Chapter 185
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: The Second Clash - 3
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‘The final enemy I’ll have to face… will most likely be the Necromancer.’
From the moment he regressed, Lee Hyun-wook had designated the Necromancer as his ultimate target and devised ways to defeat him.
To that end, he prevented the assassination of the Saintess, the Necromancer’s natural enemy, and with her help, he had been victorious in their first encounter on Ganghwa Island.
‘But the second time will be different…’
Having already experienced the devastating power of the Saintess’s divinity, the Villains would have used every means at their disposal to nurture their ultimate weapon, the Necromancer.
In other words, he couldn't rely solely on Emilia Müller's divine power as he had before.
However, she was still the irreplaceable ‘answer’.
Without her, there was almost no way to weaken the Necromancer's authority of death.
‘Therefore, rather than devising another method, the correct answer is to maximize her divine power. Using everything I have at my disposal…’
Before heading to the Dark Elf Kingdom, Lee Hyun-wook had sent Emilia Müller and Donald Harris to Yggdrasil to prepare a ‘welcome party for the Necromancer’.
That was…
‘…Borrowing Yggdrasil’s power, the Saintess will turn all the water of Lake Chad into holy water, then open a Wyethole inside the lake.’
In essence, they would pour the water of that massive lake, imbued with divine power, onto the battlefield.
‘All of it.’
Then, as promised by the Water Spirit King, he would use the ultimate skill ‘Great Flood’ to churn that lake water into waves and a vortex.
Furthermore, since they were inside the ‘Giant’s Fortress’, the undead army couldn't escape and would be left to drift in the holy deluge until they were annihilated.
That was the decisive blow Lee Hyun-wook had prepared for the Necromancer, who would surely appear in a more powerful state.
*Swoooosh—*
Now, from within the Wyethole, the Water Spirit King, Emilia Müller, and Donald Harris descended in air bubbles, lining up side-by-side in mid-air.
With their arms stretched toward the ground, they each manifested their different powers.
*Woooooong—*
Hundreds of thousands of tons of holy water twisted in the air, forming dozens of waterspouts.
*Kra-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa—!*
They crashed down, shattering the undead army whole and gouging out the ground.
In just a few dozen seconds, the entire area was submerged, and the water began to rotate counter-clockwise, creating a massive vortex that chewed up everything it swallowed.
‘At this rate, they won’t be able to withstand it.’
Though it was hard to see, the undead submerged in the great flood were likely having their flesh dissolved and bones corroded, like chunks of meat dropped in hydrochloric acid.
‘Of course, I can’t think it’s over with just this.’
Because the sheer volume of holy water inevitably diluted the Saintess’s divinity, and the Necromancer's authority of death was also overwhelmingly powerful.
So, the undead submerged in the holy water were likely still holding on, repeating a cycle of decomposition and regeneration.
‘Still, as long as we can keep them from getting out, we can stop him.’
It was like a fire that wouldn't easily go out; no matter how persistent, if submerged in deep water, its flames could not spread.
‘…And that fire will eventually be extinguished.’
But then, the hands of Zombie Titans began to emerge from the water's surface one by one.
Although there was nothing to grab onto, they flailed and rose to the surface, and the rest of the undead army began to climb onto their bodies to get out of the water.
‘As expected… the power of those giants is so immense they can even defy the forces of nature.’
But it was impossible that he hadn't prepared for this.
*Rumble…*
Lightning rained down from the dark clouds that had covered the sky, striking the Zombie Titans and forcing them back into the water.
*Cra-cra-cra-crack—!*
In the air, on Prydwen's ramp door, Park Jun-mo was guiding the lightning with Mjolnir.
At his gesture, the electric currents seeping into the water flickered, drawing strange patterns.
The currents swirled with the already inescapable torrent, electrocuting the Zombie Titans and making their bodies go rigid.
Kim Se-hee also created waves with the wind, sweeping away those who tried to climb out of the water.
‘I’m going in, too.’
Lee Hyun-wook formed massive metal weapons, then imbued them with 3rd-stage divinity through Argetlam’s skill, ‘Noble’s Command’.
- Argetlam's skill 'Noble's Command' has been activated!
He then lined them up in the air and intercepted the undead crawling out of the water one by one.
*Thwack—!*
A three-meter-long iron stake imbued with 3rd-stage divinity slammed into the head of a Zombie Titan that had struggled through the rough currents, making a dull thud.
