Ch 126
『Title: Emergency Emergency I think I just came up with a ridiculously amazing idea?』
Content: Face Thief, this brat, extermination party.
Penalty-sucking trash skill user included to induce self-destruct, what do you think?
This brat, looking at him, it seems his Skill Theft is Passive, not Active.
In my opinion, Face Thief, this brat, seems already screwed?
-: Kya, ridiculously amazing idea!
-: Author, are you perhaps a Pro Gamer?
-: Is only I thinking the tone is shitty?
-: Just add “man” at the end, sh t man.
-: But, what skill is there that ruins your life just by learning it?
-『Author』 :
Forbidden Necromancy standby lmao
-: Kyaㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-: Face Thief, you son of a b tch, are you possessed by Satan?
Face Thief: Yep lmao
-: Evil Spirit mukbang （eating broadcast） legendary lmao
-『Author』 : ?
-『Author』 : What is this brat
-『Author』 : Controlling Evil Spirits?
-: Forbidden Necromancy, agreed Necromancy act lmao
-: It seems you resolved things amicably through conversation with the tenant?
-: Ah, conversation, the key to peace that resolves all disputes.
-『Author』 : No sh t, what is it
-『Author』 : Why does the skill keep succeeding?
-『Author』 : Where did the 50% chance （feels like 99%） of being possessed by an Evil Spirit go?
-: Does the Faceless One’s Remains look like a joke to you?
-: Seriously lmao, a guy who steals skills after seeing them once.
Will the skill’s side effects work?
-: The Faceless One’s Remains < is a kind of Power,
Stealing skills, he just handles them perfectly, yeah.
I can even see the face of her （skill） that I didn’t know.
-: Face Thief: Hey~ Skill owner-kun, watching? lmao
-: Skill: Sorry, oppa… in front of this person…
-: Oppa this and that
-: Incestuous group raid, what the f ck
-『Author』 : No sh t, you said it was a ridiculously amazing idea a while ago
-: Just because it’s amazing doesn’t mean it’ll succeed ━ Kim Bu-pyeong
-: Who is Kim Bu-pyeong?
-: Me ━ Kim Bu-pyeong
-: Kya, Bu-pyeong-hyung is awesome ━ LeBron James
-: Crazy, are you really LeBron? ━ Kim Bu-pyeong
-『Author』 : Ah, should I just kill them all
✦✦✦
Face Thief.
He believed in his Ability.
To be precise, he believed in the Faceless One’s Remains, which had become his power, and its Power.
Through contact with the extraordinary existence called Lisir, a slight crack appeared in his absolute Faith, but his Faith remained firm.
In fact, hadn’t he cast off even the terrifying Mental Image of the Murderous Sword?
Given enough time, he would not only be able to perfectly control that Mental Image, but also to eventually control the Murderous Sword itself.
Face Thief did not dare to judge the Limit of Power.
Lisir.
He didn’t think he was a being above the Power of the Remains.
The unidentified Enhanced Ability that he used.
If he could handle that Ability, then the Faceless One’s Remains could also handle that Ability.
The possibility that, like the Murderous Sword, there are suspicious side effects within that power?
It’s fine.
The power of Power had grown stronger by overcoming the Mental Image of the Murderous Sword and stealing the faces of the Special Forces Captain and Second-in-Command.
It’s quite possible.
This time, there will be no anomalies.
Between calmness and excitement, Face Thief was convinced.
And, he was betrayed by that Faith.
“Cough!!!”
The Power stole the Enhanced Ability’s power, instantly sucking up all Magical Power like a dry cloth and beginning to use it in an abnormal way.
Thus, realizing the nature of the Enhanced Ability, Face Thief was horrified.
‘This ignorant bastard…!’
He believed that the Enhanced Ability Lisir used was borrowing power from the outside.
That was the most common method of drawing out more than one’s inherent power, and
the only realistic method.
But it was different.
The nature of that Ability was to make one’s own Magical Power run rampant.
In a sense, it could be called an extremely ingenious method.
And that’s because.
The word that best describes this method of Mana use is not ‘Enhancement’, but ‘Self-Destruction’.
Who would seek to break their limits through Self-Destruction?
It wasn’t even just Self-Destruction.
Total Self-Destruction.
This was an Ability that runs headlong towards ruin with all its might.
‘By making Magical Power run rampant through Resonance, and using Blue Breath to contain and control that rampant Mana-‘
Magic and Swordsmanship overcome their respective limits through interaction.
Theoretically, it was an ideal Ability.
The problem was that it was impossible to translate that theory into reality.
