Chapter 85: Second Arrangement (11)
Merhen reached out toward the Death Lord. The intangible pressure vanished, and Kim Minwoo collapsed face-first onto the floor.
That was the moment.
Time froze, and messages began to appear.
[Merhen casts magic!]
[You have fulfilled part of the clear conditions! (1/2)]
[Two choices are presented!]
[1. Escape.]
[2. Resolve Merhen's 'grudge.']
‘Partially fulfilled, huh…’
He had suspected as much ever since Vulcan and the Death Lord appeared—that triggering the manifestation would be a clear condition.
And for good reason. They were no pushovers.
A player's skill was important, of course, but this wasn't something raw power alone could solve.
He stared at the two choices.
‘Resolve the grudge.’
From the Death Lord's actions, it was clear. In the past, he had been a lich whose daily life revolved around threats and deception.
Merhen had likely been forcibly turned into an undead when he found her.
That must have been the source of her lingering grudge…
‘If I could just leave and still get her as a summon, there'd be no need for choices.’
Exiting without resolving it screamed future problems.
Merhen hated the Death Lord.
And now, this side had inherited his power?
Even if he racked up some points in this past…
‘It's doubtful she'd join as a summon.’
Even if she did, she'd probably be glitchy and unreliable.
He recalled the message from when he acquired Cedric.
[Perfect escape conditions!]
[Cedric has overcome his regrets!]
Compared to that, this felt unresolved and messy.
Conclusion.
‘I need to resolve it, right?’
The question was how.
‘Her magical prowess must be exceptional.’
Merhen's abilities were enough to make even the Death Lord covetous.
The magic she unleashed in her manifestation would pack serious power.
‘She could go toe-to-toe with the Death Lord.’
If they fought it out, maybe her grudge would ease?
He wanted to believe that, at least.
If it meant jumping into the Death Lord's fight…
‘No way I clear that.’
The Death Lord was on a whole other level from Vulcan. A mere gesture had nearly shattered his body.
It was an impossible difficulty to tackle directly.
Merhen would have to handle that.
‘What I can handle is…’
He eyed the frozen Vulcan.
Once time resumed, Merhen and the Death Lord would clash spectacularly, and Vulcan would join the fray.
‘That guy's the target.’
First, he had to keep Vulcan out of the fight as long as possible. That was his best shot.
[You have selected choice 2!]
Time flowed again.
[Merhen's hatred: 100%]
A message popped up.
Kim Minwoo immediately chugged potions. His broken body began recovering rapidly.
A brilliant halo of light bloomed over Merhen's hand.
[Merhen uses Accelerated Chant (SSS)!]
[Merhen uses Lightning Smite (SSS)!]
[Merhen uses Water Hell (SSS)!]
[Merhen uses Wind Blade (SSS)!]
“Die!”
Hundreds of spells poured toward the Death Lord.
―… What a nuisance.
The lich clicked his tongue in annoyance as a pitch-black barrier rose around him.
The mage hovering in midair and the lich began unleashing hundreds of spells at each other.
‘They're on completely different levels.’
Merhen was rampaging like she'd been doped up.
The Death Lord blocked and counterattacked.
It was clear who had the edge.
Anyone intervening would be pulverized.
Let them handle it.
He summoned his undead horde and charged at Vulcan.
―… Hah.
Vulcan sneered incredulously at the approaching Kim Minwoo and gripped his whip.
―Charging again? You've got guts, I'll give you that!
In their previous clash, he hadn't grasped Vulcan's fighting style at all. He'd taken hits while trying to read it.
Vulcan wielded his flame whip masterfully, after all.
Overwhelming stat gap, plus expert weapon handling?
Of course he'd get hit.
But now was different.
Potions had restored his body to peak condition.
And from their brief exchange, he'd gotten a read on how Vulcan handled the whip.
‘I can buy some time.’
The spot he'd slashed earlier hadn't healed. Targeting it could cripple one leg.
‘But that's probably it.’
He wouldn't win.
Didn't matter.
His goal was stalling from the start. And so, Kim Minwoo and Vulcan clashed once more.
[Merhen's hatred: 90%]
He dodged the searing whip, focusing solely on the legs.
Finally.
Thud!
Layered strikes tore through skin and muscle, biting deep into bone. The sword plunged in deep.
Vulcan grimaced in agony.
That was when it happened.
[The Spectral Sword absorbs the blood of a distant powerhouse! (5,020/10,000)]
‘Huh?’
Didn't hunting require fully killing the enemy?
Maybe Vulcan was so strong it triggered something unique.
Either way.
It was advantageous.
He dodged the whip and retreated, thinking.
‘One solid leg hit nets 2k.’
The wave hunt had totaled around 3k.
But one taste of Vulcan's blood shot it up by 2k.
‘Keep this up, and I might hit 10k this time.’
