Volume 23 Chapter 10 (1/2)

Chapter 10: Great King Avannah

Sponsored by Ser4, TLC by Enlightened End, Edited by Lastear.

Crema’s knights arrived as well.

Weed drew his sword and blocked but he wasn’t able to defend against multiple attacks at the same time.

<table><tbody><tr><td>- You received a critically hit.With tough resilience, you receive reduced damage.</td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td>- You received a critically hit.With tough resilience, you prevented the effect of confusion from extreme pain.</td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td>- Your sword's durability has reached its limit and broke.</td></tr></tbody></table>Weed’s sword completely shattered.Though it was a ‘Legendary Rusted Sword’, he’s been using it well by repairing it but after the battle at the monastery and defending from the knights’ fierce charge, its durability fell sharply and got broken. <table><tbody><tr><td>- You received a critically hit.</td></tr></tbody></table>

After five consecutive critical strikes of holy silver weapons, his resilience reached its limit and caused a paralysis on his whole body. And after three more strikes, his health was almost gone and he tumbled down his horse. Falling from a galloping horse caused heavy damage even for a death knight with relatively light armors.

<table><tbody><tr><td>- Your life is dangerously low.Getting helps from life-sharing partner.</td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td>- Seo Yoon shares your agony.Maximum life 114,290.You can use Berserker’s Skills up to 70% of partner’s mastery.</td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td>- You can use a Skill ‘Dance of Insane Warrior’ at Intermediate Level 8.You can use ‘Berserker’s Swordsmans.h.i.+p’ at Intermediate Level 4.You can use ‘Death Executor’s Swordsmans.h.i.+p’ at Intermediate Level 6.

Defensive Skill ‘Endurance of Battle’ is activated at Intermediate Level 7.

During battles, prevents sharp drop of life and inhibits injuries.

</td></tr></tbody></table>

With some of Seo Yoon’s health pa.s.sed onto Weed, he was barely able to stand up.

“‘Dance of Insane Warrio’r and ‘Berserker’s swordsmans.h.i.+p’…”

He didn’t have time to check how many Skills were in each swordsmans.h.i.+p branch and what effects they might have. He could only try using it. He’s been hunting with Seo Yoon for a long time but the skill she usually used were not that many.

“Live or Die.”

- You are armed with the sword of a vengeful ghost knight.

He armed the sword in hurry and activated a Skill.“Dance of Insane Warrior!”

Weed activated his Skill towards the oncoming knights. Every time he blocked their swords he flew back a few meters, leaving trails of mana that was red like blood.

“Die!”

Every time Weed defended against their attacks, he stumbled and lost life.

‘I’ve seen this Skill before.’

It was a Skill Seo Yoon used against Kub.i.+.c.ha, the Great Warrior of Chaos. It happened in a split second but it tied up Kub.i.+.c.ha and even put Weed in danger. When these red, blood-like mana trails spread around, they formed a special symbol, turned into strong energy and exploded outwards.

- ‘The Dance of Insane Warrior’ begins.

A large explosion that turned the ground inside out occurred.

A Death Knight increase his attack with dark energy during a battle. It was a skill heavily depended on fighting spirit and even Heriam Fencing didn’t consume much mana. But the ‘Dance of Insane Warrior’ was an unbelievable attack that consumes more than 70% of Weed’s unused mana.

<table><tbody><tr><td>- 6 knights of Crema died.Fame increased by 469</td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td>- Obtained small amount of experience.</td></tr></tbody></table>

It was an attack of sharp energy so they couldn’t fully guard against it with their armors. Weed lost his sense of balance from the repelling power of the Skill but he immediately kicked off the ground and ran away. There were enemies everywhere so he needed every chance he could get.‘First Skill in the Swordsmans.h.i.+p of Aggressor, The Seal of Prisoner.’

Running through the dust, he spotted a knight fell from his horse due to the ‘Dance of Insane Warrior’. Weed targeted his vital point and swung his sword at his neck.

- The Seal of the Prisoner hit on target. Until the target dies or gets healed by a cleric, the seal won’t disappear. Continuously bleed out and health decrease by 160 per second.

Weed used the ‘Seal of the Prisoner’ on eight knights. He was able to strike four points on one knight alone.

‘Second Skill… Sword of Fighting Spirit.’

The ‘Sword of Fighting Spirit’ was a skill that increase Weed’s attack in proportion to the damage the he received. Attacking another knights, he activated the third Skill, ‘Sword of Slaughter’. It was a skill that could only be used when the player’s life was very low.

