Chapter 147: All-Out War (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 147: All-Out War (5)
Ssssss!
A path opened in a straight line.
The ground where the snow had evaporated glowed a scorching red.
Because 'Daylight', which had reached Lv. 7, had its activation time drastically reduced, Michael had no choice but to take both skills head-on.
"Did I get hi— wait, no. Right, I've met all the conditions for copying."
Jinhyuk clicked his tongue.
He had shouted out flags so often that it had become a habit.
This was why habits were terrifying things.
But right then—
Whoosh!
A set of black claws lunged through the rising steam.
"I will kill you!"
It was Michael, absolutely furious.
Though slightly singed, he looked perfectly fine.
Seriously, it wasn't like he had some invincibility skill active. How could he be completely unscathed after taking that head-on?
However, there was no time to marvel at his absurd defense.
Even now, those claws were flying straight toward Jinhyuk's head to rip it clean off.
[Lv. 10 'Glacial Shaping' has been activated!]
Crash!
An ice wall materialized in front of Jinhyuk, blocking the claws.
But it only lasted for a split second.
The ice wall shattered instantly.
More ice walls rose in rapid succession, but they could barely even slow him down.
The blocks of ice crumbled like glass.
"Do not think you can stop me with such parlor tricks!"
Michael charged even faster, his eyes flashing with a crimson light.
In that case...
Whoosh!
Crackle...
Five fireballs and twelve ice arrows materialized over Jinhyuk's shoulders.
Since the effects of the essence were still active, casting multiple spells simultaneously wasn't much of a burden.
However, the fireballs and ice arrows that struck Michael's body failed to deal any damage whatsoever.
It wasn't just throwing eggs at a rock; it was more like making fried eggs and smearing them on the rock.
"...Damn it. What a monster."
Jinhyuk had thought only his attack power was high, but his magic resistance was even more absurd.
Unlike the rock giant on the 10th floor, a surprise attack using the 'Blessing of the Stars' wouldn't work on this guy.
Jinhyuk clenched his teeth hard, channeling mana.
A faint light began to glow from his longbow.
Soon, a rapid barrage of 'Crimson Magic Bullets' erupted.
Thud! Thud!
Thud-thud-thud!
The crimson flashes battered Michael's body once more.
[Mana +0.6...]
[Energy +0.5...]
[Mana...]
[Energy...]
'I can't deal a fatal blow to him with just this.'
Jinhyuk knew this better than anyone.
Although he was slowly absorbing mana and energy through the effects of 'Soul Vampirism', at this rate, it would take a thousand years to completely drain the monster's mana.
That was why, even while firing the rapid barrage, he was gradually shifting his center of gravity toward where the Fang was.
Just one step.
Only one more step, and he would be within reach of the Fang.
Jinhyuk lightly twisted the bowstring.
The thread of mana spun counterclockwise.
An attack infused with maximum rotational force.
It was an application of the skewer technique Alice had shown him earlier.
Whoosh!
Leaving the string, the Crimson Magic Bullet flew incredibly low, almost scraping the ground.
And just as it was about to hit Michael's leg—
The magic bullet suddenly veered sharply.
It bent at an almost unnatural angle, leaving Michael no time to react.
Boom!
"Ugh!"
Michael's head snapped back violently.
A single drop of blood trickled down his seemingly impenetrable skin.
Now...!
Jinhyuk lunged forward in an instant and grabbed the Fang.
"How dare you... scratch my face."
"Don't overreact over a tiny scratch. More importantly, what do you even eat to get that tough? I doubt ogre milk would cut it. Do I need to go beg a dragon for some milk?"
He wasn't even joking.
If he could obtain that level of durability, it would be well worth paying another visit to a dragon's lair after all this time.
Yes, he could easily stomach that level of risk.
To put it bluntly:
'Doesn't that mean I could take a nap while taking Cheon Yu-seong's sword strikes bare-bodied?'
Just imagining the look of utter despair on the face of the overly serious, robot-like Sword Saint gave him a strange sense of pleasure.
Of course, various other scenarios to infuriate his opponents flashed through his mind.
As Jinhyuk smirked repeatedly at the empty air, a dense murderous intent pooled in Michael's eyes.
"...Do you find this situation amusing?"
"Huh?"
"Anyone can see the outcome of this battle is already decided. I only need to land a single attack, while you cannot afford to make even a single mistake."
"Well, I guess that's true. So?"
"Then... show some damn tension! Please!"
Boom!
A massive black flame suddenly erupted from Michael's hand.
[Lv. ?? 'Hell Calamity Fire' has manifested!]
A skill on par with the 'Hellfire' used by dragons had emerged.
Since Michael wasn't an Ancient-grade dragon, its power would be lower.
Even so, it wasn't something a Player under level 100 could withstand.
If it so much as grazed him, it would undoubtedly leave nothing but ashes.
Rumble!
The black flames grew larger and larger.
By now, it was nearly two meters in diameter.
"Let's see if you can still smile after taking this."
The muscles in Michael's arms swelled unnaturally.
And the moment that swelling reached its limit—
Roar!
Finally, Michael's ultimate skill was unleashed.
'Just as expected, he fell for the bait immediately.'
Seriously, why was it always so hard to lure them into a trap?
But there wasn't much left to do now.
