Instant Kill, Time-Stop Spellcaster

“…Here you go. It’s an item combat suit.”

“Oh!”

A completely black full-body combat suit.

When I tried it on, it clung to my body, revealing my contours.

Still, the material was thick, so it wasn’t embarrassing.

“However, it’s a rental. You’ll need to return it to its original spot later.”

“Okay. Does this leave a record?”

“It seems like you’d prefer not to have one. With my authority, I can issue it without leaving a record.”

“Good.”

It matches well with the sword too.

Perfect for assassination.

“…When you return, you have to explain everything. What’s an S-rank gate, and what’s this ‘trouble’ you’re causing?”

“Yeah. I’m busy today, let’s talk after I get back.”

“Sigh…”

Yoo Chae-young pressed her forehead hard.

‘Now, I’m really ready.’

Today, I’ll kidnap Oh Hyuk-jun.

That bastard Park Cheol-woong could explode at any moment.

I needed a card to suppress him.

‘My family’s already left the country.’

I sent them to the U.S. under government protection, in case they might retaliate from that side.

Additionally, Park Cheol-woong’s departure has been confirmed.

Park Cheol-woong is not in Korea right now.

‘Don’t feel wronged, Oh Hyuk-jun.’

It’s your karma.

Late at night.

I left the office building.

###

Oh Hyuk-jun, who returned to the Palan office building, walks down the hallway toward his office.

“Hey, come on! Sleep at home!”

“No, Director. It’s the Guild Leader’s orders.”

“Hey! Am I a kid? Damn, I’m B-rank!”

Slightly drunk, he stumbles.

Two B-rank bodyguards assist him.

Soon, they arrive at the office at the end of the hallway.

He opens the door to the dark room.

“As a magician, you might be vulnerable to assassination.”

“What are you afraid of? Phantom? Or the Professor?”

As the bodyguard fumbles for the light switch on the wall.

“Damn, if I just memorize shield magic, even an assassination—”

“Really?”

Clang—!

A sudden metallic sound.

Oh Hyuk-jun is startled and falls.

A female bodyguard, holding a sword, parries the blade coming from the darkness.

“Is it Phantom?”

“Ugh.”

As Kang Hyun’s sword is pushed back, he leaps backward to gain some distance.

‘That woman is an agile-type swordsman. And…’

The other guy is a tank with high durability.

And there’s a magician too. Good team balance.

“What… what’s with this bastard!? Is it… Phantom!? Huh?”

“I’ll subdue him.”

The male bodyguard leaps into a low stance.

His durability is no match for their firepower.

He jumps to avoid it, and the man’s hand slams into the ground with a crunch.

Upon closer inspection, his skin shines like metal.

‘Let’s see how much it holds up.’

They both rush in simultaneously.

The fight begins.

Clang!

Whooosh—

A swift sword and a heavy grapple close in.

Their combination was excellent.

‘Damn, they’re really fast.’

As expected, their stats are overwhelming.

Even the male bodyguard was much faster.

The female couldn’t even respond.

It was nearly impossible to dodge.

She was only managing to block.

But they had come prepared.

They spread mana along with each heartbeat.

Thud.

Thud.

The advantage of Dragon Heart.

Incredible mana control speed.

The mana spread quickly with each heartbeat.

If backed by enough skill.

It could do a lot.

The female’s sword strikes with incredible speed.

Thud.

Thud.

Strengthen the lower body.

The incoming sword becomes even clearer.

Strengthen the legs and waist.

Shift the upper body and dodge.

“Be careful! He suddenly got faster!”

It was the first time she dodged without blocking.

At every moment, he enhanced himself appropriately.

Then, he immediately released the enhancement at the next heartbeat to minimize mana loss.

Thanks to Dragon Heart, it was possible.

‘Now I can actually fight.’

Jump.

The male’s hand slams into the ground again.

Crack!

“That bastard!”

But even so, he couldn’t win this way.

He had barely managed to hold on, but he still needed to be faster.

“【Vera】”

The dark-colored sword shines.

And…

“【Gara】”

In an instant, his body lunges forward.

He skims past the man and strikes the woman’s neck.

