Matan’s Shooter

Chapter 690

Browless recognized Fernand immediately. He silently activated his skill.

“Activate: 18 Panning”

The revolver in Kidd’s hand, empowered by the [Rapid Fire] skill, began to spit flames.

Babababang—!

Six shots from one position, six from another, and three from the next! The relentless barrage of over a dozen bullets fired towards Lotzak was like Kidd’s own declaration of rage.

“Aaargh-!”

It was tough for Lotzak to maintain his magical energy as bullets perforated his arms, legs, and torso, creating numerous holes.

With his magic weakening and being driven back merely by the stopping power of the bullets, Lotzak only managed to retreat two steps. But, that was enough.

“Finish it, Leeha.”

Kidd glanced at the window. In that moment, the window shattered.—Just two steps away. It was a favorable position for the bullet, curved from a distance of 950m, to make its mark.

Blood erupted from Lotzak’s head like a fountain.

“Kaztor- Kaz- Ah, ahhh?!”

Not only Fernand but also Leeha, who had been receiving a live update through Kidd disguised as a member of Ezwen, exclaimed.

The moment Kaztor’s name was mentioned, Leeha had a revelation.

“This, this, now that I think about it, I am a fool.”

And he couldn’t help but blame himself. Leeha quickly rummaged through his bag after making Jellypong hold the Black Bass.

Tucked away in the corner of the bag was a small piece of boat.

“The emblem etched on the piece I got after capturing the Bone Drake from Kaztor’s 6th laboratory, that guardian!”

A star resembling the flag of Israel, with a small dot beside it! Where was this emblem located?

Leeha looked back at Lotzak with Black Bass in hand and saw the same symbol drawn on his “hat”.

“The 148 worlds of Middle Earth, and each mage paints his own unique magic circle… Damn it, just as Hyein said—No, if that’s the magic circle Lotzak uses, then- Lotzak doesn’t need a staff! It’s that hat-‘

-Kidd! Fernand-ssi! Lotzak’s hat! We need to take off the hat! It was a weapon all along!”

But it was already too late. The menacing bulk had been formed moments after it was glimpsed through the scope.

‘Damn it! So, Lotzak was Kaztor after all! Such a simple- this trickery…!’

Leeha wanted to pull the trigger right now, but the risk was too high.

Even if Leeha were to attempt a curve shot, in such a densely packed space, there’s no telling who might get hit.

Lotzak had already cunningly concealed his figure. All that was visible to Leeha was the tantalizingly protruding tip of the hat.

“Shoot that? Would shooting that disrupt the magic? But there’s no guarantee with mana, let alone magic I’m seeing for the first time…”

Leeha quickly adjusted his aim, but it wasn’t yet time.

Even if the hat were knocked off, there’s no guarantee the magic would dissipate. A spell already cast can best be countered by disrupting the caster’s concentration.

Reveal our position with an uncertain shot? It would be too regrettable after all the planning in hiding.

“If we can’t trust, then it’s not the time yet.”

As the situation evolved, and even as he quietly listened to the developments, Leeha had the luxury to calm his agitation.

“With Kidd here.”

Kidd, equipped with the [Spy Hero Kojobu’s Glasses], hadn’t revealed himself yet, surely waiting for the right moment.

Silently, he prepared, his mind cold and his heart ablaze, until the signal came.

“Phew… So, Lotzak was Kaztor. I mean, how absurd.”

All the facts Leeha had researched about Kaztor now neatly fit with Lotzak’s suspicious actions.

Being with the gorillas of the New Continent, unraveling the secrets of the Matan’s Shooter, he must have discovered how to completely transform into a human.

“Without using mana at that.”

Applying it to himself, maybe 40 years ago, Kaztor, the Dark Elf, completely concealed his elfish physique, becoming the human, Lotzak.

Given his inherent affinity for mana, in addition to possessing knowledge and wisdom far surpassing any ordinary human due to his age, it all made sense now.

Maintaining his youthful appearance to be active as a ‘prodigy in handling mana’ wasn’t a difficult task. It was only natural that he achieved rapid promotion to the rank of legion staff officer during the Second Mana War 20 years ago.

Yet, even after transforming into a human without using mana, was it impossible for him to use “Matan’s Shooter” directly?

“Or was there some kind of risk involved? That could be the case. Becoming the direct Matan’s Shooter means facing inevitable death sooner or later. The moment all the Matan are used, death is certain, so—it was about finding the right candidate.

Someone who wouldn’t carry the risk themselves, someone who, due to their circumstances, had no choice but to obey him absolutely,

“And also someone with shooting skills that could be mistaken for those of the Matan.”

Was Elizabeth the top candidate? Or was it Brown? Then, suddenly, he must have learned that they were pregnant.

“That’s where it all started. Given Lord Lotzak, no, Kaztor’s cunning mind…”

Knowing well the plight of the Dark Elves, “If it were just them, they would have avoided becoming the Matan’s Shooter at all costs, even if it meant killing each other.”

But by making the child of those two the Matan’s Shooter—

“He gains control over all three of them.

“Damn, that’s too much! Ahhhh… No, no, relax. Relax.”

Fernand’s voice grew increasingly desperate, while Kidd’s voice, on the other hand, became calmer.

“Let’s begin.”

