Chapter 144: Chapter 144 A Great Legacy (1)

A Great Legacy (1)

A Great Legacy (1)

Thump!

Regal Vagos opened his eyes to the sound of his heart pounding in his head.

The surroundings were dark.

His body wouldn't move, and he felt a sticky slime clinging to his skin.

As if he were curled up in amniotic fluid.

‘So, he even used this…’

He didn’t feel any regret.

If it had pierced his head instead of his heart, even he would have surely died.

He was just curious about one thing.

How did it come to this?

He remembered a conversation he had with a former companion.

A conversation that took place before he abandoned his blood ties and received that terrible curse.

[Should I tell you why you always lose money? You only bet as much as you need to, and then you follow. Even at the moment when you need to make a decision.]

Of course, card games and fights are different.

And the analogy itself is a bit inaccurate for the current situation.

But the context is similar.

He couldn’t make a decision until all five cards were dealt.

Thump!

In short, he lacked resolve.

He kept giving in little by little, and that’s how he ended up here.

He gave them time because of that item he had been searching for for almost a year.

He had to use Dragon Speech.

And even then, those persistent bastards didn’t give up.

He swung Dragonslayer countless times, prepared to recuperate for at least a year, but they endured tenaciously.

And now, he even had to use the Second Heart.

Thump!

Regal Vagos finally admitted it.

He underestimated his opponent, and he didn’t fight with all his might as if facing a worthy adversary.

That’s how it came to this.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

The beating of his regenerated heart quickens, and light returns. He shook off the slime clinging to his body and got up.

“…….”

He saw the barbarian beyond the passage.

He was already walking towards him.

With a hole in his chest.

With crimson blood flowing from his mouth.

Without even accepting the dwarf warrior’s support.

Thud, thud.

He walks resolutely.

With a single goal.

To kill his enemy.

Swoosh.

He reached for the dagger at his waist, then let go.

And he reconsidered.

His heart, cursed by using Dragon Speech, had recovered to some extent. The remnants of the curse remained, but his physical abilities had also returned to a certain level, and he could use his abilities again.

It was a result that wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the Dragonkin characteristic of having their power source located in their heart.

‘I can’t believe it’s this effective.’

Even he didn’t expect it.

It was his first time actually using ‘Second Heart’.

Should he call it a pleasant miscalculation?

Thanks to that, his chances of winning have increased significantly.

Thud.

Of course, it seems like they’ve also recovered from Soul Exhaustion, but that doesn’t change anything.

Once he takes care of the dwarf warrior, it’s over.

No matter how strong that barbarian is, he won’t be able to block him alone with those injuries.

That’s what he thought.

At least until he met his gaze.

‘It’s like looking at an immortal.’

He grabbed the Akro longsword instead of the dagger.

Excruciating pain shot through him as soon as he gripped it, a remnant of the curse on his heart. He had a hunch, no, he was certain, that if he used it any further, he might permanently lose the use of his arm.

But…

‘If I want to kill that persistent bastard, I need to be prepared.’

He would give up an arm.

To kill his enemy.

To survive.

“Come at me, barbarian.”

_________________

I'm staggering as I take a step forward.

The dwarf is next to me, and Misha, who insisted on fighting, is behind us.

"You made the right decision."

Although the dwarf said it as if he left Misha behind out of concern…

…it wasn’t the only reason.

Rotmiller hasn’t woken up yet.

Someone needs to be behind us to throw me a potion if he wakes up, even for a moment.

“Right, that bastard… Dwarkey…”

“Hikurod, swallow your anger. If you die, we’re all finished.”

“…Alright.”

The dwarf forces himself to suppress his burning emotions.

He knows too.

How important his role is right now.

Thud.

We close the distance with each step.

Soon, we’re close enough to see each other’s expressions.

There’s no need for long words between us.

“Come at me, barbarian.”

That bastard is staring at us, holding his Akro longsword again.

Damn it, what are the conditions for him to be able to take it out and use it whenever he needs it? Curses well up inside me, but there’s no time to utter them.

Tadat.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He charges towards us first, as we don’t move.

But what is this?

Although it’s not as fast as before…

…his movements are faster than when I last saw him.

In other words, his body has recovered to some extent.

How? I thought his injuries weren’t short-term.

Variables keep popping up from the start.

Slash!

A shield is cut in half like tofu.

It’s the dwarf’s, who’s blocking in front of me.

I thrust the spear, which used to be a mace, to push him away and then give my Laetium shield to the dwarf without hesitation.

“Use this.”

My shield isn’t in perfect condition either, but it’s better than a steel buckler.

Clang!

His next attack pierces deep into the shield.

Although it’s immediately repaired with [Emergency Restoration], he won’t be able to use it many times since he just recovered from Soul Exhaustion.

‘Nothing is going according to plan.’

He woke up earlier than expected.

And not just his heart, but other parts of his body have also recovered.

He even uses a skill he couldn’t use before.

「Regal Vagos has cast [High-Grade Acceleration].」

A blade that defies the laws of physics, cutting through time. The dwarf dodges instead of blocking, but he’s too far away.

Therefore, I sacrifice my left arm, which is already useless.

‘Flesh Explosion.’

The hand I stretched out towards him explodes, showering dozens of pieces of flesh.

But he doesn’t retreat.

Sizzle!

He groans as he’s covered in acidic blood…

…but he still swings his sword and deeply cuts the dwarf’s thigh.

Thwack!

Even in the midst of that, the dwarf strikes his jaw with his war hammer.

