Chapter 126
Chapter 126
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 126
Chwareu-reu-.
White chains erupted from Baduki's entire body simultaneously with Leila's incantation.
This was the power of [Tears of Pontos], an artifact left by the Sea God Pontos, which had been equipped when creating the Behemoth suit and was now activating.
The pure white chains of divine power began to bind the massive Leviathan's body that was constricting Baduki.
Kuduk-.
The chains bound its massive jaws to prevent them from opening and attempted to pin its long body to the ground.
[Kuooo-!]
Leviathan roared loudly and writhed its entire body, resisting the divine chains that coiled around its elongated form.
Seo-jin observed this scene with narrowed eyes.
'The power contained in those chains is the sacred force that binds gods.'
They contained the power to seal Leviathan again, inheriting the legend that Pontos had once defeated and sealed the beast in battle.
Kudeuduk-.
However, contrary to expectations, the chains looked precarious, as if they might snap at any moment.
The ability to seal the beast was merely conceptual.
To actually execute it required appropriate power and suitable circumstances.
In other words, having the chains alone couldn't instantly seal a creature overflowing with power and running wild.
They needed to sufficiently drain the beast's stamina and neutralize it to make sealing easier.
He thought they had drained enough of its strength, but apparently it still wasn't sufficient.
"Baduki, try a bit harder."
[Keureu-reung-!]
At Seo-jin's encouragement—or lack thereof—Baduki exerted even more effort in its physical battle with Leviathan.
Udeuduk-.
It pressed down on the beast with its enormous weight to prevent it from breaking free from the chains and subdued it by biting its nape with massive jaws.
[Kuooooo-!]
Leviathan let out an ear-splitting roar of resistance.
Using its authority, it gathered surrounding water and forged it into sharp spear-like projectiles.
Then.
Pububuk-.
It shot those spears at Baduki, piercing through the thick hide and dealing damage.
[Keureu-reung-?]
However, despite being wounded, Baduki tilted its head as if nothing had happened.
Since pain receptors weren't connected, it couldn't feel pain.
For undead, pain was merely a useless hindrance.
However, not feeling pain didn't mean they could be careless—continued damage would reduce the suit's durability.
Kugung- kung-.
Leviathan engaged in desperate close combat, entangled with Baduki.
While Baduki had the advantage in physical size, this was the beast's home ground—the depths of the ocean.
The beast wasn't alone.
[Kuooo-!]
Deep-sea marine monsters began responding to its howl, gathering toward the city.
"Wh-what's that?"
"Deep-sea whales?"
"There are Dark Anglers too!"
Massive monsters revealed themselves one by one, cutting through the darkness.
From deep-sea whales that fed on magical power from thermal vents, to Dark Anglers that emitted magical light to lure prey. Giant turtle islands that had been drifting on the sea surface.
The Sea Folk trembled at the appearance of these massive marine monsters.
Creatures that normally couldn't even approach due to the city's barrier had revealed themselves upon hearing Leviathan's call.
"Guooooo-!"
Each of the deep-sea monsters was equivalent to a field boss.
They were colossal monsters that would require several parties of climbers at the appropriate level to barely defeat.
Seo-jin narrowed his eyes as he watched the marine monsters swarming like sharks drawn to blood.
While Baduki was receiving the Sea God's blessing thanks to [Tears of Pontos], this was essentially the beast's territory.
It would be difficult to handle all of them alone.
"Guooooo!"
The marine monsters that emerged from the darkness began attacking Baduki in swarms as it battled Leviathan.
But that wasn't all.
Kuung-.
Some of them even invaded Atlantis's walls and barriers, threatening the Sea Folk.
"Uwoot!"
"Dangerous!"
Without [Tears of the Sea God], Atlantis's barrier was currently weakened.
The entire city shook just from their massive bodies ramming into it.
The situation rapidly deteriorated due to Leviathan's final desperate struggle.
'Can't be helped.'
Eventually, Seo-jin decided to lend his strength to Baduki.
As an owner, he couldn't let his adorable pet fight terrifying monsters alone.
Seo-jin drew up the magical power within his body and extended his hand toward the deep-sea whale attacking Baduki.
Shwaaa-.
As he drew up magical power, a powerful storm of mana pushed away the surrounding water, creating a vacuum in the area.
Simultaneously, powerful magical energy surged at Seo-jin's fingertips.
Chirik-.
