Chapter 11

Unlike the undeveloped areas of District 50, which are full of rundown slums despite countless development plans, the areas in the 40s — especially the lower-numbered districts — aren't significantly lacking in facilities compared to the higher-numbered districts.

District 42, where Charlotte's manufacturing plant is located, felt somewhat empty but still maintained a reasonably clean and orderly street environment.

"Looks like Jenny holds that place in pretty high regard."

"What?"

"She's not the kind of woman to give up her money so easily. She must've decided that maintaining a good relationship is better than skimming off a quick commission."

Dylan's tone was light, but he grasped the context of their conversation at the bar with sharp precision.

"So, what's your point?"

"Oh, nothing much. I'm just saying..."

As Dylan suddenly reached into his inner pocket, Lenok took a step back and put a cigarette in his mouth.

If a gun popped out, he would have to immediately raise his barrier's strength and prepare to respond.

But what appeared between the thick leather gloves wasn't cold metal — it was a business card.

"I'm saying you don't have to limit yourself to finding work in just one place."

[Antares Office]

Lenok looked down at the business card and let out a hollow chuckle.

"Are you trying to recruit me now?"

He hadn't even shown any magic yet, and here Dylan was, getting this proactive as soon as they left the bar.

But Dylan replied nonchalantly.

"They say you can never know too many mages. It's the same in this line of work. Even if there are hundreds of them, each specializes in different fields, with wildly varying combat skills and personalities. The wider your network, the more opportunities come your way."

He shrugged.

"It wouldn't be a bad thing for you either. Our office... might be a little rough, but we've got plenty of people good at physical work. Like me, for example."

"..."

"Having options isn't necessarily a bad thing, right? Unless you have some special reason to stay loyal to that woman."

Lenok let out a dry laugh.

"You talk big. Let's see if your skills measure up to your mouth."

"Look forward to it."

With that, Dylan adjusted his mask and strode off confidently.

As he followed behind, Lenok was once again reminded of how rare mages were in this world.

Being able to use magic was an extraordinary and dangerous talent — rare enough that someone like Dylan would hand over his contact information to a mage he'd just met without hesitation.

The two arrived near the factory and began quietly circling the perimeter, assessing the situation.

There weren't many guards inside the factory grounds, but every one of them had the number "888" engraved on the left side of their chest.

"Triple Eight. They really went out of their way to hire the worst of the worst among security companies. They're famous for hiring only guys with criminal records who'll do anything for money without a second thought..."

Dylan commented lazily, picking his teeth.

"I wouldn't feel guilty about accidentally killing one or two of them."

"The security doesn't seem too tight."

They were well-equipped with submachine guns, body armor, and various auxiliary weapons, but their patrol formations were far from strict.

It was blatantly obvious that they were just killing time, keeping a loose distance from one another.

"Who in their right mind would mess with a corporation like Charlotte? It's a project involving the city government — everyone just assumes no one will dare make a move. Honestly, if this weren't a job brokered by Valitz, I wouldn't have touched it either."

"You're saying it's different with Valitz involved?"

"In corporate wars, we're just messengers. Once Charlotte realizes this is Valitz's doing, they won't care who we are."

Lenok made sure to commit Dylan's muttered words to memory.

"So, shall we get started? Not gonna cover your face? No need to risk exposing your identity, right?"

"Hmm..."

Looking at Dylan now, there wasn't a single patch of exposed skin on him.

Did he just want to hide his identity, or was he concealing something even more secret?

Dylan's concern was reasonable, but Lenok wasn't worried about his identity being exposed.

After all, both this face and the name "Van" were artificial identities created for working in this line of business.

Moreover, ever since an unknown woman in the market had seen through his mana pattern, Lenok had been altering his mana signature every time he used magic, erasing any potential traces.

Even if things went wrong and the identity of "Van" was compromised, Lenok could simply change his disguise magic and start over with a new identity.

"It doesn't matter. Let's start."

