Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Demon, Sinister Pit-Digging Worm - Deriaks
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I was utterly dumbfounded. For the first time, I experienced how overwhelming shock could literally take your breath away.
A Origin-grade martial art had been created. Not just any, but a comprehensive one that encompassed everything from internal arts to footwork, sword techniques, and more—what's commonly called an all-in-one martial art.
'What the hell?'
No matter how well I combined and fused Lee Ji-yong's skills to maximize synergy, I figured Legend grade would be the absolute limit. Hell, even calling it Legend was generous.
Grades don't come that easily. But this was the result of fusing and evolving nearly ten Unique-grade skills at minimum, so its grade must have been sky-high to begin with.
With a Legend-grade footwork technique mixed in, I was certain it'd hit Legend. In fact, the martial arts I'd personally created with my own talents and abilities had all been solidly Legend grade, just as expected.
Yet a mythical power had shone upon the very first martial art I created.
The hidden ability of Infinite Heavenly Veins. A power even I hadn't imagined manifested itself.
It was only thanks to the martial genius granted by Infinite that I dared attempt it in the first place. And reaching that trance-like state? That had to be Infinite's doing as well.
'Or was it just my exceptional focus?'
Even before my regression, I'd occasionally brushed the edges of that trance state during life-or-death crises or moments of peak concentration—imperfectly, sure, but it happened.
Of course, I couldn't deny Infinite's role in achieving a true trance.
Anyway, what should have been a Legend-grade martial art got a grade boost from the trance reward. Then Infinite Heavenly Veins' base effect kicked in for another leap, landing it squarely at Origin grade.
"Hahaha. This is ridiculous."
The knowledge sorted itself in my mind. The martial art I'd crafted by combining and advancing Lee Ji-yong's abilities to take him down felt downright trivial compared to this loftily superior grade and rank.
"Sun God Art."
There was a martial art I'd planned to acquire right after my Mythic job. A hidden piece I'd eyed ever since obtaining Infinite Heavenly Veins.
'Even that one's just Legend grade, and only reaches Mythic if you meet the conditions.'
With things like this, did that mean I'd have to learn two martial arts at once? Could you even do that?
To balance Pride's imbalance, I'd need to learn that darkness-attribute martial art no matter what.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
I couldn't think any further. I looked up ahead.
There, behind Lee Ji-yong's corpse that had appeared before I knew it, stood a figure clapping at me. A demonkin who looked just like the one I'd killed with Longinus.
I scowled. A mountain beyond the mountain—I hadn't even considered this guy. Or rather, I hadn't had the time to.
Lee Ji-yong had been stronger than I'd anticipated. His skills and elixir-boosted stats were more than enough to drag me down.
And now my body was little more than a ragdoll.
My grotesquely twisted and broken right arm, depleted mana, and stamina drained low despite nullifying fire damage with my Authority.
I couldn't face this guy right now. A hollow laugh escaped me in my exhaustion.
"This is insane, for real."
Did it take my laugh as surrender?
【Kuhahaha! Yes, a mere insect like you should despair and crumble before me!】
The demon—or what looked like a demon possessing a demonkin—laughed as it approached me.
I just sighed and stayed put, feeling Pride's (Sun) mana slowly recovering in that split second. Or should I call it internal energy now?
Hiss...
As it drew near, goosebumps prickled across my skin, the air grew colder, and ominous dread welled up.
Sinister. Like a ringing in my ears, everything around him was cold, damp, and foreboding.
【When a pathetic worm like you killed my plaything and insulted me, I was furious.】
His body was covered in black skin like he'd used demonkin transformation, his eyes split into dozens like a dragonfly's, teeth sharpened, and insect-like features protruded from his skin.
Deriaks grabbed above my broken right arm with his hand.
【How dare a lowly cur!!!】
Rip!
He tore my arm right off. No skill—just raw strength ripping it away.
It made sense. Even incomplete, he was Hero grade, SSS- rank, and a staggering LV 216.
That level was probably lowered due to the incomplete descent. Maybe one level per three sacrificed monsters?
