NOVEL NEXT Chapter 143
In District 4 of Mystic Island, the vegetation in the Valley of Death is less than desirable.
A barren land where even a blade of grass struggles to grow.
In a place that’s credible enough to be called Pandemonium, the air began to split as dawn crept in,
And the sun started shining brightly through the pitch-black sky.
Ironically, that uneasy premonition often proves to be true.
As if to reinforce that statement,
The laughter of Markosias started to echo throughout the Valley of Death.
A rather grotesque, demonic, and repulsive sound that could make humans feel sick.
And then, Aria waddled over to where Yeriel and Edwin were.
“Aria…?”
“Aria! Are you okay?!”
Aria was alone.
In her hand was the rosary she had given to Lev,
And it trembled precariously as if about to break.
There were blood stains, seemingly from someone else, on Aria’s shoulder and hand.
“…Aria? Are you okay? Can you move…?”
Yeriel approached her to offer comfort,
But it had been a long time since she had seen any light in Aria’s eyes.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”
“Aria?! What’s wrong?”
For some reason, she was just repeating the same words like a doll.
A strange aura lingered around Aria.
The intense smell of the sacred and the violent churn of dark magic coexisted.
“I’m going crazy; I’m going crazy!”
Markosias’s laughter grew even louder as he watched this.
–Woooosh!
He began to heal himself, feeding off Aria’s screams and guilt.
‘Damn, the support fire’s over, huh?’
Now that the pest’s attacks had ceased, it was finally his turn.
‘Still, those who genuinely pissed off Jim can’t be killed lightly.’
He needed to think about how to break them to the point they couldn’t even beg for death.
…
“Um… What about Lev? Didn’t you bring Lev with you?”
Edwin spoke absentmindedly while looking at Aria in the silence.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I should be punished… I’m sorry…”
“Edwin, calming Aria should be our priority.”
“Ah, right.”
And just as Yeriel was about to drape her robe over Aria,
–Paat!
Aria roughly pushed Edwin and Yeriel away.
“Aria?”
“Cough! Hahaha! Can’t you just watch?”
“?!”
“Are you all collectively refusing reality? That gray-haired creature died long ago. And this girl has become my subordinate.”
It was true. Aria was still under Markosias’s control.
“Being so neatly obedient…! You’ve turned out more useful than I expected, huh? Once we return to Pandemonium, I’ll have Jim embrace you personally. Cough.”
“Shut up! Aria would never do something like that…!”
“Why not just ask her directly?”
“Wha…?”
At Edwin’s retort, Markosias sneered.
‘Who would’ve thought that this girl would play such a key role!’
Markosias couldn’t help but burst into laughter at this situation.
First off, Aria Bluebell. She was in a half-awakened state of a saint.
Probably because Psyche had not yet died, she hadn’t received all her powers.
And yet, what sparked that awakening was just one man.
Because one bug-like creature had died, her mindset had shifted.
What’s more interesting is that her powers don’t work against a saint.
However, for some reason, the powers that were cast on her hadn’t been lifted.
In other words, Markosias had gained control over the saint’s power.
Angels, demons, and the saints revered by humans as well.
“Cough, haha!”
Laughing as if he had gained the world, Markosias immediately commanded Aria.
–I’ll thoroughly tear apart your sacred power, so kill them all! Prove your worth!
It was a similar corruption to that of the Tarchangel.
However, because a saint’s body is human, her sacred power and dark magic would clash, causing her great strain.
Of course, given the circumstances, Markosias didn’t care about that.
Eventually, Aria’s body began to move against her will.
“Ugh…! Please, spare me… Ugh! I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
“…!”
“Hehe. This is the worst. You’re a priest who saves and heals creatures, yet here you are committing murder?”
“Ah… No, hey… I’m sorry… Ugh!”
“Maybe you have talent for that instead? You’ve entertained me enough; I’ll teach you one by one how to strip the bones from a human. Hahaha!”
–Thud! Thud!
As all this unfolded, Yeriel’s heart began to race.
–It’s so tranquil, isn’t it? Reminds me of my grandma’s house.
Their first meeting.
–Sorry, but I’m not planning to lose either.
His first duel.
–Yeriel, close your eyes.
Dungeon investigation practicals.
–Yeriel is… more imaginative than one would think.
Hwangdo.
–Don’t forget today’s promise.
The festival at Claris.
–What could our Dormitory Supervisor possibly like…
Again at Sellafi Hall.
–I might think of you the same way you think of me.
Lev’s room.
And just the day before.
–I like you, Yeriel.
He had always worried.
He often acted alone in dangerous situations to stop the demons at the Academy.
Yet he always came back in the end.
When she scolded him for worrying, he’d just brush it off with a smile, turning her questions around.
