Chapter 283
Chapter 283
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 283
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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Thud thud thud thud…
A small cavalry unit galloped near Kaseom Island.
"Prepare…"
Thud thud thud thud…
"Now!"
At Taeyul's shout, arrows flew in unison.
Pew pew pew pew!
The arrows sliced through the air and soared over Kaseom's walls.
Kwaaaaaang!
Kwaaaaaang-!
Though few in number, the arrows' effect was tremendous.
As expected of the Khan Empire, a leader in mechanical engineering, even their primitive weapons incorporated advanced engineering, and these arrows were no exception.
A massive explosion erupted amid the chaos.
Naturally, the commotion reached the ghosts and monsters devouring Kaseom.
Grrrrowl…
"The monsters are going wild!"
"Hey, is that Yaksha? Has Yaksha returned?"
"No way! I don't sense Yaksha's presence!"
"Then… what is this noise…"
"Humans! It's humans! The humans have come on their own!"
"They've got horses too! We can eat our fill several times over!"
Kwaaaaaang-!
Monsters and ghosts rampaged out, arbitrarily crumbling the walls toward the cavalry.
Curiously, the cavalry maintained a sloppy distance—not too far from them—as if baiting pursuit.
As a result, some monsters caught up.
"Hee hee hee! What will you do if we block your path!"
Swole ghosts blocked the cavalry's front.
"Taeyul-nim!"
"I see it!"
[Taeyul commands: Using Advance.]
[Mounts gain temporary immunity to collision damage.]
[Collision damage increases by 300%.]
"Break through!"
Kwaaaaaang-!
The cavalry drew eyes and escaped the encirclement.
Taeyul's subordinates aided their lord, allowing the cavalry to wobble precariously yet steadily create an opening in the monsters' and ghosts' vigilance around Kaseom, fulfilling their role as bait.
"We can't drag this out long… Achieve the goal no matter what, brothers."
Rumble rumble…
The ceiling shook.
Likely the sound of monsters and ghosts ebbing from Kaseom like the tide.
Proof that Taeyul was performing his role perfectly.
"Ughhh…"
"Ugh… the rotten stench…"
Using the sewers was a tactic the ghosts had conceived earlier at Songjo.
But this time, humans employed it to rescue survivors.
'The defenses are sloppier than I feared.'
They encountered a few ghosts entering the sewers, but with monstrous powerhouses on their side, they snapped necks before any could alert the surface.
The ghosts never imagined they'd be ambushed. It made sense.
The horde filling Kaseom seemed invincible without a massive army.
"Vigilance hasn't increased compared to before. That's a relief!"
Jin Ryeo, guiding the path, spoke with hopeful voice.
Her excited tone didn't quite fit the desperate situation, but it beat a gloomy one.
The sewers now resembled hell, tangled with murdered humans' corpses and filth.
"Seolhong."
"Sin Yo-unnie, this… this sight…"
Sin Yo addressed Seolhong, speechless amid the horror.
"We're on the brink of the Khan Empire's fall."
"What do you—"
"I've contacted my master."
Sin Yo's master was special.
"My master confirmed a rift appeared at the eastern border, and the ghosts crossed through it at will."
"Is there a way to fix it?"
"Eliminate the culprit… My master only foretells, never intervenes. We must resolve it."
Kang Seol grew uneasy hearing Sin Yo.
'The culprit is definitely Yaksha. But…'
Yaksha's power alone surpassed any foe Kang Seol had faced.
One clash had knocked Bitan unconscious. Plus two immortal-level ghosts as allies.
'Even with Sin Yo or Taeyul's help… No, not enough.'
Neither Jang Du, Sin Yo, nor Taeyul could handle the other two ghosts.
It was akin to Udaksini and Geosundae appearing simultaneously.
Actual combat power might favor Udaksini and Geosundae, but the aura felt comparable.
'And that sword… Yaksha's sword.'
Kang Seol was certain.
The force that felled Bitan stemmed from that sword's energy.
Without countering it, any next clash would end the same.
'Insufficient intel… and power.'
If he could just learn to counter Yaksha's sword, they could fight.
'At least Yaksha's presence isn't felt on Kaseom. Has it returned?'
- Hurry back! To the Ghost Realm!
As the fox ghost said, they'd likely returned to the Ghost Realm.
Freely traversing between Ghost Realm and the mortal world—Yaksha was truly exceptional.
'To cross paths with that Yaksha in this tangled mess…'
Jin Ryeo had mentioned it in the meeting.
Kaseom's ghosts might be summoned by Yaksha too. And perhaps that gate lingered somewhere.
If true, reclaiming Kaseom would be futile.
"I'll scout ahead…"
The rescue team's numbers were few.
Kang Seol's group, Sin Yo, Jang Du.
