Episode 204
204. Episode 204
Hurrruk!
The black flames unique to the Black Monster came crashing down.
There was no direction. The entire surrounding area, including where I was standing, became a sea of fire.
It was an attack that ignored all such restrictions, even though there were no signs or warnings.
‘shit…….’
Icarus spread his wings in a hurry, but he couldn’t last long with this. Not only was he running out of mana to maintain his wings, but Icarus’ wings were also weak to heat. Even the slightest residual heat would cause his feathers to fall off.
Fortunately, the problem was quickly resolved.
“Piyooooo-”
A green breeze flew in and carried Seun on its back.
Looking to the side, I saw a baby bird flapping its wings vigorously and squeaking, held in the arms of what appeared to be its mother, Nokpung.
It seems like he wants to be of some help to his mother’s flight.
The moment I got on Nokpung’s back, I heard a soft voice like a stream flowing in my head.
– Baby. Protection. Human. Gratitude.
As expected, is it Yeongsu? Although it is not perfect, he was conveying his intentions to Seun.
It wasn’t perfect because it came out in broken chunks, but it sounded like he was saying thank you for protecting his young.
– Black bird. Danger. Run away.
‘You weren’t planning on fighting, were you?’
The green winds must have been flying in urgently and attacking the black hawk to save its chicks.
Now that you’ve achieved your goal, you don’t have to stay here anymore.
In fact, their attacks were ineffective against the Black Hawk.
However, Seun had no such intention.
“There’s no need to run away.”
As Se-un spoke, Nok-pung met Se-un’s eyes and simply tilted his head.
Although he can convey his intentions, he seems unable to understand speech.
But he had no intention of giving up. Se-Woon had the magic of ‘telepathy’.
Telepathy is a type of magic that consumes very little mana, so it can be used in its current form.
Originally, telepathy could only be conveyed through language, but now that he had reached the 6th circle, he could convey his will itself like the green wind.
There is only one will to convey.
“Fight.”
– Black bird. Strong.
“I am stronger.”
It wasn’t just pride, it was the truth.
The Black Owl is clearly a strong enemy, but Se-Woon clearly understands its weaknesses and his own fighting power.
It will take a while since I can’t use magic, but if the Green Wind helps, I can easily cover that much.
So it was he who won.
– Truth. Help.
If he were a human, he would have questioned whether that made sense. The black monster in front of him was so intimidating that he felt it just by looking at it.
It seemed impossible for a human to deal with.
However, the green wind is Youngsu.
Rather than just thinking about it, I judged the other person based on the truth and lies I felt from their will.
The will that Se-un conveyed was the perfect ‘truth’, so he nodded and agreed to help.
– My role?
“Can you buy me some time?”
– Positive.
It took some time for the power of jealousy to properly activate and for the attack to be prepared.
As soon as he finished speaking, the Black Bird’s attack began to affect the air beyond the forest.
Flames rose like smoke and engulfed Seun.
This time again, it is a vicious attack coming from all directions without any regard for direction.
“Piyooooo-!”
It was an attack that seemed impossible to avoid, but Green Wind easily dodged the flames.
It skillfully flies between flames, riding the air currents changed by the heat. It is literally the wind itself.
Even if it was a black monster, it was difficult to shake off the green wind.
Meanwhile, Se-Woon was concentrating on his danjeon while being hit by the hot wind.
Woohoo!
Through the Bingbaek Shingong, all the internal energy evenly distributed in the danjeon is changed into yin energy. It was a preparatory process for using powerful yin energy.
If he had gained enlightenment and his level had increased, this process would have been only a fleeting moment, but Se-un was not at that level yet.
Since it was a realm that was built up rapidly with the power of greed, this process was necessary to use the ascending martial arts normally without side effects.
I couldn’t use a gamble like the Jaha sword I used on Seolsan in exchange for my body.
Safer and more certain. Laying the foundation for developing perfect martial arts.
Ddudduk-
“Phew… … .”
As all of the internal energy in his dantian changes to yin energy, cold air flows out of Se-un’s body. Dew forms on his skin, and white steam comes out of his mouth.
– Black flames. Spread of range. Lack of space.
