Chapter 44: I’m Not the Culprit (2)

Felix hurriedly slapped his cheeks.

No, that’s not it. 

Get a grip!

His momentary panic at the sheer size quickly faded.

After all, this was just another wall to overcome.

If he got scared here, nothing would get done.

Its level…

Mana gathered in Felix’s eyes as he gauged the gap between himself and the opponent.

A groan escaped his lips.

“At least an upper-tier knight would be needed.”

KU GU GU GU GU GU—

A size that seemed larger than the entire Colosseum.

Red scales, with countless black spots embedded between them.

He had seen it somewhere before.

The Red Half-Centipede.

A centipede born to become a dragon, an individual that had lived since ancient times.

Extremely few specimens lived in the desert, mainly preying on sandworms.

Scattered wounds where scales had been torn off were visible.

It looked slightly unsteady, as if not in normal condition.

However, the fundamental difference in physique was too great.

If the Red Half-Centipede moved even once, the Colosseum would be half-destroyed.

Just avoiding the aftermath of it smashing the ground was fortunate enough.

“The people?”

Felix quickly scanned the presence throughout the Colosseum.

Fortunately, there weren’t many signatures felt.

At most, a few who seemed like guards and the host?

A presence that appeared to be a manager was detected, but they’d probably escape on their own.

The rest were flooding out of the Colosseum.

Because of No. 5’s rampage with the Dead Bear.

It would take a bit more time to fully evacuate, but this had drastically increased survival chances.

Felix’s gaze naturally turned to No. 5.

“Could it be… on purpose?”

THUD THUD!

No. 5, testing by clashing its two fists together.

Seemingly satisfied with its body condition, it grinned! and looked up at the centipede.

“…Hey. Can you understand me?”

No. 5 picked at its ear.

There was no actual ear area, yet it had deliberately shaped sand into one.

That probably meant yes?

“Did you cause the commotion on purpose? On your own judgment?”

Shake shake.

No. 5 shook its head and pointed downward.

Downward would mean…

“Evan Alkart ordered you?”

Nod.

No. 5 nodded.

A faint but proud demeanor was evident.

It seemed to take pride in its master’s abilities.

…A golem that’s peculiar in many ways.

‘If I’m going to step up, now’s the chance.’

But he couldn’t act rashly.

Not everyone had evacuated yet.

The moment that centipede rampaged, the entire Colosseum could collapse without surprise.

He had to buy time until they all escaped.

‘First, somehow block it.’

As light poured from Felix’s eyes.

[Celestial Magic]

[5th Tier]

[Veil of the Night Sky]

WUUUUUUUNG!

The night sky descended.

A night sky embedded with countless stars.

In an instant, the sunset sky turned pitch black, and a barrier enveloped the entire Colosseum.

Precisely where they were.

…?

The centipede seemed to see it differently, tilting its head.

“This is…”

Felix was momentarily at a loss for words.

The Veil of the Night Sky.

He knew it well.

One of the shrine maiden’s abilities, with extremely little known about it.

It turns all damage into dreams and deceives monsters from people.

Celestial magic that borrows the power of that night sky.

Even unfolding it slightly imposed considerable burden, yet it was draped over the entire Colosseum.

THUD THUD!

No. 5 pounded its fists and stepped forward.

As if now was the time to act.

Felix steeled his resolve.

Yes. 

Now’s the chance.

He couldn’t miss it.

“Hoo.”

Felix calmly assumed his stance.

He didn’t expect much.

Just one blow.

To inflict a critical wound even once.

‘This is the board Evan Alkart created.’

He could leave the aftermath to him.

What mattered was the heart to stand and fight without retreating.

Huu!

With his mind set, all of Felix’s aura spread through his body and gathered in his sword.

He had never gone all out before.

He avoided enemies he could only win against with full power and only faced lower-level ones.

For the first time, he felt his Aura Hole creaking.

It screamed under the overload it had never experienced.

Ignoring it, he gathered all his aura, enveloped in a deep blue glow.

No. 5, watching this, subtly waved its hand.

Understanding the gesture, Felix leaped high.

Simultaneously, No. 5 pounded its chest and roared!

UOOOOOOO!

-!

The Red Half-Centipede’s head turned toward No. 5.

No. 5 gathered nearby sand to increase its volume.

A massive bulk.

As if instinctively sensing danger, the Red Half-Centipede began coiling its body.

