Chapter 82: The Pill of Ascension

Cheol Su staggered under the power of the Banshee's Scream, his eyes wild with desperation as he fought to resist the scream's terrible power.

"Not…like…this…" he snarled, his body shaking as he tried to hold on to consciousness.

But Ceora was relentless, her scream piercing his skull, his soul, his very being.

"Surrender to me, mortal!" she hissed, her voice like a knife in his ear. Cheol Su's body collapsed, his legs buckling beneath him as he fell to his knees.

"No…" he gasped, his breath coming in ragged, painful gasps. "I won't…I won't give up…"

But Ceora's scream only grew louder, more intense, her ethereal form looming over him like a judgment.

"You are nothing," she whispered, her voice a cold, terrible thing. And then, as Cheol Su's consciousness began to fade, a voice echoed through his mind.

"Cheol Su," Cyprus said, its voice like a lifeline. "You must not give up. You must use the Pill of Ascension."

Cheol Su's eyes flickered open, his body aching with every breath. "The Pill of Ascension?" he gasped, his voice a whisper. "What is it?" "The Pill of Ascension is a powerful magical artifact," Cyprus replied, its voice calm and even. "It will grant you the strength and power of a level 9 Expert Evolver for a short time. It will give you the power to defeat the banshee, but you must use it wisely."

Cheol Su clenched his fists, his heart thundering in his chest. "I'll use it," he growled, his voice a low snarl. "I'll use it to end this."

And as the Banshee's scream intensified, Cheol Su reached into his belt, his fingers trembling as he fumbled for the Pill of Ascension.

"It's now or never," he muttered, his voice strained with effort as he popped the pill into his mouth, the taste like fire on his tongue.

For a moment, there was silence. And then, with a deafening roar, the power of the pill surged through Cheol Su's body, his muscles bulging with newfound strength as he rose to his feet, his eyes blazing with a primal fury. "NOW FEEL THE POWER OF THE PILL OF ASCENSION!" Cheol Su bellowed, his voice like thunder as he surged forward, his body a blur of steel and fire as he charged the banshee.

Ceora shrieked, her scream ringing through the tomb as she raised her spectral claws to defend herself, but it was no use.

Cheol Su's axe descended, its blade a searing heat as it met her defense, its power tearing through her form like a hot knife through butter. "No!" Ceora cried, her voice a wail of agony as she tried to hold on to her spectral form. "This cannot be!"

But it was too late. The Pill of Ascension had given Cheol Su the strength to vanquish her, and as her ethereal form dissolved, she let out a final, terrible scream of defeat.

And then, the tomb fell silent, the only sound the soft pattering of blood on stone, as Cheol Su stood triumphant, his eyes alight with the glow of victory. The chamber was silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of Cheol Su as he stood over the defeated form of Ceora, his axe still smoking with the heat of his fire.

Slowly, he raised his gaze to the altar where the Crown of Souls lay, its form shimmering with an unholy light.

"I've done it," he whispered, his voice hoarse with exhaustion. "I've done it, and now the Crown is mine."

"Congratulations, Cheol Su," Cyprus said, its voice ringing through the chamber. "You have passed the second floor, and the Crown of Souls is yours. Your strength and resolve have proven you worthy of the challenge." The chamber echoed with a triumphant chorus as the glowing notification panel appeared in front of Cheol Su. His eyes widened as he surveyed the list of rewards, each one more impressive than the last.

"3000 experience points, Dragon Flames leveled up +1, the ability to create and command undead, and the legendary Crown of Souls," he murmured, his voice filled with awe. "And an epic Black Scythe? All this for defeating a single banshee? I'm impressed with myself!