Chapter 57

Chapter 57

 

After the collision with Silent Ruin.

Lee Ha-kyung had discovered one use for the Resonance Pillar.

After making it vibrate strongly.

If he injected Abyss Energy into it, an enormous suction force would occur.

It was also far faster than charging it with Abyss Energy by striking it.

Lee Ha-kyung had simply been using it incorrectly until now.

This was probably the proper method.

In any case, once the Resonance Pillar activated, his opponent’s speed dropped sharply.

[Talent Predator, Veil Lancer, encountered]

The system message appeared immediately afterward.

Lee Ha-kyung nodded as if he had expected it.

‘As expected, it’s the same kind as the Core Guardian.’

Veil Lancer flew with its body tilted sideways.

Thanks to that, it was able to escape the Resonance Pillar’s range quickly.

In exchange, its attack toward Lee Ha-kyung was thwarted.

During the brief opening that appeared.

Lee Ha-kyung grabbed the Whisperer.

“Before we draw Aggro, we will need to reduce its speed with ranged attacks first.”

―Yes, we will slow it as much as possible.

After Great Sage’s answer came through.

Beams of light in all kinds of colors embroidered the air.

The attacks had begun from the Raid Team’s back line.

Even the Healers joined in, scattering all sorts of debuffs.

However, Veil Lancer was not caught easily.

Because its flight speed was even faster than the Core Guardian’s.

Shaaaaaak―!

It flew around like a fighter jet.

Unfortunately, the Raid Team’s attempts only sliced through empty air.

Lee Ha-kyung met up with John while staring at Veil Lancer.

“This really will not be easy.”

“Bro. Do we really have to catch that bastard? Can’t we just ignore it? In any case, after a few days, the terrain and everything will all be ground away.”

“Unfortunately, not that one.”

“Really?”

“I learned a very important secret, but I cannot tell you right now.”

Lee Ha-kyung quickly put on the artifacts John had brought him.

Then his precarious state of mind stabilized a little.

After all, fighting that monster-like bastard bare-handed would be difficult.

Soon, the full-scale battle between Veil Lancer and the Raid Team began.

However, the way it unfolded was a little strange.

Veil Lancer only tested them while flying at high speed.

And the Raid Team was merely repeating attacks that held no real meaning.

Watching it, Lee Ha-kyung clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘It’s too fast. Debuffs and everything else just aren’t landing.’

At this rate, they would only be dragged around by Veil Lancer.

Lee Ha-kyung gradually began to increase his speed.

At the same time, he called John through the Whisperer.

“John! A boost, please.”

―Roger that.

Dadadadat!

When Lee Ha-kyung sprinted at full speed, John lowered his stance.

Then, the moment Lee Ha-kyung’s foot touched his shield.

John launched him upward with a burst of blue light.

THOOOOM!

Lee Ha-kyung began rising at tremendous speed.

A tremendous pain climbed up through his legs.

But there was almost no damage.

[Cloak of Command activated]

[Immune to pain]

[Healing skill heals injuries]

Because his teammates’ support followed while he endured it by ignoring the pain.

Thanks to that, Lee Ha-kyung could focus only on his original objective.

‘Come.’

He precisely blocked Veil Lancer’s flight path.

The distance between the two shrank with every passing moment.

A confident smile appeared on Lee Ha-kyung’s lips.

And Veil Lancer could not hide its bewilderment.

―You insane bas......

CLAAAANG! Vrrrrr―!

Lee Ha-kyung struck the Resonance Pillar hard with his karambit.

Then a sharp wave seized the entire area.

[Resonance Pillar activated]

[Absorbs all surrounding energy]

Even though Lee Ha-kyung had let go, the Resonance Pillar remained fixed in the air.

Veil Lancer sharply changed direction.

However, it could not fully escape the suction force.

On the other hand, Lee Ha-kyung was falling leisurely.

‘At this point, they should be able to hit it.’

Sure enough.

Just as Lee Ha-kyung had expected, the beams of light struck Veil Lancer’s back.

Thud, thud, thud!

―Kraaak! You shabby human bastards!

If things continued like this, the raid seemed as though it would proceed smoothly.

A Talent Predator stronger than the Core Guardian?

