Chapter 313
Chapter 313
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 313
Chapter Title: Rampager Subdual
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My nasal bone throbs with pain.
To be honest, I do bear some responsibility here. The patient took a solid hit to the face yet didn't lose his strength; instead, he clamped down on my neck and brought me down. The makeshift bed, shaped like an operating table, toppled over, sending the medical tools atop it scattering across the floor.
*How can he still be in his right mind after all that?*
My neck hurt where he was pressing down. He had collapsed too, so things had gone somewhat as expected... but I hadn't anticipated getting taken out in the process.
At this point, my reasoning went like this: If this patient was indeed the one chasing Narke, then he had approached Narke seeking divine power. He must have known a route out through the treatment room's side door—wherever it led—and planned to head there in search of Narke. But he ran into another mage coming to capture him, and when he got close to me, he luckily sensed the divine power.
*How the hell does a non-mage pure human pick up on that...?*
Confusion clouded my mind, but the answer was simple enough.
The most logical—and likely correct—explanation was that he had become corrupted, forming a Vitriol core that allowed him to detect mana. It wasn't visible yet, but it would soon go berserk, and his superhuman strength was probably due to the Vitriol still contained within his body.
*On my first high-risk field deployment, and now I have two rampagers?*
I had a hunch why this guy sensed the divine power when even mages couldn't: the fact that Vitriol and rampage phenomena were "extreme emotional manifestations" formed the basis of my deduction.
I'll set that aside for now. No time to think further.
During the fall, my personal communication artifact must have shattered—shards of translucent smoky gray glass lay scattered. I couldn't receive private messages anymore, but fortunately, the general comms channel still worked.
"Ah... aaah...."
The patient gritted his teeth, pressing one hand to his crooked nose. Feeling the weight of this new rampager on my windpipe, I barely secured a breath and spoke calmly.
"Come out."
I had no intention of chatting leisurely. If the emerging rampager switched targets and started bouncing around, it'd be a huge problem for us. I needed to keep him fully focused on me. At the same time, I needed time to recover my mana.
Support would arrive soon. I could hear the shutters opening below. Just hold on a bit longer. Just a bit. Repeating that to myself, I focused on my friends' special incantations coming through the artifact. From the sounds, the seventh floor was already in chaos just from me dropping out of the fight. Announcing a new rampager and my attack could shatter the fragile balance we were maintaining—especially psychologically.
"Ugh...."
Sweat-slick hands groped across my back, searching for my core. A glance showed the patient's face twisted in some bizarre, unreadable expression. He had sensed the divine power but seemed lost on what to do next—like he was on the verge of tears or spaced out. Indescribably weird.
And...
It wasn't quite that expression, but I couldn't hold mine either. In an instant, mana drained from my limbs and head, rushing toward my heart. Meaning, right now, my core's mana was being sucked into his body. If this kept up and my mana ran dry...
Wait. Wait, wait, wait!
Crack—!
"Euk...!"
"...No good."
I had no intention of begging for someone else's blood again. Especially not in a place like this.
Slamming the patient's face with my head made the back of my skull throb. Vision spun, but was this the time to wait for it to settle? I twisted around, smashed his head to the floor, and pinned his limbs. I figured subduing a pure human male on the verge of rampage wouldn't be easy, but regardless, he was a pure human with light bones—and crucially, a head shorter than me. Even so, in his berserk state devoid of reason, pinning him down with enhanced human strength wasn't straightforward.
"Grrruk, kaaaaah!"
*What the hell is this...?*
His teeth clacked together as foam bubbled at his mouth. Now he was snapping like a beast—was this okay?
I strained to lift my head away, gritting my teeth. Unlike every rampager I'd handled before, the Vitriol hadn't emerged externally yet, meaning it was still maturing inside. If I used mana on his blood vessels instead of smashing the core, he might absorb it and grow stronger. Rampagers, regardless of cause, rampaged in thirst for mana, absorbing external sources—even if it harmed them in the process. Consuming others' mana was their top survival priority.
But destroying the core meant releasing my grip, and he'd bite me.
I could risk channeling max mana through my arm to shatter the Vitriol core, but that risk loomed large. Failure would mean creating another Class 3 rampager victim like him.
*If I could use divine power right now, I could buy time.*
Even without entering Labyrinth, purification magic could grant a few seconds. Or I could use special formulas with mana alone to attack...
That thought hit just as the shutter rose nearby. Just a bit more, and support would arrive. The moment I decided to hold off attacks for the supporters' safety, someone kicked the door open.
Bang—!
"Found him. Taking Lucas with me."
It was Narke.
Narke, hand on the artifact mid-sentence, met my eyes and smiled.
*Not a supporter...*
Tension melted away.
Narke sat across from me, placing a hand on the snapping patient's forehead. Divine power flashed.
—Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
The patient's movements froze. As he slipped into sleep, the veins bulging on his neck eased. Amid slight emptiness, I caught my breath and let out a hollow chuckle. Narke grinned back.
"He's a pure human who hasn't rampaged yet, so he doesn't know how to resist. Lucky."
"Yeah... lucky."
"Grab him."
Narke helped me up and pulled out an elixir.
"I foresaw one more rampaging and was shocked... but you changed it. With treatment, this one can return to normal."
"Good news."
I replied, scanning Narke. Unlike before, he was purifying the space. Divine power flowed steadily from the staff he gripped. Narke briefed the arriving supporter, and while he did, I drank the elixir. As the supporter bound the sleeping patient with mana restraints, I looked upstairs and spoke.
"I've been thinking."
"Thinking, huh? During all that?"
Narke turned, laughing. He seemed too busy to read my mind yet.
"There are five up top. Haike's maintaining the barrier, and the four are draining the rampager's energy."
"Right. I retrieved both escapees. You and I just need to head up."
Not only that—he was casting stronger purification magic to prevent further rampages. Perhaps to reassure the patients, white light flooded the rooms. I swallowed those words and gazed at the mana bursts upstairs.
I should call Ulrike. No personal comms, so I asked aloud for all to hear.
"Ulri—not. Louise, what's the rampager's pattern?"
[Uh, for now... it's wary of all of us. Spraying Vitriol indiscriminately.]
"Not focusing only on close-range attackers?"
"With six more people around, it figured charging you wasn't worth it."
Connect it to what Ulrike told us earlier.
[Yeah, that's it! Observing everywhere. Slow, but... the Vitriol's so potent, even that calculation wears us down. Where are you now? Heard weird noises...!]
"Hold on. Thanks."
I turned to Narke.
"This patient wanted your divine power."
"Quick on the uptake~"
"And the upstairs rampager endured torture-like treatments multiple times. You might not have sensed it, but this patient's usual treatment was poor too. The nurse said she rampaged wanting to get out."
"So?"
"If cured, they escape this hellish asylum. No reason not to seek divine power. Help me, and I'll go."
"Ah."
[...Are you insane?! Lucas!]
[...That's what makes him top of Imperial Academy.]
[Stay out of it!]
[Y-yeah. Lucas. Whatever it is, if Leo says that much...]
Ulrike chimed into Leo and Elias's talk. Knowing our rift, Ulrike would say "that much," but Leo was always like this—and sharp as ever. No idea when third-exam top became school-corp top, but Elias got it too, without seeing what happened.
Narke smiled regretfully.
"Lucas, think again. I've been purifying this place, but that rampager didn't chase me."
"Means it has some intelligence."
"Hmm... Did it know it'd get caught coming for me?"
"Yeah."
Narke removed his ear artifacts, then mine, ensuring HQ wouldn't hear.
"Same even if you're bait. Plus, that near-rampager luckily sensed your... but no guarantee the other will."
"Your foresight?"
"...Haha."
It will. If I get close enough.
I pointed to his artifact.
"Wrap me in your divine power."
That'd smokescreen HQ. A flicker of ecstasy crossed Narke's glowing eyes. When I looked again, his face was composed as ever.
"......"
Bang—!
Narke stomped, bursting divine power. He hooked the artifact in my ear, then trailed his hand from my shoulder down. Divine power cloaked me like a barrier over my clothes.
"Like this?"
"Yeah. Thanks."
I smiled softly, then called Leo.
"Leo. I'll charge with the sword. You five support as needed."
[......]
"Past recommended time, survival drops sharply. You know we can't drag it. Judge without personal feelings."
[...No, guys! What are you doing?!]
Ulrike's despair rang out. Cherlingen and Haike stayed silent. To them, it'd sound like "hate me all you want, but follow orders"—teamwork in tatters. Intended to sound negative to those three.
Leo's reply came. His mana wrapped mine like thread binding a core—signaling the plan ahead.
[Do it.]
"Counting down. Haike, drop the barrier."
[...Got it.]
I grabbed the sixth-floor railing and leaped where the Vitriol-spraying rampager was visible. It was directly above my position, so I swung to the opposite side.
Why?
"3, 2...."
Because I wouldn't use the stairs.
I aimed my wand at the iron bridge to the seventh-floor office and said.
"1."
Bang—!
Mana-propelled jump onto the bridge. Using the emerging barrier as a foothold, I vaulted, grabbed hold. Thanks to Leo's brutal training, clambering up from dangling wasn't long. I crossed the rickety single-file iron bridge, landing in the hallway before the rooms. Only after I passed did the corroded bolts give way, sending it plummeting vertically.
Screech—crash, shatter—!
I spun my wand to sword and charged. Cherlingen and Leo had retreated two steps from prior positions, attacking; the rampager's gaze turned to me.
Slash—
Its Vitriol hurtled at me. I cleaved the muck, slamming it down, closing in on its face. Vitriol stung my body barrier intensely. An aggressiveness no normal mana had crushed my lungs. I saw its mouth gape. Narke oddly hadn't followed—likely reading my plan.
