Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Dark Army General
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Weeeeeeng! Kwarararara!
The transport carrying Yoo Seongwon and his group shot off into the sky just like that.
It looked like they planned to head out on their own, without any backup or additional forces.
Left standing there alone were Sergeant Sawamura and Captain Moribayashi, who could only stare blankly at the departing transport with furrowed brows.
"What the hell... are they thinking? Even if he's strong, that's an army of constellations. To just charge in like that..."
"Either he has absolute faith in his own power, or he's just an idiot... But given his track record, it's gotta be the former. He took down multiple archdemon beasts—S-rank monsters that served as great generals under the Slaughter King constellation."
At first glance, it seemed reckless, but his proven achievements made it impossible for Japan's special forces to dismiss it lightly.
And it wasn't just rumors—the footage had spread across the world, leaving no room for denial or interference.
From the start, the negotiation terms had included a clause allowing Yoo Seongwon to handle things solo if he wished.
"Those idiots in the government should've negotiated properly. Even if they want to conserve our troops and awakeners..."
"I was hoping to provide rear support for that brilliant warrior and grind some levels... Talk about a wash."
*At least the guild bastards got soaked too. Feels good.*
*Eeeeek! That damn Korean punk! I personally invited him—an S-rank like me—and he still turned me down?*
*C-Calm down, Guild Master Fujiwara!*
*You didn't really think he'd listen to us anyway, did you?*
As it turned out, Yoo Seongwon had stiffed more than just them.
After leaving the briefing room and heading out of base, he'd brushed off the hunters from Japan's Yasuda Guild even more fiercely than he'd dismissed them, sparking open fury and public condemnation.
"That lucky punk who just got lucky on awakening! Ignoring the Yasuda Guild's goodwill?"
"It was a mistake to rely on a Chon from the start, Guild Master Fujiwara."
"You're right. We should handle our own business."
Unlike the special forces, who had at least maintained decorum and courtesy, the Japanese guilds freely spewed slurs against Koreans while cursing the departing Yoo Seongwon.
It was unavoidable, really—most Japanese guilds had grown under the patronage of major conglomerates.
Sure, the power of constellations made them strong, but processing and developing magistones, crafting hunter gear and tools, monitoring portals... Producing and selling the goods that defined this new era? Individual hunters couldn't match the efficiency of corporations.
These guilds even named themselves after the old zaibatsu conglomerates that had aided in building the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, evoking that imperial legacy.
The Yasuda Guild was one such group, backed by the Hoyo Group tied to the old Yasuda family, hence the name.
Inheriting that mindset, they naturally despised Korea—and some even saw it as territory to reconquer someday.
"They talk big about handling their own shit but never step up to the front lines even if it kills them... Hiding behind constellation excuses, acting all high and mighty. Pathetic."
"Cut it out, Sergeant. Isn't our side the same?"
"No way. We're genuinely short on power. Those guild pricks sit back laughing while all seven of our special forces S-ranks are out on the front!"
Even now, the commander unit of Constellation 66,000 was marching to breach the Nagoya front lines, and every S-rank from the special forces was deployed to stop them.
Despite having more numbers, guild S-ranks rarely hit the actual front lines—only in emergencies or for fat paychecks. Much like how the Korean government had bled cash to Yoo Seongwon.
"Either way, mercs who actually work for pay are better than ones who don't. Depending on how that Korean performs, the guilds' attitudes might shift."
"Anyway, we'll deploy recon drones immediately."
Blood ties or not, the best cat was the one that caught the most mice.
Hoping this could change the decades-long stalemate of attrition warfare in the constellation era, they each got moving.
***
One hour later, skies above northern Shikoku.
Yoo Seongwon and his crew peered down from the transport, picking their drop zone.
Shikoku's long-abandoned cities and wilderness crawled with dungeons and swarms of evil spirits, drawing grimaces of disgust from Yoo Seongwon.
[Graaaah....]
[Grrrr....]
[War... waaar....]
[Fight. Krurrr....]
The spirits, shrouded in pitch-black auras, turned on each other with weapons since no enemies were around.
Sure, shattered ones were quickly replaced by fresh hordes from the dungeons—pointless thrashing. But it was eerie to watch all the same.
"If we drop in, all those things'll swarm us, right?"
"Probably the whole lot. Hmhmhat."
[...Fight... good....]
"My lord whom I serve, protect me with radiant light and glory. Grant me the power to annihilate all evil, and the courage to never retreat from this noble battlefield today! With the captain, on this field of battle...."
Gaulp, Krokbane, and Seom-myeol— starved for real combat these past few months—could barely contain their excitement. Akaron, though, stared out the window at the ground with an uneasy air.
