Chapter 175: Destroy the Core
Beast cores.
Animals do not possess one but as soon as they get to manipulate mana of their own will, they will develop beast cores though that is usually happening in rare cases. Once a beast core of a beast is broken, they will either revert to their harmless form if they came from a normal animal form or they will die if they are born from in the very beginning with a beast core.
They are highly sought by magicians and relic collectors along with some alchemists due to their magic energy stored inside that can be used for different purposes. That is why beast cores are always in demand to almost everyone.
Now, we are facing one of the bearers of Beast core and one that can cause the Crazed Phenomenon Disorder. Even now, I still felt the symptoms of the disorder and I am trying my best to suppress it. It was a good thing that I have the stone that "The Raven" imbued with magic but that is just right enough to suppress most of the symptoms that will cause the "crazed" effect of the person. I don't see any problems with Masamune, Muramasa on the other hand, seems to be struggling like I do since he is using Maple's body.
The body of the creature starts to move once again and is trying to shake us off the ground, to no avail. With Muramasa casting a barrier to stop us from falling, we still managed to keep ourselves on top of the creature.
"This creature is just too big for us to obliterate immediately. Destroying its core is also close to dangerous and suicide," I said as I continue to analyze our situation.
"There is nothing we can do, Kazuma. We have to destroy that beast core of this monster to defeat it and to destroy whatever it has in store. Honestly, the Master's body is going to acquire that sickness syndrome or something if not for my possession. Which means it is a very potent kind of curse disease. Although we can resist it, doesn't mean we are going to be fine staying here. The sooner we finish the job, the better, so let's formulate a plan no matter how impossible it is to destroy that beast core of that creature," Muramasa said, while carefully assessing the situation.
"You have a plan, old man?" Masamune looked at Muramasa.
"Getting close is tricky but not impossible. We can try different tactics but we have to anticipate the next action of the enemy after we do these moves and what is the best course of action to do if that happens. And also, we have to eliminate those actions that will or might lead us to our doom alongside with the lowest success rates we can assume," Muramasa explained.
"If that is the case, then let's list out some of the tactics that we can immediately deploy. We have to hurry, or else, this monstrosity we are riding will try to throw us off again," Masamune said as we begin the tactics meeting.
...
At the very end of our tactics meeting, we ended up our discussion after the finalization and honestly, this is also one of the suicidal tactics that we have come up with but it has a lower percentage of failure compared to what we have to think about now. Most have a high chance that we won't be able to see the sun the next day while some are just ridiculously impossible to happen.
"Remember the plan, Kazuma. Once I deactivate the barrier that holds us in this body, the mission will commence immediately without any trial and error. This is a one chance action, understand?" Masamune quickly brief me with the circumstances unless I want to fail this.
"Yes. I know that. And screwing spells death here."
"Glad you know it, you should be fine if you keep calm. Do not panic since it will just make you more nervous and will just cause you to make wrong moves."
"It's alright. I can take my focus on without getting distracted as long as the situation is staking my life. There is no way I will die just for this."
"Okay, good luck. We will follow suit once you have done the job."
"Mm," I nodded and ready my magic spells and skills that I will be using for this operation. One failure and this plan will be over.
The barrier surrounding us collapsed and that means, the time for the operation to begin is now.
"Leg enhancement, done, let's do this," the moment the barrier collapsed completely, I let myself loose and move forward in quick movements. I also made sure that I can keep my footing in the body without interacting with the cursed body directly by using the Domain of Balmung mini versions, enough for my feet to step into without getting in contact with the curses.
"First, let's catch his attention to me."
CRACKLE!
ZAP!
Sending electricity to the creature's head is a gamble. Trying to get its attention will be hard since it is a big creature but if possible, I have to make sure that this creature will be able to move and take its time to look in my direction.
The first zap did not work, the second zap is an increased voltage but it still didn't work, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth zaps, still didn't work despite increasing the voltage power it has. However, that doesn't mean I will give up because giving up is not part of me.
"Turn your head damnit! Electric Overload!"
ZAAAP!
The moment the electricity made contact with the body of the creature, it exploded which didn't happen to the previous zaps I released earlier. I expended a large amount of mana at that time but it is worth it. When the explosion occurred on the skin of the creature, it didn't take a second for it to turn its head and open its mouth, releasing again the same dark beam of energy.
I didn't waste my time and escaped from my previous location using my enhanced leg.
