The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 160

Chapter 19. Ruins: The Eighth Scoundrel

Illyna was a crybaby when she was young.

She cried when she fell, cried because she was scared, and cried because she was hungry.

One day, she was crying because her favorite doll was broken, and her mother whispered in her ear that a big snake would come and take her away. Then, she would stop crying out of fear.

Back then, the Imugi [a mythical Korean serpent] was just a symbol of fear created by Illyna’s imagination.

‘To think that’s what it was.’

How could fate be like this? She never dreamed that she would personally deal with a monster that only existed in legends.

Illyna was prepared to die.

To fight a snake that only appeared in stories. No matter how strong Kahn’s group was, they were outmatched in terms of size. She thought it would be a miracle if they lasted five minutes.

Moreover, the fact that this was a lake was also a problem. Humans even have trouble breathing underwater. She couldn’t imagine how they were going to catch a giant snake.

But when the fight actually started, her worries turned out to be unfounded.

The old man, the big man, and the woman with the cold expression performed their roles like machines without a word of discussion, and their smooth, coordinated attacks annoyed the Imugi.

The highlight was the adventurer Kahn. His ability was truly amazing.

“Kahn, what are you…”

She knew he was skilled, but what he just showed was… a power beyond limits. The common sense she had built up her whole life crumbled.

“What was that power just now? Summoning a giant-like rock, handling a sturdy rope like his own body, and even the summoner he’s with… is that a dragon?”

Kahn just smiled without answering. That was enough of an answer. Now she felt excitement beyond hope.

‘This person can do it!’

She thought hitting the Kraken was like throwing an egg at a rock. She thought the end would be destruction. But when she realized Kahn’s true nature, everything changed.

He caught a legendary monster, so why couldn’t he catch the Kraken? The royal family’s long-cherished wish, passed down for a thousand years, might be fulfilled in her generation. Her vision blurred and her heart pounded.

Then she felt a warm touch on her hand. She turned to see the woman with the cold expression. Her name was Sion. She had a faint smile on her always expressionless face and said.

“I told you, didn’t I? To trust the young master. He’s the one who turns the impossible into the possible.”

That was true. She witnessed a miracle. That man, that human, could make her dream a reality.

‘If Kahn liberates the underwater city, I will honor him as my savior for the rest of my life.’

Illyna vowed in her heart.

* * *

After eating the Fish Transformation Pill, I roamed the lake like it was my own home. The electricity sparking from Coco’s horns lit up the dark lake.

As light entered my eyes, the Imugi’s corpse came into view clearly. Seeing it up close, it was truly enormous.

I could have looked for the Mermaid King’s Orb right away, but it was too wasteful to leave the corpse like this.

“Should I take some?”

The Imugi doesn’t have wings, but its genes are similar to those of dragons, like drakes or wyverns. It’s like the relationship between humans, monkeys, gorillas, and orangutans.

The scales are also hard, so if they are used to make armor, an item of at least Unique grade will be created, and the sharp teeth will also have many uses.

Above all, the most valuable item was the Imugi’s inner core. It contained powerful energy like the Dragon Heart I got from the dragon Kyle.

‘I used the Dragon Heart I got last time to wake up Coco.’

I showed the inner core I got this time to Coco, thinking it might help her, but her reaction was lukewarm.

“Kkyu! Kkyu!”

Understanding Coco’s explanation, mana crystals help with growth to some extent, but the corpse of a demon is more effective.

Unlike the Kraken, the Imugi was not a demon. Therefore, it had no demonic energy, and that’s why Coco didn’t bother to covet it.

‘I have no choice but to consume it myself.’

I swallowed the inner core and sat cross-legged. Since I had plenty of time anyway, I decided to let my companions wait.

The Imugi’s energy entered my body and went to my dantian [energy center in the body].

I thought the volatile Dragon Blood would go wild again and the Blue Mana would mediate, but the progress was a little different than expected.

‘Huh?’

