Volume 5 Chapter 33 Rebellion Flame
Puppet Master was in a panic.
"Guh, uh, what's this...? My head hurts. And why do I suddenly remember the time when I performed surgery on Protean...!"
Puppet Master shook their head as they tried to focus on the current battle. There was an uncomfortable feeling as if someone was prying into their thoughts, but they had to ignore it.
Indeed, the situation was quite dire. On paper, they were clearly at an advantage. However, the damage was clearly on their side.
"I can't believe I've lost almost 100 of my clones and yet the enemy's damage is 0...!"
Rebellion Flame consisted of only 6 members. They were a skilled group, but their low numbers couldn't be compensated for. Even a single silver-level party should have been enough to defeat them, but...
Why were they managing to fight so well?
Puppet Master focused their mind on engaging the Frain group in close combat.
"Sylvia! Shield!"
"Got it!"
Puppet Master exposed several limbs from within their body, transforming them into sharp spears. They charged towards Sylvia.
However, Sylvia, an illegal sl*ve who escaped from the Puppet Master's laboratory, creates a huge shield that blocks the Puppet Master's attack. The strike should have easily pierced through it, but...
"Runes are amazing! Once this is over, I'll definitely study them seriously!"
"Feel free to do so!"
From behind, Frain jumped onto Sylvia's shield like a platform. Then, from the air, he pointed his transformation staff at Puppet Master and shouted.
"Scatter Fire!"
Bullets rained down. At such close range, Puppet Master was destroyed along with their other clones and blown backward.
"Guh...! Why can't I seem to do anything right! A mere silver rank! Why can a Gold-level like me be so easily countered!"
"That's obvious."
Extending his transformation staff, Frain pushed it against the broken remains of Puppet Master.
"I'm not just a silver-level!"
Snipe FIre. Puppet Master's head was shattered by a powerful blow.
And from that moment, Puppet Master could no longer access that individual. As the commander, and as a safety measure, that individual retreated to a secure location where consciousness returned.
"Damn! That damn Fire guy...! I won't forgive you. I won't forgive you. Even if you cry and beg for forgiveness, I won't forgive you...!"
Gritting their teeth, Puppet Master pounded their fists on the table. But losing their calm was as far as they would go. Puppet Master examined the battle situation while looking at the map on the table.
"Frain and his gang were here, right? The others, are they still not found? Scattered individuals are being killed, so they must be fighting, but where are they?"
Well, if they destroy Frain, the rest of the Weak ones will surrender to Nightfather as they originally did. Anything can be done. That's why they have to make sure to kill Frain.
Puppet Master thought about it.
"Should I confront them with my remaining 252 individuals, excluding this safe individual? Frain has range attack magic, but he doesn't have the ability to wipe out hundreds of people, does he?"
In fact, if he could do that, he would already be a Gold-ranked adventurer. The only concern was the poison swamp's Gold-ranked adventurer, but if they push him, the poison gold-ranked adventurer should show up. Now, they can ignore that for now.
"Hehe, hehehe..."
Puppet Master smiled maliciously. And then they spoke alone.
"Frain, your hell starts here. I won't enjoy watching your disgusting expression twisting."
Puppet Master tapped the map with their fingers.
From Frain's perspective, Puppet Master was a being that had condensed Nightfather's negative side.
He had met him, the despicable villain, by the boss of Nightfather or his unworthy father when he was taken to see him. He was truly a nauseating villain. That's why killing him had always been one of Frain's goals.
In that sense, Frain had already done his research on his arch-enemy, the Puppet Master.
"His weaponry is simple. He has numerous tentacles stored inside his body. If you get hit by these, you'll fall under his curse--the curse of being turned into a puppet. So, don't get hit."
After repelling the attack, they took a break and went over the plan again. Kadras and Sylvia already knew this, so they just nodded, but Wade was impressed and said, "Oh, I see," through his ring.
"So, basically, we're facing a situation where countless enemies with one-hit kill attacks are coming at us. When you put it like that, it sounds brutal."
Kadras made a smirking face and tilted his head. Frain corrected him simply, "I won't say it's a one-hit kill attack, but if eaten, you'll turn into a puppet. I don't want to bear the inconvenience of being controlled, so avoid him."
"Moreover, he's fundamentally a construct. He has useful functions. Be prepared for the possibility that a part of his body will suddenly open, and arrows will fly out."
'Is there no magic at all?'
"He is a human from the Magic Evangelist side. They don't have the ability to engrave magic seals on themselves. They are originally powerful humans, so they don't want to be forced into combat."
The Magic Evangelist are humans who can apply magic seals to others. There were times when they were asked, "Shall I engrave one for you?" by the Puppet Master, but Frain firmly refused.
"That's why, they don't have a magic seal. I've even heard that if the material side had one, they would remove it. Apparently, they have some secret strategy instead, but I don't know what it is."
With that, Frain finished the recap and began discussing the main point.
"So, regarding the Puppet Master, I've hit him exactly 500 times so far. Just 166 more hits. With 166 more hits, I can unleash a powerful magic attack on him."
"They sure have been dodging around a lot. It feels like it's finally happening."
Night had already fallen, and the surroundings were dark. The black-clad Puppet Master attacking in such conditions made things incredibly difficult.
If it were allowed, Frain would light the area with torches like in a dungeon. However, most of the buildings around here are made of wood, so that's not an option.
"How did you manage to keep count so precisely, you brat?"
"Don't underestimate me. Only I can do this."
"I'm not underestimating you. No one else but you could do it, you little brat."
"...Can't you guys do this much...?"
"I can't do this at all, octopus! That's why you're a genius."
"Stupid Frain..."
Banter among friends is common. Frain brushes it off and asks, "For now, do you understand the plan, Wade?"
'Frain, you hit them with 166 shots and uses a big magic, right? The rest of you are here to support.'
"That's correct. I wanted to coordinate with the others so we had some leeway, but I'm not sure where they've gone. Coordinating is a hassle. We'll do it ourselves."
'I can guide the others, but...it's a bit far. The Puppet Master's troops are closer.'
"Ugh...This is just typical of those idiots. I'm already used to it."
"Rebellion Flame, the real thing starts when we're at a disadvantage, boy."
As they speak, the 2 of them stand up. Frain also stands up, "Well, that's how it is." He replies.
"Wade, guide us. We're not as strong as you. If we make reckless moves, we'll die. We rely on you fully for information this time."
'You talk big, but...uh, this is dangerous, isn't it?'
"What's wrong?"
'Frain, your surroundings are surrounded by hundreds of Puppet Masters.'
"Ah?"
Through the ring, they were conversing. 'Ice, what do you think about this?' 'Ah, yeah... In times like this, right?' Frain briefly thought they were treating it as someone else's problem because they weren't here, but he quickly reconsidered. This probably wouldn't change regardless of where they were.
'Frain, tell me about the weak points. First, you need to break through there. Then, you'll try to repel them.'
Powerful words are released from Wade. It was as if his aggressive smile was floating in his mind.
Frain, who rarely smiled before a battle, had a smile on his face. He didn't try to suppress it, even though he thought it was a bad influence.
"Okay, I'll do it."
Frain readjusts his transformed staff.
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