Duo Leveling LITRPG | Post Apocalyptic | SYSTEM-Chapter 188 - 239+240 - The True Form

"–Hello? Is anyone there?"

On one side of the mirror stood a girl.

Hair like ash—would you call that ash gray?

Dressed in a crisp white coat, she tapped at the air in front of her before calling out again.

"–Chosen One. Can you hear me?"

Aurora, the Relic of Truth.

She was known as one of the leading NPCs who stood on the opposite side of the vampires.

And here she was—sealed away inside the relic all along.

No... judging from the system message, this girl is the relic.

Either way, Jhin quickly pulled himself together and responded.

"–Hey. Are you ignoring me or what?"

"…I can hear you."

"–Phew. Thought you were giving me the silent treatment."

Aurora wiped imaginary sweat from her brow. She was… unusually expressive.

"–Still nothing? Guess the Chosen One's not too popular with girls, huh?"

"…What?"

"–You seem like the type. Freeze up during blind dates, don't say a word, right?"

"I do not."

She giggled.

"–That's what they all say."

Jhin furrowed his brow and gave her a better look. Her tone, her demeanor—

She looked like a kid. Fourteen? Maybe fifteen at most.

And she knows about blind dates?

Still, now wasn't the time for questions.

"I need to break the seal first."

"–Then you'd better get on with it."

"Can you tell me how?"

She shrugged.

"–Why're you asking me? You're supposed to know that."

"..."

"*–Kidding."

Jhin rubbed at his temple. Aurora smirked and added:

"–lighten up. Zero sense of humor."

"Not the time for jokes. Can you please just help me out?"

"–Ugh. Pushy guys are the worst."

He nearly threw the mirror down in frustration.

But through sheer, saintlike willpower, he held it in.

Thankfully, Aurora got serious.

"–It's simple. Coat the mirror in mana, then use a destruction skill to break it."

"…That's it?"

"–That's it."

"Surprisingly straightforward."

Without delay, Jhin channeled power into the mirror.

True to its nature as a relic, even an overwhelming surge of power was calmly absorbed.

Then he gripped his hammer.

"–Hey, Chosen One? That hit's gonna have some feelings behind it, huh?

He brought it down hard.

[Skill 'Destruction (S)' activated.]

With a loud crash, the mirror shattered.

Even though it was wrapped in power, it broke into shards. That caught him off guard, but—

The seal was broken.

"Ahh… fresh air—finally."

Aurora, who had been trapped inside the mirror, now stood before him.

She pinched her nose.

"…Wait. Never mind."

Their first meeting—

An NPC and special item in one: the Relic of Truth.

The fight with Saun still raged on.

Tempah's skill, made possible through Unity of Body and Mind, had already begun to weaken.

His aura—once blinding—was dimming.

Nothing lasted forever. Even the heart had its limits.

Fortunately, Millie had been supporting him closely, helping to keep the stalemate alive.

Jhin turned to Aurora.

"What now?"

"What now what?"

"We need to kill Saun."

"Oh, right. That."

Her scattered state made Jhin wince, but he let it slide.

No point stressing. It'd only hurt him.

"First, shouldn't you return to your real form?"

"My real form?"

"You think you can fight like that?"

Jhin glanced down at his body.

Sure, he had the blacksteel suit—but it was nothing special.

And his level? Barely 120.

He couldn't even use 70% of his original stats.

All of them were sunk into mana.

"You really think that's possible? Getting my real form back?"

"Who do you think I am?"

"Ugh."

"You just thought something rude."

She narrowed her eyes. Somehow, she'd read his mind.

With a sigh, Aurora extended her hand.

"Well? Wanna go back or not?"

Suspicious, but without a better option, Jhin took her hand.

Immediately, a strange energy began to swirl around him.

[NPC 'Aurora, Relic of Truth' activates skill: 'Truth or Lie.']

[All falsehoods are erased.]

The energy swept over him in an instant.

Jhin suddenly realized—

He was taller.

It happened so fast.

"Huh. So this is how it feels."

Even his voice was different.

He clenched his fist and relaxed it.

He was back—his real body.

And when he looked at Aurora again, they were at eye level.

"Holy crap… Chosen One, are you a jackpot or what?"

"…What's that supposed to mean?"

"I thought you were some scrawny dwarf loser, and turns out you're first-place Beyry material."

Muttering to herself, Aurora looked back toward the battlefield.

Saun was still brawling.

She suddenly spoke in a rush.

"It's the same trick. If I touch him, I can erase the false form and reveal his true self. So just help me get close and—"

"No. That won't be necessary."

Jhin smirked.

"I can cut through lies myself."

[Skill 'Soft skills (S)' activated.]

He gripped the Meteorblade tight and took his stance.

His body felt impossibly light.

It was the long-lost Sky-Dancing Form.

[Activating exclusive skill of the equipment 'Goblin King's Crown': 'Specter Parade.']

Then Jhin turned to Aurora.

"I'll handle Saun. Please, bring the rest of the party back to their real forms."

"Y-You can count on me."

She stuttered—odd behavior, all things considered—but Jhin had no time to dwell. His focus was solely on Saun.

"It's not that Saun was unharmed by attacks up until now—

He was never hit in the first place."

To pierce through Saun's illusion, there were two possible paths:

Use the relic to completely dispel the false form.

Target the core of the magic maintaining the illusion.

Jhin darted forward, golden eyes gleaming, and drove his blade deep into Saun's torso.

