Chapter 104
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: The Blazing Sword
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The blazing flames didn't spread further but flickered along the sword.
At that sight, the mercenaries who had been hastily preparing for battle turned their gazes to Abel.
Even in this world where all sorts of secret arts and innate abilities existed, powers related to "elements" were incredibly rare.
To put it simply, among non-magical abilities, conjuring flames was rarer than telekinesis.
Thud, thud, thud-!
But there was no time to dwell on it.
Intermediate-grade monsters were closing in by the second.
-Sprinter's almost upon us!
The Gigadeus Fragment leading the charge was called Sprinter.
As its name suggested, it was infamous for its explosive speed.
There was no way a Miles-grade Gigant could outrun it once it caught up.
-Behind it is Devil Eye!
Following close was Devil Eye.
The so-called "observer-type" Gigadeus Fragment.
Devil Eye possessed tremendous detection abilities, along with paralyzing gaze that could stiffen its targets.
Its combat prowess wasn't exceptional, but it usually traveled with other fragments, making it a real pain.
In this case, it had detected them from far beyond the mercenary band's observation range and launched the ambush.
-I'll handle Sprinter.
Abel stepped forward, raising his blazing sword.
Jackal opened his mouth as if to say something but then closed it.
For some reason, Abel exuded a different aura than before.
Boom-!
Right after his words, Sprinter kicked off the ground hard and closed the distance in an instant.
Abel watched the missile-like Sprinter approach and slowly swung his sword from right to left.
Thud!
"Kee-gik!"
Sprinter veered left just before collision.
A mocking expression crossed its face.
It was clear it thought the sword wouldn't even graze it.
There was nearly a meter of space between the sword and Sprinter.
But the flames cloaking the sword were no mere decoration.
Whoosh!
"Kyee-eek!"
The flames exploded outward from the swinging sword, engulfing Sprinter's abdomen.
With a sizzling sound, its belly split open wide.
Sprinter writhed in agony but managed to pull back.
"Hoo."
Abel exhaled briefly at the sight, then raised his sword overhead.
Sprinter's bulbous eyes shook violently.
At its speed, it could dodge Abel's sluggish attacks with ease.
Under normal circumstances.
But for some reason, no matter which way it moved, it felt like the attack would catch it.
Like facing a massive wall of fire.
"Grrooo."
Meanwhile, Devil Eye closed in right behind Sprinter.
Having observed from afar, Devil Eye activated its ability without hesitation.
Without warning, Abel's body went rigid.
Thud!
Sprinter, familiar with the scenario, charged forward the moment Devil Eye's power triggered.
It wasn't about to miss the chance to eliminate a troublesome foe, hurtling at tremendous speed.
Just as Sprinter's sharp claws were about to rake the cockpit Abel rode in—
Boom-!
A mana cannon shot from behind struck Sprinter's face.
The weak output only halted its movement for a split second, but that was enough for Abel.
The essence he'd absorbed wasn't limited to conjuring flames.
Crunch!
The blazing sword pierced Sprinter's gut.
Abel swung it sideways, cleaving the body in two.
Sprinter had formidable vitality, but not enough to survive being bisected.
"Grooooh-!"
Devil Eye, seeing Sprinter fall so pathetically, showed clear panic and tried to retreat.
But by then, the other mercenaries had already blocked its escape.
-Fire!
At Jackal's command, mana cannons blasted Devil Eye's eyes at full power.
As it squeezed them shut against the barrage, Jackal and the vice-captain closed in fast and tore it apart.
Only then did Abel sheathe his sword.
The essence he'd absorbed granted its consumer three abilities.
The first was the "Crimson Flame" he'd just demonstrated.
It wasn't ordinary fire; it exhibited various traits and ranked high-tier even in the game.
The second massively bolstered mental fortitude—resistance to mental debuffs, in simple terms.
That was why he'd shaken off Devil Eye's paralysis so quickly.
And the final ability...
'What could it be.'
Even Abel didn't know.
Abilities gained from essences were random to begin with.
The flashy Crimson Flame was noticeable right away.
He'd only discovered the mental reinforcement during this fight.
The last one still eluded him.
'Well, I'll figure it out in time.'
Abel decided to count his blessings.
The two he knew already exceeded expectations.
"Grrrrk."
The mercenaries dispatched Devil Eye without much trouble.
Overconfidence in Sprinter and its paralysis gaze had been its downfall.
Jackal confirmed Devil Eye's death, then approached Abel and bowed respectfully.
