113 – 49. Lucipher’s Drink (3)
The radiance emanating from Ian’s hand made Rebrion momentarily resemble Elysion.
At the same time, Lucipher realized what they were thinking.
“It seems they plan to entrust her safety to the warrior while she restores her protective shield… Ariel Volkanov’s vacant position will be taken by that guy.”
Considering the growth he had undergone under the presence once again, it wouldn’t be easy for Ian to replicate the warrior’s strike. But considering the actions the guy had taken as an individual of the Master level, it didn’t seem like an arrogant judgment.
Moreover, hasn’t he been tormenting him all this time?
“Don’t underestimate him. The fact that he comes out like that means he’s confident.”
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Having been disturbed countless times and even receiving counterattacks just a few minutes ago, Lucipher had no reason to think that Ian was being careless.
“Do not admit my mistake. From now on, I will consider you all as equals. So…”
Hold on.
The moment those words ended, Lucifer gripped his greatsword,
Thunk!
“Leap? Hexar, dodge!”
Jumping through the air, Lucifer swung his sword towards Hexar.
With a burst of energy, Lucifer closed in. Hexar, accustomed to his speed, tried to calculate the timing and evade, but…
“Got it… Ugh! What speed!”
“It would be best not to try to anticipate my speed!”
Crash!
“Ugh!”
Moving at high speed, Hexar’s calculations were thrown off by Lucifer’s attack, and his sword struck him directly.
Crack!
“aaah!”
Unfortunately, Lucifer’s attack didn’t end there.
The paths he had passed through were imbued with magic and began to explode shortly after.
Not only was he helpless against the sudden attack, but he was also caught in the explosions.
No matter how durable Hexar was, he couldn’t withstand such an attack.
“Ugh!”
“Hey, are you okay? Snap out of it!”
Enveloped in flames and magic, Hexar let out a mixture of screams and groans.
Fortunately, Iliyan managed to pull him out and bring him to the rear. However, the situation was already at its worst.
His skin, reddened to an ominous extent, had no untouched areas. There were places where flesh had burned away, revealing bones underneath.
Momentarily surprised and bewildered, Ian, who had temporarily restrained Lucifer using ether, approached Hexar and used instant regeneration.
“The effect… is inadequate.”
Neltalion’s ability, which had shown astonishing regenerative power with just a breath, inexplicably couldn’t heal Hexar’s burns.
It seemed there was only one explanation. Could it be… that his ability was interfering even with Neltalion’s?
Lucifer, with the divine power he obtained, was dominating even the divine power Ian possessed. Faced with this reality, Ian could only wear a despairing expression.
In a situation where all he could do was watch his severely injured comrade, Ian clenched his teeth, his expression unreadable. Iliyan tried to calm his emotions.
“Hey! Ian! Snap out of it. I’ll take care of this guy myself.”
“You’ll take care of him…”
“There’s a healing magic passed down only to the High Elves of Dalsurim. It might not be very effective, but… with Glendia’s help, we can at least prevent his condition from worsening.”
Glendia might be busy restoring Vahlara, but she was undoubtedly the top sacred mage in Edenria. While providing buffs, she could probably manage some healing assistance.
“I’ll be healing him with Glendia, so don’t worry… Instead, can I ask you for a favor?”
“Lucifer. Are you asking me to stop him?”
“Yeah. Please.”
It might be too much to burden him with, but Ian had no choice in the matter.
“I’ll take care of it. I’ll handle things from here.”
Instead of verbally responding, Illian nodded and leaped backward, holding Heksar.
“Ariel Lucifer is under my watch. Can you handle the attack from the rear?”
“Got it! Don’t worry.”
After reminding Ian of Ariel’s role just in case, he focused on the battle.
Clang!
Turning his head at the sudden noise from behind, he could see it.
Screams!
“It’s not wise for insignificant creatures like you to try to stop me, Ian Volkano.”
Ether disappearing as it scattered on the ground, and Lucifer wielding a sword.
Unable to contain his anger, Ian unleashed his magic. He also drew upon his mana.
***
No rabble, just Ian Volkano facing the situation alone.
Without hesitation, Lucifer rushed in and swung his sword.
“Here I come! Ian Volkano!”
Crash!
A three-strike combo using a giant sword larger than his own body.
A simple attack for those trained in swordsmanship, but when combined with the transcendent abilities and the power of a mage, it was certainly not to be ignored.
‘I shouldn’t try to block. I have to dodge first.’
Certainly, Ian was aware of this, so instead of parrying or countering, he took a step back.
Soshashak!
A situation where I easily escaped with a leap. However, I couldn’t relax. I had to keep my head spinning and think about the next move.
“The boss battle with Lucifer that I know usually involves a three-hit combo after the leap, followed by random patterns.”
The first move is usually an attempt at a sideways kick after the three-hit combo. But there were also moves where he swiftly rotated around and split the ground with his blade, and moves where he gouged the ground.
“Of course, this is just the typical pattern. There are various other patterns as well.”
I can’t predict what will come next. Even if a pattern from my memory comes out, it might have been distorted after absorbing the power of the Massin.
Therefore, Ian had only one option to choose against Lucifer’s attack.
Tadak!
