Chapter 299: Something More Important Than Pride (3)
Sagittarius…
…Open.
Wooooong!
A dazzling light flickered in the sky.
A power that perfectly recreates the strength of the constellation.
The gathered light grew larger and larger.
It looked like a giant meteor was about to fall to Earth.
“That scythe won’t easily cut through it.”
The Sagittarius arrow is a large-scale skill that covers an entire area.
It’s specialized for attack rather than defense, unlike Alice’s unique holy spear…
In terms of compatibility, it’s the worst.
“How can a human have such power…?”
Abigail stammered, looking up at the sky.
The magic energy she felt on her skin was comparable to that of any head of a household.
At that moment.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The arrow made of starlight shot down to the ground.
A long beam of light struck where Abigail stood.
Boooom!
The clouds split, and white flames surged from the ground.
It wasn’t just a concept of piercing with an arrow; it was an attack with the intent to burn the target to the bone.
[Abigail activates Lv38 ‘Wailing of the Wraith Tree’!]
“Kieeeee!”
A tearing noise echoed from the giant eye on the scythe.
A wide-area shield.
And it’s in a five-layered form.
But…
It was useless.
Craaaaack!
Cracks formed on the shield’s surface.
The fissures widened bit by bit.
Ssssss!
The light pierced into the shield.
“Aaaaaah!”
A scream filled with pain burst from Abigail’s mouth.
However, even after summoning the Zodiac, Abigail’s life wasn’t ended.
If it had hit directly, it could have obliterated even a thoughtform.
As expected of a head of a household.
Her charred wounds were healing rapidly.
The unique regenerative power of a vampire was indeed unparalleled.
“Alice… What is she to you? Why are you humans interfering in our clan’s affairs? You’re willing to turn all of us into enemies just to protect one exiled head of a household? Do you really think that child is worth such a sacrifice?”
Abigail panted heavily.
Well…
“…When you put it like that, it does seem like a losing deal.”
The bond formed in the corridor was special.
But the time spent together was less than a year.
It wasn’t enough time to risk everything for someone.
“Right? So, if you just hand her over quietly, we won’t harm you. In fact, the five families might even join forces to support you. How about it? Wouldn’t that be better for both sides?”
It was a sweet offer…
“There are things in this world that can’t be measured by simple profit and loss.”
More importantly…
“I value that troublesome little lady more than all of your help.”
This is where I draw the line.
No compromise.
Jinhyuk extended his gun forward.
Click!
A bullet strengthened by a barrier was loaded.
“Don’t be ridiculous. No matter how much of a monster you are, after such a big attack, you can’t use a similar powerful skill consecutively.”
Abigail’s eyes widened.
In other words…
This time it’s my turn.
Thud!
As the scythe struck the ground, dark clouds filled the sky.
[‘Eye of the Wraith’ and ‘Lightning Sanctuary’ activate!]
A giant eye appeared among the dark clouds.
Filled with ominous energy.
Simultaneously.
Pzzz! Pzzz!
Red lightning began to flash.
A wide-area spell covering the entire city.
Everything in the sight of the eye floating in the sky was within its range.
“Try to escape… if you can.”
Abigail prepared to launch a massive attack.
But.
Jinhyuk remained unmoved.
There was no reason to run.
There was even less reason to dodge.
“I told you from the start, didn’t I? If I couldn’t deal with you, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place.”
[An ‘Ancient Barrier’ is deployed through the Lost Language!]
There’s a stage perfect for this battle.
And an ability to adorn that stage.
[Lv5 ‘Field Selection’ activates.]
I promised on the day we first met.
If you contract with me…
…I’ll fulfill your wish.
[‘Corridor of the Fallen’ is recreated.]
The scenery changed.
The darkness swallowed the moon and stars.
Only the passage of time and the fleeting loneliness remained.
This was the cradle of a head of a household who had lost everything.
It was the grave of someone left with only hatred and anger.
“…”
Alice silently gazed at a part of the corridor.
The throne at the center of the corridor.
The very throne where she had spent eons in exile.
The very throne where she cried, screamed, and cursed herself…
“You…”
Alice looked at Jinhyuk with sunken eyes.
“Alice von Ataraxia.”
Jinhyuk slowly opened his mouth.
“By contract, I will now kill those who took your place and restore you to the position of head of Ataraxia.”
So that you never shed tears again.
[Unique ability ‘Shared Fortune (萬祥共有)’ is used.]
[Target: ‘Alice von Ataraxia’.]
Pzzz…!
Behind Jinhyuk, a ring resembling the sun appeared.
An enormous magical force surged.
The heat of blood and fire melted the outer walls of the surrounding buildings.
[Unique Holy Spear ‘Revelation of Genesis’ activates!]
Alice’s ultimate technique, regarded as the strongest full-armament.
This is ‘Revelation of Genesis.’
The heat and the pain that felt like all the nerves in my body were burning away.
I almost lost consciousness for a moment.
“…”
Using this, I understood.
Just how incredible Alice’s abilities were.
