Episode 1128
Episode 1128
Contrary to the hamster's misunderstanding, Lee Han actually had his own solid reasoning.
'At the very least, one of them is definitely from the Ksaxarigol cult.'
No matter how you looked at it, the way they kept chanting "monstermonstermonster" was far too blatantly suspicious.
"You insignificant human brat...!"
Juzen's flesh made bubbling sounds as it rapidly regenerated.
It was the Authority of regeneration granted by the Fair Regent.
Crackle-crackle-crackle!
Meanwhile, Perkuntra's chain lightning was already crashing down among the mercenaries.
Though these were mercenaries who had considerable experience countering lightning magic and skillfully raised shields imbued with insulation properties, the destructive power of the lightning far exceeded their expectations.
Lee Han's signature modified magic—overloading spells with mana beyond their normal limits to boost their power!
"!"
The mercenaries were horrified when their shields burned away and the shock traveled up their arms.
Normally, chain-type spells distributed their attacks, meaning each individual strike wasn't overwhelmingly powerful.
The shields they were currently using could easily block 3rd or 4th Circle magic, yet...!
Suddenly, their vision blurred and they felt their senses going numb. It was a curse.
'How?!'
As one impossible event after another occurred, even the experienced mercenaries froze in their tracks.
Just as they had countermeasures against lightning, they naturally had defenses against curses too. It wasn't like they wore those dangling necklaces and rings for no reason.
But for a curse to penetrate without any warning whatsoever?
Siana urgently shouted.
"Priest! The next location!"
"They're breaking through the right wall to escape!"
Hearing Dijiling's response, Siana quickly launched a slime-formed snake to lie in wait near the right wall.
The snake instantly vaporized, transforming into toxic fumes that filled the area.
"Perfect! Hit them with another curse!"
"T-this isn't the kind of artifact that conveniently fires curses like that..."
Dijiling replied awkwardly to her excited friend's shout.
Priests of the Prisinga Order specialized in curse collection, which meant they were equally skilled in utilizing curses.
Dijiling did possess a few cursed artifacts, but they weren't the type to conveniently shoot out curses on command.
"Get up now, you worthless creature!"
Juzen commanded while healing the fallen prophet of the Ksaxarigol cult.
The Authority granted by the Fair Regent wasn't infinite. The master's Authority could only be used in proportion to the sacrifices offered.
Yet there was one reason he was willing to expend precious sacrificial reserves to heal his opponent.
In this situation, he desperately needed the foresight ability to find the most accurate path forward.
"Monstermonstermonstermonstermonster..."
"......"
Juzen immediately regretted reviving this guy.
Whatever attack he'd suffered, who knew it would drive him this insane?
On the other hand, Lee Han felt relieved.
Honestly, he'd been startled when he saw the enemy regenerate immediately after being hit by the Water Prison Bomb.
At 4th Circle, it might have been understandable, but the Water Prison Bomb enhanced to 5th Circle and imbued with the concept of destruction wasn't something you could just regenerate from easily.
As expected of an Evil God Worshipper, they clearly possessed some bizarre methods.
'Having the Ksaxarigol cultist here is actually a blessing in disguise.'
"Nigisor, I'll leave the rest to you!"
Lee Han decided to focus his attacks on Juzen while leaving the other mercenaries to Nigisor.
After all, Juzen was clearly the most dangerous opponent by far.
Nigisor nodded and began swelling his body dramatically. While most mages, being made of flesh and blood, would struggle with such fluid transformations, Nigisor was different as a spirit hybrid.
"Flames, take hold!"
When what appeared to be a burning priest tried charging at them like a chariot, the mercenaries were startled.
Despite being disoriented by the consecutive attacks, the mercenaries reacted swiftly.
"Intercept! Don't let him get close—"
At that moment, Nigisor sensed a powerful spirit's energy amplifying his flames.
A wild, intensely fierce flame power.
'What? Is there a strong fire spirit nearby?'
Though intrigued, now wasn't the time to investigate. The spirit's identity could be checked later.
