Conjoining Sorcerer (8)
Swoosh!!
Through the scattering inferno and fragments of chimeras, the shadows of Lennok and the Conjoining Sorcerer overlapped.
Lennok accelerated by detonating flames from his knees, elbows, and shoulder blades.
The Conjoining Sorcerer’s green surgical gown fluttered as he received Lennok’s punch barehanded.
Pababababak!!
Before either side’s sorcery could fully intervene, close-quarters combat came first.
A brutal exchange of martial skill, hard to believe belonged to high-ranking sorcerers, battered their bodies.
Every time their arms tangled and twisted, flames and flesh exploded outward.
Crack!!
Twisting his wrist, Lennok trapped the Sorcerer’s forearm and slammed an elbow into his shoulder.
He slipped beneath the descending arm, struck his side, and kicked his knee.
The instant the Sorcerer lost balance and his hand missed Lennok, instead striking the flesh-covered wall—
Piiiiing!!
The swollen mass of flesh exploded and spilled viscous fluid everywhere.
[Ueeeh... eeeeh...]
The wailing chimeras opened their mouths wide and drank the fluid raining down from above.
The Sorcerer glanced at Lennok and smiled.
“So you knew? That Conjoining Sorcery has to be performed barehanded without surgical tools?”
Lennok steadied himself and replied.
“For someone saying that, you never seemed interested in hiding it.”
Despite being extremely careful to avoid the Sorcerer’s touch, the Wheel-Still Barriers he had erected were already tattered.
Skin contact was inevitable during hand-to-hand combat.
Even without being struck by a completed spell, the barriers were already struggling to endure.
‘The spell itself is dangerous, but his combat skill is even more absurd.’
Yet what truly shocked Lennok was the Sorcerer’s mastery of close combat.
After observing Daolai’s martial arts in Yorta, Lennok’s own close-range combat ability was far from poor.
Though not perfected into a complete discipline, his instincts and tactical sense ensured he would never be easily outmatched.
And yet the Conjoining Sorcerer somehow maintained balance against him in pure physical combat.
An 8th-level Trait-type sorcerer and surgeon.
Yet he had achieved comparable mastery in martial combat as well.
“You’re skilled. The more I learn, the more astonishing you become.”
The Sorcerer rolled his wrist as he stepped forward.
“When I first brought you into my Territory, your body was nowhere near capable of fighting like this.”
Even without receiving the clone’s examination data, he had estimated Lennok’s condition after only a few encounters.
“I can guess your methods. The medication from the operating room. Jindun’s barrier arts. Flame-Heat magic enhancing acceleration, propulsion, and control...”
His gaze deepened.
“The very fact that you combine spells in that way proves you’ve fought with handicaps for a long time. So you’ve known about your body’s condition for years.”
“Finished with your fantasies?”
“Why someone with a body like yours became accustomed to fighting. Why you refuse to avoid battle despite everything...The more I see, the more curious I become.”
Thud!
The Sorcerer seized the head of a nearby chimera wandering aimlessly around the Gate entrance.
“Simply by inspiring such curiosity in me, you have become one of the finest research subjects I have ever encountered.”
Trait-Type Unique Sorcery
Property Transformation Heterozygous Conjunction
[Ghost Fusion]
Kiiiiing!!
Two chimeras touched by the Sorcerer instantly fused together.
[Kyaaaaaaah...!!]
The twisted flesh spun within his hand.
The next moment, it transformed into a giant chimera over several meters tall and charged at Lennok.
[UOOOOOOO!!]
BOOM!!
Its blunt, fingerless fist smashed into the ground.
The resulting shockwave crushed nearby chimeras to death.
A streak of flame raced across the corridor covered in blood and slime.
[Complete Combustion]
Fwoosh!!
The giant flesh construct became engulfed in fire.
[Incineration]
The several-meter-tall chimera turned to ashes in a single strike.
Whoosh!!
“Excellent firepower. Your ignition speed is much faster than the Tower Lord’s.”
Crack crack crack!!
The Sorcerer’s calm voice echoed intermittently among the chimera horde.
“Then shall we begin with a group battle this time?”
Moving around the lobby at incredible speed, he unleashed Conjoining Sorcery repeatedly.
At the same time, chimeras throughout the area twisted and fused, becoming horrifying monsters.
[Aaaaaaaah...!!]
It took only eight seconds to convert hundreds of transport chimeras into combat units.
Dozens of gigantic monsters with monstrous jaws and tremendous strength charged at Lennok simultaneously.
Crunch!!
Avoiding a giant worm attempting to bite off his ankle, Lennok kicked off the information desk and leapt upward.
Flame wings spread from his waist.
