Chapter 231

Chapter 231. Sprouting Tier (2)

I instinctively leaped to my feet, pushing off the ground.

Simultaneously, I unleashed attribute mana towards the front, arranging the array.

There was no room for calm judgment.

Everything was different from usual when I sought maximum efficiency with limited mana.

So I resorted to the best defense I could instinctively think of.

The attribute mana drawn from outside the core began to converge in front of me, tangling like a web.

It wasn’t a perfect dome but a half-formed Lightning Prison, blocking only the front.

An ice spear launched by the nemesis-rank evolved species collided with the Lightning Prison, causing a fierce explosion.

“Grrk!”

The ice spear exploded, emitting a massive cloud of steam.

Its shards flew in all directions due to the impact.

The small ice fragments either rebounded off my body or left minor cuts.

However, some of the ice spears, by chance, slipped through the gaps in the lightning, maintaining their shape.

Behind me were two civilians, completely powerless.

If the ice created by magic touched them, they’d be shredded in an instant.

Fortunately, deflecting the ice spear wasn’t difficult.

Unexpectedly, someone spoke to me amid the situation.

– Why aren’t you running away?

It was Kerak, who usually remained silent to the point I questioned if he had become an ordinary spear.

– Aren’t you the type of human who moves based on profit and loss?

Then why are you holding on in a situation where there’s nothing to gain, instead of running?

In response to Kerak’s blatant question, I shouted back angrily.

“Would I be standing here if I knew that?!”

With the ice spear now deflected, my judgment began to return.

I knew all too well how foolish my current actions were.

These people would die when this world ends anyway.

There’s no reason to risk my safety to protect such people.

Unlike when I decided to stage a kidnapping with Hamas Clan, there wasn’t a single benefit to gain from this ordeal.

‘In the current situation, the best course is to move away from here immediately.’

All was too clear in my mind, so why was I foolishly standing my ground?

Questioning myself further was pointless.

I had already missed the opportunity to escape.

As I reflexively clenched my jaw shut, the nemesis-rank evolved species charged towards me.

Its long, sharp claws were upon me in an instant.

Luck was the sole reason I managed to dodge those claws so close to my face.

My body instinctively reacted, startling itself at the sudden approach of the claws.

Simply put, my legs gave out and my body plopped downward.

As a result, the nemesis-rank’s claws grazed overhead by mere hairs.

In that brief moment, I thrust a spear enveloped in attribute mana diagonally.

A sturdy ice shield materialized over the nemesis-rank’s chest.

At that very moment, a dagger flew from its flank.

It was an artifact in Kim Yul’s possession.

A relic that targets and flies toward the designated enemy, no matter where it’s thrown.

As soon as the nemesis-rank deflected the dagger, Kim Yul emerged from the opposite side and slashed with a wind-cloaked dagger.

Witnessing this, I urgently shouted out.

“No!”

One must not engage in close combat with an adversary with overwhelming physical strength.

It should be intercepted from a distance, in an assured way.

Yet, Kim Yul, fearlessly, attempted a close-range battle.

And with a shorter weapon range than mine—a dagger.

“Argh!”

As a result, Kim Yul was kicked by the nemesis-rank without even looking back.

He was flung backward, dropping the dagger he held, as if he were a piece of paper, like I was earlier.

He crashed to the ground without moving. It looked like he passed out.

I felt my blood run cold.

I didn’t know what was done to the nemesis-rank’s claws, but as soon as I got wounded, a contamination message appeared.

If the same happened to Kim Yul?

‘Fifteen minutes!’

Within that time, he’d face forced termination if he didn’t consume a potion or purify himself.

Before I could fully assess the situation, the nemesis-rank evolved species moved again.

An ice spear was launched in Kim Yul’s direction.

“Kim Yul!”

In desperation, I yelled while moving a nearby fallen tree with Telekinesis magic.

Fortunately, the tree that dropped from the air successfully altered the ice spear’s trajectory.

Of course, it was merely a temporary respite.

Before the nemesis-rank could target Kim Yul once more, I drove the spear into the ground, pouring in attribute mana.

「Mana Control evolves into Mana Domination!」

A familiar, almost tiresome message appeared as the ground split.

Lightning surged up from the ground, targeting the nemesis-rank, just like when I grabbed the red hair.

Utilizing the opportunity, I sent Earth attribute mana flowing backward.

“Aaaah!”

“Eeeek!”

Whether they were a couple, siblings, or strangers kidnapped and kept together—I couldn’t tell the relationship between the two who screamed.

The earth, curved at an angle, tossed the two people seated on the ground.

I threw a High-Rank potion towards the two individuals thrown to the ground and shouted.

“Feed it to that bastard!”

“What? Huh?”

With a bewildered retort, the formidable nemesis-rank stretched its hand toward me.

I shouted repeatedly, using acceleration to evade its reach.

“Feed it to the one with pink hair!”

While bending my waist backward, I failed to finish my words.

As the nemesis-rank’s hand missed me and lodged into the ground, cracks spread like a disturbingly grotesque web.

In continuation, the nemesis-rank’s tongue shot out, trying to coil around me.

I momentarily forgot these creatures have three tongues.

I condensed attribute mana into my spear, severed the closest tongue—which emitted a burnt smell as it was sliced.

And once more, toward me came its seizing clutches.

Thanks to bending my upper body sharply, the nemesis-rank grasped not me but the tree standing behind me.

Hearing the tree splinter with a cracking sound in its grip, I couldn’t help but curse internally.

‘This lunatic!’

All talk about enduring power and whatnot, it cornered me with intent to obliterate entirely.

Moreover, it stopped using magic on me entirely.

Recognizing my attribute as superior, it seemingly intended to determine the battle through physical combat.

