The most powerful and overwhelming creature I’d ever faced was looking at me with blatant murderous intent.
As I leaped upward, the first thing I saw was a cavernous abyss.
No, it wasn’t a cave.
It was Minerva’s gaping maw as she opened her mouth to eat me.
I scrambled for cover as I realized her venomous breath was about to pour out.
[You can breathe poison. There is no need to fret.]
He continued.
[I’m familiar with your body, and your tolerance to poison is higher than most humans. You’d probably be able to withstand it naked, so it goes without saying that you’d be able to withstand it while wearing all your equipment. It would be better if you prepared for a counter-attack.]
Following Svangali’s advice, I readied my sword.
It didn’t cross my mind that he might be playing a trick on me.
I recalled all the various skills I’ve gathered.
Poison resistance from acquiring Nidhogg’s Fang.
Orb of Poison Resistance I’d once gotten in Isabelle Gaudi’s dungeon. (TN: Ch. 46; originally called Resistance Gastrolith – Poison)
And an overall immunity boost from the branch of the World Tree.
Under these circumstances, there was no way that any poison could affect me.
In fact, when I was engulfed in Minerva’s poison, I didn’t suffer any damage other than the smoke entering my body.
[What!?]
Minerva shuddered in surprise as she slipped through the poisonous air.
Before she could do anything, I swung my fist at her face as hard as I could.
The blow was delivered with so much force that she felt a ringing, searing pain.
With a grunt, Minerva’s head snapped wildly to one side.
[Even the exact same attacks…!]
Minerva was more surprised at being hit than at the pain.
There was no time to pause.
I pulled out a branch of the World Tree and attached it to Minerva’s body.
She began to struggle wildly as I dug into her like the claws of a beast.
[Get off me, you wretch!]
As if to answer her, a horrible voice burst from my mouth.
(Hold still, you bastard! I promise to make it easy for you.) (TN: This is Ji-Hyuk)
A mocking cackle followed.
It was a voice that didn’t have an ounce of my will in it.
[Wake up!]
Svengali snapped at me.
[I told you, the power of the Seven Evils is dangerous. And remember, besides me, you have the ability of Margo. His power is tricky, and there is no telling how it might react to my power.]
[In the future, never let your guard down when using our powers, or something irreversible will happen!]
I nodded silently at his words.
Meanwhile, I clung to Minerva’s body, ripping off the scales and tearing at the skin beyond.
(I’ll keep that in mind.)
[Good to hear…also dodge.]
I already knew that Minerva’s tail was swinging toward me like a whip.
It wasn’t hard to avoid a telegraphed attack.
What I hadn’t realized, however, was that her tail could also snap in the most unimaginably bizarre directions.
A deafening sound.
Immediately afterward, a momentary but mind-boggling shock hit me.
By the time I regained consciousness, I was already falling.
Below me, Minerva looked up with her mouth open.
I sensed something was up.
There was no way she would do the same thing again, knowing it didn’t work the first time.
I tried to maneuver myself out of the way.
Something grabbed me by the waist and pulled me out of the way.
Immediately, a breath of poisonous smoke, lightning, flame, and a million other things engulfed where I had been just moments before.
…I doubt the King of Thorns would protect me from that.
– Krrrr…
The person who saved me was Lee Wuwei in her dragon form.
Even while carrying me, she flew unhindered through the air, dodging Minerva’s breath attacks.
(Thanks for saving my life.)
She turned her head and snorted.
I looked at where we were heading. I saw a giant golem and a man in massive armor running toward Minerva.
Immediately, a wall of ice, chains, and an unfathomable number of paper birds began to impede Minerva’s progress.
[Minerva will gain the advantage if you give her time to awaken her power.]
Svengali muttered quietly.
I listened intently to what he was saying.
[As far as I know, the only one who can win a war of attrition against her is Venus, a fellow Evil. You should end it as quickly as possible. Don’t forget that using your skills comes at a price.]
He was right.
The was timed, with a penalty that reduced all of my stats proportionately to the time I spent using it.
As Svangali advised, I had to end it in one blow, as quickly as possible.
So….
I reached out with my right hand and squeezed it into a fist.
Immediately, thorns emerged from near my heart, intertwining and forming into a long pole.
It was the Thorn Spear, one of the three abilities of the King of Thorns.
Thorn Spear
– Can only be created while using King of Thorns.
– Each time you create a Thorn Spear, the duration of King of Thorns is reduced by a small amount.
– When a Thorn Spear inflicts a wound, it corrupts the wound and gives the target a Mark of Corruption.
– Mark of Corruption reduces all of your opponent’s stats and is stackable.
– You can only have one Thorn Spear at a time; if it is disarmed or damaged, all Marks of Corruption you have accumulated will be removed.
Feeling the spear in my hand, I called Svengali.
[Why are you suddenly calling me so familiarly? It makes me unnecessarily nervous].
