Chapter 85

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) !]Cheeck out latest novels at novelhall.com

“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!

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]