Chapter 319
Chapter 319
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 319
Chapter Title: Nightmare (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
That was exactly what Rokan was aiming for. They would surely think it was the work of the Heavenly Race.
With Rokan carefully leaving wounds and traces using his signature control, it would be hard for them to suspect him.
“Kraaaack!”
“Attack! It’s an attack!”
“Inform Lord Saritan!”
At that moment, a commotion broke out near the mine’s entrance.
“……?”
A sudden attack? The reaction seemed a bit off if they had spotted him. If someone had escaped, shouldn’t they report to Gromtan instead of Saritan?
That meant there was another visitor at the entrance.
“Kirito?”
And soon after, Rokan confirmed the identity of the attacker.
Kirito, who had barely escaped from Gromtan, had appeared here.
“Rokan.”
Strictly speaking, Rokan was the one who had driven him and his kind into a corner, but Kirito’s eyes were calm. He even felt gratitude toward Rokan for trying to liberate his kin in his place.
‘Well, no harm in that.’
Reading that intention in his demeanor and gaze, Rokan immediately pulled something from his inventory and tossed it over.
Clang.
A keyring. Keys that could unlock the collars binding the werewolves.
“Go on ahead. I’ve got some business to take care of here.”
“……Got it. Don’t take too long.”
“Oh, one more thing I need to ask. Could you move these bodies outside and toss the ones outside into the mine?”
“I don’t know what you’re planning, but sure.”
Naturally, it was to leave traces for them to find.
With that arranged, Rokan began searching the mine thoroughly.
He scoured every corner, seeking the resonance triggered by the Heavenly God’s Arrangement and the Demon God’s Arrangement.
‘It’s close.’
At one point, he felt the resonance intensify.
Unlike the previous Sealed Stone Mine, there were no “Closed” signs, so he had to grope around, but he followed the unmistakably strengthening vibrations forward.
“They haven’t dug it all out yet?”
Something felt off. The resonance had grown stronger, but not to the level he remembered. And the path had already ended.
Rokan instinctively knew he had come too early. Since they hadn’t reached the limit of excavation, he was still some distance from touching the seal’s barrier.
“No choice. Digdog!”
But he wasn’t about to give up. It would take him ages to dig with a pickaxe, but didn’t he have an expert digger?
Thud!
Summoning Digdog, who began burrowing into the wall, he soon reached the barrier.
“Bingo.”
If even Legend Rider couldn’t break through, it was definitely the barrier.
Rokan unsummoned Digdog and poured all his power into it.
“Super Transcendence.”
Crack! Shatter.
With a clear chime, the barrier shattered. Along with it, a black gate appeared. A familiar sight. Rokan stepped inside without hesitation.
“Hmm, this…….”
Beyond the gate, the space was filled with demon statues. Not mere decorations—their positioning was odd, likely forming the seal itself.
“The same trick, huh?”
Seeing them, Rokan sensed the Demon God had done the same as the Heavenly God. This place probably sealed the Heavenly God’s Arrangement.
Though it might not be, Rokan figured his hunch was likely correct.
Kiiiiieeeeek.
Step by step. As he advanced, eerie wails echoed from afar. Some soul-type monster as guardian, perhaps?
Recalling his fight with Valkyrie, Rokan gripped his battle axe.
[You are exposed to Mental Confusion.]
[Title: Unyielding Will negates all effects.]
Even that sound wasn’t ordinary.
The ghostly cries grew frequent as he delved deeper, triggering mental debuffs that Unyielding Will nullified repeatedly.
“Hmm.”
Finally, he reached the path’s end.
Nothing was there.
“What? No one’s been here before me…….”
Not even a guardian showed signs of appearing.
A glitch or bug? Scratching his cheek in thought, a massive, spine-chilling wail—far beyond any before—rang out.
Kiiiiieeeeek!
“There you are!”
Rokan welcomed it with a shout. The guardian’s arrival meant the altar would appear once defeated.
[Nightmare, Great Demon of Nightmares and Illusions][Lv 444]
“Crazy.”
But the next instant, his face twisted. Level 444. A relief it wasn’t 450, but no pushover.
Its horse-like form galloping through the air made approach tricky.
‘What to do.’
Gale Wings not fully recovered. Usable, but not at full power—uncertain if enough to take it down.