-Good work. We'll grab the spoils and move out.
Abel nodded simply in acknowledgment.
'Who cares about spoils. I just want to rest.'
Exhausted beyond measure.
* * *
Fortunately, no further attacks came during the trip to the next rest point.
The moment they arrived, Abel powered down his Gigant and collapsed.
He didn't care who saw; he was at his limit.
'Worse than last time's mana exhaustion.'
His bolstered mentality had kept him going; otherwise, he'd have dropped right after the fight.
Abel spoke to Jackal, who was resting outside his own Gigant.
"We rest till morning, then move."
"Understood."
It was earlier than planned, but only by an hour or two, so Jackal agreed without protest.
The other mercenaries were likely worn out too.
Red Hole drained your energy just standing there.
Abel resealed the cockpit and passed out inside without stirring.
Whirr-.
He awoke as morning sun rose.
"Ungh."
Abel groaned, sitting up.
Intense heat had jolted him from deep sleep.
Rubbing his eyes, he looked down at himself. What he saw was unexpected.
His entire body glowed red-hot.
Not just flushed skin—it was crimson, like it might burst.
"What the..."
Abel panicked and bumped into a cockpit wall.
Intense cold hit the contact point.
Sizzle-.
It wasn't imagination; a weird sound accompanied it.
Then Lupus's voice rang out.
-Your temperature's abnormally high.
"Temperature? How high?"
-Hard to say. High enough a normal person would've died.
No trace of joking in his tone.
Before Abel could ponder solutions, another change hit.
Rustle-.
Silver scales erupted across his skin.
The Iron Scale ability from fighting the variant before.
But the changes didn't stop.
As it activated, the emblem on his chest lit up brightly.
-This... I don't know what to do.
Lupus muttered, sounding troubled.
Abel had no clue either.
What bolt from the blue was this, waking from a good sleep?
It seemed tied to the essence absorption, but why now?
[The skill is evolving.]
The message appeared right then.
It flickered before displaying new text.
[The skill 'Iron Scale' evolves into unique ability 'Dragon Scale'.]
Moments later, the silver scales turned red.
Lupus spoke quickly.
-Temperature's dropping!
"It is?"
He didn't feel it intuitively, but sensed the shift.
Soon the scales fully crimsoned and sank back into his skin.
[Adaptation complete.]
Abel blinked, then recalled what to do.
'Status window.'
[Abel]
[Race: Human]
[Physical Grade: B]
[Sync Rate: S]
[Mana: B]
[Owned Gigant: Lupus]
[Unique Abilities: Crimson Flame, Dragon Scale]
[Skills: Recovery Enhancement, Double Attack, Thunder Spear, Overflow, Shadow Step, Beginner Gigant Maintenance....]
The unique abilities jumped out first.
Crimson Flame and Dragon Scale.
Abel tried checking details, but unlike skills, nothing appeared.
"Hmm."
At least it looked positive on the surface.
The message said Iron Scale had "evolved" into Dragon Scale.
"Were Gigadeus draconic?"
He muttered, but got no answer, of course.
No one knew what kinds Gigadeus were before death.
The game just said they'd been dead ages.
-The energy from you feels stronger, owner.
"Does it?"
Abel checked the status again.
Things he hadn't seen before appeared.
'Physical grade and mana both up.'
He'd thought they were due, but it was sudden.
Clearly tied to the recent change.
'Is the third ability tied to stat growth?'
Plausible guess.
Unconfirmed, though.
"No other anomalies on the surface, right?"
-Correct. Temperature's normal, energy stabilized.
"Hmm."
Abel nodded and stretched.
The sudden change startled him, but he'd half-expected something after the essence.
'Better than turning full dragon.'
He'd definitely gained.
His overall specs topped any first-year now.
Factor in gear and skills, and his combat power soared.
Perfect prep for the coming cataclysm.
Abel loosened up fully, then opened the cockpit.
"Ah, you're awake, sir."
Jackal's voice came from outside.
He saw Jackal and mercenaries prepping food.
"Yes. Slept like a rock, thanks to you."
Abel smiled, hopped down, and landed.
The food smell stirred his hunger.
"I'll take a bowl too..."
Mid-friendly remark, Abel froze, staring one way.
The mercenaries followed his gaze.
But seeing nothing, one asked.
"Something there?"
"Yeah. A Gigant."
Abel spotted it: a Gigant approaching from afar.
"It's heading straight for us."