LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 55
Chapter 55: Ablaze
As Manan and his companions emerged from the forest, they were united by a singular thought: it was scorching hot. Their bodies felt as if engulfed in flames, sharing the agony of a burn.
“Heave… Huff…”
“The pain… it’s intensifying, Lord Manan.”
“Endure it. It’s but an illusion born from the frailty of the mind.”
“But…”
“I said endure!”
“Ugh…”
Kehehehehe!
It was as if a nightmare spirit had seized the entire space. They could feel, skin-deep, that time was running out.
‘The hallucinations have been growing stronger since earlier…’
At the brink of his endurance, Manan couldn’t help but smile at a sound he heard.
“Lord Manan! The terrain…”
“Yes, it seems we’ve found the right place.”
A cave, brimming with lava, scattered the stench of sulfur all around.
Such a landscape emerging straight from the forest would have been impossible without the peculiar device known as the dungeon core.
“Find the nightmare spirit quickly!”
Although only half of the time limit set by Santo had passed, Manan’s party was at their limit. Baek and Kyung wandered aimlessly, their faces pale, searching for the location of the wandering troupe.
And just as they were about to collapse from exhaustion, Kyung shouted.
“Lord Manan! We’ve found it.”
Indeed, they had.
The nightmare spirit stood at what appeared to be the entrance to the wandering troupe.
Kehehehe!
“Shall we kill it?”
“Stop! Don’t touch it! We don’t know what dangers might arise.”
“What should we do then…?”
That’s when they all remembered the invitation they had been given.
“The invitation. Extend the hand that bears the invitation.”
Upon those words, Baek and Kyung extended their wrists, and the nightmare spirit stamped a seal upon them.
Sssss…
[You have accepted the invitation of the wandering troupe.]
[You have gained the right to attend the performance.]
[Performances are held once in the morning and once in the afternoon.]
Sssss…
Manan too extended his hand to collect the invitation.
“Phew… Finally, my mind clears.”
“That was a dangerous creature. The performance…”
“I have no desire to mingle with it, not even for a moment. A bizarre and cunning entity.”
“You were right, Lord Manan. We faced no trouble by following the rules.”
“It may not seem like much now… but who knows.”
Manan recalled the goblin they had encountered earlier.
“If the one who had blocked our path before had been much stronger…”
It would have taken them much longer to reach this point. And the secondary problems that would arise were an additional concern.
They might not have responded to the nightmare spirit’s invitation in time.
The mere thought was terrifying, but fortunately, they had overcome the trial. Investing energy in what hadn’t happened was a luxury in their current situation.
With their spirits significantly lightened, Manan’s group began to move.
The cave, unlike the forest, didn’t seem vast. Soon enough, they sensed a presence.
“Never let your guard down, for we may face unexpected situations. Like…”
Manan frowned.
“With that woman, for instance.”
Black horns and red hair.
There was no room for other thoughts.
That woman was a demon, known only in legends.
“Hello?”
“Today’s misfortune seems to end here.”
Manan glared at the demon, Phenex.
“Step aside, let the Blood Shadow Jiangshi deal with you.”
“We will join you!”
“We can’t predict the enemy’s strength. I’m not asking for your opinion right now.”
His eyes grew fierce.
“It’s an order.”
“Yes!”
Whish-!
The Blood Shadow Jiangshi, Baek and Kyung, shielded the front. Their mere presence brought comfort, such was the renown of the Blood Shadow Jiangshi, known to Manan, Baek, and Kyung alike.
Swoosh…
[Phenex’s Basic Ability: Blazing Flames activated.]
[Phenex will continuously recover a significant amount of vitality until the battle ends.]
…
Flames roared…
Phenex ignited with crimson flames.
In the West, light is considered the bane of the undead, but in the East, it’s fire.
Due to the purifying flames’ power to vanquish corruption.
But beyond that… there was something… something more.
A feeling of comfort, yet simultaneously suffocating.
The outcome of the battle was unpredictable.
As the situation reached this point, Manan made a strategic move.
Whoosh…
A mist of blood arose from Manan’s hand, subtly connecting with Kyung’s. This was visible only to Manan.
“Are you the master of this place?”
