NOVEL NEXT chapter 117
117. Second Gate (3)
Vellen sprinted at full speed, cutting through the undead.
His destination was the Adel Hall dining area.
A thick miasma of magic, darker than that of the undead, wafted from that direction.
‘Too intense to be human… Even if it is a dark sorcerer.’
The amount of magic surpassed any reasonable measure.
It was almost certain that this was the mastermind behind the current turmoil.
Yet, the tremors from the ground forced him to halt his steps.
As he turned his head slightly, Bellen flinched at the sight.
“What… what is that?”
A reptilian skeleton, towering as high as a five-story building.
It spread its gaunt, bony wings and lifted its head.
From the shadowy sockets of its skull, a brilliant blue glow flickered.
The magic it possessed overflowed like the molten lava of a volcano, enough to drown out even the lingering traces of the magic he had been tracking.
“Damn it, if we leave something like that unchecked, the stronghold will crumble to dust.”
Bellen leaped over the shattered window and threw himself to the ground below.
The five-story drop left his knees aching and his joints screaming in agony, but he had to endure.
“Ugh. What a torment in my old age…”
He slashed through the undead, cutting them down as he advanced.
First, he needed to draw the creature’s gaze this way.
With all his aura concentrated in a rush, he closed the distance in an instant.
Arriving before the bone dragon, Bellen felt a sense of awe as he beheld its majesty up close.
‘I’ve seen countless monsters of this size, but this one… the atmosphere is entirely different.’
His instincts screamed at him to flee, yet this was a familiar sensation for Bellen.
Monsters deep within the magic realm were all like this.
The key was to quickly identify its weaknesses and diminish the fear.
He had to envision the moment of its defeat to keep his resolve intact.
Bellen scrutinized the bone dragon, which paid him no mind.
A throbbing black heart nestled within its ribcage.
Being undead, that had to be its weakness.
‘Hmm, if I can burrow into that chest and carve out the heart…’
It seemed all too simple.
And that only heightened his wariness.
Revealing one’s weaknesses so carelessly meant there was some form of defense in place.
‘First, I must ascertain what that is.’
Bellen sprang from his spot, landing atop the Bondragon’s knee.
In that instant, a faint tremor resonated beneath him.
Desperately, Bellen stomped down on the thigh bone and charged toward the creature’s torso.
Shushushuk!
From every spot he passed, spikes erupted from the bones like spears.
‘Was its defense the bones themselves!’
Long, sharp spikes flew toward Bellen from all directions.
As expected, the creature had no intention of easily sending its heart skyward.
Scrape!
Bellen deftly sliced through only what was unavoidable, twisting his path to evade the rest.
He even used the spikes as a springboard to leap higher.
Thud!
The path to the heart was densely obstructed, forcing Bellen to place his foot upon the creature’s spine.
But then, the creature’s heart began to blaze.
Bellen felt the heat, scorching even the air around him, and his eyes widened in shock.
“Wha—?”
Perhaps it was due to his experience.
Before he could fully grasp that this was a warning signal, all his aura had already converged solely on the aspect of invulnerability.
Fwoosh!
From the creature’s heart, blue flames surged outward.
A tempest of fire swept over him.
Bellen was struck by the heavy heat, blood spilling from his mouth as he was flung away.
“Ugh…”
By the time he touched the ground, he could barely maintain his balance, rolling across the training yard like a pencil.
Everywhere he passed, crimson stains painted the pristine white snow.
Bellen struggled to gather himself, kneeling on one knee, fighting to rise from the ground.
Then he looked up at the Bondragon.
The creature was also gazing down at him.
The gaze seemed to suggest that Belen was no longer a mere insect, but rather a being worthy of consideration.
‘…Has it finally recognized me as an enemy?’
Surviving such a flame, it must be so.
Belen steadied himself, gripping his sword once more.
But then, a voice echoed, cavernous and deep.
– For a human, you are quite amusing.
There was a tone of elegance in its words.
Belen swallowed hard.
“Can you speak, then?”
– I do not converse with the uncivilized. So rejoice. You have made a strong impression on me, one that transcends your kind.
With its chin raised, the creature’s gaze, devoid of any warmth, was nothing short of arrogant.
Belen felt a surge of anger, yet with his current body, victory seemed a distant dream.
‘Damn it, I just used up my aura on that last attack…’
Only a fraction of his aura remained, and his body ached as if it were being crushed.
He was forced to charge toward the ribs once more from the very beginning.
Belen resolved to stake his life on the next opportunity.
‘There is only one chance.’
He wrapped his legs in a surge of aura and took a deep breath.
The key was to enter with all his might and pierce its heart.
Yet the Bone Dragon scoffed, as if to say it would not allow even that.
– Heh heh heh. Do you intend to stir within me again? Then, what will you do in this case?
Before the words had fully left its mouth, spikes erupted from the joints of the Bone Dragon.
The spikes shot out without a single gap, beginning to fill the spaces between the bones, ultimately forming a complete suit of armor.
Belen’s expression darkened.
“Ah…”
With this, the path to its heart was completely blocked.
And breaking through the bone-filled white armor was impossible.
To subdue it, he would need to bring a knightly order, and even then, the odds would be slim.
‘…If only Aol were here. Just him would make a difference.’
As if sensing his loss of resolve, the Bone Dragon opened its mouth.
– If you have no intention of fighting any longer, then make this easy for me.
The creature held a blue flame at the corner of its mouth.
It was surely preparing a breath that would sweep away everything in front.
