Ch.184184. The Second Trial (6)

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Packs, a type of large magical beast, aren’t actually that large when considering size alone.

Of course, they’re wolves the size of an average house, but compared to other large magical beasts I’ve encountered before—most of which could perform siege operations with just two or three specimens—they might seem over-classified.

Nevertheless, these creatures are categorized as such because their combat ability is exceptionally superior for medium-sized magical beasts, especially since they always operate in groups.

True to their wolf-like appearance, Packs are born hunters.

Claws that easily tear through solid steel. Mobility that can chase a tracker to the ends of hell, and powerful olfactory senses that can easily locate targets even when they hide.

It wouldn’t be easy to fight against such creatures if your abilities were erased inside a neutralization field.

“Kill me gently—!!”

And in such a situation.

I was charging toward them with my bare skin completely exposed.

For magical beasts that feed on human flesh and blood, my current appearance must look like well-butchered meat walking straight into their mouths on its own.

“…?”

Their eyes momentarily glazed over at this situation that defied common sense, but magical beasts are fundamentally creatures that follow their instincts.

< System Message >

[ Crisis situation detected. ]

[ Judged to be a direct threat to life. ]

[ Skill: Desperate Situation will be applied at EX grade. ]

Soon, with a hostile change in demeanor, one of them drooling yellowish saliva rushed straight at me.

Scattering fierce glares around, it swung its front paw at me with enough force to seemingly crush boulders.

-!

-!!

That’s right.

I exhale a sigh of relief as I’m sent flying through the air after being hit by the first beast’s front paw.

The plan is half successful at the point where these creatures are fully focused on me.

If they had ignored me and rushed toward the others, that would have been the worst scenario. I would have either retreated or died—one of the two.

It might have looked strange, but it was fortunate that I stripped off all my clothes before charging in.

A normal person would have been split in half at the torso upon impact, but with Desperate Situation activated, my durability increases significantly.

< Mastery Info >

[ Trait: Iron Man ] [ Grade: Universal ]

[ Current Proficiency: 0% ]

[ Warriors of the Tribal Union constantly train by putting themselves in extreme situations to develop coping abilities. It’s extremely dangerous, but the effects are certain. ]

[ ■ Increases resistance to various injuries and pain. Reduces the degree of pain and allows for easier movement even in situations of severe injury. ]

[ ■ Recovery ability becomes much better than normal. ]

[ ■ When suffering fatal injuries, blocks pain sensation to increase survival probability. ]

[ ■ Effects are proportional to the durability stat. ]

< System Message >

[ Fatal injury detected. ]

[ Pain is blocked by ‘Trait: Iron Man’. ]

On top of that, this trait as well.

Currently, my durability is significantly enhanced by Desperate Situation.

Compared to others, I don’t receive any abilities from innate powers.

Even if I can’t use spells, divine power, or anything else, my physical abilities alone become a valuable asset.

“…Hup!”

My job is to endure for as long as possible.

I deflect the wolf’s attack as it tries to swing its front paw again, taking its attacks “gently” as much as possible.

If I endure for a long time like this, other magical beasts will gradually join in to help their comrade who seems to be struggling alone.

That’s what I’m aiming for.

To have as many magical beasts as possible stick to me.

[…So, why are you doing this?]

‘No time to explain. Later!’

[Did you even have a means to survive in the first place?!]

“…”

Come to think of it, this person has some differences between his exterior and interior.

While he appears to be scolding me on the surface, deep down he’s actually worried about me.

‘Of course I do.’

I believe in this world.

To be precise, I believe that this world was built on the foundation of a game system called Savior Rising.

At least in strange situations, such “rules” have always applied.

So.

What I’m about to do will definitely work.

Thinking that, I watch as the Pack rushes toward me.

“…”

The longer I endure, the fewer parts of my body I can feel.

< System Message >

[ HP below 1%! ]

[ On the verge of death! ]

Even when such messages appear.

It’s scary, but I still endure.

I continue, continue to endure.

Until all the magical beasts in the vicinity gather at my position.

And.

As soon as I’m certain that’s happened.

“Now!”

I shout those words.

That’s the “signal” I promised to give the others before coming here.

And as I shout those words, I also activate the skill built into the Soul Linker.

<Item Info>

[ Soul Linker ] [ Exclusive Equipment ]

[ Enchant: Epic ] [ ‘Hero’s Fragment’ Fusion ]

◎ Built-in Skill ◎

■ [ Mental World ] [ Skill Grade: A ]

[ Summons a spirit body to form a unique domain in the surrounding area. Within the domain, some abilities possessed by the spirit body can be used. As the level of consciousness opening increases, the range of the domain widens, and the number of usable abilities increases. ]

– Currently Available Abilities

[ Trait: Solidarity ]

[ For a knight, comrades are family. Can partially transmit buffs applied to oneself to surrounding individuals. ]

It must be a skill you haven’t seen in a very long time.

But it’s perfectly suitable for use in this situation.

As Calivan’s mental world momentarily spreads around, the Desperate Situation applied to me is shared with them.

