Chapter 380
Chapter 380
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 380
Chapter Title: Intermission (1)
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The Daeryong Group scandal that rocked Korea.
But it didn't make much of a splash overseas.
In truth, when you got right down to it, that sort of thing was commonplace in other countries already.
Even if people heard the news, plenty thought the Korean public's reaction was over the top, and most just shrugged it off.
"...This is going to get annoying. They've finally started going after the vested interests, huh."
Of course, those who had been keeping a close eye on the situation from the start were the exception.
Especially if they were directly involved.
"What a shame. Such a perfect fit in every way, and now it's gone."
New Delhi, India.
In the center of a room labyrinthine with mandala-patterned fabrics, a brown-skinned woman lounged back on a low sofa, murmuring softly.
She puffed continuously on her hookah, as if trying to calm her irritation, exhaling thick clouds of smoke.
Sky blue, pink, light green, and more.
With each breath, pastel mists filled the room and rose in swirling veils.
'...Tch, no helping it. I half-expected this anyway.'
After a while like that, her hazy mind began to settle along with her annoyance.
She had deliberately limited the information fed to that greedy old man, taking even this into account, after all.
'Still stings to lose a pawn without getting full use out of it.'
But it wasn't like she gained nothing at all.
Thanks to this, she now knew their influence and intel-gathering in Korea far exceeded her initial estimates.
Whether that held true overseas remained to be seen, but factoring it in from now on would make her moves far more efficient.
'Might as well leave Korea alone for the time being. No real gains to be had stirring things up now.'
She—the Oracle—thought it over briefly, then slowly nodded.
What was done was done, after all.
Her job now was to weave all these threads into the big picture ahead.
"Phew—."
Half-lidded eyes parted as lemon-yellow smoke billowed long from her lips.
Shapeless clouds twisted and danced lazily in the air.
She stared blankly at them, her gaze gradually losing focus.
Wooong— Wooong— Wooong—
A torrent raged through her mind.
Elements of the world crumbled and tangled; indefinable concepts twisted, separated, and writhed in endless cycles.
Mountains and seas coexisted as human-like clouds devoured hammers from the sun and read foxes.
Beetles shaped like guns, elephants drinking lightning, starlight forged of mud...
Her mind swam through hallucinations without rhyme or reason until, about an hour later, it returned.
"Hm."
As focus snapped back to her eyes, she naturally took the hookah mouthpiece and reached sideways with one hand.
She picked up a communication orb from nearby and immediately contacted someone.
-What is it, Oracle? So sudden.
"Nothing much... You're in the Philippines right now, right?"
-Yeah. Those rat bastards were getting on my nerves, so I figured I'd wipe 'em all out. But the little shits are hiding somewhere, can't spot 'em. Too damn many islands—driving me nuts.
"Head to Dinagat. Looks like they're holed up there plotting something."
-Oh? That's music to my ears. Once I know the spot, taking them out's a breeze. Rats are rats, no matter how they squirm.
She nodded slowly to the Southeast Asia branch chief's upbeat voice from the orb, then spoke.
Revealing the resistance's location was just a bonus; she had a main point from the start.
"And soon, I'll be sending the Executioner your way."
-...That lunatic? Thought he was tied up in Africa.
The branch chief's tone soured.
He prided himself on being no slouch in the madman department, but the one she mentioned made even him fold several times over.
"Yeah. Feels like we need a more aggressive approach. You know the situation already—the Ruler of Laws, the Duke, the Scribe all taken out, and Doc's in hibernation. Can't afford more losses."
-Ugh, if that's your call, Oracle, no choice.
The branch chief sounded displeased but acquiesced.
What good was arguing after the higher-up had weighed it carefully?
Besides, he felt that nagging unease himself.
Even Europe's branch chief, the 'Duke'—no pushover—was snuffed out recently.
"Good. Take care."
-Heh, things are about to get busy. Better vent some stress pounding these rats first.
The call ended.
The Oracle narrowed her eyes at empty air.
As if forcing unseen truths to reveal themselves.
"...Still nothing. But..."
Missing variables once or twice was one thing, but after repeats, you learned the knack.
Her combat prowess might be middling, but in this realm, she had stepped beyond transcendence.
Plus, she had an intel network spanning the globe!
Narrowing down the enemy's next target wasn't hard.
'Time to start preparations.'
For the meddlesome guest who'd been such a thorn.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Africa, infamous for its abysmal security.
Even before Awakeners appeared, conflict never ceased on this land—now, it was hell on earth.
People dying here barely qualified as news.
Most governments struggled just to hold capitals and major cities; rural control was a joke.
In their wake sprouted warlords and crime syndicates seizing turf, clashing daily.
At their cores weren't gun-toting soldiers, but Returnees wielding abilities—unleashing otherworldly techniques in endless mutual slaughter.
This continent likely saw the world's fiercest ability battles.
"Guh— Guhgh— Ah, demon...!"
Which made the current scene all the rarer.
A transcendent Awakener who'd fought here over a decade, now cowering in terror.
