Chapter 392
I could tell through the binoculars that Runner Runner's atmosphere had changed.
"I'm counting on you."
Something red clung to its golden body, and the figure that had been running on two legs until moments ago began transforming as it ran.Gradually leaning forward, its head sharpened further, and its body became more streamlined.Its arms elongated, turning not into arms but into forelegs.
Runner Runner's second form, **Chaser Mode, the Pursuer.**
The activation conditions are either landing a single attack on it or maintaining a certain distance ahead of it.Once in this state, it will pay absolutely no attention to anything else. It will pursue and attack relentlessly, without ever reverting, the one who fulfilled either of the two conditions—in this case, Claudia, who won through speed and overtook it.
Its speed increased dramatically, and it began closing the small gap with its running power.Many players suffered defeat against this overwhelming speed during their first encounters.
Its human-like movements shifted completely to animalistic ones.Transformed from a fugitive into a hunter-like pursuer.
It's precisely because it possesses this duality that this monster's name is **'Runner Runner.'** It carries the dual meaning of "the one who runs."
"Relay to position three! Activate the traps! Stop its feet, even if just a little!""Got it!"
In this state, Runner Runner temporarily suffers from tunnel vision, and its wariness and detection abilities for traps are significantly reduced.Even areas it would cautiously avoid while bipedal, if the target of pursuit enters them, the current Runner Runner will charge right in.
"Tsk!? Makeshift landmines aren't even enough to stop it, huh?"An explosion occurred at Runner Runner's feet a fraction of a second after Claudia ran through, but it paid no mind to the impact, running straight through the blast smoke.
"Next! Eight, no, thirteen!""Got it!"Claudia entered the circuit route.Various traps were set along that route, but the entry point was bad.
The moment she could rejoin the circuit route, the tunnel disappeared behind her.Essentially, she had to run a full lap.
"The net traps are woven with mithril, so the strength is ensured, but it dodged? Next, thirty-two!""Got it!"On top of that, the positioning is poor.
It's circling clockwise around the second wall of this frontier village.Runner Runner is positioned on Claudia's left rear—the inner side, which is the shortest distance.
If Claudia carelessly cuts to the inside now, she'll be attacked from behind.
We attempted sniping with ballistas for support fire from the walls, but predictive fire couldn't catch Runner Runner.It showed no deceleration at all, not easing its pursuit of Claudia, dodging the rain of ballista bolts.
You might think it would be better to turn and fight at this point, but I truly don't recommend fighting it head-on in this state with a time limit.Its overwhelming speed, ferocity, and high combat evasion ability...Even with the stat difference, we've only managed to match it thanks to the cheat-like Heavenly Fist and equipment.
That's precisely why...
"Forty-two!""Got it!"...we must succeed with this strategy no matter what.We tried to simultaneously detonate landmines again to push Runner Runner outward with shockwaves, but that also failed.
We already knew landmines weren't very effective, so there's no panic.The main goal is to obstruct its vision even slightly and delay its reaction to Claudia's movements by one beat.
Claudia sensed my intention and sharply cut to the inside, taking the first corner.As she cut in, Runner Runner also reacted, trying to go on the offensive, but...
"Forty-nine!""Yes, sir!!"...we predicted that move and prepared traps.
Even if it dodges the blast shockwave, it probably can't avoid lightning discharged at the speed of light.
"Truly a magic item that seals Esmeralda's magic. It's a consumable, but extremely effective.""Wouldn't it be fine to prepare a lot of these?""The material that can seal Esmeralda's magic isn't easy to prepare. One of those could buy a house, you know?""Umm... a commoner's house, right?""Badly used, it might even build a noble's villa."Seeing Runner Runner electrocuted and unable to attack was a relief.Even with this much effect, in its bipedal form, it would sense the danger and not approach. Also, making it requires absurd materials, so we can't prepare many.
While hearing one Entertainer exclaim 'Huh!?' in surprise at the trap activation order...We activated traps placed along the course one after another, trying to give Claudia even a little breathing room.
By the way, the landmines we've been detonating use Class 6 magic stones, as we want to inflict even a little damage on Runner Runner, a Class 9 World Monster.The Entertainers haven't realized just how precious that is in this world and what an unbelievable use it is for a consumable.
In my common sense, even this isn't enough.
Well, managing somehow even in this underprepared environment is my job.
"Oh, it's getting irritated."Runner Runner activated a skill to accelerate and close the gap. That skill has a recast time and cannot be reused at least until it reaches the tunnel location.I can clearly understand Runner Runner's state of mind, using that skill emotionally rather than strategically.
"That's right, get angry, get angry."You're the one who can ignore most taunt skills but whose pride won't allow it when it comes to "running."It gradually closed the distance with Claudia, and the moment it tried to step into attack range...
"Fifty-seven!""Yes, sir!"A simple trap exploded.The activated trap was a magic item containing the "Dig Hole" spell.
