Ch.84Tyrant Lee Ji Cheol (4)

How should I describe this feeling?

Whoosh.

“……”

It’s not an unfamiliar or alien sensation. That makes sense, since this has always been my power, even if it was bound for a while.

Yet, that’s precisely why I feel so exhilarated. It’s as if I’ve shed ill-fitting clothes—my mind feels incredibly clear and refreshed.

“Whew.”

As I exhaled lightly, invisible blades suddenly rushed toward me.

Kwagagagak—!

Lee Jichul’s attack skill, filled with power, contained enough force to completely demolish a building or two.

However, I simply raised one hand to block it without even looking.

Jeoeoeoeng!

“…Hold on. I’m enjoying this moment.”

“What!”

Lee Jichul’s once-impressive aura now felt like nothing more than a minnow in a pond.

That tiny power no longer even registered in my consciousness.

I closed my eyes and savored the immense sense of liberation washing over me.

“…This is how it felt.”

A sensation nearly erased from my mind due to the long absence. Recognizing that massive wave of power, I calmly smiled as I looked at Lee Jichul’s frozen expression.

“I should thank you.”

“…What?”

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have had to use this method.”

Attempting necromancy on one’s own soul while bound by mysterious chains isn’t exactly conventional behavior.

I had only devised this ritual with Kan, with no immediate plans to implement it.

But Lee Jichul’s unexpected performance forced me to take this gamble, and I achieved the desired result.

‘…About 40 percent, perhaps?’

Of course, considering what Helena told me about the chains’ self-restoration ability, this effect will be temporary. Even so, I’ve managed to draw out nearly half of my full power.

And I can state with certainty that with just 40 percent of my power, I’m confident I could overwhelm anyone on Earth in a direct confrontation.

“And that’s more than enough for someone like you.”

“……”

Curious, I summoned my status window, the mark of awakening.

Ding.

【Baek Eunha】

▶Level: –

▶Title: Lord of Death

The level value, which had been the only displayed item, had disappeared, and instead, new content appeared in the previously empty title field.

Seeing that familiar name, I smirked and sent Kan back into the Book of Death.

Puhwak.

“…This is going too far. Though I’ve been saving my trump card, I haven’t shown my full power either.”

But despite his words, Lee Jichul’s expression was far from confident.

He could sense that my condition was not ordinary.

Watching him, I waved my hand to spread my death energy widely.

Whoosh.

“Then, do whatever you want.”

The death energy emanating from me began to merge with the surrounding curtain, and soon the entire circular space was covered with black thorny vines.

“Whatever we do here from now on won’t leak outside.”

“…You’ll regret this.”

Lee Jichul assumed a stance with a grave expression, drawing up his magical power.

Indeed, he hadn’t been using his full strength before, as a much more powerful force was now gathering.

With his muscles fully tensed, Lee Jichul released the magical power he had gathered in an instant and activated his skill.

“Earthquake!”

Kuaaang!

A powerful shockwave that created the illusion of the world being turned upside down.

Because I had isolated the space from the outside, the ground didn’t collapse, but if used outside, it would have literally caused an earthquake throughout the surrounding area.

Lee Jichul didn’t stop his offensive there and fired another skill at me while building up his magical power again.

Whoosh.

“Explosive Thunder!”

Kwagwagwagwang—!

Magical energy condensed into sequential explosions on the ground rushed toward me, but I made no attempt to counter this tremendous attack.

I simply enjoyed the moment, watching it approach.

Kwang!

Puhwak—!

The attack hit me directly, and the impact shook not only my body but even the outer wall of the barrier.

However, what was revealed afterward was my completely unharmed figure.

“Impossible! What trick did you use?”

“Not really a trick at all.”

I simply raised my magical power and death energy to enhance my defense.

Of course, with a bit of special processing.

“That’s the problem with people here. You’re always obsessing over titles and skills, so your fundamentals are terribly weak.”

