Debuff Master-Chapter 1081

Chapter 1081
‘
Are you freaking kidding me?!’
Siegfried shrieked inwardly after looking down at the river of molten lava flowing beneath them.
What would happen if they ended up falling into that?
Even his superhuman physique would melt away in mere seconds.
Chwaaak!
Siegfried spread his wings immediately. He slowed down mid-air and glided over the lava river.
Michael also extended his wings.
Shakiro hopped onto his aura sword and flew just above the surface of the lava river.
[Lava Cavern: World of the Condemned]
A notification revealing their current location popped up before Siegfried’s eyes.
‘
Lava Cavern? That makes sense, but what the hell is the World of the Condemned supposed to be?’
Siegfried wondered if this place might be a hidden dungeon, one of the undiscovered, secret places on the continent.
“
Kyaaaah!
It’s way too hot here, owner punk!” Hamchi screamed, sounding agitated.
“Hey, I’m boiling here too. Stop whining,” Siegfried snapped back at him.
The heat generated by the river of lava was so oppressive that even he, who possessed quite high resistance to fire, was feeling the heat.
His skin tingled; his face was burning up; and he was drenched in sweat. They were flying around twenty meters above the river of lava, but even from that height, the heat was simply unbearable.
“Where do we go now?” Siegfried turned to Michael and asked.
Michael pointed in a specific direction and replied, “That way. I can feel it over there.”
“Good. Let’s go get it.”
The group flew in the direction Michael pointed, gliding over the river of lava.
The Lava Cavern: World of the Condemned was a massive cavern hidden deep underground. It was so vast that it felt like an entirely different world.
It was so wide, in fact, that one could easily doubt that this place existed underground.
‘
Let’s see what they have here...’
Siegfried activated Inzaghi’s Clairvoyance and used the search function in order to locate Michael’s wings.
[Alert: Searching...]
[Alert: Search Complete!]
[Alert: Michael’s Wings not found!]
However, Inzaghi’s Clairvoyance couldn’t locate Michael’s wings, and it was most likely due to the fact that it wasn't a living creature.
‘
Looks like we will just have to look for it the old-fashioned way,’
Siegfried thought.
The party moved forward, relying solely on Michael’s instincts.
It was then.
Kieee! Kieeee!
Kihit! Kihit!
Monsters appeared one by one and blocked the party’s path. They were bulky creatures about the size of orcs with roundish bodies that resembled insects.
However, what set them apart from normal bugs was the fact that their bodies were engulfed in blazing crimson flames rather than a carapace.
[Lava Cavern Fire Fleas]
[A type of flea inhabiting the Lava Cavern.]
[These fleas are made of fire attribute energy and are extremely powerful.]
[Type: Neutral Creature]
[Rating: Unique]
[Level: 350]
[Race: Flea]
[Note 1: Possesses an extremely good jumping ability.]
[Note 2: Caution is advised during combat.]
“Fleas...?” Siegfried frowned and muttered after realizing that these massive monsters covered in flames that blocked their path were just a bunch of oversized fleas.
They were large and on fire, but they were still fleas.
If there was one thing that stood out about them, it would be their insanely high level.
‘
Hmm... I wonder if they’ll at least give a lot of experience points,’
Siegfried wondered as he gripped his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp tightly.
Kyaaaah!
Kyaaak!
As if on cue, the Lava Cavern Fire Fleas all charged at once, swarming toward Siegfried’s party.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
Flames erupted from their bodies as they moved, and they unleashed an intense heat wave that even Siegfried found difficult to endure.
“You damn fleas! Know your place!” Siegfried shouted and swung his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp, striking one of the fleas.
Bam!
As soon as his weapon made contact with the flea, he felt the impact all the way up his arm. It was like he had slammed his weapon into a solid block of metal.
‘Argh!’
The Defense of the Lava Cavern Fire Fleas was so high that a simple Basic Attack was not enough to take them down.
In that case...
‘
I’ll just debuff them,’
Siegfried thought, immediately activating Eternal Flames and Embrace of Despair to inflict powerful debuffs on the fleas. Of course, he did not stop there.