So what?

If they all beat it down together, it was nothing more than a monster raid.

Lee Ha-kyung thought they would be able to catch Veil Lancer quickly as well.

Until the bastard twisted its body in midair and looked straight at him.

[Veil Lancer deploys Shadow Chamber]

[Trapped in a space completely severed from the outside world]

Swoosh―! Thoom!

“Huh?”

Lee Ha-kyung could not help being bewildered.

Pitch-black energy stretched out.

Then it wrapped around him and Veil Lancer.

Not only the bursting sounds of skills from outside.

Even the stale air of The Void could no longer be felt.

He had been firmly trapped in a thoroughly separated space.

Soon, Veil Lancer, which had stopped perfectly in the air, smiled sinisterly.

―How does it feel to be dragged into the Room of Truth?

In this case, he had no choice but to fight head-on.

With his team members’ support excluded.

However, a smile appeared on Lee Ha-kyung’s lips.

“Interesting. But this....... does it not seem like what I wanted?”

―How amusing. Surely you do not think I am on the same level as that foolish bastard Silent Ruin?

“You are both skinny bastards. How different could you be?” 

―Your arrogance pierces the heavens. If not for His Majesty’s orders, I would have separated your bones from your flesh long ago.

Veil Lancer rapidly closed the distance to Lee Ha-kyung.

Then it began swinging its massive scythe with force.

Whoosh―! CLANG!

‘Ugh!’

After blocking the attack, Lee Ha-kyung swallowed a groan inwardly.

Unlike his confident answer, his attitude was passive.

It could not be helped.

[Shadow Chamber’s Abyss Energy constricts body and mind]

[Mana Suppression Effect: 50%]

It was a phrase that felt as if it might give him PTSD.

Because the Abyss Ruler’s Authority, Restraint, had exactly this sort of effect.

Lee Ha-kyung could not use his strength properly.

Because Abyss Energy was controlled through Mana.

He barely endured the merciless barrage of attacks.

Clang, clang, clang!

‘I can deploy Abyss Refinement, but nothing beyond that. What should I do?’

It seemed he could not even attempt Soul-Sever or Heaven-Shattering Fist.

Because both were skills that consumed a great deal of Mana.

And replacing the missing portion with Abyss Energy was difficult as well.

If Mana did not support it, he could not control that enormous power.

In the end, Lee Ha-kyung could only harden his defense and hold out.

Then Veil Lancer’s attacks grew even more violent.

―Khahahaha! How fitting for a human bastard who knows nothing except swarming in and surrounding his enemy!

The bastard swung its scythe like mad.

They were simple attacks, but their power was tremendous.

It was because of Veil Lancer’s swift flight speed.

Moreover, the trajectories of its attacks were also unusual.

Indiscriminate attacks continued from front, back, left, right, and even above.

Whoosh―! Clang! Whoosh―! Thooong!

‘Damn it. At this rate, I’ll reach my limit soon.’

Lee Ha-kyung’s defense was gradually falling apart.

Then, without thinking, he looked at the translucent wall.

His companions were moving busily beyond the Shadow Chamber.

Judging by how they were firing all sorts of skills into it.

It seemed they were trying anything they could to save Lee Ha-kyung.

‘Let’s hold out just a little longer. Then an opening might appear.’

It was still too early to abandon hope.

Gritting his teeth, Lee Ha-kyung focused on Veil Lancer’s movements.

However, even if he read his opponent’s trajectory, there was still a problem.

Whoosh―! CLANG!

“Kh!”

Because with Compressed Abyss Refinement, even blocking the attacks was difficult.

The gray-white energy dwelling in his karambit repeatedly shattered and restored itself.

Even in the midst of dizziness, Lee Ha-kyung organized his thoughts.

‘Somehow, I need a means of attack first....... Huh? But how am I using the Compression Authority?’

Lee Ha-kyung’s skills were broadly divided into two types.

Things like Soul-Sever, Heaven-Shattering Fist, and Wall-Walking Steps were Mana-based.

On the other hand, there were also skills that mainly used Abyss Energy.

Those that originated from the Abyss Ruler’s Authority.

Skills such as Distortion and Compression activated without much difficulty.

