The 31st Piece Turns the Tables
chapter-41

Seo-ryeong looked at Seol, stunned.

Almost like she couldn’t understand why Seol became so cold to her.

“Wh-what are you saying all of a sudden? Are you hurt somewhere, ahjussi?”

A person without a shadow.

If you want to find the clever, wicked Shades, you must first pay attention to someone like that.

The first thing Seol confirmed the moment she approached him yesterday was whether she had a shadow or not.

In other words, Seol had just been pretending to fall for the Shades’s tricks.

He played the role of the naive but blunt man who was helping the pitiful woman with her injuries.

‘As expected, a Shades did appear.’

Seol remembered the words of the magician dispatched for the barrier stone who registered his spirit containers.

- Ah, right. There’s also been a troublesome issue that has arisen nearby recently.

- A troublesome issue?

- Some of the Adventurers who have come as support have disappeared…

- Have they gone missing?

- That has been the conversation internally. However, we would need some time to do a search operation since the Magic Tower is also in a busy period.

It was clear that the missing Adventurers were all likely killed by the Shades.

Seol continued to wait for an answer.

A few moments later…

Seo-ryeong… no, a Shades which had taken Seo-ryeong’s form answered.

“Why are you acting like this, Seol… You’re scaring me.”

“What happened to Seo-ryeong? No… When did she die?”

Snap…

Seo-ryeong’s face started to distort.

The white in her eyes slowly disappeared until they looked like frog eggs.

And then, a heavy, frightening deep voice came out of her mouth. It was like a demon had possessed her.

“Haha… You’re pretty good?”

Turn!

Turn!

In an instant, all of the Venta and people faced Seol.

The Venta had crimson eyes. However, the people looked like mummies. They had all of their energy sucked out of them.

‘So there was a reason why they only showed me the back of their heads.’

If Seol messed up, he could also end up like one of the mummies over there.

Seol activated his golden Eyes of Perception.

[[Shades: Shadow Black Spirit]

Rank: Rare

Estimated Level: 12~16

The Shadow Black Spirit has phased into the physical realm during the opening when the barrier stone broke down.

Not only is it clever and cruel, it is also cautious.

Individually, it is quite weak. However, if it combines with Venta, the Light White Spirit, it becomes quite formidable.

Basic Skills: [Absorb Energy 1], [Imitate 1], [Charm 1], [Shadow Hand 1], [Darkness 1]

Unique Skills: [Coexist 1]]

The Shades imitated Seo-ryeong’s voice once more.

“I thought you said I’m a good person, ahjussi…”

“Why don’t you stop imitating her voice already, it’s disgusting. And say it properly, I said that you were one. The dead Seo-ryeong was probably a good person. You’re nothing more than a fake who’s pretending to be her.”

“So you already knew since back then… Were you tricking me?”

“I didn’t mean to trick you but you were fooled, yes.”

“How dare you… How dare you play with me?”

“You’re way too confident for something that’s nothing more than a parrot pretending to be a dead person at best.”

“I understand why you feel that way. Still, I was so busy trying to trick you that I never realized that I was being tricked… haha…”

The Shades’s body started to get blacker and blacker. It looked similar to what it looked like when Seol used Shadow Summon.

“You’ve worked hard, but… the moment you stepped in here… it was too late for you.”

The eyeless corpses started to chip in.

“It’s… too late…”

“You’ll be with us soon.”

The eyeless corpses continued for a while before in an instant, something black slipped out of them.

Fwirl…

Thud!

The corpses dropped to the floor with a thud and the black thing that came out of them started to surround Seo-ryeong.

Wrap…

“Seo-ryeong… had such weak energy that she tasted awful. I wonder how you’ll taste though… Will you be able to satisfy us with your taste? Even if you taste awful, I’ll still eat you down to your bones. That’s the only way I’ll be able to relieve my anger.”

Seo-ryeongs mouth split apart to her ears and a forked tongue slithered out of her mouth.

Kieee… Kieeee…

The Ventas were starting to surround Seo-ryeong and it looked like they were saying something to her.

They were probably telling Seo-ryeong that they wanted her to kill him quickly. That they want to quickly enjoy his energy.

It was a horrific situation.

Not only did your one and only comrade betray you, but they also led you right into the middle of the enemy camp.

Still, Seol’s expression didn’t change at all. He just continued to watch the colony of Venta.

- Did you run into them without proper preparation? Run away. Are you unable to run away? Fight them! Do you think you’ll lose? Just die then, you trash! I mean I can’t beat a Shades full of energy using their true power myself either, but…

Seol scratched his nose.

