Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Constellation Gallery EP.28
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The sword's ominous pattern flickered with a sinister red glow.
As if craving something, it burned hotly.
"This thing's saying to hurry up and devour that bastard, right?"
I gripped the sword tightly and kicked off the ground.
My body felt as light as slicing through the air.
"Now die."
I mercilessly swung the sword at the Blood Ghoul's neck.
Slash!
The sharp sensation of the blade crossing its neck.
It sank much deeper than before.
With the added speed, the sword plunged in even further.
This was destructive power born from velocity, different from the raw power gained by boosting Strength.
'It's working!'
But.
The sword stopped in the center of its neck.
"...Fuck."
Vitality, Strength, Agility—all maxed out, and it still got blocked?
Is it really impossible to take down solo?
Even more absurd, the Blood Ghoul was regenerating that deep wound in an instant.
Its nape healed around the embedded Grave of Ten Thousand Demons, clamping down on the blade.
In that state, the empty socket pierced right through me.
And then it swung its arm.
Instinctively, I released the sword from my hand and dodged the attack.
Whoosh—
The air split heavily, grazing the spot where I'd just been standing.
That was close.
'Now I can dodge attacks without it being completely impossible.'
Not easily, but it was manageable at this level.
Shruk—
The sword lodged in the Blood Ghoul returned to my hand.
"Let's see how long you can keep regenerating."
I lowered my stance and steadied myself.
Without resting for even a moment.
Slash, slash, slash again.
Chunks of the Blood Ghoul's flesh splattered.
But it regenerated without fail.
And without fail, it swung its arm at blinding speed.
Bang!
"Gah!!"
This time, even as I tried to dodge, I took a direct hit from the bastard.
'...Doesn't that fucker ever get tired?'
No, I was the tired one.
Why had I kept fighting in this condition?
I'd gotten lost in the spectacle right in front of me.
'Even Spirit of the Constellation isn't omnipotent, huh.'
Belatedly, I pulled out the Low-grade Bio Recovery Potion.
Please, please.
Don't let the pain come.
Just this once.
I opened my mouth and downed the potion.
Gulp.
The moment I swallowed it cleanly.
"Fuck!"
The potion's agony ignited fire across my entire body.
"This is so fucking annoying..."
I clenched my fists tight.
This level of pain? I could overcome it with sheer willpower.
Even as the recovery-induced pain spread, the Blood Ghoul pressed its attack.
What a rude bastard.
No choice—I gritted my teeth and moved.
Dodged attacks, struck back.
Pushed through with mental fortitude.
As I endured, my body fully recovered.
Like waking up refreshed from a deep sleep, peak condition with zero discomfort.
'Shouldn't have showered today.'
But there was no time for idle thoughts.
I exhaled and threw myself forward again.
"If you're gonna regenerate like that, I'll just keep slashing faster than you can heal!"
Once, twice, three times.
Relentlessly. Endlessly.
Slash slash slash slash!
Before the wounds could close, I slashed the same spot again and again.
When they tried to knit, I dug even deeper.
Just a bit more, just a bit more!
'Fuck, always falling short by the tiniest margin.'
If it had been just a hair deeper.
If it had been just a hair faster.
Right on the verge of decapitation, regeneration always kicked in first by a handful.
"You fucking bastard, just die already!"
Body in top shape, stats maxed out—yet it refused to go down.
This was too much!
At least make it breakable!
Was this really an event where someone had to die?
Such anxiety and doubt scattered before Spirit of the Constellation.
'I can do it. I will.'
I just needed to think of one method.
Overcome that minuscule gap.
In that instant, realization struck.
I could take down the Blood Ghoul.
'This is what that reward was for.'
I recalled the reward.
If it weren't for this situation, I wouldn't have wanted to use it with my stats so low—but no choice.
"Using one stat point to increase Agility."
"What?"
My hands trembled with rage.
"No, fuck! Rewards like this are supposed to be usable in moments like this, right? You fucking bastards!"
Wasn't it given for exactly this?!
