Chapter 54

Having a higher Circle doesn’t guarantee victory in battle.

Fighting ultimately comes down to offense and defense.

If you can penetrate the enemy’s defenses and land a critical hit even for a moment, you win. Conversely, if your defense is breached for even a moment, you lose.

In other words, if you have an attack card that can break through the enemy’s defense, and simultaneously have a defensive or evasive measure that can neutralize the enemy’s attacks, there’s a chance of winning whether the opponent is a 3rd or 6th Circle mage.

In the split second that Yuria’s arrow flew, I quickly finished my calculations. Even before I developed [Simulation], I was better at mental calculations than anyone, but this time my brain felt like it was burning up.

‘First, there are two defensive barriers to overcome. The Protective Necklace. And then <Wind’s Protection>.’

I have two effective offensive measures as well.

‘Ultra-high-speed attack using <Saíl> and overwhelming firepower using <Transportation>!’

Han Se-hoon could easily counter my other attacks. In particular, <Nullification> and <Spell Wedge>, which temporarily disable equipment, were threatening. Considering that, even <Transportation> wasn’t enough to deliver a finishing blow.

I decided on my strategy.

‘First, neutralize the Protective Necklace. Then finish him with <Saíl>.’

In my simulation, Han Se-hoon clearly couldn’t keep up with <Saíl>’s speed. And <Saíl>, being Ki-blood magic, is immune to <Spell Wedge>.

‘If only the Protective Necklace were gone, I could take him down before <Wind’s Protection> activates.’

With that, I designated <Saíl> as my ultimate weapon to break through his defenses.

+ – + – +

The beginning went well.

Clang!

“Guh!”

Yuria’s arrow that pierced through that split second. Han Se-hoon couldn’t defend in time, and what saved him was the Protective Necklace. The necklace broke free from its chain and soared upward, deflecting Yuria’s arrow.

Unfortunately, the necklace didn’t break. It emitted a blue light like a yo-yo, raising its head like a cobra and surveying the surroundings.

Still, we achieved a lot with that one arrow. The startled Han Se-hoon couldn’t recite his trigger word in time, and his spell dissipated uselessly. In my earlier simulation, my transportation magic had failed, but this time the opposite happened—Han Se-hoon wasted four Memorize slots.

Meanwhile, the transportation magic was completed. With this, I have one more transportation magic left.

Woooong!

Equipment that appeared by tearing through space automatically equipped itself to us.

Three beam hilts and cuffs each, one beam shield and hook gun each, a pair of booster boots each, and one full-body suit for Monggu. With that, the capacity matched exactly thirty items.

I immediately used my share of the beam hilt to pressure Han Se-hoon and countered his counterattack with my beam shield. Just having equipment created many more options.

But that didn’t mean the situation was comfortable. Not only had I not seen all of Han Se-hoon’s cards yet… our numbers were too disadvantaged.

Fortunately, the cuffs were still effective since I had blocked Han Se-hoon’s <Nullification>, but their limitations were clear.

“Escape!”

At Han Se-hoon’s shout, his clothes fluttered, pushing away the cuff’s restraint and launching his entire body into the sky. The beam from my beam hilt grazed the sole of his shoe as it passed by.

“Flames of Trimacos! Dwell in my body according to the ancient covenant!!!”

Two 2nd Circle mages used the traditional Trimacos covenant magic to release their cuffs. Flames enveloped them, and their physical abilities exploded in an instant. They tore off the cuffs with strength and heat.

That was just the beginning.

The 1st Circle mages also began reciting spells, struggling to break free from their restraints.

As time passed, the cuffs’ effectiveness would decrease, and eventually the mana users would also throw off their restraints.

Before that, we needed to reduce their numbers as much as possible.

At the same time, we couldn’t give Han Se-hoon any openings.

A task impossible to do alone.

I pulled out a new card.

“Monggu! Use your body! Yuria! Cover! Seven over here! Three there!”

As soon as the instructions were given, Monggu charged at the 2nd Circle mages, swinging his beam sword. With his body enhanced to level 2 and the full-body suit achieving 80% synchronization rate, he was nearly three times faster and stronger than the mana users.

Zing!

Monggu’s beam sword slashed across the chest of one 2nd Circle mage. The mages had enhanced their physical abilities with Trimacos’s flames, but they were no match for Monggu.

“Gak!”

Without time to recite a spell, one mage was seriously injured.

But during that time, another mage’s spell struck Monggu.

“Flames of Trimacos. Pierce my enemy before me according to the ancient covenant!”

That spell that Teacher Sena used to use. The strike that even made an ogre retreat now stabbed down at Monggu.

“B-beam shield!”

Clunk!

Monggu activated the beam shield just in time to block the flaming spear, but his complexion turned pale, as if he’d taken a shock.

It couldn’t be helped. Right now, we were gaining an advantage through the element of surprise and equipment the enemy didn’t know about, but fundamentally, Monggu’s specs were somewhere between a 1st Circle mage and a 2nd Circle mage. In a proper fight, he couldn’t handle a 2nd Circle mage.

Despite that, he didn’t take a single step back. He understood that if he retreated, the burden would fall on his other comrades, even though the opponent was too much for him to handle—just as it would be for me or Yuria.

After going through the five-stage basic training, Monggu’s combat sense had become quite useful.

While Monggu kept the two mages at bay, Yuria went wild. Her [Mystic Eye] completely dominated the battlefield.

Although her multitasking ability was far inferior to mine, her overwhelming reaction speed made up for that deficiency.

Swoosh!

“Keaak!”

When Yuria’s arrow flew, a 1st Circle mage who was just about to remove his cuff clutched his neck and collapsed, and

Zing! Zi-zing!

Three beam hilts fired consecutive beams to check Han Se-hoon.

