Ch.6868. Subjugation Force (2)

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Gideon and Krat’s task is simple.

I’ll take the side of whoever achieves more in the monster subjugation mission to resolve issues within Count Chester’s territory.

“…”

Thinking about it, this is actually quite dangerous.

The origin of monsters spreading throughout the Empire remains unclear, but what’s certain is that they always form colonies. There’s a reason regular monster subjugations are major events. If you kill just one, swarms will emerge like disturbing a beehive, so everyone prepares thoroughly.

According to standard monster classification, three small monsters equal the combat power of one regular knight.

Previously, Elia alone destroyed twice that number by herself, but that’s because she’s special.

During monster subjugations, dozens or even hundreds of monsters can pour out, so you can imagine the danger level.

However.

When dealing with two inhuman individuals like these, the situation changes considerably.

-!!!

A wolf-shaped monster shatters under Krat’s fist.

I’ve already seen dozens like this. Most swords and spears can’t even pierce monster hide properly. Yet this man is tearing them apart with his bare hands like popping balloons.

Even Elia, who once risked her life fighting six monsters, watches with a deflated expression. In just minutes, he’s sent over 20 monsters to the afterlife.

What about Gideon’s side?

“Hmm.”

A short exhale, and Gideon draws his sword.

A slash too quick to see. His sword sweep instantly cuts through surrounding monsters.

Though the movement seems light, it precisely severs the vital points of every monster in its path.

While Krat’s style is bold and violent, crushing everything in his grasp, Gideon’s combat technique is precise and accurate like a machine.

This isn’t subjugation—it’s more like weeding, methodically eliminating everything in sight.

Calivan questioned whether I could control such personnel, but here’s the clear answer.

I don’t need to control them.

They’re so powerful that they’ll slice through everything if left alone.

“…Those two, the Empire’s representative warriors…”

“…”

As Elia breathes out in admiration, Elnore responds with silence.

Unlike Elia, she probably has negative feelings toward her father, so she won’t openly acknowledge him, but she can’t deny their achievements.

Their accomplishments are truly on another level.

“…”

But you know what?

[Target ‘Elnore’s’ ‘Trait: Tristan-style Swordsmanship’ proficiency is increasing!]

[Target ‘Elia’s’ ‘Trait: Combat Endurance’ proficiency is increasing!]

There’s a reason I brought these two along despite those monsters being here.

These two are also collections of talent. Monsters in their own way.

Just by watching practical combat from those more skilled than themselves, they can absorb everything useful in real-time.

‘By the end of this subjugation…’

Both Elnore and Elia’s traits will have visibly grown.

Then I can inherit those traits through Gift.

Killing two birds with one stone.

So what am I doing while these monsters are busy with each other?

“Oh, this one’s not dead yet.”

I’m collecting fallen monsters.

The ones that are on the verge of death but still breathing.

“…”

It might look unsightly, but this is necessary work.

I hold my amulet to a dying monster, and its body transforms into light particles that begin to orbit around me.

< System Message >

[‘Alchemy’ medium acquired.]

[You can engrave patterns on your body through this medium. Each alchemical formation has different effects depending on the pattern.]

That’s right.

●

The condition for using alchemy—requiring living creatures as mediums—is quite restrictive.

Systematically, for a creature to be used as a medium, it must satisfy one of two conditions:

Either the subject’s ‘consent’ or being on the verge of death.

I don’t have creatures around me willing to give consent, nor do I want that. And I lack the ability to precisely time the near-death state required for the latter.

In that sense, this subjugation is perhaps my only opportunity to activate alchemy.

“Am I doing this right?”

[Yes. You’ve chosen good mediums. Monsters are particularly efficient.]

Valkarsus answers from within the Soul Linker.

I’ve collected about five monsters now. This should be enough to engrave the minimum functional pattern.

[Originally, alchemy places a burden on the body of the one who engraves it. You can see that from my previous form.]

His voice continues with a bitter smile.

[Once engraved, alchemical patterns cannot be erased, so normally one must be extremely careful when deciding… but.]

“But?”

[I have several recommended formations for you to try. They’re my masterpieces.]

“…”

[You’re currently with the world’s greatest alchemist. Trust me once.]

Valkarsus says with a proud voice.

He’s right. Where else would I find an expert of his caliber in this field?

‘Well then…’

I’ll trust him this once.

Following Valkarsus’s instructions, I trace lines on my arm to complete the formation.

The number of lines isn’t that many, so I can’t summon an army of the dead or call forth special-grade monsters like Valkarsus did.

Still, alchemy is the most powerful ability as a single art. I hope something good comes out…

< System Message >

[‘Alchemy: Seal’ acquired!]

[This ability has been added to your skill tab!]