Clang—

But it’s blocked.

‘Did it react to this?’

It’s unfairly fast.

So this is B-rank.

“Watch out for the sudden acceleration!”

Trying to pressure the woman with 【Gara】.

The man’s hand reaches out, almost immediately.

He enhances his body to avoid it.

Then again.

“【Gara】”

“It’s coming!”

Clang!

This time, the man reacts too.

His steel hand stretches out to intercept the destination of 【Gara】.

This is a guaranteed catch.

“【Gara】”

He evades by pulling back his body with 【Gara】.

It was originally impossible to accelerate and evade like this.

But that’s the versatility of 【Gara】.

However, using this to create openings was only a few times.

The two quickly learned.

“The chant is the trigger. Focus on the sound.”

“Okay.”

Screech.

Cling, cling!

Crack.

As expected, they’re B-rank for a reason.

Now they’ve even gotten used to the timing based on the chant.

‘Let’s see how fast Oh Hyuk-jun can cast magic…’

He looked at the magic circle he was casting.

It was still incomplete.

‘Is he drunk or something?’

It’s ridiculously slow.

This is why you can’t just focus on stats.

“【Blind!】”

At the new chant, both of them flinch.

Soon, the already dark room becomes pitch black.

This wouldn’t obscure the vision of a B-rank.

The command magic on objects takes less mana, but it’s not all-powerful.

This is just for the skill conditions.

I did some research and found that leveled-up assassination is quite useful.

Ding!

[Skill ‘Assassination’ activated.]

They try to pinpoint his location through the darkness.

However, they soon become flustered and pull back.

They had lost track of him.

It was just the light disappearing.

He rushes at the woman.

A sword pierces her throat.

Clang!

But she defends it.

Instead, it pierces her ear.

“Ugh…”

The skill is gone.

I canceled 【Blind!】, which consumes mana.

The interference effect of the assassination skill was only temporary.

There’s no point in trying to keep the darkness going.

“You Phantom-like bastard…!”

The man charges in.

“【Blind!】”

Again, they lose track of him.

He stabs at the woman’s abdomen, but it’s blocked again.

Instead, it grazes her side.

They pull back.

Blindness lifted.

Other people would never be able to easily meet the skill conditions like this.

But for a Word Mage, it’s simple.

“Even if the lights go out, don’t protect me. I’m already used to the timing.”

“Okay.”

Right, this is why B-rank is no joke.

After a brief standoff, Oh Hyuk-jun’s magic circle was almost complete.

“【Gara】”

He shot a fragment of rock at the floor.

From Oh Hyuk-jun’s perspective.

Thud.

“Ahhhh!”

He rolls around in pain, and his chant is canceled.

“My eyes! My eyes!”

Honestly, these days, they’re too weak to tricks.

“Activate barrier at all times! We’ll handle it ourselves!”

Now, the barrier that Oh Hyuk-jun memorized was consumed.

To maintain the barrier, other magic would take much longer to cast.

The rear was sealed off.

“【Gara】”

“【Gara】”

“【Blind!】”

“【Gara】”

“【Blind!】”

When they had gotten used to reacting to the chant’s timing.

He looked at Oh Hyuk-jun and said.

“Explode.”

“…!”

“Lee Ji-sung!”

The man called Lee Ji-sung hurriedly runs towards Oh Hyuk-jun.

What are these guys’ intentions?

They’re not here to eliminate Phantom but to protect Oh Hyuk-jun.

There was no explosion.

Instead…

“【Open】”

Just as the man was about to embrace Oh Hyuk-jun.

At that very moment, a portal appeared between them.

As soon as the man’s body crossed over, it closed quickly.

Oh Hyuk-jun recoils in horror.

Another chant was undone.

“Ughhh!”

“Lee Ji-sung!”

“Okay, one down.”

“…What did you do?”

“I sent him to a good place.”

He’s going to die soon.

The woman’s eyes became cold.

“…Bring him back.”

“What if I don’t?”

“Bring him back—!”

Her sword shines, and a red aura is released.

“Eek. 【Gara】”

Boom—!

A huge explosion sends the office wall flying.

Although the damage was reduced by evasion, my body was thrown outside the building.

