Chapter 158

A serpentine body so massive it defies comparison to any anaconda, and a head that seems a fusion of cat and tiger.

It was exactly the depiction of the Cat-Head Serpent from the original work.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding!

【Cat-Head Serpent】

▶Level 64

▶Attributes

【Stamina: A+】

【Monstrous Power: S-】

【Art Formula: B】

【Mental Power: B】

▶Traits (9/10)

【Cat-Tiger God (S)】

【Instinct Enhancement (A+)】

【Iron Fortress (A)】

【Combat Instinct (A-)】

【Swift Blade Through Chaos (A-)】

【Monstrous Power Amplification (B)】

【Circulation (B-)】

【Flexible Body (C)】

【Strong Body (C-)】

‘…It’s strong.’

Having never encountered it in the game, this was my first time seeing the Cat-Head Serpent’s status.

While it probably wouldn’t be on the same level as the out-of-spec Specters that would appear later, with stats like these, it was undoubtedly a genuine S-Rank.

It had enough power to single-handedly smash an average city to pieces.

‘…I expected as much, but this is literally the worst-case scenario.’

Right now, before its appearance has even been properly observed, if the Jeokhwadan, who happened to encounter it, fail to stop it, the damage will increase exponentially.

Their desperate last stand in the original work wasn’t for nothing. They couldn’t bring themselves to flee before it because they could foresee the devastation that would follow.

“Kssssiiit.”

Sluuurp.

Crrrrunch.

‘My legs feel weak…’

As it revealed its colossal body and emitted Spectral Energy, my body refused to obey.

It wasn’t that I was particularly scared. It was just the natural reaction of a human, a living being.

The monster before us was clearly a predator capable of devouring everyone present.

“H-how are we supposed to deal with a monster like that…?”

“Hoo, hoo. Quiet. Try not to draw its attention.”

Amidst the ruined street, the unit members, panting heavily, each reflexively used Concealment Arts.

They were partly following pre-established protocols, but survival instinct was undoubtedly mixed in as well.

‘…Fortunately, no serious casualties.’

Thanks to Shin Noeul’s swift warning, the worst-case scenario had been averted.

However, the situation remained on a knife’s edge.

The Cat-Head Serpent had appeared on the mountainside right next to the city center—meaning just a few steps from here would bring it into the civilians’ living area.

A quick glance showed people on that side had already sensed the abnormality and were fleeing in a panic; among them were those whose bodies had frozen stiff from the Cat-Head Serpent’s Spectral Energy.

There was no time to assess the opponent or gauge its strength; we had to stop its movement first.

“Huep. Damn it, hell…”

Perhaps realizing this, several nearby unit members spat out curses.

Having to face such a skin-crawling monster head-on, they probably wanted to run away immediately.

No, perhaps some had already decided to flee in their hearts, even if they hadn’t acted yet.

But the unit members had a Focal Point to help them overcome that fear.

That was none other than Shin Noeul.

Thud.

“Form a battle formation from now. Category D. Special Response Formation.”

At the words that rang out amidst the chaos, the unit members raised their lowered heads and looked toward the source of the voice.

Because he had boldly revealed himself, the Cat-Head Serpent’s gaze also turned in that direction, but Shin Noeul paid it no mind, letting out a soft chuckle as he continued speaking.

“Why are you all so scared? Not going to work? I’ll handle it, so just provide support.”

At his usual composed words, the unit members suppressed their fear and began to rise one by one, taking their positions.

I also headed toward my designated position, intending to buy time to assess the opponent first, but for a moment, I saw the body of Deputy Unit Leader Lee Doosik, who should have taken the center of the formation, trembling finely.

Looking more closely, his breathing was irregular and his movements unnatural. He had clearly sustained considerable injuries from the initial strike.

‘Troublesome.’

Lee Doosik’s role was to give detailed instructions to the unit members from the center of the formation and cover them overall.

If Lee Doosik couldn’t perform at his best, naturally, the formation wouldn’t function properly.

So, I slowly visualized Lee Doosik’s demeanor I had seen during training.

‘I can replicate this much.’

I had experienced large-scale battles and commanding teammates numerous times in the game.

Without hesitation, I walked over to Lee Doosik and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him up.

Thud.

“With those injuries, normal combat is impossible.”

“…This isn’t a Specter the Unit Leader can handle alone. The unit members are also struggling to regain their composure. If I step out now, the formation will waver.”

“I will take on the Deputy Unit Leader’s role.”

“What?”

Lee Doosik looked at my face as if to say, ‘Are you kidding me when things are already tough?’ Then, he showed a slightly surprised expression.

Unlike the other unit members, whose nervousness was evident, I had already fully prepared myself for battle.

Seizing the moment Lee Doosik hesitated, I delivered the finishing blow.

“If your commands falter, the unit members will waver too. It would be much more helpful if you step back to tend to your wounds and join up with the exorcists from the nearby Guard Unit.”

“…You sure have a sharp tongue. But you’re right. Are you confident you can do it properly?”

“I’ll do my best to match the Deputy Unit Leader.”

“Tsk, really.”

Only after hearing our exchange did the unit members notice Lee Doosik’s injuries and cast anxious glances.

Sensing this, Lee Doosik shouted.

“Han Kangyoon will take the center! Maintain the formation and assist the Unit Leader! Hold out just a little longer, and I’ll bring reinforcements!”

“Yes, sir!”

Then, he left me with a final piece of advice.

“Having rolled around in this field as long as I have, you can roughly gauge an opponent from the first impression. Especially after spending two weeks together, most of it becomes visible.”

