Chapter 424: Joyful Friends Under the Sea! (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 424: Joyful Friends Under the Sea! (2)
Once the decision was made to head to Jeju Island, things moved quickly.
All we had to do was take a portal to Jeju and then get as close to the site as possible by boat.
However, once we actually arrived, it was clear that the situation was not one where work could continue.
According to the coordinates, we were still quite a distance from where the operations had been halted, yet the waterspouts and whirlpools made it impossible for boats or helicopters to get any closer. Even for superhumans, it didn’t seem like a place where they could just dive in relying on their physical strength alone.
Unless they had a specific ability, even superhumans would die if they couldn’t breathe.
“Whoa, that looks seriously dangerous. Are you sure this is okay?”
Ha-ni approached, adjusting her gloves.
She spoke those words, but there wasn’t a hint of tension in her voice. It felt less like she was actually worried and more like she was just trying to strike up a conversation.
I understood what she was doing, but because I was worried about Kang Ho-in, I couldn’t respond as I usually did.
“Uh, hmm. Did I look too relaxed?”
“No, it’s not that. I’m just worried about the situation in Gyeongju.”
“Huh? Hey, my dad said Hero Seo Ye-hwa joined the fray there. What’s there to worry about?”
“…Right?”
Yeah, now that I was here, worrying was pointless. It would be better to resolve this as quickly as possible and fly over to Gyeongju.
“So, how do you plan on dealing with those whirlpools and waterspouts?”
Cathy Noona stepped forward and asked on behalf of everyone. To be honest, that was a difficult question to answer.
Well, you see… Sun Wukong told me to just get close because she had a plan, but she didn’t give me a detailed explanation, so I don’t really know yet either.
Honestly, if it were just me, I felt like I could just stack a bunch of reinforcements and jump into the sea. But then there would have been no point in bringing the others along, right?
— You worry about the strangest things. There was a barrier at least this strong when I went to the Dragon Palace to fetch Ruyi.
‘Ah, so you know how to dispel it.’
— Well… back then, I didn’t bother dispelling anything and just dove in relying on my own strength. But since there are others with us this time, we can’t exactly ignore the barrier and just barge in.
After saying something rather ominous, Sun Wukong used Synchronization and took over my body.
“Let’s see. Fortunately, the caster is still inexperienced, so I won’t need to release the second stage of the seal.”
He gripped Ruyi in its staff form, lightly tapped his shoulder with it, and took a stance. At that moment, I felt a surge of intense dread.
“It’s been a while. Let’s use Ruyi the way it was originally intended.”
…The way Ruyi was originally intended.
It was a measuring tool for the sea, an elevator to the Dragon Palace, and a weight that stabilized the ocean’s depths.
Judging by the context, it sounded like he intended to use it as an elevator, but I didn’t think people usually gripped a staff and prepared to swing it when they were about to take an elevator.
“Split, Ruyi.”
The words Sun Wukong uttered became a concept that enveloped Ruyi. The staff, dyed a deep crimson, began to vent fierce clouds of steam.
“So-hyun? What are you…!”
Before the others, who were watching me with uneasy eyes, could even finish their question, Sun Wukong—using my body—swung a single strike toward the vast ocean.
And the sea split apart.
Common sense dictated that it should be impossible to part and hold back the ocean with mere energy.
Unfortunately, the deity inhabiting my body was not a resident of the world of common sense. Everyone else stood frozen, unable to move, as they stared at a sight no ordinary human was ever meant to see.
The bottom of the sea, devoid of water.
…It certainly was a clean solution.
Indeed. Waterspouts and whirlpools are only threatening because there’s water. If you split the sea along with the whirlpools, they cease to be a threat.
“What are you all dazing off for? Prepare to descend. It won’t stay parted for long. I shall cast a spell on you in order of readiness so that you may breathe underwater.”
The others were shell-shocked by the miraculous sight, but Sun Wukong, in my body, merely scolded them for standing around.
“…He performed such a bizarre feat, yet the boat didn’t feel a single shock.”
“Well, it’s So-hyun, isn’t it?”
Cheon Yu-hak, the first to snap out of it, muttered in disbelief. However, as soon as Lilac said, “It’s So-hyun, isn’t it?” he simply nodded in agreement. With that, everyone accepted the situation and began preparing to head down.
