NOVEL WEB Chapter 91
Chapter 91
Eckelart’s descent happened at an incredible speed.
As he stepped onto the snowy field…
Crunch, crunch, crunch…
Every place where his feet touched froze over.
Shraaaaak-!
He neither ran nor walked.
Adjusting his posture and shifting his balance forward, he slid ahead with an unnaturally fast speed.
The speed was akin to sliding down a steep slope. Covering a distance that would typically take over two days in just half a day was due to his bizarre and uncanny ability.
He was winter.
He was a glacier, and he was cold.
To ordinary people’s eyes, he would have appeared like a sage bringing snowfall. He was displaying, without a doubt, just how powerful the transcendental beings were within this Solaria worldview.
Whooooosh-!
The place where he abruptly stopped was in front of a cave exuding an intense chill.
It was the Frost Nest.
“The last key… is it here?”
Eckelart, who already possessed the power of a transcendental being, had come here to obtain the last key to the seal, racing against time.
This was a necessary process because he hadn’t achieved complete resurrection but had instead created a crack in the seal and awakened on his own.
Still, within him, two keys hovered emptily. The power he had sealed away before being imprisoned was all tied up here.
He neither hastily opened it nor tampered with it.
This was because those keys would serve as fuel for Eckelart, his potential, and his journey toward a higher realm.
If he could safely obtain the last key, he might be able to ascend to an even higher level.
Whoooooo…
He stood here now, ready to confirm that possibility.
“An invitation, is it…?”
There was no way he didn’t know this was a dungeon. It must have been thoroughly prepared, and he could even sense the presence of malevolent energy.
However, retreating was not an option. He was a being who had been frozen in time. No one could expect him to endure any longer.
No, no one should even try.
“I shall accept your challenge.”
Boom-!
As he entered the cave, a barrier formed at the dungeon’s entrance.
While it could be broken through, it would take considerable time. Besides, he had no intention of turning back.
“Ho…”
He could feel the life force that the dungeon harbored.
The scent of the magic power emitted by the dungeon core tickled his nose, even from this distance.
“This is… impressive.”
With just the last key and the core’s magic, he could immediately knock on the door to the next realm.
Perhaps, it was a gift from the heavens to him, who had endured such a grueling time.
Fwaaaang-!
Ssssssssssssh…
As Eckelart released his magic and scanned the area, he found no enemies obstructing him on this floor. That was the reason he could swiftly pass through five floors in an instant.
The fourth floor.
Whoooooo…
This place was the same.
‘No way….’
A presence so faint, it was barely noticeable.
It was located at a rather distant position.
‘…Is it there?’
Paaaang-!
He advanced, intending to neutralize all traps and terrain, but surprisingly, there was no resistance.
No, there was no resistance at all. Whether traps or enemies, something should have sprung up, but nothing stood in his way.
“Is that so… That owl, how troublesome….”
Eckelart shouldn’t have let the owl beastman, who was spying on him, escape.
Since it was discovered that Eckelart had the ability to siphon the enemy’s magic, it was obvious that the Dungeon Keeper would come at him with a small elite force.
“Well, it doesn’t really matter.”
A sense of omnipotence.
A pleasure-like power that made him feel as if he could do anything surged through his entire body. Eckelart was convinced that no being in this frozen land could stand against him.
Huaaaa…
A large circular cavity.
It was a wide boss room resembling a modern football stadium.
[A boss battle is commencing.]
[The Demon of Frost, Ipos, blocks the retreat with an avalanche.]
[Ipos’s trait 【Communion】 is in effect.]
“It’s you.”
“…And you are?”
Seeing the girl with horns, Eckelart recalled a race that had been left in legends.
“Are you… a demon?”
“M-Mister Bear. How do I look?”
– Hmm… It’s impossible. In Hell, I could crush you to powder in 3 seconds, but in your current condition here, you’d be killed within a minute.
“Uh… What should I do, then?”
– …Summon Thumb.
“Is everyone okay with me summoning Thumb…?”
– Even though he’s a noisy one, we have no choice!
– Ipos, if it’s Thumb, he can get what you need done!
– …I hate just standing by and watching.
Ipos sought permission from the other frozen souls and then twisted the ring on her right thumb.
Creak…
But Eckelart wasn’t one to just stand by and watch.
Jjaaaaak-!
Whiooo…
[Eckelart uses Glacial Sorcery: Frost Scythe.]
[Summons a Frost Scythe that returns upon being thrown. The Frost Scythe deals cold damage and, if it lands a critical hit, slows the target for an extended duration.]
