"These Lothric knights are really getting stronger and stronger. Their weapons are now enchanted, and their armor is sturdier. Their strength is definitely no less than before. It's true that entering the kingdom is no easy feat!"
As they proceeded, the group continually fought off knights along the way. Corrupted long ago, these knights could hardly be considered human anymore, as they were more akin to humanoid monsters.
Otherwise, these knights wouldn't be moving alongside the so-called living corpses, as they were practically the same now.
Clearing the way forward, the group noticed that the knights' strength was gradually increasing. The mages among them were also quite capable, boasting both healing and offensive abilities. Still, they were manageable for the group.
Inside the kingdom, they were effectively in the late-game stage. The creatures they encountered now were similar in strength to previous mini-bosses.
As they pressed forward, they soon came across another mini-boss in the area. It wasn't the Twin Princes of Lothric, but rather something called the Dragonslayer Armor, designed specifically to be worn by dragon slayers.
Its combat style and form resembled Gundyr somewhat, except that it wielded a massive shield known as the Dragon Slayer's Shield. This shield, much like the armor, could also be forged, although the Dragonslayer Armor itself wasn't particularly durable, so it wasn't too much of a problem.
Compared to Gundyr, the Dragonslayer Armor was significantly weaker. In the original work, Yhorm could handle this foe solo.
But now, with a whole group led by Finn, there was no need to call in Yhorm. They could take it down without much trouble.
The Dragonslayer Armor was like a clunky, artificial intelligence-driven foe. Its combat style seemed limited to simple targeting, and it felt like a total novice. If one person could grab its attention, it would mindlessly follow them.
The armor only switched targets when attacked by others, but each time it was hit, it would again shift focus, making it unnecessary to even face it head-on.
Recognizing this, Finn and his group positioned themselves in various corners and used ranged attacks. Lefiya and Riveria were the main damage dealers, luring the armor with magic and skill.
The result was quite amusing. The Dragonslayer Armor ended up spinning in circles, constantly changing its target. It would start to attack one, only to be hit by someone else, forcing it to change direction. It was like watching a play, with everyone observing as they focused their firepower on it, studying its reactions.
Look at this guy! He's attacking wildly but doesn't seem to hit anyone. Just pull him over here a bit more... Unbelievable! Even in that mighty Dragonslayer Armor, he got taken down by everyone so easily.
"Why does this guy make me feel like dealing with knights is easier than expected? Am I just imagining it?"
Tiona looked at the damaged Dragonslayer Armor, feeling a bit speechless. It was indeed surprisingly easy to defeat him. The guy was nothing more than a reckless brute. No strategy, just pure force.
"This guy moves so mechanically, or else he wouldn't be this easy to take down. But his equipment is good, especially the shield. Its defense is remarkable, able to withstand our attacks multiple times without even a scratch!"
Finn picked up the large Dragonslayer Shield. Its defense power was impressive, like in the game where players could craft it, but it was extremely heavy. Holding a shield of this size, you'd easily become over-encumbered, and once that happens, you can't even move.
So, what about this thing? It's useful, but not by much. Often, once you're familiar with it, even a smaller, lighter shield can be enough to deal with situations, and you don't always need a Yhorm Greatshield or a Dragonslayer Shield.
This shield is for those with great strength and a knack for defense. For instance, Gareth would be an ideal fit, as he's strong and heavily defensive. But naturally, he doesn't need it, as he said himself, it's unnecessary.
Gareth already has Yhorm Greatshield, which is plenty. Now, this Dragonslayer Shield finally ended up in Tiona's hands.
According to her, since no one else wanted it, she might as well take it. Apparently, Amazoness have a particular fondness for such weapons.
It looks massive, with outstanding defense power, and the Amazoness just adore this kind of unrestrained weaponry. Although traditionally, one would think Amazoness excel at archery, in this world, they're also quite brash.
They favor super heavy weapons because they don't have to worry much about technique, and just the sheer weight of the weapon is enough to make monsters and enemies suffer. This is their choice, after all.
Tiona's previous weapons fit this type too. Whether it's her melee weapon, the hammer, her ranged Dragon Slayer Bow, or the gigantic shield, it's all heavy and primal.
It can only be said that the Amazoness just loves these types of weapons, and now Tiona herself wields several powerful pieces. With her current strength, she's certainly one of the top fighters in the Loki Familia.
However, in terms of raw power, she's no match for Ais, Finn, or Gareth. Ais is an agility powerhouse, Finn is all-around skilled, and Gareth is frighteningly strong.
If Tiona were to fight Gareth, she'd likely be beaten mercilessly. As for Riveria, it depends on whether she can cast her magic in time.
Once she does, even if everyone in the Loki Familia stands against her, it's likely the whole battle would be over in an instant.
But if she can't get the chance to cast magic, her combat level would drop two or three levels, which is a tough predicament.
After all, only a certain level of proficiency in one attribute allows for upgrades. Riveria, being a mage, focuses exclusively on her magic attribute, neglecting the others.
Although weaker in other aspects, she's still much stronger than low-level adventurers.
In the top tier of fighters, if Riveria can't cast her magic, her combat effectiveness dips to second-tier. This makes her role as a magic caster quite limited. She has immense destructive power, but the time required to cast makes her vulnerable if left alone. Trying to fight a foe of similar rank head-on without magic is simply wishful thinking.