Chapter 319: Breakout
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 319: Breakout
"He should be in this area."
The Priest held his Holy Scripture, his gaze sweeping across the terrain before him.
A crow took flight from a branch, cawing in terror as it fled. Sunlight could not penetrate the thick, dense canopy, making this stretch of jungle feel increasingly deep and silent.
"And yet, I still haven't found Muen Campbell's location."
Behind the Priest, Fullar couldn't help but frown.
Invisible threads of mana had already spread out around her like a spiderweb. She didn't even need to find Muen Campbell himself; as long as he passed through here and left behind the slightest trace of his aura, she would be able to detect him clearly.
This was how their group had divided the labor. They used the item provided by the employer, currently held by Hyena, along with his keen sense of smell to determine Muen Campbell's general vicinity.
Then, she would use her magic to pinpoint his exact location.
With this two-pronged approach, Muen Campbell should have had nowhere to hide, even within this vast and primordial forest.
However, now that Hyena's senses had failed, the heavy responsibility of guiding them fell to the Priest. Yet, within the area he had designated, no matter how Fullar extended her perception, she still couldn't find their target.
Could something have gone wrong...
"Are you questioning me?"
The Priest suddenly turned his head.
His tone was calm, and he wore a kind, gentle smile, but Fullar immediately lowered her head, as if she didn't dare meet his eyes.
"No."
"Rest assured, he is definitely within this area."
The Priest scanned the surroundings once more.
In his sight, within this windless forest, every tree and every vine was trembling, shaking their branches and leaves to point the way for him.
This was the gaze of the Lord.
Therefore, Muen Campbell certainly hadn't gone far.
"It's just that his methods for concealing his aura are even more exceptional than I imagined. We've come this close, yet you and Hyena are still unable to accurately confirm his position."
"Then what should we do?"
"It matters not."
The Priest actually sat down cross-legged, like a leisurely traveler resting on the spot. He spoke with total indifference:
"Since the prey won't show his head, we shall simply wait. We are in no hurry, after all. Patience is an essential quality for a good hunter."
"...Fine."
Seeing no other choice, Fullar could only reluctantly agree.
Her mana threads continued to spread, but her gaze drifted to the side.
That annoying Barton had been silent ever since the previous incident. Now, he was simply leaning against the base of a large tree with his eyes closed, resting. He didn't even react to her contemptuous glare.
As for the other one, the crazed Hyena, he was still swaying his head back and forth. Truly like a dog, he crawled on the ground, occasionally flipping over rotting leaves as he relentlessly pursued Muen Campbell's trail.
But the Duke's son was much smarter than they had anticipated. After suffering once before, he hadn't left a single trace behind.
"Honestly, every single one of you is useless."
Fullar couldn't stop sighing.
If it weren't to gather the materials for her advancement, she never would have accepted such a dangerous mission that involved offending a Duke.
Not only did she have to associate with a dangerous person like the Priest, but she also had to endure the stupidity and incompetence of her companions.
Even the employer wasn't reliable. According to the intelligence they sent, Muen Campbell wasn't supposed to be this difficult to deal with!
Furthermore, after this operation, she would likely have to flee the Empire. Though, she never had much attachment to this country anyway.
It was just...
She would be dragging her Elder Sister into this.
Her sister actually quite liked this country.
The men here, especially the nobles, were mostly fools with more money than sense—exactly her sister's type.
Sigh.
What a pity.
Fullar looked to the side and suddenly saw a pure white butterfly fluttering among the leaves nearby.
The mana perception threads were still expanding and extending. The constant drain on her mental energy was making her feel a bit weary.
She reached out a finger, allowing the bold butterfly to land on her fingertip.
Looking at the pure white, exquisite wings that seemed untainted by a single speck of filth, Fullar felt her fatigue dissipate significantly. It was as if she were being purified; a small smile touched the corners of her lips.
"I really want this to end quickly," she murmured softly. "Elder Sister must be waiting for me."
The butterfly flapped its wings as if in gentle agreement.
"Don't worry."
At that moment.
A deep male voice.
Abruptly and startlingly, it rang out right next to her ear.
"I will grant you that wish."
What...
Who?!
Since when?!
Fullar's pupils shrank violently. Her hand instinctively gripped her magic wand, and the barrier magic that had been encircling her body instantly flared with light.
