Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: True Peace and Harmony
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Mokpo, Jeollanam-do—the frontline against the great Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons' death spirits.
Rat-a-tat-tat! Boom-boom-boom!
From the alloy barricade five meters high, the turret poured silver bullets and magistone rounds down like rain.
Ever since the incident with Japan's grand general vanishing, the Mokpo frontline and Jeollanam-do had become a land of eternal war, locked in ceaseless battle against the death spirits endlessly pouring from the dungeon.
The military units assembled by the Ministry of National Defense controlled various firearms and turrets, watching for overheating and malfunctions while evacuating the wounded. Meanwhile, the dispatched hunters atop the barricade struggled to take down high-rank monsters.
"Death spirit priests! Take out those priests first! They're the ones healing! Healing!"
"We're firing! But those death spirit warriors up front are blocking with naginata!"
"Can't someone break through and pull some aggro?"
"Already trying! But damn, they're tough! At least we can level up here since the C-ranks held them back!"
"Kinda a sweet gig, huh."
The dispatched hunters were exhausted but not complaining, grateful for the chance to level up after the three major guilds had monopolized C-rank dungeons for so long.
Truth be told, without this, most hunter guilds wouldn't have bothered showing up. They practically owed the three major guilds thanks right now.
Not that it changed the fact they'd been stifling Korea's hunter industry.
"Thunder and wind! Annihilate my foes!"
Rumble!
Jeon Ji-ah, once a Gyeongsang defender but now a key association hunter, wielded her new association uniform and legendary-grade staff, summoning lightning spirits to support the faltering frontline.
But even with spells, spirit arts, and heavy firearms thrown into the mix, they could barely hold the line.
The silver lining was scavenging minor magistones and earning some pay, though the death spirits' fierce assaults made recovery a hassle.
"How the hell did the Japanese hold out?"
"No clue! Fuck! Shut up and shoot. What the—?"
[Alert! All personnel in combat, brace for impact. Hunter Yoo Seongwon is descending from the sky. I repeat: All personnel in combat, fall back or take cover and brace for impact.]
An alarm blared, and soldiers and hunters mid-fight scrambled for cover.
They didn't know the details, but orders from the higher-ups meant no losses.
One hunter ducking for cover spotted a streak of light plunging from the sky and yelled.
"Th-that's him... Whoa—!"
"You idiot! Get under cover! The fallout from an S-rank or higher is like... a strategic weapon..."
Boom! Roooar!
The streak slammed into the heart of the advancing death spirits, unleashing a shockwave in all directions.
Wind whipped up stone shards and dust like a typhoon, sweeping everything away. Death spirits, C-ranks, even A-ranks—erased like they'd been rubbed out. A massive crater formed where they'd stood, carving out a huge empty space.
At its center, a golden knight astride a massive golden dragon made a majestic appearance.
"Hmm, just as expected. They don't complain if I warn them ahead of time—no need for a formal declaration. Anyway, cleared a path. Alright, kids! Bring out the trailer!"
Landing, Yoo Seongwon summoned the knights waiting in the sanctuary.
The sanctuary's doors swung open, and a trailer loaded with gear and knights burst forth.
He could've done this inside the core dungeon, but the unknown depths made it safer to summon from outside.
"Okay, no one's gotta go now, right? Bathroom breaks—last call. Double-check your gear."
"Your Majesty, that's the fourth time you've asked. We checked everything while loading the trailer..."
"...Truth is, I'm nervous. Hey, gimme a sec to hit the bathroom again. Sorry, just hold the line a bit."
With that, he dismounted Eldraen and ducked into the trailer's restroom.
Preparation and training aside, the tension was real.
After relieving himself, he stepped out to find the death spirits he'd swept away already crawling back.
"Anyway... drive carefully and follow. I'll open the path to the core dungeon."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Eldraen charged ahead with Yoo Seongwon, trailed by Jinseok gripping the wheel. They plunged straight into the core dungeon portal, vanishing as its doors sealed shut.
Hunters and soldiers watching gaped in shock, forgetting the fight.
"No way... he actually went in?"
"Is it true? Hunter Yoo Seongwon raiding the core dungeon?"
"Looks like it. Hope he pulls it off... Sick of this hellhole."
"Focus! Core dungeon's shut, but death spirits keep coming! Hold the line!"
