Weakness Infliction Lv.3
Omega stepped over the sticky chunks of the shattered worm, pulling out the items he'd stashed away.
Syringes prepared for this decisive battle. He gripped a handful in one hand.
He jammed one into his neck—plunge!—and pushed in every last drop of the drug Hex had made.
"Ahh, this is killer."
Vitality surged through his entire body. A power worthy of being called omnipotence. He felt like he couldn't possibly lose.
Now was the perfect moment to shake off the nightmare.
Seeing Juyeon approach on her own two feet, deliberately putting distance between herself and the cadets, Omega flashed a mocking smile.
"Wasting a sneak attack like this just to save some greenhorn brats' lives? Are you right in the head?"
"Saving them first, then killing you. That's plenty."
"Kuhahaha!!! The great general's gone rusty hanging around with these rookies."
Who had orchestrated this mess on the uninhabited island?
Juyeon grasped it in an instant.
'...'
Rohan in ruins, Corin passed out, Ichinose and Noah crushed by terror.
Images that stirred memories buried deep in her past.
Juyeon took a deep breath, refocusing her mind.
Her anger had already exceeded acceptable levels. Still, she fought to stay calm.
She reminded herself as much as possible: none of the cadets had died.
'I need to stay calm. He's not an opponent I can beat in an agitated state.'
Separate from his evolved abilities compared to their last encounter, his grotesque appearance had intensified.
But that didn't spark any fear in her.
What Juyeon truly feared was something that had come within a hair's breadth of happening—but hadn't.
"This time, I won't let you escape."
As Juyeon spread her hand, flames erupted.
—Roar! The bursting blaze condensed, summoning her greatsword.
A blade larger than Juyeon herself. The weapon that had severed the neck of the dragon that invaded Samhwa Nation.
The massive sword moved like a twig at her gesture.
And Omega immediately shifted into combat readiness.
"That sword'll make a perfect trophy of victory."
Kwaduduk! Krududuk!
Omega's right arm writhed with sticky changes.
Juyeon's eyebrow twitched at the transformed shape.
Whatever he'd done to that shell, the color was different, but the unforgettable form was unmistakable.
"So it was you. The one who infiltrated Samhwa Nation and stole the dragon's head."
"Kuhuhu, be grateful—I'm letting you in on the secret before you die."
A long sword burst from the dragon's maw—plunge!—spewing ominous liquid everywhere.
But Juyeon showed no particular reaction.
She simply stated the fact.
"Are you too stupid to realize? That monster ended up hunted by me, that's why it went dormant."
"It just couldn't wield its power properly with a monster's intelligence."
"...Pathetic. If you want to believe that, go ahead."
Juyeon and Omega cut the conversation there.
Traces of the monsters fused into Omega's body were revealed without gaps.
And the tips of Juyeon's hair began flickering with flames.
"...?"
Silence.
The instant Omega shifted his stance with a slight push of his foot.
Juyeon vanished from her spot without any preliminary motion—silently.
And reappeared.
A slash aimed to carve out his life without mercy. Flames intent on reducing him to ash.
Omega drew an arc with his sword, blocking the greatsword.
"Hahaha!!! That's it! Let's kill each other!"
"...?"
Omega felt the drug diluting his fear of flames and heightening his mind.
Mad laughter burst out.
His remaining seven octopus tentacles sprouted from his back, lashing toward Juyeon.
Pababak!
A speed unbelievable for a greatsword. They shattered all too easily.
Impressed by Juyeon's unchanged prowess, Omega decided not to hold back his preparations.
Bio Trickster
As he activated the skill, the black mechanical parts covering his jaw injected more drugs and detached.
Hex's masterpieces were unveiled.
Poison glands filled with deadly venom, chimeric muscles selected by body part.
Shell skin to withstand flames, regenerative tissues and factors.
The external changes were extraordinary.
But the internal ones numbered dozens, just as varied.
"...You've given up on being human."
"I don't cling to weak species. Soon you'll be part of this body too."
The dragon head gripping Omega's sword growled—grrr!—as if alive again.
"Your very existence is humanity's shame. I'll put you to sleep before you get any uglier."
Juyeon's greatsword led the flames.
⟨ Fire Wheel ⟩
Flames filled Omega's vision.
She thrust her blade through the heat intense enough to force eyes shut.
—Kagak!!!
Omega blocked Juyeon's attack and fell into ecstasy.
Last time, facing this heat had ruined his eyes—but now he could endure.
As long as it wasn't a direct hit, he could handle surface flames with his new body and the drug's effects. The situation was definitely different from before.
Blazing Inferno Formation
Juyeon's crimson slash poured down like an avalanche.
Echo Mirror
The barrier Omega spread in the air swallowed the heat and exploded.
