Chapter 372
Chapter 372
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 371
Chapter Title: Interspecies War (10)
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The administrators of the Interspecies War were the demons, led by the Demon Gods.
Naturally, the 'demon merchants' had no choice but to bustle about in preparation for the Interspecies War.
The merchant guild, which had barely escaped bankruptcy, had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away.
Though their chance to appear was limited to the 'rest periods' between the great battles.
"First, here's the proper roster of participating races. Take it."
Dagon drawled as he pulled a thin crystal tablet gleaming with a dark crimson hue from his bosom and handed it to Lee Hyuk-soo.
"...A roster? You mean this lists every warrior from every participating race?"
"Exactly."
"...!"
"Who do you think I am? Dagon, the demon merchant. It records every detail on all participating races in this Interspecies War—their representative warriors' names, specialties, recent battle records, even their current status. Of course, this info changes by the minute, so don't put too much blind faith in it. Think of it as a 'sample.' Heh heh heh."
Lee Hyuk-soo hesitated for a moment but soon accepted the crystal tablet.
As he focused his mind on it, a flood of information began pouring into his head.
It included each race's name, their representatives' names, levels, main skills, key achievements, and even fragmentary details on their personalities or presumed weaknesses.
"H-How did you get information like this...!"
Lee Hyuk-soo's eyes widened.
This was no mere list.
It was a compendium of core intel that could map out the entire landscape of the Interspecies War.
The other team members watching his reaction couldn't hide their astonishment.
"Does it really have info on every race?"
Reaper Johnson asked incredulously.
Dagon nodded with a satisfied smile.
"Of course."
"...You're not handing this out for free. What do you want from us?"
"No need to worry. The price has already been paid to Lady Adora."
"...? Wait, with an incarnation?"
Reaper Johnson scowled and glanced at Adora.
People had insisted on 'screening out incarnations' and demanded proper verification, but Lee Hyuk-soo ignored the suggestion.
As a result, no one knew who was an incarnation and who wasn't.
Adora offered no response.
"You've prepared well."
"Whew, don't even ask. You have no idea how much trouble it was wrangling help from the Arhats."
Dagon headed toward the Mountain of Practitioners.
It was to enlist the aid of Chiwu and the other Arhats.
He couldn't bring Chiwu himself, but the Arhats possessed vast knowledge for dealing with demons.
And not just that.
They had detailed information on nearly every race in the Abyss.
Thanks to Chiwu, he could draw aid from all the Arhats and compile the 'roster' while observing the first Interspecies War.
Adora spoke up.
"And them?"
"...They can't come."
"A shame."
Chiwu, the King of a Thousand Armies.
After facing the Evil Gods, he had suddenly left for the Mountain of Practitioners with Hanmir.
The two were restoring the mountain to its peak.
Uniting the Arhats.
'Chiwu aims to ascend as the new Heavenly Demon.'
Dagon avoided further mention of Chiwu, offering only a meaningful smile.
Reading Dagon's true intentions was nearly impossible.
Lee Hyuk-soo dropped the matter.
What mattered now was the imminent clash with the Yolang Tribe.
Dagon shrugged at Adora's words and pointed back to the crystal tablet.
"Now, down to business? The Yolang Tribe has a fatal weakness, especially in that 'Arena of Blood.' Their 'Blood Thirst' ability. True, tasting blood makes them stronger."
Dagon paused to catch his breath, then flashed an even creepier grin.
"But what if... there's no blood at all to taste from the opponent?"
"No blood? What are you talking about?"
Reaper Johnson asked, puzzled.
Dagon unslung the massive, bizarre backpack from his back and set it down in front of him.
As it opened, a single eerie tool emanated a chilling aura from within.
It was a grotesque syringe-like device composed of writhing black tentacles like living entrails and a handle shaped like a skull embedded with blood-red gems.
"This is called the 'Soul's Thirst.' A cursed ritual tool crafted by some ancient race using forbidden arts."
Dagon carefully extracted the tool known as the Soul's Thirst and explained.
"Using this temporarily extracts and stores all the 'blood' from the target's body in this skull. Of course, the process is marred by unimaginable agony. The body will shrivel to near-mummification. But a bloodless body becomes immune to bleeding effects, denying the Yolang Tribe any taste of blood—their special ability rendered useless. Plus, you'll avoid the ongoing pain and stat debuffs from the 'Arena of Blood.'"
Everyone was aghast.
Draining every drop of blood from the body?
It was tantamount to suicide.
