The Poison Masters' Destined Clash
I realized that Valentina had chosen an abandoned dungeon as our destination.
Then why had she specifically picked this place? The answer came soon enough.
"Activating now!"
With those words, Lisa unleashed the second prepared sorcery. The text inscribed on the scroll floating in midair began to glow. At the same time, a circular barrier formed around Titi and Luiza.
In other words, we had all warped to the abandoned dungeon at once, and on top of that, Lisa had set up an additional barrier just for Titi and Luiza. The reason for this double safety measure was obvious—there was only one.
It meant the poison of master poison sorceresses was that terrifying. Even if those around were S-rank hunters or equivalents, getting poisoned by top-tier poison sorceresses would spell disaster.
In fact, I'd been shocked when I saw Titi secretly trying to spread her poison. Not just me—none of the others present had noticed her ploy.
A poison sorceress who could utterly ruin an A-rank hunter with her toxins—if she went all out, risking her life to unleash it, who could handle that? Even surviving would leave severe aftereffects.
Hence the double barriers.
"Now we can just sit back and enjoy the show. Guaranteed entertainment! The poison sorceresses' showdown of the century!"
Valentina commentated fluently in Korean, like a sports broadcaster. I already knew why her pronunciation, intonation, and even emotional nuance felt so perfectly Korean. She'd once explained how she and Lisa had mastered it—through a sorcery that implanted language memories from Korean speakers.
I got the gist, but imagining the complexity of that ritual made my head spin. Valentina's mastery as a sorceress had been proven time and again.
Titi ground her teeth. Cracks finally appeared in her composure. Caught in a perfect trap. For someone revered as a top poison sorceress her whole life, this was an unprecedented humiliation and a life-or-death crisis.
"I have a condition."
Staring sharply at Luiza ahead, Titi spoke.
"Name it."
Unlike Titi, Luiza exuded total relaxation. Not just because of our allies here—there was deeper confidence in her. Even if it were one-on-one with no one else around, she seemed utterly sure she'd win.
And strangely, I could sense it too. Not like some cartoon where combat power is numerically displayed, but I just felt Luiza was maybe 1.2 or 1.5 times stronger than Titi.
I might not know Titi's full extent, but I instinctively grasped Luiza's level. Probably because I'd had sex with her, absorbing and enhancing everything about her in the process. I didn't know how it worked, but it was instinctive knowledge.
I got the same vibe from Kim Se-in and Kang A-jin. I couldn't sense it from Valentina or Lisa likely because I hadn't slept with them after my sexual functions upgraded.
Sex with Luiza had fundamentally leveled up my abilities. Of course, steady growth had built up before, so maybe she just hit the tipping point.
Titi said, "Promise that if I win against you, you'll let me go."
"Deal."
I was stunned hearing their exchange. Titi's demand made some sense—it was her only shot at escape. But Luiza accepted her somewhat forced proposal without a 0.1-second hesitation. Even though she could've checked with the rest of us via a glance.
Kim Se-in beside me showed a flicker of unease. Naturally so—she was the one directly involved, and Luiza was just here to help.
We couldn't say Luiza had full authority to release Titi. Kang A-jin wore the most uncomfortable expression. She clearly disliked Luiza agreeing without a second thought.
Valentina grinned like it was the best show ever, while Lisa remained expressionless as always.
Luiza's instant reply left Titi flustered instead.
"I believe you have pride. Don't go back on your word later."
"That tongue of yours is so long, it might get you in trouble. Or should we put it to a majority vote?"
Luiza glanced at us outside the barrier. A vote's outcome was obvious.
"No..." Titi immediately backed down, flustered.
"I've been looking forward to meeting you. You too, right? We poison sorceresses grow by surviving near-death brushes. In that sense, pain is our greatest pleasure. You've built your strength on countless poison sorceress lives, just like me. You and your sister are tops in the East; I'm top in the West. This is fate. Sooner or later, we'd clash as offerings for each other's growth. Winner takes all—fits perfectly, doesn't it?"
"......"
Titi glared at Luiza. Listening, I grasped how brutal the poison sorceress world was. Unlike shamans refining theories through research and practice, they pursued growth by experiencing and overcoming stronger poisons.
The most effective way? Direct clashes between poison sorceresses. Losers died. That's how Luiza, Titi, and the Chichi sisters had risen, earning fame on opposite sides of the globe. Today, they finally met—just as Luiza said, perhaps destiny.
Even without Kim Se-in's incident as the trigger, they'd have crossed paths eventually. No wonder Valentina peered into the barrier with childlike glee. Where else could you witness this?
As a regular awakener, I hadn't even known poison sorceresses existed, let alone underground legends like Luiza, Titi, or Chichi. This was a historic clash hidden from the world, never to be revealed to normals.
Titi's expression calmed after Luiza's words.
"You're right. My sister and I reached this point surviving countless near-deaths. We once saw betting our lives as natural for growth. We earned 'the best' title, but deep down, there was shame. I always sensed your fame, believing we'd fight someday. One of us dies, the other becomes truly supreme. But remember this: even if I die here, my sister remains. As her older sister, it's embarrassing, but she's surpassed me long ago. Our names rise together only because we're twins. The realm of immunity to all poisons—she'll reach it soon."
Immunity to all poisons. The term sent chills through me. Familiar to martial arts novel fans—an absolute state where no poison works. Different from indestructible diamond body, a minimal pinnacle.
'Chichi's that strong?'
It explained why the 5-billion-won job brought the older sister instead. Twins sharing fame, but real skill topped by the younger, Chichi. Meaning the organization's true boss was Chichi, not Titi here.
"I see."
Luiza looked regretful.
"Too bad your sister didn't come too."
"Don't get cocky. You'd never match her. Together, my sister and I... you'd be a puddle of venom, our meal."
"Ooh~ Chills. Saying such brutal things so casually~ Our sensibilities really differ, huh~~"
Luiza shuddered dramatically. I figured Titi wasn't bluffing. Sure, she had motive—warn them off her sister even in death. Flaunting immunity to all poisons made her untouchable.
But beyond that, Titi took genuine pride in her sister. So, Titi being here instead of Chichi was a stroke of luck.
A scenario formed in my mind. And if it played out, Luiza could surpass even Chichi—not right now, but eventually.