The creature's face twisted.

"Ggh… what is this?!"

For the first time, a wound appeared on his previously untouchable body. Shocked, Saun staggered back.

Panting, Millie asked breathlessly,

"Krum…?"

"You've done well. Leave the rest to me."

Saun unleashed another Blood Shower, firing off wave after wave of magic—but Jhin dodged them all with ease.

[Skill 'Soft skills (S)' activated.]

[Skill 'Image Step (F)' activated.]

He then drove his fist into Saun's face. He could feel the blow land, the vibration ringing in his bones—solid contact.

"H-How is a mere human…?!"

Jhin gave no reply. Instead, he clenched the Meteorblade and slashed.

BOOM! KRA-KANG!

KRAAAANG!

Rapid exchanges—clash after clash—sent shockwaves through the blood-soaked lair.

The entire cave shuddered like it might collapse.

Saun, drawing out even more of his demonic energy, roared,

"KRAAA! This can't be! I am Saun of Demon Blood! A creature like me won't fall to a lowly human…!"

" You talk too much."

Jhin snapped, cutting off the monologue as he slipped in close. Saun lashed out with another attack—but again, Jhin dodged cleanly and stabbed the Meteorblade into his chest.

Saun howled as the blade pierced through.

Jhin didn't stop. He coldly slashed one of the creature's wings clean off.

Black-red blood dripped from the severed stump.

Saun screamed again, more of his power leaking out.

"How are you hitting me without using the relic?!"

"What do you mean, without help? I got the best help."

He hadn't dispelled Saun's illusion directly.

But removing the "Dwarf" role overlaying himself had been more than enough.

He'd worked so hard to level up for this dungeon. It had been frustrating not being able to use his full potential.

But now?

He could finally hunt with everything he had.

"Just wait. Death's already on its way to greet you."

"…What?"

BOOM!

Another massive impact rocked the cavern. A fist struck Saun—not targeting the illusion's magical core this time, but delivering a straight, raw blow.

…Just a shock-wave did that?

Even that was enough to stagger the weakened boss. Probably thanks to all the damage Jhin had already dealt.

"Phew. That's better."

Tempah stretched his shoulders, no longer masked as Violeta.

This was no longer Unity of Body and Mind.

This was his true form.

But what about the demonic energy?

That had always been his weakness.

And the poisonous magi in the air would be even more deadly.

But—

"You annoying little gnat."

KWAANG!

He brushed away the encroaching magi with a single flick of his hand.

He'd just swatted away pure demonic energy. Barehanded.

He's even more of a monster now…

Jhin was sure—Do-seok's mastery of Unity of Body and Mind must have grown considerably.

The rainbow aura that surrounded him was practically glowing now.

Jhin also saw Millie had returned.

"…Why is she still the same?"

"In this dungeon, Camriel's stronger than Millie. She'll help as long as her attacks land."

Jhin nodded. That made sense.

Tempah could land real hits thanks to his ridiculous full-strength stat build—even if his level was low.

But Millie… wasn't quite enough to deal with a level 200 boss monster.

Camriel, on the other hand, was level 200.

They'd do best to use every advantage the dungeon's theme offered.

"Follow my lead. Aim where I aim."

Jhin darted forward again, targeting Saun's thigh.

Saun blocked with his weapon—but the moment he did, Millie's rapier slipped in right behind.

A critical hit.

"KRAAAAH!"

Camriel's sword was specially crafted by Cobb to slay vampires.

Until now, her blade couldn't land a clean hit through the illusions. But now?

It was devastating.

They kept going. Blow after blow.

Until finally—thick black-red magi burst from Saun's body like steam.

When it cleared, what was left—

Was a 1-meter-tall vampire.

Saun's true form.

"…You really managed to cut through the illusion without me."

Aurora approached, now standing beside a restored Lutz.

Her face was tinged with concern.

"But be careful. The real fight starts now. Saun gets stronger once the false form is removed."

Jhin nodded.

Smaller he might be—but the pressure he gave off had doubled.

This was the second phase.

What MMO players would call the 30% health threshold boss transformation.

Jhin grinned.

"Don't worry. I'm just getting started too."

"…What?"

Aurora looked confused, but Jhin was already activating a skill.

[Activating skill of Meteorblade: 'Blood Suction.']

Red smoke surged, and a fierce pulse of energy shook the air.

Aurora gasped.

"Wait… that weapon…"

SPARK!

Electricity danced across the air as Jhin folded space itself and reappeared next to Saun.

His blade flashed.

"KRAAAAGH!"

Even in phase two—Saun was no match.

As time passed, his movements dulled.

While Jhin's grew sharper.

The Meteorblade had a unique trait—it became stronger with every drop of blood it absorbed.

And it had been drinking deeply.

Jhin scowled and slapped the blade with his power.

"…Hey. Take it easy, will you?"

WUUUUNG.

The dagger whined, sucking even more of Saun's blood like it was ravenous.

With a groan, Jhin yanked it free and jumped back.

The blade licked its lips, almost regretfully.

Saun was in tatters.

His vampire skin, now pale and flaky—like he'd been drained dry.

Jhin sighed.

"Lutz. You finish him."

"Understood."

Aurora turned in shock as Lutz teleported.

"What are you doing?! You almost had him! What's going on?!"

[Player 'Lutz' activates 'Special Potion Treatment (F).']

Saun, on the verge of death, chugged the potion greedily—

And began to heal.