Chapter 263
Chapter 263
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 263
Chapter Title: Spear King Jin Ja (4)
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“Professor! It’s Innate True Energy!”
I know.
How could I not?
Just a few days ago, I nearly burned myself out using it and almost crossed into the afterlife.
Just like Eloise Arin in the past, staking her life to unleash forbidden magic.
Those who wield energy can fight by burning their own origin.
The mutual destruction technique.
Since it’s done with the intent to die, its destructive power is immense.
‘That old man.’
I stared at the Spear King, who was emanating a terrifying aura.
It didn’t make sense.
‘Why.’
Why go this far to fight me?
What does he even gain from it?
Is he really just trying to salvage his shattered pride?
If so.
He’s the king of idiots among idiots.
Because.
I’m going to climb to ranking one anyway.
If that bothers him, oh well.
I have no choice but to kill him.
Whoooosh!
I swung my spear into position.
Childhood friend, master of the Judgment Spear, whatever.
None of that mattered to me.
It only nagged at me a little, but my decision remained unchanged.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
The Spear King had clearly tried to kill me, and that alone gave me more than enough justification to kill him.
If I were weak, the situation would be reversed, so this was only natural.
“Hraaah!”
It was then that the Spear King, having finished his preparations, charged forward with a shout.
His spear strikes, amplified to the utmost by Innate True Energy, were as fast as lightning.
A speed that was hard to dodge or block.
‘If it lands properly, I could die?’
Dana’s healing works, but only if I’m not already dead.
If the spear tip instantly pierced my throat and shattered my brain?
Healing wouldn’t mean a thing.
‘That’s why.’
I drew up my energy, focused, and deflected his spear.
‘No letting my guard down, stay focused.’
Kwa-gaga-gang!
Once more, I unleashed all the energy and poison fog confined within my body in a single burst.
Myriad Arts.
Secret Technique.
Poison Flash.
A green flash enveloped the Spear King’s entire body.
But this alone wasn’t enough.
The awakened Spear King was no longer at the level of world ranking eleven.
Fwoosh!
I dispelled the spear, switched to gauntlets, and charged.
Another secret technique linked with Poison Flash.
Myriad Arts.
Secret Technique.
Martial Advance.
Fists and feet moved in perfect harmony.
Fists and kicks shot out in an instant, striking the Spear King repeatedly.
Kaga-gaga-gang!
It was a habitual barrage, but I didn’t feel the sensation of hitting flesh.
Instead, there was a heavy thud, like striking something hard.
That meant.
‘He’s blocking every single one?’
The Spear King was matching my speed perfectly!
Swaeek!
My upward kick.
“Hap!”
Was blocked by the Spear King thrusting out his spear shaft with a shout.
Kwa-gaga-gaga!
My fist barrage, like a carpet bombing of countless strikes.
Kaga-gaga-gang!
He deflected each one with focus.
He was handling my relentless, unending assault without strain.
‘This.’
It wasn’t just any attack.
Each was a secret technique I had deliberately unleashed.
Reserved techniques that consumed energy.
‘But.’
A strange emotion welled up.
Normally, I’d be frustrated and irritated that my attacks weren’t landing.
‘This is fun.’
Something hot surged in my chest.
Yeah.
Fights that are too easy aren’t fun.
Battling someone equal or stronger lets me learn and grow.
Kwarururung!
I unleashed a trance-like barrage at the Spear King.
Like swinging the hammer with Demir.
I alternated between spear, sword, and fists.
Swish! Shu-swish!
When distance opened, I even drew my bow and fired.
‘Now.’
My energy was depleted.
[Hunter: Joo Dong-hoon]
[Title: Skeleton Emperor]
[Energy: 100/4,220]
It was still recovering, but even so.
This was my last reserves.
The insurance I could call a few times if my subordinates died.
In other words, now I had to fight with my true skills, no more secret techniques.
“Guys.”
I murmured as I swung my fist.
Mugak and Taeyang, who had briefly pulled back, charged in.
Arin unleashed buff and attack spells, and I summoned Eldrin on top.
“Handle the ranged support.”
“Yes, Master.”
He had already sensed my will from afar.
Kiiik! Swaeaeak!
The suddenly summoned Eldrin immediately nocked and fired his bow.