Seo-jin wove the magical power and unleashed the first technique of Transcending Heaven True Scripture inscribed into the world.
[Cheonroe (Heaven's Thunder).]
Lightning from the heavens striking down into the ocean depths.
Kureu-reung-.
The lightning of magical power that extended through the water as a medium pierced through the head of the deep-sea whale that had been charging at Baduki in a single strike.
Peoeong-!
[Buoooo-!]
The whale let out a death cry as a large hole formed in its body.
Thick fountains of blood spread in all directions, and the deep-sea whale's massive corpse collapsed onto the sandy beach.
Kuung-.
A notification window appeared before his eyes as he defeated the deep-sea whale.
[You have achieved the accomplishment, Monster Slayer II.]
[You have achieved the accomplishment, Whale Hunter.]
[You have leveled up.]
Seo-jin smiled while grasping his tingling arm.
'If it didn't burden my body, I could just keep hunting here.'
Marine monsters living in the sea had high stamina and grades, making them greatly advantageous for experience gain if they could be hunted stably.
Maybe he should settle down here for a while and focus only on leveling after this incident ended.
Unlike Seo-jin who was having idle thoughts, Nam-gung Cheon and Nam-gung Rin were staring at him in a daze, stunned by Seo-jin's firepower.
"……."
'He took that down in one shot?'
They knew he was strong from all the songs being sung about him as Nova and such, but to have firepower capable of defeating such a monster in a single strike?
It was an unbelievable sight even while witnessing it.
Since he mainly used undead and martial arts, they thought he might lack confidence in general black magic, but that was a huge miscalculation.
After defeating the deep-sea whale, Seo-jin gathered magical power once more and fired Cheonroe again.
Kwareu-reung-!
As a flash that shook the earth's axis extended outward.
Peoeong-!
Both the ghost shark made entirely of bones and the super-giant moray eel rivaling Leviathan in size exploded instantly.
Chunks of blood and flesh scattered throughout the deep sea.
Their once-proud massive bodies had been reduced to mere blood and chunks of meat.
"……."
Like the Nam-gung siblings, the Sea Folk who witnessed Seo-jin's divine power were equally shocked.
But their reason for being surprised was different.
Kkwaaak-.
The Sea Folk gripped their spears and harpoons tightly.
They weren't simply amazed by the power Seo-jin had displayed.
What truly shocked them was realizing that even such gigantic monsters were beings that could bleed and die.
The manifestations of terror that had forced the Sea Folk to hide within the city's barrier had been proven to be nothing more than creatures of flesh and blood like themselves.
"……."
Finally, those monsters were no longer entities they had to flee from, but opponents they could fight and defeat.
Bureu-reu-.
The Sea Folk's bodies trembled.
This shock soon transformed from simple amazement into a kind of rage.
This was due to the years they had spent trembling in fear while watching those creatures lurk beyond the barrier.
Reading the atmosphere, Leila shouted vigorously.
"Everyone, take up your spears and harpoons! Do you intend to leave those monsters trying to destroy our city solely to the stranger's hands?"
"……!"
"The arrogant king, Sea Dragon Leviathan, is bound by Pontos's seal and cannot move, so there's nothing to worry about! The priests will protect you all, so fight against those monsters!"
Leviathan, the mythical monster that had torn through barriers and defensive walls like paper, was currently subdued by Pontos's chains.
The other marine monsters were strong, but not to the degree that they couldn't be fought.
They had actually seen Seo-jin explode and kill several of them.
"Right, let's fight!"
"How long are we going to keep hiding!"
The thought that they could handle this much took root in the Sea Folk's minds.
Moreover, Leila's speech ignited their hearts.
As Leila said, what could save the Sea Folk was neither that evil dragon nor the Sea God.
Only by fighting and seizing victory themselves could they bring true peace.
Reading the Sea Folk's reaction, Leila immediately put her words into action.
"Deactivate the city's defensive barrier! Use that divine power to protect the troops!"
Leila ordered the priests to deactivate the massive barrier that had been protecting Atlantis.
Instead, she instructed them to use that divine power to protect the Sea Folk engaging in battle.
Uung-.
Faint white protective barriers of divine power appeared around the Sea Folk's bodies.
With the protective barriers, they wouldn't die helplessly if caught up in the monsters' attacks.
Leila looked upon the Sea Folk who were curiously observing the protective barriers surrounding their bodies.
