Chapter 963
Chapter 963
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 963
Chapter Title: Rainbow Fruit
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"But can we really break through the barrier around the city walls and get inside?"
The reason people were dying without being able to escape Revilidi City. The barrier. If space was split by the barrier, entering would be impossible too.
"This isn't the first time I've seen this barrier. I encountered something similar in another city long ago. It's a barrier designed to trap prey inside. No need to block food that walks in on its own."
"Like a lobster trap?"
"You could say that. One where anyone who enters has a 100% chance of death."
"But you said you've experienced it before?"
"I wasn't alone then. The Holy Knights were with me."
Colman and I strode toward the city gates. The people's screams pierced the air desperately. Those unable to escape through the gates were reaching out toward us. Begging for help. Pleading to be saved. An ordinary person might have felt fear at their desperation.
"Eugene."
"Yes. What is it?"
"Let's reaffirm our goal. Killing the lord. The heretic who caused this mess."
"Correct. Avenge the baron's wife. That's my only purpose right now."
"If anyone grabs your ankle begging to be saved, kill them without mercy. Same if they get in your way. If we fail to execute the heretic, remember those people are already as good as dead, no matter what they do."
"Don't worry. If need be, I can start by killing everyone over there first."
"Haha. Conserve your strength until we meet the culprit. Hm. Need time to prepare?"
"No. I want to avenge the baron's wife as quickly as possible, every minute and second counts."
"Understood. Let's go."
We pushed into the city. As if they'd been waiting, the press of people battered against our armor. Their desperate hands clutched at my arms and legs.
"Save me! Please save us!"
"Get us out! Please!"
"I don't want to die! I don't want to die!!"
I glanced sideways. Colman was in the same boat. Without hesitation, he raised his mace.
"I am Inquisitor Colman. I've come to purge the heretics. Anyone who blocks me is a heretic. Step aside if you want to live."
Colman swung his mace without restraint. Heads exploded, torsos were crushed, limbs mangled.
Damn, he's ruthless.
I couldn't just stand there watching.
"Get out of the way. Or I'll cut you down."
Before the words finished leaving my mouth, I was already swinging my sword. A wide arc cleaved eight bellies open.
Yet the crowd didn't back off easily. They were desperate too. Fear of the monsters rampaging in the city, and a tiny sliver of hope that maybe they could escape outside.
I cut through them, advancing. It took killing about thirty before I broke free of the mob.
Just then, Colman emerged beside me, having carved his way out.
"Any injuries?"
"You think this is enough to hurt me?"
"You're covered in blood head to toe, so I asked."
"You're no different."
We were both drenched in gore. Of course, it was all from other people.
"These folks seem completely unhinged. Even with their guts spilling out, all they think about is fleeing."
"It's the power of the evil god Bramassen. He spreads madness. And madness is highly contagious. Give it a little time, and they'll start slaughtering each other. Survivors will attempt suicide, turn into monsters, or lose their minds to frenzy."
Thud. Thud.
We walked the streets.
Monsters were running rampant. Leaping about, attacking and devouring people. Feasting on the entrails of the dead. They looked enough like zombies to fool anyone.
Surprisingly, Colman ignored all but the ones charging straight at him.
"Not purging the heretics?"
"In a special situation like this, priorities matter. The most urgent task is eliminating the source of this disaster. Cleanup can wait."
A explosion boomed.
The blasts grew more frequent the closer we got to the lord's castle. Someone was fighting inside.
Up close, we saw ice and flames shooting up from the castle. Magic.
"Someone's battling in the lord's castle. A mage? Whoever it is, we can't afford to lose them! We have to help!"
Colman broke into a run. I followed right behind.
The mage fighting in the lord's castle... must be Kang Seok-su. He said he'd made preparations... Can he take down the culprit alone?
Colman halted in front of the castle. I tried to push inside. Slim chance, but if Kang Seok-su had intervened in time, the Revilidi baron's wife might still be alive.
"Hold up."
Colman grabbed my shoulder.
I turned, scowling at him.
"What now? We need to get in and take out the culprit fast."
"I sense an indescribably evil power from over there... We check it first."
I looked where he pointed. The castle garden. Unlike the burning castle and city, it was serene—except the flowers and trees were pitch black. That made it all the more eerie.
Colman hesitated at first. Seemed afraid of the darkness lurking ahead. But duty or whatever spurred him on. I quietly followed.
"What grotesque...!"
"Fuck."
Colman gasped in horror, and I cursed.
In the garden's center. Amid a riot of blooming black roses lay the naked corpse of the baron's wife, twisted grotesquely alongside her son and daughter like rose petals. Blood and entrails from the bodies adorned the flowers like dew.
And at the very center gleamed a round, rainbow-hued object. More apple than orb. Had to be the rainbow fruit. Its faint glow suggested it wasn't fully ripened yet.
Lucky break? Dungeon clear condition is obtaining the rainbow fruit... Grab that, and we're done.
