Chapter 56
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Preliminary Battle (1)
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Among basketball tactics, there's this fast-break strategy called Run and Gun.
Simply put, it means run and then shoot.
It involves overwhelming the opponent with speed before they can even set up their defense, successfully scoring.
"Huff… huff…"
The concept I was employing right now was straight out of that playbook.
'After attacking, prepare for the counter.'
Right after slamming a star power-infused steel ball into the bastard.
The moment I saw a massive wave surging through my glasses, I bolted, dodging their spiderwebs.
"Huff…"
While maintaining my running speed, flipping sideways and firing bullets at them.
If a clump of spiderwebs seemed incoming, I'd immediately widen the distance to evade.
Truth be told… I was talking it up like some grand strategy.
But really, it was just charge in the instant I spotted an opening, attack, and hightail it if they looked ready to retaliate.
'Felt a bit cheap, maybe.'
But in a kill-or-be-killed situation, who gives a damn about fair play.
They'd blown their chance by letting on how much slower they were than me.
Sure, they had greater strength and tougher bodies, but no speed.
Their spiderwebs were slower than my bullets.
'If every tom, dick, and harry had that kind of power, Sicarius wouldn't have lost their spot.'
That grueling chase with them suffering lasted five minutes.
From their side, it'd be "fuckin' game over, asshole" material, but hey, everyone agrees—nothing beats that thrill in a game.
Glancing back while sprinting forward, I could see blue blood leaking from wounds all over their bodies.
No fatal hits yet, proof of their sturdy builds.
'Well, this oughta do it.'
Never thought I'd finish them with just the shotgun.
Coating bullets with star power was efficient as hell, no doubt.
But it meant sacrificing raw power.
I'd run far enough that I was plenty distant from where the others were fighting.
Just as I was about to stop, another wave rippled in front of my eyes.
"…?!"
I reflexively jerked my body aside, and a long rope-like spiderweb whistled past where my head had been.
Shrrrip—
By dodging the shot, the web latched onto a sedan behind me.
Clunk—!
The mine seized the car with the web and hurled it straight at me.
"…Tch!'
As the crisis hit, the incoming car felt like slow motion, and the air ripples beyond my glasses stretched longer than usual.
'These glasses must let me see the flow of time too…'
My current items were impressive, sure.
But higher-grade ones had their reasons.
Even as the car barreled toward me, I spaced out a bit, then kicked the undercarriage matching its speed.
At the same time, time snapped back like fast-forward.
KABOOM!
I halted my run and stared at the exploding sedan.
"Hands off other people's stuff, dickhead."
Catching my breath, I tossed out a lame quip at them, but no reply came.
These fuckers' eyes were already gonzo anyway.
Wasn't expecting one.
"Never met a bastard who pisses me off this much."
"…? You think we can talk?"
"The fuck, we got mouths and can't talk? Asshole?"
The female mine who'd been shooting webs from her wrists spat crudely.
"Thought Fraus-sama brainwashed you or some shit."
" Sama."
"…?"
"'Fraus-sama,' asshole. Fraus-sama's your pal? Who the hell you talking down to?!"
"Save the honorifics for your monster pals. You lot polite to enemies too?"
"You fuckin'—"
My comeback shut her up, face flushing red.
As she opened her mouth again, unable to hold back.
BOOM! Crash!
A massive explosion roared from afar. Looked like things were heating up over there too.
'They've all powered up… should be fine.'
No worries.
On the way, I'd seen no variant spiders besides these two mines, and most importantly, Seowoo was with them.
Sure, So-hee was my top trust, but separately, Seowoo's recent awakening gave me extra peace of mind.
Seowoo's ignition ability was unlocking its true potential, burning star power instead of stamina—the flames were insanely powerful.
Walking grenade launcher?
With Seowoo's massive firepower and So-hee's stability, no surprises possible.
Along with trust in the group, I stowed the shotgun, drew my dagger reverse-grip.
"Looks like they're getting serious over there. Shall we?"
At my words, the two exchanged glances, then the male mine charged me straight-on.
Followed by a mid-kick.
Up close, their legs weren't just blades—the shins below the knee oozed sharp blue energy.
I smacked his thigh with my right hand, diving into his guard.
Stab. Fsssh—
Using the recoil from slapping his thigh, I spun half-turn and plunged the reverse-gripped dagger into his carotid.