Then what about the Core Guardian’s will he had gained recently?

What about Dead Zone?

Lee Ha-kyung adjusted his grip on the karambit.

‘I should be able to use that.’

He released the defense he had been holding firmly.

And took a natural stance.

Then Veil Lancer’s attack immediately drove in.

―You have finally lost your mind!

Shaaaaaak―!

Along with a thunderous roar that tore the air apart, a scythe the size of a person rushed in.

An ominous strike wrapped in pitch-black energy.

If he were hit directly by something like that, his body would be split in two.

A terrible sense of crisis seized Lee Ha-kyung’s heart.

However, he overcame the pressure transmitted through his whole body.

He forcibly drew up the Mana that had been reduced by half.

And crammed a vast amount of Abyss Energy into the karambit.

Then he thrust the blade toward Veil Lancer.

[Core Guardian’s will creates an Extreme Annihilation Zone]

Swish. Thrust!

The sound of Lee Ha-kyung stabbing with the karambit quietly rang out.

Normally, Veil Lancer should have ignored it and pushed through with its attack.

Because Lee Ha-kyung’s movement was utterly simple.

How much impressive power could possibly dwell in such a powerless motion?

However, Veil Lancer, which had been rushing in, sharply changed direction.

―Uheok!

As though it had been greatly startled.

It swallowed a sharp breath.

The reason was simple.

Because something invisible had appeared between Lee Ha-kyung and Veil Lancer.

An Extreme Annihilation Zone with a diameter of two meters.

It was the main attack technique of the Core Guardian, Silent Ruin.

Veil Lancer, which had changed direction sharply, landed on the ground.

Then it immediately sent a thought to him.

―Th-This is....... That foolish bastard’s annihilation technique? Do you also possess a Predator’s ability? Is that why His Majesty is showing interest?

It seemed to be truly shaken.

Of course, Lee Ha-kyung did not answer the bastard’s question.

‘I roughly know it is thanks to Soul Brand, but.......’

He was not an idiot.

There was no reason to explain every little detail to an enemy.

Lee Ha-kyung adjusted his grip on the karambit.

Because of that last attack, Veil Lancer had lost part of one wing.

In that state, it probably could not fly properly.

Where could there be a more perfect opportunity than this?

Lee Ha-kyung immediately tried to close the distance to his opponent.

However, it was right then.

Rrrrrrr! CRASH!

―Ha-kyung!

Along with a thunderous noise, part of the Shadow Chamber collapsed.

It seemed his team members had finally broken through the barrier.

Immediately afterward, ranged attack skills poured in.

Lee Ha-kyung threw himself to the side with a confident smile.

Because he might be hit by the skills fired by his allies.

Pew, pew, pew! Boom!

Veil Lancer’s body was battered back and forth.

It certainly looked as though it had been driven into a corner.

Once the wave of attacks passed, Lee Ha-kyung immediately stuck close to the bastard.

“Never look down on Korea again.”

―Damn it! I do not even know what Korea is, and I never looked down on it!

“Ah, seriously. I’ve been influenced too much by John. I need to cut back on the nonsense.”

The barrier had been broken, but Shadow Chamber’s influence still remained.

Since he had used Dead Zone, there was only one option left.

Lee Ha-kyung charged at his opponent while deploying Abyss Refinement.

[Abyss Challenger’s Authority, ‘Compression,’ increases the density of Abyss Energy]

Tze-kyoong―!

It was a skill lacking for facing a super-strong opponent like Veil Lancer.

However, his opponent was in a fairly serious injured state.

It should be enough to deal damage.

Lee Ha-kyung struck down hard with his karambit.

Whooong―! Clang!

However, the moment his blade collided with Veil Lancer’s scythe.

His opponent’s mutter was transmitted into Lee Ha-kyung’s mind.

―Tch! It cannot be helped. See you next time, rotten human.

Immediately afterward, Veil Lancer’s entire body was dyed in pitch-black energy.

Then it began making an ominous sound.

Giyuuuuung―!

Lee Ha-kyung instinctively realized it.

‘I have to avoid this no matter what.’

Just as he was about to throw himself away.

The swelling black energy exploded.

BOOOOOM!