The Dragon Blood, which had been showing its teeth to all energies, did not reject the Imugi’s energy this time. Rather, it devoured and absorbed it, becoming one.

‘It’s because the Imugi is a subspecies of the dragon!’

The Dragon Blood, which had only been rejecting and fighting, began to absorb the Imugi’s energy and increase in size.

At the same time, the system window popped up.

[Mana Awakening increases.]

[Mixing Rate increases.]

[Green Mana Awakening 50%] [↑0.0%]

[Blue Mana Awakening 48%] [↑0.0%]

[Dragon Blood Awakening 50%] [↑4.0%]

[Mixing Rate 48%] [↑9.0%]

Until now, the Dragon Blood’s Awakening had been stuck at 48% without rising or falling.

For the first time, the Dragon Blood rose by 2%, forming the same value as Green Mana, and the Mixing Rate also soared to 48%.

The most important point was the Blue Mana’s response. The energy that had formed the dual mana with the Dragon Blood + Blue Mana alliance against the Green Mana was dissolved in an instant.

As the Dragon Blood became strong enough, the Blue Mana became independent. Therefore, the internal structure was reorganized into a three-way battle between Green Mana vs. Blue Mana vs. Dragon Blood, that is, three-source mana.

As the three-source mana formed, the three energies swirled around the center and gathered, then turned into emerald light and flowed out.

“Ah!”

The sight was so beautiful that Illyna, who was watching, exclaimed.

Flash!

The flashing light was soon stored in my body. When I opened my eyes, a faint energy flickered in my eyes. Orneo approached and asked.

“Did you take a step forward?”

“No. I’ve reached a wall.”

Clearly, as it changed to three-source mana, the energy of my whole body began to ascend.

My body became lighter and I felt like I was connected to somewhere, but suddenly one side creaked and returned to normal.

When I looked into why, it was because of the Blue Mana. Unlike the other mana that had filled 50% of the Awakening, the Blue Mana was still 48%.

It was like one of the weak supports breaking in the process of launching a rocket into the sky.

‘All three supports must be complete to achieve ascension.’

To do that, I needed more Blue Mana. Like a hungry body craving nutrients, my whole body desperately demanded Blue Mana.

“You’re talking about the master’s wall. That wall is certainly difficult to overcome. Still, it’s amazing that you’ve achieved your level at such a young age.”

“No. I still have a long way to go.”

“Let’s find the Mermaid King’s Orb first.”

“Okay.”

Before moving, I put the Imugi’s corpse into the subspace whole.

I was the one who defeated it, and I didn’t have the ability to move that big thing unless it was in the subspace, so Illyna agreed that I could have the corpse. Rather, she was amazed at the sight of the huge snake disappearing in an instant.

I found a small cave where the Imugi disappeared. A divine blue light was spreading from the inside, and it felt like there was something there.

Fortunately, the inside of the cave was land. It was an empty cavity, and there was an orb the size of an ostrich egg on a pedestal in the most secluded place. The blue light was coming from that orb.

“That’s the Mermaid King’s Orb!! To think I’d see the real orb in my lifetime.”

Orneo knelt down and kissed the ground. He was overwhelmed with emotion at seeing the long-awaited treasure.

The old man, who was approaching as if possessed, bumped into something in the air as if blocked.

“Be careful!”

I supported the old man who was about to fall backward. Now that I see it, an invisible transparent wall was blocking the orb and this place.

Well, there must have been some kind of device, so the orb has been intact until now, otherwise the Imugi would have eaten it long ago.

“I’ll try to pass through using Blue Mana.”

I summoned lake water and slammed it into the wall, but it was useless.

“It doesn’t seem to be뚫는 [penetrating] simply뚫는 [penetrating] with force. Illyna, do you know anything about this wall?”

“No. There are no records up to this point.”

“Illyna, why don’t you go and see. Maybe it’s a barrier that only accepts direct descendants?”

“Yes, I’ll give it a try.”

Illyna stepped over the wall. Then, for a moment, the wall rippled and shook.

