Possessing Nothing

TL: Yul, xLordFifth

PR: Gort

—

Lee Sungmin didn't have an answer.

He had thought he could. He believed he had a chance.

He had thought that if he kept fighting like this, he might be able to deplete Geniella's mana and defeat her.

It was arrogance.

The wound on his abdomen regenerated. His torn intestines, muscles, skin, and bones were repaired.

Geniella looked down at the scene as if she found it adorable. Her long, slender fingers gently touched Lee Sungmin's abdomen.

"Is it not enough?"

Geniella giggled as she asked. What could be lacking? Her grip on his shoulder tightened with immense strength, as though to squeeze and crush him.

The previously gentle touch became a horrifying grip, breaking Lee Sungmin's shoulder.

"Do you still have hope? Actually, I would love it if you did. That way, when you truly fall into despair, I will feel even better."

He glared at Geniella's face. Yes, it couldn't be that easy. It was just that the encounter with the Queen of Spirits had been too simple, so he had underestimated Geniella's power.

"Struggle more."

Geniella released her grip on his shoulder. To prove that everything so far had been a game to give him hope, the magic radiating from Geniella's body now had a density incomparable to before.

His shattered shoulder regenerated. He clenched his empty hand into a fist.

Lee Sungmin thought Selgerus would scold him again. In this situation, those were his thoughts, considering the great effort that had gone into making him.

[You… you good?]

[Are you okay… ?]

He tested the movement of his regenerated shoulder as Heoju and Rubia asked with concern. Lee Sungmin replied with a bitter smile.

"It was never going to be this easy."

It was true he had held hope. It was true he thought he could do it, that there was a chance of winning.

It was also true that this hope had been crushed, leaving him dazed. He had been momentarily overpowered by Geniella.

It was disheartening to realize that the reason he had been overwhelming Geniella so far had been part of her plan.

Yet, he also found it natural. The Queen of Monsters who had lived for hundreds of years couldn't be this weak.

No matter how thorough the preparations were, there was no overpowering her. This was different from the hardships he had overcome using the help of fate.

The yokai energy that created a whirlpool in his hand steadied, becoming a long spear. Without a suitable spear, this would have to suffice.

Even though his hope was crushed, he did not despair. Geniella had only been weaker than he had thought.

And now, she was showing the strength he had expected. In the end, nothing had changed.

So, he had to struggle with all he had. Lee Sungmin flipped his body in mid-air to stand upright.

Geniella watched his expression with quivering lips. She swallowed her excited breath with intense pleasure.

There was still enjoyment to be had. She loved the unyielding strength that did not break even when pushed.

She enjoyed watching his desperate struggle. She foresaw the ultimate joy in seeing it completely break in the end.

Even having lost her foresight, Geniella could imagine that scene.

'Your despair will be the most delightful.'

Even more than all the combined despair she had witnessed from those she had turned into her kin over hundreds of years.

She wanted him to know he could never win and that he would fall into despair. Geniella pressed her chest with her hand to calm her pounding heart.

Her throat was parched. It had been a long time since she felt such thirst.

Indeed, she wanted to eat and drink him. Her fangs itched.

She had restrained herself a lot until now. There had been many opportunities to kill him. When they first met, after that, and even now, Geniella could have killed Lee Sungmin at any time.

But she hadn't, to make him ripen more sweetly. Now, the time had come.

There was no need for patience. Geniella's body shot forward.

Enveloped in red magic, Geniella fell toward Lee Sungmin like a meteor.

The density of mana was different.

Lee Sungmin kept this in mind as he expanded his consciousness. Geniella claimed to have grasped the structure of the Violet World.

That didn't mean that the martial arts usable within that illusionary realm were completely powerless against Geniella.

Lee Sungmin leaped towards the descending Geniella, swinging the invisible spear in his hand.

The distorted space behind him twisted and turned, and hundreds of lightning bolts surged upward.

Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, Second Art – Lightning Chase: Annihilation (分雷追殺: 雷殲)

Geniella's magic spread widely. The lightning bolts scattered from the collision. However, he let that happen.

Using them as a distraction, he temporarily limited Geniella's actions, and in that gap, he thrust the invisible spear forward.

PZZZZTTT!!

