Chapter 469: Special Ingredients

A small but distinct explosion echoed, black smoke rose into the sky, and the ground shook.

Oliver instinctively sensed what had happened as he gathered all the information.

He could guess because he had experienced it in the past.

‘A bombing.’

Yes, it was a bombing, not just any bombing, though.

It was very similar to the one the Flesh Cook had caused in Randa.

Parasite-like creatures inside human bodies had caused a massive explosion, using their hosts as nutrients.

Oliver knew because he had seen and experienced that explosion firsthand.

‘The impact is less powerful than I remember.’

Oliver thought as he looked at the scale of the black smoke.

Compared to the explosion that turned O District into ruins, this one was smaller. However, the explosion itself was still intense.

What the hell is happening suddenly…? At that moment, several distinctive notification tones from the communication devices rang out.

They were from the Pinkman’s communication devices.

“What’s going on?”

A middle-aged gentleman quickly answered the communication device.

He seemed to have a hunch about something.

“…So, Code Gamma is safe? …That’s a relief. Then—wait, what? What?!”

The middle-aged gentleman seemed shocked by the explosion, then relieved, and then shocked again while receiving the communication.

Although the exact details were unclear, his fluctuating emotions suggested that the situation was quite urgent.

As proof, his nerves, which seemed ready to attack at any moment, shifted from Oliver to the direction where the explosion happened.

‘Is it related to creatures?’

Oliver focused his Warlock’s Eye on the direction of the explosion, thinking.

At the edge of his vision, artificial creatures created with dark magic were rampaging alongside several warlocks.

Wizards, magic users, and holy knights were responding to them, but it seemed challenging.

“Everyone, head toward the direction of Code Gamma.”

After some deliberation, the middle-aged gentleman issued a command based on the report from the communication device.

Though the Pinkman were shocked by the sudden order, they moved immediately without questioning, as if they had some idea why.

The Pinkman who had been following from behind to cut off their retreat moved, as did the ones lying in ambush, and even the middle-aged gentleman.

“Looks like something serious happened.”

“Seems like it.”

Oliver agreed with Pandora’s observation.

Despite the Pinkman’s extreme obsession with Pandora and their hostility toward Oliver, they left without hesitation.

Even though they could have taken the opportunity to run away.

There could only be one reason: something more urgent had occurred, something more important than killing Oliver, someone they were antagonistic towards, or capturing Pandora, who was worth more than three trillion.

Thinking and conjecture weren’t Oliver’s strong suit, but he had a good sense of what might be happening.

“What do you want to do?”

Pandora asked. Oliver replied.

“For now, let’s go to where the World Tree is. If we don’t go far, it’ll appear soon… Let’s move.”

“No, Father. What I asked wasn’t about what you should do, but what you want to do.”

“…What I want to do?”

“Yes, Father, what would you like to do?”

Pandora asked again. Instead of answering directly, Oliver asked back.

“How did you know?”

“Because you’re my father.”

Pandora replied with a soft smile and affection.

***

Thud… Thud… Thud…

Oliver dashed between the buildings with Pandora on his shoulder.

In the city, this was the fastest way to move, aside from space magic.

With Black Suit-covered legs, Oliver kicked off and landed on the roof of a building.

“You’re not uncomfortable, right?”

Oliver asked Pandora, who was hanging like a sack on one of his shoulders.

He was concerned that she might feel uncomfortable due to the rough movement.

Pandora replied.

“I’m fine. You don’t have to worry. As a corpse doll, I don’t feel pain or discomfort.”

“Ah…”

Oliver let out a short exclamation. She was right. Corpse dolls were still dead bodies, even if they could mimic their former selves and exhibit power thanks to dark magic.

So, they couldn’t feel any pain; the same applied to Child.

Indeed, even when a corpse doll was shattered several times, there were no problems unless the Child inside was directly attacked.

‘The fact that they can’t eat food in a hotel follows the same logic… Once again, Puppets is truly remarkable.’

Oliver recalled his past encounters with Puppet, like the time they met in a park and ate ice cream together.

Puppet had confessed that he spent a considerable amount of time and effort to enjoy the blessing of eating ice cream, feeling the breeze, and hearing birds sing.

At that time, Oliver didn’t think much of it, but now, it seemed rather amazing.