“Man…”

“Come over here and give us your energy!”

Seo-ryeong’s body exploded at the same time as she said those words.

Snap… Crunch!

Seo-ryeong’s clothes and equipment all tore up off her and she transformed into a Shades. However, this still wasn’t enough to defeat Seol.

Suuuuuck…

The Shades opened its mouth wide and sucked in air.

Kieeee!

Kieee!

The Ventas were all sucked into the Shades’ mouth.

[Shades used Coexist.]

[Shades’ stats will increase based on the number of Ventas it absorbs.]

[Shades’ stats increase by 542%.]

Snaaap!

Kieeee!

Chomp. Grssssss…

The Shades started to grow bigger and bigger. It continued to grow in size the more Ventas it sucked in.

Shades then spoke to Seol in a twisted, distorted voice.

“You must have a lot of confidence in your ability, right?”

“…”

“However, it is pointless before us.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Kuhuhu… I shall ingrain this lesson into your bones.”

Shades’ swung their massive arm at Seol.

Fwooosh!

Seol’s hand violently shook as a black energy shot out from it.

CLANG!

“Krgh… you had another one?”

Karuna swung his Moonlight Sword diagonally upward to deflect the Shades’ arm.

Despite Karuna using the bladed edge of the sword, he was unable to cut off the arm. Rather, it sounded like two swords hitting each other. With that, Seol was able to tell how sturdy the Shades’ skin was.

Glow…

[Karuna has entered the 1st Stage of Soaring Moonlight, Crescent Moon.]

“It’s dangerous, master. Please step back.”

“Should I?”

Seol listened to Karuna’s instructions and took a step back.

He specifically took one step back.

It was almost like Seol was trying to say that one step was all he needed and that the Shades would never be able to reach him with just that one step.

“You… fucking bastard!”

Seol’s calm expression only infuriated the Shades even more.

GROOOOOW!

Shades only grew bigger and bigger.

Fwoosh!

BAAAAAAAM!

“Krgh…”

Skid…

Karuna, despite being in the 1st Stage of Soaring Moonlight, staggered back from the blow. However, he was able to quickly return to his stance.

Karuna would’ve easily lost if he was the same as before but with the new equipment he received and the increase in overall stats, Karuna was now able to take on a Shades’ attack even in his Crescent Moon form.

Glooow…

[Karuna has entered the 2nd Stage of Soaring Moonlight, Half Moon.]

‘Already?’

It was clear that the skill’s proficiency increased with the stat increase.

Karuna’s Soaring Moonlight charged much faster now than before.

“Khaha… How dare something that’s nothing more than a human’s summon… try to face me, Shades, the Shadow Black Spirit. How ridiculous, it’s so absurd!”

Contrary to their statement, the spirit continued to grow in size. It must have noticed Karuna’s unnatural strength.

“Chaaah!”

FWOOOSH!

CLANG!

“Die! Die!”

BAM! BAM!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Shades landed a massive combo and continued to push back Karuna.

If it kept going this way, Shades would eventually break through Karuna’s defense.

[Shades has entered the Darkness state.]

Writhe…

Shades’ body started to be enveloped in an eerie, black energy.

“Hahaha! Have you forgotten?! The night is my time! Now, why don’t you end your petty struggles and—”

“Kuaaaargh!”

Karuna let out a roar and pushed Shades away. Karuna was just about to enter the final stage of Soaring Moonlight.

Glooooow!

[Karuna has entered the 3rd Stage of Soaring Moonlight, Full Moon.]

“Is that your best? How weak! I will tear your body apart…”

Groooooow!

Once again, Shades grew even bigger.

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

Shades was so big now that they were probably even bigger than Jamad. Even though Karuna in his Full Moon state was extremely powerful, it wasn’t enough to take down the Shades at its current power.

But then… at that moment…

Seol let out a laugh while looking at Shades.

“Ding, time’s up.”

[Shades prepares to use Absorb Energy.]

- However, were you perhaps able to feed Shades the spirit solvent like I wrote in my notes before? It wouldn’t have been hard to trick it because it likes sweet things, you know? Well, if you were able to feed it with my advice, make sure to thank me, the genius Griz!

“...Thank you, Griz the genius.”

Thud.

The Shades’ confident expression quickly changed into a distorted one. It then quickly blocked its mouth.

“Brwrghh…”

[Shades has failed to use Absorb Energy.]

