Chapter 149
Chapter 149
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Ambush
Splash!
Dark, viscous blood suddenly erupted into the air.
At the same time, a wave of tremendous power swept through.
"...What the hell is that?"
"A Seed of Evil."
Volkan said with a hardened expression.
"I don't know what it is exactly, but those bastards have put everything on the line here too. You've already taken out one Seed of Evil, haven't you?"
Volkan spoke gravely, then slammed down the massive halberd slung over his shoulder—nearly as big as his own body—with a heavy thud!
"Fend for yourself. Even I can't protect you in this mess."
Unlike his usual tone, his voice was deadly serious.
And it had every reason to be.
Guild Master, Black Nether Duke, Volkan.
When those three gathered, and even they couldn't touch the Seed of Evil...
The Holy Sword had assessed that one of them would die.
-Don't worry too much. Things are a bit different this time.
'Fair enough.'
I felt a little relieved.
Blood rained down from the sky with a splatter.
A wave of power engulfed everything around us.
That's when they revealed their overwhelming presence.
At least five figures who could stand toe-to-toe with Volkan.
They were radiating their auras, vigilantly watching the skies above.
Screeech.
A long hand stretched out from empty air.
A pitch-black hand wrapped in coiling green energy.
A filthy green glow, like it was emitting radiation.
That black hand suddenly emerged from nothing and...
Crunch.
...slammed down, tearing a long gash in the air.
Beneath it, countless other hands became visible.
[^#$^!%$%#]
Incomprehensible words.
Or were they even words?
Faint power infused the sounds as they spread in all directions.
'What the hell is that...?'
-The Four Heavenly Kings.
The Holy Sword answered my question calmly.
-The Demon King's most dangerous subordinates. They're called the elite soldiers, the vanguard who slaughter countless beings.
The Holy Sword spoke quietly.
But there was a hint of anger in its voice.
-Those things are dangerous. Ominous. Pure evil that must be eradicated.
'...'
-People talk a lot about the demonic path or paths of heresy, but compared to those, it's all fake. Even human sacrifices of hundreds would be like the dirt under their nails.
Beasts.
Absolute evil bent on humanity's destruction.
That's what the Holy Sword had said long ago, when it saw Soyeonhwa and described the scene.
-Be careful. I haven't unlocked my full power yet, so they won't target you... but you never know.
'But won't the old man win?'
-Probably.
The Holy Sword's voice was uncertain.
-Five beings equivalent to level 9... and even then, I can't guarantee victory. One of them might be gravely injured... or even die. That's how threatening they are.
'Is that even possible?'
-That's why they're who they are.
However.
As the Holy Sword said that, it added one more thing.
-The heroes aren't fully matured yet. They're competing for those spots and holding them for five years from the start. That Veronica girl was the only one who seemed decent.
'Veronica?'
-Yeah. Expecting attacks from a priestess was the mistake to begin with. When you were trapped in the Labyrinth together, did anyone on your team ever suffer more than moderate injuries from her?
'...No.'
-And now she's investing in offense too... Watch out!
Before the Holy Sword could finish, my feet were already moving.
Roar!
A massive fireball hurtled toward me.
'This is no joke.'
The shockwave from that fireball alone was insane.
The problem? It was one of Old Man Volkan's flames.
'...The aftermath of a clash and rebound is this much.'
It was truly terrifying.
I prided myself on being strong, but...
'There are at least five powerhouses like that here.'
Kaboom!
I didn't know the details, but flames and water surged, space warped, and at least tens of thousands of talismans swirled everywhere.
-Every one of them is a famous name. The Magic Tower Lord, the head of the Eastern Mosan Sect. Oh, even the imperial swordmaster thought dead 50 years ago?
BOOM!!
The aftermath was utterly monstrous.
Best not even look that way.
I leaped back stealthily while focusing on rescuing people.
Nothing fancy—just extending Shadow Reaper's line to pull survivors from under rubble.
"Th-thank you!"
"You saved my life!"
"Um... we're so grateful. Please come to our home later, and I'll show my proper thanks..."
Who was the last one?
I sighed inwardly as I kept at the rescues, only realizing at some point that the battle had quieted down a bit.
The five level 9s were luring the creature born from the Seed of Evil far away.
'Truly amazing.'
At least 10 kilometers distant.