What the hell am I supposed to do now?
I ground my teeth sharply.
At this point, the situation was screaming for me to despair.
But not even a shred of frustration welled up.
Just pure annoyance.
"Constellations, you fucking bastards! Watch me overcome this."
And I summoned the reinforced Frying Pan.
Left hand: Frying Pan.
Right hand: Grave of Ten Thousand Demons.
"This time, please."
I hurled myself at it.
Sever!
The sword cleaved the air and dug into flesh.
In an instant, its wrist was severed and sent flying through the air.
'It works. This works!'
A difference of 1 Strength.
That tiny gap became the decisive factor separating victory from defeat.
The Blood Ghoul's severed arm hit the floor.
But the wound still writhed, tissues regenerating bit by bit.
"Enough, you bastard!"
I gritted my teeth.
This time, no missing the chance.
I closed the distance.
One step, two steps—approaching while calculating the lethal trajectory that would lead straight to a fatal blow.
Then I drew that line with my sword.
Slaaaash!
From my firmly gripped hands, the neck finally came clean off.
The head spun through the air before hitting the ground.
Thud.
The monster's massive body collapsed right after.
At the same time, the Grave of Ten Thousand Demons glowed crimson before quickly fading.
'This... somehow feels heavier now.'
In that instant, a system message appeared in the air.
"Fuck, did I take it down?"
The moment I saw the alert, a total flag line slipped out.
But it really was over.
Its wounds stopped regenerating.
But the system alerts didn't end there.
My eyes narrowed.
Party bonus?
I read the notification window carefully.
Party members under the party I'd created as leader would get +1 to all Stats.
However, leaving the party would remove the bonus.
'Jackpot.'
Considering how a 1-point difference in Strength had decided the battle just now, this would create a massive gap in real combat.
Since it boosted base stats, it would influence other stats too.
And that wasn't the end.
The barrage of alerts that followed made my eyes widen.
"What is this?"
Three contribution achievements.
All mine alone.
I mulled over each one.
Probably tank, healer, dealer.
Tanky endurance, survival, killer.
Rewards given to the highest contributor in each role.
'...But I snagged all three by myself?'
Momentarily dumbfounded, then it clicked.
The one tanking hits to protect Kang Harin and Tulip: me.
The one administering the recovery potion: me.
The one finishing it off: me.
'Kinda feel bad for the kids.'
My face showed zero remorse as I immediately checked the skill descriptions.
Blood Oath
Physical abilities increase the more blood you shed.
Each wound received boosts Vitality and Strength by 3% for a set duration, up to a maximum of 30%.
Type: Passive
'This is a pure tank skill for enduring hits while fighting.'
Battlefield Biomechanics
Optimizes biometrics for self and allies within range.
Reduces bleeding on hit and increases wound recovery speed.
Type: Passive
'This is...'
Optimization for survival amid battle.
A power that maximizes healing and recovery.
'Definitely a healer skill.'
Judgment Strike
Targets enemy vitals to inflict lethal damage.
Low chance to leave irrecoverable damage.
Type: Active
"Whoa, fuck!"
I finally had an active skill.
And it fit my combat style perfectly.
Could even be essential against regenerating monsters like the Blood Ghoul.
I let out a dry chuckle.
What I'd endured to take down the Blood Ghoul.
I'd handled everything from start to finish.
The result: complete optimization for the battlefield.
'Yeah. I rolled like a dog—deserve at least this much.'
That was when.
"Huff... huff...!"
Tulip raised her head, panting heavily.
Kang Harin leaned against the wall, her breaths coming in shaky gasps.
"U... Uncle... what happened?"
The house was drenched in blood.
On the floor lay the Blood Ghoul's severed head and its grotesque corpse sprawled out.
Bloodstains splattered everywhere, the floor slick and slippery.
"Are you okay? What the hell happened?!"
Kang Harin shot me a worried look too.
In the midst of it, I slowly caught my breath and answered.
"...Nothing happened."
Meanwhile, the Constellation Gallery had been turned upside down.