Chapter 132
“……”
Silence fell.
I shook my head, trying to grasp what had happened.
So…
Vladimir was now where I was supposed to be.
And I was standing where Vladimir had been.
Which meant Vladimir took the strike meant for me.
“Crazy… what the hell…!”
My mind snapped fully awake.
Maybe it was because Bone Seven had rushed over and healed me—my voice came out, hoarse but clear.
“Kkeueuk!”
The force that had been binding me vanished, and I could move again.
“Team leader, are you okay?”
Myoi Hana came up and pressed an emergency cloth to the bleeding.
‘Normally,’
She would’ve had white light gathered in her palm, ready to heal.
But nothing happened.
My brow tightened.
“What… what happened?”
My pain didn’t matter right now.
“Why is Vladimir up there?”
“……”
The team’s mood sank.
Zhang Wei and the middle-aged man stayed silent, and Olena’s eyes were already red.
“Myoi Hana used the S-class skill, Sacrifice, on Vladimir.”
Capu stepped forward.
“Sacrifice pulls all debuffs the target receives onto the caster. She took the debuffs the dragon inflicted, and by doing that, she released Vladimir’s seal.”
His bitter gaze lifted to the sky.
“After that… it was Vladimir’s choice. He said there was no solution if only we survived, so he had to save the team leader. He said the range was too short to move you with spatial magic alone, so he used a Secret Skill in a hurry. He swapped positions with you before we could stop him. Damn it.”
“……”
The moment Capu finished, I pushed myself up.
My whole body screamed, but it was still easier to bear than before.
No.
That wasn’t what mattered.
Thump!
My heart pounded.
“……”
Something indescribable welled up.
What is this?
Why…
Why does Vladimir have to be the one getting hurt instead of me?
I looked up.
Kuaaaa! Kua!
Aranvalon was screaming as the Toxin Mist took over more and more of his brain.
And in front of that bastard—
Vladimir clutched his chest, blood spilling from his mouth.
“Olena.”
I spoke quietly.
Right.
This feeling—strictly speaking—was anger.
Not at the dragon.
Not at the situation.
At myself.
At the team leader who was hopelessly weak, yet drove his team into a crisis.
“Yes, Hoon.”
“Make that water platform again. The one you used back then. Lift me up there.”
“Okay!”
Chwaruruk!
Olena formed the platform without a word.
Thump.
I stepped onto it.
The others climbed up with me.
Even Bone Seven, who was still healing me, got on.
“……”
Everyone knew where we were going.
I didn’t need to say it.
Buuung!
Olena’s magic floated us up and carried us forward.
Fast.
Straight to Vladimir.
“……”
I looked at him.
Blood dripped from his mouth as he groaned.
“Bone Seven.”
[‘Bone 7’ uses the skill, Intermediate Healing (Lv.2).]
Uuung!
Dark light spread from Bone Seven’s hand and gently wrapped Vladimir’s heart.
“Keuk… keuheueuk. Team leader. You came?”
Vladimir smiled, blood pooling at his lips.
“Keuheuek… keukkeuk. Fff-uck… this… this is seriously painful, you know?”
His condition was obvious.
His voice was already laced with the sound of air leaking out.
His chest was soaked bright red.
“Keueu… If it were normal, my heart would’ve already exploded and I’d be dead, but I’m still alive because of the pressure from that damn magic circle. That cunning dragon bastard. He wants me to taste pain before I die.”
“Stop. Stop talking.”
I kept Bone Seven’s healing on him.
If I could’ve used Recovery, I would’ve.
But I’d already spent it dealing with the Toxin Mist.
“Wait. I’ll save you no matter what.”
Challang!
I pulled out the Elixir I’d stored away.
[Item: Elixir]
[Rank: S]
[Type: Potion]
[Description: Legendary Potion]
[Effect 1: Panacea]
[Effect 2: Cures Abnormal Status]
[Effect 3: Top-Tier Recovery Effect]
[Effect 4: However, cannot be used on the dead.]
