𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖𝟎
The ground shook violently as the heat intensified, making it hard to keep one’s footing.
As I stood before Yusu-bi, who was beginning to exert his full power, I noticed something peculiar and my expression hardened.
「𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙪𝙥 𝙮𝙚𝙩?」
This subjugation force was organized into five teams, but only three were present.
Considering the amount of time that had passed since our confrontation with him, the remaining members should have arrived by now to lend their support.
I wasn’t the only one who noticed this. Soon after, an exorcist from another team called out, his face filled with unease.
“Are Team A-1 and Team C still not here?!”
“. . . . . . .”
While Hwang Se-woong’s Team A-1 could be accounted for, the absence of Team C, who had suffered no casualties, was indeed strange.
None other than Yusu-bi himself answered our question.
“The other humans won’t be coming.”
“What?”
“From the looks of it, it seems none of you have noticed yet.”
Only after hearing his words did I come to the worst possible conclusion.
「𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙?」
However, we had kept a close eye on Yusu-bi since our battle with Hwang Se-woong.
Furthermore, we had confirmed contact with them just a short while ago.
Puzzled, I glanced around and realized that the flames and smoke had spread far and wide, making it difficult to find a safe space.
And then, it hit me. I intuitively understood what had happened to our missing comrades.
“. . .Long-range sniping?”
It was an absurd notion, but there was no other explanation that made sense.
The exorcists who overheard my mutterings exchanged strange looks, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and realization.
They too had dismissed it as impossible, but now they were coming to the same conclusion.
「𝙃𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙨.」
The implication was clear:
During the battle just now, he had enough power to do that.
“Correct. I see there are still some humans with functioning brains.”
“Impossible! That can’t be true. Surely, it’s just a trick to confuse us.”
“Foolishness. Have you not noticed that all traces of the other humans have vanished?”
Yusu-bi’s words held weight. The situation, however unlikely, forced us to believe him.
And now that the distractions were gone, Yusu-bi would become even more formidable than before.
The realization sank in, and the exorcists swallowed nervously.
“. . .Even with just this many members, nothing will change. Stay focused.”
Baek In-soo, a 1st-grade exorcist from the Baek family and the leader of Team B-1, encouraged the exorcists as he drew a long staff from his back.
Judging by the aura it exuded, it was a high-grade cursed tool. It was clear that he was now prepared to risk his life.
However, Yusu-bi’s response to Baek In-soo’s actions was to set a new primary target.
“How spirited. I shall kill you first.”
And with that, the assault began once more. The exorcists, as they had done before, coordinated their efforts to deploy binding and attack spells, doing their utmost to hinder him.
However, it was clear that his movements were different from before.
Poof!
Woosh!
“The same tricks won’t work twice.”
A towering wall of flames erupted, obscuring the view of most of the exorcists who had surrounded him on three sides.
They hurriedly tried to break through it, but their firepower was insufficient.
And from within, the sounds of fierce fighting echoed incessantly.
Boom!
familyg!
Thud!
“Attack spells! Focus your spells on one point and break through the barrier!”
With quick thinking, the barrier was destroyed, but the situation was far from good.
In that brief moment, Baek In-soo, who had been fighting fiercely, was already gasping for breath, blood seeping from his shoulder.
「𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 10 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙨. . . . . . .」
There was no denying it. Even with three of us combined, a 1st-grade exorcist was no match for him at the moment.
If our support were to falter for even an instant, we too would be defeated in no time.
「𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙄 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙢?」
No. To be honest, it would be difficult.
Hwang Se-woong’s blow had been more effective than expected, but he still seemed to have plenty of energy left.
Furthermore, with so many people present, my taking the lead in the battle would only lead to disharmony.
「𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙂𝙚𝙪𝙨𝙙𝙖𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧.」
As I had mentioned before, my contract with Geusdae was more akin to making members of my own kind, utilizing the heart of Bi-hyeong and Ggong-sam-yi, recognize me as their master.
Naturally, Geusdae would not care about the well-being of the other exorcists fighting alongside me.
