Bro, I'm not an Undead!

~~~

[Fulgurous Space Virulence | Lv.1]

Infect the surrounding space with your mana to generate thunderclouds that produce and build up highly concentrated Silentburn Levin which can incinerate the target. Deals 40% Serenity damage.

Mana Requirements: 2000 Mana Points

Duration: —

Cooldown: 1 hour

~~~

BOOOOM!

On impact, the vibrant Levin rocked the ground with an especially bright and powerful intensity that made a large section of the Labyrinth tremble.

The heat produced in this moment was so intense that the floor instantly melted, a crater that was roughly 7 meters opening up on the ground!

“ARRRRGHHHH!”

As the thundercloud discharged all of the lightning it had stored, Benzard roared as he used all his remaining mana which had been amplified by him sacrificing the energy increase he was to receive in the next five days!

A thick layer of Aura which he had been using offensively this whole time was coating around him, shining brightly as it tried to fend off the thick, continuous bolts that fell on his back!

Unfortunately for him, his red lightning was being overpowered!

In a matter of seconds, he felt the Levin penetrate his coating and start to burn at his skin with a voracious greed!

To some, it would seem that Benzard wasn’t as strong as he was supposed to be._.

Which was true.

Receiving a 3% boost to every aspect of your abilities which created a stacking effect would normally make someone into an absolute monster, especially if the source of the power was a hidden class, but…

When it came to switching classes, hidden ones could overwrite advanced and normal classes but the transition from what someone already knew could affect one’s ability to use their newfound powers.

Thus, it usually took even the greatest prodigies a few months to effectively gain a better grasp over their new abilities after a switch and getting their bodies to adjust and use the full benefits offered.

This was different from Skullius’ case where he didn’t have a class in his Discount Human form was essentially hand held through the process of using this new power by the Labyrinth.

CRACKLE! BOOOM!

The contest between red and blue ended after the red couldn’t keep up and was penetrated by the blue, Benzard feeling the full force of the Silentburn Levin utterly destroy his back!

He roared in pain as the Levin dug into his flesh and set it ablaze!

Thoughts sprang into his mind one by one, being those of regret and rage. As someone who had seen a tragic event and held such bitterness after he had watched the people he loved die, that darkness had never truly left him.

Even when he was taught to be honourable by the Knights, a dark side of him would emerge from him from time to time like when he had threatened both Reon and Denille with a character that was diametrically opposed to what he usually was like.

When his ideals were challenged or trampled, his temper would flare.

Yet… in this moment, he could only get incinerated as Silentburn Levin not only burnt him up but doused him with a stronger dose of Serenity damage that took away his reason and offered peace while vicious damage ensued within him.

Skullius had been relentless.

He had only withdrawn the Chains of Damnation when the thunderclouds dropped the Levin.

Benzard was taking the damage while his armour was…. completely unaffected!

The Penetrator had imagined that it would get damaged even a little bit but it seemed to be completely fine.

This led Skullius to question.

‘Where do these items that he received from [Unbound] come from again?’

The Levin finally stopped and Skullius rose with the half charred body of Benzard which he tossed aside on the searing hot ground.

He didn’t waste time or prepare to monologue, wielding the Baleful Gale Reaper and stabbing at Benzard without hesitation!

“Stop!” A thunderous voice boomed from the distance.

It was Sause who had watched the exchange. He gazed at Benzard’s body which was no longer buff and was only slightly disappointed.

‘His body isn’t used to such power yet I suppose. This class is probably more suited to those that are more strength oriented. He doesn’t exactly fit the bill. He wasn’t even able to fully absorb 1% of the power. <Sigh>.’

Skullius gazed at Sause from behind his helmet which allowed him to see properly regardless of the constantly swirling eye holes.

“I’m in the middle of something here, bro,” Skullius said in response.

“I can’t let you kill him, unfortunately. He’s quite important to me aha ha,” Sause said with playfulness returning to his speech.

If only he could just make a quick movement without Fulgardt interfering, he could save Benzard who was at death’s door and kill Skullius.

He wondered if Fulgardt would defend this creature too though. He took a step forward but Fulgardt responded by also drawing in closer.

Sigh.

‘Why does he get a free pass?’

“Well.. he’s not important to me, large bro.” Skullius said.

“Hmm?” Sause raised a brow. “Is it as I surmised before? Are you the same young challenger who entered those doors?”

