Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Enchantress (4)
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『That goddamn little shit—!』
To the Enchantress, beauty was everything.
For her, those words—"You're ugly"—were more insulting and lethal than every curse in the world combined.
In an instant, her rage gauge filled to the brim from a single taunt.
『How dare you... how dare you...!』
But the taunt worked a bit too well.
The Enchantress ignored Lee Seo-yeon completely, focusing solely on me.
Shwaaash!
The tentacles thrashed wildly, resonating with their master's fury.
Every inch of my body stung.
Red lines like tangled threads filled my vision, targeting my entire body.
I kicked off the ground and leaped back.
Boom boom!
I fired my guns relentlessly.
Yet the tentacle storm drew closer.
'Damn it, I can't even use grenades!'
I wanted to blast a shock grenade like in training to create distance.
But unless it was a Holy Grenade (A+), a regular one couldn't repel or damage her tentacles.
And detonating a Holy Grenade would make me explode along with them.
...No choice. I'd have to call for help.
"Lee Seo-yeon, help!"
She was just about to sever a tentacle when she kicked off the ground without hesitation and rushed to me.
She shoved me behind her like a guardian knight, blocking the tentacle storm.
Clang clang clang!
"Don't bring those filthy things near Lee Yoo-jin."
Her sword repelled the tentacles amid her coldest voice yet, laced with contempt.
But the Enchantress paid her no mind.
Her bloodshot reverse eyes fixed only on me.
『You called me ugly—!』
The Enchantress bellowed in rage-filled fury.
I never said ugly. I said not pretty.
But thinking back, maybe I was too kind.
"Your face goes boom.".
『......What.』
The Enchantress froze for a moment.
Seeing the opening, Lee Seo-yeon and I thrust our swords and fired at vital spots.
Clang!
But our ambush failed.
The tentacles, frozen alongside her, sensed the danger and blocked our attacks.
『Y-You...!』
The Enchantress trembled violently.
The shock of "Your face goes boom" left her speechless.
But only briefly.
『...You fucking bastard—!!』
She unleashed demonic energy in a furious roar.
Boom!
The sudden demonic blast hurled Lee Seo-yeon and me backward.
We didn't just fly helplessly.
Lee Seo-yeon hurled sword beams.
I transferred grenades like Hansel dropping pebbles in the fairy tale.
Plop plop plop.
Silver-glowing grenades fell at intervals instead of shiny stones.
I hit the ground, righted myself, and shouted to Lee Seo-yeon.
"Lee Seo-yeon, sword barrier!"
"Got it!"
As soon as I called, she plunged her sword into the ground.
Vmmm!
A barrier barely large enough to shield us appeared before us.
It was enough. I fired from behind it.
Boom boom!
Blue lightning bolts shot upward with thunder, then curved toward my target and plunged down.
Boom!
The bullet struck a grenade, detonating it.
Chain explosions followed at set intervals.
Boom boom boom boom!
『...Aaaagh!』
The raging Enchantress screamed in agony.
Having abandoned regeneration, her body was fragile.
Unlike before, damage hit her full force now.
『Agh! Aaaagh—!』
Whoosh, crackle!
White holy flames ignited on her body.
Holy power blazed fiercely, devouring the demonic.
To amplify it, I transferred grenades in front of her—enough not to hit the outpost.
As I pulled the trigger...
『...Lee Yoo-jiiiin—!!』
She screamed my name with hatred and rage.
Boom!
The explosion erupted, and she vanished.
I knew she wasn't dead.
She vanished just a fraction before the blast.
But I wasn't worried about where she'd gone or reappeared.
Talent: Sharpshooter's Keen Sense (A+) effect: 'Real-time tracking and action detection of detected enemies via killing intent.'
It showed her position clearly.
"Phew."
I exhaled slowly, easing tension.
I prepared to respond anytime, tracking her via the talent.
Whoosh whoosh!
She circled us like a car speeding by.
Red lines in my vision appeared and vanished as she pondered her attack.
Suddenly, my mind dulled, body grew languid.
Pre-attack charm.
No worry. We were inside Noah's holy barrier.
Enhanced by the holy spear's effect.
Vmmm.
A warm, cozy sensation dispelled the charm.
I pretended to be charmed anyway.
Blank face, arms limp.
She appeared instantly.
I transferred a grenade right in front of her.
"Stupid bitch."
『......What!』
She gasped in horror, sucking in breath.
Tried to retreat hastily.
But my shot detonated the grenade first.
Boom!
『Kieeeek—!』
She screamed, flung backward.
Splat.
Something hit the ground where she'd been.
Her left arm lay there.
"Ah... just one arm?"
I thought it'd kill or cripple her at point-blank.
Named monsters were tough.
Weakened by the holy barrier and my talent Demon Hunter's Secret Technique (A) passive Demon Hunt (Demonic enemies' stats -20%), yet her top-tier durability held.
