NOVEL NEXT Chapter 62
Wilhelm and Astoria, somewhat at a high level.
I thought if they could hold their ground against Cecilia for even five minutes, it would be quite an achievement.
“…It’s over.”
Charlotte said with a troubled expression.
Was it just an empty expectation? They both couldn’t even last three minutes and had to retire.
Moreover, Astoria was so badly wounded that her soul bond was fading.
“B-B Wilhelm?”
Gulp. Isabella’s throat quivered.
Wilhelm was a powerhouse comparable to Carleon, the mid-boss of the castle.
It was only natural to feel tense if someone could wipe him out in an instant.
‘Truly a monster, Cecilia.’
She single-handedly rendered all the carefully laid traps in the upper levels useless.
She easily defeated even the undead tier, leaving me completely dumbfounded.
“There are no moving undead left. The dual operation plan is in ruins.”
From the expedition team’s perspective, the situation of being attacked from both sides was a dire crisis.
After defeating the undead tier and moving forward, if any undead remained that we couldn’t confirm dead, Charlotte had planned to resurrect them remotely.
But with not a single one left, that plan was also gone.
Even if the soul bond was maintained, resurrecting a Dullahan remotely was impossible.
To stop Cecilia, we had no choice but to confront her head-on.
I looked around.
About 200 night minions led by Carleon.
It would have been tough to defend with just the dungeon’s pure defensive measures, so it was a relief to at least have these guys.
‘Still, I have to be cautious.’
Even though we were on defense, there was no significant advantage.
There were no barriers, not even a barricade.
The spatial constraints made it difficult to defend.
And because the corridor was too wide, it would take a long time to build walls.
…Yeah.
There’s no need to be disheartened. I had pushed everything to the front lines on the fifth level, bracing for an all-out assault from the start.
It was a mindless struggle of brute force, but the chances of victory were sufficient.
Because I had enhancement magic.
‘…Seems stronger than I expected, though.’
At first, I thought about bursting the weapons of others and isolating Cecilia to snatch the holy relic.
That idea was fleeting.
Attempting to grab loot before winning would be both reckless and akin to self-destructing.
The opponent was a one-woman army called Cecilia.
Knowing this, letting her go while seeking victory would be recklessness beyond greed.
I almost decided to burst the holy relic.
Just as I resolved to focus on targeting Cecilia’s weapon—
Thud, thud.
From a distance, I heard numerous footsteps.
After the noise stopped, the expedition team was, as expected, in sight.
The vanguard of the expedition team comprised knights heavily equipped with armor, while the rear had mages and clerics.
[Lv. 64]
[Lv. 67]
[Lv. 71]
On the surface, they all appeared to be elite level, but I didn’t mind.
“That guy… isn’t he the monster from the Seven Lairs?”
“A Death Knight with a holy sword. This is for sure.”
“Why is the boss here? Isn’t something wrong?”
Most of those who saw me had their levels turn black.
Some seemed to lose their fighting spirit and took a step back. I unintentionally demoralized them.
As I looked at them, I soon shifted my gaze.
There was a woman standing alone in front of the expedition team.
[Lv. 93]
I had suspected it in my heart, but I never imagined she would really be a boss-level being from the Seven Lairs.
Cecilia’s level was soaked in deep malice.
I didn’t care about the expedition team anyway.
I pointed at Cecilia with my fingertips.
The eyes of the executives standing beside me followed my gesture.
“Be careful of that woman.”
To face Cecilia, sacrifice was inevitable.
But I only hoped no one would die.
Cecilia’s Moonlight Sword scattered a faint moonlight.
Even if I tried not to look, the enchanting glow captured all attention.
The feeling of Luna’s energy exceeded the holy power of the holy sword.
[Moonlight Sword Lunatic (No. 4)]
[Enhancement Probability: 0%]
[※ Caution! Applying enhancement to the target will result in destruction!]
[If enhancement fails, the cooldown will reset.]
