Chapter 20: Elite – Spring-Leg Jack (2)

In every style of combat throughout history, balance is absolutely critical.

No form of martial arts sparring can proceed without maintaining your center of gravity and disrupting your opponent’s balance.

A solid stance depends not just on brute lower-body strength, but on looseness and fluidity.

Always be aware of your shifting center of mass. Try to keep your weight on one foot at a time. Don’t let both legs carry your weight, or you’ll be vulnerable to trips and stumbles.

That was what my cousin—an amateur sanda coach—taught me during a short stint of training back in middle school.

It had been years since then, but those lessons resurfaced in vivid clarity.

Maintain balance. Maintain stability. Any loss of footing, any stumble—no, even the slightest hesitation—could be fatal.

Because I wasn’t in a dojo or a ring.

This wasn’t sport. It wasn’t sparring with rules and referees. This was a battle.

And if I went down even once, it was certain death.

This enemy was on a whole other level from the lizardmen, the venom-spitters, or the human centipede.

It was ruthless. It was razor-sharp. And most of all, it was fast.

So fast—

“Tch!!”

I ducked instinctively. A freezing gust tore past the back of my neck, and every hair on my body stood on end. The wooden wall and withered shrubs behind me were sliced cleanly in two. A second slower, and my head would’ve been lopped clean off.

I spun around just in time to see it—Spring-Leg Jack—closing the gap between us in an instant. The spring arm it had launched at me had retracted, and now both of its arms were back in place. No—shorter than before!?

It was retracting both arms as it advanced?

Realizing its intent in that final heartbeat, I dropped and rolled to the side. Death passed me by within inches. The wall I’d just been standing in front of was now impaled by both spring arms, claws like cannonballs blasting clean through the warehouse walls.

If I hadn’t dodged, my entire upper body—no, my everything—would’ve been shredded on the spot.

But this was my chance.

Retracting both arms took time. For a brief instant—mere fractions of a second—its arms were unusable.

My vision sharpened under a surge of adrenaline. That skeletal, twisted face seemed to move in slow motion, turning toward me.

Die!

I roared inwardly and slashed out with my blade at full speed. Keep your balance. Keep your balance. I’d just rolled to the side, so my posture was still low. I couldn’t reach its upper body, but I could go for the root of its agility: its spring legs.

Clang!

“Gah!?”

The steel dagger hit its leg, but the recoil rattled my grip and sent pain shooting through my wrist. Tough. Too tough. Even with Aether Infusion strengthening the edge, the slash barely left a scratch on the spring.

“Chichichichichi!”

It shrieked in fury, enraged by my attack. Its arms snapped back to full extension, ready to strike.

Can I block it head-on?

No way. Those blade-fingers would burst my skull like a melon.

Parry with my buckler?

Not a chance, too fast to catch.

Then can I dodge at this range?

Actually—yes!

Precisely because we were in close quarters, I could dodge.

Hup!

I dropped flat to the ground, face down in the filthy mud. At zero distance, it couldn’t angle its claws downward effectively. I felt them pass over my back and graze my hair, but I wasn’t hit.

It was ugly. Embarrassing. But I was alive.

“Chichi!?”

Jack was startled. 

Of course it was. When had it ever had a target dive straight under its legs? Its limbs looked intimidating, but they had serious flaws.

Because its arms and legs were entirely made of springs, there were no flexible joints. No elbows. No knees. That meant it couldn’t bend well or attack prey directly below itself.

And so, what I needed to do was—

‘No form of martial arts sparring can proceed without maintaining your center of gravity—’

I recited the mantra in my head, keeping my body low to the ground.

‘—and disrupting your opponent’s balance.’

Then I launched upward from the dirt, straight into its lower body.

I had to throw off its footing. Its spring-jump attacks required perfect balance, and without joints, it would be even harder to recover from a fall.

If I followed up quickly—

Thud!

“Huh!?”

I missed. Nothing collided. I dove headlong into empty air.

Jack had already sprung upward. In that flash of a second, it had compressed its legs and launched itself.

Its legs retract and spring faster than its arms!

My scalp prickled with alarm. I used the momentum from my missed tackle to roll again, and narrowly dodged its divebomb stomp.

Its feet weren’t bladed like its hands, but they had hooks for clinging to surfaces. A hit from them would’ve torn me up all the same.

It was coming in for another strike. As it raised its claws again, I reached for my belt—my second and last flash bomb.

***

“Heave…”

Felice steadied herself, took a deep breath, and cinched the worn hemp rope tighter. She had strapped Mizan securely to her back using a surprisingly durable rope found in the tavern. Though she struggled at first, her natural talent kicked in. She could now jog with someone far heavier than herself strapped to her back.

Yuhong had been right: Jack was in a whole different class than the fog fiends. It was a proper elite monster. Wherever elites roamed, regular monsters didn’t dare approach. That made the path relatively clear.

The plan was simple. While Yuhong kept Jack busy, Felice would carry Mizan to safety outside the town. He had a good sense of direction and had already mapped out the fastest route for her. Reaching the barn where the Rotted-Face people waited wouldn’t take long.

“Hang in there, Yuhong.”

Once she dropped off Mizan, she’d turn around and come back immediately. She swore it in her heart as she sprinted toward the barn.

“Eh?”

A brilliant white flash pierced the mist behind her. It was far off, but unmistakable.

She knew that light. It was the same one Yuhong had used when they were surrounded by the human centipedes.

