I Raided the Demon’s Treasury

Chapter 76

While cutting through the sea with Shax and heading toward the sanctuary, Se-woon noticed Shax raising his fins and activating mana.

‘This guy seems to be getting competitive.’

He had told Shax to pick up the pace, but it looked like he was already pushing his speed to the maximum.

If it had been someone else, he might have suggested slowing down, but Se-woon thought differently.

‘This could be fun.’

He had initially thought of taking his time and enjoying the ocean scenery, but with a race in the mix, reaching the sanctuary might actually be quite enjoyable.

Thanks to the necklace hanging around his neck, Wrath of the Sea, he barely felt any resistance underwater.

As they sped forward, Se-woon finally managed to overtake Shax in a rocky area.

“Glad you’re safe. This is the right way, isn’t it?”

“…Yes.”

Perhaps it was the sting of defeat? Shax’s face flushed a faint red in the cold seawater.

With a slight smile at the sight, Se-woon looked ahead.

Swoosh!

In front of them lay dozens of vortexes blocking their path like a barrier.

The currents around them moved violently, seemingly ready to tear apart anything that dared approach.

If the currents were that strong, one would expect them to affect the surrounding area as well. Yet, just outside the vortex, the water flowed peacefully as if nothing was amiss.

That could only mean one thing.

‘It seems this is the destination.’

These vortexes were likely protecting Leviathan’s sanctuary.

“Stay close!”

“So, we just need to pass through that, right?”

“Yes! Just follow right behind me, and…”

Se-woon didn’t listen to the end of Shax’s words. To protect his body within the whirlpool, he activated the ‘Scales of the Lizardman.’

He held his spear out in front of him to minimize the water’s resistance.

Swoosh!

Se-woon’s body shot forward toward the whirlpool. He could hear Shax’s startled shout from behind, but he half-heartedly let it slide out of one ear.

‘Since I’ve started, I might as well win.’

The competitive drive wasn’t Shax’s alone.

Se-woon wasn’t content with merely escaping the rocky area first—he wanted to reach the sanctuary before Shax.

Crash!

The rough currents around the whirlpool pounded against his armor, and they even tried to scrape away at the flesh beneath. Without the Lizardman’s scales, his skin might have peeled off before even entering the whirlpool.

Thud!

Having cut through the raging currents, he plunged into the vortex, spear-first.

The vortex’s force was so powerful that he couldn’t keep his eyes open, so Se-woon shut his eyes and trusted his instincts to guide him forward.

Thanks to the initial momentum, he thought he’d easily clear the vortex.

However, there was one thing Se-woon hadn’t anticipated.

– The Power of Envy surges around you.

– Due to the Power of Envy, Strength decreases by 5.

– Agility decreases by 5.

– Stamina decreases by 4.

– Intelligence decreases by 4.

…

‘Power of Envy?’

This whirlpool… I thought it was merely a barrier to block outsiders, but it contained the power of Leviathan.

I don’t know exactly what kind of force the Power of Envy holds, but…

– Strength decreases by 3.

– Agility decreases by 3.

…

The important point is that, at this very moment, my stats are rapidly dropping.

It’s not only the visible system messages—the actual strength in the hand gripping my spear is gradually fading. My body, which had been moving swiftly, was noticeably slowing down.

The scales couldn’t withstand the turbulent waves of the whirlpool and began to peel off, while the magic within his circle flickered unsteadily.

– The Constellation, “Bowed Raven,” watches the situation with interest, wondering if your possession of Durandal becomes his should you die.

– The Constellation, “Hungry Prince,” slowly and luxuriously savors the last eggs as if in lament.

Given the current circumstances, getting help from these two Demon Gods was impossible.

He had to break through the vortex before all his stats plummeted and drained him of his strength.

‘But how?’

His momentum was completely gone, making it difficult to aim for speed with more than a third of his stats cut.

Even attempting to use magic was futile since his Intelligence had dropped, causing his control over the circle to falter and making it hard to manifest any spells.

Thus.

‘I have no choice but to use his power.’

– Opened the Treasury of Greed.

[ Serpent of the Netherworld, Yeochtun Sinmo ]

– A spear used by the renowned general Yue Fei of the Southern Song dynasty. It is said to have transformed into the form of a spear after defeating the serpent monster of Yeochtun.

With his current reduced stats, it was challenging to use physical or magical power even if he deployed the Constellation power.

Hence, he chose something different. He imbued ‘consciousness’ into the weapon.

Squirm!

He felt sleek scales emerging from the shaft of the spear infused with the power of Yeochtun Sinmo.

The once firm and slim spear began to wriggle and expand, and its tip transformed into a sharp pair of fangs.

A serpent.

The serpent monster that Yue Fei had defeated reverted to his true form.

“Get us out of here!”

“Hiss!”

The monster, understanding Se-woon’s command, extended his body forward.

With his body wriggling side to side like a swimming sea snake, it steadily moved forward even amidst the harsh vortex.

Se-woon clung fiercely to the scales, ensuring he wouldn’t be thrown off this powerful being.

