Ch. 201

Chapter 201: A Soul Within the Scrap Metal (1)

‘Is the Ranking Ceremony going to proceed like this?!’

Hyun’s heart raced, but in that instant, a voice as fractured as a broken machine reached him.

「I… still… do not… know… for sure.」

「Know what?」

「Whether… a soul… exists… within me…」

Satina said that since the moment of her creation, she had never once felt the existence of a soul. A servant born solely for Darkness—she had no way of knowing if she was anything more than a tool. Is a soul the same as emotion? After repeating that question to herself countless times, she had heard an incredible story from her twin sister.

「I… also… want to… feel… what ’emotions’… are.」

Satin had said her body felt as if it were burning on the battlefield. What did it feel like for one’s body to burn? If she could see her soul through that heat, Satina didn’t care if she vanished into nothingness.

「Will you… not… show… me…?」

「Well.」

Instead of answering with words, Hyun quietly opened the status window.

Satina (Lv.390)

<Assimilated Soul: Hyun (Lv.187)>

Durability: 81 / 81

(※Caution: Core durability is extremely low! If fully consumed, it will be permanently destroyed!)

HP: 304,200 / 304,200

MP: 2,400 / 2,400

Demonic Energy: 33,000 (+306,800) / 33,000 (+306,800)

[Critical damage exists in the magic circle composing the frame! This Golem will be unable to perform even basic functions!]

[Str: 956 (-346)] [Agi: 731 (-504)] [Sta: 25,000 (-24,220)] [Mag: 1,042 (-802)]

[Pitch Black Blade Lv.5 (-4)]

[Damage Reduction Lv.4 (Unusable)]

[Demonic Energy Circulation Lv.9 (-6)]

[Mist Leap Lv.2 (Unusable)]

Satina was broken far more catastrophically than her sister. Even now, her structure was likely in a state of constant collapse. Since everything has a destined beginning and end, once a collapse starts, not even a Transcendent can stop it.

「I can grant your wish,」 Hyun murmured softly after a moment of thought. 「But you’ll die. Are you not afraid?」

In that moment, he clicked his tongue, realizing the contradiction in his own question. Fear itself is an emotion—exactly the kind of thing Satina craved.

「I suppose… you wouldn’t be.」

A Golem’s body is no different from a human’s; the greater the power used, the greater the recoil. Staring at the skill window, Hyun bit his lip and let out a bitter smile. If they used these skills, she would certainly die. Is a quick, brilliant end better than rusting away until disappearing into obscurity?

It was a question he couldn’t answer… a question with no right answer. Therefore, Hyun resolved not to regret his choice.

Flash!

Finally, the veil separating the two fortresses vanished. Thunderous cheers erupted as the Ranking Ceremony officially began. Soldiers charged valiantly, while the Duke and the vampires moved to their defensive positions.

「Satina.」

Why did she seek a soul so desperately? From birth to the end, the twins had offered absolute loyalty to Darkness. They couldn’t help but search for the reason for Darkness’s departure within their own perceived flaws. They had concluded that flaw was the absence of a “soul.”

Through Assimilation, Hyun could read every corner of Satina’s heart.

「I will make sure to tell Louise about this moment.」

「Lou… ise…?」

The verbal exchange was short, but through their souls, they shared a flood of thoughts. A detailed explanation was summarized in a single sentence.

「It’s the name of the one you risked your life to protect five years ago.」

Thump! Thump!

Hyun led the Golem’s heavy frame forward. The moment they reached the front line, he activated the skill he had been saving.

«Power of the Deities (降神)!»

<He who prays shall come to resemble the one he serves! The most familiar existence shall dwell within your body.>

It was at that moment that Satina’s frame began to transform.

Creeaaaak! Her rigid armor shifted into robes. Her shattered limbs smoothed out. Satina watched her own transformation in shock. Even with «Power of the Deities» , only the outward appearance changes; a body made of stone does not turn into human flesh. However, that stone was being crushed and compressed, reborn into a new form.

「Descent…?」

A servant serving Darkness. Satina had been with Darkness since her creation and stayed by her side her entire life. Even after being abandoned, she had always been waiting for her return.

「O Darkness…」

If the energy of Darkness was dwelling in her body, it was impossible for her not to recognize it.

「Ah…」

In an instant, Satina felt as if her body were about to burst.

Ahhhhh! She felt as if she were crying.

‘Urgh…!’

Hyun had to tighten his focus to steady his wildly trembling heart. He realized then how wrong he had been to think a Golem’s emotions were dull. He had confused the depth of emotion with its variety. Because of the deep resonance of Satina’s feelings, Hyun could hardly control his own pulse.

‘This isn’t just a 1.5-generation AI!’

Thinking back, they were servants who were always by Darkness’s side. In terms of world-building importance, it wasn’t strange for them to have souls stronger than Celestials or Dukes.

「To think I thought a being like this had no soul.」

Hyun muttered with a hollow laugh, but Satina didn’t hear him. She was focusing every sense on the energy of Darkness dwelling within her.

[Durability: 72 / 81]

‘Just activating one skill does this much damage!’

The duration of «Power of the Deities» was 30 minutes, but it was clear the time allowed for Satina would be much shorter. Fortunately, because they had secured an overwhelming victory in the Defense Battle, Bahimir and his subordinates were following his instructions without question.

Vroom—

As requested beforehand, Bahimir’s magic began to dwell in Satina’s body one after another.

