112 – 49. Lucifer the Drinker (2)
Infinity Ring. It was an item brought from Volcanov’s report, but Ian hadn’t brought it with high expectations.
Perhaps the reason for taking it out was simply because carrying around armor for Ariel was inconvenient.
‘Using mana to carry it is a bit much, and it was cumbersome to bring it in, so let’s bring something useful… That was the thought behind it.’
Inventory substitute. To Ian, the Infinity Ring was nothing more than an item of that level, and he naturally didn’t bother to investigate its detailed functions.
‘As long as the items are well stored, it doesn’t matter.’
But while gathering various items before transitioning to Astelgia, Ian realized the true value of the ring.
‘To be precise, I mistook it for the Guardian’s Eun and infused mana into it.’
At that time, he regretted wasting valuable mana into the air. However, when he activated the inventory in preparation for the expedition, Ian witnessed a strange phenomenon.
‘I don’t know why… but the mana I infused at that time was stored in the inventory.’
At that moment, Ian realized. The true value of the Infinity Ring.
‘Originally, this ring wasn’t created to store items… It was made to store mana or absorb skills and retrieve them when needed.’
The original purpose was to store skills or mana, and the inventory function was secondary.
Ian was using it in the opposite way.
‘Still, the real relief is that I discovered how to use this ring before fighting Lucifer.’
At that moment, the Infinity Ring was no longer just an inventory.
It became an item that could create enough variables in battle.
And thanks to that.
“What, the heck!”
‘To easily absorb Lucifer’s attack… Is it because of the ring known as the Infinite Ring?’
The reason why they could pass through the desperate crisis so easily.
As Lucifer’s gaze trembles when the fierce blow returns to nothing.
He must have been quite surprised. After all, he probably wanted to end himself with this attack.
But for Ian, this alone wasn’t the end.
“Surprised much? But what to do with this? There’s still more left.”
“What on earth…?”
“What are you talking about? Take your garbage away.”
Once again, he strokes the Infinite Ring. The absorbed magic reveals itself in front of Ian,
“Lo Aires.”
“Why the heck would you do such a thing!”
Lucifer’s eyes widen at Ian’s reckless action of deploying a shield.
He couldn’t understand that guy’s thoughts at all.
‘There’s no way he doesn’t know about the power of ignoring defense… What’s the reason for pulling out what he absorbed…?’
Is he trying to harm himself? Or has he completely lost his mind?
Such thoughts crossed his mind in an instant. The situation was so incomprehensible.
Even though it’s a protective shield that he can’t block and will be brutally destroyed, why believe in such words?
‘Or maybe… Does he have some kind of plan?’
Honestly, I still don’t know the reason for pulling out the magic. But letting my guard down was out of the question.
Didn’t Leviathan say that?
“Ian Volkov is an unpredictable guy. He can turn any given situation into a variable…”
Even if I can’t understand it now, he’s not the type to do something like that without any thought.
With that thought in mind, Lucifer quickly tried to respond.
Kwaaang!
“aaargh!”
Unfortunately, Lucifer had no way to stop Ian.
The attack that collided with Lucifer bounced back due to its reflective nature.
“Damn it! sh*t!”
Lucifer’s mouth was filled with groans as he received the attack.
Ian, who was watching from a distance, only smiled as if amused.
“No matter how much I think about it, I can’t understand it. Absorbing the attack and summoning it again.”
However, when Ian thought about it, there was one situation that he couldn’t understand in Lucifer’s position.
“How did he bounce back an attack that ignores defense… that must be it.”
No matter how powerful the shield is, it can’t ignore the power of a divine ability.
But if the ability is the problem, then all he has to do is get rid of it, right?
“The Infinite Ring has one drawback. When it absorbs a skill, it becomes a catalyst.”
Interestingly, the drawback of the Infinite Ring was a great help.
By absorbing Lucifer’s attack, the ability to ignore defense was removed and stored.
Although it would inevitably disappear as a catalyst, its tremendous destructive power remained intact.
“If there is no power, there is no attack that Lucifer cannot block.”
The reflected damage was Lucifer’s responsibility.
Ian, who smirked, raised his sword again.
“Now that we’ve passed Phase 1… let’s begin Phase 2.”
***
In truth, Ian had a lot of concerns about the boss battle with Lucifer.
