Chapter 48 : Into the Dungeon. (6)
Chapter 48: Into the Dungeon. (6)
With a metallic clang, White Revenge was knocked away.
It was because Instructor Nike had batted aside my blade.
From the recoil, the handle of my sword scraped past my forehead.
Just as I felt a warm sensation above my eyebrow, blood flowed down.
I had charged in boldly, yet the one who took damage was me.
Instructor Nike leisurely spun his sword half a turn.
“Hunter Choi. Just now, what ability did you use exactly?”
He pointed with the tip of his sword toward where I had been standing.
“To appear in the blink of an eye. Do you have some kind of teleportation-type talent?”
<Infinite Acceleration> boasted speed enough to compress space-time itself.
To him, it must have looked as though I had teleported.
‘I haven’t been exposed. Just…’
I hadn’t merely charged mindlessly toward Instructor Nike.
I had attacked efficiently using <Infinite Acceleration>.
‘I was planning to take his head in one stroke.’
Instructor Nike had narrowly blocked my decisive blow.
‘Just how?’
Did that mean he possessed speed sufficient to respond to a Hero ability?
“You’re hesitating. Of course. You shouldn’t recklessly rush in without knowing information about your enemy. You’re doing very well.”
As if he had forgotten his own duty, Instructor Nike lectured me.
That only made me angrier.
“Try blocking it again.”
I kicked off the ground and activated <Infinite Acceleration> once more.
This time, it wasn’t a single burst.
Gripping the pure-white blade in a reverse grip, I attacked indiscriminately.
The crown of the head, eyes, temples, nape, heart…….
Chachachacha-chaeng-chaeng-chaeng!!!!!!!
A mere little over one second.
An astounding 87 exchanges occurred.
I spat out the breath I had been holding and widened the distance.
Blood beaded on the cut on Instructor Nike’s cheek, then gradually split wider and poured out.
Scars formed all over his body, and strips of his clothing were sliced away.
The ring finger of Instructor Nike’s sword hand was half-severed, bone exposed, dangling precariously.
In contrast, aside from my forehead and a very small scratch, I was completely fine.
Instructor Nike’s flustered expression was unmistakable.
“……What is that outrageous speed?”
Though I had inflicted grievous wounds on him, I couldn’t help but admire him.
‘Impressive.’
To withstand Speeder’s <Infinite Acceleration>.
Instructor Nike spun his sword half a turn and set it straight.
‘It’s not that he’s as fast as me. There might be some other reason.’
My breathing grew more labored, as though a thorn were lodged in my throat.
A hummingbird flapped its wings over 60 times per second, and its heart beat 600 times per minute.
That was why its lifespan was short.
The more <Infinite Acceleration> was used, the more it gnawed away at the body.
If a battle like this continued, my stamina would be rapidly depleted.
‘If it drags on, it’s disadvantageous.’
While I was holding Instructor Nike at bay, Bang Su-hwan supported the collapsed Hase-na.
Lee Ji-jun, who had fled, also returned to his spot.
They stood behind me and assumed a battle stance.
At the same time, they were restless.
They must have wanted to join in, but Instructor Nike scarcely left any openings.
‘A clumsy joint attack would be pointless.’
Blood flowing from my forehead soaked my eyebrow and pooled in my pupils.
The world was dyed red, and my vision gradually faded.
To stop the bleeding, I used <Regeneration>.
As money was deducted, the wound closed.
[ Awakener’s Balance ]
: ₩959,094,655.
Because I had already used <Infinite Acceleration>, a ten-million-won skill, twice, the amount had dropped significantly.
“No, how could this…….”
Hase-na covered her mouth in shock.
The way my forehead recovered just now was truly astonishing.
The treatment had finished rapidly, at a speed that even an S-rank healer could barely manage.
To her, it must have looked like I was wielding some bizarre power.
Instructor Nike tilted his head as well.
“The more I look, the more astonishing it is. You don’t look like an F-rank Hunter at all. Have you truly been hiding your abilities all this time?”
Behind him.
I saw two fallen interns.
They had become cold corpses.
“Why.”
I opened my mouth.
“Why go this far? Is some sham religion really more important than your responsibility as a Hunter?”
Republic of Korea Hunter Regulations, Article 1, Clause 1.
First, protect citizens safely from monsters.
Second, do not use power as authority.
Of course, not every Hunter followed these in reality.
There were certainly people like Seo Gwang-pal who regarded awakening as a privilege and ran amok as they pleased.
“Do you have no pride as a Hunter?”
“I don’t.”
Instructor Nike did not hesitate.
“My school is the Ganro (干櫓) style. A sword art solely for protecting the Cheonyangji Cult Leader. My master said this: ‘We are beings born to protect that person.’”
Ganro referred to a shield that blocked an enemy’s swords and arrows.
‘The Ganro style, huh.’
I had heard of it.
After a man known as a master swordsman began believing in Cheonyangji, he devoted his entire life to creating a sword art for the cult leader.
According to rumors, his skill was said to be on par with an S-rank Hunter.
I knew Instructor Nike was a master of the sword.
