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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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Agnes gathered her mana. The amount was far greater than what she’d used against the Skeleton Warrior.
Even for her, it would take considerable time to bind such a monstrous creature. Furthermore, even if she managed to restrain it, she lacked the power to deliver a decisive blow.
The Millennium Ice Essence in her pocket pulsed. Consuming it would significantly increase her speed.
It was, after all, the Ice Essence.
A mystical ore imbued with the essence of ice. Radiating a chilling aura cold enough to be consumed directly.
But Agnes didn’t even glance at it. Deron had entrusted it to her.
He hadn’t told her to consume it. He had only asked her to bind the wyrm.
Then…
Click!
…she would fulfill his request.
She plunged Jeolyeong, Lenox’s beloved sword, now her own, into the ground.
She would unleash the most powerful ice magic she could muster, all at once. With that thought, she checked on Deron.
He had already drawn his sword and was approaching the Black Blood Wyrm. The moment Deron drew his sword, the atmosphere shifted, the air growing heavy.
As if unleashing a long-suppressed power, his aura flared. As if responding to his presence, the Black Blood Wyrm roared.
Hiss!
He charged towards the wyrm as it opened its massive jaws.
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The moment I faced the Black Blood Wyrm, my hands and feet grew cold. My mind, sharpened by the Genius trait, raced.
To counter that massive form, my body was increasing blood flow to my limbs.
Excitement surged through me, my heart pounding. This body was relishing the impending battle.
I dismissed the quest window that appeared before me. Kill the Black Blood Wyrm for a reward of 100 days of lifespan.
There was no need to see it.
If I failed, I would die anyway. I released my aura, hoping to make the creature flinch, even slightly.
A genius trapped by a terminally ill body, unable to unleash his full potential. Deron Philasia.
That body was now rampaging, eager to express its true talent.
Violet Aura enveloped my sword. I shot forward like a bullet.
Clang!
But even intermediate-level mana couldn’t pierce the Black Blood Wyrm’s scales. It shrugged off my attack as if it were a mere tickle and opened its jaws wide. As if to devour me whole.
“Lifespan payment.”
[Lifespan decreasing.]
[250 -> 200]
[Physical abilities unleashed.]
A cost of 50 days. I kicked off the ground and leaped back.
Boom!
The ground shattered, sending debris flying, but it posed no threat. The Black Blood Wyrm’s jaws remained unscathed, despite crushing the stone.
‘There’s only one way.’
I tightened my grip on my sword. Now, I had to focus solely on evasion.
My muscles, my brain, burning with anticipation for the fight, cooled instantly.
I calculated the optimal path. Agnes had three minutes to bind the creature.
I had to endure for those three minutes.
Dodging its attacks wasn’t difficult. Despite its size, it wasn’t overwhelmingly fast. I could see its movements and react accordingly.
The problem was offense. My violet Aura couldn’t penetrate through its scales, and instead, it seemed like my sword was the only thing that wanted to break free.
Screech!
Frustrated by my constant evasion, the wyrm thrashed and writhed. I covered my ears against the deafening roar.
Then, the Black Blood Wyrm’s gaze shifted towards Agnes. Its black pupils dilated, and it lowered its long body to the ground…
…then charged.
Agnes seemed to be its target. She stood motionless, Jeolyeong still embedded in the ground.
Time was running out. Just a little longer.
“Damn it!”
I channeled Aura into my legs and moved. I had to stop it. I had intended to conserve my lifespan, but I had no choice.
[Lifespan decreasing randomly.]
[200 -> 100]
[The power of the Black Dragon, Archxius, descends.]
My Aura surged. I leaped into the air, channeling the ferocious Black Dragon’s mana into my sword.
The Black Blood Wyrm, fixated on Agnes, hadn’t even noticed me. From mid-air…
Thud!
…I plunged my sword into its head.
Shrieks!
The Black Blood Wyrm shrieked in agony, recoiling from Agnes. Despite using 100 days of lifespan, I still had 100 left. I could still endure…
Wham!
Its tail slammed into my side. I had no time to react.
Perhaps it was a side effect of the sudden lifespan drain, but my head spun. I crashed into the wall.