He just needed to drag things out a little longer to set up 'that situation'.
Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed.
'Evading isn't an option.'
That skill wasn't just a simple projectile; its direction could be controlled at will.
It would pursue him to the ends of hell until it hit its target.
In that case...
Jinhyuk pulled his second relic out of his dimensional inventory.
The defensive gear he had obtained from the Samurai Guild in the Gray Temple.
'Perseus's Shield'.
Hummmmm!
As Jinhyuk focused his mana into the shield, an indescribable light began to shimmer from it.
[The relic 'Perseus's Shield' responds to its master's call!]
[Physical Defense and Magic Defense have increased by 300%!]
[The special ability 'Blessing of Athena' has been activated!]
[Blessing of Athena]
Effect: For a single time, reduces the target's attack power by 50%, and temporarily increases the shield wielder's Holy-type stats by +100.
If the black flames were the ultimate spear, then the relic with the Blessing of Athena active was the ultimate shield.
Jinhyuk completely covered his body behind the round shield.
Boom!
Right then, an earth-shattering impact reverberated through him.
Jinhyuk clenched his teeth hard.
The heat was beyond imagination, nearly causing him to lose consciousness, but he managed to hold onto his awareness.
[Lv. 5 'True Grand Purity Hwarang Heart Method' aids the flow of mana.]
[Lv. 4 'Mental Barrier' alleviates the target's pain.]
[Unique Ability 'Blessing of the Stars' protects the Player's body.]
Every unique ability and skill he had accumulated up to this point activated simultaneously.
Multi-colored lights overlapped.
'Almost there...'
Jinhyuk's eyes gleamed amidst the hellfire.
The heat, which had initially made every nerve in his body scream, gradually began to subside.
He wasn't sure if he was getting used to it or if its power was weakening.
However, one thing was certain: his opponent's time would soon run out.
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
The black flames slowly died down.
As the acrid smoke cleared, Michael's utterly bewildered face was revealed behind it.
"Th-this is impossible! How could a mere human withstand something that even the giant species of the upper floors cannot survive?!"
His ultimate skill had failed.
He hadn't let his guard down.
He hadn't held back his mana.
It was an attack unleashed with his absolute full power.
Yet, even that had failed to kill this detestable human.
* * *
"He was... this strong?"
Alice, who had been watching the entire battle, let her mouth fall open in a small 'O'.
She couldn't help it.
A mere human was holding his ground completely against the Lord's elite guard.
Although Alice had been by Jinhyuk's side for a long time, she had never realized his skills were this formidable.
There was only one explanation for this.
'Has he never shown his true strength until now?'
That was the only assumption that made sense.
While climbing the floors... and facing countless named monsters, rankers from major guilds, and boss monsters.
He had never once gone all out. That was the truth.
Right then, an ominous black flame flared up from Michael's hand.
It was a skill Alice recognized as well.
'Hell Calamity Fire'.
Wasn't it considered one of the most powerful fire-type abilities even among the Blood Clan?
It could neither be blocked nor avoided.
"It's... dangerous."
She had to warn him.
Tell him to run.
Or rather, she should take the flames in his stead.
Alice stumbled to her feet.
However, with her mana completely depleted, even keeping her balance was a struggle.
Yet, the moment the black flames swallowed Jinhyuk's body—
An anomaly occurred.
Hummmmm!
With a brilliant radiance, Jinhyuk began to deploy defensive measures against the Hell Calamity Fire.
It was hard to believe, but it was happening.
Jinhyuk was taking Michael's full-power attack head-on.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Her heart beat rapidly.
Alice's entire body trembled slightly with anticipation and excitement.
Perhaps...
Just perhaps, it was possible.
For a weak creature called a Player—a mere speck of dust in the grand scheme of things—
To transcend the laws and regulations of the Tower.
And covet the very pinnacle of the food chain.
And the moment the black flames finally subsided...
"Now!"
Alice screamed before she could even stop herself.
* * *
"Now it's my turn."
Tossing the shield aside, Jinhyuk gathered his ice-attribute mana.
He had taken significant damage from the previous attack, but the same went for his opponent.
Neither of them had much mana left.
And if the conditions were equally terrible for both...
The one who laughed last would always be the one who climbed up tenaciously.
[Glacial Shaping: 'Sword of the Sky' has been activated!]
Tendrils of ice descended from the sky.
[Glacial Shaping: 'Sword of the Earth' has been activated!]
Tendrils of ice surged from the ground, meeting in the middle.
Crackle!
"Aaaargh!"
Trapped inside the pillar of ice, Michael screamed.
It was, in a way, a silent scream.
But this wouldn't be enough to keep Michael trapped for long.
At most, a few dozen seconds.
After that, this monster would start running wild again.
'I can't let that happen.'
For a perfect victory, rather than a fifty-fifty gamble, this moment was the most critical.
Step.
Jinhyuk walked right up to the ice pillar.
It was a distance so close that any attack would instantly put both of their lives on the line.
An incredibly defenseless posture.
Because of this, Michael had no choice but to snap at the bait.
"Fool! Walking into your own grave!"
Along with the ice that melted away in an instant, Michael's voice boomed.
"Daring to step into my range is the reason you die today!"
A massive explosion erupted, centering around Michael's body.