Pick me Up – Chapter 252 – Assault on the Holy City (3)
I opened my eyes.
As the glare faded, the landscape around me slowly began to reveal itself.
The first thing I felt was the acrid air flowing through my throat, as if I were inhaling sulfur. A nauseating, pungent smell made me dizzy.
‘……Here it is.’
I had heard that this was the illusory world created by Riane.
I looked around. The weather was cold. In the sky of a dark dawn, a red full moon shone. Below, in the moonlight, stone buildings were aligned.
“Kill her!”
“Kill her! Kill the heretic!”
“Hang her! Hang her!”
Murmurs resonated everywhere.
I turned my head. I was in a vast circular plaza. Around the fountain in the center, a crowd of citizens of all ages had gathered, leaving no room to move. They were looking towards the temple right in front. More precisely, at a woman standing on the terrace of the temple's upper level.
“Kill her! Kill the traitor! Kill the traitor who sold us out!”
A young woman, who didn’t seem to be more than twenty years old, shouted, raising her fist.
I bit my lips. Instead of eyes, there were only dark holes where her eyeballs should have been.
[Enraged Citizens Lv.54] x 658
People were shouting insults and throwing objects at someone on the upper level of the temple, cursing and condemning them.
“Don’t let her live! Dismember her and execute her!”
“Yes, yes!”
“How dare she betray the prince…!”
I clicked my tongue.
I already knew where I was.
“Is this your trick?”
I stared at a pair of eyes floating in the air.
<This is an illusory world, but it’s also the truth.>
“Illusion and truth? Sounds like nonsense.”
<Then, prove it yourself.>
With a light laugh, the eyes disappeared.
At that moment, a headache began to invade me. I put a hand to my temple and looked ahead.
Shortly after, a sound effect and a system message appeared.
[Ting!]
[The hero Han (★★★★★) has entered the ‘Illusory World.’]
[A special mission has been assigned. If you fail this mission, the special NPC Priacis al Ragnar will die. Master, please observe the situation carefully.]
Chichichic.
Noises appeared, and the mission on my screen updated.
[Floor 15 (?)]
[Mission Type – Escort]
[Objective – Protect the designated person.]
Buildings and roads arranged like a chessboard.
A crowd of citizens gathered in the plaza and the temple inside.
I couldn’t forget it. This was the city called ‘Adilt,’ the setting of the 15th floor.
Floor 15.
The mission where Priacis appeared for the first time, and being a boss stage, it had been quite difficult.
‘If anything has changed…’
The citizens were in revolt.
And, I was the only hero here.
Finally…
“This is…!”
Priacis, standing on the terrace railing, widened her eyes.
She looked around with a bewildered expression. No wonder.
Suddenly, the place changed, and people were looking at her as if they wanted to kill her.
[10:00]
The time was shown in the bottom left corner of my screen.
Ten minutes.
‘No time to think…’
I started to move.
“You, who are you? Don’t interfere and get out…”
Crack.
I twisted the wrist of the man blocking my way.
“Aaargh!”
Boom!
I kicked him in the chest, and he fell noisily into the fountain.
“Where… where am I?”
No one answered Priacis’s scream.
Each person only let out their cries of fury.
A shadow was stirring behind the terrace curtain.
[09:43]
I climbed to the top of the fountain and jumped.
With a leap of several meters, I propelled myself again from a window frame and a railing.
Landing on the terrace in an instant.
“Ah!”
Surprised by the sudden intrusion, Priacis fell to the ground.
“Han?! Where are we…?”
“No time for explanations. We have to escape here in ten minutes.”
“What are you talking about…?”
Fiu!
A cutting sound in the air.
I moved my right hand. Opening my palm, the crossbow bolt fell to the ground.
If I had been a little slower, it would have pierced Priacis’s forehead.
“Doesn’t this situation seem familiar to you?”
“Yes, I understand now.”
“Let’s get out of here. Hold on tight.”
Priacis bit her lips and nodded her head.
She wasn’t the naive girl I met for the first time. She had grown up facing all kinds of adversities. With a determined expression, she clung to me. Immediately.
“Aaargh!”
Enemies appeared.
[Enraged Soldiers of the Cult Lv.61] x 316
[Enraged Knights of the Cult Lv.67] x 17
[Enraged Assassins Lv.66] x 21
From beyond the terrace, from the building opposite, from the temple door, from the plaza below, from the city avenue,
An countless number of soldiers emerged, rushing towards us.
