Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Xenomorph Licon
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"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes. The magic beasts coming through feel different from those emerging from dungeon gates. These are connected to another universe."
"Another universe? So what's the difference from the ones coming through dungeon gates?"
"There's no fundamental difference. It's just a matter of which outer god from beyond the universe, which chaos god, created them."
"Then the magic beasts that appeared at the research institute..."
"They're probably the minions of chaos gods targeting other planets and dimensions, not Earth."
"My head's starting to hurt."
Shin Yu-hyun felt his mental energy draining away.
In short, there were countless diverse chaos gods invading not just Earth, but other planets and dimensions as well.
"So how many chaos gods are targeting Earth?"
"I don't know the exact number. But the leader guiding them—we call it the Crawling Chaos."
"Crawling Chaos..."
At Shuv's words, Shin Yu-hyun recalled the entity he'd encountered in the Temple of Lust.
The Crawling Chaos's avatar, Nyarl.
"Was that guy an avatar of one of the chaos gods targeting Earth? I should've captured it after all."
Shin Yu-hyun gritted his teeth with a regretful expression.
If he'd strained himself to capture it, he might have gleaned some useful information.
But Shuv shook her head at his words.
"No need. Avatars don't possess the original's memories or abilities."
"I see."
If the avatar from the Temple of Lust had even a fraction of its original's power, Shin Yu-hyun wouldn't have stood a chance. Chaos gods were unknowable beings far beyond human realms.
"Anyway, you're saying the magic beasts in the research institute came from another universe?"
"Yes. The only way to open doors to other universes is through warp gates."
"So they used crystal shards to open a warp gate?"
If it was definitely a warp gate, it had to be connected to Getia's crystal shards. In his previous life, Getia had invaded Earth via warp gates.
"The crystal devices you said Getia used to control magic beasts."
"Yeah. I thought they were for controlling magic beasts, but it seems they're also used to open warp gates."
"I don't know much about Getia's technology either, but Master, you're probably right. Otherwise, humanity's current science couldn't possibly open a warp gate."
Shuv nodded in agreement with Shin Yu-hyun's words.
"The problem now is what kind of magic beast is in the research institute..."
Shin Yu-hyun stared ahead.
No movement had been detected from the magic beast since it snatched poor Saber 57 with its tentacles.
"I don't know exactly what kind it is either. But one thing's certain: if even a single one escapes this place, it'll be a disaster."
"I should station skeletons around the research institute's entrance."
Shin Yu-hyun's expression hardened at Shuv's point. The main entrance was wide open right now.
The fortunate part was that no one had managed to escape the institute yet.
It had been a one-way path from the main entrance to where Shin Yu-hyun had walked in.
If anything had tried to head outside, he or Shuv would have noticed.
Ssssh.
More skeletons emerged behind Shin Yu-hyun. Ten Sabers and ten Lancers.
Shin Yu-hyun glanced at Fluffy and Chiron.
'Neither has great mobility.'
Even if a magic beast somehow fled the institute, Chiron or Fluffy could easily catch it.
But considering the institute's interior was indoors, Chiron would be at a disadvantage. He couldn't fly freely.
In fact, Chiron was currently waddling down the hallway on all fours.
Outside the main entrance, however, there was more open space, allowing Chiron to move freely.
"Chiron, guard the main entrance."
At Shin Yu-hyun's command, Chiron bowed his head. He looked dejected at not being able to go along.
Dia then patted Chiron's head and said,
"I'll play with you later."
Revitalized, Chiron led the ten Sabers and ten Lancers toward the main entrance.
'What's left...'
Shin Yu-hyun glared into the darkness beyond the B1 hallway of the research institute.
The magic beasts were surely lurking nearby, holding their breath and watching the situation.
An unpredictable scenario where they could attack from the shadows at any moment.
But.
"Shall we find out where they're hiding?"
Snap!
Boom!
At that instant, an explosion erupted nearby. Shin Yu-hyun had used Saber 57 as a medium to trigger Explosion.
The Saber 57 that had been dragged away by the magic beast exploded heroically.
Kieeeek!
A horrific screech echoed, as if the magic beast had been caught in the blast.
"So it was over there?"
Shin Yu-hyun curled his lips into a smirk.
Moments later, a single magic beast emerged from the darkness.
Black chitin-like skin, humanoid body with arms and legs yet crawling on all fours.
An elongated, grotesque head and an extremely long tongue.
And long, sharp claws that looked menacing.
"It's got a unique look, that's for sure."
Shin Yu-hyun frowned at the Xenomorph Licon's appearance.
It gave off a repulsive vibe, like the blood moon in a dungeon.
Kiaaa!
The Licon let out a bizarre roar as it probed their direction.
The Xenomorph Licon, with its taut, muscular elongated limbs, prowled left and right, blocking the hallway.