Sseuuuu...!
He cast Elemental Shower to reduce the attribute resistance of the fleas before charging up his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp with ice-attribute energy.
Since the Lava Cavern Fire Fleas were fire-attribute monsters, the plan was to lower their elemental resistance and strike with the opposite elemental attribute.
Kieeek!
Kiyaaak!
The heavily debuffed Lava Cavern Fire Fleas fell one after another after getting struck by the +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp.
[Alert: You have obtained Experience Points!]
[Alert: You have obtained Experience Points!]
[Alert: You have obtained Experience Points!]
(omitted...)
[Alert: You have obtained experience points!]
He obtained an enormous amount of Experience Points.
Given that the Lava Cavern Fire Fleas were Level 350 monsters, it made sense that each of them gave a significant amount of Experience Points.
‘
Oh? This is what I’m talking about!’
Siegfried exclaimed inwardly before revealing a greedy grin. Then, he went on a rampage, wiping out the fleas and soaking up all of the experience points they had to offer.
About fifteen minutes later...
“
Phew!”
Siegfried let out a satisfied breath as he looked over the corpses of the Lava Cavern Fire Fleas.
It had been a while since he had a proper fight against monsters. The battle gave him the adrenaline rush he had not felt for a long time fighting against monsters, and the Experience Points he obtained were truly a delightful bonus.
Of course, that was not the end of his catharsis.
Siegfried’s eyes lit up upon spotting something glittering in the remains of one of the fleas.
‘
Is it a regional delicacy?!’
Each field had its own unique items that the Adventurers referred to as
regional delicacies,
and clearly, the Lava Cavern: World of the Condemned was no exception.
‘
Let’s see what these guys have to offer,’
Siegfried thought, heading straight for the glittering item buried beneath the mountain of Lava Cavern Fire Flea remains.
***
‘
What could it be?’
Siegfried rummaged through the remains of the Lava Cavern Fire Flea and pulled out something that glittered faintly.
“
Ack!
That’s hot!” Siegfried screamed and recoiled in pain.
Ssseuuu!
It turned out that the glittering object was none other than a burning hot coal, roughly the size of an acorn.
“W-What’s this thing?”
Siegfried flashed his Rune of Insight and examined the glowing coal.
[Fire Flea Liver]
[A flea’s liver is best enjoyed eaten fresh!]
[The liver of a Lava Cavern Fire Flea.]
[A lump of coal condensed with extremely potent fire-attribute energy.]
[Type: Energy Core]
[Rating: Unique]
[Effect: Enhances fire-attribute energy when consumed.]
[Warning 1: Extremely hot! Handle with care when consuming!]
[Warning 2: Its effect will vanish once it cools down. Consume while it is still burning hot!]
“I-Is this damn system telling me to eat this thing?!” Siegfried raged, staring dumbfounded at the notification. The Fire Flea Liver was already scorching hot in his hand, yet the system was asking him to eat it without letting it cool down.
“
Kyu?
Are you going to eat the flea’s liver, owner punk?” Hamchi asked.
“No, are you crazy? Do you expect me to eat this raw?”
“
Kyu?”
“And it won’t have any effect if I let it cool down first.”
“
Kyuuu!
They say that the things that are good for you always taste bad and bitter, owner punk!”
“Why, you little! Do you think this is like broccoli or something?!”
“
Kyu?”
“How the hell am I supposed to eat something this hot?!”
“Don’t you want to get stronger, owner punk?!
Kyuuuu!”
“Y-Yeah, I do, but this is just...”
“Then be a man and endure it! That’s how you become stronger! No pain, no gain!
Kyuu!”
Hamchi was right. There were plenty of lunatics who would chug down poison if it meant growing stronger, and Siegfried was one of them. No, among them, Siegfried was the biggest lunatic, and he craved power more desperately than anyone else.
“He’s right, Siegfried. If becoming stronger is your goal, then enduring this kind of pain is nothing,” Shakiro smiled as he said.
“As the saying goes, what’s good for the body is bitter on the tongue,” Michael added, looking amused by the situation.
“...”
