Chapter 459: Urban Legend

Caught between Oliver and Claude, were the Druid-Corpse Doll and the Magic-Wielding-Corpse Doll.

The Druid-Corpse Doll used the stored force of nature in its body and the stalks of beans to create a giant pillar, blocking Oliver’s Quarterstaff.

Thud!

The sturdy yet flexible stalk absorbed and reduced the power of the attack while also grasping the Quarterstaff.

Oliver tried to pull it back, but the stalk was too tough. In that brief pause, the Magic-Wielding-Corpse Doll concentrated its power in its fists and legs and charged at Oliver.

With its plentiful magic power, the Magic-Wielding-Corpse Doll enhanced its body and unleashed a deadly attack as if slashing through air with a blade.

It threw eight punches in an instant, followed by two kicks, and each strike was powerful enough to kill. Truly a remarkable skill.

Yet, the more surprising thing was that Oliver dodged and deflected them all, even with the Quarterstaff still gripped by the stalk.

“…!!”

Claude was silently astonished, and so was Oliver.

This was a stark contrast to when Oliver previously relied solely on the Black Suit’s defenses.

While remaining in place, Oliver dodged and blocked, and the Magic-Wielding-Corpse Doll pulled its fist far back just as Oliver concentrated the Black Suit on one arm.

Then, as the Magic-Wielding-Corpse Doll threw its punch, Oliver also threw his.

Wham━!!

When the emotion-clad fist collided with the magic-enhanced one, a flash burst out accompanied by a sharp noise.

Fortunately, it was not Oliver’s fist but the Corpse Doll’s that was shattered.

Not only the fist, but up to just above the elbow was crushed into pieces, yet its function wasn’t diminished.

In fact, if you considered function alone, it was impressive even by Randa’s standards.

After all, creating or controlling a Corpse Doll required considerable skill.

Oliver had simply been lucky to win the fistfight.

It was because he had strengthened his body by consuming the Flesh Cook’s palm muscles.

At Claude’s command, the Magic-Wielding Corpse Doll, with its shattered arm, retreated. Oliver seized the opportunity to cast dark magic on the Quarterstaff trapped in the stalk.

[Grind]

Following the chant, the Black Suit surrounding the Quarterstaff sprouted countless small blades that began to rotate, shredding the bean stalk.

The stalk was torn apart into pieces and bits.

Oliver tried to strike the Druid-Corpse Doll right after, but a flying object swiftly approached and blocked him.

“A mini-Golem? No, a mini-Corpse Golem?”

Oliver mumbled as he observed the flying object in front of him.

At first glance, the object seemed similar to a miniature military Golem, but it was made of flesh rather than clay or machinery.

Following the connected magic thread, Oliver noticed another female Corpse Doll, from which the mini-Corpse Golem had emerged.

‘Is it the same type as the one I met initially? No, it’s an upgraded version.’

Oliver assessed the Magic-Equipment Corpse Doll that surrounded him with over twenty mini-Corpse Golems.

The miniature Corpse Golems buzzed around him like bees, unleashing magic bullets and hate-filled volleys from all angles to suppress him.

While each individual shot wasn’t particularly threatening, the coordinated barrage was enough to hinder him.

Oliver released the Minions hidden in his chest to counter the onslaught, but the mini-Corpse Golems were too well-built to be easily subdued.

‘The combination is excellent. A Druid, a Magic-Wielder, and a Magic-Equipment Specialist. Lots to learn from this.’

Oliver thought earnestly. He especially considered that the Magic-Equipment Specialist would be a great enhancement to Durance.

If included, it would provide more refined fire support, making battles even more efficient.

‘Even in the battle with Enjoyment, the tremendous success was thanks to the collaboration with the Corpse Dolls… the strong fire support from Durance, Seamus’s destructive charge, Lady Bathory’s magical firepower.’

Snap Snap.

Just as Oliver eliminated all the mini-Corpse Golems, a strange noise emanated from below.

From within the concrete floor, a crab-like Corpse Golem emerged right under Oliver. The Golem was filled with explosive substances and poison.

