Chapter 195: Star, Baek Gyeo-Ul (5)

When Chang-Sun called the shadow Xerxes, his old colleague, the shadow faintly trembled.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ wonders what you two are talking about.]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ shakes his head, calls you a sly snake, and says that you’re hiding something again.]

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ is watching you silently.]

…

While the Celestials were wondering what Chang-Sun was saying using telepathy, his eyes were turning cold.『No, should I call you Xerxes’ hidden side?』

Xerxes was a false deity who settled in various shadows as he wandered around. Influenced by many beings, he naturally ended up with multiple personalities. Xerxes’ humble and gentle personality had been his main personality, but his other personalities used to show up and take charge every now and then back then. Chang-Sun called these other personalities Xerxes’ hidden sides. One of them was right in front of him.

It seemed this hidden side behaved the same way in Baek Gyeo-Ul’s subconsciousness as he did in Xerxes’. Since he always tried to become Xerses’ main personality, Chang-Sun had named this hidden side Bardiya, which meant ‘usurper.’

『It has been a long time since I heard that name.』 Bardiya, the shadow personality, quietly chuckled. 『But Xerxes isn’t around right now. He’s dead. Meanwhile, I’m still here, so I would prefer a different name.』

“No matter what name I call you, the one sitting next to you is still your son in a way, so how can you do such a thing?” Chang-Sun asked with faint anger.

『A father’s job is to lead his son down the right path,』Bardiya replied gently.

Chang-Sun slightly frowned. “Gyeo-Ul is an adult now, so let him choose his own path.”

『No matter how old people are, they’re still babies in their parents’ eyes.』Bardiya smirked.

『When this child was born, I naturally ended up here… so I’m practically Xerxes’ and this child’s personality.』

“That is one messed-up family tree.” Chang-Sun shook his head.

『I’m a shadow. Isn’t it weird to consider us an ordinary father-son duo?』

When Bardiya chuckled, Chang-Sun realized that Bardiya was the half-spirit curse that had tormented Gyeo-Ul.

‘The and Celestials almost managed to kill Xerxes,?so when he met Gyeo-Ul’s mother, a part of him ended up inside her.?That was how Bardiya became Gyeo-Ul’s other personality. Considering the properties of shadow energy, it’s more than possible…’?

Chang-Sun’s eyes narrowed, but he still had one hope.

‘If I can separate him from Gyeo-Ul… I might be able to resurrect Xerxes.’

Gyeo-Ul could be considered part of Xerxes, so Chang-Sun could actually try resurrecting his friend. Hence, Chang-Sun prioritized separating Bardiya. This would help Gyeo-Ul regain control of his power and allow him to start resurrecting Xerxes.

‘This isn’t going to be easy,’?

Chang-Sun thought.

This cold snowfield was practically Bardiya’s territory too. Although it wasn’t his divine ground, he was still its ruler.

‘Still, I should at least give it a try.’

Chang-Sun activated his [Ferocious Heart].

Badump! Badump!

His [Magic Integrated Circuit] created an insane amount of mana, and the Retribution Fire made it hotter than the flames inside a fiery furnace.

The moment he released his mana…

Pzz, pzzz!

… purple lighting energy rose up from his fingertips, enveloped Chang-Sun, and spread to the nearby area. Activating , the signature skill that was starting to symbolize Chang-Sun, also made a part of the purple lightning energy take the shape of a Giant standing behind Chang-Sun.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ asks with sparkling eyes if you can create a bigger explosion with your prettily sparkling lightning energy!]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ sarcastically comments that a child easily wet their pants if they stay close to the fire.]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ angrily refutes that she is not a child.]

『Is this your new technique? Hmm, it’s going to be dangerous if I deal with this head-on.』

Bardiya smiled. Having lived as Chang-Sun’s shadow for quite some time, Bardiya instantly noticed how hot and destructive Chang-Sun’s was.

『Still…are you sure you want to fight me in here? This is my territory.』

“Were you not listening?” Chang-Sun calmly replied.

Pzzzz!

“You can fix anyone with a good beating.”

The air around Chang-Sun changed.

[Your Inferno Sights have opened!]

When two navy-blue fires settled in Chang-Sun’s eyes, the blazing energy around Chang-Sun intensified.

‘Magus,’?

Chang-Sun called.

