Chapter 369: Gray Forest (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 369: Gray Forest (2)
Normally, casting two spells simultaneously is called Double Casting, and anything beyond that is referred to as Triple, Quadruple, or Pentaple Casting.
Yet, a spell on par with a dragon's Breath.
To unleash it as a Quadruple Cast.
The magic-class players knew exactly how complex that calculation formula was.
Unless dozens of rankers accurately calculated and responded to each different attribute and power, there was absolutely no chance of blocking it.
"Damn it, you're telling me it still hadn't unleashed its full power?"
"How... how the hell are we supposed to block that?"
"Even a graze... and it's over."
The destructive range of the skill was estimated to be over several hundred meters.
With their exhausted bodies, even dodging was out of the question.
However.
"It's alright now."
Leaving everyone's worries behind, Teresa spoke.
A warmth flickered in her green eyes.
Yes.
The dangerous times had all passed.
There was no longer any reason to shiver in fear.
"Teresa... what do you mean...? Ah! L-Look at that person."
Only then did everyone's gaze turn toward Jinhyuk.
Because he moved so quickly and the dark forest obscured their vision, they had been unsure.
But now, they could finally see who it was.
"It's Kang Jinhyuk!"
"It's true! It's Player Kang Jinhyuk of the 8 Great Guilds!"
"That ranker came all the way here?"
There was no mistaking it.
That appearance, that mana.
The strongest ranker everyone knew had appeared before them.
* * *
'Quadruple attribute magic... I guess the master of the forest is still the master after all.'
Jinhyuk let out a quiet exclamation of admiration.
Certainly, there weren't many bosses capable of using that level of ability.
In the middle floors, that is.
'This will make a perfect test subject.'
Jinhyuk infused his sword with mana.
Hummmmm!
A dark red aura flared up, glowing hot.
[Habelian's Soul - Barnard responds to the master's call!]
The color changed.
Due to the blue blade and the dark red energy radiating from it, a subtle purple mist drifted from the entire dagger.
'Time to finally give it a test run.'
As expected, a newly acquired sword was indeed great.
The sensation of it in his hand was on a completely different level compared to the previous Fang.
Tap.
His body, accelerated by the 'Sword Demon Heavenly Spirit Steps', vanished instantly.
The wind sweeping across the ground immediately headed above Crayveratis's head.
From above...
...to below.
Slice!
The sword, falling in a straight line, sliced right through the hard outer shell.
"Keeeeee!"
Body fluids splattered in all directions.
It was a movement that could only be described as flawless.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Wounds multiplied at an ever-increasing speed.
The spurting blood had also visibly increased.
It was then.
Thud! Boom!
Crayveratis drove its legs deep into the ground.
Its body anchored firmly, as if determined to maintain its center of gravity.
At the same time.
An unpredictable tail attack lashed out, its trajectory impossible to read.
It was the very same attack that had shattered Teresa's arm in a single blow just moments ago.
"I will kill you!"
Crash! Crash! Crash!
Countless slash marks gouged into the ground.
One could feel its sheer determination to grind its target to dust.
However.
Jinhyuk dodged every single strike of the tempestuous tail.
It wasn't a matter of seeing and reacting; it was as if he had memorized exactly where every blow would land.
Step... tap! Swish!
The nape, the heart, the temple.
It was a paper-thin margin.
Yet, no matter how much it attacked, the blows seemed on the verge of landing but never did.
"Is... is that really the movement of a human?"
"Even an A-rank assassin-class couldn't react and got taken down... I'm looking right at it, and I still can't believe it."
"I've already lost track of him five times."
"Hahaha. I feel like an absolute fool for celebrating my promotion to ranker."
"If only he had been the raid leader instead of Payden... Our expedition would have definitely succeeded."
Those watching the near-miraculous acrobatics swallowed hard.
"..."
Teresa also watched the movie-like battle scene with her mouth agape.
Finding any pattern in that trajectory seemed nigh impossible.
After all, her own arm had been shattered by the very first strike.
"He really... is someone for whom 'impossible' doesn't exist."
The world Jinhyuk saw and felt was different from that of ordinary players.
He was likely experiencing something only a veteran could, in an entirely different dimension of space and time.
Whoosh!
Finally, the tail's movements slowed down.
Seizing that opening.
Bam!
Jinhyuk instantly slipped inside Crayveratis's outer shell.
His path was the same as Teresa's had been, but his speed was incomparable.
His ability to read trajectories,
and his split-second decision-making,
were on a completely different level.
"Kieee!"
Naturally, Crayveratis was thrown into a panic.
The woman it had fought just moments ago was also a skilled individual whom others followed.
She was a leader-class prey who led a pack.
And yet.
'How can the difference be this vast?'
It felt as if it were facing a massive wall unlike anything it had ever encountered.
If this continued, it would be defeated.
Reaching that conclusion, Crayveratis tilted its maw toward the sky.
[Crayveratis activates the Unique Ability 'Army Ant'!]
Sssssss!
In an instant, a strange-smelling vapor mingled with the green smoke.
This is...?
Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed.
Clearly, that giant's unique ability involved morphological transformation...
"Wow. I thought you were a boss with a ton of pride, but you use your unique ability the moment you're cornered. But wait, didn't you hate using that ability?"
"...You know about my ability?"
Of course I do.
Though it was a slightly different type, I've fought a deity with an ability superior to yours. How could I not know?
Its power, its strengths, and even its weaknesses—I know them all inside out.
"It's an ability that can transform all insects into the same species as you, right?"
