NOVEL NEXT Chapter 145
Splash!
Marcocias. That guy’s solid body was sucked into the hatching pool.
Ding!
[Achievement Unlocked]
[Defeated 35th Rank Demon: Marcocias]
[Remaining Great Demons: 54]
[You can now claim your reward!]
[The spirit of the minions trapped by Marcocias has been freed!]
[Successfully defeated a Great Demon, Wind Archery: Wind Instant Kill has been enhanced!]
[Total number of Great Demons defeated with Wind Archery: 2]
[Unique Trait: Soul Collector activated! You have collected Marcocias’s soul.]
Ding!
[A new achievement has been unlocked!]
[You have become irreversibly hostile to Pandemonium!]
Ding!
[Alert: You are currently in a hostile area. The chance of being detected has increased significantly!]
[Number of enemy entities around: ???]
There’s no time to stare blankly at the status window.
“Let the real game begin.”
Blood Crumble!
Was it the essence of the Pitbit Jae and the rampaging Magic Tower that had an effect…
“Ah… so today’s the day for human girls, huh…”
Analyzing Marcocias’s mutterings, it seemed something had indeed happened to Yeriel.
‘There’s never been a case of bypassing stages to instantly turn into a Tarchangel during a bad ending. I’m worried…’
For now, if I assume I’ve safely navigated Chapter 4, I must return to the Academy to say the unspoken words to Aria and Yeriel.
The problem is, I’m currently in Pandemonium, and that, where Marcocias’s 5th legion is located.
And I have to escape from here on my own.
For starters, I don’t have a skill set strong in multiple combats, and the truth is, even the legendary hero Kroon couldn’t escape this place.
There’s a reason why the [Reincarnated Hero] title carries some weight.
‘Stay calm.’
[Aggro: 100]
Since the aggro meter is maxed out, by now, even the high-ranked demons must have sensed my presence.
First, I checked the soul reward obtained through Bunea’s trait, [Soul Collector].
“Surely, it should be there this time too?”
——————————————————
[Marcocias’s Soul]
[Rarity: SS+]
[The crystallized soul of the Great Demon Marcocias. Upon release, you will partially inherit Marcocias’s abilities.]
[Usable]
——————————————————
“Just as I thought.”
Just like when I defeated Nicolseta and the Three-headed Dog, it was automatically converted into stats.
However, after taking down a Great Demon, it appeared as an item, just like during the water dragon Poseidros.
Whoosh!
I immediately activated Demonization and released the soul.
With a sound like breaking glass,
Ding!
[Your status – Demon. You have the right to inherit Marcocias’s will.]
[You will inherit Marcocias’s skills!]
[Trait – Gamer activated! You can save skills.]
Just like with Andras, the inheritance status window began to pop up.
“Done.”
This way, with the power of the Gamer trait, I will be deemed equivalent to Andras, Bunea, and Marcocias.
“I need to find the strongest one, a demon at the Great Demon level.”
Since this is the 5th legion, Marcocias’s home ground, there might not be any other Great Demons besides him.
‘But there’s that girl.’
The one closely linked to the Mystic Island incident, the demon who hasn’t shown her face.
The mastermind behind Caeran. The offspring of the Author’s OC.
The woman who will bare her fangs and compete against Saint Psyche in Chapter 5.
With numerous titles…
‘Yellody Latashia.’
Finally, it’s time to utilize this character.
It was then.
Whoosh…!
Boom!
!!!
Isn’t there a saying that when you talk about a tiger, it comes?
The hatching chamber trembled, and from the entrance, a fierce aura could be felt.
‘She couldn’t resist coming…’
Yellody Latashia started walking straight toward me.
“Yellody, come here.”
“Huh?”
At my speedy greeting, she wore a disgusting expression and said,
“You’ve quite recklessly stirred things up, haven’t you??”
The entire hatching chamber began to resonate with her magical pressure.
Ding!
——————————————————
[Yellody Latashia]
[Average Status]
: 9.9
[Specialization]
Circle Magic (8), Dark Magic (8)
[Unique Traits]
Barrier (Detailed information unavailable)
Immunity (Detailed information unavailable)
Turbulence (Detailed information unavailable)
Overwhelm (Detailed information unavailable)
Molting (Detailed information unavailable)
Inertia (Detailed information unavailable)
Superb (Detailed information unavailable)
Mental Strength (Detailed information unavailable)
Natural Recovery (Detailed information unavailable)
Absolute Zone (Detailed information unavailable)
??? (Detailed information unavailable)
??? (Detailed information unavailable)
——————————————————
‘How tiring. So tiring.’
Just looking at the average status alone reveals max potential.
As expected, being the author’s OC, she possesses stats fit for a secret villain aiming to be the Demon King.
Absolutely impossible to win at this state right now.
So…
“It’s the perfect time to bust in.”
.
.
.
*
.
.
.
.
“I love you, Yeriel.”
“Let’s date, Yeriel.”
“I love you, Yeriel.”
“Let’s date, Yeriel.”
.
.
.
Whoooosh…
Morning arrived even in the Valley of Death,
And the ominous clouds that had covered the sky dispersed, vanishing from sight.
As the situation finally concluded, Yeriel opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was a white cloth.