Instead, he’d pull all kinds of mischievous pranks.
‘Huh?’
Could she never do those things again…?
Yeriel’s mind went blank.
–Kikigig!
Something within her heart began to crack.
Edwin felt the same despair.
“No way…? Lev couldn’t have suddenly died. Haha. That guy is always…”
Was it too hard for him to accept? He forced a hollow laugh.
“I’m sorry, ugh… I… I must be punished… No, please…! I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”
“Aria…?”
They couldn’t allow any more collateral damage.
Aria, consumed by her senses, repeated that single phrase and pushed against Markosias with all her might.
‘Disgusting, how truly resilient…’
He thought she’d crumble and obediently submit, but her resistance was stronger than he anticipated.
Markosias unleashed more dark magic and commanded her once again.
“Kill! How much pain must you endure to listen to me? Your master is me. Next, kill those two!”
“Ah, let Aria go! Stop!”
“Everyone…! Stay…! Calm…!”
Edwin screamed, and the barely recovered Violet stepped forward to grab Aria.
And then…
“Lev…”
–Ching…!
Like a mirror shattering.
Something in Yeriel’s heart exploded into countless pieces.
Lev died?
“Yes, yes. Lev is dead.”
–Kuwaga…!
In an instant, the scattered dark magic around began to gather rapidly around Yeriel.
‘Hmm…?’
Markosias’s curiosity surfaced…
As Yeriel’s inner self,
And her outer appearance,
Began to shift from white to black, like playing Othello.
…
*
…
“You wait for me, and I’ll come back…”
–Ding!
[Achievement Clear!]
[Aria Bluebell’s Revenge]
[You can receive a reward!]
[Aria’s Awakening, ‘Game Over’ button activated]
Oh?… Huh?
–Ding!
[You have died.]
[Passive – Soul Well activated]
[You will resurrect from the saved location.]
[Last saved location – Markosias’s 5th Legion]
[Resurrecting: 64/100]
Just as I was trying to compose myself to speak to Aria, my body was being reassembled in Pandemonium.
It felt as if I’d stepped into a monster’s disguise; the whole world was bright red and alien here.
Surrounded by unidentified eggs entangled with blood vessels.
‘An incubation room, perhaps.’
Pandemonium.
The domain of Markosias, where the Soul Well resides.
It’s here that I resurrect.
–Ding.
[Agro: 99]
Timing was perfect; with [Demon’s Balance], my agro restored by one. If I remain hidden here, I could conceal my existence.
‘Let’s see how this concludes.’
All preparations are complete.
I calmly awaited the status window.
–Ding.
[Skill use conditions met]
[General Trait – Resurrection’s Prologue activated]
The reward for defeating [Pitbit Jae] and the status window for Resurrection’s Prologue popped up.
——————————————————
[Prologue of Resurrection] [Lv. None] (General Trait)
: Upon successful resurrection, steals one skill at random from the target that killed you. (One-time use)
‘The resurrected soul of [Pitbit Jae]… spreads its wings of fire for a better leap…’
-The Hero, Kroon
Acquisition Difficulty: Somewhat Difficult
——————————————————
–Ding.
[Randomly stealing one skill.]
‘Although it should be random as per the description…’
I raised my luck to 5.0, obtaining a hidden skill, the Dice of Destiny.
——————————————————
[Luck (Max)] – [Dice of Destiny]
Guarantees the caster will roll the desired number in situations that test fate.
: When a probability event occurs, the caster can choose the outcome (One-time use)
——————————————————
–Ding!
[You can activate the Dice of Destiny.]
[Will you activate it? (Yes/No)]
“Of course, yes.”
–Ding!
[As a fortunate one, you have the privilege to defy probability just once!]
[Random skill selection → Skill selection]
[Choose a skill to steal from the one who killed you: Aria Bluebell.]
The one who killed me is…
The heroine I adore, Aria Bluebell.
As I echoed that name in my mind, Aria’s skills began to appear one by one.
–Ding.
——————————————————
[Oath of Nobility]
[Divine One]
[Pure White Ring]
…
Continued effects,
[Minor Healing Revelation]
[Intermediate Healing Revelation]
[Advanced Healing Revelation]
…
Healing Magic,
[Enchant – Acceleration]
[Enchant – Origin]
[Enchant – Sacred]
…
Enchant Magic.
[Observation (Level 1)]
[Observation (Level 2)]
[Observation (Level 3)]
[Observation (Level 4)]
…
——————————————————
All the magic she had used to monitor me.
Among countless skills, there’s only one I need to steal.
The very last one occupying the spot…
——————————————————
…
[Markosias’s Power – Curse of Obedience] (Obedience State)
——————————————————
‘This is it.’