Chapter 269: Descent Ritual
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 269: Descent Ritual
There are two ways for beings from the upper floors of the Tower to manifest.
The first is when they descend to the lower floors of their own free will.
Although it was often called a double-edged sword because it required sacrificing a massive amount of Coins or sacred relics, it was the most proactive way to move.
And the second is when those on the lower floors summon the beings above using specific locations or sacrifices.
Just like right now.
Rumble, rumble!
A massive magic circle appeared across the entire ruins.
"Kieee..."
"Kyaaaak!"
The monster statues staggered wildly before collapsing.
As if thrown into a giant furnace, their bodies melted and began to seep into the magic circle.
"Uh... Hyung. I feel dizzy. This feels... really weird."
"My body isn't listening to me either..."
The members of the Dangun Guild's raid team dropped their weapons and shields.
"Everyone, pull yourselves together! Don't fall asleep! If you fall asleep, we all die!"
Park Jung-jin tried to protect his comrades by casting holy magic, but it was useless against the overwhelming demonic energy.
His vision blurred.
Sensation faded from his limbs, and his thoughts grew sluggish.
Thud!
Thud!
One by one.
Everyone lost consciousness and collapsed.
However, Yu Yeon-hwa and Lee Tae-min had not yet lost consciousness.
"N-Noona. This... it's draining our mana."
"Damn it! Oppa! I'll take the others and get out first. I can leave the rest to you, right?"
At this rate, they would all be done for.
They had to escape before it was too late.
"I think I can manage this many people with my gravity magic."
Maria also estimated the number of people and her remaining mana.
What a relief.
It was fortunate the three of them were here.
Thanks to them, meaningless casualties could be prevented.
Above all, he wouldn't have to show "that."
"Don't worry. Go on ahead. I'll take care of things from here."
Jinhyuk nodded.
"Did I say I would let you go? You, who will become precious nutrients?"
Tristan drew his sword.
Shring!
Along with a dazzling flash of the blade, the unique demonic energy of a demonic human condensed along the edge.
But just before the demonic energy could be released—
Boom!
Tristan's body was engulfed in massive flames.
"Ugh!"
The gathered demonic energy instantly dispersed.
"Do you really have the luxury of worrying about them? You'd better focus on the Descent Ritual."
"You... are the one wasting your mana. Even without struggling, no one is getting out of here alive anyway."
As long as they were inside the ruins, no matter how much they ran, they were like rats in a trap.
The moment a titled demon manifested, mere Players would turn to dust and scatter just by facing them.
And the sacrifice that would play the greatest role in this grand undertaking was...
Tristan picked up the severed arm of the Wailing Witch.
"L-Let go of me! You definitely said we would perform the ritual by sacrificing the humans here! So why...!"
The severed arm thrashed wildly.
"That was the original plan, but since you failed to eliminate that human and the rest of the Players, the terms of our contract must change."
The sacrifices here alone are not enough to summon a powerful demon.
It would only make sense if we had at least the life of the witch who rules these ruins.
"I... am dying as a mere sacrifice? Me?"
"Isn't it a fitting death? Becoming a consumable for great magic is the ideal end for a witch."
Tristan placed the arm at the center of the magic circle.
Then—
Rumble, rumble!
Purple flames slowly began to gnaw away at the flesh.
"Aaagh!"
The scream did not last long.
The little remaining flesh soon turned to ash and vanished completely.
And at that exact moment—
Ring!
[The boss of the ruins, the 'Wailing Witch', has perished!]
[You have been credited with 94% contribution to defeating the boss monster!]
[You have successfully copied the unique ability 'Black Tears'.]
[Black Tears]
Acquisition Difficulty: SSS
Description: Black Tears is a unique ability used by the Wailing Witch, the master of the ruins 'Tomb of the Antichrist' located on the 15th floor. It possesses both a mental-type ability to contaminate and alter targets upon contact, and a physical-type ability to devour enemies whole. Additionally, Black Tears can 'evolve' if certain conditions are met.]
[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
[You have...]
[...leveled up!]
[You have acquired 'Witch's Secret Book'.]
[You have acquired 'Screaming Apple'.]
[You have acquired...]
Numerous items appeared along with the level-up notifications.
However, he didn't have the luxury of checking how many levels he had gained or what items had dropped.
It's finally coming.
Jinhyuk swallowed hard.
* * *
Whirrrr!
Following an indescribable haze of light, an unfathomably deep and ominous demonic energy surged.
Tingle!
A cold sensation prickled against his skin.
There was no need to even check.
A named demon with a title was crossing over to this side.
"Ooooh!"
Tristan let out an ecstatic exclamation.
As if all his past pain and suffering had been rewarded, a single tear rolled down his trembling eyes.
Damn, if anyone saw him, they'd think his deceased ancestors had come back to life.
Looking at his completely ecstatic expression, it was downright absurd.
It was right then.
A cheerful male voice echoed through the mist.
"Ah! It's been so long since I breathed the air down here. Hahaha. Yes. This is it. So fresh. Truly a taste I've missed."
Black horns and emerald eyes.
A young man with an exotic appearance, boasting black hair and pale white skin, stepped forward.
Jinhyuk reflexively activated 'Gluttony's Eye'.