But a pure white short blade sliced through the barrier magic as easily as cutting through tofu, and then, without any obstruction... it plunged in.
Clink.
A magic device on her person shattered. The invisible force it released deflected the fatal blade, preventing it from piercing a vital organ while simultaneously buying her time to react.
With a flick of her fingers, several pre-prepared magic scrolls dropped from her spatial magic device and unfurled. Exquisite magic patterns flickered, and powerful magic was instantly formed and triggered!
But in that very heartbeat.
Fullar once again saw that fluttering pure white butterfly.
The pure white blade sank into her abdomen. The searing pain made her snap awake.
That's right.
In this terrifying forest filled with disgusting variant snakes and insects, how could there possibly be a normal butterfly, such a gentle creature?
But why did she think the butterfly was normal?
Then what exactly was that butterfly...
"Sacred Breath."
This time, it was a voice as clear and melodious as a lark's. The butterfly instantly dispersed, turning into shimmering, pure Holy Light that surged into the magic scrolls.
The mana patterns she had so meticulously inscribed suddenly froze, as if something had been shoved into a pipe carrying flowing water.
A blockage.
Then, an explosion.
The "pipes" were ruined, and the mana accumulated within them naturally dissipated in a chaotic mess.
The precious magic scrolls turned into scrap paper almost instantly.
Fullar's eyes glazed over for a split second. The light in front of her distorted, and the figure of a blond man slowly emerged.
With one hand, he held a young girl with a staggering bust, faint arcs of electricity dancing across his body. With the other hand, he drove the pure white blade into her abdomen and twisted it viciously.
"Why..."
"When..."
"How is this possible..."
She coughed up large amounts of blood and bits of flesh, staring blankly at the man before her. Countless questions echoed in her mind, desperate for answers.
But Muen only gave a contemptuous smile.
"The Illumination Spell... isn't just for lighting things up, is it?"
Indeed, the so-called Illumination Spell was actually just a simple application of light.
But if one made that application just a bit more complex, a bit more extended, it would result in something entirely different.
Light distortion... or rather, a magical version of optical camouflage.
This was the result Muen had derived from his only usable spell after relentlessly cramming the basic applications and theories of magic during this period.
And with the dim light, complex environment, and vast swathes of identical green foliage, what place could possibly be better than this forest for utilizing such a result to its fullest?
Combined with the alchemical domain that could mask his aura and Liya's Holy Light, it formed a near-perfect assassination!
And his target was naturally the most fragile person in the enemy group, the one most likely to cause them massive trouble: the mage.
While he still didn't know the Priest's true depth, it was common sense to take out the glass cannon first during a team fight.
The only thing that wasn't perfect...
Was that he failed to end it in one strike.
As Muen pulled out the blade, intending to deliver a finishing blow, Liya's anxious voice rang in his ear:
"Muen!"
"I know."
Muen's eyes darkened.
A pity.
But it didn't matter.
With a wound this severe, that mage wouldn't be able to act for a long time.
For their next move, that was enough!
A foul wind rushed at his back.
Muen kicked Fullar away and spun around. He let go of Liya's hand, and his dual daggers cleared their sheaths, crossing to block!
Clang—!
The sound of clashing steel was deafening!
Sharp claws slammed into the short blades, feeling as if a mountain were pressing down on him!
"Ten Billion! Haha, Ten Billion, you're here!"
Hyena's eyes were bloodshot, his expression ecstatic. His hands had already mutated into sharp claws, and his body was covered in pitch-black scales. Sharp bone spikes had burst through his back, making him look even more monstrous!
His mouth, filled with jagged teeth, hung wide open. Foul saliva dripped from the corners of his lips as he stared fixedly at Muen, muttering incessantly:
"I'm so happy you showed up, so happy!"
As he spoke, Hyena's muscles coiled like dragons, and he slammed his weight downward!
"Ugh..."
Almost instantly, Muen was forced down to one knee. The blood in his body churned, making it difficult to steady himself.
"Dammit... I'm not happy at all. Are you also some mutant who escaped from a mad scientist's lab?"
Though he had been prepared, the gap in their realms was still too large.
And this Hyena was clearly a monster specialized in physical strength.
If it weren't for his own body, which had been tempered through Teacher Mela's "torment," he probably wouldn't have been able to withstand even this simple blow!
