Chapter 280
Chapter 280
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 280
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-3. Lust
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[Rudmilran has successfully taken root in your heart.]
[You now possess six fragments! This is an astonishing feat and an undeniable great achievement!]
[It is the first time since Perlneirn's fragments fell into the Midplane that anyone has accomplished what even angels or demons—races with spirits and bodies stronger than any in the Midplane—could only dream of!]
[All stats excluding special stats increase by 1, and the lowest stat increases by an additional 5!]
[You have obtained 1 Achievement Point!]
[Autosave at current point in time.]
[Save count has been restored.]
The pain gripping his heart like a vise had eased, but it still hurt. The throbbing, writhing heart made breathing difficult. Gritting his teeth and holding his breath to endure it, system messages continued to appear regardless of Judah's thoughts.
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[Name: Twenty-Second Fragment - Rudmilran]
[Grade: Legend _ Treasure]
[Equipment: Chains]
[Attack Power: 100]
[Effects]
Magic Power +2, Magic Resistance +3, Luck -2
Magic Power Recovery Speed +200%
[Description]
The twenty-second piece among Perlneirn's heart fragments. It takes the form of gleaming golden chains whose length extends endlessly according to the owner's magic power. Those who touch these chains suffer a partial decrease in stats along with reduced magic power. This fragment is specialized in restraining and neutralizing opponents, and its uses are endless depending on how the owner wields it. In Perlneirn's case, he could summon the fragment from anywhere within a 100m radius to torment his foes. The bestowed authority is 「Neutralization」.
-Chain Summon (Active): Summon up to 22 chains depending on the user's capabilities. However, consider magic power consumption and summon judiciously.
-Chain Throw (Active): Throw summoned chains at the opponent.
└Target Designation: The chains extend in a straight line toward the designated target.
└Speed Acceleration: The speed of the thrown chains increases the farther the opponent is.
└Accuracy Correction: Increases the probability of hitting the opponent without evasion during chain throws.
└Weapon Mount: Chains can be attached to the end of a weapon when summoned.
-Chain Restraint (Active): Use chains to bind the opponent.
-Chain Seal (Active): Seal the target using a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 22 chains.
└Neutralization: The sealed target's maximum magic power decreases by up to 50% over time, and all stats decrease by up to 22.
└Usage Condition 1: Against targets with magic power, the user must have more current magic power than the opponent.
└Usage Condition 2: The seal weakens if the distance from the sealed target exceeds 222m.
└Usage Condition 3: Injecting more magic power than used in the seal will break it.
-Golden Authority (Passive): Absorbs magic power from any target touching the chains except the owner.
└Chain Reinforcement: Chains become stronger with more magic power used in summoning or absorbed from opponents.
└Chain Hit: Targets hit by chains experience a temporary 2% decrease in attack speed and movement speed, stacking up to 5 times.
└Loss of Will: Restrained or sealed opponents gradually lose will and become listless.
-Heart Dependency (Passive): Unlike other fragments, Rudmilran parasitizes the heart.
└Magic Power Reinforcement: If the owner absorbs a certain amount of magic power via chains, the Magic Power stat increases by 1 regardless of potential (up to 99).
-Sense (Passive): Grants special stat Sense (B), Potential B~A.
-Twenty-Second of Perlneirn's Twenty-Four Hearts (Passive): The power of the twenty-second heart among the twenty-four is "Neutralization."
-Inheritance (Passive): Collect all 24 artifacts made from Perlneirn's heart to inherit Demon King Perlneirn's power.
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[A special stat 〈Sense〉 has been created upon possessing the fragment.]
[Talent detected. Sense stat increases by 6 points.]
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「Status Window」
[Name: Judah Arsher]
[Title: The Honored (5)]
[Level: 57]
[Job: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman (Hidden A)]
[Revival Count: 25]
[Strength: 72 (B) / Potential A]
[Stamina: 58 (C) / Potential S]
[Agility: 82 (A) / Potential SS]
[Magic Power: 52 (C) / Potential B]
[Magic Resistance: 72 (B) / Potential S]
[Charisma: 37 (D) / Potential A]
[Leadership: 26 (D) / Potential S]
[Sense: 66 (B) / Potential B] ◀ Special
[Knowledge: 28 (D) / Potential B] ◀ Special
[Luck: 89 (A) / Potential S] ◀ Special
[Remaining Points: 0]
[Achievement Points: 2]
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The system messages finally stopped after arbitrarily displaying the situation explanation, information on the Rudmilran fragment, and the status window. The translucent hologram window occupying one side of his vision was annoyingly intrusive, no matter how clean its design or neatly organized it was.
'It hurts like hell.'
For a moment, he feared he might actually die like this. Fortunately, as time passed, he felt the grip on his heart loosening mercifully bit by bit. The pain subsided, and his breathing stabilized.