Bloodshot eyes.
Blood oozing from every orifice of their body.
They looked more like monsters than humans.
‘This must be the ultimate method.’
Once again, I had to overcome a boss stage already cleared in hard mode.
A pretty cunning tactic. I smiled wryly as I hugged Priacis and jumped from the terrace.
And easily, I leapt a distance of 5 meters, landing on the roof.
“Kill her! Kill heraaa!”
Citizens and soldiers, knights and assassins, all were running towards Priacis.
Dozens of people were crushed and died, but they didn’t care.
There wasn’t a trace of reason in them.
Ping! Pipipip!
An assassin fired a crossbow.
I moved out of the line of fire, running across the rooftops.
“Are they really human?”
Priacis looked back with a terrified expression.
The soldiers leapt several meters high to climb onto the rooftops.
When our eyes met, their eyeballs enlarged, and they started running on all fours.
“I don’t know. Neither do I.”
I know the city map by heart.
I entered an alley and passed through several branching paths.
Though I couldn’t make big moves with Priacis by my side, this was enough. I pulled out the sheath of Bifröst and crushed the heads of the enemies blocking the way.
It wasn’t difficult to shake them off.
The problem was the exit.
There were few exits, and they would surely be guarded.
‘Well, I’ll have to break through anyway.’
I exited the alley, running.
According to my memory, the exit was right in front.
As expected.
At the end of the avenue, there was a fortified gate.
And there, about twenty soldiers were standing guard.
“Graaaah! Kiaaah!”
I looked back.
A mixed crowd of citizens and soldiers was approaching.
Like a big wave. If it caught up with us, Priacis would die, even if I survived.
‘As fast as possible.’
“Don’t be scared.”
I threw Priacis into the air.
“……?!”
She screamed as she flew.
I snapped my fingers. Pazzz! A lightning bolt shot from my fingers, enveloping Priacis, stopping her in the air. It was a simple gravitational fixation technique.
“What is this…!”
“Graaargh!”
“What a peculiar scream.”
I put my hand on the sword’s sheath.
Crimson lightning started to jump from the hilt.
<This pathetic trick. The saint of the cult has reached her limit.>
Halgion clicked his tongue.
A pathetic trick.
It’s true.
“Waaaargh!”
Before the soldiers reached me,
I released the sword’s hilt with my thumb.
Swish.
A dark red arc swept a radius of 10 meters.
Those hit staggered for a moment before falling to pieces.
A total of twenty. The clean avenue was stained with blood and flesh.
Clack.
I returned the sword to its sheath.
As I lowered my hand, Priacis descended slowly from the air.
“Let’s go.”
Priacis nodded awkwardly.
In the passage of the open gate, a swirling light spun.
That was the exit portal. I walked quickly through the passage while talking.
“Priacis, this isn’t over yet. Stay calm even if we reach a strange place.”
“I… I understand.”
“Good.”
I looked at the clock.
[05:20]
It had taken us approximately 4 minutes and 30 seconds.
Not bad.
[Drag and drop the screen. Extend a hand to help the NPCs trapped in the illusion!]
Anything slid the screen once more.
[Slash!]
[A dimensional portal connected to the illusion has opened!]
Uuuung.
A blinding light emanated from the swirl.
The first illusion was the 15th floor.
‘So, the next one…’
Where would it be?
There was no choice but to experience it firsthand.
I entered the swirl of light.
[Ting!]
[The hero Han (★★★★★) has entered the ‘Second Illusory World.’]
[A special mission has been assigned. If you fail this mission, the special NPC Priacis al Ragnar will die. Master, please observe the situation carefully.]
Woooosh.
After the light faded, a sandstorm enveloped me.
In the midst of the storm, I heard the saint’s voice.
<You have passed the 15th floor.>
“How disappointing. Was that all?”
<Of course not. I’ve prepared an even more wonderful gift.>
“I hope so.”
With my feet firmly on the sandy ground, I looked around.
Priacis… was nowhere to be seen.
It seemed we had been separated during the summoning process.
‘If it’s about sand, there’s only one place.’
Although my expectations were not met, it didn’t matter.
I took a deep breath.
[Floor 30 (?)]