"Muen..."
Liya's worried voice came from behind him.
"I'm fine."
Muen exhaled a long breath. Abundant Holy Light flowed into his body, making him feel much better.
"Do you remember the plan I just told you?"
"Yes." Liya nodded vigorously. "I remember it perfectly!"
"Good."
Muen gritted his teeth, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his eyes.
"Then let's begin! Execute the plan!"
As the words left his mouth, Holy Light erupted!
Hyena seemingly hadn't expected anyone else to interfere in his fight with Muen. A trace of confusion appeared on his frenzied, monstrous face, and then... he got a face full of Holy Light.
The sacred radiance brought a searing pain, and Hyena immediately let out a howl of agony.
Taking this opportunity, Muen lunged forward. Time Dilation activated, and his dual blades danced with precision.
Don't forget, from beginning to end, his strength was never head-on confrontation, but... speed.
The long-lost dagger combat techniques.
In that brief instant, even Muen couldn't count how many of Hyena's attacks he had dodged or how many slashes he had delivered.
With the sharpness of Elizabeth and the empowerment of Liya's Holy Light, even with the massive gap in realms, his blades could successfully slice through Hyena's hard scales. The Holy Light attached to the blades also continuously scorched Hyena's filthy, foul-smelling blood.
Blood splattered, and Holy Light permeated the air.
Although Hyena's powerful regenerative abilities allowed the wounds to heal at a visible rate, the intense pain immediately drove him into a total frenzy.
Hyena roared and struggled, seemingly losing all reason, instinctively swinging his claws in a wild mess.
Muen seized the chance, his blades accurately slashing across Hyena's eyes, nose, and mouth.
"ROAR—TEN BILLION!"
Hyena's vision plunged into darkness, and his sense of smell was overwhelmed by the scent of blood. But in that final moment, he managed to rake his claws viciously across Muen's chest!
Riiip—
Flesh was torn apart. Several horrific gashes appeared on Muen's chest, deep enough to see bone.
"Muen!"
Liya immediately rushed over. "Let me heal you."
"No."
Muen suddenly grabbed Liya's wrist, stopping her. His gaze was firm.
"This wound is nothing to me. Do as I said—go, now!"
Muen pulled Liya along, ignoring Hyena, who was currently in his most vulnerable state. He turned and sprinted away at maximum speed.
That's right. Muen's plan from the very beginning was never to defeat these people.
It was... to break out!
Because he had felt very clearly from their brief clash last time that, under normal circumstances, he and Liya were simply no match for these people.
Setting aside the difference in realms, the fact that these thugs, who were infamous even on the Empire's most-wanted list, could remain free to this day meant they had their own terrifying strengths.
They weren't the kind of fodder who had high levels but were easily slaughtered by a protagonist. The masterminds behind the scenes wouldn't have sent mere trash to hunt him down.
A head-on fight was impossible, so he had to use tricks.
First, use a sneak attack to disable the mage, who was physically the weakest but posed the greatest threat to their escape with her long-range tracking and attacks.
Then, catch them off guard by risking a trade of injuries, taking advantage of the mentally unstable Hyena's frenzy to temporarily neutralize his sight and smell.
Next was...
"Ha! Muen Campbell!"
A laugh filled with fury rang out, and Muen's death premonition flared!
Muen instinctively let go of Liya and crossed his blades in front of him.
Clang!
It felt as if an invisible, massive steel blade had struck him. The terrifying force made Muen's hands tremble, and he was forced back repeatedly. Only with Liya's support did he manage to steady himself.
Right. Next was this guy.
Barton.
"Liya."
"Understood."
Liya pointed a finger, and her Holy Light transformed into countless white butterflies, fluttering toward Barton.
Muen suppressed the metallic taste of blood in his throat and tightened his grip on Elizabeth, ready to strike the moment Barton showed a weakness while being harassed by Liya.
But...
Looking at the fluttering Holy Light butterflies, the crazed, vengeful smile on Barton's face suddenly vanished. He glanced at the surroundings, then took a deep look at Liya. He actually chose not to resist, allowing himself to be enveloped by the butterflies.
What's going on?
Muen was stunned. He had thought Barton would be a major problem. After all, he had played Barton for a fool before. Before executing the plan, Muen had even imagined how he would face a completely maddened fourth-tier martial artist.
