Chapter 23 - A Famed Doctor
While experimenting with Skeleton Armor in the mock combat hall.
A thought naturally came to mind.
‘I was now creating the dead with human hearts, and wearing those dead like armor.’
If that was the case.
‘Couldn’t non-human undead be worn in the same way?’
The undead soldiers currently in my spatial artifact were all made in the same way.
Obtain a heart, create a Skeleton Soldier, then insert it inside.
It was the same for the Ogre and the Griffin.
‘The only difference is size. If it doesn’t work, it won’t work.’
With that thought, I reached out my hand towards the Ogre.
「Skeleton Armor」.
The skill activated.
At the same time, an immense sense of exhaustion washed over me.
Was it an illusion? I felt like I had fainted for a few seconds.
When I barely regained consciousness, not a single speck of mana could be found in my body.
It had truly been used up without a trace.
And even then, complete application was impossible.
Had I even worn half of the Ogre?
It wasn't because of the size difference between my body and the armor.
‘I didn’t have enough mana to turn the entire Ogre into armor.’
Only the amount my mana permitted became armor, and that incomplete armor was wrapped around my entire body.
‘Although the power I feel is incomparable to other armors….’
That was the power of the armor, not the power of my flesh.
It was the feeling of having an incredibly delicious meal in front of me but not having the strength to lift a spoon.
‘It seems like an area I shouldn't touch until the mana recovery magic circle is complete.’
.
.
.
“What I’m saying is that it has now become an area I can touch.”
Just as the evil spirit had made the werewolf’s monstrous strength its own.
The Youngest Son also made the Griffin’s monstrous strength his own.
Like with the Ogre, I couldn't absorb even half of it, but I didn't feel any exhaustion.
Even if I had emptied it to the bottom, it filled up in an instant, so there was no fatigue.
“Shall I show off my claws too?”
Chwaaaaaak─!
The Griffin was a monster with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion.
The feline monster disemboweled the canine evil spirit.
The speed was terrifying.
Although I couldn't absorb all its power, the colossal strength the armor gave was immense.
It was so great that even a werewolf’s eyes couldn’t follow it for a moment.
Hwooooook─
The evil spirit sensed something was amiss and retreated.
New skin quickly grew over the abdomen that had been torn out by the handful.
But if I had attacked with the Griffin itself, its upper and lower body would have been bisected.
The reason I had weakened it like this was, firstly, to strengthen my own body.
The evil spirit, with the power of a werewolf, was like an arrow flying in the blink of an eye.
If I didn't want to die by a blind claw, a certain level of defense was essential.
And that couldn't be blocked with ambiguous defensive power, so something on the level of a Griffin was needed.
And the second reason.
‘If I fight it with the real Griffin, I’ll kill Cailin along with the evil spirit. It’s better to control the power myself.’
The purpose of the battle was to separate the evil spirit and Cailin.
I had to precisely pinpoint only the evil spirit and annihilate it.
The method of annihilation wasn’t difficult.
In short, Cailin was the house, and the evil spirit was an illegal occupant.
From ancient times, the method of getting an occupant out of the house was not difficult.
“I’ll make it so you can’t help but come out.”
I sharpened the eagle's talons.
[Activating Unique Skill 「Super-Speed Movement」.]
A strong wind brushed past my blood-red eyes.
The pair of wings, bent like a bow about to be shot, became the fletching of an arrow.
However.
The wolf spirit had no intention of being hit by the same attack twice.
Moreover, that was an attack that foretold a fatal wound.
A killing move that could mean death if hit wrong.
There was no way the eagle's talons would miss their target.
The wolf threw its body into an empty space.
At the same time, the corners of its pale mouth curled up.
“Trap card, activate.”
The third reason for wearing the Griffin as armor was activated.
Chwaaak─
Scrunch─ Swaak─
The devil’s scythe that shot up from the ground slashed the limbs that were busy evading.
‘I can use the mana that recovers after I put on the armor as I please.’
The Griffin, which consumed too much fuel, made it difficult to use other skills the moment it was summoned.
Now, my hands and feet were rather free.
“I intended to sever the tendons in your arms and legs, but you twisted your body at the last moment.”
“……”
The wolf growled low.
