Chapter 328: With Your Own Power (8)

The jewel resisted, letting out a dazzling light, but it couldn't do anything in its current state. Compared to when I used Peruta Circuit in the Beast King's body, this was a piece of cake.

[A human... won't be able... to contain me...!]

"Don't worry, you're not as amazing as you think."

Because of the Eliminator's fierce resistance, Steel had to use some of its energy for defense, and thus the Extort speed decreased. I concentrated on Absolute Soul and Peruta Circuit and held the jewel tighter. A large crack appeared on the green jewel, and the Eliminator's resistance dropped by a huge level.

[I refuse to die... without having completed my mission...!]

"Mission?"

A rather interesting word was mentioned. While the jewel's energy continued to flow inside me and became mixed with my mana unable to withstand its flow, I asked.

"What mission? You're about to die, so tell me."

[The mission, I was given...]

The fact that the Eliminator was "given" a mission suggested that there was someone who gave it to him. Hmm, was this guy just saying this to disturb me on its deathbed?

[To eliminate... the dungeon's creator.]

Around the large crack that appeared before, numerous thread-like cracks ran out. Before I could say anything, the jewel shattered into pieces and scattered into the air.

"That sure disturbed me alright."

Of course, even if I kept the Eliminator alive, it was unlikely it would say anything more.

I looked at the longsword that used to hold the green jewel. Although it no longer held the jewel or the enormous energy it held, the longsword was still shining brilliantly. At that moment, the longsword let out a faint light similar to when monsters scattered into particles of light. Immediately, I encased the longsword in my whirlpool, and the longsword's light returned to normal while its energy stopped leaking.

This longsword was a weapon that the dungeon's power couldn't clone. It had stayed with the Eliminator's main body through the ages. Letting it return to the dungeon was a shame. Sherafina probably wanted to absorb it as always and give it back to me after she refined it, but I preferred now to have it my way.

"Great. First, I'll take care of what's inside me."

I quickly absorbed the Eliminator's energy inside me and processed it to join the rest of the energies that I refined into one.

But as I said before, the Eliminator didn't have that much mana. It was a lot, but it was still lacking compared to the other worlds' enemies I've met.

What was amazing about the Eliminator was its authority to dominate all weapons. This authority was what made a lump of energy like the Eliminator rule as a world's enemy and even conquer a world.

Of course, just absorbing the Eliminator didn't give me the power to freely control all weapons. However, I did obtain the possibility. With its potential to grow, this power could ultimately reach that level.

Without Steel, it would have been impossible to absorb the Eliminator's power so perfectly. At best, I only would have become more proficient in wielding various weapons.

Sherafina could only have expected this much. The reward she would give couldn't have been greater. But because I absorbed the Eliminator's power myself, the reward she could give me disappeared.

[As Kang Shin-nim absorbed the Eliminator's power, the reward will become limited. If Kang Shin is willing to release a portion of it, I can refine it into the dungeon's power.]

"No, it's fine. Even if I compared to receiving the help of the dungeon's system, keeping the power in its pure form will be more effective against worlds' enemies."

[That is true.]

Of course, I was confident I wouldn't be disadvantaged and obtain all of the Eliminator's power. But since Sherafina couldn't read Steel's power, she wasn't able to understand this. In any case, I could always show it to her later. Her surprised face was something to look forward to.

"Sherafina, did you know someone's trying to get rid of you?"

There was no answer. Really, she only kept quiet at times like this.

With a grin, I held up the longsword in my hand. This was likely an artifact crafted with the Eliminator, an ancient artifact serving to act as the base of the Eliminator's great power. It was yet another artifact that Sherafina couldn't read.

"This is enough as a reward."

[... Understood.]

The Eliminator could no longer regenerate. It might be possible if the dungeon had the green jewel I absorbed and the longsword I was holding, but I had already absorbed the former.

[Will you also reject the dungeon's offer to refine that longsword?]

"Yes. I'm planning on using it for something."

I lightly rejected Sherafina's offer and held up Chaotic Spear.

[It's too dangerous. That sword isn't something the dungeon can analyze. If its properties are transferred, it might go berserk.]

"Trying it won't hurt!"

I then strongly struck down on the longsword. In an instant, the longsword disappeared and an immense energy flowed into Chaotic Spear. A blinding light shot out from Chaotic Spear, and soon, Sherafina's notified me calmly.

[??? has been absorbed by Crimson Chaotic Spear. Growth: ??.??]

I could only say one thing.

"It's a bug!"

In truth, I somewhat expected this to happen. It was just that I thought it was more probably for Chaotic Spear to undergo an evolution. It was almost at 98% growth. I didn't think it wouldn't evolve even after devouring the Eliminator's longsword. No, could it be...?

