Ch.59Hostage Situation Is Dangerous (3)

I felt irritated and wanted to bury the three people in front of me right then and there, but there were too many people around despite everything.

The blood loss was one thing, but the side effects were draining my strength even more.

I signaled to Song Hayeon with a nod to take Gwak Minji and fall back.

“There’s one that wasn’t on the list.”

He was probably referring to Gordon. I hid behind Gordon, tapping his shoulder and whispering something in his ear.

Gordon asked the opponent exactly what I had told him to say.

“Who comes next after I get rid of you lot?”

“There won’t be a next. You’ll end here.”

“He says there are more, Master.”

Hearing this, I whispered something else.

Gordon spoke again.

“He says to stop coming separately and bring everyone at once.”

“…”

“And if you take that woman hostage again, he says he won’t come next time even if you blow her up.”

“…You certainly talk a lot of nonsense with that mouth of yours.”

Swish.

Apparently deciding there was no need for further conversation, the opponent began drawing up magical power and activating a prepared spell.

“Now that you’re here, there’s no way out for any of you.”

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Suddenly, numerous presences began to emanate from the far side of the abandoned factory.

What came into view were countless people with blank expressions, each armed with various weapons.

I could sense the same pattern of energy from them as I had from the truck driver earlier. That meant the one over there must be the mind controller.

I was startled and completely hid myself behind Gordon’s shoulder, thinking:

‘…This isn’t good.’

All of those people were just being controlled. In other words, they were all subjects of the side effect. I immediately felt my mind growing hazy.

“What’s wrong? Lost your confidence suddenly?”

The opponent taunted me, but I was in no state to care about such things.

‘How, how many are there?’

Just glancing at them made me dizzy. Fighting in the midst of these debuff totems was absolutely impossible.

I whispered to Gordon:

“Can you, can you take care of all three?”

“Their power feels considerable. I’m afraid alone I might…”

Certainly, considering Jackson’s case, it was reasonable to assume all three of them possessed similar levels of power.

“Most of these people are awakened ones. I suggest you abandon any thought of escaping easily.”

“Kuhehe. Can I start now? I’m itching to begin.”

Thud.

Thud.

Patter!

There was no time to think. The controlled army of awakened ones charged toward us, and the hooded man disappeared like a mirage.

“Move, move those things somewhere out of sight!”

Without my ring, I would definitely lose my mind if I faced that crowd.

I gave orders to Gordon while retreating into the abandoned factory.

“…Pathetic creatures.”

Boom.

Gordon summoned his staff and struck the ground. Then he chanted a spell.

“Rise.”

Poof!

Poof!

What emerged were only ten skeletons and a banshee.

“…”

Come to think of it, I had destroyed almost all of Gordon’s undead in the previous battle. I felt anxiety gradually rising within me.

Running hard on trembling legs, I saw Song Hayeon summoning undead while laying Gwak Minji against the wall.

Poof!

Poof!

“Master, are you alright?”

“N-no, I’m not. Ugh.”

I should have realized this when I learned they could control people, but honestly, I didn’t expect this human wave tactic.

I collapsed onto the floor and tried to calm myself.

Then, having made a decision, I gave instructions to Song Hayeon.

“J-just keep those things occupied here.”

“What?”

“Undead call.”

Whoosh.

Poof!

Crash!

I immediately summoned a Doom Warrior and used it to break through the wall. Then I began fleeing outside the abandoned factory.

“M-Master? Where are you going!”

I heard Song Hayeon’s panicked cry from behind but ignored it. Whatever happened, I needed to tear apart the enemies first.

Thud.

Boom.

Thud.

Clinging to the Doom Warrior’s shoulder and moving some distance, I soon sensed presences following right behind me.

Two people.

From what I could tell, it was the two people minus the red-haired woman.

‘…’

I had somewhat expected this since I would be their primary target. And that expectation proved exactly right.

Only then did I stop the Doom Warrior and turn around.

“You won’t be able to escape.”

“Kuhehe. Was it really necessary for both of you to come?”

“Don’t let your guard down, Wei. He’s the one who killed Jackson.”

Whoosh.

