Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: The True Faces of the Archdemon Beasts
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Association Headquarters, "Slaughter King Subjugation Operation Command Center."
A near-miraculous magic barrier and the descent of a colossal monster. The command center, witnessing the Archdemon Beasts' true form—"Ascension"—for the first time, was plunged into shock.
A monster erecting a magic barrier as long as the Demilitarized Zone dividing North and South Korea, plus an estimated 1,000-meter-tall giant duck beastman.
Commander Jo Pilseong had thought he'd seen every shocking sight since the era of the constellations began, but this shattered his common sense yet again.
"...What the hell is that? What is it? What in the world...?"
"Th-that... I, I don't really know, sir."
"No, come on, how are we supposed to handle this if the hunter doesn't know?"
"M-more importantly, Commander! Orders!"
"R-right... Right! Air force first! Have the air force strike that massive duck monster! And contact Guild Master Go Cheonsu!"
His mind reeling from the situation far beyond expectations, Commander Jo Pilseong issued the best orders he could muster while striving to resolve the crisis.
If he just stood there dazed, the 100,000 troops and countless hunters who'd headed up there would become monster chow.
He then contacted Guild Master Go Cheonsu, and as soon as the video call connected, he briefed him on the current state of affairs.
『...We can see the magic barrier from here too. But what's with the duck monster?』
"It's this thing! Looks like we underestimated the Archdemon Beasts! Anyway, it seems like it's finally your time to shine, Guild Master Go Cheonsu, so please hurry over! At this rate, we'll be wiped out with nowhere to run!』
『That's a bit of a problem.』
"Why is that?"
『We're already engaged with an 'Archdemon Beast' ourselves.』
『Prrr-hrrrk!』
Suddenly, the whinny of a horse echoed from the speaker, and the screen shifted.
High in the sky perched a snow-white horse beastman with feathered wings. Clad in pristine white robes, Przewalski's form was one no one had ever seen before.
A divine steed radiating holy light, like an apostle of god heralding the apocalypse. Commander Jo Pilseong was momentarily entranced.
Przewalski's subordinates, having achieved divine horse ascension, soared with wings on their backs, diving from the air to assault the hunters and military. Flanking them, Scavengers unleashed their guerrilla warfare specialties, madly hunting humans.
"Puhahaha! As expected, the soldiers are plump meat! Weak! Weak! Weak! Weak!"
"Ooh! That's the divine steed the general rides and the leader summons! Ooooh!"
"Less yapping and catch one more!"
Though individually A-rank hunter-level rulers of the Undercity, they preferred easy wins, so they targeted regular infantry, claiming heads and gathering meat.
The hunters and national forces had initially fought back, but from Przewalski's bizarre transformation onward, the unexpected power overwhelmed them with fear and confusion, forcing a retreat.
"Behind the unit heading to Pyongyang! An-another Archdemon Beast sighting! A black ox beastman! It's Archdemon Beast Wagyu!"
The situation worsened; even retreating toward the west coast was blocked by yet another Archdemon Beast.
Wagyu, the ox-headed beastman, had transformed his entire body into a metallic ox covered in adamantium via tough hide ascension.
His ox beastman followers, skins hardened to steel, charged like tanks, blocking the military's retreat.
"...So that's four Archdemon Beasts on our side alone? Are they insane? No, don't they care about losing land to Russia and China?"
"I-it seems they've all converged on us for a divide-and-conquer..."
"No! Contact from Russia and Constellation Dragon-Phoenix King's forces. They each have one Archdemon Beast too... and they're saying it's utterly ridiculous..."
The Archdemon Beasts handling the north were similarly using unreported powers via ascension to block the Russian Federation hunter forces and Constellation Dragon-Phoenix King.
Since they'd never advanced rashly against these hidden strengths, and each had already gained territory like Yodong, there was no need to push further.
"Damn it!"
"We need to do something, Commander! If we let this continue, not just our troops but the hunters are in danger too! We've contacted Olympus, but whether they'll resolve this..."
"Ugh! No choice!"
Jo Pilseong hurriedly called the Blue House via secure line.
He'd contact Olympus Guild too, but as a global operation, he worried if they'd commit more here.
With things this dire, only one option remained. As distasteful as it was, he had to beg Yoo Seongwon.
(...Is the situation really that bad?)
"We can't tell much since combat's ongoing, but if it continues, we'll lose our soldiers and precious hunters."
This total assault featured peak elites for stamina and ability among soldiers, and mid-tier guilds capable of C-rank dungeons that had joined without refusal. Losing them all would plunge Korea's future into despair's abyss.
"1 trillion... no! 10 trillion, 100 trillion—whatever it takes to summon him. Damn! Damn! Damn! Who knew the Archdemon Beasts were this strong! This isn't the time for pride."
(Understood. I'll contact him right away. Please have the Association reach out too.)
"Yes! Got it. You do the same!"
"Yes, sir!"
Even now, soldiers kept dying.
Hunters fresh from dungeons were dragged into the fray without proper rest amid the sudden shift.
The initially favorable situation had gone to hell, and though they fought on, the transcendent true power of the miraculous Archdemon Beasts spelled certain crisis.
"Contact from Iron Fortress! Th-they say... Yoo Seongwon Hunter is in a 'dungeon raid' right now and unreachable."
