Chapter 40: 'Iä! Iä! Hastur!”

Chapter 40: “Iä! Iä! Hastur!”

Ugh This is exhausting.

It feels like my head is about to split open. Imagine gathering every single hangover one could experience in a lifetime and experiencing them all at once.

Urrrgh! Khaarrrr!

Rhaarrrr! Wzur-yiin!

It wasnt time to stop yet. The dancers were muttering some stuff in a strange language. Even though some of them were broken and charred, there were still those with enough strength to move Lets see There are nine of them?

What are you saying? Speak in Korean, you bastards.

A couple of them seemed to be squirming awkwardly, but that wasnt something to worry about.

I slowly massaged my stiff neck, which refused to move easily, and thought about the actions I needed to take, the declarations I needed to make, and the objects I needed to keep an eye on.

As if my condition wasnt bad enough After this is over, I really need to lie down for a week without moving.

The nine dancers approached me in a synchronized formation. Though their numbers have decreased, their movements remained precise. They intertwined their legs and dipped their heads in my direction. Their movements were reminiscent of ballet poses. And then they followed with jumps and kicks.

If I had known a bit about ballet terminology, I might have been able to describe what they were doing, but there was no way for me to know something I hadnt known before, regardless of my increased intelligence. And then there was the leap that followed. Staying any longer to watch would be the death of me.

I threw my skateboard to the ground and cast a few spells.

[Cats Reflexes]

[Invisible Hand]

[Leap]

It wasnt for no reason that I was in a daze. As my concentration returned, the traits that had stopped activating began to function normally again, which allowed me to cast spells in succession without the need for signs or incantations.

As soon as I vacated my spot, the dancers performance transformed from ballet to a sword dance. Each held a sparkling pair of swords in their hands. The sword dance in honor of their king had started. It was a dance of death meant to eliminate the kings enemies.

I am a mage!

Just like the last time with the ghoul shaman, why do they keep forcing me into physical confrontations? If my magic order was even one level higher, I might have been able to pull out a spell that would let me respond more comfortably, but for now, keeping my distance was the answer.

The magically enhanced skateboard emitted a dazzling radiance and bounced to ridiculous heights that would have been impossible for my original body. Yet, the golden dancers followed suit. Ten chillingly bright swords glowed. And yellow silk fluttered like clouds.

Their weapons were not limited to swords alone. The rocks that brushed against that fluttering yellow silk were sliced as if cut by a sword. Was this some kind of joke? The range of impact was far too wide.

The range a single dancer could attack spanned 4 meters in all directionsfront, back, left, right, above, and belowand with their ability to close the distance in an instant through leaps, I couldnt afford to stand still for even a moment. Leap, then spring off a rock to leap again. As soon as I touched the ground, I used an explosive dash trick for rapid movement. Then leaped again.

Just when I thought I had shaken off one that was clinging to me from behind, a golden body flew at me from the front. At this rate, there would be no end to it. I gathered my magical power and screamed.

Get out of the wayyyy!!!

[Shock]

Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!!!

The dancer directly hit by the heated shockwave emitted from my hand was flung away and crashed into a rock with a metallic noise.

Just as I was about to cast a new spell to finish off that one, three dancers and six sword blades clung to me. They targeted the angles that were difficult for me to move into and flew in with precise sword strikes.

Ah, sh*t. Leave the sword fighting to the swordsmen!

[Gale], [Spell Enhancement: Maximization]

[Leap], [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase]

[Protective Circle], [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting]

I sent the one suspended in the air flying with a gale and the other one was forced to jump up, changing its trajectory. At the same time, I thrust the layers of entwined protective circles at the one that clung closest to me.

Clang!

Sparks flew from the twin swords blocked by the invisible protective circle. But I had lingered in one spot for too long. Eight more swords flew at me from another direction. Ah, this really could be the end of me.

Ah, forget it! Im abandoning the strategy of minimizing damage!