Wei, the hooded man, drew up magical power in an instant and disappeared just like before.

Judging by his actions, he seemed to be an assassin-type awakened one like Gwak Minji.

Wei, who suddenly reappeared behind the Doom Warrior, struck its nape with two dagger-like fangs.

Crack!

[Grooar!]

Whoosh!

The Doom Warrior swung its weapon widely, but Wei had already disappeared again. His speed was truly remarkable.

Slash!

Wei landed, scraping the ground, and brushed the bone dust off his daggers.

“Is that all? Medicine, you take the big one, and I’ll kill the woman.”

Hearing that, I snickered.

I was finally starting to calm down a bit. Without making eye contact, I murmured to my opponents:

“Can’t, can’t you recognize your friend?”

“What do you mean?”

Their questioning was brief as both of their gazes turned toward Jackson, who had become the Doom Warrior.

Facing them, I asked another question:

“How would you like me to make you?”

“Kuhehe. You arrogant bitch…”

Wei let out a short laugh and leaped toward me with explosive force.

Boom!

“I’ll cut off your limbs and send them to your family.”

Swish!

Crack!

The Doom Warrior blocked with its body the attack that came at almost invisible speed.

From behind it, I held the Book of Death and immediately chanted a spell.

Flash!

“Extraction.”

What I unfolded were the ninth and eleventh pages, each containing the mediums of Jack and Hans.

“Materialization.”

Whoosh.

Thud.

Accordingly, eyes emitting blue light and a severely cracked skull appeared on each of my hands.

Poof!

I summoned the pre-made bodies and combined the two mediums with them while chanting a spell.

“Activation.”

Crack.

Crack.

Rustle.

Black mist flowed from my outstretched hands, and the bodies began to transform, changing into familiar forms.

Watching the scene, I quietly chanted the final spell.

“Undead call.”

There would be an overload later, but that didn’t matter.

This was the only way to deal with those two decisively while away from the mind controller.

“Jack Callista. Hans.”

Whoosh.

Crack!

Grrrk!

As the spell was completed, the summoned Jack and Hans slowly moved their bodies and stared at the enemy.

“…”

Medicine and Wei hardened their expressions and drew up magical power at that ominous energy.

Jack was the first to step forward.

“Should I kill them both?”

To that, I raised my finger toward Wei and spat out my answer.

“Him… cut off all his limbs before killing him.”

“Will do.”

Poof.

With just those words, Jack melted into the shadows as if diving.

“Where!”

Swish.

Wei also used his stealth skill to follow, but at that very moment, shadows surged from beneath Wei’s feet and pulled him in.

“Ugh?”

Poof!

“Wei!”

Hans blocked Medicine’s path as he ran forward with a hardened expression.

“…Move.”

“Why should I?”

Medicine, enraged by Hans’s nonchalant expression, activated a skill and charged.

“Reinforcement.”

Rumble.

Boom!

Hans was sent flying with his chest caved in from the fierce physical attack, but he soon got up indifferently and rolled his shoulders.

Crack.

Crack.

His recovery ability was clearly enhanced compared to last time, thanks to my level increase gradually restoring his original power.

‘…At this rate, the other side should be fine too.’

Medicine frowned at the unbelievable sight, then used another skill to attack Hans.

“Iron Hammer of the War God!”

Whoosh.

Boom!

Though he merely swung his fist, the sound that echoed was incomparable to before.

The impact created a small crater—it was literally overwhelming power.

Splat!

Hans was buried in the dirt with nearly half his head torn off, and Medicine approached me with a warning.

“If you don’t release Wei right now, I’ll crush your head just like that.”

But once again, I simply raised my finger and pointed behind him.

Medicine’s eyes widened as he turned around to see Hans rising from the crater, already regenerating his blown-off head.

Hans tilted his head and spoke casually:

“You’re stronger than I expected…”

Then he said to the speechless Medicine:

“Want to try again?”

“This, this is impossible…!”

Medicine, finally sensing something was wrong, instinctively began to back away. At the same moment, a small object suddenly shot out from the ground nearby.

Poof!

Thud.

It was one of Wei’s arms, splattered with blood as it fell to the ground after being dragged into the shadows.