Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Australian Continent (3)
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Australian Continent (3)
The cycle of absorbing the monsters' blood, purifying it, and expelling it outward was a relentless chain of agony.
It was tantamount to torture, gnawing away at not only his flesh but his mind as well.
Yet for Lee Sang-hyun, the Berserker, pain was no soul-shattering curse—it was a blessing.
Thump...! Thump...! Thump...!
Thus, he didn't weaken even slightly. If anything, the greater the torment, the stronger he grew.
"......"
When Lee Sang-hyun finally opened his eyes, a landscape of corpse mountains and blood seas unfolded before him.
All of it was the wreckage of the monster legion. The debris of monsters that had surged forward in endless waves like the tide.
'...It's over.'
It had been a full day of war. Without the Blood Sword, their human wave tactics might have worn him down over days or even nights. Or he might have collapsed from exhaustion long before.
Either way, their numbers had been staggering. So vast that the zombies in any zombie flick would seem a joke.
'...Bringing the 1st floor of the Gluttony Tower to the surface would feel like this.'
Lee Sang-hyun let out a sigh. Exhaustion etched every inch of his face.
And now, the blessing of pain twisted into a curse, devouring his body from within.
The interest on that former blessing came at no discount. It demanded double, triple the price.
'...I need some rest.'
He had to assault the Babel Tower at once, but pushing forward in this state was pure recklessness. He figured he'd plunge into the sea to recover.
But...
Suddenly, the ground cracked open. A noxious roar erupted as something burst into view.
"...Rakel?"
It was the colossal beast Rakel, destroyer of Sydney. Though shrunken to half its size, it was unmistakably Rakel.
And utterly hostile.
"Ruaaaaaar!!!"
"......"
Regrettably, rest was a luxury he couldn't afford.
The U.S. government, to quell the uproar from doomsday cultists proclaiming the apocalypse, widely announced the Babel Tower assault.
The news exploded across headlines.
[Response team's leader: Jack Roar!!]
[Symbol of peace and freedom takes on Babel Tower conquest!!]
[Jack Roar: "I will stop this crisis," exuding unshakeable confidence.]
[Conquering Babel Tower heralds a new era led by America.]
[Humanity's hope: Jack Roar!!]
[Jack Roar already assaults Babel Tower?]
[Experts: Jack Roar's success odds at 98%.]
[Ottawa, Canada, floods with crowds welcoming superhero Jack Roar...]
Babel Tower news spread worldwide in under ten minutes, eclipsing "Doomsday."
"Fools! Open your eyes!"
"Entrust all to God!"
"Death is no torment—it's the dawn of new life!"
"Embrace your fate!"
The cultists wailed that Jack Roar would fail and doom would come, but people trusted humanity's strongest Hero, Jack Roar.
Jack Roar, Jack Roar, Jack Roar, Jack Roar...!!
After Death Lord Arhim's demise, Jack Roar—busier than ever—spoke to his comrades before the Babel Tower raid.
"Fear not. I'm here."
Those words melted away dread and worry, leaving only the sunlit promise of hope.
Sword God and President of Korea Kang Mu-hyuk appeared publicly to calm the populace. There, he declared:
"Within a fortnight! Korea will erase the Babel Tower. Citizens, rest easy and trust me and this nation. As a true hunter powerhouse, we will never disappoint you."
Kang Mu-hyuk's vow soothed all unrest.
Anxiety had been minimal to begin with. Korea enjoyed greater peace and stability than most.
Just a faint fear that this tranquility might shatter—no widespread chaos.
Heavenly Demon Ryu O-shin didn't seek Mongolia's government cooperation. He issued a unilateral notice.
"I'll handle the Babel Tower."
Mongolia's government couldn't protest. Their forces couldn't tackle it anyway.
Besides, the foe was the Heavenly Demon who toppled even China. Powerless Mongolia had no choice but to yield.
"...Tch. Doesn't sit right, but no helping it. I won't be king of ashes."
Ryu O-shin sought a world for the strong, not ruins or rubble. Thus, despite the hassle, he'd assault the Earth-shattering Babel Tower.
Vladimir accepted India's request and joined the Babel Tower raid.
"Sure, why not."
He made no overt demands. But one unwritten condition lingered.
India's government dimly grasped it but accepted gladly for their safety.
Aria vowed to topple the Babel Towers threatening humanity's peace, declaring assaults on the two in Britain and Egypt.
Murmurs erupted!!
Many fretted over two towers at once, but Aria's resolve was ironclad.
"We can do this."
Europeans showered her with boundless faith, convinced she could conquer both.
Thus, all seemed resolved...
Save for one forsaken land—Australia. Who would claim it?
Naturally, no one expected a third party.
