Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Chapter 58
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Constellation Gallery EP.57
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With double gravity accelerating the fall, I slammed a Judgment Strike down on its crown.
I figured there was no way it wouldn't connect.
But.
"...Fuck."
The blood ghoul was completely unscathed.
Released from the double gravity, it moved far faster than me, its head blocked by my forearm.
'This is such bullshit...'
The moment I let out a sigh.
No, worse than that.
Shattered ribs stab into my lungs like knives, breath cut off.
My body flies through the air, crashing into the wall for a secondary wave of agony.
"Grk..."
They say adrenaline dulls pain during fights.
What a load of crap.
With a clear head, no bullshit adrenaline rush, the pain hits even harder.
Consciousness holds, but I can't breathe.
Blood surges from my mouth, head smacks the wall, vision spins then snaps back.
My whole body creaks like a broken machine.
'Feels like death's right in front of me.'
That gut feeling, yet no fear.
Doesn't mean I can take it down easily, though.
The blood ghoul doesn't stop.
That's the problem.
Before I even hit the ground from the wall, it lunges.
Can't even feel my heartbeat.
'Fuck this thing... I'm gonna drop dead...'
Recovery potion. Need to drink one.
No time to skimp.
'Summon Low-grade Bio Recovery Potion.'
My lifeline. 300 gold.
The vial appears in my hand at the same moment.
The potion slips from my bloody grip, and the blood ghoul stomps it flat.
"Ah, fuck..."
"My 300 gold..."
No laughter left.
Arms too heavy to lift.
Muscles scream.
Abs tear with every breath, vision blood-soaked.
Still, mind sharp.
Strange.
Death this close, yet no fear?
'How big does the power gap have to be to shake the mind?'
Not just about catching or not.
Constellations said even they couldn't win.
'No. Don't get swayed by their judgment.'
Gallery said I could never beat a mid-grade blood ghoul.
But I did.
Even if all scream impossible, don't give up.
My life, my call.
It charges again.
This might be instant death.
"Lee Tulip! Cough! Can't drink potions, feels like I'm dying. Heal... heal skill!"
Before I finish, warm light blooms behind me.
Like she was waiting for those words.
My body recovers in an instant.
Lungs that couldn't breathe open, heavy arms move, torn abs contract.
'This is Tulip's healing magic...'
Worlds apart from my passives.
Speed, density.
'You trusted me and waited, huh.'
I told her never use it without my say-so.
Believed I'd break through somehow.
Can't betray that trust.
Breathing hard.
Heart beats again.
Grip returns to my hand.
Sword sensation back.
"...Ha."
I look up again.
Inhale deep.
No, force it in.
Throat burns like prayer paper aflame, breath sharp as metal shards.
It charges tireless.
Changing tactics this time.
'Use its speed against it.'
Crouch low.
Heart races double, triple.
Recoil from toes to knees to waist, full-body countercharge.
'Please, just once!'
Vision must catch up.
To its speed.
'See it.'
Must see.
Its movements, at least the minimal trajectory.
But.
Couldn't see it.
Not bones breaking or crushing.
Bones exploding, vision flips.
'This is like... charging full speed at an oncoming train to slice it...'
Body crumples, flung to the ground.
"Haa... fuuuck..."
Head spins, vision blacks then blood-red.
Plan to use our speeds for one-shot backfired, choking me.
'No giving up.'
Then, recovery sensation again.
Lungs work anew.
"Lee Tulip! Don't keep using just 'cause I allowed once! Only when I say! Mana's limited!"
Save for true need.
Even infinite mana pots, win unclear.
Skimp max.
Reprimand Tulip firmly.
Countercharge again.
Fail again.
Side feels blown off.
Liver ruptured?
Blood backs up throat.
'Just once... one time...'
Gravity couldn't pierce.
Speed boosts on contact.
No gravity now, neither on it nor me.
Peak speeds' destructive force to take it down.
'Only way now... bet my life on this...'
Again.
Again!
Again!!
"Cough!"
Clothes soaked full red now.
Like always red.
'Summon Low-grade Bio Recovery Potion.'
Trembling hand unscrews cap—
Teeth grind.
"Lee Tulip! Heal!"
Tulip pants, extends hand again.
