The Canyon Lord's Awakening
The morning of the second day had arrived.
The three formations are maintaining balance.
The ruler of the Ancient Canyon, Duke Naeshan, awakens from his slumber.
At the center of the canyon lay a lake.
Countless bubbles surged from its once-calm surface, and something purple rose from the depths.
It resembled a centipede.
More than ten glossy red eyes were embedded in its head, and dozens of legs clung densely around the body that towered over twenty meters high.
“I’ve been waiting so long it was starting to bore me.”
I rolled my neck from side to side.
Shaaah—!
The fog that had enveloped the lake dissipated. The barrier that had blocked the players’ approach was gone. We could now cross beyond the lake to the other formations, and hunting the newly awakened ruler of the canyon was entirely possible.
“Youngsoo, how does the battlefield look?”
“It’s stable. Everyone seems to be playing it safe.”
Since I hadn’t stepped onto the field yet, the Korean players hadn’t been able to widen their front line. Japan and the Philippines were moving cautiously, wary of the Korean side. The conditions were perfect for a Naeshan raid.
“Let’s begin.”
I pulled the Adamantium and the Ars Goetia from the Pocket of Desire. The moment I gripped the Adamantium, every eye on Naeshan’s face locked onto me.
“What? Do you covet it?”
“Cririric. That. Hand it over now.”
A mouth split open in the shape of a star. Thick saliva dripped between its jaws.
“Ugh. That one’s pretty nasty.”
Jiyoung dry-heaved. She had climbed the Tower and seen far worse, yet her stomach was still weak.
“If you want it, I’ll give it to you.”
I tossed the Adamantium into the air. Naeshan lowered its massive body, and the red metal vanished into its gaping maw.
Duke Naeshan absorbs the Adamantium.
The power that had been sealed is released.
Naeshan’s purple body flushed a deep crimson. Having consumed the Adamantium, it had reclaimed the true power of the canyon’s sovereign. Its Thousand Eyes read the magical storm swirling around it—an overwhelming wave so intense it could tire the eyes in a single glance. Naeshan, empowered by the Adamantium, was now three times stronger than before. It surpassed even the Imugi, the boss of the Dragon’s Courtyard.
The aura radiating from it made my hairs stand on end. Jiyoung swallowed hard. Kim Youngsoo focused mana at his fingertips, ready to deploy his five puppets at any moment.
“Isn’t it common sense to attack while the boss is transforming?”
I opened the Ars Goetia and rearranged the dark mana.
Ars Goetia — Internal Skill: Dantalion's Illusion
Dantalion, the demon who reads the hearts of living beings. The dark magic I manifested with his power took the fear dwelling in the target’s heart and turned it into illusion.
“Cririric?”
Naeshan’s body swayed unsteadily. The way it faltered told me the illusion spell had landed cleanly. The transforming lord thrashed its countless legs, slamming them across the lake.
Boom! Kwaaang!
Water sprayed in every direction, yet not a single drop reached us.
“Goddess.”
“You’re going all out right from the start.”
Nyx placed her hand on my forehead. The Blessing of the Night seeped into me. At the same time, I activated Fior’s Blessing on myself. A surge of euphoria rose, only to be instantly calmed by the Cold Blood effect.
Mark of Weakness
Black Gaze
Mud Trap
Sticky mud that absorbed water rose rapidly. Emaciated arms burst from it, seizing Naeshan, while a curse mark was carved into the center of its body. Preparations were complete.
“One solid hit should break it free of the illusion.”
“Understood.”
“Yes, sir.”
The two of them finished their combat preparations. I flipped to the next page of the Ars Goetia.
Ars Goetia — Internal Skill: Barbatos's Iron Mace
The instant the massive mace slammed down onto Naeshan’s head, the cloudy light covering its eyes vanished and murderous intent exploded outward.
“That’s right. It’s me, you bastard.”
I moved in zigzags instead of straight lines, drawing its attention. The Duke, now three times stronger, tracked my movements with its dozen eyes.
“Cririric. I’ll crush this annoying fly.”
Dozens of legs attached to its body lashed out at once.
Cloud Flow Steps
I maintained my acceleration and dodged the long, flexible legs that could almost be called tentacles.
“Jiyoung.”
“Yes, Master!”
Vibration Barrier x 3
Three overlapping barriers unfolded above the bent waist of the lowered Naeshan. The amplified vibrations crushed down on it.
“Cririric?! How dare you!”
It twisted its long body, scraping the barriers away. Even rubbing against them with its torso drained the durability of Jiyoung’s shields. Two of the triple barriers shattered in just one or two seconds, but that was enough.
I slipped into a blind spot where it would struggle to counterattack immediately. Between the thick plates of its armor, I spotted a gap just wide enough for a single finger.
Hundred Beasts Emperor Martial Arts — Fifth Form
Light Flash Strike
Yes. For me, that small gap was more than enough.
I concentrated condensed internal energy into my hand and thrust my finger between the plates. It slid in with almost no resistance. Naeshan’s body twitched. The spot I had struck corresponded to something like the spine in a human—the cluster of major nerves that controlled its movement.
It was fortunate the Hundred Beasts Emperor Martial Arts was still only at first star, preventing me from extending my energy too far. Otherwise, that single strike might have half-crippled the beast.
“Criric! Cheap tricks!”
“Whether it’s a cheap trick or not, you’ll find out soon enough.”
Polar Night Dominion
The power of Eternal Night poured through the hole created by Light Flash Strike. Once it seeped into the flesh, I shaped it into thorns that tore through Naeshan’s insides.
