Chapter 19
Mana is fluid. Unlike liquids or gases, it doesn't take a fixed form. Yet the immense potential it holds surpasses anything in the natural world. There are beings who refine and shape this mana, projecting it into reality. In Pandela, they are called mages.
Hoo...
I let out a low hum as I gazed at the flame magic circle filling my vision. An exquisitely intricate spell formula intertwined with complex mana circuits. Something no ordinary player with no knowledge of magic could ever produce.
But.
She had done it. That no-name nobody sneering from behind the holy knight, her silver galaxy-search robe and red hair fluttering.
The skill that made it possible was truly astonishing.
'Storing the magic circle and deploying it at the right moment...'
Normally, refining mana and constructing the formula alone would take ages. Controlling amorphous power and giving it clear shape isn't easy.
But.
That's only for those with weak mana. If your mana is overwhelming, it's not impossible.
...I silently raised a finger.
The purified mana within me broke free of its skill framework, building a new form. It absorbed the complex structure of the Elemental Master's circle before me, reborn as my own.
Condensing mana, constructing the diagram, linking circuits, fusing them. Perfectly connected spell circles glowed according to fixed laws, flaunting their power.
Thus was born a single colossal magic circle.
Apocalypse Meteor
It was exactly the same as the one that woman had created.
Pale horror washed over the Hyunwol Guild members' faces.
"No way... how?"
"Wasn't she a swordsman?"
"Elemental Master? That's why she didn't use any sword skills earlier."
"No, what are you talking about? No Elemental Master wields a sword like that! Don't you know about class-specific weapon bonuses?"
A fierce debate raged in moments, but no one could say for sure. And why would they? An Elemental Master couldn't have overwhelmed pro gamer Lee Han-yul with swordsmanship.
Conversely, a swordsman couldn't use an Elemental Master's skill like this.
Lee Han-yul just stared at the girl in a daze. Jang Jin-cheol opened his mouth in a trembling voice.
"You... what the hell are you?!"
"What does it matter if you know? You're vanishing from the world soon anyway."
The girl remained utterly indifferent to the end.
Cracks spiderwebbed across Jang Jin-cheol's face.
"...Then I'll just have to kill you and find out. Think you can survive this?"
No matter how strong, she was just a player. They had twelve; she had one. Trading blows like this, she'd take the real loss.
Jang Jin-cheol slammed his shield into the asphalt.
"Guardian of the Heavens!"
Ziiing—
A pristine barrier etched with holy patterns enveloped the Hyunwol Guild members. Layers of defensive skills followed.
"Holy Barrier!"
"Immovable as Mountains!"
The guild's tanks joined in, forming an airtight defense.
The Elemental Master thrust her staff skyward. Jang Jin-cheol extended his hand and shouted.
"Fire!"
A massive fireball plummeted, scorching the entire space. Simultaneously, the girl's Apocalypse Meteor activated.
Enormous explosions rocked both camps, shaking the area violently.
Kwaaaaaang—!
Jang Jin-cheol grimaced.
"Urgh! Everyone, hold steady!"
"This doesn't make sense. She really was an Elemental Master?!"
"Did she get a dual class we don't know about?"
A minor earthquake rattled the buildings. Cars were shoved aside. Street trees uprooted and incinerated into ash by the heat.
The shockwave passed.
Whoooosh—
Smoke cleared. Jang Jin-cheol coughed and yelled.
"Everyone okay?"
"Aish, what a total psycho! Who charges a whole guild like that?"
"Hell-bent on dying? What kind of suicide method is this...?"
Thanks to the skilled tanks' clustered defense, not a scratch on the complaining guild members. HP untouched.
Jang Jin-cheol inwardly smug, half-lidded eyes fixed on the smoke beyond.
'She won't have survived.'
Taking an Apocalypse Meteor head-on. Even if not dead, massive damage.
The girl hadn't even tried to dodge.
"What a real lunatic."
Jang Jin-cheol clicked his tongue and lowered his shield.
Then.
A voice pierced the thick smoke.
"Oof, that actually stung a bit."
The chill pierced his ears. The casual toss froze Jang Jin-cheol solid. His pupils quaked in shock.
'No... impossible...'
Smoke thinned, revealing a silhouette. Long hair faintly fluttering grayish. Dress hem flowing with the wind.
"Can't have the doll mask breaking. It's important."
Within, blood-red eyes gleamed like a predator's.
"Gotta hide my identity, you know? So I tweaked the design... What do you think? Like it?"
A sleeveless dress blending white and blood-red. A tiny hand radiating eerie crimson from Blood Eater.
Where the girl had stood now appeared.
Something that absolutely shouldn't exist there.
The worst, most vicious world boss in history.
The end of all life, Sertina.
*
The Hyunwol Guild members' faces drained to corpse-blue. Despair crashed like a tsunami, drowning everything. Will to fight, survival instinct, pride, hope. All diluted before the overwhelming presence.
Like snowflakes in boiling water.
Utterly futile.
"Se-Sertina?!"
"Sh-She really exists?!"
"No way... Why Seoul, of all places?!"
Terrifying aura from such a small being crushed their flesh and souls. Like ants under a boot.
Bone-chilling killing intent choked their breaths. Jang Jin-cheol trembled, glancing at his guildmates. Some collapsed to their knees. A female assassin foamed at the mouth, eyes rolled back.
Her suppressed power had broken its chains, unleashing a fraction of its true might.
...I regarded them with deeply sunken eyes.
Like a celestial sovereign observing mortal insects. Their shivering was pathetic, ridiculous.
Truly.
Revolting.
So generous with others' deaths. But weeping snot and tears before their own.
'Vile creatures.'
They wouldn't die easy. My resolve hardened.
Then.
"Th-this is a dream."
Someone denied reality. I replied coldly.
"Yeah? Then testing it wouldn't hurt."
A blood blade shot from thin air, slicing through faster than thought.
World boss Sertina's unique skill.
Blood Slaughter Sword
Consumes mana to fire a blood sword at a designated location.
Hits apply [Bleeding] debuff.
Continuous HP drain over time. (Lasts 30 seconds, stacks)
Schwick—
Sound like slicing an apple. A wrist floating in the air. Agonized screams echoed.
"Gaaahhh!"
I pierced him with cold eyes.
"Sorry, but my dreams aren't that sweet."
The Hyunwol Guild members were speechless. Just staring in terror.
Even witnessing a comrade's gruesome end.
They could do nothing.
That was Korea's No. 1 guild, the Hyunwol members before me.
Right then.
Focus returned to Lee Han-yul's eyes.
"Ha, haha... Sertina...?"
Dormant energy surged through him. Golden sword aura exploded from his blade.
"Don't fuck with meee!"
Kwang—!
He kicked off the ground, shadow lunging. Leaping high, sword descending in a rush.
As his blade tip neared.
Click.
Stance set.
Swiik—
...I swung.
Craaang!
Kwagwagwagwa—!
Dirt storm raged. The building wall behind split wide. Concrete chunks poured down, exposing steel frame. Shattered glass refracted sunlight into a rain.
And.
Thud—
A bisected corpse, sword-slashed, hit the ground.
Soundless screams filled the air.
Former pro gamer first-string, Lee Han-yul. A top swordsman even on pro stages.
Couldn't land a hand before Sertina cleaved him in one stroke.