by Japtem
Well, though he'd gotten used to it now so it didn't bother him as much...
In any case, after clearing the worms Ark began to really explore. Once he went to the opposite side, the entire space reverberated, going *boom*, *boom*.
"It's the sound of a heartbeat. Is Gallic's heart on the other side?"
Just then, Snake suddenly teared up and spat something out with a cough.
It was the Compass of the Sea Emperor.
The compass vibrated as it emitted light to match the sound of the heartbeat. Because of it, it seemed like Snake couldn't endure it and spat it out.
"This is definitely the place where the quest will be solved. But where exactly do I need to go?"
No matter which direction he looked they were all blocked. Then all of a sudden, the passage from the crystal pillar came to mind.
If you want to see me then close both of your eyes.
'If there's some kind of trick here, then it's definitely the hint.'
Ark stood still and closed his eyes.
As he did so, the sound ringing through the whole space gradually died down. Then at some point, the sound focused in one direction. As if the hand mirror was being led by the beating sound, it vibrated to one side.
'Is it this way? But it's blocked...'
Ark placed his hand on the wall and moved. Then the wall shrank away as if it was surprised and a path appeared.
It was also the same afterwards. As he moved along the path, he closed his eyes and stretched his hand towards the direction of the sound whenever he reached a dead-end. Then a path appeared on its own. After walking for a few minutes or so, a place flashing with scarlet light came to view.
In the center stood a stone statue in human form. It held an oval stone fragment in its hand. The stone fragment looked like it had been split somewhere, it had an aura so black that he could visually confirm it was being emitted.
"Found it. This is definitely the item she held and disappeared!"
When Ark quickly reached out towards the stone fragment---
The stone statue's eyes flashed as it raised its head and let out a piercing scream.
"KYAAAAAA!"
"Eh, wha-what?"
Spiderweb-like cracks spread on the stone statue. Then, as if it were erupting, it scattered all around and the sight of a jet-black figure emerged. As a whole, it looked similar to the Reaper he'd fought in the Shadow Forest.
It had an enormous body big enough to completely fill the space. A demon with its eyes covered by a black cloth and draped in a black mantle. Behind it, black hair writhed all around like living snakes. Completely black, even the skin was as cracked as an old tree was black.
- Boss monster Adelaine has appeared!
Quest has been updated.
The Guardian Deity of the Merpeople, Gallic → Encroaching Darkness
At the end of your exploration of White Whale; Gallic's stomach, you have finally arrived at the destination. The source of the strength that filled Gallic's stomach with darkness and revived monsters as undead was at its heart.
It's certain the darkness caused Gallic to lose his mind. You must defeat the evil being Adelaine, born from the root of darkness, and return Gallic to normal.
Difficulty: +E
The quest was updated with the warning message.
The difficulty was a whopping +E!
'To think there'd be a boss monster even inside a whale's stomach!'
Suddenly, the drooping hair spread out like tentacles and closed in to attack Ark.
Ark quickly moved his feet to avoid a tentacle. He blocked it as if it were a Jellyfish's tentacle.
An electrifying fear scintillated through him. Even though he'd blocked it, his Health went down by 200.
"Eyes of the Cat!"
Adelaine's health and level came up.
It was a monstrous 100 level boss monster.
Warning bells of an impending crisis flashed across inside Ark's head.
"No way, I can't win with my current level even if I were to die and revive again!"
If you don't want to die, you have to accurately estimate the gap between you and your opponent's strength in an exchange of blows.
Once the fight with the enemy started, it wouldn't be easy to escape. Since one would have to take damage from two or three backstabs while running away with back turned. If one felt he had to run, the secret to surviving was to escape with a little extra Health left.
There was the definite level difference, but more importantly, if he suffered a chain attack from many tentacles, he'd only be able to endure for a few seconds.
Ark shouted as he spun around, "Skull, stop him!"
Pow-pow-pow!
Skull courageously leapt forward, but it was immediately recalled when it was struck by 3 tentacles. Ark had lost 200 Health because of this attack, but it also bought him a few seconds.
"Sorry, Skull. There was no other way."
Ark held back the tears and madly ran to the exit.
Now there was no choice.
First he needed to get out of the exit and bide this time...
It would take a long time, but he could raise his level to 80 by hunting worms exclusively within the White Whale's Labyrinth. With the darkness effect bonus, he might be able to fight Adelaine somehow.
Ark dodged the lashing tentacles and opened the exit by extending his hand.
But while he was running madly, the whole dungeon suddenly shook as a howl rang out from behind him. For looking behind, Ark's face paled.
Adelaine screeched as it swung its tentacles towards the wall.
Every time it did so, the flesh of the wall fell in clumps.
The shaking of the labyrinth was due to Gallic being unable to endure the pain and ran amok. But there wasn't enough time to feel sorry for Gallic's pain.
Destroying the walls with monstrous strength, Adelaine was closing in on Ark. Adelaine was truly the manifestation of horror itself.
'Holy shit, it's moving really fast...!'
