Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Combined Magic · Syria Nosferatu
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The chamber of the Dragon Palace Beast leader, the Jiao Dragon.
The moment the Jiao Dragon entered a groggy state.
As Syria raised her hand, a massive blood-red sphere formed.
A blood-red sphere created through Syria's blood magic.
The power contained within it couldn't compare to Leyzon's blood magic.
But Leyzon blended in his own blood magic.
Blood surged from Leyzon and merged into Syria's sphere.
Fierce Poison Spread - Attribute Fusion
Poison seeps into the blood flow
Syria's blood magic fused with the fierce poison.
Leyzon was convinced upon seeing it.
It'll work!
This has to work!
"Next!"
"Yes!"
Syria's shadow surged upward right after.
The rising shadow enveloped the blood-red sphere entirely.
Leyzon's shadow merged in the same way.
Leyzon didn't stop there and cast spells one after another.
Leyzon's original ultimate technique, born from fusing various skills.
But its scale and power were on another level from before.
An ominous wind began to blow.
The atmosphere rippled and churned.
The surrounding air currents shifted under the flow of immense power.
A new spell augmented by Syria's strength.
The staff controlling the magic felt heavy in his grip.
That was how dangerous this fusion magic was.
But that's exactly why he created it this way.
He'd learned it while facing Iron Wall Rafila.
'Ascension alone will eventually hit a limit.'
Leyzon could climb up to 18 Ascensions ahead.
With steady experience grinding now, he'd go even higher.
But that alone wouldn't be enough to withstand the empire's fall and reach the ending.
If Ascension could solve everything,
he would've toppled the empire with Syria long ago.
So Ascension alone wouldn't cut it.
'More.'
More diversely!
He needed far greater numbers and growth moving forward.
To achieve that, he couldn't afford to be picky about methods.
He'd use every tool at his disposal.
This wasn't the game world of Dungeon Replay.
This was reality.
So Leyzon opened every possibility.
The corners of Leyzon's mouth curved up widely.
Poison Ring Aroma [SS]
The fierce poison dyes pitch black
This level of power even without using his prepared gear yet.
'Save that for the next explosion.'
Leyzon decided to make this finale spectacular.
An ultimate technique with power maximized to the limit.
'Like a glass cannon.'
One shot stronger than anyone!
Leyzon's eyes gleamed with passion for the impending blast.
"Our first combined magic."
Combined Magic · Syria Nosferatu
Leyzon aimed his staff at the groggy Jiao Dragon.
"Consider it an honor."
A look of despair crossed the Jiao Dragon's face.
Leyzon unleashed the combined magic using Dragon Scale's air currents.
The sphere hurtled toward the Jiao Dragon amid swirling gales.
Hanok swiftly escaped the altar and took cover.
Leyzon lowered his staff one final time upon seeing it.
A blinding flash engulfed the altar and the Jiao Dragon.
Within the flash.
Only the Jiao Dragon's agonized roar echoed desperately before fading away.
The utterly collapsed altar and the Jiao Dragon, not even a corpse left behind.
Leyzon, standing atop it, lowered his raised staff.
Syria's shadow that had enveloped him dispersed.
It had protected Leyzon from the explosion.
Leyzon let out a short breath.
The surroundings were reduced to complete devastation.
The altar had vanished without a trace.
Traces of the Fierce Poison Explosion lingered like knife cuts everywhere.
As if the entire leader's chamber had been swept by a storm.
It embodied utter devastation.
Without Syria's shadow protection, it was now unusable.
No matter the distance, he'd get caught in it the moment he activated the magic.
'Roughly three times the power of my previous fusion magics.'
Leyzon roughly gauged the output.
Even a hero-rank pioneer couldn't withstand this now.
Not even Iron Wall would survive unscathed.
Even with Syria's added power, the sheer absurdity of it.
'I was a mobbing Poison Necromancer.'
Now he'd become 'Aim for the Top of Firepower.'
'The power will.'
Grow further with each Ascension.
And from the moment he realized combined magic was possible.
'If I gather the other undead and activate it together.'
The power would double again.
Later, it might rival a nuclear blast.
Like nukes balancing peace between nations.
Leyzon alone might balance power this way.
"Bet the imperial palace would love getting hit with this later."
Leyzon grinned.
Done right, he might wipe out the empire before it even falls.
"Leyzonnnn!"
At that moment, Syria cried out his name and charged in.
Leyzon hurriedly caught the leaping Syria in his arms.
Syria rubbed her face against his chest, overjoyed.
"Amazing! A collaboration between you and me, Leyzon. Syria's the happiest in the world right now!"
He didn't quite get what made her so happy.
But since Syria was pleased, Leyzon just let it be.
He was always grateful to her.
Her endless support let him attempt new things every time.
Stroking her head, Syria beamed goofily.
Meanwhile, Hanok trudged over.
"Leyzon."
Hanok glanced around with a traumatized look.
"I can't handle getting caught in that anymore. I'll die."
Getting swept in the combined magic would annihilate Hanok too.
Syria's shadow had saved him this time as well.
Eventually, even that shadow would be pierced.
