Rebirth.
Abominations were unwelcome intruders wherever they appeared. They possessed little intelligence and were driven solely by insatiable hunger.
Their primary weapons were brute strength and reckless aggression, supported by formidable regenerative abilities.
"They were troublesome enough already… and now mutation has made things even more complicated."
Touched by the breath of the Old Ones, the abominations had been reborn as far more dangerous entities. The question was how to deal with them.
Fortunately, the situation at the front was more stable than expected. The gnolls had secured a geographical advantage by refurbishing an ancient human fortress. As a result, they were able to block the southward advance of the abominations with relative ease.
"If we can just hold out until human reinforcements arrive, things should become much simpler afterward."
The Clerical Alliance would dispatch troops to establish an outpost. With their support, overcoming this crisis would be far more manageable.
To make that happen, the delegation needed to return behind the wall. They had to report both the successful alliance with the gnolls and the current situation.
Roland seemed to have reached the same conclusion.
"Now that we've confirmed the situation, we should return to the Clerical Alliance as soon as possible."
"Agreed."
Woojin nodded readily. Reuniting with Saint Cecilia and reporting to the cardinal would be the top priority.
But—
"There's no need for everyone to go back."
Woojin intended to remain.
After regrouping with Cecilia, he gathered the delegation and spoke plainly.
"You should all return first. I'll stay here and observe the situation a bit longer."
Cecilia tilted her head in puzzlement and signed.
—Is there a reason to remain?
"I want more information about the enemy. It will make the next expedition easier."
There was too little known about these mutated abominations.
Facing an unfamiliar enemy without information was reckless. Before full-scale engagement began, he needed to investigate these variants.
Since they would inevitably return here anyway, shuttling back and forth between the Alliance's wall and gnoll territory would be a waste of time.
Cecilia nodded in understanding.
—Then I'll leave a few people behind to assist you. Conducting field investigations alone would be too exhausting.
"I'll be fine."
He declined gently. Most of the delegation likely preferred returning home rather than remaining in gnoll territory.
And above all—
"I work better alone."
Woojin had always hunted solo. Acting alone was freer, simpler.
After a brief pause, Cecilia nodded.
—Very well. We'll respect your decision. We'll return as quickly as possible, so don't overexert yourself.
She meant to keep that promise. She hurried to prepare for departure, and the rest of the delegation followed suit.
Before long, they had dismantled the camp and loaded their belongings onto the tarasque's back.
—We'll meet again.
With that farewell, they set off southward. The gnolls watched them leave.
The gnolls were visibly disappointed when Cecilia departed.
The day before, she had used her divine power to produce an abundance of fruit, and the tribe—having tasted such sweetness for the first time in their lives—had been deeply impressed.
"She's practically an idol to them."
Diplomatically, that wasn't a bad thing. Bonds like these would only strengthen the alliance.
Lost in thought, Woojin glanced sideways.
Roland was yawning lazily.
"Why didn't you go back?"
Roland answered without hesitation.
"I don't have much to do back there anyway."
"…Fair enough."
Stripped of his command authority, Roland was effectively idle. Returning behind the wall would only mean tedious routine, so he chose to remain in gnoll territory.
That wasn't bad either. Having someone around would make things less dull.
Obtaining information about the enemy wasn't particularly difficult. Looking down from the fortress wall, one could spot abominations wandering the area regularly.
Abominations shaped like monsters—something even Woojin had never encountered before.
"How exactly are these mutations created?"
According to Braknark, those consumed by abominations underwent such changes. Like how the energy of a rift core twisted nature into the demonic realm.
But mere words were insufficient.
Woojin wanted to see it firsthand.
He patrolled the surrounding area with the wolves and captured a monster to use as a test subject.
"Skreee! Keeeeek—!"
A raccoon-like monster shrieked in terror.
Woojin felt no pity.
"It's killed several head of livestock."
The creature had been cunning, stealing gnoll livestock and escaping repeatedly. The gnolls had failed to catch it more than once—but today, it had chosen the wrong prey.
Crunch!
"Gyaaaah!!"
Rex bit down on its hind leg. The severed tendon left the creature writhing helplessly.
Woojin bound it tightly with rope. He captured two of them in total, slinging one over each shoulder as he returned to the city.
"I should borrow a rhinoceros."
Carrying such bulky prey all the way to the fortress by hand would be tiresome. He planned to request one of Krnartash's rhinoceroses for transport.
But the city was unusually noisy—cheers and the gnolls' distinctive cackling laughter echoed through the streets.
"What's going on?"
Curious, Woojin followed the commotion.
He arrived to find Roland arm-wrestling Jaka.
"Waaaargh!!"
Roland strained with all his might. Divine energy shimmered around him like heat haze—he had no intention of losing.
Jaka struggled under the pressure.
"Grrr—!"