The two Elixirs I’d earned as rewards.
“Keuheuek… it’s no use.”
No use?
Why?
“Either way… as long as that damn light is piercing my heart, what’s the point of healing me? It’ll just get pierced again. It’s impossible unless that crazy magic circle is removed.”
He was right.
If I’d taken a second to think, it was obvious.
But I’d been out of my mind.
“Damn it.”
I clenched my jaw.
“Why did you do it?”
I understood it in my head, but—
My heart couldn’t accept it.
“Why… why…! Why go as far as risking your life….”
“Why? Because it’s worth it. I haven’t known you long, team leader, but you’re a really good person.”
A good person.
“Actually, you know… These trials were blatant from the start. In the first round, they encouraged murder. In the second, they encouraged betrayal. But in the end—look. What happened to the people who murdered or betrayed?”
The murderers were eliminated.
The betrayers were torn apart by Aranvalon.
“Keukeu… keuheuek. We endured those temptations. Endured and endured, and came this far. Not just you. Everyone here is certified as a good person. Want me to tell you something else interesting?”
Vladimir’s gaze fixed on one person.
The man with the spear.
Judgment Spear—Zhang Wei.
“Kulleok! Keuheue… Just the fact that that Judgment Spear gentleman isn’t making a fuss about judging means the people here… are trustworthy….”
He swallowed blood and forced a grin.
“I’ve liked that kind of thing for a long time. Loyalty that transcends life. Of course, the outside world is so harsh it’s hard to breathe, so I couldn’t make comrades like that.”
And that wasn’t all.
The seven of us here—
We didn’t run from the Greed Dragon’s trial.
We fought the Dragon Tooth Soldiers together.
At the very least, these were people who valued loyalty more than their own lives.
“Keukeu… still, I’m glad I can fulfill one wish before I die.”
“No.”
I clenched my fist hard.
“Believe in me and wait.”
“Believe… and wait?”
“I told you. I’ll save you no matter what. So don’t you dare give up on that life. Don’t die.”
I’ll save him no matter what.
From now on, they weren’t just tools to become Rankers.
Not passing encounters.
Real comrades.
“Myoi Hana.”
“Yes?”
“Take this.”
I handed her both bottles of Elixir.
Then I looked at the screaming dragon.
“From now on, I’ll kill that dragon no matter what. When it dies and that magic circle disappears…”
“Yes. I’ll save Vladimir no matter what.”
Myoi Hana nodded, eyes firm.
Good.
That’s enough.
I was still worried the Elixir might not work.
‘If that happens…’
I’ll have to summon Ancient Magic (SSS-class) and get help.
He looks like a monster of a man.
Huoong!
I shifted my weapon back into a spear and lowered it.
Then I looked down from the sky.
Squeak! Squeak!
Below—
7,777 skeletons were still fighting tenaciously.
Bastards tough enough not to break even after being forged from dragon bones.
They rushed in relentlessly.
They climbed and jammed weapons into Aranvalon’s ankles.
‘Right.’
Fight.
For me.
For the Skeleton King.
[Uses the skill, ‘Wail of the Dead’ (A-class).]
[Consumes 50 mana.]
Kkiaaaaa…!
A chilling, ghostly wail burst from my body and shook the area.
[Skill: Wail of the Dead]
[Rank: A]
[Effect 1: Increases the stats of all surrounding skeletons by 2x.]
[Effect 2: Consumes 50 mana.]
Kwagagaga!
The skeletons’ speed surged.
Like true undead, they swarmed up the dragon’s body and stabbed.
They tore at the wounds.
Kuaaaaaaa! You bastards!
Aranvalon, finally regaining his senses, drew a magic circle in the air again.
But—
“What’s wrong, dragon.”
Huoong!
Sun Spear’s weapon, already above the dragon’s head, flared.