After all, for a corpse to eat food and feel the wind on its skin is quite something.

He couldn’t even begin to estimate how much patience and effort it must have taken.

“Are you alright?”

Pandora asked as they arrived right in front of their destination, having descended onto the ground.

“Ah, it’s nothing. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

“I’m glad you’re okay. It doesn’t seem the same for those down there, though.”

Pandora pointed down to the area below the building. The place where the explosion had happened was now almost a ruin, and yet, a strange battle was taking place above it.

It also seemed odd to Oliver.

“What the hell is this nonsense?!”

One of the Pinkman, wielding a revolver in one hand and an axe in the other, yelled as he split the head of his opponent.

Oliver agreed with his sentiment.

Their enemies were toy soldiers, the kind that children played with or adults collected as a hobby.

Right now, in the ruins, red-uniformed toy soldiers were engaging in a chaotic battle with the Pinkman, as well as First Step police officers and soldiers.

Bang!

Before the man could finish speaking, one of the toy soldiers fired at a Pinkman with a toy gun.

Caught off guard by the nature of the battle, the Pinkman was unable to react in time and was shot down. A red-skinned warlock extracted emotions from the newly deceased and used dark magic to create another toy soldier.

“Oh…”

Oliver muttered in pure admiration. To use creation-type dark magic in such a way was beyond his imagination.

Normally, creatures are made using emotions.

‘…Well, it’s standard, but it doesn’t have to be that way. After all, I used emotions and life force to create Child; it’s possible to use human corpses as well.’

Oliver determined that it was indeed possible.

Especially since creation-type dark magic tends to be unusual compared to other types.

[Holy Light]

As the toy soldiers continued to multiply and began overpowering the Pinkman, holy knights armed with steel coats and cold weapons arrived, using their holy power.

Gentle light filled the surroundings.

At that moment, Oliver concluded that it was over.

Oliver knew better than anyone the overwhelming effect of holy power.

Regardless of skill level, it naturally countered dark magic. There could be no exception.

‘So why is this happening?’

Oliver’s eyes widened in surprise as he watched from the building.

Even after being hit by the holy light, the creatures—the toy soldiers—remained intact.

They were clearly weakened, yet it was astounding.

They had somewhat overcome an absolute type of counter. It was almost as if they were like Oliver’s artificial souls.

As Oliver analyzed the cause, one of the three holy knights who had arrived to assist spoke up.

“Don’t be afraid. These wicked creatures have weakened significantly. Now, let’s drive them━”

[━Shadow Spike]

Before the holy knight could boost the morale of the Pinkman, someone cast dark magic on him.

It was a Red One warlock who had also come to provide support, just like the holy knights.

Amazingly, by using ‘special ingredients,’ the warlock achieved the feat of inflicting a critical injury on one of the holy knights.

‘Is that even possible?’

Oliver scrutinized the new Red One warlock in awe, as it was the first time he had seen such a type.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!!”

The Red One warlock who had come to assist yelled at the other warlock.

Bravely, he reprimanded his fellow warlock despite having three holy knights in front of him. Well, given the special materials they were using, it made sense.

The other Red One warlock retorted angrily.

“So should we just let this opportunity slip?! Damn it! What’s done is done! Just help already!!”

The shouting warlock assumed a stance, spreading his shadow wide and releasing a swarm of creatures.

Chick-headed soldiers,

Boogeymen with elongated hooked arms covered in black cloths,

Bear dolls larger than actual bears,

And clowns carrying toy scythes.

A flood of familiar creatures poured out.

As the holy knights prepared to unleash their holy power, startled by the cockroach-like creatures swarming out, the earlier Red One warlock activated dark magic using special ingredients held in his hand.

[Hate Bullet]

[Holy Light]

The holy knights naturally responded by activating holy power, trying to neutralize the hate bullets. Surprisingly enough, even after taking a direct hit from the holy light, the hate bullet did not disappear and instead penetrated the bodies of the holy knights.

“…!!”

Though it was an attack they could have easily dodged, the sheer unexpectedness of the situation left the holy knights vulnerable, allowing the creatures emerging from the shadows to quickly join forces with the toy soldiers and attempt to finish off the Pinkman.

[Strengthen]

[Magnify]

At that critical moment, a deep voice echoed.

