NOVEL NEXT Chapter 128
In the violet sky, the starlight twinkles.
Twinkle twinkle!
The starlight shatters in the flowing stream.
Yeriel’s meat soup fills our bellies as we welcome the first night of the selection exam.
Plip plop!
I’ve taken my turn as the lookout, alternating my gaze at the bonfire.
My time has long passed, but…
It didn’t matter.
I wasn’t sleepy, and I had an important task ahead.
‘I knew it would be like this.’
The destruction of Andras was Aria Bluebell’s wish.
And unfortunately, I had no way to prove that I killed Andras.
Saying my gamer trait allowed me to defeat Andras is as hard to believe as saying,
‘Hey, I’m actually a psychic. Just trust me!’
From her perspective, it’s only natural that she can’t fully trust me now.
Moreover, for Aria, her memories of the past are a sort of trauma, so she thinks I might be messing around.
Yet, I also wasn’t surprised by this situation.
After all, the misunderstanding would be cleared up soon enough.
‘If it’s Aria…’
I might have hurt her deeply, but to face Markosias, I needed to reveal some truths.
Just then, Edwin emerged quietly from the tent and sat next to me.
“Lev… wasn’t it my turn? Why didn’t you wake me…”
“Shh.”
“Oh, sorry.”
I gave him a light shove on his shoulder and said,
“I need to go to the bathroom, um, like right now.”
“Uh, okay. It’s my turn anyway.”
Whoosh!
I activated [Wind Magic – Short Distancing] and dashed to the outskirts of the island.
The magic lantern I brought from Hwangdo flickers.
Fwoosh!!!
A sea breeze blows in from the heavily fogged sea.
Everything crossing my body feels refreshingly cool.
The [Wind Magic – Short Distancing], acquired in response to Bunea’s dimensional movement abilities, provided agility beyond my imagination.
Using this speed, I climbed up to a high cliff, lay flat on the ground, and aimed at the Gray Ashen Bolt.
‘This should do it.’
Feels just like a sniper in a movie!
Ding!
[Activation: Sniper (Trait)]
[Aggro: 0]
But, it was truly just as it sounded.
With the sniper trait, I could benefit from a clairvoyance effect.
I could easily secure a field of view all the way to the reed fields in District 2 through the darkness and fog of Mystic Island.
‘There it is.’
In the dark, a single bonfire flickers, and a blonde girl, Aveline, yawns while switching watch with Caeran.
Caeran pretends to sit near the bonfire, then stands up as Aveline disappears from view.
‘I can’t resist that illusionary shot.’
I want to shoot that red target!
But, today is not the day. It’s best to wait until he becomes a Demon.
‘What luck.’
That annoying brat wouldn’t sleep while keeping watch for Melissa and Aveline.
Lily-chan, if Caeran sees the map you drew… ugh…
Hic… I’m sorry… Lily, I was so tired from staying awake like Caeran said that I couldn’t even go to the bathroom…
In fanfics, even Lily, who sleeps a lot, was forced to pull an all-nighter and cause trouble.
He glances around before stepping deep into the reeds.
Probably preparing to communicate with Markosias.
Going over the events of this episode, Caeran enjoys a tremendous advantage with the support of Yellody, Crow Pay, and Haisman during the selection exam.
Here, on the dawn of the second day—right about now—he would receive instructions from Markosias.
The order is to manipulate the dimensional gate to connect Districts 2 and 4, allowing expedited entry into the Valley of Death, and prove loyalty by reactivating the ruined magic tower in this area.
‘…I hope I can confirm this.’
At that moment, something new started to appear holographically from the magical item Caeran held.
Ding!
With the alert sound of a status notification, my prediction was confirmed.
——————————————————
[Rank 35 – Markosias]
[SS Rank Great Demon]
[Great Demon, Boss]
[Danger Level: ?????]
[Features: 35th Rank Great Demon, spews flames from his mouth, primary ability is petrification]
[Encountering the Boss! You can observe the pattern beforehand!]
[Details view available]
——————————————————
[※Alert: Party play is recommended for combat with current stats]
“Alright.”
