Return of the Shattered Constellation - Chapter 194

Chapter 194

『Yes, you’re right. I’m your shadow now, but I’m not sure if you know this.』

When Baek Gyeo-Ul’s ‘other personality’ finished speaking, he felt as if his shadow had been reversed and was infiltrating his mind.

The Hellserpent’s shadow was escaping his control and now trying to devour him.

『You’re the one who will end up in the most trouble if you mishandle that shadow.』

His other ego’s voice faded, and Gyeo-Ul’s soul fell down into the invisible abyss.

Boom!

The [Shadow Chain], which had been restricting the gigantic Hellserpent, grew bigger and burst like fireworks. In the middle of it all, a demonic creature that looked exactly like the Hellserpent appeared. The only difference was that it was made entirely of shadows.

Kiiiii!

Shrieking just like the true Hellserpent, the demonic shadow creature sank his teeth into the Hellserpent’s neck. The long battle had already torn open the Hellserpent’s wound, and the demonic shadow creature’s attack aggravated it further, ripping the serpent’s muscle enough to reveal its bone.

Kyaaah―!

The Hellserpent screamed in pain, but it was still determined to win. Just like the demonic shadow creature, the Hellserpent bit the creature back, making his black blood splatter like a fountain. Able to only act on instinct due to their fury, the two beasts coiled around one another to bite each other’s necks off. Every time the monsters attacked each other, their vicinity was reduced to ashes.

Meanwhile, Gyeo-Ul was nowhere to be seen.

* * *

‘The [Shadow Thread] is shaking hard.’ Chang-Sun became anxious when he noticed the black thread made up of his shadow noticeably trembled.

Chang-Sun being able to retrieve his shadow this quickly meant Gyeo-Ul was going through an intense battle and that he was in danger. Hence, Chang-Sun couldn’t help feeling anxious. He was well aware of what would happen once Gyeo-Ul’s shadows had been depleted.

‘It would be a big problem if Gyeo-Ul completely loses control of his power.’

Chang-Sun knew how serious such a problem would be because of Xerxes, the false deity who didn’t have a physical body. Xerxes had used Chang-Sun’s shadow to build a body, but whenever Xerxes ran out of the shadow amid a long battle, he instinctively pulled any shadow nearby to maintain it.

It was fine if the shadow belonged to a boulder or a tree since those allowed Xerxes to maintain his rationality even though moving around could prove to be quite difficult. However, all hell would break loose whenever he took the shadow of his enemy or an uncontrollably strong monster.

Shadow was one’s shell, so if Xerxes wasn’t as skilled as the owner of the shadow that he had borrowed, then the shadow would devour him instead. Such was the cost of being able to borrow other people’s power freely.

In fact, Chang-Sun and his colleagues had gone through a lot of trouble to calm Xerxes down whenever he had lost control of his power. Even the ‘Thousand-Year Slumbering Dragon’ almost died because of Xerxes and left them on bad terms for quite some time.

Now that Gyeo-Ul had already acquired Xerxes’ Trait, Gyeo-Ul would likely go through the same problem. There would be no way to stop Gyeo-Ul if he borrowed the Hellserpent’s shadow and lost control of his powers, so Chang-Sun really hoped that would never happen. He could defeat the Hellserpent somehow, but it certainly wouldn’t be easy to subdue Gyeo-Ul unscathed.

‘Getting my second class before I arrive there will help me,’ Chang-Sun thought.

[For an unknown reason, compiling the list of your possible second classes is getting delayed. Please wait for a moment.]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Season’ really wants to know what your new class is going to be.]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ laughs and says that the process is bound to get delayed because your every achievement is grand, then adds that many Celestials are probably fidgeting.]

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ wants to see your new power.]

Even the Celestials were wondering how Chang-Sun would solve this problem now that he had acquired the power of <Muspelheim>.

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ has finished preparing his gift and wants to give it to you right now!]

A ray of black light shone down before Chang-Sun, dropping off Mephistopheles’ gift. During the confusion of the moment, Chang-Sun picked it up and soon became surprised. The gift was a book so bizarre-looking that just holding it was enough to get cursed, its cover seemingly made from the tanned skin of an intelligent being. At the center of the cover was the drawing of a face that was contorted in pain. It writhed as if it was alive, screaming silently.