But it was a desperate swordsmans.h.i.+p that either the player or enemy must die.

By giving up all defense to kill the target, it increased the destructive power exponentially.

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As Weed was active beyond extraordinary against the knights, Polon and the Crema Knights were very puzzled. With those harsh injuries, he should have already died but he kept resisting till the end.

‘How much health does he have?’

‘His Skills and movements changed a bit.’

The fact that his resilience and attack grew larger than when he started the battle was a reality that could not believe.

Polon had a planned to ask him for a duel. Drive him into a dead end, then fight one on one and claim a perfect victory. To be honest, killing Weed was could be claimed as the greatest glory so he really wanted to have a duel.

‘But killing Weed is top priority. I can’t afford to give him time to heal.’

His overall evaluation of Weed improved. Not only was he at a high level and fully aware of his Skills, he knows how to fight and dominate a battle with lesser force. Even high-rank officials in the communication network of the Hermes guild instructed him to kill Weed no matter what it took.

‘I can’t give Weed an opportunity to escape and I can’t afford to take casualties anymore.’

Polon trained the knights of Crema Knights directly. As the battle dragged on, they were suffering and getting killed by the gradually recovering Undead.

Polon : I authorize magicians and rangers to attack Weed directly.

After giving an instruction to the Spellcasters and Rangers, he withdrew with his knights.

Morning was coming.

Weed noticed something suspicious was going on and clung to Crema knights to prevent any chance of attack.

Polon : Just do it. Even if there are casualties, it’s better to kill Weed fast and end the battle.

A spell was casted with some knights in the range of the spell.

Just when spells were casted and arrows were shot towards the place where Weed and knights were entangled.

‘Now.’

Weed quickly stole away on a horse and rode with all his power.

He was observing the facial expressions and behavior of players in the Crema Knights. Then he turned around to the direction where magicians were and ran away without even looking back.

An animalistic survival instinct.

CLANG!

Behind the direction Weed was riding in, Crema knights died from spells and arrows.

“Keep attacking. Kill him!”

In range of Polon’s loud cry, Weed had to make a decision. There was no place to run in Natalia Plains full of knights and Undead. To escape this place completely, he had to keep avoiding attacks from rangers and magicians but that was truthfully impossible.

There is no way he can dodge sky-filling arrows or fire b.a.l.l.s, icicles and covering of dirt.

‘About 32% health left.’

Based on his estimation, he will die instantly if he gets struck by the consecutive spells.

The rush of knights were hard to handle as well. He can use the characteristic of Berserker to resist them escaping was another problem. With the dispersed knights chasing him in many directions and support from the magicians and rangers, he would die before getting anywhere.

‘If so, the only place I can run to is….’

Weed drove his steed towards El Vance Monastery.

“Let’s go!”

It was the only place without blockades and opposite of where rangers and magicians were standing. El Vance Monastery was a fatal place for Undead and going back there was an unimaginable or idiotic choice.

“Chase him. Do not let him get away!”

Crema knights began their chase but because of their comrades who died in the long-range attack, they hesitated and the gap was getting wider. However, they soon started closing the gap.

As Weed got closer to the monastery, he was affected by holy power and his strength and health kept decreasing. Even though he had the occupational characteristics of Berserker, his weak points as an Undead remained.

It was a bad combination for running away!

“Trying to make a living is not easy.”

Looking around the vicinity, there were corpses of Undead and monsters everywhere. It would be useful if he could use Necromancers Skills but all he could do was efficiently controlling Undead armies.

He could only continue forward.

He was in such hurry that he didn’t get a chance to give other commands to Undead. About ten seconds later, the other knights will arrive, so he had no time to hesitate. There were many signs of natural disasters and the destructions wrought by the Undead.

Weed found a dark crack under the altar. Normally it wouldn’t stick out but as an Undead, he was sensitive to holy power. There was enormous holy power coming out from the crack.

Weed started drooling.

“Truly I really have no choice.”

Even in a situation where his life is at stake, Weed just followed his instincts regarding items. Weed dug through the altar and entered.

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“He’s not here.”

“He just entered here. He might be hiding so keep looking!”

“If he prepared an ambushes, it might be dangerous.”

“He’s an Undead. He wouldn’t be able to endure holy power for a long time. We need to find him quickly.”

A few seconds after Weed disappeared he Crema Knights arrived.

