Damned System

Chapter 111. Party Play (2)

A head as round as a bald mountain.

Gray, glossy skin.

Distinctive bright red eyes.

Upon seeing its long arms, which seemed to drag on the ground, I could be sure.

It was the same species as the remains I saw in the bunker.

“What level of resistance do they have?”

From 3 to 4-star evolved species, magic did not work well on them.

They had some resistance, it seemed.

For reasons I did not understand, injuries inflicted by them also healed poorly.

Recalling the battle from two weeks ago, I threw a fireball at it.

Six fireballs flew in simultaneously from different directions, so it could not completely avoid them.

Eventually, the fireballs engulfed the evolved species, causing it to explode.

However, the creature walked through the flames unscathed.

“Can’t even scratch it with basic elements?”

If it could withstand magic realized with 2nd-grade mana, its resistance was at least stage 2.

Even before I could scowl at the unfavorable outcome, the first clash began.

I thrust my spear to keep the creature at bay, while it wielded its long arms like whips to threaten me.

“Hup!”

Each of our attacks ended in futility.

The creature bent its waist, and I leaned back to escape its range.

However, in terms of results, I was at a disadvantage.

“Its reach is longer than expected.”

Even though I had a spear, its attack reach was longer.

Unlike the remains, its claws were intact, but it was not something to panic about.

“It’s not something I haven’t faced before.”

The monster I encountered when first entering a Level 2 mission similarly had a long reach.

Back then, it was a tongue; now, it was an arm.

Having experienced this before, I wasn’t shaken when I saw its arms coming for me.

Boom.

A heavy sound that was hard to believe came from the clash between spear and arm.

I gritted my teeth to hold my ground and not be pushed back.

“Damn, it’s heavy.”

Its attacks were heavier than those of the creatures I faced two weeks ago, enough to bend the spear shaft.

Even as I felt the gravity of the difficulty, it continued.

Bang!

The evolved species swung its arms as if trying to pin me down.

There was no time to hide my hand or plan a tactical move.

I immediately used attribute mana. With each clash against the creature, a blue light flashed in the forest where the snow had not yet melted.

“Kuaaargh!”

A scorched stench filled the air each time. The evolved species’s movements slowed slightly, but not enough for me to gain the upper hand.

“Tsk.”

Continuing like this would only waste my mana.

To reverse the situation, I had to take the initiative instead of just defending.

I had to first break the rhythm of the creature that was endlessly pressing.

As soon as I blocked the evolved species’s arm, I swung my spear.

Thud!

The spear tip rose from below, striking the evolved species’s jaw.

Then, avoiding the arm descending from the opposite side, I infused mana into the spear tip.

“That annoying arm first!”

The red mana that enveloped the spear tip slowly started to solidify.

Condensation required a level of concentration higher than cohesion.

In the blink of an eye, the mana formed into a smooth, glass-like structure.

It was a result of rigorous training under Shamel.

While inside the evolved species’s reach, I gripped the spear short and thrust it.

“Khurgh!”

As I swung the spear in a circular motion, black blood sprayed as the evolved species’s left arm was severed.

A clean hit, it wounded the creature, yet I was more surprised than anyone.

“Ghh!”

The severed arm swelled, then turned towards me.

Simultaneously, the intact right arm also targeted me.

Even a single strike would mean a fractured or broken bone, leading to an injury.

“I can’t block this.”

I had no time to retrieve the spear.

Already tipped forward, evading was not possible.

Realizing that, I used Sense Expansion.

Time in the thinking domain momentarily slowed, giving me time to contemplate.

“If a barrier is used, it’ll break.”

Its strength couldn’t be blocked with low-level magic.

If the magic broke and mana flowed back in this situation, it would be dangerous.

Then what was left?

“Spatial magic.”

Depending on its application, it could serve as a defensive magic ensuring safety.

Knowing this, I kicked the severed arm away while drawing out Ahel’s mana stored in a Mana Accumulation Tool.

Then, I twisted the space on my left where its right arm aimed at me.

Unless the creature’s magic resistance was at stage 3, it would break, distort, or tear upon touching the twisted space.

In any form, touching the twisted space would alter its form.

While preparing for unforeseen circumstances, I enveloped myself with mana and drew back the spear.

Fortunately, the skin and bones twisted bizarrely into the distorted space as I withdrew the spear.

With the spear retrieved while constructing the magic, I intended to sever the right arm as well.

But before I could swing the spear again, concentrated mana caused a sweet scent in the air from behind.

Mana producing such a scent could only mean one thing.

“Attraction!”

While Detection might be a foundational 1st-grade magic for Rangers or Dealer classes to learn, attraction is typically positioned at the bottom of a Tanker’s skill tree.

Did the surrounding Messeo absorb the mana?

The evolved species, as well as the general field monsters, invariably reacted to its uniquely formed mana.

Lower-grade magic named Attraction was made to exploit that trait.

It was a form of provocation magic to draw aggro.

Indeed, the creature’s attention, which had been focused solely on me, dispersed.

Before its gaze could shift over my shoulder, its arm slightly lost strength.

“Tsk.”

I intended to incapacitate both arms before slitting its throat.

But with Yang Taeho intervening, I had no choices left.

If I accidentally let the creature slip behind or escape, Yang Taeho might die.