*Groooan…*
The giant momentarily lost its strength and was swept back into the torrent, sinking.
Thus, the Necromancer had no easy way to escape the holy flood, and as time passed, his regeneration would weaken, leading to his eventual demise.
‘But this isn't the end.’
Despite having a complete upper hand, Lee Hyun-wook did not let his guard down.
The Necromancer he had faced was a magician of the battlefield who, much like himself now, could create reversals in the most unexpected ways.
Those who fought him could never relax, never knowing what trick he would pull next, and even when they were on high alert… they all ended up defeated.
Lee Hyun-wook had experienced this firsthand, so he could never be careless.
‘He must have a Plan B prepared. No, he might even have a Plan C.’
And sure enough…
*Boom—!*
Something burst out from the turbulent surface of the great flood with a loud explosion.
*Swoooosh…*
It was a massive, circular object about thirty meters long. Upon closer inspection, it looked like a plant seed or husk, with long plant roots wriggling beneath it.
At a glance, it looked like a giant jellyfish taking flight.
Lee Hyun-wook recognized what it was.
‘That’s… the Death Flower, the Necromancer’s mobile base.’
It was smaller than the size he remembered, but it was astonishing that he already possessed such a skill.
‘When that thing grows into its final form, it becomes a flying city comparable to Laputa.’
Soon, its husk-like part opened, and purple petals bloomed, dotted with red spots here and there.
It was a flamboyant yet sinister appearance that looked full of poison.
*Tsz-tsz-tsz-tsz—*
A strange sound flowed from it, and something green scattered.
It looked like pollen at first glance…
‘No, that’s not pollen.’
Lee Hyun-wook examined it closely with Hugin's eyes.
The indistinct green flying objects were none other than ghosts… specters.
They let out sobbing sounds as they hovered around the Death Flower.
And from the center of the flower, a being in a black robe slowly rose.
- Uh, is that the Controller of Death?
Kim Se-hee asked through the Mana Messenger.
Such a special entrance seemed to indicate the direct appearance of the one who commanded the army of death.
In other words, it was highly likely to be the Necromancer.
However, Lee Hyun-wook’s eyes—the Insight Lens—displayed precise information about what it was.
- ‘Lich, the Deputy of Death’ (LV: 206)
Just like the ‘Banshee, the Follower of Death’ that appeared on Ganghwa Island, it was originally a Player but had been ‘monsterized’ into one of the Necromancer’s servants.
It seemed the Necromancer was once again sending a servant to fight instead of appearing himself.
At that moment, the Lich's voice boomed out.
「My master says he truly did not expect an attack like this. Even I must admit, it was quite surprising.」
A mouth-shaped magic circle had bloomed above its head. It was a type of amplification magic.
And the fact that it was relaying a message so calmly meant that they still had cards left to play.
「However, this is as far as you go. Steel Rain, we will now make you one of our servants.」
Lee Hyun-wook scanned the area with Hugin's perspective, preparing for the anticipated counterattack, and saw the Archlich pull something out from its robes.
‘…What is that?’
It looked like some kind of skull.
When it breathed on it, the skull’s eyes began to glow with a green light.
- Do you see that other skull that skull-face pulled out?
Emilia Müller's somewhat anxious voice came through the Mana Messenger.
“Yes, I see it.”
- I’ve got a bad feeling about that… I doubt it’s a spare head he brought in case his own gets smashed, so be careful.
Her whining tone suggested it was likely an anti-divinity item.
‘It’s probably an item from the Grigori Azazel series. I expected him to bring something like that, but it would have to be of a considerable level to affect the Saintess…’
Lee Hyun-wook had Hugin approach closer, focused on the object, and used the Insight Lens to check its information.
[Item Information]
- Name: Skull of Grigori Azazel (Legendary)
- Effect: After imbuing it with the power of death and designating an individual within the ‘caster's voice range,’ that being's divinity will be drastically reduced for 10 minutes. (-50%)
* However, this ability does not work on those who possess an ‘Archangel's Armament’ of Legendary grade or higher.
‘Dammit, it’s Legendary grade?’
The Grigori Azazel series items had appeared several times before, but they had been Mystic or Heroic grade at best.
But this time, it was Legendary… The Villains had prepared their best card to suppress the Saintess.
*Wee-wee-wee-wee—*
An eerie sound soon blanketed the world.
