Record of a Thousand Lives - Chapter 87

Chapter 87
“Grwaaaaah!” Ignus let out an intense roar. Blood gushed out of her body like a waterfall, and her torn-off wing fell to the ground.

However, the dragon did not falter at all. In fact, she glared at the Colossus and roared, “So the stupid musclehead has decided to trust in its strength and dares stand against me?!”

Ignus bit down into the Colossus’ shoulder with her large fangs, and the Colossus roared in pain as its shoulder was crushed by the mighty dragon’s powerful jaws. The Colossus flailed its arms and smashed them down at the dragon’s neck.

Kwachik! Pukeok!

The tides of war shifted after the two enormous beings clashed against each other. The troops from both sides stopped fighting and froze in place, watching in awe as the intense battle of the two mighty beings unfolded before their eyes. None of them dared to move, as they were certain they would be crushed if they got in the way of the two beings and were stepped on.

“Kruwwaaaaaaah!” the Colossus roared as it threw an uppercut at the dragon. With a loud crack, the dragon’s fangs broke. Heavy pressure waves rippled through the air whenever the two mighty beings clashed.

“Arise, my fangs! Absorb the power of nature and become my strength!” Ignus roared, using more of her dragon magic.

The dragon’s fangs that had fallen to the ground slowly shifted into the form of creatures and rose up from the ground—it was an army of Spartoi.

“Attack the Colossus!” The Spartoi let out a war cry, wielding greatswords with their bulging muscles as they charged at the Colossus.

The Spartoi that appeared this time looked so ferocious and strong that they were incomparable to the one who had appeared from the Orb of the Covenant. Their army bravely charged at the Colossus’ feet and started to hack away at it.

“L-let’s help!”

“Wake up! We can’t just watch from the sidelines!”

The elves fired their bows at the Colossus, but their arrows did not even manage to scratch the being’s thick skin, instead bouncing off harmlessly. The Fire Trolls did not dare approach the Colossus, as they were scared of being crushed to death should it step on them like ants.

‘The Colossus is around Level 600. It is not an easy opponent even for a dragon,’ Kartheon thought with a smile. The ancient king admitted that a dragon was a mighty being, but the Colossus it was facing had been his strongest soldier back when he ruled in ancient times.

‘There is no way it will lose,’ Kartheon thought confidently.

The dragon Ignus, whose wing had been torn off, was getting pushed back by the Colossus. The ancient king’s army did not pass up the chance to commence their attack once again. The battle between the troops beneath the two mighty beings flared up once again, and they fought ferociously against each other.

It was just as the tides of war were shifting to favor the ancient king that Kang Yoon-Soo decided to finally make a move.

‘The time has come.’

He collected his breath, and the power sleeping within him awoke once again.

[The Frost Demon’s Winter Fragment has unleashed its powers.]

[You are borrowing this power, and you will pay a price in the future.]

[Demonization has started.]

A pair of wings grew out of Kang Yoon-Soo’s back, two horns protruded out of his forehead, and he gave off a freezing cold aura.

[You have transformed into a Frost Demon.]

[You will be able to maintain your form until midnight.]

[Your personality and habits are very similar to those of the demon race.]

[You are able to fully use the powers of the demon race.]

[The forces that are looking for suitable candidates to become a Demon King will send you an invitation if you commit 444 atrocities while in the form of a demon.]

[You may only use ‘Demonization’ once every 66 days.]

[You will not be able to return to human form if you use ‘Demonization’ more than once within the span of 66 days.]

A Frost Demon was a demonic being that not only used black magic, but also possessed enormous strength. Demons were the only beings who could stand toe to toe against a dragon and a Colossus.

‘I’ll take care of the Colossus first.’

The chilling Frost Demon spread his wings out in the hot, dry desert, and Kang Yoon-Soo flew up into the sky. He could clearly see the entirety of the battlefield as weapons clashed and blood was spilled.

Dudududu…!

The Sword of Revelation trembled, and its originally pure white blade suddenly turned black, starting from its hilt.

‘I can’t use the Sword of Revelation while in demon form.’

The Sword of Revelation was a holy gift from the goddess to her groom, and it would lose all its powers at the hands of a demon.

Kang Yoon-Soo sheathed the Sword of Revelation and flew toward Acle. He called out, “Acle.”