He accelerated in short bursts measured in fractions of a second.
The pursuing chimeras were blown back by explosive flame shockwaves.
[KROOOOOOO!!]
Pterosaur-like chimera descended from above.
Lennok fired miniature flame spheres at them.
Dozens of brilliant arcs of fire streaked across the air before he landed atop a Gate checkpoint sign.
Craaack!!
The falling sign crushed the writhing flesh beneath it.
[AAAAAAAH!!]
Chimeras piled atop one another and wildly swung their arms toward him.
“Hoo...”
Lennok inhaled deeply from his cigar.
The moment he raised his mana and exhaled downward—
[Heavenly Breath]
Kuwaaaaaaah!!
A torrent of scorching fire erupted from his breath and swept across the ground.
Beside the burning chimeras, spears of flesh stabbed toward him.
Chimeras wielding axes, hammers, and spearheads attacked at terrifying speed.
Whoosh!!
Lennok detonated flames from his side.
Using the recoil, he twisted away.
Stepping on a flesh hammer aimed at his waist, he bent his knee and unfolded his flame wings.
Baaang!!
Lennok’s figure shot diagonally along the living wall of the operating room.
[Flame Step]
[Stepping Traverse]
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!!!!
The wall he stepped on erupted into flames.
The living flesh burned rapidly.
Lennok circled the first-floor lobby walls, setting everything ablaze.
Unable to endure the burns, the entire operating room trembled violently.
Whoosh!!
A serpent-shaped chimera lashed out like a whip and blocked his path.
Standing atop the serpent, the Conjoining Sorcerer accelerated in a blur and instantly appeared before Lennok.
Both swung their arms simultaneously.
Conjoining Sorcery Activation
[Bedsores]
[Construct Flame]
BOOOOOOM!!!
Their hands crossed in midair, grazing each other’s forearms.
Crack!!
The Wheel-Still Barrier around Lennok’s arm shattered merely from contact.
His sleeve ripped apart.
Dark bruises spread across his skin.
The instant contact was made, blood within his arm had fused and coagulated, causing internal congestion.
Yet despite successfully striking Lennok, the Sorcerer could not smile.
Fwoooooosh!!
His own right arm had turned black and was burning.
The sleeve of his surgical robe disintegrated.
His ruined arm hung limply.
Looking at his charred hand, the Sorcerer spoke.
“That hurts. Quite a lot, actually. Even with the anesthetics constantly circulating through my body, it hurts this much. Anyone without fire resistance would be completely incapacitated.”
“If you understand your opponent’s intentions, even a difficult technique eventually presents an opportunity.”
Lennok smiled as healing flames melted away the bruising on his arm.
“You’ve been desperate to touch me this entire time.”
Construct Flame was a close-range Flame-Heat spell specialized entirely for point-blank firepower projection.
Its casting speed was nearly instantaneous.
Its power rivaled high-tier magic.
Alongside Offset Lightning, it was one of Lennok’s favorite spells.
Though it required extreme proximity to reach maximum effectiveness, his combat instincts easily compensated for that weakness.
Even against someone as powerful as the Conjoining Sorcerer, the right circumstances guaranteed a hit.
“Well, that’s true.”
The Sorcerer admitted it without hesitation.
Standing atop the serpent chimera, he turned around.
Retying the straps of his burned surgical robe, he spoke.
“You possess the most diversified potential of any specimen I’ve acquired. Wouldn’t it be fascinating to see how your aptitude might be ‘conjoined’ if struck by my sorcery? My spell works on living and nonliving things alike. But I find it far more valuable as research when used on living beings.”
[Kiiiiiii!!]
The Sorcerer grabbed another chimera.
Its flesh reshaped like clay in his hands.
He plastered it over his ruined right arm and restored himself.
“But it certainly isn’t easy. Considering you bear the title Apostle Slayer, it’s no surprise you’re skilled in battle. But you seem to have more hidden abilities than expected. Flame-Heat magic. Barrier arts. Elemental affinity that responds even to innate abilities. Martial arts combined with Substitute Incantation. A combat style born from four or more different disciplines and powers...”
Rumble!!
At the Sorcerer’s gesture, the ceiling of the enormous first-floor lobby slowly split apart.
A vertical passage opened through the flesh ceiling.
“You seem to be deliberately limiting your output in order to study my abilities.”
The Sorcerer looked down expressionlessly.
“But from now on, you should be careful. If you keep holding back, you may die before showing the full extent of your potential.”
“That’s not a concern I need to hear from you.”
Crunch!!
Lennok burned a chimera corpse with a flick of fire.
“How long do you think you can hide behind these crude chimeras?”
“You’re right.”
