MDPS 73🔐

Chapter 73

My Dark Past is Too Strong
Karmar de Rabl (4)

“Seems like you prepared diligently, but it’s sloppy, Karmar.”

I used the one and only Ultimate Skill Unlock Scroll I had been saving on Caligo.

To engrave eternal despair and fear onto that arrogant Lord of the Night.

《Do you want to use the ‘Special Ultimate Skill Unlock Scroll’ on ‘Caligo, Liberator of Death’?》
《YES》
《Caligo, Liberator of Death’s Ultimate Skill ‘Death Liberation Method’ has been unlocked.》
《Warning! This skill interferes with the world’s causal order. Unpredictable side effects may occur.》

Caligo’s ultimate skill.

Because of this skill alone, he earned the title “Father of Debuffs.”

The wall of wails for those who attempted Episode 4.

No villain was exempt from the wall of wails, but those who played “by the book” decks suffered immensely.

And now.

It’s time to unleash the true power of that monster.

Skill 3: Death Liberation Method

Description: The “Death Liberation Method” devised by Caligo puts all enemies into a state of ‘Coma’ for a set time. When it becomes their turn, it applies the ‘Organ Damage’ debuff. Upon awakening from the coma, the target suffers the ‘Neural Collapse’ aftereffect. Attacking a comatose enemy induces the ‘Faint’ state, and a second attack will cause ‘Eternal Rest’.

• Coma: A higher state than sleep. The target does not wake upon being hit and can only be removed via purification.

• Organ Damage: Maximum health reduced by 30%. Cannot be healed for a set period.

• Neural Collapse: Applies –50% Critical Chance, –50% Defense, –50% Attack for a set duration.

• Eternal Rest: The summoned unit dies permanently and cannot be resummoned. The unit cannot be excluded from the team while in this state.

Just the debuff explanations alone total four!

Notably, Organ Damage, Neural Collapse, and Eternal Rest are unique to Caligo.

“A battlefield-dominating skill, on par with Hertia’s ultimate.”

With this single skill, Caligo controls the flow of battle.

And it has AoE!

When this ultimate overlaps with the “Most Ruthless Avenger” passive, the opponent is effectively game over.

“Caligo. No more hesitation. Experiment to your heart’s content.”

—Sage… finally…! You’re finally allowing it!

Caligo’s voice streamed into my mind-link, trembling with sheer ecstasy and madness.

Like releasing all the suppressed thirst, he spread his arms and shouted to the sky.

—Hahaha! Today is a festival! Fresh blood, lethal toxins! Eternal rest for my beloved new subjects!!

Caligo pulled dozens of vials of different colors from thin air and tossed them.

Red, blue, and pitch-black liquids collided midair, producing a strange chemical reaction devoid of light or heat.

Soon, thick green and purple fumes spread across the battlefield.

It was no ordinary poison mist.

It negated life itself and silenced the essence of existence—a manifestation of ‘Death.’

Even magical particles in the air ceased activity upon contact with the mist and disappeared.

“Death Liberation Method—grant true freedom to those foolish mortals!”

《Caligo, Liberator of Death, uses the Ultimate Skill ‘Death Liberation Method.’》

The death cloud created by Caligo slowly, inevitably engulfed the battlefield.

Karmar’s minions, touching the lethal mist, collapsed without resistance.

《Loyalists of Bloodfall enter ‘Coma’.》
《Shadows of the Abyss enter ‘Coma’.》
《Burned Ones of Black Blood enter ‘Coma’.》

Even Karmar’s most trusted aide, Rastian, who had been pressuring Marena toward victory, was not exempt.

《Blood Shade Rastian enters ‘Coma’.》

Karmar’s red eyes shook as if an earthquake struck.

The death mist seeping to his feet gnawed at his immortal body, clouding his mind.

“This power… could it be that he’s regained his strength already? That mad scientist?”

It made no sense.

I had watched adventurers’ growth rates countless times.

When we faced him at the Battle Tower, I hadn’t even sensed a trace of his prime!

—Ssssh—

Ignoring Karmar’s shock, Caligo approached the staggering Karmar like a ghost and whispered into his ear.

—Thanks for participating in my experiment today.
“….”
—I’ve been waiting for this day, so watch closely. See what fruit my research, started thanks to you, has borne!

Caligo approached the comatose Rastian, motionless, so Karmar could see clearly.

In his hand was a syringe containing a swirling, eerie green liquid.

—You’re planning to—
—Shut up! It’s a simple test. I’ve thought of a very interesting hypothesis! Hah!

Pshhh!

Caligo plunged the syringe into Rastian’s heart without hesitation.

Instantly, black blood gushed from Karmar’s mouth like a fountain, though he hadn’t been attacked.

—Guhk!
—As expected! Your power and life are intimately linked to your minions made from your blood! Ah, inspiration keeps coming!

《A comatose enemy attacked, receiving the ‘Organ Damage’ debuff.》
《Blood Shade Rastian enters ‘Faint’ state.》

—Ah, even your loyal knight’s life is now on the edge! What if I stab him once more?

Caligo raised the syringe again.

Overcome by mortal fear for the first time in thousands of years, Karmar begged for survival.