[Name: Hargan / Title: Count / An intermediate-rank demon.]
[The level of Gluttony's Eye is too low to check unique abilities, skills, copy conditions, etc.]
The only information he could check with 'Gluttony's Eye' was the guy's name and title.
But that alone was enough.
"This humble servant greets the great one."
Tristan quickly bowed his head.
"Yes, yes. You did very well. I was getting restless anyway, but thanks to you, I'll get to stretch my limbs properly."
"I am deeply grateful for your kind words."
"But who is that guy? Why is a mere human holding his head up so stiffly?"
Hargan's gaze turned toward Jinhyuk.
"He is the one who has been interfering with us and trying to ruin the plans of the great ones. Many of our comrades have already lost their lives at his hands."
"Hmm. That guy?"
"Yes. He must be killed immediately. He is a highly dangerous individual."
Tristan glared at Jinhyuk with eyes full of hostility.
"Wow. Look at you getting all confident just because a reliable demon showed up. Well, I guess that's fair for a Count-class demon."
A monster that sent shivers down one's spine just by facing him.
He was clearly an absolute being far beyond the level of any Player.
But you know what?
"You're not the only one who can summon a demon."
It was true that the Tomb of the Antichrist was a place where demons could manifest, but the target didn't necessarily have to be just one.
"Actually, there's a leech-like guy who's been showing interest in me too."
He's probably watching right now, though...
Sure enough, sparks flew in midair.
[The deity 'Rotting Heart' yawns.]
Hey, hey!
You can't be indifferent here.
Jinhyuk hurriedly waved his hand toward the empty air.
You're watching, right? I know you're watching, so show some sign of life.
But no matter how much Jinhyuk tried to get his attention, the guy only sent indirect messages full of annoyance and showed no sign of moving.
Seriously, he's so incredibly lazy.
"Hooh. So you're a human favored by a demon?"
Hargan chuckled with interest.
"Calling it 'favor' is a bit grand, but I am getting a few love calls."
"You must have grabbed onto some rotten rope. Well, any demon interested in a mere fledgling human must be a nobody. At best, a Baron or a Viscount? Whatever the case, the level of the one sponsoring trash like you must be trash as well, without a dou—"
Hargan suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
"...?"
Just now, a chill ran down his spine.
A powerful demonic energy felt as if it would tear his entire body apart.
Someone who had been pretending not to notice had reacted to the word 'trash'.
"W-What is this absurd demonic energy?"
Hargan took a step back in shock.
[The deity 'Rotting Heart' tilts his head toward Hargan.]
[He asks which class you graduated from in the Demon World Academy.]
He had only revealed a faint trace of his presence.
Yet, that alone was more than enough to completely change the atmosphere.
"You! Who on earth are you to ask such a thing? Show yourself immediately!"
[The deity 'Rotting Heart' orders you to just answer the question.]
Once again, Hargan's body shrank back.
To think a word of power could hold such overwhelming authority.
...He couldn't resist it at all.
Realizing things were turning strange, Hargan slowly opened his mouth.
"I-I am from the 3,537th class. I also obtained my title of Count there."
Hmm. The 3,537th class.
Since he didn't know the details of the Demon World, he couldn't tell if that was high or low.
Judging by how confidently he said it, it seemed to be on the higher side.
"Veliel. Which class are you from?"
Jinhyuk asked toward the empty air.
[The deity 'Rotting Heart' holds up three fingers.]
Wow.
This is a total popcorn moment.
* * *
Because demons are so bellicose, their rankings change frequently.
One could say there is no other race with such active turnover.
Among them, Veliel was so reclusive that many demons didn't even know of him.
Of course.
Now that he had revealed even a fraction of his status, no matter how dense a demon was, they had no choice but to realize Veliel's level was off the charts.
He had planned for this exact situation to unfold ever since he realized this place was a Holy Demonic Sanctuary.
Fortunately, everything went exactly as desired.
It would have been a bit dangerous if Hargan hadn't called Veliel trash.
It was an undeniable fact that luck had been on his side.
If the fickle Veliel hadn't helped, he would have had to fight Hargan one-on-one.
Well, anyway.
Now it was time to wrap things up.
Jinhyuk approached Tristan, who was frozen in a daze.
Having been thoroughly put in his place, Hargan had already tucked his tail and fled back to the Demon World.
Tristan had become completely useless, standing there like a useless sack of potatoes.
Seeing him so utterly soul-crushed was a bit pitiful, but his misfortune was far from over.
"It's too early to despair. You haven't forgotten, have you? Hargan, who was played by your foolishness, won't just let this slide."
"Won't... let this slide?"
"Of course. He was completely humiliated. Do you think he'd just let it go?"
"T-This isn't my fault. I couldn't have predicted this either..."
"I'm sorry, but from his perspective, that doesn't matter. He just needs someone to take his anger out on."
This is why you shouldn't make contracts with demons recklessly.
Because the tables could turn at any moment depending on their mood.
Unless you have about a hundred lives prepared... well.
You definitely won't survive long.
"How... could this be."
Tristan's face turned as pale as a sheet.
"W-What should I do?"
What do you mean, what should you do?
"First, get down on your knees."
We'll talk after that.
A wicked smile spread across Jinhyuk's lips.