Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Try Barking
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Caught in the illusion, Guardian and Ignition were spinning in circles in place.
At around the time Valkyrie earned herself the misunderstanding of having hooked up(?) with the Smiling Man.
"Over here!"
Muyoung was pulling out people who hadn't escaped yet.
Unfortunately, he wasn't as sturdy as Guardian or as fast as Valkyrie.
But his Ability shone brightest in situations like this.
He could designate a shadow outside first and travel back and forth through it.
It was like creating a bidirectional tunnel that allowed spatial movement.
"Everyone, close your eyes! First-timers always feel dizzy and nauseous!"
The moment people entered Muyoung's shadow, debris came crashing down.
If they'd been even a little slower, they would have been crushed and suffered fatal injuries.
'Good. I've evacuated everyone from this sector!'
He'd successfully rescued everyone from the area hit hardest by the collapse.
Muyoung was about to move again when a sudden ringing pierced his head.
"Ugh...!"
It was the backlash from repeatedly using his Ability in just a few minutes.
He should have taken a break, but the situation hadn't allowed for it.
'There are still people left...!'
Muyoung was currently in charge of the cadets as well.
He'd planned to leave with them last, but that wasn't happening now.
"Juniors! You guys get out first! I'll find the rest and head out separately!"
....
"Juniors?"
There was no response to Muyoung's shout.
Only then did he realize the cadets had all vanished at some point.
Where did they go? Where the hell did those guys disappear to?
"Aaaahhh!!"
Screams from others echoed from afar.
He had to find them. But rescuing people was urgent too.
After a moment's hesitation, Muyoung decided to fulfill a hero's duty.
'Just tell me you all ran away, juniors!!'
No way. Surely they hadn't really followed after Guardian and Ignition.
Surely they hadn't gone to stop the villains who'd invaded this far.
Praying it wasn't true, Muyoung stepped back into the shadows.
"Smi~ling~ Man!!-"
"Yes, yes. I'm the Smiling Man. You came all this way knowing that, didn't you?"
"You traitorous bastard! Actually hooking up with a hero!"
Fierce red energy erupted from Massacrer's grip.
Narcissus, waiting behind, drew his sword.
From above and below. Left and right. Attacks filled every direction.
Dodging was impossible, and blocking even more so.
Or so Valkyrie thought as she peeled off the Seven Evils clinging to her.
"What's this? A new face I don't recognize?"
The Vengeful Ghost didn't bother answering Valkyrie's question.
The death of the Schemer was top-secret info on their side.
Otherwise, they'd be on guard for poison mist at any moment.
"He's a newbie, Valkyrie."
Of course, villains had a habit of flapping their mouths.
Valkyrie let out an "Aha!" at the Madman's response as they fought together.
The Seven Evils supposedly filled vacancies immediately when one died.
But this was the first she'd heard of one dying recently?
"What're you gonna do, even if I tell you? It wasn't a secret anyway."
"The heroes will find out sooner or later. What secret?"
See? That was the true nature of villains.
They traveled together but never aligned in purpose or cooperation.
If they did, they'd be heroes, not villains, right?
Valkyrie smirked along before swinging her spear wide.
Kwaaang!-
The spear blade tore through the air, sweeping past the two Seven Evils.
It was a sharp strike, but inflicted no real damage.
These were Seven Evils, capable of facing S-Rank heroes head-on.
They lacked nothing in Ability, experience, or raw power.
"If I kill you, the blood's mine. Won't leave a single drop."
"Drink up yourself."
"Kuhuhu! What an honor! Newbie!"
The Madman's body swelled as he gulped down red liquid.
His skin gradually turned red all over.
Dark red blood oozed from his eyes, nose, and mouth.
Not from wounds—just leaking from what he'd consumed.
No wonder the Seven Evils called his fuel efficiency crap.
"Hero Valkyrie! I'll hang you upside down alive and drain every drop!"
"Go die."
She bashed the Madman's head with her golden shield, creating distance.
Quickly assessing, she blocked the next strike from the Vengeful Ghost.
'Two on this side. Three over there.'
The villains were focusing on fellow villains instead of the hero.
As absurd as it sounded, it was actually fortunate.
The reverse would've been too much even for her.
'My two seniors will arrive any moment anyway!'
And soon, more heroes would show up.
Her job was to hold these guys' ankles as long as possible.
Kwaang! Kbang!!-
Block, block. Deflect this one, narrowly dodge the next.
A blood-drinking monster and another whose moves she couldn't read yet.
In under a minute, she'd taken hundreds of attacks.
No major wounds yet, but scratches and bleeding everywhere.
Even S-Rank heroes weren't invincible. Humans tire and die eventually.
Even at full effort, facing two Seven Evils simultaneously was tough.
'By now, everyone's evacuated, right?'
She shoved back the Madman, who somehow looked even uglier than the Hulk.
Raising her spear high, brilliant blue lightning gathered at its tip.
"Quit clinging!"
One Smiling Man was plenty for these pushy villains!
