Chapter 85

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]

Chapter 85: Second Trial (11)

Merhen reached out to Death Lord. The intangible pressure disappeared, and Kim Minwoo fell to the ground.

It was at that moment.

Time stopped as messages began to appear.

[Merhen manifests magic!]

[Partial completion of clear conditions! (1/2)]

[Two options are given!]

[1. Escape.]

[2. Resolve Merhen’s ‘grudge.’]

‘Partial completion….’

From the moment Balrog and Death Lord appeared, he had some suspicions that her manifesting magic would be a clear condition.

It makes sense, they must be quite strong.

Player skill is important, but it’s not the only factor.

He looked at the two options.

‘Resolve the grudge.’

Seeing what Death Lord did, he understood.

In the past, he was a lich for whom threats and deceit were commonplace.

He probably used coercive means to find Merhen and turn her into an undead.

It seems like her grudge still remains….

‘If I’m just given as a summon by leaving, there’s no need to offer choices.’

If he leaves without resolving the grudge, it’s obvious there will be problems.

Merhen, who hates Death Lord.

But he was the one who inherited that power?

Even if he gained some points in the past….

‘Whether she really comes in as a summon is unknown.’

Even if she does come in, there’s a high chance she’ll glitch.

Remembering the message seen when obtaining Cedric, he recalled:

[Perfect escape condition!]

[Cedric has overcome his regret!]

Comparing that with the current situation, it was still unsettling.

Conclusion.

‘I should probably resolve it, right?’

The problem was how to resolve the grudge.

‘Merhen’s magical abilities will be outstanding.’

Merhen’s abilities were enough to pique Death Lord’s interest.

He had to expect that the power emitted while casting spells would be considerable.

‘And she’s worth facing off against Death Lord.’

Perhaps by fighting each other, some of the grudge will be resolved?

At least he wanted to believe that.

Surely, if it meant intervening in Death Lord’s fight.

‘I absolutely can’t back down.’

Death Lord and Balkan were fundamentally different. Just a gesture from them could tear him apart.

It was a difficulty level where conquering it was impossible.

That’s something Merhen has to take care of.

‘What I’ll take care of is….’

He looked squarely at Balkan.

As time passed, Merhen and Death Lord would clash, and Balkan would inevitably join the fight.

‘It must be him.’

For now, he had to somehow stall Balkan from participating in the battle.

That was the best he could do.

[You have chosen option 2!]

As time passed,

[Merhen’s hatred: 100%]

A message popped up.

Kim Minwoo immediately gulped down potions. His battered body began to rapidly heal.

A dazzling array of light rose above Merhen’s hand.

[Merhen casts Acceleration (SSS) !]

[Merhen casts Lightning Strike (SSS) !]

[Merhen casts Water Hell (SSS) !]

[Merhen casts Wind Blade (SSS) !]

“Die!”

Hundreds of spells poured towards Death Lord.

―…This is getting annoying.

As if annoyed, a formidable barrier rose above the lich’s body.

The mage and the lich above the void began to unleash hundreds of spells at each other.

‘The difference in power is just too much.’

Merhen, suddenly rampaging as if she had taken some kind of doping.

And Death Lord, retaliating while blocking.

It’s obvious they’re evenly matched.

Interfering would just be asking for trouble.

They can handle it themselves.

With a group of undead summoned, he rushed towards Balkan.

―…Huh.

Balkan, looking disdainfully at the charging Kim Minwoo, wielded his whip as if mocking him.

―To think you’d dare to challenge again, you have quite the courage!

In previous fights, he had no idea how Balkan fought. While trying to figure it out, he was bombarded with attacks.

Balkan’s mastery of the flame whip was astounding.

Despite the overwhelming difference in abilities, he handles weapons well too?

Then he’ll have to take the hits.

But things were different now.

His body, rejuvenated by drinking potions.

And after facing him once, he had some idea of how he wielded his whip.

‘It bought me some time.’

The wound he inflicted earlier still hadn’t healed. Targeting it could disable one of his legs.

‘Just up to that point.’

He won’t win.

But that’s okay.

His goal from the start was to buy time. So, Kim Minwoo and Balkan clashed once again.

[Merhen’s hatred: 90%]

Dodging the fiery whip, he focused solely on attacking his legs.

Finally.

Thunk!

With overlapping attacks, the command’s sword tore through skin and muscle, reaching the bone of the creature. The sword plunged deeply into him.

Balkan grimaced in pain.

That’s when it happened.

[Command’s sword absorbs the blood of a formidable enemy! (5,020/10,000)]

‘Huh?’

Wasn’t the hunt about completely killing the enemy?

Perhaps Balkan was too strong, causing this unusual phenomenon.

Regardless.

It’s a fortunate phenomenon.

Backing away while dodging the whip, he thought to himself.

‘I only hit one leg properly and it’s already at 2,000.’

The numbers from hunting in the Wave were roughly around 3,000.

But, after feeding Balkan’s blood once, it jumped up by a whopping 2,000.

“If I do well, I’ll fill it up to 10,000 no time, won’t I?”

Anyway, fighting is inevitable.

Might as well power up the command’s sword while he is at it.

―Oh, you worm!

Balkan started to rampage as if in anger.

[Merhen’s hatred: 65%]

Kim Minwoo smirked.

