Chapter 158

The giant skeleton swung its remaining arm. 37 seconds left until the cooldown ended. Balancing my weight on the dagger embedded in the pillar, I leaped while maintaining the weight-reducing spell. My target was the dagger lodged in a nearby pillar. Bang! With a deafening crash, fragments scattered, and the stone pillar snapped like a straw and slammed into the ground. As the giant skeleton’s movements became visible through the rising dust, I looked up to check on Dorosian. Dorosian was gliding through the air, aiming a white bow made of light. It was undoubtedly the ‘Arrow of Purification.’ The taut bowstring quivered, and an arrow of light the size of a spear shot towards the giant skeleton. Whizz! But the arrow merely passed between the skeleton’s ribs, failing to inflict any damage, and struck the ground instead. Dorosian smiled with her eyes and shook the chain dangling from her wrist. “Could it be because of this? It’s not easy to hit, is it?” As expected, I’ll need to sever one of the giant skeleton’s legs to create an opening to strike its skull. Thud! The giant skeleton charged at the pillar where I stood. Missing an arm, it approached significantly slower than before. With some breathing room, I quickly surveyed the next pillars I could use to dodge. Only one dagger remained in my pocket. I threw it toward a suitable spot, driving it into place. Meanwhile, the giant skeleton thrust its head into the pillar where I had been. Thwack! Like a nimble squirrel jumping between trees, I swiftly moved to the next pillar. The pillar I had occupied shattered under the skeleton’s headbutt, crumbling away. Just one hit could be fatal. Without the ‘1-Second Invincibility,’ I wasn’t bold enough to confront it head-on. The skeleton immediately changed direction, attempting to strike the pillar I had moved to. Whizz! Dorosian shot another arrow of light, but it missed spectacularly again. She covered her mouth with her hand, smiling slyly. “Oh dear.” Was she pretending to miss, or was it just my imagination? Thud, thud, thud! My prayers for an accurate shot were brief. The giant skeleton destroyed the pillar that had been my last safe zone, forcing me to dive toward the ground while maintaining the weight-reducing spell. ŕãꞐỐ????Ęṣ Damn it, the cooldown hasn’t ended yet. [1-Second Invincibility Cooldown: 3 seconds] As I slowly descended, I locked eyes with the giant skeleton’s hollow sockets. It raised its hand high, as if swatting a mosquito. [1-Second Invincibility Cooldown: 2 seconds] The palm sliced through the air, rushing toward me. [1-Second Invincibility Cooldown: 1 second] In that moment, where a second felt like a minute, I could distinctly feel the skeleton’s palm graze my cheek like a soft feather. [1-Second Invincibility: Available] Cracks began to form on the giant skeleton’s palm. [Impact detected.] [Skill activated.] [1-Second Invincibility Cooldown: 59 seconds] With my arm wrapped in Liquid-gold, I swung the Liquid Gold infused sword, severing the giant skeleton’s arm at the wrist. Slice! The giant skeleton braced itself against the ground with the stump of its severed arm. I, having slowly descended using the weight-reducing spell, landed on its head. I then infused mana into the Liquid-gold sword, just enough to avoid rupturing my muscles, and drove it down. Thump! The skeleton struggled frantically, trying to shake me off. I clung desperately to the sword, trying not to fall, while Dorosian finally landed a direct hit with the arrow of light. !!!!! The light arrow lodged in the skeleton’s head released purifying energy, turning the bones into black ash. As the situation settled, I glared at Dorosian, who was slowly descending. “You didn’t miss on purpose, right?” “Was it that obvious?” I had nearly died this time. Even now, the tension hasn’t dissipated, making my heart race wildly. I burned with the ‘Ember of Noble Blood,’ my voice cold. “There better be a good reason for this.” “Hmm, if I have to give a reason… ” Dorosian took a step closer. Then, looking directly into my eyes, she flashed a cold smile. “Aren’t we getting a bit too close lately?” It sounded like a warning to my ears. A warning to keep my distance. Perhaps I’d forgotten this fact due to our recent conversations. But now, I was reminded of it once again. Dorosian is neither truly an ally nor an enemy within Frostheart. If anything, she leans toward the enemy faction, albeit ambiguously. She has always maintained an indifferent stance, watching as if it were none of her concern, even when a playable character was in peril. “Well, you are—” Just as I was about to say something, her next words caught me off guard. “So, I wanted to test it. Even if you died, would I really not bat an eye?” For a moment, I doubted what I had just heard, but it was exactly what she had said. “Congratulations. Judging by the result, it seems I still don’t want you dead.” The word ‘result’ from her lips made a series of events flash through my mind. Even though she had toyed with my life, it was Dorosian who ultimately finished off the giant skeleton. Recalling that undeniable fact sent chills down my spine. Why is she acting so terrifying? Normally, no matter how much help someone provided, standing by while another was on the brink of death would provoke anger. But when it comes to Dorosian, the villainess who treats others’ lives like flies, it’s a different