Virus King [Translation]

[Ninety-ninth level, You killed Six-Armed Snake Demon Feathered Serpent Warlock Cecilia-99! Trial of the ninety-ninth level passed! You have chosen to rest for 20 minutes!]

——

[Current Demon Lord of the 100th floor of the Abyss: Inferior Shadow Sword Demon Gilbert -100, condensing level 10 phantom. Prepare for the trial!]

The eerie, mechanical voice of the Abyss' will echoed through the air, and Novak exhaled slowly.

He had finally arrived at Gilbert's domain once again.

Unlike the triumphant confidence he felt after conquering the ninety-ninth level, Novak now advanced with extreme caution. His gaze locked onto the 100th floor of the abyss—a realm steeped in darkness. Not far from him, a shadowy figure began to coalesce, slowly materializing before his eyes.

It was the same figure from before, holding an exceptionally slender long sword. Though it retained the form of a demon, its thin frame exuded an otherworldly detachment. Its pale, emotionless eyes—white as ice—betrayed no trace of feeling. This was no ordinary demon warrior. However, the cold cruelty embedded deep in its bones was unmistakable.

As the voice of the prompt faded, the world steadied. In that instant, Novak shot into the air, his body twisting mid-leap.

Just as expected, a figure emerged almost instantly from his shadow, its sharp, slender blade slashing horizontally toward him.

If not for Novak's lightning-quick reflexes, that strike could have easily ended him on the spot, leaving no trace behind.

The failure of the strike seemed to momentarily surprise the Shadow Sword Demon. It blinked, its sword stilling for a brief second, barely perceptible.

But that fraction of a second was all Novak needed.

The influenza virus left in the air by his earlier breathing finally found its target and began infiltrating Gilbert's body.

Realizing it had missed, Gilbert instantly melted back into the surrounding darkness without hesitation.

In the shadowy depths of the abyss, even with Novak's agility—enhanced by air sprints and his ability to scale walls—it was impossible for him to remain airborne indefinitely.

Although his physique had become as formidable as a superhero's, flight was something even his body could not maintain continuously.

Novak's spiritual energy surged, sweeping through the abyss as he tried to locate Gilbert. But even with his heightened senses, the Shadow Sword Demon remained concealed, like a chameleon perfectly camouflaged in its surroundings, impossible to spot with the naked eye.

Novak knew that even with his understanding of the Dark Night Assassin's class—its methods and skills—escaping Gilbert's grasp wouldn't be easy.

For both of them, this was a battle of patience—a deadly game of hide and seek.

Novak's only hope now lay with the influenza virus. 

Once the virus took hold and spread, not even the shadows could shield Gilbert from its debilitating effects.

However, Novak was well aware that once Gilbert sensed his body deteriorating, he would unleash an all-out killing blow from the shadows.

Standing still was not an option.

The Shadow Sword Demon's unpredictable, shadow-based strikes were impossible to anticipate.

Time crawled by, second by second.

Novak's speed was relentless. He didn't allow himself to stop moving, his figure darting rapidly across the dark expanse of the 100th floor.

Above him, the blood-red moon cast a dim, eerie light over the blackened landscape, creating fleeting shadows that danced with his movements.

He shifted positions constantly, never staying in one spot for more than a fraction of a second—always vigilant, always alert.

And most critically, throughout the entire battle, Novak maintained a consistent direction and angle, ready for whatever was to come.

The figure lurked in Novak's own shadow.

Appearing in the shadows of others was dangerous enough, but to emerge from one's own shadow was a true sign of invincibility.

Yet, nearly ten minutes had passed, and nothing had happened.

Only the wind, stirred by Novak's rapid movements, filled the air.

Ten minutes. 

The figure within the shadow was like a patient viper, biding its time for the perfect moment to strike—a hunter waiting for its prey to let down their guard before delivering a fatal blow.

For most, maintaining this level of physical exertion would have been impossible for long. The disparity in energy consumption between attacker and defender would have been too great to bear.

It's like trying to fend off a thief for a thousand days—it wears you down.

But Novak wasn't the one under pressure. Now that he had a full understanding of Gilbert's abilities, the challenge became much simpler. As long as he could avoid the initial strike, where most would falter, his chances would improve greatly.

Especially with time on his side. The longer the battle dragged on, the more the flu virus would spread through Gilbert's system, potentially triggering asthma and inflammation.

Novak was certain that even with Gilbert's enhanced physique from his three-rank class boost, the demon wouldn't be immune to the flu virus affecting his Constitution.

If he was wrong, then so be it.

But, as expected, it wasn't the case. Novak knew his own Constitution, which neared three hundred. At the same level, there was no one in the universe who could compare.

Finally, as Novak dashed through the air, causing his shadow to stretch far behind him, a faint gleam flashed in his eyes the moment he descended back toward the ground.

It was a short knife!

But the dagger wasn't the true threat.

The real danger was the faint reflection of the blood moon on the blade, which caused a shadow to materialize behind Novak—his own shadow!

Alarm bells went off in his mind.

Without a second thought, Novak unleashed his hidden flying sword, expanding the range of his biochemical disaster ability, using it to shield his neck from the strike.

'Clang!'

The sharp sound of metal clashing was deafening.

But Novak knew instantly—he had made the right move.

He had blocked the attack.

Gilbert's body, now weakened by the flu virus, no longer possessed the same invincibility it once had. His Constitution was deteriorating.

This time, however, Gilbert didn't continue his assault. Nor did he slip back into the darkness to reset his position.

Instead, the demon slowly retreated. For the first time, his pale eyes met Novak's, and he spoke:

"I acknowledge you, human. To challenge the abyss takes true courage. Your abilities are extraordinary. It's unfortunate that, under the constraints of the will of the abyss, I cannot use my full power… cough, cough..."

A series of violent coughs interrupted him, the effects of asthma and the flu taking their toll. Even demons were not immune to such ailments.

"It's a shame. With such strength, I doubt you can clear the abyss. But I am curious to see how far you'll go... cough, cough..."

And with that, this unusual villain, an assassin to the end, drove his slender sword straight into his own heart.

[Hundredth level: Inferior Shadow Sword Demon Gilbert - 100 is dead! You have passed the trial of the hundredth level! You choose to recover for 10 minutes!]