“…”

I fall silent after reading the description of the ability.

I was hoping for something good.

“Is this really just a 5-line formation…?”

[It will get stronger later, don’t worry.]

I let out a hollow laugh at Valkarsus’s proud tone.

He did well.

So well that it’s ridiculous.

‘Let’s try it out.’

If I’ve acquired something like this, I should test it.

Looking around with that thought, a suitable opponent catches my eye.

Even Gideon and Krat, who were mowing down monsters with sword and fist, momentarily pause with furrowed brows.

“…What’s a nasty type like that doing in this backwater?”

Krat mutters, looking at a massive wolf with bizarre protrusions growing from its body.

Judging by its size, it’s a medium-grade monster. Probably the leader in this area.

Even these men who dispatched other monsters with single strikes seem hesitant to attack this one carelessly.

As I’ve mentioned before, medium-grade monsters typically come with several special abilities.

‘Judging by its color, it’s packed with abilities.’

I can’t help but grimace.

The danger of mutated entities can usually be judged by body color, and this one is red.

That’s the signal for the most dangerous among the same grade. It probably has the maximum of three special abilities.

And this one has a combination that would make Sera players cringe.

“…[Adaptive Skin], [Refraction], and [Ultra-regeneration]. Troublesome.”

Gideon sighs in agreement with Krat.

Adaptive Skin grants high resistance to weapons that have contacted it once.

Refraction completely reflects damage back.

And Ultra-regeneration continuously heals wounds.

In other words.

You need to deliver a powerful enough strike to kill it in one blow, but the attacker will suffer the same damage reflected back.

Each of these mutations would be troublesome alone, but all three have appeared simultaneously.

No wonder it stands there proudly while other monsters are swept away.

“There is a simple solution, though.”

Krat says with a grin.

“…Is there such a thing?”

As expected of the Margrave who rules the northernmost dangerous region of the Empire. Even for such a hellish combination, a solution…

“Beat it until it dies.”

“…What about the reflected damage?”

“Endure it with pure grit.”

“…”

“It’s a contest of who dies first. I’ve never lost.”

That’s why you’re still alive, you madman.

I don’t understand why Calivan and Krat—all these Holy Knights—have such twisted mentalities.

“…I’ll handle it. We don’t need to waste strength now when the truly dangerous one hasn’t even appeared yet.”

The core of this subjugation is the monster fused with the ‘Devil’s Fragment’ that we’ll tackle tomorrow with the Homunculus sisters.

There’s no need to expend so much energy here.

As I step forward with a sigh, everyone’s eyes widen.

“You’re going to fight it? How?”

“I’ll manage. I should earn my keep after coasting so far, right?”

As I stretch my body saying that, Krat lets out a laugh.

“…I won’t stop you if you want to take on the hard work, but are you sure? You could die if you mess up.”

This task is difficult enough that even this man would say such things.

I can feel Elnore’s cold gaze on me.

Her eyes say, ‘Planning to get hurt again?’ but.

“…”

I send her a reassuring look.

No, this time I really won’t get hurt.

Don’t worry.

“…Even so, it’s difficult alone. I should help—”

“Gideon.”

I carefully observe Gideon’s slightly trembling hand, which wasn’t there before the battle.

Noticing my gaze, Gideon startles and hides his hand behind his back.

“…It’s fine. It’s nothing.”

“I know it’s not fine.”

“…”

The madness flowing through the Tristan Dukedom bloodline isn’t something that can be resolved by slaying small monsters like these.

The only way to alleviate it is limited to ‘living people’—a particularly vicious condition.

While I frequently help Elnore release steam, this person not only can’t easily cut down people due to his position, but on my orders, he’s been secluded in remote areas focusing on training, with even fewer opportunities.

In such a situation, with ‘combat’ further stimulating those impulses, well.

It’s a miracle he’s maintaining his sanity.

“…”

However, I can’t resolve this now.

I shouldn’t, and doing so would make the situation worse.

At least until this ‘subjugation’ ends, it’s best for him to remain in this precarious state.

“Stay back.”

With those words, I dash toward the giant wolf.

Simultaneously, it recognizes me.

[Crisis situation detected.]

[Judged to be a direct threat to life.]

[‘Skill: Desperate Situation’ applied at EX grade.]

[‘Skill: Swordsman’s Focus’ activated!]

[Reaction speed and precision increased!]

With a beast’s roar, its front paw lunges forward.

Insanely fast. Without Swordsman’s Focus, I wouldn’t even have seen its trajectory.

It’s much slower than Riru, the fastest human I’ve encountered, but still fast enough that I’d be hit if I lost focus for a moment.

‘It really is strong!’