[Bahimir’s Authority ‘Demonic Energy Diffusion’ has been linked!]

[Receiving a continuous supply of Demonic Energy! This lasts until the caster’s energy falls below half!]

Whoosh! In an instant, demonic energy surged through the Golem’s body, which now resembled Louise.

This was the buff skill originally intended for Satin. When it was directed at her younger sister, Satina’s demonic energy reached its maximum in an instant.

[Range of next ‘Sword of Darkness’ is greatly increased!]

[Next ‘Armor of Darkness’ will refund remaining Demonic Energy!]

Several enemy “players” were already closing in on Satina simultaneously.

‘Good, at this rate… wait?’

Hyun tried to react, but he suddenly saw the body moving regardless of his intent. At the same time, an intense emotion surged from within. It was Satina’s will to protect Darkness.

‘Ah?’

Hyun felt the illusion of a phantom scene overlapping his vision. Did strong emotions allow the shared imagination of the Assimilated target? Like a film strip, images of countless battles flashed before his eyes.

Memories of Satina from five years ago.

<Due to the excessive transformation, the Golem’s frame will be irreparably damaged.>

New sentences overlapped those violent images. What? Hyun pondered the meaning of the sudden messages, then gasped as he looked at the status window. Most of the penalties shackling her had been temporarily lifted.

[Pitch Black Blade Lv.5 (+1)]

• Fires a sword strike dealing [Str] x [Demonic Energy] / 350 damage to the front!
• If used with maximum Demonic Energy, the direction of the blade can be changed twice!

• (Demonic Energy Cost: 5,000 ~ 50,000)

• (Cooldown: 30 seconds)

It wasn’t just the skills, but the stats as well.

[Str: 956 (+243)] [Agi: 731 (+29)] [Sta: 25,000 (+18)] [Mag: 1,042 (+29)]

Slash! The jet-black greatsword cut through the air.

Kwadududu! The “Black Moon” created by Satina swept through dozens of meters of ground. Not only the vanguard soldiers but even the elite monsters presumed to be players vanished before the black crescent.

But Satina’s skill wasn’t over. Whoosh— the moment the greatsword sliced the air twice, the blade began to spin on the spot. Two misaligned interlocks created rotational force. Like a giant blender, the spinning blade pulverized the enemy forces and even the sturdy fortress walls.

‘What about her durability?!’

Before checking the results of the attack, Hyun checked Satina’s durability.

[Durability: 21 / 21]

(※Caution: All internal organs are burning! This Golem will soon perish!)

As expected, the durability was catastrophically low. Hyun finally understood the battle the twins had fought five years ago. They must have shaved away their lifespans like this back then, too. Having continuously sacrificed herself, Satina was now facing total erasure.

[Demonic Energy Circulation Lv.9 (+1)]

Even now, the pitch-black energy flowing through Satina’s body gave her strength while simultaneously gnawing away at her life.

‘Right… I understand.’

Hyun took a deep breath and calmed his mind. He decided to stop watching the decreasing durability and focused entirely on the fight before him, determined to give her an end she could be satisfied with.

During the battle, Hyun called out to Bahimir.

「Can you use your Authority now?」

The answer came immediately.

「Is it not earlier than the time you specified?」

「There’s not much time left.」

「Well, fine. But since the distance is great, I’ll need some time for activation.」

「How long is the casting time?」

「30 seconds is enough. But after the Ranking Ceremony, I’ll need to have a talk with you.」

「…Understood.」

Clad in the Duke’s Authority and the buffs from Assimilation, the burden Satina had to endure would far surpass that of a Level 390 Named. Could she hold out for 30 seconds?

‘If it’s me… I can make her hold out.’

Hyun employed every method to conserve Satina’s durability.

Kwaduk! A glossy black sphere surrounded her frame. When the duration of «Armor of Darkness» ended, he followed up with «Shadow Shield» . He used «Bouncing» to shake off persistent enemies who wouldn’t let go.

In this moment, he wasn’t a supporter helping in battle; he had to be a supporter extending Satina’s life.

Kwaaaaaa!

Another «Pitch Black Blade» was activated with maximum energy, and her durability dropped by 3.

‘Can she make it?’

Even in a situation where she might break at any moment, Hyun did not stop Satina. He had no desire to stop her, nor did it seem she would stop for anyone’s word. Even as she cut down countless enemies, only the memories of five years ago would be flashing before her eyes.

So, Hyun focused on his task. He examined the final entry of the new skill obtained through «Power of the Deities» .

[Ascension Strike (昇天擊) Lv.0]

• Cannot be used because maximum Demonic Energy is insufficient!

A moment later, as the Duke’s Authority activated, deep demonic energy settled over Satina’s body.

Ding!

The information window he had been watching with bated breath changed.

[Ascension Strike (昇天擊) Lv.0]

Requirement: The absolute trust of Darkness

<The reason the wind rises from the ground is to reach for the heavens!>

• Creates a demonic energy cyclone with violent suction at the designated location!
• The skill range increases according to the Demonic Energy consumed! (Radius 10–100 meters)
• Deals fixed damage equal to [Consumed Demonic Energy] to enemies within range over 5 seconds! (※Ignores Magic Defense!)
• After activation, all stats decrease by 50%! Stats slowly return to normal over 10 minutes.
• A special event occurs if used with maximum Demonic Energy!

• (Demonic Energy Cost: 500,000 ~ 10,000,000)

• (Usage Limit: Once during Power of the Deities)

End of 201