The ominous book also released black smoke, which was mixed with <Darkness>. If Chang-Sun didn’t have [Stigma] and [Ferocious Heart], picking this up would’ve surely severely injured him.

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ opens her eyes wide in shock upon seeing the gift you received!]

[The Celestial ‘Taurus’ shouts somewhere angrily, saying that that kind of book should not be in the hands of a mortal!]

…

[The Celestials in the Absolute Good faction tense up.]

[The Celestials in the Absolute Evil faction are drooling.]

『That’s…!』

Just like the Celestials in utter confusion, the voice of Simon Magus, who was parasitic on Chang-Sun, trembled in excitement. Simon was a great mage before he died, so he instantly recognized the spellbook’s value.

[Prelati[1]’s Spellbook.]

The bonus reward the Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ had given his disciple for making remarkable progress was the annotated edition of the book that he wrote about his research on the secret of the primordial universe. The Celestial edited the book to make it easy to understand for as long as the reader knew a little about <Darkness>, thereby helping his disciple.

The book contained a total of nine secret techniques. Deciphering and learning all of them would give them the right to read the original version.

· Type: Spellbook.

· Effect: (Effects currently unknown.)

*This artifact is bound to you. You can never give or sell it to somebody else.

Chang-Sun realized that this book was a manual of his [Ferocious Heart], which Mephistopheles had given after accepting Chang-Sun as his disciple.

‘No, it’s not just a manual of my [Ferocious Heart]. He edited the whole book in a way that would allow me to learn right from the basics,’ Chang-Sun observed.

Quickly skimming through [Prelati’s Spellbook], Chang-Sun could tell that this book was like his tailored suit. From utilizing <Darkness> without a hitch to improving <Dusk Lightning>, which Chang-Sun had just acquired, vast and profound knowledge that even the ‘Divine Twilight’ didn’t know about was written in it. It seemed Mephistopheles knew Chang-Sun better than Chang-Sun himself.

‘How long has he been watching me?’ Chang-Sun silently clicked his tongue, really wanting to try out the techniques in the book.

Chang-Sun decided to name these nine different secret techniques the Secret ‘Darkness Techniques.’

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ coldly smiles and says that since he has been such a gentle teacher, you better catch up or else he will make you suffer later!]

Chang-Sun nodded in agreement. If he couldn’t properly utilize <Darkness> even after Mephistopheles had been this generous, then it would be difficult to call himself the great devil’s disciple.

‘If only I can use the power like Mephistopheles did in <Muspelheim>…!’ Chang-Sun thought.

Simon grunted and asked,『W-who in the world are you? How can you… get something like this from the great will of ‘Nyx’—no, the Pale Star?』

It seemed Simon was more shocked that Mephistopheles had given Chang-Sun [Prelati’s Spellbook] than when he found out that Chang-Sun was actually the ‘Divine Twilight.’ Regardless, Simon’s voice was filled with greed. Just like when he had wanted [Bestla’s Poem], he thirsted for power and knowledge.

“Well.” Chang-Sun tilted his head.

『I-I’m also your subordinate now! Sharing one’s knowledge with their subordinates is the virtue of a merciful ruler, so…!』

“I’ll observe how you behave first before making a decision,” Chang-Sun replied.

『What do you want? Swear my loyalty? I’ll do it if you ask me to. Gosh, I’ll lick your feet if you want! So, please! Share the knowledge with me…!』

‘It seems I have one more carrot,’ Chang-Sun thought.

Simon was basically Chang-Sun’s magic tool anyway, so he already planned to share the knowledge he learned to make Simon stronger. However, Simon asked for it first, much to Chang-Sun’s contentment. Naturally, since he had to tame Simon, he would have to choose the knowledge he’d share carefully.

‘I’ll read the book in detail later.’ Chang-Sun threw [Prelati’s Spellbook] in his inventory. Soon after, he detected a familiar presence nearby, making him pick up the pace.

