Chapter 35: Holy Relic (6)

['Bone Armor' has absorbed the 'Fang Totem'!]

[The power of the 'Fang Totem' is too intense, limiting the absorption rate.]

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[Bone Armor (Lv.3)] [★★★★★★★ (7 Stars)]

—A basic supply-type protective suit (Lv.3) from Ark, reinforced with a domesticated bone parasite as its power source.

—The heart of the named beast species Mossback Kupf, a Grade 6 creature, was used as the host for the bone parasite.

—It allows partial use of both the power of the bone parasite and Mossback Kupf.

—By consuming the blood and flesh of Mossback Kupf, the usable power of the creature increases.

—Although it has absorbed the fang of the unclassified phantom beast Ankelenth, it has not fully absorbed its power.

—For a limited time, it can declare Ankelenth's Domain.

Current absorption rate of Ankelenth's fang: 3%

"View Details"

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'I see...'

Perhaps because the original power of the Fang Totem was too overwhelming, even the bone parasite that had absorbed Mossback Kupf couldn't fully absorb it.

It would likely take considerable time for the bone parasite to completely assimilate Ankelenth's power.

The current absorption rate was a mere 3%.

But for now, that was enough.

"What did you just do, milord? Do you think I'll just stand by and watch?!"

For the first time, Sart's ever-composed face revealed a hint of bewilderment.

However, the bone tendrils that erupted from the agitated Bone Armor blocked his path.

"Miserable wretch!"

To a Grade-2 phantom beast, it might appear that way.

But you know...

'It's going through a bit of a rebellious phase.'

You could call it a stormy period of growth.

[Kiiik, Kikikikik!!!]

Bone tendrils stretched out in all directions, thrashing wildly.

With the petrification power of Mossy Kupf combined with the newfound strength from devouring Ankelenth's fang, the tendrils now possessed incredible durability, even capable of clashing with Sart's shadows.

Shwaak!

Screeeech─!!!

Spears and spikes made of shadows and bones clashed and filled the space with chaotic violence.

Although I couldn't land a decisive blow, it was unmistakably different from before.

Clack—

I didn't just stand idly by.

Switching the Ark-15 automatic conversion rifle to automatic mode, I aimed at Sart's heart and relentlessly pulled the trigger.

Though I doubted it would inflict significant damage, it was enough to irritate him.

Drdrdrdrdr—

[Switching to standard mode.]

'No need for suppressor mode.'

Worrying about noise right now would get me killed.

Bang!

Bang bang—!

Bullets poured out in a hail of gunfire, and Sart let out a savage laugh.

"Whatever trick you pulled... Don't you think you've gone far enough, milord?!"

Shadow spikes shot straight at me.

But the shield formed by the bone armor blocked them.

Orderg—!

Bone and shadow collided, sending fierce sparks flying.

It wasn't just one.

Dozens of shadows and bone tendrils were now locked in a vicious struggle, vying for dominance.

At that moment, sensing something off, Sart spoke.

There was no way a typical Skull Knight could stand against a Nightmare.

"This power... Milord, do you even know what you've done?"

It seemed Sart had realized that Bone Armor had devoured the Fang Totem.

Of course, since he thought I was a Skull Knight, he probably assumed I had consumed it myself.

"Who knows?"

I forced a smirk, but the increasingly fierce onslaught was pushing me to my limits.

My opponent was a Grade 2 phantom beast.

If the bone parasite had fully absorbed Ankelenth's fang, it might have been a different story, but as it stood, I was outmatched.

"I suppose I'll just have to cut open your stomach myself. Seems like there's something I need to retrieve!"

Shaaash—!

Sart let out a monstrous growl.

Shadow blades sliced through my bone armor, one by one, leaving small but growing wounds.

'...This won't do.'

A clever rabbit digs three burrows.

It was time to use my second escape plan.

'But I need more time...'

While I was frantically considering my next move, I felt an ominous energy emanating from Sart.

Apparently displeased with the situation, he seemed intent on unleashing his true power.

"Do you know what fear and pain worse than death feel like?"

"...I'd rather not find out."

"Unfortunately, your preference won't matter."

The ground darkened with shadow.

In an instant, the surrounding area was swallowed by darkness as Sart slowly advanced toward me.

Alone, yet not alone.

This was not just shadows—it was pure darkness.

"Let me show you the true nightmare, milord!"

The true power of the Grade-2 phantom beast, Nightmare.

As it manifested, everything around was engulfed by darkness.

Neither slow nor fast.

The pitch-black shadow crept closer.

[Giiiiiek—!]

The bone parasite resisted, but that was meaningless against this force.

Shhhhhhhhhh—!

In the blink of an eye, my vision was swallowed by darkness.

Nothing could be seen.

Nothing could be felt.

In this place, I was completely alone.

[Kiiik...]

I recognized this darkness.

The true power of Nightmare: Nightmare Reproduction.

Slowly, gradually.

The darkness before my eyes began to take shape.

It was both a form and not a form, a paradoxical manifestation.

-From now on, I will pluck every nail and toenail from your body, milord.

With a sneering voice, the darkness closed in on me.

I struggled and resisted, but it was utterly meaningless.

