Chapter 254
Chapter 254
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 254
Chapter Title: The Awakening of Kratoss
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Chapter 254.
“Whew, it’s breathtaking every time I see it.”
Goo Dong-hwan whistled as he gazed at the walls of Massive Guardian looming ahead.
It was only his second time seeing it, but the overwhelming size and majesty were enough to draw admiration.
Thanks to that, the other heroes nodded in agreement with his words.
“By the way, it’s only been about two weeks, but it feels like forever since we’ve been back, doesn’t it?”
Lee Ji-ah said with a grin.
“It must feel that way because we hunted so hard during that short time.”
Kye Soo-ji nodded in empathy.
Over the past two weeks, they had spent nearly all their time hunting, except for eating and sleeping.
To the point where they truly understood what it meant to be beaten down by exhaustion.
“But thanks to that, we’ve grown a ton.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
Lee Ji-ah flashed a bright smile at Goo Dong-hwan’s words.
Everyone had leveled up by at least 10, so it wasn’t wrong.
“It would’ve taken at least three months to gain 10 levels at the academy.”
“Three months? It would’ve taken half a year.”
Once they passed level 50, their leveling speed had noticeably slowed.
Hunting Aient Orks in Derhan had picked it up, but back at the academy, it would’ve returned to a crawl.
Yet here, they’d achieved this much growth in just two weeks.
“The Demon Realm lives up to its name.”
It was truly a monster-infested land.
The blood from the monsters they’d slain had dyed the pristine snowfields red, like a crimson plain.
“Let’s keep pushing all the way to level 100!”
Goo Dong-hwan laughed heartily and quickened his pace.
‘Leveling up faster than expected.’
Seo Woo-jin nodded as he watched them from behind.
Honestly, he hadn’t anticipated it would be this quick.
He’d figured it would take at least two months to reach the 90s.
But it was too fast.
‘We got lucky with the ice worms.’
The beast had given experience proportional to its massive size.
And discovering and wiping out a habitat of over a hundred of them? Levels were bound to rise.
‘Might need to revise the plan.’
Originally, he’d thought it would take about a year.
As levels increased, required experience grew exponentially, so at least a year to hit 100.
But at this rate, revision was inevitable.
‘Six months.’
Reach 100 within that.
Then leave the north and hunt Apostles and Demon King followers together.
It might be a bit risky, but the gains would be substantial.
‘It’ll be good training to prepare for the Great Descent War.’
Nine heroes over level 100.
That was a force not inferior to the Empire’s.
‘Well, think about that later.’
Right now, the priority was returning to Massive Guardian for resupply and planning hunting routes.
“Ailin, by any chance…”
Seo Woo-jin called out to Ailin walking beside him, and she turned to look.
“You’re wondering about monster habitats, right?”
“Huh? How’d you know?”
Seo Woo-jin blinked in surprise.
“I hunted with you all, too.”
Ailin had hunted alongside the heroes, watching their levels rise up close.
She knew they’d grown the most after devastating the ice worm habitat.
So she’d expected Seo Woo-jin to seek similar spots.
“There’s nothing quite like the ice worm habitat. At least not from what I know. But I do know a few places that could help, even if they’re a bit less impressive.”
Seo Woo-jin nodded blankly at her words.
“After resupplying food in Massive Guardian, I’ll guide you there.”
“Y-yeah, thanks.”
He hadn’t expected her to have thought that far ahead.
‘I’ll have to repay her next time.’
Since she was a knight, getting her a good sword seemed fitting.
“Halt!”
Just then, a shout came from the walls ahead.
“State your identi— Huh? Lady Ailin!”
The soldier who had been glaring at them in alert stance recognized her and gestured behind him.
“The heroes have returned! Open the gates!”
Rumble rumble rumble—!
Even though it had only been two weeks since passing through, the gates were frozen solid again.
Chunks of ice fell to the ground as the massive doors began to open.
“I wanna wash up. Hurry inside, take a hot shower, and crash in bed!”
“Me too. I feel so grimy.”
“Same here.”
The heroes beamed at the thought of proper rest after two weeks.
“Then let’s head in.”
That’s when Seo Woo-jin took the lead with Ailin to enter Massive Guardian.
Roooooooar—!!
From very far away.
From a distance beyond Seo Woo-jin’s senses, enormous demonic energy began enveloping the world.
“Ugh, urk!”
“What the hell is that?”
“Eek!”
The heroes’ faces paled upon sensing it.
It was so immense, breathing properly was difficult.
The heroes barely held on, but ordinary people couldn’t even manage that.
“Ailin!”
Seo Woo-jin caught her as she suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed, shouting her name.
But Ailin didn’t open her eyes.
Overwhelmed by the unbearable aura, convulsions wracked her body.