The time I had to summon Geusdae was also limited. Acting rashly in such a manner would be the height of folly.
「. . .𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩.」
With Baek In-soo, who was most proficient in close-quarters combat, severely injured, the combined efforts of the three 1st-grade exorcists would not be as effective as before.
If only I had been able to bring Arietta with me. The fact that I had not done so was now a source of deep regret.
“At this rate, it won’t even take 5 minutes.”
“Kugh!”
Poof!
Woosh!
Yusu-bi began to raise another wall of flames, and the exorcists hurriedly raised their hands.
However, this time, our movements were a step ahead.
“Come forth.”
Swish.
Poof!
In an instant, Ggong-sam-yi emerged from my shadow, and Seo Ji-an, who had been forming a formation nearby, appeared.
The two of them gathered their strength and unleashed it upon the wall of flames that stood before them.
“. . .Burn!”
“Water Current.”
Sizzle!
Hiss!
The wall of flames split and cracked like a miracle of Moses, revealing a gap as steam rose from the torrent of water.
He could have been taken aback by this, but the exorcists calmly and precisely shot their spells through the opening.
“Azure Serpent Binding!”
“Void Slaughter!”
“Eight-sided Rotating Lotus Net!”
Yusu-bi, caught in a barrage of spells that included advanced ones, was forced to retreat, having failed to achieve his intended goal.
He then glared at Seo Ji-an and said,
“. . .Something annoying has gotten mixed in.”
The reason Seo Ji-an had refrained from using nature-type spells until now was simple.
There was no benefit to making herself a target in a situation like this, and it was more effective to maintain their formation as they had been doing.
However, it seemed that she had decided it was time for her to take a more active role, even if it meant deviating somewhat from her usual tactics.
And in that, she shared my thinking.
「𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙗𝙪𝙩. . . . . . .」
Right now, Ggong-sam-yi’s assistance, who could manipulate fire like he could, was crucial.
Having inherited some of Geusdae’s power, Ggong-sam-yi, as she was now, should be able to interfere with the flames that Yusu-bi summoned, to some extent.
The exorcists looked surprised at the sight of us, but they quickly realized what needed to be done and tightened their formation once more.
“Protect those who can break the barrier first!”
“Those who can cast advanced spells, continue chanting!”
At the same time, Seo Ji-an, who had stepped forward, met my gaze for a moment.
“. . .Do you think it’s possible?”
“We have to try, no matter what.”
“You look surprisingly confident. That’s a bit reassuring.”
Was I?
I tilted my head in puzzlement at Seo Ji-an’s words.
Even as I was busy discarding various options and constantly searching for new possibilities, it was simply illogical to assume that I would have such a thing as confidence.
However, if she had sensed such a feeling from me, there could only be one reason.
「𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙬𝙖𝙮.」
Even Yusu-bi, who seemed like an insurmountable foe to the exorcists of the subjugation force, was merely a step in my journey.
It wasn’t that his strength was insignificant, but rather that my approach to battle was different.
「. . . . . . .」
This place was not the destination I had set for myself. There were still many challenges ahead, and the path I had to walk was long and arduous.
So no matter what happened, I could not afford to stop here.
Perhaps sensing my determination, Yusu-bi’s gaze flickered over my face for a moment.
He then looked down at the wound on his waist, which Hwang Se-woong had inflicted, and muttered, as if slightly annoyed.
“. . .How irritating.”
Clatter!
Rumble!
Around Yusu-bi, huge rocks began to float.
Rumble!
Thud!
They then compressed and shrank in size.
Anyone who witnessed it could easily guess how much mass was contained within those spheres of rock.
“I shall change my approach.”
“. . . . . . .”
“First, I shall kill all the weaklings.”
Yusu-bi’s target was not the 1st-grade exorcists at the front, but the exorcists who were forming a formation in the rear.
“T-This is bad.”
“Are we just going to let him do as he pleases?!”
Whoosh.
Zap!
Clatter!
