The Weight of Oblivion
“Grrraaah.”
“Grrrk.”
The creature’s copies—more accurately, its summons—lumbered forward. They lacked any real intelligence, merely growling as their bodies swayed. Then they charged, daggers flashing toward the adventurers.
‘Faster than I expected.’
Just because the summons shared the same appearance as the original didn’t mean their stats were identical. Still, their speed suggested an Agility stat well above E-rank. Sparks flew as steel met steel.
Clang. Clang.
I tested their strength with a few exchanges. Once I was sure I could handle them, I knocked a dagger aside and split one clean through the torso.
“Grrrk⋯.”
This should be manageable.
“Pierce my foes with jagged stone. Pierce Stone.”
Heinz casts Pierce Stone.
From the rear, Heinz rained stones upon the enemy. Victor’s booming voice cut through the chaos.
Leisia casts True Step.
Thud!
“Gehk!”
“Grrrk.”
Victor casts Barbarian’s Roar.
“Uwoooaaah—!”
Kwaaaah!
Benny casts Double Shot.
Kantar casts Swift Thrust.
Even the mid-tier adventurers who had only just cleared the first floor were holding their own. But not everyone.
“Ugh, they’re fast!”
“Krrk.”
Those barely scraping E-rank were quickly overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
“S-Save me—!”
Damn it. I couldn’t just watch. In a way, these people were caught up because of what I’d done to Isaac.
‘Lightning.’
Kwaaang!
Ignoring the headache, I dropped a bolt and saved an adventurer whose throat was about to be slit.
“Grrrk!”
The summon convulsed. The rescued adventurer scrambled up, eyes wide.
“W-What the—? Die, you bastard!”
Puhak!
‘Good. Now focus. Stay right behind the front line.’
“Out of my way!”
Victor casts Sweep.
Chaaak!
Victor’s greatsword carved a path through the horde. Leisia followed up immediately.
Leisia casts Giant’s Footstep.
Kung! Kuung!
Leisia casts Iron Mountain Strike.
Peoong—!
The adventurers flipped the ground itself, sending summons flying. I refused to fall behind.
Seogeok. Seogeok. Chaaak!
I cut and cut again. With Murderous Intent and the enhanced blade techniques, the E-rank summons stood no chance. When several attacked at once, I slipped between their strikes in slowed time and carved them apart.
Efusio of the Beginning casts Primordial Saraph.
Even the lasers didn’t faze me. I could see and dodge them. The buffs and new trait had made my body noticeably faster.
“Good! Don’t stop! Even if you die, take one more step forward!”
We pressed on, every adventurer roaring as we advanced on Efusio.
「Persistent insects. Very well. I shall change my approach.」
‘Change what?’
Efusio of the Beginning casts Summoning of Hesmana.
Hwaak!
The summons’ behavior flipped instantly. They ignored their own safety and tackled the weaker adventurers, pinning them down.
Efusio of the Beginning casts Primordial Saraph.
Ziiing—
Efusio of the Beginning absorbs Daniel’s trait.
It crushed the pinned adventurers beneath its body like a grotesque stack, then began searing them with lasers to steal their traits.
Shit. The headache made repeated lightning strikes impossible, and even if I could, the summons and adventurers were tangled together.
Efusio of the Beginning absorbs Hamilton’s trait.
“Krrraaagh!”
Efusio of the Beginning absorbs Katie’s trait.
“Kyaaah!”
Owned Traits (Locked)
Prison of Convergence
Primordial Saraph
Summoning of Hesmana
Oblivion
Basic Dagger Arts
Keen Scent
Basic Sword Defense
Endurance
Sprint
“Don’t waste time on the small fry! As adventurers, we stake our lives every moment. Focus only on killing that thing as fast as possible!”
Because the summons were targeting the weaker members, the path to Efusio had actually become clearer. Explosions, impacts, and slashes echoed as we carved forward. Even though the stolen traits had strengthened the summons, they couldn’t stop our momentum.
Before long, we reached Efusio itself.
“Eat this—!”
Victor casts Rock Splitter.
Hwoooang—!
Victor swung his massive greatsword with all his might, brown mana coating the blade. Efusio raised a shield in response.
Efusio of the Beginning casts Endurance.
Kwaaaang!
「Khh!」
The impact sent Efusio skidding back, its usual composure cracking. Yet Victor’s expression was equally grim.
“Damn it… that felt off. Even after taking a fully charged Rock Splitter, it only slid back?”
Leisia, who had fallen slightly behind while clearing the path, rushed in to exploit the opening.
“Haaah!”
Leisia casts Chain Strike.