The guy who'd ripped men apart barehanded without blinking—unthinkable.
But anyone facing his predicament would react the same.
Roarrr—
Red.
Everything was red.
Only raging flames and sticky blood coating cracked earth met the eye.
Squelch— Crunch—
No—not quite.
One thing wasn't red here.
A figure approached slowly, stepping over unrecognizable meat chunks.
Could you even call that 'person' a person?
Bloody, both legs severed, sprawled on the ground—the South Sudan transcendent who'd dominated the region—stared blankly up, pondering as his foe neared.
Jet-black scales reflecting roaring flames, a frame over three meters tall, four razor horns thrusting skyward from his head, a pair of bat wings spread from his back, a whip-like tail ending in a spear tip...
Unmistakably, a demon fresh from hell.
'Is that really an Awakener like me? Or some otherworlder?'
Two eyes glowed crimson over shark-like jagged teeth.
Locking gazes, even his transcendent mind wavered perilously.
"Kuh, damn it!"
Crunch—
Staring at the slowly approaching demon in horror, he ground his teeth—biting his own tongue.
Pain snapped his mind clear.
He forced himself up, steadying his stance.
Transcendent regeneration had long stanched the leg stumps.
One below the knee, the other mid-shin—balance off, but no big deal for him.
'...No chance of winning.'
He knew it best.
Moments ago, that single demon shredded his elite Awakeners—including masters battle-hardened like him—and took his legs.
Unthinkable absurdity.
'But I won't go down easy.'
He gritted his teeth, eyes blazing.
Pride was at stake.
The Slaughterer renowned across otherworlds, South Sudan's strongest—couldn't fade unknown without a scratch.
Ether surged with resolve, devouring his life force to blanket his body.
Halt.
The demon's approach stopped.
Not cowed by suicidal resolve.
Just then, a message arrived from an unignorable source.
[......] He confirmed it, nodding slowly.
He'd planned to savor longer, but time to wrap up.
Roarrr—
Crimson flames erupted from his hand, racing up wicked claws.
The mere aftermath warped space and cracked the ground.
"Hoo, hoo."
Cold sweat dripped from the transcendent facing that immense pressure.
Blazing fiercely, yet no true fire.
Ultra-dense energy cloaked in flame's guise.
It'd pulped his men into gore and claimed his legs—destruction incarnate.
"Raaagh! Die!"
Nothing left to lose.
He hurled his life away, body as bullet for a final strike.
Toward the demon who'd taken all.
Right then.
[Pfh—] A chuckle leaked from the silent slaughterer.
As if finally sated.
Satisfied at last.
Flap—
Wings unfurled wide.
Four horns hummed lowly.
Meteor-like light streaked toward him; lips curled as he swung his flame-wreathed hand.
Light as ripping paper.
———!
Space tore instantly.
No sound.
Then, thunder beyond human ears.
Rumble— Boom—!
Mending rift unleashed shockwaves pulverizing everything in the path.
Earth twisted in quakes; clouds shredded above.
Debris scattered, igniting heaven and earth.
Rumble— Roar—
Overwhelming ruin passed.
Only quakes and flames remained.
Where a man stood: a massive gouge scarring the land.
Sole survivor: the demon casually dusting his hands.
[...What a shame.] He glanced at his chest.
Black scales covered his body.
A few cracked.
'If I'd used this much power from the start, it'd have been more fun.'
Would the next stop quench his thirst?
He tilted his head, turned, wings spreading.
Off to the next as always.
Flap— Flap—
Africa: savage lands of secrecy and scant intel.
One man ravaged it solo, massacring relentlessly—a direct guard of the Chairman, the 'Executioner'—now bound for the Philippines.
Leaving double-digit transcendents and countless souls behind.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Inside the 「Dragon Lair」, a personal pocket dimension all his own.
"Finally complete!"
A raspy voice echoed from the workshop zone.
Ferocious flames roared in a massive forge beside a mystically glowing anvil—cutting-edge smithing gear.
At center, a dwarf thrust metal earpieces overhead, beard shaking as he jigged.
"Uahaha! Impossible for this body? Nonsense!"
Dwarf Howard, minimizing erosion to craft Andrew's language-translation magic tool.
He'd braced for a long haul given the difficulty, but environmental factors slashed the time.
'Right—this 「Dragon Lair」 defies all laws, a world apart!'
Not Earth, Outerica, or the Loop World.
Unbound by rules, limitless materials.
Even novel otherworld stuff.
'Perfect. Ultimate workshop. Sure, with the "Savior" ignoring dimensions, similar setups elsewhere possible—but matching this? Tough.'
Prime magic forge, tailored for him—accessible anytime.
Plus semi-permanent time-acceleration barrier tapping lair energies: heavenly crafting conditions.
Nearly 100x Earth's time here.
"Phew, now I can give Andrew's ops a real boost."
Howard grinned fondly, caressing the exquisite earpieces.
Imagining Andrew's delight.
No consideration for the recipient's wishes, of course.
Who'd dislike such a treasure?