Even though the jellyfish's stats were probably slightly lower than mine, surprisingly, it eveb didn't budge. Is it because of its weapon? Naturally, it must have something that easily surpasses even SS-class.
- Ugh!
At that moment, Changeling threw the bomb I had prepared in advance towards the King of Harmlessness. The jellyfish, unable to escape due to the struggle, frowned deeply. With a boom, accompanied by a sound, the King of Harmlessness was pushed backward.
"Flame resistance is really something. It barely gets affected by the bomb. Especially the ones that emit heat."
I threw another bomb and used teleportation. This time, the power of the thrown bomb wasn't that strong. However, due to the exploding heat and light, the King of Harmlessness couldn't predict my approach.
In an instant, I approached the jellyfish and swung my sword. Its white clothes tore apart, and a bluish liquid splattered. However even considering my sudden attack, the wounds were still shallow. it skillfully dodged difficult attacks with and just received minor injuries.
Of course, there was no reason for me to praise it. On the contrary.
"You're getting pushed around by a 30-year-old F-class. You completely wasted your age!"
Be shameful about your transcendent badge. Now how old it is. As the King of Harmlessness gritted its teeth, it slipped away sideways. Fog thickly blocked my path. But it also momentarily gave way to the lightly wielded flames.
"Why are you so late?"
Sung Hyunjae laughed towards me. What, what. How, when.
"Why did you come here! Your presence is only a─"
Shwoosh. While I was distracted by Sung Hyunjae, a scaled sword approached to claw at my arm. Following the warning of my instinct, I quickly turned my body, but my clothes were still hot slightly torn. Then Sung Hyunjae disappeared. It was a fake. This spineless jellyfish.
"Ahjussi!"
A familiar voice rang out again. Even though I knew it was fake, I reflexively turned my gaze in surprise. I should just burn this damn fog.
Spreading the flames even wider, I struck lightning.
Kwarung
thud!
With a loud noise, the fog scattered as if pushed away. If it's fog, the it's made up of tiny water droplets, so maybe it's possible to decompose it with electricity, but it was still impossible for me with my current abilities. It was also difficult to touch due to the jellyfish creature's mana mixed in.
Nevertheless, fog is fog.
Swwooo─
Using yerim's skill, Cold Exhale, I infused plenty of mana. Yerim's fog mixed with the King of Harmlessness' fog and instantly froze, lowering the temperature. Thud, thud, thud, tiny ice pieces fell to the ground like rain.
Mana consumption was considerable, but there was no need to take out potions. My dwindling mana was instantly replenished. Thanks to the Fountain of Grace mana.
"You're not looking too good, are you? Seems like you've just come to a party."
I grinned as I looked at the King of Harmlessness, who was surrounded by the dwindling fog like a shield around me. Ice crystals scattered around twinkled beautifully. With each step, they made a soft sound.
The jellyfish, emitting various subtle colors of light, now looked completely dull. It whimpered in a pale water color.
"Why are you so quiet? You know a lot, don't you? There's still time, so speak up. You should enjoy yourself a bit more before you go."
Maybe, just maybe, it's because your soul looks so clear that I came to offer you some kind words~ If I unleash useful information, you might follow along out of curiosity. Until your face becomes known, you were quite often caught on the streets. They didn't even catch them during really tough times.
"Do you not have any versatile attack skills? Show some illusions or something."
"I can't use them, you idiot."
The King of Harmlessness spoke with a dismissive tone.
"Swinging excessively strong power compared to the body is nothing but suicide. Think of it like carrying lake water in a portable leather pouch. It bursts. You could weaken the skills to use them, but they need to be at least as effective as a well to work properly."
After kindly explaining, it raised the corners of its mouth.
"You too. How long do you think your body will last?"
"What?"
"There must be several S-class or higher skills, right? There might even be L-class ones. Tell me, anyway, you're going to kill me anyway. Let's satisfy our curiosity."
While staring at the jellyfish, I opened my mouth. Since I can't escape anyway, it's better to find out everything. Anything.
"Two L-class titles. Five L-class skills according to the titles."
The King of Harmlessness' face brightened. Its cloudy eyes turned pitch black, filled with light.
"I want them! I want to analyze them! From head to toe, every detail, inside and out!"
"...Curiosity from someone who's about to die is quite impressive."
"To live long, there are usually three things. Having no thoughts like rocks or trees, having a lifelong goal like a fanatic, and finally..."
