The manticore circled him, its silvery eyes locked onto him with a predatory intensity. It was clear the creature remembered him, but there was a difference this time—it seemed slightly more cautious. Maybe it could sense the increase in his magic power.
Lancer gripped the spear tightly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The manticore's tail bristled, crystalline spikes emerging from its tip and pointing toward him. Without warning, it launched the spines in his direction.
They seemed slower than before, but still fast enough to reach him before he could react. He barely had time to think, Shit! when the system's voice chimed in.
[Use the same attack to intercept the spikes.]
It took him a second to process what the system meant, but then he remembered—he had absorbed the manticore's skill. Summoning his focus, he willed the ability into action. Behind him, crystalline spikes materialized, glinting like shards of ice, and shot forward.
The two sets of projectiles collided mid-air, shattering into a cloud of glittering fragments. Lancer grinned, feeling a surge of pride.
"Not bad," he muttered.
But the manticore wasn't done. With a guttural snarl, it leaped at him, its claws aimed straight for his chest. He tried to move, but it was too fast—he wouldn't dodge in time.
Desperation kicked in, and he activated Venomous Touch just as the creature collided with him.
The manticore howled in agony as Lancer's hand made contact, the venom from his skill coursing through its body. At the same time, its claws ripped into his side, and they both tumbled to the ground in a chaotic heap.
Lancer groaned as he staggered to his feet, blood trickling from the deep gashes in his torso. The manticore lay a few feet away, its body twitching violently, clearly paralyzed by the toxin.
He clutched his side, trying to steady his breathing. "What... just happened? I didn't think the venom was that strong."
[The potency has increased proportionally to your magic power. However, the paralysis will only last 60 seconds.]
As if to emphasize the urgency, a translucent timer appeared in his field of vision, counting down from 60.
Lancer cursed under his breath. He didn't have much time. Gripping the spear tightly, he stepped toward the manticore, each movement sending a sharp jolt of pain through his body.
He stopped just short of the creature, raising the spear with trembling hands. He wasn't sure he could do it—plunging the weapon into the creature felt wrong, even after everything. But he knew he had no choice.
As he prepared to strike, something caught his eye. Around the manticore's neck, glowing green symbols swirled faintly in the air, forming a pattern.
"What's that?" he muttered.
[It appears to be a command collar. A type of magic used by beast tamers to control creatures.]
Lancer's breath hitched. A command collar? That meant someone was controlling the manticore—someone had sent it after him.
He didn't have time to dwell on the revelation. The timer was ticking down rapidly, the seconds slipping away. Tightening his grip, he stepped closer.
[Alternate option available,] the system interjected. [You may use the skill Diffusion, acquired from the Mycocryptis Fungus. This will allow you to assimilate the manticore, converting its essence into energy and skills. Cost: 50% of current magic.]
Lancer hesitated, the spear hovering above the manticore's throat. He didn't relish the idea of killing it, and this seemed like a better option—if only slightly.
"Do it," he said firmly.
The moment the words left his lips, he felt a sharp drain in his magic, his capacity dropping by half. The manticore's body glowed with a soft light before dissolving into motes of energy that swirled around him and then disappeared.
The system alerted him to an increase in his magic power, a direct result of consuming an Alpha manticore. Lancer stood still as the magic surged through his body, filling him with a strength he had never felt before.
[Your magic capacity has increased to 2700. A new skill is available for acquisition: Analyze. Would you like to unlock it?]
"Sure," Lancer said, curiosity piqued.
[Acquisition of the skill Analyze successful. This skill allows you to configure objects and living beings at the molecular level.]
Lancer blinked, stunned by the description. "That's... incredible."
[Would you like to combine Analyze with Architect's Touch?]
"Wait, combine them?" He wasn't sure where this was leading, but his instincts told him to go for it. "Yeah, let's do it."
[Congratulations. The skills Architect's Touch and Analyze have fused into the Unique Skill: Architect's Dominion. Your magic capacity is now 2400.]
Lancer whistled, impressed. "Not bad for one day."
Feeling a newfound confidence coursing through him, he turned and began making his way back to the village.
It was nearly nightfall when Lancer emerged from the forest, the eerie glow of the two moons casting an unsettling violet hue over the landscape. He shivered as he climbed over a large fallen tree on a ridge overlooking the village.
That's when he saw it—a massive plume of smoke rising into the air. Shouts and the harsh clang of metal against metal echoed from below.
His heart sank. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the village gate, only to find chaos waiting for him. A section of the wall had been demolished, and the guards were locked in a desperate struggle against a group of rough-looking invaders. The attackers were numerous, far too many for the guards to handle.
Panic seized him as he dashed into the village, ignoring the battles raging around him. His only thought was to reach Nero's home and ensure everyone there was safe.
He reached the village square just as Nero's house erupted into flames, the fiery light casting long, flickering shadows across the chaos. Two figures shot out of the blaze, exchanging blows at a speed Lancer could barely track.
His eyes locked onto Nero as the chief created some distance, his broad frame illuminated by the fire. His opponent was a dark-haired man with a jagged scar running down his cheek. The man's expression twisted into a wicked grin as his gaze landed on Lancer.
Before Lancer could react, the man blurred and reappeared in front of him, swinging his sword in a deadly horizontal arc.
Lancer froze, unable to process what was happening. The blade stopped just short of him, intercepted by Nero's weapon with a deafening clang. Nero forced the attacker back, his voice calm but firm as he shouted, "Lancer! Get to a safe location, now!"
Understanding he couldn't do anything to help, Lancer turned and ran. His feet carried him toward the guild, but as he approached, he found even more chaos waiting for him.
Selene was locked in combat with someone—a girl who looked to be about his age. Though their fight wasn't as blindingly fast as Nero's, it was still leagues beyond anything Lancer could follow. The clash of their weapons sent sparks flying as they darted and weaved through the wreckage.
Lancer's eyes scanned the area and landed on Livia, crouched behind a broken cart. He rushed over to her and crouched down. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
She nodded but looked shaken, a thin, bleeding gash running along her forehead. "I'm fine," she said quickly, though her voice wavered. "But I'm worried about Selene."
Lancer glanced back at the fight. "She'll be fine," he said, though he wasn't entirely sure of his own words. Selene was strong, but the girl she was fighting seemed just as capable. The battle looked evenly matched, and there was no telling which way it would go.