His body stiffens, as if he took some damage.

I immediately jump forward, grab his shoulder, and roll.

And…

‘Flesh Explosion.’

…I shove my mangled left arm into his open mouth and detonate it again.

“Kaaaak!”

He screams and pushes me away.

And then he immediately stabs my neck with his sword…

Crash!

…and a glass bottle hits the back of my head and shatters, spilling its contents.

「Body regenerates very quickly due to [Top-Grade Healing] effect.」

This pain… it’s a top-grade potion.

No, wait, Rotmiller survived too!

I shake off the fleeting thought and step back.

Thump!

The sword that pierced my neck is pulled out, and I feel dizzy.

And he’s a bastard who doesn’t allow even that brief moment of vulnerability.

“Die!”

The sword pierces my abdomen in an instant, ripping through my organs.

I take a step forward, inheriting the dwarf’s will, and thrust the spear.

Thud.

He hurriedly pulls out his sword and creates distance, and I use [Gigantification] without hesitation.

Damn it, where do you think you’re going?

“Kahak!”

He coughs up a fountain of blood, the spear embedded in his shoulder.

But did this bastard also come prepared for a long battle?

He also takes a step forward and swings his sword again.

It’s too late to dodge.

I use my mangled arm to grab the sword.

My exposed finger bones are severed, and I feel the sword stop as it hits my wrist bone.

「Character’s health is below 20%.」

「All resistance and defense stats are increased due to the passive skill [Hero’s Path].」

The synergy effect of [Iron Hide] and [Hero’s Path].

I lift the spear that’s embedded in his shoulder and shake it around, and he endures the pain and puts more strength into his hand gripping the sword.

And so, the strength contest begins.

Unfortunately, he wins.

「Regal Vagos has cast [Holy Blade].」

His sword, emitting a white light, cleanly cuts through my arm up to the elbow.

Thud.

My giant arm falls to the ground, and I spray acidic blood from the severed end onto his face.

Sizzle!

“Kaaaaak!!”

Geez, this bastard doesn’t even have Pain Resistance.

How dare he try to endure it with—

「Character’s Soul Power is insufficient.」

「[Gigantification] ends.」

My body shrinks back to its original size before I can even finish the thought, as my Soul Power runs out. And his foot, which was in mid-air, lands on the ground.

But did I underestimate his resolve?

Tadat.

Instead of retreating, he thrusts his sword again.

‘Damn it.’

What kind of 9th-floor explorer has no shame?

Why is he so good at brawling?

If this continues, my head will be pierced, so I quickly twist my body and retreat.

I lose the spear, which used to be a mace, in the process.

And to make matters worse, my body stops regenerating.

‘I’m fucked.’

Even a top-grade potion has its limits.

I didn’t even drink it, it was just sprayed on me.

With my arm gone and my organs mangled, it’s struggling just to maintain the status quo, let alone regenerate.

But in this situation…

“I’m, comi… ng!”

…he charges towards me.

It’s truly despairing.

The worst-case scenario is already playing out in my head.

An unavoidable death.

But so what?

I have no intention of accepting it and giving up.

I keep my eyes wide open until the very end, staring at his sword.

And I roll to the side as he approaches.

It’s the best choice I can make in the current situation, even if it means being vulnerable to the next attack.

I roll on the ground and use the momentum to get back on my feet.

His Akro longsword looms large in front of me.

That’s when…

“……!”

…he’s thrown back as if pulled by an invisible force.

What the hell just happened?

I raise my head to find the answer…

…and I see an old man in black priestly robes in the distance.

“Ol, d man! What the hell are you do, ing!!”

__________________

He closes his eyes and covers his ears.

But he can still hear it clearly.

How desperately they’re fighting.

[So, you’re not running away.]

[Protect Dwarkey!!]

At first, it was painful to watch.

He thought that meaningless resistance would only lead to greater despair and suffering.

But when did it start?

“Why are they…”

The more he watched their desperate struggle…

…the more Ludwig found himself…

[This is our item.]

…asking questions.

Why don’t they give up?

[Waaaaah! Dwarkey! Don’t die! Please!]

Because they harbor futile hope, ignoring the inevitable outcome?

No, then why…

[Can… we win?]

[Don’t worry, I’ll save everyone and get us back.]

…can they still move forward so brightly?

The answer was simple.

They were strong.

Unlike himself, who lacked the courage to shoulder the sacrifice.

“…….”

Ludwig knew too.

That the day he was hoping for would never come.

A bright future where he returns to the city with his grandson never existed from the beginning.

He just didn’t have the courage to accept it.

“May the star that rises at twilight guide me.”

Ludwig briefly makes the sign of the cross.

His eyes, now open, no longer tremble with fear.

He just stares straight ahead.

He’s more certain than ever.

“I will follow your will.”

Leathlas, the goddess of stars.

One of the three gods who govern adventure and fate.

How could he, who once served and followed her, dismiss this as a coincidence?

The appearance of these people with such brilliant light before him, who had abandoned his courage…

…is the last grace given to a lost follower.

Therefore…

“Even if I can’t embrace you.”

…the old man looks towards the void and shouts,

“Karui, I offer myself to you.”

The fickle evil god laughs gleefully at his words.

He knows what he’s about to do.

As if he’s been waiting for this moment.

[What is your desire?]

“Send me there.”

[Your grandson will not be saved.]

His heart clenches at those words.

But he casts aside his weakness.

“It doesn’t matter.”

He learned from the young mage he met in the labyrinth.

That you can always be noble and honorable.

If you want to.