Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Saber 1's Dual Blades
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'Huh?'
In that instant, Shin Yu-hyun's face lit up with surprise.
Saber 1 had equipped different weapons?
And it could now use basic dual swordsmanship?
'Hmm.'
Confirming the message floating before his eyes, Shin Yu-hyun scanned the surroundings for Saber 1.
There, at the spot where Cheon Mu-jin had collapsed, he spotted Saber 1 holding the Flame Sword Yeonhwa—ablaze with red flames—and the Ice Snow Sword Seolbaek, emanating cold blue frost.
'Who would've thought it could choose its own weapon.'
What was truly astonishing about Saber 1 was that it had discarded its sword and shield on its own and opted for dual blades.
In truth, Shin Yu-hyun had previously handed various common-grade weapons to his skeletons.
Their reactions back then had been adorable—staring blankly at him and tilting their heads.
He hadn't given them other weapons since, but to think one would actually make its own choice.
"Interesting."
It wasn't just Saber 1; the odds were high that more skeletons would start selecting their own weapons in the future.
If he designated those unique ones as Janissaries or Night Raiders—elite units under the Immortal King himself, special forces troops—they'd become far more powerful.
And the dual blades in Saber 1's hands were rare-grade. Perhaps that's why it chose them, drawn to their higher rank.
'Either way, I need to grind Soul Points diligently.'
Turning one into a Janissary consumed a massive amount per unit.
The thought of all the Soul Points he'd have to gather brought a wry smile to his lips.
'Can't this taste get any better?'
The bizarre flavors hitting him every time Dark Soul Eater activated never grew familiar, no matter how many times he experienced them.
Letting out a deep sigh, Shin Yu-hyun watched Saber 1—or rather, Double Saber now—swinging its twin blades.
'Not bad at all.'
Shin Yu-hyun couldn't help but admire the sight.
It was clearly its first time wielding dual blades, yet its stance and movements looked convincing. Probably thanks to gaining access to basic dual swordsmanship.
'I can teach it advanced dual swordsmanship later.'
He'd only watched for a brief moment, but Shin Yu-hyun could already tell Double Saber's style suited a flow-focused approach.
'Ice-Fire Swift Flow Sword will do nicely.'
Ice-Fire Swift Flow Sword.
A dual-blade technique that toyed with foes using fluid, water-like motions at blinding speed.
It was an advanced sword art of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan, taught in each of the sword halls as well. However, few wielded dual blades, so naturally, few mastered Ice-Fire Swift Flow Sword.
'Cleanup's almost done.'
Shin Yu-hyun pulled out his Persona mask and slipped it over his face.
His form blurred, his facial features subtly shifting as a cloak materialized, enveloping his body.
"Finish off the remaining roadrunners."
He issued the command to his skeletons.
Kiruk?
The twenty roadrunners flinched, staring at Shin Yu-hyun and the skeletons in shock.
But no matter how low their aggression or how weak they were, he had no intention of sparing any magic beasts.
All magic beasts had to be exterminated.
Pu-pu-pung!
Sssak!
Kirrrruk!
Before the merciless swords and spears of the skeletons, the roadrunners were slaughtered in seconds.
Even the 1-star boss, Roadrunner King, couldn't hold out long against the Sabers blocking every direction with kite shields and slashing down with their blades before collapsing.
The moment the roadrunners fell, Dark Soul Eater activated automatically.
Tentacles burst from the black mana-formed feather wings, piercing the nearby roadrunners and beginning to absorb their souls.
As 1-star magic beasts, the roadrunners yielded 1 Soul Point each—a total of 30 from the twenty regulars and one boss.
'Mm. Tastes good?'
Shin Yu-hyun felt unexpectedly pleased by the decent flavor and sensation. Their bird-like appearance must have made them taste like fried chicken.
'No one else can get in now.'
Shin Yu-hyun gave the dungeon interior one last sweep before storing the skeletons back into his shadow space.
Dungeons remained open at the entrance until cleared.
The Black Wing Guild had exploited this by deliberately leaving the boss alive, ensuring constant traffic to their gambling den.
But with the boss slain and the dungeon cleared by Shin Yu-hyun, no one could enter until it reset after he exited.
Any remaining corpses would vanish with the reset.
Shin Yu-hyun planned to repay the Black Wing Guild in full for their deeds before erasing them from the world.
And right now, with the Persona mask effecting a true transformation rather than mere disguise, no one would know Shin Yu-hyun was behind the Black Wing Guild's annihilation.
"Time to head back, then?"
Kyuu!
