Freyja’s Tear

Jörmungandr’s ice-blue pupils locked onto the trembling Phantom Dragon.

It raised its majestic dragon head high and opened its massive jaws.

A ghostly blue energy, so deep it could swallow all light, gathered frantically in its mouth.

The surrounding air froze because of it!

However, just a moment before the Abyssal Death Ray was about to be unleashed!

Unbeknownst to Black, in a distant shadow.

A person hidden in the darkness sighed, then formed hand seals.

A terrifying magical fluctuation was unleashed!

Its target was Jörmungandr.

Then, a sudden change occurred!

Jörmungandr’s massive body abruptly stiffened.

It was as if it had been bound by countless invisible chains. The energy that had condensed to its peak in its mouth suddenly stagnated.

Immediately after, on its body covered in ghostly blue scales.

Countless fine cracks appeared without any warning!

“Crack!”

Under everyone’s astonished gaze, Jörmungandr shattered from head to tail, inch by inch.

Finally, with a loud bang, it disintegrated into a sky full of blue light particles and vanished without a trace.

‘?!’

Black was filled with horror, more flustered than he had ever been in his life.

His strongest trump card had been shattered just like that, for no apparent reason?

‘Something’s not right!’

He immediately scanned the dark forest around him.

Unfortunately, the heavy shadows of the trees obscured his vision.

Although he couldn’t see anyone, he was almost certain.

It was either Kristine’s father, Professor Alvin.

Or one of the old Pope’s men.

‘Damn it! I miscalculated again!’

Black cursed inwardly. His player mindset was too ingrained.

He had once again underestimated these people’s ability to intervene.

Jörmungandr’s sudden disappearance brought the Phantom Dragon back to its senses from its fear.

It realized that the terrifying presence from before seemed to have been forcefully erased by some power.

Although it didn’t understand why, its survival instinct made it immediately target the seemingly weak Black.

“Scree!”

It let out a sharp hiss.

Its psychic power transformed into countless visible black light rays, which wrapped around Black like a spider’s web.

‘Not good!’

Black tried to move, but he was half a beat too slow.

In that single moment of delay, countless black light rays had already entangled his limbs and torso!

“Argh!”

Black felt an intense pain in his head, and his consciousness became muddled and hazy.

It felt as if his body no longer belonged to him, a sensation of being forcefully stripped away.

He wanted to struggle, to mobilize his power to shatter these lines.

But his body was completely empty; he could barely even stand firm.

What was even more alarming was that wisps of ominous black energy began to emanate from the surface of Black’s body.

“Black!”

“Cousin!”

Leon, Land, Kristine, and Brenna’s faces all changed drastically, filled with horror and shock.

If this continued, Black would be turned into a puppet.

Kristine’s heart was burning with anxiety, and she was about to rush over recklessly.

“Don’t come over!”

With his remaining will, Black let out a hoarse roar, forcefully stopping her.

He shouted with difficulty to everyone.

“Don’t any of you come near me! Once I’m completely controlled…”

“The Phantom Dragon will use its power to fully restore my stats… At that time… I, having lost consciousness, will kill you!”

He was well aware that with his current strength, if he were controlled and buffed by the Phantom Dragon’s power, Leon and Land would be no match for him.

He didn’t want to kill his own teammates with his own hands!

His consciousness was like a flickering candle in the wind, about to be completely devoured by darkness.

Black desperately tried to think of a way out.

Just then.

[You have entered an abnormal state: Puppetry… Progress 10%]

The system panel automatically appeared.

‘Abnormal state… Freyja’s Tear!’

Black’s nearly fading gaze suddenly sharpened!

He remembered the effect of this item.

Freyja’s Tear could remove all negative status effects from oneself.

In an instant!

An extremely crazy plan formed in his mind!

Before he completely lost consciousness.

[Confirm use of Freyja’s Tear?]
[Confirm!]

A barely perceptible cool sensation quietly emerged from within Black’s body and quickly spread throughout.

The dark power that was eroding his consciousness was gradually dissolved, dissipating into black smoke.

This, however, made the black energy on the surface of his body even thicker.

In the eyes of the others, Black at this moment had been completely controlled.

He slowly raised the Overlord Spear in his hand.

“Black…”

Kristine’s pretty face was devoid of color, and the hand holding her staff trembled continuously.

She tried to wake him with her words.

“Wake up! Black! Wake up!”

However, what answered her was Black’s attack.

He suddenly charged forward, the Overlord Spear in his hand letting out a piercing whistle as it thrust straight at Kristine’s chest!

“No!”

Brenna screamed.

Kristine’s eyes were filled with despair. She could only dazedly erect a magical shield.

“Clang!”

The Overlord Spear stabbed viciously into the shield, producing a harsh scraping sound, reaching a stalemate.

But in that moment of deadlock, Kristine, who was right in front of Black, suddenly discovered something.

Black’s pupils were not vacant; on the contrary, they were exceptionally clear!

He even gave her a quick wink.

Kristine’s heart skipped a beat!

Immediately after, she saw Black’s lips move silently.

The shape of his mouth was “Blast me away”!

In a flash, it was as if Kristine had been struck by lightning.

She instantly understood Black’s plan!

Without any hesitation, the tip of Kristine’s staff flashed with light.

A low-tier wind spell exploded between the two of them!

“BOOM!”

The violent shockwave sent Black flying!

He tumbled awkwardly in the air a few times.

His trajectory was aimed perfectly to land behind the Phantom Dragon!

This scene appeared perfectly normal to Leon, Brenna, and the Phantom Dragon.

It just looked like Kristine had acted in self-defense at a critical moment, repelling the out-of-control Black.

However, just as Black’s body was about to hit the ground.

He suddenly twisted his body in mid-air, stomped his feet heavily on the ground, and used the force to launch himself into the air again!

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

By the time the Phantom Dragon realized something was wrong, Black had already descended from the sky and landed heavily on its head!

The Overlord Spear was once again held tightly in his hand.

The cold tip of the spear was aimed at the center of the Phantom Dragon’s head.

That was where its dragon pearl was located!

“Die!”

Black roared and, with all his strength, thrust the spear down!

This reversal happened too quickly!

Leon and the others didn’t react at all.

The Phantom Dragon was even more bewildered.

It couldn’t understand why the puppet under its control would suddenly rebel.

Just as the Overlord Spear was about to pierce through the Phantom Dragon’s head.

A terrifying killing intent suddenly erupted from a dark corner.

It locked tightly onto Black!

The killing intent carried a heavy warning.

‘Dare to strike the killing blow, and you will surely die!’