Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Shadow Shepherd King (2)
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Delaila’s hologram room.
Someone muttered there.
“……Hmm?”
“Where’s Joo Dong-hoon going off alone? He’s completely separated from his team. If he gets eliminated like that, what’s he going to do…….”
“Haven’t you been watching up to now? There are two things in this world you don’t need to worry about. Know what they are?”
Someone replied.
“Worrying about celebrities and worrying about Joo Dong-hoon. We just sit back and enjoy the show.”
They exclaimed in admiration at the same time.
“Look at those Shepherds over there. You ever see anything like that back in your day? The deeper we go, they’re all new breeds I’ve never laid eyes on. Whoa! It’s insane! Those things are crazy fast, right?”
“Of course. We can see them now because the system’s advanced, but back when we were participants, we couldn’t have even if we wanted to.”
“That’s why Joo Dong-hoon’s so impressive. Kahaha! This is fun, so much fun! It’s too thrilling to look away!”
Nine examiners sat in a row in the hologram room.
They stared at the screen, eyes wide with intensity.
Their expressions were definitely different from before.
They’d been casually chatting and leisurely watching.
Now, they focused on Joo Dong-hoon, determined not to miss a single moment.
And with great interest.
“Kuh! So this is what Theme 4 is about. Back in my day, I just hunkered down in defense mode, mindlessly enduring…….”
“This generation’s got it easy, right? With so many team members.”
Theme 3 didn’t care much about team size.
If one person endured well, that was it.
More team members actually made it harder.
The confined space meant paths could tangle.
But.
From Theme 4 on, more team members were an advantage.
Points rose with each catch, so having someone grab even one more was a win.
“But this generation’s advantage isn’t just team numbers.”
“Then what?”
“Look at them one by one. Overshadowed by Joo Dong-hoon, sure, but any of them in other generations would’ve stood out big time.”
“True, Vladimir and Jang Wei’s records were no joke. This batch is nuts.”
They chatted away.
Every conversation circled Joo Dong-hoon and this generation.
The left scoreboard showed:
[1st ‘Crazy’, 120,500 points.]
[2nd ‘Magic Swordsman’, 100,300 points.]
[3rd ‘Rider’, 96,000 points.]
[4th ‘Lions’, 95,500 points.]
[5th ‘Mud Skippers’, 91,700 points.]
…….
But no one paid it any mind.
‘No point now. Dragon Slayers are taking first anyway.’
‘First is guaranteed. The real question’s how overwhelmingly. Over 200k? 300k?’
Expectations were building.
That Joo Dong-hoon would shatter every record mercilessly.
So the bets shifted too.
“Come on, another round. I set over/under at 300k. You in?”
“Over? Hmm, 300k. Perfect balance.”
They bet on score, not rank.
Pzzzzzt!
Watching them, sparks flew from Phloa’s body.
She thought to herself.
‘Jackpot! Joo Dong-hoon.’
Nine examiners.
Not just any—all top 100 world rankers.
And they all tacitly agreed.
Joo Dong-hoon would set a historic record.
‘Of course it’s obvious.’
From Theme 1 to 3.
He’d smashed the ordeal’s framework every step.
Caught ‘Poison Fog’.
Slew the Greed Dragon Aranbalon.
First to hit stage 5.
“Whew.”
Phloa suddenly felt chills all over.
What he’d achieved was utterly impossible.
Even current rankers retrying couldn’t match it.
‘Especially the dragon…….’
He’d crossed the line.
None of these examiners combined could take it down.
No matter the exploits, results were results……
‘God.’
Phloa shuddered.
‘Ahh, he’s a god.’
Unknowingly, she was shouting inside.
Becoming Joo Dong-hoon’s devotee.
Pzzzzzt!
Sparks surged fiercer from her body.
‘Worthy to be the master of this Thunderclap!’
Their bet.
Slave Bread.
Phloa had mentally submitted to Joo Dong-hoon.
And she declared.
“Hey, me! I’m all-in on 300k over!”
She trusted her master.
* * *
I withdrew my spear.
Switched to a highly mobile sword, then powered my thighs.
‘Right.’
Some insane monster was watching me now?
Per the old man, something I couldn’t catch even in death?
Taat!
I kicked off the ground and charged.
‘Left 30 degrees, 500m remaining.’
I etched the old man’s directions in my mind and ran.
- Krrr! Kyang!
The Shepherds, flustered by my sprint, tried blocking.
“My liege, leave this to us.”
“Fulfill your will, Master……!”