"No, I don't think so. If your face gets exposed and they track you down, I don't want to get caught up in that mess."

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Use this."

Dylan reached into a small bag on his side and pulled out another mask similar to his own.

Though not flashy, the mask was covered in various patterns, making it look like something a pro-wrestler might wear.

"...."

"Hurry up."

With no other choice, Lenok took the mask and put it on with a displeased expression.

Thankfully, the nose and mouth sections were spacious enough — otherwise, he would've had to endure an unpleasant suffocating sensation the whole time.

"Good! Then I'll go first. Follow me."

With that, Dylan kicked off the ground and sprinted toward the direction of the factory's back entrance.

Thud-thud-thud!!

Even at a glance, his movements were extraordinary. Rather than maintaining a constant speed, it almost felt like he was accelerating as he ran, threatening in its intensity.

He was clearly beyond the limits of an ordinary human.

A warrior who strengthens their body with mana and wields martial arts — a familiar type even in the world of WORLD.

Lenok, standing at a distance, lit a flame between his fingers and took a deep drag on his cigarette.

Ssshh—

Drawing in smoke until his head felt numb and steadying his breath, he felt a slight surge of vitality, his body centering itself.

The accumulated fatigue dulled away — it was a familiar sensation that awakened both body and mind.

Feeling the effects of the disposable stimulant he had bought for 70,000 Sel, Lenok began following Dylan cautiously.

Meanwhile, Dylan had already rushed toward the two guards stationed at the back entrance.

Whoosh!

Harnessing his momentum, he hooked one guard's neck with the inside of his elbow and slammed him to the ground.

Before the guard's rolling eyes could focus again, Dylan spun his body and smashed the other guard's chin with his heel.

Crack! Crunch!

"That's two down."

As the two guards collapsed like limp chopsticks, Dylan got up and dashed straight for the factory's back entrance.

Infiltration.

Watching him, Lenok turned sharply in the opposite direction.

'The plan we set at the bar was essentially a diversionary tactic.'

While Dylan attracted attention by breaking in through the relatively undefended back entrance, Lenok would slip in through the warehouse, a bit removed from the back entrance.

The warehouse, where products from all three floors of the factory were loaded onto trucks, was directly connected to every part of the factory.

Perhaps because of Dylan's commotion, all the staff who had been waiting in the warehouse had left — aside from three large trucks, there was no one else inside.

Lenok took out a laser cutter from his coat and pressed both buttons firmly.

Ziiing!

Blue sparks scattered wildly as he thrust the cutter into the locked handle of the management room inside the warehouse, and in an instant, the handle melted away.

He kicked the door...

A deafening roar swept the area with a powerful shockwave.

Caught completely off guard, Lenok's body was thrown backward.

Even as the back of his head scraped harshly against the floor, leaving him dazed, his mind worked quickly.

"An explosion? Has the basement already gone off?"

Lenok briefly suspected the magic circle he had inscribed on the basement floor but immediately dismissed the idea.

His magic was flawless. If the server room had exploded, the entire factory should have collapsed. There was no way this would have ended so lightly.

That left only one possibility — something had happened deeper inside the factory where Dylan was.

The shock didn't end with a single blast; instead, a slower, weaker force kept pushing outward.

Listening closely to the eerie sounds coming from within, Lenok slowly opened the door leading to the first floor.

Bang! Bang!!

The moment he peeked into the manufacturing area, what he saw first was the air densely filled with gunfire.

Bullets flew in from every direction, accompanied by blinding flashes of light, while thick, acrid smoke billowed through the factory floor.

And within that storm of bullets, Dylan was dancing like a madman.

He swapped between the swords, spears, and daggers hanging all over his body without pause, slicing through the security guards as he moved.

His movements, enhanced by magic to superhuman levels, were nothing the guards — armed with nothing but guns — could handle.

Even Lenok, with no expertise in combat techniques, could tell that Dylan's movements were refined. He disappeared effortlessly within the rain of gunfire, only to reappear behind his enemies.