Every time the tentacles whooshed in with the sound of the wind and grazed the back of his head, Ark's hair stood on its end.
'Dammit, I thought it wouldn't follow me if I got out of the heart!"
He was mistaken. Adelaine intended to follow him to no end.
Ark estimated that even if Adelaine followed him, its gigantic body would be slowed down by the walls.
If he took that chance to completely break away from its view and put some hundred meters between them, the in-combat state would be cancelled. Then he intended to hide with 'Stealth'. But rather than breaking free, Adelaine was actually closing the distance while destroying the walls and chasing him.
It was as if a message of despair was popping up before his eyes.
'Dammit, am I going to die like this?'
Stat loss! In addition, he had to explore the dungeon from the beginning. But that wasn't all! Dying against a boss monster increased the probability of dropping equipment items. And monsters also picked up items if they saw them.
What if he dropped Lancel's Sword and Adelaine picked it up? The result would be him having to use a crappy sword until he defeats Adelaine.
'No way! Even if I die, I'm going to run until the very end! Let's see how far you'll follow!'
Ark ran through the heaving Gallic's stomach without rest.
Just then, something flashed across his mind as he passed a fork in the path.
'Wait, this way has always been... of course! Maybe with this method...?'
Ark, who had combed through the labyrinth's terrain, realized a hidden method to turn the tide.
'Would something like that be possible? No, whether it's possible or not isn't important. The only thing I can do right now is to bet everything on this method!'
Ark stopped abruptly and twisted his body.
Adelaine quickly swung its tentacle.
Ark dodged the tentacle and ran towards Adelaine. Then, when he was up in front of its nose, he rolled on t
he ground. As the tentacle grazed his side, he received enormous damage. However, Ark didn't fight back.
Ark sprang up and passed Adelaine, then ran in the opposite direction. Then he leapt into the fork he'd passed earlier. It was a plaza filled with ankle-deep water.
Ark stepped over the piles of trash strewn around as he moved to the center of the plaza, then turned around. Adelaine was pounding into the plaza.
Ark grinned as he muttered, "Now, let's see if I die or you die."
"KYAAAAK!"
Adelaine ran in shrieking, but stopped. When its feet touched the surface, acrid smoke rose with a hiss. Too late, Adelaine realized it was in some kind of danger and tried to back away. But Ark wasn't going to let it escape for he had lured it in with such difficulty.
"Getting in is easy but it's not so easy to get out. Snake, Shield!"
As if Snake had been waiting, it spat out a tattered shield.
It was the crappy Shell Shield he'd found in a trash pile. But right now, this shield was his only lifeline.
Ark took the shield and positioned it above his head like an umbrella, then swung at the wall with his sword. The space rocked wildly, closing the entrance and exit. Adelaine screeched in confusion as it flailed its tentacles, but it just blocked the entrance more solidly each time it did.
Simultaneously, a shower rained down from above their heads.
KWAAAA!
- Shield's durability has dropped by 10!
- You took acid poison damage. Damage 50!
When the shower came down, it pierced holes on the shield. Even if a small droplet dripped onto him, his Health dropped steadily.
It was an obvious result. The liquid raining down like a shower was stomach acid!
The place Ark had entered was no other than Gallic's stomach.
Once Ark stimulated the stomach, the surprised sphincter blocked the entrance and exit, pouring down acid.
'I'll be in for it if it doesn't die. Either we die together, or you die alone!'
Adelaine was directly covered in the acid shower.
Its swaying mantle was covered with holes, and tentacles were also breaking off strand by strand. Adelaine thrashed about madly, once its Health has decreased to about 50%, it approached Ark. However, with each step it took, a malodorous smelling steam rose as Adelaine's Health dropped.
It certainly wasn't a relaxing situation for Ark.
"Restoration magic! Restoration magic! Restoration magic!"
Ark repaired the shield without rest as he drank recovery potions. Even so, his Health dropped steadily.
'From now on I'll fight patiently!'
By the time Adelaine crossed the stomach and reached Ark, it already had less than 10% of its Health left.
Adelaine shrieked in rage as it raised its tattered arm.
Ark used his trump card.
"Summon Familiar, Dedric!"
"Ack! Ma-master?"
Dedric let out a confused screech as he was summoned.
"Ma-master, please forgive..."
"Shut up and do everything you can to block that guy. If you do a good job then I'll forgive you!"
"Huh? Really?"
Without even knowing what was going on, Dedric replied with an emotional face. Then he immediately turned into a Bat and rammed himself into Adelaine's face.
But Dedric was forcefully recalled after just a few seconds of being baptized in acid.
"Arghh, it's hot... Master... you... promised."
It was a brave end.
Deric's sacrifice had an effect. When Dedric rushed in Adelaine's hand slipped to the side. Although Ark lost some health he was able to avoid a direct hit.
Ark flipped the shield over his back like a turtle and jumped up.
"Dark Blade!"
The magic sword released a Dark Blade.