「Ah—I call upon the will of Grigori Azazel, and I ask that the greatest darkness be drawn from the brightest light… The follower of hypocritical light who hears this voice shall surely lose their light…」
The Lich’s evil voice wormed its way into everyone’s ears through the amplification magic.
At that moment, Emilia Müller's groan was heard, and Lee Hyun-wook looked up at her.
Inside an air bubble, she was on her knees, crying out in pain.
- Ugh, son of a…
“Did that thing affect you?”
- Half of my power has been sealed for ten minutes. H-how can I be checked so easily like this? What the hell is that thing…
That meant the favorable balance between divinity and the power of death had been broken.
*Groooaaan—*
Soon, multiple shadows could be seen stirring beneath the waves of the great flood.
「Now, what will you do? Uhuhuhu—」
- Dammit, they’re reacting immediately. Hey—you bastards, think you’ve got it made now, huh?
“……”
- Hah… what do we do now? Ten minutes is too long.
“…For now, just protect yourself. They won’t stop at just suppressing you.”
In the end, Emilia Müller descended onto the giant’s fortress, and the Wyeth Tree Guards formed a line around her.
Among them, twelve High Guards gathered to prepare the absolute defensive barrier, the ‘Barrier of Faith,’ to protect the Saintess.
“We either have to endure for ten minutes in this state, or we have to take care of that Lich.”
- …If we just try to endure for ten minutes, everything might end in failure.
“Yes, it probably would.”
Therefore, dealing with the Lich was the answer, but it wouldn't be easy… Black-armored knights stood tall around him.
- ‘Death Knight, the Guardian of Death’ (LV: 155)
- ‘Death Knight, the Guardian of Death’ (LV: 156)
- ‘Death Knight, the Guardian of Death’ (LV: 171)
- ‘Death Knight, the Guardian of Death’ (LV: 165)
‘Four Death Knights already… There must have been a string of disappearances among high-ranking knight-class Players for a while.’
That wasn't all.
*Fwoooosh—!*
Finally, giant bones managed to break through the waves of the holy flood and escape… but they weren't ordinary skeletons.
- Red-Boned ‘Bone Wyvern’ (LV: 118)
They spread their massive, leathery wings and soared high into the sky.
There were sixteen of them in total.
‘He’s starting to play his hidden cards.’
And clinging to their backs and feet were numerous undead, their melting bodies rapidly regenerating as they escaped the holy water.
*Clatter— Clatter—*
If this continued, the plan to neutralize the army of death by submerging them in the holy flood for an extended period would be for naught.
And…
- Dammit, Steel Rain, we have a problem here!
An urgent voice—it was Peter Clarke.
Lee Hyun-wook turned his head to look at the giant’s fortress where Emilia Müller was.
The Wyeth Tree Guards were protecting the Saintess, and a single figure was charging toward them at an incredible speed.
- Zombie Warrior Blessed by Death (LV. 179)
‘That’s… Okita Kaito.’
He had appeared as a zombie on Ganghwa Island, cutting down numerous Players and eventually even severing Oh Gyeong-pyo’s arm.
And now, he was in a red-boned state, seemingly even more enhanced.
‘That sword is Balisador, isn’t it?’
Balisador, a magical sword from the legends of Charlemagne, was known for its ability to cut through objects.
This sword followed that motif, producing an effect similar to the subspace iaido technique he had favored in life.
*Shwick—!*
At that moment, two paladins blocked his path. He swung his sword, and it passed through their shields and armor—beheading them both in a single strike.
*Whoosh— Whoosh—*
Two more arms sprouted from his back, each holding a sword of considerable quality.
With a total of four swords, he ran along the long fortress wall, cutting down the paladins who stood in his way as if reaping weeds.
“Keuk!”
“Heuk!”
Moreover, he was wearing a necklace that appeared to be from the Grigori Azazel series.
It weakened divinity within a certain range.
In other words, the paladins had no way of stopping him.
‘They’ve decked him out as a specialist for assassinating the Saintess.’
In the end, the Wyeth Tree Guards’ defensive line was collapsing in vain.
“H-he’s approaching at an incredible speed! We must raise the ‘Barrier of Faith’ now!”
“—Hold on longer! We still need more time!”
At this rate, they wouldn't be able to protect the Saintess, so he had to stop that thing first.
