Free Web NovelChapter 32: [The Marauder’s Mask]
"If you want something done right..."
The gray-haired man slowly raised his cane.
"...you have to do it yourself."
Nox felt the pressure immediately.
It was as if an invisible force were crushing everything around them.
Even the few bald men who were still conscious backed away several steps.
Nox narrowed his eyes.
"Is it just me, or does that old man with a cane seem way too strong for his age?"
Misty placed a hand over her stomach. She was still catching her breath after the beating.
"That’s because he is."
The dancer smiled.
"He’s Adrien Hall. The Church of Frosthold appointed him lord of these lands."
Nox raised an eyebrow.
"And what does that mean?"
"It means he has a title."
Misty’s smile faded.
"And that makes him pretty powerful."
Nox immediately remembered someone.
The drunken old man in the cave.
That blind elder who had defeated a giant wolf without even moving.
A man who had lost his title years ago and was still monstrously strong.
’I shouldn’t underestimate anyone in this world...’
That seemed like a good lesson to remember.
Misty stepped forward.
"Don’t worry."
She smiled at him.
"I feel like I can take him on by myself now."
The man with the cane snorted and swung his weapon toward her.
A massive blast of wind shot forward.
Misty reacted instantly.
She spun on one leg and launched a kick directly into the incoming gust.
The two currents collided.
The explosion sent snow flying everywhere.
Nox watched the scene.
’I might need something extra if I’m going to deal with this guy.’
Then he had an idea.
"Hey."
Nothing.
"Now that I got a new ally, can I use another gacha pull?"
A window appeared before his eyes.
[Demonic Weapon Gacha Available.]
[Current Draws Available: 1]
[Use Draw?]
A grin instantly spread across Nox’s face. ƒrēewebnovel.com
"Yes."
The window filled with light, and the gacha wheel began to spin.
Nox felt exactly what every gambler felt.
That excitement. freewēbnoveℓ.com
That irrational desire to win a reward.
"Come on..."
The wheel spun.
Then slowly began to decelerate.
Finally, it stopped.
Nox blinked.
"...A mask?"
The window changed.
[Reward Obtained.]
[The Marauder’s Mask.]
The bark mask covering his face suddenly caught fire.
"What the hell?"
The flames consumed the wood.
Meanwhile...
Misty continued fighting.
Kicking, jumping, spinning.
Dodging strikes from the cane.
And then...
Nox’s demonic face was completely exposed for a few seconds.
Misty saw it.
And couldn’t hide her surprise.
"Huh?"
That brief distraction was enough.
The man with the cane appeared in front of her and struck her in the stomach.
The dancer was sent flying.
She rolled across the snow and landed on her knees.
Nox felt something growing across his face.
Bone.
Darkness.
A rigid structure.
A new mask began to form.
It completely covered his face.
Dark.
Elongated.
As though it had been crafted from the skull of some monstrous creature.
A new description appeared before his eyes.
[The Marauder’s Mask.]
[A mask crafted from the skull of a Shadow Swamp Marauder.]
[Allows the wearer to teleport between shadows to any visible location.]
A grin appeared beneath the mask.
’This could be useful.’
Though he had to admit one thing.
’Audrey’s bark mask was way more comfortable.’
Then he looked back at the battle.
And saw something he didn’t like.
The man with the cane had just struck Misty again.
The dancer crashed into the snow.
Nox sighed.
"Well."
Time to test out his new toy.
Darkness engulfed his body.
And he vanished.
The man with the cane barely had time to blink before Nox appeared directly in front of him.
The Demonic Dual Knives pierced both of his arms.
The man growled.
He tried to retaliate and swung his cane.
But Nox was already gone.
He vanished into the shadows and reappeared behind him.
A slash carved across the man’s entire back.
The man clenched his teeth as the wounds began to burn.
Demonic fire spread through the cuts.
"You damned...!"
He tried to turn around.
Too late.
Nox had already vanished again.
This time appearing atop a nearby rooftop.
"Now this is fun."
The man breathed heavily.
He looked up.
And finally understood.
"What the hell is a demon doing in the northern lands?"
But he never finished the sentence.
Because behind him...
Misty had already gotten back to her feet.
The dancer spun.
Jumped.
And unleashed an upward kick.
Directly at his crotch.
The sound was horrifying.
Every man present felt phantom pain.
Including Nox.
"Oof..."
The man with the cane froze.
His face turned white.
And he finally dropped to his knees.
Misty landed gracefully.
As if she had just finished a dance routine.
Then smiled.
"I thought he’d put up more of a fight."
Nox appeared beside her.
"You can’t expect much from someone who hides behind other people."
The dancer laughed.
And Nox laughed as well.
The man remained on his knees, trying to process what had just happened.
Misty glanced at the demon.
"Honestly..."
She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"...I already suspected there was something strange about you."
Nox raised an eyebrow.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah."
The woman smiled.
"But I wasn’t expecting you to be a demon who can give titles to other people."
Nox laughed.
"Trust me."
He pointed at his chest.
"I wasn’t expecting that either."
The two laughed again.
For a moment, it seemed like everything was over.
But then...
Nox felt something.
Danger.
Behind them.
The man with the cane was still alive.
He had gotten back to his feet.
Slowly raising his weapon.
Blood poured from all over his body.
Yet he kept advancing.
"You bastards..."
He lifted the cane.
And swung it toward Nox’s back.
Misty’s eyes widened.
"Nox—"
FWOOSH.
An arrow tore through the air, wrapped in dark energy.
It came from the far side of the frozen lake.
And pierced straight through the man’s torso.
The impact blasted a massive hole through his chest.
The cane fell from his hands before he could complete the attack.
Blood splattered across the snow.
And the man went completely still.
Nox slowly turned around.
He looked toward the source of the shot, hundreds of meters away.
Out on the lake.
A figure stood there holding a bow.
Blonde hair.
Dark coat.
And an extremely irritated expression.
Audrey.
The huntress lowered her bow.
And her voice carried all the way to them on the wind.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING OVER THERE WITH ANOTHER WOMAN?!"
Nox sighed.
Misty blinked.
Then started laughing.
"Sorry, my friend gets a little jealous."
Nox said, sounding slightly embarrassed.
