Chapter 184: Interfloor Alliance (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 184: Interfloor Alliance (2)
A petite stature of just one meter.
A member of the small-statured race with a fragile-looking body.
It was none other than Kaman, the low-grade administrator he had met at the Masquerade.
Jinhyuk recalled that Kaman had been demoted after getting thrashed by High Manager Hastings for foolishly taking the Chinese side.
To think this guy would show up here.
‘Interesting.’
He could easily guess what was going on.
Since his path to promotion as an administrator was blocked, he probably figured he would team up with the monsters of the 8th and 9th floors to make a quick fortune... or something along those lines.
"Pleasure to meet you, Player Unknown."
Kaman spoke first.
His tone carried no hostility.
‘Well, he did see my unmasked face at the Masquerade.’
If he knew the bare face beneath this mask belonged to that same person, magic would have flown instead of words. But at least for now, he was clueless.
"Do you know me well?"
"Fufu. Of course. How could I not recognize a ranker who stands out so prominently among the players? Naturally, I did my research."
"I'm flattered you say so. So, are you representing the monsters of the 9th floor? To meet with me?"
"Correct. Hmm, how should I put it? You can think of it as me coming to ensure this matter doesn't get too messy, so we can derive the best possible outcome for both of us."
Best outcome, my ass.
His subtle threats hadn't changed a bit since the Masquerade.
But did the bastard know?
Both then and now.
The one who would end up crushed after playing cheap tricks would always be him.
"Enough small talk. Tell me why you're here. If you came as their representative, it means you have a proposal, doesn't it?"
"You don't care for pleasantries, I see. Very well. I have only one proposal. Stop rampaging with that pickaxe and follow me quietly."
"Follow you quietly... That's not a very tempting offer."
"Isn't your goal also to kill the bosses in charge of these floors? They are waiting where I am going. And above all..."
A sinister smile played on Kaman's lips.
At the same time,
"This is not an invitation or a request."
Kaman snapped his fingers.
A massive screen materialized before them.
"Aaaargh!"
"Aaaah!"
"S-Save me!"
"Please help me... Please, anyone!"
A scene of monsters executing humans in various gruesome ways unfolded.
It showed the players who had gone missing after entering the labyrinth, including those from the Friedman and Lockheed Guilds who had tried to escape the maze just moments ago.
A Lizardman swung its sword at a defenseless, naked man.
A goblin amused itself by throwing daggers at a woman tied to a pillar.
In a colosseum-like arena, multiple humans and monsters were released together, with bets being placed on who would survive the longest.
Blood, screams... life and death were tangled together.
Indeed, that place was hell.
"You..."
Jinhyuk's voice sank, ice-cold.
"Fufu. Don't glare at me with such murderous intent. My position isn't so low that a mere human can threaten me."
"How dare you wag your tongue so insolently before my Lord! I will rip that tongue right out of your mouth!"
Wolyeong stepped forward, radiating a terrifying bloodlust.
An insult to Jinhyuk was an insult to the Dark Emperor.
He didn't know Kaman's true identity, but whatever it was, he intended to cut him down in a single stroke.
"Wait."
"B-But, my Lord!"
"I said, wait. Even if you don't step in, I'm going to rip that bastard's tongue out myself."
Jinhyuk took a step forward.
At the ominous energy, incomparable to anything before, Wolyeong flinched and stepped back.
Melena also swallowed hard and backed away.
Though she had known Jinhyuk for quite some time, this was the first time she had ever seen him this enraged.
Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!
The mana prickled against their skin.
Just standing beside him made them feel nauseous from the sheer pressure.
"Hahaha! How terrifying. As expected of the one touted as the most outstanding candidate among humans. Honestly, I'm a little scared."
"Yeah. Keep smirking. Let's see how long you can keep that up."
Crackle...!
As the 'Moon-Shrouding Claw' activated, black claws formed of Aura manifested on Jinhyuk's hands.
"You should think carefully. If you attack me, it will take you much longer to reach that place. Naturally, your chance to save your kind will vanish as well."
At Kaman's words, Jinhyuk's hand paused.
If he didn't comply, it was clear who would lose out.
If he acted on impulse here, he would waste precious time reaching the boss.
Furthermore, if it was revealed that he had abandoned the captives, his reputation would suffer an irreparable blow.
A dilemma.
Nothing was going his way.
Jinhyuk gritted his teeth.
Finally,
"Fine. I'll follow you."
"A wise decision."
Kaman smiled warmly, as if he had expected nothing less.
And at that exact moment,
"...is what you thought I'd say?"
Jinhyuk instantly reached out and grabbed Kaman by the throat.
Crack!
The sound of something breaking echoed from the sheer grip strength.
Kaman instinctively deployed a shield, but it was far from enough.
"K-Kehek! W-What are you..."
"Do you not understand plain words? I believe I told you to shut your mouth."
Whoosh...!
...BOOM!
Jinhyuk lifted Kaman high into the air and slammed him straight into the ground.
The floor shattered in a single blow.
"Aaargh!"
A painful scream erupted from Kaman's mouth.
At the unfamiliar pain—a sensation he had never experienced in his entire life—Kaman screamed at the top of his lungs.
It was only natural.
