Chapter 279
Chapter 279
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 279
Chapter Title: Act 56. Monstrous Might, Chaotic God (2)
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Monstrous Might, Chaotic God.
I’d heard of it before.
An Oni that possessed power beyond comprehension, one that had entered the realm of a demigod.
Such a being was sometimes referred to as a Monstrous Might, Chaotic God.
It was a being that even appeared as a boss in one of the late-game gates.
Naturally, at a point where we were just about to enter the mid-game…
…it was by no means a creature that should appear as a mere mid-boss.
“The evil spirit that appeared before wasn't simply weakened from being sealed for a long time. All of its power was absorbed by that thing!”
Seimei shouted as he sent a new talisman flying into the sky.
Before the talisman could exert any power, it crumbled into ash.
It was because it couldn't withstand the overwhelmingly powerful demonic energy.
[Kikiki…]
Was that all?
A considerable number of evil spirits, having appeared from who knows where, were circling the Oni, acting as a sort of guard.
Whenever the onmyoji tried to do something, the spirits would rush in like suicide bombers, eliminating the threat before vanishing.
They said it had absorbed a massive number of evil spirits.
Was it using them like minions?
“We have to separate the absorbed spirits from it first!”
Mayuri dashed forward, attaching a talisman to her sword.
A typical onmyoji doesn't wield a sword.
However, the style Mayuri had learned was of a unique kind.
She had mastered a distinctive art called the Ghost Sword Style, which combined sorcery with swordsmanship.
[Character, Mayuri, uses the skill 'Ghost Sword Style - Riot of a Hundred Flowers'.]
*Shwaaack!*
Flowers bloomed profusely along the path of the sword.
It wasn't an illusion; mana in the shape of flowers annihilated the evil spirits on contact.
“I-I'll help!”
Iwato finally came to his senses and began to use his talismans.
The other onmyoji also began to pull themselves together and act one by one.
Seimei seemed to be preparing something big…
*Kwwaaang!*
Flames like the sun erupted ceaselessly.
It was the aftermath of the battle between Yaogami, who continuously shot his Heavenly Fire, and the Oni, who parried it all.
‘To make sure the chain quest continues properly, I need a certain amount of contribution points.’
I couldn't just stand by and watch.
At the same time, I had to refrain from revealing my full hand.
It would be better to step in only when necessary, just enough to accumulate contribution points, and manage the situation.
‘If the Yamato Guild's strength is diminished somewhat through this, it'll be easier for me to act.’
Turning them against each other.
With this incident, I intended to reap every possible benefit I could.
[Is this all you can do!]
*CRUNCH!*
As the Oni reached out in one direction and clenched its fist, a part of a nearby mountain was literally torn away and compressed into a sphere.
A boulder larger than a typical apartment building.
Everyone's eyes were filled with horror, as if they had seen something they shouldn't have.
Facing that, I immediately understood why it was called a Monstrous Might, Chaotic God.
That was, quite literally, monstrous strength.
[I'll wipe you all out at once, you insects.]
The Oni's arm moved, and the boulder flew.
It broke through a wall of Heavenly Fire and became enveloped in it, resembling a small sun.
“G-Get back!!”
The target was the spot where the onmyoji were gathered.
They tried to create a barrier with talismans, but the Heavenly Fire burned them all away, leaving them defenseless.
Just as Seimei and Mayuri, having no clear solution, were searching for another way…
The Sword Saint intervened.
*KWAAAAANG!!*
“Keuk…!”
“Yuki!”
“I'm alright! This sword is quite a masterpiece, so it won't break easily…! But my body isn't in good condition, so I won't be able to hold on for long!”
The Sword Saint shouted with great effort.
In contrast, the Oni's expression was relaxed.
It was as if pressing down on that ridiculously large boulder was nothing more than a brief game to it.
“Explode!”
*Kwakwang!*
Suddenly, a large number of kunai embedded themselves in the boulder's surface and detonated.
It was a ninjutsu used by Himura.
The Sword Saint used that opening to escape, and the corner of the Oni's mouth turned down slightly.
“My thanks, Himura.”
“If you know you're not well, don't be so reckless. Cleaning up after you is a pain.”
“Haha… I'll keep that in mind.”
Yaogami stared at the stone fragments for a while.
The Heavenly Fire still clung to them, burning, but the stone seemed unharmed until the moment it was released from the Oni's control, at which point it immediately charred black.
[Humans were always like this. Weak as individuals, yet they swarm together and try to accomplish something.]
The Oni muttered.
[Garbage is still garbage, no matter how much you gather. Last time, I thought that way and underestimated you, and I paid the price. Not this time.]
The Sword Saint's attack was easily parried.
As if to mock the Sword Saint's pride in her "masterpiece" sword, the Oni's punch shattered the blade as a bonus.
[Awaken, all you who are forgotten.]
*Thud*, a hand emerged from the pit.
It wasn't just one.
As one revealed itself, another followed. And another.
So many emerged that it was hard to imagine how they had all fit inside; in an instant, a number of demons greater than the players gathered here had awakened.
“This is…!”
Seimei urgently clapped his hands together.
Talismans enveloped in mana formed a dome, slowly creating a barrier from the outside in, but its progress was slow, perhaps because the area was too wide.
“Some of them are breaking through the encirclement!”
“That direction leads to the residential area…!”
“There are players over there, too. They should be able to handle grunts like those. More importantly, look in front of you. The number of demons remaining here is also considerable.”
At Yaogami's words, the players' tension skyrocketed.
From those with humanoid forms to those that looked like bizarre creatures.
Countless oni were gathered like an army.
“Seimei. Do you have to start over with the ritual you were preparing earlier?”