…Wait, if you guys just accept everything with “It’s So-hyun,” what does that make me?
* * *
“Gah…! What is this!?”
The Dragon King coughed up blood from the sudden shock that hit him.
Though it had happened in an instant, the Dragon King understood why such an impact had struck him. His Divine Ability had been forcibly broken by an overwhelming power, and the backlash had returned directly to him.
However, understanding it intellectually didn’t mean he could accept it.
First of all, his barrier, created with the Divine Ability of a Dragon who had lived for ages, had been shattered by an overwhelming margin. This alone was beyond the realm of possibility for a human.
Had a wandering immortal enjoying a vacation nearby passed by?
No. Even an immortal shouldn’t be able to shatter his barrier with such a staggering difference in power.
Fine, let’s concede for a moment and assume there was a human capable of such a thing, perhaps by borrowing the power of some supernatural entity.
But then there was the next incomprehensible point.
Even if the barrier made of Divine Ability was broken, the surrounding sea was still territory under his influence. Yet, for some unknown reason, he could not use his power, as if his authority over the ocean had been usurped.
It was absurd, but it felt as if the sea was being pressed down by something incredibly heavy.
Even when he poured in enough power to normally trigger a raging tsunami, only small ripples formed. The sea remained eerily calm. It was enough to drive him mad.
“I wanted to focus on the war. But you humans have finally crossed the line.”
He didn’t know what means they had used, but they would regret it.
The sea was ultimately their domain. What could those who couldn’t even breathe, let alone move freely underwater, possibly do?
They must have used a great deal of strength to break the barrier. It was better to strike now.
“Is there anyone to investigate what has happened!”
“Yes! We shall go!”
“Loyalty!”
At the Dragon King’s roar, several stepped forward bravely.
“Ah, yes. I can trust you all.”
They were the loyal warriors of families that had served the kings since the time of the previous Dragon King.
General Byeol of the Byeol family, and General Gyo of the Gyo family.
Seeing the general clad in magnificent armor that covered his entire body, and the other general wielding twin spears resembling shark teeth and fins, the Dragon King felt his heart ease.
If he couldn’t trust the warriors of families that had remained loyal since the Dragon Palace was first established, then who could he trust?
“On land it might be different, but underwater, we have the overwhelming advantage.”
“Not only did they ignore our warnings, but they also dared to harm your royal person. This is clear high treason; they must be punished severely!”
Their balance of offense and defense was excellent. Those two would surely be able to handle the intruders.
“Very well. I shall entrust ten thousand soldiers of the Dragon Palace to you. Go and show the intruders the renewed might of the Dragon Palace!”
“Loyalty!”
“We shall surely live up to your expectations!”
“Sound the signal for battle!”
As grand music echoed through the depths of the sea and the army of ten thousand marched out, it was truly a sight to behold.
However, did they know?
That what awaited those warriors was neither a glorious battle nor an opportunity to show off the Dragon Kingdom’s might, but rather the maw of a natural predator recorded in their very DNA.
They likely didn’t.
Because they didn’t know, they had made such a decision on the brink of war. Normally, showing a force of ten thousand against a small-scale intrusion would cause the opponent to lose their will to fight.
But as stated repeatedly, the one blocking their path was not a resident of a world where common sense applied.
The soldiers of the Dragon Palace, marching out gallantly, were certain of their victory, unaware of the threat about to descend upon them.
Yes.
“Ho?”
Until they encountered those arrogant red eyes looking down at them from atop a pillar that stood tall as if it were the center of the ocean.
“Quite the welcoming party you’ve prepared.”
The black-haired boy, lightly warming up by rolling his shoulders, was someone they should have been seeing for the first time. Yet, for some reason, the older soldiers who had served the Dragon Palace for a long time could not stop their bodies from trembling.
Some of the younger soldiers with sharp intuition also began to collapse, overwhelmed by the primal fear etched into their genes the moment they met those Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils.
“I suppose I have left the Dragon Palace alone for quite a while, haven’t I?”
“W-What are you all doing! Take your positions! They are just humans! On land it might be different, but in the water, we have the overwhelming advantage!”
