Kwaaaaang!!!
In the midst of the horrifying scene, as the bright blue laser spiraled out of control, blood splattered in all directions.
"Gruk…!!"
Heizer, his face contorted in madness, clutched his chest and collapsed.
The very hammer he had swung just moments ago now impaled his shoulder, its handle protruding ominously.
Glug, glug…!
Thick, crimson blood dripped down the handle, leaving a viscous trail.
Lost in a daze, Heizer stared blankly at the droplets of red, his mind reeling.
Then, with a forceful kick, Beck struck the hammerhead with his heel.
Kwajijik!!
Powerless against the impact, the handle lodged in Heizer's chest trembled, digging deeper into his flesh, eliciting a pained scream.
In just two moves, Beck had incapacitated Heizer, and his icy spearhead now pointed directly at his vulnerable neck. However…
Just before that, a swiftly thrown cigarette butt caught Beck's attention.
[Turn Blaze]
Whaak!!
The faint embers lingering on the cigarette butt erupted into a colossal flame, engulfing Beck's face.
Momentarily taken aback by the unexpected method of attack, Beck's opponents, who understood Lennok's plan, swiftly moved to rescue Heizer.
Sseack!
Agria aimed her laser at Beck's chest, Jode provided a distraction, and Kainy swiftly lifted Heizer, disappearing from the scene.
However, amidst the chaos, Jode, struck by Beck's whip-like kick, crashed to the ground.
Kwaang!
"Kaahak….!!"
Having endured a single blow, Jode now lay bloodied on the floor, convulsing in agony.
The pain had surpassed his threshold, eroding his sanity and plunging him into a state of panic.
Beck's spear skills were masterful, his long limbs granting him an overwhelming reach and power.
His spear thrusts and whipping kicks were so potent and merciless that they couldn't afford even a single mistake.
Determined not to repeat his earlier error, Beck aimed his spear at Jode, disregarding the flames still clinging to his own body.
Killing one more person here would significantly bolster his chances of victory. He was acutely aware of this fact.
Lennok hastily conjured a shield in front of Jode, but it proved insufficient.
Beck's spear, effortlessly shattering the feeble barrier with a mere flick of his wrist, descended like a hammer.
Just before Jode's skull could be crushed, Agria rushed in and once again intercepted Beck's attack.
Paaaang!!!
A distorted watch emitted a blue magical light, flickering as a shockwave radiated in all directions, scouring the ground.
Both of Agria's hands, now transformed into white metal panels, absorbed the shock generated by Beck's assault.
Though her arms were mangled beyond recognition, she had ultimately succeeded in saving Jode.
Glancing down at Agria, trembling with clenched teeth, Beck Clinton let out a cold chuckle.
"A heap of scrap metal… When things don't go according to plan, all sorts of vermin crawl out."
"………"
Agria offered no response. Instead, she silently regarded her own arms.
Being from Cybrid Echo, her mechanical limbs were products of magical engineering, replaceable if damaged.
Yet, an indescribable sense of regret lingered on Agria's face.
As Beck, noticing the emotion in her eyes, raised his spear, preparing to impale the two standing side by side…
"Back off."
A deluge of blue electricity cascaded from the heavens, crackling with power.
Pajijijik!!!
Though each individual bolt may not have posed a significant threat to Beck, the cumulative effect of such a relentless onslaught should not be underestimated.
Reluctantly, Beck took a step back as the aftermath of enduring such firepower weighed upon him.
In that moment, Lennok sprang into action.
Huuk….!!
Lennok, having steadied Jode's trembling form by propping up his shoulder, surged forward, shielding him.
Jode had displayed remarkable acumen and timely intervention, but on the flip side, it meant that he was the least imposing and least remarkable among the team members.
While he had strived to dance on the edge, avoiding crossing the line as he attempted to strike at Beck, he had unknowingly paid the price for trying to exceed his own abilities in his efforts to buy time and save Heizer.
