Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Other Side World (6)
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Flashes of light shot up from the four cardinal directions: east, west, south, and north.
Having confirmed that all four sub-cores were destroyed...
Now, all that remained was to smash the main core lurking somewhere in the center.
The method to find the main core was the same as for the sub-cores.
Seek out the thickest concentration of demonic energy.
But this time, there was no need for a thorough search.
With all the sub-cores destroyed, the main core was broadcasting its own location.
The sub-cores had only revealed their demonic mist once you'd gotten relatively close.
In contrast, the main core lived up to its name, spewing out an enormous amount of demonic energy that blanketed the central area in a vast fog.
Its radius spanned a full kilometer.
Inside the fog, the concentration of demonic energy grew denser the farther in you went, making that 1km radius feel incredibly vast.
And we had to plunge right into it—but aside from the lead characters and Park Garam, everyone was still clumsy at coating their bodies with mana.
As for me, my mana reserves were so pitiful that I couldn't coat myself at all.
But that wasn't a problem.
We had Noah, the heretic inquisitor and saint, with us.
"Now that everyone's gathered, let's go over the plan."
The fifteen people standing before me.
We were currently outside the main core's demonic energy radius.
Originally, we were supposed to regroup at our initial assembly point after destroying all the sub-cores.
But that spot happened to be inside the fog, so we'd fired off another flare to rally here instead.
Anyway, I began explaining the main core strategy I'd mapped out in my head.
"First off, the demonic fog surrounding the main core covers about a 1km radius. And just like with the sub-cores, the deeper you go inside, the thicker the demonic energy gets."
Which was why, I added, glancing at Noah.
"We need priestly protection."
At the mention of protection, Noah's lips curved into a relieved smile.
"Perfect. I just so happen to have a defensive holy art called Protection."
...That's not all he knows.
In truth, Noah had mastered most holy arts.
But he lied like this partly to hide her status as a saint and heretic inquisitor.
And partly to pass as just another academy student.
Too late for that, though.
If he'd wanted to play it low-key, he shouldn't have shown her true power in yesterday's spar with Park Garam and Arthur.
That earnest prayer punch summoning heavenly light, and holding her own against Arthur even briefly—my entire 1-A class now saw him as 'Noah, the mysterious powerhouse priest with secrets!'
The only one oblivious was Noah herself.
Anyway... with Noah's buffs and protection, we could push through the main core's fog without issue.
"Alright, then. Next, the monsters we'll face inside."
Once we entered the fog, we'd first encounter zombies and ghouls.
Easy enough to handle, so moving on.
"Around 500m in, the demonic density spikes, and new monsters start showing up."
"New monsters... You mean those mimic ghouls that copy our appearances?"
"Exactly. They're called copycat ghouls. They lurk in the shadows, wait for the group to scatter, then disguise themselves as one of us and attack."
Copycat ghouls.
First-timers like Park Garam or Im Da-hee might panic, but countermeasures were simple.
Demonic beasts like them couldn't use mana.
That's why I'd demonstrated my abilities earlier.
"With Noah's protection this time, spotting them will be a breeze."
No holy barrier coating their body in the fog?
100% copycat ghoul.
"Next, at 300m. That's where super ghouls—transformed superhumans—start appearing. But no need to worry much."
They were ghouls, but as former superhumans, they wielded their old abilities.
Why no big worry? Their power was only 30% of their living strength.
"Finally, the last 100m. That's where you really watch out."
Closest to the main core, demonic density at its peak.
Like the crushing depths of the ocean.
"And there'll be an Abomination—a grotesque beast made of corpses."
Abominations.
A type of golem formed from bodies.
True to golem nature, they wouldn't die without removing their core.
And with zombies and ghouls around, they'd absorb them for self-repair—tricky bastards.
Still, I wasn't concerned.
Self-repair or not...
Just blow 'em up.
"That's the end of the monster rundown. Now, gear up with this equipment."
I said that and started pulling items from my inventory.
"...I've thought this since we met, but Lee Yoo-jin, you're incredibly prepared."
Noah gazed admiringly at the gear piling up on the ground.
"Guilty as charged."
I flashed a grin at her reaction and confirmed it.
"Once everyone's got theirs, suit up."
At my order, they began equipping the gear.
Tactical vests, lanterns (standard), light sticks, grenade belts (5 shock grenades, 5 flashbangs).
Fully geared, they looked like a special forces unit.
Well, no guns, but these aspiring heroes were superhumans—reserve spec ops it was.
