Chapter 186
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Defying Heaven
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BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM―!!
Fierce footsteps thundered toward the Slaughter Monk.
In that instant, the Slaughter Monk raised one arm to block the golem's fist.
"Quite heavy."
In truth, the golem was smaller than the one Jun had summoned before, but the density of mana packed inside it was on another level entirely.
Enough to make even the Slaughter Monk, whose strength had waned somewhat, furrow his brow.
But the reason for his grimace wasn't just that.
Thud―!
Something heavy crashed onto the sand.
It was the Slaughter Monk's severed arm.
'I've been had.'
He hadn't been careless.
The Slaughter Monk never took the act of killing lightly.
It was a tribute to the sacrifices piled beneath the world he sought to create.
If Jun had heard that, he'd have spat out something about twisted logic and recoiled in disgust.
But right now, Jun had no attention to spare for the Slaughter Monk.
"Sir Teardin...!"
Jun rushed to the fallen Teardin and checked his condition.
As the price for severing the Slaughter Monk's arm, Teardin's shoulder had been completely crushed.
And not just that—the deathly aura of the Slaughter Monk's [Blood Cycle of Reincarnation] was gnawing at Teardin's entire body.
It wasn't limited to the point of contact; it spread like cancer throughout his body.
"Damn it!"
He hurriedly sprinkled a stamina potion over the wound.
Yet the injury showed no sign of healing, blood pouring out like a waterfall.
Even with a high-grade potion like this.
'He's already grown to that stage?'
This was far faster than the timeline in the game.
This ability hadn't even appeared in his aptitude readout.
'Connected to me again, huh.'
A curse slipped out involuntarily.
He was just struggling to survive, yet why did variables keep popping up like this?
But anger was useless in this situation.
Instead, Jun pulled a golden potion from his dimensional bracelet.
'Elenoa whined that she nearly died making this.'
She'd drilled into him to use it only in near-death situations.
But he had no choice now.
He carefully poured the golden potion into Teardin's mouth.
It was infused with Elenoa's holy power, her masterpiece from her recent dive into enchantment magic.
'Good.'
The curse-like mana of the Slaughter Monk slowly dissipated from Teardin's body.
And not stopping there, Jun sliced off Teardin's crushed arm with [Wind Cutter].
The mangled limb was beyond saving, its nerves dead. It would only spread the [Blood Cycle of Reincarnation] like a malignant tumor.
'It's working!'
Its effects far surpassed standard healing potions—not for nothing had Elenoa bragged about her masterpiece all day.
"Regenerating the arm... Whew. It's going well."
Golden particles shimmered at the severed stump.
Elenoa had borrowed concepts from the Ariclotos Church's holy site, using the body's residual bio-data to restore the original flesh.
It sounded impossible, but compared to the holy site's power, this was a diluted version.
'Still, regenerating a cleanly severed arm? That's insane enough.'
For an upper-tier priest like Elenoa to spend a full fortnight in prayer alone made it a potion of remarkable caliber.
Of course, the situation wasn't positive.
KABOOM―!!
Sandstorm whipped up once more.
Turning his head, Jun saw his summoned golem lying in ruins at the Slaughter Monk's feet.
"Benefactor. You've grown far more than a year ago."
"That's what I want to say. How are you handling that many vengeful spirits?"
"I've borrowed the power of the now-deceased Enverman. With his ritual, I implanted a fragment of a demon's heart here."
Jun clicked his tongue at the Slaughter Monk pointing to the back of his own head.
'Implanted a demon monster's heart fragment in his skull?'
It was beyond mad; even admiration felt inadequate.
"And now, Benefactor, you're alone."
"Tch..."
Teardin, who had staunchly blocked the front until now, was out of commission after claiming one arm.
The golem sent to check on him returned in tatters.
No one left to stand in the Slaughter Monk's way.
'Sorry, but...'
But a seasoned Blackout gamer always saw one or two moves ahead.
Planning for the worst of the worst.
Especially for a mage like Jun, where no mistakes were allowed, it was second nature.
"Who says no one can block you?"
"Hm?"
Only then did the Slaughter Monk survey his surroundings.
Jun's spells, which he thought he'd erased, were still holding.
Dozens of Iron Fists lay shattered on the ground, and steel walls stood firm like prison bars.
'No way...'
Were all those spells not just support for the knight?
"This is the first time I'm using this on you. Consider it an honor."
[Earth Gravity]
As Jun raised his hand toward the ground, the surrounding sand defied gravity and floated into the air.
Countless grains hung motionless in the void.
Sensing danger, the Slaughter Monk tried to leap through the sand toward Jun.
The steel walls summoned by 'Phantom' blocked his path.
At the same moment, Jun clenched his fist.
KRAKABOOM―!
The airborne sand compressed around the Slaughter Monk in an instant.
Whoosh!
Not only that, Jun used his grimoire to infuse metallic properties into each grain.