[Would you like to enhance the Moonlight Sword Lunatic (No. 4)?]
[YES/NO]
If I lusted after the holy relic, it was obvious that the tip of that sword would slice my neck.
At level 93, she was a boss-level being from the Seven Lairs.
She had the power to easily wipe us out alone.
I determined that it was right to burst the Moonlight Sword immediately.
Swoosh─!
In an instant, Cecilia’s form vanished.
Naturally, the status window notification was lost too.
When it emerged, she had a blade stuck in the neck of a vampire.
As I shifted my gaze back to her, the status window notification appeared again.
[High-Class Vampire’s Bloodstone (B+)]
[Enhancement Probability: 15%]
Seeing the strange notification, I turned my gaze again.
[Intermediate Leather Pauldron (B)]
[Enhancement Probability: 20%]
[Well-Forged Longsword (B)]
[Enhancement Probability: 22%]
[High-Class Werewolf’s Artificial Claw (A)]
[Enhancement Probability: 13%]
For a moment, a string of curses almost escaped my mouth.
The prerequisite for using enhancement magic was to have the target in sight.
Moreover, the notification window didn’t activate immediately; it took at least a second.
It was hard to keep up with Cecilia’s speed visually, and the surrounding monsters were obstructing my view.
Because of that, strange notification windows kept popping up.
Damn it. I fell for my own trick.
If I misstepped even once, it would lead to an hour-long cooldown.
I tried to focus on the Moonlight Sword, but bizarre notification windows kept appearing.
This was the first time I faced such a situation. My mind only grew more chaotic with embarrassment.
“Go! Vanguard, maintain formation and charge! Rear guard, hold your positions!”
“Let’s kill the Seven Lairs’ scum!”
“Ughhhh!”
The hesitant expedition team started their advance.
With Cecilia’s demoralizing presence, their morale soared.
Hundreds of them began to tumble over one another, making it harder to locate Cecilia.
‘Get a grip.’
If I made a mistake, I would definitely die. Delays could lead to everyone’s demise.
Just once, if I could follow her with my eyes, Cecilia would be left empty-handed.
“Stay still.”
The movements of dozens suddenly stopped.
I tried to find Cecilia among them, but she was nowhere to be seen.
─!
Amidst the chaos, a slicing sound rang out.
I saw the moonlight darting across the battlefield like a whirlwind and then disappearing from my sight.
An inhuman speed so hard to follow with the eyes.
I tried using the spell immobilization on her, but it seemed utterly ineffective.
The level gap was even more pronounced than I had anticipated.
What should I do? If I could just halt her movements, I could somehow manage.
Calming my chaotic thoughts, I glanced toward the three around me.
“Subdue that woman.”
Before I finished speaking, Isabella and Balutak sprang into action.
Charlotte began casting beside me as well.
With this trio, I believed they could at least hinder Cecilia’s movements for a moment.
“Dragon Scale. Double.”
Scales sprouted from the black iron armor.
With Cecilia’s formidable speed, she might not even notice, and might even kill me in a single blow.
Unless I wrapped myself in double Dragon Scale, my life was in jeopardy.
This was still dangerous, merely a temporary measure.
‘Please let me just enhance the Moonlight Sword.’
Whether I could tear Cecilia’s wings or not rested on enhancement magic.
Victory or defeat depended entirely on unforeseen variables.
***
Shriek!
With a peeling sound, a tingling sensation was sent from my fingertips.
As Luna rose, the blood clinging to the sword tip vanished like smoke.
Cecilia moved across the battlefield freely, her breathing unperturbed.
The Moonlight Sword’s Luna significantly enhanced her physical abilities.
Fueled by that, she repeated a dance of slaughter.
Wherever she passed, silver blade trails were left behind, splattered with blood.
‘That girl.’
Cecilia was constantly darting about, yet threw a glance toward the Death Knight staring arrogantly at her.
The boss of the Seven Lairs who stole the holy sword.
