Chapter 316: Episode 316

Information on the Absolute was scarce. He had only used two skills in Dispel. One was a wide-area suppression skill called ’Advent of the Absolute,’ and the other was ’Absolute Slash’—an attack unaffected by skills, special abilities, or items. Because Absolute Slash included a homing function, any targeted soldier was practically guaranteed to die.

[Giant Ballista Drake (Modified) has started loading.]

[Giant Crossbow Drake (Modified) has started loading.]

[Catapult Drake (Modified) has started loading.]

The Siege-type Soldiers, fully upgraded to stage three by the Rough Rock Tribe dwarves, prepared for bombardment. Vision over the Revived Plains was already secured thanks to Hicleu’s skill. Pilseus, on the other hand, had not yet secured his own, making this the perfect opportunity to hit him with a vision penalty.

[Vision Priority Ticket is used.]

[Claimed four sides of the win/loss dice.]

The probability of winning the Vision Battle was sixty percent. It was a gamble worth taking.

[Hicleu’s vision and Pilseus’s vision collide.]

[The win/loss dice are rolled.]

Perhaps thanks to True Eyes, the dice materialized and rolled in midair.

[The number on the dice is 1.]

[Hicleu, holding the numbers 1, 2, 5, and 6, wins!]

[Hicleu gains the upper hand in the Vision Battle.]

Hicleu was the only one engaged in the Vision Battle, but since she had secured sight over the entire plains through True Eyes, it wasn’t an issue. Now, the Absolute would be subjected to the Vision Battle penalty. With his narrowed field of vision, there was no way he could spot the soldiers in the rear, forcing him to fight exclusively in close quarters.

[Unix Dungeon soldiers have appeared.]

[Talos Dungeon soldiers have appeared.]

[Grandal Dungeon soldiers have appeared.]

[Velvet’s Dungeon soldiers have appeared.]

Soon, the four faction members appeared on the plains, leading their soldiers alongside their Main Forces.

Simultaneous artillery fire rang out, raising the curtain on the defense against the Attacker. The shield-bearers closed the distance in an instant, eliminating any blind spots.

There was only one opponent.

No matter how much of a monster he was, as long as the frontline held, they could continuously inflict damage using the ranged and Siege-type Soldiers. Furthermore, since the death of the High Lich Bigdream left them with no means to protect the rear, the importance of the shield-bearers was even greater.

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus has used Vision Omnipotence Pass.]

[Unable to secure vision!]

[The Vision Battle penalty has been nullified through the Vision Omnipotence Pass.]

’So that’s how he uses the Vision Omnipotence Pass. But he still hasn’t secured vision of the rear.’

Even though he was forcibly made part of a dungeon, he must have retained his will as an Attacker, given how promptly he whipped out Exclusive Items. Pilseus unleashed his aura as he watched the swarming shield-bearers.

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus has cast Advent of the Absolute.]

[The movements of all entities in the vicinity are bound.]

[The skills and special abilities of all entities in the vicinity are sealed.]

He cast the same skill he had shown inside the Dispel dungeon. The shield-bearers within Pilseus’s line of sight faltered and froze solid. It was an incredible effect that bound targets while simultaneously sealing their skills and special abilities. Considering it wasn’t a limited-use skill, it was safe to call it an absolutely broken ability.

’I can’t keep using items every time Advent of the Absolute is triggered. If it comes to this…’

His gaze naturally fell to the table. The first thing he needed to resolve was Advent of the Absolute. Taehyun prioritized drawing the Effect Reversal Card and Skill Steal.

[Effect Reversal Card is used.]

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus has used Return.]

[Skill Steal is used.]

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus has used Item Block.]

As expected, appropriate counters came flying in. If he retained his will as an Attacker, he would definitely grasp the importance of Advent of the Absolute. The three Supporters grew anxious as two items were wasted in succession.

However, the Effect Reversal Card and Skill Steal were merely meant to bait out his counter items. The true objective was an SS-rank Exclusive Item. Taehyun used the nameplate placed on the table.

[Skill Block Item is used.]

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus’s Advent of the Absolute is blocked.]

[Advent of the Absolute becomes unusable for the duration of the raid attempt.]

It was an SS-rank Exclusive Item that blocked a specific skill during a raid defense. He had baited out all the counter items solely for this. Although he had lost two versatile items, without Advent of the Absolute, the frontline could be maintained.