“Let’s end this.”

No further thought was necessary.

I severed the mana constructing spatial magic.

Instead, I chose a magic achievable even with 1st-grade mana, acceleration.

Though its regular price was 110,000 mana, with full mastery in Sense Expansion, it could be purchased at a 50% discount.

Upon activation, this magic allowed the body to display performance beyond its physical limits momentarily.

“Though it strains the body, and can’t be sustained long.”

It provided enough opportunity to seize a momentary chance.

Before the creature’s diverted focus returned to me.

Before its strength-drained arms resumed movement.

“End it!”

Pzzt, pzzt-!

Lightning coursed through my body, congealing firmly at the spear tip.

A strong light arose from the lightning that ceaselessly writhed as if alive.

My body, accelerated, moved roughly three times its usual speed.

Shhhk.

The spear cleaved through from the nape to the chest of the evolved species accurately.

A fatal wound from which death was inescapable by common sense.

However, if that common sense existed in this world, the severed arm of the evolved species moments ago wouldn’t have moved.

Unsatisfied, I cleanly severed its head.

Following that, I embedded the spear into the head rolling on the ground.

Still unsatisfied, I launched a fireball.

This time, fortunately, no absurd or unrealistic event occurred.

Yet, I didn’t easily relax my state of tension.

“Phew.”

I only released my body when a burdensome amount of mana was absorbed, and a black dot disappeared from the map.

As I relaxed, a groan escaped my lips.

“Ugh…”

My body tingled with the aftereffects of Acceleration.

The reason I rarely used this magic even after purchasing it.

Acceleration imposed considerable strain even on Silver-rank players.

Frequent use during combat would lead to aftereffects, rendering proper movement impossible.

It’s used sparingly, mainly for dealing the final blow.

“Wondered why a low-grade magic available with 1st-grade mana was being sold in the Silver rank tab.”

If used in the Bronze rank, muscles would have torn.

While I groaned under the aftereffects, Yang Taeho approached carefully.

“Are you okay?”

Though I had not wished for Yang Taeho’s interference.

His help proved valuable, prompting me to express thanks.

“Yes, thanks to you. Thank you for the help.”

“Ha ha, it was just dabbling from the side, but glad it helped.”

In response, Yang Taeho made a light laugh while scratching the back of his head.

“But really, you’re amazing. I couldn’t even see properly. Every bang made my heart jump!”

He continued speaking as he approached the corpse of the evolved species.

“But where did these suddenly come from? Is there a 4-star corrupted area around here…?”

I answered his question casually.

“Not necessarily.”

“Huh?”

Before a thorough explanation, I discussed each corrupted area.

“The 1 and 2-star corrupted areas revealed to players are left unattended.”

But things change when it involves higher-level areas.

“Because the messeo was intentionally gathered.”

Messeo gathered in one place expands the Hole, leading more mana to gather there.

As a result, higher-level evolved species are produced there.

“Personally, I think of it as… a factory producing evolved species?”

3-star evolved species approached intentionally bred combat forces.

And the combat forces thoroughly protected the messeo where they stayed, treating it like a fortress.

“They aim to prevent the messeo from being destroyed.”

It was a clear indication of their relentless determination to produce more evolved species.

Most 3-star marked corrupted areas fell under this category.

When the scale reached a certain level, it got classified as 4-star.

“At this point, creatures start roaming outside.”

Perhaps they deemed there were enough kin to guard the messeo, causing them to emerge leisurely.

2-star evolved species did not stray far from the messeo, but those at the 4-star level had wider activity ranges.

“Though even then, a 4-star species roaming here is unusual.”

Corrupted areas revealed to players are areas ensuring minimum safety.

Originally areas for soldiers or mercenaries unable to manipulate mana to purify.

Former Resistance, now the Order’s troops, kept 4-star corrupted areas under surveillance.

For several creatures, not just one, to bypass them and arrive here is realistically impossible.

“They should have been detected.”

Both the bunker and this place were the same.

“I don’t know why a 4-star suddenly appeared…”

After glancing briefly at the evolved species’s corpse, I sighed deeply and said.

“Something does seem to be happening.”

The map showed another black dot appeared at the same direction as the deceased evolved species.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

If the same thing repeats twice, there seems to be something there.

“Going there myself would be reckless.”

As much as I wanted to investigate properly, it was beyond my capabilities.

It would be wise to notify the troops at the forward base.

To do so, I’d need to sort things out quickly and move.

“Anyway, I have to return by tomorrow.”

Instead of further investigating, I decided to backtrack.

“Are they coming again?”

“Yes.”

Answering shortly, I raised my spear and silently gazed at Yang Taeho.

I recalled the situation when he had intervened in the battle earlier without asking.

Typically, I would have excluded a Bronze rank like him and handled it alone.

“Well, I can’t fight alone forever.”

Matching movements with Yang Taeho now wasn’t a bad idea.

“Good chance to help him gain real combat experience.”

Pzzt-!

After a light swing of the spear, blue lightning wriggled around.

“If you’re going to do it, you’d better use all your mana at once.”

Rather than stepping back this time, he should step forward.

Yang Taeho nodded immediately as if waiting for me to say that.

The real party play was just about to begin.

Damned System