…
Phenex merely smiled at Manan’s question, then vanished like a mirage.
Whoosh…
“Here it comes!”
The Blood Shadow Jiangshi, fighting solely on instinct and memories of battles past, reacted first.
Clang!
Phenex’s sword, slashing from above, was barely blocked by the Blood Shadow Jiangshi.
Surprisingly, they withstood the sharpness and force of the blade with just their wrists. The strength of the Blood Shadow Jiangshi was known to be formidable, but to think it would work against a demon of legend…
Baek and Kyung exchanged glances and nodded. If they continued this momentum and combined their attacks, they might stand a chance against Phenex, even if she was a demon.
Wham!
Without seeking Manan’s permission, they plunged into the battlefield. Manan, believing it to be the right decision, did not stop them.
That moment marked the beginning of the Blood Sect’s counterattack.
Boom!
Baek and Kyung’s feet rose to Phenex’s side, forcing her to retreat.
Whoosh!
Boom!
Seizing the opportunity, Kyung’s Jiangshi unleashed a powerful blow to the front.
The unpleasant trio’s sticky coordination began. They surrounded Phenex on all sides.
Clang!
Bang!
Clang! Bang!
They successfully defended against the relentless attacks from all directions.
The Blood Sect clearly had the upper hand, yet a sense of unease lingered in everyone’s hearts.
Clang!
Bang!
Because Phenex’s smile never faded.
Flames roared…
Her sword began to burn.
It was a prelude to something.
“Get away!”
At Manan’s shout, the Blood Sect split neatly to either side.
[Phenex uses Pain Sharing.]
[Phenex launches a fan-shaped flame wave.]
[The flame wave deals 200% of combat power to all enemies within range.]
Boom!
The flames struck the ground of the lava cave, radiating outwards like a blast from hell. The area where it struck felt like it had been grazed by the intense heat of the underworld.
One thought crossed everyone’s mind.
The Blood Shadow Jiangshi’s ability to withstand Phenex’s attack might have been a fluke or a demon’s trick.
…A direct hit from a demon’s attack could be fatal.
No one, not even a single bone, might remain.
“Assist me! Kyung, Baek!”
“Lord Manan… Yes!”
[Manan unleashes the Ominous Painting.]
[As the Qi bursts forth, shadows of Qi made of blood mist appear, dealing additional strikes.]
[Every fifth additional strike causes the target to bleed.]
Pabababak-!
A deluge of countless fists filled Phenex’s vision. Phenex, with a smirk, swung her sword horizontally.
Sseeeek-!
With a single slash, half of the red shadows vanished, as Manan recoiled from Phenex’s attack.
The four warriors of the Blood Sect, who had retreated, once again blocked all of Phenex’s directions.
Pababat-!
Kaaang-!
Now with Manan joining the front lines, their combination attacks left no room for the enemy to breathe, continuing relentlessly.
Kagagak…
Jeong!
Even Phenex, a monster in her own right, had to breathe eventually. A gap was bound to present itself.
Kaaang-!
Kak…
When would it be…
The moment this monster would stagger.
At that moment, what caught Kyung and Baek’s eyes was Manan’s right hand.
Whioooong…
An ominous energy gathered in his hand, undoubtedly one of the Six Great Lions’ secret techniques of the Blood Sect. A power used with a resolve to die at critical moments due to the large movements and brief, fatal vulnerability after the release of Qi.
Kyung and Baek understood Manan’s intention upon seeing this.
Pabat-!
They had to force the demon to breathe.
The moment the demon took a breath, it would be her last.
Paang-!
Ching.
Jeooong-!
Hyun.
The Jiangshi had done their part.
Now it was Baek and Kyung’s turn.
“Heueup!”
Baek, leaning in, shouldered the opponent.
[Baek uses Mountain Crumbling.]
[Strikes the target with a shoulder, dealing physical damage and slightly reducing the target’s defense upon a successful hit.]
Jeong-!
A strike that mattered not whether it succeeded or failed.
It was a preordained movement.
The core of the unpleasant trio’s coordination, Baek, Kyung, and Ching, lay in the movement itself.
One could dodge one, but it was hard to avoid two, and impossible to escape three. Such was the cascading collapse created by their movements.
The level of ability was irrelevant.
