Chapter 246

It was literally a bombardment.

The sudden barrage of powerful Cursed Techniques startled not only Cheong Kilyeong, who was being targeted by Bikang, but also the Elders who had been chasing after him.

“Who on earth could unleash such Cursed Techniques…?”

“Regardless, it’s a favorable turn of events, Brother. With this level of attack, that thing must have certainly taken damage.”

As Hwang Cheolho said, the state of Bikang that was soon revealed was, to put it mildly, not good.

Its originally formidable body, which boasted great strength, was now slashed and torn with wounds, and Curses were burning all over its body, hindering its recovery.

Confirming this, Cheong Kilyeong turned his gaze toward Han Kangyoon and glanced at his face.

‘This insolent bastard…’

The first emotion Cheong Kilyeong felt upon spotting Han Kangyoon among the support team moments ago was bewilderment.

Han Kangyoon was a powerful individual who had even defeated the former Elder Cheong Woondo with his own hands. There was no reason for someone like him to be merely assisting with a support team’s mission.

But seeing the situation unfold like this made it clear. Han Kangyoon had used four Elders, including himself, as bait.

And the effect was, without a doubt, certain.

“…I knew it, but you’re a truly black-hearted friend.”

“You saying that hurts my feelings. I merely desperately thought of a way to be helpful in a situation where I couldn’t join the main force.”

Cheong Kilyeong snorted at that lame excuse, but even so, he had no choice but to acknowledge Han Kangyoon’s contribution.

Han Kangyoon had perfectly struck the Specter’s weak point and created the best opportunity.

Now was the time to seize it without letting it slip away.

“Jibong!”

“I know. Let’s finish it here.”

Among the four Elders, only Baek Jibong and Baek Sanghwa could use Grand Arts.

To deliver a sure fatal blow to the creature, the two Elders began reciting the Incantations for a Grand Art once more.

However, Han Kangyoon stopped them, blocking their way.

“Not now. Please conserve your strength a little more.”

“What? Can’t you see it’s taken damage and can’t move?”

Despite the Elders’ reaction, Han Kangyoon’s attitude remained firm.

“Please calm down and take another look in the creature’s direction. Does that look like the state of someone who has taken damage and can’t support their body?”

Listening to his words and looking closely, something was indeed strange.

Transparent mucous membranes, similar to the previous cocoon, had begun pushing through the gaps in Bikang’s hideous skin and were rapidly enveloping its entire body, concealing its form.

Simultaneously, a chilling voice pierced everyone’s minds.

[These detestable Taoist Master bastards… I won’t let a single one of you return alive…!]

“This is absurd! What more is left now?”

Hwang Cheolho spat out a hollow laugh, and at that moment, Yoo Haon’s group, who had been reorganizing their stance, arrived beside the Elders.

Seeing Han Kangyoon, they made expressions full of questions, to which Han Kangyoon opened his mouth quietly as if he had been waiting.

“I need your help.”

Faced with his resolute demeanor, they could only nod, pushing aside the various questions they were about to voice.

‘They arrived faster than I thought.’

The so-called Phase 3.

The final form and self-destructive measure shown by Bikang after greatly expending its energy.

Frankly, I thought reaching this point would require considerable sacrifice, but thanks to the Elders’ good performance, the situation had improved significantly.

And the reason for such a change was clear.

‘Cheong Kilyeong, huh.’

Originally, he was someone killed by Bikang at this point.

But now, he’s alive and well, contributing to the combat strength.

It was clear that because I got involved in the Cheong Family’s affairs in various ways, he too got caught up in this and that, achieving a level of growth.

‘In the original work, the balance of the battle broke the moment Cheong Kilyeong was killed, so it’s only natural that the result changes now that he’s alive.’

Anyway, returning to the main point, Bikang, having reached Phase 3, enters a so-called Rampage state.

In that state, all its abilities explosively increase, and its resistance strengthens, making it impossible to inflict further damage with ordinary attacks.

‘However, it too must continuously pay a price.’

As mentioned before, this is a self-destructive measure.

Bikang will continue to consume its own life force, and the moment it’s all depleted, it too will meet death and return to a handful of soil.

One variable is that each time it absorbs human vitality, its maintenance time lengthens.

In other words, in the original work, this was a phase that could be cleared by wearing it down with Yoo Haon’s Demon-Suppressing Trait, which ignored such resistance, and protecting other Exorcists to eliminate its means of recovery.

‘……’

Those quick on the uptake have probably already realized, but now that Yoo Haon does not possess the Demon-Suppressing Trait, the difficulty has naturally increased even more.

Essentially, if we cannot prevent the process of it killing Exorcists and absorbing their vitality, the Rampage will continue.

It meant we had to somehow deal with it while also protecting all the surrounding characters.

I subtly called Seoa, who was with Yoo Haon, and quietly gave her instructions.

“We must not let it absorb human vitality. If you see any sign of that, stop it unconditionally.”

“…Okay. I’ll relay it to the others too.”

We’ll leave the direct confrontation with Bikang to the Elders, as before.

Yoo Haon’s group will protect the surrounding Exorcists, and our group will assist whichever side is being pushed back in the meantime.

This was the optimal positioning I had thought of.

