Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Destroyed World (7)
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It was a desperate crisis. Ironically, however, the appearance of the magic weapon—Sandworm—caused Lee Sang-hyun's body to begin recovering at a rapid pace.
Thump! Thump!
'What a convenient ability.'
The berserker's trait of growing stronger the more blood he shed was nothing short of overpowered in a situation like this.
'I can fight now.'
The time it took to reconstruct his body, which had barely survived the massive explosion, was just about ten seconds.
Rumble rumble rumble!
Lee Sang-hyun glared at the rapidly closing-in Sandworm.
'End it in one strike.'
There was no fear. His mind was as calm as a winter lake, and his senses—charred pitch-black—sharpened keenly, zeroing in on the Sandworm.
Crunch! Rumble!
The Sandworm crawled forward, kicking up rough waves across the ground.
Lee Sang-hyun assumed a downward slashing stance and waited.
Swoosh.
But suddenly, the Sandworm stirring up waves vanished.
It seemed to have burrowed underground, yet Lee Sang-hyun remained unflustered, waiting calmly.
'Behind.'
Its form had disappeared, but the vibrations lingered. Lee Sang-hyun hadn't missed a single instant of them.
Slaaash!!
It burst out from behind. The magic weapon—Sandworm's drill-like maw hurtled toward Lee Sang-hyun.
Slash!!
In that instant, a lightning bolt of a strike cleaved the magic weapon—Sandworm clean in half.
Ruuuumble...
A perfect bisection. The bisected Sandworm ground to a halt, ceasing all function.
Lee Sang-hyun lowered his sword and caught his breath.
"...I'm beat."
Even purifying Lake Oumul hadn't left him this drained... Today was the kind of exhausting day where he just wanted to collapse and sleep it off.
"Gotta crash hard for a full day. Forget everything else and just drown in sleep..."
But the threat wasn't over.
Rumble rumble rumble!!
There was more than one magic weapon—Sandworm. Hundreds at least. And lumbering toward him was the colossal one that had abducted him to the underground city.
'...Bolt?'
Lee Sang-hyun seriously contemplated it.
Nectar—hailed as the gods' blessing—gave birth to Second Players, igniting fierce diplomatic battles among nations to claim them.
China, in particular, strictly banned Nectar's export, imposing the death penalty for violations.
The United States was comparatively lenient, but its status as the top importer and holder was common knowledge.
Amid the global war over Nectar, South Korea remained relatively peaceful. The reason? It alone possessed a true safe zone.
No need to dive into the fray for Second Players.
Domestic yields were more than enough for national defense.
In this landscape, a new member of the Strongest 7 emerged: Kang Mu-hyuk.
Kang Mu-hyuk declared himself one of the Strongest 7, chosen by a 6th Hierarchy constellation.
Of course, skeptics abounded. His feats to date hadn't screamed world-class.
Frankly, he was just a solid hunter—nothing more, nothing less.
Given Kang Mu-hyuk's impressive track record, opinions were sharply divided.
"That fool dares call himself one of the Strongest 7? What a joke! I'll show him what it really means."
China's Ryu O-shin, catching wind of this, threw down the gauntlet. If Kang Mu-hyuk was truly Strongest 7, he should face him in battle.
The all-out media blitz forced Kang Mu-hyuk's hand.
Yet most figured he'd dodge a fight with Ryu O-shin.
Ryu O-shin's absurd strength and ruthless nature made fleeing the smart play, pride be damned.
But Kang Mu-hyuk didn't run. Far from it—he accepted like he'd been waiting.
"Fine by me."
The unexpected move stunned everyone. Even Ryu O-shin, expecting him to tuck tail, was genuinely baffled.
"...A total lunatic. Guess I'll beat some sense into him."
Ryu O-shin pegged Kang Mu-hyuk as insane. Decided to "help" out of kindness.
Their clash drew worldwide eyes.
Naturally, no one imagined Ryu O-shin losing.
Bookies pegged Heavenly Horse Ryu O-shin's win at 99.99%. Player experts predicted the same.
Even Korean Kang Mu-hyuk fans bet on Ryu O-shin.
