Chapter 229: Chapter 229 Turning the Tables (5)

Turning the Tables (5)

Turning the Tables (5)

Kwagic!

The Clown bastard’s face is revealed as his [Bone Armor] is stripped away again.

His expression is filled with panic.

Based on my experience, this expression is a sign that this long battle is nearing its end.

But just as I’m about to swing my mace down with all my might…

Whoosh!

…a cool breeze grazes me from the side.

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has taken damage exceeding the allowed amount.」

「[Spirit Transformation] is deactivated.」

My body suddenly feels lighter.

My rock-like skin has returned to normal.

My hearing, sharpened like an animal sensing danger, picks up every sound.

Thud.

I hear something collapse behind me.

“Erwen!!”

Daria’s urgent shout follows.

It’s not difficult to deduce the situation.

Erwen was attacked.

So Elemental Barbarian Mode ended.

But why?

I see the answer before I can even turn my head towards where the wind came from.

“Huhu, Mr. Nekrapetto, you’re also in a sorry state.”

Thick white hair and a white beard.

Kind-looking features.

An old mage with the typical appearance of a mage.

‘The Ruin Scholar.’

He’s here.

‘How? What happened to Kyle?’

Countless questions erupt in my mind as I face that reality.

But…

Swoosh.

…I suppress my questions and move my arm.

It was an instinctive judgment made in a split second.

‘If not now…’

…there’s no chance.

Elemental Barbarian Mode is over.

I can’t block poison damage anymore, so if I miss this opportunity, I’ll have to face both the Clown and the old man at the same time.

So…

“You’re in a hurry.”

Damn it.

My left arm loses strength, and the mace I was holding falls to the ground.

Thud!

A red light pierces my wrist.

I feel like I’m going crazy.

‘Crazy, what kind of normal attack…’

There was no casting time.

It means the spell he just used is no different from ‘Magic Missile’, a basic attack spell for the Ruin Scholar.

But my body was pierced by a normal attack?

My magic resistance should have returned now that Elemental Barbarian Mode is over.

‘No, I’ll think about it later.’

I dismiss the question again.

That’s not what I need to do right now.

I lost my mace?

Then I can just use my shield.

A K-barbarian’s spirit is to use their gums if they don’t have teeth.

Thwack.

I smash the Clown bastard’s face with my shield as soon as I drop my mace.

He won’t die from one hit, so I hit him again.

Thwack!

I’m not reassured with two hits, so one more time.

Whoosh!

That’s when, as I’m about to slam it down for the third time…

“You’re an interesting one.”

…my body stops.

It’s like something invisible is pressing down on my entire body with immense pressure.

“I told you I’m in a hurry.”

I roll my eyes and look to the side.

The Ruin Scholar is staring at me.

Although he has an expressionless face, he seems amused.

As if he’s discovered something interesting.

“What’s your name?”

Right, so you’re curious about me.

“You put Mr. Nekrapetto in that state, so you can’t be a nameless explorer.”

His voice is devoid of any malice.

[Don’t tell me he’s already there…!]

Melter Pend’s voice comes through the message stone, and the Ruin Scholar frowns as if annoyed by the interruption.

Right, that’s all he did…

[Just wait a moment. I’ll be there soo—!]

…and the message stone on my waist explodes.

Boom!

No, what kind of mage is this?

He didn’t even swing his staff or wand, and there wasn’t even the hand gesture unique to mages when they manipulate mana.

Just how high-ranking is this old man?

I heard he was 3rd-grade before being exiled.

“Aren’t you going to answer?”

“I’m Bjorn, son of Yandel.”

I quickly answer.

I judged that I had to buy time by talking to him until Melter Pend arrived with the main force.

“Title?”

“Little Balkan.”

“Hmm, I’ve never heard of it. Then what’s your rank?”

“…I was promoted to 5th grade a few months ago.”

“5th grade, I’m even more interested now.”

The Ruin Scholar looked at me with a strange glint in his eyes and then waved his hand as if manipulating mana.

Swaaaaaaaaa!

Multicolored lights erupt from the ground.

Ah, I know this spell.

The 5th-grade unique spell, ‘Memory of the Earth’.

It’s a spell that replays the events that took place in a certain area.

‘He’s just using unique spells from other schools.’

‘Memory of the Earth’ is a unique spell of the Earthlin School.

And according to the information I gathered, the school that the Ruin Scholar belonged to before being exiled pursued a completely different type of magic.