"What insane strength..."
The barely restrained Slaughter Monk.
But as he thrashed to shatter the compressed sand, mana drained like a breached dam.
"Ugh... It's been a while."
His mana circuits began glowing blue.
An overheat phenomenon he hadn't felt in ages.
'Even with the grimoire's help, pulling up that much attribute mana is too much.'
First time using it in real combat, plus adding attributes—it was taxing just to maintain.
But.
"Hoo..."
It was the most efficient spell for this environment, time bought with Teardin's life.
No way he'd waste it.
Jun immediately prepared [Heavenly Thunder].
[Multi-Chant]
[Volcanic Tornado]
[Ice Break]
Flames stormed in all directions, eternal permafrost spreading across the ground.
Heat and cold clashed, steam rising rapidly.
Dark clouds summoned overhead.
[Lightning Call: Variant - Thundercloud]
The massive firestorm narrowed, ominous cracks echoing from the sky.
But.
"Eup?!"
Suddenly, Jun clamped his mouth shut.
The blue-glowing mana circuits on his skin shifted to purple.
Mana consumption far exceeded his estimates for some reason.
And the cause was, naturally, the Slaughter Monk trapped in [Earth Gravity].
"You've grown tremendously, Benefactor."
Despite losing an arm and Teardin's aura permeating his body, hindering his power, the Slaughter Monk spoke from within the compressed sand.
'That mad bastard...!'
He struck the sand with aura laced with killing intent.
But close inspection showed it wasn't mere blows.
'He's generating shockwaves with aura!'
How much mana did it take for such insanity?
Like a martial arts film's penetrating punch, each swing disrupted the magic patterns massively.
That was the source of the mana drain.
"Damn it!"
Before completing [Heavenly Thunder], Jun made a decision.
He had to slam the unfinished version down.
He halted mana and imagery infusion, hastily directing [Heavenly Thunder] at the sand sphere.
KRAKABOOM―!
KABOOOOOM―!!
Incomplete or not, its power was no joke.
But the Slaughter Monk shattered [Earth Gravity] and escaped just before the strike.
Had he not moved at light speed, it would've been unavoidable.
"..."
"Frankly, I was quite surprised."
Dust cleared to reveal the Slaughter Monk emerging unscathed, not a thread singed, staring at Jun.
"Just one year. Until a year ago, three seconds was all I needed to snap your neck."
"...Monster bastard."
"Quite right. I've heard it countless times. Amid the sins I've committed, they wailed and called me monster."
"So? Feeling remorse now?"
"Hardly. I lack even the qualification for remorse. You, seeing this power, know that well enough."
He was spot on.
The Slaughter Monk's current form was the level 8 powerhouse Jun remembered from the game. Exactly.
"[Corpse Mountain Blood Sea]..."
His body bathed in dark crimson.
This technique emerged years later, when the Slaughter Monk lost to the protagonist Adrian in the game.
Phase 2 boss, so to speak.
'According to game dialogue, it shouldn't be complete for years.'
Wrong again.
As the future he knew warped further, Jun bit his lip.
He'd braced himself since meeting Aiden, but his presence was creating far more variables than expected.
Meanwhile, the Slaughter Monk's eyes widened at Jun's reaction.
"You know my [Blood Cycle of Reincarnation] well. How do you know its name?"
"None of your business..."
"True enough. The superiors call you a new vessel."
"Vessel? You mean to hold that damned outer god?"
"You've grasped that much. As you say, your body is deemed the perfect vessel for a god."
"So what? Want me to sell my body to an alien deity?"
"The hierarchy judges so. But I disagree, Benefactor."
"..."
Pure killing intent gleamed in his crimson eyes, mirroring his body.
Meeting that gaze, Jun felt an urge to flee this space—even if it meant death—to escape this moment.
"You intend to kill me."
"Indeed. To me, you are the heaven-defying vessel disrupting the world's flow."
Defying Heaven.
One who opposes the heavens.
From the Slaughter Monk's view, such a being who defied even divine fate was a mortal enemy to eliminate.
But so what?
Did that mean he'd die obediently?
"Sorry, but I have no plans to die easily..."
"Relying on that bizarre gauntlet?"
Jun gave a wry smile.
'He knows about it too.'
'Predator' was his spare life, so to speak.
'Given our gap, it's a pipe dream.'
Jun taunted anyway.
"Hardly. But you're not at full strength, are you?"
"..."
Obviously.
Forced level 8 entry. Suppressed via Enverman's ritual, but side effects lingered.
Then taking Teardin's intent-infused strike, and now overexerting amid the aftermath.
The Slaughter Monk didn't care.
"You're still deluded. Even so, killing you is easier than wringing a chicken's neck."
"Yeah? Let's test that."
As the words ended, 'Phantom' triggered [Earth Burst].
"Think this smoke screen will work on me?!"