While the holy power was a disadvantage to Weed, the holy power gave them a blessing effect with regeneration of vitality and health. Compare to their usual they were able to perform with double their original abilities, it was a only a matter of time before they found Weed and killed him.

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You have become the discoverer of a dungeon, the underworld of El Vance MonasteryPrivileges: Fame increased by 900Double experience and item dropping rate for one week. Very first monster you hunt will drop a best item it can possibly drop.

Coming here after escaping from the enemy, Weed was unhappy as he looked at the dungeon privileges.This place is categorized as a dangerous place for Undead so he can’t even log out.

When he logged out during battle or when health was decreasing, the body remains and ends up dead eventually.

“I guess I have to keep continuing.”

Weed raised his sword and started running forward. Berserkers are good in a battle but when you stop and begin resting, he become much weaker than usual.

“Let’s find where this dungeon ends!”

It was only a matter of time before the knights found the entrance to the dungeon.

Few seconds if fast and few minutes if late. Weed ran down the path of the dungeon. Even without the Undead’s vision, the inside was brighter than daylight. It was because every wall and corner, and even the embedded crystals were s.h.i.+ning.

- Remaining health 19%.

He did not look at the mystical sight and kept running.“Intruder. After a long time, there finally is a intruder.”

A monster that looked like a moth that has been grown to two meters jumped out.

The name was Avannah.

As a monster feeding off holy power, its average level was about 300. There is always a scramble for dungeons with Avannah because they had low life and they become much easier if its wings were targeted first. It was not an exaggeration to say that it was an exclusive hunting ground for top guilds. It was icing on the cake that there were large amount of holy power in the environment where Avannahh dwelled.

However, Weed didn’t have time to face him so he just kept running forward.

“Quadruped Run!”

Weed increased his speed. He leaped streamlets flowing in the dungeon and when there were pits, he stabbed his sword on the wall as a run-up.

It was motions wild beasts would show.

It seemed like Avannah had certain area a.s.signed as it stopped attacking and chasing and went back as soon as he leaped a streamlet. Even so, it was only it managed to take out 11% of Weed’s life.

“At this rate, I won’t even be able to fight.”

Only 8% of his health was remaining. Because he’s in a place with holy power spread around, his combat capabilities were weakened and his strength and mana started escaping.

“If only there is a teleportation gate leading to somewhere safe.....”

He had his hopes up but the possibility of finding it was less than one in ten. In a very rare occasion when the dungeon was fully cleared, was there a teleportation portal leading to the next area. But right now, he was just hoping and he didn’t even know the geographic features of the dungeon.

“But holy power is getting stronger this way.”

Weed followed the Undead weakening holy power. He could die in a mult.i.tude of ways, death was always nearby so he just wanted to confirm with his own eyes what lied at the end of the dungeon. And at the end of the path, he found it first.

Great king Avannah Lordriam!

Unlike normal Avannah, not only is it rare, it uses powerful holy spells and has high attack. Usually, one would form a party composed of players with alot of experience when a Great King Avannah appears. Because it is a monster over level 450 and if it appeared accidentally the hunt usually failed.

Considering its Skills such as blinding ray, binding and self-recovery, it’s extremely hard to hunt. The great king Avannah Lordriam in front of Weed was holding a small jewel in his fingers. Holy power was released from the jewel.

A Diamond of the Blessed Sanctum.

When held by priests and holy knights, it increases their faith sharply as well as the effects and range of holy spells.

Weed gains courage in front of items.

Jewels were easy to bargain with.

As though he was in a 100 meter race, he ran on four feet and jumped high onto Lordriam.

‘The only way to fight and win easily is to cut off its antennae.’

Lordriam has atrophied eyes so it read small signs with its antennae. The antennae could be said to be its only weakness.

‘The Dance of Insane Warrior.’

With Weed’s attack capabilities weakened, the only Skill that could inflict a damage to Lordriam was this one. Squeezing out his mana, he swung his sword at Lordriam’s eight antennae and then stepped on the ground. The energy of blood-like mana moved around and hit Lordriam’s antennae.

- You have inflicted a critical strike.

His concentration grew stronger the more danger he was in!

With moves he wouldn’t normally be able to perform in air, he cut Lordriam’s antennas.

SHRIEEEK!

Lordriam started struggling. Even though the antennas were cut it wasn’t over yet. It can heal itself with holy spells. Weed had to put out as much damage as he could while it was writhing at the pain of getting its antennae cut.

