Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: War
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-Boom!!
As I hurriedly rushed out of the tent, the area around me had long since descended into chaos.
Tents and wooden structures were blazing from the relentless explosions, and Blood Cult servants with blood-red eyes were assaulting the uninfected warriors everywhere.
Generally speaking, once a human was tainted by their power, their strength became far greater.
Not only did they lose the instinct to fear death since they were already dead, allowing them to fight even more recklessly, but they also possessed regenerative abilities that healed all but the most severe wounds—like decapitation—unless the head was severed. On top of that, their power originated from another realm entirely, separate from internal energy, making it no exaggeration to say their martial prowess effectively advanced an entire realm.
"Kuhahaha!! Die, you damned hypocrites!!"
"U, uwaaaack!!"
-Slash
'One down for now.'
I first cleaved through the most conspicuous enemy nearby and turned to the warrior who had nearly been crushed by that axe.
"I get that you're panicking, but get up and grab your weapon already. You can't just sit there leisurely like that right now, or you'll die."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The battlefield situation was far too dire for me to offer any more help.
Leaving him behind, I immediately wrapped my body in lightning.
-Crackle!
I leaped lightly high into the sky and surveyed the surroundings, taking in the state of the battle at a glance.
Infiltration had occurred everywhere, sparking the chaos, and now sword fights were breaking out all over the place.
"Cut their heads off!! These bastards regenerate from minor wounds instantly!!"
"Pair up two to a group!! Anyone abandoning allies and fleeing will be permanently expelled from the Murim Alliance!!"
Fortunately, those I'd warned in advance beforehand were handling the situation well.
I knew full well I lacked any talent as a commander.
Having a high realm was completely different from leading soldiers on a battlefield, and what I needed to do there as a non-commander was simple.
Take the head of the enemy leader.
Yet no matter where I looked, there was no sign of the otherworldly demon.
Considering her twisted personality, she was probably hiding somewhere even now, savoring the sight of humans slaughtering each other.
I hadn't even imagined she'd turn the unorthodox faction members into bloodsuckers to fight for her.
In the end, no matter which side won, humans would suffer the losses.
Her main force would emerge unscathed, while all the corpses littering the field would be human.
"Huuuuh..."
I closed my eyes for a moment, focusing my mind and drawing all the clouds from the surrounding area into the sky.
It was impossible to reverse those already infected by the Blood Cult.
So, the way to minimize the bloodshed was to eliminate the source as quickly as possible.
-Rumble
The rain-laden clouds trembled with ominous sounds before abruptly unleashing their droplets onto the ground.
No one would mistake it for normal weather, but the warriors busy slaying the red-eyed unorthodox fighters had no attention to spare for it.
They'd probably just think it was raining.
-Plop plop
-Sizzle
As the rain fell, the fires swelling from the explosions in various spots naturally began to die down.
That had been part of my intent, but putting out the fires wasn't the main purpose of the rain.
-Drip... plip...
I spread my senses wide, focusing my consciousness on the echoes of the raindrops.
The clashing of swords everywhere. Screams. Battle cries. Familiar Central Plains internal energy mixed with unfamiliar otherworldly auras.
I dispersed the faint presences of the small fry and gradually traced upward toward their origins.
-Flash!
"There you are!"
-Crackle!
Found her.
She was concealing her energy, but I spotted the suspicious figure harboring otherworldly power dozens of times greater than everyone else combined.
-Boom!
I immediately wrapped myself in lightning and charged at full speed toward her, preparing the strongest strike I could muster on the fly.
'No room for prep. One-shot kill.'
If I didn't end it in one go, it'd get annoying.
She wasn't one to show herself easily.
If I let her escape, we'd be back to this tedious fight.
As I moved cloaked in lightning, the suspicious figure entered my sight in an instant.
A noble young lady whose aura didn't fit the battlefield atmosphere at all.
Her visible eyes were black, but she couldn't fool mine.
An ominous energy utterly unlike anything from the Central Plains swirled around her.
And as if sensing my approach, she turned her head, locking eyes with me.
But it was already too late.
My sword had already reached her domain.
"Hup!"
-Craaaackle!!!
-KABOOOM!!!
With a blinding blue flash, lightning bolts rained down from the clouds in rapid succession.
If it hit properly, it could crumble a cliff face effortlessly.
Even for a corpse animated after death, the power would leave not a single scrap of flesh behind.
Yet I could sense it even before the smoke and dust from the lightning cleared.
"Phew~ I nearly died without so much as a greeting. Even against enemies, it's proper etiquette to at least exchange names."
-Crunch
She hadn't died.
She hadn't fully dodged, as one arm was mangled, but I could easily predict what came next.
