Awakened jobs, all three of them. Most of the S-Rank awakened posses just high-ranking jobs. I’ve only encountered a handful of people who have awakened jobs.

There’s my Awakened Knight, Aya’s Artifacter, and Reina’s Saint. Every individual with an awakened job possesses an extraordinarily powerful skill.

I examined the status of these three adversaries.

First, gather information, then battle. The offensive and defensive maneuvers had already begun. Using the shadows created by the temple’s pillars, I prioritize collecting information while teleporting.

The first enemy, enveloped in a pure white arm and cloak, appeared like a shadow.

Its name was Nightmare.

 

───────────────────────────

Name: Nightmare

Magic Power: 5,000,000

Skill(s): Silent Movement, Stealth, Nightmare

Attack Power: Reflection Rate▶75% = 3,750,000

Defense Power: Reflection Rate▶25% = 1,250,000

Agility: Reflection Rate▶25% = 1,250,000

Intelligence: Reflection Rate▶50% = 2,500,000

───────────────────────────

 

Nightmare’s skill seemed to be a weaker version of my Lightning skill.

It allows him to teleport to any shadow within sight. Teleportation in itself is a threat, but with my Eye of God, I can predict where he’s going to reappear, which makes things a bit more manageable.

Then there’s the heavyweight knight. He stands still, as if entirely focused on defense, but his skills are just as annoying. He’s always been a significant nuisance in group battles.

 

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Name: Cataphract

Magic Power: 5,000,000

Skill(s): Provocation, Guardian Barrier, Absolute Defense

Attack Power: Reflection Rate▶25% = 1,250,000

Defense Power: Reflection Rate▶75% = 3,750,000

Agility: Reflection Rate▶25% = 1,250,000

Intelligence: Reflection Rate▶50% = 2,500,000

───────────────────────────

 

The Provocation skill is self-explanatory; it draws my attention. Due to the difference in our intelligence stats, even if it’s just for a split second, it disrupts my Mirage skill. Guardian Barrier is the same barrier that takes on the damage meant for his allies. An utterly annoying skill.

The probably awakened skill, Absolute Defense, seems to convert all other stats into defense. Honestly, all of his skills are infuriating.

Lastly, the magic job, symbolizing a sage: Wiseman.

 

───────────────────────────

Name: Wiseman

Magic Power: 5,000,000

Skill(s): All-Element Ball, All-Element Wall, Gravity

Attack Power: Reflection Rate▶25% = 1,250,000

Defense Power: Reflection Rate▶25% = 1,250,000

Agility: Reflection Rate▶25% = 1,250,000

Intelligence: Reflection Rate▶100% = 5,000,000

───────────────────────────

 

His attack power remains the same, but honestly, to me, he’s not much of a threat as a magic job. While he might be formidable against large monsters, his effectiveness diminishes against small, fast-moving targets.

However, he has a new magic called Gravity. I had a bad feeling about it, so I checked the details. If it’s as the name suggests, then its ability is…

 

───────────────────────────

Type: Skill

Title: Gravity

Obtaining Difficulty: —

Effect: Inflicts target with gravity magic.

Description: Can be activated on any visible target. Increases gravity based on intelligence. Continues to affect the target regardless of their location.

───────────────────────────

 

While I was avoiding them using teleportation, I locked eyes with Wiseman. He chanted something and pointed his hand in my direction.

Suddenly, my body felt incredibly heavy.

 

Kai: “!?… This is Gravity. Damn it! There’s no way to avoid it.”

 

I wouldn’t be concerned about his Fireballs or Firewall. However, this Gravity magic seems to be target-specific, making it unavoidable.

Suddenly, a force of gravity assaulted my body.

It was unbearably heavy.

Even with the monstrous strength boosted by magic, moving felt like wading through water. This gravity magic likely manipulates gravity itself.

It felt like being pressed down from above with immense force. Every movement became sluggish. The weight was so overwhelming that I wanted to collapse on the ground.

 

Kai: “…Awakened skills are seriously all annoying powers.”

 

With Wiseman’s magic slowing me down and the endless barrage of Fireballs, not to mention the rare Thunderballs (which would paralyze me upon contact), I had to be constantly vigilant. Nightmare could appear from my shadow at any moment, always attempting to kill me.

However, Cataphract, with his Guardian Barrier, protected the two while making himself invincible with his Absolute Defense.

 

Kai: “…As always, when you three get together, you have that annoying coordination.”

 

While evading their attacks, I tried to deceive my heavy movements with teleportation. First, I had to take down Cataphract. With a vanguard like him in a party, I would think the party’s life is secure. He’s incredibly tough.

If I don’t defeat him, all of my attacks will be absorbed by him.

 

Kai: “…Should I try using that? It’s my first time in actual combat.”

 

I touched something attached to my belt. It’s an item I had Tanaka-san prepare for me. A modern weapon that I believed would be compatible with me.

Modern weapons are ineffective against monsters protected by magic power. However, the purpose of this item isn’t to attack.

 

Kai: “…Alright, I’m aware of the risks… but it’d be stupid to hold back and get defeated.”

 

A strategy formed in my mind.

All that remained was to hope for the perfect timing.

There were three conditions:

 

A max charged Thunderball must target me.

The Nightmare must try to teleport into my shadow.

These actions must occur in the best possible position.

 

I waited intently for this timing, continuously switching between Lightning and Mirage. Even with my heavy body, I kept evading Nightmare’s relentless pursuit, inflicting only shallow cuts on them.

I didn’t let my attention waver for a second. After several minutes of intense combat, I felt an extreme level of concentration, as if my mind was about to burn out.

Something had changed within me since my fight with Arnold. A deeper level of focus, an immersion that felt even more profound than before.

I’ve faced many battles and crossed lines of life and death. Those experiences made my combat senses shine even brighter.

I’ve overcome situations like this numerous times.

And then, the moment arrived.

Trying to disable my Mirage, the cataphract roared in provocation. The Wiseman released a Thunderball at its maximum power, intending to electrocute me to death. The Nightmare’s magic power fluctuated, indicating his intention to teleport into the shadow created by that lightning.

The coordinated efforts of the three unmistakably aimed straight for my life.

 

Kai: “…Now!!”

 

I pulled the pin from the item in my hand.

I threw that grenade-like object at the intended location.

A blinding flash!

The temple was enveloped in a brilliant white light. The light of science, but on a scale far beyond smartphones. I learned from previous battles how crucial light could be in combat.

That’s why I had it made.

The entire field of vision turned white, erasing all shadows.

A custom-made modern weapon I had Tanaka-san prepare for me. Another name for it is a “Stun Grenade”. However, this version only emits light without any sound.

Just light.

That’s all that’s needed.

With light, shadows are born.

And so, in that environment…

 

Kai: “I’ll finish this in one go!”

 

This is my battleground.