Chapter 178
Chapter 178
Chapter 178
Blink-.
As it lifted its eyelids, red eye-light gleamed brightly in the deep darkness.
Giant pupils illuminating the surroundings reddishly like a siren announcing a warning.
Seo-jin received that eerie gaze and shouted.
"Everyone prepare for battle!"
Clang-.
As the members formed a formation centered on Zieg holding the holy sword and shield.
[Guoooo-!]
It roared, announcing the start of battle.
Ting-.
[Entering boss battle.]
[Lake Monster Nessie LV. 550]
[Unique trait 'Whirlpool' is deployed.]
[Area Debuff: Agility Decrease (High)]
[Area Debuff: Movement Speed Decrease (High)]
[Area Debuff: Fear (High)]
[Area Debuff: (High)]
Along with the list of debuffs appearing in succession before their eyes, the flow of water currents changed.
The lake's whirlpool that had been majestically sucking in surrounding mana and water began gradually growing larger in response to Nessie's unique trait.
Shwaaa-.
Gravitational pull that grew increasingly powerful as the whirlpool's radius gradually expanded.
From the fine sand on the lake bottom to sediments like bones, everything began being sucked toward Nessie like a black hole according to the water current's gravitational pull.
The Reverse Heaven Society members were no exception.
"Kugh!"
"Be careful!"
A powerful water current flow far exceeding the effect of the Aquamarine Stones that allowed free movement even underwater.
Since the sand on the bottom, the water, everything was being sucked in, there wasn't even a support to grab and endure.
Eventually, the members had no choice but to endure by staking their respective weapons into the ground.
At that moment.
"Everyone behind me!"
Zieg deployed divine magic while resisting the whirlpool's gravitational pull with his shield staked into the ground.
[Barrier of the Holy Temple]
Flash-.
A divine citadel clearly revealing its form in this place filled entirely with darkness.
A large fortress wall woven from divine power formed centered on Zieg, protecting a certain area.
"Phew. We're alive."
"Thank you, Zieg-kun."
The members who entered within the barrier finally caught their breath and looked at the surrounding scenery.
Shwashwashwa-.
The scene of pitch-black muddy water passing at rapid flow beyond the sacred barrier.
Large rocks, bones of giant creatures, monster corpses and so on—deadly sediments were being sucked into the current, tearing apart everything around them.
A situation similar to a tsunami.
While tsunamis are sufficiently lethal just with their tremendous impact force and terrifying flow speed, the true threat is said to be in the sharp objects floating in the water following that rapid flow.
Gooo-.
In a situation where not even an inch of visibility could be secured, if they were wrongly swept up in that tremendous whirlpool, they could be swept along helplessly in the current and die instantly from being hit by blind stones or attacks.
"Damn, how are we supposed to face that here? It wasn't this bad even during Atlantis."
Nam-gung Rin and Francesca, who had participated in the quest together on the 20th floor, nodded in agreement.
Though the scale of battle may have been larger then, looking just at the battlefield situation, now was worse.
Compared to then when Atlantis's city barrier was holding, this was inside a whirlpool where there wasn't even a place to control one's body.
However, Seo-jin calmly proceeded with the plan without panic.
"This level of resistance was within expected range. We just need to proceed as planned."
It was predicted that the creature blocking the spirits' circulation passage would use that whirlpool to attack.
Having reassured the members, Seo-jin summoned Glize and asked her.
"Glize. Deploy your Mental Image Barrier."
The barrier Glize had used when fighting Seo-jin in the training ground recently.
That was the core element for clearing this boss battle.
[...]]
Gooo-.
As soon as she was summoned, Glize grasped that the situation was serious and quickly accepted Seo-jin's command.
[Understood. But I can only hold that monster for about ten-odd minutes.]
"That's enough. Se-yeon, Nam-gung Cheon, Francesca will enter the barrier interior with me. The rest support Zieg."
"Just leave it to us!"
Leaving behind So-yul's vigorous answering voice.
Flash-.
A storm of pure white cold air burst forth from Glize.
Shaaaa-.
This storm of cold air encroached upon the lake bottom that had been churned up by the powerful current flow, creating a new world.
Soon the view that had been entirely darkness and whirlpool changed into a pure white snowfield.