Taeyang-i and Eldrin, grasping my intent, intercepted.
“Thanks.”
Thanks to them, I broke free easily and kept running.
Thighs taut.
Heart pounding like it’d burst, full throttle.
- Krrrar!
- Wooooo!
Low growls and howls echoed around.
‘More Shepherds?’
No time to think or fight.
Just kept charging.
Eliminated or whatever. I’d confirm that watcher’s face.
‘Anyway.’
I knew.
This path meant catching two or three more Shepherds at best.
Better to challenge it!
Kugung!
Then, a white flash exploded ahead.
Vibrations hit, immense force incoming.
“Hup!”
I twisted direction, spinning sideways.
Kwaaang!
Debris sprayed everywhere.
Dark dust billowed.
“You brat. Looks like even those guys are panicking. They’re popping out all jumbled.”
‘Jumbled?’
“Used to be two or three per stage. Now? Nothing like that. Means ignore the stages and come straight.”
Kwang! Kwaaang!
“Keuk!”
Something slammed my side hard.
Massive impact hurled me rolling.
Speed beyond sight.
“Price for ignoring stages.”
The old man grinned.
Seemed he foresaw my elimination.
“…….”
I didn’t stop rolling.
Regained balance mid-roll, used the momentum to charge again.
‘Stay calm.’
Past my limits now.
Invisible attacks normal. Anyone could be around.
“Tsk tsk, tough bastard. Right again, 60 degrees, 400m.”
‘Thanks.’
Distance closing.
Air grew heavier with it.
Shadows draped everywhere.
‘All Shepherds?’
“Yeah, all mutts.”
Something stomped right behind me.
“Kwik!”
Sudden ground shake threw my footing.
Body wobbled naturally.
“Brat. Recall previous theme.”
‘Previous?’
“Yeah, scorching lava. That chaotic floor.”
‘Ah.’
“Compared to that, this is normal ground, right?”
Yes.
Ground’s normal.
Problem’s the attackers.
Kugung!
Vibrations intensified.
I ignored them, kept running.
Legs thrusting again and again.
Thinking nonstop, but my balance and reactions transcended human limits.
Theme 3 stage 4: surpassing personal limits.
I’d cleared it.
This couldn’t shake me.
Hit?
Take it.
Fall?
Get up.
Pain’s familiar anyway.
Seconds passed like that.
“Brat, don’t know why you’re pushing so hard, but a bit more. 100m left.”
“Haaak! Hwak!”
From the direction the old man pointed.
Swaaaa!
Ki waves flooded.
Darkness spread on the ground.
“Shadows everywhere. Like crawling into a tiger’s maw. You good?”
That instant.
Drop!
Attacks stopped.
Varied Shepherds charging wildly halted and retreated.
Ground quit shaking.
“Tsk tsk. Finally here.”
Kugugu……
And.
From that pointed direction, something emerged.
Swaa!
Shadows writhed all around.
5m?
No, 10m tall behemoth appeared.
‘What, that huge?’
Shepherd shape, sure.
But call that a Shepherd?
We call those monsters.
Sssit!
It appeared; all surrounding Shepherds bowed heads.
Welcoming their king?
[Shadow Shepherd King gazes at you.]
[Abyss Shadow binds your movements.]
[Movement speed reduced by 30%.]
‘King…….’
I gazed bitterly.
I’m a king too, and you’re a king?
Secondary.
Already dying here, now speed debuff.
‘Telling me to die.’
Basically.
Elimination order.
‘Try something?’
Facing the giant and its bowing horde, breath caught.
How to fight that?
Call essences?
‘Fire Essence? Or Water Essence?’
I bit my lip, calling inwardly.
But.
No response.
No reply.
‘Water Essence? Say something. Respond, and I’ll treat you fair.’
[Water Essence says you’re noisy.]
[Water Essence says even if Fire Essence annoys him, he won’t talk to dust like you. Says it’s beneath him.]
“…….”
Water Essence.
You’re not Water Essence anymore. You’re Rude Essence.
‘Anyway.’
Clear: essences wanted no part.
Call remaining bones? As I pondered.
“Hold off.”
Old man muttered.
“No need to do anything, brat.”
“Huh?”
“Exactly. If that mutt king wanted you out, it’d ended before showing.”
“Ah.”
Right?
Makes sense.
This insanely strong one.
Assassin supreme, yet shows itself.
Maybe other reason?
“Go see.”
Old man smiled faintly.
“Looks like it’s got words for you, doesn’t it?”