Chapter 247
Chapter 247
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 247
>Chapter Title: The Birth of Six-Sense Asura
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The Bone of Origins fused with Kang Seol's shadow, taking the form of bone armor gleaming with a dark luster. The simple Night Raven form was now fully filled out thanks to the Bone of Origins.
Kang Seol's aura had visibly surged to new heights—at least greater than it had been at the start when his power was at its peak. There was no way a ghost like Eoduksini could fail to notice it.
Trying to fight Kang Seol the same way as before would lead to disaster.
This was a moment where even Eoduksini had to make a decision.
Whooooom...
Eoduksini's domain unfurled in an instant.
Sssss...
In the process, a sense of resistance pushed back.
It was Kang Seol's domain.
In deploying his own domain just now, Eoduksini had made his choice.
- I will release all my power.
"Doesn't that usually make it take longer to regain your strength?"
Kiiiiing-!
Pitch-black darkness expanded.
- It doesn't matter.
[Mid-level Insight activates.]
[Eoduksini releases his power.]
[Sealed abilities unlock, boosting stats.]
[As a backlash, recovery speed decreases by 40%.]
Drrrrrr...
Eoduksini's power now induced tremors simply by existing.
'Even so, it hasn't escaped immortality. Well... even if it was immortal before, it doesn't make sense for Eoduksini, freshly awakened from its seal, to surpass that level.'
Up until moments ago, Eoduksini had wielded power at the entry level of immortality. Now, it possessed mid-level immortal strength.
'And it's incomplete.'
Since it wasn't a perfect realm, there was no need to tremble in fear.
Drrrrrrrr-!
[Eoduksini uses Twist.]
[The surrounding terrain changes on a massive scale.]
With its power temporarily restored, Eoduksini's abilities themselves had grown stronger.
The spatial distortion now covered a wider area with greater intensity.
Kwaaaang-!
Kwaaaang-!
Kang Seol dodged the rising stone pillars with his eyes closed. His evasion speed was soon matched by the pace of the spatial distortions.
Kwachik-!
A stone pillar gouged into his shoulder.
[The Bone of Origins devours the impact.]
[The Bone of Origins is in a hungry state.]
[The Bone of Origins digests all impact.]
- ...Tricks!
The fact that Kang Seol took no damage unsettled Eoduksini, but it didn't greatly affect the battle situation.
After all, Eoduksini was now starting to use the power it had been holding back.
[Eoduksini uses Darkness Slash.]
[If the opponent fails to perceive it, the blade recharges.]
The fully unleashed Eoduksini's basic blades numbered ten in total.
This was on a whole different level from the previous maximum of three blades. And since successful ambushes recharged the blades, it was effectively unlimited.
Kang Seol tensed as he swatted away the incoming blades from Eoduksini.
The blades reverted to straight sword forms.
Kaaang-!
Pipit-!
Kagagang-!
'I can keep up!'
Previously, he couldn't match the speed of the straight sword blades, but now he could handle even consecutive ones.
Kang Seol was growing stronger at an astonishing rate.
On top of that, with the Bone of Origins as insurance wrapped around his body, he was an entirely different person from before.
Kaaang-!
Kang!
Like a dancer performing with abandon, Kang Seol displayed monstrous movements alongside Bitan.
Kagang-!
[Eoduksini uses Blind Spot.]
[A blade forms from a direction the enemy cannot perceive.]
The combo of Blind Spot and Darkness Slash.
Blades forming from imperceptible directions, and the recharge effect upon successful hits—it had severed the necks of countless warriors.
Kaaaaang-!
- ...You shouldn't be able to perceive it?
"That's why there are two of us."
Kang Seol used Karuna's senses to fill the gaps in his sensory domain. That was why he wasn't swayed by Eoduksini's blind spots.
However, Kang Seol tilted his head, seemingly unsatisfied with something.
'This isn't it...'
