“If I win… Hmm, what should I ask for? Ah, right. For 24 hours, no holding your hand, uncle. How about that?”
“·····You want me to just die?”
“Is that how much you like me, uncle…?”
“·····We’re one body; if we separate, we die.”
“You said you wouldn’t lose, right? So it shouldn’t matter what punishment comes, right?”
“·····That’s true.”
“So, what’s your request?”
“·····If I win, for an entire day, Yoo Jin… shouldn’t touch any other man.”
“Huh? You want me to touch my uncle?”
Nameless, with a puzzled look on her face, was taken aback by the thought.
She chuckled at the absurdity, but suddenly realized her hand had casually found its way onto Yoo Jin’s shoulder and was friendly giving him light pats. Surprise caused her to jerk her hand back.
‘What? This can’t be happening.’
Nameless was usually the type to wait for others to approach her rather than moving closer first.
So, it was quite new for her to make a physical contact like this…
What could she say?
This man gave off a strangely comfortable vibe.
She instinctively understood.
This man is harmless.
Not in the clueless or socially inept kind of way, but more like, she felt he would be harmless towards her.
‘This feels weird.’
Why does she feel this way?
It’s unpleasant.
Even though it was her first time seeing him, the distance felt unexpectedly close.
Nameless forcibly pushed that distance away again and prepared for the showdown with Mi Jeong.
“······If I lose, my head will break.”
“Ugh, fine!”
With a somewhat ominous exclamation, Mi Jeong leaped forward.
Her head was already boiling with adrenaline.
She excluded all personal feelings.
Though the fight began out of pride, it was more than just that.
Since they had decided to act together, testing each other’s skills was essential.
In case of betrayal, she had to know her comrade’s capabilities.
“·····Hah.”
“Huh?!”
KABOOM!
Mi Jeong’s club struck the ground with tremendous speed.
In an instant, the club, enhanced by Mi Jeong’s magical power, exhibited a strength akin to a holy sword!
Nameless stepped back casually to avoid it, only to witness the ground beneath her completely collapse.
‘Is she not an ordinary Blood Ghoul?’
She was manipulating her magical power.
Since it’s a lifeless body, she shouldn’t be able to supply mana, and yet, here she was.
At that moment, Nameless finally understood why that guy and the Blood Ghoul girl shared such a close bond.
They had trained together for a long time, drawing magical energy from the man.
It was strange that they weren’t exceptionally close.
“Heh, not bad, huh? I thought you were just a little blood ghoul, but you’ve got some age on you?”
“·····What, you just figured that out-”
“Are you like, 100 years old? Didn’t Transylvania say she was several hundred? … Anyway, you’re impressive, but I don’t think you’re that good, so how about 200 years?”
“·····You’re dead.”
“Ah! Why?! I was just acknowledging your skills?!”
WHOOSH!
All the remaining heat inside Mi Jeong burst into flames.
Clear murderous intent emanated from her.
The thought of just watching her for a bit had been completely purged from her mind.
She would crush him.
She needed to establish who was above and who was beneath.
That’s all Mi Jeong could think about right now.
BOOM!
Mi Jeong sprang from the ground again.
With a charge that was noticeably different from before in momentum and speed, Nameless’s eyes widened in disbelief.
How could such strength come from that tiny body?
And a Blood Ghoul’s body at that?
Since it’s already dead, blood or mana shouldn’t circulate in it.
The only mana stone assisting her was a tiny ring on her finger.
The stone looked high quality, but no matter how premium it was, it shouldn’t yield that kind of power.
What on earth is going on?
What’s the secret behind that strength?
What did I miss?!
‘No way! Blood is flowing?!’
Nameless, inspecting the flow of mana more closely, shuddered.
Mana was coursing through Mi Jeong’s body!
Was it only mana?
Both mana and blood were circulating through her!
How is this happening in a dead Blood Ghoul’s body…?
Nameless’s gaze turned towards the man.
Every visible part—hands, arms, legs, and neck—were covered in bite marks.
“Wait?! How much blood have you sucked out?!”
“·····Why do you care?”
That man’s blood!
The rate at which energy was converted from the blood of a Blood Ghoul was outpaced by the speed of what he drank.
That’s why it was enough to circulate and operate mana like that.
At this point, it was scary.
How could one fully utilize a Blood Ghoul’s body without any issue while draining blood at such a rapid pace…?