“…I had to cancel it to raise the barrier, so I had no choice. With the increased number of oni, it will take more time than before.”
“Not good news.”
“No! I anticipated this and continued the ritual after Seimei stopped, so it won't take that long!”
“Good news.”
“…”
He feels a bit like Hwang Chan-jin.
I cracked my neck lightly.
The other demons could be handled well enough by the other players.
But, the 'Most Forgotten Being'.
Judging by the performance it just showed, this chapter's boss would require S-rankers to even stand a chance.
[My power is draining.]
The Oni's gaze slowly turned toward Mayuri and Seimei.
Its face twisted as if it had seen something disgusting, and the ground beneath its feet cracked.
[Insects.]
*Fwoosh!*
The Oni threw a roundhouse kick into the empty air.
Though the attack hit nothing, those who sensed something wore terrified expressions and hastily moved away.
*KWAAAAANG!*
An explosion erupted in a wide, fan-shaped area along the arc of the kick.
The people within range were sent flying so far they disappeared from view, unable to even scream.
It wasn't some kind of martial art, just a simple kick.
And yet, the sheer force behind it caused this much destruction.
At this level, its physical prowess was in the realm of the miraculous.
“Your opponent is me, Oni.”
Yaogami, who blocked such an attack without batting an eye, could also be called outstanding.
Acquiring the power of Japan's greatest god must have played a part, but his own stats were likely higher than Graham's.
The strange power I felt around his body… was it a blessing?
Well, just like with the Manpasikjeok, a nation's god grants a significant buff to its people when they fight against a clear evil.
In that state, he could simultaneously attack and protect the onmyoji who needed to perform their ritual.
[Do you think you can both attack and defend against me, human who inherited the power of Heavenly Fire.]
“It is possible. If I will it.”
[…You. Your arrogance pierces the heavens.]
The Oni gritted its teeth.
I was thinking of drawing its aggro and letting him attack if need be, but his tanking ability is incredible.
I cut down a lesser demon that was rushing me and assessed the situation.
The gazes on me had started to diminish, so maybe I should step in for a moment.
*KWAANG!!*
I took advantage of an opening and launched an attack.
It was an attack from a blind spot, but the Oni reacted instantly.
[Did you think a surprise attack would work!]
It countered with its fist again, just like before, but an invisible force between the fist and my sword pushed against each other, spreading pressure in all directions.
After a brief struggle of strength, I felt myself being slowly pushed back and quickly retreated.
‘It countered an attack imbued with mana using pure strength?’
Even if I hadn't used Black Flame, that didn't mean I hadn't used mana.
In fact, it was hardly a light tap.
That last attack was strong enough that even an S-rank player like Himura wouldn't have been able to block it easily and would have been sent flying.
But the Oni parried it with ease.
It had solved everything with overwhelmingly brute strength.
[Impressive, human. To think a human capable of blocking my strike exists in this era.]
And then it even praised me.
For a moment, I was so dumbfounded that I wondered if it was mocking me.
‘To be able to do that, its pure strength would have to have entered the transcendent stage.’
A small, dry laugh escaped me.
Then again, it was a being that had entered the realm of a demigod; it would be stranger if it *didn't* have a transcendent stat.
Even Crow, a mere human, possessed transcendent strength, so there was no way this thing wouldn't.
The reason it wasn't completely overwhelming everyone here was because it had just been unsealed.
It was obvious that the more time we gave it, the tougher it would become.
“Amaterasu!”
*Hwaaak!*
Yaogami's eyes, now high up in the air, flashed.
Flames erupted in a wide area centered on the Oni.
And I was within that range.
‘That damn bastard.’
I managed to escape by dodging the moment I saw it, but his intention to get rid of me at the first opportunity was blatant.
[I see. Are you two the strongest ones remaining in this land? Then that means if I eliminate you, the rest will be insignificant, yes?]
The Oni chuckled.
“No, I'm not Japanese…”
“You've realized it, Oni. We are the guardians of this land.”
“Hey.”
<…?>
Technically, since I'm not Japanese, I have no desire to get deeply involved.
But to that thing, my country of origin probably didn't matter.
[…Well, whatever. My adaptation is nearly complete, so let's begin in earnest.]
*Kwagwagwang!*
As the Oni drew upon its power, the ground around it cracked in successive concentric circles.
So the feeling I'd had that it wasn't using its full power was because the Oni also needed time to adapt to the present world.
But, coincidentally, our side had also just finished all preparations.
“I never thought the day would come when I'd have to join forces with you.”
“A coincidence. I was just thinking something similar.”
“This will probably be the last time, though.”
“I certainly hope so. You two there! Step back! I am activating the ritual!”
[Great Nine-Yin Malevolent Demon Sealing Formation]
As Seimei formed hand seals, a light like the dawn sky shot high into the air.
Following that, as Mayuri recited an incantation, countless ethereal hands of a bluish-green hue appeared in the air.
[You bastards…!]
While the light suppressed its power, the ethereal hands grabbed and tore the evil spirits away.
The more they tore away, the stronger the spirits revealed underneath were, taking more time to remove, but whenever the Oni tried to do something, Yaogami would appropriately interfere with an attack.
And when the final evil spirit was torn from the Oni's body with a scream…
*KWAGAGAGA!*
The ground where the Oni stood suddenly shot up into the sky.
[Do you think that just by tearing these away, you can stop me with your power!]
The Oni roared loudly and slammed its fist into the surface of the raised pillar of earth.
*CRACK.*
A crack formed in the pillar.
*KWAGWAGWANG!!*
Afterward, with a sound like thunder, the pillar exploded, sending countless stone fragments scattering in all directions like a burst from a grenade.