For someone physically disadvantaged like me, this was unwelcome news.

‘You must not be caught.’

The strategy should lean heavily on long-range combat, relying on unmatched attribute mana hierarchies.

‘Think of it as dying if caught.’

Once again, I rolled along the ground, further distancing myself from the fierce nemesis-rank.

Only then did I notice the two other presences I had cast afar beginning to stir into motion.

If they survive and Kim Yul perishes,

I would regret today’s choices for the rest of my life.

Indeed, my regret for staying and missing an escape window surged—the shield Kim Yul would have used to escape without confronting this nemesis-rank, had I not blocked the way stubbornly.

‘Damn, damn!’

I had always been extra vigilant to prevent party deaths, thus sensing Kim Yul’s Mana Detection through magic had my nerves on edge.

Thankfully, those Biharin I saved earlier were gropingly advancing Kim Yul’s way.

A sliver of hope lingered.

So, while watching their progress, I lunged forward.

Slipping right under the leg of the nemesis-rank who kicked in my direction.

“You rat-like bastard!”

The moment I attempted to rise from the ground, I sensed a splitting air above my head.

Hastily crafting a barrier, I drove attribute mana into it.

Boom!

A deafening crash boomed over my head.

Following a brief silence, the barrier shattered into smithereens.

“Grrk!”

Crack.

Though it felt like something split, I wasn’t sure.

There was no time to concern myself with uncertainties.

The recoil from the broken mana array made me cough up blood, but that was all.

Using the brief moment before the barrier broke, I rose and distanced myself from the nemesis-rank.

Feeling the turmoil within, I spat out the blood gathering in my mouth.

Maintaining acceleration during all this allowed me to narrowly evade the approaching nemesis-rank’s grasp.

‘The longest duration I held acceleration since becoming a Platinum rank was 10 minutes and 10 seconds.’

Going beyond that, my body fails to maintain pace with acceleration movements.

‘In that window, I must undercut the nemesis-rank’s mobility.’

Killing it was an absurd dream I couldn’t afford.

The only course was to immobilize it long enough, escape with Kim Yul and the civilians.

If only I could extend what might be a forced termination ticking time bomb on Kim Yul.

‘There’s a chance.’

Having devised a somewhat optimal plan for such a dire situation.

“Grrrr….”

The nemesis-rank abruptly ceased their relentless pursuit, opening its jaws wide.

“Grawooarrr!”

A roar that threatened to blow out the eardrums echoed.

Sensing the surrounding mana ripple, I instinctively covered my upper body and head with my arms, dispersing attribute mana everywhere.

There wasn’t the luxury to implement a magic.

Simultaneously, sharp icy spikes, akin to drills, saturated the atmosphere.

They swirled violently.

“Ahhhhhh!”

Screams came from nearby.

Most likely the woman and child headed towards where Kim Yul landed.

Not knowing whether the nemesis-rank targeted them, to impede my movements—

Exact intent remained unknown, fueling my frustration and grit.

With the screams ceasing, two distinct mana signatures no longer moved.

Moreover, one of the two began diminishing.

Surely, they took a potion when moving toward where Kim Yul was flung.

‘If they lost consciousness….’

They could very well perish without a chance to consume the potion.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration after all.

Even now, I’m far from unscathed.

Pure mana pales compared to magic implemented with arrays.

No matter the mana’s rank, it couldn’t withstand every icy spike.

Vital spots like my chest I shielded with my arms.

The remainder bore the brunt of hidden spikes.

Even I, who had minimal defense with attribute mana, suffered this much.

Those unable to resist likely faced impalement.

Countless thoughts stormed through my mind.

Neither Kim Yul, nor that poorly-dressed woman and child—

Ultimately, if no one survives, why did I stay here?

The impulsive involvement in an immediate threat unraveled miserably.

I incessantly felt everything was utterly ruined by my doing.

‘Just like that day.’

Dragging Ahel around, ignoring bounds and grievances, could’ve changed things?

At each moment, I’ve undeniably done my best yet today added more regrets.

Lost in thought amidst battle came a hefty price.

I failed to spot the gigantic ice club crafted amid the blizzard—

Never saw the attack from the nemesis-rank swinging it, no attempt to dodge.

Resulted in an injury stretching from my left arm and shoulder to my ribs.

No chance to stand from rolling pathetically.

The nemesis-rank who succeeded with a critical hit relentlessly pursued.

Misguided decisions bred catastrophic outcomes.

Its rough clutch seized me.

Crunch.

“Uaagh!”

With a single clutch, my shin snapped.

Thud, thud.

Seizing my leg, it slammed down with unyielding force, not allowing resistance.

“Cough!”

From my head poured streams of hot blood.

Every attempt to breathe felt like inhaling not air but a rush of blood.

Body felt beyond wrecked; broken to pieces.

‘Close-range is what I sought to avoid….’

Predictable yet predictable results.

“Hmm, finally quiet.”

Having incapacitated me in mere seconds, the nemesis-rank groaned, seemingly satisfied.

Peeling away without turning back, still grasping my fractured leg.

With each step dragging my body across the dirt.

Heading towards where the mage’s corpse lay.

Precisely back into the hole it emerged from.

‘No.’

I can’t afford to follow submissively.

No promise it won’t kill me, having spared me this moment.

Didn’t Agnotia attempt to devour me to acquire divinity?

If this nemesis-rank aims likewise for divinity—

Only another sacrificial victim is all I’d be.

And starkly unprepared for such worst-case scenarios this time.

‘I can’t let it happen.’

Does it expect me to comply meekly?

Damned system.

TL’s Corner:

I made a mistake with Kerak and Kerak.

Kerak is 케락스 and Kerak is 케락스.

Kerak is K’s weapon.

I will update the previous chapters to fix accordingly.