Plus Song No, whom Taeyul cherished, and a few subordinates.
Song No fiddled with his mustache, muttering.
[Song No mutters: Using Chitter.]
[Controls groups of non-hostile rodents.]
Song No's special ability.
His communion with animals wasn't solely for combat.
'Not from around here.'
Such powers were traditionally inherited in the north or far west. Guardians of nature, called druids.
Chitter…
Squeak squeak…
Sewers teemed with rat-sized-as-adult-arms; they scattered, relaying intel.
"Fortunately, no ghosts nearby. We can head up now. But…"
"What's wrong?"
Song No, flustered by what the rats saw, delayed answering Jang Du.
"Go up and see for yourselves."
Nod…
They reached the pre-marked spot.
Emerging, the air wasn't as fresh as hoped.
Kaseom lay in utter ruin.
Blood and rotting flesh stench everywhere.
"That…"
"What…?"
Hidden, they stared at one spot.
A rift—hard to describe—like heat haze warping space.
It twitched like a heartbeat.
'No way that's where…'
The gate spewing ghosts—likely it.
Suspicion filled minds.
"Let's go. Escape first."
Song No was right.
"Agreed. Sin Yo-nim, your sorcery."
"Hold your breaths."
Swoooo…
[Sin Yo's Divine Power: Using Dawn Mist Brew.]
[Mist disrupting perception spreads over a wide area.]
[No ambushes or strikes trigger within Dawn Mist's range.]
Subtle mist blanketed everywhere.
Inside, even nose-to-nose presences were undetectable.
"Come."
[Song No mutters: Using Tweet.]
[Controls groups of non-hostile small birds.]
Varied small birds landed on shoulders, including Kang Seol's.
"Ho…"
Sin Yo admired.
"Holding hands is common, but… impressive."
Song No bowed politely.
"If trouble arises, just mutter—I'll hear. Be cautious in the mist."
Nod…
Vigilance had holes, thanks to Taeyul's cavalry.
- All halt. Monster nearby…
Squish!
Before Song No checked via birds, Kang Seol moved first. His senses outpaced eyes.
- …Proceed.
* * *
They followed hidden paths into the burrow.
"Wh-who…?"
"People… actual people!"
"Shh… monsters outside'll hear—how many times must I say!"
They startled at the group's arrival.
"Told you they'd return, hehe…"
"Thank you… truly…"
"We're alive… alive!"
Burrow numbers had dwindled. Corpses haphazardly covered with leftover cloth.
'Plague… Others are at risk.'
Survivors deliberately averted eyes from corpses.
Their coping mechanism, perhaps.
"I-I don't wanna go out… Monsters everywhere."
"Wanna go home… home…"
Orphaned children shrank back in fear.
"We must go. No time."
"But…"
Sin Yo worried about ghosts' unpredictable return.
Conversely.
"It's okay. Come with us—no scary sights."
"…Really?"
"Yeah, we didn't see any coming here, right?"
Kids edged forward at Seolhong's words.
Not just comfort—her gentle aura.
Mobile carried the weak. Shared rations revived spirits; faces brightened.
But Sin Yo and group's darkened.
"Ghosts returning. Hurry out."
"Risk encirclement—move!"
Exiting burrow.
Sin Yo's group vanguard.
Kang Seol's rear guard.
Scouts front, powerhouses protect—standard formation.
- Caution: Returned ghosts blocking paths.
Front invisible; only Song No's voice via birds.
Then ominous sounds.
- Damn! Lost them!
Gokbi could block echoes, but lay ill.
"They're here! Humans!"
Ghosts and monsters swarmed at the cry.
"Where! Where!"
"Clear the mist! Catch 'em all!"
"Hee hee hee! So many! Meat smell!"
Nearly at sewer entrance.
"Uwaaaah!"
"Run!"
Long-cowering burrow folk dashed for sewers.
Sewers mostly clear; time for combat.
"Song No! Lead them out!"
"Yes!"
"Jang Du!"
"I'll block, Sin Yo-nim!"
Crack crack crack-!
[Jang Du uses Surging Vitality.]
[Impacts generate wide shockwaves, dealing 50% of attack power.]
Kwaaaaaaaaang-!
Ghost punched by Jang Du flew back.
Kang Seol couldn't idle.
'Jamad.'
- Chaos as expected.
Fwoooo…
Shadow-wreathed Kang Seol clapped palms.
Smack-!
Clack clack!
The skull from before appeared.
Skull opened mouth.
- A sea of fire shall rise…
[Sulfur's Origin Power activates.]
[Origin Power: Using Wildfire.]
[Wildfire expands until Sulfur's Origin Power ends.]
[Caster immune to Wildfire damage.]
[Wildfire generates immense heat and smoke.]