All the magic beasts Shin Yu-hyun had seen so far had tentacles.
This one had none visible. Instead, its snake-like long tongue seemed to serve that purpose.
"Whose minion is this?"
"Something like Nameless Mist or Plaguebringer. Or maybe a chaos god I don't know."
Shuv referred to it by epithet rather than name. Knowing chaos gods' true names could be dangerous in itself.
"There must be a lot of chaos gods."
"Dozens that I know of."
"I see."
Shin Yu-hyun nodded.
There could be even more than Shuv suggested.
And each one was undoubtedly a being of unimaginable power.
Getia themselves were mere playthings to them.
Kiaaaak!
At that moment, the Xenomorph Licon whipped its snake-like tongue like a lash.
Shhwek!
"Defense skill!"
At Shin Yu-hyun's shout, the Sabers raised their kite shields and activated their defense skill.
Thud!
The Licon's tongue collided with the kite shields and bounced off.
Shwick!
But the rebounding tongue straightened like a snake and thrust forward again with blinding speed.
Clang clang clang clang clang!
The Sabers blocked the Licon's tongue with their kite shields.
Slither.
Judging it couldn't pierce the shields, the Xenomorph Licon lowered its tongue to the floor and wrapped it around Saber 31's leg.
Saber 31 immediately slammed its kite shield down on the tongue. Unlike with Saber 57's sudden ambush, it was ready this time.
'Can't fall for the same trick twice.'
Shin Yu-hyun smiled satisfactorily at 31's quick reaction.
At that instant.
Thud!
Wasn't the shield that smashed the tongue bouncing back up?
"What?"
Shin Yu-hyun's eyes widened in surprise. The Licon's tongue was tougher than imaginable.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Saber 31's leg jerked up, and it was dragged away just like 57.
Sssshaaaak!
The Licon yanked 31 toward itself, slashed once with its long claws, and hurled it backward.
Bam!
Saber 31, its gray armor torn like paper, crashed into the research institute wall with a boom and stopped moving.
Grrr.
The Xenomorph Licon turned to Shin Yu-hyun and let out a mocking growl.
"Not falling for the same trick again, huh?"
Shin Yu-hyun grinned back.
It had probably thrown 31 away immediately because of the Explosion he'd triggered via Saber 57. Afraid it might blow up like the last one.
Shin Yu-hyun gave a word to his Sabers and Lancers.
"Push."
At that single command, the remaining three Sabers and five Lancers charged at the Xenomorph Licon.
Thud thud thud!
The Licon extended its steel-like tongue long and whipped it like a lash.
"How is its tongue that long?"
Shin Yu-hyun furrowed his brow.
The Licon swung its extended tongue to block the skeletons' approach.
The Sabers advanced with kite shields raised but hesitated before the insanely fast whipping tongue.
'It's quick.'
The steel tongue lashed at speeds hard to follow with the eye.
Breaking through it wasn't easy.
"Shall I step in?"
As the Sabers couldn't close in, Shuv spoke up from the side.
"No, I'll handle it."
With that, Shin Yu-hyun stepped forward and activated Quinae's armament.
Clank clank.
Black light flowed from the gauntlet-form Quinae, forming dark gauntlets up to his elbows with metallic sounds.
Shh.
Shin Yu-hyun's figure vanished.
Hermes' Winged Sandals, Talaria's Unique Skill: Blink
Short-range spatial teleportation
Shin Yu-hyun had used Talaria's unique skill, Blink, which allowed short-range spatial jumps.
Bang!
He reappeared in front of the Sabers and instantly seized the Xenomorph Licon's tongue.
Using his unique skill Presence Detection, he'd read and grabbed the tongue's movement. Naturally, Body Strengthening Technique was active too.
Kirrruk!
Startled and threatened by its tongue being caught, the Licon let out a mixed cry.
It even tried to yank Shin Yu-hyun toward itself by pulling its tongue.
But Shin Yu-hyun, gripping the tongue with both hands, didn't budge.
"Let's see how much it can take."
Whoosh!
Suddenly, pitch-black flames erupted from Quinae. The dark fire spread from the tongue to the Licon's body.
Kiaaaaaak!
The Xenomorph Licon thrashed in agony, screeching.
The black flames had transferred through its tongue to its body.
The Sabers and Lancers then charged.
With its useful tongue for attack and defense restrained, the Licon couldn't resist properly.
It could only swing its sharp claws.
But engulfed in black flames, it couldn't fight back effectively.
Soon, the Sabers and Lancers rained down longsword and lance strikes.
Slash! Stab stab!
Kieeek.
Burning in black flames, slashed and pierced by longsword and lance, the Licon's body went limp.
No matter how much from another universe, it was equal before a beatdown.
"Alright, back on the move."
Having dealt with one Xenomorph Licon, Shin Yu-hyun resumed heading toward the B1 power facility.