‘Even without full armor, just implementing the ring is this powerful.’
It’s no lie that she’s one of the absolute beings of the tower.
Yeah.
Even with such power…
“You must have only been suffering.”
Upon manifesting the ability, the emotions and memories were also transmitted.
All the painful and hard past experiences.
Swoosh.
Jinhyuk extended his hand.
The red magic power from the ring of fire was transmitted through the muzzle of his gun.
At that moment.
Boom!
The noise was more like a thunderclap than a gunshot.
A red magic bullet pierced the air.
“…Huh?”
A sound of air escaping came from Abigail’s mouth.
Now.
Her right arm was gone.
From her shoulder, what should have been there was missing.
“Aaaaah!”
A scream followed, but the fear was greater than the pain.
She didn’t even realize her shield had been broken.
It meant she couldn’t block or react.
“Die!”
Abigail instinctively swung her scythe.
The best defense is offense.
In this situation, she intended to burn down this entire area by any means necessary.
Rumble!
Magic gathered around the giant eye.
Soon, it began raining judgmental lightning reminiscent of an apocalypse.
But.
Just before the lightning struck Jinhyuk’s head.
Slice!
The lightning was split apart.
The scabbard sword, filled with crimson energy, moved at an invisible speed.
Thus.
The thunderstorm falling from the sky was all cut down.
“That’s… impossible…”
There was only a moment to be astonished.
Almost simultaneously as the lightning was cut down.
Jinhyuk pulled out a long weapon made of blood.
The finale must be this.
[‘Vladimir’s Spear’ activates!]
A throwing spear used in a unique holy spear state.
Ugh!
Blood gushed from my mouth.
Using a power beyond my means had overloaded my body.
But,
I must endure.
Just this once…
One step remains.
The magic power poured to the limit traveled from my shoulder to my fingertips.
The spear twisted like a braid.
It twisted and twisted, maximizing rotational force.
“This ends here.”
At my fingertips.
…The spear vanished.
A flash darker and larger than a bullet crossed the sky.
A flash surpassing the speed of sound.
Finally, it pierced through space.
Thud!
A chilling sound of flesh being torn echoed in my ears.
However, I couldn’t witness Abigail’s end.
My consciousness blurred.
My vision… turned black.
[You have succeeded in killing the progenitor of a great family.]
[You have saved humanity from a major crisis outside the tower.]
[This will be recorded in the ‘Hall of Fame’ for a day.]
[Rewards will be given.]
[Le…]
I think I saw such a status window just before I lost consciousness completely.
＊＊＊
The fight was over.
Though it was just a brief reprieve until the gate where Shub-Niggurath appeared opened again.
Crack.
Maybe due to the link with the 50th floor?
Snow fell nationwide due to the climate anomaly.
As if mourning the dead, pure white snowflakes fell on the city that had turned into ruins.
It took an entire day for people to recover from the shock and start dealing with the outbreak’s aftermath.
And now.
In the VIP room of the Korean University Hospital.
“…Thank you.”
Han Sangjin from the Korean Awakening Association entered Jinhyuk’s hospital room and bowed 90 degrees.
Even without checking the Hall of Fame, everyone knew which guild had the most significant role in this outbreak.
And who led that guild.
However,
“Thank you, my foot!”
“The patient needs absolute rest right now!”
“Will you take responsibility if something goes wrong!?”
Alice, Teresa, and Andrea all shouted simultaneously.
“What… what?”
“Will you take responsibility?”
“S-sorry.”
Han Sangjin, startled, took a step back.
“Uh… is Player Kang Jinhyuk that seriously injured?”
“Yes. He has severe injuries. He needs absolute rest.”
Alice nodded firmly.
“Hmm. It does look that way. I understand. I’ll stop here for today.”
Indeed, health recovery should take precedence over expressing gratitude in front of a patient.
Han Sangjin gave a farewell nod and left the hospital room.
Damn…
“Just… call a healer.”
Jinhyuk managed to speak with difficulty.
He appreciated their concern, but simply wrapping him up in bandages like a mummy wouldn’t heal his wounds.
“But isn’t it? I just wrap a few bandages and I’m fine.”
That’s because you’re a vampire with inherent strength.
“Then, how about a prayer to the Lord?”
Please stop advertising your status as a saint before I convert.
“Hehe, I usually recover almost completely after a good night’s sleep. Isn’t it the same for everyone?”
Let’s not even talk. You’re a boss monster.
“Tweat!”
Goguma took out a mana stone from her mouth.
Her amber eyes sparkled brightly as if she was generously offering her prized possession.
Surely, she didn’t expect him to eat it to recover, did she?
If that’s the case, it would be truly sad.
“Master, shall I boil some hot water and make a bone broth for you? It’s full of calcium, and a single bowl will fix your wounds in no time.”
Even T-Bone joined in.
My head felt dizzier. Maybe it was just an illusion. Hopefully…
Finally,
“Don’t worry. I’ll perform the surgery myself.”
Chun Yoosung took out a scalpel.
“…”
It seemed like none of the staff were in their right minds.
