Chapter 20 : Mutant Subjugation (2)

As soon as Hars's gaze fixed on us, the gazes of the surrounding demonic beasts also turned to us.

【Lv.3】

【Flame Tail Lizard】

It was as if dozens of flames were looking at us all at once.

Dozens of Flame Tail Lizards began to rush towards us all at once.

The battle was now inevitable.

Edric, who couldn't have been unaware of that fact, drew his weapon and shouted.

“Prepare for battle!”

At that, Conlan, Albino, and Alicia drew their respective weapons.

The Flame Tail Lizard is a very rare demonic beast in this area.

And for good reason, as vast as the Demonic Realm may be, the climate of the northern region adjacent to Winter Castle is generally one of severe cold.

Therefore, Flame Tail Lizards, which possess the fire attribute, almost never inhabit the area, yet for some reason, dozens of them have appeared here.

The reason was obvious.

‘It must be because of that thing.’

【Lv.5】

【Burning Hars】

A mutant of the Flame Tail Lizard.

As befitting a level 5 entity, the fierce flames it emitted were making the surrounding environment habitable for the Flame Tail Lizards.

Soon, the way to break through this situation was also obvious.

‘I have to aim for him.’

But unfortunately, as soon as I drew the Colt Garrison B-09, the Flame Tail Lizards rushed towards us.

[Kuru, kururu!!]

The option to carelessly save bullets was not given.

A level 3 demonic beast.

In other words, it meant that the moment I allowed it to get close, it was a demonic beast that could kill me in an instant.

Baaaaang!!!───

The loud report of the Colt Garrison B-09 didn't quite fit this mission that required stealth, but it was not the time to worry about such trivial things.

[Kururuk!]

Was it truly a level 3 demonic beast?

Or was it because I failed to hit a vital spot due to the urgent situation?

Despite the fired bullet hitting its mark, the Flame Tail Lizard only flinched for a moment before swinging its flaming tail at me once again.

Woosh!

Dangerous.

Feeling that, I hastily dodged the attack, but my pathetic physical abilities were insufficient to completely avoid it.

At that moment.

[The ‘Orb of Water’ protects the user.]

A barrier of ice that rose up in front of me blocked the flames erupting from the flaming tail.

It was the power of the Orb of Water.

Sizzzzle……!

A momentary opening created as a result.

I did not miss that gap.

Bang!

The bullet that flew with the pulled trigger did not miss its target this time.

[Kuruk!]

With the bullet instantly digging into the space between its eyes, the Flame Tail Lizard collapsed, spewing blood from its head.

I had overcome the immediate crisis.

But unfortunately, the situation was still extremely urgent.

“These reptile bastards!”

Conlan roared and swung a huge two-handed axe, but the agile Flame Tail Lizard did not easily get hit by that brutish axe swing.

No, rather, every time Conlan swung and missed, it wagged its flame-emitting tail and set Conlan's body on fire.

“Uaaah!”

Fortunately, the flames were quickly extinguished because the surroundings were covered in snow, but dealing with those flames was not easy.

[Kiruk!]

At least Albino was coping better than Conlan.

Stab!

Stab-stab-stab!

While Conlan was rampaging wildly and drawing the attention of the Flame Tail Lizards, Albino had succeeded in plunging a dagger into the heart of one Flame Tail Lizard.

Only then could I perfectly see through exactly what kind of magic Albino was using.

‘It's magic that controls the opponent's senses.’

The proof was that when the Flame Tail Lizard was hit by Albino's magic, it became terrified as if it couldn't see anything.

However, that type of magic belongs to the very powerful category of magic.

Powerful magic demands a price worthy of it.

I saw it.

The more he used the magic, the whiter Albino's white hair became, and his already gaunt body grew even thinner.

‘Is it a magic that uses one's lifespan as the price?’

A price called the worst among the prices of magic.

Just as I had suspected, Albino was currently using magic while paying such a price.

In a way, it even looked like he was overexerting himself to an excessive degree.

I shouted.

“Albino! Refrain from using magic! You'll die at this rate!”

“Shut up! Don't you dare order me around, you runt!”

I thought I understood a little.

Why Albino was pushing himself so hard?

“……Tsk.”

If there was a silver lining in this desperate situation, it was the performance of Edric, the captain of the 4th Special Task Force.

Swish!

Every time Edric's sword moved, a Flame Tail Lizard's head flew off.

His skill was so fluid that the Flame Tail Lizards' heads were sliced clean off without them even being able to let out a scream.

That wasn't the only thing I figured out while watching him.

‘That is formally learned swordsmanship.’

Alicia's performance was also remarkable.

She usually didn't stand out due to her taciturn nature, but once she started to properly rampage, her skills were clearly not ordinary.

Meaning, it wasn't a coincidence that she had subdued Conlan in one go before.

‘An Inquisitor of the Punishment Order, as expected.’

I couldn't figure out for what purpose an Inquisitor of the Punishment Order was in Winter Castle as a prisoner, but it wasn't a very important issue right now.

What was important was that Alicia was a very significant asset right now.

I also didn't stop and pulled the trigger.

I took down 5 Flame Tail Lizards in an instant, and used a total of 12 bullets.

Even though I had a bit of a surplus of bullets due to the evolution of my trait, the consumption rate was beyond imagination.

This was because the Flame Tail Lizard itself was incredibly agile, and the leather and scales it wore were incomparable to the Demon Head Hounds I had faced before.

