The Witch of Binding, Part 3
Squelch... squelch...
Indigo tentacles wriggled out from her split abdomen.
Since his skill was active, Jin-hyuk's speed and strength were unrealistically fast.
The Star Destruction Sword Technique alone won't be enough.
Although he didn't know the exact nature of the Banished Constellation's power, it was obvious that something unusual was happening.
He needed a safety net, at the very least.
Lightning Strike
Crackle!
Firing holy fire from one hand, he unleashed golden lightning wrapped around the other.
The Wailing Ghosts and the failed creations clumped together to block his path, but they were torn apart like paper.
You have defeated the Sacrifice of an Unknown Entity. x5
You have gained experience. x5
You have defeated a Wailing Ghost. x13
You have gained experience. x13
But there was a reason why numbers mattered.
The Wailing Ghosts, failed creations, and tentacles piled on top of one another, successfully buying Chardis the time she needed.
Even if it was only a few seconds.
"Hehehehe... Hehe..."
Her voice returning to normal, Chardis rolled her eyes back and laughed.
"It's still incomplete... but it's better than losing everything..."
Crackle!
At that moment, the golden lightning surged forward, piercing and burning Chardis's abdomen.
Slash!
Jin-hyuk's sword, enveloped in the white holy fire, sliced clean through Chardis.
"..."
Chardis's body was split perfectly in two, and all the failed creations around them froze in place.
The tentacles that had been pressing Jin-hyuk shuddered, convulsed, and then went limp as if dead.
The ominous indigo tentacles were completely reduced to ashes by the golden lightning and white flames.
"...Damn it."
But Jin-hyuk knew this wasn't the end.
"Screeech! Aaaaargh!"
"Eeeeeee! Eeeeeee!"
The surrounding Wailing Ghosts desperately swarmed Jin-hyuk, trying to tear him apart.
For uncontrolled Wailing Ghosts to move in such an organized fashion was impossible without some external force guiding them.
Most importantly, there was no system message announcing the defeat of Chardis, the Witch of Binding.
Truth-Seeking Eye
"Over there?"
Any other player would have stared blankly, having lost Chardis like a dog chasing a chicken, but Jin-hyuk had his "eyes."
"Where do you think you're going in such a hurry?"
But at that moment, Jin-hyuk felt his legs, arms, and entire body grow heavy.
Ah.
It wasn't that he had actually become heavier.
The duration of his buff had ended, causing his amplified stats to drop back to normal.
As a result, his body felt relatively heavy.
Swoosh!
Not missing the brief window where Jin-hyuk slowed down, Chardis began to flee.
Jin-hyuk smirked as he watched the direction she was heading.
I guess I can take my time.
Whew... That was close.
As a spirit, she couldn't break out in a cold sweat, but she felt as if she had.
Flustered, Chardis desperately moved her soul.
What kind of monster is he...?
Splitting her own abdomen after quickly assessing the situation had been a stroke of genius.
Tsk. Forcibly transferring a soul is no easy task...
Because she had fled in such a rush, exactly half of the Banished Constellation's power she had accumulated was lost.
But she had no regrets.
If she had stayed, Jin-hyuk would have closed the distance and finished her.
I wouldn't have been able to handle him.
She still possessed numerous curses, spells, and even the secret arts of the Blood Sect, but she knew she couldn't defeat him.
Despite his appearance, Jin-hyuk was meticulous, planning out every single detail.
A body immune to curses.
Holy power that was fatal to Wailing Ghosts and failed creations.
Armor that blocked almost all magic, and swordsmanship that completely overwhelmed her.
From Chardis's perspective, she couldn't help but think he had known she was here and prepared specifically for her.
The truth, however, was that Jin-hyuk had simply accumulated enough diverse powers to handle any opponent he might face.
But there is still a chance.
Swoosh...
It's still incomplete... but the vessel. If only I can get into the vessel...
Fortunately, Jin-hyuk's movements were slowing down.
It was thanks to the buff he had cast on himself wearing off.
With the Wailing Ghosts guarding her and clinging to Jin-hyuk, she could buy enough time.
His companion, Russell Mighty, was wrapped in tentacles due to his massive size, unable to do anything but squirm.
There it is...!
Sure enough, despite her orders, the vessel meant for Majuron was still far from reaching the 15th floor.
She didn't know whether to be glad there was a body to enter or angry at her subordinates who couldn't follow a simple order.
Chardis's soul flew straight toward the Ghostly Vessel.
The Ghostly Vessel.
It was already over ninety percent complete, with only the final touches remaining.
If she entered that body, she could control even more Wailing Ghosts, along with the tentacles and failed creations.
If she was lucky, she could even merge the surrounding spirits to control Ice-Sinking Ghosts.
If so, she could easily kill that giant steel titan.
And she could somehow kill that monster Jin-hyuk, who had nothing going for him but his handsome face.
Almost there...
Just as Chardis was about to transfer into the Ghostly Vessel.
"Russeeeeeeell—!"
A roar echoed from somewhere.
...?
"—Mighhhhhhhty!"
Thud!
A man came charging forward.
He moved with unrealistic speed, sending her subordinates flying into the air.
His massive body was like a charging rhinoceros. Even though he ran in a straight line, he was far faster than Chardis, who was flying through the air.
W-What on earth is that...!
Judging by his appearance, it was definitely Russell Mighty.
No, he was definitely wrapped in the tentacles...
Chardis quickly turned her spiritual head to look to the side.
...!
Looking closely now, the head of the giant steel titan was completely hollow.
