Chapter 6: Wizard and the Hunt!

The possibility not only exists, it's quite large.

When I saw that the level-9 extraordinary being hiding in the corner was indeed a 【Hunter】.

Ta Ke felt reassured.

I often go out during the Ash Night; I never expected to really be targeted.

Ta Ke rubbed his brow.

Being targeted by this level-9 Hunter isn't a problem.

But the hidden matter behind it is the trouble.

No matter what, only when you're full can you have the strength to solve the problem.

At this moment, the Black Horn beef bread soup was brought up.

Ta Ke first took a sip of the thick soup, then lowered his head to enjoy the meal.

As the hot soup entered his stomach, Ta Ke then felt his body gradually warm up.

About half an hour later.

After eating and drinking his fill, he also let the Crimson Flame bracers absorb enough heat by the tavern's fireplace.

Ta Ke then got up and walked outside.

And this time.

The Hunter in stealth silently followed behind.

Last time, I and Carlos were two people, so this guy didn't dare to act.

Seeing me alone, you came up?

My previous self could have pressed down and beaten you, this level-9 Hunter.

Now I... can scatter your ashes in a split second.

On the desolate street.

Feeling the Hunter's trail about twenty meters behind me.

While strolling leisurely, Ta Ke opened his attribute panel.

【Extraordinary Sequence】

Wizard: Level 9.

……

【Extraordinary Talent】

Precision (S-rank): 478%.

……

【Extraordinary Spells/Abilities】

Spirit Touch Perception (Ability): Level 9.

Bullet Tentacles: Level 9.

Blood Thorn Vines: Level 9.

Source Scale Shield: Level 9.

Fire Oil Technique: Level 9.

Wind-Striding Sprint: Level 9.

…………

Normally, raising the level of extraordinary spells/abilities is difficult.

Many level-9 extraordinary beings usually have their spells and abilities only at level 4 or 5.

Even the 'sequence ability' attached to one's extraordinary sequence is usually only level 6 or 7.

And Ta Ke, using the system's continuously flowing 'source energy experience'.

He had long since upgraded all of his wizard abilities and spells to level 9.

This is precisely why Ta Ke is stronger than other level-9 extraordinary beings.

Bullet Tentacles, a single precise hit could probably take his life on the spot.

Hmm... let's first try the Blood Thorn Vines.

Blood Thorn Vines, while the control ability is strong, but... the attack motion is slightly slow, and the efficiency of entangling and lashing is not high enough.

Against a nimble guy, its effect is basically zero.

Now with the S-rank extraordinary talent boost, let's test it on that Hunter.

……

Under the desolate moonlight.

【Hunter】 Nelson, following along the wall corner of the low earthen hut.

In the form of stealth camouflage, he followed the young wizard like a nimble leopard.

To ensure the other wouldn't notice him, Nelson deliberately kept a distance.

Very young.

Earlier, I was discussing something about a forbidden area with another assassin, hehe...

Nelson showed a slight smile.

These young folks have nothing but treasures, ruins, and forbidden zones on their minds.

Really... childish!

One strike!

Nelson's eyes burst forth with a fierce light.

Such a young, fantasy-filled wizard only needs one strike.

"Moreover, it's a strike without any pain."

Seeing the wizard turn into the alley.

Nelson quickened his pace.

The opportunity has arrived.

Just entered the alley.

Nelson's steps suddenly froze.

Only to see.

The young wizard in a gray robe bathed in moonlight, calmly looking at himself.

And the blood-colored magical aura was already nearing its end.

"Oh no!"

The hunter's sense of smell made Nelson's vigilance instantly max out.

He was all too familiar with the shift between hunter and prey.

Nelson rolled backward at an unimaginable angle.

At the same time, on the low wall Nelson had relied on, a ripple of blood-colored light appeared, and a vine bristling with thorny barbs emerged.

"Vine wizardry?"

Catching sight of that vine wizardry, Nelson's heart skipped.

"Just this?"

The wizard's earlier performance had genuinely exceeded Nelson's expectations, making him quite wary.

And the opponent's move at this moment fell far short of what Nelson had anticipated.

Such slow-moving vines would have absolutely no effect against a hunter.

I thought he was an expert, but he turns out to be a novice.

"Perhaps I should roll forward instead of retreating backward."

Having just landed from a backward roll, Nelson immediately sprang forward.

Nelson needed to correct his earlier mistake, close the distance to that wizardry, and end the fight quickly.

Just as Nelson leapt high, his jump's arc in the moonlight was about to trace a perfect trajectory.

"Whoosh—"

A sharp, piercing sound of tearing air rang out.

"What?"

Before Nelson could even react,

A sharp pain shot through his left calf.

His perfect leap was violently yanked toward the ground.

"A muffled 'thud'."

Nelson's face made intimate contact with the cold ground, and his nosebleed wouldn't stop.

Painful groans echoed in the moonlight as he struggled.

Inside the alley.

Watching the unfortunate hunter, Taku let out a light breath.

"The S-rank precision boost to the vine… seems kinda huge!"

"The casting process, however, was normal."

"But once formed, the blood-thorn vine is completely different."

Taku recalled the blood-thorn vine's pattern and trajectory from just moments ago.

"The blood-thorn vine followed the opponent's trajectory, erupted in a projectile, perfectly hit, and simultaneously wrapped around."

"Lock on, strike, entrap—all in one fluid motion."

"The precision trait is perfectly manifested on the vine itself."

Taku's eyes narrowed slightly.

"The originally sluggish vine."

"Instantly turned into a frenzied 'Devil Vine'."

"No… this is even more terrifying than the advanced wizardry 'Devil Vine'."

"S-rank transcendent talent—no wonder the rumors are beyond description; this is truly overpowered."

After a simple test of the blood-thorn vine, Taku redirected his gaze onto the hunter.

Painful moans, desperate struggle.

No matter how you look at it, he seems on the verge of death.

"Pathetic acting!"

For a hunter with disguise ability, Taku wouldn't believe even a bit of it.

Under Taku's precision vision, one could see that the hunter wasn't just playing dead; he also had the trajectory for a counterattack.

"You like playing dead, huh!"

With a single motion, Taku unleashed the blood-thorn vine wizardry again.

The hunter, who had been on the brink of death, sprang up instantly.

The pain just now was half real, half feigned.

The goal was to lure that wizard into taking the bait.

Who would have thought that the wizard not only didn't take the bait, but instead intensified, once again employing vine magic.

Naersun wasted half a day for nothing, letting that damn vine suck a lot of his blood.

"I hate these long-range casters; they fight like men."

The rebounding Naersun let out a furious roar, completely unlike his earlier dying state.

He fiercely brought down his hunting blade on the vine coiled around his calf.

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out.

Naersun's hunting blade flew from his hand, his whole palm going numb from the shock.

"Clang——"

The hunting blade fell to the ground, and a second vine promptly coiled around Naersun's right leg.

At that moment, Naersun, hearing the echo of the blade hitting the ground, was completely dumbfounded.

"How…… is this possible?"

(End of chapter)