-Sshhhrrk
"No wonder the rain started so suddenly—you used it to track me? Saintesses are a pain no matter the world."
Her arm enveloped in a blood-like red energy, regenerating as if sprouting a new limb, until it reformed into a flawless, unscarred hand.
"A shame. If it'd been that wench Erdel, she'd have cauterized the wound with holy power to block regeneration, then slowly crushed me. A saintess who can't even use holy power? Back in the day, I'd have dismissed it as an absurd joke."
"...The holy power you're talking about is the energy of a god from another world to begin with."
"Hm. Could be. That goddess bitch's curse kept me from walking under the sun, but maybe it doesn't apply in a different world. Same sun in name, but a whole different star."
-Crackle!
"Aiming for my neck mid-conversation? Even in a barbaric world, doesn't a saintess have any pride?"
"Tch."
It had been just a bit shallow to sever it. What a pity.
-Plop plop
"I have no name to reveal to you. And certainly no courtesy to show."
"Women with strong pride aren't popular, you know?"
"Ha, worry not—I've already promised marriage to a man."
"Unexpected. Your husband's in for a rough ride."
-Thud!
No long talk was needed between them.
Ye So-cheon's weapon was the sword.
That meant she couldn't let the opponent create distance—and the longer the fight dragged, the worse it would be for Ye So-cheon.
More humans would just keep dying.
-Craaackle!!
With her decision made, action followed swiftly.
Ye So-cheon, enveloped in blue lightning, lunged at Barshutain, who kicked off the ground and retreated, igniting their full-scale battle.
And at that very moment, something equally dire was unfolding in Shaanxi.
-Boom! Kaboom!
"Why are they throwing bombs in a wuxia world?!!!"
"Just hold on a bit longer! It'll be safe once we reach Murim Alliance headquarters! At least there'll be tons of warriors...!"
-Tadadadak!
I knew this era had thunderclap bombs and gunpowder weapons, but this was overkill!
"That's 100% a magic tool!"
"Huh? I didn't hear! It's too noisy around here!"
"I wasn't talking to you!!"
One moment I was at home, praying for Sword Empress and Ye So-cheon to be safe while quietly reading a book, and the next, massive explosions started rocking the area.
On Earth, I might've shrugged it off like, 'Oh, just some ordinary terrorist bombing. Never mind.' But not here.
Where was this?
Shaanxi.
The heart of major powers everyone in the Central Plains knew by name: Murim Alliance headquarters, Nine Great Sects, Five Great Families, you name it.
And bombs were going off here?
It took guts—or signified a force powerful enough to attempt such a bold strike knowing full well.
The prime suspect at this point? The Blood Cult.
Dang Ayoung and I quickly grabbed the bare essentials and bolted toward Murim Alliance HQ.
And sure enough...
"Kyaaaaack!!!"
"Get lost!!"
[Sunlight that Burns the Unclean]
"Gyyyaaaah!!!"
-Roar!
The streets were long past chaos.
Fires raged everywhere from the blast aftershocks, with no one free to extinguish them, only fueling the flames further.
And things like the bloodsuckers I'd seen with Dang Ayoung during a past subjugation were prowling the streets with red eyes, attacking people everywhere.
At first, Dang Ayoung tried slaying them and rescuing folks, but there were too many, so we prioritized escape, heading for what seemed the safest spot: Murim Alliance HQ.
"Haaack...! Haack...!"
"If you're about to collapse, say so!"
"I... can still... hold...!"
Considering my stamina, having Dang Ayoung carry me might be faster, but in this situation where enemies could pop out anytime, anywhere...
If she carried me, even if she claimed she could manage, one hand would be tied up.
Besides, her specialty was projectiles requiring free hand movement—carrying me would spike the risk.
I wasn't some kid under ten; I couldn't cause that danger just because running was tough.
'Gotta endure until my legs give out.'
No matter her martial arts, Dang Ayoung was still human.
One slip, and we could both die.
-Thump thump thump thump
I clutched the brooch, now recharging after unleashing sunlight, squeezing out every last ounce of strength to run.
I'd always griped about how dangerous this world was, but I'd never been in a situation where death licked its chops right in my face like this.
'The genre suddenly shifted to apocalyptic disaster thriller.'
As I wrung out more power and looked up between buildings, I glimpsed a sight far off that nearly buckled my legs.
"Huh? Huh? Wha—what?! S-Sister Dang! Look at that!!"
"What?! Enemies?!"
"N-No!! Over there!!"
I frantically pointed where I'd seen it, and Dang Ayoung looked, her face going blank.
Shaanxi's pride: despite rumors of plum blossom scents, most mountains were rocky and stark, yet offered scenic views here and there.
Mount Hua—one of the Nine Great Sects—was ablaze.