Chapter 168: The Three Despairs (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 168: The Three Despairs (2)
Through 'Gluttony's Eye', Teresa's information was revealed without filter.
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Name: Teresa de Lorencia
Gender: Female
Age: 22
Level: 37
Strength: 50 | Agility: 45 | Stamina: 30 | Mana: 40 | Divine Power: 55
Stat Points Available: 0
Coins Held: 165,850
Class: Holy Knight
Unique Ability: Blessing of the Stars
Skills: Lv8 'Divine Strengthening', Lv8 'Song of Battle', Lv7 'Blessed Touch', Lv5 'Holy Sign', Lv5 'Illusionary Barrier', 'Corruption'
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A passive-type skill added to her existing status window.
'Corruption'
When holy knights with high Divine Power like Teresa fought against powerful calamities, their alignment was often heavily affected. It seemed the skill had newly blossomed due to her battle with one of the Three Despairs.
Wow. Even so, this is incredibly rare to see...
Jinhyuk swallowed hard.
Even though he had met countless holy knights and priests in the past, there had been only a single resident who possessed that skill. An altruistic personality, and despair-class monsters that were hard to come by even in the Tower—satisfying both of these conditions simultaneously was incredibly difficult.
I really have an incredible eye for people.
With this, another useful card had been added to his hand.
"Teresa."
"Yes?"
"Congratulations."
"Wh-what am I being congratulated for?"
Teresa's eyes widened like a startled rabbit's. She had realized that, in most cases, Jinhyuk only offered congratulations when something beneficial happened to him, not the other person.
Tsk. This is why I hate quick-witted kids.
Having spent quite some time together, had she instinctively learned to read his patterns? But what could she do about it? Just because she noticed didn't mean the outcome would change.
Jinhyuk smiled brightly and spread his arms wide.
"You have been specially selected for a one-day, zero-night overseas trip as my companion!"
"...Is there no way to decline?"
"I've already booked the plane tickets. The cancellation fee is, whew, I don't think you'd be able to afford it."
"..."
Teresa hung her head with a sorrowful expression.
On the other hand...
"Hey! What about me? I'm stronger, so why aren't you taking me?"
Alice raised her voice, her eyes glaring. Just a moment ago, she had been feigning indifference to avoid being chosen, but now that someone else was picked, she was completely sulking.
What a twisted personality.
"A noble personage such as yourself shouldn't go to such a shabby place. I intended to handle it on my own. That was my thought process."
"Hmm. That is true, but... I find it hard to believe you'd have such a thoughtful idea."
"Well, people with nasty tempers tend to be suspicious of—"
"What?"
Instantly, a chilling aura surged. It was a sharply honed bloodlust.
Jinhyuk hurriedly waved his hands.
"Ah, no, I just wanted to go with Teresa this time. It's easier to deal with those guys if we have someone with holy abilities."
"If that's the reason... I suppose it can't be helped."
Alice muttered with a still-disgruntled face, but she didn't push any further.
"You and Cheon Yu-seong wait here for a bit. The Administrators will soon realize the Murim faction interfered with the system, so they'll open the path to the ballroom shortly."
"Understood. I'll wait quietly."
Alice gave a small nod.
Good. Now that things were sorted out, it was time to head out.
Just as Jinhyuk was about to head toward the gate with Teresa...
"Kang Jinhyuk."
Cheon Yu-seong spoke. His next words were quite unexpected.
"Come back safely."
"Wow. I guess living this long was worth it after all? To think the great Sword Saint himself is worrying about me."
"I mean don't go dying to anyone other than me."
Damn it. I almost felt touched for a second. I take it back. I shouldn't have expected anything else from a battle maniac who only knows how to fight to his very bones.
Still...
It's not a bad feeling.
Unlike his past life of wandering the Tower in solitude, this time he had people waiting for him and worrying about him.
And by that, I mean companions who can serve as targets for my copying skill and be used usefully depending on the situation.
He hoped they would continue to stay together. Until the day Veteran Corporation surpassed the KOSPI and was listed on the Dow Jones.
He's definitely thinking of something wicked again. Maybe eliminating him right now is the best path for humanity.
His expression is so dirty, he really is perfect to be a vampire. I should just turn him when he's asleep one of these days.
To think I'm going alone with Jinhyuk...
With everyone harboring their own thoughts, a brilliant light burst from the gate.
* * *
The headquarters of the Zhonghua Guild, located in Beijing, China.
It was currently half-destroyed due to an approaching storm of immense magical power.
"Th-this is impossible..."
"My goodness."
Everyone stared blankly at the approaching dark clouds. Even though it was still far away... the pressure weighing down on their bodies felt like facing a massive mountain.
...It was the end.
No matter where they fled now. Even if the remaining survivors banded together to launch a counterattack, the outcome would not change.
"Phew..."
A woman in a black suit with her straight hair tied in a ponytail, Xiaoting, the head of security at the headquarters, calmed her trembling breath. She was practically the only ranker-class player present.
"I know the situation is at its worst, but I believe everyone knows what will happen if we leave this Outbreak unchecked."
The major Outbreaks that had occurred in Amsterdam, New York, and Rio, Brazil—the consequences of those events were vividly engraved in everyone's minds.
Hell.
Yes. Those places had been living hells, void of any hope.
"B-but are you saying we have to defend this place on our own, without any other rankers?"
"Exactly. We need to contact them and ask for help right now."