"A-Are you insane? How are we supposed to fight after that?!"
Han Min-oh cried out in horror.
"A normal human would die instantly, of course. But..."
Dagon's gaze shifted to Adora.
"With Lady Adora's help, it's possible."
"You need my curse."
"Precisely, evil spirits. You'll become half-living 'undead' temporarily."
At Dagon's words, the already frigid air around the human representatives grew even icier.
Not content with draining all blood, now using evil spirits to turn half-undead?
It was a horrific proposal beyond imagination.
Han Min-oh's face had drained white, on the verge of fainting, while Reaper Johnson and Adrianna glared at Dagon with stony expressions.
Their eyes brimmed with distrust and revulsion.
Lingling silently observed Adora's face.
Adora showed no change in expression at Dagon's words.
She merely lightly caressed the 'Staff of the Throne of Flesh' in her hand and asked softly.
"So, how does a warrior turned undead with this 'Soul's Thirst' and my evil spirits fight? Beyond just lacking blood, are there other advantages?"
Dagon grinned smugly, as if he'd been waiting.
"Of course, Lady Adora. A bloodless body feels almost no pain. That's the huge boon of freedom from the 'Arena of Blood's' constant agony and stat drops. Borrow the power of your evil spirits, and you gain bizarre, unpredictable movements surpassing the living body. No matter how blood-hungry the Yolang Tribe, how long can they last against a bloodless undead? Heh heh heh."
His explanation held undeniable appeal.
A strategy that perfectly countered the worst condition of the 'Arena of Blood.'
But.
"It doesn't seem like simply relocating blood will suffice."
Lee Hyuk-soo spoke gravely.
Dagon nodded.
"Correct. It won't last long. Individual variance applies, but max two days? Fail to endure, and death is possible."
Dagon's voice turned low and seductive.
"Skin-flaying pain. The sensation of your blood being drawn out, body mummifying. Existence itself twisted and denied in abject torment. And the power gained lasts two days at most. Fail to end it all in time or lack the will to revert... you become true undead or dissipate. That's the price. Even so... do you crave the power?"
Lee Hyuk-soo closed his eyes in thought.
That was the flaw—and the wildcard.
What lunatic would think to drain their blood completely?
Especially for the 'first participating race,' the Yolang Tribe wouldn't dream of it.
Moreover.
'The Yolang Tribe warriors on the roster. Higher levels than us.'
Excluding Adora, pure level comparison meant no chance of victory.
The lowest Yolang warrior was level 128.
Loss wasn't the only issue—unknown how many would die.
The next battle might not even be possible.
Thus.
"...I'll endure it."
Arena of Blood.
The floor was soaked with long-dried bloodstains and fresh gore, the air thick with a metallic tang and a strange, intoxicating aroma that stirred bloodlust.
The Yolang Tribe warriors gathered leisurely at the center, as if it were their own living room.
Their sharp claws sporadically scraped the ground.
Red eyes gleamed like predators awaiting prey.
"Humans... wonder what they'll taste like this time?"
Bloodwind Khan, the hulking, scar-covered leader of the pack, licked his lips greedily.
"The ones like that from before all tasted like crap. Broke too easily—no fun to toy with."
Another Yolang bared fangs and cackled.
They had 'hunted' countless lesser races this way.
To them, the Interspecies War was survival strife and cruel amusement.
"Let's savor it slower this time. Show 'em exactly how strong we get from their blood. Gift despair as we tear off bits amid screams. Kra ha ha!"
"Good! Especially those humans with the 'Race Annihilator' title—can't wait to hear their screams!"
"We'll rip 'em so they can't even lift their heads in the next war."
"Make the watching humans scream too!"
The Yolang Tribe never doubted their victory.
The 'Arena of Blood' condition was overwhelmingly in their favor.
Their title 'Lesser Seed Slaughterers' was no empty boast.
Newbie humans were mere easy prey, sacrifices to flaunt their might.
They gleefully debated how to torment the humans and in what order to deliver despair.
That was when it happened.
Shuuu—
Space warped opposite the Yolang Tribe, and humanity's first warrior finally appeared.
The moment they saw him, the Yolang Tribe—who'd been trading brutal jokes and chuckling—froze.
"...W-What the hell is that?"
"Is that... human?"
"No smell of blood at all!"
One Yolang rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
There stood a being no one could call 'human.'
As if all blood had been drained, shriveled, mummy-like flesh clung taut to bony frames.
Ashen skin devoid of any vitality.
That instant.