The power of straw dolls

(To the attack!)

(Charge!)

(Yaaay!)

IN CONCLUSION...

(VRAAASH-KRAK-KRAK-RRRIIIP~!!)

The straw dolls weren't just adorable and loyal...

(SHRRRR-CRASH-KRUSH-RIIIP...!!!)

It turns out they were also absurdly reliable!

"You could do something like this all this time?!"

The moment I agreed to let them handle it, several of them gathered en masse, intertwining with one another until they took the shape of a massive straw horse.

<"Ohh, impressive.">

But before you ask if that's all, let me tell you that was just the beginning!

["A wild manticore appears in the path"]

You see, taking advantage of my confusion, they hoisted me up onto it and then surged forward, merging together to form a massive straw tsunami that echoed through the tower's corridors...

["A swarm of straw dolls has defeated it"]

...And immediately after, they advanced mercilessly, demolishing all the beasts, monsters, and even traps that stood in their way.

["A wild orc appears in the path"]

Honestly... aren't they way too strong?

["A swarm of straw dolls has defeated it"]

They possess superhuman physical capabilities, shapeshifting... And if that weren't enough, on top of all that, any damage they suffer regenerates immediately!

["A wild cyclops got scared and flees from the path"]

I must admit I had a vague idea of how powerful they were... I mean, I know they were capable of destroying those damn trucks like it was nothing... But even so, I didn't expect them as a group to be so powerful as to reach this extreme...

["A swarm of straw dolls has dismembered it"]

At this rate, I think it's actually possible to clear the tower easily!

"...Hey, Echidna."

...Or at least that's what I thought at that moment.

<"...">

The moment we reached the top of the tower, an imposing black armor awaited us, which, despite being immediately attacked by the familiar wave of straw dolls, stood completely firm on the stone floor.

"...That thing... clearly seems to be the boss... right...?"

I admit that at first I underestimated it when I saw how the straw doll tsunami swallowed it whole, thinking everything was over...

(SLASSSSSSHHHHH!!)

...But unfortunately, I was dead wrong.

<"This could be a problem...">

With a single slash, the black armor emerged, burning engulfed in dense black fire as it repelled the wave of straw dolls with a shockwave, forcing them to retreat for the first time since we started.

"Are you okay?!"

However, though worried by the sight, a straw doll immediately stood up in response to my question, tearing off the charred part that wouldn't stop burning, only to regenerate once more right after.

(I'm fine!)

...But even though they were still able to regenerate, it was noticeable that the process was much slower than before.

"Looks like... this isn't going to be so easy, is it?"

And with those words, in an attempt to hide the deep fear I felt as I took a combat stance, the real fight began.