The blood that dripped from the wounds soaked the ground before subsiding.
Its movements were the same.
Was the evil spirit smart? Or was the host smart?
It learned.
Its opponent was stronger than itself.
It dodged all attacks, while all of its own attacks hit, and even if it dodged, another attack awaited it there.
If so, the remaining choice was….
Kuuuuuuuuuuung─!!
The evil spirit, which had been in a humanoid form, transformed into the form of a complete wolf.
As it changed from bipedal to quadrupedal.
The speed of its movements was elevated to the point where the outline of its body blurred and stretched.
All I could tell was that some black thing was stepping on the ground, stepping on the air, stepping on the roof, and moving in a circle.
But that was enough.
The fact that the direction it was charging was towards me didn’t change.
“You’re quite skilled with someone else’s body. Well, I’m not one to talk.”
As I was letting out a hearty laugh.
A gale mixed with the spirit’s demonic energy blew from all directions.
It was a wind created solely by its own speed.
It was a strategy to cover the surroundings with demonic energy to hide its true self.
“Good. With this, your foul smell is hidden. What’s the next plan?”
As if to show me right away.
From within the gale, a claw flew in without any sound or warning.
It was a force that would dismember an ordinary person if it hit.
An attack coming from a blind spot. In other words, it was an attack from an obvious direction.
Hwaaaaaak─!
I spread my wings and wrapped them around me like a shield.
[Activating Unique Skill 「Wings of Steel」.]
The wings, which swam through the heavens and were supremely flexible, became as hard as if they were doused in molten iron.
Kwaaaaaaaang─!!
A roar and vibration like a battering ram hitting a castle gate echoed through the Black Wolf Brigade’s main encampment.
Both the side that blocked with the shield and the side that struck the shield were pushed back dozens of steps.
“That stings.”
Even though I blocked it, the shock penetrated the armor and struck my insides.
If I hadn’t quickly calmed it by moving my blood, I would have suffered internal injuries.
Given this level of force, it was probably an attack with all its might.
“Then it’s my turn.”
Hwoooooooook─!
I created a gale with my wings and shot it.
The gale was just wind, but the real attack was the dozens of feathers mixed in that wind.
Swoooosh─
Dark purple scythes sprouted from the feathers.
The devil’s curved claws dug into the evil spirit’s entire body.
“Got you.”
The pain belonged to the evil spirit that was dominating the body.
Pain that wasn't enough to kill was very effective in evicting an illegal tenant.
Kududududk─
Dozens of scythes writhed.
The very slow mincing made even the evil spirit scream.
It shrieked in the host’s voice, in Cailin’s voice, so loudly it made my ears ache.
“Father!! Father, help me…!!”
The daughter’s voice, seeking her father’s help, echoed throughout the village and the forest.
The wolf form was gone, and she screamed with the appearance of a beautifully grown daughter.
“Haa. This is why I hate evil spirits.”
My five senses, enhanced by the Griffin’s armor, noticed the approach of a being with senses even stronger than this.
“Father…! Father…!!”
The name she spewed out like blood.
The father, who came running like mad at his daughter’s voice, witnessed his daughter suspended in the air, pierced by numerous scythes.
“…You bastard!!”
“Having ears that are too good is also a problem.”
Ppoooook─!!
The claws that had torn the necks of tens of thousands of vampires by the Lord’s side ripped out the Griffin’s wing.
Even this was the best defense.
The moment I blocked with a shield, my body would be crushed along with it, and it wasn't a speed that gave me a chance to dodge.
The Youngest Son looked at the remaining wing and frowned.
“This will take a long time to regenerate. I’ll charge you for it separately.”
“You fiend…. What are you doing to my daughter? The smell of the spirit is no longer present!”
“You’re so good at discerning lies spoken with the mouth, why are you so dense to lies told with scent?”
“A lie… you say?”
“Father…!! Please save me…!!”
Cailin’s voice, still swallowing her pain within the scythes, mercilessly pierced Remus’s ears.
“Does it look like my daughter is lying right now….”
“The desire to live is sincere for everyone. And, I will not say it again. Step aside.”
“I, too, will not say it again. Flee while I’m letting you go alive. A werewolf’s business is settled by werewolves.”
