Rumble--!
The Daichi answered its offspring, Giant rose from the soil.
"That's... truly outrageous Originium Arts."
The headhunter brandished his sword, then began to seriously consider whether he should run away immediately.
But the allure of this "rare head" made him decide to take another gamble.
The rock Giant strode forward, and the headhunter vanished once more.
The Giant clasped his arms together and slammed them down on the area he sensed was most suspicious.
The shockwave ripped the ground apart, filling the air with smoke and dust, but the target did not appear.
A sharp gust of wind pressure came from behind, Mudrock twisted his body and swung his hammer horizontally.
The flying dagger was shattered, but there was no one behind it.
"You guessed wrong..."
A sigh came from behind as a sharp blade pierced Mudrock's head.
"I'll take your head... What?!"
The headhunter's sinister grin froze on his face; the sensation from the blade's tip was wrong!
More importantly, a layer of pitch-black Energy Shield suddenly and firmly jammed his arm holding the knife, along with the dagger.
How is that possible?! He clearly pierced the head!
Why can't I feel any flesh or blood inside? Why can she still move?!
Before he could figure it out, Mudrock had already released the warhammer, clenched his free left hand into a fist, and slammed it hard into the headhunter's chest and abdomen!
"Puff--!"
The headhunter's eyeballs bulged out, and blood mixed with fragments of internal organs gushed out.
Mudrock used his arm strength to lift him up and slam him hard into the ground.
Boom!!
Dust billowed as the headhunter lay paralyzed in the pit, breathing weakly.
Mudrock pulled the dagger from her head. Her body was not as large as it appeared; the inside of her protective suit was mostly filled with mud.
Her appearance led many to misjudge her, and also helped her avoid many attacks.
Stepping on his opponent's arm, Mudrock picked up the heavy hammer, gathering his strength, ready to kill with a single blow.
"Cough cough... My knife is poisoned! Kill me, and your companions will die too!"
Mudrock froze, and taking advantage of her moment of hesitation, the headhunter slashed at his own arm that was being stepped on.
As the severed arm separated, the Mudrock reacted immediately, grabbing at it with its massive hand!
"The antidote is here!"
The headhunter threw a small leather pouch in another direction, and Mudrock instinctively reached for the pouch that might contain the antidote.
Beep beep!
A familiar sound... it's an explosive device!
Mudrock's pupils contracted sharply, and his jet-black shield expanded to its maximum size.
Boom--!
"Cough cough cough... What a monster!"
The headhunter escaped using the impact of the explosion, his figure becoming blurred once more.
Before the dust had settled, the tall figure had already charged out.
The Mudrock shield appeared somewhat dim, but the magical energy surged even more powerfully.
Rumble--
The Daichi rose up, and the rising wall blocked the road.
[Sarkaz profanity!]
The headhunter cursed inwardly, then turned and forced a smile:
"Haha, don't get so excited, team leader. You want the antidote, right? I have some, I have some."
"The words of a despicable person... are utterly unreliable!"
The rocks continued to close in without slowing down in the slightest. The headhunter said in a deep voice:
"What about your companion? Doesn't he value his life?"
The Mudrock fell silent, and the closing rock wall stopped.
"... the antidote."
The headhunter offered to let him go in exchange for the antidote.
Mudrock, of course, wouldn't believe it.
"Then there's no point in discussing it! Since you don't agree, I'll destroy it..."
Rumble...!
The Daichi trembled again, and the headhunter's expression changed.
Mudrock was also bewildered; she hadn't cast any spells, so where was this tremor coming from?
Boom!
A series of loud roars came from outside the valley entrance, and the tightly joined rock walls suddenly exploded.
Chance!
Without a second thought, the headhunter hurled the bottle at the Mudrock and charged toward the crevice.
Mudrock instinctively caught the bottle, startled, but it was too late to lift the stone wall.
The headhunter plunged into the smoke, and the next instant—
[Time Stop Sound Effect]
"Puff--!"
Flying back at an even faster speed than when it charged out, the headhunter tumbled several times before coming to rest in the center of the valley.