Even at this moment, the Power of the Remains was functioning to overcome that impossibility.
Magic and Swordsmanship. With the power of Power, which can skillfully imitate any power, it constantly tried to control the side effects by switching between Magic and Swordsmanship.
It was insufficient.
It was like having to stop water leaking from both sides with one arm.
If he focuses on Resonance, his body cannot withstand the rampant Magical Power and collapses moment by moment.
If he focuses on Blue Breath, the uncontrolled Magical Power runs wild, accelerating the rampage.
The Remains constantly switched between Resonance and Blue Breath to satisfy both.
Freely moving between the realms of Magic and Swordsmanship.
In itself, it was a skill that even a Sword Master, let alone an Archmage, could not imitate ━ a true Power.
Thump!
Thump!
Nevertheless, this Enhanced Ability was not controlled.
Because the core of the Ability was not to freely move between the realms of Magic and Swordsmanship.
To perform Magic and Swordsmanship simultaneously.
That was the core of this Enhanced Ability.
Face Thief could say with certainty.
That it was not something close to impossible, but impossibility itself.
That was the reason why this Ability should be classified as Self-Destruction rather than Enhancement.
Thus, Face Thief realized the nature of the Ability-
and realized Lisir’s Intention in using this Ability.
Unlike himself, who merely imitated, he must have understood the essence of this power.
Along with the fact that using this power would lead to ruin due to extreme Overload.
That is-
‘Inducing mutual destruction-‘
Face Thief was disgusted by that decisiveness and ruthlessness that didn’t consider the aftermath-
and then wore a malicious sneer.
And that’s because-
‘Foolish fool, I am different from you!!!’
At this moment.
Lisir’s body was collapsing at an uncontrollable rate, unable to control the side effects.
But he is different.
Even in the midst of this, the Power of the Remains was tirelessly functioning to conquer the Enhanced Ability.
In the process, methods of managing the worst outcome as the second worst are derived.
‘Only you will be destroyed!’
It’s time to put an end to the Humiliation that began with the Murderous Sword.
Face Thief wore a victorious Smile and looked at Lisir.
Him, who was dying in Toua’s arms.
“Huh?”
Suddenly making a dumbfounded sound, then regaining his composure with a calm face.
Him, standing up from his seat and facing himself as if nothing had happened.
Did he also have a way to manage the worst outcome as the second worst?
No.
His current state was not the second worst.
✦✦✦
▷Fate 74: Face Thief ━ Deactivated.
The corresponding Bonus will be given.
■Lisir
Level 60（58） > 59
Status Effects have been recovered.
『Status Effect: Overload （High）』
✦✦✦
It’s like being in a state of sound sleep.
Perhaps, it’s like being reborn.
It was the best state.
He completely escaped the aftermath of ‘mutual destruction’.
“What did you do…! Gack━”
Face Thief couldn’t help but shout.
As his attention, which had been focused on recovery, was dispersed, his state was disrupted.
Trickle.
All the holes in his face. The bleeding that had stopped worsened again.
The worst outcome, which he had barely escaped, entangled him again.
Face Thief didn’t care.
He was already insane.
“So that’s it!!! You!!! You’ve been planning this for a long time!!! To trap me!!! Who is it!!! Who ordered you!? The Order!? The Black Hand!? What did you just use!!! Their Relic!?”
“No!!! It sometimes does this!!!”
“Shut your mouth!!!”
His eyes were bloodshot, and from his open mouth, saliva and blood mixed to create a sticky thread.
Nothing else mattered anymore.
Except completely killing that loathsome bastard.
As the Power of the Remains responded to Face Thief’s Will.
It no longer tried to suppress the ‘Self-Destruction’ Ability.
Face Thief entrusted his body to the exhilarating feeling accompanied by ruin.
Then the collapse accelerates.
Teeth and nails fall out, skin tears and splits.
It’s fine.
Because the power that had broken through his inherent limits, obtained at that price, was clearly felt.
The form of Face Thief, who had been imitating ‘Lisir’, collapses.
The skin all over his body boils as if it were alive. Muscles expand.
Bang!
Face Thief took a step.
There was no trace left of the Young Noble who had previously imitated someone.
It was a hideous Thug.
No. It was a lump of flesh with a will.
It looked like limbs had sprouted from a rock made of flesh and muscle.
The Faceless One’s Remains.
It completely swallowed Face Thief.
-Aaaaaaaaaack!!!!!
It let out a roar.
Child and Young Man.
Middle-aged and Elder.
It was a sound as if it were stuffing and squeezing all kinds of Humans into a mold.
