Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Monster Wave (6)
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All human innate abilities and monster traits, regardless of their type, were fundamentally based on mana.
That was why the amount of mana was crucial no matter what kind of attack was used.
It not only determined the power of the attack but also played a huge role in overcoming elemental disadvantages.
‘That doesn’t mean compatibility is completely meaningless, though.’
Christian stared at the Basilisk King with a confident expression.
It wasn’t mere bravado.
The Fire Dragon’s flames were the natural predator of all poisons and curses.
In fact, hadn’t he easily taken down the Venom Ogres on the 34th floor?
Of course, he knew full well that the Basilisk King was on another level compared to those Venom Ogres, and that the Fire Dragon alone could never defeat it.
But Christian didn’t care.
It was enough to turn the tide of battle in their favor.
‘Since I’ve stepped up, I might as well smash the core too.’
With his resolve firm, Christian swung his greatsword.
Roarrr!
In sync with his movement, the Fire Dragon beat its wings vigorously, and blue flames poured out in all directions, trailing long tails of fire.
“Screeech!”
“Hiss!”
The Basilisks engulfed in the flames let out agonized shrieks.
But Christian paid no attention to the other specimens.
He focused solely on the Basilisk King.
Perhaps sensing the danger of Christian’s Fire Dragon, the monster immediately opened its maw and unleashed a breath of poisonous miasma.
“Not so fast!”
Christian positioned his greatsword near the Fire Dragon’s head and unleashed an Aura Blade.
At the same time, the Fire Dragon opened its mouth and spat out blue flames, which transformed into a beam of heat amplified by the Aura Blade’s power.
Boom boom boom!
Finally, the flames and poison breath clashed head-on.
A massive explosion erupted, instantly raising the surrounding temperature as the air expanded with repeated blasts.
The shockwaves swept over everything nearby.
But that was all.
Even with the advantage in compatibility, the Fire Dragon’s heat beam couldn’t push back the poison breath at all.
It held even for just a brief moment at the start, but as time passed, it was gradually being overpowered.
“You shouldn’t be focusing only on me, you know?”
Dark red blood trickled from Christian’s nose and mouth as if he’d suffered internal injuries, but he taunted the beast as if it were nothing.
Boom!
No sooner had he spoken than a thunderous crash rang out.
Elder Oriana had swung her Stone Sword, striking the Basilisk King.
The sword was so enormous that it carried no Aura Blade.
But when a colossal mass struck at near-sonic speed, even the monster’s gigantic body had no choice but to shake violently.
Seeing this, she swung the Stone Sword horizontally once more.
Kablooey!
The impact was so ferocious that it shattered the Stone Sword to pieces in an instant, fully transmitted to the Basilisk King.
The beast staggered repeatedly but barely managed to keep its footing by bracing its legs.
‘Not that it made much difference.’
Lucas Hoffman glared at the Basilisk King as he enveloped his sword in an Aura Blade.
He then poured as much lightning power as he could into it, causing the sword to float into the air.
“Go.”
Lucas Hoffman commanded.
Zzzap!
The sword turned into a streak of light, scattering countless sparks as it flew forward and embedded itself into the Basilisk King.
Not just embedded—it tore a massive hole in its flank.
“Screeeeech!”
For the first time, the Basilisk King screamed.
But it was a venomous monster among venomous monsters.
Even in agony, it hurled a petrification curse at Lucas, a red flash slicing through the air.
Lucas couldn’t move as he watched it coming.
He had poured every ounce of his power into that previous strike, leaving him utterly drained.
‘To think it could counterattack in that situation.’
Lucas smiled bitterly.
As a 7th Circle powerhouse, his mana recovery was fast.
But the Basilisk King didn’t even allow him that, putting his life in peril.
Boom!
Explosions erupted to Lucas’s left and right, yet the target himself emerged unscathed.
Philip Alros had enveloped his sword in light and slashed the petrification curse.
“Thanks.”
“Just doing my job.”
While Lucas smiled, Philip replied with an impassive expression.
He then aimed his sword at the Basilisk King.
Bang bang bang!
Light bullets infused with Aura Blade power poured from the blade’s tip.
There were so many it was impossible to count, and the Basilisk King couldn’t properly defend itself, taking hit after hit helplessly.
Boom! Kaboom!
Scales and flesh burst with every explosion.
Green blood splattered everywhere.
Yet the Basilisk King endured, retaliating with breaths and petrification curses to the end.
“Die already!”
Christian bellowed as he leaped into the air.
In response, the Fire Dragon’s massive body slammed into the Basilisk King.
Thud!
A thunderous roar echoed as the Fire Dragon vanished, leaving only embers behind.
Even so, the attack had more than served its purpose.
The heavily struck Basilisk King finally collapsed to the ground.
‘Now’s our chance!’
Matheus and Oliver moved in unison.
Elder Oriana kicked off the ground without hesitation.
Their target was singular: the core held by the Basilisk King.
That was when it happened.
Whoosh!
A curtain of blue flames unfurled before the three.
Elder Oriana’s eyes widened, shooting a fierce glare.
“Stay out of this, Christian Haberz! You have no ties to the Adalbert family!”
“What do you mean no ties? I’m the young master’s retainer too!”
“Until the young master officially ascends as family head, he can’t have formal retainers!”
