◈ Episode 370. Grasping the Brush (3)
The Seven Deadly Sins.
Seven original sins stemming from primordial evil. They each possess a unique authority.
Because the effects of their authorities differ, their superiority over one another cannot be determined. However, one fact is clear.
The one currently possessing the highest martial prowess among the Seven Deadly Sins is Wrath.
Was he born exceptionally strong among the seven brothers? No, as I said, superiority cannot be determined among the Seven Deadly Sins. There is a different reason I can be certain.
Squirm—The hand of Wrath, sprawled on the floor with his nape bitten, twitched. Tempest reacted. It leaped out and once again tore Wrath’s flesh with sharp fangs.
Squirm, squirm—Even so, his breath did not cease. Judging solely by the severity of his wounds, it would not have been strange for him to be ablaze in hellfire by now, yet Wrath’s body was instead regaining vitality.
The reason that was possible was simple. Because he was ‘Wrathful.’
For the first time since being born as one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
Wrath’s voice seethed.
“Is that so, is this what they call wrath?”
It was a sensation he had never felt in his life.
“Yes, that’s right.”
It was different from the other sins.
Greed, Envy, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth…….
Because Wrath was a sin that burst forth like an explosion, unlike everyday sins. Such immense negative emotion could not emanate from humans.
“One cannot feel wrath merely watching insects.”
But the current situation was different.
The human he had considered a mere insect had not only bitten him, but had even severed his brothers’ breaths. Wrath’s twitching body began to grow rapidly.
“Isn’t that right, Claudi!!”
The original sin that burst forth like an explosion—Wrath.
Wrath’s momentum grew uncontrollably.
It surged rapidly, as though the power of the Seven Deadly Sins who had already fallen into hell was being added to his own.
Bam!
To the point that he sent the charging guardian spirit of Akshan flying with a punch.
Even so, Wrath did not grow smug.
He was merely wrathful, nothing more.
“Go wild, Claudi. I know it. The wrath you have accumulated within. The truth of that day. Every emotion you felt. Yes, was it not because you were enraged that you bit into me out of nowhere!”
Still standing tall.
Not averting his gaze.
Merely looking on as if observing himself.
At that sight, Wrath’s veins throbbed.
“Put away that noble act……!!”
Kwakwakwang!!*[Great Evil, Wrath of the Seven Deadly Sins has appeared.][Uncontrollable Wrath writhes.][The field is changing.]
Could that be called a simple change?
Kwakwang! ‘He’s just destroying everything, isn’t he?’
Every time Wrath took a single step, the surroundings were obliterated. I’ll admit it. The raw physical power radiating from that body was overwhelming compared to every opponent I had faced until now.
Kwakakakang—!
When Wrath stomped his foot, the collapsed ground sent countless fragments flying toward me like missiles.
The power contained in each one was no joke. Deploying a mana barrier would not be mana-efficient.
Goooo—In that fleeting instant.
I interfered with the countless fragments flying in. I, who called myself the founder of architectural magic. I, who had manifested stones with incredible skill even when I had nothing to my name. Because I could omit the search process itself, the number was not a problem.
Kwadeudeudeuk!
Not only did I stop the fragments, I immediately erected a barrier. The reason he scattered those vision-obscuring fragments was simple. It was blatantly obvious he intended to exploit my openings and pour down attacks.
Kukwakwang!
As expected.
Wrath’s fist was blocked by the rising rock wall.
If there was a problem…….
It was that Wrath’s strength was far greater than expected.
Hudeudeudeuk—!
The rock wall, which was fairly thick and even reinforced with mana, shattered into pieces. Between the crumbling stone walls, Wrath stuck his face through like a scene from a movie. He shouted.
“You already know, don’t you, the truth of that day!”
An occupational habit.
Thanks to the perspective of a demon hunter, his intentions were clearly visible.
He seemed to want to grow his power through my wrath. Was such a thing even possible? Above all, look at that attitude, unchanging even by an inch in this dire situation.
[Skill, ‘Natural Enemy Relationship’ is activated.]
Separate from that, even with the stats raised by Natural Enemy Relationship, it was hard to keep up with his movements. I had guessed as much. Ever since he incapacitated Tempest with a light gesture.
‘I really can’t let my guard down.’
Are there ranks among the Seven Deadly Sins just as there are among Demon Kings?
If not, was there a reason Wrath grew particularly strong?
I did not know, but.
I could be certain.
‘I can’t win like this.’
I, Lee Hoyeol.
I certainly have an astounding grasp of my place.
I looked back at the cards I held.
Even with the stats raised by [Natural Enemy Relationship], I probably could not match him.
Even if I converted [Obsession] into [Strength] or [Agility], it would not even come close.
‘He is several times stronger than the Seven Deadly Sins I have faced before.’
Then what about [Legend]?
If we were talking about Legends usable in combat, there were the Black Dark Dragon and Akshan. However, I could not expect much from the Akshan side. The strength of a Legend depended on how widely it resonated.
‘The materialized Akshan is practically at a rookie level.’
If it were the seniors from hell, it might be different…….
But the essential condition to activate [Akshan’s Legacy]—I did not have the Hellfire. Because due to that damn procedure, I had just returned the [Hellfire Torch] to the Explorers’ Union.
Then I had no choice but to utilize the Black Dark Dragon legend along with Hiel or Diend and Gwicheol…… With that, I should be able to avoid the crisis as I had until now.
‘But can I really be satisfied with that?’
Yet one thing weighed on my mind.
The upper-tier Demon King, Buer.
The resolution I had made after seeing him was the problem.
Existences beyond the heavens, upper-tier Demon Kings.
To surpass them, more fundamental effort was needed. Even if I had risen to my current position on a bubble, it was time to manifest that bubble into reality.
Yes.