Whenever the mana swirling around his body concentrated into the weapon in his hand and shone with a cold blue light — it was followed by the same intense shockwave Lenok had felt earlier, blasting the surrounding guards away.

It seemed Dylan didn't just plan to stall for time — he intended to wipe out all the security personnel.

Apparently, the confidence he had shown before wasn't just empty bravado.

Ssshhhhh...

The noise that had been ringing in his ears nonstop began to subside, leaving only the faint groans of the fallen guards sliced down by Dylan.

Finally, Dylan caught his breath and began walking toward the factory exit.

Seeing this, Lenok moved to leave the factory as well — but at that moment—

BOOOM!!

A solid metal door shattered and came crashing down on Dylan.

Even though the warped metal door flew at him faster than the eye could see, Dylan easily evaded it — but his body stiffened in place.

Following Dylan's gaze, Lenok turned his head and immediately understood — at least a little — why Dylan reacted that way.

"Hehehe... what a mess you've made."

A giant figure, easily over two meters tall, covered head-to-toe in thousands of tightly packed blue scales. An impossibly long snout lined with sharp teeth. And a long tail swaying lazily between its legs.

Lenok wasn't seeing things.

A crocodile-headed giant, covered in blue scales, slowly walked into the factory.

The creature's vertically-slit pupils darted around until it spotted Dylan — and grinned.

"A familiar face. How's that little brat Antares doing?"

"…He's alive and well."

To Lenok's surprise, it seemed Dylan and the crocodile giant vaguely recognized each other.

"Hmph. I wondered what guts it took to try running a business on his own… but I suppose he's got some skill after all."

"My boss does have quite the temper."

At Dylan's almost polite reply, the giant bared its teeth in a crooked grin.

"You get the situation, right? That's how it is."

"How much were you paid?"

"One billion."

"…Shit."

Dylan drooped his head weakly, as if all hope had left him.

The giant spoke almost comfortingly.

"I'll grant you a painless death — for Antares' sake."

"…I won't go down so easily."

Dylan replied as he gripped two swords tightly, raising his mana to its limit.

Seeing his entirely different, serious demeanor, Lenok — watching from afar — hardened his expression.

It seemed the crocodile giant had been paid a billion cells to eliminate the intruders in the factory. Judging from that astronomical sum, and the fact that Dylan wasn't even thinking of running away but preparing for a fight, it was clear this was no ordinary monster.

Should he step in, or should he escape?

Even at this moment, gas was filling the basement, and the ignition magic circle with the timer was counting down.

"2 minutes, 17 seconds… Cutting it close."

Lenok's internal clock had not even a second's error.

He didn't need to consciously check to know exactly how much time remained.

After a brief calculation, Lenok quietly gathered mana — just enough to avoid being detected by the crocodile giant.

"I'll help as much as I can… then I'm out."

As he solidified his resolve — the man and the beast clashed.

A fierce battle.

Dylan, pouring every drop of mana he had into his charge — and the giant, standing alone, receiving it all.

The two swords in Dylan's hands, a spear slung over his shoulder, and two daggers strapped to his ankles — all blurred into sharp flashes of light, tearing through the dust of the factory.

The five weapons struck from all directions, twisting in their trajectory, closing the distance in an instant as they aimed for the giant's limbs.

Clangclangclangclangclang!!

Slashes scraped against the giant's raised arms, scoring his blue scales with searing sparks of blue flame.

Without checking if his attacks landed, Dylan immediately launched into his next strike.

A fierce killing intent flooded the factory floor.

Only then did Lenok realize — Dylan wasn't just above average. He was a frighteningly powerful warrior.

With every step, Dylan twisted his direction, never wasting even a moment to catch his breath — seamlessly weaving attack and movement together.

Elegant yet blurred. Stealthy yet lightning-fast.

Thud-thud-thud-thud!!

As Dylan's relentless onslaught drove the crocodile giant back a single step—

Lenok seized the opening, assembling the mana he had been quietly gathering into a spell.

