Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Starving Mansion (6)
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The items I pulled out were salt, red beans, and a few thick candles.
"Yes, traditional Eastern methods. Combine these, and you can form a basic exorcism barrier."
"I see..."
Heo Sang-hyun's lips twitched. Was he sneering? He was clearly trying to control his expression.
He seemed to know what I was about to make.
I had openly called it a basic barrier, and it truly was the most rudimentary of the basics.
Even someone without spiritual power could make it, but its effects were correspondingly weak—an entry-level barrier. Struggling to hold back a laugh, he said,
"Will this be enough...? I saw another solver try something similar before... but he failed."
"Well, just watch."
And one more thing.
A necklace with a large metal disc attached.
The round metal disc was engraved with complex Sanskrit script and symbols representing the Big Dipper.
It was too bulky to dismiss as just a necklace, but it was made to be worn around the neck.
It was an incredibly precious item. My hand trembled slightly when I handed it to Heo Sang-hyun...
[Ancient God's Luminous Mirror (A-grade Accessory): A mirror made for communing with divine beings, now infused with the influence of an ancient god. It possesses the power to suppress evil energies and ward off calamities.
Celestial Thunderbolt: Blocks possession effects and reduces the influence of otherworldly beings.
Celestial Foresight: Grants vision in darkness and +100% eyesight.
Celestial Vitality: Automatically casts 'Healing Meditation' on a designated target and increases rest effects by 100%.
Celestial Delusion: Automatically casts 'Powerful Hallucination' on a designated target and enhances sensitivity to mana and divine power.
* Creator: Kim Shin-hwa
* Can be further enhanced]
It was thousands of times more important than any legendary sword or magic staff.
The Ancient God's Luminous Mirror, meant to block the horrific nightmares that visited every night. I couldn't sleep without it now.
Unable to hold back, I added one more thing.
"It's extremely valuable, so absolutely do not lose it or damage it."
"What is this?"
"When I start properly forming the barrier, the wraiths will come rushing in."
"Does this block the wraiths?"
"Well... it's better than nothing."
Heo Sang-hyun eyed the Ancient God's Luminous Mirror suspiciously.
*He's doubting it.*
But inspecting it wouldn't help. It really did block possession.
Figuring there was no harm in wearing it, he eventually put the Ancient God's Luminous Mirror around his neck.
"It feels a bit strange."
"That's due to the sensitivity."
It wasn't just a simple ornament.
As an artifact that emitted mana on its own, someone with sensitivity like Heo Sang-hyun could sense it.
"Now, let's begin."
I sprinkled salt and red beans in the corners of the living room and lit candles placed there.
Heo Sang-hyun still looked skeptical as he trailed closely behind me.
"Before, a wraith suddenly attacked from behind."
He said that, but his real purpose was something else.
As the number of barriers increased, the atmosphere inside the living room began to change.
Woooooo...
Into something even more eerie and dangerous.
Mana surged, and wraiths howled.
At the same time, Heo Sang-hyun's expression grew increasingly anxious.
*They should be stirring soon.*
The barrier was nearly complete.
Just two more candles to go.
But at the final moment, I deliberately dawdled, dragging out the time.
Completing the barrier wasn't the goal.
I had no intention of finishing it to suppress them.
Besides, as Heo Sang-hyun said, attacks usually started before completion.
[System: 'Enhanced Vigilance' trait activates.]
The [Enhanced Vigilance] trait warned of impending danger.
"They're here."
Woooooo...
At that instant, the air began to churn.
Something hazy seeped out from beyond the walls.
Bubbles? Smoke? Fog? Human shadows?
Dust in the eyes?
It was an surreal mass, like a stain smeared wrongly onto this space and reality.
Inexplicable, bizarre things. Spiritual entities existing only on emotion, thought, and mana.
Among the wraiths swarming this mansion, the strongest and most vicious ones revealed themselves.
I struggled to focus on the grotesque, writhing things oscillating between substance and insubstance, aiming the Butcher's Hook at them.
[The wraiths dwelling in the mansion are enraged. Their tangled thoughts and strange wills seek to burrow into your mind. Concentrate your spirit.]
Ah, get out of the way—I can't see!
[System: Attempting resistance to mental erosion with Spirit stat... Spirit check failed.]
*Damn, I didn't expect it anyway.*
- Join us... Speak your desires... With us... together... The door must open... The time of ruin approaches...
The wraiths' voices began to echo.
Their slimy spirit bodies wrapped around me.
But.
[System: Exclusive trait 'Abyss Madness' activates. Nullifies mental erosion effect.]
Bzzzzt!!!!
Golden sparks erupted, repelling the wraiths.
- Kraaaack!
The wraiths, clustered as one, splintered into several.
*Hm, definitely effective.*
Even abyssal beings couldn't breach [Abyss Madness].
These pathetic wraiths were critically scorched just by the trait's sparks.
- What is this! What!
- This light! This pain!
So damn loud.
"Why not act tougher?"
I sneered at the wraiths for a moment and raised the Butcher's Hook.
