I swung my sword powerfully towards the giant serpent. Putting strength into the hand gripping Black Night, I thrust as deep as possible.
-Chwaaaak!
The sword pierced between the black serpent's scales, and dark red blood gushed from the deep wound. The creature thrashed wildly, letting out a monstrous shriek.
But at that moment-
A powerful energy swirled within its massive mouth.
"It's a breath attack! Everyone scatter!"
I quickly pulled out my sword and threw myself aside.
-Kwaaaang!
With a tremendous explosion, a powerful breath attack erupted from the serpent's mouth. A blinding light filled the temple, and a flash like an exploding sun burst forth.
The rocks and structures in front instantly vanished as if evaporated. Stone fragments and dust flew everywhere, and a shockwave swept through the surroundings.
I rolled my body and barely dodged it. But immense heat grazed my skin as it passed.
-Kwang!
Behind me, debris rained down from the aftermath of the explosion. The temple's structure collapsed without a trace.
'Now's my chance.'
I read the serpent's movements. Immediately after unleashing its breath, it was momentarily defenseless. I swiftly charged towards its exposed neck.
-Chwaaaak!
A blue-tinged sword aura sliced through its massive neck, cutting deep. Piercing the tough scales, dark red blood gushed out like a waterfall.
'The scales on its neck are weaker than elsewhere.'
Having found its weakness, I shouted without hesitation.
"Aim for its neck! It's weaker than the other scales!"
The guild members reacted immediately to my shout.
Isia drew her bow and swiftly fired an arrow imbued with light. The arrow flew and accurately pierced the serpent's vulnerable neck.
As the arrow buried itself deep, the serpent let out a painful cry and writhed.
Lauren also seized the opening and charged. Her axe gleamed, tracing a sharp arc.
-Kwajik!
A powerful blow struck the serpent's neck, leaving a deep wound. Following this, a barrage of continuous attacks from the guild members poured down.
'Good, with this much, I can leave the others to them....'
I turned to Lauren and said firmly.
"Lauren! I'm leaving the command to you!"
"Yes!"
Lauren nodded resolutely. I dashed forward without hesitation.
I charged towards the fragment of Tiamat that had possessed Tia's body, floating in the air.
"Does a lowly human dare to challenge this one?"
Tiamat smiled leisurely and lightly gestured in the air.
With Tiamat's gesture, dark red energy exploded. Countless magic circles appeared in the air, and innumerable chains poured down.
'So she can use the magic Tia uses too.'
I twisted my body immediately upon seeing the dark red chains flying towards me.
-Kwang!
One chain struck the ground, shattering it. I then concentrated internal energy into my sword and swung it.
A blue sword aura flew in a crescent shape, severing the chains. But the severed chains reconnected and flew towards me again.
'Damn it, it's a dimension above what Tia uses. At this rate, I can't even get close.'
I watched the regenerating chains' movements and looked at the fragment of Tiamat floating in the air. She smiled as if my struggles amused her.
'Hmph, no choice then. To defeat Tiamat while she's off guard, now's the only chance.'
I drew up my internal energy to its maximum from my dantian. The internal energy flowed through my entire body along my meridians. The blade of Black Night emitted an even more intense blue light.
The energy emanating from the blade grew increasingly powerful.
I looked at Tiamat, contemplating how to bring Tia back. What immediately caught my eye was the dark red gem on her forehead.
'I'll aim for that first.'
I focused on the gem on her forehead and took my stance.
"Hoo, is this your last struggle?"
"We'll see about that."
At the same time as I spoke, I lunged forward. A powerful shockwave erupted where I had stood, destroying the floor. My muscles, enhanced by internal energy, generated explosive propulsion.
Tiamat's chains poured down like rain. I swung Black Night once, severing all of them, and instantly reached her front.
"What?!"
A clear look of surprise appeared on Tiamat's face for the first time.
My sword swung, aiming for the gem embedded in her forehead, but only an illusion remained where she had been.
"Hehe, it's been a long time since my heart pounded."
At some point, Tiamat appeared beside me and grabbed my neck.
"Kugh...!"
"How weak."
She lifted me as if handling a toy. Dark red energy emanating from her grip flowed down my neck.
I imbued my sword with internal energy and swung it. But a chain that appeared from thin air wrapped around my sword.
"Are you done with your antics?"
With her cold voice, the strength in her grip intensified.
'Damn it... At this rate....'
I felt my breath being cut off. My consciousness was slowly fading.
Tiamat's violet eyes curved as if amused. She slowly lowered her face, then leaned closer to me and sniffed.
"Hoo, I feel a familiar energy from your body."
A meaningful smile played on her lips.
"Cheonwol, you're full of that slut's scent."
"Kugh..."
I gritted my teeth, but the grip on my neck tightened even more.
Tiamat smiled as if my reaction was interesting, then gently lifted my chin with her finger.
"Hmm... Cheonwol, a human that slut is interested in...."
Tiamat's eyes shone strangely. Her face drew closer and closer. Her cold breath brushed my cheek as she whispered.