"...Won't it be fine once Haron gets stronger?"
"Kiiing?"
Haron freaked out in response.
"D-don't dump it all on Haron."
Hanok protested timidly.
"We'll figure it out step by step. For now."
Leyzon pulled out a skillbook from his bag.
"Time to farm skills."
Fun farming time.
Even without the Jiao Dragon, placing the skillbook on the altar registers skills.
No altar was the issue, though.
With rewards on the entire leader's chamber, it should be fine.
Leyzon flipped open the skillbook with a flourish.
At that instant, green letters began arraying in the air.
Moments later, one of the letters floating in the air flew into the skillbook.
Pabababapapak!
Soon, letters engraved themselves onto the skillbook.
The remaining letters scattered and vanished.
Leyzon immediately checked the skillbook.
"Nice, luck's on my side."
He cheered inwardly.
The letters inscribed in the skillbook.
It was none other than the Poison Recovery [B] he'd wanted.
Lucky break.
Out of nine, it dropped right away.
Now he had all the skills he needed.
Just one more Ascension, learn the skill...
Then Leyzon paused his thoughts.
He slowly rubbed his chin.
'Hmm, luck's been suspiciously good again.'
Leyzon looked down at the skillbook.
His face soured as he sucked in air through his teeth.
Something felt off.
Like that jinx creeping back up.
"Nah, no way."
Leyzon brushed the thought aside lightly.
But he didn't know.
That his life was forever distant from luck anyway.
Having cleared the Sahā Realm dungeon safely, Leyzon stepped outside.
The Sahā Realm dungeon was quite large compared to others.
Accounting for unclaimed experience from before, hunting Dragon Palace Beasts took days.
He couldn't return just for more experience later.
So he cleared everything meticulously this time.
'Two years until I can create undead capable of reclaiming my undead from the empire.'
Uncertain circumstances demanded thorough preparation.
No room for complacency even if it was two years.
'Business here done.'
Time to meet the Curse Demon Lord.
As Leyzon exited the dungeon, sunlight poured down from the sky.
"Been a while since I saw real light."
The dungeon had light, but it felt artificially contrived.
Seeing the actual sky felt welcoming.
"Sniff sniff."
Hanok wrinkled his nose, smelling himself.
Days in the dungeon had left them filthy.
Leyzon and Hanok both looked ragged.
"Hanok, let's go get cleaned up."
Sahā Village had a bathhouse run by the guild for grubby pioneers—to prevent hygiene and infection issues.
Pioneers could use it cheaply.
The guild maintained it regularly, better than most inns.
'Gotta wear the mask going in, though.'
After the Gray Mage Tower master's improvements.
The mask looked no different from real skin now.
Plus, the inside had a cleansing magic.
'My face is the cleanest part of me right now.'
Leyzon kept his face pristine.
So he headed to the bathhouse.
Syria's shadow wolves would handle navigation.
Sleep and rest? Plenty from the shadow wolves.
Just quick bath and meal.
"Leyzon, I wanna wash with you too!"
As Leyzon headed there, Syria piped up.
That might be awkward.
"Oh, self-conscious about my looks?"
Syria caught on to his reaction.
She slipped to a secluded corner out of sight.
Splashing sounds followed soon after.
A small bat perched on Leyzon's shoulder.
A pure white bat.
Seeing it reminded him of Syria's true nature.
Come to think of it, she's a vampire first.
'Ditching her alone feels bad.'
She's undead anyway—does it matter?
"Alright, then."
Leyzon headed to the bathhouse with Syria and Hanok.
"No pets allowed."
Rejected for another reason.
Makes sense—people hate pets inside.
Should've considered that.
[Ughhh! He's basically a pet too!]
Syria glared daggers at Hanok.
Hanok dodged her gaze and hid behind Leyzon slyly.
"N-not a pet."
He protested meekly.
Hanok freaked under Syria's glare.
They'd spent plenty time together.
Yet never warmed up.
'Syria's the bigger issue, not Hanok.'
Syria treated no one warmly except Leyzon.
She even clashed with Estelle.
As her master, her social skills worried him.
Our sweet Syria.
But rules were rules, sweet or not.
Syria eventually reappeared as a half dark elf.
She sniffled and headed to the women's bath alone.
Find a hot spring later and take her.
"Hanok, let's go."
"Yes!"
Hanok, who hid behind Leyzon until Syria left, answered energetically.
Back to his lively self without her.
As the two entered the bathhouse, a steamy warmth hit them.
Heat rising from the warmed bathwater.
Vapors revealed pioneers enjoying the baths here and there.
Pioneers through and through— all burly builds.
Leyzon decided to wash up with Hanok before entering the bath.
Lathering bought soap and shampooing shed the grime.
Rinse and into the bath—pure bliss.
'Wonder what to eat after.'
Pondering tasty post-bath food,
something rolled under Leyzon's foot.
A soap.
Likely dropped by someone washing.
"Hey, mind picking up that soap that rolled over?"
A man's voice called from nearby right then.
No big deal.
Leyzon bent to grab it—then froze solid.
Damn, suddenly felt really gross.