Chapter 259
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 259.
At first, there was no change at all.
Dante also only felt a momentary unease and did not take much caution.
But at that moment, an ominous magic circle glowed beneath the passage.
—……!
Dante sensed something was wrong and tried to retreat, but he was a step too late.
An unknown force flowing from the magic circle restrained him.
—This is…!
Dante looked down at his feet.
What he saw there was—
—I hate you, I resent you……
—Dragon, you bastard who killed us……
The vengeful spirits.
From deep below the floor, countless souls surged upward.
Crimson-black souls grabbed Dante’s legs and crawled up his body.
—These, things!
—You, come with us……
—Grrk! Get lost! You vermin!
Dante groaned.
He tried to shake off the vengeful spirits clinging to him, but he couldn’t.
Moreover, as the spirits clung to him, he felt his strength draining away.
Even his magical power.
—Human, what, have, you done!
“It’s Dragon-Slaying Magic. You must know about it.”
—What!
Dragon-Slaying Magic.
Judging by its name alone, it sounds like a spell that could kill a dragon in one strike, but that’s not the case.
Despite its sinister name, it’s a magic that weakens the power of those belonging to the dragon category.
Of course.
—Grrk, my, body!
Given its name, the weakening effect was immense.
To put it simply, this Dragon-Slaying Magic is closer to a type of curse.
It summons the vengeful spirits of those sacrificed by dragons to curse the target.
“We don’t have time.”
Yoo Baek-jun stepped forward.
Behind him followed the swordsmen, including Han Seong-ah and Min Yi-jae.
“I’m tired. Let’s finish this quickly.”
—Grrk!
Dante gritted his teeth.
This Dragon-Slaying Magic was still just a curse—it didn’t completely immobilize him.
He activated his magic.
Whoosh!
Fierce flames erupted from all directions.
At the same time, Dante unleashed his breath, but its force was weaker than before.
Yoo Baek-jun took out a shield he had prepared beforehand.
“I brought this just in case.”
He channeled his magical power.
Magical energy, rising like smoke, gathered into his shield, which emitted light and transformed.
In an instant, the shield grew massive.
Boom!
As Yoo Baek-jun slammed the enlarged shield into the ground, a massive barrier covering all directions appeared around them.
The incoming black-flame breath collided with the barrier, producing a deafening roar.
Crack!
The barrier shook violently.
But it didn’t shatter.
True to its grandiose name, Absolute Shield, it withstood the attack.
‘I don’t know what kind of magic this is, but my strength has diminished. If this continues—!’
Dante felt his power noticeably waning.
Under normal circumstances, he would have easily shattered such a barrier.
But now he couldn’t.
‘I’ll finish this in one strike.’
That decision proved fatal.
In an instant, Yoo Baek-jun closed the distance and drew a spear from subspace.
The Dragon-Slaying Strike unfolded from his fingertips.
“Hah……!”
A slash too fast to even breathe cut through Dante’s entire body, and a final thrust pierced his abdomen.
The monster’s movements froze momentarily as Han Seong-ah and Min Yi-jae crossed paths.
Swoosh!
Two flashes of light intersected.
Their blades pinned Dante’s arms in place. Yoo Baek-jun immediately drew his sword and imbued it with an attribute.
Frost emanated from the blade—Moonlight severed both of the monster’s arms.
—Grrk…
Yoo Baek-jun discarded his sword and used Aura Install.
And finally—
—Aaaaagh!
The Heavenly Destruction, accompanied by the Heavenly aura, slammed into Dante’s abdomen.
That was the end.
Unable to endure the consecutive attacks, the monster’s body collapsed helplessly.
“It ended more easily than I expected.”
Yoo Baek-jun let out a sigh.
* * *
Dragonkin, Dante.
The organization known as the Black Shadow is ruled by the Evil Dragon.
To be precise, the leader of the Black Shadow faithfully serves the Evil Dragon.
‘In return, the Evil Dragon bestowed his power upon the Black Shadows’ executives.’
That power is the Dragon’s Factor.
Those who receive the Dragon’s Factor gain strength far surpassing that of Hunters.
They are reborn as a race called the ‘Dragonkin.’
—How, how could I…
They are monstrously strong.
They could be considered formidable enemies, rated S+ or possibly even higher.
However,
“You shouldn’t have come alone.”
—Grrraaagh!
Their arrogance was their downfall.
Had Dante been aware of this Dragon-Slaying Magic, he could have countered it.
But since he hadn’t anticipated it at all, he couldn’t defend against it.
“As expected of the Family Head. You were prepared. I knew I could trust you.”
“I think I heard some complaints about me before we came here.”
“Huh? That must have been your imagination.”
Han Seong-ah played dumb.
Since he hadn’t explained the details beforehand, there must have been some discontent.
The way Min Yi-jae nodded in agreement behind her made it obvious.
“Then, Yoo Baek-jun…”
Min Yi-jae conjured daggers in both hands and stabbed them into Dante’s body.
Thud!
The daggers pierced flesh.
—Grrrugh!
“What should we do with this guy…?”
“Don’t kill him. We can learn a lot from him. Keep him imprisoned in this magic tower for a while.”
Dante let out a hollow laugh.
—Ha, haha! Do you really think I’ll talk just because you say that?
“Talking would make things easier for both of us. If you don’t, it’ll just be a hassle…”
Yoo Baek-jun tapped Dante’s head.
“We’ll just have to dig into that head of yours and see what’s inside.”
—……!
The words were utterly ominous.
