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[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 104
[You have encountered a Remnant of the Past.]
[You have encountered the knight who once protected the 『Overlord』 most closely, the King of all Death Knights, and the reliable 3rd Legion Commander of the past 『Overlord』. You have encountered 『Doom Knight』.]
[『Doom Knight』 is currently adrift here as a Remnant.]
[Having lost its soul, it is severely weakened.]
[The 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 perceives you as an enemy.]
[Defeat the 『Remnant of Doom Knight』.]
The Remnant of Doom Knight, and a ghost that seemed to be its soul.
Seonghyun looked at the two side-by-side, then decided to ignore the ghost.
In the tense atmosphere, stretched taut like a string, there was no time to worry about a ghost.
Amidst the heavy atmosphere, the skeletal knight slowly drew its rusty sword, which was riddled with holes.
Kkeu-geu-geuk-geuk—!
The grating sound of the unmaintained scabbard scraping against the sword pierced the ears.
As the sword was drawn, the smell of rusted iron brushed past his nose.
That unpleasant smell, like the tang of blood, caused the tension to boil over.
Seonghyun mentally checked the cooldowns of his skills at that moment.
Blood Poison and Blood Plague had about 3 minutes remaining on their cooldowns.
His other skills?
Ready to go.
After quickly assessing, Seonghyun also drew his sword.
Sereung——!
The sharp metallic sound of a well-maintained blade being drawn was heard.
The skeletal knight eyed the sword warily and took a stance.
Having recognized an enemy, what reason was there left to hesitate?
As it took the first step with its gaunt, skeletal bones.
Kwa-jijijijiji———!
Large spiderweb-like cracks bloomed outward from the skeletal knight, as if the surrounding ground was collapsing.
Contradicting its heavy steps, it charged forward with speed that defied common sense.
Kwa-reu-reu-reu-reung——!
Peo-eoeoeoeoeoeong——!
As it stepped forward, the ground opposite the planted foot bulged upward as if forming a small hill.
Then, the air exploded as if a cannonball had detonated, tearing through it as the skeletal knight leaped forward.
Charging like an arrow at incredible speed, the skeletal knight swung its sword towards Seonghyun.
The sword strike, launched forward, swung horizontally, transforming into an attack of terrifying power meant to tear through any obstacle, unfolding towards Seonghyun.
However, Seonghyun, having taken it all in, clearly identified the attack, used his footwork to slide forward, and leaned his upper body back, dodging the sword strike.
The wind pressure from the sword's trajectory grazed the tip of Seonghyun's nose.
Simultaneously, the metallic, blood-like smell of rusted iron arose.
Seonghyun had dodged it by a hair's breadth.
But without any expression of tension or relief, he naturally extended his foot and gently placed it on the skeletal knight's chest plate.
The kick, boosted by the skeletal knight's charging speed and Seonghyun's own strength, slammed into its chest plate.
Kwa-jiik———!
Peo-eoeoeong———!
An ominous sound of crushing bone echoed as the skeletal knight was thrown backward, slower than its charging speed.
Had its ribs caved in?
The sound definitely indicated a solid hit.
One might even get their hopes up, but Seonghyun felt it hadn't truly connected.
The reason?
‘One Strike didn’t trigger.’
The sound clearly announced a successful counter, but no message appeared.
Moreover, the sensation in his foot felt faint.
Sure enough, the skeletal knight, seeing Seonghyun's foot, quickly recovered its sword, blocked with the flat of the blade, and after being kicked, was thrown far back. It righted itself in mid-air and executed a perfect landing.
It slid across the ground, planting both feet firmly.
Chwaaaaaaaa—!
Two long scars marked the ground where it slid.
It showed it had been pushed back considerably, yet it was closer than in their initial standoff.
Although the distance was now shorter than before, this range was advantageous for Seonghyun.
Conversely, it was a disadvantageous range for the skeletal knight.
Therefore, the skeletal knight tried to quickly move its feet.
Confirming this, Seonghyun used a skill, a peculiar light in his eyes.
The first skill to use was Spirit Spear.
Grasping the empty air, a teal spear materialized and shot forward, creating a streak of teal light in the air.
Shiiiiiiiik——!
