The Healing Solaris Cleric

Chapter 134: Natural Enemy (4)

No matter how good a skill was, it required repeated practice to build proficiency and understanding. In fact, most skill mechanisms in MID Online worked this way. The best example in front of them was Sting—he had elevated the beginner-level spell Wind Cutter to an astonishing level.

Of course, this system applied not only to players but also to their summons and pets.

Mimic was no exception.

Mimic's mimicry was a Unique-grade skill.

So when it first mimicked a rabbit, Kai was initially puzzled.

Why does it seem so weak for a Unique skill?

It seemed like a poor skill as it merely took on the rabbit's appearance, and the skin, eyes, nose, mouth, and abilities of the rabbit were all poorly imitated.

This was the main reason Kai had doubted Mimic’s performance.

But I was wrong.

Over the past week, Kai had taken the time to experiment with Mimic's abilities, and during this process, he discovered something incredible.

Each time it mimics the same target, its abilities and appearance become more refined!

When Mimic first mimicked a skeleton knight, it was just like with the rabbit. The skeleton’s bones were slimy, dripping onto the ground like a slime. It was truly a pitiful sight, with not a trace of the skeleton knight’s dignity!

However, Kai didn’t give up and continued to make Mimic mimic the skeleton knight. Then, after the second, third, and fourth attempts, finally on the fifth mimicry, Mimic became a perfect skeleton knight. And that wasn’t the end of it.

Ding!

[Mimicking level 100%!]

[Mimic perfectly mimicked the Skeleton Knight.]

[Mimic perfected its understanding of the Skeleton Knight.]

[Mimic no longer requires a Skeleton Knight to be present for mimicry.]

Once it had mimicked a target enough times to fully understand it, Mimic could reproduce the form anytime!

Moreover, Mimic was a pet left behind by Aosa, a level 200 raid boss, so its performance was also extraordinary.

[Mimic - Perfect Skeleton Knight]

Grade: Boss Raid

Level: 80

HP: 44,000

Strength: 460 Stamina: 440

Intelligence: 80 Agility: 110

-Mimic is currently mimicking a skeleton knight.

-Depending on the summon’s grade, the skeleton knight’s stats are further enhanced.

Its stats were at least double those of a typical skeleton knight!

When Kai realized the true potential of Mimic, he felt a thrill.

Wait, so if I just nurture this one well...?

It meant that he wouldn’t envy any other pet!

Kai’s heart raced at the thought of growing Mimic and having it mimic various monsters in the future.

But that’s for later.

For now, there were the enemies in front of him. He needed to deal with the eighty bees first.

“Open Mimic’s stat window.”

[Mimic - Ghastly Dullahan]

Grade: Boss Raid

Level: 130

HP: 62,000

Strength: 650 Stamina: 620

Intelligence: 100 Agility: 170

-Mimic is currently unable to perfectly mimic this target, but its level has been forcibly raised using a skill. As a result, it cannot use all of dullahan’s skills.

-Depending on the summon’s grade, the dullahan’s stats are further enhanced.

A satisfied grin spread across Kai’s face as he looked at Mimic’s improved state.

At the same time, both of his hands began to glow brightly.

Mass Bless, Solaris Blessing, Solaris Armor, Holy Enchantment, Haste...

Kai cast a series of buffs on himself and his pets, one after another!

“W-what’s going on?”

“Why do I suddenly feel a chill...?”

“Gulp.”

Despite being faced with only three opponents, the eighty Black Bees hesitated to attack. This hesitation was proof that they were intimidated by the determination and aura of Unknown’s party!

“You idiots, what are you waiting for? Attack!” Sting shouted angrily, and only then did the spells once again engulf the forest.

Kai watched the incoming magic calmly and commanded, “Blizzard, to the left. Mimic, to the right. I’ll... take the center.”

“Krrk.”

Blizzard dashed to the left with a grin, while Mimic pounded its head like a drum as it charged to the right!

Kai watched them with satisfaction before drawing his weapon.

Is this the first time I’m using them in front of others?

Then, what Kai slowly drew was not the Long Sword of the Enlightened One but the sword that had drastically increased his hunting speed over the past week.

[Ironwill Longsword]

Grade: Unique

Attack Power: 154-173

+15 Strength

+10 Agility

*This blade grants the user a strong will. This weapon cannot break.

A sword that has been brought to the limit of its potential. Requires incredible power to wield.

Requirements: Level 80+, Strength 500+

Durability: Infinite

It was the Unique sword made by a mysterious player, given to him by Solid! After defeating Aosa and surpassing 500 in Strength, Kai was finally able to wield it. It was a monstrous sword with a minimum and maximum damage boost of over seventy compared to the Long Sword of the Enlightened One.

