Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Translator: Penny
Chapter 49
Han Yoo-seong hurled himself over the wall.
In his left hand, he gripped a black javelin.
His body descended like a bolt of lightning, activating his Defensive Aura across his entire form.
Mana Body Reinforcement Lv. 10 - Skill activated.
To the eyes of the Players, Swordsmen, and soldiers, it appeared as if a blinding white lightning strike had descended.
He hurled the black javelin.
His target: the core of Kabaraks.
Clang!
The javelin failed to pierce Kabaraks' shell and was deflected away.
Han Yoo-seong's expression remained unchanged.
He had never intended to achieve any significant result with this strike.
It was merely an attempt to disorient the creature.
The twenty-four eyes on Kabaraks' head fixed on Han Yoo-seong's descent.
Thud.
Han Yoo-seong's feet landed squarely on Kabaraks' armor-like shell.
In that instant—
Pshhhhh!
Scalding steam, hot enough to sear human flesh, erupted from Kabaraks' body.
But it had no effect on Han Yoo-seong, who had deployed an impenetrable Defensive Aura.
White Sword Aura flashed from Mundum Extinguite in Han Yoo-seong's right hand.
A dense, net-like web of sword energy enveloped Kabaraks' massive form.
Watching Han Yoo-seong's movements, Kim Ju-eun murmured, "Dual-wielding...?"
The black sword, previously held only in his right hand, now appeared in his left as well.
Adversary Sword Karnavalt and Mundum Extinguite relentlessly struck Kabaraks' head.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Fragments of White Sword Aura filled the air like a dazzling shower of sparks.
Han Yoo-seong's sword strikes began tearing through Kabaraks' twenty-four eyes with ruthless precision.
Kabaraks thrashed wildly, spewing countless strands of spider silk, but every strand was instantly severed by the twin swords wielded by Han Yoo-seong.
The same fate awaited the swarm of scythe-like legs that surged toward him. Each attack was deflected by the impenetrable barrier of sword aura Han Yoo-seong unleashed with both hands.
Cracks began to spiderweb across Kabaraks' carapace under the relentless assault of Han Yoo-seong's sword aura.
Kaga-gak!
The eyes densely packed across its skull were effortlessly hacked to pieces, blinding the creature.
Despite being Fourth-Tier sword aura, the reason Kabaraks' carapace and exoskeleton shattered was because Han Yoo-seong had systematically severed every single eye.
Those watching the battle from the city walls stood speechless, their mouths agape as they witnessed the carnage unfold.
"...He's different. He's not the kind of person whose skills I can gauge."
The German woman, Lena Vogel, realized that Han Yoo-seong was beyond her ability to assess.
Information.
Han Yoo-seong was keenly aware of the power of the information he had received from his seniors at the Transcendent Gallery.
- Sword of Light) Your sword aura might be able to cut through Kabaraks' shell to some extent, but completely severing it will be difficult.
- Sword of Light) The source of Kabaraks' enhanced defense lies in the twenty-four eyes that float clearly around it. If you completely blind it, the shell will shatter more easily than you think.
- Sword of Light) When you try to slice the eyes, scorching steam will erupt from the gaps in its body. Block it with your Defensive Aura. Wrap layers of the aura around yourself.
[ - Scum Sword Saint ] The reason Kabaraks are so difficult for swordsmen to face isn't just that crushing their heads doesn't kill them.
[ - Scum Sword Saint ] Crushing their heads makes the body's shell crumble more easily. You need to follow that order of destruction. That's the strategy.
[ - Scum Sword Saint ] And even if you pierce Kabarak's black heart within the shattered shell, it won't end things with a simple stab.
[ - Sword of Light ] A simple stab will just cause the heart to split into multiple fragments throughout the body. Moments later, in the blink of an eye, the shattered shell and skeleton will regenerate—no, they'll reconstruct themselves even stronger than before, reinforced with Mana Body Reinforcement.
[ - Sword of Light ] That's why when you pierce the heart, you must use a White Sword Aura explosion to completely obliterate it.
