Chapter 185: The Hidden Weapon in the Shadow, Wolyeong (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 185: The Hidden Weapon in the Shadow, Wolyeong (1)
[Loyalty increases by +20.]
[The resident of Murim, 'Wolyeong', shows a faint trust in you.]
As expected.
The deeper a person's past wounds, the simpler the method to heal their pain must be.
'The most important thing is to give them the certainty that I will never use them and throw them away.'
Although what I just said only chipped away a part of that solid wall, if I continue to show him trust, he will eventually open his tightly closed heart.
'Once that happens, I can use him not as a tool for the Black Wind Society, but as a hidden weapon solely for myself.'
Furthermore, the benefit of showing this side of myself wasn't limited to just that.
Melena and the spirit beasts seemed touched by this unexpected side of me, wearing quite amusing expressions.
"Is Master actually nice?"
"Maybe he's warm-hearted deep down...?"
"I heard the term 'Cold City Guy' is trendy among humans lately. This must be it."
"What does that mean?"
"It's short for 'Cold Butcher'—a ranker who is ruthless to others but treats his own people well."
The spirit beasts chattered.
"Wow. You actually know how to say nice things," Melena murmured in slight admiration.
Seeing this, it was clear that every little action and word mattered. Even a terrible reputation could do a complete 180-degree turn in an instant.
But there was no time to bask in the praise.
"You've finally come, you wretched human."
A low, rumbling voice echoed.
Beyond the wall of surrounding monsters, a throne made of human bones came into view. Wearing a sinister smile was none other than the thunderbird, Atasha.
The half-human, half-bird creature, possessing a woman's upper body and a bird's lower body, spread her snow-white wings.
Rumble!
The mana carried by the howling gale was extraordinary.
As expected of a boss.
Though she wasn't on the level of the 10th floor's Stone Giant with its 'Invincible' skill, she still possessed the dignity of a boss monster.
'I don't see the other two.'
Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed.
He was scanning every nook and cranny with his mana, but he couldn't sense the presence of the other bosses.
Were they elsewhere?
Or...
'...Is it a trap?'
The latter was highly likely. Luring him all the way to their home turf meant they had a card up their sleeve.
But they weren't the only ones with a trick prepared.
When he had purchased materials from the Coin Exchange earlier to dismantle the crests, he had also prepared a hidden card specifically for this moment.
The corners of Jinhyuk's mouth curled upward.
Seeing this, Atasha frowned.
"What is there to smirk about when you've walked straight into the jaws of death? Has fear driven you mad?"
She had already seen enough of Jinhyuk's strength during his battle with the ogres. But that strength only mattered when he was facing a mere handful of ogres.
The countless monsters lined up here were on a completely different scale. Every single one of them was an elite of the 9th floor, capable of taking on a hundred foes alone.
"Sorry, I know it's polite to look serious, but it's not that easy. I guess I'm just not feeling very tense."
"Urgh! Is there no one among our kin who will bring me that arrogant human's head?!"
At Atasha's cry, a roar erupted from the midst of the monster horde.
"I, Kangora of the Black Rock Tribe, shall go!"
An Orc draped in wild beast pelts pushed his way through the monsters and stepped forward. Holding a finely sharpened glaive, the Orc looked easily twice the size of an ordinary Orc.
"Why don't you come down yourself instead of sending your lackeys?"
"There is no need for me to step forward against a mere insect like you. Besides, do not underestimate Kangora. The Black Rock Tribe is renowned as the strongest among all Orcs on the 9th floor."
The strongest among Orcs, huh...
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Clouds of dust kicked up from the ground.
Charging furiously, the Orc warrior closed the distance in an instant. His glaive flew straight toward Jinhyuk's neck.
It was fast and precise.
On top of that, he even executed a feint, shifting the weapon's trajectory twice mid-swing. It was an incredibly sophisticated swordsmanship, unimaginable for an Orc.
However...
Crunch!
The glaive, which seemed unstoppable, froze dead in midair. Black claws began to dig into and corrode the surface of the glaive.
"Like I said."
I told you.
"It doesn't matter how many of your lackeys you send. Come down here yourself."
Crunch!
The glaive crumpled, completely crushing the Orc's hand along with it.
"Aaargh!"
The Orc howled in agony.
In the very next instant, almost simultaneously—Jinhyuk's other hand cleanly blew the Orc's head off.
Spurt! Splat!
A spray of blood drenched the ground first. Then, the headless body of the Orc lost its balance and collapsed.
"K-Kangora was defeated in a single blow...?"
"The greatest warrior of the Black Rock Tribe died without even exchanging a proper blow."
"A mere human did that..."
A massive wave of unease rippled through the relatively intelligent monsters. The less intelligent ones bared their fangs, instinctively sensing the threat.
Grit!
Atasha ground her teeth as well. Her trembling white wings were proof of her mounting rage.
"Is there no one else?!"
Refusing to accept this, she demanded another challenger.
This time, not one, but five monsters stepped forward. They were Lizardmen, armed with spears and shields.
Flinching, the members of the Black Wind Society reached for their swords. Since the enemy was deploying numbers, there was no reason for them to insist on one-on-one duels.
"Dirty bastards...!"
"They're trying to overwhelm us with numbers."
"Draw your swords, everyone!"
However...
Wolyeong blocked the Black Wind Society members who were about to step forward.
"Why are you stopping us?"
"Did our Lord not tell us?"
To trust and follow him.
"He has not ordered us to step in yet."
