Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Enchantress (2)
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Rumble—crash!
The slide pulled back with a thunderous roar.
Bzzt-crackle!
A bullet infused with lightning shot from the barrel.
My aim was locked on the Bewitcher's forehead.
The bullet, enhanced by my cheat and the 'Lightning (B)' effect, streaked toward its target at lightning speed.
But even that shot must have looked slow to the Bewitcher.
Whoosh, clang!
With a casual flick of its hand, it deflected the bullet.
The moment I saw that, I transferred Thunderbolt to my left hand.
And without hesitation, I gripped the gun and fired.
Rumble—crash, crash! Crash-crash!
The slides on both guns in my hands snapped back, ejecting spent casings into the air.
Thunder boomed relentlessly, blue flashes flickering one after another.
Trails of blue arced toward vital spots—head, heart, solar plexus, dantian—every lethal point.
But two tentacles sprouting from the base of the Bewitcher's tail whipped about, refusing to let a single bullet through.
Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!
They moved with dazzling speed, batting away the shots.
So fast that afterimages lingered in the air.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
'Thunderbolt (A)'s lightning energy has been fully charged. 'Thunderbolt (A)'s derivative effect 'Lightning Explosion' usage conditions have been fulfilled.
- Hehe, your desperate struggles are just so adorable.
Having swatted away every bullet, the Bewitcher smiled as if watching a child's playful antics.
I gritted my teeth at the sight.
'...The gap in our realms is way too vast.'
My current realm, in terms of stats, was mid-tier. With my cheat added, upper-mid.
The Bewitcher, on the other hand, was top-tier.
This fight was literally an adult versus a child, like throwing an egg at a rock.
But some battles couldn't be avoided.
No matter how much you wanted to run, you had to fight.
Only one option left.
...Bzzt-crackle!
Go all out, stake everything on the clash.
Click.
With that resolve, I raised the two guns crackling with lightning.
Bracing my stance to avoid being pushed back, I aimed at the Bewitcher.
- What trick will you show me this time?
The Bewitcher wagged its two tentacles expectantly.
In response to its words, I pulled the triggers.
Kwaaaaaaaa—!!
The condensed lightning energy from both guns blasted toward the Bewitcher in a blaze of light.
- ......!
The smile vanished from the Bewitcher's lips.
Unlike the previous attacks, 'Lightning Explosion' couldn't be brushed off lightly.
It crossed its two arms and tentacles in a defensive guard.
Not satisfied, it cloaked itself in demonic energy and erected a barrier in front.
But it overlooked one crucial fact.
My attacks pierced through demonic energy.
- ...Huh?
The Bewitcher tilted its head in confusion.
The massive demonic barrier melted away the instant it touched the lightning energy.
Even the demonic energy cloaking its body dissolved away.
Baffled by the impossible phenomenon, its gaze flicked toward me for a split second.
And the moment I heard 'How...' whisper in my ear.
Bzzt-crackle-crackle!!
『...KyaAAAAAHH!』
The lightning energy slammed into the Bewitcher.
Finally, I'd inflicted meaningful damage—enough to make it scream.
I didn't let the opportunity slip.
I immediately unleashed both guns at all its vital points.
Harsh thunder roared alongside blue flashes.
And just as the bullets were about to strike home.
Baaaang!
Demonic energy erupted from the Bewitcher's body.
The shockwave dispersed the lightning holding it in place.
Clang-clang-clang!
The bullets, inches from impact, were all deflected.
Tch. I clicked my tongue in frustration.
- Haaa... It's been ages since I felt this thrill.
The Bewitcher shuddered in ecstasy as it summoned more demonic energy.
Its burns vanished in an instant, restoring its pristine form from before.
I let out a deep sigh at the sight.
"...Damn regeneration."
Of course, its physical durability was insanely high too.
But no matter how steel-like a body was, accumulated damage would eventually break it.
Fallen like this regenerated wounds like monsters, which felt downright unfair.
And regeneration scaled with realm too.
Top-tier named Fallen all had monstrous healing.
Arms or legs blown off? Regrown in seconds.
That's why I targeted vitals.
'If I could, I'd rain holy grenades on its head...'
Holy Grenade (A+), made with the crafting instructor, Noah, and my alchemy.
Dumping a crate's worth at once might deal damage without needing bullets in vitals.
But the time wasn't right, so I held back.
'Gotta detonate when it's off-guard.'
Using bombs now with no openings would just make it wary.
Wait a bit longer.
For the moment its guard slips.
- Baby, my heart's pounding. Is this love?
A man-eating seductress talking about love?
"Love? More like kill you dead."
I fired at its ridiculous words.
Of course, the bullets were deflected by its tentacles.
- Saying that hurts my feelings, you know?