Lee Hyun-wook stretched his hand toward the zombie.
Half of the metal weapons floating in the sky rained down on him like a downpour.
*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*
He didn't stop, charging forward and swinging his four swords to parry Lee Hyun-wook’s metal weapons.
*Crack—*
But perhaps he wasn't as skilled as the living Okita Kaito, as one Fail-not bolt eventually severed his ankle.
He fell, rolled once on the ground, and stopped. The severed part of his ankle was bubbling and melting.
All of Lee Hyun-wook’s weapons were currently imbued with 3rd-stage divinity.
*Woong—*
However, the divinity was soon washed away, and a green power of death swirled around it, reassembling his leg.
*Clatter—*
He stood up again and started running.
‘So 3rd-stage divinity alone isn’t enough to block the Necromancer’s authority of death…’
To suppress the current Necromancer, at least 4th-stage divinity seemed necessary… and the only one who could manifest that was the Saintess.
Lee Hyun-wook sent more metal weapons flying toward Okita Kaito and raised his Mana Messenger.
“Emilia, I know you’re not in a good state, but I have one favor to ask.”
- Don’t you know I’ve always listened to you, even if it cost me an arm? I trust your words completely, so stop beating around the bush and just say it!
“Give me the strongest divinity buff you can.”
Although she was under Grigori Azazel’s curse and her divinity was greatly reduced, it would still be better than the 3rd-stage divinity Lee Hyun-wook possessed.
- Get closer to me.
As Lee Hyun-wook approached, Emilia Müller, surrounded by the High Guards, extended her hand.
- Now, I will transfer all the authority that was bestowed upon my knight order, the Wyeth Tree Guards, to you.
*Woooooong—*
A single ray of light shot out from her hand and touched Lee Hyun-wook’s chest.
- You have been designated as the ‘Great Warrior of Light’.
* As long as this buff persists, your divinity will be greatly increased. (+500%)
This seemed to be the holy buff that enveloped the Wyeth Tree Guards.
That power was now concentrated solely on one person, Lee Hyun-wook, and accordingly, the certain aura emanating from all the Wyeth Tree Guards weakened.
‘As expected of the Saintess.’
Lee Hyun-wook marveled at the dense divine power emanating from his own body.
But that wasn't all.
- Congratulations! By satisfying a special condition, ‘Argetlam (Legendary)’s’ ‘Clíomh Solais’ has been activated!
“…Huh?”
Clíomh Solais was the name of Argetlam’s third skill, which had been inactive until now.
The fact that it had activated now meant…
‘…Was divinity the activation condition?’
He checked the information on the gauntlet he wore on his right arm, Argetlam.
[Item Information]
- Name: Argetlam (Legendary)
- Effects
1) Noble’s Command: All weapons and all servants are granted the ‘3rd-Stage Divinity’ effect.
2) Healing Authority: Placing it on a wound and infusing it with mana will activate a ‘2nd-Stage Healing’ effect.
3) Clíomh Solais: Grants the ‘Holy Sword’ effect to a single weapon.
Since Argetlam’s main effects were related to divinity, it wasn't hard to guess that its third skill, ‘Clíomh Solais,’ would also be related to divine power.
‘…But I never thought it would be a Holy Sword option.’
A Holy Sword was the ultimate weapon against the forces of darkness.
The most famous Holy Sword item Lee Hyun-wook knew of was, without a doubt, ‘Excalibur’.
It was known to have an option that gave it absolute power when confronting the forces of darkness, but it had been stolen and never recovered.
Thinking back now, that must have been the Villains’ doing as well.
‘In any case… this is lucky.’
He had obtained the exact skill he needed right now.
‘With this, even if the Saintess leaves the battlefield… I can change the situation.’
That was because the divinity contained in a Holy Sword was, for direct strikes at least, even greater than the Saintess's.
This didn't pose any balance issues, as the firepower a single Player could exert with a single weapon was extremely limited.
However, it was different for Lee Hyun-wook.
He summoned his number 1, Moglay.
‘And the Holy Sword I wield will be on a different scale.’
- Moglay (Legendary) has been designated as the Holy Sword.
*G-o-o-o-o—*
The dark, crude greatsword began to emit an unfittingly brilliant radiance.
He gripped the sword, landed in front of Okita Kaito who was running along the fortress wall, and blocked his path.
*Thud—*
“…It seems you're fated to die by my hand twice.”