Chapter 338: Liberation (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 338: Liberation (3)
The Korean Awakened Association.
The association was currently in a state of utter panic due to an entirely unexpected variable.
It was only natural.
All their efforts to stop the Gate before it was liberated had gone up in smoke.
Buzz, buzz!
The interior had turned into complete chaos.
Sorting through the frantic stream of incoming reports and chaotic updates was practically impossible.
"All safety measures have been breached! The G-Gate... is being liberated!"
At someone's shout, everyone's eyes turned to the giant screen in the center.
"How can this be..."
Han Sang-jin, the president of the association, also stared blankly at the opening Gate.
Simultaneous outbreaks across the globe were already spiraling out of control.
"Kieeeeee!"
As the branches, covered in countless mouths, fully emerged from the Gate...
...a hellish cataclysm began.
"Aaargh!"
"Aaaack!"
"My eyes! My... my eyes!"
"Gwaaaah!"
The players stationed outside the Gate in preparation for any emergency shrieked in agony.
They collapsed, vomiting blood from their eyes and mouths.
Dozen of mental defense spells and top-tier defensive gear proved utterly useless.
A few rankers barely managed to survive, but that was all.
Rumble!
As the branches swept through the area, a red mist of blood erupted.
A single, casual movement.
With just that, battle-hardened rankers who had survived countless trials were instantly wiped out.
The military forces tightly surrounding the Gate area were also reduced to ash and scattered, unable to put up even a shred of resistance.
At this horrific outcome, the control rooms of the Awakened Associations in each country grew even more frantic.
"We've lost the vital signs of Olympus Guild's Raid Team 3, who went to Paris Gate C-15."
"A one-kilometer radius around Gate A-01 in Washington, D.C., has been completely obliterated. There are no survivors."
"An emergency SOS signal has also been detected from the Gandhara Guild, who went to support China!"
Reports erupted from all directions.
However.
The biggest problem hadn't even begun yet.
Everything that had crossed over so far was merely the branches.
It was still unknown which Gate the main body would emerge from.
Right then.
"A-A new mana reaction was just detected."
Another report came in.
Not from the branches, but the location where the most powerful mana was surging.
"B-00. It's the Gapcheon Gate..."
The worst-case scenario had occurred.
The main body was manifesting in South Korea.
"……."
Han Sang-jin bit his lip hard.
There were barely ten minutes left.
A silence as heavy as the deep sea hung over the room.
"Use teleportation magic... to evacuate everyone. Withdraw the military forces as well."
"Excuse me? B-But..."
"It doesn't matter how many of us there are. It will only increase the body count."
At first, he had thought they didn't know.
That perhaps humanity could fight and survive.
That if this many rankers and players prepared thoroughly, it might be possible.
But once he tasted even a fraction of the mana emanating from Shub-Niggurath's body...
...he realized all those hopes were completely in vain.
This was not a level where fighting could make a difference.
No matter how great a large guild's raid team was, or how famous the rankers were...
...they could not turn this situation around.
Even so.
If there was only one, single...
...sliver of hope left...
'Player Kang Jinhyuk.'
It probably rested in the hands of just one man.
Han Sang-jin's gaze turned to the screen once more.
Surely, all players were currently on the island that had appeared in the East Sea.
There shouldn't be enough time for them to return in such a short window.
Yet, why?
Han Sang-jin still couldn't tear his eyes away from the screen.
As if he believed someone would appear on that very screen.
* * *
[The Gate has been opened!]
The chains wrapping around the Gate shattered completely.
Beyond the fully opened space.
"……."
Shub-Niggurath looked out at the world.
The blue sky and the river.
The endlessly sprawling cityscape.
This was the world of humans outside the Tower.
And the reason for coming here...
Boredom.
Yes. If one had to put it into words, that would be the reason.
Because this was the very place where insignificant insects had defeated the Black Goat.
Ruuuumble!
Terrifying mana poured out of the Gate.
Just touching it caused grass to char black and river water to dry up.
An unimaginable abyss.
If there was an end to curses, this would surely be it.
But then.
"……?"
Something caught Shub-Niggurath's eye.
In the middle of the deserted city, from which everyone had already fled, a few individuals stood waiting for her, weapons drawn.
Of course, it was laughable.
No matter how much she was restricted by the System, they were mere insects she could blow to pieces with a single, light breath.
However, out of trivial curiosity, she granted a brief reprieve before killing them.
"Humans. Are you... not afraid... of me?"
Screeech!
Just by opening her mouth, the steel rebars of the buildings bent like taffy.
Red smoke billowed from the shattered windows.
"She's certainly... incredible. Calling her an anomaly wasn't an exaggeration."
"To maintain... your sanity... even after hearing my voice. Impressive."
Normally, just facing her would drive one mad or cause them to faint.
In severe cases, death was common.
Enduring it meant they were exceptionally outstanding players.
Furthermore.
The ones beside him were also maintaining their sanity.
Her interest grew a bit more.
They might be worth using to alleviate the boredom she had felt for eons.
"I shall ask... for your... names."
Shub-Niggurath's gaze swept over each of them.
"Kang Jinhyuk."
"Cheon Yu-seong."
"I'm Teresa."
"The sword that serves my lord. I am Wolyeong."
"I am Andrea."
"I am the proud head of the Ataraxia family and of pure bloodline... Alice von— Mmph, mmph!"
