Chapter 63 : Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Party Player (4)

The energy of a Spirit Creature was imbued in a special species of Hellmorph that attacks humanity?

What did that mean.

But that skeleton looks just like a human's.

I understand. But my senses have not been wrong.

The mouse conveying Beast's words simply nodded its head, unchangingly.

There is no need to think of it as difficult. Think. What does the energy of a Spirit Creature originally mean?

The energy of a Spirit Creature...?

A Spirit Creature is born when a being without intelligence absorbs pure mana over a long period of time. In other words, the energy of a Spirit Creature simply means strongly condensed mana.

Ah, if it's condensed mana.

If it simply meant condensed mana, then one could name several beings similar to a Spirit Creature.

The most representative example was...

A human...?

That is correct. That thing was likely originally human. Judging by the mana it possesses, it is on the level of a mage.

How on earth could a mage have mutated into a Hellmorph?

I, who had been lost in thought for a moment, recalled something and my complexion turned pale. The simplest, yet most horrifying assumption had come to mind.

Are you saying they raise corpses and use them.

Well, I too have only seen what you have seen through your eyes. But that is a little different from a common ‘necromancy’.

Black magic and necromancy existed in this world as well. But they were just a type of magic.

I and Beast instinctively felt that what was before our eyes could not be defined as magic.

The answer realized intuitively, it was...

It’s not a human skill.

It is not a power of this world.

At the somber telepathic message uttered by The First Beast, I snapped to my senses.

That grotesque entity has surely been granted a power stronger than when it was human. Perhaps your companions may face a great trial.

As soon as Beast's words ended, the Collector lifted its scythe as if it had been waiting.

This much amusement should suffice. Now, it is time to reap lives.

[The Soul Collector uses Wraith Chase.]

[Fires a projectile that is guaranteed to hit the target.]

Kwaaaaaa...!

A creepily-shaped, flaming skull began to slowly fly towards them.

“Huh?!”

Jeina raised her axe and swung it at the skulls, but it had no effect, as if she were cutting through empty air.

The skulls, having passed Jeina, charged straight at Tersion and Gerard.

“Dodge it!”

Gerard used Shield, and Tersion fired an arrow and quickly rolled to the side, but it was all useless.

Just like before, the skulls passed through the Shield and the arrow, closed the distance with the two once more, and then exploded with a horrific sound.

“Keoheuk!”

“Euk!”

“Wh-what is this?”

Collie used healing magic on the two who had fallen and looked up at the Collector.

“This kind of attack... I've never heard of it...!”

Jjeong!

“Keuk!”

The Collector swung its scythe once again.

Jeina barely managed to raise her axe, but she couldn't handle the force behind the scythe and was sent flying far away.

‘This is dangerous...!’

The moment I saw Collie was left alone at the front, I immediately tried to run.

You must not. Your body has not yet fully healed.

But Beast blocked my path.

Although it was just a single mouse standing there, I couldn't move at all.

But if this continues, Collie will!

If you go there alone, can you win?

…….

The opponent was a level 25 large monster. There was no way I could handle an attack that even Jeina could only block with the help of others.

But I shook my head and said.

I have to overcome it. Because I have no other choice.

An unyielding conviction that does not break even while continuously falling... a fine spirit. I see now why that child chose you.

The moment Beast spoke in a satisfied voice, the time around me began to slow down.

[Perfect Counter is activated by Beast.]

[The activation time of Perfect Counter is increased due to the influence of a mighty being.]

‘Huh?’

It was a familiar feeling. The sensation I could feel whenever I used Perfect Counter.

But the effect was on a different dimension.

It felt as if the time of the entire world had stopped, except for me.

I understand your heart, but in that state, a fight cannot be established.

Hook!

A small illusion of Beast appeared before my eyes.

The illusion circled around me and then nodded its head.

I shall help you. Concentrate your mind and try to feel your child's heart.

Collie's heart?

Though I questioned him, I concentrated my mind while looking at Collie.

And a short while later, from the motionless Collie, I could feel a single, very small but clear, heart.

Help me, Master.

Ah....

Collie's heart was directed precisely at me.

What do you wish to do.

I want to help. Of course.

Wrong.

Excuse me?

Beast shook his head.

Even though it was the face of a beast, for some reason I could clearly feel his heart.

He... was worried.

What kind of existence do you think a summoner is to a summon.

That is....

One who must be protected. The summon must protect the summoner safely through any means. That is the mission a summon receives through the contract.

Even in the game, the summoner and the summon had a clear master-servant relationship with a hierarchy.

I knew that as well. But I frowned and shook my head.

But I don't want to treat Collie like that.

I understand how you feel, but that is the way for the little one.

Beast said firmly.

If you protect that child and get hurt or die in his place, do you think that will result in a good history in the end?

…….

A newly born Spirit Creature is more greatly influenced by emotions than a human. That child will suffer in guilt for his entire life. For a longer period of time than you can imagine.

Collie would live for a very long time to come.

A period of time so long that a human could not fathom it.

My sacrifice would be an event that happened in a fleeting moment, but Collie would live a life close to an eternity, ruminating on that pain.

Then what on earth should I do?

There is only one thing you must do. Command.

Command...?

Yes, trust your companion.

Beast, looking satisfied, circled around me once more.

You are no longer alone, and no protagonist has ever changed the world alone.

[The skill acquired at level 15 is upgraded to a Wild Summoner class skill.]

[The Awakening (Lv.1) skill is changed to Unity Rite (Lv.1).]

Thump!

I felt my entire body heat up.

My heart beat fast, and my calm breathing gradually became rough.

‘This is?’

I had a skill called Awakening that I had received upon reaching level 15.

It had now been completely changed into a different skill.

While I was checking the skill's effect, the stopped time began to flow again.

