Chapter 267: Episode 267

[S-rank Raider McPain has released the Slaughter Zone.]

[S-rank Named Guardian Crodin the Assassin has been summoned.]

The assassin vanished along with the crimson-stained domain. They must have seen Raviz’s Constraint Space and opted for a frontal assault. But identifying the summoner was useless if they couldn’t get close.

“Big Dream, cast Mist of Malevolent Spirits,” Taehyun ordered.

“Understood,” the lich replied.

A black fog, recreated through Taehyun’s Remake ability, now called the Mist of Malevolent Spirits, billowed through the forest.

[A-rank Hero Soldier Big Dream the Lich’s special ability ’Mist of Malevolent Spirits’ has been activated.]

[An eerie mist envelops Balak’s soldiers.]

[The activation of Mist of Malevolent Spirits will be canceled if all mana is depleted or if Big Dream takes damage.]

The previous version had only nullified ranged skills. This new version continuously summoned wraiths that clung to the raiders, hindering their every move.

“Wh-what is this? Get off me!”

“These things are stuck to me! Weapons don’t work!”

“My vision is already shot, and now these wraiths are going crazy?!”

For the melee raiders, it was an infuriating nightmare. Their skills were useless against the spectral forms. Hyacinth ordered her priests to cast buffs, but a volley of arrows rained down before they could finish.

“Kieeeek!”

First came the Hobgoblins’ precision shots.

“We will protect the forest!”

Second, the Centaurs’ mobile archery.

“Calamity has descended!”

And third, the coordinated poison arrows of the Pargal Tribe.

Even with B-rank soldiers mixed in, the sheer firepower was overwhelming. The reason was simple: their equipment was on another level. The raiders didn’t know it, but the dwarven-made gear worn by Balak’s soldiers was vastly superior to anything circulating on the continent.

To make matters worse, ambush troops swarmed them from all sides, making it impossible to advance. Though dozens of Taehyun’s soldiers fell to the raiders’ limited-use skills, he didn’t care. He relentlessly poured more troops into the fray, his only goal to bog them down.

“They’re coming in droves! This is starting to get fun!” McPain roared.

“This isn’t the time for fun,” Perun countered. “We need to get rid of this mist, now.”

The S-rank raiders had to find a way to break through. While it wasn’t overwhelming, the chain reaction of special abilities exploding around them was formidable. Following Hyacinth’s orders, they targeted the main enemy forces. But at that moment, two small, powerfully built humanoids blocked their path.

“I have finally met my match. Mo.”

“I pay my respects to you. Mo.”

—

They had sturdy physiques and veins bulging on their forearms. On any other day, they would have just looked like exceptionally strong men, but not today.

“Come at me. Mo,” one of them challenged.

“…Are all Minotaurs like this now?” McPain muttered.

“I doubt it,” Perun replied.

Of all things, they had the heads of bulls. These had to be the “small humans” Hyacinth had mentioned. A strange sense of exhaustion washed over McPain before the fight even began. He sighed and swung his mace. The Minotaur blocked it effortlessly and scoffed.

“Take this seriously. Mo.”

“What did you just say?”

“I admit I am a bull, but I would appreciate it if you refrained from such wordplay. Mo!”

A fist shot out, so swift McPain barely registered it before it slammed into his side with a metallic clang.

“…This is no joke,” McPain grunted, rubbing his ribs. “He has to be an S-rank soldier.”

He’d blocked it, but a direct hit would have shattered his bones. His demeanor grew serious as he charged again.

[S-rank Raider McPain has cast Intense Exhilaration.]

[S-rank Soldier Maulat has cast Mind-Force Explosion.]

The battle began with a flurry of stat buffs. The two warriors closed the distance instantly, exchanging a furious volley of blows in a deadlock of close-quarters combat.

Meanwhile, a very different confrontation was unfolding nearby.

“Leave Sir McPain and advance alone,” Hyacinth’s voice echoed in Perun’s mind. “Even a little damage will cancel the mist.”

“That’s not so easy,” Perun thought back. “You can see it too. That Minotaur is no ordinary foe.”

“Somehow…”

There was no ‘somehow.’ Like his counterpart, Gotman was a melee specialist. He was not an opponent a ranged fighter like Perun could engage up close. Even if he tried to ignore him, the Minotaur wouldn’t just let him pass.

“Why do you hesitate, raider? Mo.”

“Unlike him, I’m a bit busy,” Perun said. “You’ll have to step aside.”

“Nonsense. Mo!”

Gotman charged. He looked like a typical bruiser, but the crimson blood scattering from his form was anything but ordinary.

[S-rank Soldier Gotman has cast Blood Orbs.]

[Orbs made of blood are generated in the vicinity.]

Glowing red orbs began to float around them. Perun kicked off the ground, trying to create distance, but it was useless. The orbs were tracking him.

’Do I shoot? Or do I evade?’

Gotman was in front of him, orbs closing in from both sides. It was a terrible position, but he made his decision in a split second. The orbs weren’t just for tracking. Perun lowered his crossbow and met Gotman’s gaze.

[S-rank Raider Perun’s This Is How You Flee has been cast.]

[The user and the designated target’s positions are swapped.]

[This Is How You Flee Usage Limit 1/2]

In an instant, their positions were reversed. For Perun, who had no intention of fighting, an escape route had opened.

“I’m in a bit of a hurry,” he said coolly. “See you.”

“Where do you think you’re going, you coward! Mo.”

“What?!”