The 1st-grade exorcists unleashed their spells, imbued with powerful spiritual power, but Yusu-bi absorbed them all, his body covered in rocks.
And then, the bombardment began.
Boom!
Bang!
Crash!
Rumble!
“Ack!”
“Cough!”
The exorcists’ formation began to collapse in an instant under the barrage of rocks, their sheer mass overwhelming.
Intermediate defensive spells were no match for it. Many of them suffered broken limbs, and some were even fatally wounded.
“Bastard!”
“Stop this at once!”
The 1st-grade exorcists unleashed their advanced attack spells, filled with rage.
However, Yusu-bi did not stop, even as he took their blows.
His madness-filled aura sent shivers down their spines.
「. . .𝙃𝙚’𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙.」
I had quickly analyzed the traits of his attacks and used specialized defensive spells, but all I could protect were a few people in the immediate vicinity.
As a result, the sight that soon unfolded was truly gruesome.
Severed and crushed human limbs came into view, and the air was filled with screams of pain.
Of those who seemed capable of continuing to fight, there were barely 30% of the original number.
“. . .Now, it’s finally starting to look a bit more organized.”
Yusu-bi muttered, a thin line of blood trickling from his mouth as he staggered slightly.
In exchange for neglecting his defense, he too had suffered considerable damage.
However, in terms of scale, it was an overwhelming defeat for us.
With this many members, it was no longer possible to maintain a formation or to fully support the 1st-grade exorcists.
With things as they were, the outcome was clear.
The exorcists, sensing this, hesitated and darted their eyes around.
Immediately after, someone with a blade-like aura charged swiftly towards Yusu-bi.
“Chain Binding!”
Baek In-soo, a 1st-grade exorcist from the Baek family. From the looks of it, he was probably planning to unleash the spell contained within his staff, a high-grade cursed tool, as a last resort.
However, his attempt was thwarted all too easily, and the price he paid wasterrible.
Thud!
Thud!
“Kugh─!”
No matter how many blows they landed, they were no match for Yusu-bi in one-on-one combat.
With the sound of bones breaking, Baek In-soo was sent flying backward and crashed into a cluster of trees.
「. . .𝘿𝙖𝙢𝙣 𝙞𝙩, 𝙄’𝙢 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚.」
There had been ample opportunity to help him, but the blow I had taken from the barrage of rocks earlier made it difficult to move right away.
Boom!
Yusu-bi, having knocked down Baek In-soo, immediately stomped on the ground, and his next target was Lee Moon-hyung, an elderly 1st-grade exorcist.
“Kugh!”
Lee Moon-hyung fought back, but the outcome was obvious.
In the end, he too suffered a major blow and collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood.
“. . .Cough! Ack.”
Thud.
Until things had reached this point, none of us had moved.
Partly because we were still recovering from the previous large-scale blow, but also because some of us, despite having the strength, had chosen not to step forward.
They had already concluded the outcome of this battle in their minds.
“Bastard!”
Park Yong-jin, the only remaining 1st-grade and the leader of our team, charged forward in anger.
However, I could tell from the look on Park Yong-jin’s face that he too had simply resigned himself to his fate and was throwing himself at Yusu-bi without any particular strategy.
Just as the last remaining bastion, Park Yong-jin, was about to meet the same fate, Seo Ji-an and Ggong-sam-yi, who had recovered from the shock a step ahead of us, barely managed to stop his movements.
Rumble.
Screech!
Poof!
Woosh!
This was the second time they had interfered, and Geusdae’s expression twisted in annoyance.
“That shaman from before, you’re annoying too.”
They had somehow managed to stop him, but now the two of them had become targets.
Bang!
In response to Geusdae, who had suddenly lunged at him, Ggong-sam-yi took a defensive stance and stepped in front of Seo Ji-an.
And only then was I finally able to move my frozen body.
Whoosh.
Swish.
Swish.
“. . .Come forth, Geusdae.”
At the same time, my shadow swelled in size, covering the ground.
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