Chapter 309: The Hunted Demons, the Hunting Demon
Chapter 309: The Hunted Demons, the Hunting Demon
The sky was dark. The moon floating in it cast its cold, blue light over the world. The lush trees and grass, steeped in the moonlight, were bathed in its sharp, blue hue.
The forest at midnight was far darker and gloomier than the city. But this darkness, this environment, was a welcome one for me. The experience I’d gained in the Elven Forest in the past would be a great help in our current situation.
After dealing with the female archer, I had immediately led the clan members out of Mule. But I didn’t let my guard down. Although we had escaped the city, it was hard to say we were safe. No, this was the beginning of a new kind of survival, one dictated by our environment. With the Warp Gate blocked, any Users who managed to escape would have to walk to the next city. We were no exception.
In any case, after leaving through the east gate, I led the clan members south. Mule was a city located in the northern part of the northeast. The closest cities from here were either Eden, a small city in the eastern part of the northeast, or Pamela, a standard city in the north. So, the plan was to head south first, and once we had gone far enough, we could turn east or west.
The distance to Eden and Pamela was about the same, but the problem was Mule itself. As a pioneer city, it was not yet fully stabilized, which meant monster appearances were bound to be frequent. And that wasn't all. Securing food and water was also an issue. We had packed plenty when we first set out, but it was three days’ worth at best.
For now, we should pass through the forest and look for a river.
Having made up my mind, I started walking in the direction I heard the sound of water.
A short while later, the edge of the land bordering the river slowly came into view. Pushing through the tightly tangled vines, a cool breeze and the refreshing scent of water filled my nostrils from beyond the riverbank. The gently flowing river occasionally glimmered silver as it reflected the moonlight. I began walking south again, keeping the river to my side. It was then.
Thump!
“Hah…! Hah…!”
The sound of someone collapsing weakly was followed by ragged breaths that sounded as if they could stop at any moment. I calmly turned my head to see Ahn Sol on her knees, her hands pressed against the ground. She was exhaling with great difficulty, her face streaked with tears.
“Child, try holding your breath for a moment, then take a deep one.”
The old man quickly bent down and patted her back. Ahn Sol nodded her head up and down.
Her eyes were shaking uncontrollably, and her lips were trembling. I could fully understand how she felt. It was her first time experiencing a large-scale war where people killed each other, and her first time witnessing the brutal carnage that came with it. She had somehow suppressed it all with tension back in the city, but it seemed to have burst out all at once now that we had left.
With the exception of Ko Yeonju, the other clan members weren't in much better shape. Kim Hanbyul’s face was deathly pale, and even the old man comforting Ahn Sol looked quite exhausted. Although we couldn't afford to relax just yet, I decided to take a short break. We had a long walk to the next city, and proper stamina management was essential.
“We’ll rest here for a moment and catch our breath.”
As if hearing my words, Ahn Sol lowered her head. From her faintly trembling shoulders, it seemed she was crying silently. The old man and the other clan members looked startled and were about to approach her, but I raised a hand to stop them. I figured that in this situation, it was better to let her cry her heart out than to offer clumsy words of comfort.
Soon, everyone sat down, and a quiet silence fell. Only the sound of Ahn Sol’s occasional sobs could be heard; no one else said a word. I rested my chin on my right hand and stared blankly into the distance.
Why did they come from the north first, not the west…? But there didn’t seem to be that many of them… Huh?
Just as I was about to get lost in the question that had been nagging me since we were in the city, my eyes met Kim Hanbyul’s. She had just gotten back on her feet after sitting down, as if she was about to do something. When our eyes met, she hesitated for a moment, then stood up with a look of great resolve and began walking toward me.
Soon, Kim Hanbyul knelt gracefully beside me.
“What is it?”
“Oppa. Just a moment.”
I asked, puzzled by her sudden action. Kim Hanbyul replied quietly and raised her hand. In her right hand, she had daintily clutched the sleeve of her blue robe. A moment later, I felt the soft touch of the fabric wiping my face. She gently touched my face, as if washing a small child’s. For a moment, I thought her face, illuminated by the moonlight, was quite beautiful.
The sleeve, which had been a light blue, was now stained a dark color. She seemed to have wiped my face and hair for the most part, but the smell of blood was still strong. If we stayed like this, we might attract unwanted monsters, so I grabbed the slender hand that was still caressing my face. I lowered her faintly trembling hand and immediately untied my belt to take off the Glory of Heaven.
“That’s enough. Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
“I’m just going to wash some of the blood out of my clothes. Wait here.”
“I’ll wash it for you. Please give it to me.”
Before I could say anything, Kim Hanbyul took the uniform from me. I shrugged as I watched her walk toward the river. I didn't know why she was suddenly acting this way, but it wasn't a bad feeling. Just as I saw Kim Hanbyul crouch down by the river, a soft voice drifted into my ear.
“Tsk. She beat me to it. I didn't take her for the type, but she's quite the sly one.”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Ko Yeonju had approached me at some point. She had been looking toward the river, but she shook her head and sat down next to me.
“Soohyun. What are you going to do now? Are you going back to a city?”
“I have to. For now, I’m thinking either Eden or Pamela.”
“That’s quite a distance… I’m worried.”
“We still have to go. If we can march without any interruptions… we could probably make it in three weeks.”
“…Do you really think there won’t be any interruptions?”
Ko Yeonju replied in a bitter tone. I couldn't be sure of that either, so I could only purse my lips. In truth, it was more realistic to assume it would take about four weeks, not three.
