Jinn is a wind spirit,
and I can tell the total amount of wind energy I possess. Once it hits zero, I switch to close combat stance and target the marksman first.
Additionally, there’s a cooldown of about 20 seconds for switching between stances.
Thus,
– Ding!
[Remaining Wind Energy: 0]
I wasted my wind energy.
Intentionally.
[Jinn]
[High-Ranked Wind Spirit]
[HP: 61%]
[Stance: Close Combat]
‘Got it.’
Now Jinn can take close combat stance, the first condition for victory has been met.
– Tatata!
As expected, Jinn recognized that I’m an empty can and closed the gap to infiltrate.
‘Phew.’
It’s finally time to test it out.
Just as Jinn aimed a dagger at me,
– ?!
I unleashed my ultimate technique.
‘Tarchangel Transformation.’
– Zeeeeeeng!
[Tarchangel Transformation: The cost for skill usage is greatly reduced!]
– Huuuuuung!
For a moment, a wave of dark magic spread around me.
It felt no different than demon transformation.
The unsettling magic made my blood boil, and if I relaxed my mind even a bit, it felt like I’d lose all sanity in excitement.
– Zeeeeeeng!!!
– !!
Jinn seemed momentarily flustered by the black energy erupting, but quickly ignored it and targeted my vital points for an attack.
– Kakang!
– !!
But just like with Caeran, the wind shield I had already set up blocked it, and I sent him flying back in an instant.
– !!!!!!
‘Double Chanting.’
Then, I cast [Demon Transformation] saved in [Ring of Induction].
[Demon Transformation: The power of skills increases!]
– Pababababababang!!!
A larger pressure of black wind erupted, wrapping around the approaching spirit entity, Jinn.
– Hwihooooooo!!!
The bizarre magic continued to occur.
By the way, when demons pass by, all flowers and plants die.
Of course, it would instinctively feel terrible to a spirit that values nature.
Seemingly sensing danger, Jinn withdrew and calmly began assessing my condition by increasing the distance.
‘…Is he a demon?’
“…”
I didn’t respond.
I was only considering the conditions to defeat Jinn.
The first is that I can inflict damage on him when he takes the close combat stance, and,
‘That’s settled.’
The second is to maintain enough distance to shoot the crossbow without trouble.
‘That works too.’
When I silently lifted the crossbow,
– Chak.
He instantly took a defensive position with his dagger.
He must think he can block ordinary crossbow shots rather than wind archery.
Regardless, I immediately used the Tarchangel Transformation again through the Ring of Induction.
‘Induction Chant.’
– Hwihoooooooo!!!!!!!!
[Tarchangel Transformation: The cost for skill usage is greatly reduced!]
[Current Status]
[Ultimate Technique: Tarchangel Transformation]
[Double Chanting: Demon Transformation]
[Induction Chant: Tarchangel Transformation]
[Sustainable Time: 12 seconds]
‘Greeeah…’
It felt similar to the first time I used Demon Transformation and pushed myself too hard,
as a pain spread throughout my entire body.
This was likely due to the triple transformation of Tarchangel – Demon Transformation – Tarchangel now burning my mana like crazy.
Despite rigorous training with Yeriel recently to increase my mana capacity, the estimate in my hands…
was barely 12 seconds.
In return, during this short time, the cost of wind energy consumption is reduced to the extreme.
– Hwihooooo…
– …!!!!
Perhaps sensing some unidentified threat, Jinn attempted to return to a ranged form, but,
it hadn’t even been 20 seconds yet.
I would finish this in that time.
No, I want to finish this.
In reality,
I have no remaining method of attack left.
– Ding!
[Remaining Wind Energy: 0]
This wind energy, wasted and evaporated down to zero.
I barely have enough mana to maintain Tarchangel and demon transformation for about 10 seconds.
Of course, thanks to this, I managed to coax Jinn into close combat stance, but,
the black magic that filled the wide chamber also started to dissipate.
Without the Gray Ashen Bolt, I couldn’t convert it to Erosion Level.
– …?
Jinn couldn’t be unaware of this either.
– …
As I stood still,
his emerald eyes momentarily flickered.
With no wind energy, no mana, and the mysterious black magic cleared, what could a man like me possibly do to attack?
– !!
– Tatata!
Seizing this moment, he charged at me once more.
I glanced at my pocket watch.
It was exactly noon.
He was late, and I…
‘I’ve won.’
– Ding!
[Remaining Wind Energy: 16]
The recovery cycle of wind energy that only existed during the Closed Beta.
It’s not a bug, but during this time, wind energy recovers not in minute units, but in hourly units.
It was patched to tick per minute after Open Beta.
