Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Beijing Gate (4)
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The limousine carrying Kim Hyun sped across downtown Beijing.
Out the window, massive buildings and crowds of people flashed by. Beijing was undeniably a colossal city. The population density was insane, and the structures were grand.
'Not bad.'
Kim Hyun hummed a little tune as she gazed outside.
For her first time in a foreign city, it was pretty impressive.
Of course, it didn't look all that different from Seoul's streets. But hey, the fact that it was overseas was what mattered.
She hadn't even started sightseeing yet.
Once she actually toured around, she'd probably get a stronger sense of that Chinese vibe.
'Let's wrap this up quick.'
She was thinking that when—
"That's the gate you see up ahead."
Liu Guoliang, riding with her, pointed forward.
Kim Hyun turned her head to look.
There, far off in the sky, was a warped patch of space.
A rift glowing with red light.
It was an S-Rank gate, plain as day.
"It's pretty big."
Kim Hyun muttered.
"Yes. The Beijing Gate is enormous in scale."
Liu Guoliang said with a serious expression.
"From our internal investigation, it's believed to be a jungle-type elite gate."
Chae Seol-ah then explained for Kim Hyun, who had no idea what an elite gate was.
"An elite gate has fewer monsters, but each one is incredibly powerful. The key feature is that there's no boss monster."
The car soon pulled up right in front of the gate.
Chinese hunters and soldiers were already deployed around the gate, sealing it off and preparing for any contingencies.
As Kim Hyun stepped out of the car, every eye in the vicinity locked onto her.
"It's Liu Guoliang!"
"So that must be Korea's national power-level hunter?"
"A woman?"
"She's younger than I expected... Which one is it?"
Murmurs rippled through the soldiers and hunters.
Ignoring their stares, Kim Hyun looked up at the gate with a nonchalant expression.
"Seol-ah, you hang back outside this time."
"Huh? I'm not going in?"
"Nope. Instead, scout out some Beijing food spots for me. I wanna try Peking duck."
Chae Seol-ah nodded at that. Liu Guoliang, standing behind her, gave an awkward smile.
"Once it's over, I'll recommend a great place I know. Though it'll have to wait until the Shanghai and Chengdu gates are cleared too."
"You promised."
Kim Hyun shrugged and headed toward the gate.
The inside of the gate was a dense jungle.
Towering trees blotted out the sky, and thick green vines draped everywhere. Humid air clung to her skin.
"This is a real jungle, alright."
Kim Hyun scanned her surroundings.
Liu Guoliang was right—it was a jungle-type gate.
'Monsters...'
She closed her eyes lightly and swept the area with her mana sense.
Powerful mana signatures immediately registered nearby.
'Seven.'
A total of seven intense mana reactions. They had to be the monsters.
'Few but elite, huh.'
The numbers were low, but each one's mana was formidable.
Kim Hyun smirked.
At that moment—
BOOM!
A massive tree shattered as something burst out.
It was a gorilla-type monster over three meters tall. Covered head to toe in black fur, it swung arms as thick as tree trunks right in front of her.
KIIIII!
The gorilla monster roared and charged at Kim Hyun.
THUD THUD THUD!
Incredible speed!
Even a typical S-Rank hunter would barely react in time.
But—
"Slow."
Kim Hyun flicked her finger casually.
SHIIIING!
An invisible slash hurtled forward.
KIIK?!
Sensing the sudden deadly intent, the gorilla twisted its body in a panic.
But—
It was too late.
SLASH!
The slash severed the gorilla's left arm.
KAAAA!
The gorilla monster screamed.
But Kim Hyun wasn't done.
SHIIIING! SHIIIING! SHIIIING!
Three slashes flew in rapid succession.
Invisible slashes incoming!
The gorilla desperately tried to dodge.
But the attacks were too fast.
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
In an instant, the gorilla's body was torn to shreds.
Kik...
It collapsed, limbs scattered.
Kim Hyun crushed its head and muttered indifferently.
"One."
