Chapter 237

237th Episode

The Abyss of the Deep Valley, Erebore 7

A towering figure with a massive height reaching towards the sky, adorned with white wings on its back.

It resembled what people often called the messengers of gods, an angel. However, its skin was entirely stripped off, revealing grotesque muscles bulging in an obscene fashion. Its face featured a crustracean-like split mouth, with sharp dual mandibles inside — a sight nothing short of blasphemous.

“Sis, have you ever seen something like this?”

“No, never. It’s about the size of a titan but feels completely different.”

Neither Antiope nor Hippolyte seemed to recognize what this creature was. It looked like an angel, yet it carried a massive stone lamp in each hand as if it were the Angel of Destruction.

Its sheer size compared to an apartment building radiated such an imposing presence that it was nothing short of astonishing.

“sh*t.”

Could it be because I’ve never faced something this large? I couldn’t even imagine in my mind how I would bring this thing down.

Whoosh, whoosh—whooshh.

Suddenly, a large flame erupted from the long lamps held in its hands.

I felt chills running down the back of my neck, warning me gravely, which left no choice but to shout out loud.

“It’s a massive something incoming!”

Behold.

At that moment, it let out an intelligible roar from its mouth. Given its massive size, its voice echoed deeply, shaking the surrounding darkness.

“Radiance at the end of the path…”

Whoosh!

As the light from the stone lamps erupted, flames spread out explosively in every direction.

I almost screamed from the heat brushing past me, but strangely, the flames weren’t warm and didn’t leave any sensation.

What was that?

Curious, I looked around and noticed that the abyss, which was submerged in darkness just a moment ago, was lighting up in bursts like lamps illuminating the surroundings.

What revealed itself were the colossal statues surrounding us, as if placed in a stadium, each towering to the size of the creature before me.

In the center stood the monstrous figure, its wings spread wide while plunging its staff deeply into the ground.

I am the ruler of those who cannot d*e, the King of Ulgart. The master of illusions, the creator of ragged beasts, and the leader of the Third Legion. Oh ye challengers, show respect before the Great Blasphemer!

After spreading his palms, he positioned one hand on his stomach and the other on the side of his forehead in a gesture that strangely resembled a Buddhist monk.

With the wings of an angel but with the demeanor of a demon performing such a hand gesture, its identity remained an enigma.

However, judging from its elongated monologue, it wasn’t exactly a formidable opponent. After all, those with nothing tend to boast more.

This kid’s just like me.

“Ulgart…?”

At that moment, Elpride who was standing behind me murmured as if she had some knowledge of the matter.

“Are you the giant of Ulgart?”

So there is someone in this strange, primitive world who knows about the beasts. Who might you be?

Reacting to Elpride’s voice, the kneeling figure of Ulgart lifted its hideous face towards us.

Whoosh.

Its monstrous visage was so fearsome that I almost swung my club at its head, which was as large as a bus.

The Blasphemer asks, ‘Who are you, little one?’

“I am Elpride from Albrheim.”

Elpride from Albrheim? A remnant of the burnt dusk indeed. Since the Blasphemer kindly answered your inquiry, I shall reciprocate the courtesy. You, I shall enjoy devouring at the end.

“Huh?”

I have been bound by this hateful darkness for a long time, making me quite famished. I shall eat you and store enough strength to escape from this place.

He said this as if inviting a long-lost friend to dinner, and I almost replied with a “Yeah.”

Let us ascend again into this world and herald the age of the giants. You are set to be the foundation of it, so despair not. I shall evaluate your taste appropriately.

Whoosh.

Raising his head high, the giant spoke as if bestowing mercy. Naturally, we weren’t foolish enough to rejoice at this.

Antiopé raised her short sword and retorted.

“Hmm, I wondered what you were. So you’re a fallen giant from a distant land? The age of giants ended here in the Gaia continent over fifty years ago, you fool!”

You bizarre woman, you shall be the first I consume. You look quite delicious with your strong aura.

