novelraw Chapter 94 : Chapter 94
Chapter 94 : Chapter 94
Chapter 94: Freak (4)
A harsh wind swept my cheeks.
‘Must survive first.’
Running away is shameful, but sometimes helpful.
Above all, running away is an act of boldly acknowledging one's limit.
There is a saying that acknowledging one's limit is true courage.
In other words, I mustered up courage.
Most people would think it's nonsense if they heard this, but.
Anyway, running away is the most effective strategy when facing a berserk Freak.
Because a single weakness exists in the berserk state.
Thump— Thump—
‘He’s chasing as expected.’
For some reason, the guy is only looking at me.
So I was expecting he would chase if I ran away.
‘First, I need to create distance.’
I added strength to my running feet.
[Passive ‘Cheetah’ is activated. Speed increases.]
Wind cut my ears fiercely.
It wasn't as free as an open track due to obstacles scattered among collapsed debris here and there, but still fast enough.
The opponent is a gigantic Freak.
Although his stride is wide, it's difficult to secure mobility with that huge body.
If I run like this, I can buy time.
I might be able to create leisure to face him again.
So I thought.
‘……Huh?’
Until I saw the guy stopping and lowering his posture.
Kuuung—
The guy's huge upper body bent down.
Lowering his waist, he put both arms on the ground.
Crouching start position.
The guy condensed the strength of his whole body.
“Wait.”
The next moment, the giant Troll kicked the ground and popped out explosively.
Kwaaang—!
“What?”
It wasn't a monster's behavior pattern of moving steps heavily and jumping flutteringly.
It was clearly a ‘human’ running posture.
The axis didn't shake, and even the angle of the upper body was perfect.
Both legs crossed rapidly, and running began with quick breathing.
‘What kind of Troll in the world runs like that.’
Unfair.
Unfair, I say.
Regeneration is Troll, running is human.
Are you cherry-picking only the good things between monster and human, you damn bastard.
Eventually shouting meaningless curses inwardly, I continued running.
Thump, Thump, Thump—
The sound of following didn't decrease at all.
How long did I run like that?
Vision opened up, and a faint signboard came into view.
[Ghost Park]
The most remote outskirt zone in Hero Land.
Broken lights flickered, illuminating the ghost mascot's face.
Basically ghost-themed, this zone was currently close to a ghost town.
Not just saying that, this place was a restricted area even before the terror occurred.
Did they say it was temporarily closed due to an accident in the Central Zone?
Anyway, I ran here first.
Since I've seen enough how dangerous that guy turned into a Troll is.
If it’s here, at least citizens won't get swept up.
That was somewhat fortunate.
Thinking so, it was when I passed the signboard and entered inside.
Kwajik—!
The ground split and sparks flew.
And another battle was unfolding in the middle of my vision.
There were people.
Along with two Chimeras.
“You there! Move!”
“Wha, what is it?”
“Giant?”
As I shouted, people asked back startled.
Can't you tell by looking, you people?
You’ll get crushed or melted to death.
Fortunately, they were quick-witted.
It was partly thanks to the Troll giant looking dangerous at a glance.
“Move! It’s dangerous!”
At my shout, they distanced themselves immediately.
The problem was that only people moved aside.
The Chimeras they were facing still blocked my way.
One looked mixed with a mantis with forelegs stretched long like scythes, and the other had wings like a moth buzzing and flying in the air.
‘Is this an Insect Hall or what.’
There was no time to stop. If I did, I would be swallowed by the Troll closely following behind.
Soon, the two Chimeras recognized me as an enemy and rampaged simultaneously.
The mantis Chimera swept the ground and swung its scythe.
Sound of air tearing brushed my ears.
I twisted my body, lowered myself to the floor, and slid under it.
Immediately, dust rose from above with the flapping of wings.
The aerial Chimera came down scattering corrosive spores.
“Ugh—!”
I barely dodged the spores that almost splashed into my eyes.
Kicking off the ground, I jumped up, stepping on the guy's face to leap.
Teoeop—!
I clenched my molars tight.
Speed decreased due to untimely obstacles.
Running again was the priority for now.
‘If I stop now, I will die.’
The moment I started running again.
“Kkuuuuuu—!”
A twisted roar burst from behind.
A violent cry as if full of pain.
The air trembled at that resonance.
I instinctively turned my head.
“Damn it.”
Two Chimeras were clinging to the body of Gonta, no, the giant Troll running from behind.
