Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Two Hearts
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After first obtaining it, Soo-hyuk obsessed over how to use the heart for a while.
'It's all connected into one.'
Thunder and lightning, and two hearts bearing similar names.
He felt it intuitively.
His fate would change depending on how he wielded them.
He didn't know where the end lay. It could lead to catastrophe claiming his life like in his previous life, or turn him into a madman like Thor.
But if he'd been afraid of that, he never would have started in the first place.
Thunder's Heart was a double-edged sword.
It chewed away at the lightning resistance he'd barely earned through Lightning's Heart and Selfish Sacrifice, only to boost his attack power to extremes in exchange.
An item that said, "If I die, you die too."
He normally didn't favor this kind of gear. But glancing at the options, he couldn't imagine not using it.
'Insane.'
A Legendary-grade item.
It doubled attack power tied to a specific element. Skill effects rose by 50% too, so who could resist wielding this double-edged blade?
No matter how he looked, it was a perfect match for Lightning's Heart.
If Lightning's Heart focused on stability, this one zeroed in on raw destruction.
After brief deliberation, Soo-hyuk swallowed the blue gem in his hand once more.
Gulp.
The moment he did.
Thump.
Two hearts began pounding in Soo-hyuk's chest.
Zzzzt!
As Soo-hyuk swung his blade, his nerves focused on the throbbing heart.
Output surged. Strain built on his body, but this fight wouldn't drag on anyway.
Breathing grew ragged from the mounting load.
He drew a deep breath, ramping output another notch.
"Hoo—."
Zzzt.
Lightning gathered at his blade tip again. Eyes gleaming, he faced the barrage of blades from Jin Ha-ryeong.
Destructive slashes flying straight at him.
The perfect counterstroke formed in his mind.
Screee—.
Rumble!
Dragons with five heads each tore into the blades.
Lightning dragons shot forth like beams of light. Soo-hyuk's body rocketed toward Jin Ha-ryeong like a bolt.
"Too early."
As if denying approach, Jin Ha-ryeong's blades flew again.
Not the same ones.
Five blades from all directions—up, down, left, right, above.
Faint demonic ghosts swung them.
'No openings.'
Swinging alone wouldn't block them.
He needed a wider technique.
Boom!
He slammed his sword into the ground. Lightning seeped into the earth erupted upward.
Rumble!
Lightning surged from the ground.
Four of the five demons shredded and flew apart.
But one.
Stab.
It pierced his shoulder from the front.
Crunch.
Crack.
He crushed the demon's head with his hand. Ignoring the wound, he charged at Jin Ha-ryeong.
Bang!
Colliding unleashed thunder that shook the heavens. Their eyes drew within an inch.
Twitch.
Soo-hyuk's brows furrowed beneath his mask.
A tiny gap.
But Jin Ha-ryeong didn't exploit it. If that were her aim, she wouldn't have circled back like this.
Zzzzt.
Rumble!
Three slashes crashed down over Jin Ha-ryeong's head. With thunderous roars, another peak beneath her crumbled.
Soo-hyuk ignored her telepathic voice, unleashing techniques relentlessly.
Each strike packed max output, damage accumulating every instant.
"...Just like before."
Stab.
Thud!
"...!"
Jin Ha-ryeong's palm struck his chest.
It felt like a light tap, yet his bones seemed to shatter.
Organs twisted from the impact; mana flow disrupted.
Grit.
He clenched his teeth, grasping his mana. Regaining senses, Jin Ha-ryeong loomed right before him.
Clang!
Their blades clashed repeatedly. Thunder shot skyward; red gleams flashed from her sword intermittently.
Demonic forms crept up. The moment he deemed it unblockable and leaped aside, a rear peak cleaved in half.
"...Like this, I... the heart..."
The voice grew clearer.
Meaning he drew more power.
Fatigue spiked too, flashing warnings.
Getting dangerous.
From experience, past 80, that voice rang clear.
But.
'Perfect timing.'
Right now, he welcomed it.
Flash!
"...!"