He fought desperately to keep his arm upright, wrist nearly bent flat. The match was effectively decided.
Thud!
Jaka's hand slammed down.
Roland leapt to his feet and roared.
"See that?! I told you I'd win!"
The gnolls burst into laughter and applause as Roland threw an exaggerated uppercut into the air in celebration. Jaka, defeated, retreated with his head bowed.
"He's practically a local."
The language barrier didn't seem to matter. Roland possessed a strange, species-transcending charisma.
Woojin watched for a moment longer than he intended—curious about the outcome—before shaking himself back to focus.
He quickened his pace.
Before long, Woojin borrowed a rhinoceros. He roughly loaded the raccoon monsters he had captured earlier into the large cargo basket strapped to its back.
"Let's go."
At his command, the rhinoceros lumbered northward. With nothing to do until they reached the fortress, Woojin climbed onto the red wolf, leaned back against the saddle, and closed his eyes.
By the time he stirred from his light sleep, they had arrived. It felt as though they had reached the fortress almost instantly.
He inspected the raccoon monsters. One had bled out and now hung limp. The other still seemed relatively alive.
"Should I just leave the dead one?"
After a brief moment of hesitation, he decided to take both. Since he had brought them this far, he might as well use them.
Woojin walked toward the gnoll wall.
Soon, Braknark came out to greet him. The great gnoll's eyes briefly scanned the raccoons.
"You've hunted down those troublesome pests. What do you intend to use them for?"
"There's something I'd like to test."
He jerked his chin toward the gate.
"Open it for a moment."
"As you wish."
Opening the gate was dangerous, but Braknark obeyed without question. As the heavy doors parted, Woojin stepped outside carrying the two raccoons.
Perhaps it was the scent of blood.
The moment he crossed beyond the gate, an abomination rushed to greet him. It resembled a massive boar. Its jaws split grotesquely wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth as it charged.
Before its tusks could reach Woojin, Braknark stepped forward and swung his bone hammer.
BOOM!!
The thunderous impact sent the abomination flying. Its half-destroyed body sailed through the air like a smashed heap of meat.
Woojin gave a nod of approval.
"You've grown stronger."
"Thank you."
"But I need a living specimen. You didn't kill it, did you?"
"…Ah."
Braknark stiffened and looked toward the fallen creature.
…Twitch.
The abomination stirred weakly.
"It's still alive."
"Good. Close the gate and follow me."
Though the area had been cleared earlier, they shut the gate again as a precaution.
They approached the wounded abomination sprawled on the dirt.
"Perfectly tenderized."
Abominations possessed formidable regeneration, but Braknark's strike had nearly pulverized its entire body. To recover from such massive damage, it would need to feed and replenish lost flesh and blood.
Woojin set down the surviving raccoon. Though wounded, it still snapped viciously at him.
Crunch, crunch!
The raccoon bit hard into Woojin's fingers. Unfazed, Woojin grabbed its jaw and hurled it toward the abomination.
Snap!
The abomination opened its mouth as if waiting. The raccoon vanished into its maw like prey swallowed whole by a giant toad.
Inside, the raccoon thrashed wildly. The abomination's face bulged grotesquely with each movement. It seemed as though the raccoon might tear its way back out.
Crack—!
The abomination's cheek stretched unnaturally. The outline of the raccoon's face became visible beneath the taut flesh, as though pressing against thin plastic.
Rip!!
The raccoon burst free, tearing through the abomination's body.
But it was no longer the same.
"Kyaaa—!"
The creature staggered, draped in abominable flesh. Its eyes rotted away as black blood-tears streamed down its face.
"…Graaah…"
A raccoon abomination.
Newly reborn, it lunged straight at Woojin.
"The hammer."
"Yes."
Braknark handed over the bone hammer. Woojin seized it and swung with full force.
KRAAANG!!
With a deafening blast, the raccoon abomination's body exploded apart. Its flesh turned inside out like a stripped stocking. It let out a pitiful cry before collapsing into lifeless ruin.
Woojin observed quietly.
"They seem stronger than before… but their regenerative ability has weakened."
"That does appear to be the case."
These mutated abominations were stronger than ordinary ones and could convert living creatures into their kind. Yet their regeneration was diminished.
Meanwhile, the original boar abomination—the one that had swallowed the raccoon—was still alive. Fewer regenerative capabilities meant greater numbers instead. That made them even more troublesome.
But the ability had limits.
"The boar has shrunk."
The boar abomination's body was noticeably smaller—nearly half its former size. Repeated reproduction in a short span likely wasn't possible due to such constraints.
As Woojin calculated the implications, Braknark spoke quietly beside him.
"…We should withdraw. That noise will draw more of them."
"Understood."
There was no need to push their luck.
Woojin finished off the weakened boar abomination and retreated behind the gate.
Moments later, far more abominations than before emerged to fill the vacant ground outside.
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