Chapter 185 Jinx (5)

Chapter 185 Jinx (5)

Jinx (5)

Jinx (5)

If you've ever been hit by a car, you'll know.

It happens in an instant, and it can never be undone.

Just like this moment.

"Battle stations!!!"

The moment my shout pierces the silence...

...the dwarf's axe swings, deeply embedding itself in the mage's shoulder.

Kwagic!

A chilling sound of flesh being torn, a stark reminder of reality.

By the time the sound reaches my ears, my body is already surging forward.

Tadat.

My goal: Raven's rescue.

"Kyaak!"

I quickly close the distance, pull Raven into my arms, and retreat swiftly.

The tank from Hans G's team does the same.

"Both of you, get a grip!!"

The mace warrior, who was standing a good distance away, grabs the fairy archer and Hans G by the scruff of their necks and pulls them behind him.

Thus, a natural encirclement forms.

We have the advantage, both numerically and in terms of strength.

So how will the dwarf try to break free from this unfavorable situation?

As everyone's attention focuses on him...

Thump.

...the dwarf pulls out the axe embedded in the mage's shoulder and bellows a name.

"Hans Krisen!!"

All eyes turn towards him in the tense atmosphere.

But Hans G just trembles, speechless.

The dwarf shouts again, his voice sharp with urgency,

"Are you okay with your secret being revealed?!"

My head spins.

If it's Hans G's secret, there's only one possibility.

"Fine, if that's what you want, I'll make sure you have nowhere to go. Hans Krisen is an evil spirit! I have proof in my backp—"

"You guys! Get away from him!"

I shout a warning, acting on instinct.

If the dwarf truly possesses concrete evidence, then Hans G's betrayal is all but guaranteed.

However...

"A, an evil spirit? I wouldn't believe something like th—"

...too late.

Whoosh!

The lizard summoned by Hans G unleashes a fierce torrent of flames towards the mace warrior.

"Ho... w, why...?"

The mace warrior collapses, engulfed in flames.

"I, I'm sorry."

Hans G squeezes his eyes shut and runs towards the dwarf.

And then he utters words that make no sense.

"Wh, what are you doing! Me, Meilin, come over here too!"

"...Wh, what are you talking about! You did something so terrible, and you're asking me to come over there?!"

"Do, don't tell me you're going to abandon me? We, we came from the same place. We have to stick together! I, I've been doing all the dangerous work all this time!!"

The conversation is so unexpected.

"Ha, this damn kid is seriously..."

The moment I see the fairy archer's contorted expression, the entire situation becomes crystal clear.

'Don't tell me, both of them are players.'

Even the dwarf looks surprised, so it seems like he was unaware of this as well.

He probably just happened to find some evidence and used it to threaten Hans G during their watch.

"Dwarf! You better keep your promise to take him to Noark!"

"...Of course! Help me!"

The fairy archer, left with no other choice after Hans G's betrayal, shouts in frustration and moves towards the dwarf.

'This is truly messed up.'

A headache throbs in my temples.

Just moments ago, we had the numerical advantage.

Now, we're the ones outnumbered.

Hans G's team's Guide has already fainted from the shock, and even if he wakes up, his combat ability is negligible.

Furthermore, even if we manage to defeat them in this dire situation, it doesn't mean all our problems are solved.

A bleak future awaits, where the five of us must face the boss battle alone.

'Damn it, and there's a Doppelganger bastard hiding among us!'

It's a situation beyond difficult, a situation that defies description.

'Even for the Hans effect, isn't this a bit much?'

The words escape my lips involuntarily, but...

So what?

"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"

We have no choice but to fight.

__________________

There's no need for lengthy exchanges.

We're long past the point of resolving this through dialogue.

Thud!

The moment I activate [Gigantification] and charge...

...a gray vortex engulfs me.

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It's one of the many offensive spells the sorcerer possesses.

Even with my resilience, I can't avoid taking damage if I tank it head-on.

But we're a team, remember?

"Tayrun Sheardiem."

A magical barrier envelops me.

It's what we comfortably call 'Mana Shield' in the game.

This is why mages are crucial in PvP.

Mana efficiency is so poor that it's a waste to use during hunts, but against humans, it's a different story.

The consumption cost is high for both sides.

Whoosh.

When my vision clears, the dwarf stands before me.

Thud.

He leaps high, despite his short legs, and slams his shield into my face.

The damage itself isn't significant, but my giant form is pushed back helplessly.