"I am the Dark Emperor, the Right Guardian of the Heavenly Demon Cult."
Standing before Shub-Niggurath, each of them spoke in turn.
Total of seven.
Though few in number, every single one of them was a powerhouse of the highest caliber.
At least, by human standards.
"Amusing. For a brief... amusement... this won't be bad."
Kikikiki!
Kieeeeee!
Countless branches burst into manic laughter.
[Shub-Niggurath uses 'Primordial Language'!]
Along with the status window dyed in crimson, a sudden blank occurred in his memory.
Though it lasted for barely 0.1 seconds, he was left completely defenseless.
To think this would happen even after using 'Mental Barrier', 'Mandala', and a 7-star barrier.
"I guess the final boss is the final boss for a reason..."
Jinhyuk barely managed to steady his trembling arms.
Honestly, he felt like throwing up.
But...
He couldn't falter here.
Because from this moment on, a battle that defied all common sense would begin.
"Please focus on drawing her attention as much as possible. Teresa, Master, your roles are especially crucial here."
"Leave it to me, Jinhyuk."
"To think of fighting such a monster. Indeed, you are worthy of being my disciple. Well, what's the worst that could happen? At worst, we'll just end up in Bukmang Mountain. I'll run wild to my heart's content this time."
Teresa and the Dark Emperor stepped forward.
Hummmm!
'Blessing of the Stars' and...
Crackle!
...'Black Heaven Demonic Emperor Art' manifested.
Simultaneously.
Boom!
Crash!
Teresa and the Dark Emperor moved in different directions.
Left and right.
Massive mana exploded from both flanks.
Teresa's sword, infused with divine power, slashed horizontally, while the Dark Emperor's fist, condensing terrifying fighting spirit, lunged forward.
However.
Kabaam!
Even attacks capable of killing giant species in a single blow did not work on Shub-Niggurath.
As if blocked by an invisible wall.
The sword and fist ground to a halt in midair.
"Is this... all?"
Shub-Niggurath muttered, sounding bored.
From expectation to disappointment.
Her emotions shifted.
It was then that the surrounding air changed.
"It's coming!"
The Dark Emperor shouted urgently.
And with that warning as the end...
Slash! Slash! Slash!
A sharp wind sliced through space.
Sizzle!
Red steam rose from the severed air.
It was a close call.
Had their reactions been even a fraction of a second slower, they would have been sliced in half along with the dimension.
"Just by looking... no, just by thinking, she unleashed an attack of that caliber?"
Alice added, looking appalled.
Materialization of thoughts.
Fitting for a supreme absolute being, Shub-Niggurath possessed the ability to turn imagination into reality.
While everyone else saw only despair, Jinhyuk actually caught a glimpse of hope in this situation.
They had dodged the trickiest and sharpest opening strike.
That meant they could sufficiently cope with what was to come.
"Alice."
"Yeah."
"Prepare the strongest attack you can. When I give the signal, aim for that moment."
"...Are you really going to try?"
"Everyone is putting their lives on the line, so we should at least walk this tightrope too. We're going to deliver an unforgettable blow to her face this time."
"...Alright. I'll try."
Alice nodded slightly.
[Unique Sacred Chant 'Revelation of Genesis' is activated!]
A crimson ring appeared behind Alice's back.
Hummmm!
All the moisture in the vicinity turned into red droplets of blood.
Soon after, they began to transform into long, thin skewers.
The ultimate strike, infused with all of her mana.
With this...
Jinhyuk drew Kruger and his whip sword.
From now on, it was a race against time.
Whether they could hold out for even a few more seconds would be the key factor determining everyone's survival.
* * *
He had to buy time.
He had to create an opening.
With only that single thought, the Dark Emperor, who had stepped to the very front, fought with his back to the wall.
Boom!
Kaboom!
The 7-star power of the Black Heaven Demonic Emperor Art shook heaven and earth.
But.
"Kieeeeee!"
"Kikikiki!"
There were too many.
No matter how deep his internal energy was, or how dazzling his footwork and movement techniques were...
...everything paled in the face of overwhelming numbers.
"Ugh...!"
His breathing faltered under a heavy impact.
It was dangerous.
Just as that thought crossed his mind.
[Teresa activates the Second Awakening Skill, 'Call of the Stars'!]
A dazzling meteor shower poured down from the sky.
Strikes imbued with the power of the stars rained down upon Shub-Niggurath's body.
Rumble! Crash!
A sight that could only be described as carpet bombardment.
Countless lights converged in one place.
"I'll support you!"
Teresa poured out all her mana while clad in her white armor.
Having long since surpassed her limits, the color had completely drained from her face.
"My thanks."
Catching his breath, the Dark Emperor expressed his gratitude.
And immediately, he lunged toward Shub-Niggurath's main body.
Thud!
One step.
His step, laden with internal energy, rippled through the ground.
Thud!
Two steps.
The distance closed wasn't very large.
Yet, the cracking ground seemed to foretell just how heavy his next step would be.
Thud!
And so followed the third step.
The fighting spirit radiating from the Dark Emperor's body vanished completely.
It wasn't a mistake.
Nor was it the end of his technique.
It was simply that...
...his fighting spirit, compressed to the absolute limit, had fully seeped inward.
Shub-Niggurath's outer skin must have sustained at least some damage from Teresa's meteor shower.
"This is my everything."
The Dark Emperor's fist cut through the air.