episode_0029

Condition Card.

It’s a type of curse card that enters your hand or deck due to a monster’s specific attack.

Of course, it’s not permanent, and you can see it as a limited-time curse card that applies only to a single combat.

Condition Cards have various effects.

Some critical ones made you lose 1 Energy if you drew them.

There were also cards that dealt significant damage at the end of the turn.

So, what about this Dizziness (Condition) card I obtained?

『Dizziness (Condition) – Unusable』

It just seems to be a card that interferes with draws.

Fortunately, it didn’t have a critical effect.

Besides, it entered my hand, not the deck.

At least it won’t interfere until the deck is used up once.

To this extent, it can be considered quite a decent condition card.

I don’t know what those nuns did, but.

Their power to interfere with the world doesn’t work on me.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it blocks Arrows of Light.

“Come behind me!!!”

Naturally, everyone hid behind Hans’s back.

The power of the new card Hans obtained after the last exploration shines.

[Expanding Shield]

Srrung!!!

It’s a simple effect of just expanding the shield to increase its size, but.

Every card always unleashes greater power when combined.

Thanks to Hans’s shield that can never be broken.

Even if it was a thin, worn-out cheap shield. It was able to block countless Arrows of Light.

Jajajajak!!!

Watching the Arrows of Light bounce off, I prepare to attack.

Kylak nocks a harpoon arrow onto the bowstring.

Not to be outdone, I also threw all 2 cards I was holding.

[Fireball]

[Wind Blade]

The flying Fireball and Wind Blade.

The left is Fireball.

The right is Wind Blade.

They are the weakest cards among my attack cards, but.

Still, they are not to the extent of being ignored.

The nuns also seemed to know that, as the nuns on both sides create a Shield of Light to block them.

Kwaaang!!!

The two spells disappearing without piercing the Shield of Light.

As expected, they are too weak cards.

『Until the next draw: 25… 24…』

I hid behind Hans to wait for the next draw.

First, I observe the situation.

First, Luca’s clone rushes towards the nuns.

As expected, our assault leader.

But a Gate of Light opens in the air and intense light pours out, tearing apart Luca’s clone.

“…….”

Luca, who was running, retreats significantly.

A situation where approaching easily is difficult.

In times like this, it’s Kylak’s turn to step forward.

Kylak, who had finished preparations, shoots a harpoon arrow.

Shwaaaah!!!

The harpoon arrow strongly piercing through the fog and advancing.

The nuns immediately try to block it with a Shield of Light, but.

Kylak’s powerful arrow cannot be easily blocked.

Jjeojeojeojeok!!!

The Shield of Light cracking.

The nuns are flustered upon seeing that.

They must have seen someone who shoots many arrows, but not someone who shoots strongly, huh?

But this is also a trap.

Now that their attention is focused on Kylak’s arrow.

It’s time for our rogue to step forward.

Pook!!

Suddenly, a handful of blood spurts from a nun’s back.

The dagger embedded in her back.

It was thrown by Grace, who had hidden herself in the fog.

Srrung.

Kylak, who immediately retrieved the harpoon arrow with [Arrow Return].

Immediately fires an arrow.

“No!!!”

The nun who immediately sent a strange light towards Kylak.

Kylak staggered and fell over.

But despite that, he didn’t let go of the bow.

A giant harpoon arrow flies towards the nuns.

Jjaenggeurang!!

The harpoon arrow, which tore through the broken Shield of Light, penetrates the body of the nun on the right.

One lifeless corpse slumping down.

The nun in the center is greatly flustered seeing that.

“What, why are these guys so strong?”

She probably lived her entire life backstabbing 3rd Floor explorers.

Unfortunately, Kylak was originally a 5th Floor squire.

He was even the man who landed a hit on the Forest Witch.

“Tch!!!”

Suddenly, the nun in the center grabbed the neck of another nun who was still alive.

Then, she suddenly started to shrink.

What on earth is happening?