Whatever. I watched him devour my severed arm with sickening crunches, his body shuddering in ecstasy. Then I charged.
Sun God ArtFist Technique - 1st FormBlack Point Explosion
Power hotter than the sun's prominences gathers in the fist.
A handful of internal energy wasn't enough—something fundamental drained from my body, bringing exhaustion... but I didn't stop.
【What!? You still had this much power left!!】
I clung even closer to the panicking demon trying to flee and thrust my fist forward.
【Groooar! Sinister Pit!!】
Crack!
Space tore open. My fist got sucked into the pit.
Krunch!
The pit clamped down, severing part of my left arm too. No pain. After so much agony in succession, numbness set in.
I couldn't hold out any longer. But this was enough.
"It works? Guess you're not invincible either."
What I wanted to confirm was two things: exactly how strong this incomplete bastard was, and if my attacks could pierce him.
【Groooooaaaaah!!】
Space warped and twisted from the immense heat before exploding. The blast engulfed the demon's upper body in a storm of scorching fury.
Thud.
But that was it. I'd pushed to my absolute limits. Still, it was fine.
"If I block the sacrifices..."
His power would weaken further, boosting my chances of victory.
【You damned filthy worm, how dare you!!! I'll rip you apart! Devour every scrap of skin and drop of blood! Then burn your eternity in endless flames of agony for eons!】
The charred, burned demon emerged, staggering in pain but with eyes blazing fiercely.
I spat up a bowlful of blood and looked up.
"See you again, you bastard."
Flashing a feral grin, I activated one ability.
The world rewound. My lost arms regenerated, depleted Pride mana refilled, and reality shifted.
My eyes snapped open. I checked my body—perfect condition. I looked around—still my home.
'Less than an hour passed, huh.'
Navigating the labyrinth and beating Lee Ji-yong in under an hour. Good thing.
I hurriedly opened my status window to check something and sighed in relief.
"Looks like I keep what I earned."
So I'd gained Origin grade. Staring at Sun God Art boldly displayed in my status window, relief washed over me—until the world shifted again.
They were here. I stood up. No hesitation, no wasting time.
"Quick and clean."
Time to deliver death to these two bastards. Pride surged through my body. The Pride stat was still mighty, seamlessly accommodating Sun God Art's internal energy as if everything bowed beneath it.
Before the restriction even popped up, my foot slammed the ground.
Boom!!
A massive explosion erupted beneath my feet, rocketing my body forward at blinding speed. Unfamiliar with the technique and unable to control it, I smashed into the opposite wall—but I didn't stop.
'Time attack.'
Rush to the boss room, kill Lee Ji-yong, and take out that Nam Ui demonkin bastard before he summons the demon.
I roughly remembered the path. Explosions propelled me forward relentlessly, and soon I faced Lee Ji-yong waiting for me.
'Cold assessment: Lee Ji-yong's C- grade.'
Even promoted to C-rank somehow, his physical prowess was definitively below mine. Plus, his fire attribute couldn't harm me.
Though he did take an arm last time. But that future was gone.
"You're here, you bastard!"
I channeled Pride (Sun) internal energy as he charged, eyes rolled back in rage once more.
No room for carelessness this time. End it in one strike.
I tracked his frenzied, half-maddened movements without missing a beat, then slammed my fist home at the perfect moment.
One strike. The form that had ravaged even the demon crushed his chest.
".........Guhk!"
With eyes full of disbelief, denial, and desperate plea, Lee Ji-yong collapsed.
"Fucking idiot."
Yeah... shoulda known better than to side with demonkin over bruised pride. No more wasting brain cells on this trash.
I pressed on. Dozens of maggots were already swarming toward the boss room.
I pulled bombs from my subspace and hurled them effortlessly.
"Nothing beats bombs for mass slaughter."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three bombs wiped out over half the maggots heading to the boss room.
"No sacrifices, no descent for you."
I kept pulling bombs from inventory, exterminating the rest, then set more as insurance before entering the boss room.
"What the fuck? This is bullshit! How are you here already?"
There, I faced the demonkin filled with shock, terror, astonishment, and fury.