Episode 1128
by CristaeOf course, unlike the hamster’s misunderstanding, Lee Han actually had a basis for his certainty.
‘At least one Kshaksarigol cultist is definitely here.’
No matter how you looked, that “mo-mo-monster” chanting was just too suspicious.
“You lowly human brat…!”
Juzene’s body crackled and began rapidly regenerating.
It was the power of recovery received from the Just Regent.
CRACKLE!
Meanwhile, Perkuntra’s chain lightning was raining down among the mercenaries.
They were seasoned enough to quickly pull out shield charms with insulation properties, but the destructive force of the lightning far exceeded expectations.
Lee Han’s trademark: amped-up, customized magic with more mana than standard spells!
“!”
When their shields burst into flames and the shock ran up their arms, the mercenaries were stunned.
Normally, this kind of chain spell splits up power, so each hit isn’t especially strong.
The shields they carried should have stopped up to third- or fourth-circle magic…!
Suddenly, the mercenaries’ vision blurred and their senses went numb—a curse.
‘How?!’
Experienced mercenaries faltered as impossible things happened in rapid succession.
Just as you’d expect anti-lightning measures, they also had anti-curse charms—those jangling necklaces and rings weren’t for nothing.
But the curse got through without warning?
Siana called frantically.
“Priest! What’s their next move?”
“They’re breaking out through the right wall!”
With Tijilling’s answer, Siana swiftly sent a slime serpent to cover the area by the right wall.
The serpent instantly vaporized, filling the space with toxic gas.
“Great! Fire off another curse!”
“I-it’s not like curses are something you can just cast on demand like that…”
Flustered at her friend’s enthusiasm, Tijilling replied.
The Priests of the Prisinga Order, experts in curse manipulation, were well-versed in using them.
Tijilling did carry a few cursed artifacts, but you couldn’t just fire off curses like that at will.
“Get up right now, you wretch!”
Juzene revived the fallen Kshaksarigol seer.
The Just Regent’s power wasn’t infinite. You only got to use the power in proportion to the sacrifices.
The sole reason for spending precious reserves now was that he needed the seer’s predictive abilities to find the safest route out of this.
“Monster-monster-monster-monster-monster-monster…”
“……”
Juzene regretted reviving this guy.
Whatever hit him, clearly it had fried his brain.
Meanwhile, Lee Han was relieved.
Seeing the other party regenerate after a Water Orb Projectile had scared him a little.
It might work at fourth circle level, but after being upgraded to fifth circle and infused with destruction, it should be very hard to regenerate after being hit directly.
That meant the enemy truly was using weird and dangerous cultist methods.
‘Honestly, it’s lucky there’s a Kshaksarigol cultist here.’
“Nigisor, take care of the rest!”
Lee Han left the mercenaries to Nigisor and focused on attacking Juzene, who looked the most dangerous.
Nigisor nodded and swelled his body massively. For a magician with flesh and blood, such fluid transformations would be impossible, but spirit-blooded Nigisor was different.
“Flame, possess me!”
A priest wreathed in fire charged forward like an armored vehicle, shocking the mercenaries.
But even amidst chaos, they responded quickly.
“Intercept! Don’t let him get close—”
At that moment, Nigisor felt a powerful spirit aura aiding his own flame.
A savage, violent fire.
‘What’s that? Is there a strong fire spirit nearby?’
He was curious, but now wasn’t the time. He’d check on it later.
Roooar!
The alley filled with fire, and the mercenaries threw themselves aside, cursing.
They knew a toxic cloud awaited in the hole in the wall, but anything was better than staying put.
‘Another Water Orb!’
Orbs of water zipped through the air, aiming straight for Juzene’s weak points.
At the same time, powerful telekinesis slammed into Juzene like a giant palm. The brute force made him cough blood.
“How dare you, mere human wretch…!”
Furious, Juzene burned more sacrifices to heal himself and spread a barrier of malicious thought.
The evil god’s barrier disrupted telekinesis aim and unraveled the destruction in the Water Orbs, turning them back into simple droplets.
‘I’ll kill you!’
Eager to see his opponent’s face stricken with fear, Juzene looked up—but Lee Han’s expression didn’t change.
He carried himself with the calm of someone who always expected this much resistance.
“Space!”
While conjuring another Water Orb, Lee Han instantly used magic to teleport it behind his foe. The orb collided with the brick wall, slicing neatly through matter.
Juzene, who had skimped by setting the barrier only in front to save sacrifices, now regretted it. This opponent was much stronger than he’d expected.
Crack!
A precise attack severed his spine and pierced his heart.
In that instant, old memories surged up for Juzene.
“…You! You! Are you Baegrek’s disciple?!”
“What’s Baegrek?”
Lee Han lied without blinking, but the crazed vampire was already sure.
This unique style of combat was hard to mistake. Juzene cursed with venom:
“The Regent showed mercy, and you dare repack your blade for revenge…? Fine! I’ll show no more mercy!”
The last remnants of the Sengiros Order were not hunting old enemies.
They were focused on rebuilding, and, above all, the Regent had commanded it.
But old grudges didn’t fade so easily—especially for someone like Juzene, whose illustrious house had been wiped out in an instant.
