Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Han Shin's Fury
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...I must have seen it wrong.
It was something that could never happen unless it was a hallucination, an optical illusion, or a dream.
The only possibility was that the land where he stood right now, this very earth, was infested with curses and poison, and he had been afflicted.
But there wasn't a trace of poison around—only lush green grass everywhere.
Besides, if something were messing with his mind, he would have noticed it beforehand.
His body, mind, and soul were unified to a degree that even the Creators would marvel at. That meant he could never mistake his own condition.
He possessed a talent for comprehending far beyond what he directly learned—one glimpse revealing a hundred insights—and he knew himself just as well.
In other words, he was perfectly self-objectified.
Han Shin had already reached the realm of perfect unity since childhood. There was no way someone with a talent coveted even by demons could be confused.
'...Su Shin is dead?'
...If so, then the message he was seeing now was real.
Han Shin's expression crumpled involuntarily.
At this point in time, there was no human or group capable of hunting Su Shin.
Aside from himself.
Even he himself would need to scour the Abyss for the items required to hunt Su Shin.
If they clashed right now, the odds of killing Su Shin were exactly fifty-fifty.
With Lee Hyuk-soo's help, maybe sixty percent.
If he could lure Su Shin to favorable terrain and use Lee Hyuk-soo's death as a shield, the win rate might climb to seventy percent—but considering the future, losing Lee Hyuk-soo would be a clear loss.
'Who the hell did it?'
Did his calculations go wrong?
Was there another Irregular like him?
The world is vast, and there are many humans, so it wouldn't be strange if someone with exceptional talent existed.
However, the Creator contracted with him had said:
Han Shin believed it was true as well.
He had competed against the world's top players and shattered "world records" countless times.
From events emphasizing physical prowess like running, swimming, and long jump, to those requiring specialized skills—he had mastered them all.
Of course, they were all unofficial or done solo, but the gaps weren't minor; they were overwhelming, far from mere self-delusion.
Therefore, no human surpassed him.
The true inheritor of the War God's talent.
That was Han Shin.
Han Shin glanced at Lee Hyuk-soo.
'Word has it this guy killed the Dragon God General too.'
They said he took it down in one strike.
Even with some exaggeration, it wasn't impossible for Lee Hyuk-soo.
He might have a hidden trump card skill.
Above all, the guy was wearing the full "Lion King's equipment" set.
He had confirmed it with his "Mind's Eye" skill that pierced through everything.
Unless it came from a contract with a top Creator, it meant he earned it through pure skill.
A human who could acquire such gear solely on his own merit could very well slay the Dragon God General.
Thus, Han Shin was convinced that Lee Hyuk-soo possessed "special traits" or "skills" like his own.
And yet, someone other than the two of them here had hunted Su Shin.
'There was definitely a lightning strike.'
A bolt struck where Su Shin was, and it ended in one shot.
If it wasn't a misperception, someone who wielded lightning magic was there.
And not just any lightning magic.
It had to be top-tier lightning magic—powerful enough to make ears ring and illuminate the entire Abyss.
'Unless the God of Lightning appeared...'
What kind of destructive power was that?
Moreover, the message only said "Su Shin has died." Nothing else.
That made it even stranger.
There should have been more details, but it was just that one line.
"Looks like there's someone else besides us who can hunt Su Shin."
Lee Hyuk-soo said.
Han Shin had declared that no one but the two of them could hunt Su Shin, but now someone had actually done it.
Plus, since Su Shin's death seemed to be the goal from the start, unlike Han Shin, Lee Hyuk-soo wore a relaxed expression.
It was at that moment.
'...There's an additional message.'
More messages appeared before his eyes.
He didn't know why there was a delay, but Han Shin focused and read them carefully.
"......"
Messages that drove the nail in deeper.
It seemed a fellow "human" had cleared it.
Moreover, they even got a Gold Box.
If just being inside granted it, that meant a highly special event had occurred.
But there was no time to dwell on it.
"Hold on... I have somewhere to be."
Han Shin said, and Lee Hyuk-soo nodded.
"Lucky for me. Same here."
"See you outside, then."
"Yeah."
The moment they agreed, Han Shin and Lee Hyuk-soo headed in opposite directions.
Han Shin went toward the Poison Mist Swamp, while Lee Hyuk-soo headed to the massive lake where Su Shin awaited.