“Pfft.”

The Ruin Scholar, who was looking into the distance as if watching the replay, chuckled.

“You’re even more interesting than I thought. To say that to Mr. Nekrapetto.”

That…

I don’t know if he’s talking about my appearance or the fact that I called him ‘small’.

But what does it matter?

“What happened to Kyle?”

I asked what I was curious about since he seemed to want to talk.

Unexpectedly, he answered readily.

“He’s alive. He’s too valuable to die here.”

“…You intentionally didn’t kill him?”

“He’s achieved a lot through the emotion of revenge. He’ll reach an even higher level if he can discard even human emotions.”

Although his pronunciation was fluent and accurate, as expected of a mage…

…I didn’t understand what he was saying even after hearing it.

Why would that be a reason not to kill him?

Shouldn’t you kill an enemy if their potential is high?

I didn’t say it out loud.

But did he sense my question even through my gaze?

“What does it matter whether it’s an individual or a group, an enemy or an ally?”

The Ruin Scholar said.

“As someone who seeks to see the end of magic, I’m just curious. What kind of magic he’ll leave behind when he reaches that level.”

“Even if it can kill you?”

“Don’t worry. Reaching that level means discarding everything unnecessary. By then, he won’t have any human emotions left.”

I just decided to give up on understanding.

People said he was an old man who had gone insane from his obsession with magic, and it seemed like it was true.

His way of thinking was completely different.

But that’s why…

“Well, then let’s end the conversation here.”

…I had a sliver of hope.

That his way of thinking might save my life today.

“I went a bit overboard today.”

I noticed a bloodstain on the Ruin Scholar’s beard.

It seemed like the stain remained even after he wiped it off.

‘…This bastard is also not in a good condition.’

It’s a positive factor, regardless of the outcome.

That’s when, as I was thinking that…

“It’s been a while.”

…the Ruin Scholar said as if saying goodbye.

“I’ll be taking Mr. Nekrapetto with me since I still need him.”

The Clown bastard’s body, half-conscious from being hit by the shield, floated into the air. I could only watch as his body was paralyzed.

Mixed emotions washed over me.

We were almost there.

Is this how it ends?

No, even if this is how it ends, it’s still a good deal if he’s letting us go—

“Then die.”

Right, there’s no way he would.

Swoosh.

The Ruin Scholar extended his hand towards me, and an ominous red mana gathered on it.

I cleanly dismissed my lingering thoughts.

It’s nothing new.

It’s always been like this.

“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”

I have to fight.

To survive.

「Character has cast [Gigantification].」

My warrior’s body grows in size again, as if squeezing out the last of my strength.

Kwagic, crackle, crackle.

I feel the intangible mana that was covering my body shattering as I put strength into my legs.

I roughly expected it.

He’s a mage, the embodiment of efficiency.

He would have only used as much mana as necessary since he wasn’t in a good condition either.

Tadat.

My body is finally free.

I push off the ground and dash.

Towards the enemy’s backline.

“Yandel! I see Yandel!”

Not towards where my allies are running…

Thud!

…but towards where the enemy is.

“Hmm.”

The Ruin Scholar looked at me with curiosity.

He must be wondering why I’m not running away even though I dispelled his CC.

But that’s only from his perspective.

How long could I last with the MP I recovered in less than 10 minutes?

‘20 seconds at most.’

Even [Gigantification] would end by then.

Therefore, the best I can do right now…

Thud!

…is to close the distance and get close to the Clown bastard.

The reason is simple.

That old man, who seemed only interested in magic, said earlier,

[I’ll be taking Mr. Nekrapetto with me since I still need him.]

He said he still needed the Clown.

In other words, he can’t use magic if I’m close to him.

That’s probably the reason why he tried to take the Clown first.

“Clever.”

Although the red mana in the Ruin Scholar’s hand remained, he didn’t aim it at me.

But…

“It’s a waste of mana to just discard it.”

…his outstretched hand turned towards a different direction.

Not me, but where my companions were.

Flash!

A red sphere shot out from his palm.

And at that moment…

“Barhatun Wiar.”

…a dozen stone walls were erected along its path.

It was Raven’s magic.

No wonder she was so quiet, she was secretly preparing a spell.

But it was meaningless.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The red sphere easily broke through the stone walls and flew towards us.

“Get down!”

The bear-like man covered his companions with his body, just like I did earlier, and even summoned Black Bear on top of that.

And in that instant…

Kwaaang!

