Chapter 106: Weakness Induction Lv.3

Omega stepped on the fragmented, sticky flesh of the worm and retrieved the items he had been keeping, syringes prepared for this decisive battle.

Gripping them tightly, a handful in each hand, he plunged them into his neck!

He injected the drugs Hex had created without leaving a single drop behind.

“Ahh, this is amazing.”

Vitality surged through his entire body. A power comparable to omnipotence. He felt like he couldn’t lose no matter what.

The perfect time to shake off the nightmare.

Seeing Juyeon approaching of her own accord, distancing herself from the cadets, Omega drew a sarcastic smile.

“Wasting a surprise attack like this to save the life of a stinking brat? Are you insane?”

“Killing you after saving them is enough.”

“Khahaha!!! The great general has become rusty after spending time with children.”

Who orchestrated the chaos unfolding on this Uninhabited Island?

Juyeon grasped the situation at once.

…

Rohan in shambles, Corin unconscious, Ichinose and Noa paralyzed by fear.

Images that stimulated memories buried deep within.

Juyeon took a deep breath and cleared her consciousness.

Her rage had already surpassed its limit. Still, she tried to remain composed.

She reminded herself as much as possible that none of the cadets had died.

I must calm down. This isn’t an enemy I can defeat while agitated.

Aside from the abilities developed since their last encounter, Omega’s grotesque appearance had intensified compared to the past.

But there was no fear.

What Juyeon truly feared hadn’t happened, by a hair’s breadth.

“I won’t miss you this time.”

As Juyeon opened her hand, Flames soared.

──Whoosh! The exploding blaze condensed, summoning a great sword.

A blade even larger than Juyeon’s height. The weapon that severed the neck of the dragon that attacked the Three Kingdoms Union.

The massive sword moved lightly in her hand like a twig.

Omega immediately began his combat preparations.

“That sword will be a perfect trophy of victory.”

Crack! Crunch! Creak!

Omega’s right arm underwent a viscous, wriggling transformation.

One of Juyeon’s eyebrows twitched at the transformed shape.

The color was different, but the form was unforgettable, regardless of what he had done to its shell.

“I see. So it was you who invaded the Three Kingdoms Union and stole the dragon’s head.”

“Khehe, be grateful that I let you know the secret before you die.”

A long sword popped out from the dragon’s maw, spraying an ominous liquid everywhere, but Juyeon showed no particular reaction.

She merely stated a fact.

“Are you so stupid that you don’t know? That monster eventually fell to me as well.”

“That’s because it couldn’t properly handle its power with its monster intelligence.”

“…Pathetic. Believe it if you want.”

Juyeon and Omega stopped their conversation there.

The traces of monsters fused to Omega’s entire body were fully revealed.

The tips of Juyeon’s hair began to flicker with Flames.

““…””

Silence.

The moment Omega shifted his center of gravity by slightly pushing off with his foot,

Juyeon quietly vanished from her spot without any preliminary movements.

And then she reappeared.

A relentless slash aimed at reaping his life. Flames seeking to incinerate his being.

Omega blocked the great sword with his own sword, drawing an arc.

“Hhahaha!!! This is it! Let’s kill each other!”

“…”

Omega felt the drugs dulling his fear of the Flames and heightening his senses.

A crazed laughter burst out.

The remaining seven octopus Legs sprouted from his back and stretched towards Juyeon.

Pabababak!

A speed unbelievable for a great sword. They were sliced apart with absurd ease.

Seeing Juyeon’s unchanged prowess, Omega decided not to hold back what he had prepared.

As he used the Skill, the jet-black mechanical parts covering his jaw administered chemicals and detached, revealing Hex’s ambitious creations.

Poison glands filled with deadly Poison, Chimera muscles selected for each body part.

Shell-like skin that withstood flames, regenerative tissues and factors.

The external changes were significant.

But the internal changes were even more diverse, numbering in the dozens.

“…You’ve given up being human.”

“I don’t cling to weak species. I’ll make you a part of this body soon enough.”

The dragon head biting Omega’s sword growled as if it had regained life.

“Your existence alone is a disgrace to humanity. I will put you to sleep before you become more repulsive.”

Juyeon’s greatsword led the Flames.

Flames filled Omega’s vision.

Juyeon thrust her blade through the heat, so intense that he could barely open his eyes.

──Kakagak!!!

Omega blocked Juyeon’s attack, falling into ecstasy.

Before, the moment he faced this heat, his eyeballs would have been destroyed, but now he could endure it.

As long as he didn’t take a direct hit, he could manage the superficial flames with his new body and the drugs’ effects. The situation was definitely different from before.

Juyeon’s crimson Slashes poured down like a landslide.

The barrier Omega spread in the air swallowed the heat and exploded.

“Die! Become my nourishment!”

Juyeon’s calmness clashed with Omega’s madness, swords and Skills exploding wildly.

