I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 70

My abdomen took a direct hit from a rock that suddenly erupted out of nowhere. The recoil sent my body flying far away.

While airborne, I had the illusion that time was passing in slow motion.

’What... the?’

For a moment, I couldn’t comprehend it. Why on earth would a rock erupt from the Guardian’s back?

No. Maybe I was just being naive.

Hadn’t it already made the cave floor surge up and exposed the core in its chest?

Altering something like its back would be child’s play for it.

’More importantly... how did it know my position...?’

Kwadang! Kudangtang!

My line of thought snapped. It was because of the excruciating pain shooting through my back.

Taking a direct hit from that erupting rock sent me flying a long distance. There wasn’t a single spot on my front or back that didn’t hurt.

"Keuhup... heohup...!"

I did my best to regulate my breath, which refused to come easily.

Gasping for air like a goldfish wasn’t going to help at all.

The only silver lining was that it hadn’t hit me in the solar plexus.

If it had slammed into my solar plexus, I likely would have passed out on the spot.

Kung! Kung!

The ground trembled. I barely managed to raise my head to look at the Guardian.

Its legs had definitely been severed, but as if that had never happened, they were completely restored.

Could it be that it can freely manipulate not just the surrounding terrain, but perhaps the entire Orichalcum Cave?

No matter how many times its body got damaged, it seemed to regenerate instantly.

’It’s practically its home ground...’

I kept processing thoughts while working to steady my breathing.

It felt like I could inhale, but couldn’t exhale. I had taken a truly brutal hit.

Peook!

"Keueok!"

Then, someone whacked my back with force. A dizzying sensation shot across my entire spine.

At that moment, a trapped breath burst out of my mouth. Finally, I felt like I could breathe again.

I looked back to see who had hit me, and there was Speed Sloth.

Just like during the Saber-toothed Tiger incident, this guy was always a huge help.

"...Thanks."

"... ."

Instead of answering (not that he talks anyway), Speed Sloth climbed onto my back.

It was as if he was telling me to pull myself together and focus back on the battle.

Suppressing the agony in my abdomen as much as possible, I got up to my feet.

Perhaps because I had crammed mana solely into my body right before impact, my movement wasn’t severely restricted.

"Keulleeok! Keulleeok!"

A fit of coughing suddenly erupted. I hurriedly blocked my mouth with the back of my hand.

When I pulled it away, the back of my hand was drenched in blood. Even if the outside seemed intact, my internals clearly weren’t fine.

Well, there was no way I’d be unscathed after taking a hit like that.

Keeping an eye on the Guardian, I hastily pulled out an Elixir and took a sip.

Thanks to its painkilling effect, I felt considerably better than before.

Kung! Kung!

’No matter how I think about it, something’s strange.’

Even while I was drinking the Elixir, the Guardian didn’t launch any attacks.

It simply walked slowly toward where I stood. It wasn’t initiating an attack.

On top of that, it was still completely ignoring Wonmo’s attacks. That was the part that bothered me most.

It was aware of my existence, but unaware of Wonmo’s. What could be the reason?

I regulated my breathing while simultaneously circulating the mana inside my body.

My abdomen still throbbed slightly, but I could bear it with the Elixir’s pain-relieving effect.

[Gigigigik-]

The moment I circulated the mana in my body, the Guardian let out that bizarre noise once again.

Seeing it slowly raise both arms, it seemed like it was about to attack again.

’First, I have to dodge this.’

Because I had been blown back so far, approaching it was difficult. For now, evading was my only option.

Keeping my eyes locked on the Guardian, I circled to the side.

The Guardian also tracked my position in real time, twisting its waist in a grotesque direction.

Kwagagang!!!

The moment it slammed both arms down, a grave of thorns surged toward me.

Like I said earlier, I could visually track it and dodge. Besides, there was plenty of distance between us now.

Before the creature could follow up with its next attack, I charged... wait, no, I quietly waited.

’Is it... sensing mana?’

The pattern of the Orichalcum Guardian was roughly like this:

If I did nothing, it merely walked forward without making any move.

However, the exact instant I circulated mana, it launched an attack.

If it hadn’t been ignoring Wonmo, I never would have noticed.

’Which means...’

I even held my breath, calming the mana within my body.

Sure enough, the Guardian, which was about to carry out its next attack, froze stiffly in place.

Then, it stared blankly at me before slowly moving its massive body forward.

Because it was sensitive to mana, it pinpointed my location accurately, but that was as far as it went.