There was no one rivaling the Strongest 7.
...Kaguya Hime's killer existed, but he was no "Hero"—a "Villain." Perhaps another of the Strongest 7.
Most figured Jack Roar or Korea's Kang Mu-hyuk would take Australia.
No other fit the bill in skill or politics.
Aria, already committed to two towers, was out.
The bloody clash with the monster legion had exponentially boosted the Blood Sword's power. No doubt.
Pfshhhk!!
Hundreds, thousands of thorns—Blood Sword spikes—pierced Rakel's tough hide.
"Ruaaaak?!!"
He neither closed his eyes nor focused his mind. Pure intent to attack birthed thousands of thorns.
All while hurtling at high speed.
Fwoooosh!!!
Rakel's flames erupted, but Lee Sang-hyun was gone. Already circling behind.
'Time to wrap up the test.'
He could've crushed it sooner if he'd wanted. He merely confirmed Blood Sword thorns worked on giant beasts.
"Ruaaaak!!"
Sensing the shift, Rakel sparked fiercely from its body.
Ill omens at a glance—the electromagnetic pulse of adult Rakel that razed Sydney.
Zzzzzzap!!!
'...The force that doomed Sydney. Normal EMPs barely harm humans, but this was different.'
Adult Rakel's EMP wrecked not just electronics but people too.
Hence Sydney's massive casualties.
Civilians suffered worst—ironically, most filming from afar with smartphones.
'Let's test it.'
Lee Sang-hyun charged deliberately. Rakel's body unleashed a spark beyond all prior, flashing blindingly.
Pew.
The blast engulfed thousands of meters. The flash pierced space; mana-twisted waves shredded everything grotesquely.
Rooooar!!
The hemispheric energy lingered 12 seconds, obliterating all in range mercilessly.
A force rivaling adult Rakel's Sydney destroyer.
"...Just this?"
Yet it left Lee Sang-hyun unscathed. Not a scratch, not even a jolt.
"All bark."
He smirked wryly at the anticlimax after steeling himself.
"Well, I gained Lightning Resistance from that trial... Figures it'd end here."
Wrath Tower 2nd floor trial—Heaven's Punishment.
His Lightning Resistance, earned there, transcended 4th grade to 5th.
Thus, it failed. Adult Rakel might differ, but this immature one's EMP couldn't breach it.
"Ruaaaak...?!!"
Rakel shrieked a death knell, ace attack futile.
Swish.
Ample combat data secured—even from non-adult—Lee Sang-hyun ended it swiftly.
"Farewell."
Blood Sword in his right hand pierced Rakel's belly, stabbing the heart.
Splurch!!
Then, like an explosion, dozens more erupted, impaling the massive organ mercilessly.
"Ru... a... a... a...!!"
Twitching wildly!
Immature Rakel lasted moments before crashing down with a boom!
Lee Sang-hyun retracted his Blood Sword, absorbed Rakel's blood.
Then readied for the next.
Boom...! Boom...!
Immature giant monsters were feeble. Not even half adult strength; some freshly hatched.
Thus, easy prey. Far simpler than expected—tension ebbed dangerously.
But some proved tricky.
"Kyaooo!!"
Ernasis, armadillo-hedgehog hybrid colossal beast, was a nightmare.
Armor too tough for Blood Sword thorns, ringed by dense spines. No clear angle.
Rumble rumble...!!
Its attacks lacked punch—no real threat. Just curling into a ball and rolling.
Meager compared to fire, beams, poison gas, lightning, or magic-spewers. Laughable.
'...A grown one bowling through cities would be horrific.'
For players or civilians sans countermeasures, pure hell.
'...No choice.'
Lee Sang-hyun opted for frontal breakthrough.
Rollll!!!
Ernasis barreled at him to crush flat.
Huuuuh!
Deep breath in, then Ilbern Swordsmanship 4th Form—Union.
Fwosh!!
Becoming one with the blade, becoming the sword itself—it rocketed forth, slamming Ernasis.
Krunchhhh!!!
Compared to Giant Agni, power was a tenth.
Yet ample to pierce spine-armor, shatter the heart.
"Kya... a... a... a......"
Ernasis halted its roll, a death wail escaping. Crimson gore poured from the gaping belly-to-back wound.
Shudder... shudder...!!
'...Good this time.'
Power dialed back, Lee Sang-hyun stayed conscious. Sane to the end.
"Kya... o... o......"
Boom...!
Ernasis toppled with a roar. But Lee Sang-hyun stayed vigilant, glaring afar.
'...That's the real deal.'
The aura from his parched senses was dire. Stronger than any prior giant monster.
Not adult, of course.
But infused with berserk curse... It radiated beyond adult might.
And not one.
Three.