『Ha! Hahaha! I can’t believe I’m about to learn the Pale Star’s knowledge! I’ll be your loyal servant from now on, my great master!』

Simon Magus felt ecstatic when Chang-Sun instructed him. As the mage who started gnosticism, Simon was so deeply touched by the fact that he was about to take a peek into such great knowledge that he felt loyal to Chang-Sun. Since he served as Chang-Sun’s supplementary personality that was meant to help Chang-Sun focus on combat, Simon activated [Bestla’s Poem] and slowly reached out his hand to [Prelati’s Spellbook].

[Opening the first chapter of ‘Prelati’s Spellbook’!]

Chang-Sun could hear the sound of book pages flipping inside his head. [Prelati's Spellbook] was written to properly utilize the that a [Ferocious Heart] created, so in theory, it should also be quite effective in controlling mixed with . The Darkness Secret Techniques—Mephistopheles’ great knowledge—was about to be revealed!

[The first chapter, ‘Radiát?o,’ has been applied, strengthening your lightning energy’s attributes!]

Rumble―!

The property of was about pulling and destroying everything. The energy instantly multiplied tens of times and spread in every direction, incessantly striking the snowfield with purple lightning bolts. Snowflakes shot up into the air and quickly evaporated, and the ground underneath the thick layer of snow was turned upside down, releasing a burning smell. As the area was reduced to ashes, the lightning energy covered Chang-Sun like armor and the purple net covered the sky.

『Oh, no.』

Bardiya retreated little by little, having realized now just how extraordinary Chang-Sun’s purple lightning energy was. He tried to distance himself from the snowfield to escape from the area of attack, but Chang-Sun had zero intention of letting him go.

Woosh!

When the Inferno Sights in Chang-Sun’s eyes grew bigger, huge Inferno Sights also ignited in the eyes of the Giant behind him. Tracking the fleeing Bardiya with [Viper Eyes], Chang-Sun held up his foot high up in the air and slammed it against the ground. The purple Giant did the same, causing cracks to spread in every direction.

[The Skill ‘Stomp’ has been activated, creating a small earthquake!]

[Cracks are spreading in every direction.]

When the cracks reached Bardiya, Chang-Sun’s lightning energy heated up. Unleashing purple sparks, it then spread through and connected all the cracks.

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

Right after, it turned into a long ray of light linking the sky and ground, its shape resembling an arc. The sight was the perfect example of ‘purple ray of lightning,’ which referred to the light that flashed as a result of swinging their sharp-edged sword.

Clang, clang, clang!

『… That seems to be your brand-new technique, but I didn't think you would use it like this. ‘He’ will be quite surprised if he finds out about this.』

Bardiya dumbfoundedly chuckled, noticing Chang-Sun’s [Stomp] was the imitation of the ‘Iron-Blooded Lion’ Richardus’ skill. Determined to not lose, he spun in the air like a top, his arms increasing in size tens of times with each passing second until they turned into a black barrier.

Clang, clang, clang!

Chang-Sun’s purple ray of lightning could only leave scratches on Bardiya’s shadow barrier, much less crack it. Nevertheless, Chang-Sun quietly chuckled. It was as if he was asking Bardiya how long he believed he could last.

Chang-Sun pulled out [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth] from his back and cut his left palm deeply with the dagger, its unsealed form.

Chang-Sun’s blood dripped to the ground. As if coming to life, the blood divided into dozens—no, hundreds of drops and absorbed the lightning energy sparks. They then launched themselves toward Bardiya.

Bang, bang, bang―!

[The Skill ‘Bloodthirst’ has been activated, firing blood bullets!]

[Increasing their lethality.]

Chang-Sun’s blood bullets were bound to be more powerful than ordinary purple rays of lightning. The blood bullets made the shadow barrier more and more rigid as well, causing it to crack. Eventually, the bullets drilled a hole through it.

Boom!

Shatter―!

The shadow barrier shattered like a glass window. Now wide open, a blood bullet immediately pierced through Bardiya’s left shoulder and unleashed a shockwave so powerful that it made Bardiya tremble.

『No…!』

However, the blood bullet’s power wasn’t what surprised Bardiya.

Pzzz―!

[Your blood bullet has hit the target.]

[The Skill ‘Expert Rune Engraving’ has been activated, creating a Target Rune!]

