Chapter 30: The Master of the Corrupted Corridor (4)
“How could a mere human…”
Belus muttered in disbelief.
It was to be expected.
The attack was designed to annihilate the humans in one fell swoop, sparing no magical energy.
Yet, how could he block it so easily?
Jinhyuk shrugged.
“Your skills and flame attributes are fundamentally incompatible.”
Moreover, the gap in stats and adaptive abilities meant the level difference was actually reversed.
In such a situation…
He was confident.
Confident in his victory.
“The moment Elise was sealed, your chances of winning disappeared.”
“Indeed, it seems difficult to win with magic.”
Belus dispersed the gathered magical power.
“But if there truly exists an incompatibility… it would be difficult to counter close-range attacks with magic, wouldn’t it?”
A sword with a dark hue appeared in his right hand, a rapier favored by vampires.
Moreover,
[Belus activates Lv9 ‘Dark Fighting Spirit’.]
A black aura began to seep along the blade.
It was sword energy.
And of quite a high purity.
“There’s nothing better for dealing with those who flit about like flies from afar.”
He wasn’t wrong.
For magic users, the risk increases exponentially once the distance closes, especially if attacked simultaneously by twelve, it seemed like a viable strategy.
Yes.
That would be the standard approach.
But who said that?
That I’m only strong in magic?
[Unique Ability ‘Grave of Swords’ is activated.]
In the profound silence, the talent of a swordsman from a bygone era infused Jinhyuk.
Everything changed.
The perception of every movement.
From the slight twitch of muscles to the flow of magical power.
The world seen beyond the mask was completely altered from moments before.
‘Indeed… it seems the title of swordsman wasn’t awarded for nothing.’
Jinhyuk’s lips curved upwards.
＊＊＊
‘…What?’
Belus tilted his head in confusion.
Something had changed.
It was hard to articulate, but the atmosphere had completely transformed.
A slight tremble in his hand.
Could it be…
‘Am I afraid?’
Me?
Belus bit down hard on his teeth.
“Funny… isn’t it?”
Being frightened by a single human.
It was unthinkable, unacceptable.
Above all, he needed to destroy the hexagram binding her right now. There was no time to waste.
Belus gripped his sword.
“No matter how much you struggle, you won’t be able to withstand the sword energy.”
The dark energy around the sword burned robustly.
It was a sword energy renowned for its ultimate cutting power.
“Attack all at once.”
“Remember, don’t miss.”
“We should at least cut off a limb or two. That’ll satisfy us.”
The vampires formed a encirclement around Jinhyuk.
Every direction was covered.
Not even a single ant could escape.
However, Jinhyuk did not move from his spot, merely scanning his enemies with an indifferent expression.
“Sword energy, huh? That’s all you rely on?”
“Don’t bluff. No matter how skilled you are, you can’t escape from here.”
Words alone might seem like bravado.
The situation was obviously disadvantageous, clear to anyone.
In that case.
Show them.
Not with words, but with actual skill.
Jinhyuk infused his dagger with magical power.
Then,
A blindingly bright light flared.
“This… can’t be…”
Belus’s eyes bulged in shock.
The energy enveloping the dagger was on a completely different level than the surface-level sword energy.
A blue aura wrapped around the dagger, extending nearly 1m above it.
Undoubtedly.
“An Aura Blade?”
“To imbue a sword with energy, it should at least be to this extent, shouldn’t it?”
Jinhyuk thrust the dagger forward.
The air itself seemed to be sliced through by its sharpness.
An overwhelming force was directed towards the vampires.
In an instant,
“Where did he go?”
“Where is he?”
“Damn it. Don’t follow with your eyes, detect his magical energy!”
It was too late for Belus’s shout.
“Arrgh!”
Blood spurted from the shoulder of a vampire at the edge, his arm completely severed. Even with their regenerative abilities, it would take time to heal.
‘One down.’
Jinhyuk’s gaze moved to the next target.
Starting from the weakest, to the strongest last.
He wouldn’t be complacent, even in assured victory.
As the dagger swept in an arc,
“Arg!”
A vampire screamed as a wind hole opened in his thigh.
And another one down.
[Stop right now…!]
Elise seemed to be shouting something, but it was hard to hear.
Jinhyuk had stuffed Braham’s ring deep into his pocket before the fight even began.
“Don’t scatter. Maintain formation! Don’t fall for the enemy’s tricks!”
Belus roared.
“Ugh!”
“Tch!”
Finally, the vampires clumsily adjusted their stance.
Filling the gaps left by the injured, they reinforced their sides.
“Strike!”
Ten rapiers were thrust towards Jinhyuk.
When the swords collided.
The rapiers shattered into dozens of pieces.
The blades completely destroyed.
As expected, sword energy couldn’t stand against the sword aura.
‘It doesn’t matter. Even if we lose half, just one successful attack is enough.’
Sacrifice was inevitable.
No one knew this better than Belus himself.
However, all the rapiers cut through the air, failing to even catch Jinhyuk’s shadow.
30 seconds… 1 minute.
As time passed, Belus’s face gradually turned ashen.
‘Even throwing our lives into the fray, we’re not even close to being a match.’
Meanwhile, their numbers dwindled one by one.
Unaware of when or how they were defeated.
It was like fighting a ghost.