The star power-wrapped dagger pierced his tough exoskeleton like soft flesh.
"…?!"
Yanking it free, blue blood sprayed like a fountain.
Yet his eyes didn't die—they anticipated this.
'Damn.'
Beyond him.
The female mine had prepped herself like a slingshot with her web.
The male mine, ignoring his own damage, hugged me tight and pivoted toward her.
Screeech—
The lamppost acting as slingshot lever screamed.
Before I could react, a bang— and she launched.
"Cough!"
I tumbled across the ground with them amid the blast.
Luckily, the greatsword on my back blocked it, but the sheer physics of that massive body launching? No easy shrug-off.
Blood surged up my throat.
The massive back impact choked my breath, head spinning wildly.
But in this hellworld, turn crisis to opportunity.
Snapping to first, I guillotined the downed male mine with my greatsword.
KABOOM—!
The suddenly appearing female mine blocked with her blade-leg, but she didn't look unscathed.
'In that spot, attacking me could've been lethal… Guess his life mattered more?'
Annoying how these mines cared for each other.
But for now, a boon.
Use the downed one for psychological edge…
Gathering star power, I poured it into the greatsword; the white glow thinly coating the blade intensified.
"Fuck, human… you… right?"
"Humans not supposed to?"
"Heh… Makes a mine like me feel hard-done-by."
"Not my problem."
"…Stubborn prick to the end."
Her eyes flashed venom at my words.
Bluff? Or ditching the male now?
Whatever, her blade-leg sliced through air at me.
Could block with greatsword, but that'd play her game.
Clang—
Dropping the greatsword like tossed, I flowed her leg with the dagger, drawing the shotgun.
As the defense-specialized falling-star blade glowed, fire erupted from the black muzzle.
She reflexively guarded, but I wasn't aiming at her.
"Brother!"
Bang! Bang!
The steel ball barrage flew at the male mine's head.
Barely recovered, he shielded with his arm.
"…You fucker."
Sister? Boyfriend? No clue.
But precious enough—her eyes blazed, ramping up her attacks.
Ankle hook kick.
Spinning back whip kick.
Double low-high barrage.
I barely blocked her kicks, eyes locked front, missing no openings.
'Opportunity's coming.'
Experience said: big bodies like hers? Gaps show easy.
'Now!'
The instant she dodged my shot for a roundhouse—back turned.
Gap exposed.
Whoosh—
One step into the breach, her unguarded flank bare before me.
Her other leg grazed in passing, blood trickling down my cheek—fine.
High-risk gap to enter.
Fatal for her.
KABOOM—!
"…"
My punch at her side got blocked by the male mine's leg.
Not recovered enough to attack, but.
Using his tough parts to intercept? Tricky as hell.
Clack— Grind!
Her all-offense pressure, him covering gaps and assisting—difficulty spiked.
'Can't keep this up…'
Bad.
Holding the exchange relied on [Temporal Gap] skill moments and glasses' ripples.
Sharper, weirder their attacks, wilder the ripple amplitude—letting me read intent.
Still, minimizing damage, cuts accumulated on my skin as fight dragged.
'Get dragged longer, I'm toast.'
Needed a reversal variable.
To create it, body blocked while eyes scanned surroundings amid the onslaught.
'And.'
The variable lived up to name, hitting unexpected.
Instinct or premonition.
In the fast-slow ripples, time-line disturbances prickled my senses.
Like feeling the glasses' time waves bodily.
['Proper Observation' skill stimulates 'Time Restrictor.']
['User senses and recognizes time's flow.']
['Gaining proficiency in 'Time Perception.' (2/100)']
The alert in one ear, out the other.
Key: hold this sensation.
Clang! Crack! Boom!
Eons-like 1 minute passed, then 2, finally 3.
Started barely deflecting; now precisely parrying.
Bit more time, advanced to counterattacks.
"…?!"
"Hah, now it's a fight."
Swoosh—
'Felt it. Incoming.'
Sensing his attack.
Lower rising kick to chin—I knee-smashed aside, reverse-dagger stabbing his flank instantly.
"Brother!"
Lung-punctured male gasped; female faltered.
Pretending to finish him, I aimed shotgun at her chest.
Pop. BOOM!
"…?! Brother!!"
Male mine intercepted the star power-packed steel ball with his head, collapsing there.