Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Arachne's Nest Cleared
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Not only the forms of Heaven-Splitting Swordsmanship but also the various sword forms of the clan flowed from him seamlessly, relentlessly pressing the Arachne.
Kieeeek!
Sensing the dire situation, the Arachne tried to retreat swiftly.
But Shin Yu-hyun gave it no quarter, sticking close and maintaining the pressure.
This left Choi Jung-hoon largely undefended against its attacks.
Most of its legs had already been severed, slowing its movements, while minor wounds accumulated on its body, green fluids leaking out.
"I wonder how long you can hold out?"
Shin Yu-hyun looked at the Arachne and curled up the corner of his mouth. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Congratulations. You have defeated the 3-star boss magic beast Arachne. You have obtained a 3-star magic core and 30 soul points.] [You are the first to clear the 3-star dungeon, Arachne's Nest. As the first clear reward, Strength, Agility, and Stamina each increase by 1 point.] The battle with the Arachne didn't last long.
With 5-star Choi Jung-hoon and Shin Yu-hyun, who was nearing 4-star thanks to chakra, on the team.
In the end, the two combined their strength, and Shin Yu-hyun's black flame-wreathed magic sword Ignis cleaved through the Arachne's chest, ending the fight.
Soul points could only be absorbed from magic beasts that Shin Yu-hyun personally defeated.
Thus, out of the 20 spider magic beasts that appeared with the Arachne boss, he earned 30 soul points from the ten he took down himself.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, all my physical stats went up by 1."
Shin Yu-hyun expressed his gratitude to Choi Jung-hoon. The first clear reward for a dungeon goes to the superhuman who lands the final blow on the boss.
That's why Choi Jung-hoon had yielded the killing strike to him.
"No need to thank me—it's only right. Anyway, glad the first clear reward isn't bad."
Choi Jung-hoon replied with a broad smile.
Strength, Agility, and Stamina had increased, after all.
It made yielding worthwhile.
And if this helped Shin Yu-hyun trust him even a little more, that was ideal.
"It's finally over."
"You two are amazing."
As the battle ended, Lee Dae-young and Kim Hyun-seok emerged cautiously.
They hadn't participated in the Arachne fight.
Part of it was exhaustion from defeating the spider magic beasts, but mainly, they couldn't dream of jumping into a battlefield filled with shockwaves from the Arachne's attacks.
"I had no idea the Hall Leader was this strong."
Even Choi Jung-hoon was astonished.
He'd thought Shin Yu-hyun was hiding his power, but it exceeded expectations.
Especially the sight of him facing the Arachne head-on and deflecting its attacks—it was nothing short of miraculous.
Far beyond what you'd expect from a 3-star superhuman.
"It's thanks to the Vice Hall Leader. I just drew its attention."
To their admiration, Shin Yu-hyun merely offered a small smile.
'This level is still far from enough.'
To face the Getia bastards, he needed to grow incomparably stronger.
"No, I don't think I could even manage drawing its attention."
Lee Dae-young gave an awkward expression at Shin Yu-hyun's response.
"Isn't it impressive enough to lure a 3-star boss solo?"
Kim Hyun-seok's eyes sparkled.
"Not just the 3-star boss, right? You took down that thorn-in-our-side Sasaki Shiro all by yourself. The Clan Leader will be thrilled."
Choi Jung-hoon added with a grin.
Though Sasaki Shiro was a mage weak in close combat, he was still a 4-star superhuman.
Subduing him alone was a major achievement for Shin Yu-hyun.
Especially while rescuing the clan's people in peril.
This would skyrocket his reputation within the clan.
"That's a story for when we get back. Right now, there's one issue."
"An issue?"
"Yes."
As Choi Jung-hoon asked with a puzzled look, Shin Yu-hyun turned his gaze to the Arachne.
The unidentified crystal embedded in the Arachne's head.
"Come to think of it, what even is this thing?"
"It did seem too strong for a mere 3-star boss..."
Lee Dae-young and Kim Hyun-seok stared at the Arachne with faces full of doubt.
The Arachne had clearly demonstrated power beyond 3-star.
"Probably that crystal's doing. The Iron Forge Clan's handiwork, no doubt."
Shin Yu-hyun glared at the crystal device.
The Arachne had gained strength beyond 3-star due to the device's overload.
"The Iron Forge Clan did this..."
Choi Jung-hoon eyed the crystal device gravely.
They vaguely sensed it.
The technology felt alien somehow.
Quite different from modern magitech.
"An investigation will reveal what it is."
Shin Yu-hyun frowned at the crystal device.
He hadn't told Choi Jung-hoon's group, but he'd figured out the Iron Forge Clan's aim.
The Getia had developed the crystal device to control magic beasts.
The Iron Forge Clan likely planned to use it to manipulate the Arachne and ambush the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan.
The 3-star boss Arachne had one annoying skill: Scatter.
Meaning, the longer it dragged on, the more magic beasts would multiply enormously.
That must be why the Iron Forge Clan targeted Arachne's Nest.