And what I love most about it is...

Fwoosh!

Kai slashed at the massive Fireball approaching him with his sword. If it had been the Long Sword of the Enlightened One, its Durability would have plummeted from the impact!

However...

Boom!

[Strong Will effect applied to the sword.]

[The sword’s durability does not decrease.]

The sword’s Durability was infinite thanks to the Strong Will effect!

“He slashed through a Fireball?”

“Don’t panic and keep spamming skills!”

“The sword’s Durability eventually will run out. Keep attacking non-stop until it does!”

The Black Bees, unaware of the sword’s properties, were under a serious misconception. They mistakenly believed that time was on their side!

They don’t know what they’re talking about.

Kai used Holy Chains to bind a Wizard’s ankle, then spun his body around. As he did so, the Wizard formation collapsed like a line of dominoes!

“Damn it, it’s that skill again!”

“Holy Chains is annoying, but the damage is weak!”

“Just ignore it!”

“Well, I don’t think you’ll be able to,” Kai replied.

Because he wasn’t fighting alone.

Slash, slash!

“Kraaah!” Blizzard roared as it swung its two scimitars with precision at the fallen enemies.

Mimic was just as strong, if not stronger.

“W-what’s with this summon’s movements?!”

“This isn’t an ordinary dullahan!”

“Its magic defense is insanely high! And on top of that, its attack power is... ugh... powerful!”

“That summon is at least on the level of a boss monster! Fight it like you’re in a raid!”

Mimic’s passive skill, Crisis Detection, alerted it to every kind of magic aimed at it in advance. The moment its instincts detected danger, Mimic moved like a ghost, dodging the spells with ease!

“D-damn it, even his summons are like monsters!”

“...This won’t do.”

Seeing the situation, Sting finally lifted his heavy body and joined the battlefield.

If we get caught up with the summons, it’ll never end. Assign just enough forces to hold them off, and focus all firepower on Unknown, then take him down.

Normally, when the summoner died, their summons disappeared as well.

Two enormous spears floated beside Sting. “Reform the units! Groups 1 and 2, focus on the black summon! Groups 3 and 4, take care of the dullahan! The rest...”

Fwoosh!

The iron spears shot toward Unknown! Though it was magic, the Iron Spear possessed physical attack power.

I’ll take this hit.

For some reason, Kai didn’t dodge Sting’s attack and allowed himself to be struck.

Despite being hit by just two attacks, Kai’s health noticeably dropped.

[You’ve received 5,172 damage from Iron Spear.]

[You’ve received 5,189 damage from Iron Spear.]

[You have been afflicted by the Joint Destruction status effect.]

[All Speed reduced by 10%.]

“Everyone, attack Unknown!”

“... Phew, Sunlight’s Warmth.”

[Joint Destruction status effect removed.]

Kai quickly scanned the Wizards surrounding him.

All the elite Wizards of Black Bee are gathered around Sting.

It was a clear sign of Sting’s sense of privilege, always keeping the strongest by his side.

“No point in looking around, you won't find an escape. Earth Wall, Fire Wall!”

Fwoosh!

Sting and the other Wizards simultaneously raised Earth Walls and Fire Walls behind Kai.

Kai glanced back and clicked his tongue.

It’ll be hard to escape.

And that wasn’t all.

“You’re someone I can’t afford to underestimate. I’ll give it my all until the end.”

Acknowledging Unknown as his primary main target, Sting didn’t let his guard down.

At the same time, he blocked Kai’s retreat with a Fire Wall, he also cast Ice Field!

Walls of earth and fire were behind and frozen ground in front! It was a perfect combination of spells, thoroughly restricting Kai’s movements.

“The Ice Field is too slippery to run on. Your fancy footwork for dodging spells ends here, Unknown,” Sting declared Kai’s end with a sly smile.

But even at that moment, Kai was calculating something.

I have about 50,000 Holy Power left... Yeah, that should be enough.

Kai’s eyes shined as he quietly murmured, “Supernova.”

As the distinctive heat of Supernova combined with the forest's humidity, sweat poured down Kai's body like rain.

But with this, I’ve gained speed.

With both effects of the titles Saint of Glendale and Saint of Whitehall, the effectiveness of all Holp Power-based skills was increased by 25%! Therefore, Supernova, which normally increased all stats by 30, now boosted them by 38.

Kai turned his body sideways, dodging the incoming Wind Cutter, and immediately unleashed Holy Chains.

