Chapter 55
Chapter 55
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Blazing Demon
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It's hot.
The group led by Maan, just emerging from the forest, all thought the same thing at once. It was as if they were sharing the pain of burns—their entire bodies felt like lumps of fire.
"Huff... haa..."
"The pain... is getting worse, Lord Maan."
"...Endure it. It's merely an illusion born from the weakness of the mind."
"But..."
"I said endure!"
"Ugh..."
- Keeheeheehee!
The entire space seemed dominated by the Nightmare Spirit. They could feel with their skin that time was running out.
'The hallucinations have been intensifying since earlier...'
Just as it was becoming unbearable for Maan, a voice rang out, and he found himself smiling unconsciously.
"Lord Maan! The terrain..."
"...Yes, it seems we've found the right spot."
A cave brimming with lava was scattering the smell of sulfur in every direction.
For such terrain to appear right after the forest. It was a sight impossible without the bizarre device known as a dungeon core.
"Hurry and find the Nightmare Spirit!"
Though only half the time limit set by Santoga had passed, Maan's group was at their limit. Pale-faced, Baek and Gyeong searched for the wandering troupe's location.
And just as they were on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion, Gyeong shouted.
"Lord Maan! Found it."
It was true.
At what appeared to be the entrance to the wandering troupe, the Nightmare Spirit stood.
- Keeheeheehee!
"Sh-should we kill it?"
"Stop! Don't touch it! We don't know what dangerous thing might happen."
"Then what..."
At that moment, one thing came to mind for all of them: the invitation they had been given.
"The invitation. Extend the hand stamped with the invitation."
At his words, Baek and Gyeong held out their wrists, and the Nightmare Spirit stamped them.
Sizzle...
[You have responded to the Wandering Troupe's invitation.]
[You have acquired the right to watch the performance.]
[The performance occurs once in the morning and once in the afternoon.]
Sizzle...
Maan also extended his hand to receive the invitation stamp.
"Whew... Finally, my mind is clear."
"It was a dangerous one. The performance..."
"I have no desire to mingle with that thing even for a moment. It's a bizarre and sinister existence."
"Lord Maan was right. By following the rules, we avoided any trouble."
"It may feel like nothing now... but who knows."
Maan recalled the goblin they had encountered earlier.
"If the one blocking our path ahead had been far stronger..."
It would have taken much longer to reach this point. And the secondary issues arising from that would be extra.
They might not have made it in time to respond to the Nightmare Spirit's invitation.
It was a horrific scenario just to imagine, but fortunately, they had overcome the trial. Wasting mental energy on what hadn't happened was a luxury in their current situation.
Maan's group began moving, their minds greatly relieved.
Unlike the forest, the cave didn't feel particularly vast. Sure enough, presences were soon felt not long after.
"Never let your guard down. You might face unexpected situations. Like... that woman."
Black horns and red hair.
No room for other thoughts.
That woman was a demon from legends...
"Hello?"
"...It seems today's misfortune ends here."
Maan said, glaring at Phenex.
"Step back. I'll have the blood phantoms handle her."
"We'll fight alongside you!"
"We can't predict the enemy's strength. I'm not asking your opinion right now."
His eyes sharpened.
"That's an order."
"...Yes!"
Flash-!
Ching and Hyeon, the blood phantoms, blocked the front. Just that alone made them feel much more at ease—the greatness of the blood phantoms was a fact known to Maan, Baek, and Gyeong alike.
Swoosh...
[Phenex's basic ability: Blazing Flames activates.]
[Phenex continuously recovers a significant amount of vitality until the battle ends.]
...
Roar...
Phenex ignited with red flames.
The power considered a nemesis to the undead: in the West, it's light; in the East, it's fire.
Because of the purifying flames' power to exorcise corruption.
But beyond that... something... something was there.
This feeling of comfort yet suffocation at the same time.
The battle's outcome was utterly unpredictable.
As the situation reached this point, Maan prepared one measure.