But to think he was a successor of the Ganro style.
‘Now I finally understand…….’
I lowered my gaze and examined the ground at his feet.
I could see a faint circular pattern engraved in mana.
Its diameter was about 2.5 meters.
The secret was gradually revealed.
The Ganro style was not, to begin with, a sword art meant to attack someone.
A sword meant to protect someone.
Therefore, once you stepped inside that circle, any kind of attack became useless.
In that case.
I quickly devised another plan.
What if I made use of <Aura of God>, which wrapped my entire body in a defensive barrier?
I would somehow block a single exchange from Instructor Nike, then use that opening to finish it with <Judgment of the Superhuman>.
Even if the defense was pierced and I took some damage, it didn’t matter as long as I didn’t lose consciousness.
I could just heal with <Regeneration>.
‘Good. Let’s go.’
The moment I made my decision and tried to move.
“Ugh.”
Intense pain constricted my heart.
Before I realized it, I clutched my chest and dropped to one knee.
Seeing that, Instructor Nike spun his sword once and smiled.
“The effects are finally showing. Compared to my master, my training is lacking, so I suppose the onset was slower.”
Effects?
Did he use poison or something?
I unconsciously clenched my fist.
Only then did I notice something was wrong.
‘Mana isn’t coming out.’
It felt like I had reverted to before I became an awakener.
“You mentioned responsibility earlier, didn’t you? I also have a duty. The Ganro style has two objectives. First, to protect the Cheonyangji Cult Leader. Second.”
He pointed the tip of his sword at me as I knelt.
“To subdue those who defy the Cult Leader.”
Instructor Nike continued.
“Anyone who stains my blade with their blood cannot use any of the skills they previously accumulated for 24 hours. In other words, they’re no different from an ordinary person.”
A talent that nullified all mana-based skills.
This was…….
‘Fatal.’
My strength lay in [Purchase (Purchase)].
It was buying abilities that exerted absurd powers in reality with money.
Through that, I had defeated Big Lava. Seo Gwang-pal.
Even an S-rank hunter, Go Ju-hoon.
If I couldn’t use hero abilities at all, there was no way to stand against Instructor Nike.
‘This is bad.’
I tried not to show it, but cold sweat ran down my spine.
“You’re getting anxious. Well, that’s fine. Feeling fear is also a good quality for a hunter. To be honest, I quite liked you, Hunter Choi. It’s unfortunate that our connection has to end here.”
I locked eyes with him.
Ironically.
Scenes of the advice Instructor Nike had given me, and how he had sincerely helped train me, flashed past.
Was Instructor Nike truly a heinous villain?
Something he had once said came to mind.
“My family is more important to me than anything else. For my family, I could even sacrifice my life.”
Instructor Nike was an orphan.
After the Great Cataclysm, there were countless people who had lost their parents.
Back then, I had brushed off his words casually.
The family he spoke of.
‘Was it the Cheonyangji believers and the Cult Leader?’
Instructor Nike must have been gradually consumed under the shadow of that cult.
Within the tragedy of darkness.
Such a monster was born.
“I have no choice either. The Cult Leader’s orders are absolute…….”
“Don’t spout bullshit. Cult Leader or whatever, no matter how much you try to rationalize it, you’re still just a murderous bastard.”
“…….”
At my words, Instructor Nike paused, then nodded.
“Very well. Let’s do this.”
He sheathed his sword.
“I once asked you, didn’t I? What is the most important thing in a dungeon?”
If Instructor Nike’s answer was trust.
Mine was……
“Survival.”
He pointed at the open gate.
“I’ll let you live. I’ll recommend you to the Cult Leader, Hunter Choi. Someone of your caliber would be a great help to Cheonyangji as well. So let’s leave this place together with Hunter Hase-na. We’ll treat this incident as an accident.”
Instructor Nike picked up the head of an orc rolling on the ground.
“The boss monster suddenly mutated and its level skyrocketed, wiping out the combat team. Only the three of us barely survived. How about it? Sounds plausible, doesn’t it?”
He smiled as he alternated his gaze between the orc’s head and me.
“Now, choose. You value making it back alive above all else, don’t you? Right?”
He was right.
Then and now.
What took priority for me wasn’t things like monetary gain or collecting spoils.
With a sense of duty as a hero.
I wanted to close gates that threatened humanity and return safely to my family’s arms.
Ironically.
The question Instructor Nike had asked during class aligned perfectly with the current situation.
Would I kill the many and beg pathetically for my life.
Or die honorably together with everyone.
My answer was.
“Fuck off.”
Instructor Nike’s expression hardened.
“Survival isn’t about me being the only one who lives.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s everyone surviving together.”
Instructor Nike slowly shook his head and drew his sword.
“No. That’s wrong. Because of your foolish choice, everyone will die.”
He tossed the orc’s head into the air.
Blue liquid spraying from its brain matter splattered over me.
Bright red blood mixed with the orc’s blue gore.
Before I knew it, my face was dyed purple.
As if the Purple Devil had put on a mask.
I slowly rose from where I stood.
My opponent was already charging at me, sword pointed straight at me.