Silly to talk of a machine's expression, but after so long with the knights, Yoo Seongwon could read him well enough.
"What's up with you all of a sudden? You were itching for a fight lately too."
[...Master, I recommend changing the landing zone.]
"Why? Some tactical issue?"
[No, tactics are fine. It's your safety. Massive radiation levels on the surface—impossible under normal conditions. Landing there would be fatal to you.]
Yoo Seongwon jolted at Akaron's words.
Radiation. He knew the basics: one of humanity's pre-magystone energy sources, with nuclear waste that was notoriously hard and dangerous to handle.
"Radiation, huh... They hid something nasty. Nah, it's old-world stuff from decades back—probably not worth dwelling on now. Saved my skin regardless. Speak up if you spot more like this."
[Thank you, Master.]
Who'd expect such a lethal trap right off the bat in familiar territory?
Without Akaron, they'd have fought blind on contaminated ground.
Cold sweat beading just thinking about it, Yoo Seongwon lavished praise.
"Glad I brought you. Whew~ Never dreamed of ancient energy hazards. I'll tell the pilot to reroute. Come on. Gotta fight somewhere clean."
[Understood, Master.]
They shifted drop zones and descended, kicking off the battle.
Leading was Yoo Seongwon with Przewalski's Lance, mounted on Eldraen for his first true dragon cavalry charge. He plunged straight into a cluster of spirit soldiers.
[Graaah?]
"Shatter, all of you! Foul spirits!"
[I charge without fear—Mounted charge boosts speed and impact; generates holy barrier.]
Przewalski's Lance option wrapped Yoo Seongwon and Eldraen in a sacred shield.
They barreled forward at speeds defying the dragon's bulk, grinding spirit soldiers underfoot in a rampage.
"Eldraen! Charge! Keep charging! Wheel around! Crush one more!"
[Shield keeps the filth off—feels great! Thrilling too! And lucrative!]
Kwararararara!
Smashing trees and boulders without slowing—the dragon's charge.
Spirits crumbled against the white barrier, numbers plummeting.
The four knights touched down behind, unleashing their arts to sweep the spirits.
"Before my prayer, annihilate God's foes. Blessing: Sacred Weapon!"
[Breaks... easily....]
[Holy power and waves defy analysis—miracle-tier—but effective.]
[Handy. Shame I can't partake.]
Gaulp clicked his tongue enviously at Akaron and Krokbane wielding glowing weapons blessed by Seom-myeol. Abyss knights like him couldn't receive blessings.
He cleaved through dark army spirits with his black-aura sword.
No disadvantage—just one-sided slaughter, absorbing their dark energy.
"Hm, that?"
[...Is that... okay?]
Krokbane eyed the absorption warily, but Gaulp shrugged, mowing down charging spirits.
[No worries. Basic mana drain. Hmhmhat, fun stuff.]
[Good... then.]
Relieved, Krokbane swept spirits with his gleaming autopsy blade.
Gaulp nodded at the influx of dark energy, as if confirming something.
[Pure abyss power, as expected. Hmhmhat, serving as gods' pawns so long leads to coincidences like this.]
Muttering to himself, he grinned more cheerfully than usual at the strongest dark aura source.
Devouring dark army spirits' energy, he pressed on.
"Whew~ Done for now?"
Catching his breath after the frenzy, Yoo Seongwon glanced back.
Just magistones glinting from barrier-crushed spirits.
Dungeons—low-rank ones—now dotted the surroundings.
Clear those to secure territory. But things rarely went smooth.
[No, just starting.]
"Tch!"
Pwoooooong! Pwoooooong! Dudududu!
Eldraen's warning synced with distant horn blasts and galloping hooves.
Yoo Seongwon and Eldraen turned.
A massive army charged under a flag emblazoned with the kanji for "Dark."
Yoo Seongwon instantly clocked them and rallied his scattered knights for defense.
"Wow, that's a lot."
[Graaah... war... our war too.]
[Annihilate... foes.]
[Fight without end!]
The orderly ranks halted at a distance from Yoo Seongwon and the knights.
Unlike prior foes, these boasted diverse arms, types, and terrifying auras—including numerous samurai cavalry.
At the forefront emerged a gray samurai in Japanese armor astride a massive black horse spewing red eyes and black smoke.
"That's the dark army great general, right? Kinda familiar?"
The vibe alone screamed S-rank threat—even to Yoo Seongwon, who'd faced multiples.
The gray samurai, naginata slung over his shoulder, oozed dark energy and leveled it at the group.
But not at Yoo Seongwon—the flashy golden-armored dragon-rider who screamed leader.
Straight at the abyss knight, Gaulp.