General Gyo, wielding his twin spears, shouted.
“We can handle the defense, so focus on the attack! If we swarm them without giving them a moment to breathe, we have the overwhelming advantage in numbers!”
General Byeol, clad in his armor, took the lead.
The army of the Dragon Palace moved in perfect unison, showing impressive coordination, and the level of the two generals was undoubtedly high. They were certainly a force to be reckoned with anywhere.
“Fine. Considering your loyalty, your past discourtesies, and the fact that you are the subordinates of an old friend…”
However, no matter how many skilled individuals gathered, and no matter their geographical advantage…
“I shall at least let you live.”
Could ants ever hope to compete with a natural disaster?
An extraordinary energy gathered in the boy’s legs. The moment he kicked the pillar he was standing on as if stomping the ground…
The depths of the seabed shook, and a whirlpool even greater than the one the Dragon King had created began to sweep away the warriors of the Dragon Palace.
It meant that the only thing they could do was lie flat and wait for the disaster to pass.
* * *
“F-Form a square…! We must huddle together and endure!!!!!”
‘Wow, they didn’t get blown away?’
“Of course. They must at least be able to endure this much to be called the army of the Dragon Palace. Did you think my promise to let them live was a lie? I was worried they might have grown soft over time, but fortunately, they aren’t too bad.”
‘Um, but seeing as they’re still approaching bit by bit, it doesn’t look like they’ve given up.’
“Naturally. They mustn’t give up yet. How can those who give up easily upon meeting a formidable foe ever protect what is precious to them?”
‘If the “formidable foe” says that, it’s enough to drive them crazy, you know?’
“Hey now, I’m not like that. I just came to see a friend, and they reacted like this. Isn’t it natural for me to feel a bit hurt?”
Oh, I see. When Sun Wukong feels hurt, she creates whirlpools and blows everyone away.
I must make sure never to hurt her feelings in the future.
“Stop talking nonsense. You look like you want to wrap this up quickly and go handle the other side.”
Ah, wait, was she hurrying like this because of me? I’m actually a little touched.
“You rascal. As long as you understand. As long as you understand.”
The vibrating Ruyi grew quiet, and as the whirlpool subsided, only a very small fraction of the soldiers who had blocked our path appeared capable of continuing the fight.
Those who didn’t meet the mark had fainted, and even those who had somehow endured the attack were rolling around, vomiting and in total disarray.
The only ones who looked relatively fine were the guys in the fancy armor.
Should I call this impressive?
Even though she hadn’t moved a single step, they had endured a strike from Sun Wukong. It was indeed an amazing feat, but I wondered if the opponents would see it that way.
Nevertheless, they hadn’t lost their fighting spirit, and their sharpened auras were certainly worthy of being called generals of a nation.
“Are you ready, Gyo?”
“Of course, Byeol.”
…They’re both a bit weaker than Cheon Yu-hak, though.
I was slightly surprised when they used a shark-shaped finishing move while clad in their armor with desperate resolve. However, Sun Wukong simply called it crude and clapped her hands. The resulting shockwave alone shattered their ultimate technique and neutralized the entire force of the Dragon Palace.
“You lot. That wasn’t half bad.”
“O deity in human form! Who in the world are you to commit such atrocities!”
“This cannot be. This cannot be…! To not even allow us to die on the battlefield. How much humiliation do you intend to heap upon a warrior!!!!!”
The two generals spat out blood and glared with intensity, but they both flinched when they saw the face of Sun Wukong, who was grinning through my body.
“Didn’t your fathers tell you?”
“What? You dare insult our fathers…?”
“That if you see eyes that are red with golden pupils, you should either run away without looking back or bow down with the utmost reverence.”
“…Fiery.”
“Eyes and Golden Pupils…?”
Oh, it seemed they realized something. The two who had been so brave just moments ago began to tremble violently.
“Ah, I have even more proof. Come here, Ruyi.”
And the moment she gripped Ruyi, which had been planted in the ground…
‘They fainted.’
The two brave generals had passed out.
“Hmm? I thought they had some spirit, but they’ve fainted already? How boring.”
…Did this guy just say it’s boring? Does he have no heart?
“Well, I am a deity, so I wouldn’t know.”