Now.
Because too much was riding on this bubble now.
“…….”
Perhaps those idle thoughts of mine, Lee Hoyeol’s.
Might have complicated Granfel’s mind.
I felt a burning sensation in my abdomen.
Wrath’s mad laughter rang out.
“Even with your side pierced, you stand unwaveringly tall.”
……
Damn it. There had been no need for that.
Even without bowing my head, it appeared before my eyes.
[Abnormal status, ‘Excessive Bleeding’ has occurred.]
[Abnormal status, ‘Unconsciousness’ has occurred.]
[The First World Tree’s Blessing rejects ‘Unconsciousness’.]
…….
Squelch—
It seemed I had been properly pierced after all.
Such a great blow since awakening as a player.
And to have allowed it from a demon—perhaps this was the first time.
Although [The First World Tree’s Blessing] was constantly canceling the abnormal statuses caused by the wound, unless my torn side was healed, the abnormal statuses would not stop.
‘Damn it.’
I came to realize.
Just how precarious a path I had walked.
How weak of a being I was without relying on a bubble.
Smack!
Wrath moved.
‘!’
It was the obvious action. Wrath had no ear for my self-pity. Despite already having suffered a fatal wound, he stamped his foot toward me again, one who showed no outward sign of it.
‘……A pattern.’
Scattering fragments of the earth like missiles.
Using the fragments obscuring my vision as cover to attack from a blind spot.
Last time, I had tried to block by erecting a barrier.
Since it had little effect.
I changed my method.
This time, it was 『Reversal Magic』, not a self-proclaimed creation but one officially recognized by the Magic Tower.
Jjirit—
Was it because of the aftereffects of my torn side? The flow of mana circulating through the circle was not smooth. It was only when my body was unfit that I realized.
‘……So that’s why everyone was shocked?’
Just how absurd Reversal Magic was.
The founder of theoretical magic.
Marcello had evaluated Reversal Magic thus:
—“Reversal Magic is a magic that transcends magical common sense.”
Because it was so difficult to manifest that it transcended common sense.
Manifesting magic in reverse in a fleeting instant meant that if even the slightest hesitation arose in any part of the process, taking the first step was impossible.
Thud!
Thanks to that, I was met with a dull impact.
Syuung—!
Because my eyes could not follow.
I could not tell what I had been hit by.
All I could see was the scenery rapidly receding.
An ordinary mage would have fainted here……. Thanks to being a demon hunter, and thanks to not skipping a single daily training class quest.
And thanks to being fully equipped with Dawn set items. I was able to stand on two legs instead of rolling on the floor.
Of course, that was all. It would not have been an exaggeration to say my body was torn to shreds by just two blows.
That was when I regretted it.
‘Was the problem that I tried to be picky about means and methods…….’
There is a saying that you die if you do things you don’t usually do.
I, Lee Hoyeol.
I finally understood the saying about a crow-tit chasing a stork and tearing its legs.
‘……Damn it.’
At this point, I had no choice but to admit it, didn’t I?
Perhaps I was a hindrance.
Perhaps merely by holding onto consciousness, I—
No, Granfel.
Might be suffering from an extreme debuff.
Suddenly, Gwicheol’s words came to mind.
—“My lord. You truly move me to admiration.”
The moment [Under Heaven, Only I Am Honored] activated.
Gwicheol’s attitude had been clearly different from usual.
I might lack ability, but I am quick on the uptake.
What Gwicheol had acknowledged was not me, but Granfel.
I was not trying to blame Gwicheol for changing his attitude.
Rather, I’m glad you’re honest, Gwicheol.
‘……Good.’
Should I call it shock therapy?
Literally.
Thanks to having given flesh and bone, I realized it clearly.
From the realm beyond the heavens, it might be the limit for me, Lee Hoyeol.
You saw it just now, didn’t you?
The enemies I face from now on will not give me even the slightest room to harbor trivial idle thoughts. If I show an opening, they immediately dig into it. Therefore, from now on, I must not show even the smallest opening.
That’s right.
And I know such a being better than anyone.
So…….
‘I’ll leave the rest to you, Granfel.’
[Skill, ‘Under Heaven, Only I Am Honored’ is activated.]
Was it the aftereffect of excessive bleeding?
‘If not…….’
In my gradually fading consciousness, a floating message became visible.
[Abnormal status, ‘Blackening’ has occurred.]
…
Wrath could sense it.
The power filling his body.
That the power of the Seven Deadly Sins was settling within him.
Different energies could be felt from each of his five fingers.
“Greed, Envy, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth.”
Wrath’s face contorted.
“My damned brothers!!”
The reason Wrath could overwhelm even his natural enemy was clear.
Wrath possessed the trait of growing stronger with the deaths of the Seven Deadly Sins.
If compared to the days when Arcana was merely a game, it was a kind of pattern.
If one wished to slay all of the Seven Deadly Sins, Wrath was the monster that had to be killed first by any means necessary.
Wrath spoke toward Hoyeol.
“You underestimated my wrath, Claudi.”
He had clashed with both his magic and his flesh alike.
That was why he could be certain of victory.
No matter what means or methods were hidden.
With such wounds, he could not overcome him.
But was it because he was so certain?
Wrath failed to notice. The fact that silver hair had grown long enough to pass his waist before he knew it. And soon after, the fact that the tone of the resounding voice had subtly changed.
“Wrath.”
The voice resounded clearly.
“The emotion you feel is not wrath.”
Even in the endlessly deep darkness spreading in all directions.
“……?”
However, Wrath’s expression was impossibly subtle.
He could not help it. Because he could not understand.
Wrath muttered, replaying the last words that had brushed past him.
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
As expected, he could not understand.
Indeed.
Because the class was different.
“□□ □□ □□□ □□□□.”