Chapter 120 : A Dangerous Journey (1)
Chapter 120: A Dangerous Journey (1)
The expeditionary force had been torn to pieces.
Now...
The only option left was for everyone to make their own way to the destination.
After running for quite some time, Yohan lowered his stance and heightened his senses.
The surroundings were quiet.
Most of the monsters in this area had been summoned to the rally point.
‘I should catch my breath for a moment.’
Just in case, Yohan cast Alarm Magic before taking out a bottle of water.
Hmm.
A little lukewarm.
He created several ice cubes with Ice Magic and dropped them into the bottle.
In an instant, it became ice-cold water that cooled his overheated body.
Then he paired it with tomato pasta and meatballs heated using a heat pack, making for an excellent meal.
Perhaps it was because Scarlet's horrific cooking had practically left him starving...
And Vivian had done nothing but force him to drink cup after cup of her bitter tea.
It tasted absolutely heavenly.
Once his stomach was full...
He finally had enough room to think back over everything that had happened.
‘Now that I think about it, there were suspicious things about this raid from the very beginning.’
No matter how urgent the situation had been...
No one had mentioned Count Pedro.
It was as if they had all agreed in advance not to bring him up.
There was no way anyone could have forgotten the death of one of the Empire's mere seventy high-ranking nobles.
‘Were they afraid news of a traitor would destroy the army's morale?’
Or...
‘Someone even higher than Pedro has already begun making moves.’
It had to be one of those two.
Originally...
He had considered them equally likely.
But now...
The latter seemed far more probable.
The decisive reason was the group of five that had used the Law Against Heaven.
The magic circle was far too enormous to have been prepared by only five people.
Someone else had been pulling the strings.
And it was only reasonable to assume...
That someone from the highest ranks had been involved.
If even the priests conducting the inspections had been bribed...
Everything fit together perfectly.
Just then—
Bzzz.
The vibration from Alarm Magic signaled him.
Something was approaching.
Judging by the mana signature and body size...
There was a high probability it wasn't a monster.
Still...
He kept a spell prepared while waiting for them to draw near.
A moment later—
“Is this the right direction?”
“I'm not a Ranger.
How would I know?
Be grateful we even survived that damned place.”
“What?
How irresponsible can you be...”
“Whoa, whoa.
Everyone calm down.
Getting worked up won't solve anything.”
Several voices echoed through the forest.
Around twenty people.
Among them...
There were familiar faces.
“More importantly...
Who's there?!”
One of them shouted in alarm upon spotting Yohan emerging from the grass.
A sharp sword pointed toward him.
But another man beside him quickly intervened.
“Wait.
I know him.
His name was... Kang Yohan, wasn't it?”
Lee Si-woo.
The Ranker he had met before spoke up.
The Eye of the Seer examined him.
[Lee Si-woo]
Occupation: Assassin
Rank: February 7-Star
Unique Ability: Mark of Death
Strength: 32 Agility: 28 Magic: 26
Physical Defense: 98
Magic Defense: 102
Traits: [Stealth] [Beginner Magitech Engineering]
Description: An Assassin specialized in covert operations who has eliminated over three hundred targets to date. However, he follows his own principles and never places the innocent on his list.
Solid all-around stats.
His Traits were excellent as well.
Although it came with conditions...
At this point in time, [Stealth] was among the very best Traits available.
Furthermore...
[Beginner Magitech Engineering] had also been one of the Traits Yohan had seriously considered before choosing the Knight's Emblem.
‘As expected of a Ranker I've been keeping an eye on.’
A perfect card to make up for what Seo Changhee lacked.
“That's right.”
Yohan gave a short nod.
“I remember seeing you during the strategy meeting.
Ah, I'm Hoshino Yuki from the Osaka Union.
One of our Hunters was indebted to you back at the temple.”
A woman with short hair and fair skin smiled warmly.
She wore a traditional Japanese shrine maiden outfit, her appearance overflowing with graceful Eastern beauty.
Of course...
Yohan knew who she was.
The hero who had stopped the massive Gate incident in Osaka and saved countless lives.
Like Seo Changhee...
Hoshino Yuki was someone whose heart leaned completely toward justice.
