Chapter 169
Chapter 169
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: Survival Confirmed
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Lee Won-jae and Uncheon-geuk slumped to the ground with their battered bodies.
Their conditions were far from normal.
Uncheon-geuk not only had one arm mangled but also sported numerous visible wounds. There were so many broken bones it was hard to even count them.
Lee Won-jae was in a similar state.
A fractured rib must have pierced an organ, as his breathing was labored. If the fight had continued like this, he probably would have been the first to drop.
"That thing's a monster."
That was Lee Won-jae's impression after clashing with Hwang Gyu-seong.
"Honestly, I didn't expect it to be this strong."
"If we hadn't been found out, the guild leadership might have changed hands today."
Ptooey.
Uncheon-geuk spat out the blood pooled in his mouth and glanced at his arm.
"It'll take months to heal."
"You sure we don't need to keep chasing?"
"In this state?"
It was a question that left no room for argument. In their current condition, pursuing further would be pointless.
"Let's leave the rest to the Alliance Leader. Our job ends here."
This is more than enough, Uncheon-geuk muttered afterward.
But unlike Uncheon-geuk, who acted like it was all over, Lee Won-jae still felt uneasy.
"What if Hwang Gyu-seong gets away?"
"No way. His condition's way worse than ours."
"You mean the poison?"
"Plus, he's taken plenty of wounds."
It was true. From the fight so far, Hwang Gyu-seong had accumulated quite a few minor injuries.
None were fatal, but as the saying goes, steady drips wear away stone—those small cuts would eventually add up.
Above all, the Hydra's poison was a deadly toxin that had even felled Lee Soo-hyuk.
"There's one thing that's bothering me, though..."
"Bothering you?"
"Rumor has it there might be more than just Hwang Gyu-seong still alive."
Lee Won-jae shook his head at Shinryeon-seong's intelligence network.
This info must have leaked during Kim Il-su's recruitment of Jin Do-hwa and Uncheon-geuk.
"Still playing the probing game, I see."
"Was it obvious?"
"No point pretending when you weren't even hiding it."
Hwang Gyu-seong wasn't the end. The legend of Blue Eyes lingered.
Unless they rooted them all out, incidents like this could happen again anytime.
However.
Contrary to their worries, that wouldn't happen today.
"No need to worry about that."
"You have something to rely on?"
"Blue Eyes is probably seeing mirages by now."
Learning this, Lee Won-jae vowed never to betray Kim Il-su for the rest of his life.
A black-haired man with dark skin reflected in Si-woo's eyes.
A nude male who wore his wings like a cloak.
If colors defined him, he was a handsome man of pure, deep black.
In the center of the crumbling castle stood a gray jade throne. He lounged there alone, chin propped lazily, facing Si-woo and Ye-ryeong.
"So..."
After listening to the man's story, Si-woo took a moment to sort his thoughts before speaking.
"Hwang Gyu-seong was here?"
"Yeah. Said his name was Hwang Gyu-seong. Needed power for revenge."
The man flashed a seductive smile. At his confirmation, Si-woo and Ye-ryeong's eyes trembled with intense emotion.
"And? What happened here?"
"So I told him. How to wield demonic energy. Go kill some humans, I said."
"Demonic energy?"
"Yeah. Taught him a few things, and he picked it up quick. Haven't seen him since. No idea where he is or what he's doing."
"Any way to find out...?"
"Nope. Yawwwn—."
The man stretched with a long yawn and sprawled on the throne.
"Time to go. I'll let you live like him. Seems you share his goals. Consider yourselves lucky."
He waved them off dismissively.
No more talk—he was done, and they should leave if they wanted to live.
Once he decided to send them away, there was no pressing further. Si-woo, about to probe more on Hwang, glanced at Ye-ryeong beside him.
She was gripping his arm, thinking the same. Time to retreat.
In the end, the two escaped the ruined castle.
Their hands were slick with sweat, as if they'd just faced a deadly dungeon boss.
Ye-ryeong glanced back at the receding castle.
"Is that guy really the Demon King?"
"We went through hell to find him, and now you're doubting?"
"Seeing one of the Three Ma in person is just... surreal."
The demon race had three kings, each ruling different domains—symbols to demons, towering challenges for players.
