Chapter 225
Chapter 225
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 225
Chapter Title: The Line of Rocks
-----------------------------------------------------------------
IPE-2 [Line of Rocks].
The site where Paju Central Hospital is located is Bongam-ri, Paju-eup, Paju-si.
It comes from combining the "봉" from beacon fire and "암" from rock, making Bongam-ri.
Before Paju Central Hospital was built in Bongam-ri, they say these pure white rocks you see in front of me now were lined up along the road.
"Because the rocks were lined up in a row, it was called the Line of Rocks. Over time, the name changed to Julawi, then Juraui, and that's the place name still used in Paju City today."
Anyway, it was originally called the Line of Rocks.
Even in the real world where I lived, there's a legend related to the Line of Rocks? A folktale, I suppose? Something like that remains.
****
One day, in Anak's dream, a rock appeared in the form of Maitreya and said, "If you stand me up, I'll grant your wish." Anak hurriedly came out and looked between the Line of Rocks, and sure enough, there was a rock shaped like a person lying down among them?
Anak took it for a stone Maitreya, stood it up, and offered prayers—
****
"And they say his wish came true."
Well, the legend itself isn't important. The problem is the insane setting of [Cthulhu World].
After the Great Collapse, some abyssal beings wormed their way into real-world landmarks, turning those places into their sanctuaries.
And this Juraui—no, the Line of Rocks—is a conduit bearing the traces of [The One Who Waits Silently].
With something like this in the hospital basement, it was able to unleash such absurd powers without any rituals, sacrifices, or mediums.
"It should be around here?"
I found the most special one among the rocks. The one shaped like a human...
There it is.
A rock in the shape of a human.
The madness embedded in my head must have registered this as a doll. That's why I couldn't recall its existence here.
"Damn it. In the end, I fell for basically the same pattern."
But now, my doll phobia is gone.
Thinking about what happened at Paju Samneung, once I leave this hospital, a new madness will probably take hold?
Either way, this is the moment when I can act the most freely.
"Hmm, but something feels off?"
Normally, just approaching this thing should have caused chaos.
"Hmm, I've come all this way, but no reaction?"
Is there some other ridiculous trap waiting?
I raised magic circles infused with protection, defense, and countermeasures for ambushes in all directions, but nothing trips any alarms.
'Nothing's here.'
In the end, I extend mana laced with detection, feeling over the rock. Starting from the surroundings, slowly—reaching the most dangerous one, shaped like a human...
It might be excessive caution, but considering what this bastard put me through, it's not enough.
After a meticulous analysis, I figured out why there's no reaction.
"Ah, you creepy bastard. You really squeezed out every last drop of power to screw me over?"
Just as I remembered, the Line of Rocks bears the influence and traces of [The One Who Waits Silently].
But that's it.
Not a single drop of mana remains.
It used its power so thriftily and meticulously just to drive me insane.
'If there had been even a medium, ritual, or sacrifice, it would've been even more dangerous.'
If I hadn't mobilized Yang Seoho to block their preparations in advance, it really would've gone according to their plan.
"In the end, I owe it to Yang Seoho."
Well done, Kim Shin-hwa. Excellent judgment.
And the Line of Rocks, with the abyssal being's influence lingering but all mana depleted—
"Heh heh heh, it's in a state I can do whatever I want with now?"
No mana left, but that's not a problem.
The influence remaining in this rock. I can make use of it.
Using the Line of Rocks, I can create a powerful weapon or spell unlike any before.
One that exerts strong effects not just against [The One Who Waits Silently], but against all things related to [Predator of the Mountains].
[System: Penalty trait 'Feast's Sacrifice' effect has activated.]
Grrrrrind—
The rocks lined up begin to shake little by little.
Chirrulk— chirrulk—
Grotesque bugs crawl out from between the rocks.
"What? A last-ditch struggle?"
Pathetic. For something summoned by an abyssal being, the power is far too weak. It's decayed to the point it can't even resist properly.
Snap—
I flicked my finger, activating magic toward the approaching bugs.
[Sacred Flame]
Roooar—
Pure white flames infused with exorcism power bloom in all directions.
Chirrulrk! Chieeeek!
If Paju Central Hospital weren't here, I probably couldn't have handled them this easily.
The true form of [The One Who Waits Silently], [Predator of the Mountains], or other related avatars might have appeared to lend power.
"Yeah, you bastards were truly vicious."
But with the hospital's barrier restored, there's no one left to lend it power.
Which means it's my turn.
"This time, I'll show you how tenacious and horrific I can be."
[SSS-grade accessory 'Embers of the Northern Rakshasa Sect's unique function, 'Trace of Extreme Flame' has activated.
// Trace of Extreme Flame: All flame-type magic effects increase by 100%.]
[Flames That Purify Sin]
[Coiling Flames]
[Blazing Fury]
[Ivenaga's Beacon Fire]
Roooaaar—
Adding to the pre-activated [Sacred Flame], five colors of flames shine.
The exact same method I used to seal [The Smiler] before. The five-colored flames I created suppress its influence and completely sever connections to other avatars.
"Hmm, activating this here won't be easy, but—"
New magic circles bloom in all directions.
This isn't normally a hard spell to cast—but this place is practically the heart of Paju Central Hospital's barrier, and I'm not in peak condition myself, so I had to force half the incantation.
Boom!
An explosion echoes from outside.
"Damn, they've already broken through? Gotta get out fast."