"Die! Become my nourishment!"
Juyeon's calm clashed with Omega's madness, swords and skills exploding wildly.
Slash, burst, stab, dodge, shoot.
Their assaults shook the uninhabited island's ground.
Yet it was evenly matched.
The scales hadn't tipped either way.
Reward notification window unfurled before Rohan's eyes.
But he couldn't read it. It wouldn't register.
'...'
Rohan felt the pain shattering his focus gradually easing.
Yet his vision blurred.
His breathing had steadied now, but the realization that Juyeon had arrived was lulling his consciousness.
Still, he bit his tongue to stay alert.
He couldn't sleep. Couldn't let go.
'There has to be something. Something I can do...'
The script of Abyss City had already gone off the rails.
Juyeon's victory or a draw was overwhelmingly likely, but not absolute.
If there was any possible action, he had to take it.
'Reward. The reward...'
Among the flashing notifications, he'd glimpsed points momentarily.
Open the Shop, dump resources into something that could change things.
Unique Skill Level Up acquired.
Skills evolved, complex descriptions popping up.
But his fading consciousness couldn't fully process the tiny text.
Pain and exhaustion made focus impossible.
But.
Even without reading the fine print, something ingrained itself naturally into his body, granting understanding.
'!'
Had his desperation reached the heavens?
His unique skill hit level 3, awakening a new talent.
It informed him: Rooted in Weakness Infliction, he could now imbue projectiles with specific skills and mana.
"Rohan! Are you okay?!"
"Hey! Snap out of it!"
Corin dangled limply from Noah's side, out cold.
Seeing his unharmed friends eased the pain. Rohan felt proud of himself.
"Can you stand?"
"Grab my hand!"
Ichinose and Noah supported him, helping him rise.
The moment he stood with their aid, Rohan pulled both girls into a tight embrace.
"!!!"
"Thank God. Really... so glad you're safe."
His voice carried special emotion.
Ichinose and Noah startled, looking at Rohan.
"Rohan..."
"You...?"
As the girls met his gaze, they saw his eyes closed.
Thinking he'd lost consciousness, Ichinose pulled him close.
"Noah. I'll look after Rohan. We each take one."
"Got it. Let's go."
Noah shook off her surprise and kicked off the ground.
As Ichinose gripped Rohan tight to follow—
Rohan murmured softly.
"Ichinose. Hold on a sec."
"Y-You're awake? You're okay, right...?"
"I'm good. Haven't slept."
A lie. He'd blacked out briefly.
If he loosened his grip on consciousness even a little, it'd slip away.
"Huuu, lend me your shoulder so I can stand properly."
"What are you planning...?"
"For the instructor."
"We'll just get in the way!"
"I know. But... trust me just this once."
"...?"
Ichinose hesitated briefly.
Then, as if resolved wordlessly.
She gripped the arm on her shoulder tight.
"Thanks."
Rohan hurried his preparations.
Before consciousness cut out again, an idea had come—what he could do. He had to see it through.
'Ichinose is right. That's the correct answer.'
At his level, he couldn't track Juyeon or Omega's sincere movements, no matter what.
Just unnatural colors flashing like beams of light.
And the vibrations from massive clashes.
'Still.'
There were moments when their forms sharpened clearly.
When swords locked and they clashed strength, they'd freeze for seconds.
'Just once... it might work.'
He tucked his trembling hand into his bosom.
The Tigrova-made pistol, Gyeol-75, from supplies.
Legs useless, he couldn't free the hand propped on Ichinose.
He bit the barrel to rack it.
With grip hand and biting mouth—click! Forcing the slide back.
'Imbue skill here.'
Put the new talent to immediate use. Concentrate mana into the bullet.
Ichinose gaped at the unique mana gathering on the pistol.
Rohan finished preparing.
'Believe. It'll hit for sure. He'll take it even knowing.'
Would Omega's pride let him dodge a cadet's attack?
He'd tanked everything so far, confident in his durability.
"Ugh...!"
"Rohan!"
Mana exhaustion's harbinger approached.
Feeling the sensation after so long, Rohan let out a wry chuckle.
"When I shoot, you two run. Promise."
"...Got it."
Sorry, couldn't even reassure Ichinose.
Even a tiny distraction was tough.
Kuwoong—!!!
The clash ringing the air.
The massive shockwave sharpened Rohan's mind momentarily.
'Here it comes!'
He spotted Omega's back, locked in a power struggle with Juyeon.
Monsters sprouting all over Omega's bulk made the target absurdly huge.
"Ha...?"
Rohan exhaled, scraping every last bit of energy.
Pouring it into his gaze and fingertip.
'Weakness Infliction might be too much, but...'
Just create the slightest positive anomaly.
Rohan prayed desperately and pulled the trigger.
Bang!