Night Raid (2)
He couldn't show off too much strength.
There were too many eyes watching. If he used abilities that seemed out of place, rumors would inevitably spread. At worst, he might even be mistaken for a dark priest.
To avoid that… he had to fight like a normal person.
Fwoosh!
Dark blue mana flickered along the blade in Woojin's hand. Mana Arts. After consuming Vikram's inner core, he had grown far more adept at handling it.
"A useful ability for misdirection."
Even if he crushed his enemy with raw strength as usual, the mana coating the blade would make it look like a technique powered by Mana Arts from an outsider's perspective. It lent plausibility.
Woojin swung the blade at the gargoyle. Still spewing flames at Roland, the gargoyle folded one wing to block the incoming strike.
A wing as hard as a steel shield.
Slice—!!
The machete carved cleanly through the wing in a single stroke. Startled, the gargoyle leapt backward and lashed its tail at Woojin with full force.
Woojin tried to deflect the whip-like strike with his machete.
Thooooong!!
The sheer impact sent him tumbling far across the ground. It was far heavier than he had expected.
"Did it use weight augmentation on the tail tip?"
His wrist throbbed. He had planned to deflect and counterattack, but the gargoyle knew how to employ its ability with cunning precision.
Still, the tide had turned.
"Throw your spears!!"
The moment distance opened between Woojin and the gargoyle, the holy knight shouted as if waiting for it. The soldiers hurled their javelins with all their strength.
The gargoyle folded its wings to shield itself, just as before. But one wing had already been slashed by the machete. The torn membrane hung like a shredded curtain.
Through that gap, two javelins pierced in.
Thud!!
"Grrraaaagh!"
The gargoyle roared in fury. Two javelins lodged into its flank. They hadn't sunk deep, but blades imbued with holy power inflicted intense pain upon demonic beasts.
Its gaze snapped toward the soldiers. It drew in its chest, preparing to spew fire.
Of course, Woojin didn't stand idle.
He snatched up a fallen shield from the ground and dragged his dagger across its surface.
Kiiiing—!
The blade screeched against steel, producing a grating, ear-splitting noise. The gargoyle flinched violently, brows knotting. With their sensitive hearing, bat-type beasts could scarcely endure such sounds.
Naturally, its head turned toward him. Blue flames welled up in its throat. Woojin poured mana into the shield in his hand and charged forward with it raised.
Fwoooosh!
Flames burst from the gargoyle's mouth. He blocked them with the shield in his left hand. The closer he advanced, the hotter the shield became.
At this rate, he would be roasted alive.
But Woojin hadn't rushed in recklessly.
Shaaah—
With his right hand, he cast a freezing spell, channeling cold energy into the shield. The suffocating heat gradually subsided.
"Manageable."
He reinforced the shield with Mana Arts and cooled it with a freezing spell—a fusion of martial skill and magic. It was the first time he'd attempted something like this, yet somehow it felt possible.
Ordinarily, he would have simply endured such an attack with his body… But forced to imitate the fighting methods of the people here, he found himself increasingly aware of mana's potential and versatility.
"…Is this enlightenment?"
A word Bow used constantly. Enlightenment always arrived at the most unexpected moments.
Woojin strode forward. Seeing this, the gargoyle faltered in confusion. It had never seen anyone withstand its flames like that.
This is bad. I need to escape.
As it turned to flee—
Stab!
Roland, who had been waiting patiently for an opening, thrust his blade into the back of the gargoyle's knee. In one fluid motion, he withdrew it and swung again, severing the creature's tail.
"Graaaargh!!"
The gargoyle shrieked in agony and slammed its arm down toward Roland. The heavy, augmented fist smashed into the ground.
But the holy knight had already retreated. Roland laughed mockingly.
"Haha, watch your front!"
Though the gargoyle couldn't understand his words—
A chill ran down its spine. It looked forward.
A gleaming machete was already inches away.
Slash!!
The blade swept through its neck. The headless body of the demonic beast collapsed onto the dirt.
They had slain a gargoyle.
…But it was too soon to celebrate. Though this area was secured, screams continued to erupt from other parts of the expedition's camp.
"Gargoyles live in groups."
Most bats lived in colonies. Gargoyles were no exception. They were scattered across the area, filling their starving bellies.
Roland spoke urgently.
"It's chaos everywhere! How many came?!"
"At least seven."
From his earlier reconnaissance atop the tree, Woojin estimated no fewer than seven gargoyles.
"…That's the minor problem."
"The expeditionary force has weakened. The demonic beasts that were waiting for an opportunity will all converge."
The beasts that had been lying low would emerge all at once—like multiple predators gathering to feast on a school of sardines.
The atmosphere around them turned cold. Even Roland's face grew slightly pale.
"…This is not good. If you're right… even sending support will be difficult."
"Yes. The moment we knights leave our posts, the beasts will ambush this sector. We're effectively pinned down."
Demonic beasts were cunning.
If Roland and the holy knights moved to assist elsewhere, the beasts would notice the opening and strike. If that happened, the choir's lives would be at risk—and they could lose all their supplies. The beasts would surely covet the food brought from within the barrier.