The Eye of the Seer examined Yuki as well.
[Hoshino Yuki]
Occupation: Onmyoji
Rank: February 5-Star
Unique Ability: Night Parade of One Hundred Demons
Strength: 17 Agility: 22 Magic: 38
Physical Defense: 75
Magic Defense: 95
Traits: [Intermediate Fan Arts] [Beginner Safe Zone]
Description: Descendant of a clan of Onmyoji who have devoted their lives to saving people and exterminating evil. Hoshino Yuki is currently the thirty-seventh head of the family.
Well now.
That was an incredible Trait.
His eyes widened.
[Beginner Safe Zone].
Its duration was short.
Its range wasn't particularly large.
But...
It could create an actual Safe Zone.
This was an extraordinarily rare Trait.
If he remembered correctly...
There weren't even ten people in the world who possessed it.
What a reassuring ally.
With such dependable teammates...
The chances of reaching the second rally point increased dramatically.
Ah.
That reminded him.
There was something he needed to ask.
“By any chance...
Do you know what happened at the rally point?”
“I'm sorry.
The situation was so chaotic that escaping was all we could manage.”
So they didn't know anything about his companions.
That was unfortunate.
Praying wasn't really his style.
But for now...
All he could do was hope everyone was safe.
“We should get moving again.
We need to find somewhere to stay before sunset.”
Lee Si-woo looked toward the slowly setting sun.
Normally...
Monsters became at least one and a half times stronger after nightfall.
Purgatory likely shared that characteristic.
Without finding a defensible location...
Not even Rankers could guarantee their survival.
＊＊＊
At the same time.
Inside a cave far from the rally point...
A fierce battle was raging.
“Haa... Haa...”
Scarlet unfolded her crimson parasol.
Even at a glance...
More than several dozen monsters lay dead around her.
Over ten more remained suspended in the air, impaled by Blood Threads.
Although she had achieved overwhelming results...
Her expression remained dark.
“Foolish mortal.
If you repent with your blood even now...
I shall permit your soul to escape eternal suffering in this place.”
A Nephilim.
One of Purgatory's highest-ranking species.
Around her...
Gathered countless superior monsters several times stronger than anything Scarlet had killed so far.
The Evangelist they had encountered upon entering Purgatory.
Even the terrifying Floral Artist was present.
“I have to get to Lord Yohan...
I have to help him...
And yet I'm trapped here...”
Scarlet bit her lip until blood seeped out.
She felt so powerless that tears threatened to fall.
The proud young lady of House Juliad.
Blessed with an exceptional bloodline.
And having reached this point through relentless effort.
But...
This was the end.
This time...
She truly couldn't see any way out.
Just then—
“Hmm~ Hmm~”
A cheerful humming echoed through the cave.
Tap.
A familiar figure appeared.
“Your desire to help Lord Yohan is truly admirable.
But with your current strength...
It's impossible.”
Vivian Astraya.
The girl with obsidian-black hair giggled softly.
“You...!”
Scarlet was about to snap back.
But she closed her mouth.
What argument could she possibly make while cornered like a trapped rat?
Meanwhile...
The atmosphere around the Nephilim changed completely the moment Vivian appeared.
“You possess a soul steeped in ominous darkness.”
Eyes capable of seeing one's true nature.
The Nephilim instantly realized just how terrifying Vivian truly was.
“My, my.
Calling my soul ominous?
Should a loathsome half-blood descended from Heaven really be saying that?”
“Child.
Do not continue increasing the weight of your sins.
The more you do...
The more painful and miserable your end shall become.”
Rumble...
Pure white flames ignited around the Nephilim.
Holy power overflowed...
Along with suffocating killing intent.
“GROOOAR!”
“KUWAAAH!”
The surrounding monsters roared as well.
Naturally...
Their morale soared.
The being they served existed on an entirely different level.
“So...
My end will only become more painful and miserable?”
Vivian quietly repeated those words as she slowly raised her staff.
Then—
[Vivian Astraya activates her Unique Ability 'Gluttony of the Apocalypse'!]
Vivian revealed her true Rank.
Rumbleeeee!
It was nothing more than slightly drawing back a curtain of darkness.
Yet...
