Chapter 266
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 266
Chapter Title: Manli Gorge Pursuit (4)
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About an hour earlier.
Jun caught his breath atop a tree shrouded in pristine white mist as he surveyed his surroundings.
'It's weakening.'
The glacial magic filling the gorge's center was visibly fading.
The enemies were no longer shivering from the cold, and visibility was gradually improving.
Because of that, the number of foes they encountered had grown unnaturally large.
'How many have we taken down...?'
Even with the aftereffects of summoning Glacial yet to fade, he'd been fighting for half a day, capitalizing on the element of surprise.
Sometimes ambushing from behind with barrages of spells.
Other times digging traps with magic like [Dig] to induce fatal slips.
Yet now, there was nowhere left to run.
No need for detection spells—the footsteps of enemies echoed from all directions.
Finally, they spotted him, emerging one by one.
"You son of a bitch..."
"We've got orders not to kill you. Guess you'll just have to keep that mouth of yours shut."
"You should look forward to it. We'll pump you so full of drugs you'll be spilling every secret from the moment you were born."
Their eyes bloodshot from endless torment, the enemies closed in.
"Hoo..."
No detection magic needed—hundreds were gathering.
Strong presences loomed even farther out, meaning the main force was closing in.
"You there."
Ignoring their murderous aura, Jun pointed at the one who'd reached him first.
He looked like the leader of the pack.
"Before you go, give me one of those smokes."
"Kekeke. Planning to huff some drugs yourself?"
The mercenary smirked wickedly, pulling a cigarette from his pocket.
He flicked it toward Jun, who caught it neatly.
Jun snapped his fingers, igniting it.
"Green flames..."
An iridescent green fire blazed at the tip.
"Top-shelf stuff."
"Damn right."
"Suck it down, and it'll kill you good."
"Sorry, but I quit smoking a while back."
"What?"
"Back in the day, I was drowning in booze and smokes. But the money dried up—no more drinks, no more cigs. Forced me to quit cold turkey. Cleared my head right up."
The misery of those days was beyond words.
Last refuge gone, thrown into the world stone-cold sober.
"Compared to that, this is paradise. No need to lean on crutches like these."
"You mocking us, you bastard? We'll show you how much better those days were! No hesitation—what are you waiting for? No magic circles around! Cut off his limbs and drag 'em back!"
With that shout, mercenaries and adventurers charged.
But Jun's focus wasn't on them—it was on the voice echoing in his mind.
[Captain. We're here. Spotted their tents right in front of the stratum gate.]
A smile tugged at Jun's lips upon the report.
Thwack.
He flicked the green-flamed cigarette, sending it tumbling into the enemies' midst.
And at that instant...
Shraaaララララー!!!
Dozens of enchanted books, hidden beneath snow and earth, burst into view, their sealed spells spilling forth.
"Wh-what...!"
[Enchantment: Memory Page]
[Enchantment: Enchant Supporter]
No magic circles?
They must've packed decent detection gear for layer 6 ops, but it was futile.
Jun's [Pure Wind] blended anywhere undetected, unless facing a level 7+ with ironclad inner focus sensing his mana in the air.
"Damn it, charge! His circuits are at their limit!"
They knew enough about mages to prioritize capturing him over retreating—but they should've targeted the books first.
These enchantment spells were Jun's original creation, inspired by Shylock. Without prior knowledge, they'd made the worst move.
Enchantments already held the caster's mana.
Jun's condition didn't matter—once triggered, they activated regardless.
[Fire Burst]
[Variant Form]
[Unique Magic]
[Blazing Inferno Ascension]
Kuurrrung...!
Flames erupted from the earth like dragons ascending, shooting skyward.
Dozens of pillars intertwined like serpents, encircling the area.
Kwaaaaaaaa!!!
Enemies atop the ignition points vanished without a scream, devoured by the conflagration, leaving no trace.
Dozens reduced to ash, even more scorched by extreme heat.
"Argh, aaagh! I can't see, can't see!"
"What the hell—huh, haaagh! Hot, it's too hot!!"
"What kind of spell is this?! He's just a 6th-circle mage!!"
"Mercy! No escape!!"
Having let their guard down due to Jun's battered state and pushed inside, they were swept away defenselessly.
The mercenary who'd tossed the cigarette trembled, staring at Jun.
"H-how... The mages I know couldn't do this..."
"Don't compare me to those frogs."
Comparing him to shut-in desk mages was unfair.
They rejected progressive wizards, trapped in their own world.
"Anyway, time to clean house soon. It's rotting from the inside."
