It was a setback. As Aslan rose, contorting his face, Tiyalmisof looked at him leisurely and said,
“I have all kinds of skills for rooting and wield a sword filled with the abundant love of a deity.”
An incomprehensible statement. As Aslan stared, she added,
“The divine power I sense is of fire and metallurgy, sorrow and death, eternity and night, nature and creation, law and order… undoubtedly….”
And before her words had even finished, Aslan clenched his teeth and charged.
“Hmm.”
With a thunderous crash, the stone beneath his feet exploded as Aslan rushed forward, swinging Purity.
Tiyalmisof blocked the Purity with white steel.
KAAAAANG!
She retaliated with combat techniques that resembled dark arts.
“GAH!”
Primarily consisting of thrusts and swift, lethal attacks. Meanwhile, Tiyalmisof continuously cast magic.
Almost like Aslan, no—perhaps even surpassing Aslan.
Without needing to chant incantations, using magical scrolls and hand signs.
KWARLRRLR, PHOOAAAHK!
A wave of flames surged at close range, obscuring vision, while a bolt of lightning seized Aslan’s arm.
PAJJIJJIJIK!
Even when Aslan countered the paralyzing attack, Tiyalmisof remarked, “Not affected by electrical paralysis? Fascinating.”
Upon realizing Aslan’s resilience against paralysis through his special trait ‘Unyielding Will,’ she unleashed devastating spells.
KAWDDDEEEK!
Suddenly, a rock surged upward, striking Aslan’s spine.
CHHEEENG!
She delivered a punch imbued with vibration magic, aiming for Aslan’s openings.
The sharp and persistent attempts were met with Abyss Blade and Purity.
Pushing back with the hammer-shaped Abyss Blade, blocking with Purity, pressing down with an edged strike, and cutting off trajectories with the Abyss Blade.
Ultimately, what followed was something Aslan always did:
Subduing a stronger opponent with skill.
As usual, Aslan’s swordplay eventually found its way, but—
KWARLRRLRLRONG!
SCHERRR!
Even as Aslan sliced off her arm, Tiyalmisof calmly used powerful magic.
A circular shockwave struck Aslan’s abdomen. With extraordinary force, Aslan’s eyes widened in shock.
The spell used was Thunder Strike.
One of the highest-tier spells from the Evocation School.
Blood gushed from Aslan’s mouth, and his body slid across the ground.
Though he barely managed to land on his feet, the power was enough to make him spit blood.
“Cough… Kh…”
As Aslan shakily stood up amidst the blood, Tiyalmisof watched him without pursuing.
“You’ve reached the pinnacle of technique.”
Her cryptic words caused Aslan to look up, only to see her stroking her severed arm.
More accurately, watching it regrow as if metal adhered to it.
This was the result of combining Restoration Magic and Transformation Magic, leading her to assess,
“Indeed, there’s a reason your story fills the database.”
Database. Perhaps the records within the main ship of the predator? As Aslan guessed, Tiyalmisof continued,
“Your strength isn’t extraordinary, nor is your body particularly robust. But the means you possess and your mastery of technique compensate for that.”
She nodded thoughtfully, stroking her chin.
“On top of that, your speed exceeds anything recorded in the data. It makes sense why Myth Slayer and Dragon King fell.”
“What are you saying…?”
“Together with the favor of the gods, if you manage to overcome me, you might actually achieve the ridiculous goal of killing a god.”
Only then did Aslan grasp the implication, causing her to emit a mechanical laugh.
“You cannot defeat me.”
GRRRLR, KHROOOO!
“And you won’t receive divine favor either.”
At the sudden sound of a beast’s torn scream, Aslan turned to see an unexpected sight.
A supernatural tiger, its head torn off, collapsed on the ground.
Its dark blue fur stained red as it bled profusely from its severed neck.
Surrounding it were hundreds of scattered corpses, half of them shredded, evidence of a lone battle against hundreds of supernatural tigers.
The supernatural tigers had been defeated.
As Aslan hesitated, the supernatural tiger corpses changed their target and slowly approached him.
Boren was nowhere to be seen.
From the outskirts of the encirclement, Tiyalmisof spoke.