Once activated, it creates a hole about 1 meter deep and 5 meters in diameter—a simple thing.It's a so-called pitfall, but simple traps work best when the target is irritated.On top of that, it's not just one; a total of fifty magic items are embedded in the surrounding area.Simple calculation: 250 square meters of land instantly collapses.
With its momentum, even if holes appear instantly, it wouldn't exactly "fall."But the moment it tries to step forward, holes open everywhere, and if the footing disappears, it loses balance, right?
Claudia ran through using "Air Walk" as planned without losing speed. Runner Runner also hurriedly regained its posture using "Air Walk" control, but...
"This opens the distance further."It's not a complete safety net, but this ensures a degree of safety for Claudia.Runner Runner doesn't have long-range attack methods.
And the rapid acceleration skill was used during the earlier chase and is now on cooldown.
"Then, you'll use it, right? Your last trump card."Frustrated at not catching up no matter what, continuously mistaking the traps for attacks from Claudia, Runner Runner's hatred has reached its peak.
No matter how long it runs, it can't catch up.Reality is, it's being left behind. Runner Runner's anger is about to reach its climax.
**'■■■■■■■■■■！！！！'**And then, Runner Runner let out a roar that confirmed my prediction.
"Here it comes. '**Berserk Rush**'!"This is Runner Runner's final trump card.It's a skill similar to "Heavenly Fist," which explosively boosts physical abilities, but it has a drawback.
That drawback is losing rationality, reduced thinking ability, and movements becoming more aligned with wild instincts.Trap detection ability is lost, and even cautious actions disappear.
It doesn't have as much stat increase as Heavenly Fist, but when used by a Class 9 Runner Runner, the effect is still fearsome.
The already fast Runner Runner accelerates further, and even if it steps on continuously activating traps, it charges forward regardless.
It shatters trees, breaks through the ground, and tears through the wind.Runner Runner physically breaks through obstacles and charges along the shortest path.
Its speed surpasses Claudia's. The hard-earned gap is closing in an instant, but...
"Seventy-seven!""Yes, sir!!"If you know about that skill, there's a way to counter it.What suddenly appeared was an area of light.
The ground shone divinely, and the atmosphere was painted over with a healing feeling.There was no damaging element.Rather, the effect gave a strong impression of recovery.
Without hesitation, Claudia plunged into it, and following her, Runner Runner also plunged in.
"It decelerated!?""Incredible! It happened just as Mr. Liberta said!"Just when it seemed Runner Runner would catch up to Claudia, it suddenly slowed down.A noticeable deceleration, visible even from the side.
The reason was the earlier light.
"Dispel Barrier. It's the natural enemy of 'Berserk Rush.'"In this world—FBO, buffs are roughly divided into two categories.One is the "Blessing-type" buffs. Amina's singing skills and normal enhancement skills fall into this category.The second is "Curse-type." The type of buff system that simultaneously incurs a demerit.
The second type has higher effects than the first, but in return, it demands a price along with the effect.The 'Berserk Rush' used by Runner Runner is a buff granted as a curse, with the price of losing rationality as the skill.
Therefore, by activating a Dispel Barrier to remove debuffs and making it charge in, the "curse" is dispelled. Thus, Runner Runner loses the enhancement of 'Berserk Rush' and slows down.
Normally, hitting a fast-moving Runner Runner with short-range Dispel would be difficult. But in a state of tunnel vision and lost rationality, it's just a being that chases its target. The idea of bypassing the barrier doesn't occur.
One note here: You might think "Heavenly Fist," which causes a stat drop after the effect ends, also falls into the latter category and could be dispelled. However, the distinction between these two buffs lies in the activation timing of the demerit—the difference between "simultaneous" or "subsequent."
Heavenly Fist has no demerits during the effect activation.Instead, a stat drop occurs afterward, like a cooldown period for healing the body from the strain.
In contrast, 'Berserk Rush' is a curse buff that simultaneously incurs a curse as the price for enhancement, with a constant demerit attached.
Therefore, Heavenly Fist corresponds to blessing-type buffs and is not negated by Dispel.However, 'Berserk Rush' corresponds to curse-type, so it is negated.
Even with its last trump card crushed, Runner Runner still chases Claudia.As if declaring "The lead is mine, I won't allow anything ahead," it moves its legs. But having used skills continuously up to this point, its usable options at this stage have run out.
Only evasion-type skills remain now.Such things are useless for winning this current chase.
"Good, good, just like that, just like that."While such a dead heat unfolded, the goal came into view.The tunnel with traps set.The tunnel Runner Runner absolutely had to avoid.Nell and the Gardener Retainers led by Genjirou were waiting nearby.
The distance to the tunnel rapidly closed. Claudia plunged into the tunnel without hesitation, and Runner Runner followed.
The distance was only 100 meters. At their speeds, they should emerge in just a few seconds, but...
"Good!""Only Claudia-neesan came out!!""It's not coming out!!"The figure that appeared from the tunnel exit was only Claudia.
And the former fugitive slowly decelerated, turned back, and gave a thumbs-up in my direction.