Chapter 195
Chapter 195
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: Sea of Blood
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“Heh heh, this is no way to greet a guest.”
“Answer the question! You’re supposed to be in Korea! How the hell did you get here?”
“It’s not like I’ve come somewhere I’m not allowed… Ah, as expected of Poseidon’s subordinates. Pride runs high on the open sea, does it? Heh heh heh.”
“Answer me!”
Tritonias was caught off guard repeatedly, losing much of his usual composure.
No matter what else, sneaking onto this golden maned ship without tripping his senses, sight, or authority as Poseidon’s apostle on the ocean was utterly unforgivable.
Sure, coming from the sky was possible, but Olympus Guild had already prepared for that with various equipment and facilities on watch.
“What’s there to get so worked up about? It’s not that hard. The sea doesn’t belong to Poseidon alone, does it? There’s the Constellation Eternal Wrath stationed in the Pacific, the Constellation Deep of Blue Sea in the Mediterranean, the Constellation Varuna—other sea gods called ‘Constellations.’ Isn’t that a bit arrogant?”
“Fine, I could’ve understood if you were one of their kin! But you’re not! ‘Pastor Lee,’ the human chef of the Constellation Slaughter King! The one who enchanted ghouls with human cuisine! The one who reduced humans to livestock! The one who transcended humanity to become a cannibal devil! How could a god’s apostle who craves only blood and flesh deceive me and reach this sea?”
“On the flip side, that just means you lot are useless outside the ‘sea.’”
Pastor Lee’s sharp retort didn’t faze Tritonias at all.
He’d heard cheap provocations like this countless times before, and he had a ready response.
“Shut your mouth. The sea and rivers are the lifeblood of this world! They cover about seventy percent of Earth’s surface, so talking outside the sea is nonsense! You might’ve tricked me with some petty trick, but in the end, you’ll kneel to my spear and this ocean.”
“‘This sea’? Can you really call where we’re floating right now a ‘sea’?”
“……?”
At Pastor Lee’s leisurely words, Tritonias whipped his head around in shock, scanning the surroundings.
Then came the dreadful realization, along with the fear in Pastor Lee’s laugh, and the sight of the sea beyond the distant ship suddenly turning a deep crimson.
The stench of blood and rotting flesh followed. Tritonias rushed to the ship’s edge and blanched at the ocean vista.
“Th-this… U-urgh!”
He’d seen every horror on battlefields and in dungeons, but the scene below made bile rise in his throat—he couldn’t hold it back.
What spread beneath wasn’t a ‘sea.’
Blood, entrails, flesh chunks, and bones flowed and swelled, expanding their domain. Forget the polluted seawater—even if they stayed, this fortress ship would soon be trapped.
“No matter how you look at it, that’s not a ‘sea,’ right? Heh heh heh, of course not. It’s what flows on our great Constellation Slaughter King’s ‘star’… a ‘River of Blood’ or ‘Sea of Blood.’ Something like that—close enough.”
“No way. Even if you polluted the sea with this to get here, there’s no way our guys wouldn’t have noticed…….”
“Nah, I just bought a sacred relic related to a sea constellation at the auction and used it. Heh heh heh.”
Tritonias was completely played by Pastor Lee’s silver tongue. Yeah, getting here wasn’t anything special.
He called it an ‘auction,’ but it was really just shopping at the Constellation Slaughter King’s store for the right item.
[Ching ching! Oh my! If it isn’t Pastor Lee, who ascended recently? Ching ching! Looking for something? The sea? Ah! Of course. All sorts of sacred relics from the ‘seas’ of countless ‘stars’ conquered by His apostles. Ching ching!]
“Didn’t I tell you? There’s more than one ‘sea constellation.’”
Tritonias couldn’t believe a Scavenger would use a method like this.
Normal Scavengers lacked capital and preferred fleeing over gambling on flashy tactics driven by greed.
And frontline Constellations hated borrowing power or relics from others.
“Does the Constellation Slaughter King approve of his subordinates using other divine powers?”
“Nah, I’ve got a special contract. Heh heh heh. Ever hear of Peter? The guy who denied Jesus three times. Ended up a saint anyway.”
“…I get the picture.”
That fanatic brimming with faith asked nothing of his god.
He was grateful just to serve. Constellations rewarded hard work, but he only wanted to serve—and so, the reluctant Pastor Lee was granted the authority to defy his ‘Constellation’ three times.
He’d used one to catch that S-rank Hunter last time, and another for this sea relic.
“Ah, but changing the sea under this ship? That’s purely His power, so don’t worry. Heh heh heh.”
“What other Constellation could pull off this disgusting stunt? Control room! You hear me? Move the ship now! If we stay, it’ll get tangled in meat and guts……!”
The foul sediments piling below were spreading, threatening to turn the ship into a stranded island.