He used that giant thing as a decoy...?
Russell, who possessed the power of the Bulgasari, had discarded the steel giant shell as a decoy and slipped out in his true body.
Damn it all!
She hadn't noticed.
It wasn't because Chardis was careless or lacked ability.
It was because Jin-hyuk had kept her so focused on their battle that she couldn't afford to look away for even a second.
No wonder... No wonder he pushed me so hard!
He wasn't just trying to kill her; he was making sure she couldn't look elsewhere.
No!
Panicking, Chardis flew toward the Ghostly Vessel with all her might.
But Russell was too fast.
Even though the old monks of the Potala Palace, who had inherited the Blood Sect's power, and the failed creations blocked his path, it was meaningless.
"Screeech!"
"Graaaah!"
He ignored the Wailing Ghosts that lunged at him and kept running.
No matter how fast the Wailing Ghosts were, they couldn't keep up with Russell's speed.
Even if they did, they couldn't pierce Russell's steel-like skin and dense muscles.
"Woohoo!"
With a thunderous shout, Russell reached the gate.
"What the hell?!"
"Is he wearing armor or what?"
"Why is his body so huge?"
"Armor...? A giant...?"
Crash!
Shoving aside the witches trying to stop him, Russell reached out and grabbed the Ghostly Vessel.
No!
Chardis arrived at the vessel's location at the exact same time.
It's not too late!
If I enter the vessel now and control the Wailing Ghosts and Ice-Sinking Ghosts, I can escape! If all else fails, I can sacrifice some of my Banished power to summon a Soul-Burning Ghost...!
The moment she threw her soul forward to enter the vessel.
Snatch!
Russell snatched the Ghostly Vessel away.
This bastard...
Having it snatched right from under her nose felt like a deliberate taunt.
You filthy barbarian!
Chardis lunged her soul forward again, but Russell snatched the vessel away right in front of her face once more.
Jin-hyuk, watching from afar, couldn't help but smirk.
It was like watching a Turkish ice cream vendor back on Earth, teasing a customer by moving the cone back and forth right in front of their face.
Aaaaargh!
It was driving Chardis absolutely insane. She was so close, yet so far.
Just a little bit more. If she could just touch it, she could enter the vessel, but she couldn't reach it, and it was agonizing.
Kyaaaaah!
While she was throwing a fit, Jin-hyuk arrived before she knew it.
Gasp!
Chardis gasped in terror at the sight of Jin-hyuk, who looked like a Grim Reaper coming to drag her to the Underworld.
"Had fun?" Jin-hyuk asked.
"Bwahahaha! That was quite a show!" Russell roared with laughter.
Ugh...
The sight of Jin-hyuk cooled Chardis's burning rage instantly.
In its place, a cold sense of reality and fear filled her soul.
I need to run.
Russell might not be able to harm spiritual entities, but now that Jin-hyuk—who could wield the holy fire—was here, fleeing was her only option.
For now, I'll just possess one of the high witches...
Soul Bind
...even if it's temporary.
But under Jin-hyuk's overwhelming pressure, even her soul froze in terror.
Jin-hyuk slowly reached out toward the frozen Chardis.
Nightmare
Bzzzzzt!
Aaaaargh!
The agonizing pain of lightning directly striking her soul surged through her.
Along with that pain, system messages filled Chardis's vision.
Soul Transfer is being activated.
Due to the opponent's skill, the activation has been forcibly canceled.
[*War*ing! You have been afflicted with *Nightmare*.]
[*** *****.]
"Ugh..."
Chardis opened her eyes.
"What is this...?"
The scene that unfolded before her was a place filled with countless corpses and tentacles.
"..."
Looking down at herself, she realized she was back in that state.
"No... no..."
A withered, bent body.
A pathetic body with little time left to live, standing on the brink of death.
Yes.
It was her old, worthless, and ugly body from before she met her mother, Majuron.
"You really are something else."
Step. Step.
In the distance, someone was walking through the tentacles and corpses.
A figure clad in pure white armor, carrying a massive sword.
An overwhelming presence that looked as if he could burn the entire world to ashes with the white flames surrounding him.
It was Lee Jin-hyuk.
"Did you start by devouring your own children and grandchildren?"
"..."
The corpses Jin-hyuk was looking at were Chardis's own children, and the children they had borne in turn.
"What do you know...?"
Chardis clenched her wrinkled, withered fingers.
"They are nothing but consumables! I gave birth to them myself, so what is wrong with me consuming them to gain youth and power...?"
"Ah. You seem to be misunderstanding something."
Jin-hyuk's eyes flashed.
They were cold, golden eyes.
"I have no intention of giving you a lecture on morality."
"W-What do you mean...?"
"Don't you get it?"
He stepped closer.
"The moment you entered this space, I read most of your memories through your nightmare."
"...!"
"I was just surprised to find out you're an even bigger piece of trash than I thought."
Jin-hyuk raised Holy Annihilation.
"Now that I have the information, there's no reason to keep an irredeemable piece of trash like you alive."
"N-No... Do you have any idea how hard I worked to survive this long...?"
"..."
"Please, spare me...!"
Slash!
Jin-hyuk's sword sliced through Chardis.
"You're better off..."
It was a precise, clean strike.
"...just dying."
The moment Jin-hyuk completely cut Chardis down.
The nightmare of tentacles shattered, and system messages rang out.
You have defeated Chardis, the Witch of Binding.
You have defeated the dungeon boss, clearing the Hidden Dungeon.