Whoooosh...
A blood mist rose from Maan's hand and subtly connected to Gyeong's. Visible only to Maan.
"Are you the master of this place?"
"......"
Phenex merely smiled faintly at Maan's question. Then, like a mirage, she vanished.
Flash...
"She's coming!"
The blood phantoms, fighting only on instinct and combat memories etched into their bodies from life, reacted first.
Claaang-!
A blood phantom barely blocked Phenex's sword slashing down from above.
Surprisingly, it supported the sharpness and force on the blade with just its wrist. They knew the blood phantoms were powerful, but to hold against a demon from legend.
Baek and Gyeong exchanged glances and nodded. If they maintained this momentum and launched a joint attack, even a demon like Phenex could be matched.
Flash-!
Without seeking Maan's permission, they leaped into the fray. Maan didn't stop them, deeming it the right call.
From that moment, the Blood Cult group's counterattack began.
Creeeng-!
Baek and Gyeong's feet struck Phenex's side, forcing her back.
Whoosh-!
Creeeeng!
Seizing the retreat, Ching's phantom unleashed a straight punch from the front.
The signature sticky linkage of the unpleasant trio began. They surrounded Phenex from all sides.
Claang-!
Clang-
Claang- Clang!
She successfully defended against the relentless attacks pouring from every direction.
The Blood Cult side held complete superiority, yet unease lingered in everyone's hearts.
Claaang-!
Klang!
Because a smile kept playing on Phenex's lips.
Roar...
Her sword began to blaze.
A precursor to something.
"Dodge!"
With Maan's shout, the Blood Cult group split left and right in perfect unison.
[Phenex uses Pain Sharing.]
[Phenex fires a fan-shaped flame wave.]
[The flame wave deals 200% of combat power, divided among enemies in range.]
Kwaaaaang-!
Flames spread radially as they slammed into the lava cave floor. Hellish heat swept through the struck area.
One thought flashed in everyone's minds.
The blood phantoms enduring Phenex's attack might have been coincidence or the demon's trickery.
...Directly hit by a demon's attack means death.
No matter who—even bone fragments might not remain.
"Support me! Gyeong, Baek!"
"Lord Maan... Yes!"
[Maan uses Ominous Shadow.]
[Blood mist afterimages from qi release deal additional strikes.]
[Every 5 additional hits cause bleeding on the target.]
Pabababak-!
A flood of countless straight punches filled Phenex's vision. Phenex grinned and swung her sword horizontally once.
Shrieeek-!
One swing erased half the red afterimages. Because Maan had flinched from Phenex's attack.
The four Blood Cult members who had retreated resealed Phenex's every direction.
Pababat-!
Claaaang-!
With Maan now joining the front lines, their linkage left no room for the enemy to breathe, continuing relentlessly.
Kakakak...
Creeeng!
Phenex blocking it all was monstrous, but even monsters need to breathe. Gaps are inevitable.
Claaaang-!
Kak...
When would it be...
The moment this monster staggers.
At that instant, what caught Baek and Gyeong's eyes was Maan's right hand.
Whoooosh...
An ominous energy gathered in his hand—it was undoubtedly one of the ultimate techniques passed only to the Blood Cult's Six Great Lions. But due to its large motion and the fatal brief power vacuum after qi release, it was a power used with desperate resolve at decisive moments.
Seeing it, Gyeong and Baek understood Maan's intent.
Flash-!
They had to force the demon to breathe.
The moment the demon inhales—that would be her end.
Paaang-!
Ching.
Creeeeeng-!
Hyeon.
The phantoms had done their part fully.
Now it was Baek and Gyeong's turn.
"Huup!"
Baek leaned in, slamming his shoulder into her.
[Baek uses Mountain Collapse.]
[Shoulder strike deals physical damage; on hit, slightly reduces target's defense.]
Creeeeng-!
A strike where success or failure didn't matter.
It was a promised motion.