“Hmph, do you really think I’d get caught by something like this?”

Sting snapped his fingers, and a spear shot up from the ground, easily deflecting the Holy Chains.

However, that was exactly what Kai had intended!

“Huh?!”

“Master!”

“Hm?” Sting looked forward at the alarmed cries of his subordinates. “W-what?!”

What he saw was Unknown, sliding across the Ice Field, pulling himself forward using the Holy Chains!

Did he know from the start that I’d deflect Holy Chains... and use them on me on purpose?

Just as Sting had acknowledged Unknown as his opponent, Unknown had done the same.

It was a strategy devised with the assumption of Sting’s expertise in mind!

“Argh...!”

Angry at being used, Sting began casting his most powerful skill.

He won’t be able to stop this.

With the retreat already blocked, and while running on the Ice Field, there was no way to dodge this skill.

It’s a Unique-grade skill, after all.

Sting possessed over six Unique-grade skills, an incredible array of skills befitting his rank as the third-ranked Wizard!

But from my analysis, Unknown’s Magic Resistance is abnormally high.

That was why he had tested the waters with the Iron Spear during their first encounter.

His Physical Defense, on the other hand, is far lower than his Magic Resistance.

In other words, Unknown’s weakness was physical damage!

A true Wizard is one who is always prepared and thoroughly analyzes the enemy.

Sting’s analysis of Unknown was complete.

With a sly grin, Sting proudly shouted the name of his skill, “Hear the mana’s call and tear the enemy to shreds! Blade Tempest!”

Hundreds of blades formed around Sting, spinning like a storm.

Kai, who had been watching, sent a message to Seol Eun-Yeong.

[It’s time to keep your promise. Run as fast as you can.]

[Are you telling us to abandon the mercenary we hired and run away...?]

[You promised, didn’t you? On your name.]

[Ugh...!]

That was indeed her own words.

Clenching her lower lip, Seol Eun-Yeong closed her eyes tightly and commanded, “All units, retreat!”

She glanced back at Unknown, who was sliding into the storm of blades, and silently apologized.

I’ll repay this debt... twofold, threefold.

Kai smiled as he saw the twenty remaining Cheonhwa guild members, including Seol Eun-Yeong, retreating.

Blade Tempest. If it’s a skill belonging to Sting, it's likely at least a Rare-grade skill.

Kai had prior knowledge of this skill because whenever he watched Black Bees' raid videos, this skill was always used as a finishing move.

I’ve been waiting for this moment.

Kai had prepared every possible strategy to take down the Black Bees. He had Mimic, which they didn’t know about, and the Ironwill Longsword, which they had never seen. He also maximized his Magic Resistance, becoming their natural enemy.

That spear earlier... it really hurt.

When Sting had launched the Iron Spear, Kai could have dodged it, but he had intentionally taken the hit.

I needed to let them know that my physical defense is low.

It was a deliberate bait. He had openly advertised it as his weakness, inviting them to exploit that specific flaw.

Sting is smart. Even though he’s an enemy, I have to acknowledge that.

But this time, that intelligence worked against him. Being smarter than anyone, he couldn’t shake the illusion that his judgment was always correct.

“Tear him apart.”

Kai released the Holy Chains and pushed off the ground.

The sight of Sting, looking down at him with arrogant eyes, grew closer and closer.

The storm of blades filled the air, shrieking like cicadas as they rushed toward Kai. To anyone, it seemed like the end for Unknown!

However, instead of looking like someone who was about to die, Kai put on a relaxed smile, and asked, “As expected, the top ten guilds don’t get along well, do you?”

“What?”

“If you were close with Goliath... I’d be the one losing right now.”

Ignoring Sting tilting his head in confusion, Kai shouted, “Ethereal Body!”

As Kai’s body transformed into particles, the hundreds of blades passed harmlessly through him and embedded themselves in the ground.

Ethereal Body was a skill that ignored all physical damage!

Th-this can’t be...!

Sting’s once-proud expression crumbled. Could it be that Unknown had deliberately gotten hit by the Iron Spear at the beginning just to set this up?

Sting’s heart sank, but he didn’t give up.

In Ethereal Body, he takes double damage from magic skills! If I act now...!

Summoning a Lightning Spear, he thrust it directly at Unknown.

However, Unknown was faster. With a swift motion, Unknown grabbed Sting’s face with his large hand, stared into Sting’s wide-open eyes through his fingers, and murmured, “Bye. Blue Plague.”

Fwoosh!

The blue nightmare that had once engulfed Whitehall erupted out from Kai’s hand.