episode_0053

53. Jack and the Beanstalk.

For a while, Yohan stared blankly at the warrior fleeing.

It was the most fluid movement he had ever seen in an enemy.

Even he hesitated for about 1 second, the warrior’s movements were far beyond human standards.

‘What should I do······.’

Contrary to what he thought would be easy, Yohan’s head was spinning violently. If he dragged on any longer, he might really miss him.

Immediately after, Yohan slowly lowered his stance. Then he puts his palm on the ground. His eyes were fixed on the twitching buttocks of the warrior.

He slowly sends magic power towards the ground. After all, the secret to that guy’s movements lies in the trees. If so······

“Ooh-eee-eee-eee!”

Thud, swoosh- Thud, swoosh-

The monkey warrior’s left arm wraps around a sturdy branch. Next, his right hand will find a new branch to wrap around.

He closely examines the escape route of the guy. A tremor, the newly blossomed possibility in Yohan stretches itself.

[Thought Acceleration]

The tape of the world stretches out long. While everyone’s recognition speed remains the same, Yohan’s thoughts are rapidly accelerated.

It is said that humans usually only use a portion of their brain? It felt like easily breaking through that limit.

‘A branch sturdy enough to withstand the weight of a healthy adult male, and in a position that is easy for him to grab······.’

Found it.

Ssssssssss-

Dew.

[Extrinsic Implementation] [Shape Transformation]

Yohan’s magic power churned and surged. Immediately after, the warrior’s right arm landed on the branch Yohan had marked.

Freeze.

Thud, crack!

“Ooh-eee······ Eee-ack!”

The branch he wrapped around tears like cotton candy. The warrior raised his head with a bewildered face.

The color of the branch was as black as if it was full of water.

‘What’s this all of a sudden!’

Since he was gliding in a fairly high place, the falling period was also quite long. He fumbled around, searching for a new branch.

There were countless branches to grab. But he couldn’t grab them.

‘In what gap!’

All the branches sturdy enough to support his weight had turned black. Full of water, and in addition, the moisture was frozen.

The warrior despaired. It was no different from a monkey in the palm of Buddha’s hand.

With this level of magical skill, he wouldn’t have used such a troublesome method in the first place.

In fact, Yohan could have killed him instantly. He was just researching a new magic method in an interesting situation.

The warrior couldn’t deduce it exactly, but it can be said that he was somewhat close to the truth.

‘He was just toying with me!’

The two eyes of such a warrior turned blue. It was because he saw countless magic missiles filling the surroundings.

“Ah······.”

Wham, wham, wham, wham, wham!!!

A white halo was born from the blue light created by Yohan. Yohan immediately turned his head and looked at the magician who was arguing with Sara.

If it were just the magician alone, Sara would kill him quickly, but unfortunately, it seemed to take time due to the support of the archer.

Yohan had no intention of wasting time, so he slowly raised his hand. All calculations on how to break through the defense of that plant-type magician were completed.

The weeds under his feet held their breath. The dense magic power Yohan was emitting was exerting physical force.

The opponent’s magician also noticed this and raised his magic power. At the same time as a new seed was sown from his chest, another stem ascended.

‘I see why he became the team leader. His magic power stats are quite high.’

Of course, not as much as Yohan. Still, he couldn’t deny the opinion that he was a talented magician.

Yohan was a little relieved for that reason. It was a relief.

‘The amount of magic power, I absolutely won’t lose.’

Drrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Dig.

[Extrinsic Implementation]

No matter how big and strong a tree, a flower, or a grass is. Without a solid foundation, it is useless.

Yohan’s magic power strongly stimulated his whole body. He felt like the blood in his heart was hardening due to the rapidly draining magic power.

“Kuh-heuk······.”

Yohan frowned at the sharp pain felt near his heart and looked straight ahead.

The green serpent that had been ascending without knowing the fear of the sky was sinking to the ground.

The plant magician had a dazed expression.

He was also a magician, so he knew well what kind of magic Yohan had used. It was a common spell that anyone could learn with just a few gold coins.

‘To pull off this level of performance with just one Dig!’

Soon, the magician’s whole body appeared as if the curtains of the stage were rising. The difference from the play was that the stage actor’s preparation was still insufficient.

