Episode 257:
Grand Duke Jormungand.
This is a guy that Taehyun has never met and has no proper information about.
The magical power that can clearly be felt is weak and insignificant for an archduke.
Nevertheless, Taehyun was convinced that this was the real Jormungand.
The evil sea is approaching every moment.
The Demon Sea is a substance made of magical energy.
That amount, which grew like a tidal wave, was definitely not an amount that a single SS+ level monster could handle.
‘I don’t know how he lowered his magical power.’
The danger was not lacking even though it was the season of SSS-level monsters.
‘It won’t end with being swept away.’
Being surrounded by magic means being placed in the opponent’s territory.
Especially if you are surrounded by this much organic magic, it is no different from giving up both your arms.
‘It might be encroached upon.’
Perhaps what he was aiming for was entry into the world of imagination.
The princes are all anxious because they can’t target Taehyeon’s body.
Tiring.
[Skill Apocalypse (SS) has been activated.]
Huaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa you you you you you you you?
Ahead of the tsunami, darkness fell around Taehyun.
I could feel my abilities increasing, but this wasn’t enough.
Tiring.
[Skill Demonification (SS) has been activated. Specifies the part of the mimicry.]
[The eye of a higher-level skill (SS) has been activated.]
[The heart of a higher-level skill (SS) has been activated.]
Kiiiiing.
I felt magical power condensing in Taehyun’s chest.
The magic power that had been condensed eventually formed a solid form.
A magic gemstone that is harder and more solid than anything else.
A ‘monster’s heart’ was created in one corner of the chest.
Taehyun’s red eyes became even darker.
[Additional effect ‘ultra-fast regeneration’ appears.]
[Additional effect ‘body strengthening’ appears.]
[Additional effect ‘magic search’ appears.]
[Stamina temporarily increases.] This
was already known as an experiment. These are effects.
He raised his physical abilities with ‘Apocalypse’ and once again raised his stamina and strength stats with ‘Demonization’.
In addition, with the ‘eyes of a superior species’ and the ‘heart of a superior species’, it was able to prepare for a tsunami at any time.
“Tae Taehyun…!!”
The saint trembled at the sudden darkness of her surroundings.
I remember it.
Taehyun’s field.
And what happened to you there.
However, the reason it was used this time was to combat the approaching tsunami.
Sigh. Churrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
The ‘chains of restraint’ that rose from the ground wrapped around the saint’s body as if to protect it.
This was a precaution against the possibility of being swept away by the sea and becoming a nuisance.
“You need to come to your senses.”
Taehyun said as he looked at the tsunami that had reached right in front of him.
How high will it be?
Twenty meters?
no.
‘At least thirty meters.’
Even though both of them had super-fast regeneration, there was nothing good about colliding directly with their bodies.
I don’t know what to do.
The magic sea that touched Taehyun’s territory created sparks.
Churrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Coo coo coo coo coo.
The acting gravity and the layers of surrounding chains tried to suppress the demon sea, but it was not enough.
Tiring.
[Skill Apocalypse (SS) has been strengthened. Magic power consumption accelerates.]
Cjrrrrrrr.
The stronger gravity began to press down and the chains began to block the tsunami.
The saintess looked in wonder at Taehyun, who had blocked the demonic sea using an absurd method.
“Taehyun is alive….”
This is the moment when she tries to speak brightly.
“Be prepared.”
“yes?”
Without answer.
Taehyun hardened his expression and raised his entire body’s magical power.
That’s it.
Blue magic began to leak out between the chains.
One drop. Two drops.
The water droplets that were leaking little by little clumped up.
Just for a moment.
Once again, a huge tsunami was created.
I don’t know what to do.
The sparks created by two magical forces colliding flew.
That didn’t last long either.
Soon Taehyun’s apocalypse was completely submerged in the demonic sea.
* * *
Tiring.
[‘Great power’ has been detected. Encroachment (SS) has taken place. It resists with ‘mysterious power’. Resistance was successful.]
[‘Great power’ was detected. I suffered from erosion (SS). It resists with ‘mysterious power’. Resistance was successful.]
Bubbling.
