Ch.30The Second Skill

# 1.

## Sixth Bad Ending Prevention.

【Condition Met (6/15)!】

【<Black Wolf’s> second skill – has been unlocked!】

【Condition Met (6/15)!】

【<Yellow Dragon’s> second skill – has been unlocked!】

Simultaneously unlocked, the second skills of <Black Wolf> and <Yellow Dragon>.

Given the urgency of the situation, I pushed the rewards aside and checked the skills first.

Starting with Black Wolf.

【Skill #2 – Invincibility.】

◆Effect

: Once per day. Upon activation. Special effect – <Invulnerability> is granted for 90 seconds. No attack can harm you.

*However, while the skill is active, you cannot harm others either.

Like the first skill, it wasn’t one with destructive power, but it was still as exceptional as its rank suggested.

‘At least I don’t have to worry about dying. I can use this in various situations.’

While organizing the information injected into my mind, I checked Yellow Dragon’s second skill as well.

【Skill #2 – Golden Battlefield.】

◆Effect

: Designate a space with a maximum diameter of 1km as a <Battlefield>. <Yellow Dragon’s> rank increases by the number of <allies> in that space.

*However, at least 3 beneficial effects are also granted to enemies on the battlefield.

A skill befitting the mesmerizing <Blessing of the Sun>, suitable for large-scale battles.

‘I don’t need this right now.’

Having made a quick judgment, Nahan activated Black Wolf’s second skill – Invincibility.

【Skill #2 – Invincibility is activating.】

【Countdown begins.】

【Time limit: 80 seconds.】

If Black Veil had been activated using internal power as fuel, Invincibility felt like it was strengthened by power flowing in from outside.

‘Black Wolf’s passive. It’s the power of members connected to <Black Wolf>.’

For each contractor, 10 seconds of invulnerability, up to 90 seconds once per day.

‘…There are 7 members in Black Wolf? Who are the other two?’

Nahan’s heightened senses allowed him to confirm the number of contractors, but he felt he lacked the power to identify who they were.

‘No. I’ll think about that later. Right now, ending this battle and escaping is the priority.’

With his survival instinct ringing alarm bells, Nahan reprioritized and jumped into the battle between the two without hesitation.

“【…I want to live】.”

“…Yes. Whatever you wish…”

Luna still looked down at Balkan with cold eyes as he tried to impale his own neck with his broken shield blade.

‘Is he entranced?’

When he prevented the fifth bad ending, most information restrictions had been lifted, so he was familiar with all the members’ skills.

‘What skill is this?’

There was no skill with such an ability.

Judging by the surrounding conditions, it was clearly Skill #1 – Masquerade Ball, so Nahan’s thoughts dug in that direction.

Dozens of masks.

Different effects for each.

And belatedly noticed,

【Warning.】

【Target is currently wearing the 0th mask – <Mother(S-)>.】

【<Whisper(Ex-)> is active.】

The name of the mask: ‘Mother’.

Nahan only knew the skill details visible through the system, but knew nothing about the <Souls> Luna had collected.

But he had to move.

【The soul of <Mother(S-)> has begun to consume <Luna – Persona(SS-)>.】

【Consumption progress: …8%】

【Luna’s consciousness is fading.】

【Status ailment – <Consumption> has begun.】

【The soul of <Mother(S-)> is slightly resisting the constraint – <Black Wolf(Ex)>.】

He could feel the constraint of <Black Wolf> weakening due to the mask called Mother.

Even Nahan, who cast the constraint, couldn’t predict what would happen when it was released, but one thing was certain.

If <Mother> completely consumed Luna.

“【…Ah. The… leader…?】”

Without killing her, there would be no way to resolve the situation that would unfold.

He must live.

And for that, he must save her.

‘So let’s find a way.’

A way to stop the situation before him, escape safely, and save Luna.

The moment he established his goal, a new system window appeared before Nahan.

─『Sub-Quest Generated!』─

◆ The Face Behind the Mask.

: You are the salvation of the <Black Wolf> members, but it wasn’t complete salvation. Save <Luna> from the nightmare.

◆ Completion Conditions.

1. Escape from <Gardner Count’s Estate>.

2. Fully understand <Luna>.

3. Give <Mother> peace.

◆ Reward.

: Past memories of all <Black Wolf> members.

◆ Upon Failure & Rejection.

: <Luna’s> rampage.

A sub-quest that seemed to guide Nahan, just like last time.

‘First, wake Luna up, save Balkan, and escape. Understanding Luna or giving Mother peace can wait until after we resolve this situation.’

Even if sent far away through Robin Hood’s subspace, Asha was the strongest in this world.

The returning hero,

the rest of the party,

the Gardner family’s response.

With everything becoming more dangerous, saving Balkan and escaping was the top priority.

