episode_0070

Dozens of ghouls and high-level corrupted spirits surrounded us.

Tia, still unconscious with a deeply serene expression, lay sprawled out, while Aria and Lucy were in a challenging state after leading the battle for a long time.

The situation was becoming dire.

“I’ll buy us some time. In the meantime, Lucy can go with Cyan-”

“Don’t be foolish, Aria! How can you suggest leaving Aria alone?!”

“There’s no other choice! Do you have a better plan?!”

“Well, then…”

Lucy bit her lower lip.

“…Aria, Lucy. I’ll ask the ghouls for help.”

In that moment, amidst such circumstances, I spoke.

Currently, I am at the beginning of the 4th rank… capable of fighting on par with top-tier spirits.

Given time, I could defeat a single high-level corrupted spirit. However, fighting alongside dozens of ghouls posed low odds of success.

So… the best option was for Aria and Lucy to hold off the ghouls while I dealt with the high-level spirit.

“That spirit… it seems to be at least intermediate level. Can we win, Cyan?”

“Yes.”

I tightly gripped my sword.

“We have five minutes. Lucy, please keep the ghouls from approaching me along with Aria.”

“If it’s five minutes, then no problem! We can definitely win, right?!”

“Yes.”

“Got it!”

The ghouls surged forward.

Aria manifested her aura around the sword, while Lucy summoned wolf spirits from beneath the ground.

The battle began.

Clang! Shaaak! Thud!

The putrid blood of the ghouls splattered on the ground.

Lucy disrupted the ghouls with the spirits, and Aria cleared a path by cutting down the ghouls with her aura.

I bypassed the space they created and confronted the high-level corrupted spirit.

“Gigigik….”

“……”

Resembling a human in appearance as expected of an intermediate or higher spirit.

Overall gray-skinned, with patterns of cool blue shining on the wrists, joints, and shoulders.

Muscular from the neck down to the legs like a human, but with a deer-like head and menacing blue horns protruding from it.

“Probably a spirit using dimensional or spatial magic.”

Those types usually lack elemental magic.

High likelihood of utilizing spatial, dimensional, or unconventional physical forces.

“Gigigigigik!”

The deer spirit made ghostly sounds that didn’t match its massive stature.

After the patterns on its joints shimmered once, the deer spirit blinked out of my sight.

“Kik!”

“As expected!”

It had teleported in front of me in an instant.

“It’s using spatial magic!”

The deer spirit swung its massive muscular arm towards me.

I swiftly leaped to evade the attack. The deer spirit’s fist collided with the ground.

-Kwagwang!

-Dudududud!

The impact was so strong that it shook the ground.

“It must be manipulating gravity to generate force!”

I infused my sword with aura, pushing it to the maximum density I could currently achieve.

Not just the sword, but even my hand and arm holding the sword glowed brightly due to the aura.

“Haap!”

I fiercely swung the sword towards the deer spirit’s thigh. However…

“Gik…!”

Sensing danger, the deer spirit teleported behind where it had been facing off with me. My aura slashed through empty air.

“You scared, huh? First time seeing a 4th-rank aura?”

“Gigigigigigik!”

Provoked by me, the deer spirit repeatedly let out ghostly enraged cries.

Soon, the deer spirit extended its hand towards me.

Once again, the blue patterns on its joints began to shimmer.

And then, at that moment.

-Thud!

“Ugh-!”

For a moment, my body felt several times heavier, as if the weight had intensified.

It was difficult to move. The deer spirit had employed gravity magic.

Kneeling on one knee, I couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh.

“So you finally used it?”

“Gigigigigik!”

The situation seemed dire, but this was the sea I had orchestrated.

Large-scale gravity magic consumes an immense amount of magical power since it manipulates space itself.

It won’t last long.

Yes. Keep consuming your magical power just like that!

“Kigigik!”

The deer spirit rushes in again to attack while I struggle to contain my body with gravity.

The deer spirit, now close, strikes a punch.

– Aaargh!

“Kieeeee!”

“Did you think you could stop my movement with just this level of gravity?”

The deer spirit groans in pain.

– Thud, thump.

And just before the fist made contact, one arm of the deer spirit that had been attached until a moment ago tumbled to the forest floor.

I evaded before the punch landed.