Karuna had his senses on high alert to counter the blind spots, blocking the damage, but this created another problem.
'Using the Night Raven like this... it's meaningless.'
There was no point in the two of them exerting their individual powers. It would be far stronger to simply fight back-to-back.
'They need to become one.'
Two as one.
Producing the power of three or more.
That was the true strength of the Night Raven.
But the current fight was no better than a sloppy brawl.
Even if he defeated Eoduksini like this, it would be a half-baked victory—an improvised win at best.
Whooo...
He focused his mind.
Now that he knew the problem, he had to find the solution.
'...It's right there, almost graspable.'
Just as he had fully taken Jamad's martial prowess for himself, he needed to claim Karuna's swordsmanship as well.
Right now, he was merely borrowing Karuna's power.
Whoooong...
A black, sticky aura poured from Bitan's blade.
It was the power Karuna wielded: the black waves.
Fusssss...
But it was soon eroded and scattered by Eoduksini's domain. Darkness was destined to be devoured by greater darkness.
Thus, the black waves were meaningless within Eoduksini's domain.
How could he use the black waves?
Kang Seol pondered deeply.
Whirlic-!
Kaaaaang-!
Of course, while blocking Eoduksini's blades.
The blades had long proven useless. Eoduksini knew this too.
So it chose a different approach.
Drrrrrrrr...
[Eoduksini uses Twist.]
[The surrounding terrain changes on a massive scale.]
'Spatial distortion again?'
Kang Seol couldn't understand why Eoduksini was using the ineffective spatial distortion once more.
But realizing this Twist was entirely different from before, he braced for the incoming threat.
A prison of rock enclosed Kang Seol.
Immense pressure bore down from within.
- Crush!
[Eoduksini uses Ghost Pressure.]
[Applies pressure equal to the ghost energy possessed.]
Kikikikikik-!
Pakak...
It was pressure enough to prevent even breathing.
[The Bone of Origins devours the impact.]
[The Bone of Origins is slightly filled.]
[The Bone of Origins partially digests the impact.]
The pressure rapidly filled the Bone of Origins' capacity.
Kang Seol couldn't extend his body, like a lifeform trapped in an egg. When movement is restricted, life realizes its own form.
The preciousness of hands and feet in their immobility, their very shape.
Kang Seol was the same.
'Right... hands! It's the hands!'
Eujijijik-!
Part of the Bone of Origins cracked.
'Focus the power first...'
Eujijik...
- Die!
'Release!'
Kwaaaaaang!
Kang Seol burst from the rock prison.
Parts of the bone armor were shattered, but realizing it hadn't inflicted major damage on the Kang Seol inside, Eoduksini prepared a follow-up attack.
Whoooooom-!
The entire space vibrated with Eoduksini's power.
[Eoduksini uses Erosion.]
[Blades continuously generate across the entire space for a short time.]
Eoduksini intended to shred Kang Seol into rags before he could regenerate.
Pibibibibit!
Blades assaulted from all directions.
Kagang!
Kaaaaang!
Kaaaang!
Normally, deflecting this many blades would exhaust Kang Seol, but the Primordial Blood endlessly circulated through his body, infusing him with energy.
Now, it was either Eoduksini collapsing first from launching blades or Kang Seol from blocking them.
Pipit!
At that moment, Kang Seol inexplicably showed an opening.
His stance faltered while deflecting a blade.
Eoduksini seized the split-second gap for a vicious ambush.
[Eoduksini uses Blind Spot.]
[A blade forms from a direction the enemy cannot perceive.]
Pit-!
But the instant the blade flew, Kang Seol charged toward Eoduksini, ignoring the one from behind.
- Foolish!
Kardrrrrk!
The blade struck Kang Seol's back.
"Keheok...."
[The Bone of Origins devours the impact.]
[The Bone of Origins is at full capacity.]
[The Bone of Origins cannot digest the impact.]
Pakagagagagak!
The embedded blade shattered all of the Bone of Origins.