Above his slightly bent right arm, blue currents gathered thickly, forming a sphere the size of a human head.

Crackle-crackle-crackle!!

It was a spell that gathered and condensed dozens of [Bolt]-level lightning currents.

Naturally, the amount of mana consumed was enormous — enough to strain even Lenok's reserves — but he gritted his teeth and completed the spell.

[Lightning Bound]

The spell shot forth according to his will, piercing through the reaction speeds of the two monsters — and struck the ground beneath the giant's leg.

Zzzt-zzzt-zzzt!!

The moment the sphere touched the ground, a twisted sound echoed like the air itself was being torn apart — and the dozens of condensed currents exploded outward, enveloping the giant.

Lenok's spell had been so stealthy that even the crocodile giant hadn't expected it — his tail twitched violently.

Seizing the brief moment when the giant's body stiffened, Dylan pushed forward with everything he had left.

"Huuup…!!!"

Every attack Dylan unleashed, using his entire body, surged like a massive wave crashing down on the crocodile giant.

Cold blades struck once, twice, thrice — an uncountable flurry — finally slipping between the giant's tough scales to meet flesh.

The crocodile moved.

Despite his hands shaking from the paralysis of the lightning spell, he raised his arm and precisely deflected only the blade aiming for his eye — using his tail to handle the rest—

While there were non-human races in WORLD Versions 1 and 2, there were none so blatantly beast-like as this — a demi-human that leaned this far into the realm of animalistic monstrosity.

At Lenok's answer, Dylan shook his head in disbelief before grabbing him and hastening their pace.

"Kroken Asilas. Former war mercenary. After retirement, he was scouted by Pandemonium and now serves as one of their executives."

"Pandemonium, you say?"

"It's an international crime syndicate, infamous for only extending invitations to the deadliest criminals and outlaws. Tell me, oh great mage — have you seriously been holed up in some mountain, doing nothing but training all this time?"

"...Let's just say I have."

Pandemonium…

If even someone as seasoned as Dylan spoke of them in this way, there was a good chance both Jenina and Jordan would know the name as well.

Any organization that keeps a monster like that not even as their leader but merely as one of their executives — that was something worth remembering. Especially if Lenok planned to keep working in this world.

...Of course, that all depended on surviving this situation first.

BOOOOM!!!

Bursting through the storm of fire and debris, an elongated shadow loomed behind the fleeing pair.

Emerging slowly from the wreckage of the ruined factory — wrapped in the shimmering glow of the flames — was the crocodile giant, Kroken.

Aside from some singed scales, he looked entirely unscathed. And as he spotted the two of them fleeing desperately in the distance, he crouched down — ever so slowly.

CRACK…!!

His thighs bulged, muscles swelling to impossible size. The asphalt beneath him splintered with hairline cracks.

And then—

BOOM!

Like a cannon shot, Kroken's massive body launched forward, closing the hundreds of meters between them in the blink of an eye.

A direct hit from that charge would be fatal.

There wasn't even time to shout a warning.

Both Dylan and Lenok immediately focused their mana into their legs and threw themselves sideways, dodging at full speed.

SSHHHRRRAAAK!!

Realizing he had just barely missed them, Kroken reacted like lightning — and with terrifying finesse.

CRUNCHCRACK!!

Driving one massive arm straight into the ground, he arrested his entire momentum mid-air — the sheer force of the impact gouging a trench at least ten meters long into the asphalt, accompanied by the acrid stench of burning road.

Lenok's jaw dropped.

This was beyond belief — even in a world where mana could enhance the body, this was far past the limits of any living creature.

Kroken effortlessly flipped his body upright and began striding toward Lenok.

"So you're the mage who threw that lightning bolt earlier."

"....."

"You look young. Didn't anyone ever teach you not to set off dangerous spells between another man's legs?"

Lenok shot back dryly, "If a creature can survive a blast like that, can you really call it human?"

Kroken chuckled.