My hand went not for the fruit, but my sword. My eyes fixed on the dead baron's wife's face. Memories flashed. Our steamy sex...
Clear the dungeon now, and I can't kill the bastard who did this to her.
Dungeon clear wasn't the priority.
Revenge was.
My grip tightened on the hilt.
"All the city's misery is being sucked into that orb... It grows by feeding on anguish... How horrific! We must destroy it!"
Colman raised his mace. It shimmered with holy power. He brought it down precisely on the rainbow fruit. But the mace bounced off. The fruit didn't budge, let alone shatter.
"Grrraaah!"
Colman glared at the fruit, clutching his trembling hand from the recoil, then swung again. Pointless.
"Colman. Looks like we need to kill the culprit first."
"...You're right. Everything stems from the culprit... Kill him."
The moment we turned toward the castle, part of it exploded. Something flew out and crashed before us.
A person. No, a monster in human shape.
Over three meters tall, red eyes and skin, bony spikes jutting everywhere.
"You dare covet my treasure?"
It growled at us.
"The Revilidi baron?"
Colman aimed his mace and asked.
"Indeed. So you're that inquisitor."
"Don't need to interrogate you. This is all your doing. In the goddess's name, I sentence you to death."
"Try it!"
The baron roared. Then a orb of light plummeted from the sky, smashing into him. He slammed into the ground as Kang Seok-su landed beside me. His coat was half-torn, blood trickling from his mouth.
"Sung Yu-jin. You finally showed. Thought you'd given up."
"You look like hell. Can you keep fighting?"
"At my limit. Used all my prep just to hold on. My magic can inflict minor wounds, but nothing serious."
The baron twitched on the ground. Colman smashed his glowing mace into the baron's head. A sickening crunch. The head burst like a watermelon.
"An inquisitor, eh. Impressive. But meaningless."
The head regenerated. I glanced at the rainbow fruit nearby. Its glow dimmed as the baron healed. Obvious connection.
I charged with sword raised, but Kang Seok-su's voice stopped me.
"Sung Yu-jin."
"What?"
"This dungeon isn't B-rank. At least A. Give up. No hope. Other hunters abandoned it and escaped. Probably just you and me left."
"If you'd moved faster, we could've ended this easy."
"What're you talking about?"
"No time to explain. Give up if you want. I need to kill that fucker."
The baron rose leisurely. His shattered head reformed.
"...Reckless. But... with you, maybe not impossible."
Kang Seok-su gathered mana again, casting a spell. It enhanced my body. I felt lighter, stronger.
Lightning.
Blue lightning crackled along my sword with the blade aura.
Yeongcheon-ryu: Noesa.
The sword snaked like a serpent, stabbing the baron's solar plexus. It hit true. Problem: didn't go deep. Even with blade aura, his bones guarded the heart too well. Lightning ineffective.
"Oh, oooh, oooooh...!"
Suddenly, the baron shuddered. Sensing trouble, I yanked the sword free and retreated.
Colman seized the opening, slamming his holy mace into the baron's back with full force. Half the body flew off, but the baron didn't counterattack—instead, he grinned in ecstasy.
"Lord Bramassen has issued a divine oracle!"
His voice boomed. Then he laughed at me.
"Lord Bramassen wants your heart. I'll capture you and offer it!"
Ignoring Colman who'd struck his back, he lunged at me, hand outstretched—bigger than a pot lid.
Not agile, but the power in that hand was immense.
Get caught once, and I'm dead.
I used Moment to dodge, leaping onto his shoulder. He craned his neck up to look. Over 180 degrees. Back of his head nearly touched his spine.
"Become my offering quietly!"
"Fuck off."
I shoved my sword into his mouth. It pierced the throat toward the heart. Felt it impale. Like other monsters, this should kill him.
Thud!
He grabbed my left leg. Crushing pain made me groan.
What? Why isn't he dead?! Heart's the weak point!
The glittering rainbow fruit caught my eye. Probably that.
Crunch.
My left calf snapped. Hard to escape.
Cheon-sim used earlier on farmer penalty. On cooldown. Damn. What now...
I'd overlooked something.
I wasn't fighting alone. Kang Seok-su and the inquisitor were here. Colman's mace pulverized the baron's arm. Leg free, I released the hilt and jumped back.
"Wind Field!"
Kang Seok-su cast. A massive gust erupted from the ground, hurling the baron skyward.
"Sung Yu-jin! You okay?!"
I gulped a high-grade potion from my pouch, splashing some on my left leg. Still, full regen would take time.
"Can fight. Mobility's shot, though..."
The wind-tossed baron returned before us. We braced.
"You filthy heretic... I'll purge you myself!"
Colman charged. I limped after, summoning Stormbreaker in sword form and gripping it.
"Kang Seok-su. Cover us from behind."
To kill the baron, we needed to team up. Too tough alone.