If mishandled, it could explode. It seemed designed to restrict his movements, but upon noticing the Magic-User-Corpse Doll and the Dark-User-Corpse Doll preparing spells in the distance, Oliver realized he had misjudged the situation.

The Dark-User-Corpse Doll dispersed a large amount of emotion in the form of mist, which began eroding the Black Suit, and the Magic-User-Corpse Doll followed up by spreading magic in sync with the emotion mist, maximizing its binding potential.

Such collaboration between a Magic-User and a Dark-User was rare, and its power was overwhelming.

[Triboelectricity]

Magic particles surrounding Oliver generated electric charges as they rubbed against the emotional particles, causing a tightly-radiating electric explosion.

Blinding light and dark blue electricity filled his vision.

The discharge penetrated the armor, which had been somewhat eroded by the emotional particles, delivering direct damage to Oliver.

But that wasn’t the end.

The mini-Corpse Golem that emerged from the ground reacted with the electricity, causing a sticky purple explosion that released poison in all directions.

The acidic poison was strong enough to melt the concrete floor.

Sizzle-sss!

The electric explosion was formidable in itself, but adding acidic poison made for a very meticulous attack.

‘This is truly remarkable.’

Oliver praised as he stripped off a layer of the Black Suit to evade the acidic poison.

Each Corpse Doll boasted an impressive set of functions. While individually they weren’t overly threatening to Oliver, their perfect cooperation and precision multiplied their effectiveness severalfold, presenting a significant challenge.

It required a deep mastery and understanding of the Corpse Dolls.

Oliver was genuinely pleased. He’d learned something valuable in an unexpected place.

“Wow… For someone so skinny, you are remarkably resilient.”

Claude marveled, both impressed and shocked at how Oliver remained calm despite the electric and explosive attacks, and followed that by evading the acidic poison.

Oliver shared his surprise.

Had he been the same person who once relied heavily on the Black Suit’s defenses, this kind of attack could have been lethal… No, it might’ve actually ended his life.

The electric and explosive attacks that penetrated the Black Suit would have immobilized him, leaving him defenseless against the acidic poison.

Yet here he was, managing to respond effectively. It was thanks to his greatly enhanced body.

“Ladies.”

Claude twitched his fingers, moving the Corpse Dolls.

Following his command, the Druid-Corpse Doll created a massive wooden pillar,

while the Magic-User and Dark-User-Corpse Dolls immediately enchanted the wooden pillar, reinforcing it.

The Magic-Wielder Corpse Doll joined forces with the Druid-Corpse Doll to swing the giant pillar toward Oliver.

A combination of natural force, magic, and emotion in a hybrid technique.

Oliver knew the power of these combinations well and tried to dodge, but something caught his ankle.

It was none other than Claude’s shadow.

“Specialty in controlling-type dark magic.”

The extended shadow morphed into a swamp, binding Oliver’s feet. Oliver missed the chance to escape and was struck head-on by the pillar.

━━━━!!!

The giant mass slammed into Oliver with a deafening roar, sending him flying far away.

“…So this is how pain feels.”

Having pierced through a building wall and landed in an empty lot, Oliver quietly admired the experience.

Although he was no stranger to the tactic of coordinating Corpse Dolls, this was his first time being on the receiving end.

His Black Suit was half-destroyed, and his bones and internal organs ached. It wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

Thanks to this, he could empathize with Theodore and the Flesh Cook’s feelings personally.

It was a significant and dangerous attack.

“Amazing. To take that hit and merely reflect on it. But you should do more than just ponder, shouldn’t you?”

Claude appeared alongside five female Corpse Dolls and spoke.

Indeed, Oliver couldn’t stand around reflecting.

As he did so, the Magic-User-Corpse Doll and the Dark-User-Corpse Doll mixed a fusion of life force and magic to twist space, surrounding Oliver with countless portals.

That was surprising since opening so many portals without auxiliary equipment was a rare skill.

However, what emerged from the portals was even more amazing.