With a violent noise, he landed a critical hit. At the same time, a golden opportunity appeared. In tatters from the acid, Adelaine stumbled as it fell to one knee and allowed a Double Critical Chance. Without delay, Ark cast Dark Blade.
- With Double Critical Chance, you have landed critical hit 2x.
- You have levelled up.
As Adelaine's throat gaped open, a black light burst out. Since he defeated a level 100 boss monster, Ark instantly levelled up to level 64.
Streams of black light poured out for a while, then Adelaine's body began to shrink ceaselessly. Then finally, it shrank to a size similar to Ark. A hazy grey light gathered in the form of a female Mermaid. The female Mermaid stretched out a trembling arm as it whispered in a weak voice.
- ...Christin...
Slowly, the acid rain stopped.
Ark stared at the female Mermaid with a stupefied face. He had toppled the boss monster, but the item which was supposed to drop didn't and something else had appeared instead.
Just in case, Ark widened the distance and scrutinized the female Mermaid.
- Christin, Christin, it's you, right?
The female Mermaid's hands fumbled around her as if she was blind while she was weeping.
- Why? Why don't you call my name? Why don't you hold my hand? Have you forgotten me? Is that it? I waited for you. I've waited for you as I cried until my eyes could no longer see. Christin... please...
The female Mermaid bowed her head as she sobbed.
- You've become angry with me, haven't you? Right? You've become angry because I tricked you, right? I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I... knew you would return. I thought you would return if I did that. You can't forgive me after all? Is that it?
Suddenly, the hand mirror on his chest buzzed as it vibrated. Once he took it out, light poured out, reflecting the inflamed red stomach lining, and started to show a cutscene.
There was the man he'd seen in the pillar. There was also a Mermaid.
The man was agonized because the world was being encroached by darkness.
The power of darkness was enveloping the world had not yet reached Nodelesse. The land was covered in the flames of war, but Nodelesse was as peaceful as it had always been.
Because of this, he was even more agonized. He was ashamed he was looking away from the world's suffering. And he knew that one day, even beautiful Nodelesse would be stained in darkness.
In the end, the man stood.
He had decided to devote his life to stopping the great evil that was covering the world. The man explained his feelings to the one he loved for a long time.
His lover understood him, it was all she could do. Because they were the words of the one she loved.
But she didn't accept it.
The lover stayed up on the last night, stole one of the man's treasures, and hid it. She believed if she hid it, the man would eventually give up and return again.
But the man did not return. Even though 10 years passed as time flowed on and the force of darkness was eliminated, the man still did not return.
The woman finally regretted it.
The despair of having to wait for the lover who did not return changed her. Her hair fell and her skin cracked like an old tree.
The never-ending tears even robbed her of her sight. And finally, her end came to her too. Knowing her nearing end, she entrusted her body to Gallic, her soul-companion.
So even if she died, the man's treasure would be protected...
It was the only thing she could do as atonement.
After imprisoning herself, she spent a long time regretting and regretting some more, and atoning, atoning.
Ark felt her emotions far too strongly.
The hand mirror even conveyed her emotions. But it wasn't the only reason.
Why wouldn't he understand the longing, loneliness, and pain for a lost one? Ark had experienced the same thing, after all.
5 years ago when his father passed away, he felt the same indescribable pain.
Even more if it had happened because of his mistake...
The wounded soul trembled as it wept.
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Ark lowered his shield and walked toward her.
What could he do? What could he do for her?
His heart was filled with sympathy. She was a girl who was turned into an evil spirit while waiting for her lover. Once the evil spirit's mask was taken off, there was simply a miserable lover looking for forgiveness.
Having received her emotions, Ark cried as he grasped her hand.
"Adelaine... you've done nothing wrong. That's how love is. It can only be beautiful because it is so very selfish. That is love, and it is the same kind of love I shared with you. No one will be able to blame you and neither will I. I will not forgive you because I've never hated you..."
- Christin...
Adelaine's eyes trembled.
It was then.
Suddenly, her grey form was enveloped in white light, and she slowly changed into a younger body.
It was the appearance of the beautiful Mermaid he had seen in the hand mirror and pillar.
She gazed at Ark with a bewitching smile, then approached like the spring breeze and lightly kissed him.
'Does Adelaine know I'm not her lover?'
As he received the kiss he instinctively thought as such.
But she just revealed an ambiguous smile as she slowly disappeared.
Miracle Nursing has succeeded.
Through sorrow that arose from sincerity, you aided a fallen soul. People with bodily pains are not the only patients. Patients who truly need someone's hand are people who know an illness of the heart. An illness of the heart is a terrifying sickness that corrupts the soul.
An illness of the body can be treated with medicine, but an illness of the heart can only be treated by a person who understands.
Sometimes, just one word of comfort can demonstrate a miraculous strength no magic can replicate. With your sincere words of comfort, Adelaine's heart has now found peace, and she can be with the person she loves.
*For succeeding in Miracle Nursing, all your stats has increased by 1.
*Affection has increased by 10.