“Criririric!!!”
A roar far larger than before. Naeshan tried to shake me off with violent headbanging. I clung tightly to its body, and blood spurted from the gap between its plates. As it thrashed wildly, my sixth sense screamed a warning.
It had shifted position, placing me inside the attack range of its tentacle-like legs. Staying any longer was impossible. Without hesitation, I kicked off its armor and retreated. The legs that slammed down where I had stood dyed the area black.
“Master! Are you all right?”
“Yeah. This much is nothing.”
Naeshan’s red eyes followed my every move. Its killing intent had grown thicker. Thanks to the previous attack, it now recognized me as a distinct threat. Of course, having damaged its main nerves, it wouldn’t be able to move as freely as it wished.
“Let’s press the attack.”
The Naeshan raid was only now truly beginning.
Naeshan had two main attack patterns: spewing acidic breath from its mouth or swinging the countless legs clinging to its torso.
Puppet Mastery
Dance of the Five Puppets
“I’ll draw its attention,” Kim Youngsoo said, flicking his fingers. The puppets moved in perfect coordination, circling the lake as they closed in.
“Cririric. Do you truly believe these worthless scraps can save you from death?”
Naeshan’s legs stretched out, drawing long arcs as they struck the puppets. The dolls were sent flying, unable to withstand even a single blow.
Puppet Mastery
Emergency Repair
The cracked sections fused back together. Naeshan opened its maw wide. Bubbling acidic liquid churned in its throat.
At that exact moment, Jiyoung spread both hands. A Vibration Barrier formed beneath its jaw, snapping the creature’s head upward just as it prepared to unleash its breath.
“Cririric!”
The impact wasn’t severe—more like a slap to the cheek. But the acidic liquid that had been building in its throat sprayed out anyway.
Fwooooooo—!
The highly corrosive breath that could melt stone poured down beside the puppets instead of on them.
“Uncle, you just saved on puppet repair costs, right?”
“Hoo… Thanks to you.”
Naeshan’s massive body turned toward Jiyoung. Though the monster never left the lake, its enormous length meant that simply pivoting placed her within range.
Provocation
A forced aggro skill that redirected the enemy’s gaze. All ten-plus eyes snapped toward me at once.
“Looks like you can’t afford to look away.”
I clenched my fist tightly. The ferocious inner energy of the Asura Demon Spirit Heart Method coiled around my forearm like the scales of an Imugi—the exact form that appeared when I used the first form of the Hundred Beasts Emperor Martial Arts, Dragon Emperor Fist.
Kwaaaang—! Naeshan’s body staggered violently. Cracks spread across its red armor.
Monstrous Strength
The amplified power from the synergy effect struck the same spot again.
“Cririric. You damn insect!!”
“The one with all the legs is the insect here.”
The moment Naeshan tried to regain its stance, I alternated between back steps and ferocious charges, hammering its armor.
Kwaduduk!
The weakened plates shattered under the repeated impacts. It was only a tiny portion of that enormous body, but now there was a point where direct attacks could land.
“Criric. I’ll kill you!”
Naeshan counterattacked immediately. Its massive size prevented the stun from taking full effect.
“Foul beast. We have not permitted the likes of you to lay a hand upon our contractor.”
Nyx’s Polar Night twisted the trajectory of the tentacle bundle.
Perfect. Excellent timing!
I took a short breath, circulated the Asura Demon Spirit Heart Method, and drew up my internal energy once more.
Hundred Beasts Emperor Martial Arts — Second Form
Mountain Lord Wave Claw
I raked my nails across the exposed flesh where the armor had fallen away. Blood poured from the gaping wound like a waterfall.
Black Gaze effect applied. Wound recovery speed is greatly reduced.
Continued application of the skill obtained from the wraith had triggered an additional curse effect.
“Criririric!!”
“It’s not over yet, so stay quiet.”
I manifested the Polar Night as a black sword. Internal energy flowed into the blade. Using the Dark Shadow Soul-Chasing Sword to widen the wound even further, several of the creature’s internal organs spilled onto the ground. The twenty-meter giant shook like an aspen tree. It must have hurt quite a bit.
Swift Evasion
Hit and run. I deliberately exposed my back to gain the skill’s bonus effect, then used Cloud Flow Steps and a full sprint to escape Naeshan’s range.
“Cririric! I will tear you apart at least!!”
The legs attached to Naeshan’s body stabbed down with terrifying force. Even if dozens of players had clung to that armor, they couldn’t have broken it. Taking the empowered attacks head-on would be dangerous.
Just before one of Naeshan’s legs reached the crown of my head—
Kagagagak!
Hexagonal tiles of every color formed a shield above me.
“Hmph. You have me as well, not just Nyx, you know?”
“That’s why I didn’t bother defending myself.”
Our teamwork, honed through gate raids after the first Great Erosion, allowed us to completely escape Naeshan’s attack range without expending much effort.
“Hehe. As long as we watch out for the breath, victory is basically ours.”
“You should go join the Doom Cultists with that kind of talk.”
“Why do I have the same nickname as those ash-covered weirdos?!”
“Because you keep saying ominous things and making Naeshan angry.”
I let out a small chuckle. Once most of its health was shaved away after feeding it the Adamantium, phase two would begin. The moment Jiyoung spoke, the crimson body began mutating back to purple.
“Ah, ah…”
“Jiyoung, it seems your mouth invites disaster as well.”
Nyx clicked her tongue in exasperation.
Void Mirror
Naeshan’s purple body began to swell.