‘Time remaining?’

【Skill #2 – Invincibility is active.】

【Time limit: 75 seconds.】

Driven by survival instinct, he thought quickly, and only 5 seconds had passed.

Despite such a short time, Balkan’s shield had moved considerably.

‘If the blade goes in deeper, it’ll be dangerous.’

Nahan hesitated no longer.

‘Focus. I am Black Wolf now. Always composed. Yet imposing.’

Approaching with steps neither fast nor slow, he reached for the shield.

Seeing this, Dalan muttered.

“Seems he’s trying to stop it with force.”

To physically stop someone like Balkan from taking his own life would require immense strength.

Within <Black Wolf>, only the leader, deputy leader, or Hanryang would be capable of it.

But the current <Black Wolf> had Nahan possessing it.

As mentioned before, not knowing how to control it meant he couldn’t properly handle the body, nor exert such strength.

‘But there’s still a way.’

Knowing this, Nahan placed his hand on the shield blade.

…Crunch.

With Invincibility active, his fingers wouldn’t be cut or broken.

Yet his hand, lacking strength, was being pushed along with Balkan’s movement.

“…Leader? Stop, Persona!! You’re attacking the leader right now!!”

The moment Dalan, who had been watching, realized what was happening to Luna.

Nahan whispered to the dazed Luna in a flat voice.

“We’re leaving.”

And with that,

【<Black Veil(Ex)> deployed at maximum capacity.】

The effect of <Black Veil>, raised to its maximum by sacrificing all but a single spark of life force.

…

A terrible sensation like cold metal digging into two skulls and scraping the inner walls.

Endless darkness.

Silent death.

A hint of peace.

The maximum Black Veil, deployed for less than a fraction of a second.

Something far beyond human comprehension swept through the Gardner estate and vanished.

In the mansion where everyone had collapsed, only the <Black Wolf> members remained standing, along with,

“…Huh? What just…”

Balkan, who had regained his senses after feeling something terrible that freed him from <Mother’s> influence.

While the stiffened members were coming to their senses, Nahan approached Balkan.

“…!! W-wait. Stay back.”

“The Blue-Green Forest. We’ll be there, so send your family to the islands.”

Though Balkan instinctively crawled backward, Nahan paid no mind, finished what he had to say, and turned around.

“How much longer do we have to wait?”

His voice, still authoritative even after the skill had ended, awakened Dalan’s mind.

“My apologies. I’ve already called for it, so the Blood Demon Bird should arrive soon.”

“Call Hanryang and take care of Persona.”

“Yes, leader.”

As Dalan was tending to the still dazed Luna.

SCREEEECH!!

The familiar cry of the flesh demon bird echoed throughout the Gardner estate.

“…!!”

Only then did Balkan fully regain his senses.

His body rose by instinct, with no time to think.

‘Even if I die, I must take at least one of them with me.’

Though still terrified as if swimming through death, Balkan stood his ground.

If he let them live, more terrible things would surely happen.

…Step. …Step, step.

Driven by instinct, Balkan slowly approached the Black Wolf members boarding the demon bird, gripping his broken shield tightly.

‘…Just one. Even just one.’

Because I am a hero.

A noble knight who brings peace to the world, even at the cost of his own life.

Crunch!

“I…!!!”

As Balkan, gritting his teeth so hard they might break, was about to activate Crushing Charge, Nahan turned to him and offered advice.

“Ah. Always be wary of solar eclipses.”

“Hic. I will.”

“Then we’ll be going now.”

“Go. Hic.”

Balkan unconsciously stopped and nodded, and the demon bird took flight.

Another terrible scream.

The demon bird carried Black Wolf away.

Splash.

Left alone, Balkan sat down demurely with his legs together.

“Black Wolf. Next time we meet, I’ll take at least one of you with me, even if it costs me my life.”

Though his words were strong, his tightly clenched fist trembled.

“Why did I hear a splash when I sat down…? …Damn it.”

It was around midnight when a slightly cooled-off Balkan muttered to himself.

# 2.

Meanwhile, <Black Wolf>, who had escaped and was returning to their hideout on the demon bird’s back.

While everyone was silent, Ruby, who was handling the demon bird, sighed and spoke.

“We’re going to crash.”

Having already anticipated this, Nahan simply nodded without much reaction.

【Consumption progress: …24%】

Even though they had managed to escape, Luna’s consumption was still ongoing.

‘It must be the doing of the entity called <Mother>. The consumption rate is faster than I thought, so I expected something would happen soon.’

Nahan, who had recovered some strength through Iaso’s ring, asked Ruby.

“Estimated time until crash?”

“Probably three…”

“Three minutes is enough.”

“Two… One…”

Wait, wha-