Especially since that blood specialized in operating mana for the Blood Ghoul?
It was as though he was born to be a Blood Ghoul’s energy reservoir.
If fate had been slightly different, he could’ve ended up as a murderer’s slave, being drained of his blood right now.
Having a small Blood Ghoul as a comrade was incredibly fortunate.
“I feel so burdened…!”
BOOM! BAM!
With each leap, Mi Jeong shook the ground.
Nameless was trying her best to dodge, but the sheer amount of mana she was up against was a different dimension, and she felt herself falling behind.
Since she needed to attack with magic, she couldn’t pour all her mana into escape.
‘Is this the moment?’
As she dodged left and right, like in a bullfight, Nameless calculated.
When should she project her magic for the most efficiency?
Just then, Mi Jeong’s eyes narrowed as she grew irritated with the near misses of her club.
“·····Annoying.”
“Huh?!”
WHOOSH!
From Mi Jeong’s fingertips, a bright red flame erupted, creating a massive pillar of fire.
‘They’re using magic too?!’
She barely dodged it, but the damage was done.
It was a psychological blow.
If she got too close, she’d be hit by the club, and if she stayed too far, flames would come flying at her.
How could a Blood Ghoul be such an all-around combat monster?
By now, Nameless was purely in awe.
“Wow. Now I’m feeling a bit envious.”
“·····Disgusting.”
Having pulled back, Nameless began to channel her mana into the ground.
The counterattack was starting.
Sensing this, Mi Jeong lunged forward immediately.
‘What magic should I use? 5th-tier telekinesis? 6th-tier spell reversal?’
There was no way the telekinesis output could stop her.
Reversing her flame magic also seemed plausible, but considering her reflexes, she would easily dodge during the magic’s reversal.
In that case, 8th-tier magic was…
‘It wouldn’t work…’
That 8th-tier magic had been shattered like tofu by that man.
There was a high probability that even the little girl would counter it.
Once she used 8th-tier magic, her mana would deplete completely, and if there was even a small chance of being countered, she couldn’t risk using it.
‘Then there’s only one option…!’
There was only one solution.
The magic that would earn Nameless the title of Great Mage.
Now was the time to unleash the magic that was worthy of being called “Great Magic.”
‘Since long ago, I have always had a natural talent for handling souls.’
It was unclear how she developed that talent.
Maybe she had once fiddled with mana stones that could convert into souls?
Anyway, the moment Nameless touched a soul, she became essentially invincible.
But that was only when accessing the opponent’s soul was possible.
Most people’s souls were deeply hidden, making it hard to use this ability in battle.
Not to mention, what if the opponent was a soulless Blood Ghoul?
She couldn’t handle a non-existing soul.
But what if she created a soul altogether?
That was the premise of the Great Magic.
She had faced countless ridicule and disdain, being told it was impossible.
But Nameless had succeeded.
The magic was complete.
“Spirit Redemption!”
“·····!”
WHOOSH!
A magic circle that had been inscribed into the ground suddenly came into view from where Mi Jeong stood.
Only then did Mi Jeong realize she had been trapped in the magic circle.
Before she could even think about taking down the caster, an overwhelming amount of mana began to flow into her chest.
“·····?”
And then, a heartbeat.
Just a brief moment.
But her long-stilled heart ticked once more.
The mana began to change form, taking on a strange shape.
It was becoming something she had felt a long time ago…
Something resembling a soul.
Old memories flickered briefly.
Every vessel in her body began to writhe, and warmth spread throughout her.
With a sudden rush, her heart ached.
It was a physiological reaction accompanying emotions.
“·····Ah!”
Mi Jeong fell, clutching her chest.
The mana that had once filled her body completely lost its shape and dissipated into thin air.
But the sensation that had recently dominated her consciousness lingered, leaving behind a sharp aftertaste.
Though it was fleeting,
gaining something soul-like didn’t drastically change anything.
Yet, Mi Jeong could not control this overwhelming feeling.
The feeling of being alive.
The feeling she had long forgotten.
In a long time…
Truly, after what felt like an eternity, she felt that sensation.
Ironically, it emphasized how dead she truly was, making her body feel even colder.
“·····Uaaaaah!”
Unable to hold it in, Mi Jeong burst into tears.
It was the first time.
Tears falling for herself, not for others.
Tears shed for her own death, out of sorrow.
