Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Mirrored Puppets
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'It canceled it out with the exact same Mana Wave.'
Jun-won's magic had, of course, simply vanished.
If it had just disappeared, he could chalk it up to some dispel factor. But blocking it with an identical Mana Wave made the situation far more serious.
When Jun-won's Mana Wave had charged forward, the enemy puppet mage had merely watched.
Yet right before it reached the tank, it raised a Mana Wave of the same caliber in front of him, using it like a breakwater.
"Is that possible?"
Jeong-hyeon asked Jun-won, replaying the scene in his mind.
Many details were missing, but Jun-won grasped the intent fully.
"It's difficult."
It meant: if you were in the position of blocking that attack, could you produce a spell of equal power that quickly?
It wasn't easy.
Jun-won hadn't unleashed his best spell either, since it was just a probing exchange. In other words, the puppet might be in the same boat.
That was why Jeong-hyeon and Jun-won's expressions had hardened.
"If we're talking pure personal ability, the puppets might be stronger than us. Be careful."
Jeong-hyeon nodded at Jun-won's response and warned the group.
The implication of that single magical clash was simple.
Even though the gate had matched their composition, it hadn't matched their skill levels.
At minimum, the puppets' functionality seemed set a notch or two higher technically.
"......"
No one responded, but neither did anyone rebut Jeong-hyeon like before.
They had overheard Jeong-hyeon and Jun-won's conversation, so they grasped the situation.
"For now, advance slowly."
Jun-won's instruction.
Standing still yielded no gains anyway.
Better to test the overall power gap with light engagements.
Sun-il and Ga-yoon cautiously pushed their line forward.
The puppets stared fixedly, as if observing them, maintaining formation.
Then—
Creak— Creak—
They advanced their vanguard as well.
"Tch......"
Sun-il grimaced.
The puppets were grotesque enough as dolls, but this felt like a blatant copy of their side.
'Uncanny Valley.'
Jeong-hyeon inwardly pinpointed why this gate felt so off-putting.
Inside a gate, tension ran high for hunters, like a tightly drawn bowstring.
Even trivial things could seriously grate on nerves.
Normally, he might chuckle at puppets mimicking his movements with mild discomfort and move on. But fighting them for survival amplified that stress immensely.
Sun-il and Ga-yoon steadily advanced their line.
Yet their minds were in turmoil.
'When do I charge in......'
As the enemy vanguard drew closer, Sun-il measured the distance meticulously.
Setting engagement range before full combat was basic basics.
Sun-il and Ga-yoon favored aggressive styles, preferring to charge and seize first strike upon reaching optimal range intuitively.
But certainty eluded them now.
Even wielding similar weapons, their doll nature clouded judgment.
No matter how much they preferred charging, it required prior observation and assessment of the foe.
For instance, responses to aggressive orcs differed from cautious goblins.
Against unknowns, instinctually reading momentum and subtle cues was key.
But these were inanimate dolls.
Possibly equal or superior.
Unknown if they copied combat styles or moved independently—no hints whatsoever. Maddening.
"Ga-yoon. You good?"
"Yeah."
They couldn't just keep closing distance forever.
Sun-il and Ga-yoon exchanged glances.
Three steps away— their preferred range.
Accounting for stride, burst speed, attack reach: optimal.
They would strike upon reaching it.
Ga-yoon signaled the rear with one hand pulled back.
"A sign for 'attack in three steps.'"
Jeongjin Guild members knew it well, but to outsiders, Jun-won explained for Jeong-hyeon.
One step.
Hearing Jun-won, Jeong-hyeon's thoughts deepened.
'Will they let us close that gap easily?'
Not an invincible team, but veterans no less.
Great if they could strike as planned at familiar range—but was it that simple?
Accelerated thought slowed time's flow.
In it, Jeong-hyeon pondered.
If the puppets' skills were slightly higher-set than theirs,
And they knew this side's combat style inside out.
What would the enemy vanguard choose here?
Like anticipating the Mana Wave and countering in an instant, as before.
Two steps.
The moment Sun-il's slightly separated foot hit the ground.
Jeong-hyeon hurled the artifact dagger Black like lightning from his hand.