Ka-mang-i gave a cute reply to Shin Yu-hyun's words.
Soon after, Shin Yu-hyun and Ka-mang-i left the dungeon.
All that remained was the eerie glow of the blood-red moon.
The next day.
The Black Wing Guild master, executives, and fifteen guild members vanished as a group.
The media buzzed with the scandal briefly, but it didn't last. Hunter disappearances happened often enough.
Even so, the vice-guild master scurried about searching for the missing.
But that didn't last long either. A bombshell exposé detonated elsewhere.
Someone anonymously revealed the Black Wing Guild's litany of vile crimes to the world.
With guild master Cheon Mu-jin and five key executives gone, the scandal hit hard.
The lone vice-guild master couldn't handle it. Even the Hunter Association launched an investigation.
And so, Black Wing faded into the dustbin of history.
Two days later.
"It's over."
Shin Yu-hyun smirked as he read the news article on his smartphone.
One less traitor aligned with Getia.
It had weakened Getia's forces, even if just a bit.
'That settles the Golden Arrow issue.'
All that remained was contracting with Golden Arrow's guild master, Kim Sung-hoon.
To that end, he'd summoned guild master Kim Sung-hoon and vice-guild master Lee Ho-seong to Black Tortoise Hall today.
He planned to meet them in the late afternoon to discuss the contract, with Black Tortoise Hall's vice-leader Choi Jung-hoon and finance head Kim Jae-hyun joining as well.
'We've received everything the clan promised.'
Twenty disciples, a permanent 3-star dungeon, and even the Heaven-Splitting Divine Pill.
Over the past two days, Shin Yu-hyun had collected every last item his father had pledged.
It had kept him busy. Taking over a permanent 3-star dungeon required handover procedures, after all.
'Got everything we were owed.'
The twenty disciples had been integrated into Black Tortoise Hall, training under Instructor Choi Hyun-seong, with Uncle Shin Sung-hyun occasionally stopping by to teach swordsmanship to the Azure Dragon Sword Division members.
'All that's left today is signing with Golden Arrow.'
He'd squeeze in some downtime with Dia and Ka-mang-i, but the contract was the big task.
'Once that's done, time to challenge the second floor of the Tower of Trials.'
After clearing the first floor, he'd wanted to push straight to the second, but entry was locked for a week.
That week had flown by amid other obligations, keeping him from the tower.
With those mostly wrapped up now, he finally had breathing room.
Contract with Golden Arrow, then the Tower of Trials.
Knock knock knock.
A knock echoed at his office door.
"Come in."
Kiiik.
"Hello, Master."
It was Shuv who entered.
She had assisted his father in interrogating Orca.
But Orca held out to the bitter end.
He knew full well: spill the info, lose his value, and die.
Indeed, if Orca talked, it was a coin flip—death by the Ashen Church or by Iron-Blooded Sword King Shin Sung-il.
In that standoff, Orca broke at Shuv's single remark.
-Just make him beg for death.
Seeing Shuv grinning with golden eyes gleaming from the shadows in her demonic form, Orca spat out one piece of intel.
About an organization called Black Watch tied to the Ashen Church.
"Any progress?"
"Still investigating."
"Finding Black Watch won't be easy."
Black Watch.
Nicknamed the Black Clock.
A villain group of black mages from Europe, known as the Black Spire.
Yet their existence was shrouded in mystery.
Just rumors swirling in the superhumans' underworld, with no concrete details known.
'Even in my past life, their location remained a mystery.'
Like Black Wing, Black Watch were Getia-aligned traitors who aided human experimentation.
Beyond that, info was scarce.
Only that they bore a black clock tattoo somewhere on their bodies as their trademark.
"Father must be tearing his hair out."
Black Watch was a foreign superhuman villain group.
Getting cooperation from the Hunter Association or government wouldn't be straightforward.
This only elevated Shuv's value further. Her intel gathering and analysis skills were already recognized in the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan.
Consequently, Shin Yu-hyun's standing had risen too. Shuv obeyed no one but him.
'For now, focus on what we can do.'
He still needed to grow stronger. Until he could wield all the Immortal King's powers.
And there was plenty else on the plate.
Gather all of Seven Arcs, clear the Tower of Trials, deal with the villains on his hit list.
To that end, bolstering Black Tortoise Hall's forces came first. Not just for the clan heir strife, but for the grand endeavors ahead.
Thus, he'd leave intel on Black Watch and the Ashen Church to the clan.
Once they dug something up, he could act then—no rush.
Until then, build up power as much as possible.
Knock knock knock.
Another knock resounded at the office door.