As he explained, Woojin sliced open the gargoyle's chest and retrieved its inner core.
"It's been a while since I've gotten such a fine core."
One alone felt slightly unsatisfying.
So he made a separate request to Roland.
"I'll scout the nearby sector briefly. Please guard the choir in the meantime."
"You're going alone?"
"Of course not."
With that, Woojin walked toward the choir—terrified priests and nuns, and four wolves standing protectively before them.
"Rex."
At the leader's call, Rex stepped forward. This one would serve as the hunting hound.
"I'll be back shortly."
"…If circumstances allowed, I'd go with you. But they don't. Be careful."
Roland swallowed the words that almost left his mouth about following along. It frustrated him deeply that he couldn't join the fight, but he had a duty to remain and protect the people here.
Woojin mounted the wolf's back.
"Let's go."
At the command, Rex took off running. The hunting hound's keen nose would find the nearest prey.
Woojin pulled out the inner core he had taken earlier.
Crunch, crunch—
He chewed and swallowed the gargoyle's core. He had secretly hoped to gain the weight augmentation ability… but instead, his ears suddenly felt as though something muffled had cleared.
The gargoyle's hearing.
"…A dud."
Disappointing, but fine. He would simply hunt more diligently. As he thought that, another demonic beast entered his field of vision.
A gigantic centipede.
It slithered across the ground in pursuit of prey. Before anyone could react, a soldier was seized. The centipede coiled around him repeatedly like a tightening spring.
Crunch, crack—!
Dozens of legs stabbed into the soldier's body. Each one was sharp as an awl and carried venom.
If he had departed just a little sooner… perhaps that man could have been saved.
"At least avenge him."
At Woojin's words, Rex charged toward the centipede. The wolf's back split open as four tentacles burst outward.
The centipede, which had been busy devouring its prey, realized the danger too late. It tried to flee, but Rex was far faster.
Thud, thud!!
The tentacles pierced into the centipede's body and, with a wrenching force, tore it clean in two. Though split in half, the creature writhed strangely, as if still clinging to life.
It snapped its venomous fangs wildly at the air. Rex ignored it, ripped open its body, and devoured the inner core.
"…Did you gain an ability?"
Rex shook his head.
Another dud.
"Forget small fry like this. Find another gargoyle. We don't have much time."
"Rr."
Rex gave a low cry in understanding.
It seemed Rex had followed the soldier's scream, hoping to help—but while the intention was admirable, they would never finish if they kept this up.
There was only one Woojin and one Rex. Saving soldiers one by one was impossible. Hunting the most dangerous enemy—the gargoyles—would ultimately save more lives.
But carrying out that plan was easier said than done.
Everywhere they looked… people were dying.
"Aaaagh—!"
A soldier screamed as he ran. A dark shadow fell over him.
Snap.
A massive crow seized the soldier by the shoulders and took to the sky. The man dangled helplessly from its talons, his screams fading into the distance.
"…Aaaaargh!!"
Suddenly the scream grew louder again. The soldier was falling.
He hit the ground and burst apart like an overripe fruit. The crow descended leisurely, pecking at the corpse. Like a gourmet, it selected a few choice organs before taking off in search of another victim.
Swish, swish.
Woojin's hands moved swiftly in intricate gestures, as if forming sign language. A crimson fireball flared into existence above his palm.
He launched it at the crow.
Boom!
With a sound like a firework exploding, the crow shrieked and plummeted to the ground.
As he sped past that scene—
Another chaos unfolded before him. Soldiers fled in terror as a black bull charged through, trampling them in its path.
Some were crushed beneath its hooves; others were flung aside like bowling pins.
"…That one's beyond my magic."
Should he just pass it by?
As that thought crossed his mind, something suddenly extended before him.
One of Rex's tentacles.
At its tip was a fallen javelin.
"Good."
After praising the wolf's quick thinking, Woojin hurled the javelin with all his might.
Thud!!
The spearhead sank deep into the bull's neck. The beast coughed blood and collapsed.
After that, similar events repeated.
Even while sprinting, Rex extended his tentacles to collect scattered javelins. Woojin hurled them in rapid succession, taking down any demonic beast that caught his eye.
After racing like that for some time—
At last, a gargoyle came into view.
A particularly powerful one.
But there was no need for tension.
"…Already dead."
The gargoyle lay sprawled across the dirt. The holy knights must have slain it together. Three holy knights' corpses lay nearby, suggesting the cost.
Woojin nudged the gargoyle's body over with his foot and slit open its chest with his dagger.
There it was.
The gargoyle's inner core.
In the chaos, the knights hadn't bothered to collect their spoils. Thanks to that, Woojin was able to claim the core.
Crunch—
Without hesitation, he chewed and swallowed it.
He clenched his fist.
…He could feel the weight.
"Weight augmentation."
He had acquired the ability he sought.
But there was no time to savor the achievement. Woojin swiftly mounted the wolf again.
"Let's go."
The hunt was not over.
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