Chapter 48. Operation (3)

An ogre's hide is damn tough. Especially a *Transformed Ogre*.

Didn't you see that cracked, brownish skin earlier?

That thing tanked a group *Rush* from the *Royal Knights* and only ended up a little tattered. It's even regenerating that leg now.

However.

"GRAAAAAHHH!!"

That arm *Arthur Clayton* just sliced off isn't regenerating at all. It's just screaming in pain.

Impressive. Can I do that if I become an *Aura Master*?

I hear unique techniques are all different depending on one's enlightenment, so I probably can't use the same thing.

Well, more importantly…

“Everyone, prepare for a *Raid*!”

Like that *Knight* just said, I need to prepare for the next *Raid*.

That fireball earlier… It’s clearly the *Devil Worshippers’* doing.

Looks like they plan to intervene while the *Ogre’s* still alive.

And, as if to prove that thought right…

“Enemies sighted, left and right!”

Black *Masked People* started appearing from beyond the forest.

“Leave the *Ogre* to me! Everyone else, engage the *Devil Worshippers*!”

It wasn't the first time those bastards popped up so rudely, so I shifted formation automatically at *Arthur Clayton’s* shout.

We’d already made preparations while coming here, so unlike usual, there weren't any big problems… but…

“Everyone, be careful of that *Magic* from before!”

That fireball just now… it’s dangerous.

A fireball with the speed to hit a *Knight* in *Fleet* state.

Well, judging by the fact that the *Squad Leader’s* fine, it doesn't seem too powerful… but still, it's *Magic*, so I gotta be careful.

An *Aura User's Combat* can change in an instant. A fireball is a whole other story.

Anyway…

Watching the *Knights* scatter to deal with the *Masked People*, I drew my *Sword*.

Then…

"Hey, Rain…"

"I'm going that way."

*Bang*–!

I shot towards the nearest *Masked Person*.

It seems like this operation will be the last of the investigation.

Gotta grab some more *Merit* while I can.

From what I've seen, they give bigger rewards for catching *Devil Worshippers* than *Transformed Monsters*.

*Thud*!

“Gah!”

I shoved my *Sword* into the nearest *Devil Worshipper’s* chest.

*Whack*!

I kicked him as I pulled my *Sword* out.

“Hah.”

There was a lot of resistance when I shoved the *Sword* in.

I flipped over the *Devil Worshipper* who’d collapsed face down after my kick, and the altered skin caught my eye.

This one’s *Transformed* too, huh.

There are barely any *Aura Users* among the *Devil Worshippers*.

So to close the power gap, they’ve been transforming like *Monsters* more often.

Plus, this looks like an all-out war…

*Thump*! *Thump*!!

Yeah, it makes sense that things that are hard to tell whether they're *Orcs* or people are showing up.

And behind that… a *Transformed Orc*?

How the hell did they drag a *Monster* here?

It's a miracle they got this far without being detected.

*Whirr*.

I spun my *Sword* to get the *Blood* off.

Then shot off toward the next target – a *Masked Person* and a *Transformed Orc*.

“GRAAAAAH!!”

The *Masked Person*, whose *Head* had also become like an *Orc’s*, roared stupidly and swung his fist. I dodged his arm.

*Scrape*– *Crack*!

I forced my *Sword* through his tough skin and cut his throat.

“Gurgh…!”

With a wheezing sound, the *Masked Person* collapsed.

I charged straight at the *Transformed Orc* behind him.

I ran from that upper-level *Transformed Monster*, the *Ogre*, because that was hopeless.

But a mid-level one is a different story.

*GROAR*–!!

Looking at the approaching *Orc*, I pulled a dagger from my hip and threw it.

The *Orc* probably won't care much about a tiny dagger flying at it, but…

‘*Vision Rush*.’

*BOOM!!*

The dagger swelled and then exploded in front of the *Orc’s* eyes.

*Kroogh*!

It’s stunned, with a *Rush* exploding right in front of its face.

Honestly, I'd like to stick the dagger in its face and detonate it, but…

The *Rush*, by its nature, won't detonate on someone’s body.

*Lowell* told me that if the blade enters the opponent's body, the *Aura’s* flow gets messed up, making it impossible even for a skilled *Aura User*.

Anyway.

I quickly closed in while the *Orc* was disoriented.

Then…

*Crack!!*

I grabbed the *Orc's* head and shoved my *Sword* straight into its open maw.

Since *Transformed Monsters* have tough skin, this is the most direct method.

*Cough*– *Gurgh*!

The *Orc* also collapsed with a sound similar to the *Masked Person*.

After quickly taking out the two, I looked around.

I'd figured it out from the lack of interruption while I was fighting three enemies, but…

Clashes were happening all over the forest.

They're probably trying to stop everyone from reaching *Arthur Clayton*, who's fighting the *Transformed Ogre* alone in that *Open Space* over there.

