33 – The Subjugation of the Demon King (6)
“Are you in your right mind?”
Yuris asked sharply when I spoke to her.
I shrugged my shoulders in response.
“Do we really need to pray within that cramped insect’s belly? It may not be pure, but it’s still better to pray on solid ground.”
“Do you think it’s as easy as you say?”
She replied excitedly.
“If it were that easy, we would have done it a long time ago… No, you can’t. If you pray here, that guy won’t just stand by. You’d be crushed and killed in a matter of seconds.”
“But dying inside or outside of it is pretty much the same, isn’t it?”
“··· At the very least, if you go inside, your comrades will have time to escape. If it’s possible, you might even survive inside for a while.”
“Why make it so difficult?”
I drew my Holy Sword.
“If someone watches over me, everything will be okay.”
She blushed and shouted.
“That’s exactly why it won’t work!!”
“Whether it works or not, we won’t know until we try.”
“You’re unbelievable…”
Yuris showed a hint of frustration as she tried to persuade me, saying it’s impossible and encouraging me to run away quietly. For a moment, I wondered if I was really that stubborn.
Well, it wouldn’t be easy to believe anyone other than me. I understand that.
But I have already made up my mind to endure.
Therefore, I decided to simply ignore her words.
I don’t need to listen to the words of someone weaker than me.
“Stop talking and start praying. He’s coming.”
“Huff… really…”
In the end, I won the argument.
Now there was really no time for arguments.
The guy resurrected from the summoning circle is slowly regaining consciousness. He has finally realized our presence. The fact that the king has indirectly controlled his mind from above his head will be one of the reasons.
Saaah!!
The fish monster that discovered us let out a berserk roar.
I asked Yuris one last question.
“How long does it take to gather enough sacred power to capture him?”
Yuris had attack skills that she could use not only as buffs but also as a last resort.
If she used the highest level skill, it wouldn’t be impossible to capture him.
Thinking about that, she said with a worried expression on her face.
“Since it’s nighttime and he’s quite big, it’ll take about 40 minutes.”
“If we concentrate our sacred power on the weak spot where Balkan is attached, what about that?”
“Even then, it’ll take about 40 minutes…”
…40 minutes.
After the encounter with the king, it took only 20 minutes to summon the fish monster.
But now, I have to endure twice that time on my own.
But it’s okay.
I didn’t just rush in without believing in myself. I have a few last resort moves that can be called life-saving techniques, so to speak.
When you reach a crossroads, humans must make a choice. What to give up and what to gain in return.
What I will gain is victory.
“I dedicate my remaining 20 years of life to strengthen my endurance and physical strength.”
“…”
I didn’t need any other stats. Because the only stat I needed right now was this.
Shoosh!!
As soon as I offered the sacrifice, a strange sensation took over my whole body.
“······!”
It felt as if a part of my soul was being ripped out all at once. A violent emptiness that couldn’t be filled by anything was felt in that instant.
At the same time, my body began to strengthen.
Thump, thump···!
All of my growth potential from the past 20 years concentrated in that moment!
An energy surged through my body, making me feel like I could do anything.
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‘Here it comes.’
At the same time, the creature started rushing towards me. Its greedy mouth opened wide as it closed in with incredible speed.
I took a defensive stance in front of the holy sword.
Clang!
When we collided, it sounded like the clash of steel resounding and spreading.
Even though I clearly blocked it with all my strength, I was pushed back a couple of steps.
No matter how much I strengthened my body, the overwhelming difference in mass was unavoidable.
Squelch! Squish!
“Ugh···!”
My body also screamed in agony.
Despite reinforcing my durability, sounds that shouldn’t be heard from my body echoed out. The sound of bones being dislocated and muscles tearing.
If I hadn’t reinforced my durability, I would have been completely finished in an instant.
Real-time injuries were accumulating on my body, but thanks to the cheating skill ‘Regeneration,’ I felt like I could continue enduring.
While I continued to hold my ground, the fused Balkan yelled out.
“It’s useless no matter what you do! Your magic power isn’t infinite either. Your endlessly regenerating body will explode someday!”
He sounded quite excited, probably because he had lost a lot.
Indeed, he was right that regeneration is not infinite. When my magic power runs out, my body will surely fall apart.