Doesn't look hurt at all?
I snorted and pulled the triggers again.
Or tried to.
"Huh...?"
My mind fogged like a misty haze.
Suddenly, I wanted to rush to her, comfort her.
That realization snapped me out of it—I was charmed.
'...Transfer.'
Thunderbolt to inventory.
Awakening Potion to my left hand.
The moment their positions swapped, I uncorked the potion and gulped it down.
"...Puha!"
Draining every drop cleared the haze from my mind.
Seeing that, the Bewitcher spoke in a scolding tone, like chiding a child.
- Baby, you shouldn't drink those nasty potions.
They block my charm, you know? It stomped its foot with a huff.
Pssshhh.
Purple mist billowed from beneath its feet.
The Bewitcher swung its hand.
The slowly spreading mist.
...Whoosh!
Exploded outward like gas igniting, racing fiercely.
- Kieeeek?!
- Kragggh!
『You damn Bewitcher bitch! Why us too..., ji...』
『Heeheehee... Lady Bewitcher...』
The mist ensnared monsters, Fallen, allies alike in enchantment.
I tilted my head at the scene.
'Using Charm Scent already?'
Charm Scent was the Bewitcher's skill, normally phase 2.
Using it early meant... it really hated the awakening potion.
Makes sense—no way it'd let a potion that nullifies its charm and resists it for a while go unchallenged.
'Awakening potions are useless now.'
Its passive charm could be dispelled by awakening potion.
But Charm Scent, an active skill, was a higher level.
Couldn't dispel it.
Not useless entirely—it enabled resistance.
But no need to drink now anyway.
Because.
"Noah—!"
We had 'Saint' Noah.
The moment I shouted his name, the holy barrier around us vanished.
Shhh...!
Crack energy surged forward, devouring light toward us.
Charm Scent hit the barrier too, closing in.
But neither touched us.
Because above us now.
Kwaaaaa—!
Light descended.
"We've been waiting."
Noah descended with the light, reaching toward the sky.
Something formless plummeted from the heavens, stabbing into the ground.
Noah reverently gripped the embedded object.
Chanting a low prayer, he slowly drew it forth.
Hummm...
The object in his hand began to resonate.
Simultaneously, the pillar of light pouring from the sky was sucked toward it.
The light pillar faded.
Its form sharpened.
Soon after, the light vanished.
In Noah's hand gleamed a spear of white and gold.
The moment my vision captured it, its name auto-surfaced in my mind.
'Holy Spear Areadbhar (S)'
Noah's exclusive weapon, S-grade mythic spear.
Unlike Arthur's or Lee Seo-yeon's, it wasn't sealed.
Meaning its effects could be used fully.
But Noah couldn't wield it freely yet.
'Holy Spear Areadbhar' demanded transcendent holy power.
So Noah waited.
"In the name of the Father."
While we fought fiercely, he endured.
"the Son."
When we faced crisis, he agonized.
"and the Holy Spirit."
Enduring patience and torment, Noah gathered holy power ceaselessly.
For this moment.
When unendurable waves crashed upon us.
To become the breakwater we could endure.
"Amen."
Finishing the prayer, Noah raised the holy spear.
Then slammed it down with all his might.
Kwaaang!
The spear blade shattered the ground, burrowing deep.
Humm, huuumm, huuuumm...!
The holy spear resonated differently now.
The faint light flowing from it brightened steadily.
And soon.
...Whoosh!
A colossal light erupted from the holy spear.
Dazzling yet painless to the eyes.
"My wounds... they're healed."
"Not just wounds—my mana too, fully restored."
As my comrades marveled, our minor injuries and mana fully recovered.
Mental damage from charm and battle fatigue vanished too.
Outside the barrier, monsters and Fallen writhed.
- Kieeeek!
『Urgh! Urrgh...!』
Exposed to the spear's light, they vomited black blood in agony.
The Bewitcher was no exception.
『...Kyaak! Kyaaaaak!』
Black smoke billowed from its body.
『N-No! No—!』
Mid-scream, it clutched its face.
Something oozed between its fingers.
I shouted to Arthur the instant I saw it.
"Arthur! Now!"
Arthur raised her sword skyward as if she'd been waiting.
Golden mana surged from her blade, erecting another barrier outside Park Ga-ram's.
Confirming 'Haven's Fortress' formed, I activated Clairvoyance.
Whoosh!
My vision soared.
Zooming toward the new outpost.
'Transfer.'
70% mana spent.
White grenades appeared above every monster and Fallen outside the barrier.
I deactivated Clairvoyance and transferred a holy grenade to my hand.
Ping.
Pulled the pin, transferred it outside.
The grenade dropped with a thunk.
And then.
────────────!!
Darkness vanished.