This was Sart's domain.

No—more accurately, it was a world of its own creation.

Crunch—

Pluck—

The surrounding darkness forcibly tore off my fingernails and toenails.

The events here were fake.

But the pain and fear were undeniably real.

"...Kugh!"

This is fake. This is fake.

I repeated those words, clenching my teeth to endure it.

–You're holding out well. But how about this?

Darkness ravaged me.

But I didn't collapse.

'...No choice then.'

The real reason Nightmare Reproduction was so terrifying was that it shattered not the body, but the mind.

I had died countless times to Nightmare Reproduction before.

Even if Sart wasn't a combat specialist, the power of a Grade 2 phantom beast was undeniably real.

'This isn't something that can be blocked physically.'

If so, I just needed to block it with something non-physical.

I slowly focused my mind.

I could sense the myriad types of ether flowing within and around me.

[Kikik...]

[Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help? Help?]

[Carl Marcus...]

[We're here. We're here. We're here. We're here. We're here. We're here. We're here. We're here. We're here. We're here.]

The ether trembled.

For a moment, the darkness seemed to recede, but then it was helplessly pushed back by the surging darkness once again.

–What do you think you're doing with such a petty power, milord?

Sart's mocking voice echoed within the darkness.

It was true that a mere Level 2 ether wasn't enough to contend with a Grade 2 phantom beast.

'But... I've created an opening.'

All I needed was a tiny gap.

And that gap, I had just created.

'Now, do it.'

Finally, the bone parasite that had been pinned down by the darkness reacted.

Even though it had nearly exhausted itself from overusing its power, it still had just enough left to make one last move.

Srrrk──

A thin tendril seeped out from the Bone Armor.

Feeling around in the darkness, I grabbed it and without hesitation stabbed it into the ground.

[Declaring 'Ankelenth's Domain'!]

[Remaining duration: 5 minutes 12 seconds.]

–Huh? What is this...

Sssssss─!

With that, the darkness began to recede.

Of course, the power of a relic was almost ineffective against a foe as powerful as a Grade 2 phantom beast.

Sart, having more rationality than pure instinct, wouldn't be easily swayed.

However, it was enough to make him hesitate, even if just for a moment.

"This pathetic trick..."

As the darkness peeled away, I took the chance to aim the muzzle of my HE2050 pistol at Sart.

Usually kept as a sidearm and rarely used, it was different this time.

That was because the magazine loaded right now was not the usual kind.

"You know that's not nearly enough, right? Milord."

"I know."

"Your tricks won't work—"

Clack─

The trigger slowly squeezed,

Beeeep─────!!!

A single streak of red light shot from the pistol, brushing past Sart and soaring high into the sky.

It was a flare.

"What are you shooting at... No, what did you just do, milord?"

"What do you think?"

Why would I fire a flare?

Of course, it's obviously...

[Here, we are. We are here.]

[Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming. Coming.]

[They're coming...]

The ether quivered.

It meant that my distress signal had been perfectly effective.

"...You must think I'm some kind of fool, milord. You think I don't know how far it is from Ark to here?"

Shadows rippled around Sart.

My objective was clear now.

Stall for time.

"Whatever your plan, don't expect to be alive when they get here!"

Sart's shadows shimmered as countless spike-shaped shadows rushed toward me.

He needed a brief cooldown before using Nightmare Reproduction again.

Shwsssht─!!!

The battle resumed.

But I still had one more weapon left.

[Declaring 'Ankelenth's Domain'!]

[Remaining duration: 4 minutes 11 seconds.]

Every time I planted a tendril imbued with Ankelenth's power into the ground, Sart flinched as his shadows faltered.

The remaining time for maintaining the domain decreased drastically with every move,

But it didn't matter.

My goal was just to buy time.

"Your little tricks never change!"

As the shadow spear hurtled toward me again,

Thud!

Boom—!

The ground shook violently.

"...What?"

Sart seemed puzzled, not understanding the cause, but I knew exactly what it was.

It meant that a silent hover bike, even sacrificing its signature silent mode, was pushing its speed to the maximum.

'...Finally.'

Sart must have calculated that it would take considerable time for reinforcements to arrive from Ark,

But there was one thing he hadn't accounted for.

He didn't know that there was already a dispatched unit patrolling these plains.

The most common military role in Ark was the combat soldier, particularly riflemen.

Beyond them were heavy weapons specialists, artillerymen, armored units, anti-air, intelligence, engineers, aviation, CBRN, and communications units.

But there was one exceptional corps that didn't belong to any of those categories.

Special troops deployed on missions unsuited for firearms—elite warriors chosen from the best of Ark.

Ether Combat Troopers.

Specialists in close-quarters combat.

Navy Line Recon Unit, Special Mobile Strike Team.

Whiiiing──!!!

In the blink of an eye, around a dozen hover bikes skidded to a stop right in front of me.

And at their center was someone carrying the grand title of Special Mobile Strike Commander.

Someone I knew very well.

Click, click—

Boots with particularly stiff soles steadily approached me.

Golden hair spilled out from the gap of a hastily removed helmet.

"Was it you who sent the distress signal? Carl Marcus."

Tatiana Belov.

She had answered my call for help.

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