Whiririririririk-!
– Hey! Do you want to be disqualified for cheating?
Taaanng-!
The Frost Scythe collided with empty air and bounced back.
“…What kind of logic is this?”
[Ipos uses Emperor Penguin: Player Entrance.]
[Player Entrance can only be used when a duel is established, granting a one-minute strategy time.]
[During strategy time, a state of peace is maintained, and no hostile actions can be taken.]
[Late weigh-ins proceed during strategy time.]
Whiiiiiik-!
A small crown appeared on Ipos’s head, and some of her hair turned yellow.
– Ipos! Young lady! Quickly, explain the situation to me!
“You see….”
Whisper whisper…
– Oh ho! So, you descended into Solaria? Oh ho? So, your contractor told you to land a hit here? Oh ho? Winning… was impossible from the start. Oh ho? So, you’re asking me to help you land a blow?
The soul of the Emperor Penguin chattered noisily, revealing the entire strategy.
– Ipos, young lady! Right now, your body is weaker than that bug-level transcendent!?
Zziiing—
Ipos’s eyes began to well up with moisture, as if the words had shocked her.
“B-But… I… promised… ugh… to do it….”
– D-Don’t cry! Of course! That’s something this Champion will handle! Young lady, don’t worry!
“…Okay!”
Ipos smiled brightly. Seeing her, the soul of the Emperor Penguin let out a sigh.
Emperor Penguin Thumb.
To put it simply, it could be considered Ipos’s special mode.
There were far too many differences compared to other souls, and it was a soul that rejected harmony. Moreover, its abilities were so stubborn and self-righteous that they consumed the power of other souls as offerings.
In one-on-one duels, it was a monstrous soul that demonstrated ridiculous strength, so some Ipos users exclusively used this Emperor Penguin.
– First, let’s wrap up the weigh-in!
[A delayed weigh-in has begun.]
– Eat the rabbit!
[Restriction: Snow Rabbit eaten at night]
[You cannot use the Snow Rabbit’s abilities.]
[Your weight increases.]
– Eat the fox too!
[Restriction: White Fox secretly eaten]
[You cannot use the White Fox’s abilities.]
[Your weight increases.]
– And the snow leopard!
[Restriction: Snow Leopard eaten as a snack]
[You cannot use the Snow Leopard’s abilities.]
[Your weight increases.]
– Lastly… the bear!
[Restriction: White Bear eaten as dessert]
[You cannot use the White Bear’s abilities.]
[Your weight increases.]
Whioooooo…
A fierce storm of magic surged around Ipos.
[Weigh-in complete: Welterweight]
[Some of the sealed abilities have been converted to Emperor Penguin’s abilities, and your stats have increased.]
[Emperor Penguin: Echoes That Never Return has been activated.]
[All echoes are sealed. For each sealed echo, your stats increase.]
The Emperor Penguin was the only soul that had rejected the Echoes of the Mirror created by Ipos.
Gooooooo…
A white fur glove appeared on Ipos’s hand….
[Ipos uses Emperor Penguin: Mouthpiece.]
[Ipos transfers any pain experienced during battle to the soul of the Emperor Penguin.]
[The Emperor Penguin controls Ipos’s body.]
– Now, young lady! Bite down hard!
“Mmhm!”
– Taking a shot at a transcendent as a mere welterweight… What a tough challenge! But if you give up, you’re no champion!
[Strategy time has ended.]
[Everyone to the Ring! has been activated.]
[The 3-minute battle begins.]
Whiiiiii…
Eckelart and Ipos faced each other.
“An intriguing power. Is it a privilege that only demons possess?”
– Hmph, now that the bell has rung, no more talking!
Pssss…
Eckelart melted the Frost Scythe and fashioned an ice spear.
Crack-crack-!
Paaaang-!
The ice spear flew at an incredible speed.
Pssht-!
Ipos took a light step, letting the ice spear slip past her.
Whooong…
Ipos closed the distance, charging in.
Eckelart knew that maintaining distance was advantageous for him, but having only recently been resurrected… he had no desire to claim a favorable position.
He merely wanted to crush his opponent with overwhelming power.
Once he allowed her to close in, it would become a brawl—did Eckelart have the skill to withstand such a brawl?
“…A pathetic decision.”
…Not only did he have the skill, but he had it in abundance.
One of the most significant changes when reaching the level of a transcendent was the freedom to wield abilities at will.