[Mission Type – Extermination]
[Objective – Eliminate the designated enemy.]
[Special Objective – Ensure the survival of the NPC Priacis al Ragnar]
I spat out the sand that had entered my mouth while looking around.
An endless desert. Sandstorms here and there blocked the view.
And, in the distance, beyond the sandstorm.
Uuuuuung.
A gigantic shadow began to move.
[Ancient Statue Lv.???]
“……Haa.”
I let out an involuntary sigh.
I didn’t want to encounter that thing.
<What do you think of my gift? This stage won’t be easy.>
“…….”
<Can you overcome the purity of ancient magic with the weak body of a human? Hehehe, I hope you end up burying your bones along with the traitor in my illusion.>
Riane’s voice faded away.
I shrugged.
Boom!
The ground trembled slightly.
It was the impact of the statue’s footsteps.
It was walking towards the right of the desert.
‘It’s not targeting me.’
Not far from the statue.
I could see Priacis running desperately.
‘……Damn it.’
Priacis was fleeing, but the statue was right behind her.
Uuuuuung.
The statue slowly raised its arm.
<Han, run!>
“I know!”
Boom!
I launched myself through the sand.
‘The ancient statue.’
Around 300 meters tall.
Similar in height to the Eiffel Tower.
An absolutely colossal monster.
‘It’s too far!’
Priacis fell to the ground.
‘Speaking of the purity of ancient magic.’
With human strength, it was impossible to face it directly.
If the Lizardmen hadn’t created an internal passage, we would have died helplessly.
It could shake the earth and flip the crust with a single punch. It had power comparable to hundreds of dynamite cartridges. And that fist was about to fall on Priacis.
‘So you think you’ve won?’
Somewhere, the saint was probably smiling with satisfaction while watching us.
I leaned forward.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll show you.”
I bit my tongue hard.
The metallic taste of blood spread through my mouth.
“Halgion.”
Pzzzzzzzt!
Crimson lightning enveloped my body.
[Han (★★★★★) has activated Demonization.]
Black scales sprouted from my skin.
My vision turned red.
Boom!
I propelled myself hard from the ground.
A column of sand rose behind me.
Clack.
I drew the blade of Bifröst.
My reflection appeared in the dark blade.
‘…….’
A complete monster.
No matter. I smiled wryly as I swung the sword.
“Grrrgh!”
Priacis closed her eyes tightly.
Right above her, the giant fist was descending.
<What is the weight of the sword?>
“50 million times.”
<Hahaha! Excellent! Show the power of the Dragon King!>
Uuuuuuuung.
The dark blade began to vibrate along with its trail.
A faint black glow seeped from the sword.
[Skill, Supreme Black Sword activated.]
<By the way, it’s a magnificent sword. You increased its weight 50 million times, and it still doesn’t break.>
“The creator must have done a great job.”
<Kuhuhu! It’s fun!>
I stopped next to Priacis.
Clack. I gripped the handle with both hands.
Boom. I firmly planted both feet in the sand.
Then, I swung the sword with all my might towards the giant’s fist.
A shockwave spread in a circular shape.
Followed by a thunderous sound.
Boom!
The statue’s arm shattered and flew into the air.
Hundreds, thousands of fragments flew like bullets.
Uuuuuung.
The giant statue’s body staggered backward.
The fragments that flew up began to fall like a meteor shower.
I extended Bifröst backward.
“What… what is this…?”
“100 million times.”
Uuuuuuuung.
The dark glow of Bifröst intensified.
I pressed the button on the sword’s handle.
Clack.
A mechanical sound and the blade extended sideways.
Adopting the shape of a greatsword.
The U-rank weapon, Bifröst, evolves infinitely according to the user’s characteristics.
‘Expansion.’
Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack
The blade began to lengthen.
2 meters. 3 meters. 5 meters. 10 meters. 20 meters. 30 meters. 50 meters.
And finally, up to 100 meters… 200 meters.
‘A sword of this length normally couldn’t be handled due to its center of gravity, but…’
That didn’t affect me.
Boom!
I accelerated again.
The sand scattered in all directions.
With both hands, I gripped the handle and swung the sword horizontally.
‘Just once.’
A great line was marked in the air.
Then, the dark blade of Bifröst collided with the statue.
Crrrrash!
The 100-meter blade crackled, and it began to cut through the statue’s torso like butter.
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