Siegfried remained silent for a moment before slowly picking up the Fire Flea Liver from the ground.
Tssss!
The sound of his hand being seared by the burning coal filled the air, but Siegfried didn't even flinch. With his regenerative abilities, a burn like this would heal in the blink of an eye, so it was no big deal as long as he endured the pain.
“Screw it. I guess whatever happens, happens,” Siegfried grumbled under his breath. With reckless resolve, he threw the Fire Flea Liver into his mouth and swallowed it.
Tsssss!
The Fire Flea Liver seared his mouth, tongue, and everything in its way as it went down his throat. “
Arghhh!”
Siegfried cried out in agony, tears streaming from his eyes, yet he forced himself to gulp it down.
A few seconds later...
[Alert: You have absorbed fire attribute energy!]
[Alert: Your fire resistance has increased!]
A notification popped up in front of his eyes.
Ding!
Then, a quest popped up in front of his eyes right after.
[Master of Flames]
[Consume 1,000 Fire Flea Liver and become a true master of the fire element!]
[Progress: 0.1% (1/1,000)]
[Reward: Inferno Blaze Orb]
[Note: You will gain access to the fire-attribute skill of the Lord of Despair upon obtaining the Inferno Blaze Orb!]
It turned out that consuming Fire Flea Livers was the key to unlocking the Lord of Despair’s hidden potential.
“T-This is... amazing...”
Despite the pain, Siegfried grinned as he stared at the quest details in front of his eyes.
[Alert: You have accepted the Quest – Master of Flames!]
Siegfried made up his mind. He would devour all of the Fire Flea Livers he needed to obtain the Inferno Blaze Orb. He truly didn't mind eating a few thousand burning coals if it meant becoming stronger.
***
Siegfried and his comrades hunted down the Lava Cavern Fire Fleas, racking up both Experience Points and Fire Flea Livers along the way. Despite his best efforts, however, he still couldn’t find Michael’s wings.
The main problem was that the Lava Cavern: World of the Condemned was so vast that it was impossible to scan the entire area using Inzaghi’s Clairvoyance. Thus, Siegfried had no choice but to keep following Michael while hunting down Lava Cavern Fire Fleas.
“
Kyu?”
Hamchi suddenly tilted his head, sensing something amiss.
“
Kyuuuu!
Owner punk!”
“What?
Ack!
That’s hot!” Siegfried had just swallowed a Fire Flea Liver when Hamchi called out to him, causing him to wince from pain.
“What do you want?!” he snapped.
“Don’t you think something’s off about this place?
Kyu?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why are there so many fleas?
Kyu!”
“Because they’re fleas...? I mean, they’re monsters, so it's only natural that there's a bunch of them here, and fleas usually infest a place.”
“
Kyuu!
That’s not what I meant, dumbass!”
“Then what?”
“What do fleas eat?!
Kyuuu!”
“Well... I think they feed on blood, no?”
“
Kyuuu!
Exactly! Then what have these fleas been feeding on all this time?!”
“Oh...” Siegfried muttered as a sudden realization struck him. Then, he said, “So what you’re saying is that since there are so many fleas here, there should be some large creature or monsters here too? Something big enough to be their source of food?”
“
Kyuu!
Exactly!”
“Hmm... Well, you’re not exactly wrong, but—”
Boom! Boom!
Tremors suddenly occurred in the distance, and it was so strong that the ground shook. It was as if an earthquake of powerful magnitude had erupted right beneath their feet.
“An earthquake? Underground?” Shakiro muttered, immediately stabbing his sword into the ground to anchor himself.
“No, this is no earthquake,” Michael shook his head and said. Then, he pointed toward the direction of the noise and stammered, “T-That is...! W-Why is
that
here...?”
“Why? What is it?” Siegfried asked, sensing that Michael seemed to know what was going on.
“L-Look over there! That is... Father’s very first creation...” Michael said, pointing high into the sky.
“...What?”
“Look!”
Siegfried turned toward where Michael was pointing and immediately froze in shock.
“W-What in the hell is that thing?!” Siegfried shrieked in horror. An armored giant at least three hundred meters tall stood at the end of Michael's finger.