novelraw Chapter 95 : Chapter 95
Chapter 95 : Chapter 95
Chapter 95: Freak (5)
Red tentacles shot out all at once, enveloping the monster.
Kwaaang—!
A huge octopus made of fire wrapped around the Troll's torso.
It bound the arms and tightened around the legs.
Above it, burning flames surged like a fountain.
“……Giant Troll?”
Seol Hayun lowered her hands while riding on the back of the fire vulture, ‘Vulture’.
Flames flickered at her fingertips.
The Troll struggled.
Flames spread over his skin but didn't burn as well as expected.
“Uuueh!”
Tuduek—
The monster let out a cry and tore off one of the flame octopus's legs.
The flame octopus floundered like a living creature, hugging the Troll even tighter with its remaining legs.
Fire and flesh entangled.
Flesh burned and was refilled repeatedly.
‘……Strange.’
Seol Hayun narrowed her eyes.
Flame Eight-Armed Octopus is a high-firepower spell; that isn't ordinary fire.
Most biological tissues should turn to ash in seconds.
Yet that monster was enduring even while wrapped in flames for quite a while.
‘Judging by appearance alone, it looks like a Troll, but how is it enduring?’
Above all, Trolls have a weakness to fire attribute.
However, despite that, the giant Troll seemed to be neutralizing the effect of the flames to some extent.
Observing that appearance, Seol Hayun soon realized one thing.
“……Fluid?”
The thought flowed out of her mouth.
The monster's skin was covered in fluid tinged with green light.
That was acting like a sort of protective film.
Every time the flames touched, steam burst out.
The flesh inside was still wriggling.
Then the monster's eyes flashed within the flames.
That gaze, for a moment, was directed at her.
Seol Hayun held her breath.
The fire vulture she was riding, Vulture, spread its wings and soared into the air.
Heat and storm entangled, making the air stagger.
Vision opened downwards.
Amidst debris and dust, someone holding a sword was visible.
“Ryu Jinwoo!”
Seol Hayun shouted.
The boy revealed in the dust fog, Ryu Jinwoo.
He was still alive.
The thought that it was fortunate came first.
On the other hand, it was also surprising.
Uniform torn in places and hair soaked with sweat.
Blood was spreading around his ankle.
‘Did he fight alone?’
Along with brief admiration, a corner of her heart prickled.
The opponent is an unprecedented giant Troll.
Fighting alone against such a monster was beyond common sense.
Yet the fact that he was holding out until now was amazing.
‘Though I was surprised when he jumped from the train compartment too.’
When they encountered two villains in the Parade Zone.
And the moment Spike Blue's arm was severed.
Seol Hayun tore open the train compartment and summoned Vulture to start evacuating people.
In that process, Spike Blue got off the train first.
To deal with the villains.
And not long after, Ryu Jinwoo also jumped down.
Seol Hayun knew where he was heading.
That he left to help Spike Blue, whose condition was already bad.
And when the train compartment carrying citizens finally reached a safe location, Seol Hayun decided to head back to the Parade Zone.
Because she didn't want Ryu Jinwoo to bear the heavy burden alone.
But it was late.
When she reached the Parade Zone again, the situation was already cleared.
Scattered metal wires, broken water pipes, a scene messed up with debris and bloodstains.
But Ryu Jinwoo was nowhere to be seen.
‘Too late.’
At that fact, Seol Hayun's heart sank with a thud.
She felt something collapsing in a corner of her mind.
She didn't move an inch for a while as if she had stepped into a photograph.
Complex emotions rose.
Shaking her head vigorously, she barely composed herself when she saw Spike Blue collapsed in a corner.
Seol Hayun approached him immediately.
“Spike Blue? Are you okay?”
“……Uh, Seol Hayun?”
He answered, bursting out breath with difficulty.
His condition wasn't good, but he was recovering.
Just as she was about to start emergency treatment, Spike Blue opened his mouth.
“This is not the time. I’m fine, so go save the junior…… Ryu Jinwoo.”
“……Jinwoo, is he alive?”
“Probably. Actually, I don't know. Damn, a giant Troll suddenly appeared over there. I don't know where it came from. Ryu Jinwoo lured that guy and ran somewhere. I’m done so quickly…….”
Spike Blue's urgent request.
Right away, she flew up riding Vulture.
Giant Troll.