"What—"
Ranged attacks right before vanguard charge were risky.
Even if not threatening the front, they shattered peak tension.
Jun-won startled, tried to stop him—but mage reaction speed fell short.
Ahead, Sun-il and Ga-yoon realized a dagger flew from behind and paled.
"What the f—"
No matter the inexperience, hurling a dagger now?
But Jeong-hyeon's sudden move disrupted plans most for none of them.
Clang—
The enemy puppet tank.
Jeong-hyeon's dagger striking its shield happened in a blink—near-simultaneous.
'What?'
All finally grasped the prior moment, chills running down spines.
The tank halting to block Jeong-hyeon's dagger, close dealer matching to stop.
In other words, their charge timing—stolen by Jeong-hyeon's play.
"Now!"
Before anyone could think deeply, Jeong-hyeon's shout rang out.
With enemy charge timing robbed, initiative shifted here.
Sun-il and Ga-yoon instinctively knew, leaping in immediately.
Boom—
In the end, hunters seized first strike amid explosion.
'Halfway there.'
Achievement enough.
Unclear if puppets had battle momentum, but this side's offense was clear advantage.
'Almost ruined it.'
Enemy charge attempt timing was exquisitely perfect.
Precisely one step before hunter vanguard charge.
Hitting the switch from defense to offense.
For vanguard, that off-beat spelled dire straits, if not collapse.
Jeong-hyeon's dagger flipped it on-beat, securing initiative here.
"Magic support, Bolt!"
Confirming vanguard meshing well, Jun-won formed his second spell.
No large spells risking own front like Mana Wave—Mana Bolt: low power, high support utility.
Fifty Mana Bolts formed in a flash, streaking out.
'Crazy......'
Jeong-hyeon, watching, stuck out his tongue.
Post-Mana Sensitivity trait, he'd practiced Mana Bolts too—but maxed at around ten simultaneous.
Near the villain Hee-su he'd fought before.
Handling twenty versus ten wasn't double the effort—Jun-won's realm felt distant.
Plus, each packed above-average power.
If they hit, huge boost for still-offensive vanguard.
If they hit, that is.
Pew-pew-pew—
Mid-flight, puppet mage's Mana Bolts intercepted.
Half vanished in mutual cancellation instantly.
The rest harried the tank, sure—but same for hunter side.
'What?'
Jeong-hyeon watching felt no pity or rage.
Absurdity.
Even if set higher, there were limits.
Was this remotely plausible?
Intercepting was far harder than launching—common sense.
Mana Wave took more time, halved the Bolts—but here, "only half" became "fully half."
Sun-il, briefly focused on defense, realized the flow and marveled.
"What the hell is this!"
But puppets allowed no such breather.
Sun-il's eyes, peeking over shield—spotted a dagger flying straight at Ga-yoon.
Enemy king's doing, unmistakably.
"Tch—"
Sun-il swiftly deflected it.
Not hugely threatening, but purpose and effect clear.
Ga-yoon and Sun-il, holding offense till now—couldn't restart.
Boom—
Turned defensive.
A massive axe slammed down on Sun-il's shield.
Heavy enough, but unending chain without power drop—problem.
Boom— Boom— Boom—
Sun-il, used to blocking Ga-yoon's attacks in practice, found these stronger, faster.
Simultaneously, enemy tank charged Ga-yoon, forcing her steps back.
Thus, Sun-il slightly isolated, Ga-yoon stalled—clear disadvantage.
Not vast gap, but fully ensnared at this point.
Jun-won's spells flew continuously, Sun-il yielded line to match Ga-yoon—yet exchange unchanged.
To any eye, victory scale tipped sharply in a flash.
Strictly, stalemate—but prolonged, outcome obvious.
And Jeong-hyeon pondered briefly.
His gaze skipped the mage dominating Jun-won, the vanguard pressing Sun-il and Ga-ryeong perilously.
It fixed on his copy—the one flipping momentum with two daggers.
The enemy king.
'Something's off......'
Just twice, yet from combat start, Jeong-hyeon sensed odd dissonance.
Was that truly their best play?