Chapter 411
The experience of fighting the owner of the abyss, counting the one during the humanity annihilation scenario, was the third time.
Back then, the giant was overwhelmingly strong, but Seong Jihan had also developed considerably compared to that time.
However,
[I won't drag this out for long.]
The opponent wasn't passive like back then either.
Hiss...
The void energy thickly settled, and the space began to distort.
That distortion that had completely erased humanity during the annihilation scenario,
Was absorbing Seong Jihan more precisely than before.
'He's trying to absorb me.'
Perhaps because Dongbang Sak had bestowed Taiji, while previously the giant had the momentum to grind away Seong Jihan's body,
This time, the Lost Soul was trying to absorb Jihan into himself by sucking him into the distortion.
Seong Jihan already had a countermeasure for this attack.
Fundamental Divine Arts,
Annihilation God's Secret
Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods.
The patterns of Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods began to spread around the sword.
It blocked Seong Jihan's front like a huge shield, completely blocking the fiercely unleashed attacks.
[How annoying.]
Flash!
As a red light flickered from the thousands of eyes embedded in the giant's body,
Chiiiing...!
The patterns of Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods were cut horizontally and vertically, and the center was pierced through a single point.
"This is... Triad of Martial Mastery, isn't it? You unleashed them simultaneously."
Total Annihilation., Mount Tai Suppression, and even Way of Immortals.
Taiji's Lost Soul was simultaneously unleashing the basic techniques of Triad of Martial Mastery using the void.
[I've also inherited Nameless Divine Art.]
"Nameless Divine Art It's been a while since I heard that name. None of you could reveal the name?"
[You, you're saying you figured it out?]
At Seong Jihan's words, the Lost Soul's offense momentarily stopped.
Swoosh...
Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods quickly regenerated back to its original state.
"I know."
[What is it? The real name of Nameless Divine Art. It was one of the things I was curious about before dying each time.]
"It's not difficult to tell you the name, but I'd like you to resolve my curiosity too."
[What do you want to know?]
"The method to restore Sister to her original state. If I win and you disappear, will it automatically be released?"
Sister couldn't be left in that petrified state like that.
Since it was the owner of the abyss who didn't release her, Seong Jihan thought he also had a way to undo that state.
And,
[...]
The Taiji's Lost Soul, who momentarily hesitated at Seong Jihan's words,
[To restore your sister to her original state, a key is needed. This one.]
Pop!
One of the eyes embedded in the giant's chest burst, and a purple key took its place.
Is that the key to unlock the shackles that were binding the petrified body?
[If you defeat me, you can obtain it.]
"Really? Then we can immediately settle this."
[However, if that happens, your sister will be demoted from a constellation to a diamond supporter. Until we settle in another world, we need the power she holds as the Witch of the Void.]
"Another world is already a lost cause anyway? Then I need to find Sister's human body."
[That judgment is the decisive difference between you and me.]
The Lost Soul, who thought if he joined forces with Seong Jihan, they could escape to another world,
And Seong Jihan, who was certain this matter was now impossible.
The two didn't emotionally antagonize each other, but their stances were very clear.
[So, what's the name of the martial art?]
Will the name of Nameless Divine Art being revealed make his martial arts stronger too?
Seong Jihan momentarily thought about just extracting information and not teaching him,
'Forget it.'
The other him had even displayed the key, so he didn't want to lie about such a thing.
"It's Fundamental Divine Arts."
[Fundamental... Was that the name?]
As if his question was resolved, the Lost Soul accelerated his offense.
Chiiiing!
The cracks gradually grew larger on Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods, which acted as a shield.
Seong Jihan's body also slowly tried to enter the distortion of space.
'If I don't mobilize all means, I'll end up being absorbed...'
No matter how much Seong Jihan had grown, the difference in power he held with the Lost Soul was considerable.
If his goal now wasn't to absorb Seong Jihan but to annihilate him,
He would have definitely taken damage from an even more intense wave of attacks.
'I need to deal a blow when he tries to absorb me.'
For that, he would have to go all-out.
Seong Jihan turned on BattleTube.