—Say what you want! Anything! I’ll even give you the Vampire King as your test subject! Please… please!

He thought he could exploit human greed to turn the situation around.

But Caligo just scratched his head, laughed like a madman who owned the world, and replied:

—Shut up, idiot.
—?!
—A vampire’s promise is like crocodile tears. I know your kind very well. Better than you think.

Caligo was fully enjoying the moment with all his soul.

Pshhh!

Caligo mercilessly plunged the last syringe into Rastian’s heart.

《Additional damage occurs in Faint state. Blood Shade Rastian enters ‘Eternal Rest’.》

At that moment—

Karmar’s right arm rotted black and crumbled to dust.

—Hahaha! As expected! When your minion enters Eternal Rest, a part of your power is sealed forever!

Caligo screamed maniacally.

Then Hertia, Theo, and the other summons unleashed relentless attacks on the comatose minions.

As each fell into Eternal Rest, Karmar’s body also decayed.

His arms disappeared, his legs melted.

The arrogance in his eyes turned to shock, fear, and ultimately, utter despair.

—No… this can’t be… I… the Lord of the Night…!

Caligo grabbed what was left of him by the hair.

—Remember. Only our Sage can be called a ‘Lord’ in this world.

Smack!

Caligo flung his head to the ground in contempt and stomped mercilessly on his distorted face.

《Karmar de Rabl enters ‘Eternal Rest’.》
《Karmar de Rabl has been defeated.》

Phew…

The long feud with Karmar de Rabl ends here.

His ambition was stopped by my hand.

After confirming the battlefield was settled, I dismissed the summons—

《Artifact ‘Karmar’s Black Heart’ acquired.》
《Harvested 15,000,000 Sin Power.》

A raid reward was given.

Since it wasn’t a standard strategy, no summon ticket was issued.

Still, the artifact and a huge amount of Sin Power made me satisfied.

《Sufficient Sin Power harvested.》
《Stage 2 of ‘Remnants of the Morning Star’, ‘Greed’, unlocked.》

Wow, skill unlock immediately after reward?

[Remnants of the Morning Star]
Stage 1: Rage
Stage 2: Greed

Restores 15% of damage dealt as health for a set time. Not affected by Healing-Disabled debuffs.

A damage-proportional lifesteal buff!

Not affected by debuffs—extremely useful.

“Most importantly, I got crucial information.”

Even without Dungeon Break, tower entities can appear in reality.

For unknown reasons, they aim to dominate Earth.

“No chance of that.”

Bad news, but better to know than be caught unaware.

No need to overthink it.

The battlefield has expanded to both ‘Tower’ and ‘Reality’, and I just need to grow stronger to control both.

I will continue to focus on growth as I have.

“Looks like a lot of people gathered.”

Maybe because the fight was so loud?

Even in a deserted area, nearby residents came to check the commotion.

“Oh, they’re even taking pictures!”

Probably couldn’t see clearly due to the poison mist.

The most important ‘me’ is safely on a distant rooftop.

No need to worry; let’s check the reward first!

[Karmar’s Black Heart]

Description: Karmar de Rabl’s heart. When attacking, applies ‘Black Blood Release’ for 20% additional damage.

※Warning: Karmar de Rabl’s heart is still beating.

…Hmm?

A strong damage-boost artifact, but the warning caught my attention.

Seems significant.

“Let’s take it. There might be a use for it… wait.”

Suddenly, the system window flashed red.

《Overload due to multi-team operation!》
《Critical hit!》
《HP below 10%. Temporarily incapacitated.》

All my strength drained, and extreme fatigue hit.

Damn, I haven’t even finished checking rewards!

Plop.

Exhausted, Oh Hyunwoo collapsed like a limp octopus.

Then—

—“Master!”
—“Sage!”
—“My lord!”
—“Divine!”

The Seven Deadly Sins members descended immediately.

“I told them not to descend….”

I wanted to protest, but my voice wouldn’t come out.

And it wasn’t over.

The rooftop door opened, revealing an unexpected figure: Go Insoo, the insurance summoned by Oh Hyunwoo.

He stood frozen, mouth agape at the surreal scene.

—Hyunwoo hyung! Wh-what is all this… and who are these people…

Hertia, Caligo, Theo, and Marena exchanged cold glances.

—“Shall we handle it?”
—“A subordinate who came at the Sage’s call, isn’t it?”
—“We are enough as the lord’s vassals.”
—“We cannot sever the divine connection recklessly.”

The four villains turned to glare at Go Insoo.

Go Insoo’s legs trembled from their murderous aura.

Hertia snapped her fingers, igniting dark violet flames.

Holding onto his fading consciousness, Oh Hyunwoo told the Seven Deadly Sins:

—It’s okay… I summoned them.

Immediately, the murderous aura was withdrawn.

—Leave my body to this boy… return quietly, without being seen.

After saying this, Oh Hyunwoo lost consciousness.

The villains laid him on the ground with respect, then turned to Go Insoo.

—You must serve him well. He has chosen you.

With a hint of jealousy, the summons vanished.

Seeing this, Go Insoo collapsed to the ground.

—…What on earth is happening right now?