Chapter 148
Chapter 148
Chapter 148
Robert drew his shield with a stern expression.
That resolute appearance was no different from what I had seen before my regression.
While he remained hostile toward Seo-jin the black mage, aside from that, his original personality was upright and honest.
Though that honesty leaned more toward his own dogmatism than pure goodness, it still wasn't as twisted as Ju Won-jae's beliefs.
Seo-jin shrugged his shoulders while casually dismissing Robert's determined gaze.
"Well, fine."
He would have to clash with the strategy team sooner or later anyway.
Seo-jin looked over Robert, who was guarding against him with his shield raised.
'Robert was originally a troublesome opponent.'
Black mage versus paladin. An incompatible matchup that couldn't be overturned no matter what methods were used.
Just like how Gu-ren's outstanding magical talent had been useless before Seo-jin's Dispel Magic.
Before the divine blessing obtained through divine power, black magic was truly useless.
Moreover, his opponent wasn't a priest specialized in healing, but a paladin specialized in combat.
And among paladins, Robert of the strategy team was running at the highest stock price.
Fighting such a person with black magic?
This was no different from throwing oneself into a fiercely blazing furnace with just a single ice blade.
That's what compatibility meant.
The Seo-jin from before regression wouldn't have even dared to fight.
But now.
Crack-.
'I can stand against him.'
The current Seo-jin was at least 10 times stronger than at this point before regression.
'Moreover, this place is the 37th floor.'
Seo-jin looked up at the dark sky where not a single point of light entered.
This was a place where divine power was reduced by more than 30% due to the dark god Lunaris's authority.
This meant Robert's current full power was less than 70%. The conditions couldn't be more optimal for fighting.
"Come."
Robert yielded the first move.
"Stay back for a moment. As far as possible."
Seo-jin told Nam-gung Rin to stay far away, then drew up the power of Reverse Heaven.
Chiritt-.
A powerful force that reversed the mana circuits throughout his entire body.
Though black magic could only exert about half its power against divine power, its inherent defense-ignoring characteristic still applied.
If he could just produce overwhelming output, it wasn't impossible to pummel a paladin with black magic.
'If compatibility puts me at a disadvantage, I'll cover it with output.'
If you truly wanted to cool a boiling furnace with ice, you could just bring a massive glacier and slam it in.
This was a chance to attempt the crazy feat he had only theorized about and imagined.
[Baptismus Tenebrarum.]
8th Circle black magic, Baptism of Darkness.
His vision flickered black and white.
Black mana waves erupted like a waterfall from Seo-jin's fingertips, sweeping the surroundings.
Kwaaaaaa-!
Unlike other black magic, this was magic that originated solely from [destruction] and [output], and excluding Transcending Heaven True Scripture, it was the maximum output black magic Seo-jin could currently use.
Robert cast divine magic while watching the waterfall of darkness rushing toward him.
"Lord, grant this lamb the strength to endure trials."
Hwaaak-!
Brilliant light burst from the cross pattern carved on his shield, and soon a wall of divine power appeared before him.
[Gate of the Holy Temple]
Tuuung-.
A massive wall shining brilliantly with golden light.
Seo-jin's Baptism of Darkness poured over it.
Kwarrr-.
The baptism of black magic that had been rushing forward, sweeping everything as if to devour it all, was blocked by the golden wall and could advance no further.
Seeing that collision, Seo-jin instinctively realized.
'Still too much for now.'
Robert's defense was solid. More so than any other climbers he had seen so far.
Not only the compatibility between black magic and divine power, but also his trait, [Stalwart Defense], had a significant effect.
The ability to reduce damage taken by 30%.
Of course, if he used the Energy Core to increase output further, he might be able to pierce through that solid defense, but...
"Lord, grant me the power to punish the wicked!"
Flash-.
Robert didn't give him that luxury.
Brilliant spears of divine power illuminated the dark sky and soon fell above Seo-jin's head.
Kwaaaaaa-!
Seo-jin had no choice but to stop casting black magic and dodge with Blink.
Those divine spears couldn't be blocked with black magic or sent away with Dimension Wall.
Defensive magic and dimensional barriers would tear like tissue paper before divine power.
The moment Seo-jin dodged, the waterfall-like baptism of black magic ceased, and Robert, seizing the opportunity, immediately moved.
Pat-.
An unbelievable speed for someone wearing heavy plate armor.
He charged at Seo-jin, closed the distance, raised his shield high, and slammed it down on the ground.
"Holy Smite!"
Simultaneously.
Puuung-!
