Chapter 530: Red Hood

Red Hood.

A Warlock associated with the Black Hand, known to be a werewolf.

“A werewolf?”

“Yes, an extinct species in this world, hard to believe but it’s true… I saw it with my own eyes. The Warlock I fought before meeting Dave was him.”

Oliver nodded.

When Oliver was left alone in the forest by Ewan, he used the Warlock’s Eye to assess the surroundings and discovered Lucian. He approached him to seek help.

In the process, Oliver also saw the beast that hunted and slaughtered Lucian’s companions.

That beast might have been Red Hood. Though it looked human at first glance, its essence was that of a beast, a very intriguing entity.

Oliver questioned.

“Could you provide more detailed information? I’m not too familiar with it.”

As usual, Oliver asked for information. He was quite bright in some areas due to his curiosity but ignorant in others.

For instance, among the many Warlocks in the Black Hand, Oliver only knew four members personally.

Lucian gave an unexpected response to Oliver’s question.

“I’m sorry. We don’t have much detailed information either.”

“Oh… I see?”

“Yes, Red Hood operates mainly in the central continent, an area we don’t often interact with. Also, he’s half a myth, so today was the first time we actually confirmed his existence.”

“A myth…? What kind of myth exactly?”

“A creature that mimics a human to eat people… something along those lines. It’s a story used to prevent people from following strangers.”

“So Red Hood can actually change his appearance?”

Oliver immediately saw through Red Hood’s ability.

He had learned that even in the New Continent, myths often had a basis in reality.

Lucian was slightly amazed by Oliver’s unexpected insight. It was hard to tell if Oliver was really smart or just dim-witted.

“Yes, he can… though I’m not entirely sure, it seems his red cloak has that function. It’s quite sophisticated.”

“So, that’s why he’s called Red Hood… Could you tell me anything else? Even small details are fine.”

Lucian gladly complied with Oliver’s curious request. They were practically agreeing to ally, so it was in their best interest to share all information for the best outcome.

Of course, this was only possible because of Oliver’s credibility.

Lucian then explained to Oliver how they had come to track Red Hood, how they lost their subordinates in the pursuit, and finally, about their battle with Red Hood.

Oliver listened attentively while the other Millieu bosses watched him closely.

Since they had already heard about Red Hood once, observing Oliver’s reaction seemed more beneficial.

They could gauge his insight, intelligence, and tendencies by seeing how he absorbed new information and what conclusions he drew.

Time passed, Lucian finished his explanation, and Oliver, having completed his thoughts, spoke.

“He’s quite similar to Flesh Cook.”

Oliver expressed a similar opinion to others.

It was understandable since Red Hood’s Warlock powers were from the disease category and even his fighting style was strikingly similar.

He enhanced his innate body with disease-amplifying abilities to overwhelm opponents with raw physical power while inflicting troublesome damage with disease-weakening techniques if needed.

Given that most Warlocks typically specialize in either improving or weakening, it was clear how formidable he was.

He was indeed a formidable opponent.

Being able to use both powerful firepower and deadly poisons simultaneously.

Having previously faced Flesh Cook, who also utilized disease-amplifying and disease-weakening techniques together, Oliver knew exactly how dangerous it was.

His current hunger was essentially a result of that battle.

“The problem is, he’s quite cunning as well.”

Having confronted Red Hood, Lucian gave Oliver additional advice, listing his reasoning.

“Despite possessing immense strength, he acts cautiously. While the continent’s central region lacks proper governance, it’s still hard to trace his activity. He’s no fool, that’s for sure.”

Oliver understood his point.

Despite being strong enough to single-handedly defeat an entire Millieu unit, he didn’t allow that power to consume him. Instead, he wisely operated in secrecy, hiding his tracks almost completely.

That displayed his intelligence. After all, one can’t hide their tracks completely, even if they want to.

“Moreover, despite finding the whereabouts of the key before us, he didn’t flee immediately. Instead, he lured us into a trap and annihilated us to avoid any potential pursuit. His judgment and combat experience are top-notch.”

Lucian spoke bitterly.

After all, he prided himself on his cleverness.

That’s how he had managed to discover the key’s existence and pursue Red Hood.

Although Red Hood outmaneuvered him, setting a trap that nearly got him killed.

Red Hood might be a monster who eats people, but he’s definitely not stupid. In fact, just like the myth says, he’s cunning enough to trick people and devour them.

He doesn’t overestimate his own power. He gathers information to make the best decisions and can instantly respond to unexpected situations.

