This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 487

Kagagagagagak-!

Would it make a sound if you put something hard into a blender and turned it on?

The terrifying sound quickly enveloped the area.

And the result born from what resembled one of nature’s most powerful weapons, a tornado, was overwhelming beyond description.

No matter how tough the exoskeleton of the Another Ones might be, could they withstand the onslaught of hundreds or thousands of ice shards?

Including this side, the combined talents of four heroes merged together to create an artificial storm, sweeping away those unfortunate enough to be caught in it without even a common scream of despair.

However, the one holding the reins didn’t seem satisfied with simply swallowing a few lower beings.

“Die…!”

I heard that she lost her family to the Another Ones during a previous raid, and I wondered if the rage and hatred from that incident had steadily accumulated within her.

In the blink of an eye, the artificial storm that had just obliterated the lower beings began to move with a single target in mind.

The Bruiser level beings right after the lower ones could certainly be dealt with by the RK Guard personnel who were wide-eyed and somewhat frozen, without needing the heroes to intervene, especially since the commanding entity that seemed to lead the attack looked weaker in defense compared to the Bruiser level ones. Thus, it seemed much more efficient to focus power on that one instead.

They say that when a person becomes excessively angry, their mind starts to cool, and it appeared this person was such a case.

‘The real problem is whether it will actually work…’

If it does, I wouldn’t ask for anything more, but just in case, I decided to remain prepared to move at a moment’s notice.

That said, if she could boldly creep in right in the heart of enemy territory like that, it meant there was something she was relying on.

And that was likely… a unique ability that she possessed.

The moment my thoughts reached that conclusion.

The storm quickly approached the being that had just touched the ground and swallowed it up whole.

What had already been spinning fast now increased its speed even further right after that.

Was it intent on not giving any room to attempt something?

For a person whose advantage was detailed control, to output such force would surely put a strain on the Talent Organ, but the one controlling the storm seemed to ignore such concerns and began intensifying the output continuously.

And perhaps the effort was not without effect after all.

The cluster of ice shards that were furiously spinning and producing a sound you could only hear in the eye of the storm began to emit a noise similar to that made when they obliterated the lower beings.

‘After all…’

Did they lose their inherent defense in exchange for agility, just as we suspected?

If things continued like this, capturing that being wouldn’t be impossible.

At that very moment.

Swallowing every bit of dust around and turning gray, a shadowy form fleetingly flickered before me and abruptly dimmed—

“Did we catch it?”

As I caught my breath in anticipation, something suddenly surged up behind me.

Perhaps it was due to some prior predictions.

The thought that something like this could happen played out before my eyes, and everything around began to move slowly.

Somehow.

Considering how impressively it had appeared, I found it oddly anticlimactic that it would succumb so easily; perhaps it was a tactic aimed at eliminating the most threatening opponent first.

Just the other day, it had been charges made at any person that caught its eye, and now it was using such crafty maneuvers…

But I had no time to marvel.

During that exchange, its hand was reaching toward the abdomen of one of our key forces.

Was it intent on piercing their stomach?

Right as that outstretched hand narrowed the distance to mere inches from its target, the woman, realizing the presence that had suddenly emerged behind her, desperately twisted her body in an attempt to create distance and slammed into the ground.

Thud—!

However, the speed at which it was closing in was much faster than hers, and in that moment, as she desperately threw herself back, a fleeting emotion of ‘failure’ washed over her face.

Schwaaack—!

A sound resembling the slicing of skin filled the air as something sharp pierced flesh.

—Sssshh!

It let out a short whimper as if clicking its tongue and flew backward toward the gathering of Bruiser-level beings, the event occurring almost immediately.

Well, that made sense.

It wouldn’t likely be pleased with the outcome of absorbing a blow that resulted in damage to its body.

After all, it had stirred up water instead of the intended flesh of someone it had targeted.

“Are you okay?”

“Oh, um… t-thank you for helping.”

“No, it was only natural.”

And from the perspective of those foes, failing what they had presumably imagined to be a decisive surprise attack meant it was our turn to take action now.

If they wasted a turn, then surely they must receive punishment in return.

“This is strength, you know. Can you use it more?”

“I can’t keep it up for long, but I can manage three more times…”

“That’s good.”

In truth, we wouldn’t even need three.

Just enough to lend my strength decisively once would be sufficient.

So…

“Shall we try catching that one?”

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to dispose of that thing.

Letting it sit would likely lead to obstructions in future explorations.

Since the area was surrounded by container walls, it was impossible for the foes to escape.

Of course, thinking about the agility that the higher being had displayed, while the Bruisers might be able to manage, that one could certainly slip away if necessary… but that wouldn’t be a problem as long as we prepared in advance.

Unless they were unaware that it could escape, knowing in advance would provide us a window of opportunity instead.

And the subsequent events unfolded exactly as we anticipated.

Thinking back, it was only natural.

Even though Bruisers were powerful, we had five heroes actively in action along with dozens of Awakened individuals, who were fully geared up, comparable to the heroes.

A newly observed high-level being with exceedingly developed agility?

That was not a concern.

When there was no information on what type it was, the lack of knowledge made situations risky, but now everyone knew it was incredibly fast.

There was no fool among us who would thoughtlessly fall to its attacks, despite knowing that fact.

‘If they were so inexperienced, they would never have been picked for an exploration team.’

In any case, while we were restraining that being, the RK Guard began taking care of the rest of the Bruiser-level foes.

Of course, it wasn’t as simple as it sounded.

The being we were facing was particularly dangerous, but it wasn’t a common creature even among the Bruiser level.

With six of them gathered, there was no way it would be easy to handle.

Nevertheless, the RK Guard personnel matched them quite efficiently.

Their strategy was simple but effective: Awakened individuals with physical enhancement talents—referred to as tanks on their side—would pair off in teams of three to face each Bruiser level one-on-one, focusing fire to quickly take them down.

It was a straightforward yet certain approach, and as time went on, the number of Bruiser-level beings lying defeated on the ground gradually increased.

And perhaps recognizing its own peril, the remaining smart-looking being suddenly pulled back, realizing that the next one down would inevitably be it if the others fell.

Had it reassessed that this side posed a greater threat than they initially targeted?

Now?

‘Not a chance.’

If they thought they could slip away that easily, they wouldn’t have started in the first place.

Especially since letting a relatively clever Another like that go could lead to future troubles—

‘Die.’

Let’s make sure to take care of it here.

The moment I reached that resolution, the prepared trap I’d set up to intercept its escape leaped into action alongside the wall.