A powerful explosion of divine power erupted from beneath Seo-jin's feet.
Before being caught in that explosion, Seo-jin used Mixed Origin Black Flash Step to quickly escape the range of divine power.
"Black Chain."
Charrrr-.
Having gained distance, Seo-jin shot out chains of black magic to bind Robert and prevent his approach, but.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Paaaat-.
When Robert explosively spread divine power around his body, the Black Chain couldn't withstand it and disappeared as particles.
Mediocre output black magic couldn't even reach Robert.
But if he poured massive amounts of mana, he needed time to concentrate, and against Robert who charged forward with his high defense, there was no such opportunity.
This was the typical combat pattern between a paladin and black mage.
Even a black mage with Seo-jin's level of capability would find it difficult to overcome this compatibility difference.
However,
'That's only the limitation of the current black magic system.'
Then he would suppress him with a higher grade of black magic.
[Transcending Heaven True Scripture, Severance]
Pit-.
His vision momentarily twisted askew as if split.
More precisely, space itself had been split.
"!"
Sensing something ominous, Robert stopped in place and erected a barrier again.
Hwaaak-.
The golden wall that boasted its majesty again with brilliant light.
However,
Seugeok-.
Severance lightly cut through even the wall of divine power he had erected.
The effect of Severance wasn't limited to that alone.
The tip of the shield Robert was holding was also cut off along with the golden wall.
Tunggeureung-.
The end portion of the shield rolling on the ground as scrap metal.
"Huh...!"
Robert was flustered by the completely unexpected situation.
He never would have imagined there could be an opponent who could cut through his defense so easily.
Seo-jin didn't miss that opening.
[Transcending Heaven True Scripture, God Binding Knot]
Charrrr-.
Chains that bind gods seal even the connection to divinity. If bound by these, one cannot use divine power.
"Tch!"
Robert tried to repel the God Binding Knot by bursting out divine power like he had done with the Black Chain before, but,
Chirik-.
The God Binding Knot didn't yield to divine power and continued straight forward to bind his limbs.
Eventually, Robert gave up trying to stop the God Binding Knot and began dodging left and right.
He had instinctively realized that Transcending Heaven True Scripture was a new black magic system that didn't yield to divine power.
But Seo-jin, targeting Robert as he dodged, stomped his foot hard.
"Where are you going?"
[Reverse Heaven Divine Art, 4th Form. Reign Step]
Jjeueok-.
At the same time, the ground split radially, and the energy of Reverse Heaven burst forth, blocking Robert's path.
Taking advantage of that gap.
Kkudeudeuk-.
The God Binding Knot bound Robert's limbs, constraining him so he couldn't move.
Then.
[Transcending Heaven True Scripture, Heaven's Thunder.]
Flash-.
Lightning that tore through the sky pierced Robert's body.
"Kraaaak!"
Robert, pierced by Heaven's Thunder, writhed in pain and screamed.
No matter how much he boasted the strongest defense among climbers, he couldn't remain unharmed after taking a direct hit from Heaven's Thunder.
But he didn't lose consciousness, nor did he seem to have lost his fighting spirit.
This was probably thanks to the divine training techniques possessed by high-ranking paladins.
No matter how much damage they took, there was a brake that kicked in at certain health intervals, limiting the maximum health that could be lost in one hit.
This was also why paladins could serve as tanks in massive raids like boss battles.
'If he won't fall in one shot.'
Flash- Flash-!
Seo-jin continued firing Heaven's Thunder at Robert.
"Kraaaak!"
Along with Robert's gradually intensifying screams, the burden on Seo-jin's body also continued to accumulate.
Continuous use of Heaven's Thunder was a great strain, but this was the only method available now.
Regular black magic wouldn't even work, and if he recklessly used the high-level magic from the latter part of Transcending Heaven True Scripture, the efficiency would drop due to the maximum health brake.
How much time had passed like that?
Robert, repeatedly pierced by Heaven's Thunder, soon dropped his head while completely battered.
"...Huu, huu."
Robert finally acknowledged defeat.
After catching his breath for a while, he looked up at Seo-jin with eyes that couldn't understand.
After acknowledging defeat, questions about why he was defeated naturally followed.
Seo-jin shrugged and said.
"Why? Surprised? Divine power can also be defeated by black magic."
Basically, divine power held the upper hand in compatibility, but even that compatibility was infinitely trivial compared to differences in grade.
In other words, the grade contained in Seo-jin's Transcending Heaven True Scripture was higher than the grade of divine magic Robert used.