Then swoosh! She shot her bow again, dropping another mage.

Her attacks, firing like a submachine gun from the rear, gave both Monggu and me breathing room.

“Flames of Trimacos! Pierce my enemy before me according to the ancient covenant!”

I also recited the Trimacos spell. A textbook spell for mages throughout the Saharan plains region.

If Yuria was ultra-high-speed consecutive attacks, I was just using multitasking for simultaneous firing.

I recited the spell with my mouth, used my beam hilt to fire beams with my mind, and infused ki into my hands to shoot arrows.

Numerous attacks simultaneously pounded Han Se-hoon.

“By Zelonin’s covenant! Protect me with three walls. Triple Shield!”

Whoong!

But Han Se-hoon was no pushover. The three-layered shield he created in an instant blocked all the attacks I fired.

Yuria’s beams that followed aimed for the gaps in the shield, but,

Ting! Ting!

Even those were blocked by the Protective Necklace.

But this was hopeful. If he couldn’t block all attacks with his shield, the Protective Necklace would be used up that much more.

If we completely wear down the Protective Necklace before using <Saíl>, victory is ours!

“Don’t even breathe! Keep up the pressure!”

I shouted.

To reduce the number of enemies as much as possible,

To not give Han Se-hoon time to utter a word beyond defense spells,

I unleashed attacks like a full sprint.

Arrows, beams, magic, and cuffs cut through the air.

The metal plaza gradually became covered with blood and corpses. Of the five 1st Circle mages, only one remained alive, and eleven mana users became wandering souls without being able to remove their cuffs.

One 2nd Circle mage also died with eyes wide open, and the remaining ones all had major and minor injuries.

But that was the limit.

One 2nd Circle mage, one 1st Circle mage. And 10 mana users. Finally, all of them removed their cuffs and found freedom. Enough to create variables.

Now Monggu was covered in blood and could only retreat, and Yuria could no longer fire continuously from one position but had to move around using booster boots and hook guns. Her firing became sporadic.

‘Damn… I still haven’t destroyed the Protective Necklace…’

Han Se-hoon, who had been focusing on defense, regained composure.

His circle moved strangely.

‘Memorize!’

Realizing he was attempting something, I immediately activated simulation.

[Simulation]

Han Se-hoon finally put a counterattack spell on his lips rather than a defensive one. Just one word. I had finally allowed him time to say it.

“Panic!”

Mana forming a zigzag line pattern poured out. The moment it touched me, my head went numb. Suddenly my knees weakened and my body stiffened.

‘Ugh! Get it together!’

I shook off this strange feeling by wielding ki-force through my blood. But in that one second of hesitation, Han Se-hoon seized the next attack opportunity.

“Ancient icy wind that sweeps the battlefield. Cut through flesh and bone according to Zelonin’s covenant!”

Wind as sharp as a razor blade and as cold as dry ice poured down.

I quickly put the beam shield in front and recited a defense spell.

“The wind mage Baek Jun-woo speaks! Nothing shall wound us! Shield!”

But there was a spell coming right after.

<Spell Wedge!>

My magic dissipated miserably, and

Crashhh!

The cold wind covered me like a swarm of bees. Fortunately, thanks to the beam shield and level 5 enhanced body, it only resulted in lacerations all over my body.

But <Zelonin’s Icy Wind> didn’t just leave wounds. The wounded areas froze as if bitten by frostbite. My body becomes sluggish, and my thoughts slow down.

<Nullification!>

<Grease!>

Clatter!

Han Se-hoon’s magic flew in succession, disabling the equipment I was using, like the beam shield and beam hilt.

Once caught in <Grease>, my slowed body had no chance to do anything before slipping and rolling on the ground.

While fallen, I saw Han Se-hoon take out the stone he uses for <Wind’s Protection>. But I couldn’t find the timing to block it.

‘Ah… I can’t win this.’

I collapsed instantly from just one <Panic> spell.

‘But how do I block this?’

It was bleak.

[Simulation] proceeds while time is stopped. It can’t turn back time. The moment I end the simulation, Han Se-hoon’s <Panic> will activate, and I had no means to block it. A dead end. A future with a predetermined outcome. I gritted my teeth.

‘Should I repeat the simulation in frozen time?’

Infinite simulation repetition until I find a solution. But… there’s a high probability I’d die from exhaustion first.

When I obtained <Saíl> before, I clearly exceeded my limits and repeated simulations, but I can’t always count on such luck.

Even if things go well, if I pass out like last time, there’s no one to look after me. With so many enemies… we’d all end up dead.

‘What should I do…?’

I looked around the battlefield with a hopeless feeling.

It was a mess.

“Aaack! Aaaah!”

Yuria, who always fought calmly, had now become a complete coward. Just as enemies approached, she would scream and roll on the ground. Not being a ki-blood mage, she was completely consumed by <Panic>.

But there was an unexpected sight.

‘…Monggu?’

I was briefly caught, and Yuria was completely consumed by <Panic>. But Monggu was fine. Covered in blood, he was protecting Yuria to the end.

Wait, rewind!

I went back to the moment Han Se-hoon activated <Panic>. I raised my ki-force to the maximum to resist, but again couldn’t prevent falling into panic for about a second.

But at that moment, I clearly saw Monggu continuing to move without any problems. He even looked strangely at Yuria, who was affected by <Panic>.

‘How…?’

What’s the difference between us?

Does Monggu have a talent I don’t know about?

‘That can’t be.’

I found the answer.

The difference between Monggu and us is one thing: whether or not he’s wearing the ancient helmet!

[Simulation End]

I found the answer with a 40-second simulation.

Now I have 50 seconds of simulation left.

I need to destroy the ‘Protective Necklace’ and settle this before using it all up.