Chapter 33: Ritual of the Demon and the Egg of Darkness (2)
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
Boom! Boom!
Various skills and abilities intersected chaotically.
The battlefield instantly turned into a pandemonium.
A brutal lee unfolded between the charging Orcs and the tanks who stood to block them.
“Graaahhh!”
“Ugh!”
The casualties were far greater on the Orcs’ side.
The raid, perfectly composed, countered the Orcs’ assaults with systematic precision and efficiency.
However—
“Summon Berag!”
“The hunt begins!”
Bwoooooo!
The Orcs blew their black horn.
[‘Horn of Savagery’ has been activated!]
Tat-tat-tat-tat….
The sound of sothing striking the ground lightly echoed.
And monts later—
New enemies revealed themselves.
Orc Riders.
Orcs mounted on massive wolves burst forth from the opposite forest, rapidly changing the tide of battle.
“Ambush from the flank! They’re fast!”
“Mages, focus your firepower! Don’t let them close in!”
Fwoosh!
Crackle—!
Fireballs ford, and lightning spells gathered in the air.
Just a little more.
A little closer, and they’d unleash everything.
Right then—
Having just returned after dealing with the enemy commander, Yohan called out to Scarlet.
“Scarlet!”
“Yes! Sir Yohan!”
“Take command here. Focus on support so we minimize casualties.”
Though the Orc Riders were indeed a threat, Scarlet’s Blood Threads could easily neutralize their mobility.
“B-but what about you, Sir Yohan? Don’t tell … you plan to move alone?”
“There’s sothing troubleso I need to take care of. If not now, I’ll never get another chance.”
The lake—where the priests of the Requiem Cult were.
Only there could he advance to the ‘Hidden Class’.
Naturally, that fact couldn’t be revealed. There could be no witnesses.
“Understood. But please, don’t get hurt. You rember, right? You promised I could eat all the food I want from this world.”
Even now, she brought up food.
Anyone overhearing would think he’d been starving her in the Tower.
Still, he had to admit—modern food truly was delicious.
He hadn’t even tried the famous chicken and beer combo yet. No way he’d fall here.
“Yeah. I’ll let you eat until you’re sick of it. See you soon.”
Yohan quietly slipped away from the battlefield.
＊＊＊
Gurgle, gurgle….
Thick, sticky black liquid writhed ominously.
“Uuuh….”
“J-just kill… . Please….”
On the rising stone slabs above the sinister pentagram, sacrifices were bound.
They were Hunters captured by the Requiem Cult priests roaming the Gate’s interior.
“Soon, our first wish shall be fulfilled.”
“We’ve waited far too long for this. Haha.”
Once the Egg of Darkness hatched…
The na ‘Requiem Cult’ would spread across the world.
Then they’d walk freely, unconcerned by the gaze of any cult or major guild.
“I understand your excitent, but don’t forget—there mustn’t be any mistakes.”
The fairy standing beside the priests spoke with a sulky frown.
It was the low-grade Administrator, iba.
The very one who’d given Kim Geunsik the Knight’s Token, and the Requiem Cult’s secret business partner.
‘Danger. Danger. Danger.’
iba bit her nails nervously.
It was only natural.
White Spirit (Baekryeong).
The demon feared by all lower administrators had taken interest in the Korean episode.
If it were ever revealed that she had secretly made a deal with the Requiem Cult, that monster would never let her live.
‘I’ll end up burned alive like that idiot Inermof.’
She absolutely refused such a miserable death.
She had to make the Requiem Cult into an indispensable power.
If she achieved results that substantial, even White Spirit wouldn’t dare touch her.
And maybe—
‘I could finally be promoted to mid-level Administrator.’
The die had already been cast.
All she could do now was pray these fools completed their plan safely.
But then—
KWAANG!
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA!
With an earth-shattering explosion, cracks ford in the little administrator’s fragile hope.
Soone had broken through the Orcs’ encirclent and was sprinting straight toward them.
＊＊＊
It took Yohan less than three minutes to reach the lake.
The first thing he saw was iba.
‘So that’s how it was.’
So she was the one who gave Kim Geunsik the Knight’s Token.
The mastermind finally revealed herself.
And just as he suspected—anyone who gave off a bad first impression never failed to leave a bitter aftertaste.
iba frowned the mont she saw him.
“So you’ve allowed an intruder to make it this far. Didn’t you say the Orcs could be trusted to handle it?”
“I’m sorry. I did warn them, but it seems they underestimated him.”
As iba snarled venomously, Kim Geunsik bowed his head.
“Humans. Always excuses, excuses, excuses! How do you expect to accomplish great deeds when you bungle things like this? Tch.”
iba approached Yohan.
Crackle—!
Blue lightning crackled around her as a dense murderous aura flooded the area.
“This is my jurisdiction. And since the Orcs’ sacred relic—their Holy Treasure—isn’t here, don’t cross the line. Just handle the task assigned to you.”
That was clearly a warning.
Ignore it, and she’d strike without hesitation.
Judging by the density of her structured mana, her power was on an entirely different level from the Orcs’.
‘Even if I use the Stag of the Blue-and-White Forest’s Bone Shield, could I withstand a single strike from her?’
What if he poured all his remaining mana into Blood Reinforcent?
No—he doubted it would matter.
Even if he blocked one or two attacks, there’d be no future after that.
However—
“Sorry, but I can’t do that.”
Yohan brushed off iba’s threat as if it were nothing.
“You’re not insane… Are you relying on sothing?”
“Sothing like that.”
Because he had a powerful ally of his own.
