Chapter 121
Zeeeeeeing—
As soon as Sieg used the Disyllabic Spell, he felt a pain as if his very soul was tearing apart.
"Uuuurgh!"
He felt as though his consciousness could drift away at any moment.
『A special skill, 'Soul Resonance(S-rank)', has been acquired.』
The sudden appearance of the message jolted Sieg back to awareness.
"A skill registration... It seems the Disyllabic Spell was the true Soul Resonance."
Sieg, with immense willpower, clung to his senses.
Clutching his sword imbued with the will of Sever, Sieg leaped off Buchephalus' back.
Boom!
As Sieg descended from the sky, the hydra's nine heads opened their mouths toward him.
Kaaaaaa!
Nine streams of breath surged toward Sieg.
Crackling!
Sieg swung his sword at the incoming breath.
Slice—
The breath was severed by Sieg's sword.
"Argh!"
The power of soul differed entirely from aura, elemental power, or magic, all of which were mana-based.
It was a power that tapped into the essence beyond the material world through existence itself.
Soul Resonance was a technique that introduced this abstract concept into the material world through the middle dantian.
Having received a skill humans should not rightfully wield, Sieg experienced overwhelming strain as he used the Disyllabic Spell.
"Haaaap!"
His eyes filled with blood, and veins bulged throughout his body. Sieg swung his sword through the hydra's breath.
Soul Resonance
Disyllabic Spell
Will of Sever(切削)
The wave of will that burst from Sieg's sword sliced through the hydra's body.
Crash!
After cutting, Sieg landed on the ground, with Buchephalus racing over to his side from the sky.
Sieg grasped his sword and struggled to stand.
"Ugh!"
The cost of forcibly summoning soul energy was severe. Despite Sieg's Healing Factor, he was unable to move.
Enduring the pain of tearing muscles, he gritted his teeth. He pointed his sword at the hydra once again, but it was motionless.
'What's going on? Did the Disyllabic Spell fail?'
As he grew anxious, the hydra's body suddenly split apart.
Crack—
Dark smoke seeped from the places where Sieg's sword had cut.
Crack!
The hydra's nine heads made grotesque sounds.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The hydra staggered and backed away.
Kaaaaaa!
The hydra, howling long, suddenly fixed its gaze on Sieg and opened its mouth wide.
Rumble!
The nine-headed dragon attempted to unleash their breath.
Sieg gripped his sword tightly, clenching his jaw.
"Damn it. Since there are no other strange changes, it seems the Soul Resonance worked, but the Disyllabic Spell must have been incomplete..."
Sensing the ominous energy, Buchephalus quickly lifted Sieg into the air.
Kaaaaa!
The hydra released its breath.
Neiiigh!
Buchephalus performed tight aerial maneuvers, evading the incoming breath from all sides.
Sieg, perched on Buchephalus' back, barely maintained his balance.
'I need a bit more time to recover.'
However, the hydra showed no intention of granting him time, swinging its heads aggressively and charging at Sieg.
Kaaaak!
At that moment.
Thunk!
A massive stone spear impaled the hydra's neck.
Crack!
The hydra turned its head. Barbarians, having dealt with the demonic beasts, hurled stone spears coated with malflower oil at the hydra.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dozens of stone spears flew toward the hydra.
The hydra, already wounded with the power of Soul Resonance and Sever, couldn't dodge the stone spears thrown by the barbarians.
Then, King Fist, the largest of them all, picked up a gigantic stone spear and hurled it at the hydra.
Whoooosh!
With a piercing sound, the stone spear flew towards the hydra.
Thunk!
The stone spear thrown by King Fist struck the hydra's eye.
Kiiiiieeeeek—
Pierced in the eye, the hydra twisted its body, releasing thicker dark smoke from its wounded area.
Having thrown all their stone spears, the barbarians quickly retreated.
In that moment, a bright flash dazzled behind the hydra.
All nine heads turned to see.