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus has cast Full Moon Slash.]

[Delivers a fatal blow to the shield-bearers in the front.]

The bound shield-bearers were chopped to pieces in an instant. Around five hundred died in a flash, but there were still plenty of soldiers left. The four faction members deployed their S-rank shield-bearers, beginning to secure the frontline once again. Meanwhile, Taehyun advanced his SS-rank Colossus Soldiers, surrounding Pilseus from all sides.

[Colossus Soldier]

[Rank: SS]

[Level: 57]

[Class: Shield-bearer]

[Title: Forgotten Ancient Race]

[Affiliation: Balak]

[Loyalty: 58]

[Favorability: 35]

[Obedience: 54]

[Skill: Riding, Crush, Defense Mode]

[Special Ability: Protection of Iron Armor]

[Strength: 88] [Endurance: 94] [Agility: 4] [Stamina: 102]

[Mana: 1] [Divinity: 1] [Affinity: 12] [Luck: 14]

The first SS-rank soldier, the Colossus Soldier. Since it was recently summoned, he hadn’t been able to grow it properly, but given its rank, it boasted considerable stats despite its low level.

“Balak. Protect!”

“Defense Mode activated.”

“Protection of Iron Armor activated.”

The ancient ironclad soldiers crouched down. The effect of Protection of Iron Armor reduced the power of all enemy skills by half for a certain period.

The ironclad soldiers clanged loudly, entirely capable of blocking the Full Moon Slash that had obliterated the S-rank shield-bearers in a single blow. Meanwhile, Hendy in the rear boosted their firepower by imbuing chain explosions, and Mederia summoned Fesilin to increase the fairies’ stats.

—

“Graaargh!”

The Colossus Soldiers, who had been holding out tenaciously, began to fall. While they consistently blocked skills when they first cast Defense Mode, their low level proved to be a fatal flaw.

“The frontline won’t hold out much longer. It’s about time we deploy the Main Forces.”

“That guy is a real monster. To think the day would come when we’d face an SSS-rank Attacker.”

“If you’re scared, I don’t mind if you run away now.”

“Who said I was scared? If I’m going to die anyway, I’d rather die fighting a guy like that.”

The Main Forces of each dungeon approached from the left and right. Seonghwi and Seungpil equipped their gear and prepared for battle.

Just then, a Death Knight riding a skeletal horse charged from afar.

“You baaaastard! I will avenge Archon Bigdream!”

It was Grizzle, who had lost his Archon right after losing his son. He cast ’Agonizing Cries’ and dug straight into the front. The Knight of Nightmares, Grizzle, was undoubtedly an S-rank Hero Main Force soldier. If he could just land ’Agonizing Cries,’ he could inflict fatal damage.

However, in front of the Absolute, the Death Knight was nothing more than a bug. Pilseus slashed through Grizzle along with the Colossus Soldier, lopping off his head in a single stroke.

[S-rank Hero Soldier Knight of Nightmares Grizzle has died.]

An utterly vain end. Seonghwi, watching from behind, clicked his tongue and climbed atop a Colossus Soldier.

“Attacking one by one is meaningless. We need to buy time while the ranged soldiers increase their firepower.”

“I agree with that. Moo.”

“At least the cow-head listens well. Alright, let’s go.”

Pacific and Tempetran, Maurat and Gotman. Other melee-type Main Forces climbed atop the Colossus Soldiers simultaneously.

“Advance. Advance. Advance.”

Soon, they closed in on Pilseus. He destroyed the legs of the approaching Colossus Soldiers, breaking their balance. The Main Forces riding on top lunged at him in a flash, casting their skills. Seonghwi and Seungpil each took a switching stance, minimizing the impact as much as possible.

[Grandal Dungeon Master Seungpil Seo has cast Desperate Will.]

[Talos Dungeon Master Seonghwi has cast Clash of Bloodlust.]

As buffs activated in succession, the battle began in earnest. Seungpil’s original class was a shield-bearer type, just like during the Faction War. It was no mere coincidence that he had been assigned the role of shield-bearer in the last Faction War.

[The shield’s durability is at 13%.]

“Ugh. I only blocked it once, so why is the durability like this?!”

“Thanks for the timely switch.”

“I was just pushed back, what do you mean switch?!”

