The Player Who Stands Above All

Chapter 152

If he had raised his internal energy and swung his spear at the ground as soon as he noticed his legs were bound by mud and water, he would have been able to escape this level of confinement easily, albeit with a few minor injuries.

But Lee Shin, instead of releasing the confinement and running away, chose to stand still and wait for the two's attack to be completed.

Of course, he knew very well that this was a crazy thing to do.

Because this was something in between a spar where each other's safety was guaranteed and a fight where they were aiming for each other's lives.

But conversely, that was also why he had made this choice.

Grin-

A person like Lee Shin, who thought that living was so boring that it didn't feel like he was alive, had to periodically do crazy things like putting his heart on a blade.

Only then could he feel that he was alive.

It would be easier to understand if you thought of Russian roulette.

If you cross the line of death once and come back, you can realize that you are alive now and have the strength to live again.

'I haven't done it much since the Pantheon came out… Is this why they say habits are scary.'

Well, he had said it a bit grandly, and the situation was a bit dizzying, but if you thought about it simply, it was simple and there was no problem.

Seueuk-

It was just that he was a little excited because an old thought had come to mind, so he was just trying to do something stupid, and it was just a story that would end if he deflected all 12 arrows that were screaming to tear his heart apart.

Hwoooong-

Simultaneously with Hercules's arrows, which were scattering a brilliant radiance, leaving the bowstring, he swung the Night Sky he was holding in his hand.

The Night Sky bared its fangs and created countless red and golden lines in the empty air, and in the trajectory of those lines were also the mud and water that had been holding Lee Shin's legs.

Seueuk-

The mud and water that Diz was controlling were finely crushed by the Night Sky's fangs, but as if to say 'so what', they instantly came together again and tried to grab Lee Shin's legs.

In the end, a very short, fleeting gap was created.

But Lee Shin smiled as if it didn't matter.

Because what Lee Shin had wanted from the beginning was a small gap just big enough to take a step.

-Flame Lightning Dyeing World Step.

-Chaotic Heaven

The same as what had unfolded in the battle with Arachne, but a footstep that contained a more refined group, not just moving according to a momentary intuition, unfolded as a footwork from the tip of Lee Shin's foot.

Flames blossomed from the footprint, evaporating the water that had been holding his body, and lightning soared, tearing apart the pile of mud that had been climbing up his body.

The flames and lightning that had spread out like that instantly dyed the world with their own color, then scattered and mixed.

"Tsk, he could do something like that too."

Diz, who was controlling the mud and water while watching the situation, clicked his tongue softly as he felt his aura getting tangled and looked at Lee Shin being released from his shackles.

In the current situation, it was impossible to catch Lee Shin.

But if he put his mind to it, it was no big deal to just interfere with him.

But Diz, instead of interfering with Lee Shin, chose to quietly watch the situation.

Swaeeeek--!!!

Because he had already done his part.

Lee Shin, who had regained his freedom, bent his legs and put strength into the hand holding the spear, and faced the golden arrows that were flying towards him like hawks.

The green light on the arrowheads glinted like the fierce eyes of a wild beast and glared at Lee Shin.

'If I get hit by an arrow like that, it won't just end with me becoming a hedgehog, that part will probably explode and be blown wide open.'

Since there were 12 of them, it would be a miracle if his corpse remained intact.

"Puhahaha!"

That's why Lee Shin laughed.

Whether the first meeting was the problem or because their hearts were soft, the three he had played with recently hadn't made such blatant attacks with such clear intent.

He felt the complaints that had been slowly accumulating in that situation disappear at once.

"It was worth going strong from the beginning."

Saying that, Lee Shin gently swung the Night Sky, which was now clad in a spear ki that was a mixture of red and gold, not a transparent spear ki.

In terms of level, this side had the upper hand.

But the current attack was a blow created by two people who had far surpassed the level limited by their level, by combining their powerful skills.

Just as Lee Shin was, those two were also irregulars who had surpassed the limits of their level.

That's why Lee Shin had noticed from the beginning that he didn't have the strength to block Hercules's arrows.

So the answer is simple.

-Flame Lightning Tree God Spear

As always.

-Flame Lightning

If it's a powerful attack that can't be blocked.

