Sha Wujing (3)
Although Cheong Xiao had yet to become a high-ranker, she still enjoyed considerable fame in China—a country as famous for its abundance of rankers as it was for its population.
All of it stemmed from the god she served: Nezha.
No one in the world possesses more sacred relics than I do.
The dozens of treasures belonging to Nezha, one of the most distinguished martial deities, were each said to rival the symbolic artifacts of other gods in power.
Thanks to that inheritance, Cheong Xiao could deploy her sacred relics in a wide variety of situations.
In a maze-type dungeon like this one,
Sacred Relic: Qiankun Fist has detected new movement from one direction!
When rapid movement was required,
Sacred Relic: Wind-Fire Wheels dramatically increases speed!
All she had to do was use the right relic for the right moment.
Even so, Cheong Xiao was careful never to appear arrogant.
I carry far too many treasures. If I make enemies for no reason, there’s no telling what might happen to me.
The hunter world was a barbaric place where a knife in the back could come at any time. She had no desire to lose everything she had painstakingly built.
Idiots like that are more than enough.
Myth: One Who Wears Thunder and Storm is causing lightning to surge in the surroundings. Be careful!
“You damn rats! Just how far are you going to hide?!”
Running beside Cheong Xiao was a dark-skinned Indian man nearly two meters tall.
Mukesh Ambani.
Apostle of the great thunder god Indra and one of India’s top rankers.
Of all the people I could have been paired with… why did it have to be this guy?
Nezha orders you to focus on the mission.
Cheong Xiao barely managed to swallow the sigh rising in her throat.
Unlike other transcendent beings who showed little interest in mortals, her god was extremely meticulous. He was probably watching even her private thoughts. She had to be especially cautious with her behavior.
This idiot seems to only receive orders without much interference, though.
For the past several years, Cheong Xiao had been observing Jang Lee-hyun through the Ten-Thousand-Mile Mirror at Nezha’s command.
Ten-Thousand-Mile Mirror.
One of the sacred relics owned by the Third Lotus Prince. Far superior to the Thousand-Mile Eye, it could track and observe “specific” events no matter how far away they occurred.
Type: Sacred Relic. Origin: Myth — Investiture of the Gods.
Its precise function was to continuously track and observe fragments of Sha Wujing. If any sign emerged that the reclusive figure had made contact with someone, she was to report it to Nezha immediately.
Cheong Xiao did not know why the renowned Sha Wujing had fallen from grace. Nezha had never explained it. Still, she could sense that something unspeakable had happened in the heavenly realm, so she acted accordingly.
Then she discovered Sha Wujing’s movements for the first time and was immediately given a new mission.
Event: Tracking Sha Wujing
📍 Objective: Pass through the temporary gate and subdue Sha Wujing along with anyone he has met.
🎁 Reward: Unknown
Just what happened that they would even create a temporary gate for this?
Direct interference by a god in the mortal realm demanded enormous causality. Creating a gate that could instantly bridge the distance from China to Korea would consume an astronomical amount. Yet Nezha had pushed the operation through without hesitation. That alone proved how critical the mission was.
There were once rumors that Sun Wukong might have fallen from grace… Could it be…?
As she passed through the temporary gate, Cheong Xiao’s suspicions turned into certainty. The other person assigned to this mission was none other than Mukesh.
Two completely different lineages—Indra and Nezha—working together. What else could that mean?
The remnants of Sha Wujing are moving to find the fallen Sun Wukong. It makes perfect sense. And if Sun Wukong has truly appeared…!
The name of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, was known across the world. His divine rank was equally lofty. If she could bring such an existence under her nation’s banner, her shaky position within the party would become rock-solid.
It was an opportunity to completely reverse her status.
But then—
Myth: King Who Delivers Divine Punishment is dominating the surrounding space with intense lightning!
“…Lightning?”
The moment Cheong Xiao arrived at her destination, she was confronted with a situation she had never anticipated.
Lightning was an attribute that had nothing to do with Sun Wukong. Moreover, judging solely by the myth displayed in the message, only a handful of deities came to mind—and very few of them could be referred to as a “king.”
