Chapter 109
Chapter 109
----------------------------------------------------------------- Translator: Ace Chapter: 109 Chapter Title: The Abomination Emerges ----------------------------------------------------------------- Thud thud thud thud---!!! Asvel pushed his speed even higher.
"Do you plan to raid the alchemists just like this?"
"They've already attacked our borders. No matter where we strike, it'll be justified."
With his mind made up, there was no hesitation left in him.
"There might be traps."
"We'll just break through them."
In a way, it was an utterly reliable declaration. Only possible because he was the Sword Emperor. Shing---!! He drew his sword.
"There it is!!"
As they crossed the outskirts of the Great Forest, the massive building appeared just as reported.
"Attack!!!"
Asvel reached the building first.
⚙ Monster Cry ⚙
[Kuhuhuhuhu...!] In that instant, black soldiers hidden in the underbrush emerged. Boom---! Kwaaang---!!! Asvel showed no sign of panic. Instead, he swung his sword straight at the soldiers. Splatter---!! Not a slicing sound, but an explosion. Asvel gazed at the soldier's shattered corpse fragments on his blade. 'No blood.' The soldier's body, fragmented like shattered pottery, was definitely off.
"Khan!! Just as you said, they're not human! But calling them beasts... something's strange."
It had shattered, but its outer appearance was humanoid. If anything, it was like a porcelain human.
⚙ Monster Cry ⚙
[Kyaaaak---!!] [Kyak---!!] The soldiers charged at Asvel. But their sluggish, lumbering attacks had no chance of reaching him. Thud---! Thunk---!!! Pow pow pow---!!! Asvel's sword burst seven soldiers' bodies in an instant. It was truly the Seven Kills.
"Hup---."
He inhaled deeply, then thrust his sword forward like a charging beast. Kwaaang---!! A ferocious, domineering form utterly unlike his swordsmanship up to now.
"Something I realized from Fenrir."
Asvel sheathed his sword and spoke to Woojin, as if bragging.
"I named the technique Greedy Wolf."
He murmured the name to himself several more times, clearly pleased with it.
"Hm, I wish I could show you mine too..."
Woojin scanned the surroundings.
"No enemies left."
Asvel kicked open the lab door after swiftly clearing the black soldiers.
"Wh-who are you!!!"
Several robed figures stood inside as the door flew open.
"You already know who I am, don't you?"
Slaaash---!!! Asvel cleaved three of the five alchemists in an instant. No alchemist in the world could dodge the Sword Emperor's blade.
"H-heek!!"
"Pl-please spare us!"
The two survivors stood frozen in terror amid their fallen comrades, pleading in quavering voices.
"Tell me. Which of you can give me the most information?"
The two glanced at each other.
"I-I'll tell you everything!!"
"No! I have a higher rank than this guy! I know more!!"
They competed desperately to shout at Asvel. Slice---. The first alchemist's head fell.
"Your 'higher rank' better not be a lie."
Gulp---. The remaining alchemist swallowed dryly and nodded frantically. 'Easier than I thought.' The black soldiers were unusual, but not beyond handling. And the alchemists trembled at the mere sight of a sword—they hardly seemed combat-ready. 'Which means...' Woojin glanced around suspiciously. 'These aren't the ones who crushed the border guards.' Kwaaaang---!! That was when it happened. A deafening roar erupted from the building floor, and the iron plating beneath shot up toward the ceiling.
"H-heek?! Th-this is bad!!"
The thick iron plate crumpled like paper and crashed to the floor. The last alchemist bolted up to flee at the sight.
"Where to?"
"Spare me!! No—everyone, run!!! We'll all die!!"
Forgetting they were enemies, the alchemist grabbed Asvel's arm and screamed.
⚙ Monster Growl ⚙
[Krrghhhh...] A guttural breathing echoed from below. 'That's the one. The bastard who massacred the border guards.' Woojin sensed it instinctively from the foul stench seeping from the basement floor. "What the hell have you been making...?" Thud---!!! A massive hand burst from the shattered iron hole. "...!!!" Just one hand, but everyone who saw it was struck with horror.
⚙ Monster Cry ⚙
[Kr... Kuh...] [Save...] [Mommy... Mo... Uh...] [Home... Go... H... O... M... E...] Horrifyingly, the hand was woven from fingers made of severed human limbs. Sobs like screams continued from the remaining heads. "You crazy bastards..." For the first time, Woojin spat curses at humans, not beasts. The hand planted down, and a colossal body emerged from below.
💥 ABOMINATION ROAR 💥
[[[Foooooool.]]] The hulking form, covered in hundreds of heads, grinned wickedly at Woojin.