"Abandon that slut and become this one's."
"Kugh... Get..."
"Hm? What did you say?"
"Get lost...! You bitch!"
I gathered my last strength, concentrated internal energy on my forehead, and headbutted the gem embedded in her forehead.
-Jjaeng!
For a moment, Tiamat's face shook greatly. A small but clear crack appeared on the gem embedded in her forehead.
"Agh... How dare you...!"
Taking advantage of her loosened grip, I rolled to the floor and escaped.
It was then.
"Seoyun-ssi..."
Suddenly, her eyes returned to violet. Tia's consciousness had briefly returned.
"Tia...!"
But that fleeting moment was too short. Soon, golden light covered her eyes again.
"Do not interfere, you weakling."
Tiamat's cold voice echoed. She looked down at me and whispered.
"Insolent one... To dare to mock this one, you will surely pay the price for that sin."
As she slowly spread her arms, a massive magic circle appeared in the air.
[Come forth─── Despair of the abyss slumbering in endless darkness───.]
The magic circle glowed intensely. A gigantic silhouette slowly emerged from its center. Like a being pulled from the abyss, enveloped in pitch-black energy, it exuded overwhelming pressure.
Its size was enormous, enough to fill the entire temple. Its body was blurry, as if water and darkness were mixed, but overflowing power could be felt within it.
[Leviathan (Replica) Lv. 90]
As soon as the notification window appeared, the air grew heavy. An intense pressure, as if crushing the heart, spread in all directions.
It was a monster that seemed to be a mix of a serpent and a dragon, and its entire body was covered in pitch-black scales, adorned with hard, sharp thorns. Its four glowing red eyes exuded an oppressive aura that felt as if it could steal one's soul just by meeting them.
The creature opened its massive maw and unleashed a breath attack towards me.
-Kwaaang!
I instinctively twisted my body, but even the aftermath pushed me back.
"Kugh...!"
"Master-nim!"
Isia's urgent cry was heard. I raised my hand to stop her from coming.
"Don't come! Get the others and run away now!"
"No...! Not alone...."
Isia's voice trembled. Lauren also showed clear signs of hesitation.
"That's an order! Get out now!"
"Do you think this one would just stand by and watch that?"
Tiamat's cold voice echoed.
"Levi, devour them all."
Following her command, Leviathan slowly raised its head. With a massive roar, the air vibrated from its breath alone.
-Kwaaaang!
A deafening roar shook the dungeon. Rocks and debris flew everywhere, and the floor cracked and split. I barely managed to get up, balancing on the crumbling floor.
"Lauren! Drag Isia out now! If you don't want to die, get out!"
Lauren and Isia hesitated, looking at each other, but in the end, Lauren gritted her teeth and pulled her.
"Yes...!"
"No...! Let go!"
Isia struggled, but Lauren held her and retreated with the party.
I swung Black Night towards Leviathan, which was about to move.
In the pitch-black darkness, a blue sword aura extended in a crescent shape. The sharp sword aura cut through the air and rushed towards Leviathan's massive body.
-Kwang!
The sword aura struck Leviathan's body, but despite the impact, only a small scratch appeared on its dark red scales. And even that quickly regenerated, returning to its original form.
'Those scales... Normal attacks won't work.'
As the creature continued to move without stopping, I quickly dashed and leaped onto its body. I ran straight towards its head.
At that moment, Leviathan's red eyes recognized me. Then, dozens of magic circles generated in the air, and sharp blades made of transparent liquid poured down.
'You crazy monster bastard... It's cheating for a serpent to use magic.'
While dodging the attacks, I checked if the party had escaped. Fortunately, I saw them just exiting the temple.
Leviathan seemed to realize this too, letting out a massive roar of anger at losing its prey.
I scraped its scales with the tip of my sword as I ran towards its head.
-Kiiiiiik!
The friction sound between the scales and the sword tip echoed eerily. The sword tip gradually dug into the finely cracked gaps.
However, as the creature powerfully bucked, my body was thrown into the air.
'Damn it...!'
Then, Leviathan opened its massive mouth and lunged at me.
"Kugh...!"
I barely managed to push my sword in, preventing Leviathan's mouth from closing completely. But the blade creaked under the crushing force.
Cracks began to appear on Black Night's blade. Fine fissures spread, making a sound as if metal was breaking.
"At this rate...!"
But it was too late to push it away. A powerful energy swirled within Leviathan's mouth.
"Hehe, what a truly pitiful sight."
Tiamat, looking down from above, raised her hand with a sneer.
Black energy swirled within Leviathan's massive mouth.
"Kugh..."
I gritted my teeth, but I knew instinctively. This was not something I could stop.
-Kwaaaang!
A black breath attack exploded.
A tremendous impact surged, sending my body flying. A powerful shock was transmitted to my back, and an immense force threw me against the wall.
-Kwang!
The moment I violently hit the wall, a sound of bones breaking was heard, and a pain as if my lungs were crushed surged through me.
"Cough...!"
Red blood flowed from between my lips, staining the floor.