"………"
Agria, having lost both of her arms, gazed up at Lennok with a complex expression.
Lennok could somewhat discern the meaning concealed within her eyes.
The reason why she, who had been engrossed in providing support from the rear, had abruptly rushed forward to protect a team member she barely knew.
It was likely her desperate attempt to atone for the flaw that Cybrid Echo had revealed to Lennok during their previous operation.
Lennok knew well that she wasn't the type to risk her life to save a team member she had never encountered before.
But what did it matter?
In the end, the other team members, whether willingly or unwillingly, had given their all according to Lennok's directives.
No, they had bought even more time than Lennok had anticipated.
Ample time for him to accomplish his objectives in full.
"Kainy, take the other team members and retreat to a safe distance."
There was no response.
Only the sound of fading presence behind him, along with the whisper of the wind brushing against his ear, could be heard.
Though she had incurred no injuries during the execution of the operation, Lennok had no intention of reproaching her prudent stance.
Having at least one individual who prioritized self-preservation was beneficial, as it facilitated the aftermath cleanup.
Kwaang!!
In that moment, Beck, having deftly navigated through the dissipating currents, closed in on Lennok, peering down at him with an air of superiority.
Behind him floated the figure of a turtle, a battle technique employed by warriors who infused their bodies with the spirits of their ancestors.
And it was no coincidence that a traitor employing a similar technique had been involved in Dyke's inaugural operation.
Beck, his gaze fixed upon Lennok, lowered his head and spoke.
"I thought I smelled something familiar with the boss… a Lightning Wizard."
"…….."
Lennok paid no heed to Beck's words, ignoring them completely. A menacing smile crept onto Beck's lips.
"You're in for a real treat. Once I've shattered all your limbs, I'll take pleasure in extracting your organs one by one, right before your eyes. How dare a fucking brat like you…."
There was no need to listen to any more of his ramblings. It would only be a waste of time.
Lennok channeled his mana, releasing it like a rebound, and directed it straight at the construct before him.
[Lightning Bound]
Pa-jiji-ji-jik!!!!
In an instant, a massive sphere of lightning materialized in front of Beck and exploded, releasing hundreds of fragmented bolts that streaked in all directions.
Kwa-aaaang!!
The ground near the railway station ruptured, sending shards of rusted iron flying in all directions.
A dilapidated signal light in the distance swayed and succumbed to the vibrations, crashing to the ground.
Whaaaak!!
Amidst the storm of blue lightning, a bear-like figure surged towards Lennok.
With its elongated arms and legs flailing, it closed the distance swiftly, its spear arcing diagonally as it advanced.
With each step, the ground crumbled beneath its feet, and with every swing of its arms, the atmosphere distorted, an eerie force coiling around its limbs.
A fearsome display of sheer physical strength, capable of shattering Lennok's shield head-on, akin to the explosive power of a tank cannon.
If struck directly, it wouldn't be surprising if the shield shattered like fragile glass.
However, the outcome proved to be entirely different this time.
Ku-uuu-ung!!!
"…..!!"
As Beck witnessed his spearhead being halted by the deployed shield, his eyes widened. Seizing the opportunity, Lennok extended his hand with all his might, delivering a jolting blow of shock magic to Beck's head.
Kwaang!! Kwaang!!
Two strikes aimed at his jaw.
"Keuk….!!"
Despite the considerable impact, Beck shrugged off the blow and immediately launched a counterattack.
Heightening his speed dramatically, he lunged forward, aiming two thrusts at Lennok's waist and knee.
Lennok swiftly adjusted his steps, altering his timing, suppressing his breath, and exploiting the slightest gaps with a lightning-fast barrage of attacks.
It was an assault that surpassed the physical capabilities of an ordinary wizard.
Even with his shield raised in defense, Lennok knew it wouldn't withstand the relentless onslaught.
Ku-uu-ung!!
Yet again, the slightly angled shield blocked Beck's consecutive strikes, causing him to lose balance and stagger forward.
