Chapter 541: A Predator’s Smile (1)
– Frey Starlight’s POV –
"Ah... damn it. From my battered body that had just been mauled by five SS+ class fighters... straight into another one with a hole in the chest..."
It felt as if enduring this kind of physical torment was simply written into my fate.
I know I’ve become immune to every kind of pain, and that in itself is terrifying. What kind of level is this, where I can move without a care in the world while an enormous hole pierces through my chest?
"I guess my senses have gone completely numb... even switching bodies doesn’t change the fact I can endure this much."
I muttered non-stop as I drove Vermithor’s blade into my own chest, standing before Smogh, who circled me cautiously, unable to process what was happening.
This was Smogh, the Hollow—an SS-class fighter, yet his true level of strength remained unknown thanks to the absurd abilities granted by his pact with a powerful demon.
Earlier, I’d been observing the battlefield using Third-Person View, unable to reach Sansa—who I assumed was unconscious—but I was able to use the ability on both Snow and Ghost.
Snow, in particular, caught my attention. He’d been in the harshest and most brutal fight of all.
I hadn’t planned to intervene. This was the first time I’d ever tested the Possession ability, and to be honest... it wasn’t pleasant in the slightest.
But I couldn’t just stand there and watch. Not when the opponent was Smogh.
I had driven Vermithor into Snow’s body, which would accelerate the healing process—but even that wouldn’t restore him to a state where he could face this monster. And I couldn’t use my own abilities through this body...
This is a problem... Unconsciously, I took a step back as Smogh advanced toward me.
"I’m not sure what exactly is going on here. Maybe it’s schizophrenia? I’ve heard Gavid Lindman’s Empyrean can mimic other personalities. Your situation could be similar... or maybe you’re simply someone else possessing his body..." Smogh’s deep voice rumbled as his body began to glow, releasing a strange black metal that covered him completely.
"Either way... the result won’t change." Gathering his strength, Smogh blew apart the ground beneath his feet and lunged at me instantly.
"You’re coming with me."
"Damn it!"
Seeing the Hollow rush in, I cursed, yanking Vermithor out of my chest. I tried to draw out as much power as possible from Snow’s body, but I barely managed to deflect that monster’s fist before immediately retreating.
Covering myself with aura, I tried to put distance between us, but Smogh was already chasing me down.
There was no way I could beat him in my current state, so all I could do was avoid the worst-case scenario.
And to make matters worse, the system message kept hovering before my eyes—
> Affinity Points insufficient... Possession will be canceled at any moment now.
The clock was ticking, my opponent was a nightmare, and Snow’s body was in shambles!
"Damn you, Snow! What kind of mess have you gotten me into?!"
If I were at least in good condition, I’d have run here using my real body instead of relying on this damned possession.
I tried fighting back, but it was useless—Snow’s combat style was completely different from mine, even though I knew everything about him.
"Snow! Wake the hell up!"
To survive this, I needed the original owner of the body to fight.
If I kept this up, it was inevitable that Snow would end up in the Hollow’s hands...
Fortunately, Smogh didn’t seem intent on killing him, which was the only reason he held back—but even so, his attacks threatened to break this body beyond repair.
Vermithor flooded me with aura and holy power, but the damage far exceeded anything it could compensate for.
I was literally running with my internal organs spilling out, bleeding so much that I could feel dizziness setting in—even though I was just the intruder in this body.
"I know you can hear me, Snow. It’s too soon to head into the darkness—your fight isn’t over yet. Don’t you dare run now!"
I growled, gritting my teeth through Smogh’s blows.
"Have you gone insane, talking to yourself in the middle of a fight?" Smogh sounded irritated, continuing his assault while still trying not to inflict fatal damage on Snow’s body.
"Shut your damn mouth—I’m not talking to you."
Swinging Vermithor, I fought with every ounce of strength I could muster, using the elemental powers I’d always dreamed of wielding.
Never in my life did I imagine I’d get the chance like this...
"Answer me, Snow... I’m begging you. I can’t hold out much longer."
The situation was dire—the possession was on the verge of ending.
If Smogh got away with Snow, then even if I chased him down in my real body, I doubted I could find him in time.
If my suspicions were right... the reason Smogh was keeping Snow alive was simply to let him grow stronger.
To make him discover his talents, hone his abilities... and once he reached his peak—Smogh would come to take him back.
"You want to devour him, don’t you?" I said mockingly as Vermithor clashed with the Hollow’s massive fist.
He showed a flicker of surprise at my words, but wasn’t particularly shaken.
"What are you getting at?" he asked, attacking with even greater ferocity.
"I already know your secret, Hollow. That’s why you’re so careful not to damage this body any further." I kept running, taunting him in an attempt to buy as much time as possible.
"That earlier strike that pierced his chest looked fatal, but you made sure to avoid his heart and vital organs, didn’t you? I’d say that’s the maximum damage you were willing to inflict—and that explains why you’ve held back until now."
Unleashing a wave of frost—the one I’d always dreamed of wielding—I froze his body solid, but he shattered free in an instant.
"You Yosefka followers are all the same. Your mistress... the Eighth High Demon, Yosefka, only grows stronger by devouring her own kind. Isn’t that right?"
Hearing my last words, I saw Smogh’s face gradually darken...
"Yosefka has to devour other demons to grow stronger. And likewise... those who form a pact with her are cursed like she is, forced to consume their own kind—humans. And I can’t think of a human more appetizing than Snow Lionheart."
"The blessed hero born with so much in his hands... I bet he looks to you like a gourmet meal you can’t resist, you damned hollow, Smogh."
I fired my last shot, laying bare all his secrets and schemes—just for one second.
Smogh froze, unable to process what he’d heard.
One second. That was all—the one moment he lowered his guard, and the moment I had been betting on from the very start.
"Sorry, Snow... but I’ll have to push your body one more time."
Summoning all of Snow’s elements, I instantly unleashed the only attack I could replicate using his body...
Snow’s unique version of Ignition—the very move my own skill was modeled after.
Launching it from Snow’s body wasn’t too difficult...
Exploiting that instant of lowered defense, I swung Vermithor with every ounce of strength I had. I detonated everything in front of me.
"Great Cosmos Formation!"
A radiant light burst from my blade, a light that swallowed Smogh entirely at point-blank range.
BOOOOOOM!!
The Great Cosmos Formation shook the earth and split the skies, its pillar of light engulfing Smogh.
This strike carried every bit of strength I could wring from Snow’s battered body—and the result was just as devastating to me as it was to my enemy.
I felt every cell in this body scream in agony.
Dizziness... crippling weakness...
But I forced myself to move, fleeing the battlefield at full speed.
I could endure pain—but this level of strain was too much. It threatened to make me lose consciousness at any moment.