The Ninth Ruin Fragment (2)

I took a long look at the situation.

Going forward, whether it was dealing with the Liberation Army last time or scouting for remnants elsewhere, detection abilities seemed essential. Sure, the current situation was dangerous, but...

'Might as well use it once and see.'

I passed on the Frost Totem and Meteor Fall. Of course, that wasn't the only reason for my choice.

'No matter how I think about it, the efficiency just doesn't add up.'

The Ice Shield's capabilities played the biggest role in my decision. Meteor Fall consumed 50 mana for a 25x25m area. Frost Totem took 20 mana for a 10x10m zone.

'...But Ice Shield is just 5 mana for 3x3m.'

I couldn't see any advantage over simply blocking with Ice Shields or slamming them down from the sky. Plus, they overlapped too much with Ice Shield's role anyway.

'Points to...'

I quickly invested in Frost Blink. Putting points into Frost Blink doubled the range from 50m to 100m.

'This should be enough to get out.'

At E-rank, it was a measly 30m. D-rank bumped it to 50m. I'd guessed C-rank would hit 70m, but no—it doubled straight to 100m. The rest had poor efficiency, and Ashes Spirit only reduced mana occupancy, so... naturally, points went to Frost Blink.

I moved my hand swiftly.

The choice was made in an instant. I put off the message and the City of the Dead stuff for later.

Boom!

Boom!

Crackle...

The little commercial building was starting to crumble under the flesh clumps' assault.

"Ice Shield."

Boom!

Scraaaape!

Crack!

Boom!

Boom!

The Ice Shield showed no signs of breaking, but the ground looked shaky. Even if it did break and the building collapsed, I could just block it with another Ice Shield—but that would drag things out.

Using the spirit to escape seemed better.

'It said shared vision and hearing, right.'

Detection. Not like Yoo Soyeon's or others' radar, but like Jeong Yena's scarecrow ability.

'Perfect for infiltration or intel gathering.'

It could even serve as defense. Worst case, I could park the spirit on patrol outside the base.

And...

'What if I link it with my other skills...'

It might not work. But trying was better than not.

I summoned the spirit amid the shaking building and the horde of flesh clumps eyeing me from outside.

"Ashes Spirit."

Vmmm...

A round orb of light appeared. About 10cm across, maybe.

'This is...'

Not what I'd expected. I'd pictured some fantasy fairy or chatty otherworldly being.

'A drone?'

Vmmm!

More like a living drone. It rubbed against me and slipped into my body, suggesting it had no fixed form.

'How does the vision and hearing share work?'

Another screen popped up in my mind. Illogical, but I could sense through it separately from my own eyes. Way better than expected.

Now, how to use it. First, I sent the spirit outside to scout an escape route.

Vmmm...

The spirit hummed as it headed out.

'They...'

But the flesh clumps ignored it completely. Remnants couldn't even perceive the spirit.

Anyway, I checked the outside via the spirit's vision and hearing.

'Insane.'

I sighed as I watched.

'All of that's flesh clumps.'

Hordes of them swarmed in front of the spirit's view. Like ants piling onto dropped candy.

Except I was the candy, and they were the ants surrounding the storefront.

Anyone watching would think I was in dire straits. And I was—the candy surrounded by ants that could melt it.

'But an offensive candy.'

A candy that eats ants.

...What the hell.

Hanging with Jeong Suhyun was rubbing off ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on me.

Anyway, quick assessment.

'They'll all die soon enough.'

Shifting the spirit's view skyward revealed patches of blue sky. Killing the ninth remnant was brightening the heavens. And with it—

Sizzle...

—the flesh clumps melted away.

I checked if I could Frost Blink via the spirit's vision. No dice.

'Vision issue? Or...'

The flesh clumps blocking paths?

'Easy to test.'

If not, try something else. Worth a shot.

"Ice Shield."

I summoned one in front of the door. It shrank to fit the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠small storefront entrance.

Scraaape!

Boom!

Flesh clumps smashed at it. Like at Northhyang General Hospital, I shoved the shield forward.

Grrrrrind!

Aaaaah!

Grrrrrind!

Flesh clumps charged the shield, others burrowing into gaps behind.

Outnumbered, the shield couldn't push hard. Sizes were similar anyway.

So I filled the gaps.

Boom!

With more Ice Shields. Mana was plentiful—about 100 total, down ~40 from Blinks and shields, still ~50 left.

If they had numbers, I'd overwhelm with my own.

Boom!

Boom!

I summoned five or six more, shoving the flesh clumps back. Same height, but they yielded in strength.

The moment they gave ground—

"Frost Blink."

I targeted a spot the spirit could see: atop a 3-story villa.

'Nice.'

Tap.

Tap.

Vision shifted instantly. Frost Blink via spirit vision worked.

What about farther? I Blinked to a rooftop 100m+ away.

Aaaaah!

Aaaah!

Flesh clumps wailed in confusion ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at losing me. I tried sending the spirit into their midst.

If Blink worked via spirit vision, so should Ice Spear and Shield.

'As long as it's in my view, it should activate.'

Attackable through that view. Visible from here now, but for future infiltration—sending the spirit inside to strike would be killer.

But—

Vmmm!

The spirit couldn't advance into the flesh clump square.

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue with a sigh.

'Range limit.'

Not on my skills, but the spirit's activity radius.

Still, confirming it was good.

'Even with limits, it's useful.'

Time to go anyway. Flesh clumps tracked me from afar, dripping black blood and chunks.

'Gross.'

I Blinked rapidly away from the City of the Dead, burning remaining mana toward Saseol Station.

They'd die on their own—no need to stick around fighting.

Plus.

'I'm beat.'

"Haa..."

Saseol Station's outer buildings came into view. Doubled range let the flesh clumps melt without catching up.

Shhh...

Spring rain fell under the clear sky again. But transparent this time—like normal rain.

Plip plop.

Saseoldong fully purified.

But.

I stood on the rooftop, peering down.

'...Zombies.'

Hordes groaned below—grrr...—shuffling about. Notably, no faceless ones.

Meaning.

'Those flesh clumps were faceless ones merged together.'

And the main body was them clumped up.

'Zombies moving normal again.'

They weren't controlling zombies anymore. Their movements matched the ones I knew.

I sighed and started walking.

Handled a remnant in under a day.

'...Kinda anticlimactic kill.'

Hit the goal too. But not over. Just one remnant down here.

Tap.

Tap.

I headed into the quiet Saseol Station, confirming the cryptic message. One task done, but plenty left.