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It was located far away from the main building and looked like a large logistics warehouse.

The mucus spilling out from the few windows had encroached upon the exterior walls and the surrounding area, even expanding its reach to the main building.

Its sluggish, writhing movement was grotesque, and a foul stench carried by the wind made it all the more revolting.

The main entrance was wide open, but the interior was so dark and eerie that even heightened senses couldn’t penetrate it.

At a glance, it was reeking of danger, a trap in every sense of the word.

Going in there voluntarily? It was akin to walking straight into the stomach of a ravenous beast rather than its jaws.

“Bellen, does it matter if we don’t recover the research materials?”

“Why? Thinking of blowing the place up in one shot?”

“I’d like to, if that’s permissible.”

There’s nothing more concerning than a prepared mage.

Who could guess what traps lay inside or how many monsters were lurking within?

Charging in recklessly wasn’t the right choice. Even that woman from the auditing department, as mentioned by the researcher, hadn’t been found yet.

“Hmm.”

Caution never hurt. It was, after all, the key to survival in this world.

She felt just as uneasy. While she held the status of a so-called superhuman, that didn’t mean she was immortal.

How many had perished from letting their guard down?

Reaching Level 6 didn’t mean one could solve everything. If that were true, the forces of the Outer World would have been defeated long ago, and peace would have returned.

‘…Should I let him handle it?’

Bellen, like Ian, didn’t plan to recklessly step inside.

Her plan was to release electricity from the entrance and incinerate everything alive, whether it was mucus or anything else.

“Ian?”

“Alright. Then go ahead and give it a try. Watching what comes out of it might be interesting.”

For a building labeled as a sealed laboratory, it surely wasn’t constructed lightly.

It was sturdy, likely designed to withstand significant damage.

If Ian questioned whether recovering the research materials mattered, was he confident enough to destroy the building entirely?

‘Bold.’

Even among Red Spear Knights, only true superhumans possessed proper area-of-effect skills. Was Ian capable of wielding such a powerful technique that he could obliterate a building of this size?

Would it amount to anything more than collapsing the outer walls or damaging part of the structure?

It piqued her curiosity—what he was planning and how far he could go.

Stepping aside to give him room, Bellen observed Ian.

“Parmael.”

A quiet murmur. Along with it, a uniquely shaped spear appeared in his hand.

“Parmael?”

Wasn’t that the relic said to have been owned by Gehiel’s hero, Herwin? The fabled spear that could destroy castle walls in a single throw.

Sssss….

As Parmael absorbed mana, the winds around it began to gather. At first, they were gentle but grew increasingly turbulent.

Whoooosh!

If that ominous weapon truly was the legendary spear Parmael, then no matter how sturdy the sealed laboratory was, it wouldn’t be able to endure unless it had the durability of a castle wall.

No, even castle walls had been destroyed by it!

“Wait a moment.”

With a flustered voice, Bellen called out to stop him, but Ian, pretending not to hear, assumed a stance to throw the spear.

Without uttering an incantation, he hurled the massive spear using only his natural physical strength.

As soon as it left his grasp, the eight blades of the spear unleashed a ferocious spiral of wind as it shot forward.

Swiiiish!

There wasn’t enough distance for it to fully accelerate, but the speed was sufficient.

Since the target wasn’t something with legs to escape, there was no chance it could dodge.

Perhaps sensing the attack, a dome-shaped barrier appeared over the laboratory, but it was nowhere near enough to withstand the impact.

Craaaack!

Cracks spread out from the point of impact, eventually shattering the barrier entirely.

The fierce, razor-sharp winds emanating from the eight blades shredded the structure labeled as the “sealed laboratory,” spiraling as they returned to their master.

Ian extended his hand.

Thud!

“……”

The spear, Parmael, embedded in the opposite direction of his outstretched hand, quivered in place. Glancing at it briefly, Ian retrieved it as if it were nothing.

“My word…”

Bellen muttered as she stared at the now-ruined sealed laboratory.

The few remaining parts of the building collapsed inward as the framework was destroyed.

Crash!

It all happened in an instant. Whatever was inside would hardly have been able to withstand such destruction.

While Ian wore an expression of satisfaction, Bellen, standing beside him, was already mentally overwhelmed.

Seeing the destructive power of the legendary spear Parmael with her own eyes was indeed a valuable experience. However, the fact that she had to worry about the safety of the lab director, who was practically an enemy, made her let out a dry laugh.

‘Could he have survived?’

If he had died, how were they supposed to recover the essence of the Superhuman Elixir Project C buried in that pile of rubble?

Perhaps they would have to return to the main building and sift through endless documents to salvage something useful.

Her vision dimmed at the thought. But fortunately or unfortunately, a resonating shout accompanied by the flow of mana emerged from within the debris.

“Which insane bastard did this!”

Whoooosh!

Hadn’t they said the lab director specialized in hydromancy?

A massive torrent of water burst out from the collapsed building, pushing away the debris.

Splash!

Watching the water surge like a tidal wave, Bellen raised her hand. A wedge-shaped barrier unfolded in front of her.

The filthy water, mixed with mucus, split in two as it struck the barrier and flowed past.

For a moment, it felt as if they were submerged in a deep river.

“……”

The water level, which had risen to head height, gradually receded to ankle depth, leaving the surroundings a muddy swamp. The puddles left behind were an annoyance.

Raising her head, Bellen saw a gaunt man standing atop the rubble, encircled by streams of water.

Despite his ability to control water, he looked grimy, as though he hadn’t washed in days, and even his lab coat’s sleeves were blackened from grime.