Soldiers and hunters battled the resurging death spirits, praying for Yoo Seongwon's success.
***
The core dungeon of Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons.
The moment they plunged into the blinding white light of the dungeon, Yoo Seongwon first noticed Eldraen vanishing beneath him.
Hitting the ground, he realized the trailer's presence behind him was gone too. He scanned his surroundings, assessing.
The interior was a barren wasteland, sky choked with dark clouds pierced by faint sunlight, casting a dim twilight glow.
"...One of those setups, huh? Party members scattered at the start?"
Thanks to his prep, he stayed calm.
A constellation's core dungeon embodied their nature, built strictly by their rules.
Stepping forward, his body suddenly felt heavier.
A light step, yet weighted like an anchor.
"Huh?"
Whoosh...
His golden guardian beast armor dissolved away.
Feeling off from his state and the missing gear, he tried opening his status window—nothing.
Just like his duel with Blue Dragon Guild's master Go Cheonsu.
"Ah, come on. A war constellation pulling this crap? Screwed."
No 'awakening' meant no inventory, no gear—Yoo Seongwon was just a regular guy.
Not all constellations' cores were like Blue Dragon's, but this bred bias.
"Man... nothing here at all."
"Nothing? True peace and harmony abound~"
"...Who's there?"
Muttering alone, a voice piped up from behind.
On high alert despite his state, he backed away and turned.
The figure was made of weapons.
Primitive clubs to swords, guns, even sci-fi light saber hilts—all fused into humanoid shape, robot-like, eyeing him with sniper-scope eyes.
"Who else? The owner. Technically my avatar~"
"You're Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons? Your image doesn't match the death spirits outside..."
"Spot on, if you mean the star called 66 Heavenly Demons. Welcome to my core dungeon—a world of true peace and harmony."
"...Pardon?"
True peace? Yoo Seongwon blinked in confusion.
Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons was known as the 'war' constellation, waging endless war with hordes of death spirits.
This guy's words clashed wildly with that rep, doubling the shock.
His body screamed 'war apostle' with weapon-flesh, yet he spoke no war or destruction—only peace and harmony. Absurd.
"...What..."
"Look at the sky."
"The sky...? Just dark clouds... Gasp!"
At 66 Heavenly Demons' words, he peered at the clouds blocking the sun. But they weren't clouds.
Phantasmal human figures.
Spirit bodies clustered like clouds, chatting or drifting leisurely.
Gray and dim, mistaken for stormclouds—their somber expressions gave it away.
"What the hell?"
"Humans embraced true peace and harmony. Souls I gathered from conquered 'stars.' My soldiers, sent to war other 'stars' on my orders. Costs a bit, but..."
"......!"
"I seek to conquer all 'stars' with them, granting true peace and harmony to every world. Yes, I'm the 'war' constellation, but war is merely the means."
Shocking words from 66 Heavenly Demons.
Absurd, yet Yoo Seongwon grasped it: this landscape, those sky-souls—that was his 'peace and harmony.'
True peace. Those souls would never fight again.
"What say you? Entrust all to me, become my subject, bask in eternal peace and harmony?"
"Uh... one question."
"Yes?"
"Why '66 Heavenly Demons'?"
He preached peace, but the name didn't fit.
"That's your big question?"
"Lots, but that's top."
"No big deal. Just a tarnished name from when I flailed against endless intelligent lifeforms' warlike nature. Fools slapped it on me—stupid stars saw only my battles! Corpses piled, ignoring results! They obsessed over stars I burned, blind to this peaceful one!"
A slur. Not self-chosen, but foisted by others.
Using conquered stars' souls to hop worlds, torching and slaying all—earning that name.
Ignoring this star's 'peaceful' outcome, they branded him.
"Curiosity sated? Invader of my dungeon, what now? Submit to my ideal, gain eternal peace like my grand generals on the front. Won't you burn all stars under me for a world of true peace and harmony?"
"...Nah. Those folks don't look happy. And I don't get what peace or harmony's for... Earth's dumpster fire beats this."
"Individual happiness sacrifices to greater value. No matter. Rejecting my offer means war with you..."
66 Heavenly Demons swung his gun-arm.
Yoo Seongwon braced—core raid starting for real.
The sky-souls descended like dark clouds, blanketing the earth. His vision plunged into darkness in an instant.