‘This can't go on.’

A considerable number of Flame Tail Lizards had fallen, but a far greater number of them remained intact, watching for an opportunity.

They weren't just watching for an opportunity; they would charge immediately if even the slightest opening was shown.

Just like right now.

[The ‘Orb of Water’ protects the user.]

Crack, craaack!

The ice shield that rose again protected me from the encroaching flames.

If I hadn't obtained the Orb of Water, I would have burned to death several times over.

[Kururu!]

However, the power of the Orb of Water is by no means infinite.

Especially in a situation like this where its original power is suppressed.

No matter how much of a type advantage the Orb of Water has against the Flame Tail Lizards, it couldn't protect me forever.

If there was one silver lining in this misfortune, it would be that thanks to the domain of fire created by Hars, the Orb of Water was also recovering some of its power.

Meaning, the harsh climate of the north was not only suppressing the Flame Tail Lizards.

And that became the basis for me to pay a little less attention to defense.

‘I have to aim for Hars.’

The mutant of the Flame Tail Lizard.

It was currently circling around Edric, whom it judged to be the biggest threat, keeping him in check so that he couldn't rampage freely.

As if it would pounce and bite his neck at any moment if Edric showed even a small opening.

Perhaps because of that, Edric, while displaying amazing divine prowess, was also showing caution at the same time.

It must be because he sensed something unsettling from Hars.

[Kururu!]

As Hars wagged its tail, the surrounding snow melted and flames scattered.

Also, it wasn't just flames that were scattering.

A murky and unsettling energy.

An insect-like energy that gnawed and devoured living things.

‘Demonic energy.’

The cursed power originating from the Ascension Stone Fragment spread around and began to kill everything.

Even Hars itself.

[Kurururu!]

As the demonic energy began to run wild in earnest, the special task force members who had been holding on well until now began to crumble.

“Keuk!”

“These lizard bastards!”

With that, Alicia's posture momentarily broke, and the Flame Tail Lizards swarmed over her.

Since she, along with Edric, had volunteered for the most dangerous position, the crisis also came to her the quickest.

“……Tch.”

A pitch-black shadow cast over Alicia's face.

There was no time to hesitate.

Click─

Bang!

The bullet fired with the pulled trigger instantly blew the head off the Flame Tail Lizard that was about to pounce on Alicia.

Drip, drip…….

Bathed in the rain of blood pouring down, Alicia, having regained her stance, danced with her sword.

Swish!

Alicia, who had slaughtered the surrounding Flame Tail Lizards in an instant, said in passing.

“……Thank you.”

I never expected to receive thanks from someone like Alicia, who was the epitome of taciturnity, so I stared blankly at her face for a moment.

“……What is it?”

“No, it's nothing.”

The momentary crisis was barely averted, but the other special task force members were also facing a crisis.

“Uooooh!”

“Keeeeuh…….”

The number of wounds and burns on Conlan's and Albino's bodies increased one by one.

Edric was the same.

At this rate, it was a situation where annihilation was hard to avoid.

‘But I made an opening.’

An opening for me to aim at Burning Hars.

“Captain!”

“Speak!”

Even in the midst of urgency, Edric faithfully responded to my call.

“Please draw out the mutant!”

“Is there a way?!”

“Yes!”

“Good! I trust you!”

Well now, what should I call this…….

I don't know if he trusted me that much or if he was just that competent, but Edric didn't doubt my words in the slightest and trusted me, even though I was a criminal.

Swoooosh!

Edric's sword dance became rough.

The incredibly rough sword dance momentarily cut down more than three Flame Tail Lizards, but because of that, an opening was revealed.

‘……He's so earnest it's absurd.’

I don't know what he's basing his trust on to believe in me this much, but I can only respond to trust with corresponding faith.

Click─

The muzzle aims at Burning Hars.

The distance to it is about 50m.

The objective distance itself is not that far, but securing a clear line of sight is not easy due to the obstacles and the rising smoke in between.

But it doesn't matter.

The fleeting opportunity Edric created.

I did not miss it.

Baaaaang!!!────

[Due to the ‘Postponer of Ruin (EX)’ trait effect, additional damage is dealt to targets with the Demonic attribute.]

[It is a powerful Demonic attribute! Additional damage is dealt!]

[1,500% additional damage is dealt!]

Burning Hars's body staggered greatly, but it did not die.

It seems one shot was not enough.

But it didn't matter.

Because there were still bullets left.

Bang!!

Bang-bang!!──

[Due to the ‘Postponer of Ruin (EX)’ trait effect, additional damage is dealt to targets with the Demonic attribute.]

[It is a powerful Demonic attribute! Additional damage is dealt!]

[1,500% additional damage is dealt!]

[Due to the ‘Postponer of Ruin (EX)’ trait effect, additional damage is dealt to targets with the Demonic attribute.]

[It is a powerful Demonic attribute! Additional damage is dealt!]

[1,500% additional damage is dealt!]

The bullets that flew in succession relentlessly struck Burning Hars's body.

[Kruru…….]

And, finally, the body of the mutant demonic beast that seemed like it would burn the entire world crumbled.

[You have defeated the named demonic beast, ‘Burning Hars’!]

[You have defeated a flame-type named demonic beast! Resistance to fire increases.]

[You have acquired the trait, ‘Fire Resistance (D)’.]