Chapter 93 - EPIC III

There was a sense of desolation in the air.

The rank S mercenaries were moving around avoiding deadly patches of green that were spread throughout the battlefield. One stayed near a patch of bubbling pus for a few seconds, only to feel his limbs start losing strength as he became poisoned.

"Find the attacker!"

"Reinforce the commander!"

Occasional shouts could be heard as the figures moved around the poisonous battlefield. They had what could be considered great strength, and yet they had to evade the poison this beast released with the best of their abilities just to stay alive. More and more of them fell as they tried to reinforce their Commander that continued to be swamped with constant and deadly attacks.

A rank S seasoned warrior was moving through the snowy field frightfully as he tried to evade the thick lines of flames and lightning that sn.a.k.e.d their way in the surroundings. He could feel desperation as he couldn't shake any of them off, with even the slightest lapse in concentration causing him to be poisoned by the air that was turning a shade of green. His vision began darkening as he moved, and soon slumped down.

The EPIC ranked Commander was staring at the skies as she found her figure thrown back from the explosion. She could feel a searing pain running through her body that continued to be poisoned all this time.

The recent explosion where that horrendous monstrosity as well as the dead it controlled attacked her had sealed the deal. She wanted this pain to stop. Someone of her caliber had never been subjected to this, and she was feeling extreme anger. Who? Just who had the power to hide from her sight and attack her like a coward?

She closed the eyes that were staring through the transparent figure of [Sword Saint's Incarnation], the skill that allowed her to get where she was today. She needed more energy to keep the skill active and bring it to life. The more energy she provided, the more solid the incarnation became.

The pain from the poison was taking a lot of energy from her to keep it at bay, so she was stuck in an impasse.

BOOM!

Her figure landed on the ground as she made up her mind. She didn't want to use it as there was no turning back, but she had no choice. A jewel shining in a menacing red light appeared in her hands. She did not hesitate as she brought it to her mouth, and swallowed right away.

ZING~

An uncomfortable sound spread out through the snowy field as the red light permeated her body, and the larger transparent figure that surrounded her as well. She seemed to be undergoing a transformation as a horn began appearing on her forehead.

Her opponent would not leave her be though. In the middle of this transformation, the hideous looking figure that leaked poisonous pus had reappeared and was already releasing another one of its vile breaths. Rifts continued to open up in the sky as flames and lightning struck down, not giving this powerful figure any respite during her transformation.

ARGH!

The interruption caused the energies to go berserk as the change was only half completed, and the large transparent figure now tinged in red became more visible. The moment the sword in its hands slashed towards the monstrosity vomiting poisonous material, it stopped the belching and dashed towards her body, exploding again in the next moment.

The mercenary was full of wrath as this occurred again and pushed her back, the poison reapplying itself with even more vigor after the second explosion. Her incarnation was getting back up again when she saw the same monstrosity appear… and explode again for the second time.

BOOM!

A third time.

BOOM!

A fourth time.

She was breathing heavily as she felt the incarnation fading away after using up all her mana. Fear of the unknown person that continued to send suicidal attacks with their monstrous beast had etched itself deep inside.

Rough breathing was coming out as she saw the green monstrosity appear above her again as good as new.

"Haha, Hahaha, Hahaha!"

She found herself letting out gory laughs as the poison permeated through her at this ridiculous sight. Even swallowing that jewel for its forbidden power did not do a single thing about this attacker that didn't even bother to show himself.

She had many many decisions in her life and never regretted any, but it seemed she stood on the wrong side this time. She wanted to at least see the person capable of taking her down like this. What sort of great person are you? Why do you stand with the Princess of a small kingdom in the north? Her thoughts soon came back to the current situation as she saw the monstrous green beast in the skies.

She was baffled at the ridiculous repetition of explosions that continued to wear down her now 8 meter large body. The incarnation was slowly fading away as the monstrosity continued to explode and reappear in the next instant.

"At least give me the honor of seeing the person who would take my life!"

She found the strength to speak as her body worked to push out the poison and try to maintain the incarnation at the same time. Silence was all she received as she found the same beast appearing from a huge runic circle once again.

"Bah, pathetic! Not even enough balls to show yourself!" The large incarnation used this time to vault the huge sword it was holding into the air where the monstrocity had appeared.

SWISH!

The beast curved the rushing blade without difficulty as it only slashed air, and looked below at the transparent figure, and the mercenary still floating in it. A wicked expression could be seen as its large mouth began transforming.

The EPIC ranked mercenary looked at this and realized her journey would be ending here today. Unexplainable terror rose out as this idea spread throughout her being. Her sight was occupied by the beast's head that had it's jaws opened unnaturally as it belched out poisonous atrocities towards her. A green light covered the eyes of this mercenary. In a moment, this green light turned into darkness.

---

I breathed out in relief as I prevented the crazy power up from continuing in front of me. Did she really think I would give her the time to transform into an even more powerful version of herself before acting?

The dark menacing light she swallowed before her failed transformation began gave out an oppressive feeling, but I stopped whatever its purpose was meant to be. The power it let out was almost twice what I felt from the EPIC ranked mercenary, and it had an evil feeling emanating. This appearance of this red light gave me a certain feeling of apprehension, and made me form some new assumptions that would be deadly if they were true. I had to move faster.

During the many explosions that occured from the Plague Bearer carrying out its killer suicide attacks, the remaining rank S mercenaries had fallen from the constant blasts of poisons and the targeting attacks of [Devastation]

I would be blessed with another set of S rank skills, as well as something even more wondrous from the body of the EPIC mercenary that was bubbling with pus currently. I sent a command and watched as the summoned Plague Bearer absorb the poisonous fumes and liquids around us. I targeted the bodies of dead mercenaries as I started with the most powerful one first.

The body glowed in a purple light when I neared it, a large skill book, an item, and multiple glistening cores appearing in my storage pouch right after. I was surprised as this was the first time that both an item and a skill book had come out from a singular enemy

The item was [Kingslayer- A sword worthy of killing the highest echelons. Has a constantly sharpening blade edge and weighs as much as a feather]. It was a glistening golden sword that was the same size as myself. It was such an exquisite sword that I couldn't help but grab and swing it a few times. I shook myself out of this new feeling as I looked at the skill book next.

[Corrupted Sword Saint's Incarnation- The body and memories of a genius sword saint descend for as long as mana is provided. Requires caster to equip a sword to activate. When active: +300% Physical Damage, +300% Speed, +200% Defense.+Dark Slayer Sword Style.]

...I looked at the numbers shown on the skill description in shock at this new type of skill. It wasn't my usual type of skill that I learned but...I wanted to try it out so damn badly! I couldn't hold my excitement as I watched the particles of the EPIC ranked [Skill Book] fade into my body. Now, what surprises will you bring?