Gravity magic could certainly momentarily block my movements. However, being a 4th rank, using my pure magical power for instant physical enhancement posed no problem unlike for those who couldn’t use magic or were mediocre 3rd ranks like Aria.

“Kieeeee!”

“Now do you understand? You’ve been deceived.”

It was a psychological warfare tactic to pretend to be unable to contain my body due to gravity.

Even when faced with the deer spirit’s gravity manipulation magic, I stand unscathed, causing the spirit to cancel its magic.

Realizing it’s ineffective, it must be trying to reduce the pointless magical power consumption.

“Kieeeee!”

“Now you don’t even have the magical power to teleport? You’re finished.”

Now it’s just a matter of finishing it. The deer spirit, missing one arm, won’t stand a chance against my 4th rank aura.

As I was about to make my move,

“Lucy! Are you okay?!”

“Ugh… Aria….”

I hastily turned towards the direction of their voices.

Lucy, who was protecting Tia, was surrounded by ghouls.

Aria, seemingly reaching her physical limits, struggled to fend off the ghouls, unable to swing her sword easily.

“You guys! Are you okay?!”

“Sian! We need to finish that guy quickly! Lucy is…!”

“Gigigigi…”

Turning back, I see the deer spirit smiling.

‘What’s going on? Why is this guy grinning as if nothing’s happening…’

At that moment,

‘……!’

A sinister premonition flashed through my mind.

Without further thought,

– Bam!

Both the deer spirit and I leaped fiercely towards Lucy.

Aria’s expression seems vivid as time appears to slow down. Wide eyes, a gaping mouth in surprise.

‘Touch her! Please, let me reach her first!’

Time speeds up again.

– Roar!

We collide.

“…I must have used up all my luck this year. Surely, the absorption of the Azure Dragon’s aura from the Cheongnyongdan has ended by now…”

“Kigigik….”

I aimed at the deer spirit while supporting Lucy and the unconscious Tia on my back.

Aria rushes in belatedly to protect them from the ghouls.

“He’s truly wicked. But what can he do now?”

“Kigik….”

I severed the remaining arm of the deer spirit.

And at this moment, I have grown anew.

Late 4th rank.

The absorption process initiated at the dormitory of the Cheongnyongdan has just concluded.

Magical power surged throughout my body. My stamina, energy, vitality—all restored.

…All that’s left now is to finish this.

“Lucy! Are you alright?!”

“I’m… fine. Thanks to Sian blocking them…”

Once we defeat that damn deer spirit and handle the remaining dozen or so ghouls, it will be over.

“Kieeee!”

Feeling defeated, the deer spirit retreats.

‘I won’t let you escape!’

Enhancing my body with even denser magical power, I leap after the deer spirit, now weakened with two lost arms and depleted stamina.

Before long, I had reached a distance within arm’s reach.

“Goodbye.”

Gripping the sword tightly, I struck the final blow at the deer spirit.

The shining steel sword cleaved through the air.

And just before the sword made contact, when everything seemed to be over.

-Kwagwagwang!

“Kieeeeee! Eeek….”

The deer spirit writhed in agony and fell forward.

His muscular body engulfed in flames, consumed by fire.

Gradually losing its form thereafter, his existence completely dispersed into the air.

“W-What…!”

It was utterly bewildering.

The deer spirit had perished.

It wasn’t my doing.

In the moment before my sword touched the deer spirit’s body, I threw myself sideways.

Something imbued with strong energy flew towards me.

It wasn’t Lucy’s wolf spirit or Aria’s aura.

It was elemental magic.

Not just any magic, but an incredibly powerful fire elemental spell that would be unthinkable without being cast by a top-tier elemental mage.

I immediately turned my head towards where the magic came from.

And there.

“Um, wasn’t she supposed to be unconscious?”

“Lucy! Stay away from her! I sense a strong aura!”

An incomprehensible event was unfolding.

Tia stood unharmed, her face brimming with vitality to the point where it was hard to believe she had just exhausted all her magic power and fainted.

“Tia…?”

A crimson glow danced in Tia’s eyes.

In that moment, I could feel it.

She was not Tia.

With a voice distinctly different, heavier, and more resolute than the timid girl I knew, she approached me with determined steps, devoid of hesitation and with a commanding presence.

Decisively, the pure and potent magical energy emanating from her body at this moment.

It was the energy of a spirit.

“…These lowly creatures are acting like madmen, trying to disrupt my long-awaited rest.”