Ch.184184. Jesus Gay (2)

The destructive power of the staff, imbued with ‘Slashing Magic’ and amplified with an abundance of magical power despite not being incanted, was truly terrifying.

This staff, which already possessed magical amplification properties, further enhanced the slashing magic I had infused into it.

The result was the ground now split by slashes that had erupted in all directions from the point of impact.

These slashes left deep scars over a meter deep in the hardened earth. This attack, which instantly destabilized the surrounding terrain, absurdly failed to inflict significant damage on Yesugei.

Well, it was still encouraging that I had managed to block his charge empowered by the ‘Boar’s Charge’ magic, but the problem was that the staff had become slightly damaged in the process.

‘Did I pour in too much magical power….’

Perhaps it was a side effect of excessively injecting magical power to enhance the non-incanted slashing magic, but while it still functioned perfectly as a blunt weapon and armor controller, its magical amplification function was completely broken.

Well, that’s not a major concern.

—KWAAAAAANG!!!

Even just swinging it as a blunt weapon would still be worth its salt.

The black iron axe emitting a blood-red aura and the bone staff collided numerous times, sending lethal shockwaves flying in all directions.

The already unstable ground, weakened by the slashes, shattered and scattered everywhere as the air violently churned, shaking the earth.

And through these collisions, I could reach one conclusion.

If I continued fighting like this, the result would be my defeat.

As a magic user engaging a warrior in close combat, I realized that a proper full-time warrior’s close combat ability existed on a level I simply couldn’t match.

While an axe might seem far from technical finesse, Yesugei’s skill in wielding that double-bladed axe larger than my height was terrifyingly impressive.

Using the blades on both sides, he repeated slashing motions. Each time he subtly adjusted the angle to target openings, I could barely manage to parry his strikes.

Additionally, I couldn’t ignore the existence of the orc sacred artifact he wielded—the ‘Bloodsoaked Axe.’

To counteract the blood-red energy irregularly emitted through the black axe blade and the aura the weapon itself exuded, I had to release an excessive amount of magical power.

Naturally, the magical power consumed in this process was considerable, and I couldn’t ignore how my staff was gradually being damaged with each collision against the overwhelmingly superior Bloodsoaked Axe.

Therefore, it didn’t take long for me to reach a conclusion.

—Swish….

—WHOOSH!!!

In this situation, engaging in bare-handed combat might actually be more effective.

—KWANG! KWANG! KWAAANG!

—Slash! —WHOOSH!!!

Scratching, hitting, striking, kicking with my legs.

Each time my limbs, imbued with the mystery of ‘Claws,’ cut through the air, multiple blades formed along their trajectory, with heat and frost blooming like flower petals in the process.

Taking advantage of the momentum, I pushed my body inside the range of his axe and wildly swung my limbs. All Yesugei could do with his massive weapon was focus on defense, but….

‘…Huh? This—’

—Slash!

※ ※ ※

‘Hmph, how amateurish.’

After slashing the chest of the human shaman(?) before him with magical claws formed by activating the totem tattoo ‘Wolf Claws’ on his right fingers.

In a self-contained world accelerated about 100 times faster than normal time flow, Yesugei made this assessment of the human shaman(?) facing him.

Yesugei could tell that this human shaman was stronger and more agile than himself, but if combat outcomes were determined by that alone, humanity would have been completely annihilated by magical beasts by now.

While he could somewhat appreciate the courage of a magic user boldly engaging in close combat, the man lacked the experience and caution a warrior should possess.

In other words, he fought like the geniuses who had only experienced favorable battles throughout their lives—like Yesugei himself in the past.

He had sufficient strength but lacked depth and proficiency.

If he had chosen one thing to specialize in and trained thoroughly, he might have developed some expertise, but the cold reality was that he hadn’t.

The current situation demonstrated this perfectly—the man fighting Yesugei had been slashed across the chest because he hadn’t considered the hidden dagger Yesugei was concealing.

