Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: The Subjugation Squad's Charge
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“Even if the dragonkin monster horde is large, they're nothing more than a rabble once we take down the Demon Dragon, right?”
“That's true, but the Demon Dragon is right in the middle of that horde.”
At Count Bukaku's remark.
“Do you think those things can stop me?”
Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha shot back.
“……”
Count Bukaku had no choice but to quietly shut his mouth.
He was a named player bearing the title of Fist Emperor.
And a member of the Rokto Empire's imperial family, Grand Duke Chartosha.
Count Bukaku couldn't dare contradict him.
“I agree with Grand Duke Chartosha as well. Isn't taking down that Demon Dragon in the shortest time possible the way to minimize our losses?”
Once even Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf voiced his agreement.
The plan was ultimately changed.
All regular forces would defend the great city of Baran.
Meanwhile, a subjugation squad made up of named players and rankers, including Fist Emperor and Martial Saint, would hunt the Demon Dragon.
It was a remarkably simple plan with a high chance of success.
With the massive reinforcements in troops.
As long as they held off the Demon Dragon, the great city of Baran would be safe.
Kang Hyun-soo saw no need to move Earth King to oppose this plan.
It deviated slightly from his original intentions.
But it actually made the great city of Baran even safer.
‘The issue is the casualties in the subjugation squad hunting Demon Dragon Karaas.’
That wasn't something Kang Hyun-soo needed to worry about.
The greater the losses in the subjugation squad.
The more summons he would gain, so there was no downside.
‘There's definitely some scheme behind this.’
The Rokto Empire's reinforcements, excluding Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf, consisted mostly of members from massive guilds rather than imperial troops.
‘Even if there are deaths, they'll avoid weakening the Rokto Empire's imperial family as much as possible.’
Since the massive guilds had accepted this, it wasn't a big problem.
They must have received compensation fitting their agreement.
What mattered was why Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf had proposed a plan that inevitably led to heavy losses for named players and rankers.
‘Are they planning to use this opportunity to reduce the number of named players and rankers from massive guilds in the Rokto Empire and its vassal states?’
The operation, led by Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf, minimized losses for regular troops but maximized them for named players and rankers.
There was no way the Rokto Empire had devised this out of pity for the people of Mulan Kingdom.
‘There's some ulterior motive.’
It was most likely aimed at chipping away at the power of the massive guilds' named players and rankers.
‘That's how they've always been.’
They constantly sought any chance to curb the power of massive guilds from other dimensions, which were hard to control.
Mulan Kingdom had committed its full forces.
But the Rokto Empire and its vassal states had composed most of their reinforcements—excluding commanders—from named players and rankers of massive guilds.
This was intended to reduce the guilds' strength through the clash with the dragonkin monster horde led by Demon Dragon Karaas.
‘They must have controlled the information.’
For the massive guilds that had volunteered for the rewards, this was a brutal betrayal.
‘They couldn't refuse even if they wanted to.’
They had already signed the contracts.
Moreover, it was an operation personally led by Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf.
Refusing now?
‘Not only would their reputation hit rock bottom, but they'd face massive pressure from governments across nations.’
They couldn't oppose it as too dangerous either.
Why?
Because Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf were personally risking their lives.
How could players from massive guilds, mere commoners, refuse when dukes and grand dukes were staking their lives?
On top of that, there was the noble cause of protecting the powerless people of Mulan Kingdom.
‘The wind from Zhonghua Guild's whole "mission" and "Atlantis dimension defense" nonsense had already been blowing.’
Annoyingly, Zhonghua Guild had opted out of this battle, claiming they hadn't recovered from losses inflicted by the Demon King's minions.
‘They set the board perfectly.’
The Rokto Empire had used the invasion by Demon Dragon Karaas and the dragonkin monster horde to lay a trap the massive guilds couldn't escape.
‘But they made a few miscalculations.’
Why had Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf volunteered for such a dangerous operation themselves?
