Tenkomori: The Homecoming Club Conquers Another World
Chapter 132

Chapter 132.2. The Third Year at the Academy - 'Half-Body' Jared (2)

I Showed [High-Speed Movement] to eliminate the reason for this guy's interference.

And yet, due to neglecting proper confirmation, it's come to this.

Using [Presence Detection], I probed around—Hymes was still in the tent.

I told him to run if trouble broke out.

What's taking him so long?

"That's some impressive speed. I've seen plenty, but you're something else."

As if warming up, Jared cracked his neck.

"Jared the [Half-Body]—they call me that because it looks like I always take a half-body stance in face-offs.

Either way, don't you think it's a lousy nickname?"

"Who knows. Anyway, your employer's dead."

"My task was to deal with you. Guard duty wasn't part of the job. I'll kill you, then collect my reward on my own."

Jared grinned and gave a casual swing of the divine spear, Shitzar.

Instinctively, I tightened my grip on the Ivory Rhino Sword.

"Was it you who killed Klaus Schmel?"

"Sure was. That was the job."

So it's true.

Hiring a man of Jared's caliber immediately seems unlikely, even for a mercenary band.

Taklaz must have been biding his time, waiting for the chance to eliminate Klaus.

If it wasn't an operation launched from their main base, their forces were cobbled together.

In reality, the moment Klaus was defeated, even the knights fled.

It's no stretch to assume they were useless even before the battle began.

The perfect opportunity to isolate Klaus.

While the mercenaries served as a distraction, Jared alone could have handled it.

Klaus was a top-tier B-rank, yet showed no signs of inflicting serious damage on Jared.

Moreover, he didn't announce a party name, nor was there any hint of allies arriving.

This guy climbed to A-rank solo.

Not just any A-rank—he's likely a match for S-rank combatants.

I sighed internally.

Haleist mentioned before that anything above A-rank was no longer human.

A solo A-rank was comparable to Selfa the [Pity], whom Haleist outright admitted he'd run from.

Seriously, without having even met a B-rank, I'm suddenly up against an A-rank?

As I lamented, Jared leveled his spear.

"Alright, let's get started. Don't die too quickly, yeah?"

The moment he finished speaking, I hastily twisted my body.

The divine spear grazed my chest, and I stared in shock.

When did he close the distance!?

I narrowly evaded a flurry of thrusts and lunged forward myself.

But Jared deftly wielded the divine spear with one hand, easily deflecting the Ivory Rhino Sword.

The battle commenced abruptly, leaving no time to activate [Moving Up].

Even with my agility more than doubled, Jared accurately targeted me and deflected my attacks.

His skill far surpassed even Klaus.

"Nice! How about this!?"

The spear tip blurred, unleashing a [Double Thrust] with no preparatory motion.

I managed to parry it with my [Double Strike], but the Ivory Rhino Sword screeched in protest.

This isn't good—the weapon quality gap is too vast.

I dodged the follow-up [Triple Thrust] and stepped in.

The divine spear nicked my hair and grazed my temple, but I aimed a [Power Strike] at his exposed torso.

At that moment, I was sent flying.

I twisted midair and somehow landed.

Jared didn't pursue but watched with amusement.

Was that a kick from his prosthetic leg?

It must've been [Blade Kick], but the sensation on contact wasn't normal.

What I thought was just a stick turned out to be a magical tool as well.

I activated [Appraisal] and had to double-check.

Name: Itsuro's Prosthetic Leg

Description: A prosthetic carved from Itsuro wood, boasting the world's highest hardness.

Harder than steel and even surpassing low-tier magical tools.

Special Traits: Unknown

So it is just a stick.

What's with "world's highest"? It's definitely rarer than a magical tool.

I steadied my breathing and readied the Ivory Rhino Sword.

Regardless, directly facing a [Divine Spear] wielder head-on was reckless.

Even with my doubled agility, I could barely close the gap in reach and experience, but the skill difference was insurmountable.

Escaping would be easy, though...

I glanced at [Presence Detection] and felt a bit relieved.