"Whoosh!"
As flames filled the alleyway, the mercenaries hurled curses as they flung themselves aside.
They knew the hole near the wall was filled with toxic fumes, but right now, they had no choice but to evade first.
'Water Prison Bomb!'
A sphere of water materialized midair with a sinister hum, lunging once more toward Juzen's vital points.
Simultaneously, a powerful telekinetic force struck Juzen like a massive palm. The dull, crushing pressure made him feel blood rising in his throat.
"You insignificant human vermin... how dare you?!"
Enraged, Juzen consumed another sacrifice to heal his wounds and immediately erected a dense barrier of malevolent will around himself.
The veil, woven with the Evil God's power, disrupted the telekinetic targeting and melted the intent embedded in the Water Prison Bomb, reducing it back to mere water droplets.
'I'll kill you!'
Juzen raised his head, glaring straight ahead, expecting to see fear on his opponent's face.
But Lee Han's expression remained unchanged—his bold demeanor suggesting he had anticipated this level of resistance all along.
"Space, heed me!"
In that instant, Lee Han, who had already prepared another Water Prison Bomb, teleported it directly behind his enemy. The bomb collided with the brick wall, emitting a sharp sound as it sliced through matter.
Juzen regretted his stingy decision to only reinforce the front with his barrier, sparing his sacrifices. His opponent was far stronger than he had anticipated.
Thunk!
A precise, lethal strike—slicing through his spine and piercing straight into his heart.
The attack jolted Juzen's mind, dredging up old memories.
"...You! You! Are you a disciple of the Bagrak Family?!"
"What's a Bagrak?"
Lee Han lied without blinking, but the frenzied vampire had already made up his mind.
This distinctive style of magical combat was unmistakable. Juzen cursed with a voice dripping with malice.
"After the Fair Regent showed you mercy, you still dared to sharpen your blade of vengeance in secret...? Fine! I, too, shall show no more mercy."
Currently, the remnants of the Sanguiros Cult were not actively hunting their old enemies.
The cult was focused solely on recovery, and above all, the Fair Regent had commanded it.
But old grudges do not fade so easily. Especially not for someone like Juzen, who had once belonged to a glorious noble house before its sudden downfall.
He would gather the noble vampires of the west who still harbored resentment and take his revenge!
In an instant, Juzen's form blurred.
He had chosen to escape once more—this time into the Fire Giant's dimension.
But he was still underestimating his opponent.
"!!"
Juzen was stunned when he saw Lee Han immediately pursue him, stepping into the dimension after him.
'This damn human brat. Isn't he afraid of the Fire Giant's dimension?!'
-You idiot! Retreat now!
Hamster squeaked in alarm.
This was the Fire Giants' dimension. The crimson-stained sky and the air trembling with heat suggested that the Fire Giants were already in a furious rage.
-You don't even know what they did to provoke them, yet you followed him in here?! We could all die!
"I'm going. I just need to catch him."
Lee Han ignored Hamster's frantic squeaking, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Had Juzen still been in his prime—when his house stood strong and his mind was sharp—he would never have uttered those words in front of his enemy.
There was no reason to announce, "I'm going to hunt down your master next." It served no purpose other than petty satisfaction.
The fact that he relied on such satisfaction at all was proof that Juzen's judgment and rationality had deteriorated greatly.
'So, once he gets back, he'll target Professor Bagrak first, huh?'
From his opponent's words, Lee Han gleaned several pieces of information.
That Juzen held some status, that he bore a deep grudge against the Bagrak Family...
...and that the moment he escaped, he would send assassins after both Professor Voladi and himself!
In that case, there was only one right choice—to finish him here and now. Juzen had underestimated Lee Han's resolve.
"Very... very displeasing. No matter how fallen my house may be, to be looked down upon by some green human whelp like you..."
Juzen trembled as he healed his wounds with the Evil God's Authority.
Once he realized the true intent behind his opponent's pursuit, that realization only fueled his fury.