Ahh, what a sight. Perfect.
I nodded proudly, thinking that.
"Alright, prepped and ready."
I slung the rifle strap over my shoulder.
Noah channeled holy power, buffing and protecting everyone.
Weapons in hand.
Watching them, I racked the rifle bolt.
Click.
"Time to head back to the academy."
With that, we plunged into the demonic fog.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The pitch-black fog, thick with demonic energy.
Sixteen beams of light sliced through the darkness within.
- Kieeeek!
Monsters in the shadows charged the light sources.
But bullets struck first, exploding heads or hurling bodies back.
Ratta-tatta-tat!
Gunfire echoed through the space.
Kwachik! Kwajik!
Boom! Kwaang! Kwaaaang!
Followed by slashes, splits, and blasts ringing out nonstop.
We carved through zombies swarming from all sides, sprinting full tilt toward the main core.
Of course, "full tilt" was by my standards.
Real full speed? Im Da-hee and the leads would've reached it ages ago.
But with the whole group, we couldn't let anyone lag—everyone matched pace.
And so, as we ran...
"Wait, why are we running again?"
"Copycat ghouls!"
"Check!"
Ratta-tatta-tat!
- Kieeeek?!
We hit the 500m mark, copycat territory.
- Let's... all go... together...
"Super ghoul!"
"Light!"
Fwaaah!
- One... Kraaagh!
300m, super ghouls.
Regular zombies and ghouls thinned out.
Replaced by swarms of variants and fog so thick it turned the stomach.
Finally, the main core appeared—identical to sub-cores but massively larger.
And with it...
- Kraaaaaagh!
An Abomination guarding it blocked our path.
Make that...
not just one.
- Kieeeek!
- Kraaaaa!
- Krrraaagh!
Three more.
"What the—variables?"
Normally, just one Abomination here.
Four? Classic game random event.
One reason for so many early retries.
But now?
Variables meant nothing.
"Group up by your squads!"
Instantly, Park Garam and Im Da-hee stuck to me; others scattered to form teams.
Without a word, each squad claimed an Abomination.
- Kraaaaaagh!
Ours was the leftmost—5m tall, Hulk-like bulk from endless corpses.
"...Ugh, gross!"
Park Garam grimaced at the horror and hurled a fireball.
Boom, kwaang!
Chunks of corpse-body flew off from the blast.
Surface damage only—no real harm.
Fine by me.
It slowed the charge.
And Park Garam wasn't aiming to kill anyway.
"...N-Number one! L-Left shoulder!"
"Got it!"
To find the core.
"Im Da-hee, throw!"
"...Hup!"
My signal, and she hurled her spear with all her might.
Target: Abomination core.
Kwachik!
It pierced.
- Kraaaaaagh!
It wailed in agony.
But held.
Foolish thing.
Normally, her spear tip would spark with electricity.
Not now.
Something else coiled around it.
Click.
My grenade belt.
Bang!
Muzzle flash.
A bullet nailed a grenade pin.
Ting...!
Pin pulled clean.
Then...
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
Massive shockwave. Abomination shredded.
Im Da-hee's spear too, of course.
"Cheap spear anyway. No biggie."
Her face said otherwise—pouting.
...Gotta get her a good one later.
As I thought that, other squads finished theirs.
Lee Seo-yeon and Arthur's: bisected core-first.
Noah's: vanished in light. No trace.
"All clear!"
...Not me.
Situation not over—no way I'd jinx it.
But core next, so let it slide.
"Almost done! Just the main core!"
I bolted toward it; everyone followed.
100m away.
Closed in seconds.
Thump! Thump!
Psssh... psssh...
Core pulsed like a heartbeat, spewing demonic energy.
Just looking sickened me.
My inner mana raged: Destroy it now.
Way ahead of you.
I ordered the kids back, circled the core, dumping every grenade and mine from inventory.
Emptied out, I led them far back.
Click.
Grenade launcher raised, trigger finger itching.
Then...
Iiiii'm cooooooming!
"Wh-what?!"
"Something's dropping from above!"
Heads snapped skyward at the roar.
Mine too.
What variable crashes the finale?
Shock short-lived.
I panicked for another reason.
"I-Instructor?!"
"I-Instructor Kang Cheol-su!"
The roar? Kang Cheol-su.
But his drop trajectory...
"...No!"
Straight onto my grenade- and mine-laden core.
Here I coooooome!
Voice closer.
Then...
He appeared.
Landed on the core.
And...
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
A spectacular explosion erupted.