NOVEL NEXT Chapter 54
Thunder!
KWAANG!
The first attack, with absolutely no agro drawn, was hit as hard as I could without knocking anyone out.
“SHAHAAK!!!”
Violet lightning struck down with great force right above the head of the Pool Serpent.
The one hit directly by the bolt let out a mighty scream as if it had taken quite a hit.
“Who…?!”
ZZZING─
Squinting from the intense headache tearing at my mind, I said, “I jumped in because I thought we would be wiped out if this kept up.”
I looked at the archer and stated firmly, “Since it’s an urgent situation, let’s not beat around the bush. Do you want to take it down together and share the spoils, or should a third party just wait in the back while the five of us fight?”
“There’s no point in thinking too long! We misjudged the strength of the monster. Please help us!”
The three from the back nodded, their faces flushed, as if they realized they could die too if this continued.
“Then, I’ll join the other two and support you right away—.”
I pulled my body back abruptly.
PWAHAK!
A sphere of water fell precisely where I had just stood.
Seeing the impact was enough to leave a chilling tingle down my spine.
‘A wrong hit could lead to at least a serious injury.’
Looking up, I saw the Pool Serpent glaring at me from afar, its terrifying red eyes glowing ominously.
SSSS─.
A blue aura began to gather at the corners of its wide-open mouth.
KWAHAAAAA!
It shot a beam of liquid-like energy straight at me.
Seeing the trajectory, I hurriedly dodged toward the direction with no people, but as it swung its head towards me, the breath it exhaled didn’t stop; it just kept coming.
With the ground being completely torn apart, the relentless attack was upon me.
That was when…
“Eat this!!!”
[Gail casts ‘Pierce.’]
TWACK!
The spear-wielder, hit by the water bomb, rushed at the Pool Serpent, stabbing it with his spear, blood flowing from its head.
“KIHAAAH!!!”
As he yelled, pouring his mana into the technique, the Pool Serpent was jabbed in the side.
Raising its head, the beast let out a terrifying scream.
Breath split as it bled upwards, desperation mixing with pain.
Now’s my chance!
I unleashed my mana to quickly close the distance, arriving right next to the still whacking creature.
“GHUAAAH!”
Switching to my Great Sword, I aimed directly at the relatively defenseless belly and unleashed a ferocious assault.
KWAANG! CHAK! CHAK! CRUNCH!
Piercing through with my sword technique, I unleashed a flurry of strikes, filled with accumulated lethal energy.
“SSHHAAAAK!!!”
As the relentless dark-hued strikes gutted the creature, the Pool Serpent twitched, unable to keep up its movements.
‘Its fat layer is too thick. Just splitting the skin isn’t enough to expose the flesh.’
I need a powerful strike that digs deeper. Yes, that’s what I need.
I readied myself, gathering mana in my sword.
“GRROOOAH… SHAAAA!”
But the creature wouldn’t simply accept its death without a fight.
SHHUUUM! SHHHSHHSHSHSH!
The massive amount of flesh splattered everywhere, becoming a storm of spikes that violently stabbed toward me.
“Dammit!”
Quickly canceling the mana I gathered, I dove back and raised my sword to block the unavoidable trajectory.
[Divine Shield.]
Yeriell’s shield protected the appropriate angles.
Thanks to that, I managed to escape from the attack range with ease.
SSSSSH!
The stray spikes turned into a pool of blood on the ground, but blood continued to ooze from the creature’s belly, meaning being out for a moment didn’t end the attacks.
[Reila casts ‘Flash Arrow.’]
PIYUNG─
At that moment, the archer, lurking in the back, sent an arrow flying towards the Pool Serpent’s face.
Just as the arrow approached its eye…
FWOOSH─ PAAAH!
In line with its name, ‘Flash Arrow,’ the illuminated arrow exploded like a flashbang, swallowing the darkness around.
Clearly, the monster’s eyes weren’t in good shape.
Because of this, its blood-based attack was smoothly disrupted.
Momentarily blinded, the creature seemed bewildered.
“KIESHAAA─!”
SHUDDER…
Suddenly, the ground around the Pool Serpent shook.
“Uhh?”
Whatever it was, I stepped back to avoid being caught up in it.
‘Huh…’
Nearby, the ground had turned to water, and a massive puddle started forming around the creature.
PLUNK!
The Pool Serpent immersed in the puddle was slowly healing its wounds.
I stared in disbelief at the sight, realizing this must have been its last trump card…
Though its wounds were mending, I could still see the blue scales on its exterior and the dull shine of its two straight horns.
‘What to do? Flying in the air or walking on water right now is impossible. Swim toward it? It’s not like it’s dumb enough to just let that happen.’
[Holy Arrow.]
[Black Fang.]
[Reila casts ‘Wedge Arrow.’]
[Schmitt uses a ‘Fire Ball’ scroll.]
The others seemed to have judged they simply needed to stop the creature from recovering, so Yeriell and Lumia cast their holy spells and magic, and even the man looking like a packhorse tore up a scroll for a ranged attack.
However…
“SAHAAAA!!!”
The Pool Serpent, spewing blood, swung its mouth wide open and unleashed a sonic blast that scattered half the attacks.
Followed by that, water shot up from the massive puddle like a barrier, rendering all remaining attacks useless.
‘Dammit! If the creature fully recovers, this is all for nothing. Is that really a puddle? It’s a freaking lake.’
Trying to figure something out while keeping an eye on it…
Huh?
Right, Frozen Frost! If I use this to freeze the water as I step on it, then repeat that to approach it…
I can’t expect the same power since it’ll be weaker, but if I can freeze only the part I step on, it should still be feasible.