Click... Click...
A series of synchronized metallic clanging sounds and the thud of some massive object striking the ground rang out, and the Mudrock instantly went into a state of alert.
With a quick thought, the rock Giant embraced her, forming a solid barrier.
A strong gust of wind dispersed the smoke and dust.
The first thing that catches the eye is the crimson Behemoth that completely blocks the entrance to the valley.
They were covered in crude armor, and heavy white breaths came out of their mouths and noses.
Slowly ascending, rows of silent, solemn figures stood on the back of the Behemoth.
His entire body was covered in uniform, jet-black heavy armor, with only slits for observation and a chin grille for breathing visible on his face.
They held large, oddly shaped guns, their postures upright.
If it weren't for the Sarkaz horns protruding from the side of the helmet, Mudrock would almost have thought that a regular army from some country had infiltrated Kazdel.
"Cough cough..."
The headhunter struggled to his feet, but Mudrock's gaze sharpened; he was about to launch an attack.
"Don't move."
A not-so-loud female voice rang out, and the Behemoth's panting instantly ceased.
Mudrock stopped moving, and the line of people in front of him parted to the sides, revealing the figures circling around him.
He wasn't particularly tall or strong, yet he stood out with a strong presence among the group of black-armored soldiers.
He carried a strange, enormous warhammer (Hex Staff:???) on his back, and the longsword at his waist occasionally unleashed a burst of crimson lightning.
Mudrock instinctively looked over and met the gaze of the eyes that suddenly turned towards him on the sword hilt.
"!!!"
Instinctively taking a half step back, the mercenaries all turned their heads and stared intently at Mudrock.
"I'm... sorry..."
Vera glanced subtly at the heavily armored warrior who wasn't mentioned in the intelligence reports, then turned her gaze to the headhunter lying sprawled on the ground in the distance.
Looking at the bloodied and mangled face, Vera turned to Hedley beside her for confirmation:
Is it him?
Hedley examined it carefully, then hesitated and said:
"Same size and weapon... that's probably it."
Seeing that Hedley wasn't entirely sure either, Vera simply asked the person involved directly.
"You're the 'Headhunter'?"
The headhunter, sprawled on the ground, jolted awake and immediately retorted:
"No! I'm not! You've made a mistake..."
"It's him."
Mudrock interrupted him, and the headhunter cursed inwardly, but his body blurred again as he tried to disappear.
"Judging from this reaction, it should be correct."
Hedley nodded, Vera drew the Demon King's Oath, glancing at Mudrock as she said:
"Lie down."
Seeing the crimson lightning constantly gathering on the sword, Mudrock immediately did as instructed.
Buzz--!
Crimson lightning engulfed the valley, and sword energy flew out from the blade, growing longer as it faced the wind.
The headhunter's figure appeared amidst the crimson lightning, his upper body slowly sliding down the rock wall behind him.
"Damn it..."
His final words came to an abrupt end.
Mudrock had just raised her head when she saw this scene. Before she could react, the sound of conversation startled her awake.
"Who is this person? Is she on the list?"
Vera asked Hedley a question, Mudrock's body tensed instantly.
Although I don't know what the list is, seeing those dozens of guns pointed at me...
Everyone: Are you moved?
Mudrock: Dares not move ·jpg
No, he's not on the list.
Hedley crossed out the last name on the list, Ines looked at the Mudrock in thought for a moment.
"A tall figure, wearing a white protective suit, using Originium Arts to manipulate soil... Are you Mudrock?"
"Yes..."
Mudrock answered softly, and Vera felt a pang of unease hearing the weak voice emanating from that massive body.
"As long as it's not the target..."
Vera waved her hand, signaling everyone to set up camp and rest, then looked at the bewildered Mudrock.
"I'm sorry I stole your prey. As compensation, would you rather have the Pure Gold or the supplies?"
"Thank you... I don't need any compensation."
Startled by Vera's generosity, Mudrock shook his head, somewhat apprehensive.
"I just want to ask you for a favor."
