Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Rage Descends
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Like the absolute command of a king.
The words bursting from Si-woo's lips twisted the laws of space itself, binding them in unbreakable chains.
"…?!"
Flicker's fist, which had closed in right up to Si-woo's nose, froze in midair.
His muscles trembled violently, as if shackled by invisible bonds.
His eyes flickered with bewilderment.
Clozer, standing behind him, was in the same state.
"Urk—!"
But the price was steep.
A gush of blood erupted from Si-woo's mouth.
It naturally splattered onto Kim Yun-seo, cradled in his arms.
Unable to endure the searing pain tearing through his throat, he clutched at his neck with one hand.
'At most... 10 seconds.'
9.
8.
7.
6.
He was holding two S-ranks in place.
They were still unleashing torrents of mana, raging against their restraints.
4.
3.
2.
Crack.
A sound like fracturing space echoed through the air.
'The limit.'
The space around the nearby Flicker began to waver.
1.
Si-woo gritted his teeth, pulling Kim Yun-seo even tighter against him.
"I'll kill you."
Finally, Flicker's binding shattered, and his fist rocketed toward Si-woo's head.
A deafening boom erupted, as if punching through an air wall.
In that split second, Si-woo cloaked his entire body in Choi Min-seok's Body Hardening and twisted away.
THUD—!!
A dull impact rang out, sending Si-woo's body flying.
Excruciating pain surged as his shoulder blade crumbled.
He struggled midair to shield Kim Yun-seo from harm, but the force was too overwhelming.
CRASH! Clang!
He smashed through the lab wall, tumbling into a corner piled with machinery.
Metal equipment collapsed in a cascade, burying him.
"Cough! Ack…."
The metallic tang of blood filled his mouth, his vision spinning.
He bit his lip, fighting to stay conscious.
Si-woo shook his head and first checked on Kim Yun-seo.
'She's okay.'
Thankfully, absorbing the impact with his body had spared her the worst.
"Haa… haa…."
As he panted raggedly and looked up, Flicker approached with heavy steps.
"Not bad. You take a hit like that and don't pass out?"
Flicker rolled his wrists, loosening up.
A strange smile mixed irritation and intrigue twisted his face.
"Let's see how long you last."
"Hey! Don't kill him!"
"I know. Just having a little fun."
"I told you to go easy."
"Breaking a few limbs should be fine."
Flicker cackled, raising his fist.
Si-woo forced himself up at the sight.
His left shoulder dangled uselessly—dislocated, or worse, shattered.
'Hurry…!'
His eyes locked straight ahead.
Flicker faltered at the undimmed fire in that gaze.
"Oh? Still got fight in you? Interesting. Thought you'd beg for mercy."
"Mercy?"
Si-woo twisted his bloodied lips into a grin.
He gathered mana to his throat once more.
"Don't move."
"This bastard again…!"
"You damned—!"
Si-woo staggered for a moment.
But he quickly steadied and broke into a run.
Now it was a race against time.
Their eyes, bound in place, tracked him with murderous intent.
"Cough! Hack!"
Blood poured from his mouth nonstop as he ran.
He burst through the door, sprinting without a backward glance.
How far had he gone?
A roar exploded from behind.
But he ignored it, focusing only on running.
As far as possible.
He had to get as close to Choi Min-seok as he could.
Then—
"Got you, you damn bastard."
A voice rang out from his left.
A fist lunged in the next instant.
Si-woo spun right, shifting course.
But as if anticipating it, Clozer appeared before him and swept his legs.
Even tumbling, Si-woo hugged Kim Yun-seo tight to minimize harm to her.
"You're really a pain."
"Kuh, hack!"
Si-woo couldn't rise again, coughing endlessly.
"I don't get it. Why go this far? From what I know, you're not the type to get emotional over tools. Why?"
"…."
Silence from Si-woo made Clozer scowl as he approached.
His gaze fixed on Si-woo's foot.
As if to crush it.
"First, I'll wreck that foot so you can't pull any more tricks. Don't feel too hard done by."
"…You're too late."
"What?"
Si-woo stared blankly at the sky.
A faint smile crossed his face amid the coughing.
Whoooosh—
A heavy mass hurtled through the air, the sound reverberating.
Flicker and Clozer scanned around, faces saying 'No way.'
"Three modified humans guarding, and he broke through…?!"
Clozer's expression cracked with genuine shock for the first time.
Si-woo smirked in satisfaction.
"Only three."
BOOM—!!!
With a world-shaking roar, someone slammed one fist into the ground upon landing.
The impact cratered the earth in a 100-meter radius.
As if a massive meteor had struck.
"What the…?!"
Flicker stammered in panic.
A dust storm swallowed the space.
Then, in the gray haze, two red glints pierced through.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Footsteps that crushed the heart.
