Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: The Spider Matriarch
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Giant spears pierced the heads and abdomens of the giants.
The giant with its head pierced collapsed on the spot, while the one impaled through the abdomen thrashed like a skewered hornet.
As the giants' monstrous cries echoed and their blood soaked the ground, the forces of Dawn began to systematically deal with the wounded behemoths.
It was like Lilliputians overpowering Gulliver.
Whoosh!
Struck by the flailing arm of a giant, the body of a faceless woman was turned to pulp and sent flying.
However, her position was instantly filled by another faceless man.
This resembled the process of a swarm of bees tightly enveloping a hornet, killing it with their body heat.
Even if one died, another living member would immediately take their place. Through this process, Dawn was able to bind the giants' limbs one by one, and eventually, choke the life out of them.
“It's down! The head! Attack the head!”
“If you can't get the head, go for the neck! Cut off its breath first!”
“The person assigned to the giant's arm is dead! We need support!”
Once again, a massive spear tore through the sky of the pandemonium-like battlefield.
Before the baptism of giant spears raining down like heavenly punishment, the giants' formation completely crumbled.
And Lee Si-woo did not miss that opening.
Swoosh.
Spreading his wind wings wide, Lee Si-woo brought his hammer down on the head of a giant felled by Dawn's forces.
Everyone's eyes were drawn to the appearance of Lee Si-woo, who freely wielded a flight artifact within the artifact-sealing barrier.
But Si-woo paid them no mind, relentlessly striking with his hammer to finish off the giant, then summoned a large bundle of firearms and grenades from his inventory ring.
Like Santa Claus delivering a sack of weapons to the members of Dawn, Si-woo immediately moved to the next location, as if afraid someone might try to talk to him.
In the spot where Si-woo had been.
The members of Dawn dropped their swords and spears and picked up the guns.
“There are supplies. Someone is providing supplies!”
“Pick up the guns! Even a mage can fight them with a gun!”
“Don't be afraid! They aren't infinite! If we work together and keep killing them, they'll eventually run out!”
“Mages, strap on grenades and get inside their mouths! If you detonate them in there, you can directly damage the brain!”
If the giant were to clamp its mouth shut, a mage with poor physical abilities could die before even detonating the grenade, but the faceless mage leaped in without hesitation.
Boom!
Those who saw the faceless mage emerge unharmed from the giant's mouth, having maintained their mana shield, cheered.
“Alright! The mages are even more effective now that they're armed with firearms!”
“Those trained in combat or with high physical levels, guard the mages! Don't let the enemy get near them!”
“Plant C4 on the debris! Don't know how to use it? Then throw it and shoot it! We have to damage them before they can emerge!”
Killing giants, distributing weapons.
How long had he repeated this process?
Lee Si-woo could feel the winds of battle slowly starting to change.
*'A favorable wind is blowing.'*
Giants were still rising from the wreckage, and as if they weren't enough, regular Stragglers were popping out as well.
But, drawn by the tailwind of hope brought by Dawn's arrival, the people of the slums gathered one by one. As their rising morale consumed their anxious hearts, it began to appear.
A fragment of victory, something that had seemed too futile to even wish for.
And then, reinforcements arrived on the battlefield to turn that favorable wind into a gale.
Screech—! Thud!
A cyborg arrived on the battlefield, flames shooting from the wing-shaped boosters on its back.
Landing with a heavy thud, the cyborg stood tall in the middle of the battlefield, surveying the area with mechanical eyes that blinked with a red light.
The number 28, engraved on the cyborg's forehead, shone clearly.
-No. 28. Joining the Granada operation in response to No. 44's request for support. Confirming the appearance of the White Calamity, recorded in ancient data, as reported by No. 44. Setting up with dedicated anti-White Calamity armaments.
Most of the Ancients may have defected to Black Night, but not all of them had turned.
There were always foolish ones, uninterested in their own gain or future.
And that applied to mechanical lifeforms as well.
Krrrrk.
With a chilling mechanical sound, No. 28's entire body began to weaponize.
Both hands transformed into two dark red Gatling guns.
On its shoulders, electromagnetic railguns.
