Ch.114114. Power of the Priest

Ambush. A means to turn the tide even when outmatched or at a disadvantage.

I need to reduce their numbers to make things easier for myself. That’s why I hid in the bathroom, waiting for the moment when hostages and enemies could be distinguished.

[Main Card]

-Species: Mechanical Beast Tribe Name: Half-Machine Half-Beast Sura Growth Form: Adult

Traits: Analysis (Analyze enemy abilities to increase all stats by 1 rank), Mechanized Wildness (Can detect the presence of targets once identified), Complete Understanding (Can analyze and ignore enemy special abilities by activating circuits), Trait Transfer (Can apply traits to sub-cards)

Strength: A

Agility: S

Resistance: A

Magic Resistance: A

Energy: S

Mana: A

Skills: Wolf’s Claws, Frenzy, Focused Output, Pursuer’s Speed, Energy Cannon

[Skills]

-Pursuer’s Speed (Increases movement and reaction speed)

-Wolf’s Claws (Skill power increases according to mana)

-Focused Output (When attacking, increases output to desired body part while decreasing resistance and magic resistance by 1 rank)

[Sub Card]

-Output Limiter Release Device

Everything happened in an instant. I moved mechanically, following the helmet that detected enemies.

[Analyzing scents through olfactory sensors.]

My mechanical body distinguished between monsters and ordinary humans before my eyes.

What I needed to do began calculating in my head.

First priority targets: monsters. The faces of already-transformed humans were marked, and I moved accordingly.

[Wolf’s Claws]

I lunged toward the enemy, and as one monster raised its arm, my hand was already in motion.

The monster was dying, its body torn by the diagonal slash of my claws.

[Why is a monster attacking us?]

[This one is the monster helping that human!]

The monsters urgently began to surround me.

But I had already completed my “analysis.”

[Trait Applied], [Output Limiter Release Device]

Strength: SS

Agility: SS(+)

Resistance: S (decreased due to Focused Output)

Magic Resistance: S (decreased due to Focused Output)

Energy: SS(+)

Mana: SS

With my stats maxed out, I planned to utilize my skills.

Among my skills was one called Frenzy. At first, I couldn’t understand what this skill was, but now I do.

“Shall we go wild?”

[Frenzy]

-Unleashes indiscriminate attacks on enemies in the vicinity. (Increases reflex speed)

Just as the monsters in front of me prepared to attack all at once—that timing. Not as good as against the bird creatures earlier, but I could counter them.

I ran with conscious intent, but I no longer had control over my movements.

This skill makes me attack with wild ferocity against any enemies within range.

A savage beast was slashing through everything.

A skill effective against multiple clustered enemies.

Not refined movements, but literally attacking to kill without fear, charging in even when taking damage.

[What the…! It’s suddenly going berserk!]

I was tearing and ripping apart enemies with movements I would never make normally, regardless of injury.

I was taking damage, but the processing was faster and more efficient.

When the Frenzy ended, all that remained was one escapee and a strong-looking Velociraptor.

“Hunter Dino. It has hooks.”

But my hooks (claws) are no joke either. I faced off against it while noticing one monster trying to circle around.

[Mechanized Wildness (Can detect the presence of targets once identified)]

But its movements were detected. What matters now is the Hunter Dino boldly blocking my path.

Those special hooks that ignore defense are the main concern.

Now we lunged at each other. We stared at each other with agility.

As beasts, we instinctively recognized each other as targets to be eliminated.

Hunter Dino doesn’t care about defense. It only aims for vital points, trusting its special ability.

Since it ignores my defense, I prepared.

Deliberately, my first move was a feint.

I dodged its first attack by nimbly jumping sideways, but it followed like a spring.

I deliberately offered my left arm. Though I blocked with my arm, the hook literally passed through it.

The attack slid through my armor and cut into raw flesh.

Blood splattered as my dangling left arm came into view.

It’s fine. I have a follow-up.

[Trait Analysis]

-Enemy’s special ability is nullified.

[Skill]

-Energy Cannon

My right hand was already burning with blue mana.

“?”

Hunter Dino flinched and counterattacked, but with its special ability gone, it merely struck my armor.

