𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟗
𝐚ᴡᴇḃ̇𝕤𝚝𝕠𝘳ɪė̇𝘴.𝔠ᴏ𝙢
BAM!
BOOM!
It was just a casual exchange of blows, but Hektel quickly noticed my transformation.
“. . .Amazing. What happened to you in the meantime?”
In conclusion, Hektel was strong. Both in terms of stats and in the sense that I was no match for him in my current state.
「𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚.」
I couldn’t help but feel envious of the exorcists who must be facing Yoo Hye-yeon by now.
However, despite my admiration, the situation was far better than before.
“Well. There’s no need to tell someone who’s about to die.”
【Challenger(B+)】
▶Boosts stats when fighting an opponent of a higher level.
Effect is active.
【Black Phoenix Earrings】
▶Earrings made from the feathers of a phoenix. Infused with refined curse energy. Increases the wearer’s curse resistance and the power of curses they cast.
━Effect is active.
Compared to before, my level had increased considerably, and thanks to the Challenger trait I acquired in the last battle and the bonus from the Black Phoenix Earrings, my ability scores had been boosted.
「𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙣𝙪𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙢𝙮 𝙠𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙖 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚.」
In short, I was currently receiving an outrageous amount of buffs, like a cleric character facing undead in a game.
Ggong-sam-yi and Black Yin, who were also participating in the battle, were shikigami with strong resistance to hexes and curses.
At this point, I was starting to feel impressed by Hektel for pushing me this far despite the absurd situation.
“As expected, the amount of karma value you’ve accumulated is extraordinary. I can’t imagine how it’s possible for someone your age.”
Hektel had already noticed the absurd amount of karma value I possessed, but he wasn’t sure exactly how high it was.
He probably couldn’t even fathom it. The idea that someone with a maxed-out karma value could exist in this world.
“Look, despite being exposed to Balor’s Death Eyes for an extended period, you’ve managed to endure it all. Normally, your soul would have already been worn down and shattered.”
We both had powerful spears, but we also had shields to counter them.
In the end, it meant that half-hearted measures were no longer an option.
“I don’t want to waste any more time and get interrupted like last time. Let’s finish this.”
Hektel wasted no time in ramping up his power.
It seemed he intended to end this in one swift move with his overwhelming strength.
「. . .𝙎𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨.」
Unfortunately, I didn’t have a powerful finishing move like Hektel’s.
In the end, all I could do, both then and now, was to absorb it and return it to my opponent.
However, as if he had read my mind, Hektel sneered and spoke to me.
“Do you think you can handle it?”
“I might be able to.”
“Let me warn you. I’m going to use a Grand Hex right here.”
“. . . . . . . .”
“Just to make sure you’re dead.”
Hektel’s Grand Hex was a vicious curse that devoured his own life force. Using it meant that he was truly serious.
“Even a 1st-grade exorcist would die instantly if hit by this. Without leaving even a shred of their soul behind.”
He wasn’t bluffing. In the original story, every exorcist who was directly hit by Hektel’s Grand Hex met their end.
Despite this, I calmly gathered my spiritual power and assumed a stance.
「𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩 𝘼𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.」
Whoosh.
Rumble.
BOOM!
A deadly curse that could effortlessly kill even a 1st-grade exorcist, someone said to have transcended human limits.
However, on the other hand, it also meant that.
“If I return it, I could kill even you.”
“Kukukuku! You’re out of your mind. Fine! Go ahead and try!”
Slash.
Hektel seemed to enjoy my attitude, letting out a chuckle filled with amusement as he drew upon all of his spiritual power.
“Death Realm Illusion Curse.”
BOOM.
Screech!
As Hektel began to chant the incantation, I felt a surge of power unlike any spell I had ever encountered before.
“The wheels of the six realms of existence turn forever.”
It was clearly different. An indescribable aura of death slowly rose above Hektel’s head, forming a sphere.
「. . .𝙎𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙚𝙭 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣.」
On the one hand, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at how ridiculous it was. Was he saying that a mere human could wield such immense power?
I had a backup plan in mind, but to be honest, seeing this in front of me made even my previous confidence waver.
「𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩.」
There was no way out. Even if I ran away from this place, I wouldn’t be able to leave the academy grounds because of the doppelgangers, and I would just end up being hunted again.
Of course, I didn’t have a powerful finishing move like Hektel’s, but fortunately, I had one last trick up my sleeve.
Swish.
I glanced at my shadow, which had grown stronger after absorbing the doppelgangers, and began to formulate a spell once more.
BOOM.