“W-Woo-jin!”
Kye Soo-ji bit her lip and called to Seo Woo-jin.
Her eyes asked what to do.
‘Damn.’
This must be the source of the ominous feeling from before.
Seo Woo-jin gently laid Ailin on the ground and looked at the heroes.
“Take care of Ailin. Things are probably chaos inside too, so look after them.”
“What about you, Uncle? You’re not thinking of going there, are you?”
Lee Ji-ah’s eyes widened.
The demonic energy they felt now was unimaginably vast.
Even Seo Woo-jin wouldn’t stand a chance against its source.
She tried to stop him, but he shook his head.
“I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”
“But you can’t go alone!”
As if refusing to let him go, she stood in front of him, arms spread wide.
Kim Da-hye felt the same.
Both seemed determined to block him by any means.
Seeing that, Seo Woo-jin smiled and spoke.
“Who said I’m going alone?”
“…Huh? But you told us to watch this place.”
Who else here was still sane besides the heroes?
“There’s one more. Someone stronger than you all. Right?”
Mid-sentence, Seo Woo-jin suddenly turned around.
Then a familiar voice replied.
“You’re right.”
It was Ban Slane.
He was walking toward the gates.
“I’ll go with you, so no need to worry. Instead, I’m leaving this place to you all.”
Ban Slane’s face was rigidly tense as he spoke.
* * *
“For something called the strongest demonic beast on the surface, it’s awfully small.”
Baek Si-woo remarked.
“Size and power don’t always correlate.”
The Lion snorted at his words.
“I know that, but it doesn’t look strong at all.”
Baek Si-woo eyed Kratoss before them.
The dragon with twelve heads lay dormant on the snowfield.
He’d called it small, but it was still at least five meters long.
Snow-white scales covered its body, matching the tundra, and an equal number of wings were neatly folded on its back.
“Interesting form, but still doesn’t seem strong.”
Was it because it was asleep?
Baek Si-woo felt no threat from Kratoss.
“It’s the kin of the Fourth Demon King. In the Great Descent War back then, the number of humans slain by Kratoss reached hundreds of thousands.”
“So what?”
Baek Si-woo scoffed at the Lion’s words.
“Ordinary people, whether hundreds of thousands or millions, mean nothing.”
He could do the same himself.
Even now, when the Lion deemed him still lacking.
“Anyway, we just need to hunt that thing, right?”
“Correct. Hunt Kratoss and take its essence… and you’ll gain a presence worthy of the king’s name.”
A grin spread across Baek Si-woo’s face.
It was chillingly cruel.
“Then no reason to hesitate. Let’s start right now.”
With a shing, his sword drew from its sheath.
It was the sword bestowed by the emperor, transformed into a demonic sword by demonic energy influence—a ‘Nameless Blade.’
“Don’t rush.”
Though Baek Si-woo seemed to underestimate it, the Lion didn’t relax.
Underestimating Kratoss would lead to irreversible disaster.
‘Even half its rumored power would make this a tough fight.’
The Lion slowly drew up demonic energy, awakening his senses.
“Hmm.”
Confirming it, Baek Si-woo circulated his own demonic energy.
Woooooong—
Their demonic energies resonated, growing in magnitude.
‘Still not enough.’
They needed maximum damage on the first strike.
Only then could the battle be somewhat manageable.
The Lion prepared meticulously without haste.
How much time passed?
He sensed Baek Si-woo’s patience wearing thin beside him.
Raising his demonic energy seemed to numb his reason.
‘Tch.’
The Lion clicked his tongue inwardly.
Dragging it out more might make Baek Si-woo strike first.
‘It’s a bit short, but… no choice.’
The Lion decided to launch the attack.
“When I give the signal, unleash your strongest skill.”
“Got it.”
Baek Si-woo nodded.
His face flushed as if ready to charge any second.
“Three, two, one…?”
The Lion’s eyes wavered during the countdown.
“What? Should I attack now?”
Baek Si-woo frowned at the odd reaction.
But the Lion couldn’t answer.
‘…Damn.’
Their eyes met.
Kratoss’s abyss-like black pupils, now awake, stared straight at him.
‘We’re dead!’
The rumors about Kratoss weren’t exaggerated.
It was a beast that perfectly embodied the title of surface’s strongest demonic beast.
An absolute existence he couldn’t beat alone.
But he wasn’t alone now.
“Attack!”
At the Lion’s shout, Baek Si-woo swung his sword.
‘Extreme Thunder Sky Chain.’
Lightning that could split the world crashed down on Kratoss.
Kurrrrrrumble—!
The Lion didn’t hold back either.
He unleashed all gathered demonic energy in a barrage at Kratoss.
And moments later,
From Kratoss erupted demonic energy vast enough to blanket the entire world.