After finishing my preparations and opening my eyes, I heard the will of the green wind.
Looking around, I saw that the black flames had covered the entire forest and were threatening to engulf even the air.
Even if it was a green wind, it was impossible to avoid it because there was no space to avoid it.
At that moment, the message that had been waiting for Se-un’s eyes appeared appropriately.
– The eyes of the time are jealous of the power of the ‘Black Bird’.
– Takes away the adaptability of the black hawk.
– Takes away the diffusion power of the Black Hawk.
… … .
The power of jealousy that truly takes away the power of the Black Bird.
An ominous power also begins to rise from Seun’s body along with him.
Perhaps because the ability to fire has been adapted to the disaster of forest fire, the Black Bird’s unique abilities are being absorbed rather than the fire-related abilities.
With that, Se-un used telepathy on Nok-pung.
“Approach him.”
– Risk. Opportunity. Once.
“Once is enough.”
The green wind changed direction abruptly.
Up until now, he had simply moved with the currents like a swaying wind, avoiding the flames, but now he was heading straight for the black hawk.
Black flames blocked my vision, but it was no use.
Hwaaaat!
A deep green wind blew around the green wind.
The wind, sharp as an awl, blew forward, cutting through the flames blocking my eyes.
The wind pressure was so strong that it was difficult to keep his eyes open, but Se-Woon stood up calmly in the strong wind without blinking and grabbed his sword.
Seun’s yin energy is transmitted through his arms and hands to the sword, and Durandal’s sword’s blade is further sharpened with ice.
“Greaaaah-!”
The black goblin cries ferociously and blocks the green wind’s approach.
The black wings that covered the forest overlapped and blocked my sight.
‘The distance is ambiguous.’
Just like when I used the Jaha Sword, the martial art I’m using now is a final blow that uses all the power in my danjeon.
If I can’t deal with it in one go, it’ll be difficult to deal with since I have no mana. But if those wings block the attack, I’m not sure if I can finish it in one go.
While I was hesitating, I heard Nokpung’s soft voice.
– Chance. Once.
“Okay.”
The speed of the green wind increases even more.
It’s hard to stand on two feet, but I correct my posture by sending my internal energy through the soles of my feet.
Because of the yin energy that filled his danjeon, ice froze on the soles of his feet and stuck to Nokpung’s back, but he did not complain.
Quaaaat!
The green wind pierces through the two wings of the black goby.
To begin with, the wings of the Black Bird were not wings with a real form, but rather wings of fire that were created to adapt to the form of forest fire.
A hot breeze passes by, but the green breeze protects the two from the flames.
“Greaaaah-!!”
As we break through the wings, we see the grotesquely twisted face of a black bird.
The beak is distorted as if it has been burned, and the three asymmetrical eyeballs roll around and stare at Seun.
The beak opens abnormally, and a spark appears in the pitch-black darkness.
And at that moment, Se-Woon finally drew his sword.
– The Treasure Trove of Greed has been opened.
[North Sea Sword Technique]
– A legendary sword known to have been completed by the first lord of the North Sea Ice Palace when he reached a state of transcendence while training on the frozen shores of the North Sea.
The North Sea Sword Technique is known to be the most powerful of the many sword techniques that exist in the North Sea Ice Palace. It is the strongest ascending martial art that only a very small number of the heads of the clans have been able to reproduce.
A legendary sword that is said to not only use cold, but also summon the power of the cold frozen sea.
– The first skill of the North Sea Sword, North Sea Winter Season, is strengthened through internal energy.
– According to the secret of the Ice White Shingong, cold air is added to the martial arts.
North Sea Winter Festival.
The bitter cold of winter is when even the salty sea freezes over, as the coldest air blows into the North Sea.
That cold chill was recreated by Seun’s sword.
Crunch.
A long solid line appeared on the black bird’s body following the trajectory of the green wind flying at the speed of sound.
And from that solid line, a dazzlingly transparent sea burst forth.
“Gr-a-a-”
The cries of the black goby began to cease.
The seawater that burst out from the ship swallowed the body of a giant black bird so large that it covered the forest.
The pitch-black flames had all gone out, and all that was left were scorched skeletons, like tree branches that had barely managed to hold their shape.
