Chapter 16. Gate Boss (2)
They had prepared thoroughly. What they hadn’t accounted for… was the unexpected.
That wasn’t unusual. Gate bosses were notorious for remaining still unless provoked. Even if a giant weapon was assembled right before their eyes, or traps and magic circles were laid out — they wouldn’t move unless an intruder stepped into their domain or made the first move.
“I didn’t think purification would count as an attack.”
BOOM!
With Soma’s help — matching his speed and sword path — Suho deflected the Living Knight’s strike. But the power gap was too wide. While the Living Knight staggered backward, Suho was sent flying through the air.
Twisting his body mid-air, Suho landed cleanly on the floor.
SMACK!
He charged again. The Living Knight rushed in kind.
CLANG! CLANG! CLAAANG!
Every time their swords clashed, Suho was pushed back, inch by inch, by the sheer force of the Living Knight’s blows.
Ma!
Suho was physically outmatched. His mana use was inferior. Seeing this, Soma let out a loud, urgent cry. From his chest pocket, Charming activated King’s Domain, while Sarang — who had flattened herself against his head — used her Flame Control skill.
FLASH!
Charming’s mana spread into the floor—
SSZZZ!
The black marble surface gleamed pure white for a moment before shifting to a neutral gray — no longer black or white.
WHOOSH!
Above the Living Knight, flame arrows materialized.
SHHHHH!
The timing was perfect. As the Living Knight swung his sword, the fire arrows rained down.
No escape.
CLANG! BOOM!
The clash of steel — and then, the sound of an explosion.
As he was blown backward, Suho glanced at the Living Knight and gave a dry chuckle.
“Well, damn. That mana’s alive.”
A black veil had formed above the Living Knight’s head. Following the trail of mana, Suho’s eyes caught sight of a dark sword surrounded by aura.
“So that’s why it never defended itself.”
The Living Knight had a passive skill: it read the memories of the warrior that once wielded its weapon. It instinctively placed its core at a human's typical weak spot — the heart or head.
“Alright. Focus, focus.”
Suho stood and readied himself again.
The Living Knight's black sword. Its core was set in the heart.
He had been wondering why it wasn’t actively defending the core — now he knew. It didn’t need to — it could protect itself using mana.
Was this a skill? Or the artifact-like power of that black sword?
The black mana engulfed the Living Knight’s hand and merged with the sword — making it impossible to disarm.
“Not that I ever planned to take it away.”
THWACK!
He never intended to steal the sword. His objective was, and still is, the core.
Suho dashed forward again, signaling his summoned beasts to keep their eyes on the goal.
WHOOOSH!
The sword’s mana shape distorted — maybe it hadn’t fully read its previous wielder’s memories.
A black serpent — made entirely of aura — shot toward them.
Ma!
Soma couldn’t wield aura, but he moved to intercept — slashing with his wooden sword.
But it wasn’t Soma who stopped it—
Maaah!
It was Charming, in his aura form.
BOOM!
Maaaah...
The explosion wiped out both the black serpent and aura-Charming. Looking utterly dejected, Charming’s shoulders sagged.
“Don’t worry. When this is all over, I’ll make it up to you.”
MAAAH!
Charming cried out again, casting King’s Domain on the banquet hall. Sarang joined him. She summoned dozens of flame arrows and spread them out in front of Suho, knowing he needed a moment of rest.
Nyaa.
Eat the rest. You’ll need it.
Suho sprinted into the hallway, opened his backpack, and tore into a plastic bag of dried sweet potatoes. He shoved one into his mouth and sprinted back.
FWUMP!
He had left the bag and curtain just inside the hall, so rejoining his companions took no time.
The Living Knight was using his aura to form a protective dome, fending off Love’s flame arrows.
Remaining mana: 40%.
“Sarang, look for an opening. Charming, keep the field up. Soma — go all out.”
Instead of attacking the dome, Sarang made her flame arrows disappear and reabsorbed some of the mana.
Remaining mana: 50%.
Ma!
Among the two sword wielders, the smaller one — Soma — moved first.
Soma rushed forward and stabbed his wooden sword, now cloaked in deep green aura, straight into the dome.
The aura dome shattered. But Soma’s attack didn’t stop there. His wooden blade pierced through the dome and extended forward like a beam of light.
The Living Knight’s core — located in his heart — was exposed.
Just as the shield broke, the Knight swung his black sword, also sheathed in aura.
BOOM!
Aura met aura. The explosive clash sent both swords flying. For a brief moment, neither side could attack.
Then the larger swordsman — Suho — moved.
“Hup!”
Lowering his stance, he thrust his blade forward.
“Shield up top!”