Leeha: Ready. I won’t be able to sleep tonight if we don’t take down that crazy psycho. Kidd, be careful too.

Kidd: Are you worried about me?

Leeha: Well, yes. Who wouldn’t be calm and angry at the same time? I trust you!

Kidd: No matter how angry my head gets, Kidd removed his glasses, -my hands do not.

Even with extreme anger, Kidd’s hands accurately aimed at the target.

As the firing of numerous shots ended, Lotzak—would he fall after being hit by all those shots?

Fernand didn’t think he would fall. Considering the velocity of the Matan, where would his head be at the next moment if he didn’t fall but only staggered?

“Right here. [Curve Shot]!”

Bang–!

With that, he fired, breaking the Vatican’s window and grazing past figures of Ezwen, hitting Lotzak’s head. Blood was seen gushing. But at that moment, Fernand saw Lotzak’s pupils too.

He was looking at Fernand, causing him to feel as if hundreds of worms were crawling all over his body. The head was hit, and a blood fountain gushed. But what did those eyes mean?

“No, no!”

Lotzak, or rather Kaztor, raised his hands.

“Is he dead- dead?”

“The window?!”

“Who did it?”

The figures from Ezwen were startled by the glass shards jumping out from behind, turning around.

But it wasn’t just that for the foreign figures. Seeing the staggering figure of Kaztor and the masses of darkness flicker and disappear, they had done ‘their duty.’

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I shall protect Your Majesty’s life with my own body!”

“I will draw my blood to use the divine protection, Your Majesty.”

“Everyone, protect the king!”

“Cheka, please.”

Fibiel, Kraven, shazrashian, and even Minis.

The physical combatants and the royal guard personnel from various countries each took action to protect their kings.

Fernand: Kidd, block it!

Fernand’s mutter echoed in Kidd’s head. Kidd already knew. Kaztor’s staggering movements returned to their original state.

Though it seemed like more than half of his head was gone, his body did not turn to ash.

“If he gets up, we’ll just have to kill him again.”

Using the 18 Panning with [Crimson Geckos] cost three bullets. There are still six bullets left loaded in one of them!Kidd immediately placed his right hand on his waist and began rapid firing.

Kaztor’s body swayed like a balloon losing air, but it did not turn to a metallic color as one might expect. Only a glare filled with malice moved slickly towards Kidd. It was not the eyes of someone who had given up on everything.

“In the wilds of Texas… the eyes of a struggling bear!”

It was the look of a life instinct determined to use any means to survive.

“I will never… die.”

What gathered at Lotzak’s fingertips was a massive dark mass. However, the flow of power within it was not neat. It was a rampaging mass, indicating only one thing. Kidd immediately turned around.

“Headmaster!”

Even as Browless was about to fall to the ground, they were not looking at Kidd. Lotzak/Kaztor’s gaze was fixed on a place where a single attack, a single explosion, could turn the scene into utter chaos.

“Kidd! It’s not me- Protect His Holiness the Pope-“

After confirming that Kaztor was using magic, he had been applying his divine power faintly all the while.

“I wanted to protect everyone, but this is my limit. I have lifted the seal on mana. Fernand, take care of yourself first. And Romero, Browless, I leave the rest to you.”

The Pope’s words spread solemnly. As soon as he finished speaking, all sorts of lights burst simultaneously from various places inside the conference room.

“Your, Your, holinessss-!”

When Fernand screamed and ran towards the Pope, the dark mass shot at the Pope briefly flickered. The white light leaking from the black, which absorbed everything, did not signify hope.

It simply meant that the mass of magic called Demonic Energy was about to explode, unable to contain the energy division.

“Peace to the continent of Silver-“

All kinds of barriers were already surrounding the individuals in the conference room. The only person not enveloped by the light was the Pope himself.

The Pope was smiling. Even in his final moments, he was unlocking the seal on mana flow rather than protect himself, crafting a path for everyone else to live. It was his last smile as an old sage.

“Damn it- Crap!”

With the explosion, a tremendous force erupted, to the extent that people nearby had to raise their arms to block the aftermath.

“Kaztor has escaped! The headmaster is alive but cannot move anymore—What, Lotzak, no, Kaztor, or whatever, he’s gone! Ezwen, I can’t move right now because I’m protecting the cardinals of Ezwen-“

Amidst the urgent voices, one had no choice but to withstand the aftermath. There was no one else to pursue him immediately.

“Damn it, Jellypong! Let’s go!”

[Momg!]

Deactivating his camouflage immediately, he began the pursuit with Jellypong. Skilled in three-dimensional maneuvering, Jellypong grabbed chimneys and roofs of buildings, throwing his body to move.

“Over there! That way!”

[Myong!] Chasing after Kaztor was not difficult. They just had to head towards the suddenly noisy location that the users and Ezwen’s cardinals were flocking to.

“What I’m curious about is how he didn’t die. I definitely hit him in the head.”

Even if Kaztor noticed his presence, it didn’t matter. The insta-kill point, the human head, which is unrelated to damage. Despite more than half of the head being damaged, Kaztor was still moving.

‘Including Kidd’s damage- even on the low end, it would have been over 100,000. Didn’t my shot and Kidd’s shots tore Lotzak’s flesh apart? And yet he can still move?’

The only thing that came to mind was one possibility.

‘It’s not just a simple transformation. Maybe that is-‘