FWOOOOOOOOOOOOO~
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....
The beam released is a little bit painful in the ears like a full volume of a rock and roll concert right on your ears, just that it is much more painful than usual. The beam it released was strong enough earlier so I decided to give it as one of the tactics. Since the creature will target any enemy regardless of where they are as long as it is within the accepted range, it will fire at will. So if it fired its beam at its body, will the body will disintegrate?
Turns out, the body will not. It didn't give any kind of damage or even a single scratch which means even if it used its beam, the beam will not damage its body, which makes the self-destruction plan a failure. Abandoning that plan, I immediately shifted to the original plan and that is to destroy the Beast core directly. It also coincides properly with the first tactic I did because of the stun time this creature has which will allow the others to also do their work.
When the creature stopped moving, Muramasa and Masamune immediately moved to wield their katanas and moving straight to the Beast Core.
SWISH!
SWISH!
The moment their katanas made contact with the beast core, I only see two slashes happen and before I can even react, the beast core cracked and the moment the two retreated and returned to their usual spots before.
Beast core has been destroyed and the moment it fell off the head, the huge body of the creature is shrinking, or more like it is being evaporated as slow as possible. The black curses on its body are being purified the moment. The body also starts to shrink which I didn't expect since I thought this humongous body is the real body size but boy my assumptions are wrong.
Also, the moment it started shrinking, something break in my pocket. I checked it and saw the shards of the stone that was given by "The Raven" earlier. Suddenly, the headache I am feeling felt worse. My vision is getting blurry but the last thing I saw is Masamune and Muramasa descending since the body is shrinking. But this thing buzzing... It is like my head is ripping apart and I WANT TO RIP APART WHATEVER IS CAUSING THIS TO MY HEAD!
"AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHH!"
I WANT TO RIP IT APART, RIP IT APART, RIP IT APART! AAAGGGHHHH!
"Kazuma! Oy, Kazuma! Damn it! Snap out from that sh*t!"
LET ME RIP IT APART! IT HURTS, IT HURTS, IT HURTS! BUT I WANT TO RIP IT APART! LET ME RIP IT APART!!! GAAAAAHHHHHH!
"Kazuma! I thought you won't succumb?! Idiot! SNAP OUT FROM THAT!"
I'M GONNA BREAK, I'M GONNA BREAK, I'M GONNA BREAK! LET ME RIP APART SOMETHING! ANYTHING! I WILL RIP IT APART!
"RIP AND TEAR!"
"I have no choice but to do this..."
PA!
RIP... AND... TEAR... Huh... what is going on?
Thud.
A woman that is looking similar to a goddess appeared beside Kazuma and scratches her head as she observes Kazuma.
"What a piece of work, to even let me move around despite just someone who supports and act as an A.I, like seriously, this is no longer part of the job I was told to fulfill."
She continues to mumble while letting Kazuma's body descend to the ground without falling badly before disappearing like she never appeared. Leaving behind Kazuma's body to the ground.
...
Two weeks passed by after the incident that played out on the Mini- Phantasmal World that contains a small world of a crowded Hirakata Park, the magicians assigned to the clean up has appeared and collected everything that is involved in the Hirakata Park incident.
During the operation, Magician Kazuma and Magician Maple successfully neutralized the Crazed Phenomenon Disorder. However, the two were forcefully extracted from the place since they both collapsed and from the studies, they have contracted the disease but just a little bit since they managed to suppress it before it gets worse. The two are now safe from the disease after the treatment and will no longer manifest the danger of the Crazed Phenomenon Disorder.
As for the missing people due to the said disorder, they are found petrified somewhere inside the world of the Mini-Phantasmal. They are now extracted and transferred to the Magician Society building to check for their life signs if they can still be salvaged and saved from petrification.
An additional report, Magician Maple has finally awakened after the incident and has been relieved for the time being from any assignments for the sake of recuperation. As for Magician Kazuma, he managed to awake a little bit later after Magician Maple. Unlike Magician Maple, Magician Kazuma seems to have forgotten some of the experiences he just experienced while fighting against the creature that caused the disorder.
Rewards will be given to the two after solving a decade long problem. "The Raven" will also be commended for her help with the situation during the time the two asked for help to stop the disorder. As for the case, the status will now be changed from "ABANDONED" to "SOLVED AND NEUTRALIZED."
-End of report.