'This battle isn't just about repelling those marine monsters.'
It was a golden opportunity to overcome the helplessness and sense of defeat carved by the overwhelming terror called Leviathan.
And an opportunity for the divided ocean races to unite their strength and achieve harmony once again.
Chief Candra, who met Leila's eyes, leaped down from the castle wall and shouted thunderously.
"Everyoneeee- chargeeee!"
As the tribal chief led the way, the Sea Folk of the Sword Scale tribe and other Sea Folk followed behind, gripping their spears tightly.
"Waaa!!"
The Sea Folk, their morale soaring, began climbing down the castle walls and charging at the marine monsters.
Their momentum as they rushed toward the monsters like a swarm of ants was unbelievable for those who had tucked their tails and fled from Leviathan's attacks.
Moreover, it was quite pleasing to see those who had once pointed blades at each other unite as one against a common enemy.
Seo-jin watched the scene silently before speaking to the Nam-gung siblings.
"We should go too. We can't lose to the Sea Folk."
In the midst of the noisy battle raging on.
[Transcending Heaven True Scripture (Wolcheonjingyeong), Bongshingyeol (God Binding Knot)]
Kkwaaak-.
Seo-jin bound Leviathan's body even more tightly with chains that bind gods, allowing Pontos's seal to gain more power.
Not stopping there, he went a step further, using Mixed Origin Unity with the power of Pasa to mercilessly pummel the beast.
Peoeok- peok-.
The scales were so hard his fists felt like they might shatter, but focusing attacks on areas wounded by Baduki's attacks was definitely effective.
"Kill! Kill them!"
"Let's hold a festival with their meat!"
"Uwaa!"
The Sea Folk also began sinking the marine monsters one by one like primitive humans hunting mammoths, throwing spears and harpoons.
As hundreds of spears and harpoons pierced their skin, murky clouds of blood spread through the ocean.
To the Sea Folk who had overcome their fear, the marine monsters were merely large and sturdy targets.
"Grooo!"
The marine monsters howled in pain and tried to crush the Sea Folk, but things didn't go as intended due to the protective barriers of divine power.
The marine monsters didn't possess the authority to crush magical power like Leviathan.
"Waaa!"
The Sea Folk's cheers grew louder each time marine monsters fell, scattering blood.
These were cheers celebrating victory, but also cries containing years of grief and anger.
The Sea Folk who had defeated the monsters also threw spears and harpoons at Leviathan.
"Die!"
"Return our Queen!"
The Sea Folk's attacks, which held no mysteries, couldn't harm Leviathan, but that wasn't important.
Leviathan, whom Queen Lunaria of the Sea Dragon tribe had sacrificed herself to bring back to this land.
But the beast wasn't the savior they had so long awaited, nor the king who would open a new era.
It was nothing more than a tyrant that destroyed everything in sight indiscriminately.
Seo-jin deflected the rain of spears and blades with protective energy while speaking to the tightly bound Leviathan.
"Hey, can you hear it? The Sea Folk's cries?"
[…….]
At Seo-jin's question, Leviathan's voice, which had only consisted of roars until now, was transmitted into his mind.
[I have no interest in whatever noise the insects make.]
"Really? Then who's the one lying there after being beaten by those insects?"
Seo-jin climbed onto Leviathan and firmly stepped on it.
The beast probably couldn't feel the sensation, but being trampled by a mere human should have been unpleasant.
However, the beast didn't seem particularly bothered.
It even praised Seo-jin.
[No, you're different from those insects in class. A being who climbs the Tower is fundamentally different from beings recorded in the Tower.]
"……."
[Moreover, you're receiving the attention of many great beings. Having subdued the Demon Lord's heart and inscribed your own concept into the world. Being defeated by such a being isn't particularly shameful. It's merely a conclusion according to the flow of fate.]
Kwadeuduk-.
The binding force of the white chains restraining its body grew even stronger.
Pontos's power was scattering the beast's divine nature.
As if it no longer had the strength to maintain its physical form, its body began turning into foam as it had when it first appeared.
The beast flashed its eyes one last time and accepted its fate.
[……This outing ends here, it seems. I'll be waiting at a higher place, Tower Climber.]
"Yeah, I'll come find you soon."
Seo-jin pulled out one small tooth from Baduki's mouth.
Puuk-.
And pierced the beast's spiritual core.