CHAPTER 23 - THE SECOND AWAKENING
Lancer lay motionless on the ground. His body was mangled from Viara's final strike, and the burn
from my Valkyrie Arrow carved a deep mark across his chest. Rain washed over him, turning the dirt
beneath into dark mud. For a moment, it felt over.
Viara's POV
I didn't care about Lancer. What terrified me was the human standing beside me. Who is this
monster? He completely overwhelmed Lancer. His fighting style was strange, unpredictable. And
that golden armor... I've never seen anything like it. He grabbed that cursed sword without
hesitation. And that arrow -- if he'd used a real one, Lancer would've died instantly.
"Haah... let's finish him off," I said. "I can take his points. Human, don't you want to share?"
He shook his head calmly. "Don't worry. I don't need his points."
What a weird human.
Back to Nero
Viara stepped forward to finish Lancer. Then the world shifted. A crushing wave of mana pressure
exploded outward, shaking the trees. Viara jumped back instantly, instincts screaming.
Lancer stood up. His body was drenched in blood. His clothes were shredded. His posture was
twisted, bones visibly misaligned beneath his skin.
Me and Viara shouted together: "WHAT?!"
Lancer's head tilted unnaturally as he laughed, voice cracked and unstable. "Haaaaa... I thought you
two were just rats. Sorry for underestimating you. But sadly... today is your final day."
He waved his hand. A blade-thin wave of mana shot toward Viara. Viara barely dodged, stumbling
back with a cry of pain.
"Human! Run! He's a Mana Art user!"
A chill ran down my spine. Mana Art. The same league as Rune Magic. Mana Art has four levels:
Novice, Elite, Master, Grandmaster. There aren't many Mana Art users -- fewer than rune mages.
The difference? Mana Art is pure mana manipulation. Raw destructive energy. Fast. Brutal. Deadly.
Rune Magic uses rune characters to form magic circles. More mysterious. More versatile. But in
direct combat? Mana Art is terrifying.
This wasn't in the original story. But it made sense -- Lancer was always too fast, too deadly.
"Viara," I said quietly. "Step back. This fight isn't something you can interfere with."
"What? What are you talking about? We'll fight toge--"
I began gathering mana. A heavy pressure formed around me, matching Lancer's intensity.
Viara stared at me, stunned. "Where the hell are these monsters coming from...?"
Lancer grinned, eyes twitching. "Oh my god... a rune mage. You're just like me -- unpredictable."
He casually released a bolt of lightning toward me. I didn't back down. A rune circle formed instantly,
creating a massive shield that absorbed the strike.
"This is fun," Lancer whispered, voice trembling with excitement.
He unleashed attack after attack -- lightning, wind, raw mana blasts. The forest shook under the
onslaught. I formed rune shields again and again, protecting myself and Viara.
Then suddenly -- the attacks stopped. Silence.
"Human! Behind you!" Viara shouted.
Too late. A surge of lightning struck my abdomen. My body collapsed to the ground, vision blurring.
Lancer's shadow loomed over me. "You two are really good," he whispered. "I hate killing the
chosen hero, but you two... you're more interesting. I'll take my time."
I forced myself to speak. "You lunatic... second rule of fighting -- never drop your guard."
"What?" Viara and Lancer said together.
Four glowing magic circles appeared around Lancer -- left, right, front, and back. Golden chains shot
out, binding him instantly.
"What--what is this?!" Lancer screamed.
Another circle appeared beneath him. Another above his head.
I spoke calmly, despite the pain. "The four circles are the Infinity Binding Formation. The one below
is the Crimson Field. The one above is the Soul Dissolution Seal. I don't need to explain what
happens next."
"No... no, you can't-- you can't erase my soul--!"
"I can."
I activated the first circle. Crimson fire rose beneath him, engulfing him in a pillar of heat and light.
His screams echoed through the forest, then faded.
His body turned to ash. A dark orb -- his soul -- floated in the air. I activated the final circle. The orb
dissolved completely.
My vision dimmed. My consciousness slipped. The wound was too deep. I collapsed.