Even setting aside its special abilities, a medium-grade monster’s physical capabilities alone are sufficiently threatening.

Especially ones with multiple mutations like this are typically stronger than average medium-grade monsters.

Still, my skills have boosted my specs tremendously. I can react.

A few drops of my blood scatter as the claws narrowly graze my chest.

“Hup.”

I bring my sword against the swinging front paw.

With a clang, I deflect the paw, and simultaneously, blue energy from its body spreads across my sword like cracks.

I did cut the paw slightly while deflecting it, but such a wound is quickly regenerated by [Ultra-regeneration].

I can’t read a beast’s expression, but the wolf seems to look triumphant.

< System Message >

[You’ve contacted the monster’s ‘Adaptive Skin’!]

[Your weapon’s effectiveness against this monster is reduced by 90%!]

‘So that’s how it works.’

It really is selfish.

Just blocking an attack renders one weapon useless. Even for a rare mutation, this seems excessive. No wonder Sera users tremble at the sight of such types.

“You fool! How could you use your weapon like that! That sword is useless now!”

Krat shouted from behind, sounding frustrated.

“Fall back! Fighting further is a waste of time…!”

Krat quickly closed his mouth as I charged at the monster again before he could finish.

No, I really meant it when I said I’d be fine alone. I never intended to defeat it with this anyway.

This is, let’s say, meant to lower its guard.

-…?

The monster seems confused. Naturally, as a human who’s lost their weapon is charging at it barehanded.

But soon its eyes fill with mockery, and it raises its front paw again. It intends to finish me in one strike, disregarding its own defense and swinging with full force.

It probably thinks I have no effective means of attack.

But.

[‘Alchemy: Seal’ used!]

[Target silenced!]

The formation engraved on my arm glows.

Simultaneously, an identical but much larger formation appears beneath the wolf.

And the colors imbued in the wolf’s body are ‘washed away.’

-…!

The wolf’s eyes widen. It seems to instinctively sense that something has changed, that a fatal danger has emerged.

Because all the abilities protecting it have suddenly ‘disappeared.’

But it’s already too late.

[Trait: Reverse Wind] [Grade: Basic]

[If you block an opponent’s attack with precise timing by ‘deflecting,’ you can return a significant portion of the damage to the attacker.]

Even with a sword that has lost its ‘offensive capability,’ I can still use ‘techniques’ derived from Tristan swordsmanship.

As the front paw is deflected, the physical force generated from the wolf’s paw returns to it.

Thanks to the tremendous energy imbued in its full-force strike meant to finish me in one blow.

Immediately, its thick hide—which would have been difficult for me alone—is deeply cut across the chest, almost exposing its organs.

And there.

[‘Skill: Sacred Scar’ used.]

I create a holy power barrier by ‘inserting’ it into the wound area. The slightly opened hide spreads wide because of it.

While the barrier has no offensive capability of its own, it’s quite useful for its hardness. It can be used this way. This is one of the tricks I learned from diving deep into Sera.

And before the monster can let out a painful scream, I thrust my sword into its heart through the opened gap.

-…!

-…

And with just that.

The light fades from its eyes. It staggers, then collapses to the ground.

“…”

“…”

Everyone’s jaws drop as they watch the monster’s body crumble.

No one could utter a word until its massive body fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

“Hey, bookworm. Did that even take 5 seconds?”

“4.7 seconds.”

After Krat and Gideon exchange words in slightly dazed voices.

“What was that, what? How, how did you do that, teacher?!”

Elia exclaims in astonishment.

I completely understand such a reaction.

I was also dumbfounded when I first saw this.

< Skill Info >

[Alchemy: Seal] [5 lines]

[Restricts the opponent’s skill usage for a certain period of time.]

[Duration is 0.3 seconds.]

A debuff skill with an incredibly simple effect.

But as you can see, the ability listed is.

Broken.

Insanely so.

To the point where Valkarsus’s claim that it will get stronger later seems unconscionable.

‘…I made the right choice keeping this person as a spirit.’

I think with a wry smile at the amulet wrapped around my wrist.

The final boss experience really shows.

With that thought, I look at the fallen monster’s body.

There’s more to extract here.

‘This is clearly a material goldmine.’

A monster’s body itself is top-tier equipment material. Especially rare mutants like this.

As I happily approach the fallen monster’s body, I overhear a conversation between the two nobles nearby.

“…The more I see him, the more useful he seems. His fighting sense is good. I should try that barrier wound-opening technique myself.”

“Back off, barbarian. I formed a relationship with him first.”

“Come on, would it hurt to share? Huh?”

“Yes, it would. Get lost.”

“…”

Come to think of it.

Gideon also tends to become strangely childish when dealing with Krat.

Is it because they’re rivals?

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