‘…Is it over?’

To finish off this human shaman-warrior who reminded him of his past self, Yesugei swung his axe down toward the neck of the human who was collapsing with blood flowing from his chest….

—CRACKLE!!

“…!!!”

Immediately after, Yesugei barely recognized the golden lightning suddenly coursing through his body. He desperately surrounded himself with aura to barely block this lightning attack.

—CHING!

Of course, not thinking this was the end, Yesugei’s entire body gleamed with light, and dozens of totem tattoos responded, imbuing his flesh with various “powers”….

“…!”

As his body became filled with power, Yesugei, momentarily caught up in exhilaration, was only able to suppress his arrogance upon seeing the brilliant being emitting flashes of light before him.

While the orcish race was naturally violent by nature, even with such a disposition, Yesugei acknowledged this shaman’s power.

The man who had been bleeding from his chest just moments ago had long since restored his physical body.

His restored body was well-wrapped in wolf armor with golden lightning patterns drawn all over it, and crimson flames slowly flickered in places, contrasting with the ice-colored armor.

Up to this point, it didn’t seem much different from before…. Nevertheless, Yesugei could see one clear difference.

‘…Wings?’

The silver-blue wolf fur cape had completely disappeared, replaced by wings of lightning energy extending from his back.

These two pairs of energy wings weren’t flapping at all, yet they kept the human afloat, continuously discharging crackling lightning in all directions, building up their momentum.

‘El-Temur…!’

It reminded him of Kagan El-Temur, the self-proclaimed apostle of that “three-headed god” who had defeated Yesugei so thoroughly.

Recalling that despicable scum who had taken away his beloved son, Yesugei unconsciously frowned… and at that very moment.

—WOONG!!!

As magical power suddenly began to spread from around the human and dominate the surrounding space, Yesugei, realizing this was the space-forming ability that a shaman of Khan (superior) level could use, hurriedly threw his axe.

Knowing well the effects of otherworld formation, he was determined to somehow defeat the shaman before that happened.

But… Yesugei was a step too late.

Seeing the shaman dodge the ‘Bloodsoaked Axe’ at tremendous speed, he gritted his teeth, summoned the axe back to his hand, and attempted to adapt to the otherworld environment—

“—!”

The next moment. He fell into the center of a bizarre space—an otherworld where dark clouds hung not only across the ground but also in the sky above.

[Wings!]

As Yesugei began to plummet headfirst, he was barely able to halt his fall by using the power of the ‘Eagle Wing Tattoo’ inscribed on his wing bones among his totem tattoos.

Of course, the tattoo, which could only delay his fall rather than grant free flight, reduced his falling speed to the extreme but didn’t provide freedom of movement. However, Yesugei found that sufficient.

—KWAAANG—!!

With superior physical abilities, he could kick against the air and move freely as if flying through the void.

And… what greeted Yesugei kindly was the dark cloud that began to dominate his surroundings in an instant.

—Crackle…. CRACKLE….

Golden lightning crackled inside, causing an unpleasant tingling sensation just by entering, and whether as a result of some magic, these dark clouds were impenetrable even to the senses of a superior warrior.

—KUUUUUNG!!!

‘…This is!’

Therefore, to clear away this cumbersome obstacle, Yesugei swung his arm to release a shockwave, but he realized something about this flow that began to dominate the surroundings regardless of the wind’s movement.

Yesugei had to conclude that these dark clouds were the manifestation of this strange otherworld’s ability, and he tried to prepare for the next attack with heightened senses….

—KRRRRRUNG!!!

With his senses focused on the dark clouds that even he couldn’t properly detect, a shockwave erupting from behind Yesugei threw him into those very clouds as he was caught off guard.

Since he was in mid-air without any foothold, and preparation was needed to step on air, Yesugei couldn’t properly resist and entered the dark clouds….

Afterward, Yesugei found himself caught in an endless wave of consecutive strikes.