Chapter 11: 9 – Chaos and Abyss [4]

"Come! I'll kill you dead!"

As if understanding Glenn's provocation, Death's will shrieked loudly and dashed toward him, swinging its scythe wildly.

Although Glenn would've liked to block the attack, he was only a mere 2nd-tier with only his bare fists. Thus, he stepped aside to let Death's will's attack hit the ground. Using the moment when sand particles rose up to the air and obscured everyone's vision, Glenn delivered a jab to where he remembered the monster to be.

A direct hit! 

Although Glenn didn't know where on the monster's body he had hit, he was sure that he managed to knock it away by the sheer force of his punch alone.

"How pathetic! The monster's still not dead. And here you dare tell my descendant that you'll be a future grandmaster," spoke Kevin as he picked his nose.

However, Glenn didn't need Kevin to insult him to know that Death's will didn't die from his attack. Watching the creature getting back on its feet again after the sand settled, Glenn grinned and declared arrogantly, "Monsters are stupid, with a few exceptions. But you're merely a monster of the 7th layer, incapable of learning. So—"

He got back into a fighting stance. "—I'll repeat this until your bones are all crushed."

...

"Dammit! Why isn't it going down?!" Glenn cursed loudly as he wiped the sweat on his forehead. However, his action only served to make his forehead wetter, not with the sweat that covered his entire body despite the cold air, but with blood.

"Haha, you're weak! Even with your Fire magic, you're no match for this skinny creature!" Kevin laughed provocatively.

Looking down at his shaking and bloodied hands, Glenn took deep breaths to calm his mental state down. His mind was occupied with figuring out how to deal with the monster before him at the moment, so he didn't have time to deal with Kevin. After successfully blocking Kevin's insults from his mind, he gazed at the Death's will again.

Just like countless times before, it was squirming on the ground in pain with its body covered in the white sand clotted by the blood from Glenn's fists. But, just like the past 30 minutes, it soon got up and charged at him again.

Glenn clicked his tongue and took a step to the right. Then, he elbowed the monster who had just missed its attack again; his elbow was covered in flame as he did so. Soon, the attack connected, and the flames exploded into redder, brighter, and bigger ones that latched themselves onto Death's will's body.

But, just like the scene he had seen many times before, the flames soon subsided, and the burn marks on the monster's body began to heal at a rapid rate. Just as Glenn was about to rush in and uselessly pummel it like he did before, Ander suddenly shouted, "Tip number 1: You have to kill the Death's will with one decisive attack, or else it'll just heal its wounds endlessly. No amount of consecutive attacks can kill it."

Glenn halted in his steps and glared at Ander. "Why the fuck did you decide to tell me that now?!"

"I thought that you can figure it out after a few attacks, but who would've expected you to be so stupid? It's been 30 minutes already. But to be honest, it's amusing watching you hurt yourself for nothing."

Scowling, Glenn shouted, "I'm not dumb! But how do I kill it?"

"Normally, a 3rd-tier awakened can defeat it after putting in much effort, and a 4th-tier can kill it with relative ease. As for a 2nd-tier like you, well... you'll have to figure it out yourself. Otherwise, you can choose between miraculously ranking up or fighting a battle of attrition that you will lose no matter what."

Hearing this, Glenn's frown deepened. 'Is using ACL the only way to win?'

If so, then he was thoroughly fucked. He didn't know how Ander might react to him using ACL. Founders' Skill holder or not, there was a high chance that the heir to one of the 4 great families of the alliance would kill him right here if he detected the slightest bit of ACL from Glenn's body. 

'Running isn't an option either.'

After all, Death's will was extremely fast. Glenn wouldn't have been able to dodge if it weren't for its repetitive and unintelligent pattern of attacking exactly where its enemies stood without any feint. Worse still, the fact that it was attacking Glenn while constantly healing its nasty burn wounds meant that its stamina level was absurdly high.

'I can kill it instantly with Amplification or Redirection but... no, just no. Why am I even considering this option?'

He didn't want to use either of those Skills ever again since they were the sole reason why the dearest person to him died. He'd rather be condemned in hell for eternity than use them.

'Then, there's an annoying way.'