That green cig—a product peddled by Heavenly Cult mages in-game.
Once this blew over, the Imperial Family—the Emperor specifically—would come down on them.
Anticipating that, Jun scanned around.
'Hard to find raw power like this in 5th-circle spells, but it delivers.'
[Blazing Inferno Ascension] was Jun's reinterpretation of [Fire Burst].
Thus, fully mana-dependent, hard to sustain via enchant books alone.
The pillars faded from the sky.
A solid number cleared, but hundreds remained.
Worse, elites separated out.
Veterans who knew how to handle mages—impossible for Jun's current state alone.
But he had one trump card left.
"Sure picked the right client."
Count Mordenaen.
Among the compensation for this job—more a contingency for peril—was one item.
"Yin and Yang."
This paired dagger set was made by the spatial sorcerer 'Guide,' whom Jun met exiting the Ancient Tower.
Rare even in-game; in reality, an imperial gift.
Makes sense for such a high-profile mission.
Of the crescent blades, 'Yin' was with Aiden.
Jun aimed the 'Yang' at his heart.
"Tense, huh."
An energy-formed dagger, not material.
After a brief hesitation, he plunged it into his chest.
"Farewell, morons."
Amid fading [Blazing Inferno Ascension] and enraged foes, Jun smirked and dissolved into light.
"Wh-what?!"
"Guhk!"
"Senior!"
Light particles materialized in empty air, coalescing into Jun.
His circuits glowed red, body lacerated—Aiden rushed to support him.
"Aigoo... fought to the death again."
Eleanor hurried over, checking his condition.
Days without proper food, water, or sleep.
The toll of summoning upper spirit Glacial while drawing enemy eyes.
"Kekeke... Still made it back alive. You should've seen their dumbstruck faces."
"Yeah, yeah, glad you had your fun solo."
Eleanor's warm holy power enveloped him as Maya fed him a potion.
"So, where are we?"
"See that? Stratum gate."
"Haa... Right under their noses."
Bern returned from scouting, nodding at Jun's state.
"All thanks to you. Bloodless entry against that many? No small feat."
"Bern's presence helped too."
First massive battle for the team—Bern's experience was key.
"What now? Plenty ahead."
"Hoo... Punch through."
Body still wrecked, but delay meant swarms incoming.
"You good?"
"Yeah. I'll handle this stretch with magic. Once we hit Dream Forest, they won't follow."
A force that size invading would hand the Imperials perfect pretext.
No need for the Emperor—central nobles would wipe them out.
Many itched to crush the Eastern Army.
Just lacked cause.
"Senior, you sure?"
"Me? Worry about yourselves. High chance those two are waiting in the forest."
Black Moon Mercenary Captain Darkras and Sun Keeper Adventurer Captain Belgor.
Both level 7 powerhouses—useless help from Jun now.
Team had to handle it solo.
"Just take them down..."
"Yeah, rest falls easy."
As they spoke, Jun's red circuits shifted back to blue.
"Hoo, killing me. For real."
"Little more grit."
"Got it, thanks."
Boosted by Maya's cheer, Jun gathered mana again.
They hadn't noticed yet.
Hit 'em with the strongest spell to shatter their souls.
Kuurrrung...
As if aiding, Manli Gorge's fickle weather brought thunderheads.
"Perfect for lightning magic."
[Unique Magic]
[Heavenly Thunder]
Air expanded, mana sparking violently, manifesting nature's wrath from above.
Kwarrrung! Kwarung! Kwarrrung!!
After the first massive bolt, dozens more stabbed down in white-hot fury.
Clear skies turned storm-lashed in seconds.
By the time startled commanders emerged, it was far too late.
"In-insane!"
"Shattering the ward like it's nothing...?!"
The translucent shield over tents shattered like glass from the first strike, follow-ups turning camp to rubble.
Troops resting inside? Obvious fate.
As the two rallied survivors, White Whale Mercenaries appeared point-blank.
"You bastards...!"
"Daring to obstruct our grand cause!"
16 vs. 5 overwhelming odds.
But none breached Bern's shield; sidesteps met Aiden and Maya's blades at throat and heart.
Ghostly swift Delbaton nearly broke through—only for a sacred golden hammer to return.
Kwaaaang!
The ground-smashing hammer launched him airborne; thunderheads above crackled, poised to strike.
"Ah..."
Death foreseen, Delbaton's gaze caught Maya shadowing behind, slitting the Sun Keeper Vice-Captain's throat.
"Not alone, at least..."
White flash engulfed him.