"It's impossible for us. At the very least, Lord Namgung Cheon needs to be here..."
The pale-faced players took steps backward. Even if the most elite rankers gathered, they would still have to think twice. To fight with only this roster? How was this any different from being used as meat shields to die while the general public escaped?
Since most of them had joined the guild for money and fame rather than a sense of duty, they didn't have a shred of desire to throw away their lives for others.
But right then...
Rumble, rumble!
[One of the 'Three Despairs' is manifesting!]
Lightning began to strike beyond the thick dark clouds. A moment later, emerging alongside the thunderstorm was...
Despair itself.
"Kieeeeee!"
The Black Scorpion roared savagely. It had merely let out a cry, yet every single window in the building shattered into pieces. The sheer wave of its magical power had exerted physical force.
Tremble, tremble!
The Zhonghua Guild players who were trying to flee froze in their tracks. Xiaoting's entire body stiffened as well.
To think... it would be this powerful.
The magical power she had felt initially was just a fraction. Now that the monster had fully revealed itself, she couldn't even begin to fathom the depths of its strength.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The Black Scorpion moved, tracking the marks engraved on the Zhonghua Guild players. The distance closed rapidly.
1 km, 700 m... 300 m! Now, even the building right in front of them was demolished.
Crash!
"Aaaack!"
"Save me!"
"Please, anyone...!"
Civilians began to flee, screaming frantically. However, escaping through the congested city center was no easy task. Roads cracked open, and utility poles snapped like toothpicks. Casualties also began to mount uncontrollably.
"We have to fight!"
Xiaoting suppressed her fear and volunteered to take the lead.
"Damn it!"
"Shit! Attack all at once!"
The Zhonghua Guild players reflexively threw themselves forward. They knew better than anyone that they couldn't outrun that speed anyway.
Clang, clang!
Clang!
Various weapons struck the Black Scorpion's carapace. Having undergone rigorous training, their timing in leaping from the buildings and striking the Black Scorpion's blind spots was flawless.
Of course... coating their weapons with sword qi did not inflict a fatal wound; instead, it only served to thoroughly anger the Black Scorpion.
"Kieeeeee!"
A dark red tail pierced through a man's torso.
[The Black Scorpion uses its unique ability, 'Neurotoxin'!]
Gurgle!
"Keuh... argh?"
As the venom was injected, thick streams of blood gushed from the man's eyes and nose. It was an attack that easily bypassed armor and defensive skills.
With every single strike, a player lost their life as the tail moved.
"Ugh!"
Xiaoting quickly threw herself forward. Driven by the thought that she had to do something, her movements became even swifter. A brilliant light shimmered on the pair of daggers held in her hands. It was a level of sword qi at least two stages higher than what the previous players had manifested.
I have to aim for a spot where the carapace is relatively soft.
[Xiaoting activates Lv8 'Agility Step'!]
Xiaoting darted around the front, back, left, and right of the Black Scorpion.
Tap! Tap!
She was fast. Her movements, leaving afterimages as if she were flickering, would force an exclamation of admiration from anyone.
"Kieeeeee!"
Due to her incredible speed, the Black Scorpion's pincers repeatedly sliced through empty air. Did it find it annoying that a mere gnat was buzzing around right in front of its eyes?
The Black Scorpion suddenly stomped its foot heavily.
Thud!
A thick cloud of dust billowed along the ground. Her vision was obscured. At the same time, the pincers and the venomous stinger on its tail targeted Xiaoting from three directions.
Of course, even that movement fell within Xiaoting's calculations.
Now!
Xiaoting twisted her body in midair with all her might. At the same time, she aimed her daggers at its exposed underbelly, confident that her sword qi would surely pierce through this spot.
However...
"There's... no weak point?"
Xiaoting's eyes shook with shock.
Clang!
It didn't pierce. No, it didn't even leave a scratch, as if any and all attacks were completely useless.
While Xiaoting was despairing at this reality, the Black Scorpion's pincer instantly snatched her torso.
"Aaack!"
As the pincer squeezed, Xiaoting screamed at the top of her lungs. She struggled desperately to break free, but it was futile. If any more force was applied, her body being snapped in two was a foregone conclusion.
"Stop it!"
"Damn it!"
Her companions tried to save Xiaoting, but the moment they entered the Black Scorpion's range, a thick spray of blood erupted. Over ten players were swept away in a single strike.
Now, there were no companions left by her side. The players praised as the best in China were nothing more than mere insects before that monster.
Amidst her fading consciousness, Xiaoting had one final thought.
It's all over...
Namgung Cheon and the rankers had abandoned the Zhonghua Guild. The remaining players of the guild would be brutally torn apart, and the corpses of countless people would pile up into mountains.
She saw a crying young child, and parents who had collapsed while hugging their children. But there was no way to save them. Standing before a natural disaster with mere human strength was impossible.
'...'
Xiaoting closed her eyes, resigning herself to everything.
But at that exact moment...
[Glacial Shaping: Sword of the Sky is activated!]
A column of ice descending from the sky, and...
[Glacial Shaping: Sword of the Earth is activated!]
A column of ice surging from the ground met as one.
The air... changed.
A cold wind gently brushed past Xiaoting's hair.
What on earth was this feeling...?
Her consciousness wavered on the brink of fading, but...
Thump! Thump! Thump!
For some reason, her heart was beating faster than ever before.