Chapter 218
Chapter 218
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 218
Chapter Title: Lycanthrope (3)
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"Yeah, sure. No need to come if you're busy. See you next time. Good luck."
A short farewell and his friend's check-in call ended.
He pocketed his smartphone and glanced back at the bed in the corner of the room.
"Haa."
He examined the man lying there, asleep like the dead and identical to himself in every way, then let out a deep sigh for the umpteenth time.
'Still a long way off from waking up. Though, yeah, less than a day has passed since then, so it's only natural.'
He already knew that, but with one crisis after another piling up, he'd grown impatient without realizing it.
Hugo slumped onto the edge of the bed where Han Seonghyeon's main body lay sleeping and rubbed his brow with one hand.
'Things are chaotic enough already, and now on top of Hans, Harley's acting up too...'
Fortunately, Harley had just become a bit more willful, nothing as dire as Hans, who was massacring without shedding a tear or drop of blood in pursuit of his goals.
At least he was controlling his madness fairly well with the power of the "Tyrant of Madness" skill.
'But the problem is he can't fully escape its influence!'
It was inevitable, given that he'd transcended his limits by harnessing the madness itself.
And that small influence had snowballed...
Blending with Harley's brutally primal savagery, his aversion to deep thinking, and his tendency to solve everything with brute force, it created a truly maddening synergy.
'For now, I'm keeping him distracted by feeding his appetites...'
But that wouldn't last forever.
He needed to come up with another plan quickly.
'The easiest way to defuse a bomb is to just let it blow—in a place where no one gets hurt.'
And the perfect spot for that bomb to go off was already prepared.
The groundwork was mostly laid anyway.
'The most pressing concern right now...'
Heinz 2nd was smoothly advancing plans to take down Obipo through contact with Republic Vice President Kayla MacClaire, and the other avatars had no major issues, leaving just one spot demanding attention.
'...Enamel Continent, Elven Kingdom.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ — Anonymous A giant has appeared in the southern Altari Forest. The Altari Forest Keeper is leading the sentinels in combat. Reinforcements from nearby have been dispatched, but they're proceeding cautiously to minimize casualties, so it won't wrap up quickly. — Observer This makes the third giant after Bella Gorge and Sorata Swamp. Right after the Lycanthropes pulled their stunt, everything blows up at once. They must definitely be connected to the Abyss... and the Immortal King. — Veteran Hunter Tch, those poor bastards—we let them wander nearby without bothering them. Who'd have thought they were the Immortal King's minions? Should've known better than to trust scum like that! 'No kidding, we're just as baffled over here...'
Right after handling a general-grade Lycanthrope in the north.
Harris swallowed a silent retort as he rotated clockwise, fighting four more battles in quick succession.
Was the first general-grade encounter a fluke? The packs he'd faced since were led by mere knight-grades at best.
Thanks to that, he had enough leeway to stay connected to the network, receiving real-time updates...
'Just how many are they mobilizing for this? And more shocking, how did that many hide until right before kicking things off?'
Reports of skirmishes poured in from all directions.
Giants, plus clashes with packs of Lycanthropes.
The Elven Kingdom had long since entered an unprecedented state of emergency.
💬 Network Chat — Harris So what about the markings on their chests...? They blocked the World Tree's gaze, and that's why elves like me couldn't detect them. — Hannibal Strauss Hmm, it feels similar to the seals on those Oath of Reverse Heaven guys. Less a restraint, more like a mark of contract with some higher being. Though it doesn't seem like a fair deal—the price must be steep. — Heinz 2nd Those guys are involved everywhere. We've confirmed Obipo was the eastern branch too. 'Hundreds all contractors? What, is he some Demon King?'
Harris let out a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping in the face of that tangled mess.
One thing was clear: this assault hadn't been planned on a whim.
He'd gotten a rough lay of the land when recruiting Succubus Siana—which executives remained where...
'Codename: Jester. Active in Oath of Reverse Heaven for over 20 years. Main areas: Empire's east, the whole Republic... and Enamel Continent.'
The thought of what schemes that bastard had sown across those two-plus decades made his vision blur.
'Ugh, hate this. Things are messy enough here—no thanks. And the rewards were blander than expected.'
Was it special service for his first time, or a premium for slaying a general-grade foe? Either way, smashing subsequent altars yielded lesser boons from the World Tree.
Better than nothing, but disappointing nonetheless.
'The last one didn't even give rewards. ...Well, the ritual was done, so I couldn't fully seal the rift. Hope not all rituals are finished already?'
As he grumbled to himself...
'...Another one. And they've spotted me too. General-grade this time?'
A ferocious aura charged straight toward him.
No way it sensed Harris, assimilated with nature at this range. Must've caught the summoned spirits' scent.
'Thanks to Harley, I know their traits better now.'
The first one was mid-ritual, so it noticed him late.
General-grade Lycanthropes sensed not just physical traces but mana residues too—hard to hide with spirits.
