Chapter 237 –
The City of Estranged Wolves (5)
Compared to ordinary Holders, I possess quite a number of runes.
Thanks to the deceptive rune [Rune Hunter], the runes I’ve duplicated so far number in the tens, and with special effects like the ‘Superior Rune System’ or the ‘Limit increased to 50’, the pool of runes I can acquire has expanded.
But among all those runes…
There are definitely some ‘main runes’ that are used frequently.
Runes that are often used, and have been used for a long time.
Runes that you grow fonder of as a result.
[You are utilizing the special effect ‘Rapid Riding’, a skill unleashed in extreme situations akin to an airborne performance, more effectively than anyone else. Your understanding of runes is steadily accumulating.]
[The level of the ‘Greatest Racehorse Under Heaven’ rune has increased.]
[You gain 1 Agility due to the rune’s attribute.]
In that sense, [Greatest Racehorse Under Heaven] is definitely one of my main runes.
A very long time ago, when I first landed in this world,
One of the 7 runes I obtained first was [Sprint].
For me at the time, lacking other weapons or magic runes, the [Sprint] rune that could create variables through ‘charging’ was always a highly useful and attractive main rune.
Even after obtaining additional charge-type runes and filling my previously empty rune slots in a spectacular fashion, achieving much growth…
‘Surprise attacks through charging’ remained my go-to attack route.
It’s no coincidence that the Superior rune combination [Greatest Racehorse Under Heaven] has already reached level 10.
‘Accel Piercing.’
That’s why I’m unrestrained when using my main runes.
No matter what enemy is in front of me, I charge in with the momentum to tear them apart.
An overwhelmingly fast speed and a charge that ignores range.
Plunging down from the sky, adding even more destructive power.
I gather all of that into one thrusting strike with my spear.
In the midst of the battlefield where the werewolves had gathered, my [Accel Piercing] thrust furiously at the enemy commander Lycan.
-What is that?
-A human! It’s a human!
-Evade it for now, Duke!
I couldn’t hear anything from far away, but the [Language] rune functioned properly up close.
I could clearly hear the Lycans communicating.
On the other hand, the Werewolves seemed to have some issue as there was no verbal communication from them since a while ago.
‘It’s already too late, pups.’
I snickered at the flustered conversation of the Lycans and gripped my spear tightly.
They probably noticed our presence when Tyrbon appeared, but before they could react, Tyrbon and I had already closed in.
The [Greatest Racehorse Under Heaven] that reached level 10, its proficiency hitting its stride, is a calamity.
The charge speed was too fast, excessively so.
Kahng- Grgrgr-
Jjijirk-
Pooshwee–!!
A sensation of tearing through something travels up my arm.
‘…A magic barrier?’
This S-grade Lycan with navy blue fur.
Despite its appearance, it seems to specialize in magic runes.
While the Lycanthropes are monsters strong in physical melee combat utilizing their powerful physical abilities, that doesn’t mean they can’t use magic.
They possess [Magic Control] runes like humans and are well-versed in using them their own way.
Especially upon reaching S-rank and gaining new abilities and power, there are even Lycans who make magic runes their main focus.
The werewolf called ‘Duke’ in front of me seems to be one of those types of Lycans.
‘A magic-using werewolf? Thanks.’
But to me, it’s just easy prey to hunt.
I take the initiative with a surprise attack after the charge, and the opponent is a mage?
There’s no better target than this.
Moreover, [Accel Piercing] easily pierces through magic defenses in the first place.
Let alone this crudely made barrier without any special spellcasting… Piercing through it was easier than breathing.
-Kuk, kuaaak!!
-Duke!! Dammit!
-After that human!!
Kakahng- Pooshuk!
Along with the sound of piercing through solid fur, a fountain of blood sprays out, and the Lycan called Duke scream stimulates my eardrums.
The powerful piercing strike is enhanced by all sorts of buffs.
Additionally amplified by the ‘Silver’s Blessing’ effect of the [Silver Moonshadow] rune.
I couldn’t instantly kill an S-grade monster with this attack, but I could definitely deal heavy damage.
-Genzaaang!!
-Catch that damn human!!
-Wait! There are more humans over there too…!!
-The Baratens are getting back up too! Stop them!!
After penetrating the layers of werewolf guards and inflicting a critical hit on Duke, the enraged other Lycans and their subordinate Werewolves started going berserk.
Catch him, kill him, tear him apart…
All sorts of vicious words reached me through [Language].