[‘Sun Spear’ uses the skill, ‘Soulflare’ (Lv.6).]
[‘Sun Spear’ uses the skill, ‘Solar Chain Strike’ (Lv.6).]
Pabababat!
A burst of light hammered into those yellow eyes again and again.
Aranvalon jerked his head back, but Eldrin—running behind Sunny—kicked off and launched into the sky.
[‘Eldrin’ uses the skill, ‘ ‘ (Lv.6).]
Moonlight rained down.
Moonlight Fall unfolded.
Her arrows of light—sharper now, more developed—slid into Aranvalon’s wounds.
Kua, Kuaaaaa!
A high, tearing scream ripped through the sky.
The engraved magic circles shuddered, warping, some cracking apart.
I swallowed.
‘They’re definitely strong. Sunny and Eldrin.’
They’d said they’d recovered 50% of their original power.
And with Wail of the Dead (A-class) stacked on top—
They had no choice but to be terrifying.
Of course, Wail of the Dead didn’t mean 50% suddenly became 100%.
It was a stat increase, so the concept was different.
‘Still.’
Move.
Their momentum was overwhelming.
Like they’d been holding themselves back until now—
They poured killing intent into Aranvalon without restraint.
Kwagagang!
Already airborne, they kept floating, using recoil alone to stay aloft.
Keureureuk!
The dragon faltered.
And then—
Kuaaaaaaa! Tear everything apart!
He began to rampage.
The magic circles twisted chaotically, and beams fired in every direction.
Aranvalon lashed out, tail whipping wildly.
But—
“What a pathetic sight.”
Sunny’s spear energy was embedded in a wound.
Eldrin’s arrow was embedded in a wound.
Kwang!
A roar thundered and blood splattered.
Their attacks were calm, precise, and merciless.
What…!
Aranvalon’s face twisted in disbelief.
How can… how can mere Undead be like this…!
Huoong!
Aranvalon’s claws tore through the air in a sharp arc.
Straight toward where Sun Spear floated.
“A blind attack. I want to get hit, but I can’t.”
Flash!
Sunny turned into light and vaulted away.
The claws barely grazed him.
And right on cue—
Kwang!
Solar Chain Strike buried itself into another vital spot, another wound.
Aranvalon’s rage thickened.
Because nothing went the way he wanted.
And because Sunny kept provoking him.
Sunny sneered, as if he knew it.
“Unfortunately, that’s your limit. And your end. You were going to stand before my lord in that state?” (T/N : Sunny being savage is sooooo cooollll )
Shut up!
Aranvalon bellowed.
Then he shook his head violently.
It can’t be helped. Even if I’m in danger. Even if my body is torn apart.
Kugugugugu!
He gathered all the remaining energy in his central heart and poured it into his mouth.
I have to take at least that human with me!
[Aranvalon is preparing Breath.]
Dudududu!
The floor trembled again.
Not as violent as the one he’d prepared earlier—
But still strong.
And the direction—
Cleverly—
Was where Vladimir was bound.
“D-damn it! That dragon—he’s looking this way?”
“What do we do? Vladimir is here.”
The team shouted.
But—
“……”
I can’t dodge.
Vladimir was already on the edge.
I didn’t know what would happen if I didn’t block it.
[Uses the skill, ‘Summon Skeleton Lord’ (S-class).]
[Consumes 10 mana.]
[‘Bone Four’ appears.]
I summoned Bone Four onto the water platform.
Seuseut!
I turned the spear into a shield—
And stepped in front of Vladimir.
“Everyone, get behind me.”
The team stared, stunned.
“Hoon…! Don’t tell me—”
“My friend, you’re planning to take that alone?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“From now on, I’ll protect Vladimir by any means necessary. So…”
Kugugugu!
A tremendous energy swelled before my eyes.
“Everyone… please help me.”
(T/N : Damnnnn. I love this chapter! )