Auction (4)
Auction (4)
Chaos ensued from a single death.
People who weren't used to seeing others die were shocked and terrified, but that didn't mean everyone was scared.
"Don't be scared! There's only one of them!"
Once again, a person ignored the man's words and stood up from their seat.
This time, it was an Awakened with skills comparable to the man standing on the stage.
And as if responding to his words, others also stood up, weapons in hand.
Each and every one of them was a powerhouse that couldn't be ignored.
However, the man standing on the stage just sneered at the sight.
"Who said I was alone?"
The Painting of Ruins connected to the man.
A ripple like a wave spread from that painting.
"Something is coming."
"Yes?"
"There."
At Shin Su-ah's question, I raised a claw and pointed at the painting.
Then, something began to emerge from inside the painting where the ripple had occurred.
Thin, gaunt fingers reminiscent of a withered dead tree.
Ten fingers gently parted the painting and popped out, gripping the edge of the frame.
And then, as if emerging from underwater, it crawled out of the painting.
An old man with a mask made of bone, a snow-white beard, and an exposed upper body with a frame as thin as fingers.
[Haaaa...]
"Have you arrived?"
[Yes. You did well, Alexei.]
"It is nothing. I am just glad to be of help to Koschei-nim."
The other Awakened, who had been about to rush at the man on the stage, Alexei, felt uneasy the moment the existence called Koschei appeared and stopped in their tracks.
Koschei, having completely emerged from the painting, raised his gaunt fingertips and brought them to Alexei's lips.
Then, a deep red liquid formed at the tips of his fingers.
[Now, a reward for this task.]
"Oh, ooooo!! Thank you! Thank you!!"
The liquid that had formed on the fingertips fell and flowed into Alexei's mouth.
Crack-!
Alexei's body, having swallowed the liquid, began to twist.
His bones twisted as if they were breaking, bulging out in mottled colors before soon returning to their place.
Compared to before his body twisted, Alexei's body had 'evolved' a step further.
Watching his transformation from start to finish, I realized what Koschei had fed Alexei.
"Is that vitality..."
"Vitality?"
"Yes. The essence of life, different from magic power. Physical strength. And he fed him vitality ground from at least hundreds of people, no less."
"Then that skull mask is..."
"He must have extracted the vitality from at least thousands of people while they were still alive."
Upon hearing my answer, Shin Su-ah's eyes turned fierce.
It was the look of someone staring at an irredeemable evil.
As Shin Su-ah, having no intention of watching any longer, stepped forward, I also decided to step out to deal with this guy, Koschei.
Originally, I had intended to leave it to Monochrome and the Awakened gathered here, but I couldn't just stand by and watch a guy who exploited the life force of others—a practice considered a forbidden art—and I had concluded that they wouldn't be able to handle Koschei.
Especially since I didn't like that he was going around doing such things while possessing power similar to my friend, 'Hel'.
Crash!!
As I broke the VIP room's glass window and jumped down, all eyes turned to me.
Among them, that guy Koschei.
It was disgusting how he looked at me with greedy eyes, as if he had discovered a delicious meal.
[You, Nidhogg.]
"You know my name?"
[Yes. How could I not know a transcendental being who crossed over from another world like me?]
"Did you do some research? And yet, you dare to see me as food without knowing your place?"
[Keu-heut.]
Even though I unleashed my magic power to threaten him, Koschei laughed unpleasantly instead.
[Yes, research. I researched diligently. That you have restrictions on using your power, and that you cannot leave this country!]
"Huh?"
[I've been watching you. After using great power, you don't even think about leaving your house for at least a week. And despite having that much power, you don't even think about leaving this country for another. That means you are tied within a certain radius centered on this country, doesn't it?]
"???"
I was dumbfounded by the guy speaking so confidently, as if asking what I thought of his deduction.
It was true that I got body aches for a week after using my power, but that didn't mean I was weaker than a guy like Koschei, and while it was true that I hadn't left the territory of South Korea, that was because there was no need to, not because I couldn't.
To think he made such a judgment based only on my actions so far.
I wanted to mock him and retort immediately, but at that moment, a good idea came to mind.
Perhaps I could use this situation to my advantage?
"You figured it out well. But the power I have right now is more than enough to kill you."
