Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

Chapter 943

Leeha took a standing shooting stance.

Several tentacles of Jellypong emerged, supporting the Black Bass like stabilizers.

With the direction pinpointed and no particular terrain obstacles, Leeha had no trouble finding his target through the scope.

Inside the scope, at a straight distance of roughly 3 km ahead, he could see clearly.

“Bluebeard…”

Wearing a hat and a neat tuxedo, the figure was walking while twirling a cane.

At a distance of about 3 km, Leeha’s scope allowed him to discern even the target’s facial expressions.

Noticing a slightly protruding mouth and an Adam’s apple moving rhythmically, Leeha frowned.

“Is he whistling?”

Does this mean that this level of war was not even considered a war to him?

Just how high were they gauging their chances of victory to display such nonchalance?

Leeha carefully adjusted the scope clicks.

Creak… creak…

“Hyung?”

Kijung and the other users watched the scene. The sudden shooting stance and meticulous adjustments heightened their tension.

“Hey, Ha Leeha? Are you going to shoot now?”

“Are you planning on making a preemptive strike? If it doesn’t work, we could unnecessarily provoke the enemies—”

“A long-range attack? Against someone who almost certainly avoids or deflects it? Ha Leeha, you’ve experienced this multiple times already! My arrows have never even grazed his coat!”

“That’s right. Normally, typical attacks wouldn’t work.”

Ignoring the users’ dissuasion, Leeha steadied his breath.

Indeed, the usual Bluebeard would be like that.

At a certain range, Bluebeard was nearly impossible to hit with long-range attacks.

One might even suspect he had a passive skill that automatically evaded distant attacks.

“But that’s not it. My attack did connect once.”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a perfect hit. He hadn’t wounded Bluebeard’s main body, at least.

But that was enough.

There was a time when Bluebeard failed to evade, and Leeha held that experience.

It was worth the attempt based on that alone.

“Hyung? But your explanation only mentioned the first reason. You didn’t share the second reason for shooting now—”

“Yeah. The first reason is that Bluebeard’s playfulness has kicked in. The second reason is that his condition is different from usual.”

Bahamut, who had lost his left arm, had yet to fully recover.

Although it was said that the arm hadn’t grown back due to Bluebeard’s demonic energy, it wasn’t supposed to hinder recovery this much.

Unless the power levels were similar.

If Bahamut got hurt by Bluebeard, could Bluebeard really be back to normal already?

“No way.”

Whooo…

He had to be cautious. It needed to end with a single shot.

What kind of attacks would an AI, like a Demon King’s Fragment, anticipate?

Would it think its location wasn’t exposed? Leeha shook his head.

Of course, Bluebeard wouldn’t think like that. The only reason he’d show up was because of one thing.

“An absolute confidence that no attack can harm him.”

Even while thinking this, Leeha felt more tense than ever. He’d never succeeded in hitting him with any attack.

“Hyung, but still! Even if he’s not in top form, he’s not just anybody! When I went in with Lee Jiwon, and back then too — he wasn’t at peak condition, but still blocked Lee Jiwon’s attacks flatly!”

“You’re right, Kijung.”

“What?”

“I said, ‘normally’, typical attacks wouldn’t work.”

“What does that mean?”

Haaa…

Leeha did not answer Kijung’s question.

Bobae and Hyein were the ones who looked surprised after hearing Leeha’s words.

“Ha Leeha? So that means Bluebeard is acting differently than usual―”

“You mean he’s making unusual attacks? If it’s not a normal attack, then!?”

Through the scope, Bluebeard still showed no change in expression.

He was just walking at a steady pace at the rear of the formation.

There were no obstacles obstructing the view of him.

The level of the skill ‘Distorted Vision’ had increased significantly. Although it hadn’t fully reached Bluebeard yet, a guideline was set for the bullet to fly up to 500 meters in front of the muzzle of the Black Bass.

That was enough.

It was enough to read the wind direction and speed and understand their impact on the bullet’s trajectory.

“Hyung! If it’s not a normal attack― use a skill―”

Before Kijung could finish speaking, Leeha held his breath. Then he quietly murmured the skill’s name.

“〈Single Destruction〉.”

Tuuu───kwaaaa─────!

“Gah!”

『Myong Myong!』

A recoil much stronger than usual hit Leeha’s entire body. Seeing Leeha grimace, Kijung quickly supported him.

“No, I’m fine.”

“Hy hyung! What was that? What’s going on?”

“What happened? If you gambled this much… you should have hit…”

Hyein spoke with a grim expression. Leeha nodded, meeting Hyein’s eyes.

It was then that Rubini, who had been looking at the map, spoke in a flustered voice.

“They, they’ve stopped!”

“What?”

“Bluebeard and―the advance of the Chromatic Dragons, including the Chimera, has temporarily stopped!”