“You little rat, running away like that! How long do you think you can keep doing that?”
“If I don’t run away, I’ll die. So, are you coming in?”
Creating distance. That was the method Ian chose.
Of course, it was a despicable method. But what can you do?
Unlike others, Ian was not someone who preferred fair fights.
“I only want one thing. I want to fight dirty. And my opponent fights fair.”
With that mindset, there was no reason to fight the way the bastard wanted.
Besides, didn’t I taste his power firsthand?
“I don’t know much, but there might be a power among the Massin’s abilities that ignores defense.”
Unless I can freely use Royal Ice or Super Regeneration. There’s nothing more foolish than taking reckless gambles in a limited situation.
“But that doesn’t mean I’m just going to run away. If I see an opening, I’ll attack. For example…”
Lucifer stopped attacking while watching his opponent just run away. It was only for a moment, but his posture crumbled due to forcibly stopping his attack.
“Just like this.”
Ian didn’t miss that fleeting moment.
As soon as he landed, Ian propelled himself off the ground and into Lucifer’s embrace.
Swish!
Lucifer tried to deflect Ian’s sudden approach by swinging his sword.
“But it’s already too late.”
“When did…”
Lucifer’s defensive position had already been taken by Ian.
From the mana-covered Lebrion, which had turned into a solid crystal, a blinding light burst forth.
Boom! Crash!
“Ahhh!”
As the sacred power pierced through Lucifer’s back, it exploded from his body.
Dizzy from the intense shock, Lucifer’s posture crumbled, and he fell to his knees. Naturally, Ian didn’t miss that either.
Slash!
Without losing momentum, Ian relentlessly continued his assault. Of course, Lucifer tried to fight back, trying to lift himself up.
Swish! Crash!
“Ian! Be careful!”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Ugh! These damn dogs!”
Ian was not the only one targeting him. From a distance, Illian, who had been treating his injuries, was also waiting for an opportunity.
As soon as Lucifer knelt down, arrows began to rain down.
Ku-gwagwa.
“Kkhuk!”
The arrows falling like rain and the storm-like swordsmanship of Ian began to overwhelm Lucifer.
Lucifer’s boss battle was considered the most difficult due to his inherently aggressive and fierce nature.
Moreover, even though he had swallowed the power of a potion and become even stronger, he was unable to match his opponent, Ian.
It would be difficult to understand the situation easily.
However, all of this was part of Ian’s plan.
“If the opponent’s power is strong… I just have to prevent them from using it.”
Lucifer, who excelled in relentless attacks, would normally have been countered by anticipating the timing of each of his attacks. But Ian had chosen to confront him head-on.
“Even if it’s a gamble that I can only succeed if I can break Lucifer’s stance just once.”
Regardless of the outcome, Ian had achieved the picture he desired, and naturally, he decided to execute the plan.
He continued his relentless attacks without giving the enemy time to react.
Although it was an unreasonable move that he would never attempt unless he killed him, considering the possibility of getting tired in the middle.
“That’s a story for Ariel, who has reached the level of an expert and has to fight Lucifer in a boss battle. It would be different if I had become a Master.”
In his current state, Ian had the confidence to continue his attacks without giving him a moment.
“Even if it means using up all of my mana, I have to take a significant portion of his health during this opportunity.”
He would bet everything on this attack.
With his determination set, Ian firmly grasped the hilt and swung his sword.
Ku-gwagwagwa.
Simultaneously, his sword displayed a different appearance than before.
As if determined to sweep away the very space itself, it swirled with overwhelming force.
One minute. Two minutes… Three minutes… Time gradually passed. The dazzling radiance began to depict Ian’s sword in the air.
As if intending to illuminate this endlessly dark land, the sword swung.
After a long 10 minutes, Ian’s sword came to a halt.
“….Hoo… Blackout!”
“Hoo…”
Lucifer, now battered and gasping for breath.
Ian, looking at him with a blank expression, didn’t hesitate to lift his sword.
“Still… it’s not over.”
Finally, plunging this sword into the guy’s back would bring everything to an end.
After taking a deep breath, he swung down the raised sword.
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Thunk!
The radiant Levryon pierced through the guy’s back.
Now blood would spurt out, and the alert would sound.
Thinking so, in the moment he casually closed his eyes.
“Uwaaa!”
“Ian! Watch out!”
“…Still holding on, huh?”
The moment when ominous energy oozed out from the guy’s body instead of crimson blood.
What’s going on? Why am I not dead and suddenly this is happening?
I couldn’t understand. I mean, what the hell is happening?
But in that brief moment, Ian was certain.
“There’s something.”
Lucifer hadn’t lost his life yet.
If he continued to relax with the sword still plunged in, a great danger would come.
Swoosh!
“Damn it.”
Ian, who drew out the sword, quickly headed towards where his comrades were.
“Ian, it’s dangerous!”
“Look behind you, Ian!”
Crash!
Unfortunately, Lucifer’s transformation was a little faster.
Thunk!
Starting from the hand that popped out from the wound where the sword was stuck, and ending with the appearance of something turning inside out.
“It’s too late…”
Crash!
Swept away by the explosion of magic that spewed out, Ian remained as he was.