*Bang*–!! *KABOOM*!!

I watched *Arthur Clayton* fighting solo against the one-armed *Transformed Ogre*.

Can’t he use that technique consecutively?

Still, seeing *Arthur Clayton* skillfully dodging the attacks, it was clear who would win if the fight went on.

There's a fucking problem….

*GRAAAAACK!*

Even those Masked Persons should realize it.

What the fuck are they thinking?

We've got additional soldiers and a Magic Support Unit with the main force.

And they're probably already on their way here.

We have the clear advantage.

Are they making a last-ditch gamble?

Well, still….

*KABOOM-! BANG!*

Right now, it feels like we're at a slight disadvantage.

I looked around for a moment and joined the nearest fight.

"Surround them!"

"We need to attack from all sides!"

Surprisingly, four of our Knights were here.

And their opponent wasn't a high-ranking Transformed Monster, but a single Masked Person.

"...What *is* that thing?"

"Be careful, it's not ordinary."

No shit, Sherlock… but why can't they take him down?

He's covered head to toe, so I can't see any skin, but it's not like he's got four arms.

Anyway.

With me joining in, there were now five Aura Users surrounding the guy.

We're desperately short on numbers, so we need to take him down fast and join the other fights. But since the others were so tense, I figured something was up, so I held back.

"Hey, just move aside."

Surprisingly, the Masked Person spoke first.

His voice was distorted and crackly, but it was unusual for a Devil Worshipper to initiate conversation, so I was a little puzzled.

However. What he said next was shocking.

"I'll leave quietly if I can just take your Squad Leader's head."

…Is this fucker crazy?

Is he some kind of Aura Master?

Doesn't seem like it.

Whatever.

"Attack together."

We didn't want to waste any time either, so we immediately launched a coordinated attack.

Leaving me, who wasn't in sync with them, aside…

The four Knights charged forward simultaneously.

Like when we caught that multi-armed Masked Person before.

"Follow my lead!"

The Knight who spoke first dashed forward.

In the Track-slowed world, the first Knight to use Fleet was a sturdy one wielding a pretty massive sword.

"Huh?"

*KABOOM!*

"Gah!"

The Masked Person countered with a perfectly timed Rush, sending the Knight flying.

…He countered Fleet without using it himself?

Looks like he predicted where the Knight would be with Track and then used Rush.

"Here I go!"

One Knight was down in an instant, but we still had four left.

Undeterred, another Knight used Fleet to attack from the side, but…

*CLANG!*

This time, it was blocked with a Guard.

Looks like his claim about taking the Squad Leader's head wasn't just empty boasting. He's a pretty skilled Aura User.

Then, before the blocked Knight could be attacked, the third Knight activated Fleet and charged forward.

"Hey, you."

The Masked Person looked straight at me and then…

*KABOOM!!*

He punched the head off the Knight whose attack he'd just blocked.

Quickly.

No, even considering he'd used Fleet, he moved with incredible speed towards me.

Naturally, this brought him close to the Knight who had charged first.

*WHOOSH-! BANG!!*

He smashed through the Knight head-on like he was dealing with a child.

"Move."

He swung his sword at the Knight who was just about to use Fleet and charge at him from near me.

At that moment…

I also activated Fleet and advanced on the Masked Person.

This guy was easily the strongest opponent I'd ever faced.

I could see that we'd be picked off one by one if we kept attacking individually, so I tried to coordinate with the remaining Knight.

*ZAP-*

That familiar…

Dizzying sensation hit me, and I immediately twisted my body.

However…

*KABOOM!*

"Urgh!"

It was the Knight next to me who got hit.

"Huh."

Why didn't the attack come at *me*?

Was my sense wrong?

Or was it a feint?

Did he use his killing intent to create a fake-out in that instant?

"You're still relying on that weird sense of yours, huh?"

For a moment, I was confused, and my Fleet faltered.

*WHAM!*

And then I got punched in the head and sent tumbling backward.

"What the…."

"You've grown so damn much, I almost didn't recognize you."

But then…

The Masked Person looked down at me as I lay there and said something strange.

"I heard you became some rich guy's dog. Looking all sleek and well-fed, your master must be treating you well, huh?"

What the hell is he…?

I immediately tried to get up and counterattack, but…

*STOMP.*

"Gah!"

The Masked Person stomped on my chest.

Even if I tried to get up, the sheer force pinning me down made it impossible.

What kind of strength…?

"You little shit, don't you recognize your benefactor?"

As I furrowed my brow and struggled, the Masked Person pulled off his mask.

"Hah, you dumb fuck."

And then…

Seeing his face and hearing his clear voice without the distortion, I couldn't help but gasp in shock.

"...Alden?"

"Yeah, long time no fucking see."

Incredibly…

The Masked Person who had effortlessly taken down four of our Knights…

was Alden, the former Champion who had escaped from the Colosseum five years ago.