I expanded my senses to check how such a thing was happening.

Holy power being sucked out.

And the soul.

If she swallows all of this like this, what will happen?

I interfere.

Just like I did with Aria.

Tuk-

The two connected holy powers are severed.

“Uwaaaaa!!!”

The nun in the center suddenly wailing.

The nun who was in her hand is already a corpse, slumped on the floor.

Did I fail?

No, it was enough to prevent her from sucking more.

But with what she had obtained so far, she was trying to do something.

“Stop her!!!”

Before I could even shout, Kylak’s arrows kept flying.

Pook!!

An arrow accurately embedded.

Unlike the harpoon arrow, it was a normal arrow so it didn’t deal significant damage.

Soon, light that stretched like threads began to gather on the nun’s body, starting to form a cocoon.

It was obvious at a glance that if she fully completed her transformation, she would be difficult to deal with easily.

『Until the next draw: 8… 7…』

There was too much time left until the next draw.

I could only trust my comrades.

Kylak shooting arrows.

Luca swinging a giant axe.

Grace throwing a bottle containing poison.

Wounds were accumulating, but the situation wasn’t stopping yet.

Before I knew it, time passed and 1 minute was over.

『It is your turn. Draw 5 cards.』

『Energy 4/4』

[Burning at the Stake(3)] [Blink(0)] [Splash(0)] [Strike(1)] [Electrocution(2)]

Fortunately, a 3-cost attack card was drawn.

[Burning at the Stake]

Since the enemy is fixed anyway, I immediately descend the Spear of Fire upon this world.

Hwal-reu-reu-reuk.

The afterimage of fire that appeared at the base of the cocoon of light.

The party members, knowing it was my magic, quickly retreated.

At the same time, I attack the cocoon with the Spear of Fire.

Paaaaaat!!!

The Spears of Fire advancing to pierce through the inside of the cocoon, tearing through the threads of light with powerful force.

But before reaching the center of the cocoon, the cocoon opened.

The nun immediately coming out of the cocoon, avoiding the Spear of Fire.

A pair of wings made of light were attached to her back.

[Kneel.]

The nun says in a strange voice and oppresses the world with an unknown power.

Comrades immediately collapsing, unable to maintain their balance.

But it didn’t work on me.

『The Apostate exerts divine power.』

『Torment 1 card is added.』

This time, one condition card that goes into the deck.

No, if she exerts divine power, shouldn’t you, Status Window, cut off the supply?

was what made me instantly angry, but.

I endured it while watching the nun shoot an Arrow of Light at me.

[Blink]

Beonjjeok!!

Instantly turns into light and moves.

After appearing behind the nun’s back, I used one card.

[Strike]

Kung!!!

Breaks her spine with a strong impact.

Ppeogeogeok!

The sound of bones breaking echoes loudly.

“Aaaaaaaaak!!!”

Even if her regeneration is good due to divine power, it seems her body isn’t sturdy.

The nun immediately plummeting.

Thanks to that, the party members who were freed from the interference could stand up.

But how do I get down now?

Tak!

Grace caught me, who was floating in the air.

I land lightly.

It’s not over yet.

Because the nun, who had already regenerated, was standing there perfectly fine.

Even if her posture was a bit awkward.

Sseuk.

She suddenly makes a strange smile.

She wraps herself in a large Shield of Light.

“Keep pushing her!!!”

Kylak shouting and shooting arrows.

Jjeojeojeok!!

Kylak’s arrow breaks the shield.

The nun keeps replenishing the shield.

Looking at it like this, it seems like an equal struggle of strength, but.

On our side, there are Luca and Grace as well.

Luca and Grace running towards the nun.

Has the tide of victory finally turned?

No.

There is one unsettling point.

The words they exchanged after whispering among themselves earlier.

It was something about everything being over.

What could the meaning of those words be?

Keungkeung.

Grace suddenly sniffing.

She stops on the spot, turns back, and approaches me.

“Dodge!!!”