[Guoooo-!]
And in the middle of that white snowfield, the giant Water Dragon Nessie roaring.
The creature's massive body that had been hiding in darkness was revealed on the vast snowy field.
Perhaps because it was pulled out of its field onto land, they could feel the creature's rank had clearly fallen compared to its original level.
Zzzt-.
As the water that had been abundant on its smooth skin froze instantly in the snowstorm, its speed decreased and it began taking powerful cold damage.
[Unique trait 'Blizzard' is deployed.]
[Area Debuff: Movement Speed Decrease (High)]
[Area Debuff: Cold Resistance Decrease (High)]
.
.
.
Glize's trait that had tormented Seo-jin in the past began strangling Nessie.
Nessie panicked at the unexpected situation and began floundering in the snow.
Meanwhile, the other three who entered the barrier interior with Seo-jin were equally surprised.
Crunch crunch-.
"Is this really snow?"
"Can't distinguish it from reality."
"...Cold."
Nam-gung Cheon and Francesca looking around as if they couldn't believe it while stepping on the snowy field.
Se-yeon complained about the cold while pointing the staff in her hand toward Nessie, preparing for battle.
Seo-jin stood beside Se-yeon and recited calmly.
"We tie it down here as much as possible. Until Zieg's side is ready."
Thud-.
[Guoooo-!]
Nessie roughly moving its body and peeling off chunks of ice stuck to its skin surface.
Flash-!
Kwaaa-!
The red beam it shot from its open mouth cut across the snowy field, and the battle began.
***
Outside the Mental Image Barrier. The lake bottom.
As Nessie, which had been boasting tremendous presence, was temporarily consumed by the barrier and disappeared, the lake began gradually regaining its calm.
The whirlpool that had been expanding its area in response to Nessie's authority also gradually decreased and returned to its original size.
So-yul smiled while looking at the water current gradually stabilizing beyond the Barrier of the Holy Temple.
"It seems we succeeded in separating it first."
Using Glize's Mental Image Barrier to temporarily separate the lake monster Nessie from the lake.
With this, they achieved the first objective of this boss strategy plan.
"I'll withdraw the barrier. Everyone prepare."
As the current returned to normal, Zieg released the Barrier of the Holy Temple.
Having recovered his divine power, Zieg then gripped the golden holy sword in his hand and asked the remaining members to guard him.
"From now I'll gather power in Excalibur. Everyone, please take care of me."
"Just leave it to us."
"Don't worry and leave it to your noonas."
The second objective of the boss strategy plan was charging Excalibur.
While Seo-jin tied up Nessie elsewhere with the barrier, the plan was for Zieg to accumulate the holy sword's power and strike it down in one blow.
After draining Nessie's strength as much as possible inside the barrier and accumulating wounds, the plan was to finish it off with a powerful blow charged in Zieg's Excalibur immediately upon releasing the barrier.
The advantage of this plan was that Zieg could stably charge power while the creature was confined in the barrier.
It was even more efficient since there was no need to maintain the Barrier of the Holy Temple to block the whirlpool.
Also, inside the Mental Image Barrier, Nessie's recovery ability would drop considerably, so it was a good method for whittling down its health.
The greatest contributor to this excellent plan being established was thanks to Glize's Mental Image Barrier.
Queen Vivian's advice had ultimately been a great help.
"Whew."
Zieg stabilised his mind with deep breathing.
Zieg felt the surrounding energy while holding the holy sword with both hands with his eyes closed.
Shwaaa-.
When he blocked his vision, the flow of surrounding mana was felt clearly.
The surrounding mana rushing toward the holy sword emitting light in the darkness.
The spirit power that had accumulated on the lake bottom also began being gradually absorbed into the sword as golden particles.
'Even without me doing anything, mana and spirit power are gathering in the sword on their own.'
The powerful power of providence that had been unable to circulate properly and only accumulated due to Nessie's tyranny responded on its own to the holy sword's call.
However, where there is light, there are also shadows.
Kreee-!
Fish-type monsters floating around also began gathering, drawn by the holy sword's power.
"Where do you think you're going!"
"There's one over there too!"
"Please leave it to me."
