Chapter 60: Encounter (1)
A massive cloud of dust swirled at the horizon’s edge, like the breath of an earth giant. It blanketed the road and its flanks along a long axis, rapidly closing in.
“Rockdeer.”
Veronika muttered in a tense voice.
The stampeding herd kicking up the dust numbered at least thousands. These were no ordinary deer—their gray bodies bore cracks spreading in all directions, like fissured ground.
“Right. Definitely. Split skin—no, shells would be more accurate. I’ve read about them,” Philip said, panic in his voice.
“What are they? Are they deer? Why are they running so fast?”
“They’re not dangerous. They’re known to be docile. Their rock-hard shells are just for protection from predators. But their migration season isn’t for months yet…”
Rockdeer typically migrated between October and November, moving to grasslands where new vegetation would grow with the coming rainy season.
Ray picked up where Veronika left off.
“Something must have happened. Likely behind them.”
The situation was dire.
The earth-shaking roar grew louder, pounding their hearts as the distance to the herd narrowed in real time.
In an instant, time seemed to slow as Ray analyzed their options.
Current speed: 166 km/h.
‘A U-turn is impossible.’
There wasn’t enough time to brake to a speed safe for turning. Even if they succeeded, the sluggish acceleration would let the herd overtake them before escape.
And if caught…
‘We’ll die.’
The vehicle would flip, crushed beyond recognition under hundreds of hooves. Even survival would mean crippling injuries.
‘A frontal breakthrough is also impossible.’
His past battle with Walter had proven he could apply enhancement magic to objects.
Using “Metalization” to reinforce the car’s durability might help, but even draining his mana wouldn’t stop thousands of Rockdeer.
The only choice was to swerve left or right and escape the herd’s path.
Based on their position, the left side offered the shortest exit from the stampede.
The moment Ray finalized his decision, time snapped back to normal.
Whoosh—!
He slightly reduced speed and jerked the wheel left, amplifying his voice with magic.
“Veronika. Prepare a barrier.”
“A—a barrier? Where?”
“Open the right window. Deploy it centered on the vehicle. Hemispherical shape, three-meter diameter. Adjust the elemental array so the barrier moves with us.”
Veronika nodded.
Though chaotic, Ray’s precise instructions let her act immediately.
Vrrrm—!
The right window opened. White mana erupted from her outstretched palms.
Huummm—!
A wide, transparent dome enveloped the vehicle—a barrier woven from white mana specializing in blocking, regeneration, and absorption.
“Th-they’re coming!” Philip stammered.
The car, now veering 30 degrees left off-road, shuddered as Ray kept turning the wheel just shy of tipping.
Boom!
An explosion-like impact rang out.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The barrier shifted with the car’s diagonal trajectory, deflecting Rockdeer who collided and tumbled or soared skyward.
“Pour all your mana into repairs! Don’t let it break!”
“I’m trying!”
Veronika’s face glistened with cold sweat. Cracks spiderwebbed across the barrier, barely repaired each time by her desperate efforts.
“How long can you hold?”
“Thirty seconds at most! I’m still a first-circle mage! Aaaah!”
“……”
Truthfully, her defensive specialization was the only reason they’d lasted this long. The barrier might as well have been taking cannon fire.
‘We need to escape before her mana runs out.’
But Rockdeer surrounded them entirely, obscuring their location.
Ray rolled down the driver’s window and cast enhancement magic on himself.
To Philip in the passenger seat, he said:
“You’ve never driven before, right?”
“Huh? N-no.”
“Time to learn.”
Releasing the wheel, Ray vaulted through the window onto the roof.
“W-wait! If you let go—!”
“Switch seats. Grip the wheel tight and keep the accelerator down.”
The car wobbled but stabilized as Philip took over. Inside, silence reigned—everyone too tense to speak.
Whoooooosh—!
Wind blades scraped Ray’s skin. His last glimpse of the speedometer showed 132 km/h. A misstep here meant death.
Maximizing lower-body reinforcement, he slowly straightened his posture, balancing carefully until he stood fully on the roof.