The dwindling fog shook. A staff made of dozens of strands of reddish metal, stretched out in front of the jellyfish. It didn't look good. In a situation where I didn't know the opponent's skills or weapons, it's best to avoid and observe.
I almost used teleportation straight away, but...
"?!"
"Curiosity! Interest! A thirst for exploring everything in the world!"
The reddish staff that stretched beyond space pierced through my leg. I tried to burn the strands with my blood flame, but they didn't even flinch. Since I was using Grace as SSS-class, it must be a L-class weapon.
- Dad!
Chaining was startled and tried to grab the strands with its forepaw, but it only flapped its wings without providing any real help. My skills, as well as the jellyfish's attacks, seemed to have no effect on physical strength. It appeared that it couldn't utilize direct physical force properly on its own. Could it be related to the Phantom Species?
There were still dozens of strands left. I forcefully used the teleportation skill. As flesh was torn away and my blood sprayed, the second strand impaled me with a thud into the spot where my blood was splattered.
While healing the wound, I used teleportation again while spreading currents and sighs simultaneously. Perhaps due to the effect of the staff, even precognition didn't work well. I had a premonition that there would be an attack, but couldn't specify the direction.
Swish! Once again, the strand lunged at me, cutting through the air. Even if I used Grace aa mythical grade, I couldn't avoid being bound. Increasing the protection grade now was worrisome in terms of mana. Even if it's the Mana Spring, it's not infinite since it's still young.
Relying on the sensations conveyed by the currents and sighs spread around me, I narrowly avoided the strand. Magical detection was faster than the eye. The unfortunate fortune was that, it seemed like the strand couldn't directly move inside my body.
"It's probably because of mana resistance."
Teleportation, as well as other skills, were the same. For example, even if Yelim tried to freeze the moisture inside an enemy's body, it didn't work at all if it was about B-class. It was difficult to move one's own mana in a space dominated by someone else's mana concentration, even with a significant grade difference. For grades below C, it was better to simply make an ice block without needing such difficult control.
"Let's disassemble it once, shall we? It's a wish before dying."
Controlling the staff's strands, the jellyfish spoke. It didn't seem to be unharmed either. Its body was melting beyond the lowered stats. One arm had already fallen off like mud and disappeared.
"If you expect me to grant your wish just because you're pretty! Huh, if you want a wish, try dying first. It's only reasonable to grant wishes to the dead!"
The flying strand fiercely passed by my ankle. I transformed Grace into a chain and wrapped it around the strand. The reddish metal strands were wound around the transparent chain, as if made of crystal. The jellyfish's weapon couldn't break Grace.
"Is teleportation only used for attack?"
The retrieval was done in a normal manner. Therefore, it might be an option only applicable during attacks. When I tried to pull out the staff by pulling on the strand, several strands rushed in at once.
"Savage."
I swiftly changed Grace into a swift-moving chain, and after pulling out the strand tangled in the chain, I transformed it into a wide shield. Pretending to block with the shield, I then teleported outside the shield.
Crack! Clang!
The strands that had teleported to my previous location poured down aggressively. It was obvious that they were going to use teleportation openly and try to block with a shield.
Perhaps due to handling several strands at once, the King of Harmlessness staggered greatly. Its right arm disappeared beyond the shoulder to the waist. The lower body, hidden by fog, didn't seem unscathed either.
Using weakened strands, I struck again with Grace in the form of a staff. It tried its best to make a final struggle, but it seemed to be nearing its end.
"It's been a long time since I risked my life. You don't know how to appreciate someone else's efforts."
"Success in risking your life is only applicable in fiction. In reality, you just die. You've done a lot to make others die."
The shaking metal strands all fell weakly to the ground. The staff blurred and soon disappeared. It was a shame, but seeing the dying King of Harmlessness, it didn't seem worth it. If it had its original abilities, it would have been an excellent weapon. If dozens of strands were moved in space all at once, how could one survive?
I I moved slowly. Although still standing, the very presence of the King of Harmlessness was fading.
"I'd like to explore your inner workings like Diarma, don't you want to receive mental skills?"
It attempted to walk, but it didn't work. The King of Harmlessness chuckled.
"Your name. Tell me your name."
"You already know. It's Han Yoojin."
"I am Ruga Peya. The king of a very ancient species,"
Ruga Peya spoke as if singing.
"When the fog spread, everyone hid in their homes. They closed their windows and doors and sealed the cracks with mud. A lazy one overslept and missed the time. The fog cleared, and the thief entered the house! They shouted and stabbed through the window."