I could no longer use Super Kid, nor Speeder’s abilities.
But.
That was only.
As far as the condition of ‘existing’ went.
What if I gained a new ability?
I couldn’t obtain a new skill right away.
Skills were acquired through endless training.
Or only after a lifetime of effort.
However.
I was already holding a trump card.
The third hero.
Mister Edenbright.
Also known as Mr. Eden.
The world’s strongest magician from the world of comics.
The king of black magic had appeared.
[[ Hero Skill Shop ]]
Mr. Eden Series.
<Alusia>
: ₩2,750,000 per second.
…….
Without even a moment to hesitate, I quickly clicked it.
Ding.
Alusia has been activated.
Like water filling parched land.
Mana surged up from deep within my dantian.
I closed my eyes.
With both hands, I drew different circles.
Two orange magic circles were completed.
Instructor Nike, who had been charging toward me, flinched.
“That sigil, could it be.”
The magic circles were sucked into Instructor Nike’s pupils.
In that instant, he gaped as if he had seen a ghost.
Then.
Instructor Nike hastily unleashed a quick-draw sword technique.
Chwaak.
His blade cleaved through the air.
There was no one there.
“D-Don’t come!”
Instructor Nike screamed and swung his sword once more.
Chwajwajwak!!!
Sharp sword energy (劍氣) swirled within the circle.
“Cult Leader, you’re in danger! Please, flee at once!”
Bang Su-hwan, Hase-na, even Lee Ji-jun.
Everyone stared at Instructor Nike from where they stood, as if he had gone insane.
Alusia was divided into two types.
<Hallucination>, which showed illusions.
<Brainwashing>, which forcibly compelled specific commands.
Only I could understand what was happening.
‘He’s under a hallucination!’
He was trapped by sorcery, fighting an enemy with no physical form.
“Aaaagh!!!”
Instructor Nike unleashed a ferocious barrage at a virtual enemy inside the circle.
The momentum was overwhelming.
The bombardment of blades formed a perfect sphere, heating up red-hot like lava.
If one were to get caught in there by mistake, they’d melt away without leaving a trace.
‘There’s no opening.’
I couldn’t wait forever.
[ Awakener’s Balance ]
: ₩959,094,655.
[ Awakener’s Balance ]
: ₩956,344,655.
[ Awakener’s Balance ]
: ₩953,594,655.
…….
Every second, the amount decreased by ₩2,750,000.
No matter how vast a sum one billion won was.
‘At this rate, it’ll be drained in no time.’
But I was helpless.
I couldn’t use any hero skill other than Alusia.
“Huff! Hah!”
Instructor Nike also seemed to be reaching his limit.
The speed of his sword noticeably slowed.
In that fleeting instant, I didn’t miss the opening.
“Lee Ji-jun! Barium!”
At my desperate shout, Lee Ji-jun reflexively sprang forward.
“What?”
“Hurry! Barium alloy!”
The exact name was barium titanate tin alloy.
It was a material a full ten times harder than diamond.
And durable enough to withstand extreme heat.
“Ah!”
Realizing my intent belatedly, Lee Ji-jun slit his own artery.
Blood spurted like a fountain from his widely opened wrist.
Furrowing his brow in pain, Lee Ji-jun exercised his talent and controlled his blood.
“How much do you need?”
“As much as possible! It needs to be over at least 3 meters!”
The amount of blood that could be safely drawn was roughly about 500 ml.
Once it exceeded 500 ml, life became endangered.
“Ghk.”
Lee Ji-jun, who had been drawing blood without pause, began to stagger.
“Hase-na!”
This time, even without an explanation, Hase-na moved.
So that blood could continue to gush endlessly.
She supported Lee Ji-jun by using her healer ability.
Finally.
A long, crimson spear made from Lee Ji-jun’s blood was completed.
The moment Lee Ji-jun collapsed, Hase-na grabbed the spear and threw it.
“Catch!”
I snatched it out of the air.
Instructor Nike was still locked in a deadly struggle with himself inside the circle.
‘Now.’
Gripping the spear tightly, I charged straight in.
The spear tip pierced into the blazing circle.
“How dare you toward the Cult Leader!!!”
Instructor Nike twisted his sword and blocked the spearhead with the broad flat of the blade.
Though his sanity had crumbled, the madness of his hollow faith remained.
“Ugh!”
I clenched my teeth and pushed the spear shaft forward, but my strength wasn’t enough.
“I will protect him. I will protect the Cult Leader no matter what! To do that! I’ll kill everyone. Every single one of you!!”
A chilling bloodshot glare filled Instructor Nike’s eyes.
‘No. I’m being pushed back.’
That was when.
Someone added strength from behind.
“Hyung-nim. You’d be disappointed if you left me out.”
The shield of our team with the massive build.
A reliable comrade.
Bang Su-hwan placed his thick palm against the end of the spear.
In that instant, Instructor Nike turned pale as if he had faced a wall.
“W-wait. If you all return to Cheonyangji, you can enjoy eternal life—.”
“Die.”
Nike’s sword shattered into pieces.
And the red spear pierced through the fanatic’s body.