And Glenn didn't like this method at all. Since the start of the fight, Kevin had been floating around, laughing, and making fun of Glenn for not being able to kill what he called a 'measly unintelligent punching bag'. From his interactions with Kevin, Glenn was sure that he wasn't the type who would openly make fun of him for no reason. That meant Kevin was provoking him into doing something. And that something was...

'His martial art, huh?'

It was that obvious. After all, the masters that visited the 'White hell' when Glenn was still there to teach the children were extremely arrogant. They were never the first to take the initiative in lessons, combat-related or not.

But Glenn's pride didn't let him get down on his knees and beg this annoying ghost and thus, he opted to figure out his own solution. Setting the monster's body aflame again to keep it on the ground, he asked, "Ander, I just have to kill it in one go, correct? Not obliterate its body or anything?"

"Yes. Things like cutting its head off can work. But I doubt you can achieve that with your current power."

"I see..."

Ander's tips were more helpful to Glenn than he could have ever imagined. After all, although Glenn lacked the firepower to wipe the Death's will out of existence, he was still strong enough to kill it in a heartbeat. That was, assuming that everything was in his favor. 

'This will be risky and will involve a lot of experimenting. But... I have to learn how to take risks!'

Glenn immediately dashed toward the squirming monster and tried to pin it down. However, it easily pushed him off it.

Seeing this, Ander spoke, "Tip number 2: A Death's will is stronger than its appearance might suggest."

"No shit! It nearly broke my bones there!" Glenn cursed in frustration. Rushing toward the monster again, he tried to take its hood off. However, he couldn't. No matter how hard he tried, the damn thing just wouldn't budge!

"Tip number 3: The 'cloak' and 'hood' of a Death's will is actually part of its body. Trying to take them off when you don't have the strength to kill it in the first place is foolish."

Dodging a scythe swing from the now-recovered monster, Glenn shouted, "Can you please for the love of Goddess Lyra just tell me the tips before I figure them out on my own?!"

"Nah," Ander smirked, "It's more fun this way."

Glenn clicked his tongue in annoyance and dashed toward the Death's will again after knocking it down. 'It sucks that I can't take off its hood but... I don't need to,' he thought as he reached his right hand into the dark inside of the monster's hood. However, he was blocked by some sort of invisible barrier.

"Tip number 4: No one, not even the only 12th-tier archmage of the alliance has seen or touched what's inside Death's will hood. It's simply impossible."

'It's impossible?'

Then Glenn's entire plan was implausible from the start! Or, that was what Glenn would've thought if it wasn't for the first thing that Kevin 'taught' him.

'No, it's not impossible. This feels similar, like the time when I tried to go inside my own soul space.'

Glenn guessed that the barrier keeping the inside of the Death's will hood from being reached was the same one that guarded his, and by extension, everyone's soul space. As such, he lit a fire on the palm of his left hand, grabbed a handful of Chaos from it with his right, and reached into the monster's hood again.

This time, he succeeded, albeit with slight resistance. 'Is the barrier's strength proportionate with the strength of one's soul?' Glenn thought as he felt that his own soul space was harder to get in than this. But that wasn't important right now, as he felt that he had reached the monster's 'face.'

The Death's will eyes widened in circles as soon as it felt Glenn's touch on its face. It tried to thrash Glenn off, but it was too late as he had already gouged one of its eyes out.

As the monster shrieked loudly in pain, Glenn reached his fingers into its now-empty eye sockets. Feeling something mushy and squishy touching his finger, he grinned. "So your brain is exposed through your eye sockets, huh? What luck!"

[Flame burst]

A burst of red flames exploded on the tip of Glenn's fingers, melting the Death's will brain.

The monster thrashed around violently and screamed as it experienced the most agonizing death possible. But before long, it stopped resisting and its body turned limp. 

Kevin sulked with a sullen face. "Ah, what a shame, you figured it out yourself... But be careful, a Death's will has—"

Ignoring the disgusting scene of Kevin fucking pouting at him, Glenn turned around to meet Ander's eyes with a smirk.

"I did the 'impossible,' how's that? Are you satisfied?"

Ander grinned back at Glenn. However, his next words were completely out of Glenn's expectations.