The shock sent Kang Seol tumbling forward, preventing his spine from being severed by the blade.
The moment an unleashed Eoduksini's attack landed on Kang Seol without the Bone of Origins, the fight would end.
Eoduksini believed victory was inevitably his.
"Fuhuhu...."
Kang Seol rose, mocking that very thought.
"It touched."
- ...What?
Eoduksini hastily checked its body. There was a disrupted spot—a minor scratch at worst.
Contrary to fears, it posed no threat.
- Meaningless. Compared to the damage you've taken...
"Damage? Whose?"
Eujijijik-!
A phantom arm extended from Kang Seol's back.
[Night Raven: Sensory Domain proficiency increases.]
What Kang Seol had said while facing Eoduksini.
- ...Thanks for the advice. I learn best by taking hits.
There was truth in those words.
The Shadow Hand's evolved sensory domain extended phantom arms, broadening senses within a fixed range.
These phantom arms had increased every time Kang Seol took a major hit since their initial creation.
Eoduksini asked.
- ...You deliberately let the blade hit?
"Think what you want."
Kang Seol's arms now totaled six, including two pairs of shadow phantom arms.
In that instant, everything changed.
[Night Raven: Sensory Domain completes!]
[Epiphany! Awaken a new ability.]
[Ultimate: Sustained: Six-Sense Asura awakens.]
[Ultimate: Sustained: Six-Sense Asura is born!]
Ssssss...
The two pairs of arms dissolved.
A circular domain pushed back the darkness.
Chwaaaak...
Black waves erupted from Bitan. They now proudly emitted a dark luster even within Eoduksini's domain.
- ...Now I acknowledge you.
Sssssss...
Eoduksini's domain slowly receded.
- You are my equal.
Chwaaaaaaaaak!
Majestic darkness shaped Eoduksini's true form.
A swordsman gripping straight swords in both hands.
[Eoduksini uses special ability: The Unseen One.]
[Eoduksini's form vanishes for a duration.]
[Duration extends based on the opponent's fear.]
[Darkness Slash activates on each successful attack.]
[Successful Darkness Slash triggers Blind Spot repeatedly.]
Kang Seol slowly opened his eyes.
There was no longer any need to keep them closed. It might have dulled his senses before, but with the completed sensory domain, that no longer applied.
"This looks much better."
- You cannot see me.
"Maybe... who knows?"
Pat-!
Pat-!
The two figures moved simultaneously.
Of course, only Kang Seol was visible in reality.
Kaaaang-!
Eoduksini's sword seemed several times faster than the blades flying from the darkness.
But the mere clash of steel revealed the battle wasn't going Eoduksini's way.
- ...How did you block that?
"......"
- Doesn't matter.
Kaaang-!
Kaaaaang!
Eoduksini's swordsmanship was no ordinary thing.
Invisible, its attacks' origins were unpredictable, and its presence was barely detectable.
Yet Bitan relentlessly pursued that sword.
Eoduksini's special ability hadn't activated even once.
Kang!
Kagagang!
Chwaaaaak!
As black waves spread from Kang Seol's sword, Eoduksini hastily retreated.
The black waves were more dangerous than its own blades.
Moreover, the closer their swords clashed, the stranger the sensation for Eoduksini.
It felt like fighting two swordsmen.
If Eoduksini's strengths were rapid combos and relentless assaults, Kang Seol countered with unnaturally solid defense laced with piercing sharpness off the beaten path.
Kang Seol grinned.
"Now it's balanced."
- ....
"What? Let's go again."
Pat-!
Paaat-!
Kagang!
Kaaaang!
As their swords crossed, Kang Seol thought.
No, he tried to think something.
Eoduksini's incoming sword somehow seemed slower amid the relentless pace.
Karuna and Kang Seol now faced the same direction, backs no longer turned.
Sensory fusion.
Asura spread senses omnidirectionally, with Kang Seol and Karuna countering together.