Slashing, bursting, stabbing, dodging, firing.

Their attacks shook the very ground of the Uninhabited Island.

Yet, it was a stalemate.

The scales had not yet tipped in either direction.

A notification window containing the Reward popped up before Rohan.

But he couldn’t read it. It didn’t register in his eyes.

…

Rohan felt the pain that had been disrupting his focus gradually subside.

Still, his vision blurred.

He could breathe properly now, but the realization that Juyeon had arrived was trying to lull him into unconsciousness.

But he bit his tongue to regain his senses.

He couldn’t fall asleep. He couldn’t lose consciousness.

There’s definitely something. Something I can do…

The course of events in Abyss City has already deviated.

While Juyeon’s victory or a draw was overwhelmingly likely, it was not absolute.

If there’s anything I can do, I must do more.

Reward. The reward…

Among the past notification windows, what he saw momentarily were Points.

He opened the Shop and poured his resources into something that could make a difference.

As the skills evolved, complex descriptions appeared.

However, his consciousness could not fully absorb the tiny letters.

The pain and exhaustion prevented him from focusing.

But

Even without reading the detailed explanations, there was something that instinctively made him understand.

!

Did his desperation and yearning reach the heavens?

As his Unique Skill reached Level 3, a new talent blossomed.

Rooted in Weakness Induction, it informed him he could now imbue projectiles with specific skills and Mana.

“Rohan! Are you alright?!”

“Hey! Wake up!”

Corin hung limply from Noa’s side, still unconscious.

Seeing his friends safe made the pain subside. He felt proud.

“Can you get up?”

“Grab my hand!”

Ichinose and Noa helped him up.

As he stood with their assistance, he hugged both girls tightly.

““!!!””

“I’m so glad. Truly… I’m so glad you’re safe.”

His voice was laced with unusual emotion.

Startled, Ichinose and Noa looked at him.

“Rohan…”

“You…?”

As the girls looked at him, they saw his eyes were closed.

Thinking he’d lost consciousness again, Ichinose pulled him closer.

“Noa. I’ll take care of Rohan. Let’s each take one.”

“Alright. Let’s hurry.”

Noa erased her surprise. She started to run, and as Ichinose tightly held onto him, about to follow, he murmured.

“Ichinose. Wait a moment.”

“A-Are you awake? Are you alright…?”

“I’m fine. I wasn’t asleep.”

That was a lie. He fell asleep for a moment.

If his grip on consciousness loosened even slightly, he’d drift off again.

“Huuuh, lend me your shoulder so I can stand properly.”

“What are you planning to do…?”

“For the Instructor.”

“We’ll only get in the way if we interfere!”

“I know. But… trust me just this once.”

“…”

Ichinose hesitated for a moment.

Then, as if she’s made up her mind, she silently gripped his arm as it rested on her shoulder.

“Thank you.”

He hurried his preparations.

Before he lost consciousness again, he remembered something he could do. He needed to finish things here.

Ichinose is right. That’s the correct answer.

No matter what he tried, at his level, he couldn’t grasp Juyeon and Omega’s movements when they were serious.

He could only perceive them as unnatural flashes of color and the reverberations of immense power colliding.

But still.

There were moments when their forms became clearly visible.

For a few seconds, they repeatedly froze as their swords clashed in a struggle of strength.

Just once, it’s worth a try…

He put his trembling hands inside his coat.

The Tigrova Mountain Pistol Gangseol-75 he obtained from the Supply.

His legs were weak, and he couldn’t remove the hand he was using to support himself on Ichinose.

He bit down on the barrel to load the Handgun.

With his hand gripping the handle and mouth holding the barrel ──click! he forced the slide back.

I’ll imbue this with a skill.

He immediately put his new talent to use, focusing Mana into the bullet.

Ichinose stared, mouth agape, at the unique Mana gathering around the Handgun.

He was ready.

I must believe. It will definitely hit. He’ll get hit even if he knows it’s coming.

Would Omega’s pride allow him to dodge an attack from a cadet?

He has been confident in his durability, taking every attack so far, hasn’t he?

“Ugh…!”

“Rohan!”

The premonition of Mana exhaustion arrived.

He let out a hollow laugh at the sensation he hadn’t felt in a while.

“When I fire, run. Please.”

“…Alright.”

I’m sorry, but he couldn’t even reassure Ichinose that he’ll be okay.

Even the smallest distraction was difficult.

Koooong──!!!

The air vibrated with the clash of power.

The tremendous shockwave momentarily cleared his mind.

There!

He saw Omega’s back as he struggled against Juyeon.

Monsters were swarming all over Omega’s body, making him a ridiculously large target.

“Ha…”

He exhaled, scraping together the last of his strength.

He poured it all into his gaze and fingertips.

Even if I can’t induce Weakness…

He desperately prayed for even the slightest positive change.

He pulled the trigger.

Bang!