Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Fallen (2)
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A demonic energy storm raged around the Fallen One's body.
Within that storm of demonic energy, the Fallen One's body began to undergo a grotesque mutation.
Bang!
On the off chance it might work, I fired the rifle.
But whether it was because my strength fell short, or some game-like mechanic at play...
The bullet, enhanced by the cheat's effect, failed to pierce the demonic energy storm and simply vanished.
Still, maybe explosives would do the trick, so I lobbed a grenade.
Boom!
It made a deafening noise, but the demonic energy storm didn't budge an inch.
I clicked my tongue at the sight and lowered the rifle.
"These days, the trend is not to wait for transformations..."
Having to just sit here and watch the enemy power up like this.
God, or devs, is this really how it's supposed to be?
No, if the game became reality, there should at least be a phase skip, right?
...As I grumbled to myself, the moment I pulled a Gas Mask from my inventory and slipped it on.
📜 NEW QUEST 📜
Event Quest - [Feat]
【Survive】
Survive against the Fallen One.
📍 ※ Support forces will arrive in 5 minutes.
🎁 Reward: 50,000 points (additional rewards based on performance), ???
⚠️ Failure: Death.
An Event Quest had appeared.
Complete with a 'Feat' designation, no less.
"...A Feat Quest pops up here?"
The enemy was already powering up into phase 2.
Of course, a Feat Quest didn't mean the enemy got twice as strong or anything.
But a Feat showing up meant death flags were thick in the air.
Still, right now, I felt more anticipation than fear or anxiety.
"50,000 points plus a mystery reward... At minimum, a selection voucher, right?"
It was all because of the quest rewards.
Sure, the objective wasn't 'eliminate it' but 'survive'...
But for a do-or-die quest, the rewards would be mouthwateringly sweet.
"Five minutes? Piece of cake. I'll survive with time to spare."
No, more than survive.
If I played it right, I could even kill the thing.
I still had two shots with holy ammo, after all.
"Hoo."
I let out a tense breath and swapped the rifle's magazine.
Half the ammo was still left, but it was better to switch to a fresh one early.
That way, I'd squeeze out a bit more firepower.
Vroooom...
The Fallen One's mutation was nearly complete; the raging demonic energy storm began to die down.
I checked my gear once more and peered into the storm.
There, glowing crimson eyes pierced through the winds, glaring at me with a chilling light.
In those eyes burned a single, intense killing intent: the promise to kill me no matter what.
Nothing else.
I didn't look away.
My weak body trembled on its own...
But thanks to my decent mental fortitude and 'Resilient Mind (A)', I felt no fear or terror.
And maybe that's why.
Enraged that a mere prey like me wasn't cowering...
"Grrr..."
The Fallen One let out a beastly growl and unleashed even fiercer killing intent.
"Gone full beast mode now that you're no longer human-shaped?"
Far from intimidated, I mocked it instead.
"Rip... you... to shreds..."
"Oh? Not completely feral after all?"
Some reason lingered; it growled out clumsy threats of death.
But I kept taunting, needling its temper.
"Kyaaak! Kyaaaaak—!"
It made facing it that much easier.
Just as I was chipping away at its sanity...
Vrooom... drip.
The demonic energy storm vanished.
"Kyaaaaak—!"
As if waiting for that moment, the Fallen One shrieked and kicked off the ground.
Boom!
The floor shattered with an explosion like a bomb going off.
For a split second, its form blurred.
"...!"
A stinging sensation prickled across my upper body.
I dropped flat to the ground.
Swooooosh!
A fierce gust of wind— like the ballista earlier— grazed over me.
Then, as the sting hit my back, I rolled sideways.
Kaboom!
The spot I'd been exploded.
And there stood the mutated Fallen One on all fours like a beast, its arm regenerated.
I grimaced at the sight.
"Phase 2 Fallen Ones are as disgusting as ever."
Just moments ago, even with those reverse eyes, it had a human shape.
But now, in full phase 2, it was pure revulsion incarnate.
If I had to describe it...
Its body was beast-like, tiger-shaped, but the head remained human.
Eight tentacles sprouted from its back, and countless red eyes like the ones on its head writhed across its body with wet squelches.
Seeing it, I was reminded anew how utterly insane Fallen One cultists were.
I mean, no matter how badly you wanted power, who'd choose to become that?
I'd die first.
Ugh, lunatics.
"Grrr..."