Once again, I quickly chose to view the details, ignoring the alert.
Ding!
——————————————————
[Rank 35 – Markosias]
[Skills Held]
[Great Demon – Physical (Passive)]: Increases health, agility, and strength dramatically. Stat limits can exceed 50%.
[Great Demon’s Majesty (Passive)]: Can additionally acquire three unique traits.
[Absolute Majesty (Passive)]: Markosias is not subjected to effect skills (curses, magic) that inflict damage.
[Well of Souls – Great Demon (Passive)]: If inflicted with lethal damage, resurrects from a predetermined location in hell. Effect activates even if killed by execution or annihilation attributes, albeit with reduced health. (1-time use available)
(Currently designated location: Markosias’s 5th Legion)
[Magical Field (Active)]: Transforms all living beings within his radius into a groggy state with black magic of the Great Demon.
(Subject to resist if level 7 or higher in stamina or curse resistance, or if possessing holy traits at level 7 or higher)
[Area Designation – Exhale (Active)]: Releases unquenchable black flames to attack.
Victims accumulate 1 stack of fire and activate the skill Area Designation – Solidify upon four accumulations.
[Area Designation – Solidify (Active)]: Petrifies all enemies with four or more fire stacks. (Curse level 8)
[Area Designation – Explosion (Active)]: Explodes petrified targets when their fire stacks exceed four.
[Markosias’s Power – Curse of Obedience (Active) (Ultimate Skill)]: Designate a target to impose obedience. (Cannot be cancelled)
This skill can only be used near Pandemonium, Hell, Abyss, or the Black Magic Tower.
The designated target will obey the caster’s words. (Available once every 30 days)
[Markosias’s Power – Transformation (Active) (Ultimate Skill)]: Can change form using the power of a demon.
In human form: Capable of using fire magic, incantation, contract, and ending magic, greatly increases magic power, mana, mental strength, and sensitivity.
In angelic form: The power of skills reduces but receives additional holy traits. (This state shares health with the human state)
In beast form: Significantly increases agility, strength, and health. Reduces conditions for stacking fire.
(Markosias does not share health between the two forms (human, beast))
[Special State]
[Rage]: In beast form, becomes enraged when HP drops below 30%.
[Weakened]: [Markosias] is immune. But being a monster-type Great Demon, he is weak in small group fights.
——————————————————
‘Here we go again.’
With a set of terrifying skills fitting for the Great Demon of the original character.
Interestingly, Caeran will later cause an unexpected incident against this monster.
Indeed, he will attempt to use his trait, ‘Copy’, on Markosias,
To steal the Great Demon’s power trait.
The Curse of Obedience.
The root cause of the elf Dalian’s mistrust of humans, who easily fell to corruption.
But a Great Demon wouldn’t let it happen easily, right?
With Markosias’s unique passive [Absolute Majesty].
Markosias is not subjected to effect skills (curses, magic).
That sneaky effect easily disregards Caeran’s Copy.
Simple attack skills might deal damage to him, but curse type skills targeting him will absolutely not work against Markosias, regardless of mastery level—a detestable skill.
‘I can’t even take it away through the Prelude of Resurrection I possess.’
Based on Caeran’s precedent, I would be the same.
I cannot directly steal his skills.
Nonetheless, Markosias, appreciating Caeran’s audacity in attempting foolish tricks, does not kill him, finding him amusing.
‘As long as that skill exists… someone will surely get harmed.’
Even if I could somehow counter other skills and gimmicks, when it comes to the obedience skill, it’s a guaranteed trigger.
Someone has to become his servant.
‘……’
To ensure no one else gets hurt, I must…
‘I have to steal that skill.’
Just when I was resolute in my decision.
Ding!
[The surveillance level of ‘Aria Bluebell’ on ‘Lev Denec’ has risen to 5.]
“…!”
It had been ages.
Since choosing to trust me, Aria hadn’t used surveillance magic on me even once.
But why?
This status display indicating she’s watching me feels extraordinarily contradictory…
It oddly feels like…
She’s willing to trust me once more.