Chapter 11

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 11

Chapter Title: Dungeon (6)

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Agnes gathered her mana.

A size incomparable to when she had faced the skeleton warriors.

To bind that distant monster, even she would need a great deal of time.

And even if she managed to bind it, she lacked the power to land a single strike.

The Eternal Ice Crystal in her bosom trembled.

Eating it would dramatically ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠increase her speed.

And rightly so, for it was an ice crystal.

A mysterious ore that harbored ice properties from the moment it formed.

Cold enough to consume directly.

But she didn't spare it a single glance.

Deron had entrusted it to her.

He hadn't told her to eat it.

He had only asked her to bind that serpent.

In that case.

Kak!

She would accept that request.

She plunged Absolute Shadow—Lenoc's treasured blade, now her own sword—into the ground.

She would unleash the greatest ice she could muster in a single burst.

With that thought, she glanced toward Deron.

He had already drawn his sword and was charging toward the Ink Scale Blood Serpent.

The moment Deron unsheathed his blade, the air seemed to freeze as the atmosphere shifted.

As if unveiling the energy he had kept hidden until now, his aura fully revealed itself.

As if responding to that overwhelming presence, the Ink Scale Blood Serpent let out a roar.

Shaaaah!

He charged straight at the Ink Scale Blood Serpent as it gaped its jaws wide.

The instant I faced the Ink Scale Blood Serpent, a chill seeped into my hands and feet.

My mind, gifted with overwhelming insight from the Genius trait.

To counter that massive frame,

it was ramping up blood flow to my limbs.

My heart pounded with exhilaration.

This body was reveling in the battle to come.

I swatted away the quest window hovering before my eyes.

Kill the Ink Scale Blood Serpent for a reward of 100 days of lifespan.

No need to look.

If I couldn't clear it, I'd die anyway.

I unleashed my energy, hoping to make the beast flinch even slightly.

The genius shackled by the Terminally Ill trait, unable to unleash his full power.

Deron Phillasia.

That body now thrashed wildly, eager to tap into its true potential.

Purple aura coiled around my sword.

My form shot forward like a bullet.

Kagak.

But with intermediate mana, I couldn't slice through the Ink Scale Blood Serpent's scales.

It brushed off my strike like a mere itch and yawned its maw wide.

As if to devour me whole.

"Pay lifespan."

A whopping 50 days' worth.

I kicked off the ground and leaped back.

Kwang!

The ground shattered, sending debris flying, but it wasn't dangerous.

The Ink Scale Blood Serpent's maw remained unscathed even after pulverizing the earth.

'As expected, only one way.'

I gripped my sword tightly.

From here on, I'd focus every sense solely on evasion.

The muscles and mind that had swelled hot with battle lust cooled in an instant.

At the same time, I calculated the optimal path.

Three minutes until Agnes could bind it.

That's all I had to endure.

Dodging its attacks wasn't difficult.

Impressively fast for its size, but still visible enough to evade.

The problem was landing hits.

The purple aura couldn't pierce between its scales—instead, it was dulling my blade.

Kieeeeek!

As I kept dodging, it writhed in fury.

I clamped my hands over my ears against the erupting screech.

Then, the Ink Scale Blood Serpent's gaze shifted to Agnes.

Its black pupil dilated grotesquely as it flattened its elongated body against the ground.

And charged.

Its target appeared to be Agnes.

Absolute Shadow was still plunged into the earth; she could barely move.

Time was running critically short.

Just a little longer...

"Fuck!"

I channeled aura into my feet and surged forward.

I had to halt its advance. No helping it—I'd have to burn lifespan after all.

Aura exploded outward.

I poured the ferocious Black Dragon's mana into my sword and vaulted upward.

The Ink Scale Blood Serpent, eyes locked solely on Agnes, hadn't noticed me.

From midair,

Puk!

I drove my sword into its head.

Shaaak, shaaaak!!!!!

It screeched wildly and recoiled from Agnes.

Even after burning 100 days, 100 remained—still manageable...

Peueok!

Its tail slammed into my waist.

No chance to dodge.

Side effect of the abrupt lifespan drop? My head spun.

My body crashed into the wall.

"Kuhuk!"

Blood finally gushed out.

Now only 20 days left.

Using Black Dragon's mana with that much would kill me outright.

The Ink Scale Blood Serpent, wracked with pain, shook its head incessantly.

"Ha, fuck. Life really fucking sucks."

I stared at my limp body.

Arms that wouldn't respond properly, legs already at half capacity.

Agnes shot me a desperate look, but I had no options left.

Her magic would deploy soon, but without a way to pierce its hide, it was pointless.

I leaned my head against the wall.

The throbbing pain eased slightly.

"Goddamn Lenoc asshole."

Then, a voice echoed from somewhere.

I reflexively looked up.

Lenoc sat in midair.

Just like the first time I'd encountered her.

She stared straight at me before asking,

"What else can I do?"

I snapped back curtly.

My legs wouldn't move.

My arms hung broken, not even trembling.

No means of resistance remained.

"You keep spouting nonsense I can't make heads or tails of. Not like I'm not dying anyway."

"Huh?"

I shook my head.

Obviously to let her absorb the cold energy, right?

"Fellow possessor? What the hell does that—"

Lenoc vanished before she could answer my question.

At the same moment, darkness swallowed my vision—as if I could no longer hold on.

Ah, so this is dying.

System messages blared noisily in my mind.

I could feel my body's sensations, yet my consciousness drifted elsewhere.

As if my eyes were closed, yet I could still see.

No sounds reached me.

The hourglass of my lifespan trickled slowly onward.

As if some cruel god wanted me to watch it run out.

Ten minutes.

The final span allotted to my life.

I was ready to let it all go.

"Hah."

Something pressed against my lips.

Soft, moist... and warm.

It touched, and something icy flooded into me.

My eyes snapped open.

An astonishing sense of refreshment washed over me.

I cautiously rose.

So this is what a body free of penalties felt like.

Facing these long-forgotten sensations anew.

"What the—why is she here?"

Something had snagged my foot.

Agnes lay collapsed beneath me.

Her hand still clutched Absolute Shadow.

The Ink Scale Blood Serpent was frozen solid.

I had no idea how.

"Mind if I borrow this?"

I gently pried Absolute Shadow from her grasp.

It was the sword of a guy I despised—one that would freeze anyone else—but having consumed the ice crystal, I felt no effect.

Chejeong.

The ice was cracking.

Her binding wouldn't hold much longer.

I dashed toward the Ink Scale Blood Serpent's head.

My body felt fine without burning lifespan.

Must be the ice crystal's doing.

I leaped lightly atop it once more and inspected its head.

The wound still lingered, infused with Arxius's mana.

I gripped Absolute Shadow firmly.

Channeling inky mana into the blade swirling with chill.

Puk!

The ultimate strike I could deliver now.

A sword path etched itself in my mind. I thrust it home exactly.

Wung—

Absolute Shadow sang out.

As if it knew I would wield it.

One flash.

The image in my mind began to manifest. I seized the sword. Pajik— Chill and inky mana fused into a single bolt of lightning.

That lightning promptly pierced the Ink Scale Blood Serpent's skull.

I checked the Ink Scale Blood Serpent's status.

A massive hole gaped in its head as it lay sprawled on the ground.

Instant death.

I slumped against its corpse, heaving deep sighs.

"Fuck, surviving is a goddamn ordeal."

I want an easy life too.

Hell, even just a cigarette.

Why can't I have either?

Why does it have to torment only me?

Kkieeek.