Chapter 992
Chapter 992
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 992
Chapter Title: 992. Radiant Ascension Blade
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The sorcerers from the Manmu Tower simultaneously teleported the entrants to the island.
The scenery shifted in an instant, and my stomach churned.
Feeling stifled by the sudden rise in temperature, I looked around.
In the distance, a volcano spewed endless black smoke, staining the sky. Just looking at it made me feel the heat. And from the heavens, dark specks kept falling nonstop. Volcanic ash.
'A lush, green forest right near a volcano. That's downright bizarre...'
I set aside any deep pondering.
This was a world from a created story. It wasn't strange if the laws and common sense of reality were twisted here. Better to move than waste time on useless thoughts.
I summoned a drone from my inventory and sent it skyward. The ash didn't blanket everything, so scouting still had value.
'Where's Hwangbo Gahye? It'd be great if she's nearby.'
I glanced at the tablet while controlling the drone. Through it, I could see the footage from the camera attached to the drone.
'People. Not Hwangbo Gahye, though...'
I steered the drone well away from them. Get too close to a martial artist, and they might attack it. I'd actually had drones shot down twice before.
Kwachik!
The screen cut out with the sound of something shattering. The drone had been hit by some attack and crashed.
'An attack from a blind spot in the camera.'
I had no idea who or what struck it. The drone had been too far to see with the naked eye. Using Heavenly Eye now would be too late anyway.
'I saw a silhouette right before it cut off.'
The footage autosaved. I rewound it to check the figure.
'Found her! It's Hwangbo Gahye!'
In the video, Hwangbo Gahye stared at the drone with a startled expression. She already knew it was my magic tool, so no big surprise there.
'She must've seen whatever smashed the drone. The camera was facing down, no flying thing nearby... An attack from higher up? That means a yokai or spirit beast.'
Yokai and spirit beasts.
To me, both were just monsters, but this world distinguished them clearly.
Monsters with malevolent auras were yokai; those with sacred spirit energy were spirit beasts. Or so they said.
But the distinction didn't mean much. Spirit beasts ate humans, yokai helped them sometimes. And like humans, high-realm yokai and spirit beasts had inner cores. Humans didn't bother eating each other's because there was little gain.
'Definitely... that way. Not far.'
To meet Hwangbo Gahye, I channeled energy into my legs and dashed off. About fifteen minutes later, I spotted her battling a yokai. It was a 2-meter gorilla with blood-red eyes and fangs glinting menacingly from its gaping maw.
"Hah!"
Hwangbo Gahye shouted as she thrust a solid fist forward. The gorilla didn't dodge—instead, it punched back.
A small human fist met the yokai gorilla's massive one.
"Kwaaaagh!!"
The gorilla screamed in agony, hopping around in pain disproportionate to its bulk. Its fist was wrecked. Hwangbo Gahye's, meanwhile, was unscathed.
She charged like a beast. Her fists and feet unleashed a flurry on the gorilla.
Having sparred with her several times, I knew that fist art.
'Phoenix Immortal Hand Fist... It gets stronger with each consecutive strike. A bizarre technique.'
After more than ten hits, her hands and feet began to change, turning red like flames. Not real fire, but energy.
'Keeps powering up as long as the combo holds... Truly bizarre.'
During a spar, I'd let it go to see how strong her punches could get.
Twenty-three strikes.
That was my limit.
The counter was simple: break the chain. If that's hard, back off to disrupt the flow.
"Kuugh! Kugh! Kek!"
The gorilla yokai took nineteen hits and perished. The final blow sheared off its thick forearm.
As soon as it died, Hwangbo Gahye drew a small knife and stabbed its belly. The blade snapped. The hide was that tough. Grimacing, she tossed it aside, tore the skin with her bare hands, and plunged into the guts. A gruesome sight.
'Pretty face, brutal actions... Hmm. That contrast turns me on.'
I knew her goal, of course. The inner core.
She pulled it out and sighed in disappointment. Probably too small. Still, she pocketed it carefully instead of discarding or swallowing it.
"Lady Hwangbo."
"Hero Sung. You've arrived. Sorry for the ugly display."
"Ugly? You fought like a true martial artist."
"Is that so."
A smile tugged at her lips. She was a beauty who preferred praise for her strength over her looks.
'I'd love to say her rack's perfect for breastfeeding, hips ideal for childbearing... But she'd kill me.'
I held my tongue.
"Lady Hwangbo, take this."
"What's...?"
"A century-old ginseng."
"Can I really accept something so precious?"
"Picked it up on the way. It reminded me of you. Don't make me feel awkward—accept my gesture."
"...Thank you, Hero Sung."
Her touched expression as she pocketed it made me smile, seeing the pouch on her belt.
It wasn't really "picked up"—it was a check-in reward from the Cheongangseong system two weeks back.
"Lady Hwangbo, what's our next move?"
