CT 5: GRAND STRATEGY, MACKEREL PIECES GAMBLE
ACT 5 Grand Strategy, Mackerel Pieces Gamble
“Catch him!”
The cry emerged from the castle. Gwen had led 1,500 troops and ran outside the castle. This was because Ark had destroyed the gate. Ark had avoided the magic of the alliance members and ran away inside the castle grounds. There were still 1,400 members left inside but they had no time to pay attention to Ark. Since there was no time to prepare for the situation, they were preoccupied with repairing the gate. But Ark was the enemy commander and he was an important before who could influence the military situation by himself, so 50 people were chasing after him.
“There is nowhere for you to run away!”
“The skill where our physical attacks don’t connect won’t last much longer!”
The alliance members shouted as they threw arrows and magic at him. The arrows weren’t a problem for Ark thanks to the effect of Slime’s Time. The dangerous thing was the magic. And the number had lessened so the magic was easy to avoid. Ark didn’t worry about the arrows and just focused on avoiding the magic attacks. He used Dark Dance and Sprint to run between walls and have the magic impact with them instead.
‘Huk huk, not long left! I just have to pass this lane!”
Ark once again used a building to avoid the magic and turned the corner.
“Over here!”
Around 20 alliance members appeared before him. They had predicted Ark’s path and moved ahead to block him. Ark became frightened as three magicians started to chant spells. There were buildings blocking his left and right so he couldn’t avoid the damage!
‘Damn, I’ll just have to break through the front!’
Ark rushed towards the front magician. He used Sprint to collide with the magicians chanting who screamed and fell to the ground.
‘That’s it, now I can use the warriors to block the attacks from other magicians……’
Ark thought that and plunged into the crowd of warriors. Suddenly he felt something throb and a huge amount of his health was sucked out.
‘Huk, what the?’
Ark reflexively turned and looked at the warriors. The warriors had flames wrapped around their sword. The magicians had used a spell to give magic to the warriors’ weapons.
“Kukuku, did you think we would just stay idle?”
“Take this you cocky bastard!”
‘They’ve noticed the weakness in Slime’s Time. I’m screwed!’
Ark looked at the flame swords with horror. That’s right. The biggest weakness of Slime’s Time wasn’t magic, but magic enchantment. While the physical damage was invalidated, Ark would still be hurt from the magic damage. Since his magic resistance had decreased by 100%, that amount wasn’t small. Moreover, Ark couldn’t attack while Slime’s Time was still active. It was possible to avoid the magicians’ attacks since they took a while to cast but the warriors were more difficult.
“You’re dead!”
The warriors cried out as they rushed forward. Meanwhile, the magicians were giving magic enchantments to the other warriors. Once all the warriors had magic swords and the magicians aimed for Ark again, he would be on the defensive. Before he could escape through a gap he created with a head butt but it was suicide to run towards the warriors holding magic swords. And it wasn’t possible to go back. The other 30 alliance members were coming up behind him.
Kwa kwa kwa kwang!
They started attacking earnestly and his health was drained out. But when he used Slime’s Time, his entire body was covered in slime so he couldn’t open his bag to use any items like potions. Of course, the items inside Radun weren’t affected but his whole body was covered so he couldn’t drink the potions anyway.
‘If only Slime’s Time was over…..’
Ark glared at the small icon in front of him. It was the icon which displayed the time remaining for Slime’s Time. Now there was less than two minutes left. Ark reduced the damage using Dark Dance and waited for the icon to disappear. When there was only 1 minute left, he felt something hot behind him. At the same time, he lost a lot of health and fell down.
“There he is!”
The other 30 alliance members chasing him had arrived. But they weren’t the problem. Ark only had 5% health left. After being hit by the magic and falling down, he had become completely surrounded. If he was hit with the magic sword then he would definitely die!
“Die!”
A warrior swung his sword with a smile of satisfaction. No, he tried to swing it.
“Master!”
Racard fell from the sky like lightning and crashed into the warrior. Then he grabbed the warrior’s ear and started head butting him in the nose. The warrior got a nosebleed and retreated from Racard. Meanwhile Ark rolled his body and escaped from the circle.
“What is that?”
“These guys don’t have to concern you. I’ll rush and smash them!”
Then he rushed towards the dozens of warriors holding magic swords. Ark who was leaning against a wall shouted.
“Summon Demon, Razak, Iron Fire Wall!”