I smirked at him as he answered me in a shaky voice.
‘Don’t you want to fly free for once in a long time?’
[What?]
Without speaking to him anymore, I immediately used my second ability.
Thorn Bird.
It was an ability that immediately reminded me of Svengali.
Thorn Bird
– Can only be created while using King of Thorns.
– Each time you spawn a Thorn Bird, the duration of King of Thorns is massively reduced.
– Creates a single bird made of thorns that hovers around its owner and assists them.
– The cries of the Thorn Bird harass opponents’ minds, causing them to suffer hallucinations and visions.
– If the Thorn Bird is released or counter-summoned by an external factor, it will randomly curse all opponents within a certain radius for a period of time.
Similarly, the thorns that had escaped from near my heart intertwined as before, this time forming the shape of a giant bird reminiscent of an eagle.
Its body rumbled and trembled a moment later, and a strange light glowed in its eyes.
“Ohhh….”
Soon after, the bird’s beak opened, and a familiar voice spoke.
It looked up at me, its beak clacking and clicking.
“What an unexpected gift.”
Svengali had taken over the mind of the Thorn Bird.
He flapped his wings a few times and clacked his beak as if he really liked it.
“It’s only polite to return the favor when given one.”
With those words, he spread his wings and glided toward Minerva.
As I watched it fly away, I quietly used my last ability.
Thorn Crown.
It was a gamble, to say the least.
Thorn Crown (TN: Was originally Thorn Coffin.)
– Can only be created while using King of Thorns.
– When you use it, the duration of King of Thorns is reduced to half the remaining time.
– While it is active, your stats are buffed significantly.
– Temporarily grants you massive resistance to all status ailments for the duration of the Thorn Crown.
– Greatly increase the power of Thorn Spear and Thorn Bird.
– (Penalty) Greatly increases the penalty for using King of Thorns.
The thorns from your heart turn into a crown and are placed over your head.
I’m not very faithful.
I thought to myself as I held the spear.
“Hahahahaha!!! I have wings!”
Svengali was within striking distance of Minerva, and he shouted and flapped his wings wildly.
The thorns crackled and moved with each flap, leaving a trail of strange powder.
Minerva, who had belatedly spotted Svangali, literally gasped.
[Svengali! What the hell are you doing here…!]
“Well, do you have a moment to spare!”
He knew what I would do and focused on blocking Minerva’s view.
Lee Wuwei did as I asked and threw me with all her might toward Minerva.
I flew at breakneck speed, almost falling, and stabbed the spear into Minerva with all my might.
[Don’t underestimate me…!!!]
For some reason, she had a smile before she opened her maw.
The Thorn Spear exploded before her jaws could close on me, sending branches everywhere.
They flew out like awls and began to tear at her insides.
[Kyaaaaahhh…!!!]
She screamed in agony.
But she didn’t back down, instead closing her mouth, intending to swallow me whole.
I quickly made the Thorn Spear and lodged it between her teeth, barely able to keep her mouth from closing entirely.
[Ouch…!]
But I could not prevent some of her fangs from piercing through the King of Thorns and sinking into my body.
The two of us are now pitted against each other in a grappling match.
I wasn’t in a good spot.
I struggled to say something that would shake her to her core.
(I heard that you…wandered aimlessly and were sealed…?)
I was half-chewed in her mouth, so I couldn’t see her expression.
But I could feel her strength pressing down on me as if to snap me in two, weakening momentarily.
(Then you…should’ve just slept…)
Then, a voice came out of her mouth.
[Wasn’t it you?]
It was a voice tinged with anger, but there were hints of desperation.
[Wasn’t it you…! Isn’t it you who sealed me away, subdued me when I had never lost to anyone and promised to fight me again when I was living aimlessly!]
With a grunt, her fangs sank deeper and deeper into my body.
The pain was so sudden and dizzying that I could do nothing but endure it without a word.
[But, but, but, how could you…! How could you, the only person I’ve ever recognized…!]
[Stop, Svengali. What are you doing…!]
I could make out Svengali’s cries outside.
I could also feel Minerva’s body shaking and shuddering as the Ten Strongest attacked her.
But she was not interested in any of it.
She was focusing all her attention on me and me alone.
[Yes…! As it is, I’d rather just chew you up and have you live as a part of me…! That’s the most merciful thing I could do to you, a being I acknowledge and one who betrayed me…!]
It was then.
“Hey.”
From my shadow came a chilling female voice.
A woman’s arm shot out, clutching a dagger in the opposite hand.
“Ji-Hyuk was mine first. How dare you make delusions about him.”
Ye-Seul didn’t hesitate to strike with Nidhogg’s Fang.
The murderous sound of a tear resounded.
And the tiniest bit of time passed.
Soon, I was greeted with a notification window and Minerva’s deafening screams.