The skeletal knight rotated its body to dodge the rapidly flying teal spear and managed to close the distance.
It wasn't as fast as its initial charge, but it was still fast.
The skeletal knight quickly swung its sword, aiming to cut Seonghyun's neck, but—
It saw the dark projectile materializing in Seonghyun's other hand—the one that had held his sword while he summoned the teal spear.
The skeletal knight urgently tried to retract its sword to block the projectile, but it was too late.
The cannonball-like Black Magic Shot had already slammed into its abdomen.
Giving up on defense, the skeletal knight swung its sword.
An ultramarine sword aura, like fingernails grown for several years, shot out and tore through Seonghyun's shoulder.
Simultaneously, the Black Magic Shot embedded in the skeletal knight's abdomen exploded.
Chwaaaaak——!
Peo-eoeoeong——!
Blood spurted from Seonghyun's shoulder, and the unpleasant smell of rusted iron mixed with the metallic tang of blood in the air, becoming even more foul.
And the skeletal knight, hit directly in the abdomen by the Black Magic Shot, had bone dust raining down from it, suggesting it had taken considerable damage.
Furthermore.
[Critical Hit!]
[The effect of 『One Strike!』 activates!]
[Darkness damage is applied.]
[The 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 is Undead.]
[Vision and senses are not blocked by Darkness damage.]
[Hit by Black Magic Shot. Healing and regeneration are impossible for 10 seconds.]
The skeletal knight received various disadvantages.
Seonghyun had also taken significant damage, but he paid it no mind, instead using another skill against the skeletal knight, which was now further away again.
The skills that had momentarily stopped the Legion of Calamity.
Ssssssssss——!
As the ominous, darkly burning sun appeared in the sky, it dyed everything in the vicinity with darkness.
Simultaneously, everything stained by darkness sprouted black flames, burning the skeletal knight.
Fwa-reu-reu-reu——!
A great conflagration burned the skeletal knight, but even amidst those black flames, it walked out proudly, the only thing shining white.
However, that wasn't the end.
After conjuring the Black Sun, Seonghyun immediately used two skills through his Self in Darkness.
One was Writhing Darkness, which made all darkness attribute attack skills guaranteed hits.
And the other skill was.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Black thorns materialized above the skeletal knight.
Because the Black Sun had turned everything to darkness, the knight hadn't noticed the precursor sign—the ground darkening.
Seeing the black thorns appear above its head, the skeletal knight raised its sword to block, but all the black thorns pointed their tips towards it.
It was already under the effect of the Black Magic Shot, blocking all healing and regeneration.
It needed to dodge somehow, but due to the guaranteed hit effect, the black thorns rained down upon the skeletal knight all at once.
Falling, the black thorns all impaled the skeletal knight.
They pierced it pitifully.
Many thorns went straight through it and embedded themselves in the ground, while countless others pinned it, rendering it immobile.
However, the skeletal knight's condition looked surprisingly decent.
[Damage taken reduced by half due to Pierce Resistance.]
It was a skeletal knight, left with only bones.
Therefore, pierce resistance drastically reduced the damage.
But that was fine.
The black thorns absorbed the darkness from the ground as nourishment, drawing in the surrounding darkness.
They even devoured the darkness of the Black Sun, using it as sustenance.
Infused with the power of the fiercely burning black flames, the thorns grew intensely hot.
And then, hundreds of black flowers bloomed profusely.
Just moments ago, the area had been filled with the unpleasant smell of rusted iron and Seonghyun's blood, but as the black flowers bloomed, a fragrant and alluring floral scent spread far and wide.
And then, Seonghyun snapped his fingers.
Tak!
The black flowers shot out more thorns in all directions, then transformed the surrounding fragrance entirely into darkness, devouring everything the thorns touched.
Kwa-deu-deu-deu-deu-deuk———!
As a sound like sharp objects tearing and grinding echoed out.
[The 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 takes extreme damage.]
[The 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 enters Phase 2.]
Kwaaaaaaaa——!
Escaping from the darkness, the skeletal knight radiated an ominous, ultramarine aura.
The surroundings were dyed not with darkness, but with this ultramarine energy.
As the ominous ultramarine aura surged and soared towards the sky, it drove away the Black Sun.
