Chapter 213: Holy Sword (2)

Kai quickly seized the upper hand by using Descent and slowly looked in front of him. To be precise, he stared at the spot where Lucifer had been.

Even with the Descent skill, I still can’t see anything.

But there was no need to worry. The Descent skill’s duration was one hour. Within that time, Kai was confident he could end Lucifer no matter what.

Moreover, with his opponent’s defense fixed at zero and every attack of his becoming a critical hit, Kai could now use a much bolder approach than before.

“Holy Chains.”

Shh-clink.

Chains shot out from Kai’s left sleeve, and it wasn’t just one chain.

𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Shh-clink, shh-clink.

More than twenty chains began scouring every inch of the boss room.

Clink, clank, clunk.

The chains stretched out to the dungeon’s walls, floors, even the iron bars of the cages holding the dwarves, and the ceiling! Moving like living creatures, the Holy Chains intertwined and began tightening like a spider’s web.

Krrrk.

Instinctively realizing the danger of touching the chains, Lucifer frantically fled, but the space he could move within was ultimately limited.

Clatter.

The moment Kai felt a chain bump into something through his left arm, he was certain.

Found you.

Just as a spider detected prey caught in its web, Kai pinpointed Lucifer’s location without hesitation.

“Upgrade, Holy Chains.”

The Holy Chains transformed, becoming thicker and larger than usual!

In an instant, Kai launched three enhanced chains at Lucifer.

Clatter, clank!

“

Kieeeek!

”

In the blink of an eye, the chains bound Lucifer’s neck and both arms.

A spider never approached its prey recklessly. First, it confirmed if the prey was one it could overpower, then neutralized its strength.

The first thing to deal with has to be those wings.

Veins bulged from Kai’s biceps as he tightened his grip. At the same time, Lucifer’s body fell to the ground like an apple pulled by gravity.

Thud!

The tiles on the floor shattered, and dust erupted as Lucifer’s ears twitched.

“

Krrrk?

”

Hearing a sound from the front, he turned his head and raised his arms to brace for the impact.

“Sorry, but that’s no use now,” Kai muttered as he lightly kicked off the ground and soared over Lucifer’s head.

Kai had already known Lucifer raised his arms through the chains binding his hands.

Blocking in front won’t make any difference.

Kai quickly moved behind Lucifer and wrapped dozens of chains around his neck. Then he powerfully kicked Lucifer’s back.

“

Kuh... Kurrgh!

”

Lucifer foamed at the mouth, overwhelmed by the intense pain radiating from his neck and the suffocating lack of air.

However, Kai’s assault did not end there.

Slash!

“

Kiaaaaak!

”

Kai’s free right hand swung his sword directly at Lucifer’s wings.

There’s no need to cut both off.

Wings were normally meant to be in pairs for flight to function.

Kai relentlessly targeted only one of Lucifer’s wings. Despite Lucifer desperately flailing his arms and legs in resistance, the chains in Kai’s left arm constantly signaled his opponent’s every movement.

This should be... manageable.

Of course, Kai wasn’t able to see in this darkness. He also didn’t have echolocation to detect locations, nor exceptional hearing.

But as the saying goes, all roads lead to Rome.

Kai moved swiftly, focusing all his nerves on the sensations transmitted through the chains and his arm.

Clang!

When the chains moved significantly, it meant Lucifer was swinging both arms.

Clink.

When the chains moved faintly, it signified an attempt of a lower-body attack. And thanks to his still-active Ethereal Body, he remained completely untouched! In this optimal situation, Kai was perfectly analyzing the enemy’s patterns.

[The duration of Ethereal Body has ended.]

As the duration of the skill ended, Kai’s body began to take physical form again.

“

Kirrk!

”

The opponent’s sound and position became certain! Realizing this, Lucifer attempted a violent attack, as if seeking vengeance for his earlier humiliation.

Whoosh, whoosh!

But perhaps it was the result of Kai’s analysis, Lucifer’s hands and legs brushed against Kai’s body a few times, but gradually began striking at nothing but empty air.

As Kai grew accustomed to Lucifer’s attacks, he began countering in the gaps between the attacks.

Slash! Stab!

[You landed a critical hit. Inflicted 81,172 damage.]

[You landed a critical hit. Inflicted 82,237 damage.]

[You landed a critical hit. Inflicted 82,741 damage.]

.

.

.

Every attack resulted in a critical hit! Addicted to the thrilling sensation and satisfaction, Kai’s hands moved even faster.

“

Kieeek!

”

From some point on, Lucifer lost the will to retaliate and focused entirely on defending against Kai’s strikes. However, blocking a sword with bare hands was impossible. And to Lucifer, Kai was practically his natural enemy.

Slash, slash!

[The Swordsmanship of the Dawn effect inflicted 1,397,000 holy damage.]

[Critical hit activated! Inflicted an additional 683,500 holy damage.]

Absolute holiness was the sole weakness of the fallen angel Lucifer! Holy power capable of piercing and damaging the body of a great demon was not something just anyone could wield. If Kai wasn’t a Solaric Cleric, such feats would have been unthinkable. Of course, unaware of this fact, Kai wielded his sword with a satisfied expression.