"Was it also like this when it evolved into Chaotic Spear?"

Back when it was still Gluttony Spear and reached 99.9% growth, it only completed its evolution after devouring all of my mana. If it was the same now, would the spear evolve once I poured all of my mana into it?

Though I came to that conclusion, I returned the spear into its choker form for now. It wasn't something to be done here.

I did everything I needed to on the 90th floor. Since Chaotic Spear is also stuffed, it was now time for it to go work out.

Beyond's 40th Floor Master was waiting for us.

The 36th to 39th floors had Vampire Lords and Death Knights. Vampire Lords were different, but I was initially quite troubled by Death Knights.

Although advancing in Beyond wasn't difficult, as I knew what kind of being the Floor Masters from now would be, I couldn't help but be nervous.

"The 40th Floor Master is also a world's enemy, right?"

[Yes. Do be careful, as it is extremely dangerous.]

Sherafina's answer was simple as always. Was there a reason she kept matching me with worlds' enemies? Why didn't these worlds' Heroes finish them off, allowing the dungeon to take them? Was it on purpose? To help nurture people like me?

If the Demon Lord wanted to enter the dungeon after losing to me, I didn't have the confidence to let him go. I would most likely tear even his soul apart.

Perhaps, these Heroes defeated them, but weren't quite strong enough to kill them and received the dungeon's help. No, that was strange too.

"This damn dungeon only gets more mysterious as I go higher up."

I complained audibly for Sherafina to hear and entered the 40th floor. Of course, there was no reply.

The moment I stepped into the 40th floor, an intense spiritual pressure swept over me. It was a stifling energy that seemed to reject life.

I couldn't help but remember my encounter with Lilith. From the looks of it, it was possible that the 40th Floor Master was even stronger. As long as I won, there would be a lot to gain.

From a certain point, as I climbed the dungeon, authorities and mana rather than levels and items were piling up. Did other explorers experience the same thing? Did they fight worlds' enemies, face their limits, and obtain new powers?

From what Kain told me, that wasn't the case. First, it was impossible for most explorers to absorb their enemies' powers directly, and no explorer wanted to face such an extreme test either.

But one thing was for sure. Sherafina was offering me a unique path and I was accepting every power beyond her expectations. My previous battle with the Eliminator was one such example. Without relying on the dungeon's system, I could extract the enemy's power on my own.

If the dungeon had three different paths, other explorers were taking path A, Sherafina was guiding me to path B, while I took path C.

It wouldn't have been possible had I not learned Peruta Circuit and Absolute Soul. Meeting Peruta and learning Skill Synthesis through the Collector's Pocket Watch were two biggest reasons I...

[Come in.]

A dreary voice abruptly cut off my train of thought.

[How long will you keep me waiting?]

"I don't know, why don't you entice me to come in somehow?"

I retorted with a snort. Just like Lilith, the 40th Floor Master was blabbering even with the door closed. It meant that the dungeon's power couldn't fully contain him, that Sherafina couldn't control them completely.

In any case, I somewhat had a guess as to his identity. I summoned Dortu and Peika before confidently kicking the iron door open.

"Let's fight!"

[I've been waiting.]

The Floor Master room was a huge tomb. A chilling wind of a dark, damp limestone cave swirled around me.

There were candles lit with blue flames burning on the sides of the cave's walls, and at the end of the line of candles was a truly grand throne.

[Hero, it's so nice to finally see you in person.]

The titan sitting on the throne spoke. Other than his size, he looked no different than a normal human. He wore a dark blue armor and held a giant bigger than his body.

Ah, another thing, two blue flames were blazing inside his eyes.

[Along with the birth of the Savior Hero, that person has also woken up from her long rest. Being unable to see the end of the long, long evolution was my greatest regret, but now seeing the protagonist of this story in front of me, having spent my days sitting on this seat finally feels meaningful.]

"You talk too much."

I aimed my spear at him and spoke.

"First, fight me."

[Hahahaha! This is my first battle in a long, long time. Perhaps, it might even be my final. Just think of it as me putting on airs.]

He held up his axe. Feeling the death energy shooting out of his body in that instant, I realized he had long since veered off of being a human.

[Rather than talking, I also prefer the sound of clashing metals and flowing blood and sweat! We truly think alike, Savior Hero!]

"Like I said, you talk too much. Here, have a taste of Heroic Strike!"

This was probably the only way to get him to move! I immediately compressed over 500,000 mana into one point and shot out. It was the start of the battle with the 40th Floor Master, Death Lord.