Lee Hyuk-soo thought:
'It's him.'
The one who killed Su Shin just now.
The monster who wielded such powerful lightning and erased it in one blast—Lee Hyuk-soo knew only one such person.
'The Prophet is there.'
Lee Hyuk-soo quickened his pace.
"...Damn it."
Poison Mist Swamp.
Upon arriving at the altar site, Han Shin let out a sigh.
It was even more incomprehensible than Su Shin being hunted.
The venomous zombies that roamed the swamp were gone, the barrier had vanished entirely, and even the "Lich Necromancer" that should have been guarding it was nowhere to be seen.
And that wasn't all.
The altar itself was in ruins.
'The box is open.'
...The treasure chest stood wide open.
He couldn't make sense of what had happened.
The life force in the Life Basin disappearing was odd enough already.
But he never imagined someone would open the treasure chest too.
'How did they figure out the magic pattern sealing the box?'
One could shatter the barrier and kill the Lich with overwhelming power.
But opening the treasure chest? Impossible.
It was a pattern known only to him and the Lich.
How had they discerned and unlocked it?
Because of this, the "provision" meant for Han Shin was gone.
Perfectly stolen.
Han Shin looked up at the sky.
"If you have a mouth, speak! What the hell happened here...!"
He spat his fury toward the Creator he was contracted with.
Something impossible in normal Incarnation-Creator relationships.
But no answer came.
That was the condition from the start of their contract.
He was different from other Creators. He could grant more potential but intervene less.
So, he had to keep the contract a strict secret.
Even if being an Incarnation was exposed, he must never reveal the Creator's identity—that was the contract's term.
Whether the Creator was embarrassed to be contracted to a human or whatever, it made proper conversation difficult.
Of course, he didn't need provisions anyway.
Han Shin was strong in his own right.
He was confident he could reach the top without them.
This was pure rage at having "his own" stolen.
'Dare to take what's mine?'
Han Shin was the taker, not the taken.
He had never once had something stolen from him in his life.
He always achieved his goals, bringing despair to others but never experiencing loss himself.
Yet now, it was taken.
Robbed.
'No way?'
Han Shin looked toward where Su Shin had been.
The one who killed Su Shin.
Could that be the culprit who looted his "provision"?
And possibly others' provisions too, all at once.
'An Incarnation?'
Provision locations were shared among Incarnations.
The map of the entire Su Shin Abyss was allocated to everyone.
Under the unspoken agreement not to touch each other's.
No one would touch another's unless they wanted catastrophe.
Yet one had broken that rule.
And that Incarnation might be the same one who killed Su Shin.
'No Creator would adventure for an Incarnation...'
The problem was, getting caught would make enemies of other Creators too.
Would any Incarnation and Creator take such a risk?
For a mere Incarnation? To raise one, staking their honor and existence?
Then not an Incarnation?
An ordinary human looted the provisions and killed Su Shin?
That made even less sense.
Grind!
For the first time, Han Shin ground his teeth.
He had never been this furious before.
He was so angry he wanted to grind them to dust and swallow them.
Just before the Su Shin Abyss closed.
Han Shin's eyes lingered on the final message.
'Forcibly teleported.'
In other words...
To the outside of the Su Shin Abyss, around the Admiral Yi Sun-sin statue.
The culprit would be among those teleported.
Dungeon entry required proximity.
The entrance had to be visible within "line of sight."
'They'll be near the Admiral Yi Sun-sin statue.'
He would take them all in.
Someone capable of killing Su Shin would stand out at a glance.
He wasn't just physically superior—his "eyes" for observation were precise too.
'Nothing escapes the Mind's Eye.'
His ability to assess opponents was already exceptional.
Upon awakening, he unlocked several abilities, including the "Mind's Eye" skill.
His version could read not only equipped gear but even parts of the opponent's "Status Window."
Someone who looted provisions and killed Su Shin would stand out clearly from the rest.
Whoosh!
A "warp" portal opened beneath his feet.
The warp forcibly transported Han Shin.
At the same time.
"W-We escaped!"
"Ugh, I really thought we were goners!"
All who had entered escaped the "Su Shin Abyss."
Most were in front of the Admiral Yi Sun-sin statue, with the rest nearby.
Han Shin's eyes flashed as he scanned every single one without missing a beat.
And then...
'...That guy?'
His eyes gleamed, locking onto Park Chan-woo.