Chapter 296: The Lost Language (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 296: The Lost Language (2)
[The language of the pillars reveals its true form.]
Engraved within the characters representing the lost language was a tongue that did not belong to this world.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Jinhyuk's heart pounded wildly.
In the past, when he climbed the Tower of Trials, he couldn't decipher the lost language, leaving much of its information shrouded in mystery.
But now, he finally understood what this language encompassed.
[De Perelium Horn Macadenmasia]
It was the language of the Cthulhu deities.
And.
It meant only one thing.
If he could completely master the lost language...
...it meant he could wield power up to the 50th floor.
Furthermore,
Among the lost languages, there were other characters engraved besides those used by the Cthulhu bastards.
These were of a kind whose meaning remained unknown even after liberating the pillars.
'Is there still something more?'
Sae Yeong Eon Hwan had said that the 50th floor would be completely changed, but it seemed something even more massive was lurking.
'Interesting.'
The corners of Jinhyuk's mouth curled upward.
This was why he couldn't stop climbing the Tower.
No matter how dangerous or desperate the situation, things like this kept appearing to stimulate his senses.
'To think it can be synthesized like this... Ho. This is surprising too. This part... I don't know what it is. Seriously, the more I dig, the more there is.'
Jinhyuk took in every single rune without missing a beat.
However, it was impossible to acquire a new language simply by memorizing it.
This was not a language for communication, but one for constructing barriers.
Ultimately, to see the unseen as a Rune Interpreter—the first class advancement of a Barrierist—
'I must reach a realm worthy of it.'
The class advancement quest.
All of this was to carry out this very quest.
Mana concentrated at Jinhyuk's fingertips.
As the runes on the twelve pillars recombined, the rune meaning "The End" appeared.
Crackle!
The severed mana reconnected into one.
And at that very moment:
[The conditions to learn the Lost Barrier have been met.]
[The second class advancement test begins.]
The status window appeared as if it had been waiting.
Wroooooom!
Along with a bright light, starlight poured down from the heavens.
...It was starting.
* * *
Step.
It was then that footsteps echoed.
A black-haired man wearing a white robe emerged from the starlight.
Even without being told, he already knew who it was.
Beltor de Roanmask.
An eccentric from an ancient kingdom thousands of years older than the current Empire, who had specialized in barrier arts during his lifetime.
At the same time, he was a legend who had reached a realm in barrier arts that no one else had ever trodden.
'So the second class advancement quest is to face this man.'
Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed.
Beltor had been dead for a very long time.
This figure before him must be a projection of his past self.
Of course, while his existence was an illusion, his skill was anything but.
The entire surrounding area had already been swallowed by his barrier.
'It seems the claim of him being the strongest in history isn't an exaggeration.'
'Gluttony's Eye' quickly scanned the opponent's status window.
Ring!
——————————————————
Name: Beltor de Roanmask
Gender: Male
Age: ???
Level: 294
Strength: 43 | Agility: 55 | Stamina: 36 | Mana: 36 | Understanding of Runes: 519
Stat Points Available: 0
Class: Ruler of Runes
Unique Ability: Ancient Barrier
Skills: 'Language Deciphering' Lv35, 'Rune Linguistics' Lv33, 'Blink' Lv33, 'Mana Absorption' Lv31, 'High-Speed Calculation' Lv31
——————————————————
[Copy Condition: If you pass the second class advancement test, you will be able to copy one of his unique abilities or skills.]
Just as expected.
The copy condition was tied to the test.
Since he could obtain both a class advancement and a unique ability or skill, it was truly killing two birds with one stone.
He had to succeed, no matter what.
But right then.
"Wow. Some idiot actually chose to be a Barrierist, and now they're trying to do the second class advancement?"
Beltor scratched his head vigorously, looking utterly dumbfounded.
Jinhyuk hadn't expected a solemn tone, but he thought someone who had achieved greatness in a field would at least have some pride in his profession.
What was with this reaction?
However, before Jinhyuk could even process his bewilderment, Beltor pressed on with another question.
"Why did you do it?"
"...Excuse me?"
"I mean, why did you choose such a trash class and walk down a path of suffering? It's ridiculously hard, complicated, and you know what? The returns compared to the effort are practically non-existent. I worked my ass off to master this, but I still had to tuck my tail and run without even making eye contact with the guys on the upper floors of the Tower. It's not too late. Give up on the advancement test and look for another class. You can still change it before the second advancement."
Complaints poured out of him like rapid-fire, as if he had a lot of pent-up frustration.
There was a reason the Barrierist class was unpopular.
The return on investment was atrocious, so his words made perfect sense.
However.
"Even though I haven't trained in this field for as long as you have... it hasn't been bad. Being able to create one's own world through barriers is quite appealing."
He meant it.
At first, he had chosen it simply for fun and to mess with people.
But as time went on, he grew to cherish this class.
He wanted to keep using it, and he had developed a goal to reach an even higher realm.
"You're an oddball. I give you advice, and you don't even listen."
"I'll take that as a compliment from a great senior."
"Sigh... Well, fine."
Ultimately, Beltor shrugged as if giving up.
