Chapter 147
The more similar the trigger of a Narrative Imprint to the circumstances that led to its acquisition, the more powerful its effect.
And that was the case with my newest imprint.
[Epic Imprint – Dragon (Emissary of the Immortals): He plunged his dagger into the heart of the ruler of the Abyssal Flame and drank the blood of the immortals amidst a torrent of deadly blows. He is the emissary of death who brought the immortals to rest.]
What kind of bullshit is this? You might say.
However, the conditions for activating Epic Imprint – Dragon were surprisingly simple.
1. Fight an enemy that is overwhelmingly stronger than you.
2. Battle someone with the Immortality trait.
3. Battle a dragon species.
4. Fight an enemy that is at least five times your size.
Even if only one of these conditions is met, the imprint will be stronger if it’s activated and if it is mixed with Ascalon’s traits. It’s safe to say that this is a deceptive power.
Granted, it’s a hell of a way to get it.
And it took a duel to see how much this effect affected my strength.
Against someone much stronger than me.
And it was…….
“A duel?”
It was Parnello, one of Corleone’s strongest powers, who came to me immediately at the sound of the call bell in the room.
“Yep. I’ve got a few things from my trip to Jeju Island, and Parnello was the first one that came to mind, so I was wondering if we could…… somehow?”
That’s a pretty straightforward way of saying, “There’s something I need to see and you’re the only person around who I think would be okay with a real fight, so let’s do it.”
But it would sound different in the ears of Parnello, who had trained me from a young age and had recently been helping me with my successor classes.
“I can’t do it without you, Parnello. Help me, Parnello.”
And indeed.
“Of course I’ll help if you ask, Master, may I escort you to the training hall?”
He looked at me with a pleased expression and nodded repeatedly.
“Yes. Please.”
In response, Parnello walks toward the stage with a lighter step than usual.
‘……Did I really ask Parnello to do me a favor? Should I ask him to be gentle with me now?’
Why are you looking at me like that?
Knowing the real Parnello’s power, I was horrified.
Of course, he won’t actually kill me or anything, but…….
‘Master. You shouldn’t be in this much pain.’
‘It hurts more for me to hit you.’
‘Isn’t it you who asked me to make you stronger in a short period of time, and indeed, thanks to you, my handkerchief has been wet with tears for three days now. What? Isn’t it your blood that’s making it wet? …… You misunderstand.’
I smiled, for the memories of my past with him were not very bright.
“Well, let’s warm up a bit and get started.”
He smirks as he walks around to the other side and unlaces the watch on his wrist.
“That, Parnello. If you can…….”
“An attack that will make you feel like you’re going to die? I will, Master.”
“No──”
I feel the hairs on my body stand on end as Parnello disappears before my eyes and I immediately raise my left arm.
He appears in an instant and tries to throw a punch at me, but it’s blocked by my arm.
“That was a pretty serious punch, and now you’re blocking it.”
“Because I felt like I was going to die if I didn’t block it……!”
“No way, there’s no way you’re going to get hit by a punch like that……!”
A sharp kick followed.
──Thud.
With a rippling sound that cuts through the air, his foot, aiming for my head, slams into my arm once more, and at the same time, a shock that shakes my entire body rattles my brain.
I reach out to Parnello, using my willpower to keep my legs upright.
“I’m surprised you survived this one.”
“You should be more surprised!”
I reach out and grab Parnello by the tie. I pull him toward me with all my might.
But
“I think you need to work on your strength a little more.”
Parnello chuckles, holding on with only the strength of his neck.
“Is that what you were going to do?!”
Sparks start to fly, as if a fireworks display had happened right in front of me, but the scent of blood on my breath makes me smile and look up at him.
“Bingo.”
[An ancient berserker’s ring absorbs the user’s blood!]
A torrent of power rushed through me in an instant.
Channeling it into my natural healing at the same time, I regain my vision and immediately wrap my arms around Parnello’s neck, driving my knee into his abdomen.
My knee felt like steel striking steel, but I also felt Parnello’s body snap back.
The attack had worked but Parnello’s grip on my side didn’t allow for a second strike.
“A blood-devouring ring, is that why you went to Jeju Island?”
Parnello asks, closing the distance and looking at me in surprise.
“Yes.”
I hadn’t scored a single effective hit in all my fights, so this attack felt like a huge accomplishment.
I’d landed a real hit on Parnello, not someone else.
“I’m going to use a weapon from now on, don’t you mind?”
This was Parnello, someone I could only barely tiptoe around if I went all out with the intention of killing him.
“With pleasure.”
Parnello spreads his arms wide as if he’s welcome to join me as I pull out Midas’ gloves and shotgun.
“Then without further ado…….”
Parnello hasn’t seen the shotgun yet, has he?
I smile at him, who is still looking at me with a relaxed expression, even though I’m pointing the gun at him.
“This is the gun my maternal grandfather shot my father with.”
“……?”
“He said my father was in quite a bit of pain.”
“No, wait──”
“Is Parnello going to be in pain too?”
-Bang! Bang!
I quickly pull the trigger twice, and as if sensing something unusual, Parnello rolls to the side, dodging the bullets.
At the same time, he looks at the floor he was just standing on and lets out a bemused chuckle.