It was the opening Lennok had been waiting for.
Without missing a beat, Lennok summoned a mass of frigid air above Beck's head, tightening its grip and unleashing a gravity bind towards him.
Beck couldn't evade the icy constraint, his complexion rapidly changing at the sight of the purple whip.
He knew all too well that once ensnared by the gravity bind, it would be exceedingly difficult to escape the wizard's high-powered spell.
Summoning every ounce of strength, Beck forcefully broke free from the icy hold, throwing himself sideways.
In that sudden movement, Beck's skin tore, but he paid it no mind.
Woosh..!!
The sound of muscles ripping echoed violently, but ultimately, his choice proved to be the right one.
A blazing fireball narrowly missed his flank and dropped into the middle of the railway station, causing a fierce heatwave.
Crash!!
“Kuh…..!!”
Beck, having broken free from the icy grip, rose from his position, rubbing his frost-covered face.
As the scorching wind melted the skin on his face, Beck addressed Lennok.
"You've been blocking my attacks since earlier. I thought you had some trick up your sleeve, but now I see that you're employing a rather reckless method."
"……….."
"The compression and focus of the shield. Theoretically, I've heard it's possible, but I never thought I'd witness a madman like you attempting it right in front of me…."
With that, Beck ceased his laughter and raised his spear.
"Let's see how long you can keep that up."
Though Beck's words were vague, Lennok understood their implication perfectly.
In just three encounters, Beck had completely discerned how Lennok had been halting his assaults.
Lennok had five shields capable of protecting his body in a circular formation.
Each shield possessed a predetermined capacity to withstand impact, and stacking them did not significantly enhance their defensive power.
Ultimately, for a powerhouse like Beck, who could pierce through all five shields with a single thrust of his spear, they were rendered useless.
To face such a physically formidable opponent head-on, Lennok had been practicing a method of concentrating and compressing the shield in one specific area, forsaking the protection of other body parts.
He timed Beck's attacks precisely, releasing the shield at the point of impact and rapidly stacking multiple shields in that localized region.
By condensing the same amount of mana into a smaller area, its power increased exponentially.
Lennok's focused shield, which relinquished its spherical shape, surpassed the limits of its original capabilities.
‘I knew I'd encounter someone like him someday.'
Lennok contemplated, looking up at Beck advancing with his sinewy legs.
In a city where creatures like Croken Asilus roamed freely, it would be unusual not to encounter superhumans who had surpassed the limits of human physicality.
Granted, thus far, no one had come close to matching the monstrous crocodile, but Lennok had persistently researched alternative measures, refusing to rely solely on his shield.
If he couldn't master movement magic, the only option available to Lennok was to block the enemy's attacks head-on.
From this point onward, the problem simplified.
Ultimately, could Lennok thwart Beck's onslaught one attack at a time with his compressed shield?
The answer to this question would determine the outcome of their battle.
And Lennok never once doubted his own talent.
"Let's give it a shot."
The hunchbacked gangster and the gaunt wizard took a step forward simultaneously.
The wolf emblem emblazoned on Beck's tattered suit and the simultaneous flurry of countless glimmers.
Tatatatatatang!!!
Like a continuous hammering on a slender metal rod, the suffocating and piercing noise reverberated, the shockwave showing no mercy as it swept through the surroundings.
Reacting with the naked eye was too late.
Lennok focused solely on the sensory realm he extended with mana on the opponent in front of him, disregarding all distractions.
Simultaneously, he pulled the trigger of the clenched revolver.
[Loading Acceleration]
[Firing Enhancement]
Tatatatang!!
As flames erupted from the silver muzzle, vivid red blossoms burst forth from various parts of Beck's lanky limbs.
The ice sheet beneath Lennok's feet and the torrent of blue electricity that descended fiercely from the sky surged simultaneously from above and below.
The muzzle of the revolver and the ensuing fireballs struck Beck's body with tremendous force.
Crash!!!
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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