Who would dare lay a hand on an administrator?
Having surrendered his administrator-exclusive sacred relics due to his suspension was one of the reasons the fight ended so one-sidedly.
The biggest reason, of course, was his complacency born of sheer arrogance.
"To think... you would do this..."
"I've done plenty of things like this and lived just fine. More importantly, you're not in a position to worry about others, are you?"
Jinhyuk relentlessly repeated the action.
Kaman's body seemed to soar into the air before being instantly slammed back into the ground.
BOOM!
Blood sprayed like a fountain from his nose and mouth.
"S-Stop! Stooop!"
BOOM!
"S... cough!ack!"
Bam! Bam! Crash!
"Uuuugh..."
A limp body and trembling arms.
The dignified and relaxed administrator was nowhere to be found.
Only a terrified mouse remained.
But the horror did not end here.
This was merely the beginning.
[Unique Ability 'Blessing of the Stars' has been activated.]
An energy imbued with starlight seeped into Kaman's body.
[The target's wounds begin to heal at a slow pace.]
[Due to a somewhat low understanding of the unique ability, perfect recovery of the wounds is difficult.]
His broken nose snapped back into place.
The blood flowing from various lacerations subsided.
Considering he had been a complete rag doll just moments ago, he was practically fully recovered.
"T-This is..."
Despair crept into Kaman's eyes.
The holy light that would normally heal wounds felt incredibly cursed at this very moment.
"Now, let's start over."
"W-Wait! I'll talk! I'll talk!"
"Not yet. Considering you didn't speak when I gave you the chance, we're going to do at least one more cycle. If you have something to say, say it right after we're done."
Once again, merciless violence ensued.
BOOM!
"Gwaaargh!"
It was a brutal, utterly merciless beating.
Having made a terrible first impression at the Masquerade, and especially killing players for amusement and using that to threaten Jinhyuk, Kaman had played the worst possible hand.
Thud! Thwack!
Only after a hellish minute had passed was Kaman given a second chance.
Now, he didn't even dare to make eye contact.
Jinhyuk whispered into the ear of Kaman, who had completely tucked his tail.
"Open the gate to where they are. Oh, and by the way, you'd better think carefully before you answer. If words like 'I can't' or 'It's impossible' come out of your mouth, they will be your last words."
For the record, this was no joke.
Though it would be a hassle, he had already anticipated a few locations where a large force might gather.
It would just take a bit more time, but he could find them regardless.
"I-If I do that... will you spare... no, will you spare my life?"
"Fortunately, your life isn't my primary concern. So, depending on how you behave, I might let you live."
"I-I'll open... the gate. Right away."
Nodding frantically, Kaman immediately opened the gate.
Hummmmm!
An administrator-exclusive gate appeared with a brilliant flash of light.
A familiar mana could be felt beyond the shimmering surface.
It seemed there were still more living people than dead ones.
'I need to hurry.'
There wasn't much time left.
Tossing Kaman aside, Jinhyuk stepped into the gate.
"Everyone, form up and guard my Lord!"
"Sigh. I feel like things are getting more and more complicated..."
Wolyeong and Melena followed close behind.
Finally,
"L-Let's go."
"Yeah!"
"We have to listen to Master."
The Spirit Trees abandoned the carriage and trotted along.
* * *
When his darkened vision cleared, the surrounding scenery had completely changed.
A massive space, easily large enough to fit ten World Cup stadiums.
The monsters filling the area were so numerous they were impossible to count.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The wild beating of drums pierced their eardrums.
Whoosh.
A thick stench of blood also assaulted their noses.
This was the deepest part of the labyrinth. The place where the alliance of the two floors gathered.
"There are... so damn many of them..."
Melena shuddered, her face pale.
Wolyeong's expression was equally stiff.
"Their numbers are considerable. If we don't secure an escape route first, it might be difficult to break out if we get surrounded."
"Wolyeong."
Jinhyuk spoke quietly.
"Yes, my Lord."
"Who did I say I am?"
"You are the chief disciple of the Dark Emperor, the Heaven-and-Earth Dragon Fist, and the cornerstone for the revival of the Heavenly Demon Cult."
"Then do you really think mere monsters can do anything to me?"
'Mere.'
Even in Murim, the massive power of the 20th floor, who could speak so lightly against such a vast number of mid-sized monsters?
Especially when these bastards were enhanced by red crests and protected by the boss monster?
"Wolyeong."
Jinhyuk spoke again.
"Ye... Yes!"
"I'll say this once, and only once."
He wasn't the type to repeat himself.
"No matter what situation arises, trust me and follow me. Then, everyone will make it out alive."
"By everyone... do you mean us as well?"
"Yes. As long as I stand before you, I won't let anyone die."
Since birth, Wolyeong had walked a path of slaughter.
To be used as a sword and discarded at any moment.
That was the fate of a hidden weapon in Murim.
Naturally, in a crisis like this, being used for their master and dying for their master was part of the duty they had to perform.
And yet...
'What is with this person?'
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Wolyeong's heart began to beat faster.
In a life that had grown cold and mechanically repetitive, a long-forgotten hammer clicked into place for the first time.
"Your answer?"
"...I obey."
All that was left was to follow.