Chapter 21
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: PvP (4)
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Seoul, the city that never slept for 365 days a year.
The city’s true face, drained of vitality after just a few days, was deathly pale… But paradoxically, it was in this situation that certain things shone even brighter.
‘The starlight in the night sky.’
Min-jun, gazing out the broken school window at the faint light sources filling the sky with stars as he walked, realized he had arrived at the playground before he knew it.
“Should I thank you for granting my request?”
The early spring night air was chillingly cold like frostbite-inducing moonlight, and white breath escaped with every word Min-jun spoke.
“No, to be honest, I’ll say it now—capturing you is the most important thing.”
Baek Ki-hyuk, with a double-barrel shotgun slung over his shoulder, gestured with the barrel as he replied. Min-jun felt a deep sense of unease at the strangely off situation.
In a world like this, finding something that didn’t feel off was the harder task.
Min-jun dismissed the sudden chill as mere imagination and continued.
“Me? Specifically?”
“The mark.”
“…?”
“You’re the sacrifice personally marked by the Star Lord, right? That’s why you’re the top priority for me. And anyway, neither of us can run until we complete our quests, so if I grab you, it won’t be hard to take out your allies.”
As the guy spoke, Min-jun looked at the mark engraved on his palm. Faint blood was seeping out from it—the same blood that appeared only when encountering apostles.
“…”
Only after looking back at the guy did Min-jun realize the source of the unease he’d felt moments ago.
The bastard was clearly breathing, but no breath escaped his mouth.
“…You’re not human, are you?”
“In a world like this, does that even matter? By that logic, you’re barely human yourself, aren’t you? With non-humans running the show, let’s drop the trivial stuff… We’re just two who have to kill each other to survive. That’s all that matters, right?”
Snap!
As Baek Ki-hyuk snapped his fingers after speaking, the drone of wings awakened the silent city. Hundreds of swarms of bees flooded in instantly, surrounding Min-jun and Baek Ki-hyuk.
In the center, Baek Ki-hyuk’s eyes split into compound facets out of Min-jun’s sight.
Bzzz— bzzzzz—
Bzzzzzz—
As the swarm increased their wingbeats, dust rose, enveloping the area in a haze.
‘He can even command the monster bastards as his limbs…?’
“You fucking bastard, what the hell did you do?”
“You don’t need to know, Uncle. Just… since it’s come to this, let’s play together.”
A bitter voice scattered from amid the rising dust.
* * *
Sensory deprivation of sight and sound.
The guy’s words vanished into the droning wingbeats within the dust cloud, and his puppet form scattered, leaving no trace.
‘In times like this…’
“Smash the board first.”
The densely packed swarm strained to inject venom into his body, but his toughened skin—bolstered by his elevated stamina stats—blocked their attacks admirably.
It wasn’t as if time wasn’t being stolen bit by bit, but it was time he could reclaim after killing them all.
Min-jun abandoned defense, swept his left foot across the dirt, gripped the greatsword tightly, and assumed position. His thigh muscles contracted naturally, exuding a heavy aura ready to launch.
The jet-black greatsword rose horizontally with a faint murmur lost in the bees’ wingbeats.
Vwooooooom—!!
A black line cleaved the dust in two, followed by a belated roar.
The vortex from the sword tearing air swept away the dust, revealing the swarm’s innards and a single silhouette amid hundreds of bees.
Red compound eyes split into facets.
A bulk swollen with taut muscles, skin formed of evidently sturdy exoskeleton.
And in place of his right hand, a double-barrel with a blade attached.
Crunch.
There was Baek Ki-hyuk, in non-human form, catching a flying bee and shoving it into his mouth.
As the still-twitching bee leg vanished into his gut, he wiped his green-fluid-smeared mouth and opened it.
“Impatient type? I hid it out of courtesy so it wouldn’t be gross, but you couldn’t wait—”
Seeing and witnessing the bastard’s form and actions erased any pangs of conscience about killing him—a student not yet an adult.
‘He’s just a monster.’
So his job was simply to swing the greatsword.
The massive blade plunged toward its target, and the bastard countered with the bayonet on his right hand’s shotgun.
Not just in appearance, his monstrous body blocked Min-jun’s assault with surprising ease. Then, as if struck by a sudden idea, Baek Ki-hyuk continued.
“Ah. I just thought of a great idea for someone as impatient as you.”
He retreated, snapping his fingers again. The surrounding bees buzzed toward the school building.
Where So-hee and Dong-gil were.