「Don’t let your guard down!」
「Attack with full power!」
At my command, they fought with all their hearts.
They fully utilized their Absolute abilities, not fighting alone but multiplying their numbers with subordinates.
‘Yeah, Spear King.’
I’m the Skeleton Emperor.
I won’t underestimate you either—I’ll use all my power to kill you.
To the forefront of the skeleton legion, now numbering in the hundreds.
“Hraaaah!”
I charged.
* * *
At that moment.
“…….”
One of the broadcasting reporters couldn’t continue, his throat choked.
“W-What kind of battle is this!?”
After exchanging a single blow each, the Spear King suddenly erupted with immense momentum.
And Joo Dong-hoon’s rampage, no less fierce.
Kwa-gaga-gaga!
With their ferocious exchange, the reporter didn’t know where to focus.
“Even for top-rankers, this is insane! It’s impossible to see, so we can’t even broadcast properly!”
He could say with certainty.
In his reporter career, he’d never seen a fight like this.
No, “seen” wasn’t the right word.
He couldn’t even see it properly.
└ What the hell is that.
└ Mom, I’m scared……
└ It’s just flashing all over.
└ When’s Hasera arriving;;
└ Rumor has it Hasera’s in closed training. She’s a ranker who never shows up in the media anyway.
It wasn’t the kind of fight you could enjoy leisurely.
If they kept going, the entire Samseong-dong could really get wiped out.
People started getting anxious.
Of course, some hunters were focused solely on the fight.
└ Yes, Joo Dong-hoon just drew a spear. Wait, gauntlets now?
└ Nah, it’s a sword. I clearly saw him use a sword.
└ What? Isn’t that an arrow flying? Did he shoot a bow???
└ ????
└ Lmao what are y’all saying.
└ Anyone’d think Joo Dong-hoon has dozens of unique abilities.
A few hunters who caught glimpses of Joo Dong-hoon commented on his weapons.
Most viewers didn’t believe them.
It didn’t make sense.
Mastering even one path to greatness was hard in this profession.
And even that required being chosen by a ‘unique ability.’
Using them all? Ridiculous.
└ Joo Dong-hoon’s a necromancer. Sure, rumors say he’s decent with spears and fists, but a sword? And a bow? Lol, stop joking.
└ Dude, I saw it.
└ Saw what?
└ Lmao, “saw it from there” is funnier. It’s just flashing. Hallucinating or what?
Naturally, far more people couldn’t see the fight than could.
Thus, opinions about Joo Dong-hoon using multiple weapons started getting buried.
But.
└ Bro explaining. I’ve got a gold badge, and yeah, Joo Dong-hoon uses swords, bows, everything. Even shields sometimes. ㅇㅇ
└ Active S-rank hunter here. Above guy’s right. That’s a viewing highlight. Thought he was necromancer + a few combat classes, but he’s just an all-rounder? I’m jealous af;;
As verified big-name hunters chimed in, reactions flipped.
└ What.
└ Fr?
└ But does that even make sense?
└ Isn’t Joo Dong-hoon in his 20s? I study 6 years and can’t get into Seoul Uni, how’d he master all that in such short time?
└ And he’s hot too lololol + surrounded by hotties like Gi So-yul, Kim Jin-ah, etc.
└ Fml world’s unfair.
└ World’s always been unfair. As I say every time, think of “Shit Eater.”
└ Lmao Shit Eater showing up right on cue.
Incredulity.
Envy of Joo Dong-hoon.
And so on.
But soon, the mainstream became cheers for Joo Dong-hoon.
After all, the important thing was him beating the Spear King.
“Come on, let’s look again!”
A reporter shouted with renewed vigor.
And then.
Joo Dong-hoon and the Spear King’s speeds slowed simultaneously.
No, rather, they became visible to the reporter’s eyes.
“Huh!? I can see it! And now! The skeletons that pulled back are rejoining! A pincer attack! Are they going for a pincer!?”
Kwa-gaga-gaga!
Skeletons re-entering beside the standoff pair came into view.
* * *
“Haa, huck!”
The Spear King exhaled roughly.
“What the hell are you?”
Skeleton Emperor?
The Spear King couldn’t comprehend.
He’d originally planned to punish him for wielding some Solar Spear or whatever.