With all my fingernails gone, I spread my hands wide and cast spells in every direction around me.

Whirrrr!!

I concentrated the magical power, brimming with excessive Yang energy, on the tips of my hands. I could see the blood flowing from my torn and burst fingers start to boil and evaporate.

[Lightning Strike]

[Spell Enhancement: Maximization]

[Spell Enhancement: Multicasting]

It felt like all ten of my already damaged fingers were being completely shattered. A chilling pain crawled from the tips of my fingers up to my spine. Yet, the extremely strengthened lightning obeyed my command, absorbing my magical power and growing to an enormous size.

Fizzzzzzzz!

A blindingly brilliant golden lightning burst forth in all directions.

It felt as though giant trees were sprouting from my hands. It was a bizarre sensation in which I didnt even know if I was feeling pain or pleasure. I felt dizzy. The trees of lightning grew at the speed of light and entwined around the dancers who were rushing towards me. Gold conducts electricity well, right?

Crackle-crackle-crackle!

While the dancers were paralyzed by the lightning, I created a fireball beneath my skateboard.

Khaarrrr!

Khaarrrr!

I! I! Hastur! Ugh! Ugh! I Hastur! nghah- ghaaa mglwghaa mhatha!

I! I! Hastur!

I! I! Hastur!

I! I! Hastur!

[System: The Enhanced Vigilance trait has been activated.]

[System: The Enhanced Vigilance trait has been activated.]

[System: The Enhanced Vigilance trait has been activated.]

[System: The Enhanced Vigilance trait has been activated.]

[System: The Enhanced Vigilance trait has been activated.]

The [Enhanced Vigilance] trait sounded an alarm.

Holy sh*t, stop!

[Fireball]

Whooooooooooosh!

Bright red flames erupted with a tremendous blast.

One of the golden monsters that glowed while shouting the true name of the [King in Yellow] was destroyed. But, three remained.

I! I! Hastur!

I! I! Hastur!

I! I! Hastur!

[Lightning Strike]

Rumbe Booom!!

I! I! Hastur!

I! I! Hastur!

They still wouldnt stop. This is maddening! Stop chanting, you lunatics!

[Firestorm]

Despite this, there was still one mouth left and it continued to chant the true name of the abyssal being.

[Magic Bullet]

[Spell Enhancement: Multicasting]

Ratatatattatata!!

Dozens of magic bullets were unleashed, shattering the body of the last dancer to pieces. Holes riddled the dancers body, scattering golden scales and body fragments in all directions.

But even when its body was destroyed and only its head remained, the dancers head still emitted cries of praise for its king.

I! I! Hastur!

The rolling head of the dancer eventually came to a halt after it was blocked by someones legs.

Oh? You.

The problem wasnt the dancer. A new shadow appeared as if blocking the dancers path. Long limbs and golden hair. And strange ornaments on the ears.

No, this was not a new character. It was someone who was supposed to be here all along. It was Jang Hyeon-deok.

You what are you doing?

Wait, something was off. The quality, form, and flow of his magical power were completely different. Jang Hyeon-deok approached the dancers head with an eerily emotionless expression on his face.

The dancers head was not moving away from me. It was moving in the direction of Jang Hyeon-deok.

Hey, stop.

[Arrow of Destruction]

Fwsssh!

In haste, I unleashed an arrow imbued with the magical power of the neither world towards Jang Hyeon-deoks location. But for some reason, the purple arrow flew swiftly but veered off in an unexpected direction.

It wasnt like my aim was bad. The Arrow of Destruction was flying straight towards Jang Hyeon-deok. But then, as if space itself warped, the arrow changed its course on its own.

Before I could think of my next move, Jang Hyeon-deok had already completed his action. A peaceful and natural touch with a motion that seemed as if it was meant to be.

Jang Hyeon-deok removed the mask that was covering the dancers face and placed it on his own.

And then, silence.