Jinhyuk shrugged, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
At that.
Crayveratis's gaze turned incomparably colder than before.
"You are far more dangerous than you look. No one outside of those on this floor should ever know of this ability."
A unique ability known only to the leaders among the factions of the 20th floor.
To think a strange human it had never seen before would see right through it.
But.
"Even so, there is no way for you to counter my ability."
Now that the ability was activated, the outcome was decided.
For every insect in this forest would be transformed into the ultimate combat race, just like Crayveratis.
Soon, the insects salivating in the forest began to change their appearance.
Skrrrt! Skrrr...
With a chilling sound, hundreds of three-headed insects revealed themselves.
They were miniature versions of Crayveratis.
"Flesh..."
"Soft... meat."
"Organs full of blood and juice. I'll eat them. I'll devour... everything."
Their mana was incomparably stronger than before.
"Kieeee! How about it? Can you handle this many?"
Crayveratis let out a mad, ear-splitting laugh.
"Hmm. It is quite a lot."
There were easily hundreds of enemies.
Moreover, under the influence of 'Army Ant', their physical abilities were boosted while their intelligence was wiped out.
They had become loyal pawns executing only Crayveratis's commands.
But you see...
Rustle.
Jinhyuk's ears perked up at the rustling of the bushes.
"No matter how slow they are, it's about time they got here."
"Got here? What do you mean?"
Crayveratis's question served as the fuse.
"Kieee!"
"Eat. Eat. Eat!"
"Tear them to pieces!"
The insects leaped.
At the same time.
Crash!
The bushes on the opposite side parted.
"Kyaooo!"
A large beast with pure white fur roared.
Habelian.
The Phantasmal Beast that had joined Jinhyuk after he saved its life made its debut.
Crackle!
Streams of ice surged forward, turning the insects lined up in front into frozen statues.
"Wow, the newbie is pretty good. Where on earth did Master find a monster like that?"
"Stop talking nonsense and let's go. Now is the time!"
"But I'm scared of bugs. They have too many legs, it's creepy."
"Isn't Master a million times scarier than these bugs?"
"Everyone, shut up. My head hurts."
With that, the spirit beasts led by Undine also joined the fray.
'Good.'
The corners of Jinhyuk's mouth curled upward.
An effect that increased attack power by 30% when fighting alongside spirit beasts or Phantasmal Beasts!
The mana radiating from Barnard grew even denser.
"W-What are these things...?"
A sudden variable.
Crayveratis looked around in bewilderment.
It was utterly unbelievable that noble races like Phantasmal Beasts and spirits would obey a mere human's commands.
Its mind was in chaos from the sheer bewilderment, but this was only the beginning.
Would a massive natural disaster look something like this?
Rumble!
The ground shattered into pieces.
The one bringing the storm was none other than a muscular old man.
"For mere insects to block my path. How utterly laughable."
The Dark Emperor.
Beside him, Soul-Chasing Shadow and Cheon Yu-seong drew their respective swords.
"Master. Those are the ones."
"Oh my, there certainly are a lot of them, just as Young Master Cheon said."
"I'm sorry for making you deal with such filthy creatures. I wanted to handle this with just our strength if possible, but..."
"No, it's fine. Besides, this master doesn't mind it at all since I get to fight alongside my disciple. In fact, I might even be a little happy."
Soul-Chasing Shadow smiled warmly.
"Cheon Yu-seong! Alice! Dark Emperor Grandfather... everyone!"
Teresa stared at her newly arrived companions.
In a place so far away.
She had never imagined she would meet everyone again.
They had all come. To rescue them from this hell.
However,
the overwhelming emotion swelling in her chest didn't last long.
"Ah..."
A gasp of shock escaped Teresa's lips.
She had momentarily forgotten.
Just what kind of existence the veteran who had come to her aid truly was.
* * *
"Who... who on earth are you people?"
"Who are we?"
The corners of Jinhyuk's mouth curled upward.
As if he had been waiting for those exact words.
[The Gray Forest is recognized as a Boss Field.]
[The Broadcasting System is activated.]
All of these scenes were already being recorded on video.
Although the broadcast was set to private so viewers couldn't join yet, the mere fact that Jinhyuk was currently 'live streaming' would generate massive hype.
'If I edit this properly and upload it, I'll be able to rake in some sweet profits again.'
And of course, the most important thing for a hit video was...
"Alice!"
"I-I know! Just wait a second!"
Alice bit her lip, looking on the verge of tears.
With her face and neck flushed red from sheer embarrassment, not a shred of a supreme ruler's dignity could be found.
"My dear, just give up."
At the Dark Emperor's comforting pat, Alice resigned herself to her fate and opened her mouth.
"W-We are the Veteran Corporation. And I... am Yellow, in charge of ranged DPS!"
"Puhahaha! Well done. I am the disciple's master. I am in charge of Black, or whatever it is."
"Cheon Yu-seong. Melee... DPS. My position is Blue. I'm begging you, don't upload this part. You damn veteran bastard."
Various complaints followed, but Jinhyuk's mind was entirely consumed with thoughts of making this battle a massive hit.
'From here... Hmm. Not bad.'
He would do close-ups like this.
This time, Jinhyuk looked at Teresa.
Their eyes met, and she felt the heavy weight of his gaze.
Right next to her, Undine had already formed the words 'Healer - PINK' out of water.
There was no longer any choice.
"I-I'm Pink, the healer of the Veteran Corporation!"
Teresa cried out, on the verge of tears.