[『Black Sun』 is extinguished due to the aura of the 『Remnant of Doom Knight』.]
Entering Phase 2 was good, but seeing its formidable appearance, Seonghyun felt this wouldn't be easy and gripped his sword properly once more.
Claaang!
However, the Remnant of Doom Knight intercepted that attack as well, recovering its sword and using the flat of the blade as a shield to block, deliberately pushing itself backward. It used footwork, shattering the ground beneath it, then rigidly shot forward once more.
As the charging Remnant of Doom Knight unleashed countless sword strikes, Seonghyun too drew endless, fluid sword strikes in the air, deflecting every single one.
Clang! Cla-cla-cla-clang! Clang!
As the darkness and the ultramarine aura clashed innumerable times, their straight and curved lines intertwined, marking the surroundings.
Sword met sword, repelling each other, trying to devour one another.
Kwa-reu-reu-reung——!
Seo-seo-seo-seo-seok——!
Chwaaaaaaak——!
Dozens of sword strikes, exchanged in less than a second, flew at each other without pause, lines of straight and curved light spreading out in all directions.
One side was dyed an ominous ultramarine like the night sky, while the other was draped in black darkness.
Each savagely sought to consume the other's territory.
As the territories clashed countless times, reaching a strange equilibrium, hands of death reached out from the ground towards the Remnant of Doom Knight.
Countless beckoning hands of death, shimmering with teal energy and shrouded in darkness, sprang forth and grabbed the Remnant of Doom Knight's ankles.
Thwump!
Because of that, the Remnant of Doom Knight faltered for a moment, and behind it, a creepy witch appeared, giggling as she gently placed her index finger to her lips.
-Shhh.
[Silenced by Monarch's Gag Order for 5 seconds.]
[The 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 partially resists.]
[Duration reduced to 2 seconds.]
As its skill was sealed and the ominous, night-sky-like ultramarine aura vanished, darkness swallowed the remaining space.
[Using Swordsmanship Skill 『Darkness』.]
[Due to the potent darkness, even Undead are encroached upon by darkness.]
[Encroached by darkness, the vision of the 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 is blocked.]
[Encroached by darkness, the hearing of the 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 is blocked.]
[Encroached by darkness, the touch of the 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 is blocked.]
[Encroached by darkness, the smell of the 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 is blocked.]
[Encroached by darkness, the taste of the 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 is blocked.]
[Encroached by darkness, all senses of the 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 are blocked.]
[Duration lasts while the sword is imbued with darkness.]
While its senses were momentarily blocked, Death Soldiers surged from the ground and enveloped the Remnant of Doom Knight. A deep green mist appeared along with a shimmering ignition light, causing a massive explosion.
It created a black cloud shaped like a skull, devouring everything nearby.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga———!
It was truly death itself.
Even though it was just a screen they were watching, the viewers felt overwhelmed.
They even felt the illusion that they might die if caught in that explosion.
Was this the beckoning of the Grim Reaper?
It created the illusion that death itself was palpably approaching.
However, for some reason, Seonghyun did not relax his combat stance.
Strangely so.
As the viewers expressed their confusion, tilting their heads, something burst out, tearing through the brow of the skull-shaped black cloud.
“…….”
Its tattered equipment had all melted onto its bones, and even the knight's prized rusty, hole-ridden sword was broken, only half the blade remaining.
Its very bones seemed to glow red hot, as if it had reached its melting point.
Stepping forward, the being, looking like it was about to melt away at any moment, spoke.
-I... shall... grant... de... struc... tion....
Kwaaaaaaaa——!
Simultaneously, an ominous ultramarine aura erupted.
The knight shrouded itself in that aura, regaining the original form it wore in the distant past.
An ultramarine sword and full-body armor.
Its very bones were covered, strand by strand, with an aura like the embroidered night sky. Seeing this, Seonghyun prepared for battle.
And someone quietly typed in chat.
-Wow, he survived that.
Along with the viewer's chat message, system messages appeared before Seonghyun's eyes.
[The 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 takes extreme damage.]
[The 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 enters Phase 3.]
[The 『Remnant of Doom Knight』 regains a portion of its past power.]
[Be careful.]
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[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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