Crackle!

Cracklecrackle—!

The form of Bikang that was finally revealed was intense.

Spectral Energy streamed from its entire body, its size had more than doubled, and the number of its arms and legs had increased, forming a multi-legged, spider-like gait.

Even the Exorcists, who had regained their courage, shrank back again at that horrific sight, showing signs of disgust.

And what had changed was certainly not just its appearance.

“Uh, ugh!”

Suddenly, a stalk erupting from underground snatched an Exorcist who was watching the situation and instantly pulled him into its embrace.

And it swallowed that body whole in one gulp, chewing it up.

At the terrible sound of human flesh and bones being crushed, Baek Jibong roared.

“You bastard!”

Screech!

Craaack—!

However, its skin had already hardened more than before, reaching a state where it ignored ordinary attacks.

And it began firing the stalks on its back into the ground, targeting the Exorcists.

[I won’t let a single one live…!]

Thwump!

Thwump-thwump!

Several Exorcists were caught by the stalks that kept erupting from underfoot, and they began to be dragged toward it, just like the previous victim.

“Ugh, aaaah!”

“Save me!”

However, this time, Yoo Haon’s group, who had received my instructions, did not stay idle either.

Slash!

Crunch-crunch-crack!

“The stalks themselves aren’t that hard!”

“…It seems we can sufficiently stop them at this level.”

Aiming accurately at the stalks moving wildly while guarding one’s own body is easier said than done; it’s practically an acrobatic feat.

But for Yoo Haon’s group, each possessing outstanding talent, it was entirely possible.

“Good! You block the stalks!”

Having roughly assessed the situation, Hwang Cheolho shouted at Yoo Haon’s group and began charging toward the creature.

The Elders followed suit, and I also gave instructions to my group.

“Laura, help the kids with Jian. And Senior, come with me.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“…I understand.”

After splitting into two groups like that, Arietta and I followed the Elders toward the creature’s direction.

“Listen here, the creature’s condition is unusual, so you all should…”

“Leave them be. They’re not ones who need our advice.”

“…If you say so.”

Baek Jibong tried to dissuade us, but at Cheong Kilyeong’s single remark, he nodded and turned his gaze away.

And soon before us, Hwang Cheolho, who had launched several attacks at Bikang, retreated and approached, saying,

“Brother Jibong, it seems nothing less than a Grand Art will work. Its shell is absurdly hard.”

“If even your attacks are blocked like that, it seems my Grand Art too would have difficulty inflicting meaningful damage…”

Strictly speaking, the Grand Arts used by Baek Sanghwa and Baek Jibong are slightly lower in grade.

Versatile Art Formulas unique to the Baek Family, which increased utility at the cost of reduced power.

Because of that, Baek Jibong wore a somewhat unconfident expression.

‘It’s not exactly wrong, unfortunately.’

Sadly, Baek Jibong and Baek Sanghwa’s Grand Arts probably won’t inflict significant damage against the creature in its current state either.

“But isn’t it better than doing nothing? Looking now, in exchange for being hard and gigantic, its movements have slowed considerably. We’ll hold it back, so just give it a shot, you Baek Family bastard.”

At Cheong Kilyeong’s words, Baek Jibong and Baek Sanghwa nodded and stepped back, beginning to recite Incantations.

In the meantime, holding the creature back fell to the two Elders and us.

“He’s a clever one. He might have a hidden move, so be careful.”

“Don’t worry. This Hwang Cheolho is not so easily dealt with!”

Continuously and boldly evading the legs stamping the ground, Hwang Cheolho began targeting the area around Bikang’s eyes.

It seemed he had decided that if he couldn’t inflict damage, he would at least try to make things troublesome.

‘…They certainly have good sense.’

The title of Elder and their experience are quite helpful in such situations.

Arietta and I assisted Hwang Cheolho’s movements, aiming at the creature’s eyes and wildly firing Art Formulas.

[You despicable bastards!]

As Bikang lifted several legs and stamped the ground at once, the surrounding earth shook, and dust obscured our vision.

And I intuitively realized. That it was trying to catch us off guard and unleash a trump card.

“Keuseundae! Sorisoe!”

[Groooh!]

In response to my shout, Keuseundae began charging forward, and Sorisoe instantly offered its back to me and chased after it.

[Can’t pay attention. Stick well on your own.]

“No worries.”

Thwump!

Thwump-thwump!*

Evading the stalks continuously erupting from the ground, Arietta and I, riding on Sorisoe’s back, reached the front of the creature in an instant.

And sure enough, we could confirm Bikang’s form, having gathered tremendous Spectral Energy and deploying some kind of Art Formula.

To deceive our eyes, it had been repeating powerful but simple attacks until now, waiting for the perfect timing.

[This bastard, how on earth…!]

“You were trying too hard to hide it, so it became obvious.”

Compared to us, who could protect and assist each other, Bikang had to accept an extremely brief opening to unleash a powerful move.

Blinding our vision by deliberately making a big attack was part of that intent.

To me, who knows most of its tricks anyway, the underlying thought was clearly conveyed.

And seizing the opportunity, I quietly used its own Art Formula against it, driving in a decisive blow.

“Self-Jade Heaven’s Trample.”