Chapter 396

Words : 2352 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

“A giant monster. It’s been a while.” Rudger gathered magical power at the tip of his staff and extended it. The magical power concentrated at the staff’s tip transformed into a sharp, massive blade. However, it was specialized for thrusting rather than cutting. “You might reign supreme as the strongest wherever you go, but unfortunately, you’ve met the wrong opponent this time.” Most mages and knights don’t fight giant beasts. While cryptids exist in this world, unless it’s in some special remote area, you rarely encounter such cryptids. Cases like the Durman Kingdom’s Beast of Gevaudan are extremely rare exceptions. There’s no reason to encounter and fight a giant beast, especially one enhanced by magical power, on a mountain path like this but Rudger was different. He was one of those who specialized in hunting such monsters. He wasn’t just a professional, he was the apex of hunters and he had single-handedly hunted the Beast of Gevaudan. That monster was far larger and showed more terrifying power than the Giant Bear before him now. Naturally, Rudger knew very well how to deal with monsters. ‘They basically have extremely tough bodies. Beyond imagination, at that.’ To move such a massive body properly on bare ground, the flesh must be able to withstand that weight. The bones are thick and harder than steel, and the muscle fibers covering them are elastic and dense. Add to that the tough skin tougher than synthetic rubber and strong fur. Penetrating all that at once was impossible unless you were a master-level knight. Obviously, attacking a giant beast’s body was something only amateurs would do. If you underestimate them as mere beasts, you’ll only be shocked to see them completely unfazed. Then, where should one target? ‘The eyes and ears.’ No matter how steel-like the skin’s protection is, the eyeballs and inner ears must remain exposed. Especially the eyes, as blocking vision and driving the enemy into confusion made them the highest priority target. Just like now. -Squelch! Rudger’s staff deeply pierced one of the fallen Giant Bear’s eyes. Even though it had fallen, this was an attack that required considerable nerve and precision. ‘Simply taking away its vision isn’t enough. I must end it here.’ Rudger tried to inject more magical power to detonate it at the staff’s tip. If the magical power penetrated through the optic nerve into the skull, it could turn the brain to mush. But at that moment, the Giant Bear, sensing mortal danger, showed a reaction. -Wooooar! Along with its roar, magical power burst forth from its entire body. The magical power wave that exploded like a shockwave struck Rudger’s body. For just a moment, it felt like a storm had hit right in front of him. Rudger’s body couldn’t withstand it and was thrown backward but he casted a defensive spell just before, offsetting direct damage. Rudger safely landed on the ground while regaining his posture in mid-air. The Giant Bear was slowly rising while leaking mana from its entire body. The magical power density was so high that trees that touched it crumbled into powder. It looked like a bear but was acting more like a porcupine. ‘What a shame. It was a chance to end it in one go.’ While thinking this, Rudger decided to be satisfied with achieving his main objective. Blood was flowing profusely from the bear’s left eye. With one eye turned to mush, the creature now had a major limitation. “Are you alright?” Derek Olson approached and checked Rudger’s condition. Rudger answered while lightly dusting off the wood debris on his collar. “Yes. It was close, but I’m fine.” “...Well, this is something. Do mages usually fight like that?” “In exceptional situations, we must respond with exceptional methods. I learned it in the military.” That couldn’t be true. No place follows given manuals and regulations more strictly than the military. Rudger’s actions were, in a way, impulsive moves that could violate military law but Derek couldn’t bring himself to point that out. That monster bear was still alive. “Though we wounded its eye, it might regenerate soon. The beasts here have excellent regenerative abilities. With that size, it would probably recover in less than a minute.” “You don’t need to worry about that either.” Rudger said this while making one big swing with his staff. Slash! The Giant Bear’s blood on the staff scattered to the ground, and then, with a burning sound, it emitted white smoke. Derek’s eyes widened as he caught the scent in his nostrils. “Poison? And quite potent at that.” “I applied it to the staff tip before stabbing.” To face giant