Chapter 45 - Chapter 47

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 47

Chapter Title: Blooming

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Whoosh.

"W-what is it?"

While desperately blocking the swarming undead, a pure white light suddenly descended from the sky, settling over Han So-hee's head.

I knew what this phenomenon was.

-I regret that day.

I clearly remembered the words spoken by the strongest man among all [Fate's Stars].

A memory of regret upon regret, one that tore at my heart every time I recalled it.

-Maybe there was a better path.

[Fate's Star] grows by feeding on its host's suffering.

And when that suffering reaches its peak, it blooms. In a way, it's a brutal system.

The power gained depends on the depth of the pain. The Rank 5 Sword God awakened by slaying his own family, best friends, and lover with his own hands after they became monster breeding sacks.

-I had to kill my own grandchild... with these hands.

-My mentor, like a parent to me... with these hands.

-...I couldn't just leave her like that.

Each person's suffering was different, but they all shared one thing in common.

Killing the being they cherished most with their own hands.

Yes, that's what makes it a tragedy.

'That's why I hesitated.'

Han So-hee had entered the Selection Process alone, without family. That's why I had debated whether to bring her into the party.

That blade could easily turn toward me or the others.

Flash!

But now, that cruel and horrific fate was beginning to awaken, completely reshaping the vessel that bore it.

With anticipation, I activated Full Appraisal on Han So-hee.

'After a [Fate's Star] blooms, each follows their own unique path.'

Each is granted a single path, one that only they can walk.

'Sword Empress? That's a new one.'

But its effects were astonishing...

The grade had risen from Epic to Myth, adding even more options. Her status window underwent a massive change as well.

"Light! Why us! Gahk."

Han So-hee, positioned deepest in the corner, vanished with a sharp afterimage, reappearing behind me in an instant to swing her sword.

"Huh? W-when did she...?"

"She's insanely fast?!"

Her movements were worlds apart from before. It was inevitable. Her total stats had surged by a whopping 80, so they couldn't possibly be the same.

Especially after boosting her Agility with half her Intelligence—Han So-hee's speed surpassed even mine, despite all the stat shards I'd devoured.

"You will become like us too...!"

"Give us your blood!"

The horde of undead charged at her, standing tall at the front lines, but Han So-hee's movements were fluid.

Graceful, like watching a single masterpiece of art.

"Grahhh!"

"Khek."

It looked like a dance, yet everything her sword touched was led to death.

Shing...

Everything the blade met sliced apart like paper, scattering like blooming cherry blossoms.

"It's... so beautiful."

The Saintess murmured in a trance. But a saboteur appeared to disrupt that beautiful sword dance.

Kyaaat!

Zombies mixed in with the skeleton horde, lurking like beasts for an opening, lunged all at once.

Rumble!

They bowled over other undead, hurtling toward her like cannonballs. That ferocious charge wasn't something easily blocked.

Swish...

At that moment, Han So-hee's sword moved. It rose smoothly, then sliced horizontally across space in a flash.

Grraa...?

The four incoming zombies' heads split in half upon touching the sword path. Yet their bodies still hurtled toward her on inertia.

A blow as heavy as a shell—could her body withstand it?

Whirl!

But Han So-hee leaned her upper body back, spun, and kicked the four zombies skyward one after another with her feet.

They lost their momentum and floated up helplessly.

'Unbelievable speed.'

And yet, it was beautiful. A dancer's graceful steps. Elegant and refined, just like her true nature.

Grrooo...

Standing alone, Han So-hee began mowing down the swarming undead effortlessly. She even glanced our way with composure.

"Thank you for waiting. I've shown you an ugly side. Especially you, Song Ha-na—if you hadn't kept healing me, I would've collapsed long ago."

Probably.

Imagine the most precious person in the world turning into a zombie and shambling toward you, teeth gnashing.

Anyone's mentality would shatter, over and over.

Thanks to Song Ha-na's heals pulling her back time and again, Han So-hee endured to the end, and my advice could even take root.

"So-hee. Can I leave the party's safety to you? I'm about to take down the boss."

"Don't worry. I won't let a single hair on my comrades be touched."

"I'm counting on you."

Nod.

"Shin Seo-yeon, you back her up on mob cleanup too."

"W-wait, you're taking it solo?"

I charged forward without answering.

The allotted 20 minutes were nearly up. The skeletons' movements would soon return to normal.

More importantly—

'If the summon cooldown resets, it'll resummon. That'd be a headache.'

So I'd close in and drop it in a flash. And right now, I had the power to do it.

A new ability gained by upgrading Binding via the goddess.

Once a day, I could use the target's ability for 10 minutes. And now, it manifested through my hand.

Roar!

The red flames symbolizing the Crimson Flame Witch erupted from my hand, enveloping my sword.

Kyaaat!

"Your blood to me...!"

I swung, and the undead blocking my path halved instantly, reduced to ash in a blink.

The inferno didn't stop—it spread wide, swallowing and incinerating those behind them.

"W-what?!"

"I-insane?! Hey, that's my ability! How are you?!"

Shin Seo-yeon might not know now, but having watched her use it for 10 years—right up to the end of the Trials—I was confident.

Fwoosh!

I could wield Primordial Flame better than she could right now.

I cloaked my body in flames, burning any undead that approached, and left trails of fire in my wake, turning pursuers to cinders.

"Stop him! You fools!"

Bardo sensed the crisis and commanded, and thousands of undead swarmed me. But not one could touch me.

-Don't misunderstand. I dragged you into this raid by force, just like you said. If you croak pointlessly, it'll be a hassle.

That's why the goddess gave me this. She didn't hand over a skill this potent for nothing. Primordial Flame truly transcended the game's limits.

Its potential was limitless—at least with solid stats and experience to back it.

"Y-you...!"

And now, the boss loomed before me. Its gaunt face was etched with clear shock.

"What in the world are you?!"

'This boss wasn't meant to be beaten.'

A trap. A snare for greedy players.

But no matter how bullshit this place's difficulty, it was strictly the first Trial.

And every Trial had clear limits.

This boss's limit was being a 'priest.'

Weak in close combat.

"Tch!"

It hurled magic at me, but I no longer needed to dodge. I cleaved through the spell itself.

"Gaaaahhh!"

Red flames roared fiercely, savagely burning the leader of the corrupted priests.

By lore, he should wield immense holy power, but corruption had stripped it away.

All he could spew were pathetic curses.

With accessories boosting magic resistance and the Saintess healing every 4-5 seconds, the curse debuffs didn't stack.

Its minions were mostly cleared en route, and the remnants were being exorcised one by one by Shin Seo-yeon and Han So-hee.

In short, it was just a sandbag with a ton of HP.

Roar!

Blazing flames relentlessly scorched it without respite.

"Gaaaahhh!"

Holy damage scaling with my power.

Primordial Flame copied from Shin Seo-yeon.

Plus all-stats +10 from resident perks, and +59 more from looting corpses in the dungeon.

Everything melded into this fight, tipping the scales toward victory.

Soon, the raging flames died down, and Bardo's movements halted abruptly.

"T-this is the end...?"

"I... I just wanted to be like you. Just to become like you, to understand you... to talk with you more..."

With the boss's mutterings and sighs, it all ended.

The clattering and groaning from all sides vanished, leaving only silence—and a blinking notification.

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