By the effect of [Mind Corruption], the mind-corrupted survivors began targeting the normal ones. Many survivors, weakened and dwindling in numbers, succumbed to the surprise attacks.

Even Baston has his defense compromised due to restrictions on mental power and weakening of physical and magical abilities brought on by the curses.

His thoughts, engrossed in planning for “Stage Two”, leave no room for his impaired mind to respond to attack consciously.

This resulted in him being taken off guard by the arrows. However, …

Purely by instinct, he conjures up a [Shield] to block the incoming projectiles that he can’t even see flying towards him.

*Clank*

*Crash*

“[Mana Blast]” Baston unconsciously counterattacks...

There are ranges of qualities that determine how powerful a mage is. Aside from mana capacity, battle instincts, reaction time, and casting speed are some of them that can only be improved through training.

Despite his youthful appearance, Baston is a war veteran who boasts an experience of living at least half of his life in a war zone, whether it’s in a nightmare or real life.

Baston's mind, honed through countless fighting, causing his mental power and mental abilities to shine the brightest in the most troubling moments.

His battle instincts, trained by years' worth of battles, are sharp enough to sense the dangers, perceive killing intent, and react reflexively according to the situation.

The reaction time from encountering hundreds and thousands of unexpected attacks brings him back to his senses almost instantly.

Baston, now in full control of his body, tries to cancel the spell, as even a simple spell is too much for the weak, crumbling sewage structure to handle.

Only to realize… the spell has already left his hands.

He casts the spell so quickly, he can’t stop it in time…

*Boom*

*Crumble*

Just like that, a simple [Mana Blast] that any mage can use is cast, causing an explosion of mana and collapsing the sewage tunnel around the impact area. 

The roof covering everyone underground from enemy fires and monsters' attacks is now blown off, exposing their location to the enemy.

As if that isn’t bad enough, the rubble effectively cut the group in half, separating Baston from his mother, who is currently reporting to higher-ups at the front.

Obviously, since waiting for rescue from the front half is not possible, Baston is faced with 2 options…

Option A) Climb piles of debris, go to the above ground, and risk monsters’ attacks during his hike out. If the area above is covered by monsters or is behind the enemy line, that’s the end for this nightmare loop. 

Option B) Go deeper into the tunnel, guaranteed chance of fighting through the mind-corrupted, maybe find a few friendly survivors left, and escape from the back end of the group together with them.

With a second to make a decision, Baston takes “Option B”.

He takes advantage of the opportunity and runs as fast as he can before the attack resumes.

“[Aura : Enhance Speed]”

He estimates the time given by the widespread confusion from the collapse to be around 3 seconds maximum. 

Running at top speed, even with the buff given by [Aura : Enhance Speed], the time is not enough for him to go the entire distance unnoticed.

But, at the very least, he sees more people who survive [Mind Corruption] than in his previously isolated position.

In fact, those survivors and soldiers formed a proper circle defensive formation, protecting the weaker ones inside.

As the leeway time runs out, the corrupted continues its barrage of weapons and spells without any care for its survival. They are probably ordered by the curse caster to kill with any means possible.

The survivors, worried about another potential collapse, engage in a fierce battle using their weakened bodies, breaking equipment, and almost depleted energy and mana.

Not only that, but they are also forced to defend against every attack. Deflecting or dodging is out of the question, as it may collapse the tunnel or harm the people behind them.

Baston, who landed himself in the middle of enemy camp, is also facing a similar problem of running out of mana.

‘That speed-enhancing spell consumes too much mana… I only have mana left for 6 more spells. [Mana Blast] is practically useless. The only offensive spell I have left is [Fire Ball]’

“[Shield]” blocking an unavoidable sword slash from his back.

‘Make that 5.’

Baston turns around to see the wide-eyed attacker who didn’t expect his attack to be blocked.

*Bang*

With minimal movement, Baston grabs the attacker’s wrists, kicks his knee, and flings him towards those pursuing him, his body blocking a gunshot in the process.

“I’ve got to say…”

*Thud*

*Pow*

He swiftly takes down the mind-corrupted soldier aiming at him with a move of which its destructiveness is granted by the speed-boosting spell.

“This goddamn expensive is really good… *pant* if we consider effectiveness...”

Step by step, he walks closer to the survivors’ defensive formation, clashing with more enemies on the way.

*Smack*

His small fist, carrying unparalleled power, knocks out the annoying archer shooting at him since the beginning.

“and duration… *pant*”

A large [Ice Shard] flies at Baston. Even though it penetrates through bodies to reach him, the corrupted mage’ bloodlust shows that she only has a sole intention of killing him.

Baston, noticing the unusual speed and size of her spell, focuses all his attention on conjuring a spell with the opposite effect…

“[Fire Ball]”

…using two “Level 1” spells worth of mana in order to completely melt the shard.

The aftermath of the crash causes a thick fog to cover the entire battlefield, obscuring the view and rendering eyesight unreliable.

Exploiting this knowledge, Baston rushes at the mage before she can finish casting a new spell.

Right before the mana is released from the magic circle, he pulls the wand from her hand and whirls it at the back of her neck. 

*Thwack*

The impact causes the wand to break in half and the mage to be incapacitated.

At that moment, he felt his senses tingling, warning him of an ambush.

Baston steps to the side, dodging a dagger user assaulting from above. His movement, resembling that of a master assassin, completely takes Baston aback. 

*Slash*

Right then and there, his movement becomes slow and dull, indicating that his speed buff runs out at the worst time possible. The sudden change throws him off balance, leaving a gap in his defense.

"Shit!"

*Stab*

The assassin aims at his heart, forcing Baston to deflect it at the cost of one of his limbs. The flow of the attack is too rapid; it is now unreadable for him.

“Ouch!” 

*Bam*

His left arm, now all covered in blood, protects him from the second blow, which knocks him back against the wall.

With a limited attack angle, the assassin’s move is easier to trace with the eyes, but still far too fast for an injured person to dodge.

Therefore, Baston willingly lets his left shoulder be stabbed, locking the assassin in a wide open position.

“Now, goodbye [Weapon Enhancement : Fire]-[Weapon Enhancement : Sharpness]”

Baston, with what was left of a broken wand, thrusts a burning piece of ‘magic stick’ into the assassin’s eye socket, ending his life.

“Young warrior! Come behind me!” A knight noticing the commotion behind the enemy line calls him out.

Surrounded by the attacker himself with his left arm in shambles, the sound he heard is like a call from heaven, even if he mistook him for a warrior instead of a mage for his combat style.

Baston, who finds a hope at survival, dashes at the group like his life depends on it, which, to be fair, it does.

Just before more of the corrupted spot him, the knight pulls out his trump cards to create a gap for him.

“[Aura : Enhance Strength] [Aura Armor] [Energy Burst]”

The increase in strength enables the knight to overpower three people in an instant, forming a hole in the frontline.

Baston charges at the gap without a second thought, now arriving at the safe zone with a much-needed break. 

In there, he sees a mage collecting a huge amount of mana and spiritual power for a single spell.

“Sylvia, is the spell finished yet?”

“I’m ready now, Commander Valrik. I’ve got this. [High Earth Spirit : Great Wall]” 

The turquoise-haired girl, no older than him, seals the exposed end of the sewage tunnel shut with the greatest spirit-based spell Baston has ever seen up close.