Though his Strength stat had fallen below half and his hand was trembling, the thought of being devoured and shredded by the vortex instilled him with a burst of grit.

Swoosh!

Unfortunately, the shortage of strength surpassed a level that sheer willpower could overcome.

– Strength decreases by 3.

– Strength decreases by 2.

…

By now, Se-woon’s Strength had fallen to below one-fifth.

He was too weakened to keep hold of the slippery scales in the raging vortex.

“Damn it, I’m almost there…”

Watching the frothy edge of the vortex, he had no choice but to let go of the scales.

As he swiftly considered his next move…

Snap!

Two fang-like tips sharply grasped Se-woon.

Like a mother beast carefully biting her young, it did so without causing harm.

“Hiss-”

Serpent of the Netherworld.

The spear, transformed into a serpent, realized Se-woon had fallen, hurriedly turning and snatching his master.

Then, it promptly tossed his body outside the whirlpool.

Boom!

The vicious vortex aggressively tore at the serpent’s scales, shredding his hide. Nonetheless, it refused to release its grip on Se-woon.

Could this be considered just a ‘weapon’?

The vortex, reaching beyond its scales and skin, started ravaging its muscles, and as it tore apart, forcing it to open its mouth.

Swish.

Miraculously, the vortex subsided into silence.

No, the vortex hadn’t calmed; they had traversed it completely.

“Thank you.”

“Hiss-”

Se-woon placed his hand atop the head of the now tattered spear.

It was seemingly just a monster residing in the treasure called Serpent of the Netherworld, yet it risked its life to protect its master.

He had previously considered these treasures merely as ‘tools’, but now he thought perhaps there was an inherent will within them.

Feeling Se-woon’s touch, the Serpent of the Netherworld flicked its tongue out with gusto, then gradually shapeshifted back into a spear.

But even upon reverting to its spear form, its durability had bottomed out, dissipating into foam.

– The Power of Envy is now inactive.

– The rapidly decreased stats are swiftly restored.

Thankfully, the stat reduction due to the Power of Envy was temporary.

Soon, all of Se-woon’s stats were restored, and he was able to feel his recovered strength as he clenched his fist.

– The Constellation, “Bowed Raven,” is disappointed by your unharmed state.

– The Constellation, “Hungry Prince,” laments the absence of food in this place.

Looking up, he saw…

“So, this is Leviathan’s sanctuary.”

Finally, the destination came into view.

The sanctuary looked nothing like anything Se-woon knew of as a temple.

The massive skeleton of a monster lay half-buried in the ground, its mouth agape.

Inside was presumably the sanctuary Shax had mentioned.

Ahead stood a merfolk, seemingly female, with wide-eyed stares fixed on Se-woon.

“A human…?”

“For a human, it has gills and fins… Who is it?”

“More importantly, didn’t it just come through the vortex?”

“Even Lord Shax can’t get through the vortex; how on earth…?”

Everyone was flustered by the sudden appearance of an outsider.

Most of the merfolk capable of fighting had remained at the spawning grounds repairing the site, so those here were unable to engage in battle.

The male merfolk were either small or appeared physically incapable of combat, and there were quite a few children among them.

As Se-woon hesitated on how to explain himself…

From afar, a merfolk with shark-like fins rapidly approached.

“Are you alright?!”

“You got here fast.”

“What on earth were you thinking? Breaking through a vortex imbued with the Power of Envy!”

“It was more dangerous than I thought. You could have warned me.”

“I did say to just follow me! Anyway, how did you manage to break through the vortex?”

Shax. He had arrived so hastily, breathing heavily through the gills alongside his neck.

“I used my power. Even if it’s the Power of Envy, I have two other godly powers.”

“I see… I regret underestimating you unconsciously.”

“So, I won, right?”

“I concede. You surely possess power befitting the contract of two Demon Gods. I dare say you can be trusted.”

Having employed his power to navigate the vortex, it was certain Leviathan was aware of Se-woon’s presence.

Yet no message from Leviathan appeared before Se-woon.

The reason for that was soon revealed through Shax.

“Once you’re inside the sanctuary, you should be able to hear from the Constellation. Being forced outside the Tower, the interference of the system is limited.”

“So that’s how it is.”

“If you’re tired, how about resting for a bit? I’m not certain about human tastes, but our cuisine was deemed a delicacy even back when we were in the Tower.”

– The Constellation, “Hungry Prince,” clasps his utensils in anticipation at the word ‘delicacy.’

“No.”

There was no need to rest since his stats lost to Power of Envy had been fully recovered.

He had to quickly form a contract with Leviathan and return to the surface to complete the tutorial and enter the Tower.

The Tower’s system might impose some penalty on players who didn’t enter the Tower even after finishing the tutorial.

He had to resolve matters swiftly and return to the surface as soon as possible.

“Let’s go right away.”

“Whew… Very well. Please follow me.”

After catching his breath briefly, Shax straightened his posture and walked towards Leviathan’s sanctuary.