The endless abyss beyond instantly swallowed every trace of light.
“Eat its head first, Tam.”
No lengthy explanation was necessary.
A single brief command.
That alone was enough.
Crunch!
The Nephilim's head was torn off while it was still alive.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
“KIEEEEK!”
“KEEEEK!”
Crunch! Chomp!
The Tams rampaged wildly as they devoured the Nephilim's body.
As though erasing every trace of its existence from the world...
Not even a single fragment remained.
Silence.
Even breathing seemed to disappear.
Vivian walked over to the frozen Scarlet.
“You...
Were that strong?”
“Compared to Him, I'm insignificant.
But...
I'm somewhat special myself.”
Squatting before Scarlet...
Vivian whispered sweetly.
“So...
Do you wish to become stronger as well?
Do you wish to become someone capable of helping Lord Yohan?”
Become stronger?
Did that even need to be said aloud?
“I want to become stronger...
If I can...
I'd give everything I have just to protect Lord Yohan.”
“Hm.”
Vivian lifted Scarlet's chin with one finger.
Their eyes met.
“I can tell you're sincere.”
Vivian poured a black liquid over the dazzling crystal she had extracted from the Nephilim's corpse.
Instinctively...
Scarlet realized it was a Trait.
Drip.
Drip.
An overwhelmingly ominous aura pulsed from it.
“Miss Scarlet is truly fortunate.
This combination has the greatest possible synergy with Gluttony's [Infinite Craving].”
[Blood Frenzy]
A Trait known as a double-edged sword.
It could temporarily erase memories.
Change one's personality.
And carried numerous other side effects.
However...
Even taking all of that into account...
The rewards were overwhelming.
Especially after drinking the blood of someone with tremendous potential.
People even said...
Its upper limit simply didn't exist.
“Why are you doing all this for me?”
Scarlet asked.
“For various reasons...
I cannot always remain by Lord Yohan's side.
But you're different.
You have far more freedom to move.”
“Heh.
And what if...
I become stronger than you?”
At Scarlet's provocation...
Vivian took a sip of maple tea.
Then smiled as though genuinely amused.
“Miss Scarlet has quite an adorable side too.”
“Hey!”
“For now...
Absorb this first.
We need to clean up this place and return to Lord Yohan before it's too late.”
“...Understood.”
[Trait 'Blood Frenzy' has been acquired!]
At that instant—
Thump!
Scarlet's pupils stretched vertically.
An indescribable power spread from her heart through every blood vessel.
Her entire body felt as though it were burning alive.
“Congratulations on reaching the Eleventh Star of March.”
March 11-Star.
A rise in Rank utterly impossible through ordinary means.
“I have to admit...
This feels incredible.”
Scarlet slowly adapted to her newfound power.
But only for a moment.
“Though...
I'm unbelievably hungry.”
The instinct she had barely managed to suppress began stirring.
That was the beginning.
Boom!
Scarlet charged toward the creatures of Purgatory that had lost their master and stood uncertain of what to do.
Her Blood Threads split into dozens of strands.
“...!?”
The Evangelist's body was instantly severed.
It didn't even have time to activate a proper defensive skill...
Much less begin the Song of Ruin.
Whoosh!
Drenched in blood...
Scarlet immediately launched herself toward the giant Floral Artist.
“Kih!
D-Don't be ridiculous!
Maybe that girl...
But do you really think someone like you can defeat me?!”
Countless vines filled the sky.
However...
The Blood Threads erupting from Scarlet's fingertips overwhelmed every single vine.
Tap.
Scarlet reached the flower petals where the Floral Artist's true body rested.
She slowly opened her parasol.
Then licked her lips.
Wearing the brightest...
Most beautiful smile imaginable.
Already critically wounded by Vivian...
The Floral Artist had absolutely no chance against Scarlet.
“What do you taste like?”
At that moment...
Predator and prey completely exchanged places.
‘Everything is proceeding according to plan.’
A crescent smile spread across Vivian's lips.
Because of Blood Frenzy...
Scarlet would continue craving Yohan's blood from now on.
‘I'm not interested in rivals.’
Only one person should receive the love of the Great Transcendent.
And only she...
Was worthy of that place.