Purple lightning crackled in every direction.

Geniella's body suddenly sprang through the scattered magic.

Her quickly extended hand aimed to grab Lee Sungmin's neck.

Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, Third Art – Soul Serpent: Reverse Lightning (伏蛇魄貪: 逆雷)

The trajectory of the spear twisted upward.

Before Geniella's hand could touch Lee Sungmin, the spear tip shot up and shattered her fingers.

CRACK!!

However, Lee Sungmin's body slammed into Geniella's magic. The level of impact was different from before.

The Light of the Fairy spirit grew even dimmer, and his chestplate was dented. The shock that seeped into his body shook his internal organs.

He endured it. Lee Sungmin swung the spear he held with both hands horizontally to fend off Geniella's approach.

Geniella didn't dodge and pushed her body forward.

Crunch!

Geniella's body was split in two. Instantly, her body disintegrated into mist and reformed right next to Lee Sungmin.

Her regeneration speed remained unhampered. Lee Sungmin let go of the spear with his right hand and struck Geniella with an open palm.

The Crazy Heavenly Demon's Blood Ring Divine Demon Art, Third Technique – Bloodlust (血環神魔攻: 血牙肉貪)

The bloody claws that appeared clashed with Geniella's magic. But her hand, cutting through the energy, grabbed Lee Sungmin's hand.

Crunch!

His wrist was torn off. Despite his right hand being severed, Lee Sungmin didn't scream and stretched his leg forward.

This level of injury would regenerate.

Shadowless Steps, First Step, Second Form – Dancing Spirit: Thundercloud (一步舞影: 雷雲) (TL: This was how I decided to format the problem I mentioned in Discord. Let me know if anyone has any suggestions.)

The second form of the first step created dozens of afterimages. The thunderclouds that followed the afterimages engulfed Geniella's surroundings.

"More," Geniella whispered. Her hands moved.

KWAAAHHH!!!

The swirling red magic tore apart the thunderclouds entirely. Lee Sungmin grasped the invisible spear with his regenerated hand.

Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, Fifth Art – Fate Severing: Thunder Flash (絶命閃: 雷光)

The instantaneous technique…  failed to penetrate Geniella's body. The storming crimson magic ripped apart the invisible spear.

"More."

Geniella urged in an excited voice.

Condensing his yokai energy and internal strength, Lee Sungmin created a new invisible spear from the two conflicting powers. The swirling forces charged to their limit. He shot the spear forward. Geniella laughed loudly and ran towards it.

Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, Seventh Art – Bane of Heaven: Piercing Lightning (貫天: 雷擊)

PAAAAAZZZZTTT!!!

Geniella's body split the oncoming lightning strike in two as she approached.

"More."

Don't be anxious. Don't be afraid. Lee Sungmin whispered to himself as he gripped the new invisible spear.

Demonic Emperor's Dark Storm Arts: Genesis (開闢)

The light of Genesis filled the spear.

Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, Eighth Art, Violet World: Ten Thousand Thunder (幻界: 萬雷)

The world within the Violet World filled with demonic energy. A storm of Ten Thousand Thunder and Genesis spun around the entire space.

The opponent was a monster. He too was a monster. His mind became clouded. The headache that had vanished surged back again.

His brain cells died and regenerated repeatedly. Between the dimming consciousness and the awakened five senses, he sought a way out. He changed the structure of his techniques to become stronger and more perfect. Geniella drew closer.

Behind Geniella, magic unfurled. It looked like massive wings made of light, resembled twilight before the sunset, and seemed like spewing blood.

The unfolded light folded in. A massive wave of densely packed magic covered the world filled with Ten Thousand Thunder and Genesis.

"More."

He stabbed the spear. Lee Sungmin glared ahead, wide-eyed. He saw the tip of the spear he thrust disintegrating.

[Hold on!]

Heoju shouted.

His yokai energy intensified.

"Why are you still here? You perished hundreds of years ago," Geniella chuckled. "What can you do, with only your soul remaining?"

Geniella sneered.

Ten Thousand Thunder and Genesis scattered. Lee Sungmin's body was pushed back by the surging wave of magic.