-Full Bloom

It's just a matter of gently deflecting the attack so that it doesn't head towards you.

Hwoooong-

Like a tree branch swaying in the wind, the Night Sky moves gently and once again creates a gentle trajectory.

In that trajectory, as if a tree were growing, golden lightning extends, and at its end, red flames blossom and envelop Lee Shin.

What was created was a small tree.

And the arrows that were pouring in from all directions, as if they were beasts trapped in a maze, lost their target and their trajectories were cleverly twisted.

But one is not enough.

Then it's just a matter of increasing the number.

Woong-

The number of golden branches made of spear ki increases, and the scarlet leaves hanging at the ends of the branches spread into the air.

The continuously increasing leaves and branches grow in size, enveloping and pushing away the arrows, while at the same time, trapping them.

And so, the arrows trapped in the dense trees gradually lost their original target.

Kwaaaaaang--!!!

In the end, they pierced the ground at the foot of the target, not the original target, and bowed their heads.

"You withstood that?"

As all 12 of his arrows, which he had shot with all his might, were futilely stuck in the ground, he looked at Lee Shin with a surprised smile.

At that, Lee Shin also smiled back and lightly rolled his sore shoulders.

Even though he had continuously added strength to his body, which had been strengthened by [Mad Dragon], and had continuously put his internal energy into it, the power of the arrows contained in the arrows Hercules had shot was so strong that it had strained him.

"Puhahaha!!! Ah! This is fun after a long time!"

Lee Shin tapped his shoulder with the Night Sky, one of whose spearheads was broken, and laughed as if he were genuinely enjoying it.

"Hah, I've never seen a crazy guy like that before."

"Oh…"

Watching Lee Shin, Hercules let out a sigh mixed with astonishment, and Diz looked at Lee Shin with intrigued eyes.

Both of them were amazed at Lee Shin's appearance, but they just stood still and looked at him, as if they were not going to fight anymore.

And for good reason, Lee Shin's body was in a state that could be described as not just serious, but miserable.

Huduk- Hududuk-

Perhaps because he hadn't been able to completely deflect the attack, his body was gouged out in circles here and there, as if bitten by a beast, with flesh missing, and blood was continuously flowing from the wounds.

Considering the poison that was on Hercules's arrows, Lee Shin's current wound was a serious injury that would not be strange even if he died right away.

It wasn't for nothing that Hercules, who had been through all sorts of things, was surprised to see Lee Shin.

It was the first time Hercules had seen a freak who would burst out laughing even after receiving such a wound.

In other words, Hercules didn't know.

Pajijijik-!

That Lee Shin was more of a psycho than he thought.

"You crazy bastard!!! Are you planning on fighting us with that body?"

"What, were you planning on just hitting me and stopping?"

Hercules, who had been completely off guard, reacted a beat late to Lee Shin's sudden surprise attack.

"Ooooh! Amazing!!!"

Diz was also surprised by Lee Shin's sudden attack.

Unlike his initial relaxed appearance, Diz looked at Lee Shin in a very excited state.

Watching the two, Lee Shin emitted a killing intent of a density incomparable to before.

"What, how can you move with that body?"

"Huh? Ah, I've had my fill of poison worse than what was on your arrows. So I can somehow endure this much!"

"No, how can you move with that wound!"

Hercules shouted as if he were fed up and swung his club.

If the other side was so full of fighting spirit, this side had to face them.

"Poison… Were you with Arachne?"

"That's right, and I also fought with Uriel and Baek Hyunwoo."

"Baek Hyunwoo?"

"Ah, should I say Baekho for you to know?"

Hercules continued to talk and let out a hollow laugh.

In Lee Shin's voice, which was answering his words, there was not a hint of pain or suffering.

Even though every single action was full of killing intent, his body and mind seemed to be playing separately, and watching Lee Shin answer his questions with the same appearance as when he had first entered the dungeon, Hercules said without realizing it.

"Are you really human?"

"I've heard that a lot, so it's getting old."

"Is that so?"

Buuuung-

Hercules said that and swung his club.

Outwardly, it seemed that Lee Shin was at an overwhelming disadvantage, but in fact, Hercules's situation was not that good either.

The blow from a moment ago was literally an attack that contained all of Hercules's power.