The blood from the wound on Bardiya’s left shoulder moved around and took the form of a rune. Well aware of what was happening, Bardiya quickly cut off his left arm. This was the tactic the ‘Divine Twilight’ used to win whenever he was outnumbered!

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ becomes confused and feels as if he had seen this kind of battle technique before.]

However, Bardiya was too late.

[The Authority ‘Perfect Marksmanship’ has been activated, causing all the purple lightning rays to hit the target!]

[The purple lightning rays rage.]

Rumble, rumble, rumble―!

The lighting bolts from the purple net covering the sky poured down on Bardiya. He wanted to avoid them, but it was impossible. The bolts had been imbued with Pabilsag’s [Perfect Markmanship], leaving him nowhere else to run to.

『Argggh!』

The remaining shadow barrier eventually shattered as well, allowing a blood bullet to hit Bardiya and create a new Target Rune again. [Bloodthirst] then enveloped him, and lightning bolts shot toward him.

Rumble!

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

This was the specialty of the ‘Divine Twilight.’ He trapped and bewildered his enemies with ceaseless barrages of attacks.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ says that she wasn’t aware her Authority could be used to create such magnificent fireworks. Her eyes sparkle.]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ wants a bigger, flashier, and brighter explosion!]

[The level of the Skill ‘Explosive Thunder’ has increased.]

…

[The Skill ‘Lightning Web’ has been activated.]

[The level of the Skill ‘Lightning Web’ has increased.]

…

[The Skills ‘Explosive Thunder’ and ‘Lightning Web’ have reached their maximum level and have been combined to create a higher-level skill.]

[The Skill ‘Fiery Lightning Bolt’ has been created!]

[Fiery Lightning Bolt]

The resulting skill from the combination of ‘Explosive Thunder’ and ‘Lightning Web.’ With enough lightning energy, the skill can be used to strike a target with a lightning bolt.

· Skill level: 1

· Effect: Fire Strike. Electrocuting Curse.

『Shit!』

Bardiya tried to distance himself from the [Fiery Lightning Bolts] and purple lightning rays.

[Starting a shadow tsunami!]

The shadow on the ground rose and whirled. Undulating like the ocean right before the start of a tsunami, it tried to push off the bolts somehow, but the shadow disappeared not long after. Bardiya was already having trouble using the skill. To make matters worse, the light from the lightning bolts made it impossible for a shadow to exist.

[It has been forcefully canceled!]

…

[Not enough shadow.]

.

[Not enough shadow.]

…

『Fuckkk!』Bardiya shouted, furious about his every counterattack being nullified. Lightning and shadow. Light and darkness. Chang-Sun was bound to have the upper hand in their collisions due to their elemental differences.

That was the reason Chang-Sun started a fight even though they were in Bardiya’s territory. In the first place, he would never start a fight unless he knew for sure that he would win, and no matter how disadvantaged Chang-Sun was, he always found a way to turn the tide in his favor. That was why the ‘Divine Twilight’ had not only been a fighting deity but also a fiend.

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ looks at you with a trembling lip. ]

Chang-Sun reached out his hand toward Bardiya, his fingertips seemingly connected to Bardiya with invisible threads—-no, they were connected to the Target Runes all over him, to be exact. Since they were all made from Bardiya’s blood, they were easy to control.

Pzzz―!

The Target Runes wiggled again, changing shapes.

[The Skill ‘Expert Rune Creation’ has been activated, changing the Target Runes to Explosion Runes!]

『N-no!』Bardiya screamed even though the [Fiery Lightning Bolts] were no longer striking him.

Chang-Sun clenched his fists as if he was grabbing onto something tightly.

[The Skill ‘Bloodshed’ has been applied, making the explosions of the Explosive Runes bigger and more destructive.]

[Triggering multiple explosions!]

[Bloodshed] aggravated the curse cast over Bardiya, enhancing the cursing runes and worsening Bardiya’s electric injury and burn wounds. Chang-Sun activated all the skills one by one as naturally as a flowing river, turning [Bloodshed] into a disaster.

Emitting red light, the runes caused not only a ground-shaking explosion that swept over Bardiya but also created a mushroom-shaped cloud that rose up high in the air.

Booom!

Rumble…!

1. This originated from the Korean saying that if you play with fire, you’ll wet your bed at night.

2. The raw is ????(紫電一閃). This is a four-character idiom, but the origin is unknown.