Then, flashing its maw, it charged straight.

KUUUUUUNG!

No. 5 thrust its fist toward the charging Red Half-Centipede’s head.

Despite being pushed back due to the overwhelming size difference, No. 5 grabbed the charging centipede’s head.

Struggling in a contest of strength, No. 5 shouted loudly!

‘Now.’

Snap!

Felix charged straight ahead. Using the Red Half-Centipede’s legs as a springboard, he leaped high and gripped his sword in reverse.

Pouring in all his strength!

The target was above the head, the torn scales.

[Elim Style 1]

[Downward Strike]

Puk!

KIEEEEEEEEEEEK!

The sword plunged into the exposed flesh between the torn scales.

The centipede screamed!

As if proper damage had landed, it shrieked and began running up the barrier.

‘Kuh!’

TS TS TS TS TS TS!

Felix strained his arms to hold on, but even that had clear limits.

Strength gradually drained from his arms.

Eventually, his hands lost power, and he plummeted downward.

KIEEEEEE!

BANG!

“Cough!”

The Red Half-Centipede rammed him with scales protruding like dragon horns.

Felix, spewing blood, crashed into the ground.

His head shook from concussion, vision blurred.

His sight gradually turning red.

With aura fully depleted, he couldn’t even twitch a finger.

“Father… I did… my best…”

KIAAAAAAA!

The moment the Red Half-Centipede charged to finish him.

Slither—

Shadow swallowed Felix’s body.

No. 5 charged straight in and took the Red Half-Centipede’s body.

“Cough.”

“Lapis. Please heal him.”

“Yes! Mister! Hurry and drink this!”

Liquid flowing down his throat.

Felix opened his hazy eyes.

“Well done.”

Evan, with golden eyes flashing against the Veil of the Night Sky.

In his arms, some unfamiliar puppy.

The single uttered word was casual, but tears nearly burst from Felix’s eyes.

It acknowledged he had done his best, that he had worked hard.

PSHUuuuuK!

Blood spurted from the cracked gap where the sword was lodged in the Red Half-Centipede’s head.

He hadn’t won, but this was enough.

Felix fainted right there.

The centipede… split, they say…

***

‘He fought better than expected?’

Unexpected.

Evan looked down at the fainted Felix while holding the sleeping puppies, Hati and Skoll.

At best a mid-tier knight.

An ignorant wandering knight who didn’t even know the true meaning of the pilgrimage.

A lost fool who didn’t know what path he should take.

It was awkward to even call him a named character.

He wasn’t strong, nor did he appear regularly in the game.

So he hadn’t expected much.

He has more talent than I thought?

‘His desire to protect someone seems exceptional too…

Well, he didn’t become Gyeonbaek’s escort knight in the future for nothing.

‘Hmm, should I just take him as my escort knight?’

Better than becoming Gyeonbaek’s knight and losing his sense of self.

From Evan’s perspective, a known character was more reliable.

While at it, huh?

Handle some chores.

Carry some stuff.

In return, pay a hefty salary.

It wasn’t Evan’s money anyway.

“Whoa, it really is huge.”

Evan snapped out of his thoughts and looked up at the Red Half-Centipede.

Definitely big.

It was being pushed back, unable to withstand No. 5’s grip due to severe wounds, but that was ultimately thanks to Felix.

Without that, it would have been a bit tough.

‘Woke up early, so it’s smaller than in my memory.’

Originally, it was large enough to coil around the Colosseum like a snake with room to spare.

Now, it didn’t seem that long.

Many scales were missing, and its condition looked poor.

Later, it was bigger and had pristine scales.

It was called the Heaven-Earth Centipede, I think.

Meaning it could traverse heaven and earth.

‘Well, it’s probably because it’s still early.’

Time to finish it off.

Evan manly stepped back.

“Lapis. Aegis. Please.”

“Yep! Don’t worry!”

“I’ll handle it quick. A centipede with a split head is nothing.”

Aegis loosened her wrists and stepped forward, while Lapis spewed threads from both hands.

Before fully entering battle, Evan took out a potion and handed it over.

“This?”

“Rapid Freeze Potion.”

The moment it breaks, it freezes everything within a 1m radius.

Not sure how effective it’ll be on the centipede, but better than nothing.

“Why did you bring this?”

“It’s hot.”

“Ah.”