Sause recalled the name he had been called by Skullius before. The frail human who had been facing Fulgardt had too used the term ‘large bro’ to refer to him.

“So what if I am?” Skullius said while preparing to summon the Voiding Key at any moment.

‘I see.’ Sause thought. ‘If that is the case, then I’m sure he has some means to escape this place. I doubt he entered and failed to obtain something important in there. Though, he probably didn’t get the legacy of Fulgardt what with him not being human. He shouldn’t have been able to enter here in the first place. What trickery did he use? Hmmm. Still, given that he had the All Eater scroll…’

“The power you wield is far from what Fulgardt had. What is it? Were you… this, from the very beginning?” Sause questioned.

“Look bro, I don’t have to answer your questions, you know? If you don’t mind, let me finish my business,” Skullius said as he once more tried to plunge his sword into Benzard.

“Wait! I have proposition for you. It might benefit us both,” Sause said with a drop of sweat trickling down the side of his face. If Benzard died it wouldn’t matter even if he managed to get out of here. “I am quite the legendary figure in my home. I can command vast amounts of anything you want to be given to you. I will honour my promise if you get me out of this place. Me and that boy.”

Skullius halted.

That was quite the grand proposal. However, to Skullius it didnt mean much as he didn’t have much of an appreciation of material things with the most he had of such a quality being his growing love for weapons.

“What makes you think I can do something like that bro?” Skullius asked, feigning ignorance.

Sause narrowed his eyes.

“Because you entered into a place where an important legacy was stored and came out with confidence still, aha ha. You do have a means to escape this place.”

Skullius didn’t have much to say to that. He couldn’t find the words to refute but there was simply no reason for him to indulge this giant.

He was on the verge of dismissing this offer when his mind churned out a singular objective that he was striving to accomplish.

He didn’t have any connection that could potentially help right now and from the looks of it, this strong looking giant could be of assistance. Maybe.

He gazed intently at Sause from behind the helmet and spoke solemnly.

“If you can do something small for me in return, I will consider helping you, bro.”

“What would that be?”

“First. How do I know you will keep your word?”

“You should learn to trust more…” Sause said with a low chuckle.

Inside, he was agitated at having to negotiate with this small creature. He was used to compelling weaker creatures into submission simply by speaking but things didn’t seem so simple with this un-undead.

He would be damned if he allowed himself to stay in this place though as he didn’t know if another method to escape would arise in the future.

To put it simply, he was desperate.

‘It’s my fault in the end. I was too greedy. I probably should have had those two grab him and then compel him to use the Key he has aha ha. Who knew even I could learn,’ Sause thought.

Sause suddenly grabbed his pinky finger’s nail and pulled on it until it was detached from his finger!

Drops of blood fell from the where the nail had been removed and Sause used them to smear the nail.

He then held onto the nail and injected a stream of energy into it that made the object shine for a moment.

The nail began to release a soft red glow afterwards and Sause flung it at Skullius who caught it warily.

“That is my guarantee that I will keep my word. It’s an object that essentially guarantees that I commit to the favour I owe. I cannot do you harm before then. Of course, it will only activate if you agree ,” Sause said.

Skullius pondered as he held the nail which was larger than half of his frame.

He analysed it with his guidance field to verify if what Sause had said was true or not.

~~~

[Tie of Exchange: Nail of Sausifillis Roughborne]

The individual Sausifillis has pledged a nail coated with his blood and mana as a medium for the exchange. He is the prime attendant for the Tie of Exchange and is bound to not break his word after offering it.

With this item, the lesser attendant can summon Sausifillis to pay the favour he owes for the exchange.

Individual Skullius is yet to pledge anything as a medium for the exchange. Would you like to pledge?

~~~

“Uhm… it seems he’s not lying. What do I pledge though?” Skullius thought after reading the description multiple times.

“Use your mana. It’s all a lesser attendant needs to pledge,” Sause said.

Skullius thought about it and decided it probably wasn’t harmful if the guidance field didn’t warn him about.

He injected his mana and he felt himself tied through the mana to the nail he held.

“It is done,” said Sause. “Now, tell me. What do you wish for?”

Sause was grinning on the inside. This was definitely an unfair exchange. He was the one benefitting most from this, after all, what could this little creature that he could kill with the flick of a finger ask for that he couldn’t do?