A Possessor’s Strategy Guide in a Trash Game

Chapter 10: Arrows and Magic (5)

“Artier! Your side!”

“Got it!”

Clang!

The sound of metal clashing with metal.

Marble shattered, stone debris fell, and the group’s ragged breathing mingled chaotically.

Taking longer than I thought.

I steadied my breathing and adjusted my stance.

Despite entering the fight confidently, we’d been battling the Tin Guardian for over 10 minutes.

“Who the hell made this damn marionette?”

Gerard, clutching a grimoire, muttered with a scowl.

“An entire puppet made of mana-forged metal? Were they swimming in money?”

Mana-forged metal was enhanced for durability through magic and alchemy—essentially, permanently enchanted to be tougher.

“Ugh, it’s ridiculously sturdy!”

Jeina, having swung her axe with all her might, grimaced at the unscathed leg and shook out her hand.

“Bow! Do something!”

“What’s that head of yours for? If your axe doesn’t work, you think my arrows will?”

Bow replied with exasperation but nocked an arrow.

Three arrows flew precisely toward the guardian’s arm joints.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

But the guardian, its joints also coated in mana-forged metal, easily deflected Bow’s arrows.

“Trouble. It’s too simple a structure—no gaps in the joints.”

Bow sighed in frustration.

“Prove your worth.”

The guardian’s blue eyes flared brighter as it advanced toward us.

“Fall back for now.”

At Gerard’s command, we stowed our weapons and ran back.

The guardian stopped pursuing once we reached the entrance.

“Something’s off, isn’t it?”

As we caught our breath, Bow looked at me.

“What?”

“A monster this strong guarding the path makes the shortcut pointless. Is this a trap too?”

Bow’s tone was laced with dissatisfaction, likely from facing an enemy immune to their arrows.

“It’s not a trap.”

The reply came not from me but from Gerard.

[Gerard is using a skill.]

Tactical Command (Lv.1): Identifies the most rational strategy, boosting ally morale and command execution during operations.

A small crown, visible only to me, floated above Gerard’s head.

“Its full-body mana-forged metal makes it tough, but its actions are slow and simple. If we can neutralize its defense, it’s not hard to defeat.”

“Easier said than done. How do we neutralize mana-forged metal?”

“Use the iron bars nearby.”

“Iron bars?”

Jeina looked at Gerard, puzzled. Bow’s expression was hidden, but likely similar.

He figured that out?

Only I wore a slightly surprised look.

“The bars are designed to allow entry. The guardian will strike them whether we’re inside or not. That’s when it weakens.”

“What? Hitting the bars weakens it?”

Initially, Gerard thought they were just sturdy bars.

But after repeated observations, he was certain.

“That means…”

“Dispel Magic. Those bars were a prison.”

Dispel Magic.

The spell mages hated most, nullifying all magic.

It was also a mandatory enchantment on every prison in .

“When the guardian tries to break the bars, Dispel Magic activates, nullifying its mana-forged metal. But the effect is brief, so we need to attack quickly.”

“Got it. Doesn’t sound too hard.”

Bow nodded.

But I couldn’t shake a subtle unease.

That’s the official strategy, sure.

There was a reason I’d kept quiet despite knowing the strategy.

If we do this, Bow will dominate the fight again.

The bars had plenty of gaps.

Swords and axes couldn’t pass through, but arrows could.

A ranged dealer who could stand still and deal damage had the advantage.

And after the guardian, there aren’t any real monsters.

Knowing the ruins’ layout, I couldn’t help but feel anxious.

“Bow, how about sitting this fight out?”

Gerard pointed at Bow.

“What?”

Bow froze mid-stretch.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing major. It’s a matchup issue.”

Gerard gestured at Bow’s arrows.

“The guardian isn’t a good match for arrows.”

“No problem. I’ll just put in more force.”

“It’s not about piercing—it’s about efficiency. Marionettes need to be physically dismantled. Cutting off limbs. Swords or axes are better than arrows.”

“….”

As Bow fell silent, Gerard drove the point home.

“The fight might drag on. Shouldn’t some of us conserve strength?”

“…Fine. Got it.”

Bow nodded reluctantly.

“But if it drags, I’m jumping in.”

“Noted.”

Gerard nodded, subtly winking at me alone.

I gave a thumbs-up in return.

“Don’t worry,” he said…

I hadn’t expected him to use Tactical Command this way.

If I’d suggested the same, even with sound reasoning, Bow might’ve refused based on their mood.

