Chapter 63

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 63

Chapter Title: The Star Seeking to Regain Its Light Once More (4)

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That was a memorial painting.

The owner of those long fingers clutching the falling star. The Apostle of Longing, Iganos.

Hundreds of years ago, the one who hunted down and slew the last Holy Throne Mage in the world.

And a deranged victory memoir, painted by his own hand, glorifying that hunt by capturing the moment he seized the falling starlight.

I instinctively began reading the text written below the painting, slowly, one character at a time.

"The star enters its deathly orbit, and fingers stretch like roots to pluck out the star heart. I call this the 'Fulfillment of Longing.'"

But the reason I was flustered wasn't because of what this painting was.

This painting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was something that clearly appeared in the mid-game's biggest main story episode, "The Night of Longing and Greed."

It was a reward for satisfying the condition of Kim Do-yoon being able to use Star Mana.

After defeating one of the mid-bosses, the Lord-rank demon Arkin Low...

Why the hell was it popping up here?

...No way, does that mean this is Arkin Low's castle?

But why was one of the mid-bosses from a main story that was supposed to happen a year from now descending right now?

As ominous thoughts scrambled my mind, one crucial fact suddenly came to me.

"Fuck, come to think of it... Arkin Low didn't descend—he ambushed the player mid-story, right? Then, don't tell me...?"

Goosebumps erupted across my entire body.

The "Night of Longing and Greed" story revolves around the fight to stop the demons attempting the fourth Apostle descent.

In the midst of that, two mid-bosses stand in the protagonist's way.

One commands hundreds of soldier-rank demons as a General-rank demon.

The other bursts out suddenly for an ambush.

Powerful enough to one-shot the protagonist if he's careless—practically on the level of a main boss.

The Lord-rank demon and final zealot of the Apostle of Longing, Iganos: Arkin Low.

Back then, I wondered how a Lord-rank demon appeared out of nowhere without any traces of descent magic.

But if he completed his descent at this point in time, blended into the chaos, killed humans and other monsters, and absorbed their power to grow...

He could evade the world's rules, fool the eyes, and wield full Lord-rank power.

Chae Yeon-hwa was lingering in the human world the same way.

"Haa... It's almost certain, but... should I be happy about this or not?"

"The Night of Longing and Greed" was one of the main stories boasting hellish difficulty—even veterans who played extensively despaired, unable to clear it, and quit the game.

And the biggest reason for that insane difficulty? Arkin Low himself.

But if I could take down that veteran-shredder right here and now?

The entire mid-game main story might vanish completely.

Still, what made me hesitate was the potential variables.

If Arkin Low dies and the "Night of Longing and Greed" episode disappears entirely, what would replace it?

I had no idea how strong whatever took its place might be.

But setting aside whether I liked it or not—to escape this dungeon, I had to kill Arkin Low, presumed to be its master.

"Okay, thoughts sorted..."

After roughly explaining the situation to Choi Eun-ha in a natural way, I turned to her—still blankly staring at the painting—to tell her about his features and weaknesses.

But I froze in place.

"What the fuck, Choi Eun-ha!!"

I was shocked enough by the main story suddenly changing and handing out insane rewards and a quest.

But that wasn't why I froze mid-motion.

I quickly dismissed the system messages blocking my view and charged toward her as she turned at the sound of my voice.

The system windows vanished in an instant, and Choi Eun-ha opened her mouth, looking at me.

"Wh-what? Why that face all of a sudden...?"

"Dodge!!!"

That was the moment.

The surrounding wind, dust—even the demonic energy—seemed to pause for a split second.

And behind Choi Eun-ha, who still hadn't grasped the situation, space warped.

Then, a massive scythe-wielding figure emerged.

Light scattered, tracing a curve.

Damn it!! Why did it take me so long to remember!!

He always started combat by ambushing the protagonist upon appearance.

Not just any ambush, but with his unique S-grade skill that could one-shot even seasoned S-rank Hunters if they let their guard down.

The silver lining? My body reacted before my thoughts finished organizing.

Thanks to that, I saved our only hope, Choi Eun-ha, just in time.

I grabbed Choi Eun-ha's shoulder.

"Sorry."

"What the...?"

Without explaining, I shoved her backward, ignoring her confused face.

Shk—! Puk!!

Arkin Low's cold, black-iron blade sliced through empty air.

Then, a hot, dull impact pierced my abdomen.

"Kuhk!! Guk!!!"

"Wha... what? Th-this is...!"

Feeling hot blood spreading down my back, I slowly raised my head to look ahead.

