Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Became the Gallery's Only Reptile
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5 minutes before facing the Lich King.
I left first and entered another paradise inside the house.
The first thing that caught my eye was the Amrita tree, bearing fruit with its radiant glow, just as always today.
Even though no light entered the cave, the light from the Amrita and the glow from the surrounding minerals reacting with mana illuminated everything brightly.
And the golden starfish swimming diligently along the water stream.
The cluster of five-flavor mushrooms growing cozily on one wall.
And various other spirit herbs, or creatures on par with them.
This place was another paradise I had created—a preservation facility—in the hope that it would not disappear even after the ancient era ended and up to the modern timeline of the original story.
I had now entered it to achieve the purpose of my visit.
-No regrets about this choice?
Regrets? Sorry, but I'm already regretting it.
I probably won't stop regretting every time I recall this moment in the future.
'But even if I could turn back time, I'd repeat this choice right now.'
I'm convinced that I'll regret it but still repeat the choice.
Because in the current situation, there's simply no better method available from the start.
-Then begin.
At Tam's triumphant words, I looked at the white powder in front of me.
The purpose of my visit here, the cause of my regret, and the reason Tam was so triumphant.
-Come on, eat me!
-Insurance...?
Yes, insurance.
Swallowing this as is feels way too iffy.
As I always say, I have no intention of being dragged around by Tam's whims.
Woooong.
-You bastard, what are you...?
This was my resolve toward Tam—and a declaration of war.
If you pull any funny business, I'm fully prepared to abandon everything for real.
Woooong!
My body was burning hot.
Energies rampaging as if they were about to explode right now.
It felt like every single cell was disintegrating vividly.
When was the last time I felt pain like this?
...Right, it was similar to the agony when I removed the poisons from my body.
I thought I'd never feel pain like this again in my lifetime after that day...
-Sto...! What the hell are you doing!
'What else? Just keeping you in line so you don't pull any crap.'
Enduring the pain, I focused the rampaging energies inside me into one spot.
Kwajik.
With the sound of something breaking.
-Kwaaaak?!
Tam's piercing scream echoed out.
-You crazy imoogi! How dare you, how dare you destroy the Yeouiju?!
I could feel it.
A crack had formed in the Yeouiju that had been perfectly settled until now.
This should keep the bastard from scheming anything reckless.
It's just a light dent for now, but I've firmly imprinted the image that I can shatter the Yeouiju completely if it tries any tricks.
-Kwaaaaak!!!!
Gulp.
And back to the present.
With the Lich King right in front of me, I slowly observed the changes in my body from consuming Tam's trace.
If you're asking why I did it right in front of the enemy, I'd excuse it by saying there wasn't time for that.
'Who would've thought just controlling the power would take this long.'
The original plan was to consume Tam's trace, quickly grasp its power, and then move to fight the Lich King.
But reality didn't go as I wished.
Grasp the power? Ridiculously, just coordinating the clash between Tam's power and the residual energy of the Yeouiju accumulated in my body had me breaking a sweat.
Honestly, coordinating it in under 5 minutes felt like a miracle.
No, not felt—it really was a miracle.
Both I and Tam, who had been screaming in agony, were greatly shocked by that part.
'But what the heck is that.'
I furrowed my brow at the domain spread out centered on the Lich King.
Just standing there still, it steals the life from the surroundings.
The term "Tyrant of Death" fit the scene perfectly.
'And those black particles floating in the air.'
At first, I wondered what they were, but upon closer inspection, I realized they were mana.
Of course, not the mana we know.
It was mana corrupted by the Lich King's energy—call it death mana, perhaps.
Suuuuu.
'Mana that's poison to the living instead.'
Just as humans continuously absorbing mana would lead to death, this black mana becomes a massive poison that threatens life for the living if absorbed continuously.
Mana meant solely for the undead who have crossed death's threshold.
That was the black mana before my eyes.
And the already dead Lich King was gleefully absorbing the black mana, growing in real time, looking just like...
"What?"
Hearing my mutter, the Lich King glared at me with flames burning even more fiercely than before.
But was I wrong?
No, not at all.
"How dare a mere snake whelp provoke me?"
Absorbing mana makes you stronger?
It must know just by looking at me.
And the Lich King is also growing stronger by absorbing black mana right now.
Next, is it dangerous if a specific race absorbs too much power?
In our case, that's humans.
I don't know to what level modern humans can handle mana, but at least at my or Cheong's level, they couldn't absorb it.
If they could, they wouldn't have created the power called magic power to process mana in the first place.
And I used this to greatly provoke the Lich King.
Because in a fight, getting your opponent excited is equivalent to gaining a huge advantage.
When excited, emotions mix into actions, thoughts simplify, and openings become more numerous than usual.
Of course, there are rare types who become even calmer and more coldly precise in such situations, but... at least the Lich King before me doesn't seem to be one of them.
-Shut... up and finish it quick and heal...
'Can't even hold that in? What a whiner.'
-Krrrararar.
And while provoking the Lich King, I didn't hesitate to provoke Tam as well.
Whether intentional or not, I could feel Tam's power poking its head out annoyingly despite the earlier adjustment, debating whether to stir trouble.
'Then shall I shake it up a bit more.'
I slipped into its domain and inhaled the black mana with all my might.
Suuuuuup.
"Hm?"
Of course, mine is Tam's power, but whatever.
"Right. I already knew that. That you're a blemish on the world, a being of the same kin as me yet possessing the power of the living."
"......"
Grind.
A sinister grinding sound like teeth gnashing came from the Lich King.
Yes, I had already anticipated that words like these would hit home.
Liches who use necromancy are a race that can only be human, not spirits or nature spirits.
'Not sure if this era's humans have developed magic power yet.'
At least during the time the Lich King was human, magic power probably hadn't been created yet.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be this pissed.
"Right, you've always been like that. Do you worms know the fear humans live with, not knowing when death will come at every moment?"
"The best. To be able to hunt you who always looked down on us like bugs. How could it not be joyous?"
Clack. Clack.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
Clack. Clack.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
"Hear that? The joyous cheers of us humans!"
Hmm. All I hear is skeletons clacking their teeth together.
And at the center of this eerie noise, the Lich King waved its hand to stop the skeletons' actions, then pointed a fingertip at me and asked.
"It's the same question I asked when facing the previous Spirit King. Do you know how long humans can live?"
"20 years."
20... years?
"From the moment of birth, the average human lifespan is only 20 years. The reason is obvious: their bodies can't handle mana. Some special individuals can live beyond 20, but most die before that. That's human reality."
-Krrrarar. Quite the progress, huh. In my time, humans barely lasted 17 years. Krrrarar. Extended by a whole 3 years in the meantime.
17 years in Tam's time. 20 years in the Lich King's time? That's how short it was?
Far harsher environment than I imagined for this era's humans.
"...What?"
Honestly, it's bitter.
Because I was once human too.
Obsessed with life? Didn't I strive to become a spirit beast for that reason?
I know how short 20 years is, so I can empathize.
But I couldn't show empathy.
Right now was the time to sharpen the blade coldly and swing it precisely, not kindly empathize.
Grind.
"I was going to make you my pet, but no. You're unnecessary. I'll erase your soul completely from this world."
See?
Can't even properly control its energy from excitement at my words.
-Krrrarar. Woo woo woo. Trash krrrarar. I wouldn't say that krrrarar.
Shut up, Tam. This is just adapting what you'll say in the future.