A massive mace of light descended upon the hydra's head.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Kieeeeek!
The hydra, struck by the mace of light, failed to hold its ground. While the barbarians bought him time, Sieg recovered, donned Agamemnon's Mask, and drew Bahamut.
'This is the first time I've used it against a demonic beast, but it worked on Richmond, so I have a chance!'
After using his Purification skill, he concentrated aura into his sword.
Vrrrrrr!
The power of purification was layered onto his blade.
The formless energy of purification slowly seeped into Bahamut's blade.
At that moment, Sieg's sword was shrouded in a brilliant golden aura.
『Acquired skill 'Purification Blade (A-rank)'!』
Once the purification power formed like an aura blade, a new skill was born.
'With this, I can employ the Dragonslaying Art using purification power.'
Sieg stabilized the Purification Blade and drove Buchephalus directly toward the hydra, assuming the stance for Dragonslaying Art.
Vrrrrrr!
The ultimate secret of the True Dragon Sword Art unfolded through Sieg's sword.
True Dragon Sword Art Secret Technique
2nd Technique
Great Dragon Slash
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The enormous golden blade swung by Sieg severed all nine heads of the hydra in one stroke.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The hydra's heads, cut by the Purification Blade, fell to the ground.
Dark smoke billowed from the severed wounds.
Thud! Thud!
With its neck cut, the body stopped regenerating, stumbled back, and eventually collapsed.
Sieg leaped off Buchephalus and landed on the hydra's body.
Using Dragon Eyes, he located the hydra's heart and drove his sword into it.
Crash!
As the heart was destroyed, a foul-smelling dark liquid gushed from the hydra.
Sieg quickly activated Devour as the hydra's body started turning into black dust.
Sssssss—
Sieg's shadow, like a swamp, absorbed the enormous body of the deceased hydra.
Fortunately, Sieg managed to fully consume the hydra's body before it disintegrated.
Suddenly, a message window popped up before his eyes.
『You have consumed a completely corrupted dragonkin tainted with demonic energy.』
『Your depleted stamina, mental strength, and mana are restored.』
『You have fully absorbed the bloodline ability of the devoured dragonkin and gained a constitution Immunity to Thousand Poisons.』
『The 'Hydra's Venom' skill is linked to the insignificant draconic familiars, Gurav and Richmond.』
『The Hydra's Venom skill is linked with the insignificant summoned dragonkin Gurav and very insignificant summoned dragonkin Richmond.』
『With the acquisition of the special skill Soul Resonance, your soul's caliber elevates.』
『The skill level of Draconian Skill Word Magic increases.』
『You have absorbed the heart of the ancient dragonkin, hydra, partially unsealing the Heart of Bahamut. Current compression seal level: 70%』
『The Black Sword Bahamut has grown, unlocking some of its sealed functions. (Form Transformation, Mana Absorption)』
『Reward of 1,500 Karma Points is granted.』
『Reward of three Random Boxes is granted.』
Sieg glanced at the barrage of messages with a satisfied smile on his face.
"It was worth the struggle to catch it."
He checked Bahamut's information first.
―Black Sword Bahamut ―
Description: A sword forged using the hardest fang of the cursed Light dragon Bahamut, tempered with blue flames by a master artisan with the Eye of Spirit.
Unique Abilities: Indestructible, Mana Conversion, Form Transformation, Mana Absorption
Special Note: Partial seal release (Seal level 70%)
Sieg tilted his head at the note about the Form Transformation among the unique abilities.
"Form Transformation signifies the transformation of shape."
Envisioning the length of Bahamut extending, he indeed watched the blade become longer.
"What the?"
As he grasped Bahamut, imagining an entirely different sword appearance, Bahamut transformed into that very image.
Returning Bahamut to its original form, Sieg let out a gasp of astonishment.
"My goodness. Such an ability exists. It's unbelievable."
