Jade Flower Sword Namgung Serin #6
"I'm huuuungryyy!"
The thing had legs like wooden chopsticks, but its leg strength was insane. It charged at me like a maniac, then suddenly leaped at some point, trying to smother me. I watched its movements precisely and thrust my sword straight out, slicing through the hungry ghost's scrawny upper body.
"Kek!"
The ghost was bisected in one strike. The sensation of my blade cutting through bone was something special. The individual combat power of these hungry ghosts wasn't much. But the bastards weren't just a few—they formed a whole damn army. Fighting a horde of these infested-terran-like monsters going apeshit made them a real pain in the ass to deal with.
"Die!"
"Th-this crazy shit!"
"You fucking hungry ghost bastards!"
At first, the ronin fought back hard, taking out the ghosts with gusto. They were such weaklings that a single punch or kick sent them flying far away. But their numbers were overwhelming, and we started getting pushed back bit by bit.
"Jae Mi-son! There are too fucking many of these shits!"
"Kuk kuk, don't get separated no matter what."
Whiiik! Jae Mi-son thrust his I-sang Je-go hard, piercing a hungry ghost's skull, then shook it left and right to keep the others at bay. Perfect area control. I stabbed wildly with my sword, brushing off the ghosts flying at me one after another.
And while doing that—
Kwajik! I stomped on a ghost approaching my legs, crushing it.
Stay calm. There were a lot of hungry ghosts, but we were holding a proper formation. If we just maintained this and fought, we could hold them off.
"Giiiive me meeeat!"
Then, one hungry ghost flew in from the left. In a pinch, I extended my arm to block it.
Kwaak! The ghost bit down on my yopi wan-gap. But this bastard must've been starving, because it chomped away at my gauntlet, slathering it in drool. You filthy fuck!
"You fucking shit!"
I gripped my sword tight and slammed the pommel into its skull like I was stamping "well done."
Kwaang!
"Kkeuk!"
"Raise your guards!"
The fierce battle continued like that. I stuck right by Jae Mi-son, taking out ghosts and holding our position. Gradually, I could see their numbers thinning.
"Uwaaaak!"
"Aaaak!"
Still, ronin kept getting hit one by one. Guys collapsing with horrific screams left and right. The hungry ghosts might be shit-tier, but the vicious teeth in their maws were the real deal. If bare skin got caught in there, you'd be in for major injury.
"I'm huuuungryyy!"
"Eat this!"
Kwajik! I shoved my sword into the mouth of a charging ghost, and the blade pierced straight through the back of its head. I tossed the limp body aside and soccer-kicked another one away like a ball.
Right then—
Pararak! Something like yellow paper flew in from behind.
Hwaruruk! Suddenly, the paper burst into flames, causing a small explosion that incinerated the hungry ghosts!
"Gaaaaak!"
"Meeeat!"
"Huuungryyy!"
The ghosts screamed as they burned!
"What the hell is that?!"
What? Magic?! Magic in murim? This ain't murim anymore!
"Don't be surprised... That's probably talismans from the Taoists."
"Talismans?!"
"Kuk kuk, with Maosan Sect nearby, they must've commissioned them for the labyrinth raid."
What's Maosan Sect?! First time hearing it! Anyway, the warriors from the Namgung family holding the rear stayed steadfast at the center, using polearms to eliminate ghosts while tossing talismans to support the fight. Truly a well-trained unit.
Time passed like that, and eventually, the hungry ghost horde was wiped out.
"The hungry ghosts are all dead! Tend to the wounded!"
"Yes!"
At Piri-ja Daehyeop's command, we scanned the surroundings.
"Kkeueuk!"
"Euk...!"
Several ronin were gushing blood from their arms and legs. Just one bite had done that to them. If I hadn't had my gauntlet or paid attention to my lower body, I might've ended up the same.
"Bandages first! Wrap 'em up! Hey! You got bandages?!"
I yelled at a ronin collapsed and bleeding profusely.
"N-no...!"
"Fuck it! Then strip your clothes!"
"Wh-what?!"
Bbuuk! I ripped his clothes to shreds on the spot, making bandages, then wrapped the wound tightly around and around. Who knew army first aid would come in handy? Either way, if you didn't stop the bleeding fast, it was game over.
