Chapter 240
Chapter 240
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 239
Chapter Title: Cyclops Onslaught
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The one-eyed giant assumes his stance—
Heavenly Dragon God Style.
Swift Dragon Flash.
A flash of sword light slices through the ranks.
Crunch!
Everything in front of him is cleaved apart in a fan shape all at once, sending up a spray of blood.
‘A sharp sword strike... It can cut down any foe within range, just as the name implies.’
Honestly, that single slash alone is on a level that doesn’t pale in comparison to me, a true master. It’s a case of focusing on a narrow [domain] instead of pursuing broad mastery of martial arts.
He has clear weaknesses, but in exchange, piercing strengths like a awl.
From the perspective of the Human Empire’s emperor, it’s utterly unreasonable that freaks on this insane level are mass-produced like factory goods and even respawn upon death.
We have to be born normally, grow up, and train, while those bastards just pop out masters like that one after another. How is that fair?
‘That’s exactly why we can’t afford a war of attrition with those monster bastards.’
Moreover, the [Cyclops Trainees] aren’t limited to just samurai.
Cyclops snipers, Cyclops warriors, Cyclops martial artists—monsters trained in all sorts of martial arts charge forward with their weapons, bristling with murderous intent.
Crack! Boom! Bang!
“...They’re fighting among themselves. Because they’re alien monsters?”
“Or maybe something changed when Cheonwon was occupied.”
I chat with Flower while observing the situation. Starting with the Cyclops samurai’s sword strike, the alien monsters clash with Ardania’s monsters.
[The voice is the same, but it sometimes has four legs, sometimes two, sometimes three—what is it?]
“Correct! The answer is human!”
[There are two sisters. Each gives birth to the other—who are they?]
“Day and night! The answer is day and night!”
[It’s big in the morning, small at noon, big again in the afternoon, and gone at night...]
“Shadow! No, I got it right—why are you still going?!”
“What the hell are you talking about with that monster! Just shoot it!”
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Boom!
Infantrymen in power armor unleash a barrage of bullets and shells at the sphinx. The sphinx blocks the projectiles with the mystical power cloaking its body, then swings its massive claws to tear infantry apart and smash tanks.
[Return you ignorant phantoms to death—!]
[I shall become! Your! End!]
The alien intelligences clash with the Death Knight army.
“Kraaang!”
“Keeeaak!”
Forest drakes collide with alien monsters.
“Uh, uh, what’s going on? They’re fighting each other? What do we do?”
“Blast them with artillery? But where?”
“For now, just let them...”
The troops guarding the walls with grim expressions start to murmur.
[All units, stand by.]
At that moment, a radio message goes out to the entire army. I sense Hundredred overseeing the whole fortress from one layer below transcendent senses, directing the soldiers.
“All units, stand by!”
“Standing by as ordered!”
With that single command, soldiers and guild members alike hold their breath and wait.
‘...He’s a real shame to waste in so many ways.’
Hundredred is an excellent talent. Sharp political instincts, knows how to read the currents of the times—a true prodigy.
He could lead ten thousand soldiers right now, and if he were in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he’d undoubtedly be a hero commanding the realm.
But this isn’t Three Kingdoms; it’s a world where individual martial prowess matters.
‘If his swordsmanship were just a bit better, I could hand him an entire stronghold.’
His realm is merely Sword Master.
I know it’s ridiculous to call Sword Master “merely,” but after reaping all the benefits as a 34th Earth martial artist and player for over a decade, if he’s still just Sword Master, his talent in martial arts is at best that of a genius.
Why else would they grant him a priest-type Mythic class instead of a warrior-type after years of sword training?
Unlike Edward, Steelstone, or Hayes, his limits are clear.
‘Well, still... It’s good news that the enemies can’t invade the fortress right away.’
The initial gate clearly tried to open inside the fortress but got bounced outside the walls. Meaning Revenge’s spatial transfer defense works on gates too.
For the Human Empire, prepared for alien incursions, this is a huge boon. Purging enemies inside is easy, but the damage from those popping up in between is hard to prevent.
‘At this rate, we should be fine.’
To conquer the Temple of Death, we’ve distributed masses of Mythic and Legendary classes, massively boosting top players’ combat power.
The Human Empire, with average levels rivaling 34th Earth, can hold the walls even against Mythics if it comes to that.
But the moment I think that... the sky splits, and a massive gate appears.
Like missiles launching, hundreds of aircraft cross into Ardania.
“...Fighters?”
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Boom!
The fighters fly at supersonic speeds, raining down shells.
That wasn’t all.
Whoooosh—!
Aircraft made of blue crystal spew massive beams, sweeping away monsters.
[Uwooooong!]
Monsters bigger than whales fly through the sky, spewing venomous breath.
[Kieeek!]
[Kyaaak!]
A repulsive giant stitched together from countless lifeforms and machines rises up.
With the arrival of this [army]—vast numbers divided by roles—Revenge’s bravely fighting monsters start getting pushed back helplessly.
“An army... I see. No idea which game, but it’s definitely RTS.”