And at that moment, the Energy Cannon fired.

The energy traveled along the blade like a thrust, targeting the Hunter Dino in multiple streams.

One for the arm, another for the torso, another for the leg.

Neither radial nor laser, the chaotic energy instantly pierced through Hunter Dino’s body.

DNA points and component cards were acquired in that moment.

[Haha, forgot about me?]

Suddenly, the monster I had missed earlier appeared at my side.

A Minotaur’s axe came flying with a strange light.

[I let my guard down.]

A dull pain hit me instantly.

This is why fighting multiple opponents is troublesome. But it was my objective anyway.

The force threw me against a glass wall.

My dangling left arm still hurts.

But this one is chasing me. Trying not to lose momentum?

That’s a bad move. You’re the only one left guarding the hostages, right? You probably want to finish this since you’re injured.

So I deliberately took the hit, didn’t I?

[I need to request more backup. Where did you come from? Why are you interfering with us? We follow monsters too! Just what identity…]

As it approached me, I used another sub-card.

[Sub Card]

-Recovery

-Lowers rank to heal the body.

The moment I activated the sub-card, my dangling arm miraculously reconnected.

[…what is that?]

Those were the monster’s final words. My claws split it apart.

I turned my head.

Devils were visible in the sky above. They’ll target the approaching aircraft next.

I need to make them come down.

At this moment, I looked at the hostages gathered here.

What if these people could descend from the observation deck? The enemy would have deployed forces at the front anyway, so extraction would be difficult. Could I ask Devil to do it? But there are two Devils, not one.

Doing it secretly from the air is impossible.

“…”

When I looked at the hostages again, they were just standing there blankly.

Should I let them go down to create confusion? But they need to understand what I’m saying. I can’t speak like a human in this monster form.

No.

If they go down recklessly and get caught by the enemy…

Wasn’t I waiting for this moment when the hostages were separated? Using the hostages to create confusion defeats the purpose of saving them.

Right, the White Dragon Guild is handling this area. So until they arrive, protecting the hostages is…?

This was the only best option.

A path opened in my mind. The enemy would have to pull forces from the front to recapture the hostages.

If they only send a few, I can handle them somehow, and once the citizens’ safety is confirmed, the guilds will launch an all-out assault.

So I’ll use this confined space to buy as much time as possible.

Outside, Kyungbae and nearby guilds would already be in a standoff. If only someone… if only someone would boldly charge in.

But no one knows the hostages’ situation, so it’s difficult. I’ll create a disturbance here.

I’ll watch the Devils’ movements and go downstairs. Just letting them know the hostages are free would allow us to overwhelm them with numbers.

Or since they’re free now, couldn’t they contact someone?

Glancing at the people, I saw them taking out their phones to film me.

“That… isn’t that the monster that appeared in Sindorim before?”

“The monster that protects people?”

“Really? So it protected us?”

“Can’t you tell by looking?”

No, please contact someone outside.

As I was about to run to the stairs amid the murmuring crowd, a strange rumbling suddenly transmitted.

The rumbling turned into vibrations, the vibrations into cracks, and the cracks into terror.

Before my eyes, the floor collapsed and a giant elephant’s trunk rose up.

I know this one. The Tyrant Elephant with a cannon on its back! A tank-like creature that mainly uses earth and wind attacks.

An SS-rank monster was now revealing itself before me.

Still, I have enough power to take down an SS-rank. Combining sub-cards…

But at that moment, my trait alerted me to enemies above.

Devils. They were diving down now.

No!

Having detected their position like a radar, I ran to intercept their landing point.

Instinctively, as the ceiling shattered, the Devils infiltrated.

I managed to slash one Devil apart, but then…

A tingling sensation ran down my back.

It was, as expected, another Devil. The remaining one pushed me away.

“Ugh!”

As I hurriedly got up, the pounding sound grew louder. The trunk was now fully contracted.

Contracted? Anyone quick-witted would guess the next action. That’s…

There are refugees behind me. I can’t dodge this.

The moment the contracted trunk expanded, a violent magical wind swept through.

Taking an SS-rank’s powerful attack head-on? Stars flashed before my eyes, and I saw the hostages.