“Seemed like you were in a rush, so I kindly made a reason for it. Wonder how long your allies can hold out against hundreds of apostles… They’ll need to step it up, huh?”
“…”
As the bastard said, how long could So-hee and Uncle Dong-gil last? Even generously, ten minutes max.
That meant he had to kill Baek Ki-hyuk as fast as possible and go help them.
But that wasn’t highly likely either.
From their brief exchanges earlier, he’d clearly felt the bastard’s stats were a level above his own.
‘Still… I have to make it happen somehow.’
This wasn’t about possible or impossible—it was something he absolutely had to do.
If he didn’t want to die, he had to kill the bastard. If he wanted to save his allies, he had to do it fast.
Low odds, but not time to give up yet.
His current body transformation rate had reached 85.2% from prior fights. Raise it during this battle, and he could close the level gap somewhat.
Grip.
He clenched the sword hilt hard.
When had it ever been easy? Standing here now was the result of constant struggle.
‘Let’s clash.’
He charged in one bound, taking the bastard’s left flank.
Not too close—about five steps away.
The optimal range for the brute force of this massive hunk of metal.
Kwaaaaaang—!!
Air exploded from their clashing blades, rippling against his skin.
Such a heavy strike…
But mocking Min-jun’s resolve, the bastard blocking the greatsword looked utterly relaxed.
“No wonder the others died so easily. Heh, how many have you killed to raise your stats this much already…?”
As Baek Ki-hyuk muttered with swords locked, his thick biceps-to-shoulder muscles twitched, lightly shoving away the [Ownerless Great Sword].
Then the pitch-black barrel aimed straight at Min-jun’s face in his defenseless state.
Too precise a timing to block with the sword.
“If your opponent wasn’t me, you wouldn’t have died yet.”
‘Damn…!’
[‘Space Domination Lv.1’ activates.]
[Within 10m radius, all lifeforms except caster have movement and attack speed reduced by 15%.]
[Consumes 5 hours of survival time per minute.]
As the skill activated, the ground around tinted green, creating a brief gap before the bastard could pull the trigger.
Min-jun twisted, thrusting up his thick pauldron.
Kwaang! Kwaang!
Shoulder bones nearly shattering from the impact, he flew back far.
‘It’s not a normal gun.’
Judging from it becoming part of the bastard’s body, it either gained special abilities or the weapon itself was enhanced.
Dazed from one hit, but while his mind blanked white, his body reacted to the crisis, taking the next step.
In midair, he regained balance, slamming the greatsword deep into the ground. It carved a long scar, scattering dust everywhere.
He naturally hid in the dust cloud, released Space Domination, and drew the [Silent Fairbairn-Sykes] from the leather sling.
[‘Shadow Step Max’ activates.]
[Consumes 1 hour of survival time per minute.]
[Body transformation rate: 87.4%]
[Strength, stamina, agility +1 level to 13.]
“Using tricks, huh.”
Clack—
Kwaang! Kwaang!
Clack—
Kwaang! Kwaang!
Baek Ki-hyuk demonstrated marksmanship, reloading before ejected shells hit the ground, firing iron balls into the smoke-bomb-like sand cloud.
“…”
After a brief silence, the cold night wind swept away the dust.
Swoooosh—
The jet-black greatsword, absorbing all moonlight, emerged alone.
“Ha?! What the hell is that sword made of? It didn’t break? Tough life indeed…?”
“…”
“Fucking hell!”
As Baek Ki-hyuk spoke and sensed something off, a shadow rippled behind him.
Min-jun, using Shadow Step, swung the dagger three times swiftly before the bastard could turn.
Twice lightly, the last deep toward his right ankle.
[‘Pesticide Lv.5’ skill activates.]
[Enemy movement and attack speed reduced by 15% for 1 second.]
[‘Apostle’s Predator Lv.8’ skill activates!]
[Inflicts additional 400% physical damage!!]
[Body transformation rate: 88.2%]
Crack—!
Thanks to his 13-level strength—or perhaps the Apostle’s Nemesis skill—the exoskeleton that withstood even the greatsword cracked, green fluid spurting out.
“Guh… You fucking shit!”
Kwaaaang!!
Baek Ki-hyuk kicked Min-jun as he rose after the attack.
When his vision refocused, he was embedded in a shattered backstop.
One kick, and his whole body creaked, ribs at least several cracked in pain.
But unlike the bastard, his ankle wasn’t severed, so enduring this agony left him mobile.
It had exploited the bastard’s arrogance, so it wouldn’t work next time, but he’d proven he could damage the exoskeleton.