“My powerless ally feared you, so I sent him to his grave first. By now, he’s likely resurrecting the fallen supernatural tigers to bring you down.”
Tiyalmisof, maintaining an air of calm, pointed at Aslan with her fingertip and said,
“I have no intention of letting you go or backing down from this fight. You clearly have the potential to overthrow a god. There are things about you I haven’t fully grasped, so underestimating you would mean my death.”
Thus, as Tiyalmisof clapped her hands, the supernatural tiger corpses took a step closer to Aslan.
“The legendary supreme operator, Dragon King, judged eliminating you more important than preserving his thousand-year-old throne. That shows how threatening you are. Therefore, I will kill you with full force.”
Aslan felt a wave of exhaustion run through his body.
“No hollow persuasion or sympathy.”
In his battered body, beaten by flames, thunder, and lightning, he sensed an impending crisis.
“And there will be no arrogance or complacency.”
There was no chance of victory.
“Farewell, Aslan.”
As Tiyalmisof raised both arms, they transformed into cannons.
And the supernatural tiger corpses charged toward Aslan.
Despite being unable to see any way out, Aslan lifted his sword.
It was a surefire dead end.
The supernatural tiger providing divine favor was dead.
Tiamat’s arrival was uncertain, and even if she came, it seemed unlikely she could turn the situation around.
Waiting meant certain, brutal defeat.
But Aslan had no regrets.
Aslan merely wanted to help a friend.
He wanted to give his friend the consideration of a proper farewell this time.
To Aslan, it was simply the right thing to do.
So Aslan believed he was merely doing what needed to be done.
There was no option for Aslan not to do such a necessary thing.
If achieving a goal required abandoning such necessities, Aslan would reject it.
Miracles like defeating a god wouldn’t be granted to someone who gives up at such a moment.
Aslan roared.
KAAAAAAAAAAAANG!
Amidst surging flames and impending death, Aslan swung his sword, severing the magic.
Though death spread amidst scattered mana, he didn’t stop moving forward.
KWAD!
Running through the magic, Aslan shattered the attacking supernatural tiger with a punch from Dragon King.
Broken supernatural tigers clung to him, while others sought opportunities to attack, but Lewena’s illusion momentarily deceived their eyes.
“Hyunwoo, to the side.”
Following the voice, Aslan turned his head just in time to narrowly avoid an attack and cleaved through with Purity.
The instant the magic broke, he slashed through the supernatural tigers, corpse after corpse, death after death.
White light surged ceaselessly, and the Abyss Blade followed like a shadow.
In the midst of it all, Aslan repeatedly used his special abilities.
Shadow Reversal, Knight Killer, Heart Piercer, Mooncutting.
When the pile of supernatural tiger corpses obstructed his view, he endured the burns and detonated a fireball to escape.
Standing among the burning corpses, he summoned lightning to his legs and kicked a supernatural tiger corpse to block Tiyalmisof’s vision.
Wounded by unblocked attacks and magic, his overworked muscles grew weary and exhausted.
Still, Aslan didn’t miss his opportunity.
His swing missed Tiyalmisof by a considerable distance.
Before his blade cleared the obstructing corpses to reach Tiyalmisof, she aimed her cannon.
“Thunder Strike.”
Merely uttering the name amplified its power exponentially, releasing it.
The thunder that reduced corpses to mush and splattered them surged forth. Struck by it, Aslan’s body flew and slammed into a wall.
KAAAAAAAAAAAANG!
The wall crumbled, revealing another section of the sanctuary.
Scattered fragments of the wall lay where Aslan had fallen.
Tiyalmisof stood there, still aiming her cannons at Aslan.
Even as the supernatural tigers rushed to finish him, she merely prepared her magic but didn’t fire.
Something was off.
Too easy, perhaps.
Though this fight had started favorably for her side, Tiyalmisof knew from reviewing records that Aslan’s battles were never easy.
Aslan always faced unfavorable fights and hardships.
Yet, he possessed the tenacity to create impossible victories in such situations.
“Is this that tenacity?”
Beyond her murmured words stood Aslan.
Slowly rising, the veteran warrior.
Though wounded and fatigued, he still held Purity in his hand, which had subtly changed.