The magician hurriedly prepared a new spell, but the angry audience had already stormed the stage.

Swish-

With a light cutting sound, the plant magician’s head falls. Immediately after, white halos were created in two places.

Following that, the second blue message window appeared.

[A team member from zone 33 has defeated the team leader from zone 32.]

[The name of zone 32 has been changed to 33-B.]

[The messenger function has been unlocked.]

Unlike before, there was also a new message. It seems to be a message that only appears to team leaders who have more than 3 zones under their control.

‘Let’s figure that out later, and first choose a team member.’

He realized that their home base was zone 32. That means that zone 32 is currently unclaimed.

He didn’t know when new people would invade zone 32, no, zone 33-B.

“Sara, how about recruiting that ninja and magician from before?”

“Okay. I was going to recommend those two as well.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Yohan reached out without hesitation. His index and middle fingers took two pictures, and then a new colleague appeared before their eyes.

[Recruit Oh Tak-hoon as a team member.]

[Recruit Kang Sik-moon as a team member.]

Flash-

“······.”

“······.”

The man in black blinked for a moment, then reached out his hand towards Yohan.

“So it ends up like this after all. I expected it from the moment I was about to die, though. Well, please take care of me in the future. Team leader.”

This was the same for the plant magician. The spirit of teasing Sara from before was gone, and he politely offered Sara a handshake with a much more polite attitude.

“I’m sorry about before. I just wanted to provoke you······.”

“······It’s okay.”

Sara was embarrassed for no reason when he said that with a serious expression. It was the first time she had seen someone change their attitude so quickly. His acting skills were truly excellent.

But what was important now was not friendship exchange. Yohan abruptly said.

“Please go to zone 32 quickly. And, if any special circumstances arise······.”

At that moment, Yohan’s voice echoed in the mind of Oh Tak-hoon, the man in black.

[Please let me know through the messenger like this.]

Oh Tak-hoon had a bewildered face. Although it was covered by a mask, his eyes showed it.

“What is this······. This?”

“It’s a newly opened function. You can only use it once a day, so use it carefully.”

“Oh, I see. It’s useful. Then, I’ll be on my way.”

As soon as he got new information, Oh Tak-hoon left the spot.

Even he was anxious about zone 32, which currently had no owner.

Oh Tak-hoon and Yohan were enemies until just now, but now they were a community bound by fate. Oh Tak-hoon would do his best.

Thud, thud, thud, thud─

Yohan turned his body while watching Oh Tak-hoon and Kang Sik-moon moving away.

“Let’s rest for today.”

“······I understand.”

Chang-soo replied in a slightly lonely tone. His eyes were looking at the place where the woman with glasses had disappeared.

Duk-soo spat and muttered.

“Tch, she was a pretty decent girl, though······ Bad luck.”

“······.”

Although the time they had known each other was short, losing a relationship was always a painful thing.

They headed to the sleeping place they had prepared, treading through the dry dirt floor.

***

“Let’s take turns standing guard. Let’s have Duk-soo take the first shift first.”

“What? Hey team leader, you haven’t been to the military, have you? The first and last shifts are usually the best······.”

Duk-soo frowned and asked back, and Yohan immediately cut him off.

He didn’t want to have unnecessary arguments.

“I haven’t served, but I know that much too.”

Yohan pointed at Duk-soo’s body.

“Humans usually recover while sleeping. Duk-soo’s physical condition is not very good yet, so he needs sufficient quality of sleep.”

As he said, Duk-soo’s condition was not very good at the moment.

It was because he had been butchered by the man in black until Yohan and Sara came.

In the end, Duk-soo realized that it was not the time to protect his pride.

“······Okay. Sleep comfortably. I won’t let a single rat come near.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Yohan said that and lay down.

Today, they acquired a total of 2 zones. Still not enough.

‘I’ll be busy. There’s no time.’

Yohan took out a magic book of bizarre color from the inventory. It was like a book made from human skin as a material.

Rustle, an unpleasant sensation is transmitted through his fingertips. It was a magic book that Yohan had been diligently reading recently.

‘It’s difficult. I want to read the next magic book quickly.’

Someday he would acquire it. Yohan’s eyes moved busily.