very eager to kill monsters and protect its pride.

It was the first time Zach wondered if another familiar had a name other than his two battle maids. He wanted to ask. He didn't because he might be wrong and because it was not the right time or place.

But he was too curious. He had to fish around as soon as they returned to the Academy, whenever they decided to do that. Currently, it didn't look like they were returned anytime soon, even if they wanted.