Who on earth—!
Cheong Xiao swallowed dryly as she stared at the man dominating the cavern. He was slender, wearing a black mask that resembled a yaksha or an oni.
Crackle—!
“I ask you this. By what right have you come here?”
The low voice filled the cavern. The scorching heat and killing intent prickled her skin.
He’s strong.
Cheong Xiao swallowed again.
A powerhouse so superior I can’t even guarantee victory… No, someone who would see someone like me as nothing more than an ant…!
You are under intense mental pressure for unknown reasons.
Various status abnormalities are repeatedly occurring for unknown reasons.
It felt as if dozens of curses had been dumped on her at once. Her body grew heavy and her mind spun. All of it was surely the result of the overwhelming presence radiating from her opponent.
But the biggest problem was—
“…Who exactly are you?”
No matter how hard she racked her brain, she could not identify the masked man.
The dungeon system is automatically translating the opponent’s language.
The intense lightning made one person briefly come to mind, but—
No. That person’s body was destroyed by the aftereffects four years ago. I confirmed it multiple times. Besides, his lightning was blue-white.
“How amusing. You barge in as a guest yet ask the owner for his identity?”
Mockery flickered in the eyes behind the demon mask.
“I am the one asking questions. Not you.”
Crackle!
White lightning surged upward again, striking the ceiling. Along the cavern walls, lightning flowed like a river, ready to erupt at any moment.
Arrogant. Yet he possessed the presence to back it up.
That was Cheong Xiao’s first impression. Every single movement he made felt threatening.
“I will not ask twice. Who are you? Are you a spy sent by that bastard who is after my myth?”
Why did he suddenly mention him? Then that means…!
Cheong Xiao’s eyes widened as she recalled the one god among the Twelve Main Deities of Deva who had never found an apostle.
In that case…!
“Kahahaha! Zeus! You’re talking about Zeus?! With Poseidon and Hades already appearing, I wondered why the most important chief god was nowhere to be found! So he was hiding in a place like this?!”
Before Cheong Xiao could even speak, Mukesh burst into loud laughter and stepped forward.
Crackle—!
Intense lightning also erupted from him. However, its color was different from the demon-masked man’s—dark brown instead of white. If the masked man’s lightning was ferocious and oppressive, Mukesh’s burned like molten lava.
Myth: One Who Wears Thunder and Storm reacts sensitively to the opponent’s lightning!
The two lightning forces are causing an intense repulsion reaction.
Rumble—!
The cave shook violently.
The lightning collision is too severe. There is a high risk of the stage collapsing.
Myth: One Who Wears Thunder and Storm feels strong competitive spirit toward the opponent!
“Let me see how skilled you—!”
“No.”
Cheong Xiao stepped in front of Mukesh, who looked ready to charge.
“What the hell are you doing? This is a sacred battle between warriors. Don’t interfere.”
This brainless musclehead.
Cheong Xiao spoke firmly.
“Do you intend to tarnish the face of the god you serve?”
“What?”
“Don’t forget what our mission is. Satisfying your personal desires can come after—do whatever you want then.”
Mukesh glared at her in silence.
But Cheong Xiao responded by intensifying the flames of her Wind-Fire Wheels and drawing the Fire-Tipped Spear slung across her back. She was ready to fight if necessary.
She judged it better to clash with Mukesh, whose weaknesses she had already analyzed, than with the unknown opponent whose true strength she could not yet gauge.
It seems the god agrees.
Nezha is silently observing the opponent who appeared without any foreshadowing.
“How annoying. I’ve never liked you from the start.”
“The feeling is mutual, so we’re even.”
After exchanging some sort of message with his god, Mukesh stepped back with clear displeasure. At least an unnecessary fight had been avoided for now.
Just as Cheong Xiao was about to turn her gaze back to the demon-masked Lee Hyun—
“When have I ever been one to listen so obediently? Right?”
Myth: One Who Wears Thunder and Storm tears through space with Airavata’s Lightning Flash!
“…?!”