Because they were confident they would survive.
Duke Kalmus of Mulan, who was inferior to them, had driven off the Demon Dragon.
‘They think they can not only survive but easily hunt Demon Dragon Karaas.’
Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf had no idea.
That their arrogance could cost them their lives.
‘Grand Duke Chartosha and Duke Zdoraf are players with Emperor and Saint titles.’
If they fell in battle?
They could be turned into summons and put to very good use.
‘They're just troublemakers waiting to happen anyway.’
Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha came from high nobility and had become part of the imperial family through marriage to a princess.
He was highly authoritarian and constantly clashed with named players from other dimensions, hindering humanity's unity.
Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf was also from high nobility and shared similar traits, showing strong exclusivity toward players from other dimensions.
‘Their skills are just average.’
They strutted around now as Fist Emperor and Martial Saint.
But in time, they would be mockingly called Honorary Fist Emperor and Honorary Martial Saint, objects of ridicule.
Despite their lacking skills, they clung to their titles using their high noble status.
But a title required universal recognition to hold.
No matter how desperately the individual and their nation insisted on keeping it.
‘Without the skill, you can't hold it.’
The result was Honorary Fist Emperor and Honorary Martial Saint.
Their ends were miserable too.
‘Grand Duke Chartosha died at the hands of the Goddess of Flames, and Duke Zdoraf fell to the Sword God.’
Both perished at the hands of Earth-origin players who could barely be called allies amid extreme internal divisions.
They had low potential for growth and only stirred up internal strife with their inherent arrogance.
Having them perish against Demon Dragon Karaas and become Kang Hyun-soo's summons.
‘Would actually benefit humanity as a whole.’
The meeting ended.
The subjugation squad was formed.
* * *
-Kraaaaaah!
With Demon Dragon Karaas's roar, the dragonkin monster horde launched their second invasion.
The attackers: 287 members of the subjugation squad, led by Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf.
The defenders: everyone else.
The subjugation squad consisted entirely of named players and rankers.
Their goal was singular.
Exterminate the Demon Dragon.
“全軍出陣!”
“Let's sever the Demon Dragon's head!”
The 287 members of the subjugation squad, led by Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf, broke through the dragonkin monster horde.
They charged toward Demon Dragon Karaas.
Among the 287 subjugation squad members were Kang Hyun-soo and his summons.
Mulan's Guardian Saint Duke Kalmus had tried to exclude Kang Hyun-soo.
But Kang Hyun-soo had volunteered to join.
To turn fallen players into summons, Kang Hyun-soo had to be in the squad.
It was highly dangerous.
‘But that's a risk I have to take.’
Nothing in the world came free.
Naturally, Kang Hyun-soo had to bear the penalty of potential death.
‘I wonder how many will survive?’
Even conservatively, more than half of the 287 would surely perish.
Their overall strength was sufficient.
They had Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf, bearers of Emperor and Saint titles.
And through a desperate trade, Duke Kalmus of Mulan—able to match them for the remaining two days—was included.
The problem was.
‘That thing won't give us a fair frontal fight.’
Demon Dragon Karaas prioritized its own survival above all.
Thus, it was unlikely to engage the subjugation squad head-on.
‘Well, they'll handle it themselves.’
Kang Hyun-soo was just a lowly squad member.
He had no command authority.
Even if the squad suffered near-total annihilation.
Kang Hyun-soo lost nothing.
‘I kept Song Hana and Spear Emperor out of the squad.’
Song Hana and Spear Emperor had wanted to join Kang Hyun-soo in the squad.
But he deliberately excluded them.
‘I don't plan to raise Song Hana and Spear Emperor like flowers in a greenhouse.’
But throwing them into the fray against Demon Dragon Karaas was too risky.
‘Even if included, they wouldn't contribute much to the firepower.’
Song Hana and Spear Emperor were still growing.
For them.
‘Fighting dragonkin monsters would be far more beneficial than facing Demon Dragon Karaas.’