But the device's overload backfired, damaging the Arachne and forcing their retreat.
"Let's head back now."
Shin Yu-hyun turned away.
Lee Dae-young and Kim Hyun-seok carefully retrieved the crystal device from the Arachne's head.
Once investigated back at the clan, even this era's people would realize.
The crystal device wasn't of Earth's technology.
With all the spoils secured, Shin Yu-hyun led the group out of the boss room and toward the dungeon exit. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A dark night illuminated softly by white moonlight.
Aside from Shin Yu-hyun's group, the rest of the Black Tortoise Hall members waited at the base camp after exiting the dungeon.
"You damn bastard!"
Thwack!
Lee Jin-gyu gnashed his teeth and punched Sasaki Shiro in the face.
He'd learned Sasaki had brutally tortured the youngest, Choi Seung-hyun. The latter sat huddled under a blanket in the corner of the base camp, half out of his mind from the trauma.
Thus, Lee Jin-gyu was venting on Sasaki Shiro, bound to a chair.
"That's enough. We can't kill him."
Then Park Young-taek, a fellow peer, stopped him. Once back at the clan, Sasaki would pay dearly anyway.
He'd face harsh interrogation until he spilled everything.
"Hey, you punk. Just wait till we get back. I'll give you exactly what you dished out."
Still fuming, Lee Jin-gyu glared murderously at Sasaki Shiro.
At that moment.
Ping! Pfoosh!
A sound tearing through the air echoed with an explosion.
Splatter!
Sasaki Shiro's head burst like a watermelon.
Blood sprayed across the base camp interior.
"Wh-what?!"
Drenched in Sasaki's blood, Lee Jin-gyu stared in dumbfounded shock.
"Get down!"
But Park Young-taek quickly assessed the situation, tackling Lee Jin-gyu to the ground.
Shweee!
Immediately after, a sharp whoosh ripped through the tent as something flew in.
Thanks to Park Young-taek's shout, the group hit the dirt in time, avoiding harm.
But the equipment inside the base camp bounced around and shattered.
How much time passed?
As the invisible attacks subsided, an eerie silence fell.
'Who the hell...'
With the area quiet, Park Young-taek raised his head from the ground.
The tents on both sides of the base camp were in tatters, the interior a wreck.
And...
"What? You're still alive?"
Two unidentified figures pushed aside the ragged tent flaps, appearing before Park Young-taek.
Seeing them, Park Young-taek cried out in horror.
"Y-you bastards...!"
He glared wide-eyed.
A man in his early thirties with a black eyepatch over his left eye and a black suit, and a beauty in her late twenties standing coldly in a black hooded coat.
He knew these people well.
"The... Iron Forge Clan's executives..."
Park Young-taek gritted his teeth.
Iron Forge Clan executives were known to act separately.
So he'd thought there were no more besides Sasaki Shiro.
Who could've guessed they'd show up here.
"Die."
The beauty in the black hooded coat, Lee Seol-ri, spoke coldly, assuming an archery stance with empty hands.
Kiiiing!
Winds swirled around her, fluttering her coat.
Her unique ability activated, forming an invisible bow and arrow of wind.
Invisible Archer, Lee Seol-ri.
That was her moniker.
"Everyone, dodge!"
Park Young-taek shouted urgently, rising to flee.
Shwaaaa!
An invisible arrow shot from Lee Seol-ri toward him.
Pfook!
"Kuhuk!"
The unseen wind arrow pierced his shoulder.
Luckily not fatal, but the impact sent Park Young-taek tumbling.
"Dodging Lee Seol-ri's arrow? Lucky."
Shing.
The man in the black suit, Jin Won-ho, smirked and drew the greatsword from his back.
Iron Forge Clan's Black Knight, Jin Won-ho.
His suit and greatsword were black, earning him the name.
"I'll kill you all."
Drawing his massive black sword, Jin Won-ho exuded murderous intent and charged Park Young-taek first.
"Not so fast!"
Then Lee Young-ho, activating Body Strengthening Technique, blocked Jin Won-ho's path.
Shwaak!
A clean slash followed toward Jin Won-ho's side.
Claaaang!
But it didn't connect. A bluish barrier stopped Lee Young-ho's sword.
Jin Won-ho's black suit was an artifact armor that generated a barrier.
"Hmph. That all you got?"
Jin Won-ho scoffed, swinging his greatsword like a bat sideways.
Kwaang!
Lee Young-ho's coat barrier activated, blocking the strike.
But as if anticipating it, Jin Won-ho's immense strength shattered the barrier and sent Lee Young-ho flying.
"Heuk!"
Lee Young-ho screamed, tumbling several meters.
If Lee Seol-ri's ability was the transparent bow and arrows, Jin Won-ho's was superhuman strength.
"Pathetic."
Grinning with white teeth, Jin Won-ho turned to nearby Lee Jin-gyu.
"...!"
Lee Jin-gyu, who had just ducked to run, froze as intense killing intent locked onto him.
'I'm dead.'
Sensing death, Lee Jin-gyu swallowed hard.