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The black magic stood as a barrier. Even in front of the terrifyingly large wall of magic, the wolf did not stop.

[When the lightning strikes, your breath will stop]

―Third spell chanting. The magic had still not manifested. At least, it indicated a chant of four verses or more. When the Silent Mouth waved its remaining hand, the black magic undulated like the waves of the night sea. Just as if it were about to engulf the wolf, the night sea transformed into a sea of fire.

“……!”

The burning flames stood firm against the magic. Although it didn’t reach, the mist began to slither and infiltrate.

Slithering in, and yet further slithering. The wolf, pushing its magic to the limit, finally squeezed its head through, its eyes turning red. When faced with the crimson glare, the Silent Mouth felt, for a brief moment, that it was being overpowered.

A pure killing intent, a fiery menace whispered into the ears of the Silent Mouth. ―That it would kill it. That it wouldn’t miss.

Again, and again.

―Amidst the horrific killing intent, the Silent Mouth sneered. So what? It was just a puppet anyway. No matter how many times it died, it could just make another fake body.

Therefore, for it, killing intent felt just like mere killing intent.

Breaking through the wall of magic, the wolf’s jaws lunged forward. The wizard’s hand clamped firmly onto the jaw that was about to open.

[You know nothing! You see only the trees and not the forest, you foolish ones!]

As the wizard’s magic resonated, their gazes crossed while looking into each other’s eyes. In the reflection of each other’s pupils was nothing but the determination to kill.

[The silent lightning takes everything]

Fervor— the madness of the wizard’s faith. Even after completing the four-verse spell, the magic still had not manifested.

‘Great Magic…!’

However, it did not reveal its form like a dark cloud. Now only the final spell chanting remained. The Silent Mouth added more strength into the grip holding the wolf’s jaw.

[Tsk. What a waste of time… just die already, you pathetic bug]

The black magic was gathering at the fingertips, enhancing the grip. Moreover, the entire body of the wolf, which had forcibly wedged itself through the wall, was rotting. Decaying and dying, yet the wolf’s eyes still shone.

[……!]

―The unyielding killing intent displayed in the wolf’s gaze indicated that it had not given up. However, being battered by the black magic, it was already close to death. But, the fact that the wolf had forced its way inside meant that some space had been created.

Through that gap, mist seeped in.

―It takes time for the mist to penetrate the magic. However, if there’s already a hole, it means that the magic cannot stop the black magic. The space wedged in at last—the black mist that penetrated wrapped around the wizard and advanced towards them. Tentacles and shadows ensnared the wizard’s feet, preventing any movement. Additionally, the raging flames began to engulf the Silent Mouth from the toes up.

[This…!]

Gathering all the magic into one hand, the wolf’s jaw had vanished. The outstretched hand stabbed into the wolf’s eye socket, viciously tearing through its eyeball. Just as the wizard’s black hand aimed to crush the wolf’s skull and reach its brain, the power disappeared from the wizard’s hand. The strength drained from the finger that poked the eye, dangling helplessly in the wolf’s orbit. This was because the encroaching black mist had swallowed the wrist of the Silent Mouth, severing it.

[There, your death was destined, so this thunder will be the last sound you hear―!]

In the rapidly changing situation, the one shouting desperately was enveloped by the black mist. Attempting to blink away, it would not allow that.

‘Baphomet.’

The wolf had already found a clue in that battle. Just as the gray magic of the executioner had blocked the fairy’s teleportation. Only there was a difference between skill and magic. Similarly, unless it could pierce through the enveloping black magic, the magic had nowhere to go.

[You, you bug―!]

This also applied to the final spell chanting. The last spell needed for the magic to manifest was swallowed by the black magic and never emerged.

The black mist invoked silence.

“……!”

With the wolf’s upper and lower jaws unregenerated, instead, it transformed and altered its tentacles. Thorny tentacles—each thorn became a tooth of the wolf.

[―――!]

The beast’s fangs ultimately constricted the wizard’s entire body, piercing, and gnawing away.

[……This, this!]

The wizard had no choices left. The only feasible option was a mutual demise. A self-destruct. Ultimately, the Silent Mouth unleashed all of its magic. Just as it exploded, the powerful magic would sweep everything away. However, even the last means he possessed fell to struggling failure.

Crack—

The sound of something being chewed made the wizard look in disbelief between the wolf’s teeth.

―A glowing red gem. It was the medium he had hidden. The wizard, who unknowingly lowered his head, saw the flowing innards and revealed his fury.

[You, you piece of trash―――!]

A massive magic twirled, ready to explode at any moment, but the wizard could not gather magic and was no match for the wolf.

―Suuuuu.

The black mist, wrapped in a fierce wind, completely covered the Silent Mouth.

[――――――!]

Cornered at the cliff’s edge, the wizard screamed and struggled against the soul-rending agony, while the unleashed magic had exploded, yet―

[Never… never think this is the end―――!]

―He was already falling off the cliff.

With his dying breath, the wizard exploded, and blood and flesh scattered. Ultimately dyeing the jungle, the wolf, who had watched it all, quietly muttered.

“You, don’t think this is just the end.”

―The wolf’s killing intent had not yet settled.