‘【Stop】’

The shoes stopped, fixed in midair. I briefly looked at the two in the room.

A standoff.

My neck feels stiff.

Crack, crack.

From below, sounds of citizens could be heard.

Chatter—

Seems like they gathered due to the explosion.

No, they were already a crowd for a protest.

“What… what happened?”

“The Palan office building exploded?”

“I, I know that spot! That’s Oh Hyuk-jun’s office!”

“Wait, is that black thing in the sky… a person?”

Someone points in their direction.

“It’s a Phantom! A Phantom has come—!”

“Dark hero punishes the Palan Guild!”

“Phantom! Phantom!”

The area erupts in chaos.

It doesn’t matter. My body and face are hidden by battle gear.

Back into the office.

The woman charges again.

Standing still, he mutters.

“【Open】”

A hole opens beneath her feet.

It connects to a high place where she could fall to her death.

“…!”

But the woman immediately flips in mid-air.

Simultaneously, she swings her sword and lands.

Clang.

“That trick won’t work anymore.”

“Right.”

The reflexes of a B-rank.

A trick that only works once.

It was a one-time move.

That’s why one of them had to go down.

The goal was achieved.

“【Gara】”

“【Blind!】”

Clang!

Screech—

And again.

“【Open】”

This time, when the woman charged at him.

He opened the portal right in front of her.

As the man had done.

Naturally, she flinched and retreated.

Within the portal, monstrous creatures roared.

It was a B-rank dungeon.

‘Breaking through a dungeon consumes a lot of mana.’

He closed it quickly.

It wasn’t a trick meant to trap them.

“Crazy bastard… what the hell are you using?”

Now, they would be extremely wary of 【Open】.

It won’t work again.

After a little more exchange, he realized.

‘Mana’s running low.’

It’s time to finish this.

“【Open】”

Right behind them, the portal opens.

The woman hesitates and retreats.

Kang Hyun steps backward and enters the portal.

He looks back at the office beyond the portal.

Both of them are extremely cautious.

The woman has Oh Hyuk-jun hidden behind her.

“Won’t come?”

“Shut up.”

“Are you really not coming?”

He started the Command.

“Soul (靈魂). Spirit (魂魄).”

“….”

“Soul Ritual (魄儀). Spirit rites (儀典). Decree (典令)”

Even if dead, she wouldn’t cross to this side.

The sword attacks were a one-time trick.

“Final decree (令終). Last Statement (終言).”

With the new chant, he could see their heightened caution.

It was clear they were ready to counter any attack.

Fine, let’s see.

“Declaration (言明). Annihilation (明滅).”

“You bastard, what trick are you—”

“【Die】”

Swoosh—

The woman, who had been holding on fiercely, collapsed lifelessly.

Oh Hyuk-jun was deeply startled.

“…Huh? What, what’s happening?”

He quickly checked her pulse.

“Why… why is there no pulse? Is this the wrong spot? Hey! Song Hyun-su! Hey, hey!”

“She’s dead.”

That’s it, his mana is completely drained.

He stepped through the portal.

Once again, his feet hit the office floor.

He approached Oh Hyuk-jun.

“What, what’s going on? How can this happen?”

Step, step.

With each step, Oh Hyuk-jun flinched violently.

“What… What’s going on?”

Step, step.

“Don’t come! Don’t come, Phantom! I said don’t!”

He backs away and hits the wall.

“Don’t come! Aaaaah!”

“It’s all your karma—”

At that moment.

“…!”

He jumps backward quickly.

The wall exploded.

Boom—!!

The immense force.

His body was pushed back.

The pressure almost sent him flying outside the building.

As the dust settles.

He lowers his guard and looks ahead.

“…Huh.”

Unbelievable.

A large man in a gray suit.

He leans on the collapsed wall with hands as big as cauldrons.

“Hoo…”

A deep voice echoes.

“Could it be… you’re the Phantom?”

The man in gray screams.

Crunch, crunch.

“I can’t help it now.”

Park Cheol-woong.

“Screw you, Kang Hyun. I’ll have to kill you.”

An S-rank awakener had arrived at the scene.