“Damn it! Why are you bothering me in the middle of a battle… What?! How are you suddenly flying around?! Did you fornicate and crossbreed with a bat or something?!” Acle shouted in surprise.

“Make eight swords out of ice for me,” Kang Yoon-Soo said.

“Tsk! I’m making them so you won’t bother me later, okay?!” Acle exclaimed as he gathered his powers and created eight swords out of ice.

Kang Yoon-Soo equipped a sword on each of his fingers, wielding all eight of them in both of his hands. He flew up once again, and the skills he had temporarily obtained after transforming into the Frost Demon popped up.

[Demon’s Overwhelming Strength (Lvl11)]

[Cold Armor (Lvl9)]

[Summon Hell Creatures (Lvl8)]

[Ice Touch (Lvl12)]

[Absolute Zero (Lvl10)]

“Summon Hell Creatures,” Kang Yoon-Soo muttered. The space beside him distorted for a moment, and hideous-looking monsters ran out of that space.

“Kruwwwwwaaaaah!”

These were monsters that had gone berserk after inhaling the air of Pandemonium. They included kobolds that had horns growing all over their bodies, and goblins covered in purple spots.

‘These guys won’t listen to anyone.’

The hell creatures that had appeared were incredibly strong, but there was no way to control them. However, they charged at the Colossus even though Kang Yoon-Soo did not bother giving them a command.

“It’s big! Puhahaha! Meat! There’s a lot of meat!”

“Kruuuwwaaaah! Thanks for the meal!”

The Colossus’ muscles were filled with toxins that hell creatures loved. They managed to bite off chunk after chunk of the Colossus’ skin and muscle, that even the elves’ arrows had failed to leave a scratch on, with their razor-sharp teeth. The Colossus roared in pain, shaking its leg in an attempt to shake off and step on the rodents munching away at its leg.

Kwachik!

The Colossus slammed its leg down on the ground, and numerous hell creatures exploded from the impact. However, Kang Yoon-Soo took the opportunity to land on the Colossus’ abdomen and entered its belly button, which was as deep as a cave.

‘The life I lived as a miner and conquered all seventy-seven jewel mines on the continent…’

Kang Yoon-Soo used the eight swords on both of his hands to dig away at the Colossus’ muscles. The Colossus that was still fighting an intense battle against the mighty dragon suddenly screamed in pain.

“Kuuuoogh!” The Colossus twisted its body tightly in an attempt to shake off the invader, but all it achieved was to create an opening for Ignus to attack and bite its arm.

Crack! C-Crack!

Kang Yoon-Soo dug through the Colossus’ rock-hard muscle with his swords. The feeling of having a needle pierce through one’s belly button would be torturous for anyone, and the Colossus was no exception. Kang Yoon-Soo thought, ‘It’s still a humanoid no matter how large it is.’

“Kwaaaah!” The Colossus let out a deafening roar and started to punch its own abdomen wildly. Eventually, it managed to successfully remove the intruder from within its belly button.

“Kwaaaaah!” The Colossus roared and swung its hand at the intruder who fell from its belly button.

Kang Yoon-Soo tilted his wings and shifted his flight trajectory in mid-air, then muttered, “Dance of Death.” He wildly swung all eight of his swords and slashed away at all five fingers of the Colossus’ hand. Ignus managed to unleash her dragon breath at point-blank range thanks to the distraction Kang Yoon-Soo caused.

“Kruuwaaaah!” The Colossus roared in pain as the blazing, intense dragon flame burned its eyes.

Kang Yoon-Soo flew so high up that he started to have difficulty breathing, muttering, “The Colossus’ weakness is between its eyebrows.”

Ignus grimaced as if she found the human to be annoying, but she still opened her mouth and spat her dragon breath between the Colossus’ eyes.

Fwaaaaaa!

The Colossus hurriedly covered its face with both hands, then threw a punch at the dragon’s jaws after swatting away the dragon’s breath. Ignus lost five of her fangs, and the Colossus grabbed her by the neck.

Kwachik! Pukeok! Pukeok!

The Colossus fiercely pounded the dragon with its fist, and the cruel sounds of the dragon’s scales breaking reverberated across the desert. Blood dripped down on the battlefield, and Ignus’ face was bruised and battered beyond recognition.

“O, Lord Dragon Ignus!” the Spartoi cried out, but all they could do was watch helplessly as the Colossus continued to smash the dragon’s face.