He had to fight anyway.
Might as well power up the Spectral Sword while at it.
―You filthy pest!
Vulcan flew into a rage, thrashing wildly.
[Merhen's hatred: 65%]
Kim Minwoo grinned.
In battle, the one ruled by emotion had already lost half the fight.
Useless movements multiplied.
That was Vulcan now.
Instead of precise strikes, he swept the area with wide AoEs.
Just keeping him at bay like that bought time.
It even gave ample opportunity to down potions.
Of course.
[Warning!]
[Too many potions consumed in short time! Overload beginning!]
He couldn't avoid the overload state.
He threw summons to block, dodged nimbly, and waited for openings.
Whips had long range but slow recovery.
Bide his time, and…
‘Another hit.’
Thud!
This one shattered part of the thigh bone, the blade sinking deep.
[Merhen's hatred: 41%]
[The Spectral Sword absorbs the blood of a distant powerhouse! (7,020/10,000)]
He slashed the bone and cheekily dodged back, evading the whip.
―…
Vulcan's expression grew serious. Physically, the human was no match.
He'd expected an easy finish.
‘Before the Lord dragged him, it was smooth sailing…’
The prior fights had been.
Five whip swings guaranteed at least one hit.
Each time, the pest spat blood, rolled, and chugged potions.
But now?
He dodged like he could read every move. Ten swings barely landed one.
And that miss rate was worsening.
His patterns were fully read.
‘Damn it.’
His leg was already badly wounded.
No more room for carelessness.
To think this puny human would force him to go all out!
Ego bruised, but no choice.
Whip swings alone weren't cutting it.
So.
Boom!
Vulcan stomped the ground.
[Vulcan uses Hellfire Terrain (EX)!]
The surroundings crumpled. Lava with horrific heat oozed between cracks.
He saw the human hastily summon a golem and climb on.
Useless. That heat would melt even a golem.
The cruelly smiling demon swung his whip again.
* * *
Lava filled the area.
No solid footing.
[Dolsae is melting!]
The intense heat began melting the summoned Dolsae's body. Touching the ground would be fatal.
[Consuming Flame Resistance Potion (Highest Grade)!]
Before the scorching heat could cook him, he downed another potion.
This would buy minimal time.
‘Airborne it is.’
[Summoning 'Skeleton Mage'!]
A group of mages appeared on Dolsae's shoulder.
['Miley' issues commands!]
[Skeleton Mage 2 casts Bone Shield…]
[Skeleton Mage 3 casts Bone Shield…]
Bone shields materialized in midair. He leaped up and summoned Cedric.
Cedric, spawned on a shield, unleashed skills as he flew toward the whip.
Brief time buy.
Skeleton mages were already rising on the Bone Shields.
Like a spreading virus, Bone Shields littered the sky.
He hopped from shield to shield, closing in.
Vulcan looked flustered, clearly not expecting this approach. He swung the whip desperately.
[Merhen's hatred: 21%]
The distance shrank. That half-severed leg must be throbbing.
[Using Spectral Swordsmanship (S)!]
[Mana 6,000 consumed…]
He unleashed streams of sword aura and lunged.
The whip veered low, guarding the leg.
All its focus was there. He'd relentlessly targeted it to force that.
‘Can't sever the leg.’
It was on high alert.
Rushing it would backfire.
Merhen's hatred was nearing zero.
He needed one big parting shot before retreating.
Mid-lunge toward the leg.
He stepped on a newly summoned Bone Shield and veered sharply.
―…!
Vulcan's eyes widened.
The reckless human was charging his face.
He whipped desperately.
But too late.
Stab!
The eyeball, never once targeted.
The Spectral Sword plunged in.
[The Spectral Sword blooms!]
[A new effect unlocks!]
[Infused with the blood of a distant powerhouse!]
[Effect greatly enhanced!]
Messages flooded in the instant he blinded Vulcan in one eye.
No time to read.
Vulcan shrieked, sword in his pupil.
The whip grazed him, burning agony searing his body.
His form flew far away.
‘A light price.’
For blinding a being like Vulcan.
A newly formed Bone Shield caught his body.
Not even Unyielding Spirit triggered.
Then, messages appeared.
[Perfect escape conditions!]
[Merhen has overcome her regrets!]
[Merhen awakens her potential!]
[She can now use more types of magic beyond death magic!]
[You have won the heart of the Death Lord's legion commander, known as the Banshee Queen!]
[Merhen will now fight for you!]
[Death Lord's authority, Merhen Summon (SSS), activates!]
[Acquired title, 'Master of the Banshee Queen'!]
[Acquired title, 'The One Who Took Vulcan's Eye'!]
[Acquired title, 'The One Who Ended the Grudge'!]
[Title, 'Legend's Beginning—First Act', new entry…]
[Escaping the past!]
With countless messages, the scenery blurred.