Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 223
Chapter Title: Faster Than Light
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Sword strikes as fast as light—no, faster than light—bisect the mythic-grade monsters.
Zzzing—!
They destroy the gray satellite.
Pffft—!
A massive crater forms, and gray soil pours down like a waterfall. It's a scene straight out of a natural disaster, but of course, mythic-grade monsters aren't going to get swept away and die from something like this.
The real problem is the sword strikes spreading like a plague through the piles of dirt.
Kwarung!
The Elder Skeletons' heads split open, their cores inside shattering, and their bones scatter in every direction.
I gauge the number.
'About 350. Their life forces are so high that even Heaven-Earth Sword proliferation has its limits.'
My current Heaven-Earth Sword holds enough power to wipe out millions in a lower civilization, but even so, it has limits in a mythic-grade hunting ground. Those seemingly unimpressive Elder Skeleton bones each have the strength of mithril.
And above all.
[Urk... my shield...]
The elite monsters mixed in among them sever the proliferation of the Heaven-Earth Sword. Especially their active defense abilities are a huge issue.
"Man, mages are more trouble than warriors."
I mutter in complaint, but with no atmosphere, no one hears it.
It doesn't matter.
The moment I strike the ground... no monster on this gray satellite can be unaware of my presence.
[Intruder.]
[Intruder.]
[Intruder.]
[Intruder.]
Elder Skeletons swarm in from all directions. And that's not all.
[Intruder confirmed. Eliminating.]
[Hah! You look fun!]
[Kyahaha! Strong-looking human! Wanna play something fun with big sis?]
[Human. Eliminate.]
Mythic-grade elites reveal themselves: Luna Death Knight Namgoong Hyunah, Demon Lich Saruman, Progenitor Yurnia, Elder Mummy Hot Hammer, and more.
"Come out."
I whisper as I take one step back from the approaching foes.
"Replie."
Whoosh!
Space ripples for an instant, transforming into a massive spectral dragon shrouded in darkness.
[Intruder. Additional.]
[Death Dragon! That's mine!]
I'm baffled by the enemies charging straight at it.
"No, isn't that overkill? This guy's your boss, boss."
I didn't expect them to surrender just because I called Replie my pet, but to completely ignore it?
I click my tongue and pull the [Duke of Massacre's Pipe] from my inventory, putting it in my mouth.
'Even looking at it again, it's not mythic-grade... but better than nothing.'
The [30% chance on attack to strike random target] didn't work as expected. The turn-based structure of [The Darkest Despair] just doesn't mesh with reality.
The [Stress -2% on enemy kill] being useless is par for the course.
But in this chaotic melee that's inevitable, the [50% damage reflection when HP 75%+] and [100% damage reflection when HP 100%+] are plenty promising.
I check the time via the system UI.
'30 minutes left.'
Even after ten nonstop years conquering Cheonwon in Ardenia, seeing the Four Heavenly Kings was rare because of this damn numerical disadvantage.
'In the game, they only aggro within perception range, but here, one commotion draws everything from the massive hunting ground...'
I've gotten stronger now.
My sword aura control is incomparable to when I first came here, and I've grown so accustomed to the Extreme Intent Body that I can casually accelerate beyond light speed.
I'm equipped with mythic-grade Space Gauntlets, and with all collections complete, my stats defy imagination.
But no one stands against a gang-up.
My current combat power could crush level 19.5 regulars or level 20 elites effortlessly... but against thousands or tens of thousands, there's no winning.
[Critical hit!]
[Critical hit!]
[Critical hit!]
I relentlessly decapitate and crush skulls, stacking criticals. The swarming enemies are increasing, but I can still hold.
'It's more manageable than I thought.'
With my near-infinite combat endurance from log in/out, if I keep fighting forever, maybe I could take them all? It almost feels that way.
But I shake my head.
'Regen makes it impossible. And if the fight drags too long, the Four Heavenly Kings show up.'
That's not the only issue. If I stay in Cheonwon too long, transcendent-grade monsters will spawn en masse in reality.
Of course, that's just a hypothesis... but I need to manage combat time carefully.
Kwang! Koo-goong!
Ten minutes pass. Thousands of monsters die, and several times that number swarm in.
Zzting!
Twenty minutes pass. It feels like every monster in the hunting ground has gathered—the influx slows—but the pressure on me intensifies.
[Graaaah—!]
I see Replie screaming amid the madly charging enemies' attacks. It tries to soar high for bombardment, but Elder Skeletons rocket up like missiles, grabbing its body.
[Despair! Regret! Trumpet of Frustration!]
Thwack!
"Urk..."
While Elder Skeletons grab my legs, Demon Lich Saruman's ultimate spell slams into my back.
Even my Extreme Intent Body, tougher than a Gigas or battleship, can't shrug off an ultimate spell unscathed.
My sword aura fares the same.
Slash!
A sharp sword strike grazes my shoulder, splitting skin and spraying blood. The Extreme Intent Body seals the wound instantly, but the intent riding the sword aura hinders recovery.
[Kuh! What is this...]
[Damage reflecting...]
Fortunately, no follow-ups. Thanks to the [Duke of Massacre's Pipe]'s damage reflection.
But I can't counterattack either.
"No, that...!"
I grit my teeth at Namgoong Hyunah, who attacks then retreats without hesitation. The Elder Skeleton pack prevents pursuit.
