(EP-299.1) Master #3

299 – Master of the Forest #3

Zzzzzzzzz.

Angala’s massive body was itself a destructive weapon. Just the act of it charging at me forced me to focus all my energy on defense.

─108 Venom Legs Spiral!

Kagagagak!

Sharp, blade-like legs surged toward me.

Was this how a tree felt under a chainsaw’s teeth? Every time its big limbs grazed my body, another layer of my magic shield shattered.

─Saba Magic, Poison Mist.

Puuuuu…

The real problem wasn’t just its immense size. As it claimed to be a spirit or immortal, it was attacking me using various techniques and magic.

Like just now, for example.

Purple smoke billowed out from between its sharp fangs.

Hwaaaaaa!

I instinctively covered my nose and mouth, realizing that breathing it in would spell disaster.

Ssss.

Seeing the surrounding skeletons melt upon contact with the mist, a sense of crisis shot through me like an arrow.

That stuff was seriously potent.

If it weren’t for the Angmar Robe, I would have ended up like that too.

━You’re wearing quite a fine robe, mage.

“……”

I stepped back, trying to put some distance between us.

Angala, who had been rolling her massive body toward me like a set of serrated gears, quivered as she laughed, watching me retreat.

━A wise move. But mages like you can’t cast spells while covering your nose and mouth, can you? So, what will you do now?

This felt like a teacher dealing with a child. It was clear that it wasn’t taking me seriously.

If it were Elga, I probably would have been annoyed and taught her a lesson. But I felt relieved instead.

While the opponent was off guard, there was nothing more effective than exploiting that gap.

A weak spot.

Yes, the weak spot was key. Even though Angala had a body as tough as a rock or diamond, there had to be some kind of vulnerability.

Sususu-.

I carefully observed the massive body coiling around me like a serpent. The gleaming carapace and legs could likely deflect most spells.

Should I aim for the belly?

No, I had tried wind blade magic earlier, and even the underside was as tough as the back. In that case, the face? The head or neck was a basic yet critical weak point.

Whoooosh-!

At that moment, I saw the giant body coiled before springing toward me. The centipede Angala’s head lunged forward, as if wanting to tear me apart with its fangs.

It was like a train charging at full speed, and I knew I had to get out of the way fast. Thankfully, there was a spell I had developed specifically to evade attacks like this.

─Fairy Steps!

Whoosh.

As I chanted in my mind, I imagined my legs wrapped in a breeze, feeling light as though I were wearing winged shoes. Magic was the manifestation of one’s mind—imagination was key.

Fwoosh!

My legs moved as if they had wings, allowing me to backpedal high and fast.

I was momentarily surprised by the sudden lift, but there was no time to linger in such emotions.

Boom!

Angala’s massive head crashed into the spot where I had just been, creating a crater in the ground like a meteor strike. With that, any chance for contemplation vanished in an instant.

Rumble.

━To dodge my fangs. You’re better than I thought.

Compared to the ground torn apart like a child’s sandbox, Angala’s head was unscathed—with no scratches or marks. It was easy to see just how much protection that massive head had.

The head wasn’t it either?

━You’re quite nimble. But all you’re doing is holding your breath. If you keep running, you’ll fall like a leaf in autumn. So, what will you do, mage?

Rumble.

I dodged the fangs and bladed legs, taking cover behind burrows or the roots of giant, ancient trees. But every time, Angala’s relentless body would obliterate my hiding spots without a trace.

My suppressed breathing was reaching its limit, and there were no more places to hide.

Was this the end?

Did Angala have no weaknesses?

… No, that was a foolish thought. Even Solomon, who reached Rank 10 and tore the world asunder, could not defy the fate of death.

No matter how powerful this giant centipede might be, as a living creature, it must have at least one weakness. But before figuring that out, I should probably do something about this poison mist.

Snap.

I snapped my fingers, summoning a gust of wind.

Whooosh—

A whirlwind whipped across the lakeside, sucking up the mist clinging to the damp ground like a vortex. The expanding windstorm collided with the giant centipede Angala.

━Wind, huh? Not the best matchup for me.

Rumble.

Angala coiled its body tightly, shielding itself from the intense vortex. It was then that I noticed something.

The torso injured by Solomon, the severed limb—Angala had hidden that part deep within its coils.

So, that was the weak point.

Instinct could drive one to hide their weakest and most vulnerable parts in times of danger. Even Angala, who had lived for ages, couldn’t escape this natural impulse.

The place where Solomon had inflicted the wound.

If he could do it, so could I!

Once the thought settled, it was best to act swiftly.

“Open chant.”

It would be wise to use the most potent magic I could muster. Here, there were no allies to protect or people to worry about getting caught in the crossfire. I could unleash the highest firepower without restraint.

I envisioned a fierce wind.

A wind powerful enough to shake the world.

─Dragon’s Dance.

Whoooosh—!

At the end of the incantation, a colossal whirlwind appeared.

Edit by: faker