But it was only for a moment.

The wall, which had exerted elasticity, maintained its original shape, and she was pushed back and fell on her butt.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I just fell lightly. Rather, I heard the orb’s voice.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It told me that my bloodline was good, but my skills were lacking.”

It seemed that the orb had a weak ego because it was such an old energy source. Orneo next to her had a disappointed expression.

“To have the long-awaited treasure in front of my eyes and have to suck my fingers [be unable to obtain it].”

Soon, Sion and Campbell also tried, but they fell out like Orneo. Illyna at least made it ripple, but the other two were unyielding fortresses.

The last person left was me. Everyone stepped forward in an atmosphere that didn’t expect anything.

As I slowly walked forward, the wall came close to my nose. At that moment, I felt the hardened wall trying to bounce me off.

Right at that moment.

[Self-purification is activated]

[Immune to all status abnormalities]

The skill activated and my foot was 내디뎌졌다 [stepped forward] without any resistance.

“!!”

The group sitting down jumped up in surprise. Orneo, perhaps excited, spat and said.

“What! How did you get in?”

The old man, who tried to enter again, bumped into the wall. In the end, only I could enter, and the rest were still impossible.

“The Druid skill helped.”

“Heh heh… amazing. Anyway, thank you. Thanks to you, I got the orb.”

With this, my relationship with Orneo will become even stronger.

I reached out to the orb. The dazzling blue light was getting closer and closer. Finally, I grabbed the Mermaid King’s Orb with my palm. At the same time, an unexpected phenomenon occurred.

Swoosh!

The orb, which had been 흐물대던 [soft and malleable] as soon as it touched my hand, was absorbed into my body!

“Huh?”

The essence of Blue Mana poured into my body like a waterfall. At the same time, the orb’s voice rang in my head.

[How can this be… amazing. Although not of mermaid blood, you are the most authentic successor in the world. This power is most suitable for you. Please use it for good.]

The blue light coldly dyed the entire cave. The light was so bright that everyone couldn’t open their eyes.

The orb, which had charged like a cavalry, took its place in the corner of the dantian. At the same time, the energy that flowed out strengthened the existing Blue Mana.

[Mana Awakening increases.]

[Mixing Rate increases.]

[Green Mana Awakening 50%] [↑0.0%]

[Blue Mana Awakening 50%] [↑4.0%]

[Dragon Blood Awakening 50%] [↑0.0%]

[Mixing Rate 50%] [↑4.0%]

The three-color mana, including the mixing rate, all reached half the value. At that moment, my heart beat violently.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The three-source mana, which formed a delicate balance, became a storm and 올라왔다 [rose up] from the dantian. The three-source mana, which soon arrived at the heart, rose upward as if it was not enough.

The head that had arrived before. Suddenly, the 천마’s [Heavenly Demon] 잡던 [nagging] remarks came to mind.

-Hey brat, if you connect all three of your dantians to complete 삼화취정 [Three Flowers Gather on the Crown] and unite with the universe to achieve 오기조원 [Five Energies Merge to Return to the Origin], you’ll create a domain just by breathing. You 천치 [idiot] like a big head!!

‘삼단전 [Three Dantians] means the dantian, heart, and head. It meant connecting these three places to become one!’

Until then, it was impossible because the output of mana itself was insufficient. But as the three-source mana awakened even halfway, the situation changed. The whole body became one engine and started explosively.

Kukwakwakwakwakwa!!!!

The energy뿜어내는 [spewing out] from the whole body became a whirlwind and 몰아쳤다 [raged]. Sion and her companions were 못 이겨 [unable to withstand] by the pressure and were 튕겨나갈 [thrown] out of the cave.

“Woah! What the hell is going on?”

“That’s what’s happening.”

Orneo’s white eyebrows 떨렸다 [trembled].

Sion’s eyes were 촉촉하게 [moist] as if she had guessed something.

“We are now… watching the birth of the continent’s eighth star.”