Its very existence must be a sinister undead.
Yet, the holy sword shone brighter than ever.
It was as if I were seeing a master’s holy sword, but it only served to heighten my fury.
Not for stealing the holy sword.
But the audacity of an undead to steal something marked by the presence of that being.
The very holy power reminiscent of that being made me want to tear it to pieces immediately.
With a gnash, Cecilia gritted her teeth and swung her sword.
In the shadow of the encroaching darkness, a streak of sword light flashed.
Swoosh, swoosh!
The crescent-shaped strike sliced through the ground.
But soon after, it dispersed into the air.
Dullahan Carleon, who had been blocking the strike with his whole body, was pushed back by two steps.
Regaining his grip on the handle, he fixed his gaze on Cecilia.
“The boss is the last one standing.”
Swoosh─!
All of a sudden, Cecilia vanished.
Clang!
Meeting blades with Carleon revealed her true form.
Clang! Clang!
The swords that had clashed fell away. Carleon, in a momentary crouch, caught the blade just before it fell.
Immediately, he sprung back, swinging the blade, but Cecilia pulled back without parrying. The strike barely grazed her hair.
Clang!
The more we exchanged blows, the more Carleon was pushed back step by step.
Before I knew it, Carleon had started to respond solely on the defensive.
With just three exchanges, it was clear. His swordsmanship was smooth and utterly flawless.
Cecilia’s swordplay left no room for even the slightest gap.
Swoosh─!
A near-fatal stab had emerged in the blink of an eye.
Just as Carleon narrowly avoided it and attempted to counter, Cecilia swiftly pulled the grip of her sword and spun.
Swish! The moonlight cleaved Carleon’s body in two.
‘Truly astonishing.’
That thought was my last.
Carleon could not rise again and lost consciousness.
Confirming the light in his eyes had dimmed, Cecilia leapt back.
Boom!
A tremendous sound erupted from where Cecilia stood.
Balutak, who had destroyed the innocent ground, leaped up again.
“Kyaaa!”
“Bug. Be quiet.”
Cecilia swung her sword carelessly.
In an instant, the air shimmered with silver light. As a curve vanished, Balutak’s arm fell.
The gushing blood obscured my vision, but Cecilia then slashed horizontally.
With a swift slicing sound, Balutak’s torso was cleaved away.
His separated upper and lower halves tumbled to the ground.
Cecilia casually disregarded Balutak.
There was no moan or scream, just a physiological reaction of writhing.
Kwah-kwah-kwah!
Cecilia immediately spun around and raised her sword.
A torrent of blood surged from the air, rippling toward her.
Even in the face of the intense blood magic, Cecilia gazed beyond it with half-open eyes.
She met the furious gaze of Isabella.
An overwhelming Luna that seemed to press down on all five senses pulsed from within her.
Feeling that elation, Cecilia started moving. Before I knew it, she was approaching Isabella.
“!”
Her eyes opened wide in shock.
In stark contrast, Cecilia wore a hazy expression as she thrust her sword in.
Pierce!
The sword tip pierced through her neck and came back out.
From the wound, Luna surged up like a flame.
Cough, cough. A handful of blood and intermittent groans escaped Isabella’s mouth.
Stumbling forward, she collapsed without resistance.
Cecilia glanced over her shoulder.
In her sight were a witch and a Death Knight.
A question arose in my mind.
While her minions were getting slaughtered, the boss merely watched.
Moreover, her gaze was fixed on Cecilia.
So far, she had only followed with her eyes and had not moved her body.
Cecilia was currently riding her momentum.
It was time for the boss of the Seven Lairs to step in to dampen that momentum.
Yet, despite the vigilance, she merely kept her gaze trained on her.
‘…What could be the reason?’
Was there something to discern with deeper observation?
Or was it a condescending gaze, merely looking down upon her?
Cecilia shook off those thoughts.
Here, she needed to act, not think.
Crash!