Repeating that clue inwardly, she scoured the sky, and soon discovered it.
A huge existence rampaging in the middle of Ghost Park.
Thus she reached here. And finally found him.
The moment she saw Ryu Jinwoo, something in the corner of her heart seemed to form a solid shape again.
She descended immediately and reached out her hand to the boy.
“Ryu Jinwoo! Grab it!”
Ryu Jinwoo also reached his hand upward as if he discovered Seol Hayun.
Teoeop—!
Holding hands, she put him on Vulture's back.
“You managed to find me well.”
“I was looking for you continuously. Spike Blue told me. That you were luring a giant Troll.”
“Spike Blue was okay. That’s a relief. Ugh, wait, the floor is hot?”
Ryu Jinwoo grimaced.
Vulture is a bird made entirely of fire.
Although it blocks heat to some extent, it was still likely hot.
“Can't be helped.”
Seol Hayun muttered briefly and reached out her hand.
She pulled Ryu Jinwoo's arm and wrapped around his waist.
“Huh?”
As she applied force, Ryu Jinwoo, naturally losing balance, was lifted into her embrace just like that.
“Wait wait, this posture is.”
“Because the floor is hot.”
“That is true but—.”
Ryu Jinwoo was lost for words.
Seol Hayun quietly turned her gaze downward.
Below, the giant Troll was still grappling with flames.
At the same time, Seol Hayun felt it.
That Flame Eight-Armed Octopus would disappear soon.
Simultaneously, she realized.
That with her firepower, she couldn't burn that monster to death.
***
Lifted unexpectedly, I was dazed for a moment.
Some indescribable emotion, should I call it a man's pride, or don't know what to call this.
Anyway, instinctive awkwardness swept through my whole body.
“……But if possible, wouldn't a piggyback be better?”
As I asked cautiously.
“Sorry about that. I don't really like the sensation of someone touching my back.”
Seol Hayun answered sharply.
A reason with no room for rebuttal.
“Ah, okay.”
Well, this is better than the soles of my feet heating up and cooking in real time.
I tried to rationalize.
No one is watching anyway.
If Do Haru witnessed this scene, she would tease me for about a week though.
Meanwhile, Seol Hayun's gaze was exactly directed at the giant Troll.
She seemed to be gauging.
Whether she could eliminate that guy with her power.
Unfortunately, it's impossible.
At least the current Seol Hayun cannot handle the giant Troll.
Since even the advantage of attributes is being neutralized by the fluid covering the Troll's skin.
“Where did that guy appear from?”
Seol Hayun asked.
“It’s the guy from earlier. The villain who wore a white mask.”
“That is a human?”
“Was a human. Not anymore though.”
At my answer, Seol Hayun looked at the Troll again silently.
“So it’s a Freak.”
It was a low mutter.
Her eyes shook for a moment.
Freak. That word had a weight pressing down on the heart.
As far as I know, Seol Hayun's father died becoming a Freak.
That memory seemed to overlap over that scene right now.
A brief silence passed.
Stillness enough to make even breath feel rough.
But the silence didn't last long.
Pushiik—!
The flame octopus faded in an instant.
Seol Hayun's spell, ‘Flame Eight-Armed Octopus’s magic power reached its limit.
The burning tentacles of Flame Eight-Armed Octopus went out like candles, and the remaining flames scattered over the Troll's torso.
Although the Troll's skin burned here and there, engraving burn scabs and scorched marks.
“……It’s regenerating.”
Like shedding skin, the outer flesh melted down, and new flesh filled up from underneath.
Sticky fluid melted the surface and regeneration was happening simultaneously.
The guy slowly raised his head.
Two eyes flashing in the thick smoke directed exactly this way.
Right after that, the Troll picked up a huge stone.
Speed excessive compared to its size.
“Hold tight!”
Seol Hayun shouted briefly.
Hwuung—!
Seol Hayun pulled Vulture's reins hard.
Wings of fire bent sideways and descended sharply.
Air tore like an explosion sound.
The stone flew drawing a parabola and smashed the building behind.
As Vulture twisted its body to ascend, balance collapsed momentarily.
“Uh uh!”
Momentarily making a surprised sound at the sharply shaking floor.
Huge wings shook, and body bounced upward, flipping the vision for an instant.
As if aiming for that gap, the Troll stretched flesh tentacles straight from his shoulder blade.