A mighty Administrator destined to beco the new divinity of the Fairy Realm.
Alright, co out.
Yohan boldly stretched his arms wide to both sides—
Like a grand magician announcing the beginning of a show.
And then—
“……”
Nothing happened.
The surroundings were dead silent.
“Are you insane? Or perhaps… just a bit short in the head?”
iba looked at Yohan with a gaze full of pity.
Seriously.
That look was downright humiliating.
—So, you’re saying you don’t need the Spirit Herb anymore? Or should I lock you in a room with Vivian for a ga of truth or dare?
The threat imdiately took effect.
With a pop!
“Who else can I bla? I was the idiot who made that contract. I’m the fool.”
Priscilla appeared, her expression twisted in disgust.
“Oh my, look who it is. Our eternal intern has deigned to grace us with her presence. I’m so overwheld with honor I don’t know what to do.”
“You were an intern?”
iba and Yohan took turns smacking Priscilla verbally.
“Who are you calling an intern! I’m a proud low-grade Administrator too!”
Priscilla clenched her tiny fists tightly.
Though her cute appearance wasn’t intimidating in the least, she still gathered her mana, trying to assert her presence.
Even so, one could sense a dignity befitting the 3rd Moon.
“You even know how to get angry now. My little Priscilla’s all grown up. But surely, you’re not thinking of fighting , are you?”
“T-that’s…”
Priscilla trailed off awkwardly.
iba’s rank was the 1st Star of the 4th Moon.
Even among lower Administrators, Priscilla, only a 10th Star of the 3rd Moon, couldn’t possibly compete.
Seeing her so deflated, it looked like iba might swallow her whole if left unchecked.
So, this was where Yohan needed to give her a push.
“Don’t be afraid. You don’t have to win—just hold her off for about ten minutes.”
“Easy for you to say. Star-rank is an absolute indicator. And that battle-crazy chicken’s nothing like —I’ve barely ever fought!”
Already frightened before even trying.
Though, in fairness, he understood.
Facing soone of higher rank was nearly impossible for those below.
But still—
“Just so you know, this is only the beginning. I’ll climb much higher from here. I don’t plan to be dragged along by Episodes anymore—I’ll be the one directing them.”
And—
“The Administrator I’ve chosen to walk that path with isn’t iba, nor White Spirit, nor even one of the high-ranking Administrators who rule the Abyss. It’s you.”
So might have called his words absurd.
For soone who had only just taken his first step into the Episode, it sounded arrogant beyond belief.
But sohow—
Priscilla couldn’t see his words as re bluster.
Instead, they lit a small spark in her heart—a heart that had long been dulled by endless drudgery under stronger Administrators.
“Hah, you really do have a knack for toying with a fairy’s heart.”
Now there was no backing down.
Even if it killed her, it was ti to show her worth as an Administrator.
[Priscilla activates her unique ability ‘Golden Thread’.]
A golden ball of yarn unraveled, and a mystical surge of mana filled the air.
“Are you out of your mind? You’re seriously going to fight ?”
“Yeah. I’ve lost it. So what are you gonna do about it?”
Before iba could respond, Priscilla made her move.
“Die! You psychopathic fairy!”
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA!
Dazzling, powerful spells and sorceries clashed violently, filling the space with explosions of light and sound.
＊
Now…!
Yohan sprang into motion.
Not a second could be wasted if he was to make the most of the precious chance Priscilla had bought him.
“Stop him!”
Kim Geunsik shouted.
“For the resurrection of the Evil God!”
“Kill the wretch who dares disrupt our holy work!”
The priests of the Requiem Cult began chanting dark incantations.
Wooooong!
Arrows of shadowy demonic energy rained down in torrents.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
They shattered rocks and tore through the ground.
The black storm of dark magic consud his entire field of vision.
[The Stag of the Blue-and-White Forest activates ‘Bone Shield’!]
[The trait Sacred Fla imbues the shield’s surface!]
Fwoooosh!
White flas blazed atop the stag’s antlers.
With divine power opposing the dark arts, the shield’s defensive capacity was maximized.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWANG!
The black arrows splintered and shattered, unable to pierce through.
[Bloodline Ability ‘Blood Spears’ activated!]
Spears of blood shot out through the shield’s openings.
Thunk! Crack!
One per strike.
“Guaaahh!”
“Aaagh!”
The priests struck through the chest collapsed where they stood.
But not all of them.
[Kim Geunsik activates his unique ability ‘Ashen Grace’!]
[Rymullo activates the skill ‘Veil of Darkness’!]
Klang!
Boom!
The high-ranking priests deflected the spears and even withstood blows from the Polar Bear of the Frozen Land.
Having already completed their class succession, their manifested powers were formidable.
“You truly are persistent in obstructing our work. But saving the sacrifices now is aningless.”
Kim Geunsik gathered murky ashes into a massive greatsword.
“You don’t need to tell that.”
As long as the Egg of Darkness remained intact, those tainted by demonic energy would slowly die.
Even if they escaped, there was no way to purge the demonic energy infused into their hearts.
The only way was to destroy the Egg of Darkness…
But not with Sacred Fla. You’d need traits like Stigmata or Divine Judgnt just to have a chance.
Those traits didn’t just fall from the sky—they appeared only past the midpoint of the Episode.
In short, there was no possible way to destroy the Egg of Darkness right now.
Yeah.
That much was true.
But.
That wasn’t what he was after.
My true goal is…
Yohan’s gaze locked on a single target.
Rumble…!
At the sa ti, he unleashed every last drop of mana he’d been holding back.
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