Chapter 84

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 84

Chapter Title: True Chronos

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"Not bad for a human. I'll be waiting for you in my temple."

"Wait for me, Father!"

We did all the work catching it, but he's hogging all the glory.

Zeus had just leeched off us again. Part of me wanted to smack him upside the head, but knowing it would do absolutely nothing, I kept it to my imagination.

The aftermath of that ridiculous attack—which had cleared two phases at once—was surprisingly serene. Everything had been swept clean, after all. The Phase 3 Mortar was meant to be planted on the ground, but with time running a bit late, I'd boldly opted for an aerial launch.

It was basically a gamble.

There were uncertainties everywhere: Would it assemble properly in midair? Would the muzzle lock onto the 'True Chronos Incarnation' with pinpoint accuracy? The attack even landing was a miracle in itself.

Without Se-bin-i and Ha Mi-jun Hunter's bindings, plus Cha Do-yun Hunter's relentless pressure, I wouldn't have even attempted it.

Thud.

"Hmm? Whoa!"

Something snagged my waist and yanked me downward. After a long drop, I finally settled into someone's arms.

"Any injuries?"

"Kang Se-bin!"

Se-bin-i—who'd vanished earlier—flashed a bright smile as she set me down. I straightened my clothes and snuck a glance up at her.

"Kang Se-bin Hunter has a stealth-type unique skill," Ha Mi-jun Hunter's words echoed in my ears.

She could just admit she had a stealth skill, so why hide it? Was it because it was so easy to misunderstand? Nah, even then—it's only useful in combat situations anyway. What's the big deal?

"Where were you?"

"Hiding by the stairs."

Se-bin-i answered Ha Mi-jun Hunter's question nonchalantly as she reverted Yeong back into her bracelet.

"Oh, right. What's our current record?"

"Let's see."

Ha Mi-jun Hunter pulled a timer from his inventory at my question and raised one eyebrow.

The current top record was held by the Mexico dispatch team at 5 days and 21 hours on the early side. As long as we didn't waste time in the boss fight, a new record was guaranteed.

I looked up at Ha Mi-jun Hunter, and his beaming smile filled my view.

"Thanks to someone pulling off that stylish phase skip."

"First time I've seen an S-rank phase skip."

Se-bin-i leaned slightly toward me with a grin.

How much time left on my blessing...?

I quietly opened my status window and eyed the text tucked in the corner.

Damn it. If I didn't score one this time, there'd be no next chance.

"What're you doing? Hurry up!"

Zeus waved us over as he bounded up the stairs with gusto.

"Time to move."

Cha Do-yun Hunter cast Sky Breeze and turned toward the stairs.

The staircase stretched skyward, piercing the clouds. Since this was the final trek before the boss fight, I pulled a stamina recovery potion from my inventory and downed it.

"Ugh."

The overly astringent taste nearly made me hurl, but I rinsed my mouth with water to barely stave off the reflux.

As we climbed through the clouds, the temple's pillars came into view. Even Zeus seemed a bit winded, slowing his pace from before.

The summit felt tantalizingly close now.

"Huff... haah..."

The stairs that had nearly sent us straight to heaven finally ended, leaving us before a massive temple.

Pure white pillars and a sharp roof—it was the quintessential image of a temple that came to mind.

I infused my voice into the depleted Ego and stepped inside.

Step, step.

The interior was a barren wasteland. Not a soul or even a bug in sight, just a black silk curtain draped like a drape at the far end. True Chronos was 100% behind that.

"You all know this, but the boss fight has four phases total."

Ha Mi-jun Hunter glared at the black silk curtain as he spoke.

"Phases 1 and 2 are against monsters summoned by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Chronos. Phases 3 and 4 are direct fights with Chronos himself."

"Up to Phase 3 is manageable, but Phase 4 is a pain."

Se-bin-i tapped her chin, slowly recalling.

Yeah, Phase 4 Chronos takes a perfect humanoid form.

In the Greek S-rank dungeon boss fight, Phase 4 pits you against a normal human-sized Chronos. The more human-like the monster, the higher its intelligence and the harder it is to land hits—making it no joke to face.

Step.

Zeus, who was ahead, halted abruptly before the curtain. He turned to us and gave a firm nod. It was resolute, in his own way.

I drew a deep breath and entered Chronos's sanctuary alongside Zeus.

An elderly man the exact size of the True Chronos Incarnation sat upon a massive jade throne. Black hair and a thick beard covered most of his face, and he was draped in cloth just like Zeus.

"Finally meeting you in person, Father!"

"You bastard ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Zeus... so you've made it this far!"

"I imagined what you'd look like while fighting your incarnation. Just as I pictured—a face dripping with greed."

"Not greed. The dignity of an absolute god."

The official name designated by the Greek Hunter Association for the boss monster was True Chronos. A dark-attribute monster who also wielded summoning skills, fire skills... oh, and mental skills to boot.