The eerie mana spread like mist around us began to roil.
The wraiths were manipulating the pooled mana to create artificial physical force.
The poltergeist phenomenon, as it's commonly called.
A decorative cabinet against one wall sprang open, and ornaments and plates inside floated into the air.
Paintings on the walls, a poker by the fireplace, a small round table—all levitated.
"You gonna throw those at me?"
- Woooooo!!!
With the wraiths' howls, the floating objects came rushing.
[Distortion Field]
I activated [Distortion Field] in a stance protecting Heo Sang-hyun.
Bwooom!!
The incoming objects veered off course, slamming into random spots.
Boom! Crack! Crash!!
"Think that kind of attack will work?"
I could deflect bullets at close range; this was child's play.
- Grraaaaa!
Suddenly, the wraiths swelled and bellowed.
"What?"
It wasn't their power.
Someone was artificially empowering the wraiths.
*Finally showing their true colors?*
- Grreeeeeeek!!
The sofa in the center of the living room floated up. Hey, an antique leather sofa!
"Hey, that's expensive! Don't touch my sofa!"
Ah, it wasn't mine yet. But it would be soon!
[Evil Gaze]
A curse exerting other-dimensional influence to shrink the enemy's spirit or presence.
Fwooooosh!!
Ultra-refined purple mana blasted toward the wraiths.
"Put that down, you bastard!"
Kikikikikik!!
This magic required a raw contest of wills using pure spirit, not Intelligence stats.
My Spirit stat was average, at best.
Intelligence and mana provided some boost, but clashing head-on in their lair like this was tiring.
I pulled out a few talismans and tossed them.
Anti-demon talismans with power to exorcise evil spirits.
- Grreeeeeeek!!!!
The moment the talismans hit, their auras shrank dramatically.
Crackle!!!
I surged my spirit in an instant, stripping away most of their influence.
Whoooosh!!!
The wraiths, battered by the storm of mana and irresistible force, fell into despair.
- Kraaak! Stop! Stop!
- You monster! Damn you!
"Wraiths calling me a monster?"
They screamed and were flung back.
I thought they'd smash into the wall, but lacking form, they passed right through and vanished.
"Phew, should have done this from the start."
What a waste of ornaments.
"You... you're incredible..."
Heo Sang-hyun's voice.
"Many people have come here before... but you're the first like this. Such overwhelming skill..."
"Well... this is nothing special."
He'd thought I was making a lame barrier, only to see me crush the wraiths with brute force.
As I said earlier, the barrier wasn't for catching wraiths.
I glanced up at the ceiling.
Beyond it—on the second floor—mana writhed.
*The position is perfect...*
I planned to complete the barrier and smash the one hiding up there in one shot.
Focusing my mind, I scanned the surroundings.
The mana the wraiths had summoned lingered thickly—dense enough for even non-sensitive normal eyes to see the anomalies.
*A feast.*
I never knew this sensation playing computer games.
Having dominated even abyssal mana left behind, I could claim the mana drifting here with minimal refinement.
I took out a small glass vial of holy water.
Slowly tilting it, I sprinkled holy water on the Butcher's Hook and cast the spell.
[Absorb Essence]
Whooooosh!!!!
A spell to absorb floating mana.
The Butcher's Hook began sucking in the surrounding mana with tremendous force.
*As expected, nothing beats a vacuum for cleaning a filthy house.*
Wraiths peeking from outside the parlor shouted.
- Stop! Stop!
- What are you doing! Damn you!
- That's... that's our mana!
"Come on, it has nothing to do with you guys anyway? Scram!"
It wasn't a spell to purify or absorb wraiths.
Just one to absorb ownerless, wandering mana.
Yet they thrashed because even the strongest wraiths couldn't affect reality without mana to project their thoughts.
*Clean houses don't attract bugs, after all.*
Holding the mana-sucking Butcher's Hook out front, I moved slowly.
I'd compared it to cleaning, and now I looked just like someone vacuuming.
Whooooosh!!!
It completely sucked up mana ahead with massive output.
- Grreeeek!
As mana in rooms and halls vanished, hidden wraiths screeched and surged from everywhere.
More numerous than the earlier attackers.
And like cornered rats, they charged with vicious malice.
"That's right. Come out, you pests."
This much was nothing.
As I raised mana to counter...
[System: 'Enhanced Vigilance' trait activates.]
[Enhanced Vigilance] detected a massive mana flow moving erratically.
Someone.
Was preparing an attack spell.
*Location...?*
Right behind me.
Wraiths pressing from the front didn't matter.
I hurriedly surged mana and turned.
It was Heo Sang-hyun.
A grotesque smile and distorted illusion floated on his face.
He extended his hand toward me and activated the spell.
His hand stretched toward me. Mana concentrated.
"[Spirit Explosion]."
An advanced necromantic spell.
*At this range, a direct hit... dangerous...!*
KABOOM!!!
The wraiths' grudges, hatred, and spirit bodies themselves exploded, unleashing massive shockwaves straight at me.