Chapter 302

‘Considering even Ban Soyae’s Curse didn’t work, that thing’s resistance to Forbidden Arts must be quite high.’

Although I had the correction from my Forbidden Technique Value, her Cursed Technique was also not something to be easily ignored.

Then, among the means I possess, what could inflict effective damage on that thing?

In fact, the answer was already predetermined.

‘I must awaken the power of the Phantom Body Trait once more.’

The power of the Phantom Body Trait I had used as if entranced during the fight with the Jade-Eyed Fire Specter not long ago. If I blend that into my Curse, I should definitely be able to deal solid damage to that thing as well.

However, the problem was that I was still not accustomed to utilizing such power.

‘The process itself can be reproduced without much difficulty. Only…’

Compared to the overwhelmingly massive Jade-Eyed Fire Specter, that thing is small and agile. If I don’t wait for a clear opportunity, far from seeing any effect, I’ll only instill a sense of crisis.

As if reading my worries, Seo Jian blinked and posed a question.

“…So we just need to create an opening?”

“Correct. I’m counting on you.”

Swoosh.

Whoooosh.

Seo Jian, having focused and dyed her eyes a blue light, swiftly swung both her arms.

Then, the surface of the lake upon which the Dragon Abyss God stood began to ripple violently, sending out waves in an attempt to disrupt its balance.

“The backlash is still severe… but still, it will have no choice but to keep expending its nerves, wary of my power.”

“Thank you. I’ll calmly wait for my chance.”

True to Seo Jian’s words, the Dragon Abyss God twisted its head with an unpleasant expression, glaring intently in Seo Jian’s direction.

It had sensed that she could directly impose restrictions on its power.

Whoosh!

Screeeech!

“Heavenly Thousand Rotation Wave!”

Furthermore, the Grand Art Sophia continuously fired was also effectively pressuring it.

While the attacks themselves were at a level it could sufficiently block or evade, that didn’t mean their power was something to recklessly ignore.

Sophia’s presence, firing Grand Arts—which require significant expenditure—more frequently than anyone else, was sure to cause considerable confusion for the creature as well.

“Shadow Thief, Eve, Old Man Tree Specter, Sorisoe.”

Swoosh.

Splash!

Unfortunately, Keuseundae, Kongsami, and others couldn’t exert their full strength in a place like this.

Summoning Shadow Thief and Eve, who could handle Cursed Technique countermeasures individually, and the two Specters with underwater combat abilities, I instructed them to draw the Dragon Abyss God’s attention by forming a large circle around it.

[Why don’t you try using the Ghost Hand’s power properly, Oppa? It’ll definitely help.]

“In what way?”

[What way? Like this, of course.]

Crackle!

Following the will of Kwimae, who had been absorbed into me, a vast amount of Spiritual Power surged forth in an instant from the Ghost Hand revealed on my right hand.

Simultaneously, a rain of petals fell over the entire lake, and a strange energy began to induce hallucinations and confusion.

“Is this… one of Lady Kwimae’s Secret Arts?”

[That’s right, Oppa. Didn’t I tell you? In your current state, you can use most of them with my assistance.]

I hadn’t even considered that such a method of utilization was possible.

No, judging by Kwimae’s reaction, she clearly knew but hadn’t told me.

“How mischievous of you.”

[I just thought you’d figure it out on your own soon enough. But it seems the power of the shadow you newly obtained is too intense. It probably wasn’t easy to notice.]

I roughly understood the situation and nodded. And regardless. If there was a perfect opportunity, it might be right now.

‘Focus my mind, like before…’

Writhe.

I felt the energy flowing from my shadow course through my body, assimilating with my Spiritual Power.

And it assimilated with the Art Formula I was unfolding, transforming and altering its nature at will.

Whoosh!

‘Success.’

The Incantation was complete. Moreover, even if the Dragon Abyss God wasn’t intoxicated by the hallucinations, its concentration had visibly diminished.

Towards it, I then fired the Grand Art of Hectail, the Forbidden Arts Master of Night School, which I had now grown accustomed to.

“Death Transcending Wheel.”

Screeeech!

Craaack—!

The ferocious Curse I had witnessed numerous times, yet something was definitely different from before.

The Dragon Abyss God frantically swung its arms, scattering scales to employ some kind of technique, but the Cursed Technique imbued with the power of the Phantom Body, as I had witnessed in the battle with the Jade-Eyed Fire Specter, pierced right through it and struck the creature’s main body directly.

Thud!

[───!!]

A bizarre scream echoed in all directions, and for the first time since the battle began, the Dragon Abyss God showed signs of pain and staggered.

Furthermore, in that process, I could accurately grasp how the power of the Phantom Body Trait had reached it.

‘…The defense didn’t work.’

To be precise, the technique the Dragon Abyss God deployed had absolutely no effect on my Curse.

Should I describe it as letting it pass or passing through? What was certain was that it was as if the two forces didn’t interlock, ignoring each other.

‘So that’s why the Jade-Eyed Fire Specter couldn’t block my attack.’

An attack that cannot be blocked even if one tries. Simply put, that was the feeling.

“…Is that the power you gained by passing the trial of Cheonghongyeong?”

“I’m not entirely sure myself yet, but the influence seems correct.”