Normally, nothing would be visible at that range, but the marksman's vision fused with Spirit Mist and Phantom Eye let me see it clearly.
I thought as I watched the fight.
'Maybe because five level 9s are teaming up.'
They were toying with the elite soldier from the Seed of Evil.
Whenever it tried something, Volkan smashed its head, the mage beside him sliced off its limbs with water blades. The shaman nearby bound its limbs with thousands of talismans out of millions, and the bandage-wrapped figure crushed it space and all.
But it regenerated.
Impressive regeneration, sure. But if those three—Volkan, Black Nether Duke, and the Guild Master—combined forces, could they kill it?
'Doesn't seem possible.'
-Sound reasoning.
The Holy Sword agreed with my thought.
-You're not wrong. The Demon King's elite subordinates... like the Four Heavenly Kings... aren't that strong if you ignore their immortality.
'Right?'
-But they wield strange powers. Authorities not of this world.
'Authorities?'
-If I had to put it... like a superior version of Gifts.
'...Gifts are gifts mimicking some divine power, right?'
-Yes.
So gods possess Authorities.
And Gifts mimic those.
But I had some questions about that.
Not important right now, though. Shelve it.
While watching the battle, one figure caught my eye.
Striding out boldly, like the protagonist.
Elf ears.
But the face was familiar. Long ears, silver hair, blue eyes.
I'd seen him recently.
Silvern.
The guy who ambushed me with the archer elf.
His face resembled that swordsman's, so I recognized him instantly.
"The hero! The hero's finally here!"
"That's him, the master of the Holy Bow, Sir Silrin...!"
Murmurs rose from all around.
That let me know who he was.
-Ah, so that's how it is.
'His family being the Thief Hero is why he ambushed me.'
The hero called Silrin drew his bowstring.
Whoosh!
A tremendous wave of power surged.
Even I was startled for a moment.
When was it?
The light shot by that guy called Loran to kill me in an instant.
Compared to that, this was at least ten times the overwhelming power.
-Take a good look. The vessel containing the divine power bestowed by the goddess—a divine artifact. See how incredible it is.
As the Holy Sword finished speaking...
The elf called Silrin boldly drew back the bowstring.
Just as power gathered...
Stab.
A long hand pierced the elf's abdomen.
"...?"
-What the hell?
The Holy Sword sounded dumbfounded.
I widened my eyes in shock too.
The moment he tried to fire the Holy Bow, one of the Four Heavenly Kings appeared before Silrin from over 10km away and punched a hole through his gut.
-This is bad.
'Why?'
-As I said earlier, those things don't die. To kill them, you need the holy power in a divine artifact.
'What about priests?'
-Their power can't touch those. It's somewhat effective, but without the goddess's direct power in a divine artifact, it's meaningless.
'What's that mean?'
-Divine artifacts were made to exterminate invaders from other worlds.
I looked toward the Holy Bow.
Others were rushing over desperately, but there was a slight delay.
The being that had impaled Silrin reached for the Holy Bow.
"Stop...!"
A faint, desperate cry reached me.
Almost a scream. Before it fully registered...
'Steal Strike...!'
I was already moving.
My right hand felt pulled toward something.
I felt it grab hold.
I yanked it out immediately.
'Damn it!'
I cursed inwardly.
My head throbbed like it was on fire.
No way. Just stealing one Holy Bow, and this much pain?!
I glared wide-eyed at what I'd stolen with Steal Strike.
Wait, items plural?
What came out was...
[Holy Bow.]
And...
[%!^%'s Immortality.]
A stone glowing with an eerily vicious green light.
Like a rock soaked in radiation.
-Wait, what did you just steal?!
'Huh?'
In that instant.
Killing intent sharp enough to tingle enveloped me.
Glowing green eyes.
The being turned toward me, radiating intense malice.
'Screwed up.'
-Run!
I couldn't escape.
I knew the moment our eyes met.
I could move using Overlord's dominance drawn from Paewang.
'No choice.'
Volkan was approaching me.
I clutched my pounding head and reached out toward him.
Steal Strike.
I stole the space between him and me. Warm blood trickled from my nose.
Volkan appeared before me.
And one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
I grinned savagely and backed away, thinking...
'How's this? Master shield in action.'
-...Your personality really suits a thief.
'...'
I had nothing to say.