So-yul, Nam-gung Rin, and Austin protected him from the underwater monsters rushing at Zieg.
Though Nessie's main body may have temporarily disappeared, consumed by the barrier, the demonic beasts it commanded were still present here.
"Don't let even one through!"
"Of course. I'll protect our youngest."
Zieg, who always stood in the most dangerous vanguard, reliably protecting teammates with his large shield.
This time it was the other comrades' turn to protect him.
***
Kwaaa-!
A blood-colored destruction beam cutting across the pure white snowfield.
"Uwaaah!"
Nam-gung Cheon rolled around in the snowy field, dodging the beam shot from Nessie's mouth.
Wherever the beam touched, the snow instantly melted, and due to the powerful impact, the Mental Image Barrier's boundary rippled.
If wrongly hit by that beam, his body would evaporate as is.
While Nam-gung Cheon ran around drawing Nessie's aggro.
Clang-!
Francesca and Se-yeon approached Nessie and delivered close-range attacks.
"The blade isn't penetrating?"
"..."
But because its hide was so tough, the dagger wrapped in sword energy didn't cut well.
Se-yeon's staff was the same. Just the impact of hitting a rock.
If they had to face this monster in the whirlpool, how difficult would it have been?
Though their attacks weren't working well like this, the main attackers weren't the three in close combat anyway.
When the three stuck close and dispersed its attention.
Chwrr-.
The giant chains Seo-jin summoned strangled Nessie, and black lightning roasted its body.
Kwagwang-!
A powerful flash directly hitting Nessie's body.
Heaven's Thunder containing tremendous power pierced through its body, but it was fine.
Even after several attempts with similar situations continuing, Seo-jin could only click his tongue.
'To be fine even after being hit by Heaven's Thunder.'
Its massive amount of health aside, its recovery ability was also unrivaled.
If they hadn't pulled it out of the lake, it would have been difficult to even wound it.
That said, Seo-jin couldn't use Transcending Heaven True Scripture recklessly like when he fought Thormund earlier.
Though it was weakened by being pulled into the barrier interior, the essence of this boss monster Nessie was a transformed form of the demon who was this 50th floor's administrator.
Though its outer appearance was a Water Dragon, its essence was a demon. If he wrongly fought with it, the power of Reverse Heaven could go berserk.
So what Seo-jin needed to do now wasn't fight it to the death and wear down his body, but drag out time so the barrier wouldn't break as much as possible.
To endure until Zieg gathered sufficient power outside.
Seo-jin further provoked Nam-gung Cheon, who was running until his soles burned while drawing Nessie's attention.
"Run harder. Either block with your body so the creature's beam doesn't shock the barrier."
"Shut up!"
***
How much time had passed like that?
Kwaaa-!
[Guooo-!]
The Mental Image Barrier shaking precariously each time the beam bursting from Nessie's mouth cut across the snowfield.
Glize appeared and spoke to Seo-jin.
[I can't endure any longer. The barrier will be released soon.]
Along with those words, transparent blood flowing from Glize's lips entered Seo-jin's eyes.
It seemed spirit power was flowing out from shock to her spirit core from maintaining the barrier against Nessie.
"You've endured enough with this, so you may withdraw. Thank you."
[...]
Glize nodded slightly then disappeared into spirit form.
Before releasing the barrier, Seo-jin withdrew his teammates.
"Everyone fall back! We're returning to reality!"
Flash-.
Simultaneously with Seo-jin's shout, the three distanced themselves from Nessie in unison.
Crack- Crackle-.
Immediately after, the snowfield scenery began cracking and crumbling like broken glass fragments.
Crash-!
Soon the snowfield scenery shattered and scattered into pieces, and the deep blue lake darkness was revealed before their eyes again.
However,
Wooong-.
What Seo-jin saw wasn't just the lake's darkness.
Because a light as bright as the sun was driving away the lake's darkness.
The holy sword Excalibur emitting brilliant golden radiance.
[Guoooo-!]
Instinctively sensing danger from the bright light before its eyes, Nessie roared loudly and immediately rushed toward Zieg.
But it was already too late.
"Ex―"
Flash-.
"calibur!!"
Along with Zieg's chant, the holy sword emitted light, and golden radiance filled the entire view.