Whoosh.

In an unhurried movement, a gargantuan hand extended toward Antiopé. The leisurely gesture reminded me of someone picking up a piece of fries off a desk.

Though natural and fluid, given the scale, it looked quite impressive. The hand alone was as big as a bus, creating a sensation similar to an incoming meteorite.

But Antiopé was no easy target. She quickly severed the rope connecting her waist to ours, freed herself, and leapt onto the giant’s wrist instead.

Swishing!

With inconceivable speed, she climbed up its wrist, elbow, and shoulder, landing right on the giant’s neck.

A strong warrior, indeed. But do you truly believe such a small toothpick can pierce the skin of this Blasphemer?

“Ha! I’ve already graduated from hunting fallen Titans long ago!”

Crackling!

Lightning flashed from Antiopé’s hand, and she thrust her short spear into the giant’s neck.

Crash!

From this, a fairly powerful electric current erupted, spewing sparks in all directions.

Urgh, it hurts! Truly a robust woman. You shall be a fine source of nourishment.

Despite the powerful attack, due to its colossal size, the giant only showed slight signs of pain and used its palm in a leisurely sweep to grab her.

The sight reminded me of my father breaking up a hornet’s nest, nonchalantly enduring their stings as he dismantled it, sending shivers down my spine.

Hitting this behemoth with all your special moves and yet it doesn’t flinch—this must be what the wasps felt.

Overwhelming awe and immense pressure from its size, the sense of helplessness stemming from attacks that don’t work.

Yet Antiopé evaded the creature’s grasp with graceful acrobatics, striking at its neck, shoulders, and upper body.

Annoying… Gravity Reversal!

Boom!

Just then, the giant clapped its hands together with a strange chant, and the surroundings began to tremble intensely.

Not only that—my body started floating into the air, detached from the ground. Both Elpride and Hippolyte were also floating, their legs struggling in the air.

Hippolyte shouted calmly.

“This is high-level magic. So this giant can use magic, too? If the battle drags on, there’s no telling what might happen. Antiopé, stop playing and focus on defeating it quickly!”

Swoosh.

At the calm command from Hippolyte, her blade started shimmering with a golden mist, wavering in the air. Immediately after, she sliced twice through the air.

Swishh!

A sharp gust of wind emitted from her blade formed a perfect X, hitting squarely at the giant’s broad chest.

Whoosh!

A stunning wound carved across the center of his chest immediately became visible. Thanks to that, our bodies, which had been floating, safely landed back on the ground.

Caught off-guard by the gushing bl**d, the giant let out an unintelligible roar.

UUUURGHHH!!

It was plain to see that the attack had worked.

If Hippolyte’s attacks were effective, it meant the giant could be defeated, giving me a little boost in morale.

Are there any warriors who wield elemental power? d*mn it! Mental Collapse!

Swish, swish.

The giant continued with strange incantations, his palms moving in intricate patterns.

Seeing his gestures, which resembled a ninja forming seals or a monk chanting sutras, left my mind feeling confused.

Furthermore, from the bizarrely wide-open mouth, a continuous string of incomprehensible words emerged. It was as if a broken radio was crackling, splitting the voice into fragments.

What is he doing?

Just as I tensed up, unable to tell what was coming—

“Uaaaah, uuhh!”

Antiopé, who had been persistently attacking the giant’s shoulders and neck, suddenly started rolling on the ground, as if tripping.

“Get out of my head!”

She gripped her ears, covering her head, seeming far from her usual self.

Not only Antiopé, but Elpride and Hippolyte were also on their knees, breathing heavily.

At that moment, words floated into my mind.

「The Blessing of Chaos grants the negative state of Blasphemer’s Curse.」

It seemed the giant’s chants and gestures were casting a wide-range curse towards us. I felt a bit of clarity as the message conveyed the state of ‘curse removal.’

My vision remained clear as it revealed the giant’s bizarre muttering and hand-seals.

If we let him continue chanting, it might destabilize the mental states of our party members.