It was understandable, considering that he had never faced him before, especially since he had obtained the power of Mason.
“Lucifer may be strong… but because of the power I’ve gained, the patterns I knew of him have changed. That’s the real problem.”
If the opponent had been as predictable as a game, he wouldn’t have had to worry like this.
But because it was a battle with Lucifer, and he didn’t know exactly how he had changed, Ian decided to take a passive approach at first.
Rather than getting closer right away, he chose to observe how his opponent moved.
“But contrary to my worries, he seems to follow a certain pattern to some extent.”
As Ian carefully observed Lucifer’s movements, his eyes narrowed.
Contrary to his concerns, Lucifer’s patterns hadn’t really changed.
Of course, there were some additions, but they were simply part of the combo and didn’t alter the basic attack buildup.
“I can be confident with this. His base is still the same.”
The base remained the same with only a few changes in certain actions.
One could argue that Lucifer’s movements were within Ian’s grasp, but…
It wasn’t a problem that could be solved so easily.
It didn’t mean that basing it on his memories was exactly the same as the way he remembered him.
“Even right at this moment, it’s the same.”
Lucifer indiscriminately swings the greatsword that looks easily 3 meters long seven times.
Following the original memory, after swinging it seven times, he leaps one step back, then dashes forward attempting a wide horizontal cut.
However, Lucifer’s movements were different.
Thud! Swish!
It seems like he leaped one step back in place. However, instead of rushing forward, Lucifer thrusts the sword into the ground.
Kuwaagwaa!
“Kuk! Seems quite angry, Ian, be careful!”
“Yes. Hexar, be cautious too!”
Fragments scatter due to the exploding ground. Pieces imbued with magic, following Lucifer’s command, become a chain of explosions.
Kiiing! Kuwaagwaa!
“Everyone, come this way!”
“Hoo… If Balhalla’s deployment was even a bit delayed, we would have been completely engulfed in the explosion. Well done! Glendia.”
Iliyan starts chuckling with a freezing laughter.
Just a moment ago, the magnificent demon castle, where they were battling Lucifer, is nowhere to be seen.
All that’s visible now is a ruined land.
The huge castle was blown away entirely due to the massive explosion.
Truly astonishing power. Naturally, even Glendia’s protective magic, ‘Balhalla,’ accumulated damage.
Fizz!
Even with Ariel’s combined efforts, Balhalla is filled with cracks, on the verge of shattering.
Glendia was perplexed by the absurd situation. However, knowing there was no time to complain, she immediately checked the status of Valhalla.
“This is a big problem.”
“Is recovery possible?”
“Well… at this rate, it will take quite some time to redeploy the shield.”
“Can it be restored?”
“If given enough time, it seems possible.”
Glendia hesitated, unable to give a definite answer.
Her skill, Valhalla, had the effect of protecting a certain area from external attacks. However, if it couldn’t recover the accumulated damage, even if cast again, it would quickly fall apart—a disadvantage in not fully understanding Lucifer’s patterns.
“We must somehow protect Valhalla. Ian,” said Ian, addressing Glendia. “If it gets too tough, temporarily suspend the buffs and focus on restoring the defense. I’ll buy you some time during that.”
“…It’s a tough situation, but I’ll ask for your help, Ian.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault. Besides, we’re comrades.”
As a saint protecting her party members, there was no room to reprimand her as long as she fulfilled her role. It was regrettable not to receive buffs for a while, but there was no reason to complain.
“I’m not a hero, nor Ariel. I shouldn’t think about sucking the life force of party members.”
Only Ariel had the right to receive support from her comrades. Glendia was someone who should offer help rather than seek it.
If she truly wished… it was a matter she could resolve on her own.
Ian, who calmly lifted his head, once again fastened the ring.
Of course, it wasn’t the Infinite Ring.
“Neltalion is taking a break.”
– Yeah! Should I call him if needed?
“Sure.”
The Guardian’s Eunhwan. Ian thought of bringing forth the divine power that was an extreme complement to Lucifer.
[Used Guardian’s Eunhwan! Changes the user’s attribute from darkness to light.]
[Obtained debuff due to attribute that does not meet the conditions for using the Sword of Darkness, Rebrion. Mental erosion has begun!]
[Indomitable Will has been used! Resisting mental erosion!]
At that moment, a vast divine power began to envelop Ian’s body.