But in contrast, our counterattack also proceeded.
The assault team members who had preemptively approached this area took my surprise attack as the signal to launch an all-out offensive.
Behind them, backup fire from the rear troops was also coming in.
Moreover, it seemed the Baraten Lycans weren’t that stupid, as they were quickly getting up despite being dazed by the sudden situation.
From the Baraten Lycans’ perspective, this was truly a perfect reversal of the situation.
I hurriedly gave Tyrbon follow-up orders.
‘Tyrbon, back up again.’
-Already on it.
As expected, Tyrbon had an excellent nose for situations where we’d have to flee. Even before I gave the order, he had already changed our flight direction upwards in an attempt to withdraw from the battlefield.
Of course, a perfect escape was difficult. A few werewolves who had received orders from the Lycans were leaping up to this high point, charging at us.
It would be easy for me to fight while mounted on him, but Tyrbon could be in danger. No matter how high Tyrbon’s durability was, it wouldn’t be easy to fend off multiple A-grade monsters if they attacked with intent. Moreover, werewolves were monsters far more focused on attack compared to monsters like manticores.
‘Tyrbon!’
-Understood, master.
I changed the order once more. Our long-cultivated rhythm meant we could predict each other’s actions without much explanation.
I dropped down from Tyrbon, and he immediately shot up into the sky. My landing point was on the leaping werewolves’ heads. This was the most perfect way to eliminate the danger.
‘Stair Slash.’
I immediately switched to [Claw Shot Sword], delivering a [Stair Slash] from the werewolves’ shoulders down to their legs.
Originally, [Stair Slash] is a skill where you cut up the opponent like climbing stairs from below, but the werewolves and I were facing opposite directions now. Thanks to that, I could cut down the werewolves’ bodies as if descending from the sky.
‘Element is fire, explosion at the end.’
I briefly raised my magic to imbue the ‘fire’ element with [Elemental Master], to strengthen the following combo.
And then [Explosive Sword Aura]. Skipping the first cut, I applied the effect only to the final cut.
Kwa, kwaaang–!!
Krreuuu…!!
In an instant, I cut the werewolf’s body five times while delivering an intense blast. I retired the A-grade monster in less than a second.
There was no time to spectate. I kicked off its leg to leap up, mounting another four werewolves above.
This time I switched to [Penitent’s Sword]. The skill I used was [Divine Slash].
The elements I imbued were earth, water, and wind in order.
I kept changing elements to maximize the ‘Change Strike’ effect of [Elemental Master].
‘Poison Claw, then Quarter Knife.’
[Divine Slash] is a physical attack without infused magic, so it can’t receive the [Explosive Sword Aura] effect. But I could use poison.
I used [Venom]’s [Poison Claw] to cut down three werewolves simultaneously, and delivered a [Quarter Knife] to the last remaining one.
Of course, adding an explosion to [Quarter Knife] was a bonus service.
Kwa, kwaaang–!!
Krreua aaa…!!
-This is ridiculous…!!
-Five Virgens taken out instantly…!!
I heard the werewolves’ screams and the astonished voices of the Lycans.
It was understandable. In less than 5 seconds, 1/4 of the werewolf forces were gone.
And after finishing all that, I…
-You are strong, master.
‘Just realized that?’
By the time Tyrbon had completed his high altitude flight and returned to where I was falling, I dropped right onto his body. Perfect timing and rhythm.
“All magic attack units, target the enemy…!!”
And by this point, the mages should have finished preparing. To confirm, I immediately gave the order for an all-out attack.
No, it was at the very moment I was about to give that order.
—–!!
Awooooooo–!!
The howling sound that had occasionally come from the Lycanthropes.
Among them, the loudest, fiercest howl covered the entire battlefield.
And then.
[The Clark Lycans’ ‘Duke’ unleashes his ‘Indigo Force Howling’! All designated targets within range temporarily have their magic controlled by the howling!]
[‘Rune of Clear Mind’ maintains the target’s lucid state. They are unshaken by any curse or abnormal condition.]
They may have allowed the preemptive ambush, but they don’t go down easily.
Duke, a Lycan boss of sorts, activated his special ability.
In response, the magic of all attack units and Baraten Lycans was controlled.
A sudden crisis situation.
But thanks to [Rune of Clear Mind], I immediately broke free from that crisis and grinned.
‘…The kid’s got something good.’
Fortunately, I still had plenty of magic left, as well as unused special effects and skills.
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