Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Necromancer of the Sword Clan
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"Ha."
Shin Cheol-ho stared at the red mana cannon hurtling toward him.
Two beams of red mana concentrated fire, shooting like rays of light to sweep away him and the Black Tortoise Sword Division members around him.
It was already too late to dodge.
All that remained was to await death.
Shin Cheol-ho quietly closed his eyes.
Right then. ⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Bone Shield Ssssh!
White bone shields materialized in midair right in front of the mana concentrated cannons streaking forth like red laser beams.
Zzzing!
The Bone Shields appeared two per beam, blocking the mana concentrated cannons.
The red mana concentrated fire, halted by the Bone Shields, then scattered in all directions.
But the Bone Shields alone couldn't fully stop the mana concentrated cannons.
Kwaang!
The mana concentrated cannons melted through the Bone Shields with superintense heat and pressed onward. ⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Bone Wall Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
Then, white bone walls erupted from the ground.
The Bone Shields had bought just enough time to summon the Bone Wall.
Soon after, the mana concentrated cannons that had shattered every Bone Shield slammed into the Bone Wall.
Kwagagagak!
A gruesome sound, like bones being ground away, echoed everywhere.
Yet the far thicker Bone Wall held firm, blocking the mana concentrated cannons.
In no time, the red glow of the mana concentrated fire faded away.
Kugugung.
The Bone Wall that had repelled the mana concentrated cannons sank back into the earth and vanished.
"A-are we... safe?"
"Who the hell did that?"
"That's necromancer magic, isn't it?"
The Black Tortoise Sword Division members, having narrowly escaped disaster, scanned their surroundings in shock. Shin Cheol-ho was no different.
They were dying to know who had saved them.
Kieeeek!
But the crisis was far from over.
The magic beasts were still very much alive.
Shin Cheol-ho and the Black Tortoise Sword Division members glared at the magic beasts.
Right then.
Swaaak!
A sound like something plummeting from the sky rang out.
And moments later, it crashed down smack in the middle of the formation held by the 3-star magic beasts, the Soldier Ants.
Kwaaaaaang!
Kieeeeeek!
A colossal explosion boomed alongside the Soldier Ants' agonized shrieks.
That wasn't all.
The impact from the fall sent thick clouds of dust billowing dozens of meters high, only for black flames to devour the dust and spread outward in every direction.
The Soldier Ants, caught in the shockwave, were hurled away as well.
A moment later, amid the settling dust and dying black flames, a figure emerged.
A man in a black coat etched with white patterns, his red blade plunged into the ground as he knelt on one knee.
A crater nearly three meters across had formed around him.
"Not too late."
With the black flames extinguished, the man rose to his feet.
"Y-you...?"
Shin Cheol-ho gaped at the man in astonishment.
This was the one who had blocked the 4-star boss Heavy Armor Ant's mana cannon—and in a flash, sent dozens of Soldier Ants flying.
None other than Shin Yu-hyun.
"Hyung, how...?"
Shin Cheol-ho stared at Shin Yu-hyun in disbelief.
No question about it.
The necromancer magic that had stopped the Heavy Armor Ant's mana concentrated cannon moments ago—it had to be Shin Yu-hyun.
'He's gotten even stronger.'
Shin Cheol-ho ground his teeth inwardly.
He and the Black Tortoise Sword Division members had been utterly helpless against the Heavy Armor Ant's single strike, able only to watch.
But not Shin Yu-hyun.
He hadn't just blocked the attack—he'd obliterated dozens of Soldier Ants in one fell swoop.
"Hey, long time no see?"
Shin Yu-hyun's gaze shifted to Shin Cheol-ho, who was staring back in shock.
It had been since before he'd opened his chakra and headed to the 2-star dungeon, the Fallen Goblin Forest—right after Shin Yu-hyun had clocked him from behind.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Shin Cheol-ho scowled, clearly displeased.
He hated everything about this mess. The magic beasts raiding the clan, nearly killing them all. And the fact that Shin Yu-hyun had saved their skins.
"What else? Came to check out the bastards who dared attack the clan."
"...!"
Shin Cheol-ho shuddered in that instant.
He felt the icy killing intent radiating from Shin Yu-hyun as he began glaring down the magic beasts.
And the implication was crystal clear.
'He really has surpassed me.'
Shin Cheol-ho clenched his teeth.
He'd trained himself half to death to get ahead of Shin Yu-hyun—and still fallen short!
"Hyung... since when do you give a damn about the clan?"
Shin Cheol-ho forced the words out.
A guy who'd been treated like dirt by everyone in the clan until just recently? No way he'd care now.
"Can't just sit on my hands when scum try to mess with what's mine. Gotta make 'em pay the price."
"..."
Shin Cheol-ho was speechless.
And it hit him.
Shin Yu-hyun had entered the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan's successor tournament.
That was why he was calling the clan his—such brazen arrogance.
And it was a clear message: Stay out of my way.
But.
"You see this and still talk like that?"
Shin Cheol-ho gestured at the magic beasts right in front of them.
No matter how much stronger Shin Yu-hyun had gotten, this was still a hopeless situation.
"We're all dead if this keeps up!"
Nearly two hundred 4-star magic beasts.
On top of that, the 4-star boss Heavy Armor Ant and the 5-star boss Red General Ant.
And counting on backup from Black Tortoise Hall's executives like Choi Jeong-hoon and his team? Fat chance.