The metal skin all over its body split open, revealing micro-missiles less than a centimeter in diameter.
The Ancient's red eyes moved ceaselessly, targeting nearby enemies.
-Phase 1. Launching micro-missiles.
Pshhhh!
With a cloud of white smoke, hundreds of guided micro-missiles launched from its body, swarming the nearby Stragglers like a plague of locusts.
The missiles, less than a centimeter wide, embedded themselves in the Stragglers' foreheads like darts before exploding with a barely audible pop.
But contrary to the cute sound, the result was brutal.
The Stragglers, their heads completely blown apart, slowly toppled forward.
Having slaughtered hundreds of Stragglers in less than five seconds, the Ancient prepared its next attack.
-Phase 2. Firing electromagnetic railguns.
The railguns mounted on the Ancient's shoulders let out a ferocious roar and unleashed a flash of blue light.
The giants caught in the destructive flash, which turned everything it touched to ash, were helplessly swept away.
In an instant, the railguns, having taken out dozens of giants on their own, drooped.
-Disposable electromagnetic railguns discharged. Disposing.
Clank.
The railguns fell from its shoulders, clattering at the Ancient's feet like discarded scrap.
-Phase 3. Switching to assault mode.
The Ancient's wing boosters ignited.
Darting forward with the speed of wind, the Gatling guns in the Ancient's hands spun furiously, spewing bullets.
Rat-tat-tat-tat──!
Before the merciless hail of bullets, the Stragglers' bodies were torn to shreds and fell to the ground.
Watching the Stragglers being swept away by the Ancient's ferocious display of force, Lee Si-woo let out a dry laugh.
'...Come to think of it, Dawn was Black Night's only rival faction, wasn't it? Well, damn... no wonder they aren't weak.'
How could the power of a faction that has opposed Black Night for hundreds, even thousands of years be shallow?
Though they had grown weaker in recent times, Dawn was the one faction that the arrogant and outrageous executives of Black Night uniquely cared about and kept in check.
Therefore, it was only natural for them to possess such an absurd entity.
Schwing.
With a metallic, mechanical sound, the Ancient's arms transformed from Gatling guns into massive zanbatos.
The Ancient cleaved through a giant's neck with the glossy black zanbatos that were its arms, splitting the body in two.
Lee Si-woo marveled at the monstrous strength, as if Guan Yu had been reincarnated in a mechanical body.
'This might be doable. But... is this really the end? Will Black Night just stand by and watch us win?'
The Ancient, having effortlessly dispatched another giant like a dragonfly catching a mosquito, muttered.
-According to ancient data, a secondary mutation should be occurring by now. However, these entities are not evolving beyond their primary mutation, the Gigant stage. Genetic manipulation is suspected, and I am certain this is not the original White Calamity. If I had to classify it, it would be second or third generation. Analysis results... confirm that this is, as feared, a trap set by Black Night.
Gripped by the same ominous premonition as Si-woo, the Ancient looked up.
And it saw.
The owner of the golden spider mask, falling from the sky.
The Spider Matriarch.
BOOM!
An immense shockwave erupted from the point where the Spider Matriarch landed.
A gray wave of overturned concrete debris washed over Dawn's forces, and the dust-filled pressure blast sullied Lee Si-woo's black hair.
Even as he shielded his eyes from the stinging, dusty wind, Lee Si-woo couldn't bring himself to close them.
It was because he had checked the unwelcome visitor's stats with the scouter ability he'd gained when Barathrum upgraded to Tier 4.
'This is insane...'
「Spider Matriarch」 ★★★★★★★
Level: 759
Race: Arachne
Strength: S Agility: S- Durability: S Mana: F
Talent: [1] Danger Sense [2] Flexibility [3] Enhanced Stamina [4] Poison Immunity [5] Fire and Frost Immunity [6] Emergency Restoration [7] Supersteel Body
Technique: None
Unique Ability: Unbreakable Thread.
Si-woo had seen many monstrous beings before, but he had never seen anyone who fit the description of 'monster' as perfectly as the woman before him.
She was not born with mana, but her innate physical abilities alone were more than enough to place her at the top of the food chain.
She had no need to train or strive like a human.
