Otherworld Constellation Gallery Chapter 28

Otherworld Constellation Gallery

Chapter 28

The pattern on the blade surges with an ominous red light. As if yearning for something, it burns hotly.

“This one wants me to devour it quickly, doesn’t it?”

I gripped the sword firmly and kicked off the ground. My body was light as if cutting through air.

“Now die.”

I swung the sword mercilessly toward the Pimuk’s neck.

SWISH!

The sharp sensation of cutting across the neck. It went in much deeper than before. With speed, the sword penetrates deeper. This is destructive power from velocity, different from increased power from simply raising strength.

‘It’s working!’

But. The sword stopped at the center of the neck.

“…Fuck.”

I maxed out health, strength, and agility to their limits but it’s still blocked? Is it really impossible to defeat this alone?

What’s even more absurd is that the Pimuk was instantly recovering from even that deep wound. The Pimuk’s neck healed with Manyō’s Tomb still embedded in it, gripping the blade.

In that state, the empty hole pierced through me. Then the creature immediately swung its arm. In that moment, I instinctively released the sword and dodged the attack.

WHOOSH!

The air split heavily, sweeping through where I had just been. That was close.

‘At least now I’m not completely unable to dodge attacks.’

Not that I can dodge them easily, but this is manageable.

SHWOOP-

The sword embedded in the Pimuk returned to my hand.

“Let’s see how long you can keep regenerating.”

I lowered my body, took my stance. Without resting for a moment. Slash, slash, and slash again.

Chunks of the Pimuk’s flesh flew up. But, the creature recovered without fail. And without fail, it swung its arm at high speed.

BANG!

“KUHUCK!!”

This time, despite moving to avoid it, I allowed a direct hit from the creature.

‘…Doesn’t this bastard ever get tired?.’

No, was I the one who was tired? Why was I continuing to fight in this state? I was consumed by what was happening right in front of me.

‘Is even Constellation’s Spirit not all-powerful?’

I finally took out a ‘Low-grade Bio Regenerator.’ Please, please. Don’t let the pain come. Just this once. I opened my mouth and poured in the potion.

GULP.

The moment I cleanly swallowed the potion.

“Fuck!”

The regenerator’s pain set my entire body on fire.

“This is really annoying….”

I clenched my fists tightly. This pain? I can overcome it with mental strength.

Even as the pain from the recovery spread, the Pimuk continued its attack. What a mannered bastard.

Inevitably, I gritted my teeth and moved my body. Dodging attacks and striking back. Pushing through with mental strength.

After enduring like that, my body was completely recovered. Like waking up after a good night’s sleep, I was in peak condition without even the slightest discomfort.

‘If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have showered today.’

But there was no time for such thoughts. I sighed and threw myself back in.

“If you keep recovering like that, I’ll just keep cutting you up before you can recover!”

Once, twice, three times. Persistently. Relentlessly.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Before the wounds could heal, I cut that spot again and again. When a wound tried to close, I dug in deeper. Just a little more, just a little more!

‘Fuck, it’s not working by the tiniest margin.’

If I could have gone just a little, just a tiny bit deeper. If I could have been just a little, just a tiny bit faster. Right before I can cut off the head, recovery always happens first by the smallest margin.

“Die already, you son of a bitch!”

I maxed out my physical condition, stats, everything possible and it still won’t die. Isn’t this too much! At least make it possible to beat! Is this really an event that only ends when someone dies? Such anxieties and doubts scattered before Constellation’s Spirit.

‘I can do this. I will succeed.’

I just need to think of one way. I just need to overcome this tiny difference. At that moment, I realized. I can defeat the Pimuk.

‘This must be why I received that reward.’

I recalled that reward. If it weren’t for this situation, I wouldn’t have wanted to use it when my stats were this low, but I have no choice.

“Use one stat point to increase agility.”

DING!

[You cannot increase this stat further at this time.]

“What?”

My hands trembled with frustration.

“No, fuck! Shouldn’t a reward like this be usable at times like this? You bastards!”

Wasn’t this given to be used at times like this! What do you want me to do now?

I ground my teeth sharply. By now, the situation was telling me to despair. But not a hint of frustration filled me. Just pure annoyance.

“Constellations, you fucking bastards! Watch me, I will overcome this.”

And then, I summoned the reinforced frying pan. In my left hand, the frying pan. In my right hand, Manyō’s Tomb.

“This time, please.”

I threw myself toward the creature.

SLASH!

