Although the deep-red eyes surrounded by pitch-black sclera that fell upon Kieran were diabolical, he didn't retreat in fear. Instead, he felt curiosity.
This being was unlike the dysmorphic figure that resided within the darkness. This phantom was blessed with a monstrous physique, defended by an exoskeleton exuding infernal heat. It was hard to tell in the current conditions, but it seemed like molten flames flowed through this exoskeleton.
Kieran could only infer that this being before him was one of the demons Agrianos mentioned. However, Agrianos helped Kieran understand the crux of their current situation.
"That isn't a genuine demon. It's more so a phantom, if you will. The seal still prohibits any real demons from trespassing into this realm. So what you see now is a manifestation of the power a demon can send through without killing themselves," Agrianos revealed.
The Nether Severing Hex-Seal didn't just form a boundary. The chains that comprised the seal also created an environment capable of tearing the physical form of all netherly creatures to shreds. The only reason these phantoms could make it through was the external tear in the formation.
Its punishments were less agonizing in comparison to the formation.
"Because they possess no physical vessel, they're virtually immortal in these current conditions," Agrianos muttered while cracking his neck side to side in preparation to make a move.
"If they have no physical body, wouldn't physical attacks be useless?" Kieran questioned.
"Precisely. But your attacks have transcended the physical. Do you think my weapon is a mere tool of physical might? Bah, as if! What you hold in your hands is a Soul Armament. Besides, that protection surrounding your body will assist you more than you think," Agrianos replied proudly.
There was nothing he was more proud of than his weapon. However, it also wasn't a crutch, so Agrianos had no qualms temporarily relinquishing his grand weapon to his potential successor.
Having received Agrianos' explanation, Kieran's eyes brightened. It wasn't mentioned in the notifications, so Kieran assumed this was a purely physical class until certain events transpired.
However, Agrianos' modest confirmation assured that this wasn't a purely physical class. With that in mind, Kieran lifted the silver blade in his hand and pointed it toward the demonic phantom.
A tempest of bloody energy surrounded the blade as Kieran held it in both hands and slashed horizontally. A robust blood arc fired forth, causing slight spatial ripples as it moved. This phenomenon was an indication of the attack's strength. At this standard, some attacks were powerful enough to shatter the fabric of space!
Yet, despite his powerful attack, something startling took place!
The phantom lifted its massive claws and grasped the Blood Wave! This attack drove the phantom back until it released a bloodcurdling, feral roar.
Cccrrrk!
The sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the area as the phantom destroyed Kieran's attack. Most people would become nervous after witnessing this spectacle, but Kieran never aimed to defeat his opponent.
The objective said to repel, so that's exactly what he did—he focused his power on driving back the enemy.
Agrianos cracked a faint smile as he looked toward Kieran. 'Kid's got some heart in him. This isn't a power many would willingly indulge in. Above all, the effects are maddening.'
As the class name sounded, a Berserker was a manic existence. The mastery of this class wasn't evaluated by how much damage one could unleash, but by how sane they could remain while employing the power!
Gradually, Kieran's eyes filled with a crimson color. However, it was much slower than it should've been because of the effects of the Vengeful Soul trait. While it didn't negate adverse effects, negative effects took longer to affect Kieran's mental state.
"Agrianos," Kieran suddenly shouted.
"Hm?"
"Isn't there something you need to do? Leave this rift to me; I'll handle it! You should start repairing the seal as quickly as possible!" Kieran strongly suggested. While he understood quest unraveled at a predetermined rate, the pace could be manipulated if one's presence was powerful enough.
In this case, Kieran wished to tackle this issue before something outrageous happened. After all, one of the quest objectives was to defend Agrianos while in a vulnerable state. Simply put, the objective details revealed that Agrianos would soon become virtually useless, forcing Kieran to shoulder all of the action!
"Oh? Boy, are you rushing me? Why so impatient? Hmm?" Agrianos playfully sniffed the air. "Is that fear I smell coming from you? Are you scared, boy? That wouldn't be the case, right?"
Naturally, Kieran claiming to be naturally fearless would be a lie. Everyone feared at least one thing. But, Kieran could only display a wry smile in response. It wasn't fear driving him to rush Agrianos; it was experience.
Some quest just called for the most absurd clearance circumstances! Furthermore, from what he inferred through Agrianos' age, power and attitude, this quest was the very absurdity he was apprehensive of!
"Fear is inevitable, but my dissatisfaction with failure is even greater. I will try my best regardless of what happens," Kieran said after regaining his stoic expression. If he couldn't manipulate Agrianos' actions, all he could do was apply 100% of his efforts.
