Chapter 276
Chapter 276
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 276
Chapter Title: Large-Scale Raid (5)
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Late to arrive at the scene, Jack Smith could see just one sight.
One was a dragon sucking in the surrounding mana with tremendous force, preparing its breath attack.
The other was the hunters below it, being relentlessly pulled toward it.
"Hoo."
He let out a soft sigh.
'First things first, I should save those guys before figuring out the situation?'
Whoosh!
As the Demon King swung his arm.
A magic circle covered in all sorts of runes appeared on the ground.
At the same time.
[Ancient Demonic Beast 'Beligoh' appears!]
Beligoh.
A common creature in the Demon Realm, but its power was something even Demon Realm nobles couldn't ignore.
In short, a stupidly strong brute?
"Come forth."
Jack, who had summoned it, murmured with mana infused in his voice.
- Grab them all.
- It's an ugly-looking demonic beast, but grab on if you want to live.
- It'll withstand the breath's suction.
Kieeeek!
The monster with black tentacles roared at the Demon King's command.
The breath's suction was certainly no joke.
But.
Kugugagaga!
The wriggling black demonic beast had more than enough adhesion to hold against it.
The creature, resembling a mollusk, desperately clung to the magic circle with its legs.
It fixed itself with its suckers and held on with all its might.
- Huh? What the hell is that freakish thing?
Briath glanced down with bewildered eyes.
It was because a scent from another world emanated from the unfamiliar magic circle.
'One of the pests' abilities?'
He didn't know exactly, but it didn't matter.
Anyway.
Whether those pests got dragged along or not, the situation was the same.
If he fired his breath, he was confident he could annihilate anyone.
Even if it was a super dragon-class destruction dragon.
Kugugugugugu...
The atmosphere swirled violently as energy continued to condense at its maw.
"Interesting."
The Demon King smirked as he watched.
"Delaila was right. A dragon on Earth, of all places."
His expression, baring white teeth, clearly showed leisure.
World Ranking No. 2.
Demon King Jack Smith.
The man known as the strongest in the world aside from the mysterious No. 1 marked '???', and the leader of the world's greatest group, the Demon King Army.
He had left Earth five years ago.
Why?
'Because Earth has nothing worth seeing anymore.'
With the ability to open the Demon Realm, he led his subordinates to pioneer it.
He hunted or tamed demonic beasts to raise his stats and competed with nearby Demon Kings.
Demon King.
A term for those who hold territory in the Demon Realm.
The Demon Realm only recognized those with Demon King bloodline as Demon Kings.
As a human, he.
Could gain recognition for territorial expansion through his skill 'Blood of the Demon King' (SSS Grade).
Without that skill, no matter how strong, one couldn't become a Demon King.
In other words, his subordinates could only aspire to be Demon Realm nobles at best, no matter their efforts.
'The moment you taste the strength and growth speed of the Demon Realm...'
Earth's dungeons feel childish.
Hunting grounds on a whole different level from Earth.
Surrounding Demon Kings on a level beyond hyper rankers.
'Just look at that dragon.'
Here, they were panicking that the end of Earth was nigh.
But in his eyes, it just looked like upper-mid Demon King level.
No, maybe a bit higher?
'Of course, even an upper-mid Demon King is impressive.'
Jack Smith's current position in the Demon Realm was mid-tier Demon King.
Above him were dozens of upper-tier Demon Kings.
And only five top-tier Demon Kings in total.
The Demon Realm was truly a world on another dimension.
So how could he, busy managing his Demon Realm territory, come to Earth?
That was thanks to.
Delaila.
The woman who could roam all sorts of universes like her own home via 'World Link' (SSS Grade).
- Demon King, my goal is always the same. Protecting the precious and beautiful Earth. You know that, right? After experiencing countless worlds, there's no space as beautiful as Earth.
Like she was Earth's defense force, she was dead serious about protecting Earth.
- You agree too, right?
- Yeah, I agree. After rotting away in the Demon Realm for months, anyone would have to agree. Earth is damn beautiful.
The Demon King supported her.
He liked how she bestowed his abilities generously by giving trials to other hunters.
He also applauded her sacrificial spirit.
So.
- Remember what I told you last time? There's a dragon on Earth. Called the Earth Guardian Dragon, sealed and sleeping since ancient times, right? Seems like it's already awakened. So... um, help out.
He had made a promise with her.
If an existence Earth couldn't handle appeared, he'd come.
He'd fight together.
He wasn't too worried.
'Anyway.'
No trial could be worse than the Demon Realm.
Plus, he enjoyed trials, so the dragon's appearance actually ignited his fighting spirit.
"Hmm."
The Demon King snorted as he surveyed the surroundings.
There was the old Mage Tower Master he hadn't seen in ages, Paladin, and Raider too.
And.
'Is that the guy?'
The one Delaila, who occasionally visited the Demon Realm to check on him, had sung praises about.
'Skeleton Emperor.'
The Demon King's profound gaze took in Joo Dong-hoon.
'Not bad.'
A simple evaluation.
Though infinitely weaker than himself, he saw potential.
Those with potential were somehow different from ordinary people.
Like a halo shining behind them?
The Demon King took a liking to him.
So.
Swoosh!