Real-Time Strategy games are the pinnacle of strategy genres. Pick a race or faction and wage war against others.
Of course, this wasn’t good news at all. It meant those insane numbers of enemies could move with strategy and tactics.
“Flower. Raise the empire-wide alert to Dragon-level.”
“...Yes, Your Majesty.”
I leave Flower operating the pad and leap out through the open window.
Thud!
I kick off dimensions. Compress and expand my body and space to warp them.
In the distance, I spot a spaceship capable of space flight tearing through dimensions.
Great Vessel Late Bloom.
Sub-Light.
I shoot forward at near-light speed, piercing the hull of the ship floating in the sky.
Powerful attractive forces block my path, but tech straddling 2nd and 3rd civilization levels can’t stop my extreme physique and sword aura collaboration for even a moment.
[Intruder! Intruder!]
[Father’s warriors! Stake your lives to stop that insolent one...]
“Out of my way.”
I smash through the alien lifeforms blocking me and burrow into the ship’s center like swimming. The ship is made of special alloys, with spiritual energy flowing over it.
Of course.
Crunch!
Crack!
Before me, it’s just snack crumbs.
“N-No way! What are you doing? Why is the inner hull breaking so easily?!”
“P-Physical force. No, destroying special armor with mere physical force?!”
“S-Stop that monster! We can’t let it reach the power source...”
Crack!
I reach the center amid screams, smashing the massive crystal emitting ominous waves.
Boom!
I leap from the exploding ship and launch myself again.
Splat!
[Uwooooong!]
I burst the heart of the colossal beast spewing all sorts of monsters.
-Squeak! Monster! Monster! It’s a monster!
-Grab it! Grab it!
-Can’t grab it! Monster!
“Who’re you calling a monster, you monster bastards!”
[Critical hit!]
[Critical hit!]
[Critical hit!]
I kick off dimensions, leap, swing slashes, leap again.
I destroy every aircraft above a certain size, flying tens, hundreds, thousands of kilometers without restraint.
And when critical hits stack...
[Heavenly Sword - Hundred Man Slash] & [Sword that Cleaves Heaven and Earth]
Great Vessel Late Bloom. Sub-Light.
Crack!
Tens of thousands of enemies lose their heads and collapse simultaneously. It’s all as easy as breathing, yet my face grimaces anyway. I know this attack packs enough damage to kill over a hundred thousand.
“Ah, damn it. Overkill... If only they’d clump together...”
From high altitude, I survey the continent.
Through transcendent vision and senses, I see thousands of gates opening across the entire continent.
Countless gates spew alien enemies from all directions.
Rumble!
Boom!
Of course, the Human Empire isn’t defenseless. Defensive towers at each fortress unleash nonstop barrages, and players armed with items and skills pour attacks outside the walls.
However.
“No way, is this for real? They’re invading in these numbers...?”
It’s beyond imagination. The enemies’ levels and mysteries are moderate, but in this short time, they’ve poured out hundreds of millions, even billions.
Honestly, they’re all bugs to me.
Even I have limits to how many I can eliminate at once.
‘The strongholds are fine.’
Scanning the continent, the nine strongholds have no issues.
With Mythic walls and absurd numbers of Gigases, they’re fortresses that could hold even against transcendents.
The problem is the other footholds.
Legendary fortresses have excellent defenses, but... compared to Mythic ones, they fall far short.
The gap between level 19 and 20 is like human and god; the same between Legendary and Mythic fortresses.
I need to thin their numbers before the footholds’ defenses crumble.
“Log out.”
Back in Dragon Star, I sit cross-legged.
‘Sky-Splitting Extreme Light is useless.’
No transcendent-level enemies among the invaders. Plus, it’s not a pinpoint attack; it’s a continental wave assault needing wide-area, simultaneous destruction.
‘If I were a mage, this’d be clean...’
But my magic talent lags behind martial arts, and it’s far too late to learn now. Solve within my abilities.
Luckily, I have a decent one.
‘Celestial Gate-opened attribute elements.’
Far deeper and more complete than my spellcasting. If I’d gotten them raw, I couldn’t use even 1%.
But fortunately... I have a foundation to melt them into.
Martial arts.
Pop-pop! Pop-pop-pop!
After twenty minutes forming hand seals to complete the ritual, I enter Ardania.
“Log in.”
Fire, Martial Arts, Celestial Gate opened.
Sun God Palm. Flame Heaven. Modify.
Whoosh—!
A massive flaming palm descends from the sky.
Boom!
Roar!
It engulfs and incinerates every monster swarm within hundreds of kilometers. Range is so vast it’s imprecise, but enough to disrupt their assault.
“Perfect! A few more like that and...”
But at that moment.
Flash—crack!
Flash—crack!
Flash—crack!
Flash—crack!
Light erupts from all directions. I reflexively swing sword aura to block nearby explosions... but that’s all I can do.
“Ah.”
Blinding light. Thunderous roar.
“Damn it, insane...”
I grit my teeth.
Mushroom clouds bloom across the continent.