Flesh stretched and grabbed them.
Like falling into a swamp, the Chimeras floundered.
The roaring sound flowed from their mouths.
“Kkuuu—! Kku—!”
The more they struggled, the deeper they were buried.
Pieces of flesh stretching like tentacles wrapped around them and dragged them into the body.
Green foam began to melt and absorb them.
‘Energy was supplied to the guy.’
It was troublesome.
A Freak moves while burning itself every moment.
In a position where it must constantly be supplied with energy to live while berserk.
With that ingestion just now, the guy's lifespan increased a little.
Watching the Chimeras' torsos being slowly swallowed into the flesh lump, I gasped for breath again.
Anyway, I had to run.
The deeper I went inside, the quieter the surroundings were.
As expected of a restricted area, neither people nor Chimeras were seen.
Those near the entrance must have drifted in briefly while fighting nearby.
Drooping electric wires hung loosely all over the place.
Some sparked ‘Pajijik’, and burnt marks remained on the floor like stains.
Perhaps due to moisture and dust, there was a subtle metallic smell in the air.
Seemed like I’d get electrocuted if I stepped wrong.
I kicked off avoiding such ‘traps’.
A thoroughly neglected space, and that was also the reason I came here.
If the guy chases me, I intentionally head to a place without people.
Attacking and killing a berserk Freak is practically impossible, so holding out until the guy burns his fuel himself and finally collapses was the best.
‘If I run while shaking off the guy like this…….’
It was the moment I was drawing a vague plan like that.
Kwaang—!
Sound of something bursting rang out from right behind.
No, it wasn't a simple sound. It really ‘burst’.
As the heavy foot stepped on the ground, the concrete road collapsed and debris poured down fluttering with fluid.
Chijik— Chiik—!
Sound of metal bundles melting rang out, and bubbling sounds were heard from the shoulder side.
Fluid droplets touched my uniform too.
I reflexively turned my head.
The guy's foot was seen right behind.
The guy who was definitely running with some distance was right behind before I knew it.
‘He caught up like this?’
A huge shadow cast over me.
I instinctively threw my body.
Kwajik—!
Cracks spread on the floor, and a model car on it was crushed as if pressed by a hydraulic press.
The monster's huge foot was stuck in that spot.
Through the gap narrowly missed, I rolled and dodged.
‘It’s obstacles. That was the problem.’
I soon realized.
The problem was obstacles.
I reduced speed to avoid electric wires, debris, and various exhibits scattered willfully on the street.
But the guy didn't care about such things at all.
Whatever was in front, he smashed and swallowed as he ran.
Literally a nonstop sprint.
Therefore, he had to be faster.
I twisted my body and jumped into the adjacent building.
Glass doors shattered and scattered into pieces.
Inside was quiet.
Theme park character dolls hung in rows, and lights still flickered in the claw machine in the corner.
One doll trapped in the machine shook slowly.
‘…….’
While catching a short breath, a shadow cast over.
A huge silhouette moved beyond the window.
The guy couldn't enter.
With that size, it would be difficult to even put a foot in.
Because the door height was only up to the guy's calf.
But the problem was next.
Kwaaang—!
The building shook.
Walls burst and the ceiling split.
The monster thrust its body as is and began destroying the building itself.
‘Ugh.’
Not even giving a moment to rest.
I instinctively threw my body toward the rear window.
Broken bars grazed my arm.
Wind hit my face and dust rushed into my lungs.
‘Ugh, still it’s a blind spot for now.’
Holding back a cough, I thought.
The guy's appearance wasn't visible yet.
Instead, collapsed walls and debris blocked the view.
Still thanks to that, I gasped for breath and lowered my waist.
Got a moment to think, albeit brief.
The top priority was what to do with that guy who was livelier than imagined.
By the way, someone should come to help by this time.
Since it's an outskirt zone, maybe they don't know well even with this chaos.
‘……Though ordinary people coming would only mean dying together.’
Assuming the worst case where no one comes, I must devise a way to deal with the guy alone.
Then, something caught my eye in the distance.
Faint steel structure.
‘……If it’s there.’
One side open field of Ghost Town.
A huge ship reminiscent of a ‘coffin’ hung in the sky.
Living Dead Swing.
A representative ride of Ghost Town, famous for presenting vivid fear with various holograms popping up the moment it operates.
Although smaller than the overwhelmingly huge ‘Mega Viking’ I rode, it boasted a magnificent body no less.
A structure even larger than the giant Troll.