They could use the Sword Saint family’s interrogation methods or even the magic within the tower.
There were far too many ways to extract the information he held.
“Jin Baek-cheon, lend me a hand.”
“You’re the first to address me so casually. Refreshing.”
“I think I’ve heard that from your daughter before…”
Jin Baek-cheon used his magic to levitate Dante’s body. Countless chains appeared, binding him.
“It’s a special binding spell. Combined with the Dragon-Slaying Magic, he won’t be able to move.”
“That’s good.”
“…Forgive my impertinence, but about that Dragon-Slaying Magic. Can it be used again in the future?”
“Hmm.”
Min Yi-jae was the one who asked.
Since Dante was a Dragonkin, there must be others among the Black Shadow.
If they could freely use that magic, it would be a great advantage.
Jin Baek-cheon glanced at her.
“Do you know why such spells are called forbidden magic?”
“…Because they’re dangerous?”
“That’s part of it. But the biggest reason is that they’re ‘immoral.’”
Min Yi-jae frowned.
Immoral?
“The Dragon-Slaying Magic I used is powered by the souls of those sacrificed by dragons in the past. Explaining it in detail would be complicated.”
It was an event from the time of Halpeon.
There was an era when dragons ruthlessly ruled the world, and countless people died by their hands.
Back then, a mage developed a magic that used the vengeful spirits of the dead to fight the dragons.
‘It is immoral, though.’
Jin Baek-cheon explained briefly.
“Simply put, it’s a curse that uses the souls of the victims as sacrifices.”
“…That’s harsh.”
Jin Baek-cheon nodded.
“And this magic isn’t omnipotent either. If necessary, seek out artifacts imbued with Dragon-Slaying power.”
Yoo Baek-jun had the same thought.
Even if not for this, they would need it for the main antagonist.
‘And the traits, too…’
Yoo Baek-jun mentally tallied his points while surveying the surroundings.
Dante had been subdued, and his underlings had all been dealt with.
“Let’s head back up. The surface should be mostly cleared by now.”
* * *
While Yoo Baek-jun was transporting Dante and other prisoners from the underground, Jin Seo-yeon was still subduing the remaining traitors in the magic tower.
“T-this can’t be……”
“How……”
They had no strength left to resist.
The golems meant to protect them were instead fighting among themselves, and the swordsmen and expeditionary force had arrived.
There was nothing they could do.
“We surrender……”
“…….”
The traitors dropped their arms.
Magical restraints were placed on their wrists. With these on, they wouldn’t be able to use magic.
“Grrk!”
“Archmage! Magic… Magic isn’t working!”
The last remaining were Valmir and members of the Stagglers.
Valmir and his subordinates were desperately resisting.
But it was futile.
“What the hell is that damned fairy?!”
—I’m not a damned fairy!
The World Tree’s fairy screeched.
But thanks to it using the World Tree to protect the mages, the Stagglers’ attacks were rendered useless.
Not to mention the spirits.
“B-Valmir, sir……”
“Guh…!”
Their numbers continued to dwindle.
Valmir gritted his teeth until they bled. There was no hope left.
Should he flee? But even that choice was too late now.
He raised his head.
“This magic power……”
An overwhelming surge of magical energy descended from the sky.
Looking up, he saw someone descending from above.
“Now, only you remain.”
“You bitch……!”
Jin Seo-yeon.
A cold smile played on her lips as she slowly descended.
An overflowing blue magical energy swirled around her entire body.
“Stagglers, pathetic stragglers. You should be grateful we spared your lives when we exiled you……”
“You expect me to be thankful for being left alive? You took everything from me! How dare you say that!”
Valmir’s eyes were bloodshot.
“My knowledge! Even the magic power I possessed! You erased it all!”
“Yes. And I regret something from back then.”
“What?”
Jin Seo-yeon smiled coldly.
“I should have killed you all instead of exiling you.”
“Bullsh——!”
One of the Staggler beside Valmir shouted in defiance.
But those words never reached their conclusion. The reason was simple.
“Guh…!”
A blade of light, appearing from nowhere, severed his throat.
Jin Seo-yeon raised her magical energy.
“We can’t leave any loose ends.”
“D-defense magic!”
Valmir screamed.
But before they could react, countless magic circles lit up the air.
Boom!
That was the end.
Before Valmir and the Staggler could cast their defensive spells, the magic circles unleashed a merciless bombardment.
Simultaneously, the blades of light Jin Seo-yeon had created tore through them like a storm from all directions.
“Aaaaagh!”
“S-spare me……!”
Their desperate screams vanished helplessly amid the explosions and slashing sounds.
Only Valmir remained.
Jin Seo-yeon landed before him.
“Damn, trash of the magic tower……”
“…….”
Valmir’s condition was dire.
His body was shredded by blades, his limbs torn apart by explosions. He could die at any moment.
Yet, he laughed.
“E-even if I die, my brethren are still……”
“Still out there? Maybe.”
The Stagglers, aided by the Black Shadow, had grown significantly and established bases worldwide.
If Valmir died, those bases would surely activate.
But it didn’t matter.
“We already know where your bases are.”
“W-what……”
Jin Seo-yeon smirked.
“So don’t worry. Your brethren will soon follow you.”
“W-what nonsense… Gah!”
Before Valmir could finish, Jin Seo-yeon took his life.
She had no desire to hear any more.
“Sigh……”
Jin Seo-yeon exhaled deeply.
The rebellion was over.
‘Now it begins.’
But her work was only just beginning.
To restore order to the magic tower, she took her first step.