Chapter 126 : Clash (2)
Chapter 126: Clash (2)
“Hmm. Hm….”
The Witch walked along with quick little steps while humming.
Vivian steadily carried out the task Yohan had instructed her to do.
After even the last remaining gatekeeper, a Nephilim, fell, she saw a blazing white flame.
It was the ‘Essence of the Half-Blood’, the source of the Nephilim's power.
If she could destroy this alone, Tshafel and every other monster in Purgatory would be afflicted with a debuff.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that more than half the advantage would shift to their side.
“Maybe I'll be able to earn a little praise.”
Her heart was already pounding, and a smile formed on her lips.
She began to feel excited like a child at the thought of hearing the words ‘You didn't disappoint me’.
But at that very moment.
Something happened that overturned everything.
[The Ninety-Eighth Abyss manifests!]
It was an unpredictable natural disaster.
Kukukukuku!
Space split apart to either side.
“Grooooar!”
“Groooooh!”
The one who appeared among dozens of Ancient Species was a boy wearing an eyepatch.
A powerhouse of the Abyss.
One of the Transcendents who existed in this world, a monster known by the epithet ‘Collector’.
And he.
“Young Witch.”
Asked Vivian.
“Where is the bastard carrying the scent that clings to you?”
To find the fearless mortal who had stolen the Fate of the Fading Star.
And to punish the one who had committed a sin beyond measure.
He had personally appeared in Purgatory.
“…….”
Vivian stopped moving.
She had prided herself on having faced countless powerful beings until now.
Tremble.
Her hands and feet shook.
Thump!
They shrank back.
The instinct hidden deep within her heart and mind.
Warning her that this was the final destination she could ever reach.
“I'm asking you. Did you not hear me?”
A small crease formed on the Collector's forehead.
Kwaaaaang!
“Kieeeek!”
“Keeeeek!”
The Tams she had reflexively summoned scattered to either side.
Maple leaves poured down as they split in half.
“Cough….”
A thin stream of blood trickled from her mouth.
Vivian staggered while gripping her staff.
For a moment, she nearly lost consciousness.
Merely releasing a small burst of anger had torn every defensive mechanism she had deployed apart like sheets of paper.
Was this what it felt like to face overwhelming despair unlike anything she had ever experienced?
There was no chance of victory.
Yes. Vivian herself knew that better than anyone.
However.
“There is nothing I can tell you.”
Vivian's expression was resolute.
Even if she died here. She had no intention of giving him any information that could bring harm to that person.
“Haha. Even the leader of the Grand Witches' Council is nothing more than an insect to me, yet you, who stand far beneath her, dare defy me?”
“Being weak is not a reason to abandon what is precious.”
Divinity was the measure of strength.
Those who defied the absolute hierarchy would face the punishment of the Law Against Heaven.
Even so.
Tap!
She stood back up with her staff planted firmly on the ground.
The Tams, possessing countless eyes and teeth, once again expanded their territory.
Vivian Astraea.
The Witch of Exile who governed the Maple Tree.
“Every being that threatens him is my enemy.”
Light-purple madness rippled within her eyes.
“As last words go… those are far too cheap.”
The Ancient Species began entering Vivian's territory.
＊＊＊
Kukukukung!!!!
The heavens and earth convulsed.
The atmosphere trembled.
Everything stopped because of the enormous pillar of Magic that erupted from the direction of the lake.
“What… is this absurd power….”
“I-I can't believe it.”
From Rankers such as Yuki and Lee Siwoo.
“Tch.”
To Scarlet, who had been aboard the Sky Ocean Cruise with him.
“W-Why….”
Even Tshafel, who had been toying with the raiding party like children.
Every being in Purgatory became aware of the presence of the powerhouse of the Abyss.
Their entire bodies froze.
Although the distance was considerable, the killing intent crushing their bodies felt as though it could stop everyone's hearts at any moment.
“One side is unimaginably powerful, but the other… is on an entirely different dimension.”
Sherphon muttered while breaking out in a cold sweat.
He was right.
Even among monsters, differences in rank existed.
The fight did not last long.
Barely one minute.
Within that time, the balance of the battle completely tilted to one side.
And at almost exactly the same moment.
Pajik!
Green lightning struck down in the middle of the raiding party.
The Collector appeared amid green sparks surging in every direction.
Behind him, Vivian hung from the hand of a gigantic Ancient Species, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Fortunately, she wasn't dead….
Though Yohan wasn't sure whether this could truly be called fortunate.
‘How the hell did he get here.’
Purgatory, the main stage of the Episode, should have been a place the Collector couldn't enter.
If he had forced his way inside, the High-Level Administrators would have intervened immediately.
But the fact that nothing was happening meant he hadn't used some loophole.
‘Don't tell me.’
Yohan's eyes narrowed.
Had Cain done something?
If he used one of the Holy Relics possessed by the Requiem Order, it wasn't entirely impossible.
Damn it. Whatever the reason, this was the worst-case scenario.
Because there was absolutely no way to survive against him in this situation.
“I sensed a large amount of Magic, so I wondered if it might be you. Looks like I was right.”
The Collector smiled when he spotted Yohan.
Then he added one more thing.
“If you're looking for Arianne, it's useless. This time, I've set up a trap specifically for that lizard.”
He couldn't use the same method of drawing Arianne's attention with the ‘Ring of Crimson Flame’ again.
Judging by the Phoenix he had brought along, he had already made thorough preparations.
“G-Great One. Could you please hear me out for a moment? My name is Tshafel. As the one who leads the Nephilim….”