In prior moments where he needed to conceal his identity, he had to use a Meteoric Iron Sword, limiting his aura usage. Now, by changing its form, he could use Bahamut without any issues.
Sieg then reviewed the information of the newly acquired skills.
Purification Blade: A skill that has concentrated purification power and attributes similar to an aura blade. When used against undead and demonic tribes, it doubles its attack effect. (Activatable when wearing Agamemnon's Mask)
Hydra's Venom: A colorless, odorless, and tasteless poison. Can be created in the form of poison liquid or gas. The intensity of the poison can be adjusted.
Both were combat-useful skills.
Plus, he gained over 4,000 points this time.
"I'll have to examine the Random Boxes and points while resting in the village."
Just then, Richmond, who had been hiding among the barbarians, emerged from the woods.
"Big brother Sieg!"
King Fist ran toward Sieg.
He embraced Sieg tightly.
"Saw you take down the Hydra! Big brother Sieg is amazingly strong!"
Not only King Fist but other young warriors of the tribe also approached Sieg, hugging him tightly. Although the hugs from these massive men weren't exactly pleasant, Sieg figured it must be a part of barbarian culture and allowed it.
After receiving numerous hugs, Sieg, finally managing to extricate himself from the grasp of the barbarian warriors, asked King Fist.
"The Hydra's body disappeared. Sorry."
"Doesn't matter. Catching it was what mattered."
Unless it was for a passing test or hunting for sale, the bodies of demonic beasts weren't crucial to the barbarians. Even barbarians, who consumed monster meat as food, couldn't eat demonic beast flesh tainted with demonic energy.
Now with nothing blocking their way, Sieg prepared to ascend to the village where Golyn was with King Fist.
At that moment, Richmond, who was beside him, spoke.
"Master, I sense something unusual from that side."
Richmond pointed toward the cave where the hydra had been lurking.
"Do you sense demonic energy?"
"Uh, something similar but a bit different."
Sieg intended to head toward the cave but abruptly stopped as he noticed something odd on the ground.
There were traces showing the black liquid from the dead hydra's body had flowed toward the cave.
Sieg spoke to King Fist.
"I'll be back shortly after confirming something."
"Need help?"
"No. I'll just see what it is."
"Understood."
Sieg led Richmond and entered deeper into the cave.
Even without the hydra, the cave's interior remained filled with a foul odor. As Sieg and Richmond ventured further into where the hydra had once been, Sieg discerned something using Dragon Eyes.
There had been something concealed by the hydra's body — a deeper, hidden passage leading further.
Richmond spoke to Sieg.
"Master, over there."
Sieg drew Bahamut and entered the hidden passage. He noticed a trail of black liquid flowing through the passage.
Beyond the narrow, elongated corridor lay a spacious area with stone walls on all sides.
Astonishingly, this was not a naturally-formed cave but an artificially constructed chamber.
In the center of this chamber was something which caught Sieg's attention.
"What is that?"
Gleaming with an ominous aura, there stood a staff. Streams of black liquid pooling from all directions converged at the staff's base.
Gathering around the staff like a massive basin, the black liquid began to bubble and rise.
Gradually, it swelled and started forming a shape.
Sieg aimed Bahamut at the object, asking Richmond.
"Richmond, what on earth is that?"
Richmond stammered in surprise.
"I-I've never seen anything like it!"
The abominable form molded by the black liquid had the appearance of a skinless human, grotesquely exposed muscles and oozing viscous matter across the surface.
The horrifying entity born from the black liquid reached out and grasped the staff.
Sssssss—
With that, powerful demonic energy began to surge from the staff.
Sieg promptly deployed his Shield of Light skill.
Ping!
The Shield of Light deflected the demonic energy.
The monstrous figure, seeing the Shield of Light, moved its mouth and began speaking.
"????????????????????????????!"
Unable to comprehend its speech, Sieg aimed his sword warily.
At that moment, a new message appeared.
『Detected the language of the demon realm.』