episode_0056

56. Ambush.

Puaaaaaaaak!!!

“Save meee!!”

“Gluglug······.”

The rampage of John’s team continued the next morning as well. No, it was even worse than yesterday. The combined attack of Kang Sik-mun, who learned a new mana management method, and John was difficult for ordinary players to defend against.

It was a minor difference, but for them, running in the upper ranks of the tower, it was a meaningful gap. Kang Sik-mun’s stem was thicker, tougher, and even more fluid than before.

Thanks to this, John was able to reduce the mana invested in the shield and, inversely, increase the amount of mana allocated to the [Angry Wave] spell.

He stole Kang Sik-mun’s mana and amplified the amount of mana in his body using the ring. Now, it was no exaggeration to say that John was a walking natural disaster.

[······Acquires karma.]

[······Acquires.]

Swish, John said, waving the blue spear that tickled his vision.

‘It’s not like I actually killed them, so why are they giving me karma again.’

Well, the more the merrier.

“It’s over. Thank you all for your hard work.”

“”Thank you for your hard work!!!””

The answering voices are loud. Well, it was natural. It’s not like it’s just happened once or twice, and they’re constantly observing John’s divine power. They couldn’t help but feel awe.

Among them, the most outstanding was Kang Sik-mun.

Wriggle-wriggle-

“Mr. John! Please lie down!”

Before he knew it, the title used to call John was no longer team leader. That desperate emotion was revealed by the choice of words.

“······Thank you.”

As he entrusted his body to the verdant bed, it felt like he had entered the mouth of a monster. At that moment, dozens of thin sprouts sprouted from the thick stem at the head of the bed.

“What is this······.”

Swoosh-

It instantly swelled up and grew to a thickness similar to John’s forearm. His trapezius muscles involuntarily shrank at the bizarre sight. Kang Sik-mun answered, looking at John, who lowered his head like a turtle.

“Mr. John. Do you happen to know what my job was?”

I don’t know, scary.

“I don’t know.”

“It’s a physical therapist.”

“I see. But why is that······?”

Swish, mana rippled around Kang Sik-mun like waves. John reflexively pulled up his mana. Is it betrayal?

“Let me introduce! My original spell created by combining modern knowledge and otherworld magic(魔法學)!”

“······.”

John still didn’t let his guard down. But at that moment, John’s tension slowly eased.

“Green Massage!”

“Ughhhhhhhhh······.”

A corpse-like scream flowed from John’s mouth. This is because numerous stems are pressing, tapping, and massaging his entire body.

“Kueeeeok······.”

Every muscle in his body is relaxed, one by one. His vision flickers. It felt like someone had taken control of his body.

“Hehehe, even though I look like this, I was called ‘Hand of God’ in Buldang-dong. I’m confident about muscles.”

“Kkuweeeeeeek······.”

“Ah, the combination of modern knowledge and otherworld learning is really wonderful. Isn’t that right, Tak-hoon?”

“······.”

The man in black, Oh Tak-hoon, did not answer. As someone with a physical occupation, he fully acknowledged the effectiveness of the skill used by Kang Sik-mun.

However, looking at John’s current state, no good words would come out. Isn’t that like torture? He just quietly turned his head and looked away.

‘Huh?’

At that time, someone’s figure came into Oh Tak-hoon’s view. It was Sarah.

‘What’s with that expression?’

She was sending a somehow excited gaze to John. Although her face was expressionless, the heat felt from her eyes was no joke.

Soon, Oh Tak-hoon realized something and exclaimed softly.

‘Well, he said he wasn’t a team leader, but I guess that lady is.’

Those were good times. Oh Tak-hoon quietly cheered for the two and left the spot. Since the team leader is like that, he should scout the surroundings.

Tadat-!

***

“Hoo······ Mr. John, what is your mana stat? You don’t seem to be struggling much.”

It was Kang Sik-mun’s words. He was panting roughly, grabbing his knees. It was a reaction to using mana rapidly.

Of course, John just smiled without answering. Kang Sik-mun didn’t particularly ask the question to get an answer, so he casually changed the subject.