Cecilia’s form charged as she dug into the ground.
***
Every time Cecilia swung her sword, the air rippled.
It felt like the air itself was splitting.
Carleon could only withstand three exchanges against Cecilia and then retired.
‘If I could just get the holy sword… No.’
Support from the holy sword would be a blind attack.
If I launched the holy sword at a moment I couldn’t even follow with my eyes, it would only bring damage in return.
All I could do now was enhancement magic.
But because of unpredictable variables, even with enhancement magic, I couldn’t use it.
Her incredible speed. The obstacles that obscured my view.
The turmoil from noise all around further disrupted my focus.
One mistake would be irreversible.
Even if I had to endure a bit of damage, I had to ensure I aimed precisely for that one chance.
In an instant, Balutak lunged in, but after just a few seconds, he was decisively defeated.
Cecilia’s movements were like swatting a fly.
‘Damn, damn, damn…’
My head was filled with overwhelming curses.
Every time I tried to capture the Moonlight Sword in my sight, it darted away immediately.
Even with Carleon and Balutak easily subdued, the Moonlight Sword still shone vividly in her hand.
Looking at their levels, they still lived.
Merely clinging to life.
If we can’t stop Cecilia, not just the two of them, but everyone will die.
Whoosh!
In a moment, Cecilia leaped off the ground, this time targeting Isabella.
I tried to track her with my eyes, but I was a beat too late again.
In the awkward angle I was positioned, Cecilia was obscured by Isabella.
“Cough, cough…”
Isabella also collapsed, unable to counter just like Balutak.
A deep sense of despair coiled around my mind.
Just as Cecilia turned to me, that form sprang up like a spring.
“Lord, wait a moment.”
Charlotte blocked my path.
I felt her determination to prevent me from reaching too.
The mana released from Charlotte’s fingertips grew denser and finally began to swirl into a blizzard.
Fizzling— Inside the blizzard, electric properties intertwined.
Blizzard Storm dominated the area, and alongside it appeared a dozen summoning talismans.
From within, dark energy surged forth and shot at Cecilia.
Swish—!
A crescent-shaped strike came rushing toward me, seemingly blocking my vision.
A strike accompanied by a dust storm physically shattered Charlotte’s magic.
That too was under the influence of Luna. The night’s mana pierced through every magical phenomenon.
Charlotte bit her lip while preparing to cast again but—
Boom!
With a resounding crash, Charlotte was sent flying.
There was no time to worry about her safety.
“Why are you still standing there?”
Seeing Cecilia right in front of me, my body froze. My thoughts stopped.
As I gazed not at the sword but at her, a notification window appeared.
I couldn’t even see the content. I merely relied on empty hope.
Perhaps it was a last-ditch effort to fight back against the impending death.
[Enhancing Laura’s Ruby Crystal (S).]
[Enhancement failed. Laura’s Ruby Crystal (S) is destroyed.]
That too extinguished any remaining hope.
There was surely an opportunity at first to enhance the Moonlight Sword.
The slight hesitation resulted in this return of death.
Unquestionably, I had been a fool.
My vision overflowed with moonlight.
As it faded, a wave of intense pain surged through me.
The enveloping pain made the nonexistent eyelids feel heavy.
I thought undead didn’t feel pain.
I believed one couldn’t close their eyes even in death, but it seems that isn’t the case now.
Amidst my fading vision, I saw my eyes bulging larger than their limit.
My reflection losing light stared back at me.
“Ah… No… No no no… Why… why me…?”
From within the fading auditory range, a strange voice echoed.
Simultaneously, a faint sensation brushed against me. A trembling touch seemed to caress my body.
How odd.
Cecilia looked at me as if she might cry.
I didn’t know if it was merely an illusion in my sight, or if I was seeing things as I approached death.
“…Cecilia.”
“Y-Yes! That’s me! Ah, why, why do I see my master like this…?”
“Y-You…”
I wanted to tell her she’s a cursed girl.