Chapter 283

Chapter 283. Withdrawal (2)

Countless magics crisscrossed the sky, too numerous to count, yet insufficient to overcome the black tide surging forward.

Even amidst the dense display of magic, some resilient creatures charged ahead without losing their momentum.

In the vanguard, those with the Bronze rank stepped forward. Another round of bombardment followed, and the monsters that survived clashed with the Bronze ranks.

But the time gained by such tactics was not prolonged. Engaging with the legion inevitable led to an unyielding conclusion of chaotic skirmishes; it was clear what was to come.

“Aaaagh!”

“My arm, my arm’s been cut off!”

“Peter! No!”

“Die!”

“Help me!”

The screams, curses, and wails were only a fraction of the unfolding tragedy. What truly worried me, Lily, was the disaster that would follow after this tragedy began.

Sure enough, not long after the melee commenced, the disaster witnessed at Callum Castle reappeared.

“Vivian…?”

“Gunter! Gunter, move! My son is over there!”

“Javiér? Why… why are you there? No!”

Players began calling out the names of their family members as they looked at the monsters, which was evidence enough.

This bizarre phenomenon was one of the reasons for the heavy losses when defending Callum Castle.

The apostle of Finelpenia who fought in the central front also perished helplessly because of this disaster.

Amidst the monsters, the faces of family, friends, and acquaintances suddenly appeared.

When players saw these dear ones stranded on a dangerous battlefield, they became agitated.

This disruption initiated a vicious cycle where they were killed or devoured by other monsters.

‘Or they would be devoured by the illusions if they tried to rescue them directly.’

Lily’s situation was not much different. A monster a few meters away from her had adopted the likeness of the parents she trusted the most.

– Lily! Save me!

– I’m scared! Please, save us!

Their cries for help were so vivid that chills ran down her spine, as if their cries, more than just simple illusions, slashed at Lily’s heart.

She couldn’t take her eyes off them as she pulled out the authority vouchers of Agnotia.

‘Only three left.’

She had saved them sparingly, only to use them against monsters instead of political figures on Earth.

After a bitter sentiment, Lily ripped the voucher apart, transforming the world in her eyes.

Black smoke continuously billowed from the monsters trying to deceive her. The appearances of the monsters mimicking her family flickered.

The true forms visible through the gaps were enough to fortify her resolve. As if empowered by her use of authority, those around Lily began to grip their weapons.

In their eyes, the appearances of family, friends, and acquaintances began to flicker, revealing the monsters beneath.

It wasn’t only those around Lily. Several players had acquired authority vouchers and had been strategically positioned for this purpose from the beginning.

Instructions were given to use the authority in case of emergency. Realistically speaking, there were more people aware that these were fakes than those misled by them.

“Damn, not this shit again!”

“You’re not Sakura!”

Perhaps because they’d been through it once before, not many approached the monsters in a bid to save them.

However, the problem was that not many players could bring themselves to kill monsters disguised as their family, friends, or loved ones.

When monsters cloaked in illusion charged directly, it initiated a disadvantageous situation.

‘Players hesitating to kill versus monsters going all out to kill.’

The outcome was clear without being asked. For humans heavily dependent on visual cues, this strange phenomenon was excessively harsh.

But it was not a situation one could avoid by mere reluctance.

Some gritted their teeth as they plunged swords into the hearts of beloved ones, while others beheaded monsters taking the shape of their children.

As time got tougher, Lily wondered how long this struggle to endure could continue.

“They’re holding out longer than expected.”

A chilling voice echoed as a massive surge of mana resonated—a nemesis-rank presence had appeared.

The infection messages emerged as white frost settled rapidly on the players’ hair and armor.

“The timer has appeared!”

“We’ve got it too! Drink the potion immediately!”

“Wait, move, avoid—”

“Aaah!”

“Damn, the monsters are preventing us from drinking potions!”

“Stay calm! There’s still enough time!”

“Take turns consuming the potion!”

“Stick with your squad!”

The tragedy and disaster were relentless. Solve one issue, and another arose. As the situation seemed more hopeless by the moment, a shower of ice spears rained down from the sky.

It was an indiscriminate attack that didn’t spare ally or adversary, players or monsters.

Those unable to withstand the nemesis-rank’s magical attack fell helplessly.

The players were on the verge of preparing area-of-effect magics when a long-awaited message was delivered.

「Entering Alpha’s domain.」

「Corrupted mana is purified.」

「Pathogens are purified.」

As the long-anticipated messages were received, Lily, along with the nemesis-rank hovering in midair, plunged toward the ground.

* * *

As the nemesis-rank I had struck with my spear fell to the ground, the monsters there scattered like bowling pins.

Among those flung away were creatures that looked like Jinwoo, Yeonwoo, and the Seo family members.

Though I saw my family’s faces, pleading for help through tears, my expression remained unchanged.

I, observing some players visibly distressed, pondered, ‘This isn’t illusion magic.’

The illusion magic established in Biharin manipulates light to create illusions, typically aligning them with the caster’s intention.