“…….”

“You’re the real deal. I believe you can hold out until I return.”

With that, Lee Doosik left without delay to carry out his task.

Almost simultaneously, the Cat-Head Serpent fixed its gaze clearly upon us.

“Sssiiik.”

Sluurp.

Sluuurp.

Its movements were incredibly hard to pin down.

Despite having a serpentine body, it moved across the ground as if floating, with only a minimal area touching the earth.

“Kheut.”

“Huep.”

As the distance closed, the Spectral Energy pressing down on our bodies intensified, causing some of the first and second-year unit members to grimace and shake their heads.

Amidst this, Shin Noeul, positioned alone directly in front of the Cat-Head Serpent, explosively drew in Spiritual Power and launched a preemptive attack.

Whoooosh.

“Wide Threads, Six Concealment, Feathered Thunder Typhoon.”

A high-level Art Formula, both versatile and highly powerful—the Seven Generation Strike.

“…Let’s see you take this.”

Sssshhhhweeeeek

KWA-GA-GAK!

ZZZOOOONG—!

The Cursed Technique Shin Noeul fired struck the Cat-Head Serpent directly, traveling up its scales and generating a powerful shockwave.

The unit members clenched their fists, their eyes gleaming, but the scene that soon revealed itself left everyone bewildered.

“No damage?”

“Th-the Unit Leader’s Art?”

Such a reaction was understandable.

Frankly, even to my eyes, the power infused into Shin Noeul’s technique moments ago seemed stronger than usual.

However, the Cat-Head Serpent that received it simply continued approaching Shin Noeul as if nothing had happened.

‘No, to be precise, there is damage…’

But the actual damage isn’t that great. At the recovery level of an S-Rank Specter, it can easily withstand it.

Even in such a desperate situation, Shin Noeul, undaunted, drew in Spiritual Power once more.

“Huh, interesting. So this much doesn’t even make you flinch.”

Then, he began deploying Art Formulas in rapid succession with both hands.

This time, adding one more Intermediate-Rank Art Formula to the Seven Generation Strike.

At first, I wondered what it was, but upon closer look, it was the Detection Art, Mutual Vibration.

Soon, the wave of Spiritual Power released earlier made contact with the Cat-Head Serpent, and Shin Noeul, focusing his mind for that instant, fired off his technique.

“Seven Generation Strike!”

Sssshhhhweeeeek

KWA-GA-GAK!

ZZZ-JE-JE-JEK—!

Though the attack seemed no different on the surface, the result was different.

A part of the Cat-Head Serpent’s scales split, blood spurting out for a moment, and it made a startled expression.

‘…I see.’

Frankly, it’s quite impressive.

Shin Noeul used the Detection Art to grasp the Cat-Head Serpent’s body in real-time while simultaneously resonating those minute Spiritual Power fluctuations with his Offensive Art.

Simply put, it was a precision strike with amplified power, hence the proper damage was dealt.

‘This kind of application is rare even in the sequel.’

It showed he had meticulously researched his specialty, Detection Arts.

Anyway, since that created an opportunity, I quickly gave instructions to the unit members.

“Squad 1, use Binding Spell Formulas on the parts in contact with the ground. The rest will simultaneously fire Offensive Arts.”

“…Understood.”

“Damn it, we have to try something in this opening.”

True to the Jeokhwadan’s name, most unit members shook off the pressure and rapidly deployed and fired their Art Formulas.

Numerous chains and spikes of Spiritual Power embedded into the creature’s tail, and soon, attacks reminiscent of a carpet bombing continued upon the restrained creature.

Piiing!

Ping!

Sssshhhhweeeeek!

ZZZOOONG!

ZZZ-JE-JEK!

“Sssshhhiiiiik—!”

No matter how strong its steel-like defenses, the strikes weren’t without effect, as it thrashed its body irritably and let out a shriek.

Seeing this, the eyes of the unit members began to fill with a burning desire for victory.

“…It’s more doable than I thought.”

“Our Arts are affecting it.”

“When we have an opening, don’t stop, keep pouring it on!”

This sentiment was particularly strong among the first and second-year unit members.

Being the ones most terrified, the gap in their composure unconsciously became vast.

‘If things resolved that easily, it’d be convenient…’

But I knew. The real battle hadn’t even begun yet.

I slowly raised my right hand, focusing on the creature’s movements I could sense within the dust cloud.

And at the precise moment, I swiftly gave an order.

“Counterattack incoming! All squads, gather immediately and deploy Defensive Arts!”

Those who had been tensing their bodies quickly followed my shout, but as expected, a few were slow to react.

As I glanced over, Arietta nodded and, with lightning speed, gathered those unit members and placed them inside the defensive perimeter.

Immediately after, an intense impact slammed into the layered Defensive Arts.

KWAAAAAAANG—!

KWA-JI-JI-JIK!

ZZZOOOOOONG!

Even though we blocked it, the air shook and my ears rang from the impact.

Several unit members, realizing their lives had almost been snuffed out, finally shook their pupils and gasped for breath.

And I, too, only now understood how the initial ambush and this current strike had been executed.

‘…This is absurd.’

It didn’t do anything particularly special.

It simply, just swung its tail and struck the ground once.

But the vast amount of Spectral Energy loaded into that strike had created this disastrous situation.

The Cat-Head Serpent wasn’t really fighting us.

It had merely found a moving toy and felt some interest.

Now, the Cat-Head Serpent’s gaze changed.

‘…….’

From looking at an interesting toy, to staring at an enemy capable of wounding it.