"M-my clothes?! You goddamn dog bastard! Who the fuck rips people's clothes?!"
"What? I save your ass and you bitch?!"
Kwaang!
"Eok!"
I punched the ungrateful prick in the nose, and he sprayed blood, writhing in agony.
"Want more, you fucking shit?!"
"Aaaak! Stop! Stop!"
"Say thanks!"
"Th-thanks! Th-thank you for stopping the bleeding!"
"Should've said that first! You're pissing me off! One more!"
"Aaaak! Aak! Aaaak! My bad! My baaad!"
"Just die, you fucking shit!"
"Keuaaaak!"
In that vibe, I played Nightingale, bestowing merciful grace on the wounded. Even Mother Teresa would've given me a thumbs-up for such noble service.
"First aid complete! Wounded, retreat outside the labyrinth! Rest, regroup!"
"Regroup!"
At the order, the walking wounded—mostly guys with one arm hit—supported those with leg injuries and began retreating. The guy I'd beaten like a dog joined the retreat line, sobbing with a bloody nose. His face was so bruised he looked like an Avatar Na'vi. With his clothes torn to half-naked rags, the authenticity was perfect. James Cameron would've flipped out, foaming at the mouth yelling "Toruk Makto!" and demanding to shoot Avatar 2 on the spot.
Anyway, about half our forces were gone.
"H-hey! What if yokai show up on the retreat...!"
"No yokai! We're killing 'em all! Hurry and retreat!"
"Got it!"
True. With all yokai dead, nothing should pop up on the way back. Watching them go, I took a break with Jae Mi-son.
"Huu. Fucking exhausting. Right?"
"Kuk kuk, fierce battle. Can't even laugh. Kik."
"You're number one for keeping your humor in this shit."
"Nu-number one...?"
Light nutrition boost. I gulped water and dumped mi-so powder in my mouth. Dying of fatigue here.
"Regroup done! Moving out again! Target: the labyrinth's depths! With the hungry ghost pack dead, no other enemies should be left!"
No enemies on the way, sure. But what's in the depths? I wanted to ask, but the move-out order dropped immediately. Our ronin group took point.
"Huuungryyy!"
"Meaaat meaaat meaaat!"
A stray hungry ghost or two popped up now and then, but at this level, they weren't even opponents.
"You fucking bastards!"
"Hungry ghost shits!"
Enraged ronin casually kicked them, snapping bones and sending them whimpering. Various weapons slammed into the fallen ghosts' heads. Like that, we pushed toward the labyrinth's heart.
* * *
What was it? The deeper we went, the stranger it felt. Cool, refreshing? Maybe a sign we were nearing the heart. Tense and alert, Okhwa Geom spoke.
"Halt. We're approaching the heart soon."
Finally here.
"Scout ahead. Find the path."
"Yes!"
At Okhwa Geom's order, Hacheon-dae warriors moved fast. Scouts scattered in all directions. Soon after—
"Found the path! It goes down!"
"Hm, underground structure. Understood. Let's go."
"Yes!"
Sure enough, a staircase-like descent appeared shortly. Even Jae Mi-son was tense and talking nonsense.
"Ah... When ronin like us die, we fall into hell like this."
"What bullshit."
Nice guys like me go to heaven. I just moved Nightingale and Mother Teresa to tears at the same time, and even got James Cameron’s thumbs-up. If a guy like me can’t get into heaven, then heaven’s the one with the problem.
Anyway. Descending, we hit a corner. I poked ahead cautiously and peeked around...
Whoa, a wide-open space. And in the center, one person stood.
Wait. Person?
"What? Hey, Jae Mi-son. There's a person over there?"
"What nonsense..."
"A person?"
Piri-ja Daehyeop grabbed my shoulder, peeked himself, then yelled in shock.
"Wh-what! Lady! Over there! A person's there!"
"What?!"
Okhwa Geom rushed over and looked.
"A person...! No! Sorcerer!"
"Sorcerer?!"
Sorcerer?!
"Eliminate it quickly!"
"Yes!"