"Th-this is bad. Then send someone ahead to prepare negotiations! As soon as he exits the dungeon. Understood? Looks like we'll have to ask China and Russia too."
Unable to reach him in the dungeon, Jo Pilseong reluctantly turned to China and Russia.
He desperately worked to salvage the rapidly deteriorating situation.
But without a key solution, the 100,000 soldiers and other hunters would surely become fodder for Slaughter King's forces.
***
B-rank Dungeon, City of Savages "Dream Dream Bakkarara" King's Arena.
While chaos reigned outside, Yoo Seongwon’s party smoothly cleared Constellation Sangeojeong's dungeon.
This dungeon was an arena type: win one-on-one or group battles, get a short rest, then boss rush style.
Fighting burly savages or giant monsters in a confined space with no cover disadvantaged most human hunters. Spectators hurled bones and food scraps nonstop, making it a high-difficulty dungeon.
[You've survived this far! Now, facing challengers 'Cowardly Golden Tin Can and Humans' is the fourth beast: 'King of the Black Jungle—Basilisk King'! Not just its massive body's strength and destructive power, but meeting its eyes turns you to stone, so expect trouble. And the champion enters!]
A booming savage commentator hung from the arena roof, broadcasting the bizarre scene.
Yoo Seongwon, Shin Somi, and Shin Ayoung rode the wooden elevator up before the next fight, standing at the arena's edge.
From the massive opposite gate, an enormous lizard—the Basilisk King—gnawed at the iron bars, thrashing to escape.
"No strategy needed this time either. Ayoung, Somi unnie, avoid its eyes. I'll take it head-on..."
"Got it."
"Ah... Um... Yeah, no objections."
[Alright! A battle dancing on the edge of life and death! Staaart! Release the 'Basilisk King'!]
Grrrraaah!
As the bars opened, the 30-meter-long giant lizard monster Basilisk King lunged straight at Yoo Seongwon's group.
Shin Somi and Shin Ayoung swiftly retreated to the rear and flanks for suppressive fire, while Yoo Seongwon gripped Titan's Pile and charged frontally.
Grrraaah! Rraaagh!
"What're you glaring at? Sorry, but 'Petrify' won't work!"
Kraaaang!
Thanks to the golden divine beast armor's cheat-level abilities, Yoo Seongwon's immunity held firm no matter how the Basilisk King flashed its evil eye. He stared it down head-on.
Infuriated that a puny human dared challenge it, the Basilisk King gaped wide to swallow him whole.
But what it saw was Yoo Seongwon dodging left toward its eye, swinging Titan's Pile.
"Got you. Checkmate."
Kwaaack!
The blow to the Basilisk King's head shattered its skull, pulverizing the brain, spurting cerebrospinal fluid and blood.
The strike knocked it unconscious; its body merely twitched from lingering nerve signals.
Its massive vitality kept it "alive" for now, but a bit more time and it'd be done.
[Ooooh! 'Cowardly Golden Tin Can and Humans' wins again! Four in a row! And every opponent felled in one swing by that 'Cowardly Golden Tin Can's' club. True one-shot-one-kill! Looks like plenty crying over lost bets today.]
"Oh, magic stone dropped."
[Give a round of applause to 'Cowardly Golden Tin Can and Humans' for that short but explosive fight. Just two steps from challenging the 'Arena King'! We'll start the next in 8 hours. Now, special arena performance!]
"This dungeon's great and all... but why the long waits before named bosses? If we could just keep fighting, we'd be out by now. Early on it was 4 hours, now 8? Ridiculous."
"Because you've won in the arena and ranked up—like a star player, so longer matches. Easy EXP, levels up quick, no weird miasma or complex mechanics. And the 'arena' theme upgrades lodging and food each time. Quit complaining."
"Ayoung's right. Sigh~ Compared to a month starving in miasma or jungle dungeons, eating bugs... This is paradise. Beetle shells stuck in teeth? Never again."
As said, their provided lodging featured fresh gourmet spreads and drinks, with slaves standing by.
Constellation Sangeojeong's bandit-like concept loved plundering luxuries but also arenas and gambling, so they pampered rising challengers outside fights.
"Nah, I prefer speedrunning for levels and skill points, not tourist traps wasting time."
"No one knows dungeon gimmicks ahead, and you devour booze and meat while saying that? Doesn't suit you! Anyway, three named left—24 hours max."
"Yeah, sure. Exiting shouldn't cause issues, right?"
"...You're in a bind win or lose, mister."
"Uh, true. But I mean, government, Association, guilds winning keeps civilization intact, even if it's mind games. Slaughter King's crew winning? Ugh... those bastards begging me for mercy, yapping away—gives me indigestion."
"Nah, we've barely been in... What could happen?"
Munching an unknown beast's well-cooked thigh at optimistic Ayoung's words, Yoo Seongwon relaxed.
"Yeah~ No way they get crushed that fast. Anyway, eat up, nap, then hunt the next named. Nom nom."
"Eat then sleep and you'll turn into a cow, mister. Hit the training room for one more round."
Bickering with Ayoung, Yoo Seongwon heartily enjoyed the meal.
Unclear if dungeon raid or family vacation, they blissfully passed the time.
Oblivious to the hell unfolding outside...