‘Two thousand... No, three thousand.’
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat—!
Gunfire echoed. Turning, Ray spotted a dozen rugged vehicles chasing the herd, roof-mounted cannons blasting stragglers to the ground.
“Wh-where are we? How much longer?!” Philip’s voice drifted up.
“Keep accelerating. We’re almost through.”
They’d reached the herd’s leftmost edge. A little farther, and they’d escape the stampede—if the barrier held.
Crack!
“I can’t—! My mana’s nearly gone!” Veronika cried.
Crack! Crack!
The barrier’s repairs now lagged behind the damage.
Ray drew red and white mana from his ring.
Huum—!
Red mana spread through his feet, metalizing the vehicle. Even if the barrier failed, this would prevent immediate destruction.
White mana pooled in his palms.
‘I can’t match Veronika’s barrier range.’
His capabilities were clear after countless trials. Most mages’ rings held 10 to 20 element types. His, however, contained nearly all—a first in magical history. Unlimited versatility, but no specialization. Veronika’s ring, dominated by white mana, reflected her nurturing nature. Though his spellcraft surpassed hers, his mana reserves couldn’t compete—a fixable issue as his ring’s capacity grew.
Crack!
“It’s—it’s breached!”
“Aaaaaah!”
As Rockdeer trampling fallen comrades lunged at the car:
Huum—!
Ray’s barrier activated, barely covering the vehicle in a hemisphere.
“W-we’re alive! Aaaah—!”
Boom!
The car lurched violently, collisions now transmitting directly through the narrowed barrier.
A flash of blue caught Ray’s eye—a Rockdeer with azure-tinted skin beneath its shell. No time to ponder.
Sliding back through the opposite window, he told Philip:
“Philip. Switch again.”
“Got it!”
Ray reclaimed the driver’s seat, steadying the wheel.
“Well done. Both of you.”
“Aged ten years in a second, I swear.”
“……”
Veronika stayed silent, pale-faced, staring at Rockdeer battering the windows.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The shrunken barrier hampered progress, and lost visibility disoriented them. Still, Ray never slowed—stopping meant death, and the exit was close.
‘Can’t hold much longer.’
White mana drained violently from his ring. Ten seconds remained.
‘Then…’
Ray floored the accelerator.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Collisions multiplied, hastening the mana’s depletion.
“Th-the outside!”
Landscape flashed through the windshield as they breached the herd. The barrier shattered, and a final Rockdeer rammed their rear.
Thud!
Metalization spared the car from crumpling, but the impact sent them skidding wildly before stopping.
“Everyone… okay?” Philip groaned, wriggling from under the passenger seat.
“I’m… fine. Ugh…!” Veronika lay sprawled in the back, gagging.
“Fine,” Ray said, unharmed.
Creak—thud!
Exiting the car, he scanned the road. In the distance, the herd and pursuing hunters’ vehicles still raged. Had they stayed, the car—and its occupants—would’ve been flattened.
Philip and Veronika joined him, staring at the aftermath.
“What the hell happened?”
“Hunters, likely. Look…”
The road resembled a storm’s wake. Dozens of Rockdeer lay like fallen leaves, shells shattered, blood pooling.
“Dear gods…”
“This is unreal…”
Ray walked slowly among the dying. Whimpers and gurgles filled the air.
“This is our fault…”
“No. We had no choice. We’d have died otherwise.”
Most collisions hadn’t been fatal—their shells absorbed the blows. Even trampled Rockdeer would heal in time.
But the stragglers…
Bullet holes pierced their hides. Ordinary rounds couldn’t breach their shells—these were specialized, fired by hunters who knew their prey.
Groan… Gurgle…
Ray lingered, immersed in the creatures’ primal fear—deeper and darker than any human emotion.
Vroooom—!
Engine sounds approached. Hunters’ vehicles circled back.
The dying Rockdeer’s eyes reflected their pursuers. Within their vessels, a crimson mana—bright as their spilled blood—began to rise.
