Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 551: The Irregular

CH551 The Irregular

***

The were-croc berserk human slowly turned toward the newly arrived sorcerers.

Unlike the other berserk humans the group had encountered so far, this one displayed a rare clarity of awareness.

It was not driven by blind malice.

Yet its eyes glowed with unmistakable predatory intent.

This wasn’t about blessed versus unblessed. Nor was it purely the berserk property compelling it to attack the uncorrupted.

The gaze in the creature’s eyes was more than that, but also simple.

It was the look of a predator staring down at its prey.

”We don’t have a choice,” Hiro said, shattering any lingering hope of retreat or avoiding the battle. ”We won’t be able to find the right door without first dealing with this being.”

The others stared at the berserk human, solemn apprehension settling across their faces.

”Bring out everything you have,” Hiro continued. ”Don’t hold back your trump cards if you want to leave this place alive.”

The Holy Sons and Holy Daughters were not pleased with his commanding tone.

But they understood. This was no moment for caution or pride.

If they couldn’t trust each other and cooperate fully, then none of them would be leaving this place alive.

Sana of the Anima Sacred Lands reached down and patted the three pouches strapped to her waist.

The pouches opened.

Beams of light shot outward, arcing down before striking the ground in front of her.

From those beams emerged three beasts— magic beasts untouched by, or perhaps resistant to, the berserk corruption.

Beast carrier pouches!

Standing before the petite, tribal-looking woman were a purple-black panther, a flame-red gorilla, and a thin, rope-like forest-green snake.

The snake immediately slipped into the grass and vanished.

Sana vaulted smoothly onto the panther’s back.

The red gorilla stepped forward, placing itself between its summoner and the enemy like a living shield.

Just then, Jin stepped ahead, a grin stretching across his gaunt face.

”Finally,” he muttered. ”Worthy competition.”

His hands blurred as they formed rapid hand seals.

Then—

[Vitality Reversal]!

Mystic energy surged outward from Jin’s navel, flooding through his body and revitalising it.

His withered frame swelled.

Muscle and meat filled the bone, his skin tightened and rejuvenated and his posture straightened.

In seconds, the frail, emaciated figure transformed into a hulking seven-foot man in his physical prime— athletic, powerful, muscles thick with condensed vitality.

The shift was dramatic.

But none of the Chosen Children reacted with surprise.

Vitality Reversal was a signature tempering technique of the Physical Tempering Holy Land.

”I’m going first.”

Despite the disparity in rank, Jin chose to engage head-on— whether brave or reckless was open to interpretation.

He dashed toward the were-croc berserk human at the highest movement speed possible for a Third Circle Sorcerer and threw a punch, pouring his full weight and mystic energy behind the strike.

Boom!

Jin’s eyes flashed in shock.

The berserk human caught the punch effortlessly with an open palm.

Then, before Jin could react, the creature drove a fist into his abdomen.

Jin’s body folded like a shrimp as he was launched into the air.

Yet the displacement was less from the power of the blow and more from Jin’s own movement— he had jumped with the impact to reduce the damage.

Still... the force was undeniable.

Using that brief opening, Jin twisted his trapped hand free from the berserk human’s grip and retreated as quickly as he had advanced.

”Make countermeasures. It is evolved from a power-ty—”

Jin tried to relay information.

But he suddenly felt something blur to his side.

’This speed—’

Boom!

The thought never finished.

The berserk human appeared beside him and backhandedly smacked him across the face, sending the fighter-sorcerer hurtling through the air and grass.

As he was sent flying and rolling across the grass, Jin twisted his body mid-tumble, redirecting the momentum and forcing himself back onto his feet in one fluid motion.

’How is that possible? How can a power-type berserk human be that fast?’ Jin thought.

As if answering his question, the berserk human shifted its posture.

It dropped into a stance resembling a runner’s starting position. The muscles along its thighs tightened visibly.

Then—

Boom!

The were-croc berserk human launched forward like a bullet, closing the distance faster than Jin himself.

’How’s that possible?’

The other Chosen Children found themselves asking the same question.

Normally, berserk humans were heavily biased toward a single attribute— Strength, Agility, or Vitality (or regeneration). The higher they evolved, the more extreme that bias became.

The creature catching Jin’s full-power strike —delivered under Vitality Reversal, a technique that unleashed energy accumulated over some time in a single burst— already proved its monstrous physical strength.

