The cursed wave Minori had unleashed surged through the air like a silent scream.
Its black mist carried two distinct negative effects:
Fear
Weakness Curse
Together, they induced a potent Restricted Action state.
This was precisely why the mutated lizard had frozen mid-movement, unable to flee or defend.
"No curse resistance."
Minori stared coldly at the half-meter gap between himself and the creature. The beast reeked of acidic decay and unnatural ichor, its eyes locked in a blank, stunned gaze.
He raised one hand.
Shing—
An iron sword materialized in his palm.
"Quick Slash."
As his blade cut through the air, a swirl of black curse energy enveloped it. The moment the blade connected with the lizard's exposed skull—
A misty, dark explosion bloomed from the impact site.
The two existing negative effects—fear and weakness—interacted with the cursed energy on the weapon. A resonant burst formed, a reaction between layered debuffs that caused the effects to purge—and in doing so, trigger the second effect of Dark Wave:
"When negative status is removed by cursed force, deal double damage."
Crack!
The sword cleaved through most of the lizard's head with disturbing ease.
Minori frowned. That much force might kill the creature outright.
He still hoped to extract information from it.
But—
Instead of blood, the creature emitted a brittle, dry snapping sound, like shattering glass. Its body began to collapse, rapidly shrinking in size.
Before his eyes, the lizard reverted into its original form: a humanoid monster, slamming to the forest floor.
Crack—!
Minori's sword fractured along the blade, then split apart entirely. Its mundane quality couldn't endure the concentrated cursed energy.
"Curse…"
A low groan interrupted his thoughts.
"It hurts... it hurts..."
The humanoid monster writhed in agony. Its bark-like brown skin twitched, rippling with blackened pustules like rotting wood.
Minori's gaze sharpened.
These marks—
A curse of decay.
Similar to Leinas. But unlike her, this creature was already far down the path of corruption. Its entire body was marred, though not entirely consumed.
"Enemy… enemy…"
It staggered upright.
Emerald eyes, bloodshot and wide, glared out from behind a tangle of hair.
Then—
"AHHHHHHHHH!!"
It shrieked, a sound laced with unnatural frequencies. Even with the automatic language translation of this world, the noise conveyed only chaos and alarm.
Second-Tier Spell: [Call of Allies] —Spell type: Faith-based —Caster Level Required: 8–14—Learn conditions met.—Spend 1 skill point to learn?
Minori's eyes flicked over the floating prompt. But before he could respond—
Chhhk—krrrrhhkk!!
The underbrush trembled.
From the forest depths, insect-like monsters emerged: red-shelled things that looked like spider-lobster hybrids, limbs clicking against roots and soil.
"BLOOD BOILING!!"
The humanoid monster screamed again.
This time, the spell did not come from its mouth—
But from the incoming swarm.
Hiss!
Hiss—hiss—hiss!
The insect monsters, some as large as dogs, others barely the size of a palm, turned blood-red, and their movement doubled in speed.
"More than expected..."
Minori's lips tightened.
With a sharp flick of his sleeves, scrolls activated in sequence, releasing bursts of divine fire.
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
Ten Fire Archangels materialized one after another, consuming half his stock of over thirty.
"Cleanse the filth."
Minori raised a hand, and the summoned angels dove toward the swarm.
Experience Gained: +17Experience Gained: +3Experience Gained: +56…Experience Gained: +12
Lines of experience data scrolled through his mind.
Minori took a step forward—then leapt.
His foot landed on the outstretched arm of a Surveillance Angel, using it as a launch point.
Fwoosh!
He soared into the sky.
An iron sword appeared again in his hand.
"Magic Slash."
He swung.
A blue arc of translucent magic erupted from the blade's tip, cutting through vines and trees with surgical precision.
CRACK—!
The blade shattered once more.
Minori didn't even flinch. With a flick, another sword appeared in his hand. He had bought these weapons in bulk, knowing they'd break.
But the humanoid monster had already moved.
It dodged the Magic Slash with uncanny agility.
Minori narrowed his eyes.
"That speed… not natural. Racial trait?"
Even against two fire archangels, the monster weaved through attacks with barely a scratch.
"Stealth."
Minori vanished into the shadows.
His presence dissolved.
—
The humanoid monster looked around in panic.
Too late.
Minori stepped from the darkness at its side like a specter.
"Enemy!!"
It screeched, diving backward.
"Four Light Slashes."
Minori's blade split into four shimmering afterimages.
The creature dodged three.
The fourth nearly struck—but—
"Shrinkage!"
Its body shrank further—from 60 centimeters to just 30.
All four attacks missed.
Minori's brow furrowed.
"This thing…"
"Instant Reflex."
Blue light enveloped his body, canceling his attack animation and allowing a fresh move.
"Four Lights Slashing in a Row."
Again, four streaks of light lashed out.
This time, the creature's speed doubled again.
It disappeared from in front of him, reappeared two meters away.
"Plant Entanglement!"
CRACK!
Roots and weeds surged from the ground toward Minori.
But—
Flash—
The bone-etched charm tied to Minori's arm activated. [Forest Strider]—a passive resistance item against plant-based entanglement.
The vines halted mid-air.
The creature screamed again.
"Curse! Enemy!"
Minori remained still, gazing calmly at the screeching foe.
So far—
Its greatest weakness was its reliance on magic, not physical combat.
Still…
He knew he couldn't outrun it.
With that speed, if it had been a warrior…
Minori opened his status panel.
Skill Detected: [Shrinkage] —Requires base class: Wizard—Current class does not meet requirements.
Unique Class: Genius → Adaptive learning triggered.→ Conditions met.→ Spend 1 skill point to learn [Shrinkage]?
"Confirm."
[Skill Points: 36 → 35]
—
Skill: ShrinkageUses per day: 2Effect: Reduces target's size by 50%. Increases agility by 100% (up to 100).
Minori closed the panel, his eyes calm.
"…So that's how you dodge."
He tightened his grip on his blade.