Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Battle with the Undead Pharaoh
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"Done."
In the airless void, I muttered words the bastard couldn't hear anyway.
Then I clenched my fist.
Crunch.
The Life Vessel shattered, and the item went into my inventory.
A Rare-grade accessory: Nightmare Earrings.
"Ah, the drop rate is total garbage...."
A curse slipped out, but this was normal for Revenge. Even mythic-grade monsters weren't raid bosses—you couldn't expect great loot from just one or two kills.
"Well, elites aren't going to cut it. At least give me a boss...."
[Oh ho. Does 'boss' refer to me, perchance?]
A voice rang out, furrowing my brow.
"Ha... great, the one I didn't want showed up. Can't the bloodsucker come instead?"
In this soundless satellite devoid of atmosphere, the one responding casually was wrapped head to toe in bandages.
The sensual curves peeking through revealed her gender, but nothing else.
[How rude. I rushed here because you two wanted to meet.]
"That's exactly why I didn't want to see you."
I replied calmly, inwardly annoyed.
'Why him of all people...'
Mythic-grade monsters weren't true Transcendents if they were regular ones. They merely carried mythic elements without the matching power.
If expressed in levels, they were 19.5-level beasts.
'Though it changes at the next tier.'
Elites qualified as Transcendents. That's when you started seeing lichs wielding ultimate magic or death knights with sword auras.
'Still just barely.'
Indeed, even elites were barely Transcendents. They were the lowest rung, not ascending on their own but forged by [external] forces.
And in that regard...
"Want to die again?"
Boss-grade mythic monsters were the real deal.
[Die...? Yes... so it was you who erased my memories! That's why I hurried to meet you!]
Steam hissed from the gaps in the mummy's bandages as she cackled. Not physical moisture, but the deathly mist of thousands upon thousands of souls!
"Ah, seriously... annoying as hell. Hyperion! Handle this yourself."
[Hey, aren't we fighting too much lately? And why's it always Transcendents? Let me rest....]
I shook the sword hilt in disbelief at Hyperion's whine.
"You only fight four hours a day—what nonsense is this? You used to whine about not fighting enough."
[Wow, are you insane for real...?]
"Just do it!"
[Ah, this is an addiction. Addiction...]
As the Dark Giant rose with a weak response, I faced the bandaged monster head-on.
In Revenge's sole unconquered Thousand Yuan lurked four boss monsters serving the special boss, Phantom Dragon Replie.
Grand Death Knight Shine Light.
Arch Lich Bright Eye.
Elder Vampire Draculia.
Undead Pharaoh Hatshepsut.
Commonly called the Four Heavenly Kings, they were fully matured Transcendents at level 20—maybe even 21.
Even one was no joke.
I slung Hyperion on my back, feeling the spirit energy spreading everywhere. I regretted lacking amplification power, but sadly, the Undead Pharaoh had to be fought with the flesh, not weapons.
Ooooooh—!
[All forces—advance! Rip open the bellies of the living and spill their entrails!]
[For His Imperial Majesty!]
Tens of thousands of translucent soldiers poured forth. The ghost army that close-range players hated most!
Crack! Boom!
I smashed through the charging spectral horde with a single shoulder check.
Yet the Undead Pharaoh was a spirit-type mythic monster.
Not the best matchup for my physical-focused style.
'An Elder Vampire would be ideal.'
Its blood flow control and mental interference barely worked on me, making it unbelievably easy for a Transcendent. No joke—I could toy with it to death!
Absurd that fellow Transcendents could differ so much, but matchups ignored realms.
Bang! Bang! Rumble!
Our fight was straightforward. I charged like a cannonball; it blocked with ghost armies and assaulted me endlessly.
I reached out, grabbing and tearing the oncoming spirits. Simple, but inefficient. The Undead Pharaoh kept spawning more ghosts nonstop.
Regular mythic monsters dropped items at least, but killing this damned ghost army was pure time sink.
[Hahaha! Fool! Dance eternally before me!]
The Undead Pharaoh mocked me, unleashing endless curses and troops. I endured silently, pressing forward.
Hummm.
I gathered my qi. Inner energy swirled through my body, transcending reality per fixed philosophy and principles.
Crackle.
Lightning raced along my nerves.
Fwoosh!
Muscles heated up, explosively amplifying all output—strength, speed, everything. Power beyond mortal limits dwelled in my flesh.
Sizzle—!
The chill coursing through my veins screamed, cooling my thousands-degree-hot body. I'd long surpassed ice attributes to wield water in combat too.
'Only speed matters.'
Pure physical bodies were powerful but too straightforward, easy to read.
Hence, forms existed.
Techniques to wield mighty flesh better, or unique evolutions for potent [individuality].
But no evolution could match my alien effect.
Footwork.
Martial arts were ultimately abilities, some half-spells.
Seven Star Escaping Steps hid targets from the material world in seven strides.
Thunder God Steps turned the body to lightning just by walking.
Shifting Form Footwork accelerated beyond physical laws, evading superhuman reflexes.
I combined, pruned, and deformed all such knowledge into my martial art. Far from complete—riddled with flaws.