The shattered shell of the body.
As Han Yoo-seong prepared to finish his attack, channeling his sword aura one last time,
Whoosh!
The two Kabaraks flanking him spat webs with enough force to blanket the sky, aiming at Han Yoo-seong as he tore through their comrade's body.
Simultaneously swinging his swords horizontally, Han Yoo-seong intercepted the webs at close range, unleashing a palpable aura of murderous intent from his entire being.
"Wait."
This was no mere warning aura to keep the Players in line, as he had used earlier. This was a killing intent so raw and undeniable that it transcended mere hostility.
Creak-
"......"
Creak-
"......"
Finding their webs ineffective, the two Kabaraks froze in their tracks, abandoning their attempts to move their mandibles and legs under the weight of his overwhelming presence.
It felt as if a murderous intent, far more intricate than the spiderweb they had just spewed, was crawling across their bodies.
This eerie aura forced them to freeze in place.
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Having halted the Kabaraks' charge with his murderous intent, Han Yoo-seong refocused on the prey before him.
Through the shattered carapace, a sinister black heart pulsed ominously.
After sheathing the Adversary Sword in his inventory, Han Yoo-seong wreathed Mundum Extinguite in a tempestuous White Sword Aura.
He unleashed the condensed aura in a single, explosive burst.
The Dragon Slayer Sword Art's sword aura erupted in a vortex of destruction.
콰과과과과과과광!
With a deafening roar, Kabaraks' body collapsed into a flattened heap.
The explosive sword aura had instantly annihilated Kabaraks' heart, leaving no chance for survival.
"...Such potent sword aura from just two blades. And hunting Kabaraks alone... just who is he?"
Jerado, a Third-Tier Knight, muttered as he watched the swift demise of a Kabaraks.
Though his voice was low, it carried to the ears of both NPCs and Players alike.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Matthew's body trembled violently.
Fear.
The source of his terror wasn't the Kabaraks, but Han Yoo-seong.
What kind of monster did I just get beaten by?
Before the Exchange Meeting ended, he had planned to get back at Han Yoo-seong, who had crushed his pride.
But the battle Han Yoo-seong had just demonstrated instantly made him abandon that plan.
"Everyone, snap out of it! This man possesses the power to defeat a Kabarak alone! Assist him! Fire your arrows!" Jerado shouted.
At Jerado's command, the soldiers who had been staring blankly at Han Yoo-seong sprang into action.
Han Yoo-seong had already proven he could take down a Kabarak single-handedly.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
With soldiers firing arrows from the ramparts, throwing short spears, and providing support with siege catapults, there was no way he could fail.
Two consecutive explosions of White Sword Aura erupted.
Thus, the lives of three Kabaraks were extinguished.
Level Up!
Lv. 37 → Lv. 38
Jerado, who had watched Han Yoo-seong's victory with a dazed expression, raised his sword and shouted, "Everyone, descend and begin reclaiming the area outside the castle walls!"
Han Yoo-seong shook off the thick, blue blood clinging to his sword and face. It was Kabarak blood.
As he leaned against a massive tree to rest, a group of people approached him.
"Forgive my rudeness, Great Swordsman," Jerado said, bowing deeply.
Han Yoo-seong tilted his head, puzzled. "Great Swordsman? What are you talking about?"
"The power you displayed just now could only be demonstrated by a swordsman of at least Fifth-Tier level."
Jerado's gaze shifted to the Kabaraks, the spiders that had rampaged until they were on the verge of breaching the city walls.
He had never dreamed they could so completely eliminate three of these creatures before the mages even arrived.
"I want to reward you somehow. I'll speak to the Lord about..."
Han Yoo-seong raised his right hand, cutting Jerado off.
Han Yoo-seong's brow twitched.
He couldn't help it.
The number of Players participating in the Exchange Meeting, displayed at the far right edge of his vision, had changed.
9
The number had clearly decreased by one from its original value of 10.
Kim Ju-eun approached Han Yoo-seong with a stiff expression.