The figures of the two men crossed. Seonghwi thrust his dagger forward, digging into an opening. However, Pilseus held his ground, easily deflecting the attacks time and time again.

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus’s Necro-Engraving Stage 1 is applied.]

[All stats are doubled.]

Soon, the Absolute’s armor was dyed blue. A nearby Guardian of Grandal swung her twin greatswords, aiming for his back. Instead, a massive sword wound appeared across her own body as blood burst forth.

“Aaaaargh!”

“Damn it. Madrella!”

“…He’s gotten even stronger than before. We’re really going to be in trouble at this rate.”

Guardians were already beginning to fall.

[Balak’s Dungeon Master has used Double Reduction.]

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus has used Double Amplification.]

[The effects return to normal.]

Even the item meant to reduce the effects of Necro-Engraving was countered. Looking at the items in their hands, Maurat and Gotman threw their bodies forward to interfere. At that moment, an aura spread out from the Absolute’s entire body, triggering an explosion.

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus has cast Dark Knight’s Terror.]

[Triggers dark explosions on designated targets.]

[Dark Knight’s Terror usage limit: 1/3]

The two Minotaurs were blown to pieces. The explosive power was so immense that it left a massive crater in the ground.

[Balak’s Dungeon Master has used Forced Location Change.]

[Pilseus’s location is forcibly moved from the Revived Plains to the Revived Plains.]

The Absolute, who had been in the middle of finishing off the remaining Main Forces, vanished. Seonghwi blinked in confusion as he suddenly saw Pilseus caught in Kuma Kuma’s embrace. At that moment, an Attacker appeared to resolve his confusion.

“N-Now! Kuma Kuma!”

“Got it. Hold him tight. Let’s test the power of that remade skill of yours!”

Yuda, who had once targeted Balak, raised Fragarach and gathered his mana.

[S-rank Top-tier Attacker Yuda is casting Scream of Ragnarok.]

[Magic Sword Fragarach amplifies the mana.]

[Sacred Divine Power is gathering along with the mana.]

[Scream of Ragnarok usage limit: 1/1]

The entire earth quaked. Yuda, who had forcibly grown through Evolution and Remake, swung his sword at Pilseus, who was being held by Kuma Kuma.

[S-rank Named Mercenary Guide of the Celestial Realm Eclat’s special ability ’Serenade Illuminating the Dawn’ has been activated.]

[Balak’s Dungeon Master has used a buff item.]

[Scream of Ragnarok is fired.]

With a massive sound tearing through the air, a beam of light shot out in a straight line. Pilseus belatedly slashed through Kuma Kuma’s body and escaped, but he could not evade the Scream of Ragnarok.

Their vision flashed white as the surrounding area was devastated by the explosion.

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus’s Necro-Engraving Stage 2 is applied.]

[The power of all skills is doubled.]

[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus’s Necro-Engraving Stage 3 is applied.]

[An invincible state is maintained for 30 minutes.]

[Becomes immune to movement-related effects.]

[Becomes immune to effect-related items.]

A black-stained haze rose. Pilseus walked out of the thick smoke, revealing his glowing red eyes.

“An invincible state for thirty minutes? That’s ridiculous!”

It was the Stage 3 effect of Necro-Engraving that made even Seonghwi panic. The Main Forces immediately widened the distance and kept their guard up, but in front of the Absolute, whose stats and skills had all doubled, there was nowhere to run.

[Tyrant Kuma Kuma has died.]

[White Knight Rosentanium has died.]

[Fallen Watcher Pacific has died.]

The number of Main Forces was gradually decreasing. Seonghwi urgently tried to block Pilseus, but Hasla stepped forward before him.

“…I will handle him. Everyone, step back.”

“Even for you, an invincible state will be too much to handle.”

“I just received a transmission from the Guide. It seems it’s my turn to burn my life away.”

His drooping tail perked up. Hasla faced Pilseus with a resolute expression. At that moment, a massive wall formed where the two stood, creating another field.

[Balak’s Dungeon Master has used Blood Battle Arena.]

[Sending two designated targets to the arena.]

[The arena will not be destroyed until one of them is on the verge of death.]

An arena unaffected by any skills, special abilities, or items was opened. The walls were built so solidly that it was impossible to spectate from the outside. Hasla took a deep breath and raised his head.

“Let us see how we measure up.”

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