The Fire Trolls and the elves watched the one-sided beating the dragon was receiving fearfully. They were witnessing the defeat of what was known to be the mightiest creature on the continent.

“Die, dragon!” Kartheon shouted in glee as he raised both of his hands.

The Colossus raised its bloodied fist high in the air as it prepared to deliver the final blow and put an end to the dragon’s misery, but a demon suddenly landed between its eyes.

“Absolute Zero,” the demon muttered. An intense cold suddenly enveloped the spot between the Colossus’ eyes. The Colossus roared as it slapped the spot where the demon was standing, but Kang Yoon-Soo nimbly avoided its hand with the help of his wings.

“Ice Touch,” Kang Yoon-Soo muttered. His hands were enveloped with an intense chill, and his ice swords were further reinforced, becoming even sharper.

“Abyssal Sword,” Kang Yoon-Soo said as he attacked the Colossus’ weakness. His attack managed to break through the Colossus’ thick, strong skin. His eight ice swords were drenched in the Colossus’ blood and shone an eerie red.

“Kwuaaaaaah!” The Colossus roared in pain as it released its grip on the dragon’s neck and wildly slammed its hand into its face.

However, Kang Yoon-Soo flew around its face like an annoying but menacing bee, pouring out attack after attack. “Abyssal Sword. Abyssal Sword. Abyssal Sword.”

The bloodied ice swords let out waves of sparkling blood whenever Kang Yoon-Soo swung them. He successfully ripped apart the thick skin between the Colossus’ eyes, suddenly revealing a large jewel. The Colossus’ only weakness was finally exposed.

“Grwaaaaaah!” The bloodied dragon charged at the Colossus while dripping blood all over the battlefield, and bit the Colossus between its eyes with her bloody fangs.

The Colossus screamed and flailed its arms wildly as it attempted to shake off the dragon, but Ignus held on as long as she could until cracks started to form on the jewel embedded in the Colossus’ forehead.

“Kwuuhooooo!” The Colossus roared as it staggered back. It looked at Kang Yoon-Soo with pleading eyes that seemed to say ‘Please, don’t!’

However, Kang Yoon-Soo dove down and stabbed the jewel with his swords, muttering, “Die.”

Kwachiiiiiiik!

The jewel embedded in the Colossus’ forehead broke, and its body fell backward. The desert ground shook as if an intense earthquake had occurred, and the desert was engulfed in an intense sandstorm caused by the enormous giant’s collapse.

Baaaaaaaam! Thud!

[You have destroyed the Colossus’ guardian stone.]

[You have dealt the final blow against the Colossus.]

[It is an unbelievable achievement that has never before been accomplished by a mere human.]

[You have drawn the interest of the forces searching for a Demon King candidate.]

The Colossus had died, and the Fire Trolls and the elves had witnessed a scene they could not believe even though it had unfolded right in front of their eyes.

The first to open his mouth was the bloodied and ragged Yanak. He shouted, “Wooooaaaaaaa!”

The Fire Troll’s victory cry reverberated across the battlefield. It was only then that the other troops of the coalition army snapped back to their senses and let out their own victory cry, the sound sweeping across the battlefield.

“The Colossus is dead!”

“We won! We’ve won the war!”

“We’ve avenged the deaths of the elves!”

The surviving coalition troops rejoiced and embraced each other, and the ancient king’s army stopped their attacks and withdrew from the battlefield.

The dragon Ignus closed her eyes in exhaustion and said, “I will eat you if you cannot bring my child back to life after all of this.”

“Don’t worry, I will,” Kang Yoon-Soo said nonchalantly.

“Do not get too friendly with me, human,” the dragon growled.

“Isn’t it about time?” Kang Yoon-Soo replied.

Ignus let out a laugh, as if she found the human in front of her unbelievable.

Kang Yoon-Soo stared down at the Colossus’ corpse and thought, ‘It’s a relief it was just an old Colossus that was asleep for so long.’

The Colossus they faced this time had exerted less than a tenth of a Colossus’ true power. The Colossi residing in the magic tower were not beings that even a dragon would be able to face. In fact, if this Colossus had been a proper Colossus… Everyone and everything on the battlefield would have immediately been annihilated.

‘I gained quite a lot of experience points,’ Kang Yoon-Soo thought. He had only dealt the final blow, but he had gained a whopping 25 levels.