Simply put, for something like an ice spear, which requires the allocation of both magical energy and mental focus, the effort needed to form it is reduced to less than a quarter once one reaches the level of a transcendent.
The ice spear is just one example. The basic combat abilities themselves are so absurdly enhanced that it’s almost laughable.
Therefore, in a close-quarters brawl, Eckelart might actually hold the advantage.
Whooong-!
Ipos, having closed the distance, threw several jabs.
Whoosh whoosh-!
It was little more than a probing attack.
Thud thud thud-!
However, strangely enough, all those punches landed squarely on Eckelart’s face.
Flinch-!
Ipos immediately raised her guard.
Kraaaaang-!
Eckelart’s right arm transformed into a massive ice hammer and slammed into Ipos’s guard.
Zziiiing-!
– You’re heating up too quickly.
Blood trickled down from Ipos’s nose.
“I can taste the blood….”
– It’s nothing!
The one experiencing the direct pain was the soul of the Emperor Penguin, not Ipos. Ipos couldn’t accurately gauge her current physical condition.
That was one of the reasons why she could entrust the battle to the Emperor Penguin without fear.
– A nosebleed is nothing, hmph!
Whoooong-!
Ipos leaned forward and advanced, and once again, Eckelart allowed her to close in.
Flash-!
Before the attack could connect, Eckelart erected an ice wall in front of him.
Kraaaang-!
When the white glove struck the ice wall, it shattered effortlessly.
“Ho….”
Rather than being surprised by the destructive power, Eckelart’s excitement grew as he enveloped his arms in cold energy.
Swish- Swish-!
This time, he dodged all the incoming jabs and drove his right fist into Ipos’s abdomen.
– Puhuuu…
The Emperor Penguin let out a ridiculous, deflated-sounding scream.
Eckelart grinned wickedly.
And then…
…Kraaaang-!
His head snapped to the right. Ipos’s right fist had landed a solid hit on Eckelart’s face.
The impact was so severe that it felt as if his skull might rattle, but he was a transcendent.
Whooosh-!
Twisting his body, Eckelart lashed out with a kick aimed at Ipos’s face.
Baaang-!
The attack was blocked by her quickly raised guard, but the distance between them increased.
Creak…
The Emperor Penguin soul, enduring excruciating pain that felt as if the arm might break, forced Ipos’s body to lunge forward.
[Ipos uses Emperor Penguin: Brawl.]
[You indiscriminately strike any enemy within range. During this time, the damage you take increases by 10%, but the damage you deal increases by 20%.]
Eckelart, realizing that he couldn’t avoid the brawl, began to cast a counter-curse.
Jjaaaaak-!
[Eckelart uses Glacial Sorcery: Drift Ice Technique.]
[Like drifting ice, you let the attacks slip by. Your evasion rate increases by 30%, and even if the attacks land, you ignore their effects and reduce the damage taken by 20%.]
Crack-crack-crack-!
Ipos’s blows hammered against Eckelart’s body, now covered in a thin layer of ice.
Kwakakakakakakwang-!
Conversely, Ipos’s body was also exposed to Eckelart’s counterattacks.
Thud!
Thud-thud-thud!
A brutal exchange of blows, with blood and flesh flying.
Thud-thud-thud-!
Thud…
“Ugh….”
Boom-!
“Ugh….”
Eckelart groaned for the first time.
“How dare you…!”
Annoyed by this, he was about to unleash a stronger spell.
Deeeeng-
[The bell rings at the worst possible time! has been activated.]
[If Ipos takes damage equal to half her maximum health within a single round, the bell will ring automatically.]
[A 1-minute rest period is granted.]
[During the rest period, a state of peace is maintained, and no hostile actions can be taken.]
“Huff… Huff….”
Some unknown force pushed Ipos and Eckelart far apart.
– Young lady….
“Nuh’m fyne. Penggin yu?”
Ipos, her words slurred from the swollen cheek and lips, glanced at the soul of the Emperor Penguin. Her face was swollen like a fish with bulging eyes and was covered in cuts and bruises. She and the Emperor Penguin looked like mirror images of each other.
The physical injuries were on Ipos.
But all the pain was transferred to the Emperor Penguin.
“Dehehe… Ah trust yu, Penggin.”
The Emperor Penguin spoke to Ipos, who was drooling blood.
– As expected of a transcendent! But we’re not far off, are we? Who are we, after all? A duo infamous even in Hell itself!
“Righ’!”
Goooooo…
The Emperor Penguin’s pupils turned a deep red.
– In the next round, we’ll kill him.