"You said you wanted to advance, right? The test is very simple. Mobilize all the barrier arts you've learned so far and trap me. If you can bind my feet for even a single second, I'll give you a passing grade."
"Using only... barriers?"
"Of course. I'll only use basic counter-methods. This is a test to see if your level is ready to move to the next stage, so you don't have to worry too much. A talented guy can pass in about three months."
"Hmm. Three months seems impossible. I'm a bit busy."
Jinhyuk's gaze shifted to one side.
Below the hill, the Boundary-Demolishing Mirror was shaking violently, looking as if it would close at any moment.
Thanks to his growth, it didn't have the strict 30-minute time limit like when he first obtained it, but...
The fact remained that time was scarce.
"How much time do you have left?"
"Three hours."
"...Not three months, but three hours?"
"Exactly that much, no more, no less. Now it's two hours, fifty-nine minutes, and thirty seconds."
"..."
Beltor stared at Jinhyuk, utterly flabbergasted.
"I'm the fool for expecting anything. Just go. At the first class advancement level, you'd struggle to even perform quadruple calculations, so passing my test is out of the ques—"
But Beltor couldn't finish his sentence.
White runes began to float around his body.
Triple... quadruple, and going beyond that, five layers of barriers perfectly fell into place.
"If you mean quadruple calculations... well, something like this?"
"Ho..."
A strange exclamation of admiration escaped Beltor's lips.
* * *
"Phew..."
Alice let out a long, deep sigh.
Her snow-white hair was damaged in places.
The mask she had been wearing was completely shattered from the fierce battle.
Of course, as much as Alice had drawn out her power, her opponent was not intact either.
"Grrr... Aaaah..."
Its entire body was pierced by red harpoons, making it hard to believe it was even alive.
Yet.
Even in such a wretched state, the creature did not give up the fight.
Wroooom!
['Axe of the Thoughtform' is summoned.]
An absurdly massive axe appeared.
With red veins running along its black handle, it was a weapon that looked ominous at a single glance.
"It really is persistent. It can still move after all that?"
Alice frowned.
To think it could still move after taking a direct hit from an attack unleashed while her 'Blood Lord' was fully active.
If a mere thoughtform was this strong, she couldn't even begin to imagine how powerful Shub-Niggurath itself would be.
'How does he plan on facing such a monster...'
She had absolutely no idea what Jinhyuk was thinking.
Yet, why was that?
She didn't feel even a shred of anxiety.
She didn't quite know the reason.
It was just... from the day they first made a contract in the Corridor until today.
She had never once doubted him.
She knew her contractor would never disappoint her.
"I can't afford to dither around here either."
Crackle!
A new harpoon appeared in Alice's hand.
['Crimson Bloodshrine Flower' is summoned!]
A harpoon named after the blood-drinking Bloodshrine Flower.
The ornately decorated relic revealed itself.
Alice pulled the harpoon back over her shoulder, her expression somewhat tense.
'I didn't want to use this in the middle of the city if possible...'
The people in the underground parking lot had already evacuated, but there was a risk that others who might be hiding could get caught in the crossfire.
Even if that weren't the case, it could cause such a massive shockwave that a portion of the city might be obliterated.
But she had no choice.
If things continued like this, there was no sign she would ever defeat the monster.
'I have no choice but to suppress my power as much as possible and concentrate the impact into a single point.'
Creak...
Veins bulged slightly on Alice's pale forehead.
Her crimson pupils instantly contracted.
"Groooo!"
The black goat raised its axe high into the sky.
In response:
Boom!
With a thunderous roar that tore through the air, a streak of crimson light sliced through the void.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
The gale-force wind generated by the pressure shattered every window in the surrounding buildings.
Streetlights and roadside trees snapped like twigs.
The thrown spear, possessing power beyond imagination, pierced the black goat's heart and vanished into the sky on the other side.
A brief silence fell.
Amidst their intersecting gazes,
The silence that felt like an eternity finally came to an end.
"Groooouaa...?"
The black goat's body swayed violently.
The gaping hole tried to regenerate somehow, but the wound only worsened rapidly.
[The special ability of Crimson Bloodshrine Flower is activated.]
[Unless one possesses a holy-type ability or an absolute judgment healing ability, the wound cannot be healed.]
Gushing blood dyed the road black.
"What a truly hideous creature. From your very existence to the moment of your fall, there is not a single thing about you that I like."
Alice looked up at the black goat with cold eyes.
That was the end.
The black goat's massive frame toppled backward.
"Groooo..."
With the road shattering beneath it, the giant beast, which had been breathing just moments ago, drew its last breath.
It was over.
Or so she thought.
"As expected of the head of the Ataraxia family... no, the former head. I thought you had become completely obsolete after being sealed, but I guess you haven't rusted entirely?"
A new voice cut through the buildings.
A woman with long black hair cascading down to her waist stepped out from the shadows.
Sharp fangs and signature crimson eyes.
There was no mistake.
A vampire—and a True Ancestor, praised as the strongest bloodline.
"...You."
Alice's eyes shook with shock.
An explosion of emotions erupted within her—a mixture of intense rage and, beyond that, the sheer ecstasy of finally being able to exact her revenge on this target.