[Enemies touching heat gain status: Burn (high chance). Burn deals 1% current HP per second for 3s.]
[Chance for Burn to evolve to status: Scorch post-duration. Scorch deals 1% max HP per second for 5s.]
[Wildfire scale yields extra effects.]
- Origin Power's limited—end quick.
Roooar-!
Flames engulfed Kaseom.
"Urk… what…"
"This flame…"
Jang Du and Sin Yo gaped at Kang Seol—not just power, but sorcery.
"You hid sorcery all this time! Puahaha! Kang Seol! How much more will you surprise us?"
Jang Du welcomed sorcery over swordplay in swarms.
"Amazing…"
Splat!
Kang Seol booted a ghost's head away.
"Sin Yo-nim, wall of fire!"
Sin Yo responded.
Snap-!
[Sin Yo's Divine Power: Using Whirlwind.]
[Controls narrow wind briefly. Intensity limited to breeze.]
Fwooooong…
Wind spread flames neatly around sewers.
Roooar…
"Graaaah!"
"Hot hot hot!"
Grrr…
Swarming monsters and ghosts suffered.
Excellent crisis response.
Rumble…
Ghosts suddenly fled.
"Flee the fire!"
"No… nooo!"
Expressionless Sin Yo's lips briefly curved.
"Done! Ghosts retreating—"
Jang Du blocking flank yelled.
"Flee, Sin Yo-nim!"
Sin Yo hadn't noticed.
Ghosts fled not fire.
They escaped something approaching.
"…What?"
"Something's collapsing!"
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang-!
"Barrier collapsing!"
"No! Don't wanna go baaack!"
Fwoooooong…
Immense suction.
'No way…'
The haze seen ascending sewers.
The unknown pulled everything nearby.
"Nooooo!"
Ghosts sucked to origin realm.
Monsters, debris too.
"Urk…"
Closest—Kang Seol and Chiwu—pulled in.
"Seolhong!"
Sin Yo: one arm yanked by Jang Du holding her, other stretched for Seolhong.
"Don't let go, Seolhong!"
Swooooosh…
Seolhong released.
"The great task! Sin Yo…"
"Seolhong!"
Kwaaaaaaaa…
Storm swallowed all instantly.
Most ghosts and monsters filling Kaseom vanished into it.
And.
"Seolhong… Kang Seol… why…"
Seolhong's group, plan's core, couldn't evade.
"Impossible… this…"
"Sin Yo-nim!"
Sin Yo staggered in shock.
How to process?
Vacant eyes stared where Kang Seol's group vanished.
Seolhong, Kang Seol, Chiwu.
Unnoticed by Sin Yo, Jin Ryeo sucked in too—where?
"They… died like this?"
Storm silent.
* * *
Bleak landscape, crows flying.
Somehow, sorrow clung to the scene.
Soon-filled round pit ahead.
Gallows loomed.
'What is…'
Kang Seol awoke realizing dream.
"Huff… huff…"
Sudden storm sucked before reaction.
Kang Seol guessed what happened.
'Sure enough… border rift.'
Bridge linking Ghost Realm and mortal world.
Yaksha's creation, surely.
Why collapsed? Speculation only—Yaksha's return?
Huff huff…
Huff huff…
Golden-furred pup gnawed Kang Seol's boot.
"What is this."
Then voice from afar.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Jin Ryeo! Are you a g-ghost? Look human…"
"…Jin Ryeo?"
Voice same, but Jin Ryeo looked different—10+ years younger, a girl.
'Appearance changed. No way…'
Grrr…
Kang Seol eyed boot-tugging pup.
"…Chiwu?"
"…Ah, finally. Speech returns."
Jin Ryeo approached Chiwu.
"Puppy?"
"Wolf."
"Hand."
"Death."
As Chiwu and Jin Ryeo bickered, Kang Seol realized location.
"Oh no…"
"Where's this?"
"Why am I like this?"
"Puppy's cute though?"
"Wolf."
"Hand… Aah! Don't bite!"
Kang Seol smiled wryly.
"Ghost Realm."
"What? Ghost Realm?"
"So we're where ghosts are?!"
Kang Seol knew Ghost Realm somewhat.
Yaksha's birth happened there.
Here, souls manifest deepest imprints. Chiwu's wolf form, Jin Ryeo's child form—thus.
Yaksha's emergence.
Kang Seol's group reached its essence.
"Um… but, Kang Seol-nim."
"……"
"What is that look…"
Naturally, Kang Seol's form changed too. He eyed his unfamiliar reflection in Jin Ryeo's pupils.
[Stranded in Ghost Realm by shattered border.]
[Sudden Adventure 'Land of the Ghost King' occurs.]
[This adventure is extremely dangerous.]
……