Denied the sea’s power and authority, Tritonias issued an immediate move order—but Pastor Lee remained utterly relaxed.
At that moment, an explosion and screams burst through the comms.
Kwaaaaang!
[Aaaagh! Boss! Big trouble! Inside! The engine room and control room! Enemies! Kraaagh!]
“Call the Laistrygon Legion now!”
[They’re already descending. To get back on the transports, the rally point… Urgh!]
“…You thought I’d come here alone at a time like this?”
“Damn it!”
Sensing something major was wrong, Tritonias grabbed his weapon and glared at Pastor Lee.
His fears were spot on.
Slaughter King’s minions were no joke. They’d hit him perfectly with an unexpected move beyond his predictions.
No choice now—eliminate ‘Pastor Lee,’ then call back and wipe out the intruders.
“I won’t let you get away!”
“Hmm… You’d charge in, of course. But I’m not your opponent. Bunny Bunny, your turn.”
[Poof. Got it.]
A red dimensional gate opened before the charging Tritonias, and a rabbit beastkin emerged.
Of the ten, most were dead—now just three left. Plus Pastor Lee made four: one of the remaining Archdemon Beasts, the rabbit beastkin Bunny Bunny.
She rarely ventured out, guarding the deepest core dungeon of Slaughter King.
“…A rabbit? Khk!”
Kuuuung!
He was momentarily stunned by her red eyes and snow-white fur—a beautiful rabbit beastkin—but blocking her kick erased that thought.
Even with Poseidon’s blessing and Hephaestus’s apostles’ armor, the heavy impact sank the ship’s deck, driving his ankle down.
[Poof. Another fool judging by looks? This is why I didn’t want to come out……. Anyway, promised five minutes, so I’ll finish at full power. Poof. Don’t forget.]
“My thanks. Wanted to call Toryu, but he’s got a bad matchup with the sea. Anyway, take down that S-rank, and I’ll cook him up nice for you. Plus all the corpses from this ‘hunting ground.’”
[That’ll do. Then… Shadowless Ascension!]
Kwaaaa! Tang!
Bunny Bunny charged with ferocious aura.
One stomp cratered the deck; her attacks blurred past afterimages and shadows—Tritonias flew back.
“Kraaagh! Damn it all!”
Reeling from shock after shock, Tritonias couldn’t hide his alarm.
S-rank monsters, as Constellation apostles, were arrogant—commanding humans, never obeying them.
‘I heard he ascended as an apostle in a human body, but I figured he was still below monsters…….’
“Not an order. Just a ‘request’ and a ‘deal.’ Anyway, time to call in some helpers.”
Leaving the S-rank Hunter Tritonias to Bunny Bunny, Pastor Lee opened another gate, summoning Slaughter King’s regular demons to seize the golden maned ship.
He needed to support the infiltrating Park Sookja and Kwak Wonho soon—and fast, before the dispatched forces returned, or they’d lose control of internals and weapons.
“B-37 block sealed! But it’s breached!”
“Security systems active! Auto-turrets, drones, gas—all deployed, but useless!”
“Alpha suppression team wiped out! Infiltrator’s stats and mana signature clock in at least S-rank Hunter!”
“Keep sealing! Stall for time!”
“Tritonias engaging on deck! Opponent emitting S-rank monster-level mana! He can’t handle alone!”
“Damn it! Two S-rank Hunters and an S-rank monster? Impossible! How’d they sneak in without tripping any sensors!”
Fifteen minutes ago’s calm was gone—the central control room buzzed with frantic urgency.
Two S-rank Hunters had infiltrated: one heading for the engine room, the other this control room. Their personal combat power was insanely strong for Scavengers.
Golden Maned Ship had constant Hunter residents and top security to prevent hijackings—they’d smashed through it all.
“Ah! Pastor Lee, you bastard! What’s easy about this? Where’s the easy part? Hey! Wonho, you having it easy there?”
[Not at all. Damn! Every block’s a nightmare. Had to summon ‘Demon Hounds’ they barely even call! One summon’s always a loss—Pastor Lee’s covering this, right?]
“No clue! Shit! Raaah!”
Thud! Groooar!
Park Sookja swung her demonized arm, smashing through the bulkhead door. The next room’s suppression team waited, guns ready.
Olympus Guild lived up to the name—meticulous prep per zone made them infuriating.
This was the fiercest battle of Park Sookja’s life.
“At least we gotta wrap before their main force returns… Whew~ Wonho! How far are you?”
[Almost at the engine room. But the real key’s central control, right? Hurry.]
“Ah! I’m going! But these bastards’ resistance is no joke! Damn it!”
They’d split to face fewer foes, but resistance was fierce.
Mission: seize central control and engine room before enemy reinforcements returned. Tough as hell, no doubt.
But this was the chance to nab not just Golden Maned Ship, but Olympus Guild Hunters aboard and tons of loot—so she gritted her teeth and charged the waiting team.