Chapter 81: Pendariel, Mother of the Dead (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 81: Pendariel, Mother of the Dead (3)
['Black Hound' reveals his presence.]
[Representing Egyptian mythology, he wishes to make a proposal to you.]
The alias 'Black Hound.'
This was Anubis.
I thought he was keeping quiet after getting thoroughly thrashed on the first floor, but to show up at a time like this...
'Interesting.'
Jinhyuk looked up at the sky while holding the flag with one hand.
He had probably been watching even before Jinhyuk entered the colony.
Not from the 4th floor.
But from a much higher floor.
"I'm listening, so speak."
['Black Hound' growls lowly.]
Anubis did not hide his discomfort at Jinhyuk's complete lack of intimidation, speaking down to him despite his divine status.
Rumble!
The air trembled as mana surged wildly.
Of course, there was no way Jinhyuk would yield to such cheap intimidation.
This wasn't even a floor they ruled over.
Who did he think he was, throwing a tantrum here?
"Oh? Are you getting angry now? Should I just pull this flag out and get it over with? I don't mind either way."
Jinhyuk tightened his grip on the flag.
The flag shifted slightly upward.
Instantly, the heavy, oppressive energy vanished as if it had never been there.
['Black Hound' is greatly flustered.]
[He urges you to calm down.]
[He says they still want to see the proper conclusion of this battle.]
"I know. That's why you intervened."
From the perspective of those ruling the upper floors of the Tower, it would be hard to accept the 4th floor being cleared without a proper fight against the boss monster.
Because if they fought properly, the winner was all too obvious.
On top of that, they wouldn't want to watch a cocky human ride a wave of endless victories.
But here's the thing.
"Why should I accept your proposal?"
Jinhyuk snorted.
There was no reason to engage in an unfavorable fight.
The outcome was already decided, after all.
['Black Hound'...]
"Ah! You'd better not try any cheap threats. To be honest, no matter how much a deity of your level barks, it doesn't scare me at all."
Please, know your audience before trying to use the whip.
"If you want to negotiate with me, use a carrot instead. Who knows? If you make an offer good enough to change my mind, maybe I'll fight the Queen."
Jinhyuk smirked.
The status window paused for a moment.
About ten seconds passed like that.
['Black Hound' says he will give you 'Jackal's Tooth' if you agree to the fight.]
When the status window appeared again, it contained an unexpected offer.
Wow.
To think he would actually offer that.
I thought he was a cheapskate, but he's surprisingly generous.
'Jackal's Tooth' was a crafting material that increased attack speed by 10%.
Although it was rated A-rank due to restrictions on the items it could upgrade, its raw effect was on par with any S-rank item.
It was a highly satisfactory reward.
Highly satisfactory, indeed.
The problem was...
"I'm a greedy guy, you see."
The corners of Jinhyuk's mouth curled upward.
"First, give me the molar among the teeth. And if you grant one more condition, I'll think about it."
['Black Hound' is greatly flustered.]
[He asks how you know about the different types of teeth.]
The most powerful among the Jackal's Teeth was the 'molar.'
Unlike the other teeth that increased attack power by 20%, this one boosted attack power by a whopping 30%.
The ultimate spear capable of leaving massive scars on a target's body was one of the best items one could obtain from Anubis.
"You don't need to know how I know. Are you going to accept or not?"
['Black Hound' is curious about what the other condition is.]
"It's nothing major. There's a B-rank material item called 'White Branch', and I need it. Naturally, everything I just mentioned must be paid upfront."
The White Branch was mainly used for medical purposes; while unobtainable on the 4th floor, it was an item easily found on the 10th floor and above.
Needless to say, from Anubis's perspective, it was worthless trash.
['Black Hound' accepts the proposal.]
[The contract is finalized.]
['Black Hound' must deliver the two promised items immediately, and Player Kang Jinhyuk cannot pull out the flag until the battle with the Queen is over.]
Whirrrr!
A sharp-looking molar and a branch as white as snow materialized before his eyes.
...He took the bait.
Jinhyuk gently bit his lower lip.
The arrogant god, who mistakenly believed everything was beneath him...
...would soon kick himself in regret over the contract he had just made.
* * *
Boom!
The ground shattered completely, and black smoke billowed from the colony.
"Why... have you... killed him? Even... the Guardian."
Pendariel stared at the Butcher, who had been reduced to ashes.
She had believed no human could ever break through him.
But the human she was facing now far exceeded her wildest expectations.
At this point, she had no choice but to admit it.
Her opponent was not a mere bug to be crushed underfoot.
But an enemy she had to face with everything she had.
Step.
Pendariel walked straight into the room.
The flag had not been pulled yet.
As if mocking her, her opponent was waiting for the Queen of the colony right beneath the flag.
"Why... have you not... pulled it? If you pull the flag... it would be... your victory."
"Probably. But that would be too boring, wouldn't it?"
Jinhyuk shrugged.
"Boring... you say? With me... right before your eyes... you dare say such a thing?"
Her voice sank coldly.
A chill ran down his spine.
The fine hairs on his skin stood on end all at once.
As expected of her terrifying mana.
Fighting this thing at a low level is certainly thrilling.
No matter how much the 'Gap' stat could narrow the distance, there was currently no player who could defeat the Queen.
Originally, a 1v1 battle against Pendariel was an impossible matchup.