For she was a being born as a perfect predator, with no room for achievement.
“You disgusting cockroaches.”
At her low voice, the forces of Dawn, who had been bravely fighting the White Calamity, held their breath.
It was inevitable.
Just as a mouse freezes before a snake, it was the law of nature for the weak to fall silent before the arrival of a natural predator.
“I hate you all. Your weakness, trying to protect your beliefs with pathetic self-hypnosis, and your cringeworthy monologues to boost morale. Everything about you is irritating.”
She moved.
Swoosh.
There was no sound of wind, no grand presence.
Appearing before No. 28 like a ghost, she grabbed its zanbato with her bare hand.
Crack!
The surface of the zanbato, which had been cleaving through the bones and flesh of giants, cracked like ice and then shattered mercilessly.
The Spider Matriarch grabbed Ancient No. 28's arm and ripped it clean off.
Its arm torn off like a cheap toy, the Ancient showed no reaction, merely staring at the Spider Matriarch with its blinking red mechanical eyes.
As if to say that any struggle before her was meaningless.
“Ah, right. Should I try imitating your ridiculous monologues? It's cringey as hell... but who cares? As long as it's fun.”
The Spider Matriarch kicked the Ancient's thigh, and its leg snapped like a twig.
“A flame whose wick has burned out is extinguished.”
Her fist pierced the Ancient's chest like a spear.
Playfully wiggling her fist, which protruded from No. 28's back, the Spider Matriarch continued.
“Even starlight fades before time.”
The Spider Matriarch's hand moved with the fluid grace of a snake in water, grabbing No. 28's head and wrenching it off.
“There is eternal night, but there is no eternal light.”
Dropped at her feet, No. 28's mechanical eyes flickered like a dying lightbulb.
Then, her foot crushed the Ancient's head as if squashing an ant on the sidewalk.
With a clear laugh, she tore the Ancient's body in two, completely dismantling it.
Having brought an empty end to the mechanical lifeform that had been overwhelming the White Calamity just moments ago, she spoke.
“I am Black Night.”
Eight spider legs erupted from her back.
Spreading the spider legs like wings, she opened her arms wide and continued.
“Now then, gentlemen. I have good news and bad news. The good news is, as a bit of fan service, I'll be handling things alone today. The bad news... is that you bugs are all dead anyway.”
As she was speaking, thoroughly enjoying herself, a spear like an iron pillar flew toward her.
The Spider Matriarch scoffed lightly and punched the spear.
Crack.
Bent like an old metal chopstick, the spear fell limply to the ground.
Her black mask rattled and shook, and a laugh that seemed to say 'how pathetic' escaped.
“Excellent. I always welcome a good struggle. A bug that doesn't squirm... isn't worth the effort to stomp on.”
* * *
Inside Barathrum, Agwi spoke from behind the iron bars.
“The current Lord cannot defeat that.”
The young, faceless butler nodded.
“Yes. At this rate, he will die.”
“Killing Stragglers seems to gather human souls. How many have we collected?”
“Over three thousand.”
“The Gigants must have held a lot of souls. Hmm, what if we used them to open these bars just a little? If I were to step out... a mere spider like that would be a joke.”
“But Barathrum would lose its ability to devour. Agwi, abandon your false hope. You are a material for Barathrum that he has chosen. The only way you can leave this place is if the Lord dies.”
“Then? How does he plan to escape this crisis? Surely you don't think the Lord will listen to the voice in the face of such a monster? Ha, you should wake up. Of course, it's true that your presence has had some positive influence. But... do not forget, Faceless One. His essence is, and always will be, evil.”
“His essence is not for you to discuss. Have you forgotten? It was not I who chose him, but he who chose me. I know. No matter how stained and blackened the canvas may be, as long as it is still a canvas, it cannot have lost all of its original color.”
“Kukuku, you failed god. A fallen idealist, and you still haven't abandoned your ideals? Fine, then. Go ahead and hope. And then despair. Just like you did back then, when you were disappointed by humanity...”
Agwi disappeared into the darkness behind the iron bars.
Left alone, the Butler clenched his fist.
'My Lord. I believe. I believe that my choice was not wrong.'