Pick Me Up! - Chapter 252: The siege on the Holy City (3) (2)

I sheathed my sword.

As I lowered my right hand, Priasis, who had been suspended in midair, slowly descended.

“Let’s go.”

Priasis nodded with a shaky, uneasy expression. Ahead, in the passage through the open gate, a swirling vortex of light was spinning.

That was the exit. I quickened my pace as we passed through the gate and said:

“Priasis, this isn’t over yet. If we end up in another strange place, keep your composure.”

“I understand.”

“Good.”

I glanced at the timer.

[05:20]

It took around 4 minutes and 30 seconds.

Not a bad score.

[Drag and drop the screen! Reach out to the NPC trapped in the illusion and lend a helping hand!]

Anytng swiped at the screen once more.

[Slash!]

[A dimensional gate connected to the illusion has opened!]

Wuuuuuung.

Blinding light began to pour out of the vortex.

The first illusion was the 15th floor. “If that’s the case, the next one…”

Where would it be?

I had no choice but to experience it firsthand.

I stepped into the vortex of light.

[Ding!]

[Hero ‘Han (★★★★★)’ has entered the second World of Illusion.]

[A special mission has been assigned. If this mission fails, Special NPC ‘Priasis Al Ragnar’ will die. Master, monitor the situation carefully!]

Whooosh.

The light cleared, and a wave of sand and dust engulfed me.

Amid the storm, I heard the voice of the saintess.

〈So, you passed the 15th floor.〉

“How disappointing. Was that really all you had?”

〈Oh no, there’s a much greater gift prepared for you.〉

“Looking forward to it.”

I planted my feet firmly in the sand and looked around.

Priasis… wasn’t here.

It seemed we had been separated during the transition.

‘If we’re dealing with sand, there’s only one place this could be.’

Though I had guessed wrong, it didn’t really matter.

I took a deep breath.

[FLOOR 30(?)]

[Mission Type – Extermination]

[Objective – Annihilate the designated enemy!]

[Special Objective – Ensure NPC ‘Priasis Al Ragnar’ survives.]

Ptooey.

I spat out the sand that had gotten into my mouth and looked around.

An endless desert stretched out before me. Sandstorms in the distance obscured my vision.

And far beyond, through the swirling sands…

A massive shadow began to move.

[Ancient Statue Lv. ???]

“…Great.”

A sigh escaped my lips.

That was the one enemy I didn’t want to face.

〈How do you like my gift? This stage won’t be easy.〉

“…”

〈With your frail human body, do you think you can defeat the pinnacle of ancient magic? Heh, may you and your traitor friend find your graves in my illusion.〉

Irine’s voice faded away.

I shrugged.

Thoom!

The ground shook lightly.

It was the weight of the statue’s footsteps.

The thing was moving toward the right side of the desert. ‘It’s not after me.’

Not far from the statue…

I could see Priasis frantically running.

‘…Damn it.’

Priasis was fleeing desperately, but the statue was right on her heels.

Rooooooar.

The statue slowly raised its massive arm.

〈Han, run!〉

“I know!”

Thud thud thud!

I kicked up a cloud of sand as I sprinted.

‘The Ancient Statue.’

It stood about 300 meters tall.

Roughly the height of the Eiffel Tower.

It was staggeringly, impossibly enormous.

‘I’m too far away!’

Priasis stumbled and fell.

‘The pinnacle of ancient magic, huh.’

No ordinary human could hope to face something like this.

If the Lizardmen hadn’t created a path to the statue’s internal weak points, we would’ve all been doomed from the start.

This thing could shake the ground and split the earth with a single punch. The force was comparable to hundreds of sticks of dynamite. And now, that fist was descending toward Priasis.

‘So, do you think you’ve beaten me?’

Somewhere, the saintess must’ve been smiling smugly, watching us in this perilous situation.

I bent my knees.

“If that’s what you want, then I’ll show you.”

I bit my tongue hard.

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

“Halkion.”

Crackle!

Dark red lightning surged and crackled, enveloping my entire body.

[‘Han (★★★★★)’ has entered the Demonization state!]

Black scales erupted from my skin, covering my body.

My vision turned crimson.

Boom!

I pushed off the ground with a massive leap.

A column of sand shot up behind me.

Clink.

I unsheathed Bifrost. My reflection glimmered in the pitch-black blade.

A full transformation into a monster.

It didn’t matter. I smirked and spun the blade.

‘Grrrraaaaah!’

Priasis tightly shut her eyes.

The giant’s fist was plummeting down toward her.

〈What is the weight of the sword?〉

“Fifty million times.”

〈Hahaha! Excellent! Show me the power of the Dragon Tyrant!〉

Wuuuuuuuung!

The black blade began to vibrate, leaving afterimages as it moved.

A faint dark light leaked from the sword.

[Skill, ‘Black Sword’ activated!]

〈By the way, that is one fine sword. How can it not break, even with the weight increased fifty million times?〉

“The craftsman must’ve been damn good.”

〈Khehe! Amusing.〉

I stopped right next to Priasis.

Clink.

I gripped the sword handle with both hands.

Boom.

My feet dug deep into the sandy ground.

And then, I swung the sword with all my strength toward the giant’s descending fist.

A shockwave spread in a circular arc.

Then, Boom!

The ancient statue’s arm shattered and flew into the air.

Hundreds, thousands of fragments were scattered like bouncing stones.

Grooooooar!

The statue’s massive body wobbled and staggered backward.

Rattle rattle.

The debris rained down from the sky like a downpour.

I thrust Bifrost behind me.

“What… what is this…”

“One hundred million times.”

Wuuuuuuuung!

The dark glow of Bifrost grew even stronger. I pressed a button on the hilt of the sword.

Click!

With a mechanical sound, the blade of the sword expanded outward.

Now in the form of a greatsword.

Bifrost, an S-rank weapon, could evolve indefinitely based on the traits of its user.

‘Expansion.’

Clink. Clink clink clink.

The blade extended.

2 meters. 3 meters. 5 meters. 10 meters. 20 meters. 30 meters.

50 meters.

I’m currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!