story. Just the fact that she had any notion of helping others was as miraculous as a blind man regaining sight. “…Oh, really?” Suddenly, I felt it pointless to get angry. Instead, I felt a slight dizziness from the overwhelming situation. Letting out a sigh to release my complicated emotions, Dorosian turned her back with a seductive smile. “Well, who knows when I might change my mind.” Each of her words sent chills down my spine, but expecting too much was unreasonable. Dorosian, who was walking ahead, continued to speak. The topic was the recent battle against the giant skeleton. “Still, I’m surprised. I didn’t expect you to fight that well.” Judging from her lukewarm praise, it seemed Dorosian wasn’t exaggerating her assessment of me. If I had to guess why, it might be because her intelligence network is lacking. Her reaction to my Rune language skills suggested that she likely didn’t know what the Venomous Serpent Berme was or that I had defeated him. It was fortunate she didn’t know. If she had made the same ridiculous assumptions as Ricks’s gang, it would have been a real headache. They often dismiss situations, saying things like, “Hersel will manage just fine on his own!” It was better for me if she considered me a mere flower, fragile but still surviving, rather than something more. “I really thought I was going to die just now. Next time, I hope you give it your all, too.” “But isn’t it strange? The skeleton’s palm clearly touched you, yet it shattered instead of you.” When Dorosian looked at me with curious eyes, I shook my head with an unchanging expression. “It never touched me. You must have seen it wrong.” We walked in silence for a while. As expected of a place that housed the giant skeleton, it was vast. As I was carefully observing the surroundings for the exit, a shadow suddenly appeared from the ground. “Wow, you really managed to take that thing down. Impressive.” At the soldier’s remark, Dorosian narrowed her eyes. “You’ve been watching the whole time?” “I figured the others would die, but I had a feeling, so I came to check.” Dorosian averted her gaze from the soldier and turned her head. She seemed determined to completely ignore him. “Looks like you’re trying to find the way. Let me guide you. You can follow me safely. There won’t be any more dangers from here.” “Why should we trust you?” I asked, and the soldier smirked. “Yeah, I understand why we might seem suspicious. But think about it. We didn’t want you to come here in the first place. If we wanted you dead, we would have pushed you toward the monster here instead of the left path.” He had a point. I still didn’t know why they wanted us to take the left path, but it was something we could only do if we were alive. You’re trying to help now because you want us to finish our business quickly and head down the left path, right? “Fine, we’ll accept your help for now.” I silently followed behind the soldier. Though Dorosian showed signs of displeasure, she soon accepted it without a word. Thanks to the guide, we were able to easily find the entrance that was hard to see before. Crossing the threshold revealed a narrow corridor. On both sides were stone cubes, with a skull placed in the center of each, surrounded by candles. With each step, flames flared up from the wicks. Whoosh! After passing through the corridor, which posed no danger, we arrived at an open space. This dusty area wasn’t much different from the interiors we’d seen earlier. The only notable difference was a set of short stairs. Climbing the stairs, I found a box sitting on a stone table. I wondered if it might be cursed, but I had ‘1-Second Invincibility.’ Without hesitation, I opened the box, revealing a black ring that emitted a subtle glow. [Ring of Magi] -It enables you to use external Magi as energy. -It allows external Magi to resonate with the Magi within the body. It was an item I had never seen before. This meant it hadn’t appeared in the scenario. Originally, that man from the Special Ward would have taken the ‘Book of Black Blood’ alone, and this space would have disappeared along with the ring. But what exactly are these options? Normally, Magi can only be used if accumulated within the body. However, wearing this ring seems to allow control over external Magi as well. Even the convenience of not having to charge it made it a useful item, but the more astonishing feature was ‘Resonance.’ What would happen if one were to cast a self-destructive spell in a place overflowing with Magi? Wouldn’t it be as powerful as setting off a bomb in a room filled with gas? If so, this ring is undoubtedly a game-breaking item. Thinking about it being on the finger of ‘Felia the Wrathful,’ who would appear later, was terrifying. Hmm, should I erase the item along with this space? No, that would be a waste. With this, I wouldn’t have to go through the hassle of charging Magi, and the power of the Liquid Gold sword imbued with Magi could also be greatly increased. Yes, for now, I’ll put it in the inventory and observe the situation. As long as I don’t take it out, it won’t fall into enemy hands. *** As the Apparition said, there seemed to be no escape route on the right path. Even though I was reluctant, I had no choice. If the only way out is to send the ‘Book of Black Blood’ outside, then I’ll have to take that risk. “You want to go home, right? Well then, follow me this way.” Following the