Hymes finally started moving.

Now I just had to keep Jared occupied until he escaped the camp.

As I activated [Moving Up], Jared unleashed [Instant Piercing].

I barely evaded and broke into a run.

I sprinted around the camp, weaving through scattered supplies and crates, leaping over burning tents and charred bodies.

Even with the time limit, my agility was 58. I shouldn't be caught easily.

Jared didn't even bother following me with his eyes, calmly waiting.

Though our roles were reversed, it felt like a replay of my fight with Harriet.

As for the outcome of that match—well, I've already forgotten.

While running, I assessed Jared's gear.

If he can read my movements, my only option is a first-strike, hit-and-run strategy. Let's test this out.

I launched a [Shock Bolt] from behind, but he effortlessly swatted it down with the divine spear.

He resisted the lightning.

Even in his base state, he had multiple resistances, but how much was enhanced by his magical tools?

I'd need to land a hit to determine that.

Suddenly accelerating, I took a sharp turn and closed the distance in one burst.

By the time I realized it, I was face-to-face with Jared.

I slashed with the Ivory Rhino Sword, but he blocked it with the divine spear.

His counterattack, [Piercing Thrust], came immediately after.

I twisted my body to evade and simultaneously launched a [Shock Bolt], only for it to be easily deflected again.

Pulling back once more, I let out a sigh.

He's too strong. How is he keeping up with this speed?

Close combat is hopeless, and landing a spell is near impossible.

Even if I manage a minor hit, it'll only leave a scratch.

My only option is [Multicast] with intermediate magic.

[Fireball] and [Stalagmite] are area spells—an invisible [Penetrate Gale] should work.

Even if he suspects [Multicast], he won't be certain.

I stopped in my tracks, and Jared slowly turned to face me.

"Giving up the running game, huh?"

He smiled, but I didn't respond, lowering my stance instead.

If he's going to read my moves anyway, I'll make it obvious.

I sprinted straight at him.

Even Halvis was reacting.

At my top speed, Jared should have no trouble keeping up.

As we passed, he dodged my slash as expected.

He twisted his body, and the divine spear Shitzar roared right before me.

A powerful sweeping strike—mid-tier skill [Cyclone Slash].

The deafening sound of slicing wind surged toward me.

At that moment, I kicked off the air.

I leapt over the sweeping strike with [Hare Leap] and unleashed a [Penetrating Gale] from point-blank range.

It'll hit—so I thought, but only for an instant.

The divine spear suddenly shifted, batting away all the wind bullets with its butt end.

I quickly kicked off the air again, retreating from the spear's range.

Dashing through the campsite, I was stunned.

What just happened?

For a moment, my movement should have been outside Jared's prediction.

And yet, deflecting all the [Penetrating Gale] shots mid-[Sweeping Spiral]? Impossible.

In my confused view, Jared drew back his spear.

A stance I'd never seen before.

Is that—a throw?

The divine spear Sitsaal tore through the air, rushing straight at me mid-air.

I countered immediately with [Penetrating Gale]'s [Multi-Cast], and though the countless wind bullets deflected the spear, its tip subtly adjusted its trajectory.

"[Flight]!?"

I fired [Wind Fang Running Bite] at the incoming spear.

Four successive strikes of wind blades and sword.

The divine spear lost its momentum, even if my blade scattered fragments.

I landed safely, glancing at the falling Sitsaal.

So it's an enchanted item with [Flight].

That was close. Even if I had more [Hare Leap] jumps, I wouldn't have dodged.

And most likely, it's an upgraded version of Uessa's equipment.

The earlier defense must have been Sitsaal's [Auto-Guard].

But then I realized something odd.

Wait, why is a [Flight]-equipped weapon—falling?

I noticed too late.

The moment the divine spear struck the ground, an eerie force radiated outward.

A shock hit me full force, driving me to my knees.

The anomaly wasn't limited to me.

Tents were crushed, and nearby mercenaries groaned under the pressure.

Is this some kind of gravity field…?

This isn't just an upgrade.