"Bold little brat. Had you not messed with the factory, I might have let you live… but I'm paid to do a job, and I intend to finish it."

His reptilian pupils gleamed ominously.

"I'll send you off quickly — out of respect for Antares."

As Kroken's sinister right hand reached for Lenok's face, Lenok immediately activated a spell.

[Gravity Bind]

CRACK—!

"Hm?"

A whip of violet energy shot out from behind Lenok, latching onto Kroken's arm and halting its movement for the briefest instant.

A normal binding spell might have been useless — but [Gravity Bind] didn't work like that. Its power scaled in proportion to the target's mass.

The heavier the target, the stronger the binding.

Thus, for just a split second, the crushing weight of Kroken's own bulk froze him in place — enough for Lenok to act.

Without hesitation, Lenok rolled backward, gathering every last scrap of his remaining mana.

There was no point holding anything back. In a life-or-death fight, conserving energy was meaningless.

Even as his whole body throbbed in agony, Lenok's mana responded to his will, intertwining and projecting his mental image into reality.

Between his two outstretched fingers, frost began to gather — cold and sharp enough to cut through the very air.

He slammed both hands to the ground.

[Frost Horn]

WHOOSH!!

A blinding flash. A biting chill seared across his skin.

The spell surged along the whip of gravity, racing toward Kroken's scaly arms.

CRAAACK!!

Kroken's massive body froze mid-motion.

Frost crept across his green-blue scales. Cold mist curled from between his jagged teeth.

Even his reptilian eyes — so sharp and menacing — froze over, halting mid-glare.

For a moment — just a moment — it looked like it was over.

"...Did… did we get him?"

Dylan's voice — saying what should never be said in moments like this — echoed from afar.

Lenok ignored him, continuing to channel mana into his hands.

Cold-blooded creatures were vulnerable to rapid temperature changes — and by sheer luck, Lenok's gamble had worked.

But only temporarily.

A monster like this wouldn't fall so easily. Not after surviving that inferno unscathed.

His mana reserves were running dry. His only remaining weapons were twofold.

There was no option to run.

Lenok knew instinctively — the frozen moment he had created wouldn't last.

And as expected, cracks began to spread across Kroken's frozen scales.

An overwhelming constitution far beyond human. He was already shaking off the frost's grip.

As Kroken's trembling body began to stir, Lenok focused his mind.

Before that monster could fully recover, he had to end it.

With desperate clarity, Lenok's hand shot to his waist — pulling free the pistol that had been with him since the start of this fight.

This was it.

Gathering the very last embers of his mana, he prepared to end it.

The suffocating emptiness of total mana depletion crept over him — a feeling he had only experienced a few times since awakening his powers.

But there was no choice.

Gritting his teeth, Lenok began chanting.

His will shaped his mental image — constructing it into reality with the precision of someone who had done this countless times.

Support spells — specialized for ranged weaponry — flowed from his lips.

[Aim Assist]

[Trajectory Guidance]

[Penetration Boost]

Just like back when he played the Gunslinger in WORLD ver2.0.

The same support spells he had cast endlessly while enjoying the game without a care in the world.

One by one, he layered them onto the old pistol.

The worn weapon groaned — unable to withstand the surging mana, its frame glowing blue-hot.

But Lenok ignored it — and pulled the trigger.

[Projectile Acceleration]

BANG!!

A flash of light burst from the muzzle — and the pistol crumbled in his hands, unable to bear the violent fluctuation of mana.

Lenok had stacked four support spells onto a single bullet.

Speed. Accuracy. Firepower. Piercing power.

All focused on a single trajectory — to tear through Kroken's eye and obliterate his brain.

Lenok knew he couldn't win in a direct confrontation.

This was a monster that had survived an explosion powerful enough to collapse an entire factory without so much as a scratch.

Against something like that, his only hope was a single, perfectly aimed surprise attack to its weakest point.

If he couldn't kill it with this shot…

Then there was no future for him at all.