He’s far more troublesome than just a powerful brute.

Oliver didn’t show much of a reaction.

“I see… But the key is with him, right?”

“Yes.”

“Is there anything else you would like to add?”

Without showing any signs of overconfidence or caution, Oliver inquired again. Just as Lucian was about to shake his head, the only female Millieu boss, Valai, raised her hand.

“It’s not certain, but there is one interesting piece of information.”

“Interesting… Could you share it?”

Valai smiled.

“One of Flesh Cook’s storage warehouses, guarded by his remnants, was attacked by a furry monster. The warehouse held a unique body that I had my eyes on, so I know this.”

“Do you mean to say Red Hood attacked this warehouse?”

“Aside from him, there’s no other furry monster that fits the description. As far as I know, there were huge claw marks matching the wounds from Red Hood.”

It seemed to be true.

“But what’s more interesting is something else. Want to know?”

“Yes.”

“They said the furry monster swallowed up all of Flesh Cook’s remnants and the unique body storage.”

Valai pointed to her own gaping mouth with her fingers, implying that Red Hood had eaten both the remnants and the special body.

That was a very intriguing story. It could potentially lead to a demonic tome.

“Then, we should try to meet him as soon as possible.”

***

“Grrrr… Khahahahaha!!!”

In the Verdant Forest, in a location between the center and the outskirts, a massive, furry figure about 3 meters tall, appearing closer to 4 meters, roared with its gigantic mouth wide open.

But it wasn’t just any roar; it was mixed with Warlock magic. The sonic wave, distorted the air, and sent a blurry, dark mist spreading all around.

The range was so wide that there was nowhere to escape, and of course, the mercenary group Broken Sword in front of it was hit directly.

“…Ngk?!”

“Kreeggh…”

“Ugh…!!”

Broken Sword was a long-established mercenary group, composed of soldiers from a small state in the central continent, destroyed by the Pied Piper.

Though they lost their homeland, they had a long history as mercenaries and retained enough power and courage to maintain that history.

So it’s no wonder the Duke of Mille, a city-state in the southern continent, hired them to seize Flesh Cook’s legacy.

However, even Broken Sword faltered under the scream filled with distilled terror.

It could be said they were unlucky. Normally, they would have resisted with their mental fortitude, but they had already suffered entering the Verdant Forest’s center by their employer’s orders without proper preparation. And now, they had to face a sudden ambush?

It was understandable that they were shaken.

But even if it’s understandable, the damage doesn’t go away.

Broken Sword had not only suffered physical harm but had been poisoned with the more deadly toxin of fear.

As fear naturally does, it dulled their judgment and reflexes. The dozens of Red Hood’s Warlock subordinates, hiding in the forest, didn’t miss this opportunity and immediately began injecting disease-amplifying Warlock magic into their bodies.

[Lay The Foundations]

[No Pain]

[Steel Bone]

[Muscle Up]

[Thick Leather]

[Burning Life]

[Beast Teeth]

[Sharp Nails]

The Warlocks first used magic to strengthen their bodies to endure multiple disease types, eliminated pain hindering their combat, enhanced their bones and muscles, fortified their skin, and then burned their life force as fuel. Finally, they transformed their teeth and claws into those of a beast.

Crack. Crack. Snap.

Given that a typical Disease-type Warlock usually handles 2 to 3 of these magic arts at most, or 4 to 5 at an expert level, their prowess was indeed remarkable.

With their bodies enhanced to the extreme, the Warlocks, mimicking their master, ran full speed on all fours, charging at Broken Sword mercenaries from all directions.

They were like military bikes due to the speed they covered ground.

But Broken Sword was also a formidable mercenary group.

Led by their captain and senior officers, they initiated their magic.

With a flash of magical light, they stabilized the shaken minds of the mercenaries, allowing them to face the incoming furry beasts sprinting on all fours.

The heavily armed mercenaries with shields formed a wall, holding axes in one hand, while gunners lined up between the shields, aiming their rifles.

It was like a human-made fortress.

Just as the gunners squeezed the triggers between the shields, Red Hood used Warlock magic to act half a second faster.

[Barrage of Fury]

A Fire-type Warlock magic, developed from the Bullets of Hatred, it unleashed a barrage of furious shots.

The werewolf clad in a red cloak skillfully Extracted emotions from several vials in his chest guard, processed them into a large emotional entity, and hurled it into the sky.

When the massive emotional entity touched the sky, the internal spell activated, exploding and showering dozens of bullets over the heads of the mercenaries.