< System Message >

[ HP 0%! ]

[ Entering a state of suspended animation! ]

Meanwhile, due to accumulated injuries, such a message appears before my eyes.

My vision gradually darkens.

But before that.

-!

-!!

-!!!

My entire field of vision is colored by the blade wind wielded by Elia.

●

The first thing I saw when I regained consciousness was Elia pouring a potion into me with tears in her eyes.

“…Are you insane?!”

“…”

Don’t shout. My head is ringing.

I struggle to get up and examine my body.

Even in such a shattered state, just applying some recovery potion makes movement possible again.

All hail the Iron Man trait. The recovery ability is definitely beyond human range.

Of course, separate from that, Elia’s expression as she glares at me with wide eyes is extremely fierce.

“What were you thinking, suggesting something like this? You almost really died!”

“…Uh, well, just.”

I stammer out a response in complete embarrassment.

The truth is I did die once. My HP dropped to 0% and I went into a state of suspended animation.

“That was my intention from the start.”

“…What did you say?”

“I told you. I came expecting to die once anyway.”

“…”

Does it make any sense to miss the golden opportunity I created by gathering all the magical beasts in one place just because I got caught up in it?

The very reason I charged at these creatures naked to draw their attention was for that purpose.

By making these creatures gather in one place to attack me, I was creating an “opportunity” for Elia and Faynol.

Making it “easier” to catch these creatures by gathering them in one place.

People who have played games would know. It’s called mob gathering in professional terms.

Since these creatures have such good mobility, to catch them in an instant, you need to gather them in one place using such methods.

Even with my good specs, if I wanted to implement a simple plan of just taking hits and holding them in one place, hitting rock bottom HP was something I was prepared for from the beginning.

[…No, these don’t seem like creatures meant to be caught in the first place?]

“…”

[Isn’t the whole point to hide and avoid fighting as much as possible since fighting itself is suicidal? I don’t understand why you created this situation in the first place, but if I had to guess the intention, that would be it?]

But still.

As I said earlier, for Elia to be sent to the final trial, it’s essential that she stands out.

Simply surviving within the time limit is a bit… you know.

It’s not a definite outcome.

It’s not cool enough.

[…You crazy bastard…]

“…”

[There probably isn’t anyone else on the continent who would so casually risk their life to make someone else look good. Are you suicidal or something?]

“…”

[And because of that, Elia doesn’t even stand out. You just look like the most insane person.]

No.

Is that how it works?

As I’m bewildered by Calivan’s words.

In front of me, Elia, Talion, and even Faynol were looking at me with dumbfounded expressions.

“…”

Why are you all…

Isn’t everything fine since it worked out?

“No, when I tried it before.”

I try to lighten the strangely heavy atmosphere with a forced smile.

“Being dead for about 10 seconds in cardiac arrest was fine.”

It’s knowledge I’ve experienced several times in the game, and I’ve confirmed it applies in reality when I was half-killed by Yuria before.

The fact that even if HP converges to 0%, if you somehow keep breathing before completely dying, you can come back to life.

This rule has been definitively proven once again by my survival this time.

“…So.”

Elia said with a groan.

“As long as you don’t die even when you’re practically a corpse, it’s OK? What if something went wrong, even one in a thousand or one in ten thousand chance?”

“Why think about failure? It’s related to you.”

“…”

I give a thumbs up with a grin.

“I have to succeed even if I die.”

“…”

Seeing me say such things as if they were obvious, Elia clutched her head.

It was undoubtedly a gesture filled with deep pain, as if she didn’t know where to begin.

“…Excuse me, teacher.”

“Yes?”

“Remember when we talked about using Lana as human expendable material?”

“…Did we?”

Elia approached me with a puzzled expression and firmly grabbed my shoulders with both hands.

“I apologize for everything I said then.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Teacher, you’re not someone whose humanity has been worn away; you’re just a genuine psychopath who can use anyone like that if you think they can handle it.”

“…”

“If you’re the kind of person who puts yourself in such situations because you think it will work, it makes sense that you’d think of using others the same way. I can at least say it’s fair.”

“…”

I unconsciously step back at Elia’s muttered outcry.

This kid’s eyes are dead.

It’s even chilling to see her firing such words like a machine gun with eyes that lack even focus.

“…Um, well, calm down for a moment.”

“I can’t.”

“…”

“Teacher, please sit down first.”

“…Why?”

“I’m going to fix your mindset first.”

“…”

“Teacher, you need to realize how precious you are to others. And you need to fix your tendency to keep saying things that set people’s hearts on fire. It feels nice, but it’s a bit frustrating to hear at this timing?”

“…”

Is that a compliment?

“Listen carefully. I’m going to fix your manners first.”

“…”

I guess not.

This is the first time I’ve seen her speak so harshly to me.

I don’t know what it is but.

Am I being scolded right now? Is that right?

[That’s right.]

“…”

[And you deserve to be scolded. Not just scolded, but to the point of tears, until you’re on the verge of death.]

The siblings were undoubtedly alike in this aspect.

By the time Elia stopped her storm of scolding, I was almost at the point of tears.

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