Just as the coalition army was drunk on victory, however, the sound of clapping suddenly silenced the whole battlefield. The silence that fell across the battlefield felt so natural, it was as if someone had quieted a rowdy crowd before making a speech.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

The sound of a man clapping was the only thing that could be heard across the battlefield.

“Amazing! I am sincerely amazed!” Kartheon exclaimed. The ancient king’s voice reverberated across the entire battlefield, and the coalition army raised their guard as they looked at him.

Kartheon did not pay heed to the onlookers as he looked up at Kang Yoon-Soo and said, “To think you would turn into a demon on top of calling a dragon to your side. Amazing! I will definitely uncover your identity after this war is over!”

The dragon Ignus growled and said, “Shut your mouth and accept your defeat, you insignificant creature from the past!”

“You are right; this is my defeat,” Kartheon said nonchalantly. However, his voice suddenly turned cold as he said, “That is why… Let us do it again.”

The ancient king extended his left hand toward the dead Colossus and said, “Time Resurrection.”

[You have consumed 50,000 units of temporal power.]

[You have consumed a great amount of temporal power to bring a creature back to life.]

[The target creature is too powerful.]

[The resurrection timer has increased.]

[Remaining temporal power: 60,213]

The space around the dead Colossus started to distort, and it looked as if time were rewinding for the Colossus alone.

[The dead Colossus, Raujan, is going back in time.]

[You will lose all experience points gained if the Colossus is successfully resurrected.]

[500 seconds left until the resurrection of the Colossus.]

“W-what the hell is that?!”

“The Colossus we went through hell to kill is coming back to life?!”

“Damn it! We have to stop it!”

“It’ll all be for nothing if that Colossus gets up again!”

The elves cast their spells and drew their bows, and the Fire Trolls risked their lives to throw themselves toward the ancient king. However, Kartheon was already prepared for any attacks, commanding the mummies to surround and shield him from them.

“Grwaaaaaaah!” Ignus roared and charged toward the ancient king.

However, Kartheon leisurely muttered with a smile, “The walls are strong!”

The mummies released a barrier as the ancient king cast his spell. It extended all the way into the air as it blocked Ignus’ claws. Ignus unleashed her dragon breath, but it failed to create a dent on Kartheon’s barrier.

“This barrier will remain standing for half an hour, and nobody will be able to break through it!” Kartheon confidently exclaimed behind the protection of the barrier and the mummies.

The wounds on the Colossus’ body started to regenerate, and it slowly began to rise to its feet.

The coalition army despaired in the overwhelming presence of the ancient king. Who could win against that?

“Now, let us start the party again, shall we? Let us see who will die this time!” Kartheon shouted while cackling. There were fewer than forty seconds remaining before the Colossus was fully revived.

Kang Yoon-Soo suddenly said out of nowhere, “You will die.”

“What is with your baseless confidence?” Kartheon asked with a smirk.

“It’s not,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied.

Kartheon suddenly felt killing intent approaching him.

Slash!

A mummy carrying a black scythe suddenly slashed toward the ancient king from behind. The Time Resurrection spell on the Colossus was nearly interrupted, but Kartheon managed to keep channeling the spell.

‘What?!’ Kartheon thought inwardly. He had managed to avoid sustaining any critical injuries, because he had detected the attack before he was hit.

However, a mummy in front of Kartheon suddenly spread mana threads out toward him. More than thirty combat dolls suddenly popped up out of nowhere and charged toward the ancient king.

‘Damn it!’ Kartheon thought.

The other mummies ran up to Kartheon to shield him from the attacks, but one of the mummies suddenly lunged at the ancient king and slammed his head down into the sand.

“Kuheok!” The ancient king gasped at the sudden attack. It was a ridiculously strong blow that caved in his head.

[The Time Resurrection has been canceled.]

[The temporal energy will not be refunded.]

One mummy suddenly said, “I thought I was going to die of suffocation.”

“I know, right? Even though it’s called ‘infiltration’, we’ve been dressed as mummies since the start of the battle,” the mummy carrying a scythe said with a sigh.

Henrick undid the bandage wrapped around his body and wondered, “But why did that punk turn into a demon this time? Although it suits him too well…”

Kang Yoon-Soo stared at Kartheon’s bloodied body on the ground, and told the ancient king something he had never heard before from anyone.

“You can regress as much as you want.”