It’s impossible to show illusions based on the memories of the individual caught in the magic.

‘That is within the realm of authority, defying causal rules.’

It indicated there was a legion commander lurking somewhere in this battlefield. Even if I couldn’t pinpoint his mana right away, the objective was clear: Find and kill the hidden foe.

‘Starting with that one.’

I thrust my spear at the nemesis-rank rising again from the ground. Despite being unable to regain balance, the creature precisely blocked my attack.

Boom, boom, boom!

The relentless powerful sounds, almost inconceivable for a spear against a monster’s arm, persisted.

Yet, the limits of one not reaching the status of a legion commander were evident. The golden spark imbued with divinity was slowly, but surely, tearing the creature apart.

As obstacles charged to intercept, I disposed of them without hesitation, even if they wore the skins of my family.

‘It’s something I’ve done many times before.’

The experiences and skills accumulated over time were strong enough to withstand the present challenge.

As the relentless pressure continued, the nemesis-rank’s red eyes darkened even more, seemingly fueled with malice.

“Kyaaa! You miserable worm!”

With a petulant howl, the nemesis-rank stomped the ground hard. Black blood oozed from its battered body, and ice shards from all directions aimed precisely at me.

Just as I prepared to counter the magic, I sensed a swiftly approaching force from deep down. Opting not to counter, I leapt into the air and evaded.

Mid-leap, I twisted to see the ground beneath where I previously stood bulge ominously.

Whoosh!

From the ground, a vast maw gaped open, reminiscent of a giant worm or larva. It seemed to be an evolved form of the parasitic creature I had encountered before.

Hundreds of teeth glistened menacingly from within its widely opened maw.

Though it had gone through a taxing evolution, it wasn’t a significant threat to me—it bore only six stars above its head.

From my aerial vantage point, I thrust my spear downwards, infused with diluted mana.

Boom.

A cacophony erupted just as my feet touched the earth again.

The worm-like monster, cleaved straight by my spear, split into two and collapsed on either side, causing an immense splash of black blood.

By then, dozens of mana sources were converging beneath my feet and monsters on the ground, close at hand, charged at me.

‘Where’s the main one?’

Quickly scanning the surroundings, I spotted the back of the retreated nemesis-rank among the horde.

If I engaged each one individually, I risked losing it. Fixated on its retreating form, I unleashed the Lightning Prison.

Within the golden-tinted Lightning, hundreds of monsters were charred instantaneously without resistance, absorbing over several million mana in a single stroke.

Preempting the notification, I propelled myself from the ground, cutting through the swarm of corpses. My target was the fleeing nemesis-rank! As I closed the distance swiftly, I lunged with my spear.

Clang!

Yet, before reaching the nemesis-rank, it managed to repel me with a well-aimed kick, sending me hurtling diagonally.

My arm, holding the spear, flung outwards, leaving my torso exposed. The nemesis-rank’s claws lunged towards my chest while ice spears targeted my back and sides.

Swish!

The clash decided by what both the nemesis-rank and I had accumulated up to this point.

I dismantled its magic, while it failed to disrupt mine. Consequently, the ice spears shattered, but the electric spear buried itself in the nemesis-rank’s neck.

“Graaaaah!”

Twisting the lodged electric spear, the nemesis-rank’s neck cracked audibly. Its head fell cleanly off, while its outstretched claws skimmed my solar plexus, drooping limply.

Despite absorbing the mana and stealing status, frustration lined my face.

「Status is seized from the enemy.」

「The Title ‘Sapling of Divinity’ grows slightly.」

The seized status from the nemesis-rank was too insignificant.

‘It’s likely due to its evolution into the Sapling phase.’

Stealing status from a legion commander was visibly impactful. Conversely, a nemesis-rank barely marked any substantial change.

It seemed catching dozens of them was equivalent to capturing one legion commander.

‘Better than nothing.’

The path from seed to entity wasn’t appearing an easy conquest.

I swallowed a sigh and turned my gaze back to the battlefield, determined to root out the source of the players’ obstructing authority.

Fwoosh.

Ordinarily red mana, now washed in gold, spread in all directions, forming a ripple effect as if I was at its center. For how long this persisted was beyond me…

While my mana cut down masses of monsters, pursing my intent, it began converging toward a single spot.

‘Found it.’

The sight revealed through mana was a 2-star evolved species with merely two stars above its head. However, that appearance was merely superficial.

Beneath that exterior likely lay a 10-star legion commander.

The creature displayed a volatile reaction when met with my divine essence.

Their unsettling power consumed my mana and divinity fully, erasing all information available to me.

Yet even if the particular spot was blank, my mana was blanketing the field.

The issue arose as the newly encountered legion commander opted for retreat over confrontation.

‘Seems it isn’t specialized for battle.’

Even if it was a setup for a trap, I intended to pursue. Nemesis-rank and legion commanders were the only prey for raising my status.

‘I can’t just let this one slip away.’

With that thought, I lightly kicked off the ground and thrust my spear toward the one resembling a commonplace 2-star evolved species.

Damned System