[Shades cannot maintain their form.]

[Shades is overloaded.]

[Shades’ power is unstable.]

“What… Brg–rghh…”

Seol then followed up with a witty question.

Almost like he expected this scenario.

“Did you enjoy the coca?”

“Bwraaaaaaaargh…”

Shades vomited out a lump of Venta.

[Shades cannot coexist with the Venta.]

[Shades receives recoil damage from Coexist.]

[Venta receives recoil damage from Coexist.]

Seol mocked the Shades as it started to vomit.

“That’s why you shouldn’t drink something a stranger gives you.”

“What did you… What did you do to me? Bwrgh…”

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH…

The lump of mass, which was once the Venta, drooped out of the Shades’ mouth as it continued to radiate light. And the more it vomited out, the smaller the Shades became.

It was now at a point where the Shades was even smaller than when Seol first saw it. It was smaller than even Seo-ryeong and about the same size as the other spirits that Seol had captured before.

“N-No… Not like this…”

“You should always check your target before you try to mess with them. How stupid would it be for a thief to try and steal from an undercover cop, right?”

“W-wait… Don’t kill me. I-I promise I’ll serve you if you let me live! Spirits always have to keep their promises, remember?!”

The Venta that the Shades had vomited out all tried their best to stand up again. However, Seol wasn’t the type of person who would let them do that.

“I’m sick of it now. You can all just go inside.”

Click.

Seol placed his hand on his belt.

Click.

He opened the black spirit container.

Click.

As well as the white spirit container.

Shades, who knew what happened to the spirits who entered those containers, let out a shrill scream.

“N-NOOOOOOO!”

Frssssss…

“Kieeeeeee!”

The Venta and Shades, who hunted humans by charming them, were horrific.

They clawed at the ground to prevent themselves from being sucked in like how Jafar tried his best from being sucked into the genie's lamp.

“Let go! Let me… Let me go!”

“No.”

“I won’t let you get away with this… I’ll make you regret this one day…”

“Kieee!”

Frsssssss…

Click.

[You have captured Venta, the Light White Spirit.]

[You have procured ‘White’.]

[Currently Captured Spirit Types: 8]

[It has taken the ‘White’ spot in Masterpiece: Rainbow.]

[Masterpiece: Rainbow is changing.]

Click.

[You have captured Shades, the Shadow Black Spirit.]

[You have procured ‘Black’.]

[Currently Captured Spirit Types: 9]

[It has taken the ‘Black’ spot in Masterpiece: Rainbow.]

[Masterpiece: Rainbow is changing.]

Seol let out a big sigh.

“Fuuu…”

Seol’s viewers cheered for him while donating tons of Madness.

- …What did I just watch?

- 😲 Seo-ryeong was a Shades?

- Ah… I-I knew this whole time haha

- M-Me too! Of course, I noticed her not having a shadow, right? Haha…

- More importantly… there were two more spirit container spots on Rainbow?

- I didn’t know, it was my first time seeing a Shades… that was scary…

- So the two of them could never be together from the start…

- But… What happens now?

Tap… Tap…

Seol might have absorbed white and black into his belt but they were still resisting.

Clatter… Clatter…

However, there was no way for a spirit to escape a spirit container once they were put inside of it.

And then… the lump of Venta Seol absorbed into the white spirit container was the first to give up.

[You have gathered the energy of eight spirits.]

[Masterpiece: Rainbow has changed to Treasure: Milky Way.]

Fshhh…

A milky white color enveloped the belt and Seol.

The divine light announced the belt’s existence to the world to the point that it could even be considered a miracle.

‘No, it’s still not done yet.’

Click…

As the belt changed into the Milky Way, Shades stopped their resistance as well. And then, it started to transform again.

KWAAAAAA!

This time, it even came with its own sound effects.

It was extremely gaudy for just a piece of equipment changing. The belt lit up like the stars in the night sky and each different color let out rays of light as if to show off.

Crssssh!

Dark and bright lights blended together to swim through the air before returning to Seol’s belt.

Each light took a new spot on the belt like constellations in the night.

Fwoosh!

For a moment, Seol’s belt was covered in stars.

[You have gathered the energy of nine spirits.]

[Treasure: Milky Way has changed to Peerless: Space.]

[A peerless item has been born.]

[You have created an item that didn’t exist in the world previously.]

[You have earned the special achievement 'One of a Kind'.]

[You have earned the special title 'Peerless Item Owner'.]

And like that, the violent storm quietly subsided.