“What― really?”

Users looked at the map. Indeed, the advance had momentarily halted.

“Hyung! What’s going on? Tell us quickly!”

In response to Kijung’s urging, Leeha lifted the rifle and looked through the scope. Bluebeard was standing in place.

The difference was that Bluebeard was now making eye contact with Leeha!

Ha…lee…ha…

Damn…bastard.

Leeha could read Bluebeard’s lip movements. Bluebeard was trembling with anger.

Bobae, who had been looking at the map, approached Kijung and Leeha, asking, “So, did Ha Leeha’s attack not work after all?”

Leeha shook his head.

“No. It worked. Precisely the effect I wanted.”

Leeha answered while still looking through the scope.

The reason Bluebeard glared at Leeha with fury!

His state hadn’t changed much from before. His dashing black silk hat and immaculate tuxedo were still in place.

But his hands were empty.

“I hit it. His staff.”

He had dodged all close-range attacks, but what about attacks from a considerable distance!

‘It certainly worked. Though it’s embarrassing to say it worked!’

Bluebeard had deflected Leeha’s bullets with his staff.

Would it be any different now than before? Leeha could confidently answer that question with a NO.

“His staff? What does that mean? Isn’t that for deflecting attacks―”

“Yes. But he won’t be able to deflect anymore.”

“No way!”

If it weren’t for the skill granted by the Spirit King of Destruction, 〈Single Destruction〉, such an effect wouldn’t have been possible with a normal attack.

From the beginning, Leeha hadn’t targeted Bluebeard.

“The staff has been destroyed.”

It had been Bluebeard’s weapon.

* * *

“The staff is gone? Hyung! How did you, how did you destroy it!?”

“No way! That staff was a weapon! Did you destroy it, Ha Leeha?”

Every member of Byulcho asked in unison.

Leeha replied with an awkward smile.

“I just tried to buy some time, but the effect was better than I expected.”

“Not knowing is even better! Uhahahah! Hyein hyung, get ready!”

“Okay! I will launch him immediately. 〈Reverse Gravity〉, 〈Space Grab〉!”

As soon as Kijung shouted, Hyein sent him flying into the sky.

Reversed gravity pushed Kijung 20 meters into the air in an instant. As soon as he was caught by Hyein’s second skill, Kijung tore the loudspeaker scroll.

『Everyone! Good news! Just now, we have destroyed the staff Bluebeard possessed!』

“What does that mean?”

“Le’s staff? The one that was emanating that dark energy— that one?”

“Is it possible to destroy that? How?”

The users were momentarily confused.

A gunshot was fired, but could a single attack produce such an astounding effect?

“Who? Who managed to achieve this?”

In the midst of the buzzing noise, Kijung heard someone’s question.

『Yes! We did it! The user with the first R- rank achievement and the slayer of Toon! The ‘White Reaper,’ Ha Leeha shot it! Once again, Ha Leeha completely annihilated Bluebeard’s staff!』

How much mental shock was needed to silence the words of those preparing for war— those who were soaked in tension, fear, and excitement?

At least, the fact that Bluebeard’s staff was destroyed, and that it was done by Leeha, was enough to shut them up for about 4 seconds.

And after those 4 seconds.

The explosive cheers that erupted from then onwards boosted morale across all fronts instantly.

Wooaaaa────────ng!

Amazzzzing────────────!

Crazy, this can’t be real─────!

It can be! If it’s Ha Leeha, it can be!

H-A-L-E-E-H-A! HA LEE HA!

The sight of everyone raising their weapons was a spectacle.

Even Rubini, who was examining the map, felt as if the chimeras and chromatic dragons might have flinched and retreated.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Of course, that was just Rubini’s personal wish.

Despite Kijung rousing the atmosphere and all the users being motivated, Leeha’s expression wasn’t exactly bright.

“Ha Leeha-nim, aren’t you happy?”

“Huh? I am happy. I am happy, but… it was a one-time opportunity.”

At least up to this point, it had been Leeha’s calculated move.

It was the best choice he could make at the time. Leeha had to believe in that.

〈Only One Destruction〉

Explanation: The Spirit King of Destruction, Bozmak, never stops his fist. His power can destroy anything that obstructs him. The Spirit King has granted you the authority to borrow his power.

Effect: Removes all defensive targets from the next attack

(Including all defensive gear, barriers, protection skills, etc.)

Mana: 1,500

Duration: Instant

Cooldown: 6 hours

One of the skills Leeha had verified through his fight with Prea.

The skill granted to Leeha by the Spirit King of Destruction among the Dark Elf guardian spirits possessed unimaginable power.

‘When Black Bass’s charge rate reached 50%, what I finally attained was an attack that ignored physical armor. But this…’