<Genesis Chamber>

【??? Beleth】

'Beleth? It sounds familiar. Where did I hear that name before?'

He stopped about five meters in front of us. I could see now that he was about three meters tall. His head was staying still, but I could feel he was looking down at us. The green lights inside his eye sockets were dim, and a deep voice that similar to devils or demons in movies was heard filling the massive room.

"How can you lost to these frail insects?"

I was a quiet person, so I could tell my silence was unnatural. I also couldn't even move. His presence seemed turned me into a state of powerlessness.

"Very well then... Now you almost have a half of your power. Do not disappoint me."

Silence filled the room. I knew it right away he was talking to someone. However, I couldn't tell where s/he was. It looked like he was listening and then turned his gaze to Mirage.

"She is no threat." He said as he began to walk to the door. "Let none alive."

In a blink of an eye, Beleth was gone. And the double door was slammed as if bomb was blown behind us. I gasped and moved my body. It seemed the pressure was gone. Then I heard something fall behind me. It was Mirage. She was stiff and her eyes were shaking, even though Beleth already left. Concerned, I shook her body and called her name repeatedly. But then...

"I believe you have something belong to me..."

I turned around and looking at the source of the voice. There were pile of bones on the floor. The bones then moving and attached to each other like magnets. They were arranged into skeleton. Green lights blazing from both of its eye sockets as space distorted and black robe instantly cloaked the skeleton.

【??? Uruzak】

My eyes immediately widened.

'He's respawned here!?'

It was common that, in every game, bosses would be revived back every day, week or month. However, the place he respawned was supposed to be the same place, inside Norwall Cave.

Why was he respawned here? Was Uruzak the one that the winged figure talked to before?

Then, Uruzak was not a mere boss monster. Even his name was changed, he was 'Lich Necromancer' before but now it was just question marks. He could be someone more important than I knew. Perhaps, both of them affiliated with this facility. There might be a chance they played an active role with the experiment during the Dark Age. Also, they could be involved in Belgram's disappearance. Well, it was just a thought. I didn't had any proof.

"Hand it over and I will consider the way both of you die..."

Creeeeaaaaak! Boooooom!

I finally noticed there were several big tanks at the far end of the room. One of them just broke and water flowing out. Then something inside jumped out and landed right beside Uruzak.

///////
Boss Appeared!
Mutated Prisoner Ilkaav
///////

Typical Boss appearance scene. Still, it was awesome and cool in some ways.

'Shit!'

However, it wasn't a moment for me to enjoy the scene.

・・・

Ball of green liquid was thrown to the air. After a brief moment flying in an arc, it landed straight on the ground. The impact made a loud splash and hissing sound afterwards. A puddle was made and steam could be seen coming out as if the liquid was hot. However, that wasn't the case. It was because the liquid was acid. Puddles of acid were everywhere inside Genesis Room. The ground where the puddles of acid were slowly melted and becoming holes.

Among the puddles of acid, two figures were moving around. Their move could be considered dancing than fighting. If someone was watching, they would say it was one-sided battle. And the one who had the upper hand was a mutated being.

Mutated Prisoner Ilkaav.

He was taller than Uruzak who was about two meters tall. Scars filled his big muscled body. Something akin to spider legs were coming out from a hole on his back. It was long and the tip was sharp as grinded sword. His figure was still humanoid, but his white eyes made him looked like an undead than mutated being.

Ilkaav kept swinging and thrusting his spider legs against his opponent's sword. The clashing sounds filled the room.

'Shit!'

I kept focusing on defend while avoiding Uruzak's ball of acid. It was insane. There were no dozens of skeletons this time, but Ilkaav and Uruzak attacked me without rest a single breath. I could parry and evade all day, but my sword durability was the problem. It could break anytime. I had to think and counter them soon. Otherwise, Mirage would be in great danger.

"Which one do you want?"

A deal.