’As expected.’

Not wielding mana—that was the trick to beat it.

However, finding the strategy was meaningless without the ability to execute it.

’I need mana to cut through that thing, though.’New chapters come out on NovelPing first.

Although the Sword of the Heavenly Demon was close to all-powerful, it wasn’t omnipotent.

Furthermore, even item stats couldn’t perform at full strength unless backed by suitable stats.

Right now, I was the greenest of rookies who had barely learned a Mental Cultivation Method.

With the technique of channeling mana into the blade sealed off, my only option was to push through with raw physical power.

’I just have to wait for the right timing...’

I quietly watched the Guardian walk toward me before stealthily shifting my steps.

Maybe it wasn’t attacking simply because I was out of range.

I needed to check how close I had to get before the bastard reacted.

[Gigigigik-]

When the distance between us closed to about 20 meters, the Guardian reacted.

The moment it lifted one leg with signs of attacking, I hurriedly retreated backward.

[Gigigik-]

Then it quietly lowered the leg it had raised and strode forward with long steps.

This confirmed it. The monster was detecting presence through mana.

The absence of dangerous beasts inside the cave was also highly likely due to this Guardian.

’In that case...’

I backed away bit by bit so as not to touch its detection range.

There were plenty of chances. But out of those countless chances, I could only seize one.

If I took another direct hit to the stomach like before, even an Elixir might not be able to heal me.

Elixir or whatever, I’d probably pass out before I could even use it. And I might end up having to rely on Speed Sloth for help again.

’Slowly.’

I moved back and forth to test its range.

Before long, I realized the optimal distance and gasped for breath.

"Phew..."

[Gigigigik-]

The moment I exhaled, the Guardian gave a violent reaction.

I flinched in surprise at that, but thankfully it showed no further reaction.

It seemed that breathing also caused fluctuations in mana, which it detected.

’...Now!’

Circulating the mana within my body, I dashed forward.

The Guardian raised one foot, but it was already too late. Just like before, I had reached right between its groin.

Can I really do this?

That doubt crossed my mind for a split second, but I pushed it away instantly and focused every nerve in my body onto my sword.

If I can’t do it, I die. I can’t die here.

I will survive no matter what and break out of this hellish place.

I didn’t survive all this time just to die now!

Seogeok!

Without using Aura, relying solely on physical raw strength, I sliced its leg clean off.

The giant body made of Orichalcum collapsed forward, dropping to its knees.

I circulated the mana in my body more fiercely than ever.

Seogeok! Seogeok!

To prevent it from countering like before, I chopped off not just its legs, but all of its limbs.

Spikes erupted here and there, posing severe danger, but I managed to block them with my shield.

Soon, only the torso of the Guardian remained standing. Now, stabbing the core would finish it.

Kwakwaang!

The moment I climbed onto its back, rocks erupted upward. I barely dodged.

It was a last-ditch effort, but it was already too late. All that was left was for the Sword of the Heavenly Demon to pierce its core.

"Heuup!"

I drove the Sword of the Heavenly Demon fiercely toward the core.

The Sword of the Heavenly Demon sunk in exceptionally smoothly. If I pierce the core like this...

Kwareureureu!

...would be great, but things in this world are never easy.

The limbs of the Guardian that I had just diced up were actually moving as if they were alive!

While I was flustered looking at that, another anomaly occurred.

Swaaaaa!

"Keueok?!"

A strange lethargy washed over my entire body. A drowsiness akin to stepping out of a hot bath.

Taken aback by the unexplainable weakness, I realized the reason right away.

’Th-This bastard is absorbing my mana...!’

The Guardian was draining my mana, using the Sword of the Heavenly Demon stuck in its back as a medium!

Panicking, I tried to pull back the Sword of the Heavenly Demon, but it didn’t budge an inch.

Huuung! Huung!

To make matters worse, the limbs of the Guardian that were moving like living creatures...

They wriggled like earthworms and launched an attack.

Jjeo-eoeo-eong!

I managed to dodge the kick, but I couldn’t dodge the incoming punch that followed.

I narrowly blocked it with my shield, but my body was already sent flying far away.

The bigger problem was that I lost my grip on the Sword of the Heavenly Demon.

Kudangtang!

"Keueeeok...!"

Even while flying through the air, I managed a breakfall, but I couldn’t afford to relax.

Considering the overwhelming exhaustion washing over my body, a follow-up strike was bound to come.