Through the large portals, zombies made from wolves and mutated hounds flooded out, along with four massive Corpse Golems stitched together from numerous bodies.

Oliver was quickly encircled by the horde.

At the same time, the Magic-Wielder Corpse Doll took up position ahead, while the Druid-Corpse Doll formed a tree giant of comparable size to the Corpse Golems using wood and bean stalks.

As Oliver rose to respond, he felt the pressure on his body increase.

Tighten━!

Magic threads had wrapped around Oliver’s body without him noticing, binding him tightly.

Oliver traced the threads with his eyes and spotted a spider-shaped Corpse Doll clinging to one side of a building.

It was a form of Corpse Doll he had never seen before, made by merging several Magic-Users.

No matter how much force he applied, the threads wouldn’t break. Instead, they tightened even further.

“These threads won’t break easily. I made them by combining the powers of four skilled Magic-Users.”

“Was this planned from the start?”

“No. That would mean I anticipated Mr. Dave finding me instantly, which I didn’t. I just always make the best preparations. As I mentioned before, I’m quite cautious.”

He was being sincere. It was rather interesting.

Despite appearing scared as he claimed, his caution enabled him to demonstrate incredible combat prowess.

He always set the conditions and environment to fight in his favor.

“But Mr. Dave seems to be fearless. In a life-and-death battle, you have to fight with all you’ve got from the start, or you might end up like this, trying to see my cards… It’s not always the strongest who survive.”

Oliver nodded in agreement.

He was currently bound and surrounded by dozens of zombies. By all logic, it looked like he had lost.

“Or, do you have some hidden trick up your sleeve? Considering you took down the Flesh Cook, perhaps you do?”

“Ah, that’s—”

“—never mind. I’ll see for myself.”

Claude said this as he sent all the Corpse Dolls charging at the bound Oliver.

Unable to move, Oliver was truly in a dire situation.

In this critical moment, Oliver responded calmly.

“Alright. Force.”

Right on cue, Child-Force emerged from the test tube in Oliver’s chest.

As Force appeared, the shrunken Corpse Doll within Oliver’s chest followed pre-set instructions, leaping out and returning to its original size.

Claude was shocked by the sudden appearance of the Corpse Doll but quickly regained his composure.

“It’s just one doll. What can it possibly—”

━Crash! Bash! Boom!! BOOM…, Crack!

To Claude’s dismay, Force’s impact was immense. Force drove the Duncan-Corpse Doll forward, smashing through the Magic-Wielding-Corpse Doll, the wolves, hounds, and even the giant Corpse Golems in its way.

Swinging tonfas in both hands, Duncan obliterated, shredded, crushed, and snapped everything in his path, and Claude’s expression changed.

“Wow…”

Although impressed, Claude didn’t let the momentum overwhelm him and used the Spider-Corpse Doll to trap Duncan, just like Oliver.

But this plan backfired. Oliver had already taken control of the magical threads.

In a swift move, Oliver manipulated the threads binding him, using them to ensnare the Spider-Corpse Doll and dozens of surrounding zombies.

The threads were so strong that even with all the zombies struggling at once, they couldn’t break free.

The only one still resisting was the Magic-Equipment-Corpse Doll controlling the mini-Corpse Golems. Despite being bound, it moved its fingers to direct a dozen mini-Corpse Golems at Oliver.

“Second.”

As Oliver called Child-Second’s name, he threw something high into the air.

It was the shrunken Corpse Doll Durance. As Oliver dispelled the shrinking magic, Durance returned to its original size in the air, and Second entered it.

“Please.”

Oliver requested, and Second transformed Durance’s hands into submachine guns, firing in all directions.

The mini-Corpse Golems, wolves, hound zombies, Corpse Golems, and the Magic-User, Dark-User, Magic-Equipment, and Druid-Corpse Dolls were all silenced.

The situation had flipped in an instant. Oliver asked.

“Is there anything more to deal with?”

“No, I think if there were, it would kill me.”

Claude, trapped by the magical threads and Duncan-Corpse Doll’s grip on his neck, smiled as he responded.