“O-oppa!” Shin Eun-Seo, who happened to be running from the opposite direction, gasped in shock when she felt hot winds blowing against her face and Chang-Sun suddenly appeared before her.

Woo Hye-Bin and Shin Geum-Gyu were behind Eun-Seo, but Woo Hye-Bin had gone pale, and Geum-Gyu was gravely injured. After examining them all, Chang-Sun tossed each of them a [Large Healing Potion].“Where is Gyeo-Ul?”

“Gyeo-Ul ssi decided to stay behind…!” Eun-Seo gestured in that direction.

“Alright, you guys run straight ahead. You’ll find Joachim there. See you later,” Chang-Sun said, then immediately disappeared using [Windstalking Tiger].

Swoosh―!

For a moment, they looked blankly at the spot where Chang-Sun was. Just meeting him was enough to make the three feel that everything would be alright now.

“Wait, Chang-Sun hyung is…!” Geum-Gyu murmured.

The three felt as if Chang-Sun had changed for some reason. He didn’t look any different, but he seemed to have gotten ‘bigger’—like a mountain—no, a Giant. He was a totally different man now. What happened to him while he was gone? They wondered about it for a bit but didn’t make a big deal out of it since they could just ask later. They ran in Joachim’s direction, feeling grateful to hear that Joachim, whom they thought had sacrificed his life to save them, was alive.

* * *

[You have found the Boss Monster ‘Hellserpent’!]

Not long after he left the Team L members, Chang-Sun found two demonic creatures—the Hellserpent and a demonic shadow creature. They were chaotically entangled and trying to kill each other. The ground around them was already smeared with their blood.

‘Am I too late?’ Chang-Sun gritted his teeth, realizing that Baek Gyeo-Ul had already been devoured by the Hellserpent’s shadow, but he soon shook his head. ‘No, he’s still at the stage where he can be subdued. I can help him for as long as the Hellserpent, the owner of the shadow, is alive.’

Shadows were, in essence, incomplete elements. They would try to kill their owner to become the ‘one and only’ in the world, completing themselves. If so, then Chang-Sun had to separate Gyeo-Ul from the Hellserpent.

“Jin,” Chang-Sun called. Jin Prezia quickly showed up beside him.

「How may I be of service?」

“Deal with the Hellserpent,” Chang-Sun ordered.

「He’s obviously more pissed than ordinary Hellserpents,」Jin observed. He had now become strong enough to fight Czestochowa equally, and since he was quite belligerent, he was clearly excited to fight the Hellserpent, which had become furious for an ‘unknown’ reason. However, he kept beating around the bush. It was as if he wanted to do something, and Chang-Sun soon realized what it was.

[The Authority ‘Demon Face’ has been activated, listing several dormant faces in your subconscious!]

Pzzz―!

Chang-Sun activated the Authority that he had obtained from sealing Xue Yong. Black smoke spread behind him like a curtain, and four masks showed up, clanking.

[The ‘Wolf Demon Face’ laughs, asking for your attention!]

[The ‘Lion Demon Face’ bursts into tears, telling you it is here!]

[The ‘Swan Demon Face’ shouts that you should look at it!]

[The ‘Lizard Demon Face’ says plaintively that it is here!]

Clank! Clank!

The masks, all of which had different expressions, noisily bumped against each other, but it was different from the [Demon Faces] Chang-Sun had seen before. Since Czestochowa had wished to be seen as a ghost by other people, most of her masks were distorted. Xue Yong, on the other hand, wanted to look like a human, so his masks looked like human faces.

Due to his low Authority level, Chang-Sun could only pull out four masks right now, but his masks were all copper-colored like his iron mask and looked like animal faces. His wolf mask had a sharp, protruding snout, while his lion mask had sharp eyes.

‘Did I want to become an animal?’ Chang-Sun wondered.

Or did the animal masks symbolize the belligerence of the ‘Divine Twilight’? Unable to ask his subconsciousness himself, he couldn’t understand why his [Demon Faces] were animal masks.

「First come first served. I like this.」

Jin picked the ‘Lion Demon Face,’ which looked the most ferocious, and put it on his face. What mattered to him and Chang-Sun right now was whether Jin could put on the masks that Chang-Sun pulled out or not.

