If asked what differentiates Phase 2 Karis from Phase 1, the most significant difference would be the presence of a weapon in its hand.
The six-winged, humanoid beast suddenly plucked a handful of feathers from its shoulder.
Crack.
It clenched its fist. The shattered remnants of the feathers gathered above its hand, forming a sword similar to the one Haehyuk wielded—no, it was larger and more substantial.
A dark greatsword.
"Huh."
Haehyuk chuckled.
So, a catastrophe-class is a catastrophe-class after all.
It had intelligence.
Thud, thud, thud...
The vibration that had been shaking the ground stopped, and the world fell silent. As if everything had paused, as if all living beings had died and disappeared, Karis's gaze met with those of mortal beings.
It was a momentary lapse.
In the blink of an eye, Karis vanished from the air.
"!"
By the time Kang Sihyun and his team reacted, it was already on the ground, swinging its sword.
Swoosh!
The dark aura split the silence. Kang Sihyun barely dodged the strike, sweating coldly as the ferocious aura grazed his cheek.
Where the energy passed, nothing remained. The dark energy swallowed everything.
Thud.
Haehyuk launched himself at the beast.
Clang!
Swords clashed, resonating. The S-class and the catastrophe-class unleashed their force without restraint, creating a whirlwind of dust around them.
"What are you doing? Pin it down when it lands!"
Lee Hamin woke the team from their daze caused by Karis's presence. Finally, Haewoon used a binding debuff again, Seunghyun threw a cursed grenade, and Yeonjeong and Ban Haru supported Haehyuk.
Hamin and Haeyeon aimed for its back.
But Phase 2 Karis was swift.
Faster and stronger than anticipated.
Clang!
Raising its sword, Karis deflected Haehyuk's attack and escaped from the spot just before the debuff took effect. Its speed was such that it could be missed in a blink.
Four blades missed their target, crossing through the air. Karis laughed mockingly as it ascended, then folded its wings and descended. Its target was Haewoon.
Boom!
"Cough!"
Karis's attack landed squarely on Haewoon. Its beak penetrated Haewoon's abdomen. It all happened too fast for any warnings or interventions.
It was a critical injury.
Instinctively, Kang Sihyun used a healing skill. As mana vibrated, Karis, shedding someone else's blood from its beak, charged at Kang Sihyun with a dark afterimage.
It was too late to dodge. No, it was an undodgeable attack from the start.
Kang Sihyun had to either take it or block it. Sensing what was coming, he clenched his eyes shut. That's when it happened.
Clang!
A short, clear sound echoed.
Kang Sihyun, squinting through narrowly opened eyes, saw the figure that entered his vision. Ban Haru had managed to block Karis's attack with two daggers crossed.
Thump, thump.
As his heart raced with excitement and fear, Ban Haru gritted his teeth and, with a flick of his arms, repelled Karis.
"Haah!"
Behind the beast, Haeyeon swung her sword.
Attacks came from both front and back. Even for Karis, swiftly evading such a blow was difficult. Haeyeon's sword narrowly missed Karis's neck, grazing past.
Even so, the feathers seemed to have hardened, making a sound like metal clashing. Haeyeon, seeing Haewoon struggling to stand despite receiving healing, called for a stronger buff. Kang Sihyun applied another layer of healing.
Fresh flesh grew over the pierced abdomen. Standing with the support of his staff, Haewoon, determined to retaliate for the blow he received, used his eyes filled with venom to cast a wide-range buff and debuff.
The proclamation of a sacred domain.
Within its range, allies' attack and defense increased by 50%, and the chosen enemy's movements slowed until the skill's duration ended—a top-tier buff skill known for its massive mana consumption. Seeing Haewoon stagger after casting the buff, further support seemed unlikely.
"The duration is 10 minutes. We have to finish it within that time!"
Haewoon shouted, aware of this fact himself. Kang Sihyun felt his senses expand.
His agility increased, and Karis's movements slowed. Karis's actions were clearly visible in his eyes.
This was doable.
If he could handle it to this extent, then combat-specialized Haemin, Ban Haru, and Haehyuk could more accurately predict Karis's movements.
Now, they could contend with Karis on equal
footing.
Karis soared into the sky again.
"Haewoon, we need a flight buff."
Haehyuk requested an additional flight buff, but Haewoon looked pale, unable to support. Quickly realizing this, Kang Sihyun swung his staff.
"It's for 10 minutes."
Then, he could at least temporarily mimic Haewoon's role. Kang Sihyun shouted.
"I'll provide support instead!"
He copied and used the flight buff. White and blue energies intertwined, enveloping the team. Those who had fallen flew once more.
The aerial battle resumed. Kang Sihyun gripped his staff tightly.
It had to end here.
These 10 minutes were the last chance.
The rest of the team, knowing this might be their final chance, pooled all their remaining strength to confront Karis with full force.
Including Seunghyun, pairs took turns attacking Karis. They aimed for its wings, its legs, and its head, launching assaults from three directions. Even weakened by debuffs, Karis managed to narrowly dodge these attacks with swift movements.