As soon as I heard Luca’s words, I rolled forward.

Paaaaaat!!!

Something powerful slashed the spot where I was.

I turned my head to check what it was.

Lich.

It’s that guy I saw at the altar earlier.

Could it be that he killed all the other explorers in the meantime and came here?

I clearly remember there being quite a lot left.

“Mage!!!”

I hid behind Hans’s shield, who had run towards me.

Jjaeng!!!

A strong impact felt even through the shield.

The shield wasn’t broken, but Hans was pushed back significantly.

Powerful force.

“Could it be that they were waiting for this…!”

The whispering earlier might have been about the Lich coming.

Then, are the Apostates the ones who lured the 3rd Floor explorers Gallia mentioned and summoned the Lich?

The puzzle pieces fit together.

The Apostates were in the fog in the first place to kill those who fled from the Lich.

The Lich swings its scythe.

Kwaaang!!!

Hans is pushed back further and further.

I was also swept away by the impact and gradually pushed back.

“Tch!!!”

Hans’s legs, having decided something, were firmly planted in the ground.

He probably activated a skill that makes him heavier.

Kung!!!

Now he wasn’t pushed back.

Although Hans was gradually sinking into the ground like a nail.

『Until the next draw: 36…』

There was still too much time left.

But there’s a Lich in front, and a nun using strange power behind.

How should I break through this?

In a situation difficult to deal with even with just one.

Who should I defeat first?

My hesitation wasn’t long.

Because Luca, passing by my side, said this:

“…I’ll take him.”

No way.

“Uwaaaaaaa!!!!!”

Luca’s strong shout.

It’s certain.

The skill that draws the monster’s aggro, [Taunt].

Does that work even on monsters much stronger than herself?

“Krrr?!!!”

It worked.

The Lich’s scythe, which was attacking Hans, now only points towards Luca.

Luca fled into the fog just like that, and the Lich followed behind.

The disappeared Lich.

One side of the sandwich was gone.

I can’t let this time Luca earned for us go to waste.

“Hans, Grace! Defeat that Apostate, and rejoin Luca!!”

“Yes!!”

They immediately change direction and run towards the nun who is creating the Shield of Light.

Jjeojeojeok!!!

Kylak is still shooting arrows towards the shield.

Each time he shoots, cracks appear, and the nun infuses holy power to restore the shield.

Could it be that she couldn’t interfere so far because maintaining the shield alone was too much for her?

But I’m still on cooldown, and Hans has zero attack power.

The only one who can help is Grace.

She hid herself in the fog.

Seeing that, the nun’s eyes start darting from Kylak to various places.

Because she doesn’t know where the attack will come from.

She surrounds herself with the shield.

But by that much, the shield protecting the front weakens.

Jjeojeojeojeok!!!

Kylak’s arrows gradually break the shield.

“……Tsk!!”

The nun, who finally decided this wouldn’t work, retracts the shield and flies to the side.

Shwaaah!!

Kylak’s arrow cutting through the air.

It has powerful damage, but the accuracy is still regrettable.

Kylak keeps shooting arrows, but they don’t hit.

“I see?”

The nun, who learned Kylak’s weakness, flies around even more flashily, shooting Arrows of Light at us.

I hid behind Hans’s shield.

『Until the next draw: 13…』

Ultimately, dropping that flying moth is my job.

Just as I was waiting for the cooldown.

Suddenly, a rope came out from the fog.

Binggeureureu.

The rope wraps around the waist of the flying nun.

“Oh?!!”

Before the flustered nun could even react, Grace, who appeared from the fog, swung the rope and threw her to the ground.

Kylak immediately shot an arrow.

“Oh no!!”

The nun blocked the arrow with a Shield of Light, but.

It’s not over yet.

A butterfly that has fallen to the ground can be hunted even by insignificant creatures.

Before I knew it, Hans’s mace, which had rushed to the nun, smashed her head.

Kwaang!!

The nun’s head exploded, scattering its contents everywhere.