"Final tip: A Death's will has as many lives as it has taken, and this one seems to have well over a dozen."

"Wh— AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Glenn screamed in pain as the Death's will's scythe dug into his side, threatening to tear his body in half. Reinforcing his insides with Mana, Glenn gritted his teeth, endured the pain, and continued casting.

[Flame burst]

The monster's brain melted again. However, it came back to life almost instantly and applied more force to its attack.

Glenn shouted in anger, "Shit shit SHIT SHIT SHIT!! FUCKING BASTARD ANDER! I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU WHEN THIS IS OVER!"

[Flame burst]

"DIE!"

[Flame burst]

"FUCK YOU!"

[Flame burst]

"GO TO HELL!"

[Flame burst]

" 'TESTING OUT' MY ASS! HE'S JUST TRYING TO KILL ME!"

You are reading story Conqueror of the Abyss at novel35.com

[Flame burst]

"HEHAHAHAHAAHAHA! DON'T WORRY ABOUT BEING LONELY! THAT BASTARD ANDER WILL JOIN YOU IN HELL SOON!"

[Flame burst]

***

[Flame burst]

With the 15th and final [Flame burst], almost everything stopped.

Glenn stopped casting spells as his face turned pale and his eyes turned blurry; Judging by the condition he was in right now, it was safe to say that he had run out of Mana.

The Death's will stopped digging the scythe into Glenn's body and was instead letting out incomprehensible shrieks from its mouth.

Ander and Kevin held their breaths, staring intensely at the two, knowing that whoever fell first would be the loser.

Before long, the Death's will halted its shrieks, plunging the whole area into silence again. Then, a body fell.

Gazing coldly at the Abyssal tendrils pulling the fallen body into the ground, Ander muttered, "Too bad, the kid didn't meet my expectations—" Then, he reached into thin air and took out a green broadsword. Walking toward the only standing body, he slashed at it with a grin. "—Instead, he surpassed it."

[Sword of Vitari]

A green glow emanated from the sword as it cut through the body - Glenn's. However, it didn't harm him. Instead, all of his wounds, whether external or internal, were healed instantly. 

Ander grabbed Glenn by the collar as he was about to fall down. Gazing at his now-unconscious body warmingly, he muttered, "Rest well. You've proved more than enough."

In fact, Glenn had already proved himself to have the potential to become powerful when he achieved the impossible - reaching inside Death's will's hood - and took its first life despite being a mere 2nd-tier. However, Ander became greedy. He wanted to see the full potential of Glenn, he wanted to see if this kid could overcome a tall hurdle like the now-dead monster.

Now that Glenn had indeed overcome the challenge, Ander judged that it was a good choice to start investing in him now.

"But too bad that he rejected my original offer, I'd have liked him as my son-in-law. He's even a perfect fit for Erika! His mad yet pragmatic personality would contrast well with her pushover nature..."

***

Glenn groaned as he woke up. He was met with the familiar sight of the bright orange campfire and Ander sitting right next to it.

Before Glenn could say anything, Ander suddenly said, "Well well, look who's up?"

Glenn rubbed his eyes before looking down at his own body in confusion. "Huh? I-I'm healed?"

"Yes, you are. Your body's in perfect condition now, not even a scar remained. Well... except for the one on your right cheek. My sword can't heal it no matter what. Must've received it from a powerful Curse mage or Cursed weapon, huh?"

"Yeah..." Glenn nodded. Staying in silence for a while, he then said, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For healing me, and for... giving me pointers on how to kill Death's will."

"Ah, don't mention it. But are you truly okay with thanking me for giving you tips? I mean, you were cursing me pretty harshly earlier. Something about sending me to hell or wherever."

Glenn cough in embarrassment. "I-Ignore that! I only said it in the heat of the moment! I know that I shouldn't blame you too much since that was supposed to be a test for me."

"Heh, you're more reasonable than I thought. Are you sure you don't want to marry Erika?"

"No, don't pull me into your political games."

"Alright, you do you. But by the way, your hair... was it always silver?"

Glenn flinched and immediately reached for his hair. Snapping some strands off with his fingers, he looked in horror as his green hair had now turned back to silver.