Why does it feel so satisfying today?

“

Kieeek!

”

Terrified by the repeated attacks and accumulated damage, Lucifer spread his wings wide in an attempt to escape. However, the hollow weight he felt in one shoulder made him scowl.

“Trying to fly? I don’t think you’ll be able to, though.”

As if mocking Lucifer’s efforts, Kai stepped forward and plunged his sword deep into the demon’s heart.

“

Krrrrrrk!

”

Lucifer staggered backward desperately, trying to survive. However, the human before him didn’t allow even that.

Clatter.

“You can’t run away either.”

The chains binding Lucifer’s neck and hands wouldn’t budge no matter how much force he applied. It was only natural as they were crafted from Holy Power, the direct counter to demonic energy.

“I don’t know when you’ll die since you’re such a high-level opponent, but hang in there until then.”

Kai relentlessly dealt critical hits to the boss monster with a level over 600 before him. As a result, his swordsmanship proficiency, which would never have risen from simple sword swings, was rising at an extraordinary pace.

This cycle of raw violence continued for fifty minutes. Eventually, Lucifer fell to his knees, coughing up blood.

Ding!

[You defeated the Corrupted Angel, Lucifer.]

[The soul of the proud angel who dared to defy divine authority has been extinguished.]

[Special title acquired: Great Demon Hunter]

[Helik rejoices while shaking her candy at witnessing the eternal rest of the Corrupted Angel.]

[+25 Benevolence stats.]

[Due to the effect of Witness of the Sun, your Benevolence stat has additionally increased by 13.]

[Level increased.]

[Level increased.]

[Level increased.]

[Level increased.]

.

.

.

[Acquired 160 stat points.]

“

Wow.

”

Thirty-two level-ups and a whopping 38 point increase in Benevolence stats. For just one hour of combat, the rewards seemed overly generous.

Fwoosh.

As Lucifer died, the torches that used to emit hellfires lit into normal flames. At the same time, the dungeon began to brighten.

“

Hm

. The light is blinding.”

“

Oh!

Th-the Corrupted Angel is...”

“Commander defeated him!”

Amid the respectful gazes of the Holy Blood Order members, Kai approached the iron cage where the dwarves were trapped.

“Step back.”

When they moved aside, Kai swung his sword in a clean line and cut through the bars.

“Oh! Such precision! I never imagined you would be skilled enough to defeat even Lucifer...”

“I was lucky.”

“Lucky? Great demons aren’t defeated by luck. Surely, God's blessing must be with you.”

“God’s blessing,

huh

... Well, something like that.”

To be exact, it was the blessing of a great sunbae.

—It’s fine. If today’s events elevate Helik’s reputation, I’ll be satisfied with that.

The sound of Shimizu’s voice, murmuring with a motherly smile, gradually began to fade.

—It’s time for me to go. Thank you for summoning me today. Until next time...

Yes. Thank you very much for everything today.

[The duration of the Descent skill has ended.]

After bidding her farewell, Kai began looting the materials left behind by the great demon Lucifer.

[Lucifer’s Heart]

[Lucifer’s Sharp Bone Claws]

[Lucifer’s Black Wings]

[500 Gold]

“

Hm.

What to make of this...”

Lucifer’s Heart was a material item for alchemy, the Sharp Bone Claws were ingredients for crafting weapons, and the Black Wings, unfortunately, were purely decorative and did not grant flight capabilities. And to top it off, 500 gold.

I’ll keep the Heart and the Bone Claws, and sell the Black Wings at the auction house.

The Black Wings was just a decorative item, after all. Though Kai doubted they would fetch much, he didn’t have it in him to wear such gaudy wings on his back.

***

“

Hm?

”

Zirukan’s usually composed expression stiffened, a rare occurrence. He closed his eyes that betrayed his confusion, and quickly processed something.

... Lucifer’s presence has disappeared?

That was impossible. Knowing it made no sense, Zirukan cast detection magic multiple times. However, the results were always the same.

“This can’t be... It makes no sense.”

The shock was so great that Zirukan momentarily forgot his habitual use of formal speech. But anyone who knew what kind of being Lucifer was would completely understand his state of mind.

Lucifer was a being who had received the Demon King’s blood, inheriting his essence and becoming his offspring. Though he had lost his sanity, driven mad by the overwhelming demonic energy, his combat power was unmatched.

And his body is strengthened by the Demon King’s blood, so he can’t even be harmed unless it’s with a holy sword that holds holy power.

And yet, such a being was now dead.

Zirkan felt his mind tangled in a chaotic and unsettling mess.

Once might be a coincidence...

But twice signified skill, not mere chance.

Zirukan realized his analysis of when the Holy Blood Order first swept through the monsters had been wrong.

Getting an analysis wrong once is fine, since a few hundred monsters can be replenished in a day. However...

Lucifer, a Guardian, was different. His defeat meant that the place he protected was now at risk.

“How dare those fools overstep the line!”

With a menacing expression, Zirukan vanished in an instant.