"Courage, kid. Courage isn't the absence of fear in a soul. It's the steadfastness to persist while in a predicament that incites fear," Agrianos stated while losing his playful expression completely.
Afterward, a translucent orb the size of a bowling ball appeared between Agrianos' palms. Inside the translucent sphere swirled mysterious energy of three shades—black, grey, and dull white. Kieran was unsure what this item was; however, given that the orb looked like a superior version of the spheres atop the stone socles, he didn't doubt its relevancy to the quest.
Once this orb appeared, Agrianos disappeared. He stepped through space, ripping open a crimson rift. When he appeared, he stood within range of the tear. No more than 10 meters separated him and the rip.
Agrianos glanced in Kieran's direction with a complex look. Becoming vulnerable was never something an individual would look forward to. "Let loose, young one. For I will no longer be able to do so."
"I'm ready," Kieran affirmed.
A moment later, Kieran sprang forth, deflecting the attack of the demonic phantom while another phantom appeared from the tear. Now that Agrianos had approached with this orb, it was as if the tear condemned his presence, uncontrollably spewing out these demonic phantoms!
The number climbed from one phantom to deal with to ten in a few seconds!
'Calm down. This is still a manageable situation,' Kieran thought to himself. His grasp around the silver blade tightened as he once again switched to two-handed wielding.
Kieran exhaled, releasing his troubles before quickly situating himself between Agrianos and the tear.
Numerous feral roars sounded, but Kieran remained steadfast.
Bang!
The silvery blade pulsated with a crimson hue as it came in contact with one of the demonic phantoms. A deep gash formed on the phantom's claw, but Kieran was also forced a few steps back.
Suddenly, all ten phantoms sprang into action, targeting Agrianos as he closed his eyes and chanted a language Kieran was vaguely familiar with—the Spoken Language of the Runes. An ancient language lost to time that many wouldn't know how to verbalize.
Despite their heavy attacks, Kieran didn't allow the phantoms to breach his defensive perimeter. The silver blade's range extended by one meter after gaining a dense blood coating. Afterward, Kieran slashed the sword wildly, employing the available skill known as the Crimson Barrage.
Each slash impacted a different phantom, sending them flying back as Kieran heaved upon finishing the attack. Although he had ample Stamina, these skills were incredibly demanding of him. It required an unusual form of Mana to unleash the strikes.
This abnormality was something he had never experienced. But, it was something he would have to revisit at another time.
Groaaah!
Having been forced back by Kieran, the phantoms grew infuriated, roaring nonstop as they approached Kieran time and time again. However, one of the phantoms suffered an unfortunate demise as a Crimson Current made them collide with the tear.
Their body was instantly sucked into the tear, admittedly disappearing from the battlefield.
Kieran felt enlivened after this occurrence. 'So this is what the objective meant by repelling—send them back from which they came. Still, I wonder how many times I will have to do this.'
After Agrianos started chanting, a timer of ten minutes appeared above his head. In most cases, a ten-minute timer wouldn't seem like a long time, but when that time limit was associated with enemies of this caliber, it was an eternity!
Furthermore, that wasn't the only matter that worried Kieran. After sending the phantom back, it reacted unusually, growing noticeably larger!
'I'm not hallucinating, am I? Is sending them back making this thing rapidly expand?!'
By the time he forced the fifth phantom back inside, the tear had at least doubled in size! Once it reached that state, a claw three times larger emerged from the rift.
"Hah hah. Our resurgence is inevitable. You humans scurry to prevent what is to come naturally. You fear us! But that is good... because your fear is what sustains us. Despair. Cradle in your dwellings. Crouch in horror! For all of you shall kneel before the almighty presence of the Lemegeton!"
Bang! Scrrrrrrrrr!
Another claw appeared, forcibly widening the tear, allowing a 6-meter tall demonic phantom to emerge from the rift. Once that happened, it devoured its brethren and grew four immense horns.
Unlike the other phantoms, Kieran actually received information about this opponent!
「Lv.600 Zirgirak's Phantom (Mythic)
Boss Type: World
Demon, Darkness, Fire
Health: ??? (???)
Special Traits: «Immortal» 」
"Puny vermin, you think you can stand in my way?" Zirgirak said in a deafening voice.
Boom!
Right after, Zirgirak's phantom turned into a blur as its mighty claw swept down on Kieran, crumbling the ground beneath his feet as Kieran lifted the blade above his head to defend.
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