『Kyaaaagh—!』
She clutched her severed shoulder, screaming louder than ever.
I tilted my head.
Why such a fuss over one arm? She was used to dismemberment as a Fallen.
The reason revealed itself.
Crackle whoosh!
White flames surged from the shoulder she clutched.
Holy power had invaded only there.
'Oh... found a weakness.'
Crunch!
Unable to endure, she tore off her own shoulder.
'Ah, too bad.'
Left alone, holy power would've purified her slowly.
Regretfully, I transferred a grenade to her shoulder spot.
But she vanished before detonation.
『Lee Yoo-jiiiin—! You at least—! You at leeeast—!!』
Her enraged voice echoed everywhere.
Killing intent crushed me.
『Dieeee—!!』
She reappeared before me, roaring.
I chuckled dryly.
"Losing an arm hit that hard?"
Enough to charge openly?
"Well, thanks anyway."
I grinned, transferring grenades front and back.
Her tentacles lunged at me ferociously.
They never touched.
"You can't touch a hair on Lee Yoo-jin's head."
Lee Seo-yeon guarded me like an iron wall.
『You fucking bitch—! Fine, die with him—!!』
The Enchantress raged at Lee Seo-yeon.
Her sword danced brilliantly, repelling tentacles.
Clang clang clang!
Metal clashed, orange sparks flashing in the air.
『Why won't you yield! Why... why—!』
Unable to pierce her defense unlike before, the Enchantress cried out in confusion.
Lee Seo-yeon replied.
"Lee Yoo-jin is behind me."
So I can't retreat.
...My face burned.
Felt like the heroine protected by the protagonist.
As I thought that, Lee Seo-yeon inhaled sharply.
Swept her sword upward.
Shiiiing!
Crisp metal sound; tentacles flew upward.
She formed a sword barrier and shouted.
"Lee Yoo-jin, now!"
I fired both guns without delay.
『......!』
She saw the blue lightning and leaped back hastily.
Trying to evade upward.
I anticipated, transferring a grenade above her head as I fired.
『......What!』
She gasped in shock.
Evaded the ground one upward, but another waited above.
『...Tch!』
Her tentacles surged at the grenade.
She overlooked something.
I wielded two guns.
Fired before she spotted it.
『...Huh?』
Blue lightning entered her vision.
The bullet hit the grenade before her tentacles.
She uttered one word.
『Ah.』
Boom!
Explosions above and below engulfed her in white flames.
『Kiaaaagh—!!』
Her agony echoed from the flames.
I transferred more grenades amid her screams.
Or tried to.
Throb!
"...Guh!"
Heart-wrenching pain.
Mana nearly depleted.
Lee Seo-yeon too.
"Hah... hah..."
Leaning on her sword, pale, panting.
I fed her an energy pill and raised my guns.
Fired into the obscured flames.
Boom boom!
Crackle!
Blue trails pierced the fire.
Click!
Out of ammo, slide locked back.
I swapped magazines swiftly from my tactical vest.
Rack!
As I chambered...
Shwaaash!
Two tentacles burst from the flames toward me.
Boom boom!
They recoiled from direct hits.
Recovered tentacles attacked again.
I repelled them repeatedly.
After two or three, something felt off.
'Why only two tentacles?'
One destroyed in the blast?
I shook my head.
Her tentacles were vampiric weapons, tougher than anything.
Survived grenade barrages on beasts and Fallen; three grenades wouldn't break one.
"...No way!"
Lightning thought; I looked down hastily.
A flame-wrapped tentacle pierced the ground upward.
Not at me—at Lee Seo-yeon.
"Lee Seo-yeon!"
She looked up.
Saw the tentacle, calmly raised something.
Click.
A gun.
"I have a gun too."
Bang!
Silver holy bullet fired.
Her gun crumbled to dust.
Holy bullet hit tentacle, small explosion.
It veered into the ground.
I scooped her up and sprinted to the outpost.
Chance to kill her, but she could kill us.
Preserve lives first.
『You think I'll let you escape—!!』
She pursued, prioritizing my death.
Thud thud!
Glanced back.
"Ah, shit!"
Blazing with holy power, she reached for me.
Her form horrific, melting like a burning silicone doll.
『Die—!!』
Three tentacles flew at me.
I fired, batting them away.
Distance closing.
"...Lee Yoo-jin."
Weak voice.
"No, don't."
I cut her off, knowing what she'd say.
She stared, then buried her face in my chest quietly.
『I'll suck you dry! Not a drop left!』
Monster beyond recognition stabbed ground with three tentacles, closing in.
As her hand neared my back...
"Top student—!"
Shuhei Asuka leaped from the barrier.
"Asuka, catch!"
I hurled Lee Seo-yeon with all my strength.
Asuka startled, leaped, caught her princess-style.
Thumbs-up to her, I spun and unloaded both pistols.
Boom boom boom!