Lisir’s Expression contorted.
Because he heard the Wandering Swordsman, Brien’s voice in that sound.
Toua and Magnus also reacted the same way.
Because they heard the Hero Party’s voices in that sound.
It rushed towards Lisir’s Party as if throwing its heavy body.
Log-like arms swing like maces.
It was like an explosion had occurred.
Dust rises thickly. A pit was created where its arm had struck.
It was a ridiculously powerful Strike.
But it was just as dull.
Lisir’s Party, who had dispersed at once, easily avoided the Strike and counterattacked.
The troublesome genius who had stolen all skills on the spot was no more.
Dominated by Emotion, he lost his Self and was devoured by the Remains. Now it was merely a swollen mass of flesh and Magical Power.
Compared to Face Thief, it was a simple opponent, so simple it felt kind.
Thunk!
Thunk!
Of course, just because it’s a simple opponent doesn’t mean it’s an easy opponent.
“This is…!?”
Toua and Magnus’ Expressions contorted as they burrowed sideways and plunged their swords into its flank.
Its body, molded from Magical Power and muscle, was more robust than imagined.
“Kaaaaaaaaack!!!”
It roared and swung its arms.
It was a struggle like chasing away an annoying Pest.
The result of a strike that had put all its strength into inflicting a fatal wound was treated as a pest.
Toua and Magnus felt awkwardness before Humiliation.
“Magnus!”
The Special Forces Captain and Second-in-Command exchanged glances and shook their heads simultaneously.
No more waste was necessary.
They could infer enough from the first Strike.
That it was impossible to stop that Monster with their own power.
“What on earth━”
“Captain!?”
“Lisir!!! What on earth━”
In that sense, should we say it’s fortunate?
The deafening roar, like an explosion, created by its attack caused a Commotion, gathering people.
Goose Manor’s Guards.
The Guests staying at Goose Manor and their Escort Troops.
And other Special Agents.
In an instant, a crowd that could be called an army was formed.
“Maintain Distance and attack from a long Distance!!!”
Since most of them were seasoned Troops, they immediately took skillful action.
Various attacks, including Magic and arrows, were aimed at it simultaneously.
Since it was large, it received all those attacks without a single waste.
“…”
It didn’t care at all.
It didn’t even let out the roar it had let out when attacked by Lisir’s Party.
It was a Monster created by its rage towards Lisir’s Party.
It didn’t care about anyone else, and it possessed the power to justify that indifference.
“What on earth is that━”
Those who watched it from a Distance showed bewilderment.
How on earth are we supposed to stop that Monster?
For those who were facing it, receiving its full attention, it was even more frustrating.
“Lisir!!!”
Toua shouted urgently.
“Is there a way to subdue him!?”
Now, the only thing to rely on was his ‘anyway’ Pocket.
Toua hoped again that something to solve the ‘anyway’ Situation would come out of his pocket.
“…Sword Qi!”
Lisir shouted after much deliberation.
“Wouldn’t an attack with Sword Qi not work on him!?”
Toua and Magnus smiled wryly at Lisir’s words.
“Yeah, it’ll work!”
Sword Qi, a blade forged with Will.
In other words, it was an Ability that applied the Secrets of Ideation.
Toua and Magnus, who were at Rank 7, could skillfully handle the Secrets of Ideation.
“Then━”
“But, I still can’t handle Sword Qi skillfully!”
Nevertheless, they were still insufficient to handle Sword Qi in actual combat.
The explosive power to unleash Sword Qi.
The concentration to maintain it.
The Talent required for Sword Qi could not be mastered simply by being proficient in the Secrets of Ideation.
Toua and Magnus didn’t feel particularly ashamed of it.
Sword Qi isn’t the symbol of Sword Masters for nothing.
It was an Ability that could only be imitated after reaching at least Rank 7, and could only be applied in actual combat after reaching the beginning of Rank 8.
“So, is there no other way besides Sword Qi!?”
“No! Let’s use Sword Qi!”
“Didn’t you hear me!”
“I can handle it, to a limited extent!”
“?”
“?”
Toua and Magnus looked at Lisir, doubting their ears.
Him, calmly shedding blood from every hole in his face.
“…I see!!! That’s good!!!”
“Yes?”
“I mean, I’ll cover you so you can approach him!”
Their conversation was taking place while dodging its attacks.
It was a truly relaxed scene, but even that has an end.
They were gradually being driven to the mansion walls.
Changing direction would lead to guiding it to other people.
It’s time to settle the score.
“Captain!!!”
“Don’t come!”
