Chapter 756: Static
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 756: Static
"Something truly terrifying is coming."
Ariel’s expression was grave.
A premonition of death buzzed frantically in her mind like a swarm of bees, their drone piercingly loud.
The fine hairs on her fair arms stood on end. A chill, like a venomous serpent, slithered up her spine until it coiled at the crown of her head, hissing with a flickering tongue.
It was a horrific, overwhelming sense of crisis.
This was a feeling she hadn't experienced even when facing Zagu, or when being hunted by a horde of Skinners to the point of total exhaustion.
Thus, before she had even seen the enemy's full form, a bead of cold sweat rolled down her smooth chin. Before it could hit the ground, it had already frozen into a crystal of ice.
"Should we flee first?"
Though a step behind Ariel, Muen had also sensed the soul-crushing dread. He was about to pause his movements...
"No need."
Ariel suddenly pressed down on Muen’s arm and shook her head gently.
"Miss Muse, just continue. I’ll buy us time."
"Isn't that too risky?"
Muen’s voice was heavy.
Both he and Ariel had fought their way through countless slaughters to reach this point. The death premonitions they had developed were incredibly precise; they had never led them astray.
Based on instinct alone, they knew that whatever was coming was not something they could currently match in strength. Retreating should have been the best option.
"Do you think this is just a coincidence, Miss Muse? That we just happened to encounter an unprecedented monster right as we reached the foot of this High Tower?"
Ariel pushed off and leaped nimbly from Muen’s back, her eyes fixed on a specific point within the mist ahead.
"No, it’s impossible. Based on my experience with so many Ancient Artifacts, this is definitely no accident. If I’m not mistaken, what we’re about to face is likely a guardian of that tower. If we want to get inside, there’s no avoiding it."
"...Fine. I’ll leave it to you."
Muen hesitated for only a moment before nodding.
He trusted Ariel’s judgment, and he trusted her ability.
"Just don't push yourself too hard. Your injuries are still severe. If things go south, we retreat. Don't force it."
Muen gave a quick, stern warning, refusing to waste another second. He submerged his consciousness entirely into searching for the method to operate the branch of the Eternal Cycle in his hands.
"Don't worry. I might be a bit hindered right now, but I can certainly hold out for a minute or two."
Ariel stretched her injured leg, a reckless smile once again gracing her lips.
In a moment of crisis, the brave knight risks her life to protect the beautiful and intelligent princess—isn't this a perfect chance to raise her favorability?
"Come on then."
Ariel stared straight ahead.
"Let’s see what kind of freak shows up this time."
At some point, the restless, freezing mist had gone still.
It was as if the entire space had solidified. The terrifying ghost shadows wandering in the distance seemed to turn into tiny, frozen scenes trapped in amber. All noise ceased.
Everything became deathly quiet. The air grew even colder—so cold that breathing became painful, and the white mist of her breath instantly turned into dispersing ice crystals.
Then, suddenly, the mist parted, revealing a narrow passage.
A figure stumbled forward, walking with slow, halting steps.
It appeared to be a person.
A human height, a human build, a human silhouette.
From a distance, there was nothing about the newcomer that could be called "terrifying."
However, Ariel did not lower her guard in the slightest. Since entering this place, she had seen far too many "humanoid" monsters. Who knew what kind of "unconventional" face this thing would have?
The figure continued to approach, and finally, Ariel could see its true form.
Hiss—
Even though she was mentally prepared, she couldn't help but gasp.
It wasn't because the face was too horrific.
It was because... "he" didn't have a face.
The figure wore tattered white robes, making his frame look exceptionally withered. Following the line of the ragged robes upward, there was nothing that could be called a "countenance."
Above his neck, there was only a dense mass of... static, like the flickering screen of a malfunctioning image magic device.
Countless black and white static dots flickered where his face should be, making his very existence seem surreal. Yet, the sense of crisis in Ariel’s heart only intensified as he drew closer.
"Hey now... compared to the other Corrupted, you’re quite the shy one, aren't you?"
Ariel muttered a dry, unfunny joke, her hand already tight around the hilt of Heavenly Fire.
But she didn't rush to attack.
The Static Figure moved slowly, his movements jerky and twisted like a living corpse crawling out of a grave in a picture book. He didn't seem aggressive.
Furthermore, Ariel had witnessed the effectiveness of Miss Muse’s Alchemy Domain combined with the Illumination Spell—an invisibility so potent one could probably peek into a ladies' bathhouse without being noticed.