Simultaneously, dozens of massive spears appeared in the air, crushing and obliterating the creatures swarming from the shadows.

With sheer size and mass.

Boom━!!

The massive object shook the ground. Then someone spoke.

“I never thought I’d live to save a holy knight.”

None other than Philip.

Major General of the Kingdom’s Army, Headmaster of the Royal Magic Academy, Director of the Royal Magic Research Division, Honorary Grandmaster of the Tower of Magic’s Pure Mana School, and head of the Roer Family, Philip Roer.

He had appeared, shielding the holy knight from the warlock’s attack.

The sudden appearance of this intruder prompted the Red One warlock to once again cast dark magic using special ingredients, hurling a black spear at Philip Roer.

Though the dark magic itself was simple and basic, the ingredients made it powerful.

Instead of blocking it head-on, Philip took out a longsword and a saber from his coat, deflecting the incoming black spear.

He made up for the lack of firepower with skill.

Moreover, Philip threw axes and spears, and even charged directly to close the distance, pressuring the Red One warlock.

He moved swiftly and skillfully, belying his advanced age.

However, Philip didn’t stop there. As befits someone of his stature as Major General of the Kingdom, he also issued commands.

“Men! I’ll handle the enemy. Reorganize yourselves! Reinforcements are coming soon! …Julia! Take the injured holy knights and fall back!”

His orders were brief and direct.

Perhaps because of the powerful charisma embedded in his voice, the Pinkman, soldiers, and police, whose morale had been faltering, moved without hesitation to form a defensive line to hold out until reinforcements arrived, while a female wizard took the injured holy knights and retreated.

An impressive level of coordination. All possible because they believed in Philip, and indeed, Philip honored that trust by continuing to suppress the warlock who had dealt with three holy knights alone, while also utilizing miniaturized weapons to keep the creatures and the Red One warlock in check.

“Grow longer!”

As he unleashed a furious barrage with his superior physical abilities, weapon skills, and ten swords, six axes, and three spears, Philip pulled out a sarissa, gripping it with both hands.

In an explosive burst, the sarissa extended to over six meters, aiming to pierce the warlock.

Boom━!!

When the magic-infused sarissa reached its target, it made a sound like a truck crashing, such was its force.

But the most surprising thing was that the Red One warlock managed to block it.

By infusing his own shadow with special ingredients.

His shadow bulged like a living creature and stopped Philip’s sarissa dead in its tracks.

Clunk, clunk, clunk!!

It was a contest of strength. Philip’s mana was among the highest Oliver had ever seen in terms of quantity and quality, but the ingredients the Red One warlock used were no ordinary material. Not only did it withstand Philip’s attack, but it also began overpowering the sarissa.

Crack, crack…

Just as the sarissa began to groan under the shadow’s pressure, Philip spoke again.

“Grow bigger.”

With those words, the sarissa that had been crushed by the shadow expanded, tearing through the warlock’s shadow.

In an instant, the situation flipped.

Philip pushed the sarissa further, aiming to skewer and crush the warlock.

“Bite it.”

Snap━━!!

The Red One warlock commanded his shadow, which then reformed and morphed into giant teeth, biting down on and shattering the enlarged sarissa.

Everyone, including Philip, felt a twinge of horror at the grotesque appearance of the shadow. Meanwhile, the warlock sent his shadow charging at Philip to try and bite him to death.

Philip was about to draw another weapon when a familiar voice came from above.

[Light]

It was none other than Oliver, who generated a ball of intense light behind his back using his mana.

The sudden burst of light caused the shadowy teeth to pause momentarily, but the special ingredients made sure it sustained no significant damage.

But that was okay. Oliver’s goal wasn’t to eliminate the shadow; it was to create one.

Using the backlight from the intense light, Oliver formed a gigantic shadow, crushing and smashing the Red One warlock’s shadow from above.

It was executed effortlessly.

Boom!!

As the massive shadow came crashing down, shockwaves and dust clouds, along with fragments of the torn shadow, scattered everywhere.

Landing on the ground, Oliver absorbed the scattered shadow fragments into his own shadow, then pulled out a dagger from his waist and hurled it.

Although the Red One warlock easily dodged it.

With the sudden appearance of Oliver, everyone turned their attention to him as he spoke.

“…Good day.”