That should have confirmed it as a strength-type.

But the speed it displayed now –the explosive acceleration, the pursuit— that wasn’t merely a strength or muscle-driven movement.

It put the were-croc berserk human in the leagues of Agility-type berserk humans.

Belonging to two natures simultaneously...

That meant only one thing.

’An irregular.’

The conclusion surfaced in every sorcerer’s mind at once.

Yet even as the realisation struck, none of them remained idle.

The berserk human’s punch cut through the air, aimed squarely at Jin’s head— a blow that would certainly tear it off from his shoulders.

Jin watched the incoming fist as if time slowed.

It was too fast, too close, and hence too late to dodge.

’Move!’ he roared inwardly.

But he wouldn’t move out of the punch’s path in time.

Fortunately, someone else moved fast enough to intercept the berserk human before the strike landed.

Shin of the Armament Sacred Land rushed forward, forming hand seals with one hand while gripping his flexible sword with the other.

With the final seal completed, Shin leapt.

He drove his blade theatrically into the ground.

[Trapping Wood Style: Creeping Entanglement]!

Mystic energy surged through the blade and into the earth.

An uncountable number of creeping vines burst from the ground, coiling upward to seize the berserk human’s punching arm and hold it in place.

Roar!

The creature released a low, furious roar and forced the punch forward regardless, determined to take Jin’s head off.

Fortunately, for the sorcerers, the brief instant of restraint bought by Shin’s move was enough.

Jin slipped past the killing blow by a hair.

The punch skimmed his cheek, the residual force scorching skin and driving him several steps back.

The berserk human didn’t relent.

It moved to finish the kill with a swiple of its tail.

But...

[Wailing Grasp]! [Festering Flesh]!

[Ignus Pine]!

Ariana of the Grey School cast two spells at once.

Ghastly hands of darkness clawed out from the ground, gripping the berserk human and locking it in place.

Jin immediately used the opportunity to widen the distance. He could see the binding wouldn’t last longer than a breath so he immediately pulled away.

Before it broke, though, the follow-up landed.

Ariana’s second spell burrowed through the creature’s scaly hide, revealing infected, festering flesh beneath.

At the same moment, Ken’s spell — a flame lance shaped like a pine spearhead — pierced directly into that wound.

A muffled grunt escaped the berserk human.

Ariana and Ken exchanged a sharp look of surprise.

Both spells should have caused far greater damage.

’It also has high resistance against the mystic arts.’

The realisation settled heavily between them.

Before either Ariana or Ken could voice their realisation, the berserk human abruptly abandoned Jin.

Instead, it turned its attention toward the spellcasters. Its wounds healed and closed up.

’It even has regeneration?!’ The sorcerers were aghast.

The berserk human suddenly charged.

”No, you don’t!”

Shin moved instantly, stepping into its path, sword raised to intercept.

But the berserk human’s movement was abnormal.

It used sudden halts and explosive dashes in rapid succession, forcing Shin to misstep. The swordsman lost his footing and fell back onto his heels as the creature slipped past him.

Had Alex been present, one phrase would have surfaced in his mind.

Ankle breaker.

The berserk human left Shin on the ground as it rushed toward its target.

Watching it pass, horror flooded Shin’s thoughts.

’A berserk human... can use footwork techniques?!’

Humiliation burned, but still, he forced himself to react.

Shin drove his sword into the ground.

[Trapping Wood Style: Creeping Entanglement]!

Vines erupted once more, racing across the terrain to halt the berserk human.

The other sorcerers didn’t remain idle as well. Spells flew— some to damage, others to restrain.

This time, it worked.

The berserk human was bound in place by multiple effects— vines, force bindings, and other binding mystic arts layered over one another.

Ariana nearly completed her escape spell.

But at the final instant, the berserk human suddenly opened its jaws.

A spike of condensed and hardened sand –formed in its mouth— fired.

The projectile tore through Ariana’s chest, impaling her heart before the spell could activate.

The creature’s eyes flashed with ruthless clarity as it eliminated what it perceived as the greatest threat.

Silence fell.

The other sorcerers shivered, dread sinking deep into their bones as they watched one of their own —a Holy Daughter equal in status to them— die before their eyes.

Thud.

Her lifeless body struck the ground.

The reality settled over them like a weight.

Ariana of the Grey School had fallen.

***