Swish—Swiik—!
Countless tentacles rushed cutting through the empty air.
Attacks flying consecutively with the sound tearing the air.
Seol Hayun gritted her teeth.
Vulture's wings folded consecutively, then spread again.
Flames flashed drawing trajectories.
She managed to fly cutting exquisitely between tentacles.
Wiping sweat, Seol Hayun looked down at me and opened her mouth.
“What will you do? Wait for support, or run away like this?”
I answered catching my breath.
“Even if we run away, that guy will follow me.”
“Why?”
“I don't know either.”
I exhaled shortly.
Frankly, I don't know. Maybe because I was the first to see the guy's face.
“What’s certain is that the guy follows me. That’s why I could lure him to this side, a zone without people.”
“Then running away blindly is useless.”
“Right.”
Seol Hayun closed her mouth.
Deep concern crossed her face.
“Can you fly higher than this?”
I asked with a hope just in case.
If we go up to a dizzying height, the guy won't be able to do anything.
Might be able to make him like a dog chasing a chicken.
“No. This is the maximum height.”
But Seol Hayun shook her head firmly.
“Then for now…….”
Before I could continue speaking, the opponent didn't allow leisure.
Kwaaang—!
The Troll grabbed a huge stone again.
The moment the shadow covered the sky, an explosion burst.
This time it was much closer.
Blast pressure burst out grazing one of Vulture's wings.
“Kuek!”
Vision shook.
Vulture barely kept balance, but the flames at the wing tip distorted.
At this rate, the next attack cannot be dodged.
It was a moment needing a decision.
Ttiring—!
[Purchasing ‘Fatigue Recovery Potion’.]
[5,000 SP is consumed.]
“No time to explain, so I’ll speak simply.”
I said catching my breath.
Pointed to the huge Viking ride visible in the distance.
“Go to that ‘Living Dead Swing’ first and operate it. Is it possible?”
“Operate it? I know the method but……. Wait, go first? What about you?”
“The wing got hit just now. Balance is broken.”
Seol Hayun's eyes grew wide.
But I didn't stop speaking.
“At this rate, we’ll be shot down. Because that guy will attack without stopping.”
“If I replenish magic power for the wing…….”
Kwagak—!
Before her words ended, a stone flew in again.
This time it burst Vulture's leg.
Impact shook the whole body.
“Tsk!”
Seol Hayun gritted her teeth and moved Vulture.
But even at that moment, the Troll didn't stop.
Seol Hayun's brow narrowed.
She must have realized just now.
The opponent isn't a simple monster.
An existence that learns patterns, responds, and attacks increasingly elaborately.
‘Freak.’
Chik—!
I twisted open the cap of the fatigue recovery potion.
Cool medicinal scent spread.
As I swallowed it, cool energy went down my throat.
“Fatigue recovery potion?”
Seol Hayun opened her eyes wide.
A look asking what help that would be in this situation.
Others have no choice but to think so.
But this is a potion worth 5,000 SP, only looking like a fatigue recovery potion on the outside.
Although effective only on me.
I felt cold water flowing through my veins.
Soon throbbing muscles relaxed, and the heavy injury on my left ankle subsided.
I calmed my breath and raised my head.
“You operate that Viking. I’ll go find you as soon as that side is ready. Please!”
Leaving those words, I threw my body forward.
Wind brushed my face cutting through the empty air.
Heat surrounding the vicinity swept my skin.
[Passive ‘Opossum’ is activated.]
[Opossum: Maximum jump height doubles. Damage upon falling is reduced.]
As my toes touched the ground, knees bent smoothly letting the impact flow.
Raising my head, the Troll's figure was seen.
The arm throwing stones toward the air stopped abruptly.
Then the guy's gaze turned to me.
“Right. You want to catch me.”
I inhaled.
The lingering scent of fatigue recovery potion remained inside my lungs.
The Troll's arm swung widely.
Swaaek—!
A huge chunk flew tearing the air.
Storm raged belatedly.
Kwaaang—!
Debris burst, and dust soared.
I rolled my body dodging and stood up again.
The Viking was seen ahead.
The magnificent giant body was filling the sky.
I started running again gasping for breath.
Following that, the sound of footsteps shaking the earth was heard.
Teoeong— Teoeong—!
The Troll's shadow followed as if to swallow me.