Seeing the hostages who were behind me means only one thing.

Pain found my dazed body, and I was slammed down.

[Damage accumulated throughout body]

-Recovery needed.

[System anomaly, output anomaly]

-Traits reduced

Amid all the warnings, a lightning-fast spear pierced down on me again.

A Devil descended with a smirk.

I’m done for. But what’s that rising from the elephant’s trunk now?

A lizard-like body with a human face? A monster-human.

And more monster-humans climb up one by one. I’m finished. I need to buy more time.

I wanted to cause a change to make them come first, but it’s not working.

The monster-humans are getting closer. This situation isn’t sustainable.

If that’s the case, I’m going all in!

[Evolution Form Purchase]

-30 Monster Points required

Just as I was about to unleash my final secret weapon, a monster-human in front of me suddenly collapsed.

Before anyone could understand what happened, a second shot pierced through a Devil.

[What’s happening? Did this one do something?]

Why are you looking at me? I don’t have sniping abilities. I can’t do anything in this situation.

Gazes shift, and expressions begin to change one by one.

Falling without being seen? Wait, is it that person?

White Dragon Guild.

The reason I thought of the White Dragon Guild now is because they have an invisible sniper.

Lee Chaerin.

Our senior and top graduate. With her summoned spirit Rama’s weapon, Shard Vedi, she can assassinate without making a sound.

Is it really Chaerin? Is the White Dragon Guild coming now without even negotiating?

A light was flashing above my head. A clearly shining light was descending.

That light was like a sword, like armor enveloping a person’s body, blazing.

That’s… Dokgo Jun.

Before my eyes, Dokgo Jun crashed through the floor. But he didn’t descend alone.

With a cracking sound in front of me, the Tyrant Elephant split in half.

[It’s Dokgo Jun!]

[Them? How?]

[No time to question! Surround him. Deploy all forces.]

The monster-humans rush toward Dokgo Jun. There are surely multiple SS-ranks and S-rank monster-humans.

Even for Dokgo Jun, it would normally be difficult to handle them.

If it were an ordinary Dokgo Jun.

But as we saw earlier, Dokgo Jun is wrapped in armor-like mana.

That is “Priest.” When a summoned spirit acknowledges its contractor and grants more of its power and weapons. The next stage is called Avatar, the final stage, but no one has reached that level yet.

My body was suddenly free. Chaerin had successfully cleared this area.

As I tried to stand up, something suddenly approached.

“Don’t run away, friend.”

A sharp pain hit my back. When I turned my head, Seo Woojin was smiling at me.

“Well, thanks to you, we were able to infiltrate easily… but our boss still hates you, you know? So wait. Let’s talk seriously.”

He grabbed my neck, lifted me up, and threw me to the floor.

As I crashed through the floor, what I saw was Dokgo Jun surrounded by monster-humans. And the sight of him mercilessly cutting down those who were wondering if they could win.

It was hard to keep up with that speed. This is Dokgo Jun wielding the power of a Priest.

It’s simple. He strikes with his greatsword, retreats, and strikes again.

But everything gets destroyed. Simple and powerful.

In no time, this place was cleared and became quiet. Chaerin was already starting to evacuate the hostages with Woojin.

Dokgo Jun and I faced each other here.

“Social media is so convenient. The hostages informed us well about the internal situation. So you helped humans again? Haha. I don’t understand. Why do you all do this? What are you plotting?”

Killing intent was approaching.

“I’ve seen your exploits well in various reports. Whether you’re ‘one of your kind’ or a developed specimen, it seems you can’t speak. But I heard you can understand. Then I have one thing to tell you: Don’t mess around. Because I won’t forgive you.”

The greatsword points at me.

“You die here. You want to live? Then become stronger. Weren’t you strong enough to ravage us as you pleased? I’ll make you pay for the wounds you’ve inflicted on humanity.”

Like with the Devil, there was no one to help me. Moreover, my opponent is Dokgo Jun.

[Evolution Form Purchase Complete]

-You can select your first evolution form.

I can’t face him as I am now. I need to use everything I have.

Countless streams of evolution unfolded before my eyes.