Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Muspelheim
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Magic bullets formed from mana fired dozens of shots per second.
The firing rate was far faster than any real rifle.
Pabababap-!
Their power was overwhelmingly superior too—anything hit by the bullets began to disintegrate.
Literally disintegrate.
Not just the ceiling, walls, and floor, but even the monsters charging toward them...
Their bones separated from flesh, holes riddled their bodies, and they collapsed into unrecognizable forms.
"...A gun?"
Startled by the sudden roar, Seong Yura swallowed hard and turned to Kim Dahye.
Honestly, taking down a few monsters was no big deal.
Seong Yura could melt them away faster and cleaner than Kim Dahye ever could.
But that aside, the sight of Kim Dahye firing a gun shocked her.
"You, what are you?"
Seong Yura didn't know much about Kim Dahye.
No, she had little interest in most heroes except her friends.
Especially not a mere C-rank like Kim Dahye.
Thanks to that, she was only now learning that the girl used a gun.
"I'm Kim Dahye."
Kim Dahye nodded as she answered.
Though that wasn't exactly what Seong Yura had wanted to hear.
"You're weird."
Seong Yura frowned at Kim Dahye's blank eyes and expression.
"I'm not weird."
"...You are."
Was it some uneasy feeling?
Seong Yura took a step back.
But Kim Dahye seemed oblivious to the reaction, merely tilting her head.
"Hey, where are the people you came with?"
"I don't know."
That answer convinced Seong Yura.
The girl in front of her was an idiot.
Otherwise, she wouldn't act like this.
'Of all people, I run into her.'
She didn't show it, but Seong Yura had been wandering the ruins alone for over ten days now.
Just like Seo Woojin, she'd been separated from her friends the moment she entered.
Her superhuman body let her endure without food or water.
But the emptiness of being utterly alone brought her profound loneliness and anxiety.
Her mind hadn't matured as much as her body...
So honestly, spotting Kim Dahye at first had thrilled her a bit.
She wasn't a friend, which was disappointing, but at least she wouldn't be alone anymore.
Yet the more she looked, the weirder the girl's state seemed.
'Look at her, just spacing out again.'
Except when answering questions, she kept staring blankly into space.
She seemed like a hassle to deal with.
But Seong Yura didn't want to ditch her.
She'd been alone too long for that.
"Hey, follow me."
Seong Yura snapped and started walking ahead.
Kim Dahye naturally fell in step behind her.
Through the endless empty corridor.
* * *
1. Spatial anomalies.
2. Time dilation.
3. Monsters.
Seo Woojin began sorting through what he'd grasped so far in his mind.
'The layout and positions inside the ruins shift periodically.'
It felt like once every two or three hours, by his senses.
But he didn't yet know the pattern.
'And time flows differently.'
If Im Tae-eun was right, time inside the ruins flowed dozens of times faster than outside.
And...
'The monsters are too weak.'
He'd encountered about a dozen so far.
Some devil-like ones at first, others common types seen outside.
Nothing he couldn't handle easily—but even accounting for that, they were pathetically weak.
He'd used skills, not basic attacks, yet none survived even one hit.
For monsters in ruins that toyed with time and space, they were far too feeble.
'On the flip side, the experience is pouring in.'
Each kill filled him with an immense sense of fulfillment.
He'd just gained three levels from Burtel, and already he felt on the verge of another level-up.
'This pace is faster than bus runs.'
Of course, Seo Woojin had zero bus experience...
But it was clear: this beat northern subjugations by miles for growth speed.
"No, no. Find the others first."
He shook his head suddenly.
Hunting here would level him fast.
But levels weren't the priority now.
He had to escape this bizarre ruin.
Not just his team, but the knights including Ludein.
Bonus if he found the elite friends too.
"Alright, enough thinking. Time to move."
Seo Woojin marked his spot with his sword and stepped forward.
Or tried to.
Kwaduk-!
If not for the massive crack suddenly splitting the nearby wall.
Kwaduduk-!
He tensed, sword raised, as the crack widened.
Then...
With a boom, one wall collapsed.
"...What now?"
A monster.
'Or is it even alive?'
Emerging from the hole was a massive lump of flesh.
Like dozens of people mashed together like clay.
"Ugh."
The stench of blood and filth nearly made him vomit.
Geeeeek-
Spotting him, the flesh lump lumbered forward slowly.
Dozens of heads and limbs twisted wildly, preventing proper movement.
But...
One arm suddenly stretched toward his head.
Kwaaang-!
The wall behind exploded.
Seo Woojin, who'd relaxed at its slow speed, recoiled in shock and raised his sword.
'Couldn't react.'
Unlike its sluggish movement, the attack was lightning-fast.
A direct hit would've taken his head clean off.
'Nothing like the others.'
The monsters he'd faced before were just exp fodder despite looks.
But this grotesque lump was different.
He'd nearly died for real.
'Stronger than Draycas.'
Maybe on par with Burtel.
'One mistake, and I'm dead.'
Chills raced across his skin.
He heightened his focus, observing the flesh lump.
Then he spotted something and groaned.
"That person..."
Among the dozens of buried heads, a familiar face.
"A knight?"
No conversations, but definitely one who'd entered with him.
Only one implication.
"A monster made from the knights?"
Faint metal glimpses were surely knight armor.
All that tissue—from the knights.
"What the hell happened?"
Nothing made sense.
But no time for pondering.
Kieeek-!
Another attack.
With a slice, the charging flesh was severed.
'I see it!'
Focused now, unlike before, he barely blocked.
The severed chunk writhed on the floor before rotting away.
'Tough durability.'
Even a full mana-infused swing cut only a tiny bit.
Not just speed—its resilience made it deadlier.
"Kuh!"
Like some pirate king wannabe from Japanese comics, it endlessly extended its body.
Luckily, only simple straight-line attacks, easy enough to parry.
Sweat still beaded his forehead.
Kwang- Kwang-!
The sheer speed and power.
No room for counterattacks.
Even with 'Aura' and 'Acceleration', defense was all he could manage.
This way, he'd tire first and fall.
He parried another chest-aimed arm, then swung.
Skek-
A tiny scratch on it.
But flesh around it swallowed it, healing instantly.
Regeneration dwarfing trolls.
Yet no fear on Seo Woojin's face.
No—the longer the fight, the more he smirked, like it was perfect.
"Let's see..."
He retreated slightly for distance after blocking.
Quickly scanned around.
Still endless corridors, no other traces.
Just him and the flesh lump.
Confirming that, he deep-breathed and glared.
"No audience... perfect."
Seo Woojin had powers he never showed others.
Skills.
Except a few Sword Soldier ones, all sealed, never used.
Risked suspicion like with Sword Sage Dariel.
Most were alien, like 'Abyss'.
He'd avoided eyesores till now.
'But I'm alone.'
Prime chance to test new skills.
"Muspelheim."
Hwarrrruk-!
The fiery realm from Norse myth.
A massive blaze engulfed him, fitting the name.
But not normal flames.
Black, like 'Black Flame'.
The destructive madness and menace within even shook him, the user.
Bububle-
Surroundings boiled, unable to withstand.
Marble floors, even the flesh lump.
Everything but him burned literally.
"Round two."
He kicked off.
Pusshik-!
Floor steamed and melted underfoot.
His form flashed before the lump.
Arms exploded outward.
He didn't defend.
They melted before reaching, leaving no ash.
He raised his sword.
Black flames climbed his body, wrapping the blade.
Hellfire forged into sword shape?
The burning sword fell from above.
Like pronouncing execution.