beasts, one had to use every method available. Since they were beings far beyond humans in physique, naturally there was no chance in a head-on battle. This is why hunters who hunt giant beasts mainly use tranquilizer guns, poison, and traps. Since it’s not a fair fight from the start in terms of weight class, this side also uses whatever means necessary. Of course, mediocre poison isn’t used. To reach a lethal dose for that huge body, even a bowl of poison wouldn’t be enough. Therefore, the poison Rudger used was extremely long-acting rather than aimed at reaching a lethal dose. It prevents wound regeneration, numbs the skin, and causes cell necrosis. It was something he had asked Bellaruna to make after being inspired by the deadly fog Chris Benimore had used in the underground waterway earlier. Perhaps thanks to that, the monster bear still couldn’t regenerate its eye. It wouldn’t be strange if it went berserk from the pain, but it was crouching as low as possible on all fours while randomly spewing magical power. “It won’t last long. If it keeps expelling magical power like that, it’ll soon push out the poison too.” “But it should be enough time to deplete the magical power that monster possesses.” The Giant Bear, with its life in danger, continued to expel mana without considering its remaining reserves. This was partly to prevent the poison flowing through the optic nerve from reaching the brain, but also to defend against the mages’ attacks. The aura of magical power flowing outward pulverized everything it touched. It was the ultimate defense. In other words, at the point of releasing magical power of that density, it was already pushing itself. Even though it was strong and cunning, it was still a beast in the end. The concept of conserving strength for later didn’t exist for it. ‘Still, it’s a bit disappointing that we can’t land additional hits here.’ Originally, when gaining the upper hand like this, one should keep pressing the attack. Continuous pressure would help reduce time even a little but to do that, he would need to use hidden techniques. These were things he couldn’t carelessly show in front of so many people. In a way, having so many eyes watching was itself a constraint for Rudger. ‘Still, all things considered, the current situation is the best.’ It wasn’t comparable to when he fought the Beast of Gevaudan. First, the opponent’s weight class was different. Compared to the Beast of Gevaudan, this Giant Bear was just like a stuffed teddy bear. There was the minor issue that this teddy bear could tear a knight to death, but that wasn’t something for Rudger to worry about. Rudger remembers the city where endless nightmares unfolded. The smell of rotting blood and beasts’ rank odor in his nostrils, the cries of beasts suffering from eternal hunger, countless red eyes rising from the pitch-black darkness and the beasts that slowly crawled and writhed on walls, iron railings, and building roofs had an unmistakable smell of blood. Among the waves of killing intent rushing in from all directions, what stood out most was a beast so huge it seemed to reach the blood-red moon hanging high in the sky. Rudger fought such a monster in that hell and succeeded in hunting it. Compared to that time, this Giant Bear was rather endearing. ‘Plus, now I have a backup of no less than 100 people.’ Though they were all frozen in shock, they were gradually regaining their senses as the Giant Bear stopped moving. “Mr. Derek. When I give the signal, please order an all-out attack.” “Understood.” Derek also realized this was the perfect opportunity to take down that monster bear. He immediately approached Gregorium, the commander of the Old Magic Tower, to relay the situation. Orders were issued, and the mages maintained their formation while gathering magical power. During this time, the Giant Bear continued to expel magical power. The clearly materialized magical power was protecting the Giant Bear’s body like a cocoon. Seeing it continuously emit magical power of that density proved it was indeed a predator but it couldn’t continue forever. That meaningless war of attrition would inevitably come to an end, and Rudger’s prediction proved correct. ‘Here it comes.’ The magical power the Giant Bear was emitting was gradually thinning. The magical power that had been streaming out from its skin gradually decreased, eventually revealing the Giant Bear’s bare skin. Even bare skin was tough, but it was on a completely different level from being protected by the magical power shell from earlier. Rudger nodded at Derek. Derek immediately gathered magical power in his hand and shot it upward. -Bang! The magical power exploded with brilliant light. That was the signal. “Now! Fire everything!” About 80 mages fired their magic simultaneously. Various high-powered spells that each could use flew in parabolic arcs and rained down on the Giant Bear. The magic that flew simultaneously swept over the Giant Bear with slight time differences. -Boom boom boom! Explosions that seemed capable of rupturing eardrums occurred in succession. Surrounding trees were torn away by the explosion’s impact as shockwaves spread. The ground shook heavily as if an earthquake had occurred, and dense dust clouds rose high. The power was so great that even the mages who created this spectacle were momentarily surprised. Eventually, as the dust clouds cleared, the explosion site was revealed in its entirety. “It-it’s still alive?” Surprisingly, the Giant Bear was still breathing. Before the magic poured down, the Giant Bear had wrapped all its remaining rock magic power around its skin but its condition wasn’t good. The rock armor was half-destroyed by the explosions, and the exposed skin was covered in wounds. Some wounds were so severe that bones were visible. It was practically a half-corpse with just breath remaining. “Uh, uhh? It’s getting up!” The Giant Bear showed unbelievable vitality as it slowly rose from its spot. The Giant Bear glared intensely at the group of mages, especially Rudger. -Wooooar! The bear roared loudly. The mages tensed, wondering if it would charge at them. Nothing is more dangerous than an injured predator deciding to fight with death in mind... At that moment, the Giant Bear turned its back. “Huh?” The tense mages were taken aback. The Giant Bear, which had seemed ready to fight to the death, chose to flee. “It ran away.” The battle ended more anticlimactically than expected but the mages breathed sighs of relief. If that monster had rampaged until the end, there would certainly have been casualties. In fact, it wouldn’t have been strange if someone had died even just before. It was truly a miracle that no one died. This was made possible thanks to those who fought at the forefront. Rudger Chelici, Derek Olson, and Varenchina. Without them, there would have been quite a few casualties. “Rudger Chelici. I knew he wasn’t an ordinary teacher, but that was...” “That’s no ordinary courage. His claim about military service wasn’t just talk.” To the gazes directed this way, Derek shrugged and asked Rudger. “How does it feel to receive such attention, teacher?” “Nothing special about it.” “More importantly, where did you learn to fight with poisoned weapons? Don’t tell me you learned that in the military too?” “Yes. That’s correct.” “Well, well. At my age, should I enlist to become like the teacher?” “That’s quite a horrifying thought.” Though Derek chuckled at Rudger’s joke, he didn’t neglect to assess the situation. While it was fortunate they drove away the Giant Bear without casualties, their original purpose wasn’t bear hunting. “Still, it seems they’ve used all their means now. There are no more magical traps, and thanks to that monster bear, other beasts won’t even come near.” “Agreed. Let’s move quickly.” Varenchina also agreed with Derek’s words and prepared to move. -Boom! However, with the massive explosion erupting from that mountain path above, the mages realized they wouldn’t even be granted a short maintenance time. ‘They’re really pulling out all the stops.’ That place where the explosion occurred was, by calculation, where one of the five ley lines of the Kasar Basin flowed. Varenchina let out a gloomy voice. “Could they have found it?” “I don’t think so yet.” Rudger denied Varenchina’s words. Though explosions continued to sound, phenomena like when the mansion’s geomantic vein erupted didn’t occur. They too had become desperate and were acting first, thinking later. -Boom. Boom. The explosions rang out periodically. If they hadn’t found the geomantic vein’s core, their intention to keep detonating until they found it was clearly conveyed. ‘It’s still fine. So far, only the vein at the mansion site has burst...’ Just as Rudger was thinking this, the white fog dome covering the entire Kasar Basin shook greatly once, the mages felt that something huge had exploded. It was qualitatively different from the explosives currently detonating on that mountain path. More massive. More dangerous. “Could it be...?” Varenchina repeatedly stepped on tree branches, climbing to the treetop of a tall tree. After some time, Varenchina came down from the tree with a hardened expression. She delivered shocking news. “One of the ley lines has burst.”

Chapter 396

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