Chapter 109. Amid the Final Melody (3)
...Ding-dong!
[A new trait of the Mana Seed has bloomed.]
[Stamina stat trait manifested: Take It All]
An unexpected message floated before his eyes.
Through the message, a massive iron mace came crashing down.
Kwaaang—!
The rocky ground was crushed.
The protective barrier that had been the only thing shielding him from Artanis's murderous attacks vanished like that.
...Kwaddeuk!
The iron mace, after smashing the stone floor, slammed straight into his chest. It struck his torso. It was a blow capable of pulverizing not only his sternum but even his heart and internal organs in one go.
And yet, it was so strange.
Why didn't it hurt?
Why did this blow… taste delicious?
'…Phew, the doneness of this hit is just right.'
It was right after his chest had been struck by the mace.
So absurdly out of nowhere.
So incomprehensible even to himself.
But the impact he'd just taken felt delicious.
Was this a hallucination just before death?
Some kind of illusion caused by a surge of hormones in response to a fatal injury?
No.
Definitely not.
This wasn't a hallucination. It wasn't a delusion.
This was, unmistakably, a clear awareness.
'…It's real.'
It's delicious.
Savory.
Perfectly cooked.
And at the same time… he felt full!
"......"
Maybe he was going crazy.
It was a moment where he began to worry about his own mental health.
Kwaaaa—!
Once again, the mace came crashing down.
Carrying the murderous intent of the berserk Artanis.
Carrying the full force of her might.
…..Bang!
It landed cleanly on his chest again.
A shockwave burst forth in that moment.
A whirlwind erupted around him.
His body, struck by the mace, was embedded into the rocky floor.
And yet....
It still didn't hurt.
This hit was really… a gourmet delight!
'Well-seasoned, too.'
He even felt a bit fuller than before!
Ding-dong!
Again, the chime rang in his ears.
With Artanis holding up her mace in the background, a new message appeared before his eyes.
[Stamina Trait: Take It All has successfully bloomed.]
[Take It All has been created by combining the Nutrition Focus – Stamina stat from the Mana Seed's options.]
[When you activate the Nutrition Focus option and choose the stamina stat, Take It All will automatically activate.]
[Take It All absorbs energy from those who attack you. In other words, it replenishes your mana and restores lost stamina—this is a passive energy absorption technique.]
[So, let's enjoy pain that you can't avoid~]
...Kwaaang—!
Another mace blow pierced through the message!
This time, not to the chest but to the head.
Yet, his skull wasn't shattered.
At the moment the mace struck his forehead, he sensed a rich, savory taste. Faintly, there was even a hint of char, appropriately added.
A sublime harmony of flavors.
Shock energy absorbed through his forehead.
The power refined, the mana accumulating.
Fullness rising steadily.
'This is… warm and tasty.'
A smile naturally spread across his face.
Every time Artanis's mace came crashing down—on his head, his chest, his solar plexus, his abdomen, his shoulders, his head, shoulders, knees, toes, knees, toes—it was the same.
From each spot that was hit, a savory flavor blossomed. It was perfectly seasoned, the doneness so precise it brought gustatory pleasure.
Even while holding his breath, he felt a refreshing sensation as if he were breathing!
'Ahh, if only I could live forever enjoying such delicious blows.'
…Such a crazy thought even crossed his mind.
Meanwhile, the alert tones kept ringing in his ears.
Ding-dong! Ding-dong-dong! Ding-dong!
[Stamina Trait: Take It All is refining the external impact energy to restore your body.]
[For smoother recovery, we recommend you enjoy the flavors of strikes spread evenly across various body parts.]
…Oh, is that so?
Then let's turn over.
Hwettak!
He flipped his body like a pancake. He lay face down, presenting his backside to be struck. His wish (?) was soon granted.
...Crack!
This time, was it his butt?
The savory flavor from his buttocks—this was a bit of a dangerous feeling. So, please make sure to treat the other parts just as well.
Kwajak! Kwaang! Kukwadeuk!
The mace, infused with murderous intent, rained down one after another. His waist, back, and nape were struck evenly.
Each time, the message window flashed wildly like a fever-time event had been triggered.
Ding-dong! Ding-dong-dong!
[Stamina Trait: Take It All is rapidly restoring your body!]
[Recovery rate: 100%!]
Beurup!
A surge of fullness swelled in his belly!
His eyes snapped open.
Thanks to that, he could see it.
Artanis, madly swinging her mace. Her movements were gradually… slowing down.
"......"
Was she getting exhausted?
It seemed so.
On the other hand, even in a berserk state where she had lost all reason, it felt like she instinctively sensed that something was off with the current situation.
'Well, yeah.'
Receiving fatal hits one after another without dying—no, actually enjoying them—it would be strange not to notice something weird.
That must be why.
Why the blows from her mace were gradually losing strength.
'The taste… is getting worse?'
The cooking was off.
It was under-seasoned.
This wouldn't do.
'I have to end it here.'
Kim Jangcheol didn't let his guard down. Just because he'd acquired an unexpected ability didn't mean he was going to celebrate.
He calmly turned his gaze to one side.
His eyes landed on it.
There, the remaining duration of the Nutrition Focus activation was displayed.
[Remaining time for Nutrition Focus option: 57 seconds]
"......"
That wasn't a long time.
And when that time ran out?
The Nutrition Focus option would deactivate.
Then the activation of the hard-earned Take It All trait would also come to an end.
'Before that, I end this.'