The blessing of the Fairy Queen glowed intensely, as if in resistance. The sparkling light wrapped around Lee Sungmin's body. Lee Sungmin gritted his teeth and summoned his protective energy.

Geniella slowly approached. She grinned and extended her widely spread hand forward.

All the magic covering the Violet World gathered into her hand. It condensed into a small sphere.

"Here."

Geniella laughed playfully. The slowly moving sphere floated towards Lee Sungmin.

Thump.

The sphere grew larger.

Thump.

It grew even larger.

Thump, thump, thump.

The fully grown sphere expanded to fill the entire space. Lee Sungmin watched with a pale face.

More…

Geniella's whispered words were now being murmured by Lee Sungmin.

Overwhelming.

Against the overwhelming magical power, Lee Sungmin had very few means at his disposal. He gritted his teeth.

He firmly grasped the invisible spear and leaped forward. He unleashed the first eight techniques of the Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques without rest.

Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, First Art – Soul Predation

Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, Second Art – Lightning Chase

Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, Third Art – Soul Serpent

Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, Fourth Art – Nine Dragons Execution

Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, Fifth Art – Fate Severing

Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, Sixth Art – Thunder Void

Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, Seventh Art – Bane of Heaven

Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, Eighth Art – Violet World

While doing so, he also executed the Blood Ring Divine Demon Art and Shadowless Steps.

However, the sphere fired by Geniella only had its exterior worn away; its core remained unscathed.

Should he use the 9th art? What about the exhaustion that followed? Or maybe the final step of Shadowless Steps…?

He was too slow.

The Violet World shattered, and the world Lee Sungmin had created collapsed. The sky reverted to a pitch-black night, and a gigantic full moon hung in the center of the night sky.

Geniella stood with her back to the full moon, looking down. As Lee Sungmin fell powerlessly, he looked up at Geniella with trembling eyes.

Geniella stood at the very center of Lee Sungmin's blood-soaked vision.

'I was too late.'

Lee Sungmin calmly acknowledged his mistake. A throbbing headache intensified.

A moment later, he understood the situation just before. He had been impatient due to the imminent danger.

He had been anxious because he couldn't easily use the ultimate of the Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques and was startled by the power of Geniella's attack.

The martial arts he recklessly unleashed were woefully insufficient to fend off the threat. His indecisiveness with the final move of Shadowless Steps was the same. If he were to use it, he should have done so confidently and not too late.

'Had it not been for Oslo's blessing… it would've been dangerous.'

Lee Sungmin flipped his body mid-fall. He saw a lake rippling below. The battle within the Violent World hadn't shattered the lake's scenery.

He locked eyes with Oslo, who was watching with a tense face. Lee Sungmin wanted to smile to reassure Oslo, but he couldn't muster the strength to do so.

His determination wanted to win. He had to find a way through the mad battle against the Queen of Monsters. Escape was out of the question.

If Lee Sungmin truly thought that way and fought, Geniella would never let him go.

Support from Oslo? It was out of the question. He had already discussed this with Oslo before Geniella arrived.

Oslo's martial prowess was no match for Geniella's. While Oslo could use various blessings to protect Lee Sungmin from Geniella's attacks, fighting her directly was impossible.

If Oslo used her powers to bind Geniella to this forest? Even that had its limits.

Oslo estimated she could bind Geniella for a maximum of three days.

Ultimately, it meant Geniella would be released from the forest in three days.

After three days, Geniella would lose the blessing of the full moon, but her Demon Eye could forcibly raise the full moon.

Fleeing from this place wouldn't put Lee Sungmin in a favorable situation.

In fact, if they fought three days later, they would fight without Oslo's blessings under the full moon.

[In this situation, we have no choice but to believe in your last strategy. Do you think it's possible?]

Heoju asked. Suspended in mid-air, Lee Sungmin assessed his internal injuries. There was none. He had healed, thanks to Oslo's newly imbued blessing.

'It's a gamble.'

A gamble with low odds.

By devouring Aine, he had strengthened the Black Heart. Lee Sungmin's strategy was to evolve his body through the power of the Black Heart during the battle.

Until now, Lee Sungmin had saved his life and won many times thanks to such evolutions.

'I can still do this.'

He calculated his odds sans that uncertainty.

The chances were still not zero.

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