The sound of clothes being dipped in the water echoed, splash, splash, and then darkness and silence fell once more. About ten minutes passed when the sound of wet footsteps quietly broke the silence. I turned my head to see Kim Hanbyul holding my uniform, which had regained some of its original color. Most of the blood was gone, and it wasn't dripping wet; I could tell she had washed it with great care.
I thanked Kim Hanbyul for her effort, then stood up and put on the Glory of Heaven. It was a bit damp from the water, but it no longer reeked of blood like before. After tightly fastening the Glory of the Sun, I looked at Ahn Sol. She still had a weary expression, but her face seemed to have calmed down, if only a little.
“Let’s get moving.”
At my words, Ko Yeonju and the old man immediately got to their feet. Ahn Sol, with an anxious look, glanced back before shakily starting to stand up. It was a little difficult for her, but I could see her desire to put as much distance as possible between us and that place.
“It may be night, but it’s best we walk diligently until we’re a good distance away. Let’s depart immediately.”
It was then. Just as we were about to take our first step, I sensed numerous presences from the direction we had come from.
It was the presence of a large group of humans on the move.
*
“…So, they went outside the city gates? In the middle of the raid?”
“I’m told Jeong Gyu-gang and the Magic Bullet Shooter were killed. Baek Seoyeon confirmed the bodies and sent a messenger immediately. She has probably left with her subordinates by now.”
“With her subordinates? How many did she take?”
“She took nearly fifty men… She said she would return as quickly as possible.”
“Kuaaaargh!”
The man giving the report paused for a moment. Hyun had casually waved his hand, and the head of the User held before him had been sliced off. Red blood splattered everywhere. The man glanced at the face rolling across the room before speaking quietly.
“Who was that? The Clan Lord of Paradise on Earth?”
“No. Just seemed to be a regular clan member. He was foolishly hiding here.”
“Then the Clan Lord is…”
“I’ve knocked him out for now. There are things I need to ask after the raid is over. I had high hopes since they were supposedly the representative clan, but it just left a bad taste in my mouth.”
Hyun replied in a cold voice and calmly turned around. The moment their eyes met, the man felt a chill run down his spine. Hyun maintained a composed attitude the entire time, but the man knew. He knew that Hyun was furious after hearing the report.
Hyun had commanded a total of 1,200 men in his invasion of the North Gate. His target was neither the plaza nor the Warp Gate. As soon as he breached the North Gate, Hyun took only his direct subordinates and immediately attacked the Paradise on Earth clan house. Before the Users could recover and fight back, he swiftly smashed their command-and-control center. The operation was now on the verge of complete success.
But at that very moment, he received the bad news. The invasion of the east gate was stalling, and to make matters worse, the commander had abandoned her post. Not only that, she had taken fifty of their elite Vagabonds with her when their numbers were already stretched thin. Just when things were going smoothly, an unexpected wrench had been thrown into the works.
“This is why I shouldn’t have entrusted her with command… My mistake was great. Tsk.”
“I’m actually worried. From what I’ve heard, he seems to be a very skilled User… What if Baek Seoyeon also…”
“I doubt it. It’s hard to imagine Baek Seoyeon losing. When she goes into her crazy bitch mode, even I get a little scared. Plus, she took fifty men with her… Anyway, I understand the situation. If she’s already left, there’s nothing to be done. But she will be held responsible upon her return. For now, the remaining forces will focus on conquering Mule.”
“Yes. What are your orders? The east gate is slow, and Users are gathering at the south gate earlier than expected.”
At the man’s words, Hyun tilted his head from side to side as if to think. Crack, crack. A rhythmic sound of bones popping could be heard. He glanced briefly at the man’s tightly clenched fist and spoke in a cold voice.
“…It can’t be helped. We’ll change the plan slightly. I’ll go to the east gate. And let’s detonate the south gate a little earlier than planned.”
“Understood.”
“You take command of the north gate. I’ll clean up the east gate and head straight for the south. I’ll time it, so when you get the signal, detonate it immediately.”
“You must be careful. They say that trap was the number one reason Simon rose to become the top User on the Western Continent. I saw it once before; its explosive power is truly immense.”
Hyun slowly nodded at the man’s worried tone. He then lightly kicked the corpse on the floor and turned toward the door.
“Right. I’m counting on you here.”
“I will head out as well.”
The man also turned to follow Hyun. As he did, the ‘something’ he was holding in his hand let out a faint scream, and the sound of it being dragged across the floor could be heard.
Just before stepping out the door, Hyun let out a dry laugh and asked.
“By the way, what is that?”
“Ah, my apologies. I actually caught her thinking she was the Clan Lord, but it turns out she was the lord of Mule’s former representative clan. Just in case…”
“……”
“My apologies. To be honest, it’d be a waste to kill her just like this. Her breasts are big and she has an air of elegance… she’s exactly my type.”
As the man scratched his head with an awkward expression, Hyun let out a low snort.
“I’m not going to say anything. But know the time and place. Just knock her out and stick her in a corner somewhere. Once the raid is over, I’ll let you enjoy her until you’re sick of it.”
“Thank you!”
The man bowed his head deeply and exclaimed, then lifted the woman he was holding by the scruff of her neck. In his hand, a single female User was trembling, her face a mask of despair.
“Just take a little nap. I’ll be extra nice to you when this is over.”
“N-No… H-Help…”
Thwack!
“Ack!”
The woman, who had barely managed to stammer out the words, let out a sharp scream as the man viciously punched her in the stomach.
Thwack! Thwack!
The man gave her no time to recover, landing two, three more blows in rapid succession. The woman’s body shuddered as if she couldn't breathe, and then her head lolled to the side. As her light brown hair fell across her ample chest, a smirk spread across the man’s face.