Mistake (1)

Crack!

Jing Daram’s body continued to mutate.

The source of power was the cubic gem embedded in the center, the Soul Stone.

‘…Damn. This is getting complicated.’

If the [Demon Stone] was a doping tool used to forcibly control demonic beasts, manipulate demonic energy, or amplify its power…

Then the Soul Stone was a device used to summon higher beings.

Simply put, it was far more dangerous.

‘…But.’

Now that I looked at it closely…
Its purity was far lower than I expected.
The demonic energy spreading from it was weak…

‘Almost like a fake…’

Wait, a fake?

‘…Could it be a replica?’

There was a side story in ‘GAL’ about this.

An attempt to mimic the power of the Soul Stone, creating an imitation.
Then using it in a crude effort to summon a Demon King.

‘But…’

That had always ended in failure.

At that moment, an overwhelming force surged through Jing Daram’s body.

The sheer intensity of it made me frown instinctively.

The <Chimera Griffon> had returned to Jing Daram before I knew it.

With a loud flap of its wings, it circled around her.

‘…What exactly are they trying to do?’

The massive wave of power soon began to merge Jing Daram and the <Chimera Griffon> into one.

As if drawn to each other, ferocious demonic energy surged.

My expression hardened at the sight.

Could it be…?

‘Are they trying to fuse?’

I shook my head.

Impossible.

In reality, numerous criminal clans, including <Tartarus>, attempted to create a new type of <Demon> called <Fusion-type Demon>.

Theoretically, combining the powerful physical abilities of a demonic beast with the intelligence of a demon would create a higher species.

This further led to attempts to transform the <Fusion-type Demon> itself into a new ‘Demon King’.

To conclude, it was impossible.

Both the demon beasts and demons self-destructed.

And a Demon King could not be created either.

A Demon King wasn’t something that could be artificially made in the first place. They were transcendental beings that came into existence because their very souls were on a completely different level from the start.

They were entities that had gained self-awareness from exalted realms.

They were chosen ones capable of displaying their powers.

Just copying their bodies wouldn’t make it work.

I relaxed a little.
They would end up self-destructing on their own.

However…

Such thoughts were…

“Kuhaha! We did it. It worked! It’s a success!!! That woman was right! If we borrow her power—her divine power—it really is possible!!!”

…was completely shattered by the result that had unfolded before my eyes.

“…Damn.”

The creature’s body distinctly reflected the unique features of the Chimera Griffon.

A bipedal monster.

A wolf’s head and an eagle’s head protruded from each of its shoulders.

The wings on its back flapped.

It looked too heavy to fly, but sturdy enough to serve as a kind of protective wall.

At the very center of its head, a mass of flesh writhed.

A sickening squelching sound echoed as Jing Daram’s face emerged.

It was like a small boil had appeared on a giant bodybuilder’s body.

Still, with one eye grotesquely enlarged, Jing Daram let out a laugh filled with ecstasy.

“This, this is exactly… The power I searched so desperately for!”

“Wh-what, a fusion of a demon beast and a human…?”
“…What has she become now? A monster? A demon beast? A demon?”
“I-I don’t know… it’s disgusting…”

Fearful and disgusted murmurs could be heard.

I listened to everything with my ears, while my eyes were fixed on Jing Daram.

A cold sensation crept up my spine.
I swallowed dryly.

‘…Damn it.’

She hadn’t become a Demon King, that much was obvious.

If she had reached the level of a true Demon King, the Information Window would have gone berserk, and everyone here—including me—would have died on the spot.

No, this was simply the birth of a new species—a Fusion-type Demon.

‘That alone is already a major threat, though…’

<Existential Evolution>.
Originally, a term that should only apply to monsters was now used for a person.

This meant that Jing Daram was no longer human.

‘Everything has changed.’

I realized it immediately.

The story had twisted.

In the ‘GAL’ I knew, this outcome would have been impossible.

‘…Hah.’

I had expected this.
The moment I stepped in and started interfering,
I knew a day would come when the outcome would change.
A day when my knowledge would become useless.

Originally, Jing Daram was just a minor <Villain> who would meet an insignificant end.