Geugeugeugeugeuk-

Even if its attacks were slow, was its regeneration fast? Before I knew it, the Guardian’s limbs had been fully restored.

Since the entire cave was made of Orichalcum, it must have utilized that.

However, that thought didn’t last long. The Guardian’s chest cracked open.Read the latest chapters at novеlping.com.

Uuuuuung-

The laser it had fired earlier. It was aiming right at me.

Seeing that, I hurriedly tried to get up, but there was another problem.

Eojil-

"?!"

Was it the effect of having my mana drained? No strength entered my body.

Furthermore, a piercing dizziness racked my brain, forcing me to fall to my knees.

’N-No...!’

Even while dizzy, I had to think. I glared at the Guardian pointing right at me.

Even though all my mana had been absorbed, it clearly perceived me.

Before the question of "Why on earth?" could even form in my mind...

Kkambpak!

Suddenly, the surroundings flickered out and brightened again, as if a light bulb had gone out.

The instant that happened, I snapped my head up.

Grimacing against the glare, I barely managed to open my eyes.

’...Light?’

The crystal orb King Reor gifted me. The Light ’magic’ contained within it.

To activate ’magic’, ’mana’ is inevitably required.

The moment I realized that, without hesitation, I pulled the crystal orb out of my bag.

Then, squeezing out every last drop of mana I had, I injected it into the crystal orb.

Hwaaaak!

The instant mana entered it, everything around lit up in a flash. The entire cave was bathed in brilliant light.

Glaring light be damned, I hurled the crystal orb behind the Guardian.

Kkigigigik!

Success! The aggro was pulled completely.

Following the crystal orb, the Guardian’s waist twisted nearly 180 degrees.

Then, the Sword of the Heavenly Demon stuck in its back like the legendary hero’s sword caught my eye.

Summoning every last shred of strength left in me, I leaped up from the ground.

"Euaaaaaah!"

Bellowing a battle cry, I charged toward the Guardian. Target: only one, the Sword of the Heavenly Demon.

Since it couldn’t hear sound anyway, I screamed to my heart’s content.

Uuuuuung!

A strange noise resonated from the core. I timed the moment it fired.

Just as the light grew far brighter than before, I tucked my entire left arm behind the shield.

A posture perfect for a body slam. Maintaining that posture, I sprinted and leaped!

Kwaaaaaang!!

The moment I leaped, the laser fired from the core.

No matter how colossal its body was, it wouldn’t be able to ignore the ’recoil’.

Just as I expected, the monster’s body was pushed back ever so slightly.

That recoil was a fantastic helper for me.

Kwang!!

The pommel of the Sword of the Heavenly Demon and my shield slammed into each other with a roaring clang.

The Sword of the Heavenly Demon, which was already right up against the core, drove in even deeper.

Since the entire blade sank in, it had undoubtedly pierced straight through the core.

Kung!

A body slam using the shield, and a leaping one at that.

What came next was a natural fall. Slamming onto the ground hurt a little—no, a LOT.

Even so, just in case, I rolled pathetically along the ground to get far away from the Guardian.

Curse me for looking ugly if you want. I had to live first.

Gigigigik- Gigik- Gigigik-

Was it because the core had been pierced completely? The Guardian broke down.

Its limbs detached and reattached repeatedly, its entire body twisting as if performing a dance.

If a robot malfunctioned, wouldn’t it look exactly like that?

Kung!

Before long, its arms dropped limply, and the Guardian collapsed forward.

It jolted very faintly, but even that subsided after a brief moment.

The blue glow radiating from the core died out completely as well.

The only light left inside the cave was the single Light floating around up in the air.

It surprisingly survived after taking a laser beam hit.

"Aigoo..."

I almost died. If I hadn’t figured out the strategy, I would have been completely helpless.

Are all Guardians like this? How on earth does Sword Matstar defeat things like that so easily?

Having my mana drained left me without an ounce of strength. Looks like I’ll have to lie down for a while.

Seueuk-

Then, something stealthily approached me. At first, I thought it was Speed Sloth.

But seeing the round eyes and beak, I realized it wasn’t.

The number one contributor who played a monumental role in taking down the Guardian: Wonmo.

"Kkyuu?"

Wonmo tilted his head while looking down at me collapsed on the floor.

I stared blankly at him before letting out a dry chuckle.

"Wonmo-ya."

"Kyu?"

"Should I give you some honey later?"

"Kkyuu!"

Look at him loving it.