Unless he disrupted their senses outright like in that first fight.
'Seems stronger than that one, but...'
Harris had grown much stronger himself.
This time, he had two top-grade spirits: Watt and Pascal!
'First strike wins!'
Harris drew his bow, Themis, focusing his energy to a point.
The foe would arrive in mere seconds.
But that was...
Plenty of time for one sure-kill shot to start things off.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Not all giants on Enamel Continent tangled solely with elves.
Security was paramount before full-scale action, so they started far from the World Tree, opening rifts methodically.
Even with contracts via the revolutionary blocking the World Tree's influence, it wasn't foolproof—caution was key.
⚙ ROAR! ⚙ ———! Kwaaang—!
"Hunting formation! Don't overextend! Just buy time until reinforcements arrive!"
In northwestern Enamel Continent's Wild Lands, an outer hunting unit of savage beastkin clashed with a white giant.
"Kahaha! First prey this big! Gives me chills!"
"Bastards from Ion Continent hogged all the fun, huh?"
"Quit bluffing and uncurl your tail! Focus! Dozens already dead to this thing!"
"...Tch!"
Even those not charging head-on sometimes aided nearby elf-giant fights.
Like at Sorata Swamp, eastern border with Lizardman enclave Central Marshes.
"Tsuu—Let's go, Forest Keeper."
"...Grateful for the help, Kerich. Was thinking we might actually die here."
"Chiiit—? Even you saying that... Pull back the young ones and call for more support. Shiiit—marshes connect, won't take long."
Relations between races weren't bad, and the recent continental summit had spread word of the giants' threat—no surprise there.
Painful for the culprits, but swift responses contained the incidents faster than expected.
However.
"Ooh! Better than hoped? Didn't think we could summon those legendary giants so easily! Gotta rethink that revolutionary guy."
Lycanthrope King Baukalacas chuckled lowly, counting his linked subordinates.
He hadn't opened rifts post-revolutionary's disappearance out of blind trust.
Just reluctance to abandon the long-prepared plan to erode World Tree influence and boost forces with madness...
'Was he watching us from the start? Whatever—gift accepted! Losses to get here were lighter than projected.'
Two generals dead, one dying soon—but minor compared to expectations.
Likely thanks to master-grade elf Forest Keepers distracted by giants.
"Kekeke! Yeah, what can they do with infamous giants swarming everywhere?"
But dragging it out here gained nothing, no matter how well it went.
Elves weren't idiots—they'd sniff out anomalies, prepare defenses, call allies.
To protect central Enamel's heart, where the World Tree stood in Drasha.
Right there, in his sights.
"Kihehehit!"
Pasuk—
Woosh—
Unable to stifle his glee, beastmen rose on two legs from surrounding brush.
Their yellow eyes ignited with madness-tinged crimson glows at the pupils.
Kududuk!
Wooduduk—
Bodies swelled massively as black mana-mingled madness burned life force, granting immense power.
Numbers halved from start, but total might now surpassed initial.
'Won't last forever, but it'll end before then—no issue!'
Eyes blazing red alongside his minions, Lycanthrope King Baukalacas accelerated toward his goal.
Kreur—
Kwoeok! Keung—!
Thus, one transcendent king and five generals beyond limits.
Backed by hundreds of knight- and warrior-grade Lycanthropes.
They invaded Elven Kingdom capital, Drasha.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Lycanthropes had prepared for years for this incursion.
Rift-opening rituals and chest contract marks were just the tip.
The king, with revolutionary aid, had long disrupted World Tree causality, scouting infiltration routes while hidden.
Plus measures to evade spirit surveillance, training to detour via spirit scents.
A plan forged from time, gold, effort... and countless lives.
"Move, move! Deeper in!"
"Grab every arrow from the warehouse!"
"All who can fight—to positions!"
But even thorough prep has limits.
Hundreds invading undetected to the capital? Impossible.
Drasha's elves were battle-ready before arrival.
— Sentinel How's prep? — Commander Defenses fully set. Sentinel vice-captain and head gardener ready; nearby Forest Keepers en route ASAP. — Harris Haa... Mistake. Best to intercept before Drasha. Too late spotting their numbers exceeded projections. Detected midway, but invaders' efforts weren't wasted.
Exactly the outcome desired: confine battlefield to World Tree-guarding capital.
As tension mounted, time passed.
Gathered Lycanthropes advanced on Drasha, igniting full war.
And at that moment.
"...!"
Harris, catching breath after slaying another general-grade foe afar, snapped his head up at a bizarre sensation.
"...This?"
Instinct.
An intense premonition via his unusually strong World Tree bond, rivaling other high elves.
'...Double? No, triple?'
No direct intent conveyed, but the meaning was clear.
His gaze drifted to one direction.
Toward capital Drasha.
Gulp—
Undeniable crisis, yet somehow reeking of jackpot.