“The Seal of Prisoner. Sword of Fighting Spirit!”

Using his Berserker Skills, he attacked Lordriam. Usually, he would prepare his heart or come up with plans in his head when he encountered boss cla.s.s monsters.

But Weed jumped up on his four feet, hitting it as much as possible as soon as he spotted Lordriam. As if he was trying to prove that no monster can stand in front of a beating, he circled around it and swung his sword.

Lordriam activated a holy spell.

Purification of Silence.

A holy spell that turns an evil creature to nothing. The Diamond of Blessed Sanctum magnified the effect. As Weed’s bones broke, it only left him with 2% health remaining.

‘I need to kill it no matter what…’

He tried to keep slas.h.i.+ng Lordriam but another holy spell was used.

Turn Undead.

A spell incompatible with Undead!

Normally, an Undead higher than a Death Knight won’t collapse right away from Turn Undead. But Weed’s life was way too low so he couldn’t withstand the holy spells of Lordriam.

<table><tbody><tr><td>- Health has depleted. You have died.Skill level for ‘Power to reject death’ is low. Due to holy power permeated to the body, the Skill hasn't activated.You are unable to log in for 24 hours. Because of your death, your level and Skill mastery declines.</td></tr></tbody></table>

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Not only three minutes after Weed died, Crema’s knights arrived.

After they came into the dungeon they encountered the Avannah and hunted it as fast as they could and came here.

“It’s the great king Avannah.”

“Its antennae are cut.”

Lordriam was already injured with many scars.

The Crema knights hunted Lordriam whose antennae were not fully recovered. They weren’t inflicted as much as the Undead by holy spells so it wasn’t that hard. Polon finished off Lordriam and picked up The Diamond of the Sanctum which Weed was craving.

“This rare item…”

After the battle, they were able to find many things besides items dropped by Lordriam.

“This must be the item Weed dropped as he died.”

A nearby knight picked up the item first.

<table><tbody><tr><td>- You obtained 3 old barley breads.</td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td>- You obtained chieves.</td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td>- You obtained rusty broken helmet.</td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td>- You obtained a wriggling worm.</td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td>- You obtained a molar of a skeleton.</td></tr></tbody></table>

“I can’t even remember the last time I picked up such poor items. Why was he even holding these?!”The knight couldn’t resist his irritation and threw the j.a.ptems. As an Undead, their tendency was bound to lean towards misfortune and evil side. If you have a bad reputation, the possibility of dropping good items among the items in your possession multiplied several fold. But Weed died dropping bunch of useless items.

This was thanks to Weed’s thorough preparation

“There are many Necromancers. First of all, these Necromancers who like Undead aren’t normal.”

Ever since he received the quest from The Undead Legion and seeing there were many people, he didn’t trust them. The original sword, armor and expensive item he usually equipped were stored in the lord’s castle in Morata. He only had necessary items that increase leaders.h.i.+p such as the horn or the royal seal and as soon as Hermes guild showed up, he hid them.

“I’m gonna lose the items anyway if I die….”

He entreated Marey and left it to him.

“You must give them back to me later.”

“I will do so.”

“If you look at the bottom of the items it written in small, ‘Weed’s item.’”

“………”

By preparing for his death in advance, he was able to not lose important items.

Of course, from Weed’s point of view, it was a matter of great regret that he couldn’t hide even j.a.ptems.

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After confirming that Weed got killed by a monster, Polon and the knights came back to Natalia Plains.

“Necromancers, decide whether you will join Hermes guild or not.”

The Spellcaster and Ranger armies posed in preparation for attack. It was a little coercive but Polon clearly showed to Necromancers that if they don’t join Hermes guild, they would be killed right here.

“Wa… What should I do?”

“I like staying alone. But if I do join Hermes guild, there may be advantages.”

While the Necromancers were agitated, Jeanne straightened her shoulder and stepped forward.

“I will not join Hermes guild.”

“You must be Jeanne.”

Polon heard about the Necromancers through Zabrin.

“And the reason for not joining the guild is?”

“It could be said that the reason we could become Necromancers is thanks to Weed.”

“That’s it? If you reject Hermes guild, there will be a lot of dangers coming to you. Even now, I’m sure you have a lot to lose if you die here. I will give you another chance to change your decision.”

“My position stays unchanged. From the moment I became a Necromancers to these quests, every Necromancers owed Weed a great favor. I will not be a part of Hermes guild.”

Polon laughed with ridicule.