So... was he having a falling out with his teammates?
A guess flashed through Muen's mind.
But there was no time to verify it. Regardless of the reason, Barton's voluntary retreat was a good thing for them.
Muen grabbed Liya's hand. "Let's go!"
They sprinted at full speed once more.
This time, no one blocked them.
Then, finally...
Only that mysterious religious nut was left.
Muen's peripheral vision caught the figure that hadn't moved much from the start. That faint, ominous feeling in his heart still hadn't faded in the slightest.
But since the man wasn't making a move, Muen could only ignore him for now.
"Liya, can you still feel the Holy City's location?"
"Yes." Liya nodded hard. "It's getting closer."
"Good. Just a little more effort. I think the reason they pushed us this hard is that we're almost at the edge of the forest."
Muen said, "So as long as we can survive this wave, the probability of a successful escape will increase greatly."
"Mm," Liya responded softly.
The scenery blurred past them.
Liya had no heart to admire it. She simply let Muen pull her along as they ran, like lovers eloping in a story, silently watching his intensely serious profile.
"So amazing..." Liya murmured under her breath.
Their enemies were all at least a full realm higher than him—vicious criminals with countless lives on their hands.
And yet, the person before her showed no fear.
Earlier, when Muen told her about this breakout plan and said they would have to briefly face the enemies head-on, she had even thought he was crazy.
But.
They succeeded.
Or rather, he succeeded.
Those enemies who seemed so terrifying to her had all been temporarily stripped of their combat ability by his hand, unable to pursue.
Even in this utterly hopeless situation, he could still find a sliver of a chance for victory.
If it had been her...
No, she definitely couldn't have done it.
She couldn't handle even one of those guys. All she could do was provide Muen with a certain level of support, just like now.
That was... all.
But fortunately.
She was lucky. She had Muen...
"Watch out!"
Suddenly, a familiar low shout rang in Liya's ear. Immediately after, she felt herself being pulled into a warm embrace and rolled violently to the side.
"Ugh... what happened?"
The sudden turn of events made Liya's head spin. She struggled to lift her head from Muen's chest, ignoring the racing heart caused by the intimate gesture, and opened her eyes to look around.
Then, her breathing hitched, and her expression became as stiff as Muen's.
In front of them, those tall, thick, giant-like trees seemed to have come to life. Countless branches and vines twisted and tangled together like a swarm of giant pythons, ready to swallow anything in their path.
And right where Muen had dodged a moment ago, a massive wooden hand slowly rose from a deep crater, transforming back into gray-green branches...
A chill ran down Liya's spine. If Muen's reaction had been even slightly slower, she might have been crushed into meat paste along with him, truly becoming one with him in death.
"An attack with no warning, no mana or fighting spirit fluctuations, yet able to effortlessly manipulate the laws of nature... This is..."
Muen's expression was grim as he whipped his head around.
"A Divine Blessed?"
"No, no, no. You're overthinking it. How could someone like me be worthy of my Lord's unconditional mercy?"
A calm voice sounded. The Priest, dressed in his clerical robes, stood not far behind Muen, piously holding his Holy Scripture. No one knew when he had arrived.
"At most, I merely use a few devout prayers to exchange for a tiny, insignificant bit of my Lord's Divine Grace. It is not worth mentioning."
The Priest looked kind and wore a smile, but for some reason, just having this man nearby made Muen's heart hammer against his ribs.
"Devout prayers..."
Muen looked at the trees that seemed to have come alive... It didn't seem like the power of an Evil God.
"Power of faith... A cleric?"
"I suppose so." The Priest nodded seriously. "I am indeed one who serves my Lord."
"I suppose so..."
That phrasing...
"Muen." Liya gently tugged on Muen's sleeve. "This Divine Grace... it seems to come from the Forest God of the south."
"Forest God?"
Never heard of him.
"A deity with a very small following. Currently, only some ancient tribes still have His believers."
"I see..."
Muen took a deep breath to steady his nerves, then looked at the Priest and sneered.
"So, you aren't a Divine Blessed who controls divine power at the level of laws, you don't have a powerful Church backing you, and you yourself seem to be a frail mortal. You actually dare to get this close to me? Aren't you afraid I'll just cut you down?"
"You are welcome to try," the Priest replied, still smiling.