‘If it’s this kind of effect...’

Finally, I lifted my head.

I now clearly realized what I had to do.

“Collie! I'll help you, so block its attack!”

“...!”

You will not be able to resist.

Finally, the Collector's scythe was swung towards the space between Collie's eyebrows.

The giant scythe was vicious, as if it would crush its opponent, not cut them.

“Kid!”

Just then, Tersion, who had been on the ground, threw something at Collie.

As soon as Collie caught it, he instinctively thought of the skill he needed most.

[Collie copies and uses a skill.]

Perfect Counter (Lv.3): Slows down the time of the surroundings except for oneself, and inflicts additional damage when counterattacking.

Kadeudeudeuk!

Collie was neither crushed nor torn apart.

“Euuuugh!”

In the young boy's hand was a dagger of a familiar shape.

Seeing this, I hurriedly checked my waist. The Target Tracker that should have been in its sheath was gone.

“Don't tell me?”

While I was muttering blankly, Collie rolled his body and got out of that spot.

The scythe, belatedly striking the ground, sent dirt flying around it.

“Heok... heok...!”

Collie didn't pick up the staff that had fallen to the ground.

He just glared at the Collector with the dagger in one hand.

As if by promise, Collie and the Collector charged towards each other at the same time.

Kagak! Kaang! Kaang!

The result gradually became visible to the naked eye.

When they first clashed, it was the Collector's scythe that was pressuring Collie.

But when they clashed a second time, it couldn't push back Collie's dagger, and on the third clash, the Collector, unable to overcome Collie's strength, was even forced to take a step back.

“How is that possible?”

Gerard, who had come to his senses and gotten up, couldn't believe the sight before his eyes.

Collie was deflecting the Collector's scythe just like I did when I fought.

[Unity Rite has been activated.]

[The summoner and the summon combine and share each other's stats.]

[Duration: 3 minutes]

Lv.15 Artier

Title: Supreme-Grade Mercenary, Gnoll Slayer

Class: Wild Summoner

Strength: 28(+11)

Agility: 27(+1)(+9)

Intelligence: 13(+25)

Bonus Stat Points: 6

Available Skills: Perfect Counter (Lv.3), Avatar of Counterattack (Lv.2), Tactical Command (Lv.1), Wild Protection (Lv.1), Flame Cleave (Lv.2), Soul Share (Lv.1), Unity Rite (Lv.1)

Status: Internal Injury (2 minutes 44 seconds), Unity Rite (2 minutes 50 seconds)

I, who had unconsciously checked my own status window, was startled.

Although most of the stats were concentrated in intelligence, the strength stat alone was an ability that was close to level 20.

“You won't be able to lay a single finger on him!”

Kagang!

And this was the same for Collie.

The rare-grade dagger, Target Tracker, the Perfect Counter borrowed through Soul Share, and the tremendous stats gained through Unity Rite.

Through this, Collie was able to perform the role of a warrior, albeit for a short time.

How did you do that?!

The Collector's body stopped for the first time.

Then, the outline of its empty face, which had been hidden under the hood until now, finally revealed itself.

It was a hideous skull with a crack running right down the middle.

“Collie, you can come back now!”

In the meantime, Jeina, Gerard, and Tersion, who had been pushed far away, rejoined Collie's vicinity.

“I can do more.”

“No, you need to recover first.”

Gerard looked intently at Collie and placed a potion in the boy's hand.

“It seems you've temporarily amplified your abilities, but your body won't hold up in that state.”

Only then did Collie look at his trembling arm.

Collie, who was wearing only a mage's equipment without any armor, had to take the full impact of each clash of blades with his body.

The Target Tracker, which had been mitigating some of the physical force, was now covered in cracks.

“Leave it to us from here.”

Gerard said so and loaded dozens of Mana Bullets at his fingertips.

Tersion reloaded an arrow and asked.

“Hey, did you figure out what that attack is? It wasn't affected by anything and it followed us to the end.”

“I've got a rough idea.”

Gerard narrowed his eyes and lightly scanned his Grimoire.

“It's a skill that ignores physical attributes. We can block it with magic.”

“Physical attributes? Your Shield was just passed through too.”

“It didn't pass through. It pierced the Shield.”

[Gerard uses Tactical Command (Lv.2) skill.]

“I may not know about other things, but I can definitely distinguish that.”

Gerard had been focusing on Shield magic recently.

So now, he could tell what kind of effect the opponent's attack had just by seeing it hit the Shield.

“So, you're saying it's a broken attack that ignores all physical attributes and also penetrates magic to some extent? Are you sure it's okay? Can we even block it?”

“Of course. As long as we know what it is, there's always a way to prepare.”

As soon as Gerard's words ended, the Collector swung its scythe and created more skulls.

Do not resist, and embrace death!

[The Soul Collector uses Wraith Chase.]

[Fires a projectile that is guaranteed to hit the target.]

Kuoohhh!

Dozens of skulls were flying towards Gerard and the party all at once.

Gerard calmly gazed at the skulls approaching him. The trajectory of their flight, their speed, and their destination were being drawn in his mind.

“Since it means magic does work, we just need to intercept them with more magic.”

[Gerard uses Arcane Barrage (Lv.1) skill.]

Kwagwagwa!

Mana Bullets poured out like a shower from the Grimoire he had opened.

The hundreds of Mana Bullets were intercepting all the skulls flying towards the party without missing.

How?!

One by one, the skulls exploded.

Arrows were repeatedly lodged between the bewildered Collector's eyes.

“Hey kid, finish it.”

Tersion released her final bowstring with those words, and Collie immediately chased after the arrow.

“It's over!”

[Collie copies and uses Flame Cleave (Lv.2) skill.]

Crack!

The burning flames that flowed from the dagger slashed right through the Collector's torso.

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