“That’s a nasty weapon, the floor of a training hall that hasn’t even been scratched by most attacks.”
“And hot.”
I snapped the gun open and loaded the aura, then I pointed it at him once more and fired a second shot but at that moment, I heard the ground explode.
Kagagagagak!
The sound of scraping on the ground is followed by a burst of red flame in front of Parnello.
“Surely it would hurt quite a bit if I were hit from the front.”
“You managed to deflect this in such a short time while narrowing your sights?”
I can’t help but cluck my tongue at the sight of him deflecting an attack that a normal Awakened wouldn’t even be able to react to, let alone deal with.
What kind of insane physical abilities does he have to be able to pull off such a trick?
‘I’ll have to be careful with the range.’
Since the effective distance of the maximum firepower is clear, I need to think of more ways to make the most of this weapon.
“So, are these the only results of your trip to Jeju Island?”
“Not really.”
I hadn’t even brought up the epic imprint yet.
“Then how about we fight a little dirty, like the first time?”
Now that Parnello has realized that a sword won’t work against the shotgun, his only option is hand-to-hand combat.
I’ve got the basics of how to use a shotgun against a strong opponent.
Now for the next step: hand-to-hand combat.
“Are you okay with that?”
“It’s training. If I get hurt badly, I’ll be treated like I was in class, and then I’ll go back to the academy.”
I roll up my sleeves and assume a fighting stance in preparation for the intense battle ahead.
It’s a basic infighting stance, but the key is to keep my fingers slightly curved like an animal’s claws, ready to strike or punch at any moment.
“…… Is that an aura technique?”
It didn’t take Parnello long to realize that I was getting ready to use an aura technique.
And suddenly.
“Ugh!
A sticky, sharp chill runs down my spine.
My jaw clenches and my breath catches in my throat.
There was an intensity in his eyes that bordered on madness.
It was intangible, surely, but it was so thick I could almost see it dripping.
“It’s been a while since I’ve faced an aura user. I’m a little excited.”
As the corners of his mouth twitched up in an eerie smile, I coated my both hands with aura, steadied myself, and stood on the tips of my toes, ready to run at any moment.
“Because it’s scarier when you say it like that!”
I said, kicking my legs and flailing my arms.
It was an aura technique used to shape-shift solid objects, and one that works well against hard-bodied people like Parnello.
“You obviously didn’t go to Jeju Island as a tourist.”
But as he talks, dodging one attack after another, Parnello’s expression is anything but calm.
“You caught the dragon, no way!”
If he continues to dodge the blows, I can apply a little grappling.
This time, I don’t grab him by his body, but by his clothes, and gradually move into close combat.
BANG──!
An attack aimed at the cheek is blocked by his raised left arm.
A second attack was aimed at the side but Parnello smirks as he brings his knee up to block the attack, then delivers a blow.
In the old days, I would have been beaten defenseless.
“I’m starting to see a little bit……!”
I push myself up even further to give his fist no chance to gain momentum, and then slam my right arm into Parnello’s fist.
“Gotcha!”
And in the next motion, I swing my arm around to hit him in the jaw with my elbow.
But
“Shit.”
He pulls his head back, and I go in shallow.
I swear under my breath because I immediately realize what would happen next.
“Hmph!”
I hold my breath and force my creaky body into action but at that moment, Parnello’s sword swings for my throat.
I duck down to avoid the blow, then immediately execute a one-legged tackle, using my shoulder to push Parnello’s body away.
I wanted to take him down but Parnello stood firm, like an old tree, and managed to stay on one foot.
“I don’t think it’s working.”
“Not yet……!”
[Activating Black Mist!]
Using the effect of Black Mist to create a sudden momentum, Parnello’s body was forced to fall.
Although he fell over…….
“We’re not playing sports, are we?”
He immediately followed up with an elbow to my head, causing my brain to shake violently and preventing me from continuing my attack.
“Your overall technique is certainly better, but……still not good enough.”
Shaking me off, Parnello chuckles and cracks his neck.
“Well, Master, you’ll have to go to the academy tomorrow. Shall we wrap things up?”
Shaking my head at Parnello’s words, which sounded as if they were coming from a place of goodwill, I regained my composure and stretched out my right arm toward him.
“Yeah, if this doesn’t work.”
“This?”
At the same time. In an instant, like a flower blooming, a white-hot flame envelops my right arm.
“The condition has been fulfilled.”
[Epic Imprint activates!]
[Imprint – Dragon (Emissary of the Immortals): He plunged his dagger into the heart of the ruler of the Abyssal Flame, and in a shower of deadly blows, he drank the blood of the Immortals. He is the emissary of death who brought the Immortals to rest].
[Imprint Skill: Breath, is created]
[Inscribed Skill: Dragonlance]
“Breath.”
The flame in my right arm spreads out, engulfing everything around me as it engulfs Parnello.
It was a power that far exceeded my expectations.
“……The effect is insane.”
I stick my tongue out at the sight of blackness around me as I turn to check on Parnello.
“I’m genuinely surprised. Master.”
Parnello’s gravelly voice was heard from overhead.
As if on cue, I lost consciousness.
The only thing that remains in my mind is Parnello’s tanned hand and the devastation of the training room.
The next day, I saw Parnello’s hands, both bandaged, and I could only guess what had happened.
And here we are.