He resolved to gather the west’s noble vampires with grudge and seek revenge!
Juzene’s body grew blurry.
He was choosing to flee into the fire giant’s dimension again.
But he still underestimated his opponent.
“!!”
Seeing Lee Han instantly follow him into the dimension, Juzene reeled in shock.
‘That human brat—does the Fire Giant Realm not scare him at all?!’
-Idiot! Get out now!
The hamster squeaked in alarm.
This was the Fire Giant’s dimension. The sky was crimson and the very air shook with heat; clearly, the giants were enraged.
-You don’t even know what those things did here; chasing could get you both killed!
“I’m going. Just gotta finish that one off.”
Lee Han didn’t care what the hamster squeaked or squealed. His eyes blazed.
If Juzene was still the same as in his days of glory—guided by reason—he would never have said such things to the enemy’s face.
You don’t reveal your plans to go after your opponent’s master, unless you crave some fleeting feeling of superiority. It served no strategic purpose and only showed how clouded Juzene’s reason had become.
‘So you’re saying you’ll target Professor Baegrek next if you get out?’
From those words, Lee Han learned several things.
His opponent held a considerable rank; he bore a powerful grudge against House Baegrek…
…and if he got away, he’d send hitmen after both Professor Voladi and Lee Han!
That meant Lee Han had to finish it here. Juzene had misjudged his resolve.
“This is… a foul mood. Even if my family’s gone, to be scorned by a mere fledgling human…!”
Juzene shivered in rage, his wounds healing by evil power.
Realizing why his foe pressed the attack, his anger only grew.
A human whelp dares pursue me, seeking my end?
“Lightning, manifest and smite my foe!”
“Regent, bite and devour him!”
Lee Han’s choice: Lightning Form.
It was another 5th Circle spell, but with so many Water Orbs used, the enemy would expect that.
His body transformed into lightning striking like a spear; Juzene gasped in pain.
But triumph flashed in Juzene’s eyes.
“It’s over, you little brat!”
-It’s dangerous!
-This is…
Both the hamster and Saratan in the staff shrieked in warning.
Clouded sense and judgment or no, Juzene made a shrewd decision now.
He realized that dragging out the fight would only make things worse for him.
So, burning every last reserve, he unleashed the strongest authority he possessed.
A bloody red energy coalesced in the air. Juzene transformed into a hideous, four-armed cursed strigoi.
And yet, true divinity radiated from him. Saratan leapt out to defend his master.
The Unyielding Authority: a power that could block any attack!
A ghostly hornbeam tree unfolded in midair, blocking the strigoi’s assault with its four mighty arms.
Crack!
But the evil god’s power defied imagination, crushing the tree as if squeezing a branch by brute force.
-No way…!
Saratan was aghast.
“Did you think a mere spirit could block the power of a god?!”
Juzene, realizing Lee Han had used a spirit’s might, roared.
That strigoi was a living incarnation of the Just Regent. How could a simple spirit shield such a divine blow?
-The bracelet! Use the demons’ bracelet!
The hamster squeaked in desperation.
They were in enough danger to need demon power to survive.
“No need for that.”
Lee Han replied coldly, set his staff aside, and raised both hands overhead.
Juzene, thinking Lee Han was surrendering, was startled to see a strange crown appear above his head.
‘What…?’
But before he could puzzle out the crown, the strigoi’s four arms moved in another direction—
And skewered Juzene clean through.
“Gah!”
‘Small World!’
Only Small World magic could explain such an alien battle method. Juzene never dreamed his enemy could wield it.
Even so, it made no sense.
How could he command evil god power like that?
-Mad…tch…
The hamster shuddered.
He ought to celebrate a win over a cultist, but the sight was so bone-chilling there was no joy at all.
That fighting style—
It was just like a young Headmaster Skeleton!
This wasn’t about strength; the very approach to magic and battle summoned up that mad archmage.
“Mad?”
-…So madly good, I mean! Excellent!
The hamster quickly praised Lee Han, still scared by the image of that crowned figure.
“Ah. Thank you.”
Lee Han replied with shy embarrassment.
He’d only won because he’d been lucky enough to realize Small World was available, but the lavish praise left him bashful.
‘Damn…’
Juzene felt his own crushing defeat.
A bold gambit could backfire hard, and Juzene was living proof.
Who’d have thought using all his evil god power for an instant kill would end like this?
Who are you?
“!!!”
Both Juzene and Lee Han were startled, turning.
The enraged fire giants were coming up from below.
Who dared attack a giant and defile the corpse?
“That… that wizard did it!”
With his last breath, Juzene desperately pointed at Lee Han. Even he knew it was a vicious scheme.
It was much more convincing to blame a suspicious young mage than a battered loser like himself.
‘Thank you, Regent!’
BOOM!
A fire giant swung his burning sword, incinerating Juzene down to his very existence.
Then, with an annoyed tone, he grumbled,
No way the challenger acknowledged by the King of Frost Giants would do a thing like that. You reeking thing, what pathetic lies.
“……”
Relief and doom came together for Lee Han.
Just how fast did rumors spread across dimensions…?