The core of the linkage from Baek, Gyeong, and Ching—the unpleasant trio—was the motion itself.
One can be dodged, two are hard, three impossible. The chain collapse created by those motions.
The power level didn't matter.
The subtlety of motion pursued by Easterners.
Phenex, having blocked Baek's shoulder with her sword flat, was immediately pursued by Gyeong's follow-up.
[Gyeong uses Pheasant Drop.]
[Aerial kick strikes the target. Head hit causes concussion.]
Whoosh...
Paaaaang-!
Having blocked Baek's attack, she had to dodge Gyeong's. Aiming high, Phenex hunched forward.
And that was intended.
Normally, Ching's downward kick would follow, shattering Phenex's head to finish.
But Ching couldn't execute it now.
Because it was dead.
Instead, squeezing into the gap was Maan, radiating vicious energy.
"Demooon!"
[Maan uses Heaven-Reversing Blood Demon Fist.]
[Unleashes a collapsing straight punch. Target hit takes extreme damage and falls unconscious for 2 seconds.]
Kwaaaa-!
Maan's fist surged toward the hunched Phenex.
In this moment, two bad facts for the Blood Cult group. One: Maan, not the long-time synced Ching, was taking the finisher.
"Huup..."
The comfortable breath Ching would never yield was given to Phenex.
The other: Faust had paid more attention to Phenex's movements than anyone.
Sizzle...
"Until here."
Like an explosion, Phenex's sword was drawn.
[Phenex uses Superheat Wheel.]
[Deals explosive slash damage in all directions.]
Huaaaaang-!
A bizarre sound rang as a crimson circle formed around Phenex in midair.
"Uh..."
"N..."
Fortunately, Baek and Gyeong had just finished their attacks and dodged, but the blood phantoms couldn't.
Slash-!
Sizzle...
Slicing the two bisected blood phantoms, Phenex sprang forward like a spring.
"This..."
Maan, suddenly defenseless, tried to land his attack, but with Phenex closing closer than striking range, it was impossible.
This moment was undoubtedly Phenex's design. Probably from the battle's start.
Pooook...
"Guh..."
A heavy sensation.
The handfeel of severing life.
With this...
[Phenex has dealt sufficient damage to the party, forcing defeat.]
[Phenex returns to flames. Revives after a short time.]
[Gate's magic power insufficient.]
[Phenex does not revive.]
[Boss battle ends.]
Roar...
Phenex succeeded in halving the enemies. Her form withered like flames and vanished.
However,
"You thought... I'd die... like this!"
Phenex's pupils dilated massively.
[Maan activates Forced Transfusion.]
[Transfers damage to pre-contracted ally.]
Drip...
"Lord Maan...?"
"Gyeong, fulfill your role."
"Th... at..."
A hole pierced Gyeong's chest—who had no wounds—blood pouring out.
Kuuung...
Phenex vanished, leaving only Maan and Baek.
"Lord Maan! Why..."
"Should this lion have died? In a place like this?"
"But..."
"Sheathe your petty thoughts. This is the only way for everyone to return."
Whoooosh...
Three blood serums at Maan's waist.
The three vials shattered simultaneously.
Kwajiiik...
Sss...
Not only Ching and Hyeon, but even Gyeong, who had just died in Maan's place, revived as blood phantoms.
Combat power not much different from dungeon entry. Despite surpassing Phenex, the Blood Cult group maintained their mighty force.
"Baek, listen well."
"......"
"This is a demon realm. We've walked into hell."
"...Indeed."
"Keep your wits sharp. If you don't want to die."
Baek gritted his teeth and replied.
"...Understood."
Blood serums exhausted, but core forces intact, the Blood Cult group pressed on. It looked like a hard-fought small victory for the Blood Cult...
But all of it matched exactly the future one man had envisioned.
Watching the Blood Cult group approach nearly to his chin via hologram, Faust muttered.
"Good. It went as planned."
The present was merely the past Faust's intended future.
Nothing more.