He did say that I had to hand it over whatever belonged to him. Three items were dropped when I beat him in Norwall cave. They were his robe, staff and the unidentified book. I needed to confirm which one he wanted. Therefore, I had to propose a deal with him.

Hearing my question, Uruzak raised his right hand and Ilkaav stopped attacking me.

"Give me my book..."

So it was the unidentified book. I didn't know what was written inside since I couldn't identify it yet. But as for the other two items, I checked them before giving them to Mirage.

///////
Uruzak's Robe (Rare)

Type: Robe
Restriction: 20 INT
Durability: 165/350
Uruzak's tattered robe which imbued special soul.

Effect:
+15 INT
+10 WIS
+25% debuff resistance
+20% dark resistance

Uruzak's Staff (Rare)

Type: Two-handed blunt
Restriction: 30 INT
Durability: 243/500
Uruzak's old staff which imbued special soul.

Effect:
+10 STR
+20 INT
+25% debuff success rate
+20% magical damage
///////

Those two items were 'Rare', so the book rarity was definitely above them.

"Give my book and I'll kill you two without any pain."

'I see... He's not going to let us alive. Tsk!'

I clicked my tongue and tried to think something.

"What if I'm not giving you the book?"

"Then I can just kill you and retrieve my book once you're dead."

"Right, I'll just destroy your book then."

It was just a bluff. Of course I had no intention to destroy it. It made me curious that he valued the book more than his staff and robe. What could possibly be written?

"What do you want?"

The tip of my lips went up. He actually took the bait.

"I want a deal."

"Speak."

"I don't have any intention to interfere with whatever you're doing. I just happen to accidentally cross your path. So I'll give your book back if you let us go. Also, I promise you I won't fight against you ever again."

He was silent. He looked at me as if he was thinking something to answer. However, it wasn't what I expected.

"HAHA HA HA HA HA! A hero who can be resurrected is begging for his life? Haha ha ha... You challenged me like four or five times in Norwall Cave. Where's that willpower now?"

Clack!

He clacked his teeth and then opened his jaw again, he continued...

"I am very disappointed. I thought you were the interesting one, but apparently not. Well, then... I'll just finish both of you really fast."

Uruzak began to chant and Ilkaav attacked me without warning. He punched me right on my gut. His big fist sent my body flying backwards and crashed the double door.

Bang!

[You have received 1298 damage from Ilkaav]

My body fell to the ground after a second passed. Blood coming out from my mouth. My inside was really hurt like hell. I couldn't open my eyes as I gritted my teeth, trying to suppress the pain.

"Pathetic... You shouldn't have come here..."

'I fucked up...'

I was still weak. Even in this game, I was still the lowest of low. What had gotten into me? I had never been good at speaking yet I tried to make a deal with Uruzak, and I even threatened him. I was like a cornered mouse who begged for life to a hungry lion. And then I told the lion that I would eat his cub if he didn't do what I said. What would I expect? Of course, the lion would laugh at me.

While I was thinking and holding the pain, Ilkaav slowly getting closer to where I lied. I saw him smiling expressionlessly. My gaze turned to the left. I saw Mirage. She was still lying on the ground with her shocked face. Fragile and powerless. I sighed.

'...I must be crazy. Or maybe I really do need motivation after all...'

I activated Ignore Death and stood up.

[Ignore Death's effect can be felt]

I took out a vial from my bag and put it on my lips. Red liquid inside the vial flowing into my mouth.

[Lesser Health Potion's effect can be felt]

[50 HP has been healed]

[50 HP has been healed]

With the potion effect, my health regenerated 50 points every second for twenty seconds. I grabbed my sword and readied myself to fight Ilkaav. If my guess was right, Uruzak would just supporting Ilkaav by sending Ball of Acid. Then what I should do was simple. Just focus on fighting Ilkaav and ignoring Uruzak spell as environmental phenomenon.

I rushed forward and tried to land an attack to Ilkaav.