[Nightmare activates Mind Control.]
[Title: Unyielding Will negates all effects.]
‘Mind Control?’
While Rokan hesitated, Nightmare unleashed its power freely. Mental attacks, ineffective against him.
But something was off. Mind Control out of nowhere?
The prior effects weren’t ordinary either. Skills crumbling the mind—like a combo built for this moment.
‘What the hell is it hiding…….’
Now curious, Rokan wondered what warranted such ironclad security.
Mind Control for what?
Rokan’s lips curled into a grin. The tougher, the sweeter the reward—that was The Lord’s way.
“A ghost horse, huh.”
His soul heated as his mind cooled.
Watching it spam mental attacks while avoiding direct ones sparked an idea.
“Evil Spirit Domination.”
He activated the new skill on his Demon God’s Fang belt.
A skill dominating the minds of soul-type beings in range.
The downside: no items or EXP from dominated foes. But a small sacrifice for greater gains.
Kyeek?
Instantly, Nightmare’s eyes changed.
Utterly obedient.
Hiiing, hiiing!
[Tamed Nightmare, Great Demon of Nightmares and Illusions.]
“Huh?”
Not mere domination. Sensing Rokan’s Demon God aura, it fawned—then volunteered for taming.
Normal taming needed a Subjugation Orb, but irrelevant here. No need for the ethereal Nightmare to “enter” anywhere.
Something odd, though. Taming limited to one per user, right?
Rokan already had Giant Butterfly, yet no release notice.
“Huh…….”
[Tamed Monsters: Giant Butterfly, Nightmare]
Status confirmed both tamed. Nightmare had seeped into his soul.
“Jackpot.”
Suddenly, a Level 444 ally added.
If cycles independent, maybe summon both Giant Butterfly and Nightmare together.
Rumble!
Then, vibrations rose the altar.
With something radiating holy energy.
“Huh? That’s……?”
Rokan’s eyes gleamed. Utterly familiar.
[Blood of the Heavenly God][God]
Blood infused with Heavenly God’s power.
Drink to gain part of it.
Liquid in a vessel like Demon God’s Blood. Heavenly God’s Blood.
Now Rokan understood the Demon God’s seal.
Even if someone claimed it, Mind Control would turn it against them.
“Heavenly God’s Blood, huh.”
Summoning a clone, Rokan took it and pondered. Demon God’s and Heavenly God’s Blood—opposing powers in one body?
Gain both? Or explode?
Gulp, gulp.
Unknown, but Rokan acted boldly.
‘What’s the worst—death?’
Downed both at once.
Gale Incarnation active as precaution.
To withstand internal shock.
If he died? No issue. Level 399—no level loss.
“Keuk!”
Reckless results immediate.
Throat burned on ingestion; opposing forces clashed inside, organs tearing.
[Consumed Demon God’s Blood and Heavenly God’s Blood simultaneously.]
[Holiness and Demonic Energy react violently!]
“Dam, damn…….”
Not just pain. Collision worse than any poison, HP plummeting—but Gale Incarnation’s immortality resisted death.
Trapped alive, enduring pure agony.
[Holiness and Demonic Energy collide!]
[Powerful energy explodes within!]
Rokan rolled on the floor in torment, unrelenting.
Devoured HP, then MP, soul—endless suffering.
“Kraaaaaack!”
Screams filled the space, no savior.
“Can, cancel…….”
Cancel Gale Incarnation? Peaceful death?
Rokan hesitated, then clamped his mouth.
Let’s see who wins!
Pain fueled defiance. Like reality, gritted teeth locked groans—he endured. Prevailed.
[Demon God’s Blood and Heavenly God’s Blood fuse.]
[Powerful holiness infuses your blood.]
“Hah, hah.”
Pain ended after ages.
Drenched in sweat, legs trembling—couldn’t stand. But faint smile on Rokan’s lips.
Pain’s depth meant massive gains.
[Holy Resistance rises by 80%.]
[All Holy buff effects rise by 50%.]
[Dark Resistance rises by 80%.]
[All Dark buff effects rise by 50%.]
[Powerful holiness absorbed into body.]
[All stats increase by 500.]
[Enlightened to Holiness.]
[Cannot manifest Holiness yet.]
Amid endless change alerts, Rokan let slip the mental thread he’d clung to.