Lightning wrapped Jin Ha-ryeong's body. She floated up, hurled back.
Whoosh.
Soo-hyuk closed the gap in an instant.
Crunch.
Clang!
The ground split; their clash rippled wider. As her scattered blades flew in unison, Soo-hyuk unleashed greater power.
A hexagonal lightning array like a magic circle surged up. Caught in it, Jin Ha-ryeong winced and retreated.
"Hoo, huuu—."
One step.
Just one, but he'd forced Jin Ha-ryeong back.
When he claimed the heart and maxed lightning output.
About ten days prior, he'd met it.
A faceless, presence-less thing atop clouds.
A void with only voice.
It spoke to Soo-hyuk.
"You this time?"
This time.
Meaning someone before.
And who that was came easily to mind.
"You're what drove Thor mad."
"Your greed birthed me."
"Birthed?"
What did it mean? Pondering, it continued.
"Still, you're different. Much... closer."
"Speak plainly."
"Better than Thor. Easier to get now?"
The mocking tone furrowed his brows. Every word, gesture grated.
"Gonna turn me into another Thor?"
"Up to you."
"...!!!"
In a blink, it closed in. Soo-hyuk stepped back.
When had it approached?
He thought he'd widened the gap, but it remained inches away.
"You came here wanting this, right? Needed me. For greater power, even if it scorches body and soul."
Zzt.
As it touched, sparks flew from his heart.
Thump, thump. Lightning and Thunder Hearts reacted. Through the pounding, he grasped its identity somewhat.
These hearts were originally its.
"You... I see."
Shivers ran through him; terror swelled at the being before him.
"The human who defied gods."
One human challenging gods seemed odd.
No normal human could. But if not normal...
If a lightning-wielder like him defied gods, then went mad like Thor under its influence?
Subdued by gods after? The hazy picture sharpened.
"Who knows."
Neither denial nor affirmation.
Instead of answering, it acted.
"One thing I can say for sure."
Tssst.
Thump, thump, thump.
Sparks intensified; heart pounded larger, faster.
"That I can give what you want..."
Snap.
An invisible force shoved its hand from his chest. Selfish Sacrifice activated.
Hand withdrawn, it fell silent, stunned.
"...Got something weird."
"My insurance."
"Definitely different from the rest."
Smirk.
The pale thing smiled for the first time.
Expression born, it felt alive. The prior chill faded slowly.
"Whatever it is, nurture it well. Could save your neck if grown right."
"What do you want exactly?"
"Wondering if I'm on your side?"
"Would be nice..."
Images of mad Thor flashed.
"Probably not."
"Don't overthink. For now, see me as something helping you."
He knew.
From messages. What stood before him.
"I'm the lightning and thunder you wield."
Closer than anyone.
'Help me.'
Thump.
Two hearts raced.
Time flowed differently. Surroundings slowed; his thoughts accelerated.
'I need you.'
He knew.
Even if a trial-spawned illusion, being swallowed by lightning and thunder could make him another Thor.
Soo-hyuk faced a solitary, life-risking test.
Rumble!
Thunder exploded beneath his feet.
He kicked off, riding lightning skyward. High above, he gazed down at Jin Ha-ryeong.
Lee Soo-hyuk soared against the Heavenly Demon.
Storm clouds brewed in the sky; thunderbolts rained.
Like reliving a past scene.
But what thrilled viewers: this was now.
Rumble!
Riding lightning aloft, a spear formed in Soo-hyuk's hand.
No.
Not a typical spear.
Grrr.
The calamity meant to crash from heavens was gripped by human hands.
A colossal bolt piercing dense thunderheads. Soo-hyuk clutched it one-handed, eyes locked on Jin Ha-ryeong.
She smiled.
As if savoring the moment.
Whoosh.
Her blades around her surged like waves, mirroring her mood.
Come at her with all he'd got.
In response to her taunt.
Rumble, grrr!
Soo-hyuk swung the thrashing bolt begging release.
"...Yeah, that's right."
And amid that thunder.
"—Me."
Soo-hyuk's voice whispered into it.