Apparition, we entered the left path. As we stepped into the corridor, what stood out the most was a suit of armor slumped against the wall. However, the inside was empty, and bone fragments were scattered around. I pretended not to notice and kept walking. I occasionally saw more of these sights, but Dorosian followed silently, without saying a word. Reaching the end of the corridor, a book placed on a pedestal caught my eye. It was surrounded by a barrier. “Oh, you made it here alive.” “Impressive, huh? Come on in. Oh, right. You’re mages, right? You can break the barrier.” “Yeah, yeah. Go ahead, break the barrier and place your hand on the book. That way, you can return to your original world.” The smiles on the nearby Apparitions seemed insincere. I reached out and stopped Dorosian. Then, I looked at the Apparitions and asked, “How do you know it will send us back to our original world?” These are soldiers who know nothing about magic. They’ve never witnessed anyone escaping before. So why are they so sure? “The grimoire speaks to us.” “Yes, it’s a voice that only the dead can hear.” “The grimoire doesn’t lie. So, break the barrier. Don’t you want to go home quickly?” I silently recalled my memories. According to the original scenario, a female student would later enter this place, place her hand on the grimoire, and return to the original world. Of course, she’d be caught in an explosion and shattered into pieces. But now I wondered if she had really died from the explosion. “Did you guys, when you were alive, devour one another?” The Apparitions flinched. I must have struck a nerve. Dorosian spoke, as if she had expected this. “So that’s why the bones were outside the armor. You took them out to eat, didn’t you?” Raising her staff, Dorosian cast a purification spell. The Apparitions hid against the wall. “If you wish for peace, why avoid it? Spending eternity here must be a hellish existence.” The captain of the soldiers poked his head around the corner and spoke. “You two are quite sharp. Alright then, if you dispel that, I’ll be honest with you.” Dorosian dispelled the purification spell and lowered her staff. It seemed this wasn’t a consensus decision. The soldiers protested to their captain. “Hey, why are you telling them that?” “Are you an idiot? What if they manage to escape?” The captain gave us a sly smile. “There are two of them. They have no choice but to decide.” The soldiers nodded in agreement. “Ah, that’s true.” “Well, in the end, that’s all we can do. Yes, that’s the only way.” Once the soldiers calmed down, the captain’s face turned serious as he began to explain. “The grimoire said that when someone touches it, this place will disappear. But it also said that person will die.” “What benefit does that have for you? Even in death, do you wish to leave this place?” “Not at all. We have no interest in a world where no one remembers us. Besides, if this place disappears, so will we.” Their words made no sense. Dorosian, seemingly just as confused as I was, asked on my behalf. “Then why reject purification? You’d still disappear either way.” “The grimoire promised us bodies, even if just for a moment.” “Bodies?” “Yes, bodies. With teeth, guts, and all that.” The soldiers rubbed their bellies, expressing their hunger. As drool dripped from their mouths, I envisioned the scene of them tearing each other apart in this barren, closed space, driven by hunger. “We’ve been starving for so long. I can’t even remember when we last ate.” “Ah, before we go, I’d like to fill my stomach at least once.” “So, who’s going to volunteer as the sacrifice? Personally, I’d prefer a woman. I’ve already had my fill of male flesh.” They plan to touch the grimoire and feast on the corpse of the one who dies. To them, it’s better to die with a full stomach than to simply vanish through purification. I knew that, yet I couldn’t help but feel disgusted by them. “Just so you know, there’s no other way. We’ve tried everything.” “Suit yourselves. It’s just a matter of time. Soon, you’ll realize it’s a futile hope and come crawling back here. Who knows, you might even end up fighting each other to see who dies first.” “Hahaha, now that would be entertaining.” It sounded strangely convincing to me. I didn’t need to see it to know they must have tried everything. From my observations along the way, it was clear that no other escape route existed. So, rather than wasting time, I decided to place my hand on the book and find out. “Is the condition to place a hand on the book?” “That’s what the grimoire said.” At the captain’s confident response, I snatched the staff from Dorosian’s hand. “Oh? Seems the man has made his choice already.” “Good, no need to drag this out.” “Yes, now break the barrier, then place the woman’s hand on the book.” While they chuckled among themselves, I began drawing the spell. seaʀᴄh thё NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, the barrier around the grimoire was old and could be easily dispelled at my level. Dorosian, displeased by my actions, spoke in an irritated tone. “What are you doing? You’re not actually believing what they’re saying, are you?” I looked into Dorosian’s eyes, trying to reassure her. “It’s okay.” As I brought my hand closer to the grimoire, Dorosian’s eyes trembled. “Wa-wait!” There was a mix of emotions in her voice. I felt a bit awkward. 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