I gazed at him through my Regressor's Right Eye.

"Fine, have it your way. I'll release my brothers—the Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires."

As I stared at him with both eyes, True Chronos extended a hand toward the air.

Boom!

A sound that shook the earth rang out as a massive, manhole-sized round iron door plummeted from the sky. Black smoke billowed from it, exuding an ominous aura.

Zeus eyed the door suspiciously, as if doubting his father's "generosity." We readied for combat and stared it down as well.

"Th-that's the Gate of Tartarus...!"

Zeus clamped a hand over his mouth in horror.

"I never said they'd be in their right minds."

"Damn it, what have you done to them?!"

"Go forth, my brothers—the Cyclopes! Teach that arrogant nephew some manners!"

"Groooaaar..."

Three one-eyed giants crawled out from the Gate of Tartarus. Their foreheads bore black sickle marks, signifying True Chronos's command. Their grotesque appearances and massive builds gave off some pressure, but I gripped Ego tighter and took a deep breath.

Kwarung!

Pure white lightning crashed down. I leaped upward to evade the electricity that spread across the entire floor upon impact. The Cyclops trio turned toward me and swung arms as thick as tree trunks. Their weight made the attacks slow and easy to dodge, but a single hit would've shattered bones.

I slipped past a slow punch that cleaved empty air and fired a sonic bullet straight into one Cyclops's eye. It frantically ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠brought a hand to its face, but the bullet passed right through and struck true.

"Rooooaaar!!"

"Ha Mi-jun Hunter, watch out!"

"No worries~"

Thud!

The staggering beast toppled backward—right toward where Ha Mi-jun Hunter stood.

He swiftly dodged to the side while thick wooden vines constricted the fallen Cyclops's neck. The giant clawed at the vines, but its thick fingers and blunt nails couldn't pry the sharp wood loose.

Se-bin-i planted her feet against the ceiling and bent her knees slightly. She readjusted her grip on Yeong, aiming the blade at the blinded eye, then dropped toward the floor.

Slash.

"Kuuuoooooo!!"

Yeong pierced the Cyclops's chest. Black blood sprayed out, and Se-bin-i shoved her shadow into the gash. Shadow hands pried the wound wider and pinned down its limbs.

Bang!!

A sonic bullet thudded heavily into its skull. The Cyclops convulsed all over before going limp and getting absorbed into the floor.

"Brothers! What are you doing?! Get up and show them what for!"

The massive eyeballs swiveled to fix on me in unison. An instinctive revulsion sent goosebumps rippling across my skin.

"Uwaaaah!!"

"Graaaah!"

Flames sparked from the marks on the Cyclops brothers' foreheads. Writhing in agony, they stomped the ground before slamming their fists downward this time.

Kwagak.

Thick vines blocked the punch, and Ha Mi-jun Hunter rolled backward to evade.

He's injured.

Sure enough, fresh red blood droplets stained the vines nearby.

Woooong—

I held Ego's trigger down long. The air vibrated fiercely, churning their insides, and the two clutched their heads in torment.

I switched Ego to scattergun form, slammed it into the ground, and landed in one fluid motion.

"Ha Mi-jun Hunter, you alright?!"

"Just a scrape. I'm good."

Blood was gushing from Ha Mi-jun Hunter's thigh. He was pressing a thin layer of bark peeled from his unique skill against the wound, but it wasn't enough to staunch the flow.

Fine for now, but that injury will bite us later.

"Cha Do-yun Hunter!"

Swish swish swish—

"Graaaah!!"

The moment I called out, a barrage of green arrows engulfed the Cyclopes. It didn't finish them, but the heavy wounds made their massive bodies sway wildly.

"What is it?"

"Heal Ha Mi-jun Hunter, please. Se-bin-i and I'll buy time."

Cha Do-yun Hunter nodded.

Thud, thud.

I erected shields around them before leaping high again with Bird That Hears Daytime Words.

Having adapted somewhat to the arrow rain's pain, the Cyclopes resumed swinging their clubs menacingly.

"Ha Mi-jun Hunter?"

Se-bin-i appeared dangling upside down from the ceiling. A bit of Cyclops blood speckled her face.

"Cha Do-yun Hunter's treating him."

"Gotta end it with one big hit, then."

Grinning, Se-bin-i bent her knees until she was practically sitting on the ceiling.

"How do you want it done?"

I tore my gaze from her jet-black eyes—which sparkled like the night sky—and looked down at the Cyclopes.

They were slow but had sky-high defense. Only my mortar-form sonic shells, my most destructive attack, could wipe them out in one go. Just like with the True Chronos Incarnation—up close and personal.

I looked back at Se-bin-i. Her pretty eyes, awaiting my orders, gleamed.

"Bind their arms. Make sure they can't move."