Mastery of not only Disease-type Warlock arts but also Fire-type Warlock arts was needed to achieve this.

As proof, the pitch-black bullets flashing in the air seemed to be randomly scattered, but each precisely struck the weak points of the formation, leaving the mercenaries with severe damage they couldn’t easily recover from.

It was only possible because of the combination of raw power, combat sense, intuition, and the ability to deploy spells that supported everything.

A huge gap appeared in the mercenary formation, and Red Hood’s Warlock subordinates infiltrated that gap and began their assault.

“Give me the meat!!”

The Warlocks, like beasts in human form, pounced on the mercenaries, slashing them with their claws and biting into them.

The Warlocks’ claws were so powerful that they could tear through even magically reinforced steel as if it were paper, but the mercenaries resisted by shooting guns and swinging their weapons.

Yet, regardless of that, the Warlocks ignored defense and attacked like mad dogs, aiming to land just one more hit.

It looked like it was a do-or-die suicide attack, but it wasn’t.

While it was true that the Warlocks had sustained considerable wounds, they recovered immediately by devouring the flesh of fallen mercenaries.

This was the driving force behind their fanatical attacks, giving up defense.

It was crude and simplistic, but highly effective, causing not only tangible damage but also unsettling emotions as the terror that had calmed down with magic began to rise again, causing an emotional upheaval.

“Calm down.”

Zoltan, the captain of Broken Sword, shouted while scattering a hundred miniaturized sablas from his hand.

The sablas, smaller than a single finger joint and appearing almost like toys, spread throughout the surroundings, powered by Zoltan’s magic, and instantly dispelled their shrunken magic state, returning to their original size.

Slash-!

Rip-!

Thrust-…

Clang!

As the sablas returned to their original size, their gleaming, magic-infused blades cut, pierced, and slashed through the Warlocks around them.

Although some managed to dodge or block the attack, they were the minority. Most couldn’t avoid or block all the blades and were either slashed or pierced.

Despite that, it wasn’t a reckless attack that didn’t distinguish between friend and foe.

It was a precise, wide-ranging, and effective attack achieved by discerning the positions of both allies and enemies and carefully controlling magic. It was skillful, as if it combined the best aspects of artillery and sniping.

The blades, infused with magic, whirled and flashed as they danced, leaving a trail of enemy blood all around.

The tide of battle shifted in an instant, a scene possible only for a superhuman.

Zoltan, who had created this miracle with his own hands, tried to capitalize on this momentum, intending to finish off the enemies with his superior numbers, but suddenly heard a horrifying scream.

“Gaaaahh!!”

It wasn’t an enemy but an allied mercenary. His face melted as if it were sloughing off, and he collapsed.

He was contaminated by the Warlock’s blood.

Terrifyingly, the Warlocks had fought with diseases running through their veins. Whether they won or lost, they intended to harm their enemies.

And since it wasn’t just one mercenary who was splattered with enemy blood, the damage rapidly spread, and Zoltan hurried to pierce the hearts of the enemies to put out the immediate threat.

If they weren’t stopped now, the damage would only increase. Already suffering heavy losses, they couldn’t bear any more casualties.

The sablas spun and whirled all around.

Just as the sablas were about to simultaneously penetrate the Warlocks’ hearts, the ground shook, and an explosion echoed from the distant forest. As Zoltan turned his head, a huge cloud of dust rose.

Red Hood had launched himself into the air, pushing off the ground that he had only supported so far with roars and Fire-type Warlock magic.

In an instant, he soared into the sky and came crashing down toward them.

At the sudden switch to an aggressive offensive, Zoltan hesitated for a moment, and Red Hood didn’t miss the opening, extending his massive clawed arm and shouted.

“Extract.”

The battlefield, filled with fear, battle frenzy, and disease-induced dread, saw all its emotions drawn into the beast’s hand. Without hesitation, the beast drove that emotion into one of its own arms.

The muscles of the arm swelled grotesquely along with bulging veins, and the claws grew unnaturally long.

Sensing danger, Zoltan gathered the hundreds of swords together and aimed them at Red Hood.

And so, in midair, five black claws clashed with hundreds of silver blades.

Shattering!!

With the sound of massive glass breaking, the air vibrated. Hundreds of lights gleamed through the air, decorating the sky with a spectacular, starlike display.

With the blade shards infused with magic, countless fragments rained down, dividing the victor and the defeated beneath them.

And it was the victor who roared.

“Devour them all. Every last one.”