Honestly, they just hoped he'd hold out decently.
Before the fight even started, Kang Mu-hyuk's loss was a foregone conclusion. Focus was on survival time and how pathetically he'd surrender.
And Ryu O-shin planned to make an example of him.
Even if it meant killing him.
"I'll teach you what the Strongest 7 truly are."
"......"
Kang Mu-hyuk didn't waste breath. He simply swung his sword.
And proved he was Strongest 7—by toppling the so-called unbeatable Ryu O-shin.
Screeech! Screech...
The magic weapon—Sandworm—that had tormented Lee Sang-hyun to the end finally fell.
'Finally over.'
Scattered across the blackened ground were hundreds of Sandworms, including the colossal one.
Each a Grade 4 monster or higher—enough to destroy a small nation.
Thud.
Lee Sang-hyun collapsed bonelessly.
His condition was abysmal. Even for a berserker, living beings had limits—and he'd blown past his multiple times. Surviving at all was a miracle.
'So damn tired.'
Stagger.
His body swayed, then he slumped back against the ground.
"......"
Ashen clouds drifted endlessly overhead, as if mending the hole in his chest.
Night fell swiftly. Lee Sang-hyun lay there a good while, staring at the sky.
Whiiiish.
Mixed with sand, perhaps? The wind felt dry yet chilling.
No sandstorm brewed, though. The ego devices' destruction had silenced them for good.
'...Time to start.'
Deeming himself rested enough, Lee Sang-hyun rose, dusting off, and stretched both hands skyward.
An odd pose. But his expression was solemn, serene.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
His heartbeat quickened, filling his body.
'Slowly...'
Unhurried, calm, he drew down the sky's moisture—the ashen clouds—to the earth.
Hummm... Hummm... Hummm!
Considering the clouds' distortion from distance and demonic meddling, it was no easy task.
Yet after years honing this path, it was routine for Lee Sang-hyun.
'This way...'
With practiced finesse, he summoned the ashen clouds earthward. Poor condition? Irrelevant.
Whoooosh!
Like a vortex over the sea, funnel-shaped clouds plunged toward the ground.
A breathtaking sight from afar: a lone human commanding vast nature.
'A bit more...'
Lee Sang-hyun held focus to the end, guiding the clouds into the crater.
'Fill it.'
The vast pit filled instantly with ashen clouds—more mist than dense fog.
But this was merely the beginning.
Thump! Thump!
While drawing clouds into the pit, Lee Sang-hyun simultaneously transmuted the ground layer into water.
'Fill it full...!'
Dripping faucet became gushing hose, then surging stream.
'More...!!'
Narrow stream swelled to brook. The brook became a raging river, flooding the blast-scarred crater.
Gurgle gurgle!
No river alone fills a colossal pit, but...
It soaked the parched earth. Moistened land ravaged by endless war and explosions, if only a little.
Lee Sang-hyun had begun crafting "lakes" after hearing the stars' song.
No grand purpose. Just... something for this ruined world, for the dying star.
Nothing more.
'Onward.'
The deluge failed to fill the pit—barely ankle-deep.
Still, plenty to dampen the desolation.
Lee Sang-hyun climbed out and gazed skyward. A green star twinkled there.
'That way.'
He followed it.
"......"
Dawn broke before he knew. Ashen clouds kept the world dim, of course.
Occasional sunbeams pierced through, but nothing like fairy-tale ropes of light.
Whiiiish...
Sun rose high, then set—yet Lee Sang-hyun pressed on doggedly.
At sunken craters, he'd summon ashen clouds to birth lakes. Some brimmed full; others fell short.
"......"
Days became a week, a week a fortnight, a fortnight a month.
No portals used in all that time.
Why? Gathering "energy" to return to Earth. To leap light-years in an instant.
Couldn't if he tried. Endured, trudged. Sometimes ran.
"......"
The barren vista stretched forever.
Dim sky choked with ashen clouds; wind cold, melancholic.
No life stirred. Only desiccated bones everywhere.
How long had he walked?
He reached his journey's end: the forest where the high elf, awaiting the hero, slumbers.