[You used a sniper rifle... Triggered Death Characteristic - Calamity. Instant-kill progress: 92/3000... Reward: Survival Points +14, Marksmanship +2.]

A total of 3,000?!

Wei’en couldn’t help but gulp. ’So this is a true Abyssal Creature.’ Compared to this, the Abyss Demon that Bolsen transformed into during the day was a newborn baby at best.

"Hm? What’s this?"

The Thorn Demon was hit by the sniper rifle, but it didn’t feel any pain. Instead, it looked curiously at the wound on its arm.

Beneath the broken, barbed scales were some bone fragments, mere fingernail-sized shards. Compared to its massive body, it was nothing.

But then one—no, two strange, corrupting characteristics burrowed into its body.

Immediately after, what looked like pustules of flesh and blood began to emerge from the cracks in the wounded bone, one after another, bursting the instant they appeared.

"No, this isn’t right! Leonard, his attacks are wrong! This is definitely not the kind of power a Wizard Apprentice should have!"

"You lied to me? You even lied to the great one!"

A panicked expression appeared on the Thorn Demon’s cold, hard face. "No! Let me go! Release my seal, will you?!"

"Oh? You can’t even block this?"

The clown ignored its shouts, instead looking at the sniper rifle in Wei’en’s hand with great interest.

’That... looks like a nice toy, hee hee!’

"Deep, Roko, gate!"

Wei’en ignored it as well, casting the Shadow Entanglement Spell at its feet. Countless withered arms grabbed viciously at its feet... or rather, the soles of its feet.

’So you’re sealed, are you?’

’Can’t move an inch, huh?’

’No matter how thick your defense, there’s always a moment it can be broken!’

Wei’en steeled his resolve, signaling the ghosts and the Secret Master to cast other Magic.

"Ble, Franco, Ah Wa!" (Necromancer’s Claw!)

"Gena, Ji, Una!" (Lightning Arrow!)

For a moment, Fireballs and Lightning Arrows bombarded the Thorn Demon one after another, but none of them caused any damage.

Only the level-three Necromancer’s Claw, which summoned three finger bones from the King of Skeletons, managed to poke it and leave several scratches.

[You used the Necromancer’s Claw (Death God) Magic, injuring the Thorn Demon. Evaluation: Bone against bone—whoever’s harder has the advantage. Special Reward: Survival Points +10, Spirit Level +1, Resilience Level +1.]

[You used the Fireball Technique (Death God) Magic to attack the Thorn Demon. Evaluation: Defense not pierced. Reward: Survival Points +2.]

"ROAR! Damn you, you little insect!"

The Thorn Demon was driven mad by such attacks, but no matter how it struggled, it couldn’t move an inch. It could only rely on the tongue in its mouth to continuously attack Wei’en’s position, forcing him to keep moving.

Soon, however, it noticed another bothersome figure—the Mechanical Puppet.

Although Zero’s movements and attacks weren’t much to speak of, somehow, after a few rounds of attacks, it had learned to block the Thorn Demon’s tongue attacks in its own way.

By standing between the Thorn Demon and Wei’en!

This way, it only needed to move a short distance to intercept the tongue.

BANG, BANG...

Zero knew no pain, no fatigue. It was knocked down time and again, only to climb back up and block the Thorn Demon’s attacks.

Even though the attacks had shattered and mangled its Metal Armor, as long as its Core Rune wasn’t destroyed, it could release the Solid Heart Rune!

Watching this, Wei’en felt increasingly lucky to have such a good partner as a helper.

’Just like Tina... hmm, if she didn’t bring the clown along, she’d be an even more perfect backup!’

[You used a sniper rifle to hit the Abyssal Creature Thorn Demon, triggering the Blast Rune and the Death Characteristic - Decay. Instant-kill progress: 1423/3000... Reward: Survival Points +5, Marksmanship +2.]

[...Instant-kill progress: 3000/3000... Reward: Survival Points +5, Marksmanship +2.]

[The Thorn Demon triggered the Death Characteristic - Instant Kill. It is now dead. Evaluation: I don’t know what to say. I strongly suspect the clown was helping you... Special Reward: Survival Points +30, Marksmanship +10, Resilience Level +5, Spirit Level +5.]

An unknown amount of time passed before the Thorn Demon let out a miserable shriek. "I am not content!! Bolsen, why don’t you just die!?"

This was all Bolsen’s doing, so why was it the one dying in the end?

Wei’en watched the Thorn Demon finally collapse, then plopped down on the ground.

The battle had seemed simple, but if Zero hadn’t been there to block most of the attacks for him, he would have likely been killed by the Thorn Demon long ago due to the depletion of his Spiritual Power.

Wei’en took out an Enlightenment Potion and drank it. ’Ugh, only one bottle left... That was close. So close. The Thorn Demon almost outlasted me.’

"If I can’t kill your Contractor, you think I can’t kill you?"

[Consumable Origin discovered. Use Soul-Devouring Magic?]

"Adagua!" (Soul-Devouring Magic!)

[You used Soul-Devouring Magic to devour the Thorn Demon’s Origin. Your Origin has been enhanced. Evaluation: I’m sure of it now. You’re just using the clown to farm rewards! Special Reward: Origin +2.]

Wei’en pursed his lips as he read the evaluation on the panel. "How can you call it farming rewards when I earned them with my own skills?"

’Besides, if I really wanted to farm, I’d never choose a liability like the clown!’

’Hm? My Marksmanship experience is almost full?’

"What’s this about farming rewards? Marksmanship?"

"Uh,"

Wei’en realized what was happening. ’Damn it, I forgot about the clown’s Mind Reading Skill again.’

"Didn’t you say there would be a drop after I killed the Thorn Demon?"