Pajijijik!!-
Blue bolts shot out everywhere, pulverizing everything.
"Dodge!"
"Don't need to be told!"
Even the Seven Evils couldn't just tank it.
It wouldn't end with a sting—cells would burn away.
The spots where the Madman and Vengeful Ghost retreated melted away.
Residual sparks still crackled fiercely.
"...I'll definitely drink that bitch's blood. It'll fizz like carbonated water."
Blood all tastes the same. What a lunatic.
Though she herself had gone on a massacre blinded by revenge.
As Valkyrie's attack subsided and the two Seven Evils moved to seize control—
"Valkyrie! Duck!"
A booming shout rang out, followed by massive flames erupting behind her back.
Almost simultaneously, Tattoos swung his greatsword at the Smiling Man.
Kwaaaang!!-
Flame vortex clashed with sword beam, exploding.
The five minutes the illusionist mentioned had passed. They'd arrived after all.
Kuung!-
"You won't take another step. Villains. I will arrest you all right here!"
"Guardian senior! Don't wanna ruin those cool lines, but pick the time and place!"
"Fool! That's exactly why we say them!"
We are justice and righteousness; you are evil and injustice.
The motivation and will it inspires can't be put into words.
Maybe why heroes always win in crucial moments.
"Tattoos."
"One each. The first to kill picks where to go next."
"No illusionist, so quit lowering your voice like that."
"...Shut up."
Guardian took the Vengeful Ghost. Ignition the Madman.
Tattoos and Valkyrie glared, readjusting their weapons.
"Crazy hero screwing villains."
"A dog even villains scorn."
Exchanges done, next was obvious.
Greatsword met spear, shockwave booming.
S-Rank hero vs. Catastrophe-Class villain. A battle of pride...
"Ooh! That was close this time. Nearly lost my arm! Impressive! I'll give you 9 points!"
"Hey, Narcissus! That bastard's mouth is still alive! Do it right!"
"...Shut up."
Looks like today's star was over there.
At first, she thought the illusion was keeping them from showing their true skills.
Her ambushes. Narcissus's sword. All fell just short.
A little more, just a bit more, and she could've ripped and sliced properly.
That slight shortfall kept letting the bastard slip away.
"Hahaha! Close again."
"...Your luck is filthy good?"
She'd learned the Smiling Man's hand after repeated clashes.
Nothing countered a fighting style better than knowing it cold.
Massacrer had poured tons of effort into killing this man.
Conversely, the Smiling Man looked in bad shape.
Pre-capture battle had left him ragged everywhere.
'And the illusionist. That rag of a woman casts illusions well enough.'
Problem was the psycho hitting allies and enemies alike.
But it worked on the Smiling Man too. Good enough.
Thanks to it, they'd cornered him before he could act.
Illusion lifted now? No matter. Execution prep was done.
She'd memorized all his moves, prepped ambushes accordingly.
Unexpected reaction? Narcissus would cut it off.
Ttak!-
'Gotcha!'
After every clash, the Smiling Man always stepped with his left foot.
She'd memorized his patterns perfectly. Hit exactly.
Massacrer's dagger sliced across the Smiling Man's thigh.
"Ah! So close. Nearly lost the leg!"
Throwing his own words back at him.
You're done. Mockery before the kill.
Daring to hook up with heroes and attack us.
You're strong, sure. But not enough.
To catch me. Us. Gotta be filthier, viler?
"Oh dear. You've studied me more than expected?"
"Of course. Better to kill suspicious narrow-eyes quick, right?"
"Ooh. Piercing the essence of narrow-eyes. Possessed, maybe?"
"...What?"
"Ah. Sorry. I spoke human. Woof woof!"
Eudeuk!-
He was a master at mocking foes.
Fine. Had to admit that tongue was impressive.
But that was it. Done with that tiresome mug.
"Narcissus!"
Eerie energy burst from the Gloomy Swordsman's blade.
Sword beam corroded everything it touched.
He'd dodge. Smiling Man always dodged.
And from the left, as always.
Patterns fully mapped. Certain.
"...Think I'd fall for that?!"
Won't step in your trap, bastard.
Red-energy daggers poured from Massacrer.
Blade whirlwind shredded everything around.
Kwagwagwa!!-
"Crazy bitch! Trying to kill us too?!"
"Shut up! You didn't die!"
Didn't care if other Seven Evils got hit now.
Smiling Man. Just kill him, anything goes!
"Hoo! Hoo!"
Panting roughly, she checked the Smiling Man first.
Blocked some, dodged some. But that was it.
Bleeding all over. Miracle he wasn't shredded.
'Tough body indeed. But up to here.'
Dagger in hand, she closed for the finish.
He hadn't moved, just slumped there.
Breathing, but nothing else. No Ability use.
Over. One stab to the heart and...
Chak!-
"...?!"
Suddenly, Massacrer's body jerked forward.
The supposedly fatally wounded monster was grinning brightly.
"Caught you, right?"
Wuddeuk!!-
A gruesome tearing sound followed.