Taehyeon, who was swallowed up by the Demon Sea, heard that message clearly in his ears.
Shoot.
He felt dizzy from the magic waves shaking his body back and forth.
Even that was so powerful that if it weren’t for ‘Demon Beast Flower’ and ‘Heart of a Higher Species’, he would have fainted right away.
Taehyun opened his eyes in a dizzying maelstrom of magic.
‘That’s terrible.’
It was clearly visible in the ‘higher species eye’ that was still activated.
The blue magical power is tearing ‘Apocalypse’ apart.
Is that all?
Every second, an unidentified skill was pressuring to engulf Taehyun’s body.
The saint’s body, unable to endure it, was already being torn apart and regenerated repeatedly.
If time continued, not only would the saintess who had run out of magic die, but Taehyun would eventually allow the erosion as well.
[It’s nothing more than what I heard.]
Jormungand’s voice rang in my head once again.
[Kim Tae-hyun. I’ll give you a choice. Become a contractor for this site.]
‘….’
It is not a situation where I can answer.
Nevertheless, he shamelessly continued to say what he wanted to say.
[Rosaria is very loyal to the king, but in the end, she won’t be of much help. But the main seat is different. The Demon Sea has infinite power. If you accept that power, you will become an incomparable being.] An incomparable
being.
Those words struck me as meaningful.
It reminds me of what the king said in the past.
“Don’t set limits for yourself.”
“Go beyond the limitations of being human.”
“Jump over the Archduke.”
The king certainly said so.
‘Could it be possible that saying ‘surpass the Archduke’ means to be satisfied with being a contractor for the Archduke?’
[Choose. Will he become a contractor or a trophy?]
Contrary to Jormungand’s warning, Taehyun’s answer was predetermined.
It was a choice that I didn’t have to worry about.
The message I was waiting for suddenly occurred to me.
Tiring.
[The Heart (SS) of a high-skill species has completed its search.]
[The Eyes of a high-skill species (SS) have been strengthened. Magic power consumption accelerates.]
Paz, that is.
In the swirling vortex of the devil’s sea.
I saw something unclear.
‘Is it there?’
Taehyun’s stored up magical power was suddenly destroyed.
Sparks flew out as it collided with the demonic sea, but the gap was large enough.
Tiring.
[Unique skill Predation (SS) has been activated. Specify the target. The consumption of magic power accelerates.]
The devil is not concerned about the environment.
Ugh.
Predation opened its huge maw.
[…!!]
A very fleeting moment.
I even had the illusion that the magic sea in the area had stopped.
Kwaduk!!
The maw of predation swallowed up the sway of the demonic sea.
The demonic sea began to disappear.
* * *
Shoot.
Taehyun’s body dried quickly as if it had never been wet.
Ultimately, the source of the Demonic Sea is magical power.
As soon as a blow was struck to the owner of the magic power, it lost its properties and evaporated.
and.
There was a man in front of Taehyun.
Long hair mixed with blue and red.
Blue and red odd-eye.
In the swirling devil sea.
A man who maintained a calm appearance was looking down at Taehyun.
It looked exactly like the basilisk I had faced in the past.
“It’s a familiar face.”
[indeed. It wasn’t wrong to say that he was chosen by the king.]
Man.
Jormungand opened his mouth.
The basilisk was also a monster that could be considered a household member.
But the intimidation in his voice was incomparable.
‘This was the original.’
I immediately realized that the human form of the Basilisk was modeled after Jormungand.
This is because even though it emits the same SS+ grade magical power, its presence is different.
still.
“For an archduke, his magical power is insignificant?”
Taehyun spoke out his true feelings.
The presence and skill in manipulating demonic seas are amazing.
Compared to the archdukes Taehyun has met, he is ridiculously weak.
‘Is the law of the Abyss at work?’
Princes of the Abyss.
And the reason why the monsters, who are considered to be their highest class, cannot come over.
Rosaria briefly summarized the reason as the Law of the Abyss.
This is such a strict law that even Taehyeon, who was originally human, is recognized as an SSS level monster.
I don’t know what trick they used.