Yet it had one clear strength.
Ultimate.
Speed.
Great Vessel Late Bloom.
Sub-Light.
Boom!
The world compressed. In an instant, I skipped all processes to reach the target.
[...What?]
The Undead Pharaoh blankly stared at the arm piercing its chest. A spirit, but even it couldn't pass my dimension-touching flesh.
[In, sane. Impossible...]
Splatter!
Bandages tore apart. I opened my mouth.
*Cough.*
Dead blood poured out. It reabsorbed through my skin before hitting the ground, but recoverable life force from dead blood was minimal.
'Ah, unavoidable damage.'
I'd modified my martial arts to impossible performance, skipping flesh spiritualization—a must-keep part.
'Spiritualization simply bypasses physical laws... but creates huge weaknesses.'
Flesh is the soul's rampart.
Abandon it to escape laws, but simple spells or mana barriers block you easily.
Now the weakness was gone, immense power added—but with penalties.
I had to endure near-light speed purely with flesh.
'Body weight...'
Eyes closed, I checked. Down five kilograms. Not like gene creation where muscles and bones flew off raw, but recovery demanded serious meals.
[Impressive, truly.]
An unwelcome voice echoed. Turning, I saw a black-armored knight afar.
Grand Death Knight Shine Light.
[No way, that bitch Hatshepsut's already dead? Couldn't even last—kyahaha!]
Elder Vampire Draculia.
"Ha. Damn it."
I sighed at the two approaching boss monsters radiating killing intent.
'This won't work...'
That was the conclusion. Even reaching the Transcendent realm, massacring Thousand Yuan monsters was impossible.
They too stood in mythic domains.
Unsure if I'd win one-on-one with Phantom Dragon Replie, let alone its countless underlings.
That's why in ten years, I'd only felled the Four Heavenly Kings seven times—Replie not at all.
"Next time... we'll meet again."
[Where do you think you're—]
Flash!
Tearing a return scroll, I warped to the City of Light.
"Your Majesty."
"H-His Imperial Majesty."
"My god...."
People stirred at my sight but caused no fuss. I used return scrolls often, and my dislike of their fanfare was well-known.
They merely bowed. I nodded, pulling food from inventory to eat.
Flash!
Changing gear to civilian clothes was routine. Looking somewhat normal, I headed to the training grounds.
"Loyalty!"
Saluting guards parted as I entered. Attached to the Gigas Experience Hall, the facilities rivaled modern ones in scale.
Inside, Hayes and Edward panted in the center.
"Haa... haa... I win, right?"
"What? Did your brain nutrients go to your chest?"
"What'd you say, you little punk? Hey—Jaeyeon!"
Hayes spotted me, rushing into a hug. I chuckled at her hefty weight.
"Your skills have improved a lot."
"Yeah, inner energy boost. Training focuses on using it well."
Ten years passed, but Hayes hadn't aged a day. Beyond that, she looked more vibrant.
The great vessel in her abdomen, brimming with majestic power, gave her such youthful vigor it bordered on rejuvenation.
Then Flower approached from the side, wiping my body with a damp towel while glaring at Hayes.
"Hayes, not outside."
"Oh come on, Flower—you're so stiff."
Flower and Hayes laughed in conversation.
Once awkward, they were close now. Ten years together would do that—otherwise it'd be weird.
"You're back, Your Majesty!"
"Yes, Edward. Your Taiji Sword has improved nicely."
"Thank you! I train daily!"
Edward's crisp shout showed total change from ten years ago.
Tall stature, shining blond hair, flawless white skin, soft features like a sculptor's masterpiece.
'A picture-perfect handsome guy.'
Top-three strength in the Empire, dazzling looks, Emperor's disciple background—his name echoed across the continent. Dragged onto [broadcasts] by his sister Harmony often, countless women surely lost sleep over him.
"...You've lost weight, Your Majesty."
"Ah, ran into the Four Heavenly Kings."
Flower noted my poor complexion; I quipped lightly. Edward clenched his fist.
"I-I'll go too! Let me fight with you!"
"Appreciate it, but you'd die tagging along now."
Top-three in the Empire, but Edward's power was still lacking. Struggling with an Elder Skeleton, he'd just be baggage.
"Then... what should I do? Could I if I master Taiji Mercy Sword?"
I laughed at Edward's words.
"Master what you're learning first. Taiji Mercy Sword? Please."
Zhang Sanfeng's Taiji Sword had diverged into countless variants, originals meaningless now.
I'd taught Edward the simplest, easiest-to-memorize one.
'Taiji Three Swords.'
Just three forms—yet he hadn't mastered even that. Taiji Mercy Sword? Yeah right.
'Still, he'll reach mythic someday?'
As special boss, mythic-class prototype, Edward was mythic-confirmed gacha.
He might aid my battles at mythic grade eventually.
"Your Majesty."
The training ground door opened; a man entered. Tall with black hair, his face looked oddly young for his build.
'Looks young.'
I laughed inwardly at my thought.
Because he didn't just look young—he was actually young. Incredibly so.
Yes. That tall young man was.
A ten-year-old kid.