Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: 2-2. The New Land Granted to Us
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It was a rather arrogant statement.
Moreover, these hunters had no idea that I was the incarnation of Metatron. Even Suiel hadn't figured it out yet, so there was no way they would. But they didn't immediately oppose me.
For one, Suiel was backing me up, and most importantly, they didn't know much about me. If I had been a well-known high-ranking hunter, there might have been backlash.
As it was, most of them were just bewildered, wondering who the hell I was. Of course, a few recognized me.
"Isn't that guy the King of Hyenas?"
"What? A mere hyena dares to butt in!"
Just as discontent began to rise, Suiel quickly took control.
"I, Suiel, take full responsibility for this fight. The losers, step back! What are you doing? Hurry up and tend to your fallen comrades!"
Suiel... she'd been pretty tough since earlier.
The hunters fell silent and retreated hesitantly. Well, they knew they'd messed up, so that was probably why. Even an angel couldn't save them if they pulled that during a fight they were winning.
While Suiel handled the rear, I was having a brief exchange with Urukel.
-Have you lost your mind, human? You dare to face me, Urukel, all by yourself?
-That's right, hee hee hee. You dare challenge the great Marukel!
Now I saw that each of its two heads had its own name.
The right head was Urukel, and the left was Marukel.
Metatron had just lumped them together as Urukel. Not that it cared much to remember.
I'd just keep calling it Urukel too. No interest in memorizing both names for a creature like this.
"Countless people have called me mad, but I've survived to this day. And I will in the future. Do you get what I'm saying?"
-Keh heh heh, you've got confidence, at least.
-Then today, I, Marukel, shall prove all those people right.
This thing had a surprisingly smooth tongue.
Might have to rip it out.
"Fine. Give it your best shot. But that proof will remain unresolved forever."
-What do you mean by that?
"Simple. You're going to die, so it ends unproven."
-You bastard! How dare you!
-To think you'd say I die!
I hadn't meant anything special by mentioning death, but it got riled up easily. Honestly, what was that about? Maybe Lord-grade monsters were more exposed to death than I'd thought, living stressful lives.
Sensitive spots always provoke big reactions. With careful observation, no one can keep secrets. Every word, action, and glance revealed something.
I'd accidentally picked up a key clue.
From my perspective of sponsoring low-grade monsters to raise them to Lord-grade, understanding them was invaluable.
Flash.
A beam breath blasted straight from its mouth.
I'd anticipated it and raised the Shield of the Solar Deity to block.
The lethal beam refracted off the shield and slammed into a nearby building.
KABOOM!
With a deafening roar, the top of the building blew off.
-You!
Urukel grew furious as its signature move was blocked.
Fundamentally, this thing was strong but dim-witted. Hadn't I toyed with it back in the previous phase when I had no abilities? I'd hidden between buildings, striking from behind to draw its attention.
Flash!
Another beam came, but it too refracted off the Shield of the Solar Deity and bounced away.
This shield was the best. Totally OP.
I blocked a Lord-grade monster's attacks without breaking a sweat. And its durability wasn't even dropping.
"No way!"
"How does he block that strike so easily!"
The hunters watching from behind were stunned.
Pure gear carry, but they didn't know that.
So their shock was even greater.
Even top-grade 1st-rank hunters struggled to block Lord-grade attacks casually, yet a hyena was doing it. How shocking.
Usually, unless specialized in defense, you linked with allies. Hunters were a profession for teaming up against stronger monsters rather than soloing.
So facing superior monsters, they naturally formed lines and chained abilities. But here I was, soloing like a cheat character, deflecting beams. No wonder they were baffled.
"Who the hell is that guy! Wasn't he the Hyena?"
"This can't be happening!"
I tuned them out; no spare attention. After deflecting beams repeatedly, Urukel grew cautious. Sure, it was excitable and dumb, but it had some cunning too.
Just look at how it had cornered the previous hunter team.
It must have feigned death to lure them into complacency. Even if they were glory-hungry, it wasn't solely their fault.
Urukel probably groveled to egg them on. The more I saw, the less I liked it. I could predict this because I'd fought it before.
In the last phase, to talk with Metatron, I'd fled, but Lord-grades pursued, leading to another fight. Grand Lord Tarha watched confidently from afar, while Metatron and I faced three Lord-grades.
I'd rolled with this Urukel then, learning its moves. Deflecting beams was a trick from that. So I knew what it'd do when basic beams failed.
Deep down, I'd bet on this first real clash.
As things flowed my way, my heart raced.