At that moment, Gotman’s eyes glowed a malevolent red.

[S-rank Soldier Gotman’s special ability ’Psychological Insight’ has been activated.]

[The designated target’s psychology is read.]

[S-rank Soldier Gotman’s special ability ’Taunt’ has been cast.]

[Perun has been taunted.]

Perun’s body twisted against his will. His hand crossbow rose on its own, and a boiling rage surged through him.

“You damn bull-headed bastard!” he roared, involuntarily charging into battle.

—

The two S-rank raiders were clearly targeting Big Dream, the caster of the Mist of Malevolent Spirits. But the two Minotaurs were not just for show; Taehyun had prepared them specifically to tie up his strongest opponents.

’One of them charged in without even needing a taunt,’ Taehyun noted. ’The other tried to flee but fell for it anyway.’

He still had plenty of ambush soldiers. The longer this dragged on, the worse it would be for the raid party. Their ranks were low, but enough of them would eventually overwhelm the raiders. With the Pargal Tribe continuing to inflict steady damage, Hyacinth would be forced to make a move.

’She’ll use an exclusive item or a main skill she’s been saving,’ he predicted. ’I’ve already pulled Raviz and the others back, so I have nothing to lose.’

Even with Clairvoyance, she was useless if she was pinned down. Turner was still a concern, but as long as he remained inactive in the rear, he wasn’t a threat.

“Molister, prepare to cast your skill!” Hyacinth commanded.

“Understood!”

The mage began to gather her mana. Taehyun, having already given his orders to Raviz, watched the screen intently.

[A-rank Top Raider Molister’s Rainbow Drop has been cast.]

[Colorful stone pillars begin to fall within the designated area.]

Hundreds of stone pillars rained from the sky, instantly crushing the soldiers who had been ambushing the raiders.

’They’re falling precisely on my soldiers. Raviz, summon the Pargal Tribe first.’

“Understood.”

He couldn’t afford to lose the Pargal Tribe in the first combat zone. After confirming their transfer to the Revived Plains, Taehyun continued to observe. Just then, McPain, still locked in combat with Maulat, let out a furious roar.

[S-rank Raider McPain’s special ability ’Berserk Lord’ has been activated.]

[Belkarium, the Berserk Lord who made the continent tremble in fear, descends.]

[The descent is maintained until the user’s madness disappears.]

A colossal warrior materialized behind him. Maulat staggered back in shock, but thankfully, he wasn’t the target.

“D-damn it! It’s McPain’s special ability! Everyone, get away!”

“Ack! Why is it attacking us first?!”

“That crazy bastard! Run! If we stay here, we’ll die too!”

Belkarium went on a rampage, slaughtering everything in its path, friend and foe alike.

’That’s on the same level as Wigan’s Descent of Behel,’ Taehyun thought, recalling his battle with Seonghwi’s mercenary. ’Does it kill everyone indiscriminately?’

Wigan hadn’t lost his reason like this, but the raw power was comparable.

With that, Taehyun had Raviz summon back his main forces, bringing the first battle to a close.

—

“Forty-seven casualties,” Hyacinth said, her voice dripping with venom. “Twenty-nine of them were killed by you. Are you even aware of that?”

Her furious gaze was fixed on McPain. His Berserk Lord had caused catastrophic friendly fire, and in the chaos, Balak’s main forces had escaped. Yet McPain simply shrugged, showing no remorse.

“When I lose my cool, I can’t see a thing. This isn’t the first time, is it? You already knew that, so why the lecture?”

“Grrr!’ You are impossible!”

“I don’t remember it well, but I think we’ve met before,” he said casually. “If you know me so well, just let it go. We need to focus on the mission, right?”

His moniker, ‘Fellow-Slayer,’ was well-earned. He always used the same excuse after his rampages. The cold glares of his comrades bored into him, but he didn’t offer so much as a simple apology. Realizing it was useless, Hyacinth sighed and turned away.

“Sir Turner, you’re no exception,” she said sharply. “We came here on a commission. What do you expect to accomplish by just standing there? Do you even want the Branch of the World Tree?”

“If it’s too hard, we can just give up,” he replied flatly.

“This raid party is a complete disaster!” she fumed.

A madman and a bystander. Even with her Clairvoyance, she couldn’t succeed if her comrades wouldn’t listen. She felt like she was about to explode.

“…Haa, forget it. It was my fault for having such high expectations,” she said, defeated. “We will proceed to the Revived Plains. Sir Perun, please go install a position shift marker in a suitable location.”

“On it.”

In a vast plain, unexpected reinforcements were a certainty. Perun left to place the marker while Hyacinth used a camping item to restore the party’s stamina and morale.

—

On the fourth day of the raid, the party arrived at the Revived Plains. The damage from the last battle had been severe; their numbers had dwindled by nearly fifty, mostly due to the Berserk Lord’s rampage. Taehyun stared at the large, unblinking eye floating above his territory.

’As long as Clairvoyance is active, they’ll spot any siege bombardment immediately. The real problem is the assault troops.’

The plains were wide, making a head-on clash unavoidable. They would surely detect Granzle and Grizzle in advance. That left only one option: scatter the raiders.

Confirming the raid party’s approach on his screen, Taehyun summoned his mercenary.

[Summon Mercenary is used.]

[Black Lord Ashuanin has been summoned.]

[Duration of 2 hours due to the Summon Mercenary skill level.]

For the first time, Lord Ashuanin was being deployed into battle.

—

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