Clack clack clack clack, clack clack clack clack!
A bony lump rose in front of Ark and formed into Razak. Razak raised his shield and blocked the flames heading for Ark. The wings of flame appeared on both sides of the shield and blocked the soldiers running towards them. It was the special skill of the Blazing Fire Draconian Shield, Iron Fire Wall! It was a skill with a range of 10 metres which invalidated ‘Dash’ and caused ‘Stun’ and flame damage! When the warriors rushed into Razak’s Iron Fire Wall, the soldiers stumbled and were pushed back. So Razak was able to fend off the warriors’ attacks using his shield. Now Ark just had to wait behind Razak for Slime’s Time to finish.
“What is that?”
“It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t have a lot of health left. Focus you magic attacks on him! Even with that skeleton, he won’t be able to endure the magic attacks!”
The magicians circled Ark and Razak and started to simultaneously chant spells.
‘Damn, I just have to hold on for a few seconds……’
Ssak ssak ssak, ssak ssak ssak ssak!
Ark had been biting his lip while thinking desperately. Then Radun suddenly moved from Ark’s waist and licked his tongue. Before Ark could say anything, Radun had arrived underneath the magicians’ feet with tremendous speed. At the same time, an explosion occurred underneath the magicians who were chanting spells.
“Ack! What, what the?”
The magicians’ concentration broke from the unexpected shook and their spells were cancelled.
‘Ah, that’s right! Didn’t Radun learn that skill?’
The skill that Radun used was Fire Aura. Radun had learnt this skill only a few days ago. Ark had been leading the troops towards Silvana from Lancel when Radun’s body suddenly heated up and a message window popped up.
-Your summon Radun has digested 50% of the Burning Heart of the Fire Draconian.
Radun’s body has changed after being influenced by the Burning Heart of the Fire Draconian. When the Alamone grows to a certain extent, it has the ability to master similar skills which belong to other species. When that power is fully absorbed into the body, it can evolve into a new species. While the secret of an Alamone’s growth is still unknown, its body can grow into something completely different under the influence of other species.
After absorbing the Burning Heart of the Fire Draconian, he has begun to evolve into something different from both an Alamone and a Fire Draconian. Every time the absorption of the Burning Heart of the Fire Draconian reaches a certain level, Radun will learn a new skill.
-Your summon Radun has absorbed the Burning Heart of the Fire Draconian and awakened a new skill.
Fire Aura (Beginner, Racial Special Skill): A special skill created by the Alamone after absorbing the power of the Fire Draconians. Fire Aura gives the ability to activate the power of fire. When the ability is used, all enemies within a 20 metre diameter will receive continuous fire damage.
The Burning Heart of the Fire Draconian was a material to trigger Radun’s evolution. After reaching 50% absorption, Radun could summon the spirits of fire to deal damage. That was Fire Aura. It was a skill which gave continuous damage like a magician’s wide area magic. Of course, the damage was only 10~20 but the unexpected shock caused the magicians’ spells to fail. It was a method Ark hadn’t even considered.
“T-this snake…..!”
The magicians glared at Radun. However, Ark immediately cancelled his summoning and Radun disappeared.
“You did WELL Racard, Razak and Radun.”
Ark who was hiding in the corner smiled and murmured.
“What? That guy’s slime has disappeared?”
The alliance members muttered as they looked at Ark again. That’s right. Thanks to the help of his summons, Slime’s Time had finally disappeared.
“Good, isn’t it possible to hit him with our swords now?”
“He is still surrounded. We just have to smash that skeleton!”
The alliance members swung their swords and rushed to attack. But they still hadn’t grasped the situation. The reason Ark had run around until the slime was gone was because he could now use 100% of his skills. Ark threw a piece of black meat that he took from his bag. The alliance members who were about to attack suddenly burst out screaming.
“Blazing fire….. Ack! T-this scent, what…..? Cough, cough!”
“Sniper s….. Eh, what? Ugh, my eyes! I-I can’t see……!”
“Huhuhu, how is it? The taste of my creative dishes?”
Ark smirked while holding his nose. That’s right. The black meat Ark threw was a food made using Creative Cooking. Ark had named the dish he made ‘Hell Bomb!’
-Hell Bomb
A special food made using Creative Cooking. It is created by combining hot peppers, vinegar, rotten meat, horseradish etc. An extremely bad smell which goes beyond human limits is drifting from this dish. If you pull it out in a public place the