[Lifespan decreasing.]
[100 -> 20]
“Cough!”
Blood erupted from my mouth. I only had 20 days left.
Using the Black Dragon’s mana now would kill me. The Black Blood Wyrm thrashed its head in pain.
“Goddamn it. This life is cursed.”
I looked at my battered body. My arms barely moved, and my legs were at their limit.
Agnes looked at me, her expression frantic, but I had no options left. Her magic would soon activate, but it wouldn’t be enough to pierce the Black Blood Wyrm’s scales.
I leaned my head against the wall. The throbbing pain subsided slightly.
“Damn you, Lenox.”
A voice echoed from somewhere. I instinctively looked up.
Lenox was sitting in mid-air, just as she had been when I first entered the chamber.
She stared at me for a moment, then asked,
“What else can I do?”
I replied curtly. My legs wouldn’t move. My broken arm hung limp.
I had no means of fighting back.
“Still speaking in riddles. I’m dying anyway.”
“What?”
I shook my head. Wasn’t it to allow Agnes to absorb the chilling energy?
“A fellow possessor? What…”
Lenox vanished before I could finish my question. Simultaneously, darkness enveloped my vision. I could no longer endure.
[20 -> 5]
[5 -> 4]
[2 -> 1]
[Danger! Danger!]
Ah, I’m dying. The system messages blared in my mind.
I could feel my body, but my mind felt distant. As if I could see even with my eyes closed.
I couldn’t hear anything.
The clock of my lifespan ticked slowly. As if the gods, in their cruelty, wanted me to witness the moment my life ended.
[Remaining lifespan: 10 minutes.]
Ten minutes. The remaining moments of my life.
I was about to give up…
“Gasp”
Something pressed against my lips. Soft, moist, and warm.
As our lips met, something cold flowed into my body.
[Millennium Ice Essence consumed.]
[10 minutes -> 1 year]
[Physical abilities increasing.]
[Due to the special method of consumption, all injuries have been healed.]
My eyes snapped open. An unbelievably refreshing sensation.
I cautiously sat up. So this was what it felt like to have no physical limitations.
As I savored this newfound feeling…
“What? Why is she here?”
I noticed something at my feet. Agnes lay collapsed, Jeolyeong still clutched in her hand.
The Black Blood Wyrm was frozen solid. I didn’t know how, but…
“I’ll borrow this for a moment.”
I carefully took Jeolyeong from her hand. The sword would normally freeze anyone with ill intentions, but I, having consumed the Ice Essence, was unaffected.
Crack
The ice was cracking. Agnes’s binding spell was about to expire.
I quickly ran towards the Black Blood Wyrm’s head. I felt fine, even without using lifespan.
It must have been an effect of the Ice Essence.
I leaped onto the wyrm’s head and examined the wound where Archxius’s mana still lingered. I tightened my grip on Jeolyeong.
I channeled black mana into the chilling blade.
Thud!
The strongest blow I could muster. The trajectory of the strike appeared in my mind. I followed it precisely.
Hum-
Jeolyeong hummed, as if anticipating my swing.
Flash
The image in my mind materialized. I gripped the sword tighter. Crackle. The chilling aura and the black mana intertwined, forming a single bolt of lightning.
The lightning pierced the Black Blood Wyrm’s head.
Black Lightning.
Lenox’s beloved sword, unused for so long. Yet its sharpness hadn’t dulled in the slightest.
I checked the Black Blood Wyrm’s condition. It lay sprawled on the ground, a gaping hole in its head.
Instant death.
I leaned against its corpse and sighed deeply.
“Damn, surviving is hard work.”
I wanted an easy life too. Or at least a cigarette.
Why couldn’t I have either? Why me?
Screech!
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Huh, so Lenox also transmigrated into this world except in the past. I wonder if that’s the same for IIiad too.
I hardly understood shit about what happened there at the ending. Almost the entire story up to this point has been overly confusing due to the authors writing style of hiding all the important facts in favor of forcing the readers to make assumptions. It genuinely really sucks, as it’d be a decent academy story if it wasn’t for that.