For at the end of the long hilt, a new pommel had appeared.
Clutching this altered Purity, Aslan saw a message appear before him.
[Completed Main Quest]
[! Take the Trial of Hunting and Prosperity]
[! Obtain the Divine Power of Hunting and Prosperity]
The main quest completed in reverse order.
Aslan knew.
The quest represented by the Trial of Hunting and Prosperity, to obtain the Divine Power of Hunting and Prosperity.
This quest had two routes.
Take the trial, break through, and officially challenge the boss of the sanctuary—a long but easy route.
Or break through the wall to enter the boss room and fight the enhanced boss—a short but difficult route.
During the battle, Aslan suddenly remembered this fact and considered it.
Since Hunting and Prosperity inherently involved a trial, perhaps the divine favor was intertwined within it.
Thus, Aslan broke the wall.
Seeing the conditions fulfilled upon breaking the wall, Aslan was confident.
Beyond the broken wall, the charging corpses of supernatural tigers, the dark blue tiger whose head had been severed and long since vanished.
And the quest marked as completed immediately upon breaking the wall.
These two points revealed something clear.
That the dark blue tiger was indeed the boss.
Therefore, despite the reversed order of quest completion, Aslan managed to obtain divine favor.
[Eye of Prosperity – Can command an ultimate supernatural creature, and death itself cannot hinder the hunt.]
The message that appeared at the corner of his vision.
A message beyond the reach of the Dark Ram, reserved solely for Aslan.
Seeing this message, Aslan gripped Purity tightly.
GRRRLRNG.
Then a low growl of a beast sounded.
GROOOOOOO!
Roaring ferociously, the supernatural tiger with a torn neck, the massive dark blue tiger, reappeared.
The roar carried such power that the resurrected supernatural tigers were pushed back, rolling on the ground, and the magic rushing toward Aslan was torn apart.
The scattered corpses of supernatural tigers and disrupted magic.
Through these, Aslan gained some time and made eye contact with the tiger.
The tiger with amber eyes blinked.
“Is it Tara?”
While grooming herself, the tiger meekly lowered her back, and Aslan mounted her.
The moment he mounted, the tiger growled.
A low-frequency growl. An innate savagery that froze the limbs of prey.
It became prominent.
KROOOOOOO!
With a roar stronger than before, Aslan, gripping the tiger’s back, smirked.
Aslan’s Riding Enhancement Ability was of the type that sacrificed lifespan to amplify the physical capabilities of the target.
Originally intended to use soulless horses obtained in the Eternity and Night Sanctuary, enhancing them through this ability.
Since summoned mounts lacked lifespan, there was no penalty, allowing only the benefits to be utilized.
However, the plan failed due to the mishap with Phey, rendering the ability redundant.
Though it was a tactic often used in games, Aslan regretted it.
Until now.
The most perfect beast, renowned as such, summonable with Purity.
A supernatural creature devoid of special abilities common to normal supernatural beasts, focusing purely on raw physical prowess infused with divine power.
Such a creature was enhanced by Aslan’s ability, ignoring the lifespan penalty.
As Aslan mounted, the muscles of the tiger’s forelegs and hind legs bulged.
Her back muscles hardened to resemble steel, her fur stood on end, and her skin became impenetrable to any magic.
Aslan could feel it.
The accelerating mana flowing through his body, along with the wind of Hel, also enveloped the tiger.
Acceleration, Hel’s wind, and the enhanced physique.
Realizing the divine favor of hunting and prosperity, Aslan transformed the Abyss Blade into reins and a saddle and placed it on the tiger.
“Let’s go.”
Twisting the clicking reins, the tiger roared and leaped.
KAAAAAAAAAAANG!
In that instant, Aslan and the tiger disappeared.
‘Is this teleportation?’
A speed that even Tiyalmisof’s eyes couldn’t follow.
A velocity mistaken for teleportation.
A power comparable to Angie’s.
—!
The resounding boom. Flying flesh and shattered corpses. A portion of the supernatural tiger corpse army scattered.
At the center, the tiger swinging her front paw and Aslan wielding his sword.
And Tiyalmisof realized.
The hunter and the hunted had switched roles.
The moment she smiled, the tiger leaped again.