‘As expected, the system recognizes him as an apostle. Need to maximize Pesticide and Apostle’s Predator skills.’
Spitting up rising blood, he spoke.
“No regeneration, huh?”
“Ha? Cocky after one hit lands?”
The bastard, lax from spec superiority and favorable terrain, turned dead serious after that strike.
‘But he can still react.’
Dust rings expanded from the front as the bastard appeared before him.
Compared to before, not just power but speed in his attacks had dropped several notches.
Starting with a diagonal slash from upper left to lower right, he wildly swung using overwhelming agility.
His close-range assaults were fierce indeed; unable to take the brute force head-on, Min-jun barely deflected the blade with his reverse-grip dagger, enduring.
Clang! Clang! Kagagagang—!
Neither yielded an inch, feet rooted like statues of fidelity, trading dozens of blows without retreat.
The ground sank beneath them, red lines painting his body except the thick pauldron.
Blood-soaked rags turned his clothes crimson.
“Why not just die easy? Why cling so desperately?”
“Hah… Hah…”
He ignored the bastard, exhaling ragged breaths. Every second counted to pump blood to his limbs.
And though the bastard hadn’t noticed, his attacks were slowing microscopically.
[‘Pesticide Lv.5’ skill activates.]
[Enemy movement and attack speed reduced by 15% for 1 second.]
.
.
.
[Enemy movement and attack speed reduced by 15% for 1 second.]
[‘Apostle’s Nemesis Lv.8’ skill activates!]
[Inflicts additional 400% physical damage!!]
[Body transformation rate: 93.9%]
[Strength, stamina, agility +1 level to 14.]
“Even if you hold out, Uncle, nothing changes. Other apostles will kill your allies soon and fly over. You cool with that?”
Despite his great power, he was just a minor who got drunk on his newfound strength.
Wounded by a weaker foe, battle stagnant, he belittled Min-jun to feel superior.
Failing to dominate fueled his impatience instead.
“Yeah. Want to keep playing that bad…?!”
The bastard flinched, hesitation at his blade tip.
‘The Pesticide stacks hit critical—the moment he noticed his slowing attacks.’
‘…Chance!’
The instant one-second Pesticide fully stacked.
Min-jun activated Space Domination again, diving into the bastard’s guard.
The follow-up triple strike targeted exoskeleton joints precisely.
Caught off-guard, the bastard twisted desperately, angling his left arm multiple times to block joints with plates.
But even exoskeleton wasn’t as tough as his sword; the third hit burst Apostle’s Predator, shattering the plate whole.
Realizing something in Min-jun’s attacks, Baek Ki-hyuk retreated swinging, but Min-jun clung tenaciously, pursuing.
This was why he’d traded blows until his body was rags.
“Damn, you fight dirty, Uncle? Skills, huh…?”
“…”
Silence affirmed as answer. The bastard, seeking another breakthrough, wore a resigned look.
“By now, your allies are probably on their last legs…? Time for phase 2, Uncle.”
Snap!
Parrying Min-jun’s dagger, he snapped fingers. Soon, a buzz from the school heralded the swarm’s return.
Bees charging heedless of life solely restricted Min-jun’s movements.
Clinging to limbs increased weight, positioning in his sword path slowed dagger swings.
Barely seized momentum tilted back to the bastard instantly.
The ensuing exchanges were tightrope walks—one slip meant death’s abyss.
Kwaaaaaang!!
Crushing a bee in his grip before the bastard’s eyes to blind him, biting and tearing bees on his arm to accelerate sword speed.
Stabbed once? Mutual destruction strikes forced damage back.
A desperate, clinging brawl raged; sword clashes piled cuts, shallow bee wounds filled his body.
“Hoo… Hoo…”
Yet his unyielding brain, pursuing victory, raced for answers.
‘Body transformation at 94.7%, stats at 14. Even at 100% and 15, realistically can’t match his physicals.’
So how to close the movement gap?
Lost in thought, transformation messages chimed nonstop.
[Body transformation rate: 94.9%]
[Body transformation rate: 96.5%]
.
.
.
[Body transformation rate: 98.8%]
His overheating brain accelerated, time feeling slower.
Like a world where a droplet’s fall stretched to hundredths.
Then the final chime rang.
Ding!
[Body transformation rate: 100%]
[Body transformation preparation complete.]
[Shedding human body.]
.
.
.
[System detects error.]
[Confirms user was originally a ‘Time Constraint Bearer.’]