…the sphere exploded in midair, unleashing thousands of flames.

It was the exact midpoint between me and my companions.

No, to be precise…

“No!”

…it was right where Erwen, who had collapsed after [Spirit Transformation] was deactivated, was.

As if he had been aiming for her from the beginning.

Booom!

Countless flames erupt like fireworks, exploding over and over again.

Whoosh!

Hot wind grazed my skin.

Even in the midst of that, the Ruin Scholar muttered in a calm voice, his expression unchanged,

“That young lady is the second most fated after you.”

I didn’t understand what he meant.

But one thing was clear.

He really was aiming for Erwen.

Crack.

My jaw ached.

It felt like someone had smashed the back of my head with a giant blunt weapon.

Is Erwen really dead?

Thump!

Blood rushed to my heart, and my mind went numb.

But I focused on one thing.

What did I have to do to protect the rest of them?

‘At least I have to kill this bastard.’

I reach for the Clown bastard’s head, trusting that the allies who will arrive soon will somehow take care of the Ruin Scholar.

This guy, at least.

Thwack!

My shield slams into the Clown bastard’s face once more.

But was he still conscious?

“Pfft!”

He spits blood into my face.

Sizzle!

I hear a burning sound.

Although I don’t feel any pain, I can feel something flowing down my face, even through my numbed senses.

I open my eyes, but my vision is blurry.

‘Venom Hydra.’

It’s his passive skill.

It has a similar effect to [Acidic Fluid], but the performance is vastly different. He probably modified his suicide bomber corpses using his own blood.

But it doesn’t matter.

I reach out through my darkened vision.

Grab.

I luckily grab his hair.

Okay, I won’t miss him now.

Crack.

I bite him like a beast, using my teeth instead of my left arm, which has a hole in it and can’t apply force.

“Aaaaaak!!”

Soft cartilage is crushed between my teeth.

Is this his ear?

“Tsk.”

I spit it out and lower my jaw.

I’m aiming for his neck.

If I sever the blood vessels leading to his brain, even this bastard—

“You’re truly a beast.”

A voice filled with disgust.

Slash!

Something sharp cuts through my right arm.

It really hurts for the first time in a while.

And my lips curl up into a smile.

“Now I understand why they call barbarians savages. You’re all broken in some way.”

The Ruin Scholar asked,

“Aren’t you afraid of death?”

He didn’t know anything about barbarians.

They’re not beings who don’t know fear.

They just learned how to overcome it and move forward.

Because they had no choice.

They smile and choose the only option they have.

People called them barbarians.

And they called themselves those who struggle.

Warriors.

「Character’s Soul Power is insufficient.」

「[Gigantification] ends.」

[Gigantification] ends just in time.

“Keugh!”

I’m pushed back as I lose my grip.

My body rolls on the ground.

I get back on my feet without any problems, even though I can’t see, perhaps because I’ve been in so many brawls.

The problem is my lost sense of direction.

“Impressive.”

Right, you’re there.

Tadat.

I charge towards where I heard his voice.

Thump!

Something pierces my abdomen.

But at that moment…

Swaaa!

…a warm energy envelops me.

It’s divine power.

“Yandel! Save Yandel!!”

I also hear the dwarf, Teterud, whom I sent to help Melter Pend.

He’s quite close.

[Belvev Ruinjenes!!]

I also hear Kyle’s voice, amplified by magic.

He’s shouting the Ruin Scholar’s real name, filled with anger.

Kwaaang!

Something explodes in front of me.

But did he retreat to dodge?

“So even that friend came. I should have just killed him.”

The Ruin Scholar’s voice is a bit further away.

“You know? I wasn’t trying to be lenient. I just miscalculated. I thought that much time would be enough.”

His voice is still calm.

“Well, it was like that from the beginning. I didn’t think anyone would be able to come up.”

His voice fades into the distance.

“Congratulations. You’re the only winner.”

With that, his voice disappears. And my blurry vision turns black.

I can’t even feel a faint light.

It’s like I’m alone in space.

Thud.

I sense someone approaching, and I instinctively swing my severed arm to attack.

Thwack.

It’s blocked.

But there’s no counterattack.

“It’s me.”

I hear the dwarf, Teterud.

“My friend… it’s… over…”

Ah.

“So… rest now.”

Ah…

‘What about Erwen…?’

I had a question I had to ask, but I couldn’t speak.

Thud.

Such a long day.

That was my last memory.