He moved to stand beside him.
* * *
The Demon King's arrival.
I could confidently declare.
Both I and the Mage Tower Master.
Before his power, we were fireflies before the full moon.
If he decided to take my head, it'd be off in an instant.
I just instinctively realized it.
The overwhelming gap in power.
'As expected.'
The world is wide, and there are many strong ones?
Gulp.
As I swallowed, he approached me.
"Hey, first time meeting? Nice to meet you."
It wasn't just the Demon King.
Mage Tower Master, Paladin, Raider.
Hyper rankers in the world top 10 gathered around me with various expressions.
"......Yes, nice to meet you."
Was this the time to casually greet in front of the dragon's breath?
I thought so, but I had to respond.
How could I ignore the Demon King speaking to me?
Not because of strong preying on weak, but out of respect.
The Demon King was one of the massive mountains I had to overcome.
"......Demon King. Kugh, cough!"
Beside me, Sophia, leaning on her staff, coughed.
Blood trickled from her mouth.
"Nice to see you after so long, but now's the time to come up with a solution. Soon...... the dragon's breath will hit."
Kugugugugugu...
We could feel it.
Soon, the breath's energy would fully gather.
The moment it erupted, every ranker on the Yucatan Peninsula would melt away. Vanish.
"You want me to deal with that?"
Snicker.
The Demon King shrugged and laughed.
"Even if I'm strong, how am I supposed to handle something like that?"
"......"
Jack Smith was a mid-tier Demon King.
That dragon had the power of upper-tier Demon King or higher.
Just looking at the tiers, the answer was clear.
"......Demon King?"
The Mage Tower Master narrowed his eyes.
"You're saying that so casually?"
"Well...... If my entire Demon King Army came and summoned every available demonic beast here, we might be able to deflect the breath's angle a bit."
"Then why not do that?"
"It's not that I can't, it's that I won't. Because......"
The Demon King continued calmly.
"I'm the only one who crossed over from the Demon Realm to here. Nothing I can do. I'm the only one who can emergency teleport here on short notice."
"......"
The hyper rankers' faces darkened.
He showed up like a hero, only to say [I can't do it!]. Understandable.
"But don't worry too much."
Watching their reactions, the Demon King smiled amusedly.
"Another guest Delaila called will arrive soon. With him, we can somehow make it work. And you. Skeleton Emperor, right?"
The Demon King looked at me.
"You join in too and let's give it a shot."
* * *
Bukhansan.
Civilian access prohibited area.
Trickle trickle...
A beautiful valley with flowing water.
This place, called a scenic spot in the city, was the headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Having received permission from the government and association to use the open land in Bukhansan, they built a beautiful altar on the mountain cliff.
And.
Amid the pine tree blooming on one cliff and the buildings.
"......"
An old man sat in perfect posture, silently.
Lee Hak-seung, one of the Four Elders of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
His duty was to oversee the training of junior hunters below while guarding a necklace.
The stubborn-looking Lee Hak-seung stared at the necklace with his lips firmly shut.
A crude stone-shaped artifact.
It was the 'Dungeon Artifact' Delaila had released.
A rare stone that the Dungeon Maker found in an outer galaxy 'empty world' and connected to reality.
That's right.
Heavenly Demon Ha Sera had been in closed-door training inside it for years.
'Should I call her?'
He knew.
This world could collapse.
Even now, countless reporters and hunters searched for Ha Sera outside the Heavenly Demon Cult.
"Please save Earth!"
"A horrific dragon appeared across the Pacific! How long will you stay holed up here?!"
"We’re from the association! We need to talk briefly, is entry okay?"
But.
The elder recalled the words inscribed on the rock wall.
- Closed-door seclusion, cut off from the world.
The cult leader's decree to lock the door and sever ties with the world.
'No.'
The loyal Lee Hak-seung had no intention of calling her no matter what, until she emerged.
Who knows?
This exact moment might be incredibly precious to Ha Sera.
She had already cut off the world.
Humanity would have to deal with the dragon another way.
* * *
However.
There was one person who could enter that place without permission.
Dungeon Maker Delaila.
The connected place was originally.
An empty world she had found wandering the worlds.
So she could move via 'World Link' (SSS Grade), not the necklace portal.
Whoooosh...
Entering the beautiful nature filled with bushes and lakes, Delaila.
Soon spotted a woman sitting cross-legged.
Heavenly Demon Ha Sera.
A peerless beauty with hair like black pearls and snow-white skin.
An absurd energy emanated from her neatly seated form.
"Hup!"
Delaila held her breath.
Before that immense power, her breath caught, heart racing.
'Amazing.'
She knew she was strong from the start, but not to this extent.
As expected, Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Even with the same amount of internal energy, her aura was on another level, flow impossible.
She was world ranking 5th too.
But the gap with Ha Sera was a wall, invisible.
Tip-toe.
As she cautiously approached Ha Sera.
Flash!
"Wha......?"
Ha Sera's eyes opened, staring at Delaila.
"......"
With a subtle expression mixing displeasure and curiosity.
But Delaila didn't back down.
"Hahaha, hi? Long time no see."
She even greeted with a bright smile.
Why?
Because she absolutely needed her power to face the dragon.