Then,
- Oh, is the Challenger League game starting?
- This is the first time, right? Haha
- Huh? But... This doesn't seem like an in-game?
The viewers who excitedly came in thinking Seong Jihan, who had risen to the Challenger League, was finally executing a game,
- ...Didn't we see that giant somewhere before?
- T-That's the giant from the humanity annihilation scenario!
- It seems a bit smaller in size compared to then...
- But it looks exactly the same?? ㅡㅡ
- The space is also distorting strangely like back then.
As Seong Jihan's opponent truly revealed his appearance, the atmosphere instantly turned serious.
Because the owner of the Pyongyang Abyss, who brought about the end even though humanity won the Bronze League demotion match, was showing his immense presence on the screen.
And,
- Oh... I've seen this before.
- He's already clashing with that monster?
- Seeing it move, it's not just blankly standing there like last time... This, the outcome will be quickly decided.
- Ah, this is bad... I was going to bet on the human race, but what if they go extinct like this?
As alien viewers also flocked in large numbers upon seeing the broadcast ON state,
[Star Buff is activated.]
A powerful buff that increases all abilities by 100% was activated.
Then, Myriad Ghost Sealing Gods, which was being cut helplessly a moment ago, quickly recovered.
And the distortion of space could no longer expand and was yielding its territory to Seong Jihan.
And,
Flash!
[You, don't tell me you turned on BattleTube...]
"Yeah. I need to get some ability buffs."
[...How disappointing.]
At Seong Jihan turning on BattleTube, the Lost Soul, who had been fighting but not antagonistic until now,
For the first time, showed killing intent towards him from all his eyes.
[You should know that if you livestream our battle through BattleTube, it will disrupt future plans.]
The future plans the Lost Soul spoke of were of course,
After absorbing Seong Jihan, using that power to take Yoon Seah and Seong Jiah and escape.
However, if this battle was livestreamed through BattleTube, it might hinder this matter.
But that was just their circumstance.
"So you want me to give up the buff?"
Seong Jihan had no intention of giving up the 100% amplification effect on his stats.
In the first place,
'Escape has become impossible.'
As humanity was suspected to be the Red Administrator,
And the void side also seemed to have figured this out and was imposing restrictions to prevent escape,
Even if Seong Jihan obediently merged with the Lost Soul and tried to flee to another world, it would be difficult to shake off their pursuit.
'If there was a possibility of escape, I might have joined forces... But now that it's fallen through, I need to take control of the situation. Here, I have to subdue the Lost Soul even if I have to mobilize all my power.'
And for that, the star buff was essential, so he had to turn on BattleTube no matter what.
However,
[...Buff. Hah, in the end, even with your feeling or whatever.]
The Lost Soul, upon hearing Seong Jihan's words, was greatly disappointed in him and,
[You endured just to save yourself?]
Furthermore, he showed intense killing intent.
[...Before things go wrong, let me make it so you can't broadcast anymore.]
Hiss...
The distortion of space accelerated even more.
The interior of the abyss space began to fold as if crumpling paper.
[Die for now. I'll absorb you after that.]
Chiiing...!
The Lost Soul began to truly pressure him.
Seong Jihan faced him like that and silently put on a half-mask.
Then, the void amplified.
'Absorbing, you're not the only one who can do it.'
Recalling the Sacred Flame, he advanced first towards the Taiji's Lost Soul.
* * *
1 hour since BattleTube was turned on.
- Wow... Is this the real situation?
- I think this is the first time I'm seeing Seong Jihan's body explode like that...
- The giant's regenerative power is no joke either.
The clash between the red-eyed giant and Seong Jihan had focused the attention of all humanity, even though only 1 hour had passed since the broadcast began.
Of course, Seong Jihan's broadcast usually had the highest viewership, but
His current battle was drawing in far more viewers than usual.
That was natural.
- If Seong Jihan loses here, is it humanity's annihilation? Lol
- No way... ㅡㅡ
- Is this something to dismiss as 'no way'? Lol This might be our last BattleTube broadcast...