"First, gather the orbs. Combine ours for ten total, then focus on spirit herbs."
"Agreed. We'll follow your plan."
After that, we roamed the island together. Slaying yokai, clashing with other martial artists, struggling for herbs on cliffs.
Perfect setup to slowly win her over.
Thus, we spent about thirty days undisturbed by others. More meaningful than the past few years.
Stumble.
Hwangbo Gahye swayed badly mid-step. I rushed to support her waist and shoulder. Up close, her natural scent hit me strong—stronger than most, I'd learned recently.
Water was scarce here; bathing was tough. Seawater? Made it worse.
"You alright, Lady Hwangbo?"
"...Fine. Just dizzy for a moment."
"No proper rest since the 17th-floor trial began. Even one day off today would help. We've got seventy days left. Manage your stamina."
"You're right. Can't falter from fatigue. Let's rest."
"I know just the spot to melt away that exhaustion."
I led her slowly to a cave. Sulfur stench and steamy haze filled it.
"This is... a hot spring."
"Yes, natural. I'll wait outside—enjoy it first."
"But..."
"On my honor, I won't peek. You know I'm married. The Nangong family name rests on me. I swear it won't be tarnished."
"Exhausted as I am, a soak sounds divine. ...I trust you, Hero Sung."
I knew she wouldn't refuse. She could smell herself.
"I'll wait outside."
I stepped out obediently. No peeking or ambushing now. Trust first.
'Heavenly Eye for a chest peek? ...Nah. Save it for the reveal.'
I sat on a rock by the entrance. Imagined her nude. Waist and hips easy; that sealed chest? Impossible.
'Ugh, wanna peek.'
Thirty minutes later.
A roar from the volcano. Ash surged higher; it erupted. Crimson lava poured from the crater.
'Why now? Cycle's off. Should be in two days.'
Disconcerting, but we were far off. Waves audible if I listened.
Thud. Thud. Thud!
Something approached from the volcano. I squinted into the distance.
Red-skinned giant, over 10 meters tall.
'Flame Giant.'
Habitat: volcanic mountains. Fought one twenty days ago one-on-one. Realized its size was cheating and fled. Even now, solo odds weren't great.
I turned to the cave and yelled,
"Lady Hwangbo! Flame Giant's heading here! We should move!"
"...Got it! Wait a sec! Dressing fast!"
She emerged soon. Damp skin, wet hair and sleeves. Rushed out; chest loosely covered. Bigger than before.
'At least H-cup. Seal not fully broken, so real size...'
I turned away. Escape time.
"Lady Hwangbo. Flee rightward? Still time."
"...No. We fight."
Fighting spirit blazed in her eyes. Normally, she'd avoid risk. I followed her gaze to the giant.
'What's on its side? Sunflower?'
A blazing red bloom on its flank. Top-grade spirit herb, Sunflower. Greed sparked in her.
"Together, Hero Sung and I... we can take it down."
I pondered briefly, then decided: pluck the Sunflower, give it to her, confess.
'She knows my feelings. Use the flower as the opener.'
I drew my Fire Lotus Edge Sword.
"With our strength, even a Flame Giant falls."
"Thank you, Hero Sung."
We charged. We'd synced before; no hesitation. I took right, she left. It whipped arms like lashes. Trees shattered, ground upheaved. Terrifying power.
'Slow and steady! Slow!'
Four hours against the giant. Midway, fatigued Hwangbo Gahye took a hit and fell back; I soloed mostly.
Lured it to a cliff; waves created openings. Plan B: shove it into the sea below.
'Victory! Harvest that Sunflower!'
Drew my sword, reached for the glowing flower—then a blade pierced my gut from behind.
"Urk?!"
Turned. Thirty meters off: Oji Mu, smirking rottenly. Mood soured instantly.
Hwangbo Gahye rushed to my side.
"Lady Hwangbo...! Oji Mu ambushed...?"
Her eyes chilled. She grabbed my arm, wrenched it back. Crack. Left arm destroyed. Pain secondary; useless now.
"Lady Hwangbo?!"
"Hero Sung, thanks for everything. I'll take the Sunflower."
"Why? I'd have given it freely...!"
"In exchange for my body, right? I knew your game."
"......"
"But that's not why. You're too strong among the entrants. Might face you next floor or the one after. Better eliminate you now."
"......Teamed with Oji Mu from the start?"
"Yes. Don't like it, but family stakes for both sides. Die, Hero Sung. Fire Lotus Edge, right? Not ordinary—mine now. And your spatial pouch."
Expressionless, she snatched the sword, stabbed my heart, took my smartphone from my pocket.
"......!!"
My cherished blade through my heart. Eerie sensation.
She snapped my neck for good measure. Crack. Then hurled my body into the crashing sea beyond the cliff.
'That fucking bitch! After all I've done for her!'