Even veteran fighters with experience could lose their lives in an instant against Demon Dragon Karaas.
If Song Hana and Spear Emperor had reached named player level?
He would have risked including them in the Demon Dragon Karaas raid.
It would provide help, and experience against such a powerhouse wasn't easily gained.
But.
‘It's too soon.’
Kang Hyun-soo had no intention of throwing the ones he had carefully nurtured into a deadly battlefield where they might die pointlessly without gaining proper combat experience.
‘Even if resurrection is possible, who knows what aftereffects there might be.’
In the worst case.
They could revive not as living humans but as summons made of mana.
‘We're almost there.’
Lost in these thoughts, the subjugation squad—including Kang Hyun-soo—sliced through the dragonkin monster horde and closed in on Demon Dragon Karaas.
At that moment.
Pajijijik! Hwaruruk! Kwakwakwakwa!
Remote barrages from Demon Dragon Karaas and the dragonkin monsters rained down like arrows.
“All units, scatter!”
At Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha's shout, the players dispersed to evade.
But.
Kyauwoong!
Kraaaaaah!
Dragonkin monsters charged from all sides, blocking the squad members' escape routes.
Kwo-gwagwagwa-kwang!
A massive explosion rang out, vaporizing some squad members along with dragonkin monsters.
“They took out their own minions too!”
“That vile bastard!”
The squad members who lost comrades vented their rage.
But that didn't bring the dead back.
‘Regiment formation.’
Saaak!
They had revived as Kang Hyun-soo's summons.
‘But dead is dead.’
Summons weren't living beings but puppets made from the empty shells left after souls departed.
Strictly speaking, they hadn't returned to life.
-Insolent humans!
Demon Dragon Karaas bellowed arrogantly like that.
“You cowardly scum!”
“Where do you think you're running?!”
Then it flapped its wings, retreating to the rear and deploying dragonkin monsters.
The squad members desperately cut down the dragonkin monsters swarming from all directions and pressed forward.
‘But they can't just stroll across the plain.’
Whenever the squad's movement slowed.
Demon Dragon Karaas's attacks inevitably followed.
Demon Dragon Karaas was a tank, a melee dealer, a ranged dealer, and a healer all in one.
It was annoyingly good at hit-and-run tactics.
When the squad members finally closed in, surrounded by dragonkin monsters.
Juaaaak!
It swept away the tanks with tail and claws, then slyly pulled back.
“You beast worse than an animal!”
“Come out and fight fair and square!”
Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf bellowed their fury.
But it had no effect.
‘They can't fight fair themselves.’
With the skills of Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf.
They could have reached Demon Dragon Karaas faster than the others.
But they didn't.
Why?
‘They have no intention of risking a solo confrontation with Demon Dragon Karaas.’
Demon Dragon Karaas was stronger than Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf.
Even combining their strength, without help from the other squad members?
They could suffer grievous wounds or die.
So they just shouted bravado.
They didn't approach Demon Dragon Karaas alone.
The chase continued endlessly.
As a result.
‘Over 200 are already dead.’
The squad's numbers had dropped below 100.
It wasn't without achievements.
Nearly 20,000 dragonkin monsters had been slain.
Including those killed while attacking the great city of Baran?
Fewer than 10,000 dragonkin monsters remained.
Demon Dragon Karaas's shield of minions was nearly gone.
In contrast.
‘The quality of my summons has improved dramatically.’
200 named players and rankers had been added to Kang Hyun-soo's summon list.
From his perspective.
It was a massive jackpot.
But.
‘The main course is still ahead.’
Demon Dragon Karaas.
He hadn't hunted the juiciest prey yet.
‘While we're at it, it'd be nice if Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf died too.’
If Demon Dragon Karaas was the main course.
Then Fist Emperor Grand Duke Chartosha and Martial Saint Duke Zdoraf were the main dessert, perhaps?