The most basic and crucial aspect of team play in a group game is keeping the mental stability of all members in check.

Knowing this, I had no choice but to leap towards him after cutting the rope on my waist.

Luckily, the giant was too absorbed in the spell with his eyes closed, completely unaware of my approach.

Hanging onto his ankle, I started climbing up his leg, thigh, and abdomen, moving onto his shoulder and neck.

Climbing onto a male body.

Even thinking about it made me feel incredibly uncomfortable.

“d*e, you b*stard!”

Fueled by fury at the giant who had defiled my soul’s purity, I swung my club with all my might at his massive throat.

The throat has been a well-known vital point throughout history. Hitting this focused point on the giant was bound to deliver a fatal blow.

Whenever my father was stung on the neck by wasps, he’d react immediately.

I am now a wasp.

Hooowaaaahh!

Like a seasoned home-run hitter, I swung my arm and body, turning in a circular motion, aiming for the protruding throat.

Crack!

Thanks to my extraordinary strength, the giant’s neck cracked with a loud snap, causing my foothold to tremble violently.

Cough, cough… Haaah…

“Urgh.”

Though I fell to the ground without any preparation, I avoided breaking my pelvis as Hippolyte caught me with her arms.

“Attacking our minds too, huh? Well, thanks to you saving me. Bringing you was indeed the right choice, Samaritan!”

Blast, d*mn it, son of a b*tch… My neck, ah, why isn’t my mental disruption spell working on you?

The giant was massaging his neck, coughing up big gushes of bl**d. The impact on this key spot had proven to be quite effective.

It should be impossible for it not to work. Even flicking one’s finger against the throat can produce significant shock.

Dare to—

However, the giant’s massively bloodshot eyes glaring only at me was somewhat concerning.

It means, in boss raid terminology, that the boss’ aggro is on me.

I understand now. You with the black hair. You are the tastiest here. If I absorb the hellish power emanating from you, I can regain my strength.

Vroooom.

His massive palm descended on me from above, as swift as trying to squash a fly, unlike the leisurely manner it used earlier against Antiopé.

It was akin to a meteor colliding with earth. I realized this giant was now desperate to capture me.

“sh*t!”

It seemed that I wouldn’t have enough time to escape given the size of the approaching palm.

Hippolyte, standing beside me, seemed to recognize this as well. She plunged her sword into the ground and raised her arms dramatically.

Instinctively, I understood her intent, swiftly throwing away my club and raising my arms.

Crash!

At that moment, the giant’s palm struck down. Instead of getting squashed like a flat fly, Hippolyte and I somehow managed to support his massive hand and endure it.

“Grrrgh!!”

My teeth felt like they would break, my legs shook, and my internal organs screamed. bl**d flowing from my nose is probably not sweat—definitely bleeding.

When was the last time I lifted something this heavy?

No idea.

Does Atlas, who carries the heavens, feel just like this? If I relax for even a second, my knees will buckle and I’ll be crushed flat.

It seemed Hippolyte was in the same situation as me.

Her armor creaked under the strain, sweat dripped from her forehead, but she looked better off than me, who was bleeding from the nose.

“Elph! Are you done preparing the incantation?”

At Hippolyte’s cry, I sensed Elpride muttering behind me.

Elpride is the best elemental mage I know. Her skills are so advanced that she can produce a potent fireball without verbal spells or incantations.

When she takes her time for a drawn-out incantation, it can only mean one thing.

“At the dawn of creation’s Flame…”

Whoosh!

A small flame erupted faintly in the air.

Managing a slight turn of my head and eyes, I saw a little fireball about the size of my fist slowly flying toward the giant.

Seeing that, the giant burst into laughter.

“Your flame is smaller than my fingernail. Do you actually think you can defeat this Blasphemer with that, Elf?”

“Isn’t anything burnable? I’ve already consumed my god in flames.”

What… What—?! Gurgh, aaaaargh!!

Suddenly, everything is wrapped in searing flames.

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