No, he must end it.
That's the only way to survive.
The only way to stop Artanis's rampage.
Right.
She had said it herself.
That she would lose her mind and run wild until her energy was completely spent.
'…I can do this.'
He looked up at Artanis.
The wildly churning currents, the water suddenly clouded. Even amidst it all, he could see her expression had changed—something was off.
Blocked breath.
They had already been underwater for nearly four minutes.
During that entire time, neither he nor she had surfaced. Neither had taken a single breath of air.
So then...
'Just a little more!'
He just had to keep pressing.
He just had to wear her out!
"Ahhh!"
With a shout, he pushed his body up.
He thrust his face toward hers.
Artanis flinched. He gently grasped a few strands of her hair. He brought them over, placing them between his nose and lips. Like a mustache. Swaying them gently. Staring her straight in the eyes.
With meaning.
With mockery.
Grinning wide.
The provocation was extremely effective.
".....!"
Artanis's eyes flared red, refilled with a fresh dose of rage. Her briefly hesitating mace began to move violently once again.
Kwaaang—!
"......"
Yes, this was the flavor.
As he was blown away, he deliberately flailed his limbs, like one of those inflatable tube men outside a cellphone shop opening. He didn't forget to toss in a touch of exaggerated twerking.
Kwajak! Kwaquang—!
The mace chased him persistently, slamming down again and again. Each time, stamina was steadily absorbed. And in turn, Artanis's complexion grew visibly fatigued. The mace's movements began to slow.
'…Oh no you don't, where do you think you're taking a break!'
Whenever she showed signs of resting.
Whenever her mace seemed ready to stop.
He tossed in a perfectly timed provocation.
Dancing as he got hit.
Moonwalking underwater.
With every shockwave the mace sent through the water, he even struck the iconic Marilyn Monroe pose—holding down a skirt being blown by the wind.
Seductively.
Cheekily.
'More! Please! Hit me more, more!'
...Bbugureuk!
30 seconds remaining.
Was he at his limit too? Was she?
The mace slowed further.
He provoked her even more desperately.
Artanis shook her head and found strength again.
Once more, the mace came swinging with renewed energy.
He took the hit.
It was delicious.
He gained strength.
With that strength, he provoked again.
And got hit. Savored the taste, found power. Provoked again, she regained strength, launched another attack, he took it, gained more energy, provoked again, struck, blocked, received—until she collapsed, until her energy was completely spent.
'Please!'
…..Tok.
The mace, barely brought down, landed softly on his shoulder. It carried all the strength she had left. Lightly. Barely. Tok.
That was the moment.
Ding-dong....!
[The Mana Seed option, Nutrition Focus, has ended.]
[The stat previously concentrated on stamina has now been redistributed.]
[
...Huuuk!?
The moment the termination message appeared.
His breath—his lungs—were suddenly, violently choked.
The sensation of apnea, of holding his breath for over four minutes, and the oxygen deprivation, instantly weighed down his entire body.
'Ugh...!'
He almost opened his mouth out of instinct and gulped in a lungful of water. His lungs felt like they were shriveling up. Desperately biting his lip, he turned his gaze.
The mace just struck.
The mace resting on his shoulder.
And across from him—Artanis?
"....."
He saw her, eyes closed.
As if she had fallen asleep.
With a peaceful expression, she was gently drifting away.
No way—did she really expend all her strength?
Had she fainted?
...Huh?
He poked her.
No response.
'Huuup!'
He gathered the strength he had left and grabbed her arm.
He kicked off the bottom of the water.
Argh…..!
He surged upward.
Toward the surface.
Cutting through the water.
Through the blurring field of vision.
Holding onto fleeting moments of fading consciousness.
At last.
To the surface.
"...Haaaa!"
The welcome air filled his lungs.
He moved his heavy limbs and parted the water. He dragged himself to the edge of the nearby pond. Dragging Artanis with him, her chains and mace still heavily clinging to her.
"Ha, haah! Huu, huk!"
He barely made it ashore and collapsed.
He was so exhausted, he wanted to just pass out right there.
But he couldn't relax just yet.
'Is the berserk state… really over?'
He examined the unconscious Artanis.
Could she suddenly snap her eyes open with a snap! and go wild again?
He was, honestly, a little on edge.
It was like… shining a flashlight into the eyelids of a drowsy Tyrannosaurus that had taken a sleeping pill.
Or like slowly pulling a remote control from the hand of a dad sleeping on the sofa with the TV still on.
It felt like she could open her eyes at any second.
Say "I'm not asleep" or something.
That kind of vibe.
...Right as he was thinking that—
Flash.
She really did open her eyes.
Not slowly or drowsily.
It was a sudden, sharp snap.
Like someone flipping on a battery-powered light.
Her wide-open eyes stared straight at him.
"...Uh, hello?"
Even he thought that was a pathetic greeting.
Maybe it would've been better to just run.
But then it happened.
—......Yes, hello.
Her hand moved.
No longer tracing arcs of destruction, just drawing the shape of an ordinary greeting.
That was the moment.
...Ding-dong.
Once again, the chime rang at an unexpected moment. And then, even more unexpected messages began to fill his view.
[You have survived the battle against the formidable foe
[In this process, you absorbed and refined a large amount of Artanis's mana into your own.]
[The mana of Artanis that was absorbed into you has fused with a special curse-collateral engraved upon your heart.]
[As a result, the collateral of the curse has evolved and engraved itself into your heart as a completely new skill.]
[