The moment Se-Woon, who saw the sight, grabbed the sword and held it in his hand.
Crunch-
The black hawk’s body hardened along with the surging seawater. In an instant, without any signs of slow hardening.
“Piyooooo-!!”
Soon, with the cry of the green wind realizing victory, the body of the black bird was shattered into dust.
The sight of sparkling frost falling like snow over the pitch-black, dead forest was extremely surreal, yet beautiful.
* * *
– Completed the hidden quest, ‘The Fire-Blooded Monster’.
– Extra points are awarded for the trial ‘Rescue the Baby Bird’.
Naturally, hunting the Black Bird was also recognized as a hidden quest.
At the last moment, I was worried that the Black Bird’s body was shattered into pieces and that he might not be able to use his power of gluttony.
– The constellation, ‘The Hungry Prince’, scoops up the powdered food and swallows it after mixing it with water.
– The constellation, ‘The Hungry Prince’, is satisfied with the taste of the Black Crow Shake, saying that it is mild yet spicy and gives him energy.
There was no need for that.
Because Beelzebub perceived Seun’s means of attack as a kind of ‘cooking method’.
Even if it was frozen solid, burned, or even turned into powder like I just did, he would still eat it with relish.
Thanks to this, I was able to increase my abilities quite a bit without any problems.
– Strong. Human. Gratitude.
“Okay. You were taking good care of the child, right?”
“Beep! Beep!”
As he got off the green wind’s back, a baby bird came walking towards Seun.
While Seun was fighting, the baby bird was being protected by another green wind.
– favor.
“Okay. I have nowhere to go.”
Se-woon looked around.
Although the initial forest fire was put out early, the entire forest eventually burned down due to the appearance of the black hawk.
The fire was completely extinguished by Seun’s subsequent attack, but it did not seem like the forest would come back to life.
Well, even if that wasn’t the case, there was no chance of the forest coming back to life. In the first place, the forest was covered in ash and dying.
It’s just that my day of death has come a little earlier.
‘Because this whole world is about to end.’
Se-un recalled the ordeal on the 30th floor.
The trials from the 21st to the 30th floors all seemed to be in the same world, but in the final trial, this world comes to an end.
Even if the forest is saved now, it is destined to eventually disappear.
– favor.
– favor.
“Beep!”
Despite Se-un’s refusal, the two green winds come closer. Then, a few feathers fall out from their beautiful turquoise wings.
When he raised his hand to receive the feathers, they quickly melted away like liquid and were absorbed into Seun’s hand.
‘What is this?’
Before he could even ask what was happening, Se-Woon felt the power being absorbed through his palm.
It felt refreshing, like breathing clean air on top of a mountain.
The power filled Seun’s body like the wind, and soon found its place.
That’s right, Seun’s circle.
Among them, the green mana circle of the green tower symbolizing the wind was absorbed into the fifth circle.
– The energy of the green wind is absorbed into the fifth circle.
– The ‘Green Tower’s Magic’ is strengthened by the energy of the green wind, increasing the casting speed of all magic.
– Wind attribute affinity is strengthened due to the aura of the green wind.
“Piyooooo-!”
“Beep! Beep!”
Se-un’s eyes opened wide.
I knew that the Green Wind was a being of the highest level, but I didn’t know that it could even strengthen the attribute itself.
And I saw. The wind energy from the bodies of the two green winds, whose feathers had fallen out, had weakened.
The two gave up their powers to repay Se-un’s kindness.
“……thanks.”
– Thank you. Grace.
Although he expressed his gratitude, the two green winds bowed their heads as if they were grateful themselves.
Se-woon smiled lightly and patted their heads.
Indeed, who could possibly think that these are illusions that exist for the sake of trial?
Although the trials were not yet fully known, at this moment they felt real.
When this ordeal is over, these two too will disappear… … .
‘After all, I have to change the results on the 30th floor.’
Although it may be a small possibility, I wanted to save the two green winds from the fate of repeated doom.
Even if the plan succeeds, I don’t know if it’s possible, but there’s a big difference between trying and not trying.
And this could be said to be Seun’s first step towards changing the end of the tower.