In other words, for me who receives the fundamental passive, instead of gathering 0.26 wind energy per minute,
I gather 16 at once every hour.
And I entered the chamber just in time.
– Thud.
I threw the pocket watch to the floor and focused all my mind on the crossbow.
How many shots could I fire with 16?
It should be enough to finish off the one whose wind wall has disappeared.
– ……!!!!!!
The spirit entity, Jinn, seemed startled as the wind energy converged.
“Just right.”
I calmly repeated each word.
‘Illusion Bolt, Trajectory Shot, Rapid Fire.’
[Tarchangel Transformation: The cost for skill usage is greatly reduced!]
[Demon Transformation: The power of skills increases!]
[Tarchangel Transformation: The cost for skill usage is greatly reduced!]
– Chalak.
In that moment when I pulled the trigger,
everything seemed to unite to exist only for this moment.
– □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
…
…
…
– Ding ding ding!
[Academy Achievement]
[Congratulations! Awakening Chamber cleared!]
[Single Clear Achievement: Awarded Enhanced Wind Archery]*
[Reward Granted: All Stats Bonus, Skill Points]
[Luck Activated!: Agility, Health, and Mana increase!]
[Identified Awakening Essence 3]
[Level of Wind Archery increased!]
[New skill acquired!]
As I dismissed the cluttered status window and stepped out of the chamber, Sinatis looked unsurprised, as if she had expected it.
“Rev, you did a great job.”
Only her maid Flora handed me a towel and water.
I casually nodded my thanks to her for packing my things, and Sinatis spoke.
– Trial 4, shall we do it right away?
“….”
From Trial 4 onward, it’s the elite course. It’s on the level of hero training…
It must be some kind of joke from Sinatis.
“I’m too tired today.”
– Hmph.
At my retort, she smiled…
She doesn’t show her smile except for Kroon…?
I can’t let that happen.
I have to get out of here before Sinatis’s character collapses.
“Ahem, well, I guess I’ll eat well before I go. You’ll give me the clearing scholarship too, right?”
– …Just a moment.
At my question, Sinatis called me back.
“?”
– …
As Sinatis hesitated, Flora answered instead.
“I think Miss Sinatis wants to say she liked the gift you gave her, Rev.”
“…No need to mention it.”
With that said, I truly left the chamber.
…
“Ugh…”
Groans escaped me.
I collapsed onto a bench at the platform waiting for the circulation train.
I thought I would die.
I pretended to be tough in the chamber, but,
stacking 3 transformations was too much.
I couldn’t fully unleash the true nature of my powers due to unfamiliarity,
and given that my mana pool had recently been forcibly expanded, draining it all in an instant was bound to take a toll on my body.
Most importantly, the setting that Rev Denec himself isn’t talented in magic is a huge flaw.
*‘If I want to use the Erosion Level here…’
Can I handle it?
‘I’m going crazy.’
My animal instincts warned me.
If I lose consciousness while in the Erosion Level…
I might really get eaten by a demon and become a Jinn.
‘Then it’s no different from being fated to become a Rag…’
Of course, this is just my unfounded thought, but it indicates how painful the situation is.
“Phew.”
After sending off three trains, the pain finally eased.
The problem was, I had no strength left in my body to even get up.
‘I’ll have to wait until I recover.’
At this moment, it would be great if Aria appeared and healed me…
– What am I, a potion?
Somehow, her voice felt as if it was tortured with voice modulation.
– W-What! Where on earth did you get hurt…!
Well, considering the nagging I’d have to hear while she heals me, this might be better.
“Ugh.”
– Shudder shudder.
Anyway, it seems it will take quite a while, and since there’s nothing to do, let’s check the new skill.
‘New Skill.’
– Ding!
————————————————–
▶[Wind Archery] [Lv.3] (Applicable)
: A technique you can use after contracting with Wind Spirit King Ariel. It improves as the level increases, and you can acquire new techniques.
▶Currently Acquired Skills:
: 1st Skill: Wind Bolt
: 2nd Skill: Wind Shield
: 3rd Skill: Wind Annihilation(new!)
Exp: (Awakening Essence 4 needed)
————————————————–
‘Oh…??????’
The moment I saw the status window, the pain vanished.
According to the original Wind Archery manual,
I should have obtained the 3rd Skill – Wind Explosion by now.
However, probably as a reward for defeating Trial 3 alone, it changed to Wind ‘Annihilation,’
Though it was incredibly tough, it seems like I’m getting a fitting reward?
– Gulp.
This must definitely be the key to carry [Demon’s Descent: Gate of the Underworld].
I swallowed hard and, following the flow of consciousness, selected the skill details.
