Chapter 335: Elemental of Darkness

Chapter 335: Elemental of Darkness

The transformation of the Simulacrum World.

The ability to break the existing laws and choose a battlefield advantageous to the caster is quite rare within the Tower of Ordeal.

Moreover...

"...! Impossible. Are you saying he actualized a power comparable to a skill merely by mimicking it?"

Nietsche's pupils quaked with shock.

Nihilism had exerted overwhelming efficacy against not only players but also residents up to this point.

Even high actors like Hyacinth and Ascension flinched at the extent of his power, hadn't they?

But now...

All those certainties...

Were crumbling down.

From this moment onward.

['The World of Players' unfolds.]

Partzts...

The colossal royal palace once filled with columns had vanished, replaced by a familiar scene.

Inside the Corridor of the Corrupted, at the site of their first battle over the 'Frozen Tear.'

This was the place where the tower manifested in reality, where they confronted each other with swords for the first time.

Jinhyuk briefly glanced around.

Cheon Yuseong tightened his lips, as if pondering the past.

But, it was only for a moment.

"We need to end this in one go. There won't be a second chance."

Having forcibly invoked 'Selection of Battlefield,' he felt a severe strain on his body.

Throbbing! Throbbing! Throbbing!

His veins were burning, his lips dry.

His overloaded muscles and bones seemed to scream in agony.

At most, one minute.

That was the limit this world could sustain itself.

"Don't worry. Even without you saying so, my intention is to end it with a single strike."

Cheon Yuseong extended his sword forward.

At the same time...

Jinhyuk also drew his sword smoothly.

[Unique Ability...]

Two sword paths...

[Unique Ability...]

...become one.

[The false 'Song of the Sword' is activated.]

Two distinct players.

Of course, perfect strangers without any point of contact between them.

However...

Their Soul-Pursuing Sword Dance (追魂劍舞).

The scattering tip of the sword.

Even without magic.

Even without abilities.

The Eleventh Form (第十日式).

The form materializes.

As if naturally meant to be. An effortless line drew to its end.

The Dual Swords Combine (二劍日合).

This was the swordplay of the two individuals.

A pinnacle (極致) that transcended the system, possible only because they were each other's fiercest rival and knew the other's sword path better than anyone.

Kwakwakwakwakwa!

The two swords intersected.

The afterimages of the swords completely vanished.

"This is preposterous... This can't be happening. How could something like this..."

Nietsche shouted, triggering shields one after another.

However...

The multiple layers of shields, created by black magic, shattered the instant they met the blade.

Slash!

Even the space itself was cleaved apart.

***

Screeech!

Smoke billowed along the ground.

Such a powerful strike had been used that even the Simulacrum World created by 'Selection of Battlefield' couldn't withstand the shock properly.

At that moment.

Ding!

[Warning! Severe impact detected on the players' bodies.]

['Selection of Battlefield' vanishes.]

[All incomplete abilities disappear.]

Crack!

With a sound, cracks formed in the air, and the scenery shattered like glass.

The barely enduring Simulacrum World finally met its end.

"Ha... Ha... Ha..."

"Hoo..."

Only rough breathing remained, indicating just how strenuous the battle had been.

But then...

"Damn..."

Cheon Yuseong clicked his tongue in frustration.

He felt nothing.

The profound sensation that should have naturally resonated in his hand was...

"In that instant... Did it offset?"

Jinhyuk furrowed his brow as well.

In the last moment, something had blocked between Nietsche and the strike.

Though the shield was cut down, they had failed to slash the most crucial party involved.

Nietsche was... still standing strong.

Proving his point, he emerged from the smoke:

"Not bad... This time, even I was in danger. I didn't expect to bring this out."

Nietsche stepped out, perfectly unharmed.

And beside him...

"Kikikiki. Blocked it. I blocked it. Good job, right? Huh?"

An entity surrounded by dark matter was present.

With yellow and blue, two differently colored eyes, the creature giggled incessantly.

'That is...'

Jinhyuk's gaze sharpened.

This was no ordinary monster or summon.

An Elemental Spirit.

And not one of the five main elements, but one possessing the attribute of darkness.

Another formidable opponent springs forth.

'It's becoming increasingly complicated.'

Just when they encounter such a tricky enemy.

Completely drained, not even a finger could muster the strength to twitch.

Nor was it possible to call for help from the others.

Loki and Thor too were preoccupied, contending with the upper demons and the countless demonic creatures following her.

And Ellis goes without saying.

"Damn. Isn't there a single viable plan?"

"...Sorry, but not at the moment."

Jinhyuk flatly shook his head.

"If you say so, then things must really be at their worst."

Jinhyuk's reaction was telling... Their odds of success were close to 0%.

"Now that I finally see a look of despair on your face."

A sardonic smile spread across Nietsche's lips.

He too had reached his limits, but as long as he had just enough strength to command the elemental, it didn't matter.

After all, striking the final blow was the elemental's role.

"Make sure they slowly rot. Start from the fingertips or toes, and make it last."

"Kikiki! Okay. I'll make sure they die painfully."