Nothing but instinct left now?
Drool dripped from the Fallen One's razor-sharp teeth as it eyed me.
After all that frenzy to kill me, had only beastly hunger remained?
Its will to devour seemed stronger than any killing urge now.
I grinned at the sight.
This made it much easier to handle.
Sure, without reason, it was fiercer and stronger.
But unless it was top-tier or higher...
It was only strong enough that I could react and dodge its attacks.
And now its attack patterns were simplifying too?
If my arsenal packed a bit more punch, its head would've exploded already, rolling across the floor.
But... with only one weapon that worked on it right now, I had to play it ultra-safe.
So, show me.
Your openings.
"Drooling that much? I must look delicious."
"Kuhuhuhu..."
Seeing I wasn't fleeing, it must've thought I'd given up.
The Fallen One chuckled grotesquely and approached slowly.
Toying with its prey.
From that, I realized even without reason, a Fallen One's true nature endured.
Utterly vile bastards, in games or reality.
"But here's the thing."
I have zero intention of being your meal.
The thought had barely crossed my mind when I drew the Holy Gun from its holster and fired.
Bang!
"...!!"
Even with only instinct left, it remembered the pain of losing an arm to my bullet.
It flinched and backed away in alarm.
"...? Kuhuhuhu!!"
But when the bullet whizzed harmlessly elsewhere, it sneered and closed in again.
At its mocking laugh, I sneered right back.
"Idiot, you showed an opening."
⚙ CHEAT TOOL ⚙
[Super Accuracy [ON / OFF]]
The cheat I'd switched off before firing holy ammo.
I toggled it back on.
Ding.
The familiar cheat tool chime rang out as it reactivated.
⚙ CHEAT TOOL ⚙
[Super Accuracy [ON]]
The cheat-enhanced holy bullet mid-flight made a sharp turn, barreling toward the Fallen One's head.
Splat!
It blew apart its head... no, its right shoulder.
"...Kyaaaaak!!"
When it had reason, it barely blocked.
Now, pure instinct? It twisted its head to dodge even as the bullet looped from behind.
But it only avoided instant death; the holy bullet's effect melted its neck and shoulder down from below, leaving it half-dead.
I smirked at the sight.
'Acting like shit.'
That's right.
This Fallen One bastard.
Was putting on an act right now.
"Kyaak! Kyaaaaak—!"
Collapsed on the floor, spewing black blood.
But Fallen Ones had superhuman regeneration.
And in phase 2, beast-mutated, it doubled.
Yet the wound wasn't healing at all?
Sure, holy ammo might weaken regen.
But no matter how holy, without a headshot, regen couldn't just halt completely.
So, just like it showed me an 'opening', now it waited for mine.
Fine then... I'll give it exactly what it wants.
"Looks like I win."
As I stood and said that, it writhed even more dramatically in 'agony'.
Aiming my rifle with a victorious smile, I fired.
Bang! Bang!
"Kek—!"
As if on cue, it sprang up, thrusting its partially regenerated shoulder forward.
But against its expectations...
Thud.
Rubber bullets hit the shoulder.
"...?"
The Fallen One stared blankly.
It should've hurt like before, but this time? Nothing. Baffling.
I gestured at the crumbling prop rifle.
"Fake, dumbass."
Ding.
"...!!"
Its eyes bulged as it glanced back.
Too late.
Splat!
Its head vanished.
Thud...
The headless body crumpled.
I aimed my rifle at it.
The demonic energy still lingered... fading now.
"Haa!"
Only after confirming the barrier-like demonic energy around me dissipated did I lower the rifle with a sigh of relief.
Demonic energy fading meant the Fallen One was definitely dead.
Tension drained from me.
Exhausted, I collapsed onto the floor.
"The demonic energy barrier is lifting!"
"The hero lives!"
"Hero, are you alright?!"
They'd been hammering the barrier from outside; the white knights and soldiers' weapons were shattered, their bodies battered.
These guys... touching.
Better than you so-called heroes.
"Anyway, how much quest time left?"
I opened the minimized quest window.
Remaining time:
[00 : 01]
...
[00 : 00]
...
It had just ended.
And as the quest described...
Lee Yoo-jiiiin—!!
Far off, my instructor Kang Cheol-su came sprinting.
I smirked at the sight.
"Ugh, classic academy cliché."
An academy staple.
Always shows up after the crisis ends!