"Uwaaaah!"
The rampager bellowed, stomping. Black slime coating the floor erupted everywhere.
*As expected.*
Bait tossed, yet it stayed wary of all. I crossed arms guarding front, retreating.
Sizzle—....
"...!"
Where my body barrier was weakest, Vitriol stuck; the fabric charred like burned. Flexing shed it like actual ash. If it touched skin... Better not imagine. Had to hit ER before bones melted. Its high-risk status owed to intelligence, but this Vitriol's ferocity too. Elias, who'd joked about ruining expensive clothes, was deadly serious now; all maintained standoff as before. Still, only I could create the variable.
*If I could confer with friends...*
No time to convince everyone. At least the others minus Ulrike and Haike likely grasped it when I ascended cloaked in Narke's divine power. Rely on Leo rating my plan's success high.
Bang—!
Blocking an attack, back hit the room door. I slashed through the rampager's omnidirectional Vitriol sprays, charging again. Its mouth yawned open anew.
"Aaaaaah!"
I swung sword at its head, loosening my grip.
Bang—splat—
"...?!"
Ulrike's widened eyes far off.
Grip loosened, naturally I fell to its attack; it seized the gap. Unprecedented Vitriol rain poured toward Leo and friends. Sensing peril, screams rose from rooms. Even assaulting them, it raised its slimy foot mass—once a hand?—and smashed my calf.
Crack—
"...!"
Felt like bone snapped. Fortified body barrier spared corruption death. I tried reassuring myself.
Boom—bang—!
Rampager shifted tactics against incoming attacks, trapping me and itself in Vitriol. Vision blackened in the dome. No more time. Longer here, I die.
"Lucas! Why no spell?!"
Ulrike yelled urgently, not grasping my plan. Her voice pierced the artifact, audible directly too.
About to use one. Differently than she thought. I murmured the incantation quietly.
[Abide in me, and my words abide in you.]
Crackle—bang—!
[Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done.]
Before finishing, something shattered; red mana sparked at the rampager's wrist in the dark. Amplified binding mana locked our hands firm. With my free opposite hand, I allocated mana, extending arm.
*'To where the sixth-floor railing is.'*
Please.
Hurry!
Thud—
The Vitriol dome where I reached burst red mana. Rampager's head snapped there. Split-second. Feeling mana snag solidly, I yanked hard. Center vanished.
Success. Rampager's body plummeted with mine into void.
"Wh-what the—!"
"Wait! Lucas!"
Ulrike, then Haike from rear stairs reinforcing barrier, shouted loud.
* * *
*This...!*
Leo gripped the room handle behind, stomping. Plant tendrils caught his airborne friend. Mind ached avoiding bone breaks.
Heart pounded madly; ears heard only his beat. Fear, probably. To prevent emotions ruining things, always self-assess clearly. Leo flung hand up. Simultaneously, a non-his boom erupted somewhere on sixth.
Rumble—!
Divine power burst blinded ahead. That square-kilometer purification strike now usable. Narke snatched falling rampager; Julia and Elias coordinated instantly, herding it aside. Ulrike Klaist and Haike Ainsidel followed late. Thus Narke could finally burst its core. Leo closed eyes, relying on other senses, yanking arm back.
Thud—
Vitriol-soaked human hit floor. Even calculated, mispulled—coughing heard.
Leo briefly checked his friend, then whipped wand blocking rampager's final Vitriol burst. Its roar louder than ever. It knew end near—natural.
Isolate on sixth, seize advantage. Lucas's plan, surely.
With brief respite, pin and distance for attacks. Clear why no prior floor-gap strikes: All-out ranged on un-subdued rampager madness. Think it'd not leap up?
Plus, it started topmost, didn't drop easy; even if, with attention on all, counterattack risk unavoidable. Thought since rejecting Julia's proposal.
We could subdue first high-risk rampager because...
Lucas grasped victim essence, baited granting us opening. While we focused its aggression, he pondered path to rampage. Trivial difference, but knowing him as Nikolaus Ernst, not trivial to me. He never forgot: rampagers weren't born monsters—once, still our citizens.
Rampager's voice faded silent. Leo retracted plant tendrils used lifting Lucas to seventh, muttering.
"Crazy bastard."
"......"
Exhausted floor-sprawled Lucas smirked—energy for bad-actor acting? He sat up shakily, shook body barrier dropping all Vitriol, asked quietly.
"All done? About 15 minutes?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Send to hospital now."
Leo pulled final report signaler from jacket, tossed it. Lucas, knowing meaning, looked up expressionless. Leo gestured, explained briefly.
"You report."
"......"
Elias would've quipped who'd make grandstand here. Lucas got implication, snorted, pressed button thrice. Exhaling long, he said flatly.
"Mission complete. Returning."