A few minutes earlier...
[Ding!]
[You entered a temporary dungeon-Shadowed Altar.]
[Kill the projection of Mistress of Shadows-Melaphine to clear the dungeon.]
[Ding!]
[You are inside the Authority domain of Melaphine.]
[All the spells devoid of Authority are invalid.]
A dim blue status screen appeared in his vision.
[Name: Melaphine - Mistress of Shadows (Projection)]
[Race: Demon]
[Level: 30 (??)]
[Domain: Shadow]
[Potential: ??]
[Skill: ??]
[Authority: ??]
[Note: Kill or disrupt the projection of Melaphine to clear the dungeon.]
Looking at the stats and clearance conditions, Heizen was having a mental breakdown. He was more afraid of his previous vision coming true.
Though it hadn't been long, he already considered his companion his friend. Moreover, he didn't want Sarah to sacrifice herself to save him. Remembering the last vision, he was in a complex mood.
Heizen knew he made a major mistake this time. He was greedy for companions or maybe love. He was so lost in his dream that he didn't hesitate to drag his friends into this quagmire.
From all the life and death encounters he had encountered, he already knew his fate was unique. Though he was lucky, the risks encountered so far weren't something anyone could overcome.
He was alive because of the chance encounter with Insignia of Goddess. He could at least resurrect. But what about his friends? They would be dead once and for all.
His divine sense looked at the winding leaf pattern in his arm that was glowing irregularly. He didn't know what the issue was and didn't have the time to research. Whether this insignia would work like a last time was a question.
While he was desperately trying to find a solution, a fierce aura suddenly swept towards their direction.
It was similar to the aura he felt when he saw Gadrakh but weaker. Moreover, he was much better than before with his passive skill, Iron Resolve.
"Deathwalker. You are a Deathwalker in a mortal realm." A surprised voice appeared in his mind.
However, the next second a series of System prompts appeared in his head distracting him.
[Ding!]
[A large amount of Origin Power is detected.]
[Calibrating the temporary dungeon-Shadowed Altar]
[Calibration successful.]
[Location of the Origin Power - Center of the Shadowed Altar]
[You can absorb the Origin Power to repair the System.
Note: It is recommended to be in close contact with the entity to increase absorption speed.]
A series of cold, robotic sounds finally brought back Heizen's despairing mood. Looking at all the new information, a new idea suddenly appeared in his mind.
"System, what happens after you absorb the Origin Power?" Heizen quickly asked. Finally, he saw some hope.
If the figure standing atop the Altar was a projection, then could you kill that entity by absorbing its Origin Power? After all, according to the System, Origin is the fundamental energy of the higher level of life.
He remembered the System absorbing the Origin Power around the Green Dragon Gadrakh in the Life Gate dungeon before.
Thus, by doing this, the fundamental power maintaining this Altar must be destroyed.
Sure enough, the cold mechanical voice of the System finally brought some good news.
[Ding!]
[Dungeon-Shadowed Altar maintains its form through Origin power in the form of Authority.]
[Absorbing the Origin power can destroy the temporary dungeon.]
[Do you want to start absorption? You can stop at any time.]
"No," Heizen quickly said. If he did that, Melaphine would find out instantly. After all, even if she was in a projection state, she was still quite powerful.
"Though your aura is weak, you are still a suitable candidate. Mortal, do you want to serve under this Mistress of Shadows-Melaphine?"
He heard someone's voice in his mind, but this time he was focused on finding a solution. So, he paid little attention to those sounds.
"If I want to resolve this deadlock, the only solution is to kill Melaphine, Mistress of Shadows. However, even in the projection state, she is at level 30. Moreover, she is invincible within her Shadow Authority."
He was brainstorming rapidly.
"So, the only choice is to absorb the energy that forms her projection and destroy this temporary dungeon. But to do so, I need to get close without raising any suspicion." He was thinking when all the aura in the entire chamber began to boil violently.
"Since you don't know how to behave, let me first punish your impudence."
Suddenly the cold voice of the Melaphine echoed through the entire chamber and the dark-robed figures started to move. His companions were also getting ready to fight in panic.
Heizen solemnly looked at his companion's situation.
"Spells aren't working either. Only the Gale Orb can help cast the Arcane Barrier," Sarah said in trepidation.
...
"Arcane Barrier."
...
Looking at Sarah using the Gale Orb to barely cast Arcane Barrier, he remembered her saving him from the shadow.
...
"How could a projection of Lord-level power appear here? No, you cannot use spells inside its domain. You can only use your bloodline."
...
"Oh, a blood bearer. But you haven't awakened it yet. Not enough."
...
Looking at Sophie's fiery figure covered in dense armor, Heizen felt dreadful. Everything was going in the exact direction that he saw in his vision.
So, after making a rough plan in his mind, he shouted without waiting even a single second. He would never allow his inevitable density to endanger his friends. For this, he was willing to plunge into the abyss without hesitation.
"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Suddenly, Heizen's voice was heard throughout the chamber.
"Oh, did you make your choice?" Melaphine waved her hand to recall all the dark-robed figures. She was still interested in this mortal who could trick death.
The plan Heizen thought of was to confuse the heck out of everyone, including himself, with his acting.
"Miss Melaphine, your humble servant was merely dazzled by your extraordinary charm. He wasn't pretentious enough to deny your offer."
...
He knew that such a high-level being wasn't easy to fool. Moreover, he didn't know how to do acting.
"Oh, Mistress of Shadows. How could this humble mortal deny your request? It is my fortune to become your subordinate. But I have this small request I hope the mistress can help me fulfill."
...
However, whatever the case, he knew that Melaphine never thought he could kill her.
"My lord, if you want, I will be your slave. I will follow whatever you say. B-But I have only one request."
She would never have thought he could absorb her authority. So, this was his only chance and he would go crazy to grab it.
...
Heizen swallowed his saliva exaggeratedly and said,
"Can I... Can I hug you?"
After all, no matter how crazy his act is or how absurd his idea seems, it isn't stupid if it works, right?