***

Now that the wizard had fallen over the cliff, it was the chance. It was clear that the wolf had won, but its state was not intact. Its entire body was mangled, and its upper and lower jaws were gone.

Normally, it would have died; however, observing from a distance, Kim Joo-seop could see that the wolf had an astonishing regeneration ability. It had to be dealt with before anything else. Perhaps due to exhaustion, that strange mist had diminished.

‘Now is the time…!’

He sensed it was the only opportunity. The pulled bowstring tightened, and Kim Joo-seop closed one eye to align his aim. Just as he was about to release the arrow, he frowned and turned his head.

A fairy-type monster was flying right there.

“……?”

Some, including Euna, had been aware of the presence of a fairy-type monster assisting the wolf, but Kim Joo-seop had not heard. If it were a regular monster, he would have killed it immediately; however, fairy-types were monsters that did not harm humans nor destroy the ecosystem. He wondered why it was in the dungeon, but just like how one wouldn’t kill a slime, there was no need to kill the fairy-type. Thus, he merely brushed it away with magic, but as he saw the fairy-type quickly approaching, he frowned.

With a gesture that reeked of annoyance, as if swatting a fly. With a careless swipe, devoid of any magical energy, the fairy-type fell to the ground.

“……!”

―And then, Kim Joo-seop was immobilized.

“―――.”

A low growl reverberated in his ears, making him swallow dryly. A chill ran down his spine, and goosebumps rose all over him. Instinctively, he screamed both with reason and instinct.

‘If I turn my head now…’

No, if he even moved a single finger, he would ‘definitely’ die. With the heart of a prisoner awaiting judgment, Kim Joo-seop squeezed his eyes shut. Just when…? The wolf had silently taken position behind him. Soon, something eerie swept along his neck, and the wolf’s breathing sounded dozens of times louder.

“Grrr―”

He clearly understood. It was a mistake to have touched the fairy-type. He shouldn’t have done that. While every fiber of his being concentrated on the monster behind him, the fluttering fairy-type entered his view. As it sprinkled glimmering dust, when it passed his eyes, he felt a chilling gaze scanning him.

That brief moment felt like an eternity to him.

Yet, in no time, the wolf turned away. Realizing he was left alone as it walked away, Kim Joo-seop still couldn’t move. Frozen, he took several breaths with a pale face. The relief of being alive was overshadowed by the fear of having nearly died.

Trembling hands conveyed his feelings. ―The wolf had never let down its guard to begin with. It had noticed everything. If he had truly pulled that bowstring?

‘Definitely…’

As he was lost in thought, his hand brushed against his neck, and thick blood oozed out, sending a chill of terror through him, making him suffer in fear. ―Bowing to the fear of death, his heart had crumbled. Cold sweat poured down. …He felt he wouldn’t be able to move for a while.

***

“…….”

Relieved to be alive, he watched Perry rubbing her cheek against her jaw that hadn’t regenerated yet, and he forced a smile. In truth, when he saw Perry attacked, he had truly lost it.

―If it had stayed that way, he would have undoubtedly died.

However, once again, it had saved him. Much like with Hong Yu-ri, filled with worry. It was okay, to not do that.

Exhaling deeply, he closed his eyes. Holding down the insides felt harder than forgiving someone. It seemed as the days went by, Perry was becoming his reverse scale.

Even so, that didn’t feel so bad, and he ended up smiling bitterly.

“Kkyuuuu~”

Perry tugged her ears with her tail, as if asking for something, pointing with her teeth. ―The medium. The Silent Mouth needed it to use puppets. Although he didn’t know how to create it, Perry’s eyes were shining brightly, as if it were the best food ever.

There was no reason not to give it to her, especially since he had run out of food already. As soon as he handed it over, Perry happily grabbed it. She swallowed it in one gulp and pointed somewhere with the tip of her tail.

“Can you feel it?”

Perry nodded, as if telling him to trust her. Where she pointed, below, there was a gigantic crimson monstrosity, engaging in an unstoppable duel with the raid party.

Outwardly, the raid party looked to be at an advantage, but in reality, it was not. Unavoidable fatigue and weariness gradually revealed itself, gripping their ankles. On the other hand, the Juggernaut had no limits to its stamina.

And, according to Perry’s words.

“That means it’s inside there?”

The fleshy giant, the Juggernaut. Inside it was the Silent Mouth, as Perry had said. As he watched her nod, black magic began to emanate from the Juggernaut.

If it were a human. If it were a living organism, it couldn’t possibly endure within the Juggernaut’s body. It would be crushed by the relentless cycle of regeneration, contraction, and expansion.

But it was different for him. The true identity of the Silent Mouth was the former Master of the Yellow Square. A wizard who had transcended humanity, a lich. A monster living through eternal life by shedding its flesh out of obsession with existence.

Also, a fallen wizard whose magic, essence, and life were contained within a life vessel.

Its true form refers to the Life Vessel, the vessel of life containing all aspects of itself.

Having only taken care of a mere puppet, the battle was far from over. The Silent Mouth was still alive within the Juggernaut. Ultimately, if he didn’t defeat it, it would return once again.

‘I won’t let that happen.’

He had resolved to see this through to the end. The wolf sprinted towards the cliff’s edge with all its might.

―To the battlefield where the raid party and the rogue were fighting: Humanity versus the traitor.

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