It's due to his [Polarity Shield] skill.

It's a skill that grants a knockback bonus when pushing and reduces the impact when blocking.

Swoosh.

As soon as I'm pushed back, leaving a long skid mark, the beastman swordsman thrusts his sword at me.

He's aiming for my vulnerable eyes.

"Not a chance!"

Misha, who was shielded behind me, darts forward and parries the beastman swordsman's blade.

Okay, I'll leave him to Misha.

Whoosh!

Actions speak louder than words.

Like a barbarian.

"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!"

No time for talk.

I end the conversation and charge towards the enemy.

Tadat!

The dwarf retreats, as if he's committed to a defensive strategy.

It's a futile struggle.

How far can he possibly run with those short legs?

Indeed, the dwarf also seems to realize it's a lost cause and raises his shield.

Whoosh.

The shield swings towards me, aiming to push me back.

But the only reason I was able to withstand it before was because his companions were constantly distracting me.

Whoosh.

I simply twist my body to dodge and swing my mace down.

Clang!

A clear, ringing sound of impact reverberates from the shield he raised above his head.

Of course, there's no problem.

Clang!

If one hit doesn't work, two will.

Clang!

If two don't suffice, three will.

Clang!

This feels like a game of whack-a-mole.

The dwarf's shield remains steadfast, no matter how many times I strike it.

"That's why... I told you, didn't I? I can endure."

Although his breathing has become ragged...

Anyway, so he really believed that.

I feel a twinge of pity for him.

I can't believe he actually fell for my bluff.

Clang!

After thirteen more strikes...

Whoosh!

...I feign another swing with my mace and then swiftly reach out towards a specific spot.

And...

"...!"

...I yank his earring.

While a Numbered Item wouldn't be damaged by this level of force...

...flesh isn't a Numbered Item.

Rip.

The earring tears free as his earlobe splits.

'No. 2988 Guardian Corps Insignia.'

It doesn't offer any stat boosts or usage effects, but it grants a whopping 50% shock absorption bonus to shields when equipped. It's a godsend of an item.

I never expected to acquire this core item like this.

"...Give it back!!"

The dwarf, finally grasping the situation, charges at me like a madman. Of course, my only response is a swing of my massive mace.

Kwaaang!

A thunderous boom erupts from the shield as he instinctively protects his head.

Phew, that's the stuff.

It feels like the pent-up frustration is finally being released.

In that spirit, one more time.

Kwaaang!!

The dwarf staggers violently, clutching his half-crushed shield.

Kwagic!

I seize the opportunity presented by his lowered guard and bring the mace down on his head.

The dwarf crumples to the ground.

However, the space remains stable, indicating it's not an instant kill.

'Did he just faint?'

He's a tough one, I'll give him that.

'Anyway, that worked out well.'

I rummage through the dwarf's bag and retrieve a specific item.

It's the test tube containing the Manticore's essence.

As I look at it, I suddenly recall his words from when we were rolling the dice.

[You're lucky.]

The line that fits me the least.

It's a bit ironic.

He uttered those words, and now he's on the verge of death, while I'm in the opposite position.

It makes me wonder if luck is merely a precursor to misfortune.

But...

"I can't believe the test tube in his expandable backpack survived intact."

I chuckle and mutter,

"Lucky me."

This much is acceptable.

Because everything else is the fruit of my own efforts.

「The essence of [Manticore] seeps into the character's soul.」

I down the essence in the test tube in one gulp.

And at that moment...

Rumble!

...tremors ripple through the space.

No wonder he was still alive after taking that hit.

He's finally dead.

'The corpse will return to its original location, so I'll deal with it later...'

My vision blurs, and when I open my eyes, I see the familiar forest.

I quickly assess my surroundings.

Less than five minutes have passed since I was transported to that place.

Kwaaang! Crackle! Boom!

The battle still rages fiercely.

But the location of the battlefield has shifted since I was gone.

About 70 meters away.

I need to rejoin my companions as quickly as possible and provide support.

'Hmm, this distance seems about right.'

So I activate the newly acquired ability.

The active skill embedded in the Manticore's yellow essence.

'Leap.'

Feeling a lightness course through my body, I launch myself into the air with a powerful jump.

And...

「Jumping Power is temporarily increased by 10 times, and a powerful shockwave is released upon landing.」

...my body, arcing through the air in a steep parabola, slams into the heart of the dwarf's remaining forces like a meteor.

Kwaaang!

I finally have a movement skill.