Enduring the throbbing headache, the magic I barely completed was—
[Gate Creation]
Screeeeech—
A small hole tears open in midair. And from beyond that hole comes...
"What? Kim Shin-hwa? What the hell are you doing?"
Cheongho's—no, [The Smiler]'s voice.
"Hey! Take this!"
Zzzzzap—
I extended mana, converted it to physical force, and pushed the core part of the Line of Rocks—the human-shaped rock—through the hole in midair.
"Me—me—using me like a trash can again!"
[The Smiler] vented frustration in Cheongho's voice, but fortunately, it responded to my will and did what I wanted.
Clatter, creak, crash, crunch, snap, crackle.
Black shadows and bones extend from the hole, beginning to drag the Line of Rocks in.
Shlooorp—
It was a hole less than half a handspan wide, but a rock bigger than an average person gets sucked in. Thanks to [The Smiler]'s help.
The gate that swallowed the rock... contracts rapidly. Overcapacity side effect? Before it fully closed, I said to [The Smiler],
"Good! Don't bully your new friend—get along!"
"Kim Shin—!"
I don't know what [The Smiler] wanted to say, but the gate shut, cutting off his words.
"Don't move! IPE-1789!"
"Freeze!"
"What the hell are you doing here!"
The suppression team made up of Paju Central Hospital nurses floods in. Wait a sec, now that I think about it—
"Hey, hear me out. If you guys had guarded this properly, I wouldn't have gone through all that trouble, right?"
"What?"
"So I took it to manage it for you. Got it?"
"Don't fall for the hypnosis! Just attack!"
"Huh? It's not hypnosis."
Anyway, time to escape.
I pulled out a pure white mask from my pocket. A small mask made from a water buffalo skull. [Reckless Destruction].
Bang bang bang bang!
[Distortion Field]
"Hey, attacking before I even transform is against the rules."
"B-bullets aren't working?"
"Out of the way! Going in for close combat!"
The ability users push past the gun-wielders and step forward.
"Ah, just wait a bit!"
I released the shrink spell on [Reckless Destruction] and pulled it over my head.
[S-grade accessory 'Reckless Destruction's unique function, 'Craving for Violence' has activated.
// Craving for Violence: For N minutes, Strength, Vitality, Agility stats +5(+N). Attack power increases, and close-combat proficiency skyrockets. (N randomly selected from 1~10.)]
[Rolling for Luck to determine N value.]
[Roll complete. N=9]
Black shadows wrap my body, and my height shoots up.
"Huh? Wha—what—?"
"Th-that's..."
The nurses falter, stunned by the instant change. Feeling a light thrill and excitement, I said slowly,
"Alright. I'll break through in 9 minutes."
[Bull's Charge]
[Lion's Valor]
[Bear's Willpower]
Last time, I couldn't control it properly because of that weird thing wriggling in my head, but not this time.
Over days of dreams, I bound that guy in my mind, rendering it immobile.
[Protection Circle]
The nurses charged to subdue me, but I met them head-on, wrapped in my own protection circle.
Boooom!
Nurses fly in all directions.
"Argh!"
"Yeah, get out of the way, you lot!"
I roughly disrupted their formation, then unleashed magic in all directions.
[Inject Fear]
[Limb Atrophy]
[Vision Deprivation]
Simple spells, but effective at neutralizing enemies. And—
[Create: Pure Water]
[Torrent]
Kawhooooosh— spiiiish!
A massive volume of water and a high-pressure wave surge through the narrow hallway. They're tough customers anyway, so a bit rough won't hurt them much.
Booom!
There were a few more resistances after, but nothing major.
* * *
[Craving for Violence effect has ended. Reuse cooldown: 86,400 seconds]
Exactly 9 minutes, as declared.
I look up at the sky, and there's a mesmerizingly beautiful moon.
Finally out of the hospital.
The effect's gone, but I'm still wearing [Reckless Destruction] as I ride my skateboard, speeding along.
"Whew—did I make it out?"
When your body's tough, you can bulldoze through plans and schemes with raw power alone.
"Yeah, no need for high intelligence. Health and strength are king."
No, no. Can't let my guard down yet.
[Mirror Image]
[Spell Enhancement: Multi-cast]
[Spell Enhancement: Range Increase]
Illusions mimicking me pop up everywhere and start running. Insane speed. Of course, I can't run that fast.
"Over there!"
"Chase it!"
Fierce shouts from afar.
Other nurses joining late. They look stronger than the ones I faced earlier. The main force?
"Whew, those guys are no joke."
Thanks to Iha-seo and Gong Isu's pre-setup, I could slip out easily.
I maxed out the skateboard's speed to put as much distance as possible.
[You...]
"Ugh, here it comes."
The message window blocks my view.
[You had to endure horrors at Paju Central Hospital. You withstood the abyssal beings' worst catastrophe and madness, and even, if briefly and unintentionally, lived as a patient confined to the closed ward.]
"Yeah, you bastard, it was insanely tough."
[But with the help of your newly acquired allies, you overcame all those trials, secured a weapon against the abyssal beings, and escaped the perilous closed ward of Paju Central Hospital.]
Allies? Gong Isu makes sense, but is Iha-seo being counted as one now?
[You have escaped 'Paju Central Hospital's Closed Ward.' Experience gained.]
[You have accumulated enough experience to reach the next level. Level increased by 1.]
Experience starts rolling in. I took down a truly massive number of enemies this time. Expecting hefty rewards.