I need to consult Gerard for future strategies.

“Let’s go back in.”

After checking everyone’s condition, we re-entered.

The guardian, lurking nearby, began approaching as soon as it spotted us.

“Prove your worth.”

“You keep yapping about worth, but if you want proof, don’t cover your limbs in mana-forged metal!”

Using Jeina’s shout as a signal, I ran toward the nearest iron bars.

“Worth.”

The guardian hesitated, noticing my different behavior.

But it was a marionette, incapable of thought.

Boom!

Its hand swung without hesitation, striking the bars instead of me.

It worked!

Clang!

The moment the guardian’s arm hit the bars, a purple ripple spread, and the runes on its arm briefly lost their glow.

The effect was strong enough to dispel a mana bolt Gerard had prepared from a distance.

“Jeina!”

“Got it!”

Jeina immediately slammed her axe into the guardian’s arm.

Half the blade sank into its body.

“It’s in!”

“Jeina, get out quick!”

Seeing her excitement, I shouted.

Whoosh!

The guardian wasn’t neutralized, just weakened. Sure enough, it swung at Jeina next.

“Ha!”

Thud!

Luckily, Jeina pulled her axe and dodged in time.

The guardian’s attack smashed the temple floor instead.

Easier than I thought.

I glanced at the guardian’s dangling left arm.

The biggest variable in this plan had been Jeina. The strategy required quick hit-and-run attacks, and I’d worried whether her large frame could manage it.

But Jeina had another skill for this.

“Raaah!”

[Jeina is using a skill.]

Wild Roar (Lv.1): A shout that slows nearby enemies and empowers the caster.

Her shouts while swinging slowed the guardian’s movements.

All her barbarian skills are so subtle I didn’t even notice…

Good thing I checked the info window—otherwise, the others might not even know she used a skill.

Anyway, things are looking good.

Crunch!

With our repeated attacks, the guardian began to fall apart.

When it lost its last leg, it collapsed helplessly, muttering in a broken voice.

“Worth…”

Thud!

“Looks kinda funny up close.”

“Does it?”

I turned to Gerard, waving.

“Good work.”

Gerard approached and patted my shoulder.

Bow watched briefly before asking me.

“Where’d you learn to use a sword?”

“Well, why do you ask?”

When I countered, Bow shrugged.

“Your movements flow so naturally, like you were trained. Thought you might be a knight.”

Bow then looked at Jeina and Gerard in turn.

“Thought it was just the party leader, but the other two are stronger than their ranks suggest. Weird party.”

As confusion flickered in everyone’s eyes, Bow cleared their throat and started walking ahead.

Left alone, Gerard chuckled belatedly and asked.

“Was that supposed to be a compliment?”

“Think so. Not exactly honest, are they? Shall we go?”

“Hold on.”

I approached the fallen Tin Guardian.

“What’s up, Artier?”

Instead of answering, I inspected the guardian, searching for something.

Should be around here.

Clang!

After a moment, I carved a hole in the guardian’s torso with my sword and pulled out a bluish gem.

“What’s that?”

“Doesn’t feel like it has any mana.”

“Well…”

I held up the gem.

“Maybe a lucky charm?”

As Jeina said, the gem didn’t emit any strange power.

It merely glowed faintly, looking like a beautiful jewel on the surface.

“How’d you find it?”

“When I cut the torso, I saw something sparkling.”

“Sharp eyes.”

I smiled, pocketing the gem, and asked.

“Can I keep this?”

“You found it, so it’s yours.”

“Why ask us? Hurry and stash it before Bow comes back.”

Thankfully, with high rapport, Jeina and Gerard nodded without objection.

I secured ownership of the gem without issue.

Good. I was worried someone might claim it.

They had no idea.

How valuable this gem truly was.

Is it still player-exclusive? Not sure.

This gem contained a skill.

An ancient skill, no longer obtainable.

Was it meant to be embedded in the marionette, or a gift from the ancients?

There was no way to know. No information remained about the gem or the guardian.

I had no interest in digging deeper.

What mattered was that this skill was now mine.

I’ll put it to good use.

Crack!

I crushed the gem, and a small info window appeared.

[Acquired Hidden Skill.]

“Hurry up! Don’t forget the tomb raiders are still wrecking the ruins!”

Bow’s shout echoed from afar.

“Coming, coming!”

“Let’s go, Artier.”

“Right.”

At Gerard’s call, I discarded the broken gem and followed them.