Had he been pushed so far he had to use his last flash bomb? Or was this all part of the plan?

Felice fought the urge to turn around and help, gritting her teeth as she ran faster.

***

Mystery.

Miracle.

Arcana.

All three categories of magic required a spell catalyst.

Basic low-level spells could use the human body itself as a conduit, meaning they could be cast without external tools.

But more advanced spells required rods, amulets, sacred bells, or other specialized items to serve as catalysts.

Unfortunately, such items were scarce in the rotted-face people’s village. During their hasty retreat into the forest to escape the fog calamity, most supplies had been left behind or lost. And even before that, the settlement was too remote to own many treasures.

They did have one treasure. But it couldn’t be used. Not for various reasons.

The chieftain’s ironvine staff made an excellent catalyst, but even dismantling a piece to give Rena had pushed its limits.

Which is why the flash bomb was so precious.

It contained the Radiant Light miracle, sealed inside one of the village’s rare catalyst crystals. Only with the chieftain’s blessing was it complete.

And now, it was gone.

No more convenient escape tools like that.

While Jack’s eyes were blinded by the flare, I scrambled and rolled into the maze of alleys. I couldn’t fight him head-on—only use the terrain. The waterwheel… maybe I could use the tower beside it to strike back.

But my nerves were on edge. Jack’s spring limbs were tougher than I’d thought. I had no means of destroying them completely; my only hope was targeting his head or torso.

Huff… huff… huff…

I kept low, controlled my breathing, held my stance tight, ears alert to every sound. I was about a hundred meters from the waterwheel. The river cut through this part of town. This area must’ve once been a logistics hub. Small warehouses scattered around like a maze, connected by narrow alleys and cluttered with crates and sacks.

Jack—

“Chichichichi!”

—couldn’t chase effectively here. His claws whistled over my head, close, but imprecise. Wind roared above, and then he landed hard behind me, spring legs compressed, ready to pounce.

“Tch…”

I pivoted hard at the next turn, then again at the next. Two corners, and I’d already shaken him off. Behind me came the sound of metal slamming into walls and a roar of frustration. Tight quarters meant he couldn’t maneuver easily. His aerial mobility was impressive, but not when boxed in like this.

What I had to watch for was—

“Gh!!”

I sidestepped just in time as rubble exploded behind me. Jack’s claws sliced through where I’d been a moment earlier. His accuracy was off thanks to the walls and debris. He couldn’t see me clearly through solid obstacles.

Think. Think. Thinking is what keeps your mind sharp under pressure.

Put yourself in the predator’s shoes. If I were Jack, what would I do?

His speed was crippled. The environment was terrible for aiming. So—

He’ll change perspective!

I pressed myself against the wall. Above me was the sloped cover of a warehouse, meant to shield the entrance from rain or sun. Now it could hide me from Jack’s line of sight.

Thud!

I heard the clank of metal on wood. Jack had moved to the rooftops. His footsteps thumped back and forth above, searching from a top-down view, but the awning kept me out of sight. Again and again, he passed overhead—never spotting me.

Soon, a furious snarl erupted from above. He’d realized I was no longer visible.

He’d be coming down.

Aether Infusion… Cat’s Step…

I steadied my breath and activated two familiar spells. Aether Infusion sharpened my blade. Cat’s Step silenced my movements and cushioned falls. I crouched behind a person-sized crate and held my breath, waiting for the right moment.

Thump!

He landed—barely ten meters from my hiding spot.

He growled and glanced around, furious. I clamped a hand over my mouth, still as stone.

Stay calm. Don’t rush. Wait for the opening.

“Chi…”

He let out a frustrated huff and turned around, preparing to leave. His awkward spring legs weren’t built for walking; he was more comfortable jumping. But whether he walked or leapt didn’t matter.

Now was the time!

Cat’s Step—silent feet.

Aether Infusion—razor blade.

Scan surroundings—confirm escape route.

And then—

“Chi?”

Aim for the spine!

“Chiiiaaaaa!”

I dashed forward, blade flashing. The scream of rage echoed in my ears. The blade connected. It went in.

So his torso wasn’t invulnerable like his limbs.

But it was too shallow.

I reacted instantly, twisting, wrenching the blade free, and retreating.

Clang!

Guh!

A hard blow struck my chest. It felt like being kicked by a horse. Something shattered—the metal plate I wore cracked under the impact. But the blow actually knocked me backward, helping me retreat into the narrow alley.

I instantly crouched, dodging another overhead swipe. Good. He was enraged. His attacks were aggressive, but sloppy.

“Chichi—yaya!”

His glowing red eyes flared. Springs tensed and flexed. That hideous mouth opened wide.

Don’t let him wind up!

I turned and sprinted. Round another bend, zigzag—stay out of his line of sight.

Whizz!

Huh?

A searing heat sliced across my thigh. I nearly tripped. A cut, but not deep. I couldn’t stop now. I pressed forward into a twisted alley formed by three adjacent warehouses, then finally dared to look back.

I saw a knife.

It was only as long as my palm, silver all over with no crossguard—clearly a throwing knife.

I’d only glimpsed it, but its shape was burned into my memory. It was silver, ornate, etched with glowing runes.

“Chichi—!”

A sharp clang echoed nearby. Jack had leapt to a higher perch, skimming the rooftops in pursuit.

And this time, in one bladed hand, he held another of those gleaming throwing knives.