The Fastest Evolution of the Unrivaled Slime: My Rejected Skill was a Cheat for Super Efficient Leveling, So I Trained 100 Times Faster to Become the World’s Strongest

199. Magic Gear [Side – Raize]

Mark couldn’t hide his surprise at my transformation.

I guess that’s understandable. He seems to dislike the unexpected.

“So what the hell do you want…?! Just because I changed clothes, you’re gonna lecture me?!”

“Whether it was just changing clothes or not, you’ll find out soon enough.”

“…Ah, I see. Well then, try talking after you survive this attack!!”

Mark snarled and, just like before, launched a chaotic swipe into the air.

At the same time, countless slashes came rushing at me. Each time Mark swung his arm like a whip, gusts of wind, sharp as a blade, grazed my skin.

“Die! This time it’s checkmate!”

The slashes were closing in right in front of my eyes. I remained perfectly still, simply watching them.

“”

In the next moment, the slashes that were inches from me erupted into flames and vanished on the spot.

It was as if the slashes were burned away by my gaze itself, and for a brief moment, Mark looked completely confused, unable to understand what had just happened.

“This is the ability of , . When I wear this outfit, the power of fire magic increases. , which burns anything that comes within a meter of me, is just one part of that power.”

“Tch… So the weak slashes can’t withstand the power of the flames and won’t hit you…!”

“That’s about the gist of it. How does it feel, realizing that the attack you were so confident about isn’t working?”

Mark grit his teeth, visibly frustrated.

He’s really easy to read. And it’s also easy to predict his next move…

“Then I’ll just attack in a way that won’t let you burn me, you bastard!!”

Mark roared and charged at me without even glancing aside.

If ranged slashes don’t work, then it’s only natural he’d try a powerful close-range attack.

But this man is still shallow.

How did he not realize that my isn’t just …?

“You’re already trapped by my strategy.”

As I clicked my heels again, my body was enveloped in white light.

“W-What!?”

“ isn’t just one kind. The fact that you didn’t realize that is your downfall.”

The light faded, and my outfit, which had shifted from the Crimson Dress, was…

A black armor with orange lines, as though painted with lacquer.

“. The effect of this gear is to enhance earth-type magic and…”

Next, I activated earth-type magic, creating a large hammer. I gripped the meter-long hammer tightly and glared at Mark, who was charging at me.

The solution that I had reached with Mira, despite my previous aversion to close combat.

I had convinced myself I couldn’t—no, I was trying to convince myself that I couldn’t, but now I had a new, powerful technique.

It was a shift in my abilities based on the magic attributes of the .

“Just because my outfit changed a bit, you think you can win, huhhh!!”

Mark extended his claws, and each claw turned red and lengthened, almost like a sword.

“! Each claw has a different effect!”

Naturally, I had expected that he would have abilities suited for close combat. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be charging at me with such confidence.

Well then—I’ll just overpower it.

“!”

I swung the hammer with full force.

When the hammerhead collided with Mark’s ten claws, a loud metallic clang rang out, and a gust of wind swept through the area.

—And the result became apparent immediately.

“Ughhhhhhhhhhh!!!”

Mark’s stance collapsed. He looked like a building whose foundation had been destroyed—

And in the blink of an eye, he was rolling across the ground.

“The match is over.”

I walked toward Mark, who lay face down after his devastating blow was shattered.

“Ugh… Why… I finally got into the Ark… Why does this always happen to me…?”

“So, what’s this Ark you’re talking about? What are you all scheming?”

When I asked, Mark gritted his teeth, then shouted in a reckless manner.

“Ark… is carrying out a grand plan, far beyond anything you could imagine! I was finally recognized… or so I thought!!”

Mark glared at me, then readied himself, striking a pose like a threatening dog.

“And yet… I’m the weakest in Ark, and I lose to some low-level nobody like you… I can’t accept that!!”

Mark barked out. With the ferocity to rival a werewolf, he opened his mouth wide and started charging toward me.

“Here! I’ll defeat you here! I’ll make you realize I’m a member of Ark! I… I…!”

The fastest he’s ever closed in on me. The intensity in his expression made his determination clear.

But even so—his attack wouldn’t reach me.

White light enveloped my body. From beyond the light, a new form appeared—

A white military uniform.

“. Its effect is to maximize speed.”

Mark is fast. Back when I was the old me, I wouldn’t have stood a chance.

But there’s a critical difference between me and him.

“When you fight someone weaker than yourself—it’s just a struggle for you.”

In an instant, I took light, wind-like steps and delivered a powerful kick to Mark’s body.

Thirty strikes in the blink of an eye. T