In Choi Mari’s personal story, she showed envy and eventually fell into <Demonic State>, which was a similar gist.

But even after becoming a demon, her potential was still pathetic, so in the end, she could do nothing and was arrested and taken away… it concluded as a kind of comedic episode.

‘I have to accept it.’

But this was different.
Not anymore.
Jing Daram had now become a genuine threat.

The sheer energy radiating from her was more than enough to kill everyone present.

Crackle!

Fine. I get it.

So… what?

‘What does that matter?’

I moved like lightning.

The [Fearless Agility] and [Reckless Dash] coursing through my legs made it possible.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I swung my sword down at Jing Daram’s face.

I deliberately slashed at her eye, cutting off her vision.

“Kyahhhhh!”
“Noisy.”

Slash!

A relentless barrage of sword strikes. Screams.
The black blood unique to demonic beasts splattered across my body, but I paid it no mind.

My entire body was drenched in blood, to the point where it was hard to tell who the real monster was, yet I didn’t stop.

‘Focus.’

The reason I had grown stronger.

The reason I had sought out countless fortuitous encounters, acquired various skills, and continued to climb higher.

It was for this moment.

For my comrades.

To eliminate any threat that could endanger my people.

My resolve burned fiercely.

‘Don’t worry.’

Now and always, as long as I existed in this world, I would never allow such great evil to run rampant.

The relentless assault continued.

The unique red lightning of the [Overlord Sword Technique] swirled, and within it, the emblem of the <Kappa Rhino> shone.

It was evidence that the [Adrenaline Booster (P)] had reached 100% speed.

My movement, which instantly increased by 200%, seamlessly transitioned into the [Saint’s Sword].

The [Saint’s Sword] emitted an exceptionally intense holy power.

One of its options—the 50% power increase against <Demons and Evil>—was manifesting its strength.

It was at that moment.

Jing Daram, who had been completely overwhelmed, suddenly let out a monstrous shriek.

“You bastard!!!”

A shockwave erupted.
My body was hurled backward against my will.

During that brief moment, Jing Daram managed to partially regenerate one of her eyes and glared at me.

I clicked my tongue.

I had forgotten to unleash the [Holy Slash] while lost in thought.

‘It’s fine.’

I just had to charge back in and land it.

That was what I thought…

Until I saw what Jing Daram did next.

My eyes widened in shock.

’Crazy…’

It was the ‘GAL’ skill pattern I was so familiar with, just by looking at it.

Jing Daram mimicked it exactly.

‘No way…?’

A small suspicion.
Which quickly turned into undeniable reality.

When Jing Daram hit the ground, the area shook briefly.

Bang!

Just behind me—right next to Divine Light Garam and Choi Mari…

A massive black obelisk, about four meters tall, shot up from the ground.

Rumble!

The obelisk, tightly bound with chains, clearly boasted an incredible strength just by looking at it.

“…What on earth is that?”
“…My goodness.”

Choi Mari voiced her doubt, while Divine Light Garam let out a gasp mixed with astonishment.

As a third-year and fitting the title of <Mother Superior>, she seemed to have experience dealing with S-class monsters, which were considered a national disaster level.

She recognized it instantly.

“Junior Seha, is that perhaps… the [Mark of Corruption]?!”
“Yes, it is!”

From the obelisk, a dark, ominous light spread outward in a circular wave.

A shockwave.
An inescapable, guaranteed attack.

“Ahhh!”
“Wh-what is this…!”
“Ugh… I feel nauseous.”

“Cough…”

Everyone, including myself, started bleeding from the mouth.

Very faintly, I realized that my body was slowing down.

It was unmistakably evidence that the [Weakness] debuff had been activated.

“Damn it…”

The [Mark of Corruption] is typically an object-type pattern skill.

A skill that could only be used by bosses of a certain level.

Its effect included the annoying [Wave of Malice] attack, which was almost impossible to dodge periodically, and <Random Debuff>.

On top of that, the obelisk itself was absurdly durable, meaning that the only viable solution was to defeat the boss outright. A truly cheat skill.

“Cough. Gasp!”

