<Ding! You have resisted the Shadow Thrall Curse thanks to your high affinity and the <Blessing of Eligos>.>
The foreign energy invading her body dissolved into pure magic energy, filling up her mana pool. The tendril of shadows pressing her simply became her power upon entering her body, giving her a moment to think.
Her affinity with the shadows and darkness, massively enhanced by her cloak and armor, kept her safe from suffering the same fate as the people filling the rooms of this dark sanctuary. Mina immediately cast various spells, turning the surrounding shadows into a meat grinder of blades that chopped into the storm front of shadows.
“!! Just where did one like you come from? To be able to withstand the blessing of this Jiu Yuu Ying?” the droning voice exclaimed, unimpressed. Unfortunately, the formless shadows were as immune to her shadow spells as she was to his curse.
Seeing her magic ineffective, Mina's direct reaction was to bring out her daggers.
“Kukuku, release all hope. it is futile to attack me with those toys. My body can't be touched by weapons of the material world,” Jiu Yuu Ying laughed, seeing her pull out her weapons. Then the surroundings suddenly changed as he shadows realm filled with indigo flames.
The realm of shadows was never warm, but the ambient temperature noticeably dropped.
“Can you feel life seep out of you? Can you feel the cold seeping into your very being, eating away all the happiness you ever felt? Kukuku, if you won't become by thrall, my Yin Flames shall reap your life, and I will absorb your very soul,” the shadow monologued.
Mina, on the other hand, found that, although it felt somewhat cool, it had not even near the effect the shadow kraken described. It actually felt kind of comfortable. Mina glared at the shadow presence surrounding her and slashed at one of the tendrils. At the same time, the surrounding fire was drowned out by a field of ice spreading with her as the center.
“Don't belittle my husband's work,” she added and activated her assassin skills to start slashing the shadow cloud with a quick series of strikes. It took her 37 rapid strikes before she finally heard an announcement.
<Ding! Elufsiv the Esurient is feasting on the target's Mana. Magic and Skills are blocked for 10 seconds.>
The power of the demon lord from another dimension enveloped the foreign shadow creature. truly a scene not of her world. The whole cloud-like presence froze. The billowing shadows, constantly changing shape into myriads of variation, had become a still image, like the sculpture of a storm. The flames in the surroundings vanished. Jiu Yuu Ying laughed no longer.
“Ha ha ha ha ha,” the only thing that could be heard in the darkness was Mina's slow, deliberate laughter, oozing with malice. Even if Jiu Yuu Ying could not be hurt by physical damage, it could be hit and targeted.
“Down with the sickness!”
<Target had been afflicted by a random disease. Target contracted: Varicose Moon Veins (Lunar Meridian Engorgement)>
The moment the skill struck, the storm front of shadows began to rapidly change. The dark mist that was hard to make out in the realm of darkness was covered in ghostly white veins of varying thickness. Some were thin and faint, others were bulging out to a disgusting degree. The especially thick, ropey protrusions were flickering in a bright light that reminded her of the moon.
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Mina recoiled, confused. What kind of disease was that? It looked kind of disgusting and somewhat interesting...A low, vibrating roar escaped from the shadow front that had become static. It began moving slowly, despite Elufsiv still suppressing it.
“W-What have you done to meee....” the storm groaned in dismay, its voice slowed and slurred. Mina gripped Asclepius’ Needle tighter. She saw a path.
“Wrong question. You should ask what I'm about to do now,” Mina answered with a malignant smile and raised her dagger again.
“Plague Strike!”
<Ding! Target has been afflicted with a deadly disease: Luminous Blight>
Joining the Varicose Moon Veins that covered the clouds like a net of lightning bolts was a new source of light. Like the moon peeking out from the cloud cover, many large and small orbs of light began to appear in the darkness.
“WHOAaaa....!” They were accompanied by the pain-filled roar of dismay as the tumors of light began scorching the shadow beast from the inside. Mina glanced at the dagger in her hand. This was the second time.
This was the second time the dagger had saved her life when she was forced to face an opponent of overwhelming power. It wasn't a legend, and it wasn't reliable in combat. More than once, her opponent only contracted a light fever or a slow-progressing illness.
But when it counted, it actually delivered.
The moment tension slightly relaxed, the roaring, moaning shadows began churning. The charring white veins began twisting, and the luminous tumors began swirling. The whole shadow realm shook under the screams of pain, as the bulbous veins popped in explosions of light.
“DO NOT THINK THIS IS OVER!” Jiu Yuu Ying exclaimed as the storm front of shadow began to seethe like boiling water. parts of black matter split off in all directions, leaving an abstract structure of glowing veins, luminous bulbs, and ripped shadow behind to collapse in a heap of twilight.
“You will pay for this,” dozens of voices promised her, as each piece that split off took the shape of a creature or person. They all looked at her, but didn't move. One of the voices was right behind her. When she turned around, it was already too late.
<Ding! You have been affected by a <Shadow Pin>. You are unable to move.>
<Ding! You have failed to resist the <Shadow Pin>.>
Behind her was a shadow slightly lighter than the rest of the realm, in the shape of a rat. So small she had not noticed it sneak up on her. In the light of the luminous tumors, it had taken hold of her formless shadow in this world of darkness.
She felt a force encasing her, stopping her from moving. The next moment, the scenery changed as she was evicted from the shadow realm and thrown out into the lightless temple. Now that she had entered the temple itself, she could feel the pressure of the shadow.
This was not simply the absence of light. It was like the pressure of water at the bottom of a lake. A disturbing thought came to her. Maybe this whole temple was filled with a part of the shadow. People entering this darkness literally wandered into the belly of the beast...
But if this was the body...then what was it she faced in the shadow realm?
She heard a rustling to her left and realized where she was. The room she had been transported to was the sanctuary. She stood in the middle of the room, and the figures seated on the altar pedestal had stood up.
“I don't know what sorcery you used before, but nothing can save you now. Once I devour your spirit, I will make everything that is yours mine. Then I will understand it all,” the central figure in dark robes spoke, acting as the mouth of the shadow beast.
<Shadow Thrall High Priest, lv.--->
<Shadow Thrall Priest, lv.--->
<Shadow Thrall Priest, lv.144>
Even the lowest among the three was lv.144, and she couldn't even see the level of the other two... All three of them unsheathed long, slender swords from the depths of their cloaks, ready to strike her down.
Mina tried to grimace, but even that didn't work. The Shadow Pin completely immobilized her. She started to sweat a little. The powers of the shadow beast may not have worked on her, but the weapons of these puppets definitely would.