‘There is no way the large supply could have come without any side effects.’
There was a high possibility that that was the reason why he was weakened now.
Taehyun’s guess was not wrong.
[Seeing that you are not surprised, it seems that you know about the laws of the Abyss.]
Jormungand said as if he had spared the troublesome explanation.
As he said, the main body was resting in the castle.
My current body is also in a weakened state that cannot be compared to the alter ego that roams the depths.
Even though he was not accompanied by subordinates, he was able to cross the gate only by weakening his body to this extent.
[It really is an insignificant place.]
Jormungand did not hide his displeasure.
He lowered his magical power to the level of his subordinates.
Nevertheless, his ‘existence’ ended up filling a significant portion of the allowable limit of this small planet.
The human in front of you.
If it wasn’t for the purpose of meeting Kim Tae-hyun, I wouldn’t have done such a hassle.
[I don’t know if you liked my greeting.]
Exactly.
When he snapped his fingers, a devastated Fukuoka was revealed.
This was planned from the moment the SS+ grade gate break occurred.
“okay. “I hope you like my greeting.”
Tiring.
[Skill Energy Drain (SS) has been activated.]
Because many skills were continued, the magic power consumed was significant.
The reduced magical power was quickly replenished.
[I accepted enormous magical power. Magic power increases by 1.]
Taehyun ignored the emerging message and kept his eyes on Jormungand.
‘If it’s weakened to this degree, it’s worth a try.’
A weakened Archduke is good prey to grow.
Jormungand also did not know this fact.
[Are you planning to use the king’s power again?]
He raised the corners of his mouth as if he was looking forward to it.
‘Let’s see how long that face will last.’
This is the moment when Taehyun, having calculated the odds of winning, is about to use predation once again.
Tiring.
[Quest ‘Jormungand’s Magic Stone’ has been created.]
‘What?’
[Success Reward – Strengthening the Heart (SS) of high-ranking skills. [Skill ???(???) Creation.]
It was an unexpected message.
It seems that the newly applied function by Jong-ho Kim was working.
Perhaps because it was an early version, the explanation of how to perform the quest and whether there were any penalties for failure was vague.
Above all, it is difficult to complete the quest now.
‘Everything is unclear.’
But on the other hand, it was also a good opportunity to see how the status window would react.
The conflicting concerns calmed the magic of predation for a moment.
[…?]
Jormungand had an expression that made no sense.
The familiar magical power felt in Kim Tae-hyun’s body.
Orgal Igmun.
In addition, I know that I can also use the magic power of Rosaria and Beelzebub.
It is clearly a power that is transcendental for a human vessel to contain, and for an ordinary anti-aircraft contractor to contain.
But he is an archduke.
Even though it has been weakened, it cannot have a significant impact unless it is the ‘power of the king’.
Kim Tae-hyun must have fully realized what happened a little while ago.
however.
[Why are you hesitating?]
Tilt.
Jormungand tilted his head as if he truly did not understand.
Taehyun laughed at that incongruous appearance.
“Meeting you feels like an unexpected gift.”
[It’s different from what I heard. Looking at it now, it seems insane…]
Even before Jormungand finished speaking.
Tiring.
[Skill Blood Rush (SS) has been activated.]
The dark red magic power subsided and blood red magic power rose.
[A great power awakens. Muscle strength increases. Strength has increased to 365 (380).]
[A great power awakens. Stamina increases. Stamina has reached 375 (380).]
[A great power awakens. The speed increases. The speed has increased to 370 (380).]
[A great power awakens. Magic power increases. Magic power has become 530.]
Due to the impact of facing Jormungand, the stat increase effect is not significant.
Nevertheless.
Taehyun rushed to Jormungand without delay.
Developing the first form of ancient Chinese martial arts.
Quang.
‘Masuhwa’ and ‘Runaway Blood’.
Taehyun’s fist, strengthened by two skills, hit Jormungandr’s face.
Tiring.
[Quest ‘Jormungand’s Magic Stone’ has been accepted.]
[Progress – 0.1%]
‘Bingo.’
The corner of Taehyun’s mouth rose at the message he heard.