The Sorcerer nodded.
“That’s why it’s time to change the materials.”
“What?”
Rumbleeeee!!
A powerful vibration echoed from beyond the opening in the ceiling.
Something was rolling downward.
Before Lennok could react—hundreds of chimeras came crashing down.
KWAAAAAANG!!
[Ueeeeeeek...!!]
[Kuhahaah!!]
These were completely different from the ones before.
Combat chimeras.
Their bodies were covered in hardened carapaces and blades.
Modified monsters overflowing with murderous intent.
KWAAAAAAA!!
The flood of flesh descended directly over Lennok’s head.
There were so many that the falling bodies completely covered the giant skull at the far end of the lobby.
“Hoo...!!”
Lennok inhaled sharply.
Flames ignited between his hands.
[Ignition]
[Crimson Lotus Second Form]
Fwoosh!!
He painted arcs of fire through the air.
A magic circle of flame formed instantly.
Grabbing it with one hand, he swung it.
KWAAAAAANG!!
The explosion split into dozens of crimson beams.
They rotated outward.
Piercing and burning through the falling chimera horde.
[Kyaaaaaaah!!]
Chimeras screamed as they burned.
Yet every gap was immediately filled by more.
Clicking his tongue, Lennok accelerated again.
The Sorcerer immediately exploited the opening.
BANG!!
His shoulder slammed into Lennok.
The impact cracked the barrier and shattered his balance.
Strength impossible for someone of his build.
Had he enhanced himself using chimeras?
There was no time to consider it.
KWAKWAKWAKWAANG!!
Dodging wave after wave of falling monsters, Lennok raced through the burning lobby.
His body streaked upward in flames.
Shockwaves exploded around him.
The Curtain shook violently.
Stardust scattered everywhere.
Tudududung!!
Hundreds of flesh masses blocked his path and crashed onto the Long-Lived’s skull.
Like fresh flesh grafting itself onto dead bones, the chimeras crawled over the remains.
[Flesh Advance Crimson]
[Devouring Disaster Wall]
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!!
With a single gesture, Lennok reduced the falling flesh to ashes.
A wall of fire prevented the chimeras from approaching.
Anything that touched the flames evaporated instantly.
Crimson light flashed amid the rain of flesh.
Desperate screams echoed as chimeras burned away.
[Grrrrrrr...!!]
[Gulk! Gulk!!]
But the number falling from the ceiling exceeded the number Lennok destroyed.
Eventually even the light of his endless explosions became buried beneath the mountain of flesh.
An almost limitless tide of bodies.
Possible only inside a Life Territory capable of mass-producing chimeras.
“Haha...!!”
Stepping on the heads of chimeras to accelerate, the Sorcerer charged toward the place where Lennok had been buried.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each footstep exploded a chimera’s skull and increased his momentum.
The green-robed figure surpassed the speed of sound.
Screeeeeech!!
His blurred form spun halfway through the air and crashed into the flesh mountain.
At that moment, the surrounding chimeras moved aside and opened a path.
Sluuuurp!!
The compressed mass parted.
Revealing Lennok buried inside.
The Sorcerer’s left palm struck directly into Lennok’s solar plexus.
“Spell activation.”
DOOOOOONG!!
A tremendous shockwave exploded from Lennok’s back.
The surrounding chimeras were blasted away.
“...Cough.”
Lennok’s shoulders shook violently.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
The Conjoining Sorcerer approached slowly, one arm bent as though supporting Lennok’s chest.
“I conjoin every blood vessel and organ within your body. Metabolism. Basic life functions. Everything is destroyed from the foundation upward.”
“...”
“The moment I landed a single successful hit, the outcome was already decided. I prepared dozens of ways to exploit openings and twist your thoughts, but...”
The Sorcerer looked down at the trembling Lennok.
“It no longer matters. Now I only need to consider how I shall ruin the potential inside your body and—”
His words abruptly stopped.
Blood erupted from deep within his own body.
It ran down his lips.
Not fatigue.
Not battle damage.
Something far more fundamental.
His organs twisted.
His intestines tore apart.
Pain so severe that even anesthetics could not suppress it.
The Sorcerer’s face twisted.
“You... the spell...”
“So if your spell lands once, you win?”
Lennok wiped the blood from his mouth and slowly stood up.
“That only applies when you successfully designate me as the target of your Conjoining Sorcery.”
“...”
“The backlash when the designated target disappears. You told me yourself how severe that backlash can be.”
Lennok smiled coldly.
“Let’s find out how well you can endure it yourself.”
At that moment—the entire left side of the Conjoining Sorcerer’s upper body crumpled like clay.
And exploded.
BOOOOOOM!!!