There stood the final zealot of the star-devouring Apostle Iganos, wielder of the Shadow Scythe.

Arkin Low. Staring down at me with a grotesque smile.

"Kuhk... F-fuck."

"A... mystery. How did you sense and block my ambush—no, my Phantom Scythe?"

"Block... my ass. My gut's already fucking pierced..."

It hurt.

Insanely so.

Arkin Low glanced at my collapsed form, then yanked the scythe from my gut.

My blood dripped—plop—plop—onto the floor.

My heart felt like it wasn't beating right, my breaths shallow and ragged, fingertips growing cold.

Yet I didn't retreat a single step.

Arkin Low stopped laughing and asked.

"...Another mystery. Facing death, yet you show no intent to retreat. Why aren't you afraid?"

I staggered, spitting blood.

"Ha... ha, because at this point, I'm satisfied?"

Yes... that's it.

It should have activated for the first time in the artificial dungeon, but Wol Ha-yeon's intervention prevented it then.

This time, the system judged this a fight before Choi Eun-ha's involvement.

Allowing the Vow of No Retreat to trigger. With the stat boost, my bleeding slowed, and the pierced wound began to knit slightly.

"Hyun-sol!!"

Finally understanding, Choi Eun-ha charged Arkin Low, wrapping her hammer's head in massive golden aura.

Her eyes churned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wildly, far from calm.

The golden aura around her hammer blazed like an explosion, hurtling toward Arkin Low's skull.

But that instant—

Kwang!!!

Black chains shot from somewhere, blocking her hammer.

"...!?"

At the chain's end appeared a vaguely human-shaped, but inhuman, figure.

One eye burned away, wearing a grotesquely torn smile: an Elite-rank demon.

Gerwon.

"Access to Lord Arkin Low denied. Mission: Secure Regeneration. Obstacles to be eliminated."

And he blocked Choi Eun-ha's path.

"Get out of my way—!!!"

Choi Eun-ha shattered the chains and swung her massive hammer again.

A crushing blow fusing will, muscle, and aura was about to reach Arkin Low.

Gerwon whipped out chains again, blocking the hammer.

"Human, you won't touch a hair on Lord Arkin Low until you kill me."

"Shut up!!!"

Choi Eun-ha ignored Gerwon's interference, gritting her teeth to reach me.

But he relentlessly lashed chains at her legs, arms, and paths.

In her vision's edge, only the sound of dripping blood echoed.

Drop—drop—drop—

Kang Hyun-sol. The man who took the ambush meant for her in her near miss.

Even from afar, it was clear.

Whatever method he used, his complexion had improved since the attack.

But the abdominal wound hadn't fully healed.

His breaths were ragged.

His body trembled.

Yet—he didn't retreat.

"Choi Eun-ha."

He spoke, spitting blood.

"Don't worry... about this side. Kill that damn chain worm first."

"Are you insane!? In your current state—"

"Quickly... kill the elite first. I... can hold."

"......"

In that moment, Choi Eun-ha's expression completely changed.

No tears, no fear, no panic.

Only one thing: resolve.

"...Got it."

Choi Eun-ha's aura exploded outward.

Space's texture shifted; the floor stones turned gold.

"As expected... humans love their hammering—kuhk!!"

Puk!!

Gerwon's jaw snapped back.

Choi Eun-ha had struck from the front, hammering upward.

Judging that quickly dispatching this elite and aiding me was the only way, as I said.

She closed in on Gerwon and began full combat.

Watching her for a moment, I stepped through the blood pool on the floor and slowly rose.

My body was heavy; my heart beat only to survive.

But that was enough.

The Vow of No Retreat kept me combat-ready.

I slowly drew the sword at my waist.

Its blade faintly reflected moonlight even in the darkness.

My hands weren't shaking.

My muscles were just priming for battle.

Arkin Low tilted his head slowly.

"...Planning to fight with that fatal wound? Bleeding out? On the verge of death?"

"...Yet looking at your face stirs memories of centuries ago. The final star mage slain by Lord Iganos."

"That foolish human, bereft of his star, wailing in vain."

"......"

I answered.

"If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you've lost your star..."

One step. Blood trickled from my mouth.

"...pick it up again."

Another step.

"...That's what it means to gaze at stars. Why I mastered them."

Finishing, I wrapped my body in Star Mana.

"So it wasn't mere illusion. You possess a star—the first in centuries?"

Arkin Low, spotting it, flashed a chilling smile.

"...Excellent. Star seeking light once more, show me a performance worthy of my worship."