Record of a Thousand Lives - Chapter 25
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Chapter 25

[The effect of the ‘Silvermane Bracer’ has activated.]

[The spirit of the ancient wolf has possessed you.]

[Your current weapon will decide which ancient wolf spirit will possess you.]

[If you call forth too many ancient wolf spirits at a time, they may decide to attack you instead.]

[Your current weapon is a greatsword.]

[The ancient wolf of strength has possessed you.]

One of the treasures Kang Yoon-Soo had acquired from the Yultika Ruin was the ‘Silvermane Bracer’, and this was the first time he had activated its ability. A light started to flow out of the bracer, and it started to materialize into a red wolf that was even bigger than Ravian’s current form.

Grrrrrrr!

Those present were shocked; White was especially shocked, suddenly seeming to despair.

“Karuko? Rironomok!” the red wolf growled.

Awooooooo!

The spirit of the red wolf ran toward Kang Yoon-Soo and entered him, enveloping his entire body in a red aura.

[The wolf of strength, Auron, dwells in your body.]

[Your strength has significantly increased.]

[Your muscle mass has significantly increased.]

[Your tenacity has increased.]

[Burns and frostbite will not affect your movement.]

[You can wield two-handed weapons in one hand.]

[You can now move explosively, like a storm.]

[However, you will feel excruciating muscle pain after a certain period of time has passed.]

Kang Yoon-Soo’s body started to change. He was tall, but usually quite skinny for his height; however, filled with the red wolf’s power, his muscles started to grow and he became gigantic. His whole body exuded an overwhelming aura, and his presence alone exerted dominance.

However, he sighed inwardly and thought to himself, ‘The ancient wolf possession effect is good, but the side effects are severe. I have to end this as soon as possible.’

“I will… kill you…!” Ravian said in its cracked voice as it swung its sword, and tens of lightning bolts flew toward Kang Yoon-Soo.

However, Kang Yoon-Soo did not avoid the lightning, instead, he took it all head-on. He should have felt immense pain from it, but his facial expression did not change one bit. The people behind him were safe because he had taken the full brunt of the damage.

“Kang Yoon-Soo nim!” Shaneth called out to him. Kang Yoon-Soo had done a lot of reckless and dangerous things up until then, but she had never seen him get wounded once. And yet, he was now fighting against a monster with his body covered in wounds. Shaneth gripped her scythe tightly, as she could only watch the battle unfold.

Kang Yoon-Soo endured the lightning as black smoke rose from his body. He gripped his greatsword tightly, and blood vessels started to bulge out of his arms. He ran toward Ravian and swung his greatsword.

Pukeok!

Ravian, who had not budged an inch against White’s attacks, fell backward. The homunculus received a big gash across its chest, and it screamed in pain. “Arghhhh…!”

Kang Yoon-Soo’s attack was not only strong, but also too fast to avoid. A greatsword boasted significant power, but it was usually slow. However, his strike was extremely fast and the attack’s trajectory was perfect.

Ravian was stunned from the attack, and it retreated from Kang Yoon-Soo. After backing down for a moment, the homunculus charged toward him brandishing its longsword once more. “Turn to… ashes…!”

Kwachik!

Ravian attacked relentlessly, and every swing of its longsword brought forth lightning. However, Kang Yoon-Soo managed to parry every single one of its attacks, and it was hard to believe that the weapon he was using was a greatsword as he counterattacked after every block. His hands felt as if they were burning every time he blocked and attacked with his greatsword, but he kept defending and attacking.

However, cracks began forming in his greatsword whenever it met Ravian’s attacks. He said, “Shaneth, Sally, and White. Assist me.”

The trio that had been dazedly watching the battle snapped back to their senses. Sally imbued their weapons with flame before morphing into a lizard. White growled and showed a completely different attitude toward the battle from before. It had fought guided solely by instinct and rage in previous battles, but now fought with the intent to assist Kang Yoon-Soo. Shaneth had no special ability worth mentioning, but she nevertheless charged toward the battle armed only with her desire to help Kang Yoon-Soo.

It was not much, but the small amounts of damage Ravian received started to accumulate.

Lee Kang-Hyun looked toward Shin Han-Yul and asked, “Don’t we have to help out too?” However, Shin Han-Yul was overcome with despair by the fact that Ravian had swallowed up his magic and used it to evolve, and he could not come to his senses or make a decision. Lee Kang-Hyun bit his lips in frustration as Shin Han-Yul hesitated. He called out to his other party members, “Let’s go! Let’s help Kang Yoon-Soo out!”

“Gaaaaaah!” The swordsmen joined the fray as they attacked Ravian with all their might.

Lightning struck whenever Ravian swung its longsword, but Kang Yoon-Soo stepped in every single time and blocked both the attack and the lightning with his body. No matter how much his physical capabilities had been enhanced, it would be impossible to endure all of the damage if he did not have transcendent mental fortitude.

Ravian grimaced whenever it blocked Kang Yoon-Soo’s attacks. Kang Yoon-Soo was overwhelming Ravian with his strength, but the greatsword started to slowly chip and crack, and its attack power drastically fell once its edges dulled and chipped.

“Shaneth,” Kang Yoon-Soo called out in a low and calm voice.

Shaneth immediately understood what he meant, and she threw her scythe toward him. Kang Yoon-Soo caught the scythe with his left hand as he wielded the greatsword in his right hand; he started to rain down attack after attack against Ravian, with weapons imbued with Sally’s flame in both hands.

Slash!

The homunculus’ chest was cut open, and Ravian started to breathe its last.

“Minerva… Blood revenge against all the alchemists…!” The homunculus’ black body turned into dust and disappeared. All that was left behind was a red heart and a large longsword.

Kang Yoon-Soo collected the loot left behind by the homunculus and sat down on the spot. His body that had been bulging with muscles just a moment before started to slowly return to its original state. He threw away the broken greatsword.

[You have defeated the homunculus Ravian (Boss, Level 132).]

[Your level has increased by 16.]

“We… we won!”

“We survived! We made it out!”

Lee Kang-Hyeon and his party exclaimed in joy as they hugged each other.

It was at that moment…

Crack…! Rumble…!

“The dimension is crumbling!”

“The Chimera Dimension is crumbling because the boss is dead!”

“We can leave now!”

An opening in the dimension was now visible.

White and Sally went back to the summon dimension, and the rest of the people ran toward the exit. Shaneth looked toward Kang Yoon-Soo and called out urgently, “It will be dangerous if we don’t leave now!”

However, Kang Yoon-Soo did not get up. In fact, he actually lay down where he was sitting. Shaneth’s eyes suddenly widened as she saw his whole body start to tremble and spasm. The side effect of his body reverting to normal after the red wolf’s buff had started. In addition, the damage he had sustained from blocking Ravian’s attacks with his body had accumulated significantly.

‘I might die,’ he thought. He could not move his own body. While Shaneth was flustered and did not know what to do, he called out to her in a small voice, “Shaneth.”

“Y… Yes...?” Shaneth asked slowly.

“Give me a piggyback ride,” Kang Yoon-Soo said seriously.

“…!”

Shaneth immediately picked him up, and started to run with all her strength toward the exit of the Chimera Dimension.