WHOOSH!
Sarang formed a flame shield above his head, blocking another black aura serpent.
Maah!
Soma used 10% of his mana to create a new aura slash, blocking the Knight’s descending blade.
RUMBLE!
The hostile mana pressure pressed down on them. But it lasted only a second.
Maaah.
Charming, the True Demon King, activated King’s Domain again — with just 3% mana. And it was more than enough. His power erased the oppressive energy from the Living Knight.
Now nothing stood in Suho’s way. He took a step forward and stabbed.
“Hup!”
The spell wouldn’t last long, and its raw power was underwhelming. But when you overload an object with mana, a pseudo-aura is formed.
It wasn’t aura. It was a mana overflow — mana leaking violently from the weapon’s surface.
“All that matters is... it explodes.”
Like aura, excess mana collides and detonates.
Blue mana surged from Suho’s cheap 999,900-won longsword as it pierced the Living Knight’s body.
BOOOOOOM!
Once again — not aura. It was a mana explosion.
The longsword exploded, and the resulting shockwave flung Suho backward.
“Soma!”
Even as he tumbled through the air, Suho’s focus stayed forward. He shouted to Soma.
WHISH!
Soma threw his wooden sword. It disappeared into the mist of mingled black and blue mana.
THUD!
Acting purely on instinct, Suho used one hand to shield Charming in his chest pocket, the other to protect Love on his head.
He collided with the wall and slid down to the floor — eyes locked on the thick mana fog.
Slowly, the fog began to dissipate.
Ma!
Nyaaang!
Be careful!
Soma and Love used their last bits of mana to form a green aura shield and a flame shield, respectively. But something shot from the mist — piercing straight through them both.
THUD!
“…”
“…”
“…That almost killed me.”
They had prepared for surprises. And Soma and Love had warned him.
Suho glanced at the black sword — still embedded deep in the wall, just past his left armpit.
Even now, black mana swirled around it.
Maaah.
Charming cast King’s Domain once more. The black mana surrounding the sword began to change — turning green.
As if signaling the purification was complete, Charming tapped his chest with his tiny hand. Suho turned his gaze toward the Living Knight.
He had dodged the Knight’s attack — but the Knight had failed to dodge Soma’s.
A green-mana-infused wooden sword was lodged in the left side of the Knight’s chest.
Still, it raised one hand… and looked at Suho.
Crack.
The delayed sound of rupture echoed.
But Suho didn’t relax. He watched closely.
From the torn armor, black mana trickled out — then vanished instantly.
“Hm?”
Beneath the leather helm, two red lights — possibly the eyes — faded to blue.
“…Thank you.”
“What?”
As Suho murmured, the black mist dispersed. The leather armor and helmet fell to the ground.
A pure white light surrounded them.
Thud.
Suho pulled the now green-mana-emanating black sword from the wall, then quickly checked the equipment.
“Appraise.”
Name: Leather Armor of the Lord Description: Worn by the lord of a knightly house erased by ruin. Effect: Reduces mana damage by 5%
Name: Leather Helm of the Lord Description: Worn by the lord of a knightly house erased by ruin. Effect: Reduces mana damage by 3%
“…Whoa.”
Armor that reduces the impact of mana-based attacks. A rare and powerful trait.
Suho turned to the black sword, now leaking green mana.
“Appraise.”
Name: Guardian Sword of a Forgotten House Description: A sacred sword bestowed by a fallen kingdom to its noble house. Effect 1: Reduces mana cost of aura techniques by 5% Effect 2: Increases mana regeneration by 5%
Two effects. Unbelievable.
Suho widened his eyes, stunned — but only for a moment. He hurried to the hallway, dragged in the curtain, and laid the leather armor, helm, and sword on top.
“Whew…”
Once the gate core was destroyed, the dungeon would be cleared.
Suho stepped forward and swung his sword at the glowing orb.
[The Gate Core of the Ghost Town Gate has been destroyed.] [Hunter Kim Suho has cleared the Ghost Town Gate. A reward will be given.] [Calculating reward… Please wait.]
Seeing the message, Suho let a small smile slip.
[All monsters in the Gate have been eliminated.]
Clearing the monsters to make the boss fight easier had become an achievement.
[You purified the castle where Specters were born.] [You purified a nameless noble using the pure power of nature.]
Pure power of nature.
Suho looked at Soma, perched on his shoulder. Maybe because they were his summons, all three beasts stared at the floating message too.
It was that final nature-infused strike that brought the boss down — and earned him this reward.
He nodded, then looked again.
[Maximum mana increased by 5%.] [Artifact acquired: Training Bracelet of a Forgotten Noble House.]
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