“That doesn’t matter! The young master promised to grant me a territory just for destroying the core!”
Blocking their path, Christian charged straight at the Basilisk King.
He was currently the closest to the target.
He had no doubt he could claim the core.
But Matheus and Oliver shattered Christian’s expectations.
Wung.
They had cast spatial translocation, arriving at the Basilisk King in an instant.
“Damn spatial jump!”
Christian cursed.
He truly thought it was a cheat skill.
As he watched the two family heads, he gathered his strength once more.
‘The core will be mine no matter wha—’
Flash!
Christian’s thoughts were cut short.
By the golden hexahedron forming around the Basilisk King.
It didn’t just trap the monster.
The 7th Circle powerhouses battling it were also inside.
Martin had unleashed his Spatial Sword.
Having experienced the technique once before, Christian grumbled inwardly.
‘He’s my liege, but damn, he plays dirty.’
For a split second, he even thought it might be better to ditch the retainer nonsense.
He quickly erased the idea, fearing repercussions.
“Huff… huff…”
Martin panted heavily.
His right arm clutching Kaizen trembled violently, as if struck by an earthquake.
His entire body felt drained; he could collapse and lose consciousness at any moment.
This was the price of unleashing the incredibly demanding Spatial Sword four times.
Grip.
Still, Martin clutched Kaizen’s hilt tightly with both hands.
‘I admit it. Among all the foes I’ve faced since my regression, you’re the strongest.’
Inside the Spatial Sword, the beast intercepted or neutralized the Aura Blade slashes with poison breaths and petrification curses.
Martin had even added the essence of spatial slashes, but the monster crushed the attacks outright with its vast mana reserves.
As a result, Martin experienced his Spatial Sword being blocked for the first time.
Against a monster, no less.
That was why he acknowledged its strength and squeezed out his all despite reaching his limit.
‘You’re just as exhausted.’
The powerhouses’ relentless assaults had taken their toll.
The supposedly invincible Basilisk King now staggered about.
“Everyone, be careful. There are no blind spots in the Spatial Sword.”
Martin warned the 7th Circle and above powerhouses, feigning composure.
Flash!
Golden Aura Blade slashes formed one after another, filling the inside of the hexahedron.
“You’re really no help, young master!”
Led by Elder Oriana, the powerhouses battling the Basilisk King urgently leaped away.
Even if Martin was weakened, a Spatial Sword was still a Spatial Sword.
Even they would struggle to survive being caught in those attacks.
Not even Oliver with his illusory transformation was exempt.
If Martin added spatial slashes to the assault?
‘He’d be torn to shreds while maintaining the illusion.’
Retreating was the wiser choice over gambling.
“Hiss!”
The Basilisk King, barely recovering its strength, tried to rise.
“Too late.”
Martin swung the holy sword Kaizen downward with all his might.
The motion resembled a guillotine blade falling, and the Aura Blade slash engulfed the Basilisk King.
* * *
Thud!
The mighty Basilisk King finally bowed its head.
Its body was already a wreck from the powerhouses’ successive attacks, and now it was little more than a rag.
“To still be breathing after all that—talk about tenacious.”
Martin, arriving before the Basilisk King, stared at its forehead.
Mana was still flowing from the pitch-black core.
It was clearly sustaining the monster’s life.
Indeed, its wounds were regenerating, albeit slowly.
‘Well, the others are more of a problem than this thing.’
He could feel everyone’s eyes on him.
Yet no one dared move rashly.
The Spatial Sword was still active.
Lucas, Philip, and Christian were openly glaring at him too.
Satisfied with their loyalty, Martin raised the holy sword Kaizen.
His fingers barely twitched now, but he moved through sheer superhuman willpower.
“Whew.”
Composing his breath, Martin struggled to manifest a golden Aura Blade.
He thrust Kaizen forward with all his remaining strength, the blade piercing the core’s center precisely.
Moments later, something astonishing happened.
All the living Basilisks turned to smoke and vanished.
“It’s a magic stone! Jackpot!”
“Aren’t the ones upstairs dead too? Let’s go check!”
“Boss, we’ll head up first!”
The adventurers rushed en masse to the 34th floor, leaving Christian behind.
But Martin ignored them entirely.
His gaze was fixed on the bisected core.
Wung.
Light rippled from the core fragments before fully melting into the blade.
However… that was it.
‘Huh?’
Martin was genuinely bewildered.
He’d expected some change in the sword, but nothing happened.
‘Did it fail to absorb?’
Kaizen, now divine sword grade, was completely different from its previous form.
He’d assumed it would evolve into a holy sword with changes.
Just to check, Martin infused mana into Kaizen and finally relaxed.
He could feel immense power dwelling within the blade, amplifying his mana instantly upon acceptance.
That wasn’t all.
Upon closer inspection, the shape of the blue runes had changed.
‘This qualifies as a holy sword for sure.’
He’d succeeded in destroying the core with his own hands, and Kaizen was closer to its original form.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say he’d achieved everything he wanted from this Monster Wave incident.
‘Still, plenty left to do.’
He’d been running around wildly resolving the Monster Wave.
As a result, he couldn’t avoid drawing the entire Empire’s attention.
Thus, Martin intuited it.
The day to head to Reize City—the imperial capital and the Empire’s largest dungeon city—was not far off.