"I can deflect attacks like yours all day. Stop with the ranged crap unfit for your size and come at me."
I showed deliberate arrogance. Urukel's eyes were calm. Then it decided. It brought its two heads close and opened their maws.
Finally. I bit my lip slightly, keeping excitement off my face.
This was overlapping two beam breaths to amplify power.
I called it a beam for convenience, but it was magical, and stronger output made deflection harder.
My shield didn't reflect like a mirror.
It repelled all elemental forces magically, but exceeded a threshold, and it strained. Urukel knew and doubled the power.
"Come on!"
I shouted, bracing.
I yelled louder to vent the thrill or my heart might burst.
Flash!
The amplified beam—double, no, more—struck. Screams erupted from the hunters behind.
But amid the light that could erase everything, I smirked confidently.
Because of the Shield of the Solar Deity's other ability: Reflection. Returning attacks to the caster was harder than mere deflection and couldn't be spammed.
So the tactic was luring a decisive blow in a pinch and bouncing it back.
I'd provoked and deflected showily for this. Urukel couldn't imagine, but time loops let me know its moves in advance.
KABOOM!
The beam hit the shield.
A dump truck slammed into me. Breath caught. Arm burned from the heat; the reinforced combat suit smoked and tore.
The shield glowed red-hot.
I wanted to drop it, but it was fine.
I could return this pain manyfold.
The thought of inflicting suffering made mine bearable—enjoyable.
"HRRRAAGH!"
With a shout, the enhanced beam reflected. It reversed faster than fired, smashing into Urukel.
KABOOOOOM!
Urukel had no time to scream. Its massive body flew like a shell, punching through buildings.
KABOOM! CRASH! CRASH!
Sounded like three buildings pierced.
Then shockwaves collapsed them.
RUMBLE! KABOOOOOM!
Gray dust blanketed everything, blinding visibility.
Not just dust—lethal to civilians. But wind blew it away, clearing the view. Suiel gave a thumbs-up.
I nodded and focused ahead.
It wouldn't end here.
Sure enough, debris exploded as dust-caked Urukel emerged. Battered by its own power, but still dangerous.
-You! I won't forgive you.
-This is the end for you.
Cold rage emanated. But I was indifferent.
Because I knew its next move. Last phase, after that enhanced beam, Metatron's counter left it gravely wounded.
I'd seen how it recovered vividly. So for me, knowing all, it was boring.
Spoilers really sucked.
"Burning mana stones won't help. You dragon-headed freak. Save that for this sacred ground."
-What?
Consuming mana stones to explode mana output.
Urukel's hidden ace. But I called it out, and it couldn't hide shock.
-What the hell are you!
-What's your deal? That time crap earlier—what?!
Urukel finally sensed something off.
But pondering wouldn't help. Even if it guessed, it wouldn't believe—not from this.
"What else? The one you're proving yourself against. Keep pondering after death."
-Shut up!
-No more riddles! Crush with power!
So brute-force types hit rage limits inevitably.
Urukel partially exploded its mana.
Hedging for backlash. Needed to recover later. And figured that much sufficed against a suspicious human.
I was just human, after all.
If I were another Lord-grade, cornered Urukel would've gone all-out, mutual destruction.
Even this was a grave threat. I needed perfect countermeasures.
No more dragging this out.
Facing a Lord-grade head-on at 2nd-rank power was reckless from the start.
Gear and foreknowledge made it possible.
Now no more tricks; time to overpower.
"Hoo."
Inhaling lightly, I unleashed my ultimate.
"Manifest!"
I am Metatron's incarnation.
Incarnations vary: physical, mental, etc.
Mine is of power.
Temporarily channeling her might.
Transcendent power can't dwell permanently in flesh, so manifestation.
My body, enhanced to 2nd-rank, built the base for this.
Current limit: 10 minutes.
Regrettable, but enough for victory.
KABOOOOOM!
Light struck me; system message appeared.
[Strength +500, Agility +500, Vitality +500, Charisma +200, Will +1000, Luck +50 stat boosts applied. Elemental Resistance +30%, Mana Recovery +300% S-rank special abilities 'Fall', 'Execution', 'Charge' now usable! All stamina and health recovered! Status effects cleared! Courage Aura covers 50m radius! Dominance Aura covers 10m radius! Allies now perceive you as equal to the Archangel!]
A ton of stuff popped up...
Anyway, great. Let's do this.
Towering Urukel, over 5 meters, charged.
-Grrrrrr! ROOOAR!
I gripped the shield to my chest and crouched.
Obviously, charging head-on for collision.