But I wasn’t worried.
“Because I have this skill.”
[‘Blood Absorption’ is cast!]
I placed my hand on the lump of the Abyssal Scavenger’s body and used the skill.
All things in the world contain a certain amount of mana.
And that mana was no different from the blood that flows within our bodies.
No, rather because it is a part of life.
The density of mana contained in the blood is very thick.
If that is the case, it should be possible to manipulate that mana.
That was the essence of Blood Magic.
The study of manipulating blood and the mana within it.
As long as the opponent’s body is flowing with blood, I can always gain an advantage from it.
[Congratulations!]
[Your level of ‘Blood Absorption’ has increased!]
Slurp!
With each absorption, my magical power gradually increases. Although the creature’s size is so monstrously large that it exhausts me, at least I can replenish my magical power.
However, during that time…
[WARNING!]
[You have been poisoned!]
*Gulp*
Suddenly, when I coughed, blood poured out of my mouth. My head became increasingly dizzy, and my breathing became more and more rapid. The excruciating pain, as if countless types of poison were coursing through my body, constantly tormented me.
Upon seeing that, the King spoke.
“Ha! Foolish boy! Did you really think absorbing blood would solve everything?! Already, this creature and I have become one. Since my blood and its blood have mixed, its blood is no different from deadly poison!”
Thanks for the explanation, you f*cking prick.
“Hero!”
The Saint behind me shouted with concern.
It seems she has been watching this whole spectacle while praying.
I said a word for her sake.
“I’m, fine…”
I cannot receive purification. She is busy praying for another skill. I cannot simply send away the holy power that I desperately gathered through purification.
But it’s okay. ‘Poison Resistance’ is still in effect.
No matter how deadly it is, I believed that someday I would be able to neutralize it.
I constantly suck in blood. Each time, the creature’s poison accumulates in my body, but I endure it by force.
Even if blood seeps out from the seven orifices, I will never stop using my skills.
Pain gradually builds up in my body.
Instinct in my mind constantly sounded the alarm. However, I saw this as an opportunity instead.
If I have accumulated pain to this extent, it is clear that my power will also be beyond measure.
“It seems like I will use it for the first time today…”
I used a skill while my hand was on his body.
[Activating ‘Painful Memory’!]
[Returning a portion of the accumulated pain to the opponent!]
Magic is the manifestation of the mind.
It is the act of materializing the images in my mind into reality using magic power.
The effectiveness of magic depends on what form is imagined in the mind and how vividly it is depicted.
In that case, can’t we also materialize one of the human’s mental images, pain?
No, on the contrary, if it is only materialized, it will be very powerful precisely because it lacks such intense mental imagery.
The study of that is called the art of pain perception.
If there is pain, it can also be used as magic.
Thud─!
Instantly, a heavy thumping sound echoed.
The body of the guy who seemed like he would never be pushed back was pushed back for a moment. The spot where the magic was used had the appearance of the skin being deeply sunken as if it was hit by a giant’s fist.
[Congratulations!]
[The level of ‘Painful Memory’ has increased!]
Perhaps because I accumulated a lot until now, even at level 1, the power is tremendous. In addition, the level increased with just one use.
“You!”
The crown on top of the guy’s head shouted.
“Isn’t that black magic! How can a hero like you…!”
“You’re saying the same things as my comrades.”
“What the hell are you! How can you, as a hero, use such bizarre and absurd techniques!”
“The process doesn’t matter. The result is what’s important.”
Gulping, I spoke while vomiting blood.
About 10 minutes have passed since the confrontation began, and I was gradually adapting to the poison.
“No matter what it takes, I will take your and the Demon Lord’s lives… That’s my goal.”
And at that moment.
[Congratulations!]
‘The level of ‘Toxin Resistance’ has increased!’
[Achievement Level 10!]
[One skill is created from numerous experiences of poisoning addiction!]
+
[Master of Poison Level 1]
You can use a portion of poison with addictive experiences.
+
The level of the skill has increased.
At the same time, a derived skill has been acquired.
The poison becomes more neutralized and breathing becomes easier.
I smirked.
“Lucky me…”
I am gradually gaining confidence.
It is the conviction that I will be able to win.