Pfft.
This large dog really had a great talent for making people laugh.
I took off the Griffin’s armor and put it in my spatial artifact.
The Griffin would focus on recovering in there, but I was on the brink of life and death here.
Of course, there was a clear reason why I bet on not running away at this moment.
“I came here risking my life from the start. If I run away from here, I’ll die anyway. But.”
Srrrrrrk─
With my own body as the trunk, branches called marrow grew out.
A pair above and a pair below, centered on the flesh-covered arm.
The Youngest Son said.
“I will definitely save your daughter. That’s how I survive.”
“What…?”
Without answering, I formed a Hand Seal.
The Scripture of the Dark Wheel says: Grant mercy by creating a final destination for a painful life. Bless the path of the departed with clasped hands.
Geumgang Hapjang-in.
The Scripture of the Dark Wheel says: Close your eyes, stack your hands, and sit in a cross-legged position. Focus on the world like that. In the process, worldly desires will disappear, and in the end, you will obtain wisdom.
Seonjeong-in.
Only after forming the two Hand Seals were the preparations complete.
Mercy and wisdom. These were the most important things to consider in the near future, just seconds away.
Mercy. I had already bestowed that.
Step aside. I had clearly said so.
And wisdom.
I had to overcome that monster and tear off the necklace, the medium of the evil spirit.
Normally, I would have to drive it out so it would leave on its own, but now, that thing had infused its demonic energy into the necklace.
The moment it unleashed its power, it would prove it was still a malevolent spirit, and Remus would close his eyes to it.
The task, which at a glance seemed easier, had become hundreds of times more arduous because of that doting fool of a father.
Therefore, wisdom was needed.
The wisdom to bypass the monster and tear off the real monster.
That wisdom was not in my head, but in my six hands, and my mouth.
Beast. Flawless Recovery. Prolonged Life. False Creation.
「Six Paths, Path of the Beast」
Regression
Kugung─
Hunter Remus’s heart lurched violently for a moment.
His instincts had sensed something.
But he didn’t know what he had sensed.
Without even a moment to judge it.
Step─
The vampire took a step.
With that, there was nothing more to say.
The wolf and the bat had already finished their ultimatums to each other.
Step aside.
Go back.
No one had heeded that ultimatum, and a clash was the foregone conclusion.
“…In this aspect, you are not like the Queen. That woman never did anything that would put her at a disadvantage. But you must see blood.”
Well.
Perhaps I was similar.
Because not doing anything disadvantageous was the same for me.
Remus’s claws sharpened.
“I certainly warned you.”
Kwaduk─
The vampire’s heart was ripped out.
The claws, which seemed capable of shattering even rock, held it and let out a sigh.
He was killing the child of his enemy, yet he didn’t feel good.
He looked back at the owner of that heart.
The young direct descendant of the Queen had fallen to the earth.
The heart in his hand stopped beating and lost its vitality and blood.
He was dead.
No noble of blood had ever survived after having their heart ripped out.
Srrrrng─
The weapons that had bound his daughter vanished cleanly, setting her down.
The wounds that seemed to split her entire body began to heal rapidly.
As expected, the evil spirit was long gone.
Since the curse was cured, the clan’s regenerative ability had returned, and that’s why she was so bright and happy.
“Father…!”
“Cailin!”
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
I’m sorry for not being able to protect your mother’s side, and I’m sorry for keeping you in the village all this time.
I’m sorry for not being able to do anything right for you.
There was so much he wanted to say.
“Heheheut….”
Swoooosh─
If only his daughter’s claws hadn’t dug into his ribs, just as they had done to the vampire a moment ago.
Blood poured like a waterfall from the hole in his chest.
He stared at his daughter with a dazed look.
That was not his daughter.
Cailin was rejoicing.
She smiled until her mouth split, her eyes gleamed, and she couldn't keep her hands still.
“Fath,er…! Thank, you…!”
She repeatedly expressed her gratitude with a sound like scraping metal.
She jumped around and clapped.
But that didn't last long either.
“No.”
Because a pale hand, gripping the necklace as if it were a dog’s leash, stopped her.
“I’m more thankful.”
A voice colder than skin whispered from behind her ear.