Ttiring!

『Confirm card rewards.』

The status window appeared before my eyes, but it’s not over yet.

I dismiss the status window and immediately run.

“Luca!!!!”

I hope nothing bad has happened.

“She’s up ahead!!!”

Following Grace, who had arrived by my side, I reached the front of the altar.

Poowook!!!

At that moment, what entered my sight was Luca, whose body was pierced by the Lich’s scythe.

Tuk.

Luca’s body falling.

The blood from her body begins to soak the floor.

The Lich’s eyes move away from Luca and land on us.

『Combat starts. Draw 3 cards.』

『Energy 4/4』

[Mana Overload(0)] [Terrain Manipulation(3)] [Ifrit(4)]

I throw 3 cards.

[Mana Overload]

[Terrain Manipulation]

[Ifrit]

Grace quickly approaches and retrieves Luca.

As soon as she disappeared to the side, the Lich comes running towards us with its scythe raised.

“…Self-destruct.”

A Golem that popped out from the sub-space rushes at the Lich.

Peo-eong!!!

The Lich, hit by the strong explosion, retreats significantly.

I move the terrain.

Kkaga-ga-ga-gak!!!

Countless earth spikes strike the Lich’s entire body from all sides.

Kung!! Kung!!

The Lich staggering here and there, unable to control its body.

Then, a flying harpoon arrow.

Kwaaang!!!

It breaks the Lich’s right arm holding the scythe.

It’s not over yet.

I lift the terrain to create a giant furnace and trap the Lich.

However, the Lich tries to come out of the entrance right away.

An arrow is embedded in its forehead.

Meomchit.

A gap created by Kylak.

Not missing the chance, I send Ifrit’s fiery punch towards the Lich, pouring all my mana into it.

Hwal-reu-reu-reuk!!!

The Lich, enveloped in flames, is trapped inside the furnace again.

The Lich’s body comes out towards the entrance to escape the endless fire, but.

Kwaaang!!!

Kylak’s arrow accurately smashes its head.

Watching the Lich get pushed back in, I manipulate the terrain to close the entrance.

May it turn into a handful of ash inside there just like that.

It didn’t take long for the Lich to die.

Ttiring!

『Confirm card rewards.』

I dismiss the status window and ran to Luca.

Grace, who was laying her down in a suitable spot and providing treatment.

“Something for staunching, for staunching blood?!!”

Urgently pressing the wound with cloth and pouring potion.

Hans, who arrived beside her, helps Grace.

“I- It’s not healing even with Advanced Potion.”

Grace’s trembling hand.

Kylak approaches and tries to staunch Luca’s wound, but.

Mikkeul.

He slips.

Kylak immediately gets up and stares blankly at his hand.

He retreats so as not to interfere.

Kul-leok.

At that moment, a mouthful of blood spurts from Luca’s mouth.

“Advanced Potion! Don’t you have more?!!”

“It’s in my bag!!”

Hans urgently took out an Advanced Potion and poured it.

Thanks to that, the blood coming from the wound decreased, but.

Nevertheless, the wound is too large.

“……What should we do?”

They are staunching the blood with cloth, but it has already turned red.

Luca’s pure white hair turning red.

The focus disappears from Luca’s eyes, and I feel her body getting colder and colder.

It doesn’t make sense.

It ends so meaninglessly here like this?

Dugeun-dugeun.

Isn’t there any variable?

There’s no way I would have such power…

No.

I do.

Didn’t I get a card after entering the maze this time?

I immediately swapped the deck.

『Deck has been swapped.』

『Current Deck : Holy Knight’s Deck』

『Until next swap available time: 0:59:59』

『Until the next draw: 60… 59…』

Deol-deol-deol.

I tightly grabbed Luca’s trembling hand.

“Keep your wits about you. I’ll save you.”

Then, Luca smiles a little.

Tears trickle from her eyes.

…Just hold on a little longer.

『Until the next draw: 54… 53…』