Aegis was convinced!

“I’ll handle it quick.”

“Yes. Please.”

He subtly had No. 2 join too.

This should make “quick” really quick.

“I hate centipedes! When I was in the forest, they stole my meat!”

Lapis shouted that and spread her arms toward the Red Half-Centipede.

Threads spewed out, wrapping tightly around the centipede’s countless legs.

The Red Half-Centipede twisted, but the solid mana threads wouldn’t break that easily.

Snap!

Aegis assumed her unique alchemy stance and touched the ground.

The Rapid Freeze Potion Evan gave shattered, its contents splashing out and spreading widely, restraining the centipede.

CRACK CRACK CRACK!

The Red Half-Centipede struggled, but the wound on its head left it helpless.

KIEEEEEEEEEEK!

Aegis’s alchemy twisted the scales and pierced the Red Half-Centipede in reverse.

Unable to even resist properly, the Red Half-Centipede froze in its soaring posture.

Whiiiing…

‘Done.’

Evan would finish.

Using [Reconstruction], Evan formed a massive spear from the Colosseum’s nearby debris.

The giant spear pierced straight through the centipede’s head.

CRUNCH!

The body of the centipede with its head crushed.

Still frozen, it remained in midair.

Aegis, seeming tired, let out a big breath.

“…Without the Rapid Freeze Potion, it would’ve been tough. Who knew it was weak to cold.”

“It’s the desert. Usually weak to heat, but this one’s the opposite, so I figured the opposite would be its weakness.”

“Eutcha. No. 5! Help me!”

Lapis grunted as she pulled the centipede’s body down.

Evan turned his head.

The shrine maiden covering her mouth.

Blood was seen trickling between her fingers.

“Shrine maiden, are you alright?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

The shrine maiden casually wiped the blood.

Her insides were probably shaken badly.

It was only 5th-tier magic, but the range was no joke.

It had already entered the realm of unique magic, and celestial magic itself was powerful but burdensome.

Especially the Veil of the Night Sky presupposed the caster’s burden.

“Drink this.”

“…Thank you.”

The shrine maiden obediently took and drank the potion Evan handed.

Glug, as she drank, color visibly returned to her face.

“Phew. I’ll live.”

“Good.”

The shrine maiden, feeling her upset insides settle.

Smiled at Evan.

‘As expected, he predicted and prepared everything.’

The Red Half-Centipede was famous as a magic reagent material.

In some ways, comparable to a dragon.

This was probably to obtain it.

Plus… the wolf in his arms.

That’s why he brought plenty of Rapid Freeze Potions and recovery potions in advance.

A gaze staring piercingly at the shrine maiden.

None other than Lapis.

The shrine maiden wiped the blood trying to flow from her mouth with the back of her hand and asked kindly.

“Why? Is there something you want to ask?”

“Well…”

Just as Lapis’s mouth was about to open.

KU GU GU GU GU GU!

The ground began shaking greatly again.

The shrine maiden hurriedly looked up at the sky.

Among the unfolded countless constellations, the current fate was visible.

‘The ancient centipede wasn’t just one?!’

She couldn’t read it.

The ancient centipede, the Red Half-Centipede’s target wasn’t the shrine maiden and her companions.

KU GUUUUU!

CRACK! CRUNCH!

With a loud boom, another Red Half-Centipede appeared.

This one was relatively smaller, but as soon as it appeared, it slammed its jaw into the decapitated head.

CRUNCH, CRUNCH.

The devouring centipede.

Its condition visibly improved, and its size began growing larger.

Evan opened his eyes wide in absurdity.

‘Wait, it wasn’t just one?’

Originally, centipedes come in pairs, but isn’t this a bit much?

‘Hmm, this feels off.’

Better to escape while it’s eating?

Come back more prepared and hunt it—

SLASH!

In that instant, a pure white line was drawn.

The Red Half-Centipede’s head split clean, and the two corpses amicably thudded! to the ground.

Whip—

A white robe fluttering before his eyes.

Evan slowly raised his head.

There.

A pure white elder.

Hair, eyes,

As if all color had been drained.

Purity.

The leader guiding the Knight Kingdom of Demisia, and the current continent’s strongest knight.

Purity, scanning the area with bleached-white eyes, gazed at Evan and asked.

“Are you the mastermind behind this incident?”

No.

Absolutely not!!