Seeing this, Ander chuckled. "It wore off just a few hours ago so it must've been hair dye, huh? I don't know why you'd do that but rest assured, I will take your secret to my grave."

"Thanks... but that won't convince me to marry her." Glenn sighed. Ander's intentions were just too obvious.

"Yeah, no."

Closing his eyes, Glenn sighed. "Ander, can you leave me alone for a second?"

"Is it because of me nagging you?"

"No, it's... something else. I just want some time alone."

Though confused by Glenn's sudden request, Ander still nodded and temporarily left the camp.

Now alone, Glenn could finally reflect on what had just happened in peace.

"I'm too weak," muttered Glenn with a long sigh.

2nd-tier or not, the fact that he almost died while fighting a monster of the mere 7th layer meant that he still had an extremely long way before he could achieve his goals. As such, he steeled his resolve to get stronger... whatever it takes. And that included learning from the very prideful and annoying ghosts.

'I cursed him for being prideful but I myself let pride blind me earlier and almost died because of it. Heh, 'annoyance' my ass. Does it really matter if it meant that I can get stronger?'

But...

'I shouldn't lower myself too much. That ghost could take advantage of me if I act like a total pushover.'

Thus, Glenn turned toward Kevin, who was floating right beside the fire as if to bask himself in the Chaos, and muttered, "Your martial art, teach me it."

Kevin's ears figuratively perked up as he turned to stare at Glenn with sparkling eyes. "Oh my, the newbie's asking me to teach him the martial art that I dedicated my entire life to? Whatever will I do..."

"Don't pretend like you don't know," said Glenn with a slightly more aggressive tone, "You were provoking me with the intention to make me beg for your martial art. Maybe it was because you wanted to stroke your own ego, or maybe you wanted me to discard my pride, but I don't care about your motives. Just know that I have no intention of begging you."

Suddenly, Katherine poked her head out of Glenn's chest with a smirk. "Heh, he hit the mark. Why don't you humble down this time and just teach him normally, dearest brother? Surely, making every one of your disciples begs you will become boring before long."

Glenn grabbed a bit of Chaos and pushed Katherine back inside him.

"W-Wait! I'm not done yet!" Katherine shouted as she tried to resist Glenn's push.

But Glenn ignored her and continued pushing her back into his soul space. With Katherine now gone, Glenn turned toward Kevin again.

"That was unexpected... but you heard what your sister said. Will you teach me or not?" 

Kevin wore a complicated expression. It seemed that being the one to take ask someone to learn under him was extremely damaging to his pride. But eventually, he gave in and sighed. "Alright. I'll teach you. But it's only because of Kate's nagging, and only because changing my ways once in a while is fun."

"Great," Glenn smirked. "So what do I do?"

"Don't be too hasty. First, I'll ask you a question—What do you fight for?"

"..."

"Ah, perhaps I was being too vague. Let me rephrase. What do you strive for? What are your ambitions? And how will you use my martial arts to achieve it?"

Glenn answered without any hesitation, "I fight for my loved ones. I want to conquer the Abyss and bring back someone dear to me, and I..."

'Will do anything to achieve my goals, even if it means murdering everyone in this world with your martial art.'

But he hesitated to say such words out loud, and justifiably so.

Seeing that Glenn wasn't telling him everything, Kevin sighed and used one of his Skills.

[Thoughts teller]

As soon as Kevin used his Skill, Glenn blurted out his thoughts. "I will do anything to achieve my goals, even if it means murdering everyone in this world with your martial art."

By the time Glenn realized his mistake, it was already too late. Kevin was staring at him with a face that carried no particular emotions.

The suspense was killing Glenn! He waited anxiously as Kevin stared at him with a gaze that pierced his entire soul, wishing that Katherine would just come out like she did before and tell him if he had answered correctly.

Before long, Kevin moved his mouth. "Newbie..."

"Y-Yes...?"

"Your goals, they're..."

You can find story with these keywords: Conqueror of the Abyss, Read Conqueror of the Abyss, Conqueror of the Abyss novel, Conqueror of the Abyss book, Conqueror of the Abyss story, Conqueror of the Abyss full, Conqueror of the Abyss Latest Chapter