In battles, the one who gets emotionally overwhelmed first tends to lose halfway.

It’s because unnecessary movements gradually increase.

Balkan was like that now.

Instead of sharp attacks, he began to unleash wide-range attacks, sweeping the surroundings.

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]

Just preventing him from approaching like that is already buying time.

Thanks to that, there was plenty of time to drink potions.

Of course.

[Warning!]

[You have consumed too many potions in a short period! Overload is beginning!]

He couldn’t avoid the state of overload.

Summoning minions to block the way, deftly dodging around to exploit openings.

The whip has a long range but slow recovery.

If he dodge properly.

‘One more hit.’

Thunk!

He found an opening like that.

This time, the blade went deep enough to shatter part of the backbone.

[Merhen’s hatred: 41%]

[Command’s sword absorbs the blood of a formidable enemy! (7,020/10,000)]

Immediately backing away with a bone-crushing blow and dodging the whip, the human.

―….

Balkan’s face gradually grew serious. Clearly, his physical abilities were lacking compared to his opponent.

So, he thought it would end easily.

‘Until Lord takes over, it was definitely manageable…’

The previous battles were definitely like that.

Swinging the whip five times, at least one hit was always certain.

Each time, he would vomit blood and gulp down potions as he rolled.

But now, it was different.

It was as if his opponent could read his movements, dodging attacks with incredible agility. Even after swinging ten times, it was difficult to land a hit.

And the frequency was increasing.

His movements were completely anticipated.

‘Damn it.’

He had already suffered severe injuries to his leg.

There was no room for complacency anymore.

To think he would have to exert himself against such an insignificant human!

His pride was wounded, but what choice did he have?

Mere whipping wasn’t the answer.

So.

Thud!

Balkan stomped his foot.

[Balkan casts Hellfire Descent (EX)!]

The surrounding terrain twisted wildly. Lava with terrifying heat flowed in between.

He quickly summoned a golem and mounted it.

But it was just a brief respite. The heat was too much for even the golem to withstand.

With a cruel smile, he swung the whip once again.

* * *

The surroundings were entirely flooded with lava.

There was nowhere to dodge.

[Bone Golem is melting!]

The body of Dolsoe began to melt rapidly in the terrifying heat. It was clear what would happen when its feet touched the ground.

[Consuming Flame Resistance Potion (Supreme)!]

Before being roasted by the scorching heat, he drank even more potions.

At least this would buy him some time.

‘I have to engage in aerial combat.’

[Summoning ‘Skeleton Mages’!]

A group of mage skeletons was summoned over the Stone Golem’s shoulders.

[‘Miley’ issues instructions!]

[Skeleton Mage 2 casts Bone Shield…]

[Skeleton Mage 3 casts Bone Shield…]

Bone shields were summoned into the air.

Cedric was summoned, leaping onto the shield, casting various skills towards the whip.

A brief respite.

Upon the Bone Shield, Skeleton Mages began to rise, spreading all around like a virus infecting.

Approaching the enemy while stepping on the shield.

Balkan seemed startled, perhaps not expecting this approach. He swung his whip urgently.

[Merhen’s hatred: 21%]

The distance between them closed as the partially severed leg would surely start to ache.

[Using Command Swordsmanship (S)!]

With a swift motion, he drew the blade and leaped towards him.

The whip, seemingly aimed to protect the leg, shifted its trajectory downward entirely.

His focus was solely on the leg.

After all, he had been relentlessly targeting it from the start.

‘I can’t afford to lose the leg.’

He was already on high alert.

If he kept going for it, he might end up being the one caught.

With Merhen’s hatred almost at an all-time low, he thought it was the time to deliver a big blow before retreating.

Midway towards the creature’s leg.

Suddenly, he stepped on one of the summoned Bone Shields and changed his course.

―…!

Balkan’s eyes widened.

It was because the audacious human was charging towards his face.

He urgently swung his whip.

But he was already a step too late.

Thud!

The eye that had never been attacked.

There, the Command Sword was deeply embedded.

[The Command Sword evolves!]

[A new effect is unlocked!]

[It is infused with the blood of a formidable enemy!]

[The effect is greatly enhanced!]

The moment that made Balkan squint.

Numerous messages flashed before his eyes.

There was no time to read them.

With the sword deeply lodged in his eye, Balkan glowed with rage.

As the whip brushed past, a blaze engulfed his entire body.

He was sent flying far away.

‘A small price to pay.’

Considering the caliber of beings like Balkan, it’s nothing.

The newly created Bone Shield manifested its physical form.

Not even a trace of faltering in his indomitable spirit.

Soon, messages appeared.

[Perfect Escape Condition!]

[Merhen Overcomes Her Regrets!]

[Merhen’s Potential Unfolds!]

[Now, she can use not only death magic, but also a wider variety of spells!]

[She has gained the heart of the Legion Commander and the Banshee Queen!]

[Merhen will now fight for you!]

[You have acquired the power of Death Lord, Summon Merhen (SSS)!]

[You have acquired the title, ‘Master of the Banshee Queen’!]

[You have acquired the title, ‘The One Who Took Balkan’s Eye’!]

[You have acquired the title, ‘The One Who Stopped the Grudge’!]

[New entries in the ‘The Beginning of a Legend – Part 1’…]

[Exiting the past!]

With numerous messages, the surroundings became blurry.

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]