Another fell.
No more vampires stood beside him.
“Damn it.”
Now… it was all a blur.
Belus felt a chilling sensation approaching from behind.
And that was the last thing he remembered.
＊＊＊
The fight was over.
All too anticlimactically.
Well, anticlimactic might only apply to Jinhyuk himself.
Those who witnessed the entire ordeal couldn’t even twitch a finger, enveloped in a shiver that coursed through their bodies.
“Miss Theresa…”
Song Chunhwa stammered.
What exactly did they just witness?
Was this reality?
To single-handedly wipe out the vampires of the supreme lineage, which not even an assault team could touch.
No ranker could accomplish such a feat.
Gulp!
Dry saliva traveled down Song Chunhwa’s throat.
“Do you know who that man is?”
“…”
Theresa did not answer.
Instead, she glanced briefly at Jinhyuk.
Wearing a mask meant he didn’t want to reveal his identity in public.
“We happened to meet halfway and came here together. He just told me to trust him, and didn’t share any other details…”
“I see… Oh!?”
Just as Song Chunhwa reluctantly nodded, he gasped.
He had seen Jinhyuk intending to do something.
“Wait! Please wait a moment!”
Song Chunhwa rushed towards Jinhyuk.
“What is it?”
Jinhyuk, standing before the relic, turned around.
“I am the captain leading this raid, Song Chunhwa.”
“I’m roughly aware.”
The leader of a failed raid.
A commander more feared by his allies than by the enemy.
If it were me, I’d hide in a corner out of sheer embarrassment.
What audacity does he have to speak to me?
…Let it be.
He probably doesn’t even realize what he’s done wrong.
“Take the wounded and leave the ruins. You’re all quite weakened, so make sure to replenish your fluids and nutrients.”
Jinhyuk waved his hand dismissively.
But then,
Song Chunhwa didn’t seem ready to leave, his expression troubled.
“There’s something I need to tell you about the relic.”
Really?
Claiming rights to the relic here?
Wow.
This is even more remarkable than I thought.
“Are you aware that all items recovered from this raid belong to our Balhae Guild…?”
Jinhyuk cut off Song Chunhwa mid-sentence.
“You want the relic even after I saved your lives?”
Such an innovative complaint.
It’s so fresh, I’m actually looking forward to what he’ll say next.
Caught off guard, Song Chunhwa quickly added,
“In exchange, we’ll compensate you. Whether it’s money or coins, we’ll make sure you’re generously rewarded.”
“Compensation, huh…”
This is not how I wanted things to go.
But if he insists,
“No need. Just take it. Goodbye.”
Jinhyuk stepped aside.
“Are you really okay with that?”
“Just don’t regret it. Whatever the outcome.”
“Excuse me?”
“Just saying.”
Jinhyuk shrugged.
Song Chunhwa felt uneasy but shook off the feeling.
Why refuse when being offered the relic?
The wooden fragment lying on the broad rock, ‘Merlin’s Staff’, was one of the seven pieces.
But its value wasn’t diminished by being a piece.
‘Its value as a magical material is practically limitless.’
Song Chunhwa’s eyes gleamed with greed.
This could make up for the disgrace of being captured by the assault force.
However, the moment he touched the fragment,
A burning pain.
As if his hand was scorched.
Song Chunhwa yelped and withdrew his hand.
But more shocking than the reddened skin was the inverted cross mark on his palm.
“What, what is this?”
Well…
“A curse.”
The relic, which should have been obtained by annihilating Elise, now bound due to her being sealed instead, inevitably cursed anyone who touched it.
“A curse! You mean, I’ll die? Will I?”
“Not lethal. Just…”
“Just what?”
Alopecia.
“All the hair on your body will disappear.”
Basically, living a smooth, hairless life.
“That can’t be.”
Song Chunhwa touched his hair with trembling hands.
Oh, boy.
Clumps of hair began to fall out, indicating it wouldn’t be long now.
That’s why I said,
You’ll regret it.
Though, it’s too late for regrets now.
“No… Noooo!”
Song Chunhwa screamed and ran off, probably heading towards a mirror, though he’d be better off not looking for his mental health’s sake.
＊＊＊
“…You’re quite mischievous.”
Theresa smiled, her emotions mixed.
“He reached for another’s rice cake, so he reaped what he sowed.”
“But, doesn’t this mean you also have to give up the relic?”
Not exactly.
That’s not the case.
‘I know how to handle the relic without being cursed.’
‘The Blessing of the Stars.’
If one could wield holy power, such a curse could easily be endured.
“Before I answer Miss Theresa’s question, may I ask one of my own?”
“Of course.”
“Do you acknowledge that you’re alive because of me?”
“…”
Theresa stared intensely into Jinhyuk’s eyes.
Without him…
None of the assault team would have made it out alive.
“Yes. Thank you. Because of you, we survived.”
Theresa nodded.
[Conditions met.] [Successfully copied the unique ability ‘Blessing of the Stars(SS)’.] [The copied skill is stored in ‘Memories of the World’.] [Blessing of the Stars]
Acquisition Difficulty: SS
Description: Allows the use of holy power exclusive to paladins and ensures a second life unless instantly killed. (Cooldown 240 hours)
With this…
He had achieved his final goal in the ruins.