Belen, unable to evade or block it, looked up at the creature in despair.
But then.
From afar came a sound, like the rough plucking of strings from an instrument.
Kki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki—
Turning his head, he saw a glinting golden head.
Hershel had taken a stance, eyes fixed on the Bondragon.
Ping!
As he drew his blade, a sharp aura burst forth from the scabbard, enough to prick the skin.
It shot out in the shape of a black crescent moon, striking the Bondragon’s chest with a swift, slicing motion, and then soared into the sky.
Thud!
The upper half of the Bondragon slid down, cleaved cleanly.
Belen stared blankly at the creature’s lower half.
A heart, severed with precision.
From it, black blood gushed forth in torrents.
‘That, that madman…’
It was the moment Belen’s mouth fell agape.
* * *
The tattoo on his wrist vanished like smoke.
『Mystic Blade of the Forest』
It delivers a strike that can cut through any metal.
Using it plunges the wielder into a state of near-death.
It takes ten years to regain one’s strength.
Fortunately, he had not fallen into that state.
[Threat detected. Type: Curse of the Price]
[1-second invincibility activated.]
[1-second invincibility cooldown: 57 seconds]
Yet, why did he feel like crying?
Perhaps it was because I had squandered one of the few finishing moves of Asares in just the first act.
There must have been opportunities to use it at the crucial moment, yet I wasted it on some lowly creature that wasn’t even a boss.
…What a waste.
Even leaving it unused would have been a cheat-level option.
Of course, that was limited to low-tier monsters, but still, what a boon it would have been.
Thanks to it, I had a free pass ticket that would allow me to breeze through to the captain’s battle, as if performing Moses’ miracle.
‘…What a truly mysterious power that cat possessed.’
‘Indeed. But now I can’t see it. It’s gone.’
It would surely reappear years later, once it regained its strength, but by then, the scenario would have already concluded.
If I wished to reunite, I would have to survive the world’s destruction first.
By the way, what about that grandmother over there, with her vacant expression?
She looked as if she might die, so I had no choice but to reveal myself, but the situation wasn’t favorable for me.
“Hey, you. Have you already reached that level?”
This was precisely why.
“You must be mistaken. In truth, there was a hidden master at the academy, and I was merely testing the new sword I had just acquired.”
“What nonsense are you spouting…”
Damn, if he doesn’t believe me, it seems he’s still not drunk enough.
I felt that Bellen would persistently pry, so I attempted to change the subject in one swift motion.
“By the way, is it alright for you to be here, Auntie? You must have been asked by the professors.”
“Well, that’s true, but answer me clearly. Since when was it that you…”
“Ugh… my head.”
I cradled my head with my right hand, grimacing.
Of course, it wasn’t that I had a headache or anything.
I just wanted to block out the bothersome words.
“I’m feeling quite dizzy right now. That last move was a technique that drains all vitality…”
As I subtly glanced at Bellen, she let out a sigh, as if resigned.
“Alright, let’s talk about that later. For now, I’ll go back to my work.”
Bellen’s task was to eliminate the ‘Obsession of Pheldira.’
There was a variable in the form of Bondragon that had emerged in the middle, but it was best to ensure her end was achieved.
After all, who knew what might happen if she continued to linger around alive?
I watched the retreating figure of Bellen, my heart fervently wishing.
Though delayed by a slight twist of fate, I hoped for his success…
“Then shall I begin to move as well?”
I walked once more toward the entrance of the stronghold.
Thanks to Bellen’s merciless slaughter of the undead, the path was clear.
With a newfound ease, I glanced up at the terrace.
Luon al Banas.
He leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed upon me.
It was nearly time for the curtain to fall.
To witness that, I had to ascend to the twelfth floor.
I needed to ensure the narrative flowed well, and fulfill the request made by Peldira.
– It’s a simple request. I just want you to meet Luon once. That’s my personal wish.
In any case, I was gaining a reward on a path I had to take.
– Of course, I’m not just asking for a favor. If you do, I’ll tell you where the staff I used when I was alive is hidden.
Yet, my steps felt uneasy.
Perhaps it was the sense of alienation I had felt since earlier.
The source of the discomfort during my conversation with Peldira might not have been merely the meeting in a place that should not exist.
Even after acquiring the grimoire of the crimson jewel, I had aided Luon.
This very aspect gnawed at me.
I felt a creeping anxiety that there might be something I did not know…
This could ultimately lead to new variables emerging.
* * *
In an instant, the bondragon was reduced to dust, carried away by the wind.
Luon pulled out a cigarette.
Then a chuckle escaped his lips.
In truth, everything felt dull.
I had pondered various scenarios for the game’s setting, but ultimately found it all lacking and left it to Peldira.
I couldn’t quite grasp why it was different from my expectations.
I had seized the Frost Heart and eliminated the professors I had always dismissed as worthless.
The trio smiled brightly, as if enjoying themselves, fulfilling their responsibilities as the council.
—
Yet, only emptiness lingered.
But, for this moment, there was joy.
I felt once more what pleasure truly was.
Then, suddenly, I realized I had felt this way not long ago.
Surely, it had been the same on the frozen lake where I trained.
‘It was fun fighting with Akandric, after all.’
What, then, is the difference between this and that?
If it was a fight, I had sparred with the professors too, yet why did I feel only the parched desolation of a drought-stricken land back then?
Well, now it seems a pointless question.
Luo stepped away from the terrace and grasped the sword that lay upon the table.
The end of the game was nigh.
“If even this lacks excitement, then at that time…”