Because Seong Jihan's opponent was the owner of the abyss, who was notorious as the boss of the humanity annihilation scenario,
People couldn't help but worry about the current situation.
As a red light flashed from the giant's eyeballs,
Chiiing...!
When an intense laser spewed out from there,
Seong Jihan's arm seemed to endure it for a moment, then was cut off.
- Ah! S-Seong Jihan's arm flew off again!
- Phew, but it regenerates quickly...
- Haa, that giant is fighting desperately unlike last time...
A battle where they repeatedly exploded, regenerated, and exploded again countless times.
However, because the difference in body size was so large, even if several parts of the giant burst, it wasn't very noticeable when regenerated,
Whereas if one part of Seong Jihan's body exploded, it was very conspicuous.
Kaboom!
'It exploded again.'
Seong Jihan looked down at his right leg that had burst from the opponent's explosion attack.
The leg that had disappeared to the point where its shape couldn't even be known.
However,
Swoosh...
As the World Tree inside him, filled with Eternity, was activated, the disappeared body quickly regenerated.
Perhaps because the ability of Eternity had improved in the meantime,
Seong Jihan had gained tremendous regenerative power to the point where if it disappeared, it would almost simultaneously return to its original state.
The Taiji's Lost Soul looked at this and spoke as if fed up.
[You... Your regenerative power is too great, even if it's great. Don't tell me you converted to an elf? Going over to Yggdrasil?]
"Going over, my foot. I just gained their abilities, that's all."
[...Hmph.]
"You're one to talk."
Pop! Pop!
As Seong Jihan's sword drew a single trajectory, the giant's eyes and body simultaneously exploded.
However, from the giant's body that disappeared like that,
Swoosh...
A spiritual body came out and enveloped the disappeared parts, soon restoring the body.
"Your regenerative power is terrible too."
[Yes. Your attacks are useless.]
Seong Jihan looked at the intact giant and recalled the previous memory.
Back then, the system said the weakness of the owner of the abyss was the head.
'I aimed there countless times, but it was useless.'
Unlike the passive owner of the abyss in the mission,
The giant possessed by the other Seong Jihan never allowed attacks on the head.
1 hour passed with them only inflicting minor bleeding on each other, unable to deal a decisive blow.
- This will be tough.
- He, who even took over the Administrator's hand, can't defeat a single owner of the abyss?
- Gosh... BattleNet is something you know but don't know.
- *&*$SPACEBET134413*&*$ is currently conducting private betting. Hurry and come in to bet on who will be the winner of this battle~~~!!
- Wow... A private betting company is dealing with it? This channel owner?
- I'm betting on Seong Jihan. This guy always delivers.
- Where are your eyes? Of course you should bet on the giant;
- Can't you tell just by looking?
The aliens had already judged that the odds of winning were leaning towards the Taiji's Lost Soul.
However, the Taiji's Lost Soul himself,
Swoosh...
Was calming down the fiercely raised momentum.
[At this rate, there will be no end. Until that is brought out.]
"If you mean that..."
[Taiji Sword.]
Swoosh...
The giant's eyes all rotated, drawing the Taiji.
[However, if I bring this out, everything will collapse... Even you, whom I'm trying to absorb, won't leave a trace.]
"Probably."
[...Do you really want to see such an end? If the Taiji Sword is activated, no matter who wins, we will ultimately be the losers.]
From the opponent's perspective, if he brings out the Taiji Sword, the spoils of war disappear.
In the end, it's a situation where he only uses power and gains nothing.
As Seong Jihan blankly stared at the Lost Soul, he continued.
[What is your plan?]
"Why, are you going to cooperate?"
[Depending on the situation. If I activate the Taiji Sword once, everything will be destroyed. Rather than both of us dying, it's better for one to take it...]
In the end, rather than engaging in a battle where both lose, is he saying he'll listen to Seong Jihan's plan?
'It's definitely me.'
While Seong Jihan thought so and tried to have a conversation instead of maintaining the current confrontation,
[...No, wait.]
Whirring...!
The Taiji being drawn in the giant's eyes gradually began to grow larger.