Pung-pung!
The blood clinging to my body explodes. Progenitor Vampire Yurnia's power! I lunge to smash her skull, but.
[Human. Can't go.]
Dwarf Mummy. Elder Mummy Hot Hammer blocks my path. Its body is so tough I can't sever it even with sword aura.
I glance only at the eyes to check time again.
'25 seconds.'
I keep checking the clock. Even a slight delay could mean damage beyond my limits.
'5.'
I madly unleash sword auras, tearing and shattering charging foes.
'4.'
I tank the incoming attacks with my body. My mighty flesh is breaking bit by bit, but it doesn't matter.
'3.'
And at the final moment.
"Replie!"
[Here goes.]
Wooo—!
Darkness converges in the sky with the reply. All enemies attacking Replie are swept away by the dark torrent and plummet.
And that instant.
Pffft!
Darkness pours from the sky, turning into a wave that lashes the world.
[Petty tricks—!]
[Blocked.]
[No chance!]
Despite effects like the world ending, the results are dismal. Excluding the few Elder Skeletons I'd already hit, damage is near zero.
But I'm not disappointed.
'Expected that.'
The balance team isn't insane enough to let an ultra-wide attack wipe mythic monsters.
But it doesn't matter.
[Breath of the Apocalypse]
Ultra-massive dark damage to all enemies in sight.
Reduces physical and magic defense by 50% for all damaged enemies. (10 sec).
It was just the seasoning from the start.
"Log out."
Back on Earth, blood sprays from wounds all over my body.
Slash!
"Kyaa!? Wounds...!"
"No way, actual wounds? And this is sword aura residue!"
"Traces of an ultimate spell..."
The Five Dragons fuss, slathering potions on me and pouring elixirs into my mouth.
"Recovery."
On top of that, powerful healing spells.
The damage wasn't severe to begin with, so recovery is instant.
"Wow. Even for mental combat, these are way too real injuries, right?"
"I told you. I open my inner universe and fight there."
Chakra is still full of unknowns. Even with systematized training methods, practitioners' unique minds produce wildly different results.
Indeed, many bizarre abilities exist.
'Like One's Self Renews Daily—grow by beating yesterday's me. Or Tower of Striving, summoning defeated foes to the mental world.'
Even though my chakra reached the Atman realm, I've never shown combat prowess to match, so it being specialized in [Training] has full plausibility.
I've shown summoning plenty, but that's fine. Everyone sees it as Game Master authority!
Reproducing game items and pets—it's par for the course.
"Whew."
Fully recovered, I enter meditative breathing.
Black Yo, the martial specialist among the Five Dragons, embraces me from behind.
"As I said, I'll guide your inner energy. Stay sharp and focus on your mental world."
I close my eyes at Black Yo's voice.
Splash...
I open my eyes on a vast ocean with gentle waves. Deep below, fish swarm; Thunderbirds soar above; Landworms writhe underground.
And on an island at the ocean's edge.
"Ah, what now. Another big technique?"
A black-haired girl leans against a huge tree, reading a novel.
Demon Sword Hyperion.
"...You've been awfully idle lately?"
[What's to be busy with? No work.]
Not wrong. I haven't used Demon Sword Hyperion's trait, Demon Sword Soul, at all recently.
'Its performance is decent enough...'
The issue: when summoned, it disables [Golden Overlap] on legendary items in slots, which boosts drop rates.
I thought it was a hunch at first, but experiments confirmed it.
When Demon Sword Soul is summoned, [Golden Overlap] activates on the soul, not the sword!
'Sealed for sure.'
Same with the Yellow Path 12 Palaces—hard to trigger on champs/bosses, and effects are meh anyway.
Literally only useful in AOS games.
"But still, seeing you this laid-back is a bit..."
[Uuu! Stingy. Be grateful I don't cause trouble.]
"That's what you say..."
I chuckle wryly.
'You definitely weren't like this before.'
She changed after discovering the novels I'd penned in my inner world.
Hyperion found the records of knowledge and abilities in my mental world and started reading them.
Since then.
She reads novels all day. The fearsome demon sword turned into a shut-in NEET who never goes out.
[Anyway, you're here to... use a technique?]
"Yeah."
[Ah. The inner world is barren, hate going... but better than a storm, I guess.]
Creak.
She makes a door, then rolls right in.
I watch Hyperion for a moment, then shake my head.
"Don't mind it. Back to work."
Normally, rampaging the ocean requires endless meditation. Even awakening my vast inner energy takes half a day.
But today, I have help.
Rumble! Kwang!
Storm clouds gather. Gale winds blow, making the ocean writhe.
Of course, all just imagery.
Black Yo, absolute master, stimulating my inner energy from outside.
'As expected...'
I marvel at Black Yo's energy control.
'Black Yo... is a master beyond my reach.'
Makes sense. Chromatic Dragon surpasses Emperor Class to upper Transcendent.
Known to be infinitely close to the so-called Untouchables. Even split into five, her realm and enlightenment remain.
Roooar...
In the end, I succeed in rampaging the ocean in just 15 minutes.
"Log in."
Back to Ardenia.
[Heavenly Sword - Hundred Man Slash] & [Sword that Cleaves Heaven and Earth]
Great Vessel Late Bloom. Heaven Breaking Extreme Light.
I unleash my strongest possible strike.