Therefore, the best-case scenario still existed.
Maybe "he" hadn't noticed them.
Maybe "he" was just passing by.
Maybe his task was simply to patrol the area around the Inverted Tower, and he wasn't...
"%&%..."
Ariel suddenly heard a strange sound.
"%&*..."
It sounded like a whisper.
"￥%&..."
Ancient Language?
Ariel frowned.
Under her teacher’s prodding, Ariel had begun studying ancient languages long ago. She had dabbled in the most common universal ancient tongues as well as many niche ones. This was one of the foundations of her success in navigating so many Ancient Ruins.
Thus, the moment she identified it as an ancient language, she subconsciously began to translate.
What "he" said was...
【Lowly, filthy, sinful martial artist—die!】
Ariel’s pupils shrank.
The buzzing death premonition suddenly turned sharp, like a blade stabbing into her nerves.
She was already in motion. The Heavenly Fire greatsword transformed into a magnificent arc of flame, carrying a surging sword intent she had been gathering for a long time as it slashed toward the Static Figure’s neck.
"Heavenly Fire—Draw!"
But in that instant, the Static Figure’s reaction was even faster than Ariel had imagined.
Just as she swung the Heavenly Fire greatsword, a gargantuan amount of mana erupted violently from that withered body.
A mage?
The thought flashed through Ariel’s mind, and she felt a secret surge of joy.
If it was a mage, things would be easier. Having been closed in on like this, unless it was a Truth-Tier Grand Magister, they shouldn't be able to fully construct a spell before her strike landed...
【Solidify】.
Ariel heard it—the word spoken in the Ancient Language.
It wasn't a magical chant; no chant could be that brief.
It wasn't an incantation either, for there were no such things as "powerful incantations" in this world.
It was more like a simple... command.
But the weight behind it was infinitely more complex than a mere order.
To describe it...
Unlike modern magic, which was built brick by brick from scratch, this was more like an "activation condition" that snapped together a pre-carved puzzle.
This was—
Ancient Magic!
"Crap!"
Ariel sensed disaster. Before her sword could even get close to the enemy, its movement began to slow.
It was like swinging into water, then mud, then a swamp... and finally, into wet cement.
A heavy force pressed in on the sword from all directions. The power surging within Heavenly Fire was gradually extinguished by this invisible suppression.
At the same time, Ariel’s breath hitched.
The very air she drew into her lungs felt as if it had turned into viscous molten iron, crushing and ravaging her chest. The scent of blood filled her nose. The intense pain and the mounting sensation of suffocation made her feel as if she were trapped in the deep sea.
Ariel finally understood why those ghost shadows in the distance stood as still as if they were in amber. They were trapped in amber.
An amber formed out of thin air.
She had been careless.
No, it wasn't exactly carelessness, because she hadn't underestimated this enemy who had made her hair stand on end from the start.
Gathering strength, waiting for the right moment, and delivering a killing blow—this was the most reliable choice regardless of the opponent, especially when facing a mage with a fragile body.
However, in this exchange, she had relied too much on her past experience.
She had overlooked one thing... how could a mage who spoke the Ancient Language follow modern magical rules?
He didn't need time to chant or construct a spell. His casting speed was even faster than her own as a martial artist!
She knew how terrifying Ancient Magic was—she even had several Ancient Magic enhancements on her—yet she had still made such a rookie mistake.
Clearly, having consumed too much energy in previous battles, being too weak, and losing too much blood had begun to cloud her thinking...
But.
"I haven't surrendered yet."
After a brief moment of thought, Ariel gritted her teeth, her expression turning fierce.
There was no knight in this world who would surrender in front of a beautiful princess!
Ariel gripped Heavenly Fire tight and gave it a violent shake. Roaring flames erupted from her, burning fiercely with her at the center.
The surrounding air was rapidly consumed. Ariel swung her sword in a horizontal slash once more, unleashing all her accumulated power!
It was still Heavenly Fire Draw.
But this time, the target wasn't the Static Figure standing right in front of her.
It was... to split the sea!
As if something invisible had been completely sliced open, Ariel’s body felt light again. Simultaneously, the flames expanded outward, briefly creating a hollow pocket that was unaffected by the magic.
Ariel coughed up a mouthful of thick blood, her face growing even paler. Under the previous pressure, the wound on her leg had already begun to bleed profusely. Yet, her movements did not slow in the slightest. She stepped through the hollow space, closing the distance to the Static Figure...
And swung her sword again!