Kim Ju-eun's lips parted.
"...Could this be...?"
Not just Kim Ju-eun, but all six others besides Han Yoo-seong were staring at him.
Han Yoo-seong clicked his tongue.
"Since there are seven of us here, all still breathing, that means one of the three Players who were tracking the spider controller must have died."
Death at the Exchange Meeting.
It was no different from dying while climbing the Tower's floors.
In all Exchange Meeting themes except the "Duel" theme, death was real.
A variable.
Whether the spider controller had killed the Player or the Players had killed each other.
It also meant there was no time to waste.
Han Yoo-seong looked at Jerado.
"Do you know where the one controlling those things is?"
His urgent tone made him slip into informal speech, but no one questioned it.
Jerado was surprised by a different aspect.
"You don't think they're invading of their own volition?"
"Right."
Jerado pointed toward the forest behind them.
"If there's a controlling entity... an Insectomancer, they'll be in that forest."
"You don't know where in the forest, do you?"
The forest. That was already known information.
Information provided by the notification window.
The new information was the term "Insectomancer."
"No, I'm sorry. Insectomancers are said to be able to conceal all traces of their presence in the forest, becoming like ghosts if they choose."
The only option was to enter the forest.
Han Yoo-seong scanned the six Players.
"We'll scout the forest in five minutes. Everyone, prepare your weapons."
All eyes turned to Han Yoo-seong's crimson mask, and they nodded urgently, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Using the Binding Talisman's hidden effect, Veil of Secrets, to slightly distort his appearance, Han Yoo-seong pulled out his Transcendent Gallery terminal.
Title: I killed three Kabaraks, but a Player died at the hands of the one controlling them.
Author: ᄋᄋ*
- We started with seven on our side and three chasing the controller, so I assumed the controller would be weak. Or did a Player PK them?
I asked a Third-Tier Knight, and they said if there's a controller, it's likely an Insectomancer. Is that right?
ㄴ Shrine Maiden: Insectomancer or PK, both are possible.
ㄴ Elf: ᄋᄋ I think the former is more likely.
ㄴ Ghost Elf: Looks like the Ghost Elf finally came back.
ㄴ Elf: Managing the World Tree is too much work... too many people and too much time.
ㄴ High Elf: The High Elf just declared managing the World Tree too bothersome! ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ Elf: So, is it bothersome or not? Huh? Why are the standards for Elves always so strict?!
Murder! Murder! Occurring! Occurring!
Usually, in missions that start with players scattered like this, no one would recklessly engage in PK. Even lunatics try to assess the situation first.
Hmm, from the perspective of the guy who killed three Kabaraks, the Insectomancer might seem incredibly weak.
I knew killing them was possible, but I never thought he'd actually wipe them all out.
That guy's defense and durability are insane.
Sword of Light: Well done.
Archmage: A variable. We need to quickly assess the situation and clean this up.
YY*: Is the Insectomancer a type of mage too?
Archmage: Yeah. Technically, they're a type of Black Mage. They don't have any particular weaknesses... their combat power depends on how strong or weak the insects they control are. Of course, their pure spellcasting skill also matters.
Archmage: Just focus on maintaining your Defensive Aura.
N (Easy Mode) O
N (Absolute Monarch) Are the other Players cooperating better now?
N (Easy Mode) O They seem to be listening more willingly now.
N After I beat one of them to a pulp and completely annihilated the three Kabaraks that were originally meant to be repelled, they had no choice but to listen.
N Refusing to cooperate in this situation? That's just the act of a crazy bastard whose guts have spilled out of his stomach!
N They've lost their minds.
N (Dragon King) Beltui- You're absolutely right, ooh!
N (Ice Queen) Freeze! If the one controlling the Kabaraks was killed, the remaining two Players must be fleeing for their lives right now! Finding them would be the fastest way to proceed! Freeze!
N (Easy Mode) O We should do that.
I shared the Ice Queen's senior's opinion.
I stowed the terminal in my Inventory.
All six Players seemed to have finished preparing to depart.
"Let's go."