Before Cheong Xiao could react, the figure tore through space beside Lee Hyun, unleashing dark-brown lightning with a terrifying expression.
“Let’s see what kind of face is hiding under that arrogant mask.”
The instant Mukesh’s hand reached for Lee Hyun’s mask—
“You called it a sacred battle between warriors?”
The white lightning flowing along the ground shot upward. Beneath the mask, Lee Hyun’s eyes gleamed coldly.
“I don’t think that’s a word uninvited guests who rummage through someone else’s house without permission should be using.”
At that moment, the clash erupted.
BOOM—!
Rumble…!
I wanted to make them back off without a fight if possible… but I guess it can’t be helped.
Lee Hyun had zero intention of fighting Cheong Xiao and Mukesh’s group.
His goal was to make them “misunderstand” and “misjudge” his strength so they would withdraw. That was exactly what he had asked the hidden boss and the curse sorcerers to do.
—If you truly want to save your brothers and friends, reverse the direction of the Great Curse.
—…Reverse the Great Curse?
—Yes. Make sure every intruder who enters this place is crushed by status abnormalities. But do it so slowly that they don’t notice right away. Like clothes getting wet in drizzle.
—Like clothes getting wet…
—That way they’ll be weakened, even if only slightly.
The result was—
Skill effect is perceived 1,410% stronger than normal.
Presence is perceived 1,370% stronger than normal.
…
Various curse talismans are amplifying the status abnormalities.
Status Abnormality: Fear has been strengthened.
Status Abnormality: Tension has been strengthened.
…
Great Curse: Massive Cognitive Distortion is active across all stages of the boss room!
The hidden boss and all subordinate curse sorcerers are pouring their energy into the magic circle!
This was why Cheong Xiao had misunderstood Lee Hyun’s power when he unleashed Keraunos. She would try to conserve strength until she located Sha Wujing’s exact whereabouts—at least, that was what he remembered of her.
He had also expected Mukesh to listen to Cheong Xiao.
But here his judgment had been wrong. Mukesh’s competitive spirit was far higher than anticipated.
Whoosh—!
“Pahahaha! Is this all the apostle of Zeus can do? How disappointing!”
Along with the collision came a scorching gale. Mukesh’s loud laughter echoed through the cavern. He had noticed that the lightning’s actual power was weaker than the cognitive distortion suggested.
In that instant, Lee Hyun realized clearly.
I’m still not ready to face rankers head-on.
It had been only a single clash, yet Mukesh was incredibly strong, as expected of a ranker representing India. If Cheong Xiao joined in, it would become truly dangerous.
However—
Just because it’s difficult doesn’t mean I’ll lose.
Lee Hyun had been an outstanding fighter even in his active days, capable of defeating opponents stronger than himself multiple times. Moreover, this cavern was already packed with every kind of trap he had prepared.
If the fight drags on, my true strength will be exposed. I need to concentrate firepower all at once and overwhelm them before they can regain their composure.
Lee Hyun’s eyes blazed like will-o’-the-wisps.
Lightning warfare it is.
“I’ll shut that arrogant mouth of yours first.”
“Try it if you—!”
The moment Mukesh prepared to launch a second fist strike—
Chains of Lightning activated!
Clatter—!
Suddenly, more than a dozen white chains burst from the ceiling and walls, wrapping around Mukesh’s right arm.
It was the skill of Curse Sorcerer No. 15 that had left the deepest impression on Lee Hyun—Curse Chain—recreated using Do-eok-sini’s fury.
“…!!”
Mukesh frantically tried to break the chains, but—
M-my power won’t move?!
Only then did Mukesh realize the severity of the situation.
Every link in the chains is made of lightning infused with curses.
Curse: Magic Interference successful.
Curse: Nervous Breakdown successful.
…
The hidden boss and all subordinate curse sorcerers are strengthening the chains!
“Starting with the arm.”
In that moment, Mukesh felt a chill run down his spine at the look in Lee Hyun’s eyes behind the mask.
Do-eok-sini’s Rage detonates!
BOOM—!
Swoosh!