At first glance, it seemed like a completely unfair, bullshit ability, but every skill in GAL had a countermeasure. That was one of its fundamental principles.

“Senior Mari…! Heal!”
“Meeep?! O-okay, Hea–”
“No! Not me—the obelisk!”

At my shout, Jing Daram and Divine Light Garam flinched.

Jing Daram’s expression screamed, ‘How the hell does he know that?!’
Meanwhile, Divine Light Garam’s face lit up with admiration, ’As expected of you, Junior!’

Hearing my words, Choi Mari didn’t hesitate. She cast Heal directly on the obelisk.

“[Heal]!”

Flaaash!

The once-black obelisk…

Turned halfway white.

Choi Mari instinctively knew she needed to cast it again and infused her holy power into it.

The obelisk fully transformed into a bright white pillar, and the Information Window flared wildly.

[Mark of Corruption] followed a standard “heal gauge” mechanic.

A fixed pattern that required bringing a <Healer> class.

‘Of course…’

One cleanse wouldn’t be enough.

“M-Meep, Meep?! Meeeeeep!!!”

The obelisk started turning black again.

No problem.

At least now, Choi Mari understood her role.

“Senior Mari. Please help! Senior Divine Light Garam, assist us as well!”
“Meep! Yes!”
“Cough… Leave it to me, Junior Seha!”

The immediate danger was averted…

But judging by the look on Jing Daram’s face, she was absolutely furious.

Gathering demonic energy throughout her body, she let out a piercing shriek from the grotesque face embedded in her chest.

“You really think… I’ll let this slide?!!!”

The shadow beneath her feet stretched outward.

With a wet, slithering texture, two shadow clones emerged, identical in form to the original.

It was a Unique-grade skill called [Puppet of the Dark Veil].

‘Troublesome…’

Using the [Mark of Corruption], summoning clones, and on top of that, she was a bruiser-type fighter?

She wasn’t quite an S-rank yet, but her combat patterns were already on par with one.

“Go! Hurry and go! Peel off that detestable Choi Mari and the Mother Superior’s scalp!!!”

At Jing Daram’s command, the two clones charged simultaneously.

‘…Stay calm.’

Though it was an urgent situation, my mind cooled as if doused with cold water.

I prioritized quick situation assessment and mechanical precision.

Soon, a conclusion was reached.

‘There’s no one else but me.’

There was no one else who could deal damage to Jing Daram.

Furthermore, she had just become a <Fusion-type Demon>.

This was when she would be at her weakest—if there was ever a time to take her down, it was now.

‘So it’s correct for me to focus on the main body.’

In that case…

“Seniors!! Please block them!”

At my shout, the second-year seniors got into position.

“Of course!”
“Has everyone recovered their strength? Grab your weapons, all of you!”
“Dear God, please bless these poor lambs!”
“If a junior is fighting so hard, there’s no way we seniors will just sit back!”

The remaining six nuns rushed forward to clash with the clones.

No, correction.

To be precise, there were five.

The last one was someone I had designated for a different task.

“You there, senior with black hair!”
“…Huh? Are you calling me?”

The black-haired senior in a veil flinched at my call.

Considering the equipment she was holding and the [Shield of Light] I saw earlier, I instinctively knew she was definitely of the <Templar> class.

While not fit for a main tank, she had the potential to serve as a sub-tank.

At the same time, she was the only <Tank> class among the remaining nuns.

‘I need to distribute them well.’

There were two clones.

The others could hold off one, but the other would go straight for Choi Mari.

If Choi Mari couldn’t heal, the [Mark of Corruption] would reach full capacity and trigger continuously.

‘Think.’

Analyze.
Calculate.

[Strategy] was a subject I excelled at.
My test scores had always been solid.
All I had to do was apply that knowledge here.

‘Just like in GAL…’

I had to treat them like characters in the game and act accordingly.

“Senior! You’re the only one with the [Taunt] skill. You need to protect Senior Choi Mari! Block it!”

“…B-but I’m not… a main tank—”

“You must!”

It’s okay!

“From what I can see, you’re in great condition! You can handle this!”

Trust me…

“Raise your shield!”