[The forgotten elemental 'Blackness' invokes 'Whip of the Dead'!]

Long whips appeared on either side of the entity.

Partzts!

Black sparks scattered in all directions.

The ground seemed to burn where they struck.

The fourth floor of the tower.

An ability with effects similar to the 'Black Death' used by Pendariele.

Merely touching it causes the skin to decay, a particularly troublesome ability given their current sealed state.

They couldn't afford to let even one touch them.

Swoosh.

Jinhyuk and Cheon Yuseong each took their stance.

It's coming.

"It's your turn!"

Bwooom... Kwaaang!

"Kugh!"

Cheon Yuseong narrowly evaded the incoming blow.

With its absurd speed and added weight, defending was not an easy feat.

Only because Hwamumaehwageom was a new transmission in Hwasan that it barely managed; an ordinary sword would have been consumed by that ominous energy.

"Kiki! Not bad, huh? Can you block this too? And this? And this?"

Boom! Kwaaang! Boom! Boom!

The whipping storm lashed out.

Cheon Yuseong, drenched in sweat, dodged from side to side.

And then, taking advantage of Cheon Yuseong's hasty defense...

Tap!

Jinhyuk lunged forward.

His speed might be embarrassingly short for closing the distance...

But the timing was impeccable.

He pierced the blind spot created by the overlapping whips precisely.

Jinhyuk's careful observation of Wolyeong's usual shadow movement through Eumyeonggeugsal had paid off.

But...

Crack!

A third whip ensnared him firmly like fangs.

Even the perfect ambush fell into futility.

"Kikiki! Is that meant to be a surprise attack? I had higher expectations for two of you. This is utterly disappointing. Yeah. Yeah."

And with that, the last hope vanished.

Kwaaang!

"Kraaaagh!"

Cheon Yuseong rolled hideously across the dirt floor again.

Either he failed to redirect the weight, or the single blow shattered his right shoulder bone.

"One down, next is..."

Blackness' gaze shifted to Jinhyuk.

Kwaaaaang!

The whip pounded over the Twin Dragons Sword.

"...!"

Jinhyuk responded not by sight, but anticipation and experience—a realm of reaction beyond ordinary comprehension, as he swung his sword with the last of his strength.

Needless to say.

The struggle was futile.

No matter how strong of will, transcending physical limits was impossible.

"Now I'll finish the two of you."

Blackness gathered magic with giggles as the whips soared sky-high.

And then they rushed toward Jinhyuk and Cheon Yuseong.

Kwakwakwakwakwa!

With both of them battered, there was no strength left to dodge.

But at that very moment.

Wooooong!

Several gates began to appear before their eyes.

***

"What's this now?"

Nietsche reacted in surprise to the unexpected anomaly.

He was forced to be bewildered.

There was no reason for gates to appear under these circumstances.

[Multiple elementals respond to their master's crisis.]

They weren't connected by magic.

Without a magic supply, logically, there was no reason for the elementals to exist in this plane.

For them, a contract was merely an experience of a new world, mediated by magic.

Yet...

The gates ferociously intensified in brightness.

As if to break free at any moment.

At that time...

Someone came through from beyond the gates.

"How dare you... touch him with your filthy hands?"

Undine, the water elemental, was the first to emerge from the gates.

Gone was her small, delicate appearance.

Now, a mature woman with slender fingers stretched out her hand.

Kukukukukukukukuku!

Dozens of water droplets furiously swirled, openly hostile towards Nietsche and Blackness for laying hands on Jinhyuk.

The intense air wasn't merely due to the powerful magic imbued in the droplets.

It was fueled by fury towards those who had harmed Jinhyuk.

The emotions were focused solely on that one thing.

"The master is... ours to protect."

"Kraaaaah!"

Sylphid with two pairs of wings and Salamander covered in crimson scales each employed different magics.

When wind collided with flame...

Whooooosh!

A wave of hellfire-like heat surged forth.

"Grooooo!"

"So noisy. My head hurts."

Spells from the five main elements were cast simultaneously.

"No sorcerer can contract so many elemental spirits. Much less call forth their actual bodies. You... Just what are you?"

Nietsche screamed with veins bulging in his throat.

Every time he was certain of victory, a variable would arise, each capable of overturning the entire situation.

Now, it was all incomprehensible.

Nietsche's sure-kill plans were failing one by one.

'No matter how powerful Blackness is said to be among the primal elements... It cannot possibly fight the actual bodies.'

Nor would Blackness's real body come to its aid.

Their connection was purely and simply a contractual one, nothing more.

Then...

"Tristan. Melena!"

Nietsche yelled towards two individuals who were at a slight distance.

If these two minds could buy him some time, he could manage an escape.

Regrouping for another fight seemed to be the only option.

But...

The two figures made no movement on receiving the command.

"What are you doing? Fight those characters!"

Nietsche urged, but the response he received was cold.

"Sorry."

"Regrettable, but your command is not our priority."

"If the command of the leader of the minds isn't a priority, then whose command is?!"

Nietsche barked, to which...

"Of course, mine."

Jinhyuk brushed off the dust and approached, dusting himself off.