[Keu-heu-heu! Stupid fool. Do you think I didn't think of that? For some reason, you cherish humans despite having that power. I've released my subordinates and familiars outside. If you try to attack before I finish my business, I will turn them all into a puddle of blood and use them as fresh ingredients.]
"So, if I want to save the humans outside, don't move?"
[Exactly! No matter how strong you are, it will be much faster for me to kill the hostages than for you to kill me.]
He was completely and utterly mistaken.
It was true that if you looked back at my actions so far, it wouldn't be strange to say I moved to save people, but that was because I could save them easily and because Shin Su-ah or Baek Yeon had asked for help... not because I was someone who would be threatened by a guy like him.
[Keu-heut! Stupid fool. To think you value humans even with that much power. I wonder if something is wrong with your head.]
"......"
[Good. Now that I've removed the only variable, now...]
"Gap found! Breath!!"
[What?... Kuaaaaaa!!!]
The moment Koschei turned his head, thinking his threat had worked because I was just standing there without answering, I fired a high-output Breath without any hesitation.
I hadn't gathered enough magic power, but the magic I sucked in for a split second flew in a straight line and pierced Koschei.
Just before the Breath hit, he reacted, but there was no way he could block my Breath just by raising his arm.
The Breath pierced right through him.
The guy, who took the Breath head-on, lost his right arm and part of his upper body.
[Kuaaaaa!! Y-you crazy dragon! Have you forgotten that there are hostages!]
"Who cares."
[Y-you. Weren't you a guardian dragon who protects humans?]
"Not at all?"
He seemed like a guy with a lot to say, and I had thought about playing along to get some information out of him, but he kept calling me stupid and whatnot, so I couldn't hold back and just shot him.
He should have known when to stop.
Koschei's body, hit by the Breath, began to crumble slowly.
My Breath didn't just pierce and end there. The cold of the dead and my potent poison began to erode his entire body starting from the part hit by the Breath, so the real deal was what happened after the hit.
[Kueuk. My subordinates' research must have been insufficient.]
"No, it wasn't entirely wrong. It's just that the humans I protect are only those within my fence."
[Heu, heu. Is that so. I'll have to be careful next time...]
"Ah, this bastard is saying ominous things too."
[Didn't you know? I am the immortal Koschei. I don't die from just this much.]
Is resurrection the default setting for guys these days?
Why is it that every single one of them, instead of just dying quietly, always has to say something like there's more to come?
Hey? Life is something that only happens once, once.
It's normal for it to be over once you die.
Of course, my main body doesn't die just because a clone dies, but that's a clone and a main body, and if the main body dies, it's just over.
H.o.w.e.v.e.r.
"I already expected this."
Knowing the difference in power between us, his acting so openly threatening and his behavior were suspicious, so I had already been preparing a spell.
Originally, I had been digging through the spells I knew to find a method after returning home, intending to use it the next time I met the leader of the Fiends.
I never imagined I would use it here.
'Dragon's Mark'
Among the spells possessed by the Dragon King, which are 90% water-attribute spells, this is one of the few top-tier spells that is not water-attribute.
Even if it is a top-tier spell, it is very difficult to interfere with someone else's soul with just a spell.
However, this spell doesn't interfere with the soul; it's a spell that only leaves a trace.
As the spell activated, massive magic power drained out, and a giant dragon's form appeared behind my back.
The dragon's form flew quickly and bit into Koschei's body, which hadn't completely disappeared yet.
[This, could it be!]
"I've carved a mark on your soul. I'll come find you when you resurrect, so try running if you can."
[D-damn it! Magic that interferes with the soul! You were supposed to be specialized in water-attribute magic!]
"Like I said. You should have done your research properly."
[This cannot be! This cannot be...]
The moment the mark was carved, Koschei, who had foreseen his future, stared with wide eyes until the very last moment before disappearing into dust.
To check if the spell was working well, I checked the location of the mark and could tell it was moving away at high speed.
Hmm, as expected of me. Perfect.
"Ko, Koschei-nim!"
Alexei, who had been relying only on Koschei's power and strategy.
He just stared blankly at the spot where Koschei had disappeared.
If this guy comes to his senses and tries to self-destruct like a Fiend, it'll be annoying, right?
Let's just knock him out.
Just as I raised one foot to stomp on him.
"Alexei!!!"
The leader of the Awakened guys who had picked a fight with me flew in horizontally and kicked Alexei in the side.