But few had seen them up close.
Officially, only two had met a Demon King and lived: Lee Soo-hyuk and the Heavenly Demon.
"Sticking around longer would've been risky, huh?"
Alone, maybe, but together? Dragging each other into danger for Hwang wasn't smart.
Si-woo nodded.
"Anyway, he's alive. That's what matters."
"Does Kim Il-su know?"
"He does. That's why he got to him first."
Learning Hwang Gyu-seong lived felt different from their initial hopes.
Si-woo paused, looking back at the Demon King's castle.
"That bastard... went that far."
Hwang had sought the Demon King himself.
The timing? Right after fleeing Blue Zone.
The reason was obvious.
"Revenge."
Revenge.
It consumed him after losing comrades in a day.
"Fits his personality."
"Explains why he didn't come to us."
"Players wielding demonic energy get branded outcasts."
Demonic energy users were unforgivable.
Knowing that, Hwang avoided it despite his aptitude—for his comrades' sake.
Choices: Stay with survivors or go solo for revenge.
He chose the latter.
"That crazy son of a bitch..."
Smiles crept across their faces.
The situation was messy, but the conclusion was clear.
Hwang Gyu-seong was alive.
The news of their possibly dead friend living hit hard—they were truly glad, belatedly.
"Gotta find him and freeze his ass."
"I'll stab his butt."
Demon King pact, demonic energy, demonkin—whatever.
As long as he lived, they could meet.
He wasn't dead like Lee Soo-hyuk.
Shwaaa—
In the city where rain poured heavier.
Hee-young slipped into a tall building.
She muffled her footsteps and presence to avoid other players.
Dodging eyes had left her breathing ragged.
She was still shocked by the message from minutes ago.
Cha Min-woo got knocked out cold.
It rang for all participants.
Even now, elimination notices kept updating.
But none surprised her like Cha Min-woo's.
Having seen him up close, she knew how brilliantly talented he was.
"...Because of Lee Soo-hyuk?"
Since deciding on prelims, Cha Min-woo had anticipated facing Lee Soo-hyuk.
He'd approached him before the match—maybe they'd even pre-arranged a fight spot.
"So foolish."
Not entirely unexpected.
Lee Soo-hyuk's broadcast prowess matched his insane talent and ranker-surpassing skill.
Thinking this was his only shot made sense.
But challenging him wasn't smart.
Safely advancing would've boosted his value, doubled his guild salary.
"Over there—!"
A shout from a nearby building.
"Tch."
Hee-young nocked an arrow and dove out the window.
Twang—
Whoooosh—
The arrow split into dozens, hundreds.
Pierce pierce pierce—sharp arrows effortlessly punched through the building wall, blanketing the source.
Hee-young dashed to the highest spot possible.
'Gotta claim position.'
This place was enemy territory.
Without early allies, she had to solo the prelims.
For an archer, against multiples: seize high ground.
Luckily, her spot was decent.
Jump to the opposite building, up the stairs to the roof. Spot enemies first—victory chance.
Thud thud thud—
Light body, fast feet. She reached the roof door.
Creeeak—
'Made it...'
"Huh? Another one."
"See? Told you camping here's gold—they keep coming."
Her heart sank.
The supposedly empty roof held five participants waiting.
Not her pursuers.
They'd ambushed here for high-ground hunters like her.
"This prelim's a bust, for real..."
With Cha Min-woo, maybe—but five alone? Impossible.
She specialized as support archer.
Wanted main tournament, but no dice. That was for ultra-talents like him.
Of course.
These five probably weren't making it either.
Creak—
Hee-young drew her bow.
Fall when she fell, but leave a flashy screen moment.
That'd build her value.
Just as she aimed at the five...
Shwaaaa—
Rumbbble—
Thunder roared from the sky.
Flash—!
Dazzling light struck the rooftop.
BOOM—!
"Gaaahhh—!"
"...!!!"
Screams drowned in thunder. Elimination messages followed for all five.
A bit closer and she'd have been caught—Hee-young patted her chest.
"Lucky..."
She tilted her head.
Something off. Lightning targeting players from the sky?
Too extreme for map gimmick.
And right then—
Flash—!
Several flashes from the sky.
Rumbbble—!
Elimination notices flooded in at blinding speed.