Her fists blurred, each blow heavy and relentless.
Kwang! Kwangkwang! Kwangkwangkwang!
“Fall gracefully!”
Leisia casts Fierce Tiger Strike.
Tu-kwaang—!
Efusio was hurled backward. Leisia stared in disbelief.
“⋯Why? Even after all that, the damage is so low?”
「Hah. Even if the damage is minor, being struck repeatedly is unpleasant.」
The mages arrived and unleashed their spells.
“Blaze and consume the monster before me! Flame Wave!”
“Pierce my foes with jagged stone. Pierce Stone!”
Hwareuk! Kwaang!
Smoke cleared to reveal Efusio standing with its head bowed. It had taken more damage than before.
「Kh… Khahaha! Mere living sacrifices have driven me this far.」
Efusio raised both arms, palms open.
「I have decided. I shall endure the permanent loss of power. I will make you regret ever dreaming such futile dreams.」
⋯Uuuuung.
A field of light formed around Efusio’s body. Was this the activation of Oblivion? If it sealed traits or manipulated the mind… we had to stop it now.
Victor and Leisia, sensing the danger, charged forward.
‘Lightning—!’
Teoreong!
‘Damn it. I poured everything short of knocking myself out into that strike, and the barrier still didn’t break?’
Jiiing—
“Krrng⋯.”
The backlash dropped me to one knee, head clutched in agony. Victor and Leisia fared no better.
「Behold. Despair!」
Efusio of the Beginning casts Oblivion.
Dung. Dung. Duuung—
A massive, invisible wave erupted from Efusio, sweeping across the entire central area.
“Khh!”
“Kyaaah!”
I braced myself, arms raised.
Chaos Eye nullifies Oblivion.
⋯Was it over?
“Krrrk⋯.”
“Haa, haah.”
Victor and Leisia’s pained groans reached me. I looked around in horror.
“Teeeng.”
“Tuu, tuuttyaa⋯.”
“Where… am I? Who… who am I?”
‘You absolute bastard. It directly attacked intelligence and memory? Will this even wear off? Don’t tell me it’s permanent.’
The entire area had become a sea of drooling idiots and amnesiacs.
‘We’re screwed.’
If Efusio summoned more creatures now, none of us could resist.
Efusio of the Beginning absorbs random traits from targets affected by Oblivion.
⋯What?
Absorbed Reckless Charge.
Absorbed Penetrating Thrust.
Absorbed Basic Blunt Weapon Arts.
Absorbed⋯
Traits⋯
⋯Haha.
The sword slipped slightly in my grip. So this was what a floor boss truly was.
Chaos urgently warns that it is too early to give up.
‘You’re telling me not to give up after seeing that? Are you serious?’
Thoughts raced through my mind. Then I snapped.
‘You idiot. Get a grip! Are you really going to just die because the enemy got stronger?’
I had clawed my way through life-and-death situations before. I wasn’t about to stop now.
Kwaak—
I gripped the sword tighter, teeth clenched.
Chaos points urgently at Efusio’s body.
Its body? I looked.
“⋯!”
The once-brilliant white glow had faded. Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface. Its form rippled unnaturally—new arms sprouting, legs swelling and shrinking in grotesque cycles.
Efusio of the Beginning
An spiritual entity that slumbered within the Great Labyrinth since its appearance. Currently transitioning from pure spiritual form into a new physical body.
Temporarily weakened due to the cost of Oblivion and the backlash of absorbing too many traits at once.
Owned Traits (Locked)
Prison of Convergence
■■■ ■■■ (Inactive)
■■■ ■■■■ (Inactive)
■■■■■ (Inactive)
Basic Dagger Arts
Keen Scent
Endurance
Sprint
「Tch. The cost was greater than expected. It will take time to assimilate what I have absorbed.」
Step.
「Still, compared to the time I spent asleep, this is nothing. No one can stop me now.」
Step. Step.
「First, the martial artist. I shall finish the most annoying one. Not that she can understand me anymore.」
Leisia knelt, clutching her head, eyes half-vacant, barely able to breathe.
「I shall grant you a swift death in recognition of resisting Oblivion. Farewell.」
Hwoong—
I launched myself forward.
Chaeng!
「Hm?」
I blocked one of its many arms.
“A swift death, you said?”
Kwaang!
「Kuh!」
The explosive sword technique sent Efusio reeling. Its body really was weakened.
“If you want to hurt anyone, you’ll have to get through me first.”
Most of its original traits were inactive. Its body was weakened from absorbing too many foreign traits at once.
‘If summoning and absorption are sealed… then this is our only chance.’