Tshafel hurriedly opened his mouth.
Like an idiot. He knew far too little about the being known as the Collector.
The price was horrific.
Crunch!
A spider covered from head to toe in snow-white fur bit off Tshafel's entire upper body.
Crunch, crunch!
Golden blood poured from the spider's mouth like a waterfall.
The existence of the Nephilim who had plunged the raiding party into terror was erased from the world.
“Now then, shall we put these annoying spectators to sleep?”
The Collector lightly waved his hand.
Thud!
It was as though an invisible hammer had struck down.
The frozen members of the raiding party began collapsing like puppets with their strings cut.
Even Seo Changhee and Scarlet sprawled across the ground.
“As you can see, I didn't kill them. If you simply return what belongs to me, I might spare your life as well.”
“What a merciful offer that's difficult to refuse.”
“There's no reason to waste my strength on something useless.”
A lie.
Given his personality, there was no chance he would spare Yohan even if he returned it.
The moment Yohan handed over the Holy Relic, the Collector would undoubtedly wipe out everyone here.
Then disappear as though nothing had happened.
If so.
“Understood. I'll give up.”
Yohan gave a small nod and slowly opened his Subspace.
The familiar Holy Relic appeared.
“A wise choice.”
A satisfied smile formed on the Collector's lips.
His obsession with his possessions was extraordinary.
The epithet Collector itself had originated from his tendency to obtain anything he wanted without fail. And once something entered his collection, he never gave it up.
But at that very moment.
Yohan's movement as he was about to hand over the Holy Relic changed by 180 degrees.
[‘Fate of the Fading Star’ is used!]
[750,000 Durability is consumed!]
He had thrown down the decisive move.
Rather than submitting to fate, he had chosen to struggle against it.
“You, bastard!”
The Collector's face violently twisted.
So what?
If this was a fight he couldn't avoid anyway, then he would simply use every card he had.
“Let's have a round. Spinach Boy.”
I'll show you that there's nothing more terrifying than a veteran driven into a corner.
Wooooong!
Scorching Magic constructed countless circuits throughout his body.
As expected from consuming a staggering 750,000 Durability all at once. He felt an overwhelming power unlike anything he had experienced before rampaging through him.
Snap!
The white-furred spider's fangs snapped shut where Yohan had been standing.
But as though he had predicted it, Yohan had already slipped inside.
Using ‘Immortal Arts’, Yohan consecutively evaded the spider's venomous stingers.
He arrived at the location of its heart.
[Void Magic ‘Black Predator’ activates!]
Tukwaaaang!
The power to carve away space itself erupted.
“Kieeeee!!!”
The white-furred spider staggered.
As expected of an Ancient Species, all he managed was to knock it onto its side.
Damn, this thing was ridiculously tough.
Without even having time to curse, Yohan summoned his Summoned Beasts from Subspace.
[The Spirit Beasts of the Five Great Elements manifest!]
Water. Fire. Wind. Earth. Light.
The elements that composed the world gathered in one place.
“I'm overflowing with power!”
“What the heck, Master? Did you take some kind of drug?”
Unlike usual, the Spirit Beasts, manifested in their true bodies, hopped up and down in place.
Sambok was powerful as well, but he was bound by restrictions, and manifesting his true body required an absurd amount of Magic.
If Yohan wanted to keep using Void Magic while holding back the Ancient Species, this side was far more efficient.
“Everyone, use your strongest Skill!”
“Hmph! Just say the word. No matter what kind of bastard it is, I'll finish it in one blooooooow?”
“A-Ancient Species. One, two. Ten. There are more than twenty, Master!”
“Shut up and hurry!”
When Yohan growled, the startled Spirit Beasts hurriedly rearranged their Magic.
A magnificent Magic Circle composed of five different colors appeared.
Earth surged upward and formed a massive circle.
Droplets of water and flames rippled between them.
[‘Elemental Buster’ activates!]
Wind opened the path.
Beautiful fragments of light scattered through the air, supporting that path.
Kwakakakakakaka!
Radiance blazing with five brilliant colors surged forward.
Straight toward the Collector.
However.
[Ancient Species ‘Fire-Drinking Bird’ uses ‘Flame Blossom Feathers’!]
“Bwaaaaak!”
The Phoenix spread its wings wide and blocked it.
Considering they had poured twenty percent of their total Magic into the attack, the result was disappointingly anticlimactic.
“What a shame. Your skill in handling Spirits wasn't bad.”
The Collector offered a brief assessment.
Well. It was a little disappointing, but that was fine.
Because Vivian had been the target from the beginning.
Tap!
While the Spirit Beasts attacked. Yohan managed to snatch Vivian away from the Ancient Species.
After severing the tendons in its wrist with ‘Black Gale’, he took Vivian into his arms and immediately created distance.
“Lord Yohan…. I'm sorry. I couldn't complete the task you gave me. I disappointed you yet again….”
Vivian's face was filled with more fear and anxiety than relief at having survived.
A life in which she had always been abandoned.
A chess piece with no value could no longer remain upon the stage. That was the common sense she had lived by.
Her faintly trembling fingers tightly clutched Yohan's clothes.
As though she never wanted to let go.
“…….”
So even in a situation like this, that's what you were worried about.
Thump.
The girl's heartbeat pounded out of rhythm.
The painful memories of the past and the fear ingrained into her through experience were conveyed through her eyes.
Just a little.
He wanted to soothe those wounds.
That was what he thought.
At that moment.
[The conditions for a Linked Ability have been fulfilled.]
A small spark capable of turning everything around came to life.