“We’ve eaten all the target 0th squad areas, so it’ll be much easier to defend now.”

“That’s right. Now we only have to block two sides.”

“Hehehe······ soon all 100 areas will be subservient to Mr. John.”

“Haha.”

If they just kept up this pace, it wasn’t impossible. John recalled the areas he had eaten so far.

‘From number 30 to 34, from number 20 to 24, from number 10 to 14, from number 0 to 4.’

Ugh, a subtle vomit rises. Even though he looks fine on the outside, he wasn’t on the inside.

‘I did use a lot of mana. But it’s over now.’

He carefully observed the mana in his body. He needs to rest soon. Based on the mana management method he learned from Jerry.

“Mr. Kang Sik-mun. Could you make me a bed?”

“Of course, I’ll make it right now.”

When Kang Sik-mun flicked his fingers, a bed appeared from the ground. John lay down on it with familiar movements and looked at the sky.

‘A bird?’

There, a red parrot was sitting on a branch, observing John. It wasn’t a strange thing. Animals and plants also live in this strange forest.

‘······Wait a minute.’

John felt a sense of incongruity. He slowly replayed the memories of the past.

The bird’s appearance was too familiar. He was human, and the appearances of other species all seemed similar. However, John’s memory far surpasses ordinary people.

If he could see in detail, he could distinguish the different points even in the same kind of animal.

John’s brain rotated fiercely and spat out memories. Eventually, it derives the results.

‘Area 23, area 21, area 14, area 10, area 4, and······.’

It was also discovered in area 1, where John is now. It’s certain. There was no way John’s memory could be wrong.

‘······.’

The moment he finished thinking, John’s mana was already taking shape.

Dew.

[Off-site Implementation].

Puhwak, the instantaneously created water droplets cover the red parrot. The guy tried to escape by flapping his two wings. John’s eyebrows twitched at the faster-than-expected movement.

‘Missing. Further to the side.’

John quickly created new dew with good agility. A curtain of water was already hanging over the parrot’s head.

The moment he and moisture came into contact─

Freeze.

Crackle.

The parrot turned into bird ice cream and fell to the ground. John snatched it up while lying on the green bed.

“Huh? What is it?”

It was Kang Sik-mun’s question. But John couldn’t really answer either.

“······Well, I don’t know either······.”

Surprisingly, the answer came from an unexpected place. Sarah, who was observing John from the side, lowered her posture and shouted.

“It’s an enemy!”

“”······!””

Pabababak-!

All of John’s team members in the open space tensed their entire bodies. They had already deeply felt the senses and power of the team leader’s lover. They don’t feel anything, but if she says there’s an enemy, there is.

Immediately after, a jet-black shadow was cast over their heads.

Shusushusuk-

Whirr-!

The team members looked up at the sky. The blue sky no longer existed. Only human mana-wrought killing techniques filled the air.

Crack! John smashed the bird ice cream he was holding.

‘It was a surveillance agent!’

“Plant person! Immediately cast a defensive spell!”

John shouted like a scream. You can calculate the number of opponents just by looking at the number of spells you can see. These guys, they’re really determined.

Well, it was natural. They observed this side for a long time through the red parrot and finally carried out the attack. What does this mean?

‘They saw a chance of winning. How many people did they bring?’

Puddudududududuk-!

A thick green stem created a shield over John’s head. John pulled up the remaining mana.

“Everyone! Let’s get out of here for now!”

It’s only a temporary measure anyway. No matter how much Kang Sik-mun’s skills have improved, the period was very short. Naturally, the increase in width was not very large either.

‘Tsk, did I come too hastily!’

If John had fully preserved his mana, or even if he had only half of the amount he originally had, the situation would have been much easier.

Well, what can you do? Who would have expected such a large-scale attack to pour down?

‘At least dozens of teams. We’re short on numbers too.’

Quack! Crack!

The verdant sky split like tofu. Following the gaps, attacks with transcendent power poured down.

Soon, the land where John’s team was standing was indiscriminately damaged and cut off. In response, human flesh flies in all directions.