Seeing the Dragon Abyss God still screaming in pain, it was certain that the power of the Phantom Body Trait, like Yoo Haon’s Demon-Suppressing Trait, could strike the opponent in some fundamental realm.

Whether Ban Soyae and Haekaram noticed my attack was effective or not, they began to act with a hint of admiration, changing their approach.

“Seems like what we need to do is decided, doesn’t it?”

“…I’ll support you. Can you keep repeating attacks in the same manner?”

I nodded in response, and having found a path to victory, we began to fiercely pressure the Dragon Abyss God and seize the advantage.

[───!!]

Roooar!

Enraged, it summoned water pillars from the lake and fired massive wind blasts to attack us, but Seo Jian, who had mastered her clan’s abilities in the World of Forbidden Techniques, skillfully blocked them all.

“…Its power has diminished compared to before. It doesn’t work now.”

A definite checkpoint.

Seeing the Dragon Abyss God, unable to hide its agitation, continuously retreating and launching attacks, made it clear this wasn’t just our misconception.

“It was quite a formidable foe, but is this the end?”

“It seems to have expended its strength in various ways. It probably put considerable effort into blocking the entry points near the lake, even while pretending otherwise.”

Without letting our guard down, we closed the distance towards the cowering Dragon Abyss God. Eventually, perhaps thinking it was now or never, it began to inflate its body size by about half, mustering its final strength.

Whoosh!

“This is…”

The storm and whirlpools that had been swirling near the lake ceased, and the sky returned to a clear state as if it had always been that way, welcoming us.

In stark contrast, the Dragon Abyss God, having concentrated all its power, grew scales all over its body, wrapping them around like iron armor, steeling itself for a final decisive battle with us.

Crackle!

Crrackle!

Defenses thicker than before, now to the point where even Sophia’s Heavenly Thousand Rotation Wave might not be able to damage it head-on.

However, despite that, its eyes were trembling with unease.

It too seemed to vaguely sense that my transformed Phantom Body power was acting upon a more fundamental realm than its own.

‘…It will definitely target me.’

Only one option remained for it.

Before I could attack again, to gather its last strength and somehow subdue me.

Moreover, I wasn’t in a completely relaxed situation either.

Because I had also realized the weakness of the newly transformed Phantom Body Trait power through the earlier exchange.

‘While extremely effective for offense, it’s a power that cannot be used for defense.’

Thinking from the opposite perspective, it’s simple logic.

Cursed Techniques altered by the Phantom Body’s power likely wouldn’t effectively protect me from enemy attacks.

And if it charged at me with all its concentrated power, it was uncertain whether the defensive spells I possessed could stop it.

‘Of course, that’s if I were alone.’

I was not facing that thing alone here. That was the difference between it and me.

Splash!

Immediately, the Dragon Abyss God, having kicked off the water’s surface, began charging towards me. Clad in ferocious wind blades and trusting in its enhanced scales’ power, it attempted a physical assault.

However, Haekaram and Sophia, blocking my path, had also already completed all their preparations.

“If you’re going to so obviously go for an all-out power contest, it’s actually more convenient for me.”

Whoosh!

The Barrier Haekaram had deployed using the mask as a medium dissipated, and the mask that had sprung from the water’s surface was once again gripped in her hand.

Thrusting it forward, Haekaram spread a Barrier blocking the space between the creature and me, pouring all her power into it.

“Originally, this isn’t how this item is meant to be used… but it’ll probably be hard to break.”

Craaash!

Zzzzzzt—!

True to Haekaram’s declaration, the Barrier effectively halted the Dragon Abyss God’s charge, and Sophia intervened, solidifying the defense perfectly.

“Not a chance!”

Her extraordinary Spiritual Power exhibited remarkable effects not only in offense but also in defensive aspects.

Against the continuously regenerating wall of Cursed Technique spells, even as they shattered and broke, the Dragon Abyss God’s charge gradually lost its force and ultimately its momentum was broken.

Swoosh!

And what awaited that moment was, naturally, my Cursed Technique imbued with the power of the Phantom Body Trait pushed to its limit.

“Art of the Eight Trigrams Star Sky, Seven Trigrams, Supreme Light.”

Intense beams of light showered down upon the Dragon Abyss God, and in that brief moment, shadows mixed in, slowly beginning to penetrate its body.

[───!!]

An erupting scream and atmosphere trembling as if an earthquake had occurred. And when it all subsided, all we could see was the Dragon Abyss God’s upper body turning into a handful of ash, scattering away.

“Is it… over?”

“It definitely hit, so it probably perished.”

Thus, we had finally defeated two more of the Great Specters remaining in the Oracle Bone Casket: the Jade-Eyed Fire Specter and the Dragon Abyss God.

Nevertheless, the ominous energy lingering in the surroundings showed no sign of abating.

‘…There is no more respite, is there?’

Somehow, I could be certain.

The next Great Specter would probably not take as long to appear as it had until now.

And that also meant we might soon face our archenemy, Polar Night.

‘But… now there’s no turning back.’

Both resolve and preparations were complete.

If that creature truly reveals itself to this world again, then we have no choice but to defeat it by any means necessary.

Clenching my tense fists tightly, I could only stare at the sky where the sun still did not rise.