[Lion Demon Face]

The violent persona of the Player ‘Lee Chang-Sun.’ While wearing the mask, Strength and Agility will be increased by over 20%, but Stamina and Mana will be decreased in proportion to the increased stat points.

Click!

As if it had been made just for Jin, the ‘Lion Demon Face’ fit him perfectly. Right after the click, the air around him changed.

Woosh―!

「It’s… awesome!」

[Wearing the ‘Lion Demon Face’ has significantly increased the Strength and Agility of your Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’!]

…

[The ice attribute of your Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’ has been enhanced.]

[Your Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’ has acquired the immortality attribute.]

[The Synchronization rate of your Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’ with you, his king, has increased!]

Paah!

With the mask on his face, Jin darted toward the Hellserpent, leaving specks of ice dust behind. At the same time, Chang-Sun infused his right foot with mana, then stomped on the ground with it.

[The Skill ‘Stomp’ has been activated, creating a small earthquake!]

Boom! Rumble…!

Wide cracks spread from underneath Chang-Sun’s right foot, sending strong tremors across their vicinity. Even though his [Stomp]’s level was low, it was still possible for him to cause an earthquake since he was a Giant.

The Hellserpent and demonic shadow creature, who were busy trying to bite each other’s heads off, distanced themselves, suddenly feeling the imminent danger. At the same time, Jin dropped on top of the Hellserpent’s head.

Boom!

Smelling death from Jin, the Hellserpent instinctively fired a [Dragon Breath] toward him. Jin swung the [Frost King’s Greatsword] in retaliation, unleashing a [Snowstorm] that soon crashed into the serpent’s [Dragon Breath]. As they fought, Chang-Sun got on the demonic shadow creature—no, Gyeo-Ul’s head.

Krrr!

Unable to recognize Chang-Sun, the demonic shadow creature growled as if he was going to devour Chang-Sun any minute. Quietly sighing, Chang-Sun mumbled, “Your father also lost his mind once in a while, preventing him from telling friend from foe. Do you know what I did whenever that happened?”

One end of Chang-Sun’s mouth curled up. “I beat him up until he came back to his senses because you can fix anyone by beating them.[2]”

Did Gyeo-Ul know? Just as he took Chang-Sun’s shadow, Chang-Sun could also take away Gyeo-Ul’s shadow if he wanted to as the original owner of the shadow. Chang-Sun put his hand on the rampaging demonic shadow creature and infused his energy into it.

[You have found a part of your shadow in the demonic shadow creature and linked it with the rest of your shadow.]

[Attempting to extort the demonic shadow creature’s shadow!]

Using the shadow that he had given Gyeo-Ul in the past as a medium, Chang-Sun infiltrated Gyeo-Ul’s mind.

Woosh!

When he opened his eyes again, Chang-Sun could see a snowfield riddled with ceaselessly raging snowstorms. In the middle of it all stood the shadow whom Gyeo-Ul thought was his other ego. Gyeo-Ul himself was helplessly sitting beside the shadow with a blank look in his eyes.

『Haha! You really came. Should I say I’m impressed or I expected no less from the Lee Chang-Sun?』

Glancing at Gyeo-Ul for a moment, Chang-Sun nonchalantly looked at the shadow and said, “Long time no see.”

『Indeed.』

Chang-Sun and the shadow exchanged greetings as if they knew each other quite well. The humanoid shadow didn’t have a face, so Chang-Sun couldn’t see his expression. However, he seemed genuinely glad to meet Chang-Sun.

Unlike the other Celestials, the shadow knew that Chang-Sun was the ‘Divine Twilight,’ which made Chang-Sun frown. With too many Celestials watching them, he had to use telepathy to ask,『What are you doing here, Xerxes?』

1. He is an Italian priest and alchemist who took part in the murders committed by Gilles de Rais, who is known to be a serial killer of children. ☜

2. The raw is 매 앞에서는 장사 없거든. This is a Korean idiom that means no matter how strong one is, they’ll eventually yield if they get beaten up. It’s supposed to explain the nature of violence, but it is now used in a comical way that you can solve most of the problems with violence like how you smack your computer to make it work. ☜