Old tales, old tales. One remaining hand, tentacles gestured to me.
"Come closer. Let me feel you a bit. In return, I'll tell you a story."
Is it truly safe? There might not be much time left. I glanced at Changeling, who had returned to my shoulder, and approached Ruga Peya, the King of Harmlessness. Ruga Peya extended its arm, thin tentacles tapping on my shoulder.
"I didn't expect to die like this, but it's not as bad as I thought. Still, it's regrettable. Han Yoojin. I still want you."
The tentacles extended, reaching around my neck. Reflexively, my brow furrowed.
"Hey, this feels unpleasant."
"Just endure a little. Thanks to the Mana Emblem, I can observe without doing anything extreme. You're also curious about your condition, aren't you?"
"Are you sure you won't do anything foolish?"
"Write a contract or something. I have less than fifteen minutes left."
Ruga Peya half-encircled me with its tentacles, moving them towards my back. The creeping movement sent shivers down my spine.
"However, auxiliary skills impose less burden on the body. It means low stats can still achieve high-level skills. But it doesn't mean there's no impact at all."
The voice of someone dying was surprisingly calm, almost unbelievably so.
"You have mental skills too. Fear Resistance. L-grade?"
"Yeah."
"A level L mental resistance skill for an F-grade stat. It's highly likely that some miscreants intentionally added the skill. As compensation, right? Compensation can be adjusted within a reasonable range. With fear resistance, handling becomes easier. Without fear, caution naturally fades."
Then, as if whispering, Ruga Peya added,
"And what else might there be? The Norturer is also an L-grade, right? You must have raised it for this purpose. That's for sure and with Diarma's skills, wow. Impressive."
"Yeah. That's right."
"You really need to be careful. If the Crescent Moon learns about you, it'll be very pleased. It'll probably use you as a foundation for raising Transcendents. Of course, I would too. It's regrettable, too regrettable."
Then itt occurred to me that the King of Harmlessness mentioned being acquainted with the Crescent Moon.
"So, who exactly is the Crescent Moon? You mentioned working together at one point."
"Oh, right. I was originally closer to neutral. The Crescent Moon is, for now, trying to save the world. More precisely, it wants to eradicate the source, the Moon. I split because I find having a source more interesting. But I didn't properly identify its identity before disappearing, which is a shame."
Indeed, this guy didn't fit the description of a filial addict. He simply found it amusing to side with the source.
"By continuously raising Transcendents to prevent the source from swallowing the world entirely, and simultaneously seeking ways to eliminate the source. There were high expectations placed on the Little Moon, in particular."
"The Little Moon?"
"Yeah. Initially, I tried to turn it into a Transcendent right away, but the Little Moon refused. I regretted it, so I didn't abandon it but relocated it to another world, yet it still refused. But even so, it hid il well, it anticipating that other Transcendents might meddle."
Ruga Peya collapsed, taking shallow breaths. Instinctively, I held him up. His lower body completely vanished, and the mist that supported him dispersed.
"You were supposed to last longer than me, but you won't make it far either. The lifespan of humans in this world was about a hundred years, right? You won't even make it halfway. You might even go faster. Your skills can only gnaw at you. Your stats need to reach S-grade to be at least be okay."
"Thats too highof a goal"
"Hasn't your physical condition deteriorated? It has, hasn't it? Your vision might be impaired, or your arms or legs might be paralyzed, or you might lose your hearing, sense of touch, or even speech."
"Oh, briefly my vision..."
"See? There were already issues. Compared to humans in your world, you're on the leaner side, aren't you?"
"Well, not that much..."
"And your speed."
A tentacle pricked my chest.
"I paralyzed you with fear resistance. If not for that, I could have taken you."
It's regrettable, so regrettable, Ruga Peya lamented repeatedly. Now, the King of Harmlessness' body became blurry, as if it could disappear at any moment.
"Does the system, do the miscreants really want to save my world?"
"The system, Chatterbox knows well. If you meet him, say hello. As for the miscreants, well... they're good at enticing newcomers. Since they haven't fully adapted yet."
"If it's Chatterbox, then it was helping you─"
"It was nice meeting you. It would have been better if I could see how you turned out. But since I saw something truly remarkable in the end, it's not too bad."
Well then, farewell...
With a brief farewell, Ruga Peya's remaining body flowed down like water. Clear droplets fell between my fingers