"Over here, you bastard!"
The owner of the flamboyant voice was Lee Hamin. Using taunt, he momentarily diverted Karis's attention, allowing the rest of the team to attack.
Clang!
Karis parried all the attacks with two swings of its sword. Unlike the others, whose swords were easily shattered, only Haehyuk's blade maintained its sharp form.
As Karis knocked Haehyuk's sword to the left, Haehyuk swung his fallen sword upwards, continuing the assault with a sliding attack, causing continuous collisions.
Bang, bang, bang!
Karis and Haehyuk's energies clashed. Sparks flew, and flashes of light illuminated the darkness. Karis roared. Had it been a one-on-one fight, Karis might have won, but this was a battle between 'humans' and a single Irregular.
Coordinating with Haehyuk's lead, the rest of the team joined the attack staggeredly. Everyone poured their attacks on Karis as if this was their last, their final strike. Karis couldn't withstand the onslaught for long.
Thrust!
Lee Hamin's sword, which had been relentlessly targeting Karis's neck, finally pierced through it.
-Kieeeeek!
A scream that sounded almost like noise assaulted their ears. Kang Sihyun maneuvered to avoid the lightning strikes from the morphed creature, tracking its movements as it darted around.
Since the proclamation of the sacred domain, the battle had dragged on for over five minutes.
The limit was approaching.
Whether it be human or Irregular, someone was about to hit their limit. Surprisingly, that someone was Ban Haru.
Crash!
Ban Haru was struck by Karis's wing and plummeted down. The ground cracked under him, sending cement debris flying. If he hadn't been an Awakener, the fall would have been fatal. Kang Sihyun rushed to Ban Haru's side.
"Ban Haru!"
In his urgency, he forgot to use honorifics. It was because Karis, focusing cowardly on a single target, descended following the fallen Ban Haru, swinging its large sword ruthlessly.
The dark energy shot out like a bullet. In desperation, Kang Sihyun erected a barrier.
Clang!
The first barrier shattered upon contact with the sword energy. The second, the third...
The layered barriers continuously broke down without resistance. Kang Sihyun, using healing skills and barriers simultaneously, rushed towards Ban Haru.
Just as Kang Sihyun reached Ban Haru, Karis's beak was inches away from striking.
Damn it.
Cursing, Kang Sihyun grabbed Ban Haru and leaped away. Bang! A loud noise followed. The impact generated a wave, erupting like an explosion.
The shockwave hit Kang Sihyun and Ban Haru directly.
Cradling the boy, Kang Sihyun rolled harshly on the ground.
"Ugh!"
Feathers from Karis, embedded in the debris of a destroyed building, pierced through soft flesh like sharp metal, causing lacerations all over the body. Kang Sihyun swallowed his groans, healing the wounds and checking on Ban Haru.
"Are you okay?"
As he asked, Karis, having risen, shouted something towards the sky.
It was neither a scream nor a cry.
It spoke in an unknown language.
Then, the dark night sky cracked open. At that moment, Kang Sihyun saw everything slow down and then come to a halt, as if time itself had stopped. Dust rose and paused in the air. The movements of the attacking people and Karis froze. In the still world, only one thing moved, proving that the world's time hadn't stopped completely.
High above.
The dark sky torn open by Karis, and a gentle yet imposing aura illuminated the world.
It wasn't an ordinary sky. The darkness couldn't just be called night. It was the universe. Kang Sihyun glimpsed the vast and distant galaxy, studded with stars.
"Ah..."
His body wrecked, Kang Sihyun unwittingly sighed. Then, the silenced world's noises began to return. The sound of rising dust, the sound of the team members frantically descending, the sound of Karis roaring towards the sky. Along with a chilling noise, a massive spear descended from the crack in the sky, from the universe, as if heralding an arrival.
Ssssh!
Thunk, the spear that cut through the air was intercepted by Karis. Kang Sihyun locked eyes with its blood-red gaze and felt his body freeze for a moment as Karis hurled the ominously dark spear straight at them. The sharp and menacing tip was aimed directly at him and Ban Haru.
Ban Haru quickly got up and drew his sword, but the massive spear had already closed in rapidly.
Kang Sihyun felt his head cool as his body slowed, perceiving time moving sluggishly. He noticed Ban Haru's eyes trembling, holding the dagger tightly.
Ban Haru knew it was unstoppable.
And also unavoidable.
It was inevitable.
It was too late, too fast, and too powerful. Kang Sihyun, sensing the last 30% of his mana, gripped his staff.
Even using all remaining mana to block wouldn't be enough. But perhaps they could avoid death.
As he braced himself for the last stand, ready to cast the barrier,
Crash!
Someone plummeted from the sky, landing in front of Ban Haru, intercepting the spear.
Boom!
A chilling sound of friction as the spear, aimed at the torso, veered off its course.
Thrust!
The giant spear pierced through the man's shoulder. Even as Haehyuk exerted his utmost strength to deflect Karis's spear, it only slightly altered its trajectory. A low groan escaped Haehyuk's lips as he stood, bearing the brunt of the attack.
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