Forcing myself upright, I saw Jared strolling into the effect range, wielding the enchanted spear Skips.

"That move of yours was amusing. Is it an enchanted tool? Well, either way—this ends now."

Jared leveled his enchanted spear.

Before the spearhead could shift, I activated [Physical Boost] and [Concentration Boost].

What Jared unleashed was [Wave Strike], a high-tier skill that generates a barrage of spear attacks in an instant.

The spear skill with the highest firepower.

But I saw everything.

Thanks to [Concentration Boost], the surrounding noise was silenced.

All I could see was the tip of the enchanted spear Skips.

The spear whipped like a lash, unleashing consecutive thrusts.

I dodged every single one, parrying them with palm strikes.

The gravity field's pressure was mitigated by [Physical Boost].

And I was already used to battles under suppression thanks to cursed tools.

In what felt like an eternity compressed into mere seconds, the spear finally stopped.

Jared's eyes were wide with astonishment.

"Incredible… incredible! You dodged that!?"

His mouth curled into a grin as he trembled with joy.

Seeing that, I sighed internally, relieved as the gravity effect dissipated.

I'd never want to pull off something like that again…

I quickly distanced myself, deactivating [Concentration Boost].

As the fog lifted, [Presence Detection] caught multiple weak signatures and the noise of my surroundings returned.

While active, my field of view had been too narrow.

There's no way I could counter Jared's attacks with it engaged.

Keeping an eye on Jared, I focused on the distant faint presence.

It seemed they'd succeeded in escaping the campsite but were spotted by the mercenaries.

At this rate, they'll be caught in no time.

Time to wrap this up.

"I'll take my leave now. Next time, try taking a job through the guild like a proper adventurer."

"Don't say that. It's just getting started."

Ignoring his remark, I launched a [Fireball], only for it to be countered by the enchanted spear's [Sweeping Spiral].

From within the flames, the divine spear flew at me once more.

I kicked it away, only for Jared to leap into my field of view.

From the enchanted spear came [Spiral Pierce].

I deflected it, but the impact pushed me back.

I barely evaded the follow-up [Instant Fang], using two consecutive [Hare Leaps] to escape the gravity field.

As I landed, the tent before me collapsed under immense pressure.

There's no way I'm dealing with this guy.

I activated [Fire Spread], engulfing the area around Jared.

Even with resistance, he wouldn't survive if it caught fire.

I followed up with [Earth Wall], dividing us.

Even a brief loss of line of sight would do.

Now's my chance to escape.

As I turned to run, pain struck my cheek.

A delayed ache followed.

Through the neatly punctured stone wall, I saw Jared holding his divine spear.

Blood trickled down my torn cheek.

Was that… [Drill Thread]?

Piercing a stone wall—what kind of power is that…?

Invisible thrusts came one after another.

I hastily activated [Reference Point], dodging Jared's position-based attacks.

It looked similar to [Penetrating Gale], but this consumed mana.

And my mana was running dangerously low.

I launched [Eightfold Flame Inferno] to suppress his pursuit, using stray mercenaries as shields.

But Jared ignored them, unleashing [Drill Thread].

Fine. He can clean up for me.

I ran west through the campsite, dragging mercenaries into the chaos.

Despite taking some hits, I slashed back at them.

The mercenaries screamed and fled through the sea of flames.

Amid the pandemonium, I finally escaped the campsite.

Looking back, I saw tents soaring skyward, wreathed in flames.

The [Reference Point] marker grew closer.

If Jared caught up, it would be over.

There's no place to hide in this snowy field.

The mercenaries holding Himes were frozen in shock, staring at the burning campsite.

One of them noticed me.

"Hey, he's coming this wa—"

I slashed his neck as I passed by.

Watching for Jared's position, I cut down the rest.

"What are you doing? Run. That guy's coming."

I urged Himes, but he couldn't stand, his leg injured.

Even though I'm almost out of mana…

I poured a healing potion over Himes, activated [Physical Boost], and, without waiting for him to recover, slung him onto my back and dashed into the snowy plain.