Only after a long while, when the pain had completely faded, did Judah close his eyes in relief. The sigh he exhaled was long. *This* must be what a heart attack feels like.
Even with a body that could revive, even after experiencing death multiple times, the momentary terror of approaching death never became familiar. It was hard to get used to.
'…….'
Come to think of it, even one death was okay thanks to Bell-Terza's blessing, allowing revival once a month. Still, death was something he never wanted to experience if possible. It was too difficult to befriend.
"Hoo…!"
Letting out repeated sighs, Judah belatedly read the clamoring messages in front of him one by one.
Saving at the current point upon obtaining a fragment was natural, and restoring save count was expected. The increase in all stats was welcome, and getting an Achievement Point for diligently collecting fragments was worth cheering about.
'Is it thanks to high Luck?'
The reward was decent for obtaining the fragment more easily than expected. If these messages hadn't appeared in that earlier situation, he would've been genuinely thrilled, but nearly dying helplessly left a sour taste.
Judah spread his hand and summoned a chain once.
*Clink!*
It emerged from some invisible pocket without any magic ripple. The magic power consumption wasn't as high as expected. Pulling it out, there seemed to be no limit to its length, just as described.
Holding the drawn chain still, he then summoned another and hurled it at the wall. A ripple appeared in the air, and the chain shot out from there. A pick-like weight at the chain's end embedded into the wall. Watching the chain undulate like a wave before draping to the ground filled him with satisfaction.
Better than expected.
He liked it.
He'd thought it would be mediocre stats aside from sealing and restraining, but this exceeded expectations.
'And the speed is pretty fast…'
Slightly less powerful than Altemia, but it had its own merits. No unnecessary movements needed for summoning and throwing made it great for ambushes. He could even lure a careless opponent in and unleash an unexpected attack.
'What if I throw all twenty-two chains at close range? Blocking or dodging would be the real skill.'
Most opponents would die without reacting. He'd seen it could attach to weapons too, so he tested on Altemia.
Summoning a dagger in hand while imagining a chain attached to its end, a golden chain dangled from Altemia's hilt. Throwing the dagger, the chain extended smoothly.
It felt awkward at first, but he adapted after a few tries.
*Shiiiing!*
Experimenting like a scientist, Judah suddenly felt the air flow change.
The smoke escaping through the broken entrance he'd come in was now swirling back inside.
He turned around.
"Haaaah…!"
With a small groan, Asmodeus freed herself from the chains and pushed her disheveled body up from the altar using both hands.
The smoke filling the room—infused with her authority and magic power—swirled in a spiral, sucked back into her body.
"Aaah!"
She let out a cry of joy. Her emptied magic power was refilling to the brim. The woman who had seemed killable with a single touch now exuded a chilling aura.
Her once-white sclera turned black, and her hands and feet darkened like they wore gloves and stockings. Wings immobile for so long spread wide, and her freed tail moved fluidly. Rather than fear, the sight felt more seductive.
The charm emanating from her was even more intense than when sealed. His reason numbed momentarily, and he realized he was walking toward her. If he let his guard down, he'd lose himself and rush to her without moving a muscle. Instead of awkwardly stopping, he naturally stepped forward and spoke to her.
"How does freedom feel?"
"…Don't come closer."
*Swish.* Her tail extended long toward him. The tip aimed at his throat had lost its playful cuteness, sharpened like a honed spear blade. Yet, no intent to attack was felt.
It extended quickly but not invisibly fast—he could counter. Staring calmly at the tail's tip, Judah fearlessly tapped it with his hand.
*Twitch!*
As if worried he'd hurt himself, the spear-like sharpness vanished instantly. The tail swatted his finger annoyedly, as if asking why he poked it, then retracted. From that, he knew there was no hostility.
"What? Why so guarded all of a sudden? I just asked how freedom feels."
Asmodeus, still seated, didn't look at him. Leaning sideways to see her, her face was flushed beet red.
'Is she embarrassed?'
After going all the way to sex, the demon of lust embarrassed? Absurdity brought an involuntary chuckle.
"I'm embarrassed, so don't look. No, I'll go."
Covering her flushed face with both hands, she muttered before vanishing like an illusion without farewell. Judah stared at the spot where she'd disappeared like smoke, absently rubbing his chin—perhaps from post-nut clarity—then headed to the entrance.
Then, a new system message appeared before Judah's eyes.
[Companion 〈Lime de Tritan〉 has died.]
"!?"
========== Author's Note ==========
1) I'll upload Arhil within a few days. For now, enjoy our (Zen)Tia!
Since you all said I was discriminating against the legal wife, I tearfully applied for Tia too!
Haha, how is she? Pretty, right?
You might ask why a beastkin has no ears, but tiger ears felt awkward, so I just requested a tail!
Mobile viewers will see Tia's image below this note, but PC users can check it soon in the work settings and notices!