They were too busy tangling with the 5-star boss, the Thunder Rat Pandermouse.
Not even Shin Yu-hyun joining in could turn this disaster around.
Besides, the magic beasts were still sizing up the sudden intruder.
In less than ten seconds, that horde of over two hundred would swarm the north gate.
"Giving up just ends it right there."
Yet Shin Yu-hyun stepped forward toward the magic beasts.
In his previous life, he'd lost everything.
But he hadn't given up.
Blinded by rage or not, he'd gripped his sword and charged even at Getia—the impossible foe.
And somehow, for whatever reason, he'd seized a second chance.
Returned to the past with his memories intact and the Immortal King's power to boot.
"What do you think you're gonna do alone...?"
Shin Cheol-ho stared in exasperation at Shin Yu-hyun's retreating back as he advanced on the magic beasts.
But he couldn't deny it.
That back... somehow, it looked bigger than before.
"Did I ever say I came alone?"
Shin Yu-hyun smirked at Shin Cheol-ho's muttering from behind and tossed back a quip.
He drew the demon sword Ignis from his waist and pointed it straight at the 4-star boss Heavy Armor Ant.
"Chiron, Horn Charge Rush."
Shin Cheol-ho and the Black Tortoise Sword Division members blinked in confusion.
But right after.
Swaaak!
A razor-sharp whoosh tore through the air from overhead.
In truth, Shin Yu-hyun had ridden here on Chiron—the one evolved into a Hekaton Hyper Beetle—to reach the north gate.
And Chiron had been hovering high above, awaiting the order before diving straight at the Heavy Armor Ant.
Kiiing!
Startled by the sudden development, the Heavy Armor Ant began condensing mana once more.
Its two cannons swiveled upward as red mana orbs took shape.
Thwack!
Soon, the red mana cannon fired.
But with cooldown still incomplete from the first shot—and fired in haste—its power seemed diminished.
The red beam looked noticeably fainter.
Shuaaaaaak!
Vaporizing moisture from the air as it streaked forth, the red mana cannon struck the plummeting Hekaton Hyper Beetle Chiron dead-on.
Zuzzuzzzing!
But Chiron's horn, spinning like a drill, disrupted the mana cannon on contact, scattering it.
Its chitin armor boasted high physical defense to begin with, and the great magic power coating granted tremendous magic resistance as well.
And that wasn't all. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Your Hekaton Hyper Beetle Chiron uses the great defense skill, Charge Armor. Chiron, evolved through fusion with the 4-star unique boss Tristan, had gained this brand-new Charge Armor skill.
Its defense surged exponentially, deflecting the mana cannon entirely. Horn still whirling like a drill, it plunged toward the Heavy Armor Ant.
Kieeeeeek!
Jeok! Clang-clang!
The Heavy Armor Ant, staring up, raised a section of its black bio-armor plating and thrust it forward.
Kwaang!
Chiron and the Heavy Armor Ant collided, unleashing a massive shockwave in all directions.
Kieek! Kiiieek!
The Soldier Ants around the Heavy Armor Ant screamed as they were blasted away.
Kwagagagak!
Chiron's spinning horn pierced straight through the Heavy Armor Ant's bio-armor.
The horn halted just short of its head.
"It blocked Chiron's horn?"
Shin Yu-hyun's expression lit with intrigue.
The Heavy Armor Ant's bio-armor was just that sturdy.
But. ⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Chiron: Super Vibration Wave Kiiiiing!
At Shin Yu-hyun's command, Chiron's horn glowed white and began to vibrate intensely.
The next instant.
Paaang!
A super vibration wave erupted from Chiron's horn, engulfing the Heavy Armor Ant right in front of it.
Kieeeeeek!
The Heavy Armor Ant's head was smashed into the ground by the crushing super vibration wave pouring from Chiron's horn.
Its massive body followed, toppling onto the earth.
Kugugung!
The vibrations had thrown off its balance entirely.
Kwagagagak!
Immediately after, with the super vibration wave still blasting, Chiron's drill-like spinning horn stabbed toward the bio-armor shielding the gap between the Heavy Armor Ant's head and chest.
Kiiiiing!
At that moment, the two cannons on the Heavy Armor Ant's back began condensing mana. It was gearing up for a point-blank barrage.
"Pull back."
Shin Yu-hyun urgently ordered Chiron.
Buuuung!
Chiron flapped its wings and leaped backward into the air.
That very instant.
Shuaaaaaak!
A red mana cannon from the Heavy Armor Ant streaked through the spot where Chiron had been.
Swaaak! Kwaaaaang!
Not just that—a spear of red flame came hurtling at an angle, slamming into the ground where Chiron had stood.
The 5-star boss Red General Ant had summoned a Crimson Flame Spear and hurled it at Chiron.
"Moving at a time like this?"
Shin Yu-hyun curled his lip as he looked up at the Red General Ant hovering in the sky on wings of red flame.
If the Red General Ant was making its move, then Shin Yu-hyun had plans of his own.
"All of you, come out."
Shin Yu-hyun murmured in a low voice.
That instant.
Ssssh!
Cute little Dia and Ka-mang-i hopped out from Shin Yu-hyun's shadow.
Then, from the depths of the dark shadow, the stunning Shuv emerged—like a goddess of molten gold.
"You called for me, Master?"
Shin Cheol-ho and the Black Tortoise Sword Division members stared at Shuv's overflowing allure, utterly entranced.
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