That's why the current Hercules was having a hard time using his aura according to his usual condition, and because of the internal injuries that were not visible on the outside, it seemed like he would cough up blood at any moment.

But since it didn't seem like Lee Shin would let him go obediently, he gritted his teeth and swung his weapon.

Woong-!

At that moment, Diz, who had been watching the two continuously swinging their weapons at each other, moved his aura and gestured.

As he gestured elegantly in the empty air, as if drawing on a pure white canvas, the water that had been filling the puddle rose into the empty air as if it were flowing backwards, and the ground under the two collapsed and attacked them.

Simultaneously with the two slightly losing their balance, flames blossomed brilliantly and threatened them, and the wind raged sharply and attacked them.

As if nature itself had hostility, it attacked the two.

"Hmm, so this is why you got the nickname 'calamity' or 'natural disaster'? It's certainly a fitting nickname."

But Lee Shin just smiled leisurely, easily dodging all those attacks through the Flame Leaf Return Art.

"Ettwete! Hey! I got dirt in my mouth!"

Hercules, who had fallen into the suddenly created pit, also had no particular injuries and was just getting angry that he had gotten dirt in his mouth.

But Diz didn't even care about Hercules's reaction.

Because Diz's purpose of separating the two had been achieved.

"Hey."

"Why are you calling me?"

"Don't you want to be the model for my painting for a while?"

"Hm?"

At Diz's sudden words, Lee Shin tilted his head, but Hercules shook his head as if he were used to it.

'Sigh, it seems he's lost his mind again.'

Before the Pantheon came out, Diz was a famous painter who had created many works, and the reason he had started the Pantheon was also for the sole purpose of painting.

And the reason Diz had started to make a name for himself was also simple.

Because he wanted to paint a picture of a lion with blue fur, which was a famous field boss at the time.

After knocking that guy down, the sight of Diz painting a picture of him fighting or lying down calmly had become famous, and he had made a name for himself.

Diz had done such eccentric things as if it were a daily routine, and Hercules, who had watched him for a long time, could tell.

That the current Diz had lost his mind.

'He usually just draws with dark circles like a panda, but he's only stubborn at times like this.'

While Hercules was clicking his tongue, Lee Shin, who had taken out a bundle of spiritual medicine from his inventory, looked at Diz and smiled widely.

"If you beat me, there's nothing I can't do."

At Lee Shin's answer, Diz also smiled back.

"I was planning on doing that anyway, but since you said that, I can beat you down without any burden."

Diz said that and raised an aura that shone more colorfully than ever before.

"From my experience so far, it's drawn better after a fight."

Simultaneously with a rainbow-colored eye being created on Diz's forehead, the earrings on both sides sparkled as if responding to his aura.

At that, the color of the aura, which had had numerous radiances, changed back to four, and then split according to the color, creating four dolls.

-Hwaa, are we still here? I don't like it here.

The red one, in the form of a prickly-looking girl.

-Hehe, I like it here.

The blue one, in the form of an innocent-looking girl.

-Hwaaang, but why did you call us?

The turquoise one, in the form of a languid-looking girl.

-Didn't you call us to fight that ahjussi again? Huh? It's a different person.

The yellowish-brown one, in the form of a gentle-looking girl.

Although it was a sudden situation, Lee Shin was nonchalant even while watching it.

"Are they spirits?"

"Huh? What, you already knew? I barely managed to make a contract with them through the elves."

At Diz's words, Lee Shin said, chewing on the spiritual medicine like popcorn.

"I told you. I fought with Arachne."

"…She had a spirit too?"

"Yes, she said it was a spirit of poison and was carrying around a purple spider."

Lee Shin said that and threw the empty bag he was holding in his hand on the ground.

Using the spiritual medicine as a material, [High-Speed Recovery] moved and healed Lee Shin's wounded body.

For reference, the Night Sky had eaten Lee Shin's blood that had been pouring out and had returned to its original, intact appearance using the automatic restoration of [Black Night].

"So I know very well how annoying spirits are and how to send them back."

-Heeik! What is that guy!

-He looks like a person on the outside!

-Is he a person? Isn't he a monster?

-Scary!

The spirits, who had been hit head-on by Lee Shin's killing intent, made a fuss, came down to the ground, and hid behind Diz, trembling.

(End of Chapter)