To Earth’s awakened, skills might seem like special abilities unique to them, but to me, they’re just the result of training that anyone can achieve.

When strength, technique, and experience combine, what else would you call it but a skill?

“If this is all you’ve got, it’s too boring. Anything else to show?”

“…Kugh.”

“Then, it’s my turn now.”

I smiled slightly and raised one finger to point at Lee Jichul. Instantly, black mist spread out and began to envelop his entire body.

Puhwak.

Seureureuk.

“Kuh! Get off me!”

But his struggles changed nothing. I lightly flicked my finger and recited a spell considered one of the basic virtues of a necromancer.

“Energy Drain.”

Chwaaak!

Pasasasak!

“Kueeeegh—!”

The reaction was violent.

Befitting his S-rank, Lee Jichul possessed truly vast magical power, but about half of it was absorbed by me in an instant.

“What? Can’t block it?”

If the me from ten minutes ago had used the same spell, I would have wasted precious energy without any effect.

But now it’s different. With a highly refined spell plus the output I was lacking before, Lee Jichul was clearly in a situation where he could do nothing.

“I’ll give this right back to you.”

I began to rotate and transform the ball of magical energy that had formed like a water balloon on my fingertip.

If I recall the magical arrangement from earlier…

“Was it like this? Explosive Thunder.”

Whoosh.

Kwagwagwagwang—!

The violent shockwave traveled along the ground, and Lee Jichul, with no time to defend, was sent flying into the barrier wall.

Kwaang!

“Kuheogh!”

An attack that perfectly mimicked the skill Lee Jichul had used earlier, with even greater power.

Perhaps shocked both physically and mentally, Lee Jichul staggered and couldn’t easily get up from the ground.

After a long silence, the words he finally uttered were, like anyone else, a denial of the situation before him.

“This can’t be happening. How could I…”

Lee Jichul’s reaction wasn’t particularly special. I’d seen more than a truckload of such people on the other side.

Those who lived their entire lives without knowing defeat, always standing above others.

But because of that, when their absolute confidence crumbles, they experience an even greater shock.

“…It’s not over yet.”

Like countless others I’d watched before, Lee Jichul too denied reality and rose again with renewed determination.

At this familiar sight, I smirked at him.

“Book of Death.”

Puhwak!

Unfortunately, playtime is over. I won’t give even a shred of opportunity for a reversal. I didn’t know how long this power would last.

Chworak.

Chworarak.

Page ninety-four.

Contained there was the soul of Nox, the wrath-consumed death dragon.

[Release… this body. Filthy servant… of death…]

That soul, which I had summoned in an unstable form during my previous fight with the puppeteer Bennett, I now overlaid directly onto my body.

“Synchronization.”

Tseuzeuzu.

“Activation.”

Kwadeuk.

Kwadeudeudeuk.

Kudeudeudeuk!

Small horns sprouted in two branches among my hair, my eye color changed, and my pupils transformed into sharp slits.

Simultaneously, explosive magical power began to leak from my core.

Looking at Lee Jichul, who was now trembling like an aspen leaf, I lightly exhaled the breath I had been holding.

Hueup.

“Dragon Breath.”

Puhwaaaak!

Hwareureureuk—!

The dark barrier was flooded with brilliant white light, and a suffocating heat like being inside a furnace filled the space.

After a while, as the heat subsided, the figure of Lee Jichul lying in the center was revealed.

His body was scorched and mangled all over—clearly in no condition to continue fighting.

Step.

Step.

As I approached him with leisurely steps, Lee Jichul’s motionless body twitched.

“You’re tough. Honestly, I thought there wouldn’t even be a shape left.”

It’s not hard to predict Lee Jichul’s current state of mind.

The final stage that those who deny reality after an unexpected defeat eventually reach.

Fear.

With a trembling body, Lee Jichul barely managed to lift his head, his eyes now filled with terror, looking down at the ground.

“…S-spare me.”

What finally came out of his mouth was a plea that didn’t match his reputation as a tyrant at all.