The sword cut through the air and dug into flesh. In an instant, the creature’s wrist was severed and flew into the air.

‘It’s working. This is working!’

A difference of 1 point in strength. That tiny difference became the decisive factor determining victory or defeat.

The Pimuk’s severed arm fell to the floor. But the wound was still wriggling, tissue regenerating stealthily.

“Enough already, you bastard!”

I gritted my teeth. This time I won’t miss my chance.

I closed the distance. 

One step, two steps, approaching while calculating the diagonal that would lead to a fatal wound. And then I immediately drew that line with my sword.

SLAAAASH!

From my hand gripping firmly with strength, finally the neck was cut off. The head spun in the air before falling to the floor.

THUD!

The monster’s massive body collapsed after it. At the same time, Manyō’s Tomb glowed bright red, then quickly subsided.

‘This… somehow feels heavier now.’

Suddenly, a system message appeared in the air.

DING!

[Pimuk (Low-grade) Defeat Reward: 10,000 gold]

“Fuck, did I really kill it?”

The moment I saw the notification, a flag-raising statement came out naturally. But it really was over. The creature’s wounds no longer regenerated. However, the system notifications hadn’t ended.

DING!

[<Proof of Faith> Achievement Unlocked!] 

[This is a token given to a party that has overcome a near-impossible hardship together.] 

[Reward: Party Bonus (All Stats +1)]

My eyes narrowed. Party bonus? I carefully read through the notification.

It says that all members of the party I created as the party leader will have all stats increased by +1. However, if they leave the party, the bonus disappears.

‘This is sweet!’

Considering that a difference of 1 in strength just determined the outcome of the battle, this will make a huge difference in actual combat. Since the base ability itself increases, it will affect other stats as well.

That wasn’t the end. My eyes widened at the stream of alarms that followed.

DING!

[<Solid Shield> Special Contribution Achievement Unlocked!] 

[You withstood destructive threats and stood at the center of the battlefield.] 

[Reward: ‘Blood Oath’ skill acquired]

DING!

[<Touch of Life> Special Contribution Achievement Unlocked!] [You kept allies alive on the battlefield through healing actions.] [Reward: ‘Battlefield Biomechanics’ skill acquired]

DING!

[<Blade of Annihilation> Special Contribution Achievement Unlocked!] 

[You killed the opponent and led to the successful conclusion of the battle.] 

[Reward: ‘Strike of Judgment’ skill acquired]

“What is this?”

Three contribution achievements. I received all of them by myself. I mulled over each one.

These probably represent tank, healer, and damage dealer. Taking hits, survival, and killer. Rewards given to the person with the highest contribution in each role.

‘…But I got all of them by myself?’

After a moment of disbelief, I understood. I kept getting hit to prevent it from reaching Kang Ha-rin and Lee Tulip. I administered the regenerator. I defeated the creature.

‘I should feel sorry for the kids.’

With a face that didn’t look sorry at all, I immediately checked the skill descriptions.

[Blood Oath] Your physical abilities increase as you bleed more. Each time you are wounded, your health and strength increase by 3%, up to a maximum of 30%, for a certain period of time. 

Type: Passive

‘This is definitely a tank skill for fighting while taking hits and enduring.’

[Battlefield Biomechanics] Optimizes biological functions for yourself and allies within a certain range. Reduces bleeding when hit and increases wound healing speed. Type: Passive

‘This is….’

Body optimization for survival on the battlefield. A skill that maximizes healing and recovery.

‘Definitely a healer.’

[Strike of Judgment] Find the enemy’s vital point and inflict a critical wound. Has a low chance of leaving unrecoverable damage. Type: Active

“Wow, shit!”

Finally, I got an active skill. And it definitely matches my fighting style well. It could become an essential skill against regenerating monsters like the Pimuk.

I chuckled. The role I took on to defeat the Pimuk. I did everything from start to finish. As a result, I gained complete battlefield optimization.

‘Right. After going through hell, I deserve at least this much.’

It was then.

“Huff… huff…!”

Lee Tulip raised her head, panting. Kang Ha-rin was also leaning against the wall, catching her trembling breath.

“A… mister… what happened?”

The room was covered in blood. The Pimuk’s severed head and grotesque corpse were sprawled on the floor. Blood splattered in all directions, and the floor was so wet it was slippery.

“Are you okay? What on earth happened here?!”

Even Kang Ha-rin threw a worried glance. In the midst of it all, I slowly caught my breath and answered.

“…Nothing happened.”

Meanwhile, the Constellation Gallery was turned upside down.