I just need to reach it; that’s what matters now.
Seeing it looks weak, I thought, if I focus my mind…
‘Yes. It’s worth a shot. But…’
For that to happen, someone needs to break through any obstacles when it creates those water surges like before.
I can’t make any rough movements while infusing mana into my sword.
The only one who can take that role here is… yes, the spear-wielder.
────
[Gail Ibain]
[Strength: D-] [Agility: D-] [Durability: E-]
[Stamina: E+] [Mana: E+] [Luck: E]
[Traits] (Collapse)
Spear Art ─ Ibain
Heir of a House
Light Body
Spear that Pierces Stone
────
────
[Spear that Pierces Stone (C)] [A]
A technique learned through bone-breaking effort via the family’s vision book.
Utilizes a strictly determined route of mana control and a controlled stance to infuse mana into the spear and launch it.
A heavy mana consumption unleashes appropriate power for that cost.
─ When used, significantly increases penetrating power against a singular target.
─ During use, unable to be pushed back by any attack.
─ Post-use, the user suffers from exhaustion, weakness, and lethargy status ailments.
────
Looks good but has a lot of flaws.
I fully understand why it couldn’t be used in combat.
“Hey, spear-wielder! Don’t you have any hidden techniques up your sleeve? With a primary weapon like a spear, surely you have something, right?”
“I… do have one. It’s hard to use normally and it’s a single-use spell, but how did you know so confidently…?”
Good. No lies. Ignoring the question, I continued.
“If I’m on my own, I have a way to reach it. But the one issue is how it might block me again like before when I try to get close.”
I locked eyes with Gail.
“I need someone to clear a path no matter what comes out, just once, so I can get close. Can you do that?”
“…Understood. Let’s give it a shot!”
Upon hearing his answer, I focused and started channeling mana into my sword.
‘Think of the training with Rotten. Recall the feeling when I first succeeded!’
Cold air burst from my feet, centering around my legs.
Slowly, mana began gathering in the sword, and once I could move just enough without breaking my focus, I stepped toward the Pool Serpent, whose wounds were nearly healed.
As I moved, it seemed to focus on me the most, sending fierce jets of water my way.
WHOOSH─ PAANG!
BANG! PAANG! PAANG!!!
Numerous spheres of water coalesced around the Pool Serpent.
As it shrieked, they all charged at me.
Should I dodge?
…No, there’s no need.
[Light of Protection.]
[Divine Shield.]
[Lucan’s Black Hand.]
BADANG! WHOOSH!
[Robert casts ‘Impenetrable Defense.’]
[Robert casts ‘I Will Protect You.’]
Seeming frustrated that all it did was take hits against the Pool Serpent, he raised a massive shield with a face of venom.
“I’ll take the hits, so you go!”
With the support from the back and protection from the front, I dashed toward the puddle.
Standing before the huge puddle, I took a step forward.
SHLURP.
One step. Another step.
SHLURP.
Dashing forward with a big leap.
HAAAAA!!!
As I moved forward, the creature used the water to resist fiercely, its limits obvious against the back-up efforts.
But right now, I was at the peak of concentration.
SHLURP! SHLURP!
Minimizing violent movements, I carefully watched the incoming trajectories and impact points while running ahead, dodging everything effortlessly.
“SHAAAAAAA!!!”
The furious cry slammed into my eardrums.
Was that a threat to kill me?
No, it was just the desperate scream of a creature cornered.
KWAANG───
Just as I got close, a wall of water shot up, blocking my view.
“NOW!!!”
[Gail casts ‘Spear that Pierces Stone.’]
WHOOSH…
THWACK!
In that instant, a massive hole opened up in the wall.
‘There’s only one chance.’
Darting through the hole that Gail frantically created, I slowly raised the Barak to my chest.
They said not to use it unless it was the exact moment for a strike.
‘Right. This is it.’
I pulled my right arm back, gripping the sword.
With my left hand, I traced the blade to secure my grip firmly at the tip.
The unprecedented amount of mana that I had pushed to the limits flooded out, surging.
“You annoying pest. Just die!!!”
Focusing all my attention.
With my arm, drawn taut like an archer string with an arrow, I aimed the sword tip at my target.
Every moment felt like it was in slow motion.
The taut muscles in my arm, the blade lunging straight toward the creature’s weakness without a hint of deviation.
Uncontrollable surging destructive mana—
CRACK!
I struck.
The sword pierced through its body, slowly moving forward.
As it split the flesh, the Barak at the end began to crumble apart.
SPIT!
As the blade dispersed, the mana infused in the sword lost its path and scattered in all directions.
CRACK. CRACK.
Bright light erupted from the part where I thrust, spilling out as cracks began to span across its entire body.
CRACK!
The light surged from the spider-web-like cracks on its skin. My mana.
KWAHAHAAAA─!!!
Destructive light engulfed the entire body of the Pool Serpent.
“SHAA, SHAHAHAA─”
“Get lost.”
That was its dying breath.
PU──UUM!!!
A deafening roar shook the ground.
Ultimately, the Pool Serpent couldn’t withstand the mana and exploded into a mess of flesh and blood.
While getting drenched in the rain of blood pouring from above, I clutched my aching arm.
“HAH, HAH.”
…The victor is me.
‘Ah, crap. If it bursts like this, the spoils are…’
Only realizing this a breath too late,
WHOOSH!
From the spot where it died, eight lights spread out in front of each adventurer.
They shone brilliantly, enough to make you completely forget about any potential spoils.