This was the lab director, Tagroa. With an irritated expression, he looked down at Ian and Bellen and asked,

“Which one of you destroyed my lab?”

Though his voice was quiet, it carried mana, making it sound as if he were speaking right in front of them.

Ian placed a hand on the black blade at his waist and replied,

“Why, were you about to thank me?”

“Thank you? You insane bastard.”

“You should be grateful. Who else would demolish it so cleanly? Consider yourself lucky I didn’t burn it down with you inside. Oh, and you know actions speak louder than words, right?”

“…What?”

At Ian’s shameless words, Tagroa, the lab director, twitched the corner of his eye before letting out a dry chuckle.

“Hah, hahaha. Fine. Should I pay you, then?”

He rummaged through his pockets and flicked something with his thumb.

“Here. Take it.”

A gold coin fell with a crisp sound, bouncing lightly on the ground.

Thrown from atop the rubble, it didn’t even make it near Ian and Bellen. It was practically an act of tossing it away.

The faint metallic ringing of the coin bouncing drew their gazes.

It was an obvious provocation—a message to pick it up if they valued it so much.

Ian smirked, leaning slightly as he spoke in a mocking tone.

“That’s nowhere near enough.”

“That’s me being generous.”

“Hmm, instead of a single gold coin… I’d say the research data you mentioned earlier would make us even.”

“You damn extortionist. So, that’s what you want? Fine. If you need it so badly, go dig through the rubble you created. Of course, you’d better hope it’s intact. Or maybe…”

The streams of water coiling lazily around Tagroa began to pick up speed, swirling with intensity.

“…you’d better hope you survive first!”

At his words, the water divided into multiple streams and shot forward.

They moved as fast as arrows, the ends forming sharp, arrowhead-like points.

Ian, ignoring Bellen, ducked low and dashed forward.

Boom!

Flames erupted at his heels, propelling him forward with explosive acceleration.

The streams of water twisted sharply, chasing after him.

Crash! Crackle!

The water tore through the ground with chilling precision, but Ian was no longer in its path.

In an instant, Ian had closed the distance to Tagroa. Without unsheathing the black blade at his waist, he gripped it tightly and drew it.

The moment the black blade was exposed, Ian felt the weapon’s magical power flow into his body, enhancing his strength even further.

Screeeech!

A grating metallic sound rang out as the blade left its scabbard, and Ian thrust it toward Tagroa’s back.

Tagroa turned, but too slowly. The blade was upon him before he could fully register it. It seemed like Ian might decapitate him with ease—until the water streams swirling around Tagroa intercepted.

Crash! Crash!

The turbulent currents not only weakened the force of the blade but also diverted it off course.

Murderous intent glinted in Tagroa’s eyes.

“Walking into my domain without fear? How generous of you!”

The streams of water surged upward before reversing direction, aiming to engulf Ian.

“Click.”

Torrential crash!

Ian clicked his tongue, pulling back just in time as the water slammed down. He twisted his head sharply to the side, a loud crack sounding from his neck with the abrupt movement.

It wasn’t for nothing.

Shing!

A water blade that had been lying in wait among the debris sliced past him. It nicked the wooden mask he was wearing, leaving a visible scratch.

“You dodged that?”

It had been a blind spot—an attack even the most sensitive to mana shouldn’t have been able to avoid while retreating.

But there it was. Reality wouldn’t change, no matter how much Tagroa doubted it.

“…Ugh!”

Tagroa flinched, his gaze fixed on Ian’s crimson eyes peering through the wooden mask. But he quickly gritted his teeth, his face twisting with irritation.

“Fine. Let’s see just how well you can keep dodging!”

No matter how fast his reflexes were, how long could Ian evade streams of high-pressure water fired from every direction?

Tagroa was confident—if Ian was hit even once, the resulting wound would be fatal.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Yet nothing landed. It wasn’t because Tagroa’s aim was poor.

He had targeted Ian’s vital points and even anticipated his movements, adjusting the streams accordingly.

But Ian refused to stay still, avoiding the attacks as if he were foreseeing them.

Even if Ian could sense the faint magical energy in the water pooled around the debris, this level of precision was absurd.

Tagroa wasn’t the only one startled.

Ian, too, was surprised.

“……”

At first, it had been instinct. A faint sensation from behind had prompted him to twist his neck without even thinking.

But after dodging the second, then the third strike, something began to change. Without seeing it, he could increasingly sense movement within a certain radius.

This sensation was eerily similar to the Insight he had briefly experienced in the temples of the Eryar civilization. What had triggered it this time?

Was it the water streams that attacked with nearly imperceptible speed?

Or the physical enhancements granted by the black blade’s magic?

He couldn’t say. It might simply be the culmination of his experiences finally reaching a tipping point.

Whatever the cause, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he had finally unlocked true Insight.

Ian dashed across the rubble, closing in on Tagroa. With a swift motion, he swung his black blade.

Flash!

The strike was blindingly fast.

“Guh!”

The sharp blade tore into the turbulent currents surrounding Tagroa, ripping them apart.

Even without using Bane of Evil, Ian’s enhanced body alone allowed him to overwhelm a mage.

He was close—just a little more, and the blade would strike true.

But Ian chose to retreat, leaping backward instead of pressing the attack.

Tagroa scowled in confusion.

“What are you doing?”

Ian smirked, a sly grin tugging at his lips.

“Oh, I just thought this was the perfect moment.”

“…What?”

Ian could feel it—he was on the verge of fully mastering Insight.

This was a rare opportunity. If he missed this moment, who knew when he’d get another chance to awaken it completely?

“Something like that. Let’s keep going, shall we?”

“You arrogant bastard… I’ll make you regret this!”

———-