At that moment, Toua stopped the Special Agents who were separating from the group and trying to get closer.
“Kugh━ Is there a way to stop him!?”
“Use Sword Qi!”
“Sword Qi…!?”
Awe filled the eyes of the Special Agents looking at Toua.
“Understood! Captain, I’ll cover you!”
“Not me, cover Lisir!”
“?”
“Lisir is the one who will strike him with Sword Qi!”
“?”
“Lisir, are you ready!?”
“Yes! I’m in perfect condition!”
“…”
“…”
Toua and Magnus barely left Lisir, who was claiming to be in perfect condition while bleeding from every hole in his face, behind and took action.
They abandoned the Distance they had maintained until now and burrowed towards him.
Whoosh!
It swung its arm with all its might towards Toua, who was burrowing to the right.
Toua avoided the attack, but because of the Distance, a strong gust of wind hit him along with the sound of the air being crushed.
“Kugh!”
Toua barely maintained his posture and plunged his sword into its exposed side.
Shouting. With all his might, literally.
At the same time, Magnus, who had burrowed in from the opposite side, cut off its little toe with all his might.
Cracks appear in the thick lump of flesh.
“Uaaaaaaaaack!!!”
A shout burst from its mouth.
This time, it was a scream.
It swung its arms wildly like an angry child.
A funny sight, but not its power.
Bang! Bang!
Amidst the terrifying sound of tearing through the wind, a dull thud, ‘thump’, was mixed in.
It had only grazed them slightly with the end of its swinging arm.
Just that, and Toua and Magnus’ bodies flew at tremendous speed, crashing into the wall and rolling on the floor.
Roaring and stamping its feet.
Its Gaze fixed on the defenseless Toua and Magnus.
Not intending to miss this opportunity, it moved forward again to definitely end their lives.
“Hey.”
At that moment.
A sudden Brake is applied to its body.
The voice it hated most captured its attention.
The direction from which the voice came was nearby, behind.
It turned its body and swung its arm.
The tip of its log-like thick finger narrowly missed Lisir’s nose.
Even in that precarious situation, Lisir’s posture did not waver at all.
He was crouching, taking a stance.
His Gaze is directed forward.
Its front, which was defenselessly exposed due to swinging its arm with all its might.
Step.
It was a step in stark contrast to its heavy footsteps.
That unusually light step brought Lisir into its arms in an instant.
“!!!”
Its bloodshot eyes, stained with blood, gleamed with Joy.
The hateful Pest had come into range on its own.
It raised both arms and tried to bring them down on Lisir-
By then, Lisir’s sword had already been swung.
It was an upward slash that contained the momentum.
“Cough!”
Lisir coughed up a mouthful of blood.
He was in perfect condition, unlike before.
However, the fact that he coughed up blood as before was because he had exerted himself to the point where the previous exhaustion was reproduced.
The Murderer’s Breath Stealing, which puts everything into one Strike.
In addition to that, Lisir’s Enhancement, which puts everything into the moment, was added.
For a moment, Lisir’s sword seemed to have lengthened.
A Sword Qi so clear it seemed to be the case was imbued in his sword.
Crack.
Its body made a sound like a rock splitting.
Then, a diagonal line was drawn across its body.
Its body split along that line.
Blood and pus poured out from the gap.
Combat End.
✦✦✦
“Haak-…! Haak… Huh?”
Lisir, who was gathering his breath after pouring everything into one Strike.
He approached Face Thief’s corpse.
A fist-sized lump of Remains was lying there.
✦✦✦
Silence fell over the place for a while.
“A Wizard using Sword Qi…”
It was a bewildered murmur from a Special Agent that broke the silence.
Sword Qi.
It was an Ideal and symbol with ultimate meaning for Swordsmen.
That Sword Qi, not the Special Forces Captain nor the Second-in-Command, was unleashed from the fingertips of the Grey Tower Wizard.
Swordsmen, including Special Agents, felt Confusion because they couldn’t accept the situation.
Soon, leaving those behind, cheers erupted from among the crowd.
Merchants who felt ‘Wow!!!’ about the current situation.
Soon, a merchant, quite excited, asked his Escort.
“You! Did you see!? Lisir’s skill!!!”
“…Of course, I did.”
“How about you, can you use it too? Judging only by your swordsmanship, wouldn’t you, a Swordsman, be superior!?”
“…”
The expressions of those around with swords at their waists became complicated.
“Hmm? Ah, perhaps it’s not swordsmanship but Magic? Come to think of it, Lisir’s main profession is a Wizard.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
The expressions of those with swords at their waists darkened.
✦✦✦
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