'Borrowed power degrades in grade during the process.'
Even if the owner of divine power was a being of higher grade than Seo-jin, the moment that power manifested through Robert, its grade dropped significantly.
Even more so on this 37th floor.
"......"
Robert bit his lips silently.
It wasn't the defeat of divine power. His own strength was simply insufficient.
"I acknowledge it, I lost. But,"
Robert raised his head and hardened his face with determination.
"My defeat doesn't prove that you're right. It only proved that you're stronger than me."
"Still stiff-necked. Aren't you afraid of dying? Before an 'evil' black mage."
Seo-jin gathered the power of Heaven's Thunder at his fingertips once again.
Chiritt-.
Robert looked at the fearsome power gathering at Seo-jin's fingertips and swallowed hard.
"If you're going to kill me... kill me."
While saying this, he dropped his head with a sigh.
An appearance of having no particular attachment to life.
Had he judged there was no hope of survival after continuously hearing information that Seo-jin was cruel?
Or perhaps...
Seo-jin looked at Robert's appearance of meekly accepting death and recalled a piece of information.
'There was a condition that if Robert died during a mission, the corporation would take responsibility for caring for his daughter and family.'
The reason he meekly acknowledged defeat and waited for death was probably because of that.
However, what his daughter needed wasn't a guarantee for the future, but her father.
Seo-jin clicked his tongue and withdrew the energy from his fingertips.
"Forget it. What use is some stinking man's neck."
Nothing would be gained by killing Robert here.
It would only slow down the speed of climbing to the final floor.
And having won a fight under these conditions, he couldn't even brag about it anywhere.
It was a victory obtained by defeating an opponent whose divine power had dropped by 30% due to the 37th floor's environment.
When Seo-jin said he wouldn't kill him, Robert snorted and said.
"Soft."
"Why, am I a little different from the vicious Nova you'd heard about?"
"......"
Robert looked at Seo-jin again with hardened eyes.
Hostility still darkly clouding his pupils.
This was a natural reaction.
As Robert was sponsored by Darkrock, he would have been exposed to many articles and information that slandered Seo-jin.
Darkrock, which had instigated this fight, had naturally painted Seo-jin as absolute scum and stimulated Robert's sense of justice.
Seo-jin said.
"Don't believe information others pass on at face value, but see with your own eyes and judge. If I were such a vicious person, would there be people following me?"
"That's because you..."
"Hold their weaknesses and shake them?"
Well, it might not be entirely wrong. He hadn't gathered the members of the Reverse Heaven Society purely through goodwill.
There were cases like Nam-gung Cheon and Francesca whom he had forcibly subdued, and he had also won them over by putting forward benefits.
But Seo-jin believed. That at least now, there was no one who was forcibly following him around.
Charrrr-.
Seo-jin released the God Binding Knot and freed Robert.
Only then was Robert released from his restraints and able to properly control his body.
He rubbed his aching wrists and said to Seo-jin.
"I'm grateful for today's kindness. But I can't promise I won't be hostile in the future."
"What tremendous conviction. I hope your thoughts change in the future."
"......"
Even at Seo-jin's sarcastic words, Robert didn't respond.
Instead, he picked up the severed shield fragment and slowly disappeared into the darkness beyond.
Watching his retreating figure, he seemed to have many thoughts.
Seo-jin watched that form until he disappeared, then.
[Reverse Heaven Divine Art, 8th Form. Three Perfections Divine Fire]
Hwareuk-.
He hurriedly burned away the burden accumulated in his body.
Having overused Transcending Heaven True Scripture, his body's interior was in complete chaos.
"Keuuk."
After spewing flames through his fingertips for a while, Seo-jin clutched his throbbing head and knelt down.
Then Nam-gung Rin hurriedly approached and offered a mana cigarette.
"A-Are you alright? Quickly, take this."
Seo-jin lit the cigarette with the flames of Three Perfections Divine Fire and absorbed the spiritual medicine's energy.
While puffing away at the cigarette to manage his chaotic energy, Seo-jin said with trembling hands.
"...Not really alright."
Compared to the backlash from Reverse Root Flood he had used when subduing the Director before, this was less severe, but it was still quite an overexertion.
Back then he had been bedridden for a week after the test ended, but this time it seemed he'd be unconscious for a day or two.
But he couldn't pass out yet. There was work to be done.
Seo-jin propped up his staggering legs, got up from his position, and approached a nearby mana anomaly region.
Robert had withdrawn, but he didn't know when other members of the strategy team might come and interfere.
"First, let's go stick in the wedge."