💥 ABOMINATION ROAR 💥
[Kraaaaaah---!!!!!] As the heads on its body opened their mouths in unison and bellowed, a tremendous gale assaulted them. "Everyone, get back!!!!" The roar slammed into the building at Asvel's shout.
⚙ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚙
[Barrier is used.] Woojin blocked Asvel's path. Kwaaang---!! The barrier before him shattered with a deafening crash. "Hah... Hah..."
⚔ TRAIT ACTIVATED ⚔
Cough." The last alchemist behind Woojin vomited blood and collapsed. Blood poured from his eyes, ears, every orifice. He convulsed and died on the spot. "Damn it." Woojin bit his lip at the alchemist's death. Flash---!! Asvel moved in that instant. Kwaaang---!!! His sword targeted the corpse monster's limbs. Piercing seven vital points precisely, black blood oozed from the monster's body.
💥 ABOMINATION SCREAMS 💥
[Aaaak!! Aaaaak!!] [No!! Hate it!!!] [Stop it! Don't!! You mad bastard!!] [Thaaat huuuuurts!!!] It was a gruesome sight. The corpse heads covering the monster's body began spewing curses in unison.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Capital Defense Force falls into panic.] "H-heek?!" "Run!!" The soldiers screamed in horror at the monster and scattered.
⚔ TRAIT ACTIVATED ⚔
Trait: Bravery activates.▶ Protected from fear. A crushing fear weighed on him momentarily, but Woojin shook it off easily.
"Be careful."
Asvel warned as he fell back. Clink---!! His armor corroded black at an alarming rate. He quickly stripped off his shoulder pauldrons and gauntlets, hurling them to the floor. Powder---!! The corroded parts crumbled to dust. Where the black blood had touched.
"The protective magic on my armor is useless now. Seems the thing's blood has some special power."
Attacking wouldn't be easy. If that blood touched skin, the whole body might melt in seconds.
"Better to strike from range... but the archers I brought are like this..."
Asvel grimaced at the panicking soldiers.
"Should've brought the Knight Order even if it strained things."
Tekan's only worthwhile force. 'You've been holding your own pretty well.' Woojin gave a wry smile.
"Yeah. Leaving Luen behind for training was regrettable too." -I'll give it a try!! Setsuna thrust her hand toward the corpse monster.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Illusion Barrage Orbs erupted from her hand and flew at the monster. Thud---!! Pow pow---!!! Dull thuds echoed as her barrage pelted the monster's body.
⚙ Monster Growl ⚙
[Krrghhhh...] But not a single scratch on its body. -Wh-what? "... It absorbs magic?" Instead, its body began swelling, as if absorbing Setsuna's barrage. "Watch out...!!" Kwaaang---!!! The absorbed orbs shot back at the group. Woojin's sword moved in that moment.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Dragon Heaven, Gate 2 - Strike Grrrind---!! His grip tightened fiercely on the hilt. A downward slash from above. The sword's sharp wind pressure sliced toward the monster like a crescent moon. 'Sword aura...?' No, slightly different. Bang! Boom boom---!! As the sword wind swept past, fireworks exploded around Woojin, detonating the orbs. Flash---!!! Woojin charged the monster behind the exploding barrage.
💥 ABOMINATION SCREAMS 💥
[Save me!! Nooooo!!!!] [Uwaaaak...!!] The corpse monster started ripping human heads from its body and hurling them at Woojin. He dodged, but Splat! Splatter!!! Watermelon-bursting sounds mixed with the remaining heads' screams. -Master!!!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Mist Step Woojin's body vanished at Setsuna's cry.
⚙ Monster Growl ⚙
[Krrghuk?!] He reappeared behind the corpse monster, bending at the waist and sliding his sword into its sheath. Clink---. Like an iaijutsu draw, Woojin unsheathed horizontally.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Bolton Secret Technique, Style 2 - Surging Wave Splaaaash---!! White waves surged along the blade, striking the monster's waist. 'Incredible power...' Asvel took note of Woojin's prowess. His swordsmanship lacked polish. But adding these new techniques filled that gap. "...!!" Asvel's eyes widened. "Watch out!!!!" Boom---!! Kwaaang---!!! The faces on the fallen corpse monster exploded in unison. "Kuh?!" Woojin was caught in the blast and flung inside the building.
⚙ Monster Murmur ⚙
[Kr... I...] With all heads exploding off its body, only bare bones remained. Thud---!! Thud---!!!!! The monster charged terrifyingly fast toward Woojin inside. Freed of its dangling burdens, perhaps. It thrust bone spikes like iron rods at him. Clang---!!! Woojin parried its arm. Kagang---!!! Lightweight despite its agility. Each swing of Woojin's sword chipped away at its bones bit by bit.
💥 ABOMINATION WHISPER 💥