Okhwa Geom and Hacheon-dae charged. Piri-ja Daehyeop ordered the ronin to assault. We all grouped up and rushed the cavern.
But hold up. A sorcerer in the labyrinth heart? Weird, but something clicked. Okhwa Geom and her Hacheon-dae probably had tons of labyrinth raid experience. Yet her voice discovering the sorcerer held dismay, or embarrassment. Meaning this was an unexpected accident?
"Haaap!"
Okhwa Geom and Hacheon-dae charged ahead yelling battle cries. The sorcerer glanced our way, raised a skull staff, and muttered something.
At the same time—
Hwaaaak! A blood-red ghost gate appeared behind the sorcerer!
"G-ghost gate!"
"It's a ghost gateee!"
"Ghost gate opened!"
Ronin shouted.
"Hurry! Take out that sorcerer!"
"Yes!"
Just as Okhwa Geom and Hacheon-dae were about to reach it—
Kung!
Kugugung! Suddenly, an earthquake hit.
No. Not earthquake. Something surged from the ground!
"Graaaaah!"
What burst out was a massive hungry ghost! Bigger than a damn car!
"Great Hungry Ghost!"
Someone yelled it. I wanted to echo, but no time. Because it wasn't just one!
Kung!
"Kaaaaah!"
"Kraaaah!"
Great hungry ghosts erupted everywhere. All hidden underground. That forced Okhwa Geom and Hacheon-dae to pull back, unable to reach the sorcerer.
"Damn it! Deal with the great hungry ghosts!"
"Yes!"
"Fight!"
"Kill the great hungry ghosts!"
"Hap!"
Okhwa Geom thrust at a great hungry ghost, carving a huge gash in its body that started chunking apart instantly.
"Heok!"
Incredible swordsmanship! Chilling destructive power!
Of course, not just her. Hacheon-dae formed teams, attacking with precise, powerful strikes.
But.
"Hwaaaak!"
"Aaaak!"
The ronin facing car-sized yokai were different. They lacked the courage, panicking and fleeing the moment great hungry ghosts appeared, only to get snatched.
"S-save meee!"
"Meaaat!"
A huge ghost grabbed a ronin with both hands and ripped off his head, chowing down!
"U, uwaaaak!"
I screamed seeing it!
"Snap out of it...! Kim Geun-hyeop! Wanna die?!"
"Jae Mi-son!"
"Kill the great hungry ghosts or we die...!"
True!
"Fuck this! Everyone snap out! Kill the bastards! Jae Mi-son! Link with Piri-ja!"
In times like this, stick with the strong and reliable!
"Kik...! Finally snapped to. Got it."
I bolted to Piri-ja Daehyeop with Jae Mi-son.
"Piri-ja Daehyeop! Ronin can't handle 'em alone! Fight centered on you and take down the great hungry ghosts!"
"Y-yeah! Good call! All ronin, to me! Uh, first!"
"Kraaaah!"
A great hungry ghost reached for us. Piri-ja Daehyeop didn't flinch, bravely thrusting his sword.
Chwaak! Slicing the ghost's palm!
"Giyaaaak!"
"You lot! Flank and stab that big belly!"
"Yes!"
We followed orders. Jae Mi-son and I split left and right.
I faced a great hungry ghost's side and—
"Haaap!"
Unleashed a Sam-jae Geom-beop form!
Chwahaaak! Its belly tore, blood gushing out. The ghost flailed without real resistance.
"Th-this fucker! All size, no speed! Stay calm and kill it!"
Just shit-tier! If everyone remembered that and fought, we'd win.
But most ronin were panicking, and Okhwa Geom's crew controlling them were busy with erupting great hungry ghosts everywhere.
Right then—
Hwaaak! Something caught my eye. The ghost gate the sorcerer opened was burning.
"That?"
As I muttered, something emerged from the gate.
Seureureuk. A muscular giant with a horse head. Straight out of hell's demon realm, it stepped forth snorting, gripping a massive odachi.
"Horse-Headed Rakshasa!!!!"
Piri-ja Daehyeop bellowed like thunder.
Horse-Headed Rakshasa?
"J-Jae Mi-son. That?"
"Kuk kuk... We're fucked. We're all dead."
But why the creepy laugh!!!