If I get there, I might be able to do something.
A vague plan rose.
‘Problem is the distance.’
Can I get there safely?
Scanning the debris in front of my eyes, I caught my breath.
Then, shadow covered again.
A huge hand hung over the broken wall.
The guy stuck his head out and was looking down at me.
Broken concrete pieces poured down.
“Tsk, not giving a break, huh.”
As the monster pushed its arm, the building twisted entirely.
Brick dust burst like firecrackers and the roof collapsed.
I immediately stepped on the opposite wall and jumped.
My body touched the roof of the adjacent building.
Ghost Park's main street looked down at a glance.
Restaurants, experience halls, various goods shops lined up on the street.
Wooden and concrete buildings stood mixed.
I started running stepping on the roofs.
Crossing collapsed buildings, stepping on shaking signboards, jumped to the next roof.
Wind brushed my face.
Air was much colder than the ground.
The movement of the Troll following me dampened a bit.
Buildings grabbed the guy's ankles like speed bumps.
‘Good, I can widen the distance again.’
The guy approaching smashing buildings.
A bit sorry to Hero Land side, but people must live first.
I saw the coffin-shaped giant Viking standing tall in the distance.
For now, that place was the top priority target.
I increased speed.
At that very moment, the empty air split.
Swaaek—!
Something huge flew in.
Speed fast enough to graze vision.
My body reacted naturally dodging the trajectory.
‘What?’
Bewilderment was brief.
Kwang—!
The floor burst.
It was a concrete piece.
The guy was throwing it.
‘Throwing?’
Huge hand grabbed debris, tearing off the next piece.
Air tore every time he threw once.
Kwaaang—!
Kwajik—!
“Driving me crazy.”
Roof was gouged and dust rose explosively.
I ran while lowering my body.
Rolled to the left dodging and struck away fragments falling from the right with the sword.
Sparks flew as iron and stone collided.
‘Damn, even accurate?’
Next chunk flew in.
Not big, but sharpened sharply like a hand axe.
Air rang.
No gap to dodge this time.
Set up the sword, struck it away as is.
Jjeoeong—!
Arm felt numb.
Wrist staggered.
Stone piece split into pieces and bounced in all directions.
‘At this rate, I’ll be caught again.’
Moment of swallowing breath, another one flew in.
But this time it was peculiar.
Color was strange.
It had a green light.
“……That is?”
Huge stone piece flew spinning.
Its surface glistened with green light.
“Surely.”
It was the guy's fluid.
Corrosive fluid leaked during the berserk process.
He smeared it on the stone and threw it.
‘Making that level of judgment without reason……?’
I threw my body as is.
Rolled and fell sideways.
Kwaang—!
As the stone piece fell, liquid scattered along with fragments.
Chiiiiik—
Surrounding floor melted down.
Sound like metal boiling.
Exposed steel frame melted flowing down upon touching the liquid.
Heat and steam mixed stung the nose.
Then, a hot sensation spread on the ankle.
“Keueuk—!”
A streak of fluid splashed.
Beyond the pain of being burned, it was a sensation of flesh melting.
‘Digestive juice.’
I immediately took off my top and started wiping it off.
Uniform fiber was specially coated so a small amount was okay, but the problem was it already touched the skin.
Blood flowed out along with stinging heat sensation.
Breathing was rough.
Vision shook.
Floor was half collapsed.
The guy approached close before I knew it.
Advancing while lightly destroying buildings.
‘Is running away impossible.’
Surroundings were only debris and dust.
Buildings were collapsed by projectiles the guy threw.
Path was cut off.
I stood up facing the guy raising the sword.
Sore left ankle was particularly bothering.
Heart beat violently.
“Damn it.”
Tightening pressure.
Various moves to overcome the situation rose in my mind, but I myself was refuting each one of them.
Situation with no clear answer coming out immediately.
No more leisure than this.
‘Eventually only this move left.’
A hidden move I wanted to save until the very end if possible, since there is no turning back for me either once used.
I inhaled deeply.
Raised the sword.
Center of body sank to the floor.
Mind becoming calm even amidst extreme situation.
‘Hundred Night Yaksha.’
Slowly, at the moment I was about to activate the skill.
Swish—!
Fierce sound cutting wind rang out.
[Flower of Flames: Flame Eight-Armed Octopus]
Kwaaang—!
Empty air was dyed red.
Flames swirled covering the vision.
Huge octopus monster made of fire covered the Troll.