It meant he was more than enough on his own.
In that case, they only needed to wait. Until the order was given.
* * *
The five Lizardmen formed a perimeter around Jinhyuk.
'This will be endless if I keep going like this.'
If he dealt with them one by one, even a whole day wouldn't be enough. As expected, the only way was to make them realize firsthand that half-hearted resistance was futile.
Jinhyuk slowly channeled his mana.
As the 'Black Heaven Demonic Emperor Art' bloomed, a black mist began to boil around his entire body.
Those belonging to the Heavenly Demon Cult might be many things, but one thing about them was absolute.
Overwhelming might.
The belief that power, which crushes everything in its path, is the only rule that exists in this world.
Crackle!
Tangible energy completely enveloped his hands and feet.
Normally, using such a powerful demonic art could corrupt one's mind. However, thanks to the 'True Grand Purity Hwarang Heart Method' copied from Yu Cheon-yeong and the 'Blessing of the Stars' copied from Teresa, he was able to avoid falling prey to heart demons.
Right then, the Lizardmen, having fully established their encirclement, launched their attack.
"Human. Kill!"
"I'll turn you into a skewer!"
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from the tips of their spears. It was an ability fitting for the 'Long Tail' tribe, who were adept in sorcery.
As they blocked the front with shields inscribed with runes, a combined attack formation was completed, leaving not a single opening.
However...
Even within that perilous encirclement, Jinhyuk showed no reaction. He didn't try to run, nor did he look for a weak point. Instead, he leisurely waited for his opponents to finish preparing.
'If I crush them half-heartedly, they'll make excuses, thinking they only lost because they let their guard down or didn't give it their all.'
Therefore...
He had to shatter them when they were at their absolute best, when they felt all conditions were perfect.
Jinhyuk lowered his center of gravity.
'This is the perfect opportunity to try that out.'
When he fought the Dark Emperor in the past... there was one martial art that he had quite liked. It was a fist technique known as the Three-Step Divine Fist.
With the first step, the earth shatters.
With the second step, the heavens fall silent.
With the third step, no one remains standing before it.
This was the secret technique of the Dark Emperor, created with that very purpose. And indeed, the Three-Step Divine Fist possessed power beyond imagination, living up to its name.
Rumble!
The tangible energy finally ceased its wild surging.
At the same time...
Thud!
The First Step.
Jinhyuk took a single step forward. He had only taken one step.
Yet...
Boom!
A massive storm of mana swept over the Lizardmen. The sudden, scorching gale was not something any living creature could hope to endure.
"Screeech!"
"Gaaah!"
Enveloped in black flames, the Lizardmen's bodies burned alive. Neither the Crest of the Red Oath that strengthened their bodies, nor the shields they trusted blindly to protect them were of any use.
Watching this, Wolyeong's face was painted with an indescribable emotion.
'As expected, my Lord's strength is the real deal.'
Just witnessing the Dark Emperor's martial arts was enough to overwhelm him with emotion, but the fact that the person recreating that legend was the Lord he would serve made it even harder to believe.
It was then.
Thud!
Along with the sound of the ground deeply gouging, the Second Step was unleashed.
The scorching gale transformed into a gentle breeze.
Whoosh...
A soft wind brushed past them.
"W-what is this?"
Atasha, who had expected something even grander, tilted her head in confusion. She looked ridiculous, having wrapped her wings tightly around herself in anticipation of a massive impact.
The monsters raising their shields in the distance also relaxed, seeing such a pathetic attack.
However... even if no one else did, Wolyeong knew. He knew that the calm before the storm was the most terrifying thing of all.
The wind, condensed to its absolute limit, gathered in a single point.
...It was starting now. The final step that would bring this martial art to its conclusion.
Thud!
The Third Step: 'Demise'.
The moment he took his third step, Jinhyuk's fist vanished like lightning. The wind stopped, and even its sound vanished.
Sensing that something was terribly wrong, Atasha tried to open her mouth. She wanted to scream at them to run, to flee from this place.
But it was too late. Like Moses parting the Red Sea, the entire ground began to shatter.
Rumble!
The gentle breeze became a violent gale, tearing straight through the center of the monster horde. Before the whirlwind that shredded everything in its path, numbers meant absolutely nothing.
* * *
"I-Is this... real?"
The captured Friedman's voice trembled faintly.
Just moments ago, he had completely given up on life. The comrade right next to him had been killed as a plaything for the monsters, and another had died while begging for his life.
They died, and died, and died again. Dozens had lost their lives until the scent of blood became sickeningly familiar.
Because of that, he hadn't harbored even a shred of hope that he would make it out alive. If he had any wish, it was simply... to die with as little pain as possible.
But at the very moment he had abandoned all hope, an anomaly occurred.
The group of people appearing beyond the gate looked incredibly familiar. How could he possibly fail to recognize them?
The men in black who had already saved their lives once... and the top ranker leading them, 'Unknown'.
"W-we're saved..."
"We're going to live!"
Gasps of relief echoed from all around. Some even burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
A single ray of light in the midst of despair. That hope—no one wanted to let it go.
'I have to let them know.'
Friedman barely managed to activate a skill.
Because of the red barrier, he couldn't activate his personal broadcast, leaving him completely cut off from the outside world. However, there was still one path left.
An ability that allowed him to transmit whatever was in his field of vision to the outside. The very ability he had used to request backup from his comrades outside, only to be flatly ignored.
It manifested once more.
[Caster: Friedman]
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This time... praying that things would be different.