Dust from the blast underfoot obscured his vision, but a single step scattered it.
"There!"
He swung at the sensed presence.
"...!"
But the Jun his fist pierced dissolved like mist.
"'See? Your mental strength is already tanking hard, right?'"
Front, back, everywhere—dozens of Jun's illusions swarmed.
The Slaughter Monk murmured low.
"...Illusion magic."
"'Correct.'"
[Mirror of Mosillas]
Normally, ineffective against a powerhouse like him.
Level 8 meant awakening one's imagery—intent—mental strength off the charts.
But not for this Slaughter Monk.
Off-condition, his mental strength teetered precariously now.
'Wonder how long it'll hold.'
He needed to buy time, even a little.
"Asura Salvartha. Seems you underestimate me, Benefactor."
"'What?'"
[Corpse Mountain Blood Sea - Blood Spray Man]
Blood coalesced above his open palm, swelling to head-size.
As he clenched his fist.
Jun was already moving.
He'd figured what that blood lump would do.
CRUNCH―!
KABOOOM―!!!
The blood exploded with horrific killing intent.
But Jun anticipated it.
He deployed [Iron Ramparts] around the Slaughter Monk via 'Phantom'.
"There!"
But the Slaughter Monk sensed the mana trace and punched that way.
The steel wall crumpled like tofu; he leaped from within.
[Enhancement: Memory Boost]
Jun countered with thought-acceleration magic focused on his eyes.
'Faster up close!'
Already quick, [Corpse Mountain Blood Sea] made him hard to track even accelerated.
The issue: eyes could react, body couldn't.
Expected for a mage.
'But...!'
If utterly unmatchable, he'd have fled from the start.
Whoosh!
[High-Speed Chant]
[Fire Wall]
[Shield]
[Enchantment: Enchant Supporter]
[Enchant Magic: Strength Convergence]
[Enchantment: Elemental Armory]
[Enchant Attribute: Gold]
[Enhancement: Elemental Body]
[Enchant Attribute: Gold]
[Enhancement: Strength Body]
'I've got ways to counter close-range foes!'
Fire walls flanked the Slaughter Monk, [Shield] between.
Constraining sides forced attacks Jun's way.
"Foolish tricks!"
The Slaughter Monk saw through it but charged head-on to smash the ploy.
'Coming!'
Physics-laden killing fist approached.
Double-enhanced, mana-infused, imagery-boosted [Shield].
Yet it shattered in under a second.
[Enchantment: Enchant Supporter]
[Shield]
Another [Shield] summoned in the gap.
New shields spawned every centimeter, vanishing on contact—repeating endlessly.
Yet the fist never slowed.
Monstrous, but in Jun's accelerated vision, different.
'Chest!'
Aim straight for the heart.
Jun positioned 'Predator' there.
Succeeding in blocking the blow.
But...
CRRRUSH...!!!
'What kind of fist is this...!'
Heavier than expected, even 'Predator' recoiled.
SPLAT!
BOOM!!
One strike filled 'Predator' to bursting; residual shock hit Jun full force.
"Guh...!!"
Without dual enhancements, his arm would've pulped like Teardin's.
Worse, [Blood Cycle of Reincarnation] aura invaded his flesh instantly.
Now he understood why Teardin blacked out from one hit.
"Kuh...!"
Level 5 vs. 8.
Surviving one strike was miraculous.
But the aftermath was gruesome.
Rolling multiple times twisted his knees wrong.
Arms that blocked directly were shredded muscle.
As agony threatened blackout, [Unyielding Will] and [Steadfast Heart] held his mind.
'Blocked it. Once.'
Messy state.
Body screaming for mercy.
Yet Jun grinned.
"You endured it after all."
Fire walls on both sides.
The Slaughter Monk glared down murderously from between.
But despite the bloodlust, he couldn't finish Jun.
Jun smirked up at him.
"You bastard... Told you. Not dying easy..."
A thin black thread dangled from his fingertip.
[Mental: Marionette Line]
The mind magic once used on the golem in the Black Forest.
A mere 3-circle spell, too weak for level 1s or even normals.
But with [Demon God Body]'s pure mana and Jun's long research, viable in limited scenarios.
'Your mental strength is wrecked.'
Perfect for the Slaughter Monk, pushed to mental limits by countless killing karmas.
"Even so, what can you do to me?"
Painful truth: Jun's body wrecked by that strike.
Couldn't even stand, arms too dead for bracelet or potions.
[Marionette Line] restrained movement at best.
Stalemate favored the dying Jun overwhelmingly.
"Heh... You thick-skulled idiot... Forgot your own words?"
"Hm?"
"Why stall? Because..."
A reliable ally had charged from the island's far side.
[Charge]
[Windstorm Gale]!!
Fierce, destructive winds cloaked the sword, slamming into the Slaughter Monk's chest moments later.
Living as a Mage in the Hero's Party Chapter 187