"How dare a mere human brat think he can finish me off?!"
"Lightning, manifest and reveal yourself!"
"O Regent, tear him apart!"
Lee Han's choice was Lightning Transformation.
Though it was also a 5th-circle spell, since he'd already used Water Prison Bomb too frequently, there was a high chance his opponent could anticipate it.
When his lightning-transformed body stabbed forward like a spear and struck, Juzen let out a deep groan.
Yet Juzen's eyes flashed with absolute certainty of victory.
"It's over, you human bastard!"
-D-dangerous!
-This is...!
Not only Hamster, but even Saratan within the staff shouted in alarm upon sensing the crisis.
Though his reason and judgment had dulled considerably, Juzen made the boldest and most precise decision of the day.
The longer he dragged this out against this human whelp, the more dangerous it became.
Thus, he mobilized all his sacrificial offerings to unleash the most powerful Authority of the Evil God in his possession.
Crimson blood-red energy coalesced in the air, transforming into a cursed Strigoi of terrifying form with four arms.
Yet what emanated from it was unmistakable divinity. Saratan immediately stepped forward in his master's stead.
The Authority of Tenacity that blocks all attacks!
A translucent hornbeam tree unfolded in the air, standing firm as if to block the four-armed Strigoi's approach.
CRACK!
But the Evil God's power surpassed imagination. It crushed the barrier as if compressing and crumpling a giant tree.
-Th-that's impossible...!
Saratan was aghast.
"You think a mere spirit can block a god's power?!"
Juzen sneered upon realizing Lee Han had borrowed a spirit's strength.
This Strigoi was the manifestation of the Great Regent. How could some lowly spirit block a strike imbued with an Evil God's power?
-The bracelet! Take out the demons' bracelet!
Hamster urgently shouted.
The situation was dire enough that they needed to borrow even demonic energy now.
"That won't be necessary."
Lee Han calmly replied before setting down his staff and raising both hands above his head.
Thinking he might be surrendering, Juzen then noticed a bizarre crown forming above the boy's head.
'What...?'
Before he could ponder the crown's nature, the Strigoi's four arms suddenly moved in different directions.
And pierced straight through Juzen's body.
"Guhk!"
'Small World!'
This alien, bizarre magical system could only be Small World. Juzen never imagined his opponent could use Small World.
Even if it was Small World, it made no sense.
How could he manipulate the Evil God's power like that?
-M-madness...!
Hamster shrieked with goosebumps.
Though they should rejoice at defeating an Evil God Worshipper, the current spectacle was too chilling for any joy.
This combat style...
Wasn't it just like the Young Skeleton Principal?!
This wasn't about strength. The magic's style and methodology somehow reminded them of that insane archmage.
"Mad?"
-...Madly successful, I mean! Magnificent!
Hamster quickly praised out of fear. The lingering afterimage of that crowned figure made his tiny heart pound.
"Ah. Thank you."
Lee Han replied somewhat bashfully.
He'd luckily realized he could use Small World to win, but receiving such praise made him slightly embarrassed.
'Damn it all...'
Juzen felt utter defeat.
Bold strategies backfire spectacularly when they fail. Juzen was experiencing exactly that.
Who could have imagined his all-out attempt to kill with the Evil God's power would backfire like this?
Who was this boy?
"!!!"
Both Juzen and Lee Han turned their heads in shock.
Enraged Fire Giants were marching up from below.
Who dared attack a giant and desecrate their remains?
"Th-that mage did it!"
Juzen mustered his last strength to shout. Even he recognized this was a cunning ploy.
To the giants' eyes, a human brat would look far more suspicious than himself, a defeated man at death's door.
'O Regent, thank you!'
BOOM!
The Fire Giant swung its flaming sword, burning Juzen out of existence.
Then it growled in annoyance.
The challenger recognized by the Frost Giant King would never do such a thing. You stinking liar. Spouting worthless falsehoods.
"......"
Amid his relief, Lee Han felt profound despair.
Just how fast did rumors spread across dimensions...?