But then fists, swords, daggers, bows, shields, and even magic.
‘And.’
He seemed to use poison too.
The Spear King had never seen a character like this.
Moreover.
The charging skeletons were annoyingly tough.
Not just one or two.
They multiplied like zombies, filling the space.
It felt like facing an army alone.
“Cough!”
He coughed.
Poison seeping into wounds tangled his organs.
Every breath hurt his throat, choking him.
“Urgh, impossible.”
His ultimate technique.
The Plum Blossom Spear, fueled by burning Innate True Energy, completely neutralized.
The Spear King felt it.
Without that, he couldn’t have clashed this long.
He’d have been overwhelmingly defeated.
Wooong, woo-woong!
His head spun from the continuously burning Innate True Energy.
His vitality faded, muscles melting.
Shooo….
Even his hair was falling out.
‘But.’
He couldn’t stop.
He’d come too far to turn back.
Besides, Joo Dong-hoon’s power had waned too.
Like scraping the last dregs from an empty vessel?
But.
“Pathetic.”
Puaak!
Mugak’s instep slammed into the Spear King’s cheek.
“Guhk!”
He screamed instinctively, swinging his spear for a counter.
Kaang!
A mountain-sized shield that had closed in deflected his strike.
A heavy pain throbbed.
Normally, he’d shatter it, but now he lacked strength.
Energy depleted, poison disrupting his flow.
“You filthy bastards…….”
Fwoosh!
Flames engulfed him from all sides.
Each one hot and powerful enough to melt flesh.
And that wasn’t all?
Swaeaeak!
Arrows from afar targeted only his vitals with deadly precision.
He couldn’t ignore them.
And.
Right in his vision, the Skeleton Emperor smiled as if enjoying it all.
‘Damn it.’
The Spear King’s chest tightened.
Powerless, unable to act despite wanting to.
“Get lost! I said get lost!”
Even swinging his spear fiercely.
Kang! Kaang! Kang!
It was all blocked.
In contrast.
Fwoosh! Kwa-gaga-gaga!
The attacks pouring on him were all threatening.
“Huck, huuk! Ack!”
He was out of breath.
Poison made even painful breathing a struggle.
And finally.
Pook!
A cold blade pierced his heart.
‘What?’
Electricity jolted through his body.
Ah.
So that’s how it ends.
The Spear King instinctively knew.
The blade through his heart was Joo Dong-hoon’s spear.
“G-Guhk!”
Clang!
The Spear King dropped his spear.
Then gripped the shaft tightly with both hands.
Clenching to ease the pain, even a little.
“Cough!”
Finally, dark red blood sprayed from his mouth.
Dead blood from ruined organs.
His hands trembled, no energy left.
‘Ah.’
Time to die.
Some say when death comes, life flashes before your eyes like a lantern show.
At that moment.
One person flashed through the trembling Spear King’s mind.
‘Zhang Wei.’
Alias: Judgment Spear.
His beloved disciple, heir to the Plum Blossom Spear.
In that instant, he realized everything had gone wrong.
His greed-blinded vision had cleared.
‘W-What have I done…….’
Thinking back, yes.
What grudge did he have against Joo Dong-hoon?
Why try to kill him?
Jealousy? Eliminating a rival?
All laughable.
Utterly against the spirit of the Plum Blossom Spear he’d learned.
And he realized this.
Just before his life ebbed away.
“Kh, khuhuhu……. Heh heh heh.”
Laughter escaped.
Why realize now?
That good kid had acknowledged him.
He’d called him friend.
“And yet…… it feels good.”
The Spear King smiled faintly.
Looking at Joo Dong-hoon’s face, spear buried in his chest, expression bittersweet.
“Rather fortunate……. Khuk, that you stopped a wretch like me…….”
He wanted to speak, but no words came.
Only hissing air leaked from his throat.
The last of his Innate True Energy faded.
“…….”
Even healing couldn’t save him now.
Even ancient magic would be too late.
The Spear King lowered his head.
Thud!
His hands fell limply to the ground.
His final unspoken words.
‘Take care of him, our…… Zhang Wei.’
Sadly, they never reached Joo Dong-hoon.
World ranking eleven.
The old man who once dipped into hyper ranker status.
The end of Spear King Jin Ja (Chen Zi-yi).