They found better sword paths together, imbuing greater weight.
Kang Seol found the process utterly exhilarating.
Power surged to overflowing, yet he held back.
Just as Daeha shattered a wall upon meeting Kang Seol, he too was shattering his wall through Eoduksini.
Kaaaang-!
Kaaang-!
Kaa......
......
The sounds gradually faded.
In the battle, sound vanished first.
Swords continued clashing.
No sensation remained in his hands.
The recoil from impacts was gone.
Space turned pure white.
This was visible only to Kang Seol.
To him, a tiny Eoduksini appeared in the white expanse.
He crossed swords with it.
Now even Eoduksini vanished.
In its place stood Karuna.
Kaaaaang-!
Karuna gripped the breath, facing Kang Seol in Eoduksini's stead.
When the sword rose high, he pressed down low.
When it slashed diagonally, he thrust up from the opposite side.
The body moved like this.
The sword moved like this.
It was as if Karuna taught him step by step.
Kang Seol learned one by one what he had been taught by his elder master.
The sword clashed against Karuna's rippling waves.
A being trapped in an egg must shatter the shell to be born. It was inevitable.
This was a virtual world, the wall Kang Seol faced.
He saw Karuna curl deeply, gathering power.
That motion—he remembered it.
Chwaaaaaaaaa-!
Black ink spilled into the white space, forming a night sea. It couldn't be blocked.
Yet light appeared.
Light from a lighthouse, perhaps.
Karuna might be there.
That was the path.
A buoy guiding him forward.
Bitan vibrated.
【Uwaaaaaah! What is this!】
Kang Seol showed Bitan the path he saw.
He swung Bitan from above downward.
Chwaaaaaaaaak-!
Tearing the white space, the black line bisected the sea.
[Ultimate: Night Sea activates.]
[Epiphany! Awaken a new ability.]
[Ultimate: Linked: Dark Fin awakens.]
[Ultimate: Linked: Dark Fin is born!]
What was bisected was the wall blocking Kang Seol, with Eoduksini beyond.
- I see.
Piiiit!
Eoduksini's form began to scatter.
- I've lost. But one...
Kwaaaaaaaaaaang-!
Eoduksini's darkness swelled.
Then it began sucking everything in.
- You who would harm Hagrimu-nim, come with me.
Kwagagagagak!
Was it from chaining ultimates?
Strength drained from his body.
His body floated along with the surrounding rocks.
He knew being sucked in was dangerous, yet he couldn't resist.
Then.
"No!"
Clang-!
A massive hand appeared, seizing Kang Seol. Gripped firmly, he resisted Eoduksini's pull.
Drrrrrrrrrrrr!
As the vibrations persisted, Kang Seol was held in someone's embrace by the giant hand.
Sssss...
Eoduksini's power waned.
The ghost energy that had kept him gasping also vanished.
Kang Seol, kneeling, gazed at the scrap metal heap cradling him lovingly in both hands.
Seolhong, in the giant soldier's cockpit, looked at him with tear-filled eyes.
Seeing Kang Seol dispel the Night Raven form and covered in blood, Seolhong pressed her hand to the reinforced glass of the cockpit, tears streaming.
Due to the aftermath of Eoduksini's lingering power, the giant soldier malfunctioned.
- Goodbye, world. I am...
- Goodbye, world. I am...
From a world he could never return from, Kang Seol returned to Seolhong's arms.
Seolhong smiled back at his grin.
"Let's go home."
Kang Seol beamed, extending his hand forward.
Though the distance made it impossible to touch, it felt as if he brushed the hand on the glass.
- Goodbye, world...
Goodbye, world.
[Eoduksini defeated.]
[Special achievement 'Do Not Fear' achieved.]
[Special title 「Darkness Scorcher」 acquired.]
[Great Expedition midpoint settlement occurs.]
[Remnants of the Evil Ghost acquired.]
...