It was the subtlety of movement that the Easterners pursued.
Phenex, who had parried Baek’s shoulder with her sword, was immediately followed by Kyung’s chasing strike.
[Kyung uses Pheasant Dropping.]
[Kicks from the air to strike the target. Causes concussion if it hits the head.]
Whoong…
Paang-!
Having parried Baek’s attack, Phenex had to dodge Kyung’s. An attack aimed high, Phenex crouched forward.
And it was all intentional.
Originally, Ching’s following downward kick would have shattered Phenex’s head, ending the sequence.
But now, Ching could not perform this sequence.
Because he was dead.
Instead, it was Manan, radiating a vicious aura, who slipped into that place.
“Demonnnn!”
[Manan uses Reverse Heaven Blood Demon Fist.]
[Unleashes a collapsing fist strike. The target hit by the fist suffers critical damage and falls unconscious for 2 seconds.]
Kwaaaang-!
Manan’s fist surged towards the crouched Phenex.
At this moment, there were two unfortunate facts for the Blood Sect group. One was that it was Manan, not the long-time coordinated Ching, who took upon himself to finish the sequence.
“Hoowup…”
If it had been Ching, he would never have allowed Phenex the comfort of a breath.
The other was that Faust had been more concerned with Phenex’s upbringing than anyone else.
Chiiiiii…
“That’s as far as you go.”
Explosively, Phenex’s sword was drawn.
[Phenex uses Ultra Heat Wheel.]
[Deals explosive slashing damage in all directions.]
Huaaaaaang-!
A bizarre sound accompanied the formation of a crimson circle in the air around Phenex.
“Uh…”
“Ah…”
Fortunately, Baek and Kyung had just finished their attack and could dodge this one, but the Blood Shadow Jiangshi could not.
Sgeong-!
Chiiiiii…
Phenex, splitting two Blood Shadow Jiangshi in half, sprang forward like a spring.
“This…”
Suddenly defenseless, Manan tried to land his attack, but Phenex, having closed in beyond striking range, could not be hit.
This moment was, without a doubt, intended for Phenex. Perhaps since the beginning of the battle.
Puuuuk…
“Keeer…”
A heavy sensation.
The feeling of severing life was palpable in his hand.
Thus…
[Phenex has dealt enough damage to the party to be forcibly defeated.]
[Phenex returns to the flames. She will resurrect shortly.]
[The gate’s magic is insufficient.]
[Phenex does not resurrect.]
[The boss battle concludes.]
Hwarururuk…
Phenex succeeded in halving her enemies. Her form flickered like flames and vanished.
But then,
“To think… I would die… like this!”
Phenex’s pupils dilated.
[Manan activates Forced Transfusion.]
[Transfers damage to a pre-contracted ally.]
Juruk…
“Lord Manan…?”
“Kyung, fulfill your role.”
“That… is…”
Kyung’s chest, never before wounded, was now pierced, spilling blood.
Kuuuung…
Phenex disappeared, leaving only Manan and Baek.
“Lord Manan! Why…”
“Are you saying the principal should have died? Here?”
“But…”
“Put away your trivial thoughts. This is the only way for everyone to return.”
Whioooooo…
Three blood serums hung from Manan’s waist.
The three flasks containing them shattered simultaneously.
Kwajiiiiik…
Sssssss…
Ching and Hyun, and even Kyung, who had just died in Manan’s stead, resurrected as Blood Shadow Jiangshi.
With power not much different from when they entered the dungeon, the Blood Sect group succeeded in maintaining their formidable strength even after overcoming Phenex.
“Baek, listen well.”
“…”
“This place is a demonic realm. We have walked into hell.”
“…Indeed, it is so.”
“Keep your wits about you. If you don’t want to die.”
Baek clenched his teeth and replied.
“…Understood.”
The Blood Sect group, having exhausted all their blood serum but maintaining their core strength, continued to navigate the dungeon. It seemed like a small victory for the Blood Sect, who fought desperately…
But all of this was exactly as one man had foreseen.
Faust, watching the Blood Sect group approach the jaws of death as a specter, murmured.
“Fortunately, it went as planned.”
The present is but the future intended by the Faust of the past.
Just that, and nothing more.