She lay inside a tent.
“Huh…?”
At Lev’s request, they all entered District 4 and battled against the Great Demon that had emerged from Aveline’s body…
What happened next?
“…Yeriel, you’re awake.”
Next to her was Edwin.
“Yeriel, your mind has returned…?”
“Is that… okay…? Surely she’s a Tarchangel…”
“Shh! Melissa! This isn’t the time for that!”
Aveline and Melissa whispered outside the tent.
And Violet asked her.
“…Are you alright?”
“Yes… just a little tired.”
Yeriel was able to comprehend the situation somewhat.
She had gone rampaging again.
“I’m sorry… I lost my memory again this time…”
When her thoughts got deeper about Lev, she would lose consciousness like this.
Edwin bowed his head a little and said.
“Yeriel, you saved us. …Thank you.”
“…I did…?”
“Yes.”
“That’s what he said. After Marcocias was defeated… the barrier was lifted, and we were able to call for rescue. If we wait here… the guardians will be coming soon.”
“Yes… but what about Lev and Aria…?”
……..
“I’ll go get something to drink, so Edwin, please explain.”
“…Yes.”
As Violet stood up, Edwin hesitated and struggled to speak.
“Edwin?”
“Yeriel, your body isn’t quite right, so please calm down and listen…”
“Okay… I understand…”
“Well, first of all, Aria is okay.”
“Thank goodness, thank goodness…! I was worried thinking Marcocias had consumed her…”
“…”
“But what about Aria? What do you mean…?”
Edwin was completely bowing his head, rubbing his head and face with both hands.
“That is…”
“Don’t beat around the bush…! What happened to Lev…?!”
As Yeriel tried to stand up, Edwin hurriedly stopped her.
“…Lev is… dead.”
“……”
Thud. Thud.
The silence dragged on for quite a while.
For Yeriel, understanding those six words wasn’t difficult, but she wasn’t ready to accept it.
Above all, Edwin wasn’t the type to joke or mess around.
“Um, Edwin… why… did Lev… die…?”
Yeriel’s expression became increasingly unreadable.
But always positive, she forcibly calmed her thoughts.
“Lev always… always came back for us, right? Ah, he must be hurt…? It’s a bit tough even with Aria’s healing…”
“…”
Edwin, whose heart felt heavy, was only trying to move his lips.
What he had to say next was as shocking as this sad news.
“Lev…”
“I can’t just sit here. Take me to Lev… I need to be by his side to feel at ease. Okay?”
“Yeriel. It’s hard for me to believe too… Lev was….”
– Aria killed him herself.
– It seems it was because of Marcocias’s orders.
‘This is… not possible…’
No. How could I say such shocking things to someone who just regained consciousness?
Now is the time to offer comforting words.
“No… that, Lev surely… for our sake…”
As Edwin struggled to gather his words, Yeriel was already standing up.
“Yeriel?!”
From her trembling lips, and throughout her body…
The name Lev Denec echoed.
“Yeriel! You really should rest a little longer…!”
Without hesitating, Yeriel stepped out of the tent.
And…
!
Violet was waiting at the entrance with water and snacks.
“Yeriel…”
Waiting for the two’s conversation to finish.
“Senior… it’s not true, right…?”
“…”
As Violet averted her gaze, Yeriel’s heart began to pound again.
Next is Aria.
Yeah, Aria must know. After all, she is a healer… she knows Lev’s condition too…
.
.
.
.
“Aria…?”
It was easy for Yeriel to find Aria.
She was… looking down from a slightly elevated cliff.
A dark abyss below.
It was a dreadful sight.
“…Aria! It’s dangerous! Come this way…!”
“…”
“Is Lev… really hurt a lot…? Is there something I can do to help…?”
Aria quietly turned around and faced Yeriel.
!
She was barefoot, taking unsteady steps toward Yeriel.
Rough and small stones were ruthlessly drawing blood from Aria’s delicate feet.
However, Aria’s face was empty.
Not a sound escaped her lips.
With her hands clasped together, she bowed 90 degrees, apologizing to Yeriel.
“…I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”
“…?”
Everyone seems to avoid talking about Lev.
But seeing their collective behavior, they kept hinting at the worst conclusion that Yeriel feared,
‘W-why is everyone doing this…?’
It felt as if they were trying to confirm her worst fears.
“Why… why is Aria apologizing to me…?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Yeriel stretched out her arms and propped up Aria’s upper body.
Still empty and drained.
As if just a shallow breeze could extinguish her, she was precariously fragile.
Thus, it became clear that something must have happened last night…
It had to be acknowledged.
“I-I’m fine, so… tell me. What about Lev…?”
“…”
“Le… Lev is…?!”
“…I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
“That’s not it, right? It’s not what I’m thinking…?”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”
“I-I haven’t even met Lev yet…?! Aria…? Please tell me… just once…!”
Despite Yeriel’s desperate cries, Aria merely repeated her apologies.
For a long while, the questions between the two continued.
Yeriel clutched the hem of Aria’s garment and slid down, sitting.
“I just… want to hear that I can meet Lev…”
Soon, tears that had been welling up started overflowing…
And…
The sound of sorrowful sobs echoed…
In this place, the Valley of Death.