But...
...thanks to the contract just now, a single player...
...capable of defeating the Mother of the Zombies had been born.
Clang!
Jinhyuk snapped the Grudge-Imbued Scissors obtained from the Butcher in half.
Only one blade remained.
To be precise, only the right blade of the two.
In an instant, a sinister, scythe-like weapon was formed.
Jinhyuk immediately took the next step.
"I will fuse the 'White Branch', 'Jackal's Tooth', and 'Grudge-Imbued Scissors'."
Fusion.
A unique ability that combined substances of different properties into one.
The ability he deemed best for climbing the Tower, tailored solely for him...
...at this very moment...
...manifested to confront his worst enemy.
[Fusion successful!]
[The 'Scythe of Severed Causality' has been completed!]
[Scythe of Severed Causality]
Acquisition Difficulty: Unmeasurable
Description: A holy relic of a chief god possessing the effect of Absolute Judgment. It can kill the unkillable and sever the unseverable.
[Due to the appearance of a holy relic unsuitable for the 4th floor, the system intervenes.]
[This item can only be used once.]
Rumble!
An indescribable light completely enveloped the scythe.
As expected, it can only be used once.
Reading the detailed description, Jinhyuk clicked his tongue.
He already knew it was impossible to permanently use a power that defied probability.
Still, he had hoped he would get to use it two or three times.
Now that it was reality, the conditions were undoubtedly much stricter.
If he had fused a holy relic of the Greek deities instead of Anubis, he might have been able to use it at least once more, but even that was a luxury in his current situation.
Still, this is enough to meet the bare minimum conditions.
One-hit kill.
He had obtained a weapon guaranteed to kill the enemy upon landing a hit.
With this, the playing field was leveled.
Since they could now both end each other's lives.
['Black Hound' is appalled!]
[The deities of Egyptian mythology cannot easily accept the current situation!]
The status window scrolled up frantically.
Emotions of shock and terror from high up in the Tower were transmitted clearly.
"That weapon... How...?"
Pendariel was equally bewildered.
She hadn't cared when he brought out a bunch of miscellaneous weapons.
After all, whether it was 'Jackal's Tooth', 'Butcher's Scissors', or 'White Branch'...
...none of them could ever inflict a wound on her body.
But the moment those disparate items fused into one...
...everything changed completely.
"This... cannot be."
Her common sense crumbled.
A new rule had arrived.
"You! Who... on earth... are you?"
Pendariel crouched low.
At the same time, she unleashed her deathly energy to the fullest.
Crackle!
A black aura slowly began to encroach upon the surroundings.
Her resolve to not tolerate even the slightest threat was palpable.
For her, who had always loftily focused solely on attacking, this was the first defensive mechanism she had ever deployed in her life.
"Well, at least I can tell who's scared."
"What?"
"Am I wrong? To me, you look like a hedgehog bristling all its needles while burying its head deep inside its body right now."
"Aaargh! You... damn... human!"
Pendariel moved her hand.
Instantly, the deathly energy shot forward in sync with her hand movement.
Boom! Rumble!
An ability that corroded anything it touched.
The energy, both closest to and furthest from death, scorched the ground and the air pitch-black.
It's coming.
Jinhyuk moved accordingly.
The range was too wide to dodge completely, but it didn't matter.
He also possessed an ability to counter it.
[Unique Ability 'Mandala' is activated!]
A thin golden barrier enveloped his entire body.
Sizzle!
Smoke rose as the deathly energy clashed with the Mandala.
"You... neutralize... my ability?"
Pendariel was forced to be shocked once again.
It was only natural, as the unique ability she had absolute faith in was failing to exert its proper power.
"There's no such thing as an invincible ability in this world."
Only those who use the opposing force to counter the situation survive.
Above all, the concentration of deathly energy spread out widely like a spray could not pierce armor made of Mandala.
"Ugh!"
Realizing her mistake, Pendariel gathered the widely dispersed deathly energy into a single point.
It took the shape of a two-meter-long bastard sword.
Though it did not suit her slender frame, Pendariel swung the massive sword as if playing with a toothpick.
Crash!
A strike that split the ground.
Fierce.
And threatening.
However, no matter how destructive each and every strike was...
"It's useless if it doesn't hit."
Jinhyuk was already reading the trajectory of her attacks.
The Twin Dragon Sword was overlaid with 'Grave of Swords' and 'Blessing of the Stars'.
To create the most perfect opening, he first had to wear down his opponent's stamina and focus.
What followed was a storm of relentless attacks.
Boom!
Clang!
Clash! Clash! Clash!
Sparks flew in all directions.
The two swords writhed, searching for an opening in Pendariel's defense.
"With just... this kind of thing...!"
Driven into a corner bit by bit, Pendariel finally played her trump card.
[Pendariel activates Lv.?? 'Dirge of the Dead'!]
Screeech!
A sharp shriek erupted from the bastard sword.
The sword was howling.
Unable to bear the pain.
"What a shame. I was just starting to have fun, and you're already jumping to the climax?"
"I will see... if you can still... laugh... after witnessing this."
['First Sword']
To send off the dead.
A sword to annihilate the dead.
['Eternal Annihilation']
The blade of the bastard sword vanished.
Its shape.
Its scent.
Its very presence.
Everything turned to nothingness.