Body recovers once more.
Death knocks, but I'm postponing today. Tomorrow maybe.
If it shows even one weakness... I'll win on that.
As long as alive, hope exists.
That instant, I saw it.
Its charge trajectory.
About 0.1 seconds.
That split moment.
"Judgment Strike!"
Sword flashes toward its neck!
"It hit!"
Severed part spins in air.
Then, in view: its wrist floating.
Not neck, wrist.
"...Don't fuck with me."
Total bullshit.
In that instant, perfect defense?
Twisted fist path to block neck?
Teeth grinding to breaking point.
"Juhan-ssi! The monster's hand! It won't heal!"
Kang Harin's shout.
Look again: bleeding stopped, but wrist not regenerating.
Heart races.
Hope glimmers.
But hope snuffed quick.
Blood ghoul's charge pattern changes, wrist gone.
It changed.
"...Kehuk!"
This is evolution.
Evolution only danger-sensing creatures do.
Monster that learned in few clashes.
'Fuck, this is too much.'
Balance patch yourself, blood ghoul.
Swear almost slips.
But 'despair' dare dominate me here?
Not dead yet, Tulip behind me.
"Heal!"
"Uncle! Mana's gone!"
"What's your Intelligence level!"
"Already 10!"
Fuck. Healing active mana-hungry.
'Summon High-grade Mana Recovery Potion.'
Purple vial in hand, toss it.
"Catch!"
Moment potion flies, blood ghoul teleports in.
Shock reverberates to marrow.
Body bends back half, arm numb.
No, not numb... broken.
'Body not mine anymore.'
Pushed limits, over-relied on heals.
Sprawled, can't lift body, let alone arm.
'Dangerous...'
But Tulip drinks mana potion.
Immediate heal. Hot, melting life force floods arm.
Body pristine again.
This I can work with.
"Let's see who dies first."
Charge again.
Angle, distance, timing, speed, reaction.
Etched in mind.
But it never falls same way twice.
My sword aims neck, blocked by backhand, counter sharp exploding fist.
Still, only way to damage it.
'Even succeeded once.'
Challenge again, again.
Till unhealable on neck.
"Got it!"
Heal, learned attacks blocked.
Arm blocks, body twists, even 'vulnerable' poses dodged.
All precise like human survival instinct.
'Mommy...'
Conclusion simple.
Can't win.
But... still no fear.
I knew why.
'Theoretically possible.'
Infinite gold?
Heal + pots near-infinite fight.
'Unhealable' procs eventually, damage accumulates.
It falls for sure.
But gold finite.
Mana pots pricier than thought, too busy to drink anyway.
Tulip burns mana faster.
Her heal too costly.
'My mana drying soon too.'
Then can't even pot.
Judgment Strike unusable.
Even if drinkable, no change.
Mana/gold drain too fast.
Simply: gold empties before we grind it down.
"Didn't want this, but party disband."
Both faces shocked.
Tulip's fingertips still glow with heal light, Harin trembling.
Don't care what Constellation Gallery says.
No time to hesitate.
"...Tulip, Harin, sorry."
I swing sword at them.
Both stare, but I meet their eyes.
"I'll handle it. Don't do anything. No jumping in, no getting hurt, no dying. Just wait quietly."
Bold words.
Rebuttal, worry, rebellion expected.
But both nod silently.
'Words alone, you wouldn't listen. That's you two.'
Especially Tulip.
In crisis, she'd act regardless.
'Incited compliance first...'
Summon Ghoul's Fang.
Trophy in hand.
I stab it into my arm. Deep!
"Grrraaagh...!"
Pain surges. Intense.
Heart-tearing fever.
Chilling crawl down spine.
Every nerve screams.
"Kaaaagh...!"
Scream stifled by hand.
Metal taste on tongue.
Bit my tongue. Unconsciously.
No, not unconscious.
'My... consciousness... fading...'
Fingers no longer human.
Nails black-long, skin rough cracked scales.
Vision fogs hazy.
.
.
.
Instantly, world falls silent.
Blood ghoul freezes.
Writhing grotesque flesh, glaring eyes, spreading ink-black mass—all halt.
Then.
Its existence erased, like unnecessary error from this world.
Clear system response.
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