The ground quaked with each one.
Dust cleared to reveal a berserker's form.
Full plate armor stained with blood and soot.
A tower shield larger than a man in one hand.
And blazing eyes like the fires of hell.
Those eyes burned bloodshot, beastial, devoid of reason.
Red battle aura billowed like heat haze from his body, mingling with golden mana to dominate all.
"…."
His gaze fell on Kim Yun-seo in Si-woo's arms.
Pale face.
Frail body.
The woman he longed for even in dreams.
Her face, blurring even there.
Then, her chest rose and fell faintly.
…Ah.
She's alive.
But she was drenched in blood.
Holding her was Si-woo, grievously wounded.
The desperate fight was plain without words.
Clutching her tight amid it all said everything.
He rose slowly.
"Sorry… I'm late."
He turned, positioning Si-woo and Kim Yun-seo behind his back.
And said,
"My apologies."
BOOM!
Choi Min-seok kicked off the ground.
Cracks spiderwebbed where he stood, caving in.
He closed the distance in a flash, charging Flicker like a runaway train.
Flicker reacted, swinging.
But Choi Min-seok didn't dodge.
[Reflect]
Damage reflected back to attacker
THUD!
"Argh!"
Flicker, who threw the punch, cried out in pain and staggered back.
Before he recovered, Choi Min-seok seized his face with one hand.
SLAM!
He smashed him into the ground.
"Gah!"
Flicker screamed, unable to bear it.
Choi Min-seok offered no respite, raising his shield to smash down.
Flicker desperately blocked with both hands.
Straining with all his might, he roared,
"Raaagh!!"
"U… URRRAAAHHH!!!!"
The two beasts grappled in a test of strength.
Soon, Flicker's unhealed wounds betrayed him; he began to yield.
BOOM!!
The shield struck his chest with thunder.
Choi Min-seok hammered Flicker with the broad face relentlessly.
Like a baseball launched for a homer, Flicker flew like clothesline.
Rumble!
He crashed through boulders, embedding far away.
Coughing blood in the rising dust cloud.
"Cough! Kugh…! Power… how…?"
First time blasted back by sheer force.
His eyes wavered at the overwhelming might.
"…Another monster."
Clozer muttered.
The Choi Min-seok he knew was a defense-specialized tank.
But this one transcended that label.
A berserker destroyer.
"Whatever. Hey, Flicker! I'm joining in! No complaints?"
"…Fine. No choice."
Clozer resonated his mana, dispersing into mist.
It phased through Choi Min-seok's golden shield wall.
"Every ability has a counter."
A hand emerged from the fog, striking his gut.
Not stopping, the mist seeped into his body.
"Guh, grrgh!"
He clutched his abdomen, face contorted.
Clozer rematerialized, yanking off his helmet.
Then gripped his head roughly.
"Now, let's test your endurance."
Then—
"Disperse."
"…This madman!"
At Si-woo's word, Clozer's body misted apart.
The mana fog retreated far before reforming.
Clozer glared at Si-woo, irritation boiling.
Si-woo coughed, hand at his throat, spitting blood in agony.
Then Flicker kicked off, charging.
[Provoke]
Enemy aggression redirected
But Choi Min-seok's Provoke forced a course change.
He barreled into the shield, swinging.
"Tenacious, you monster!"
As he reared for another—
Choi Min-seok lunged forward.
His knee rocketed up in a blur.
"Think that'll work?!"
Flicker countered with his free left, grabbing for the head.
But the knee struck first.
CRACK!
"Argh!"
Flicker reeled, groaning.
As Choi Min-seok raised his fist—
"What about your boss?"
Clozer blew past toward Si-woo.
Choi Min-seok whirled desperately.
But Flicker's grip held him fast.
"B-Boss!"
Clozer ignored the cry, unrelenting.
Si-woo lacked even the strength to move.
He didn't even glance at the approaching threat.
A hollow laugh escaped him.
His eyes fixed rightward.
"Fl…."
"Finally giving up, huh."
Clozer smirked leisurely, hand outstretched.
He seized Si-woo's head, cradling Kim Yun-seo.
"Now, time to end this…."
"Ahaha… haha."
"Laughing?"
Si-woo's mind blanked to Clozer's words.
He sensed a ferocious aura afar.
That was all he saw.
'Really….'
The savage, eerie presence he knew well.
It drew nearer from the distance.
'Really doesn't listen.'
Truly.
Black hair whipping, a figure charged into view.
'Some timing.'
Her sword rose as her hair streamed.
"Hey, Clozer."
"What."
Charging at full tilt, she unleashed a warping aura, sword flashing.
Only then did Si-woo turn to face Clozer.
A feral grin spread.
"This is gonna hurt."
KABOOM—!
His words barely ended as black mana sword energy arced like a crescent moon.