The mercenaries stopped what they were doing and all looked over. Vera narrowed her eyes:
"Go ahead and tell me, though I might not be able to help."
"My companion is injured... Do you have a medic in your party?"
The gazes around him instantly softened. Mudrock was somewhat puzzled, but Vera had already urged her mount on.
Lead the way.
"Unbelievable... It was such a serious injury."
Seeing their comrade recovering from his injuries so quickly, the mercenaries of the Mudrock's Squad couldn't help but admire him.
"Thanks."
"No, no, no, we should be thanking you!"
The Mudrock's Squad quickly thanked the girl in front of them, and Vera stepped forward and ruffled Liz's hair.
"I told you, your power would come in handy someday."
"Um!"
Liz's usually calm face was beaming with a smile. Although she had treated soldiers before, she had never felt so happy.
Why is that...?
Seeing the smiles on the faces of the Mudrock's Squad, Liz's heart also leaped with joy.
"Thank you so much... really."
A muffled voice came from nearby, and Vera glanced at the Mudrock beside her.
Why are you standing so far away?
"Because of the fight just now... I'm very dirty."
As he spoke, Mudrock took two steps back again.
"Nobody cares about this... Never mind."
Feeling exasperated by this socially awkward guy, Vera looked up at the dome.
A light drizzle was falling outside, and the shelter was built by Mudrock using magic.
"Interesting Originium Arts. Did you make that clay Giant too?"
"Yes... that's my friend."
Mudrock's tone was somewhat low, and Vera scratched her face awkwardly.
Clearly, even the Mudrock plants couldn't escape the fate of being cut in half.
"How about... I make one for you?"
"Ah?"
Mudrock looked at Vera with a puzzled expression, not understanding what she meant.
Vera calmed herself and communicated with the Crown.
The Wandering Soul Core had awakened and emerged from it at Vera's command.
The Black Crown flashed by, and Mudrock wondered if he was hallucinating.
"Huh? What's this?"
The mercenaries who had become familiar with the Mudrock's Squad noticed the conversation and curiously gathered around to watch the smiling black sphere beside Vera.
Shining frowned slightly and hesitated before saying:
"This is... Dead Souls?"
"Huh? So this is what Dead Souls look like?"
The mercenaries looked at each other in bewilderment. Although they had heard of the Dead Souls faction, very few had actually seen one.
If it weren't for the fact that they were being burned in Kazdel's great furnace, many people would probably think this was just a legend.
"I guess so..."
Vera glossed over the details and looked at the Mudrock.
"I can create a colossal statue for you, but I can't control it..."
"No, no! 'Friend' doesn't refer to a stone statue!"
Realizing that Vera had misunderstood him, Mudrock activated his spell once more.
Another colossal statue rose from the Daichi, only this one was much shorter than the first.
"Hoo... The Daichi and the soil are my friends; I merely shaped their bodies."
Mudrock was a little out of breath; continuously creating colossi had taken a considerable toll on her body, as she was already Infected.
"Give."
She casually handed Mudrock a bottle of red potion, which the mercenaries then pulled aside to explain its effects, while Vera observed the colossus in front of her.
A sense of elation emanated from the Wandering Soul Core, Vera, without restraint, followed it into the colossus.
Beside him, Mudrock, who was shocked by the effects of the red potion, suddenly felt the colossus's connection break. The next moment, a familiar line rang out.
"Stand up."
Rumble--
To the astonishment of the Mudrock's Squad, soil and rocks continued to gather upwards from the ground, causing the already towering colossus to grow even larger.
Shadows shrouded the camp, and the Giant blocked out the moonlight.
The Wandering Soul Core conveyed a thought: with such material alone, 50m is already the limit.
Nodding, Vera turned to look at Mudrock:
"How's this size? Can it be controlled?"
"..."
Looking at the "colossus" before him, Mudrock began to doubt his identity as the Children of Earth and Stone for the first time.
I instinctively turned to my "friends" for answers, but no answers came to me.
Mudrock's eyes widened; if one were to describe her feelings at that moment in a few words, it would probably be—
I've been tricked by a cow?