『...Gaaagh—!!』
Bullets burrowed in; holy explosions tore holes.
She shielded vitals with demonic energy, advancing.
I leaped back, firing.
Click!
Out again.
Reached for new mag...
Whip, squeeze!
"...Kuh!"
『...Got... you.』
A tentacle coiled my ankle.
Burning-melting, crushing my foot.
Grimacing, I reloaded pistol.
Racked slide...
Whip whip!
Two tentacles wrapped my wrists.
Squeeze!
"...Grrgh!"
Guns dropped from crushing pain.
Tried kicking with free leg.
Stomp!
Her foot pinned it.
『...Just... two.』
She rasped a chuckle.
I sneered.
"Just two? Since when?"
『...What?』
"We're not alone here. How could it be just two?"
Right, guys?
Shwaaash!
Something flew fast from outpost.
Slow to her eyes.
Caught.
『...Spear?』
Im Da-hee's spear, grenades belted to shaft.
I grinned.
"It's over."
『...Over?』
"Yeah, over."
She stared blankly.
I explained kindly.
"We have Arthur."
『Ar-thur...?』
Shwaaaaash—!!
Something flew at vastly different speed.
『...What!』
She looked up, startled.
Tossed the spear, reached out.
"Heh, can't touch that carelessly."
Arthur's exclusive: Holy Sword Excalibur.
No one but owner can wield it.
Deadly to demonic foes.
『......Huh?』
Cutting power doubles against demonic enemies.
Thud.
Her wrist dropped.
Excalibur pierced her chest, pinned her down.
Sizzle!
『Kyaaak—! Kyaaaak—!!』
Holy radiance made her thrash.
Tentacles coiled sword, failed to pull; fixed like to ground.
I stood, glanced at outpost.
Arthur atop barrier, pale, hand extended.
Maintaining Meteor Fall skill.
I picked up fallen spear.
Three grenade belts: 33 grenades total.
Smirked thinking of friends stuffing carefully to bypass infinite item limits.
Thrust spear into her chest.
『Kiaaaak—!』
Hoarse scream.
Middle finger up, I leaped back.
Golden mana surged from Excalibur, forming small Fortress of Heavenly Grace around her.
I drew Holy Grenade from inventory.
Ping!
Pulled pin.
"...Guh!"
Squeezed last mana for transfer.
Whoosh.
Grenade vanished from hand.
Mana exhaustion; I collapsed.
Eyes fixed on her.
『Lee Yoo-jiiiin—!!』
She screamed my name.
Flash!
Fortress filled with light.
Boom boom boom!
Rumble rumble!
Earthquake-like roar; ground shook.
Time passed.
Light, roar, quake faded.
She vanished without trace.
I lay spread-eagled, relaxed.
Checked quest window.
"Ha, it's done."
Boom!
Something burst from ground beside me.
『...L-Lee... Yoo... jin.』
The Enchantress. Grotesque, tentacles on head.
"...Fucking tenacious."
Not like game.
Reality? Or sheer kill-lust?
Vomit-worthy obsession.
『L-Lee... Yoo... jin.......』
She stabbed ground with tentacles, inching closer.
Slithering, torn mouth chuckled.
『I... I... win... ned.』
I snorted.
"You win? Bullshit, I won."
Quest timer:
[Remaining Time: 00:00] Quest cleared meant...
"Lee Yoo-jin's right."
Reinforcements arrived.
『Y-You... you...』
Voice from above; she trembled, looked up.
I did too.
There: black-suited, black-coated, long black-haired woman floating mid-air, cigarette in mouth.
Seeing her, terror-filled Enchantress uttered her name.
『Ka... Kali.......』
Kali.
9th Subjugation Unit Captain.
Top hero before transcendent.
Alias: Destroyer.
"Long time no see, Enchantress."
She exhaled smoke, gazing down emotionlessly.
『H-How... you...』
"You targeted what you shouldn't. I came personally."
Her gaze shifted to me.
Not emotionless—sparkling eyes.
"Well done, Lee Yoo-jin. Leave the rest to me."
She touched ring on right index finger.
Light flowed;
Shwoooosh!
Hundreds—no, thousands of weapons materialized.
All guns, aimed at her.
"Enchantress, I have questions."
She flicked cigarette away.
"Don't want to die yet? Stay still."
『.......』
She trembled, obeyed silently.
'Whoa, fuck.'
Knew unit captain's weapons matched player's, but...
Beyond imagination.
So damn cool.
How? Item?
Floating? Telekinesis?
My role model; I was thrilled.
She glanced, smirked.
"First, end this rift."
She touched left ring.
『...Fuck, what?』
"...M-Missiles?"
Five mid-air missiles, silver holy glow.
Snap.
They flew different directions—to rift cores, as she said.
Moment later.
Ruuuumble...
Distant roar;
Flash.
Sun-like burst.
Then.
Booooom—!!
Five mushroom clouds rose.