Right then—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Trees crashed from all directions as monsters emerged.
A massive leopard, a venomous snake, a scorpion, a raptor.
All S-Rank monsters.
KIIK!
HIIIISSS!
SKREEE!
They charged at Kim Hyun from every side.
Kim Hyun sighed.
"What a hassle."
THUD!
She stomped the ground hard.
Then—
SCRREEECH!
Dozens of slashes erupted outward.
Sudden incoming slashes. True to their S-Rank status, the monsters reacted instantly and tried to evade.
But it was pointless.
This was Kim Hyun's attack.
Mere S-Rank monsters—even elites—couldn't dodge it. You'd need boss-level power just to have a shot.
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
The slashes carved precisely through the monsters.
KIK!
HISSS!
Limbs severed by the powerful slashes, the monsters screamed and fell.
Kim Hyun watched impassively.
'Yeah, nothing special. Just as expected.'
S-Rank monsters or not, they were small fry to her. To the ruler of hell, the lord of demon lords, these were barely a post-meal stroll.
Not even that, really.
She hadn't eaten yet.
"I'm hungry."
Kim Hyun rubbed her stomach and strolled onward.
"Might as well finish quick and grab some Peking duck."
She extended her mana sense again.
'Two left.'
Two mana reactions remained.
Kim Hyun headed that way. Soon, two monsters appeared from behind a huge tree.
One was a massive snake over five meters long. The other, a winged tiger.
"Whoa. That one back then didn't have wings."
Wings on a non-boss?
Kim Hyun tilted her head curiously.
Hiiiisss...
Grrrr...
The two monsters glared at her warily.
Unlike the others, they weren't charging recklessly.
'Learned from watching those guys?'
Kim Hyun smirked.
Didn't matter if they had.
It wouldn't change a thing.
"Die."
THUD!
She flicked her finger again.
SCRREEECH!
Countless slashes instantly flew at the two monsters.
Hiss!
Grrruk!
They desperately tried to evade.
But—
Kim Hyun's slashes neatly decapitated them both.
The headless snake and tiger tumbled across the ground.
"Done."
Kim Hyun dusted off her hands.
All monsters inside the gate cleared.
Time taken... about three minutes.
If word got out, people would faint from shock.
Of course, to her, it was routine.
Kim Hyun looked around.
'Elite gates have no boss, right?'
Time to head out, then?
'Hm?'
That's when she felt something off.
Amid the usual repulsive gate mana, something even more nauseating stood out. A concentrated, sickening aura from somewhere nearby.
'This is...'
Her eyes darkened.
'The scent of the outer ones.'
No doubt about it.
It reeked of an otherworldly presence.
'Another necklace-like thing here?'
Kim Hyun followed the foul sensation.
Pushing through the jungle, she reached a small clearing.
And in the center of that clearing was a sword stabbed into the ground.
Its black blade was etched with bizarre runes, and its hilt dangled with blood-red tassels.
A sinister energy oozed from it.
Looked like some serious artifact at a glance.
"Let's see..."
Kim Hyun picked it up.
Instantly—
VRRRRUM!
Tremendous mana exploded from the sword.
Black energy tried to envelop her body.
But—
"Tch."
She brushed it off effortlessly.
"Another outer god-linked abomination."
Kim Hyun examined the sword closely.
It radiated outer god mana. Same type as the bone necklace Karen had.
'Function...'
She gripped it tight.
A creaking sound echoed as the sword's structure flooded her mind.
"Eh, standard stuff."
This sword enslaved its wielder to an outer god. The more you used it, the more your mind eroded—until you became a complete slave.
'That's how they make their minions.'
Kim Hyun gritted her teeth.
'Now I get how they spread these abominations worldwide.'
Hunters conquer gates, find these ominous-looking relics, take them as loot. Seduced by the power, they use them... and boom, outer god slaves.
'That's how it spread.'
Just like in Karen's memories—dozens already scattered across the world.
All disseminated this way.
"Sneaky bastards."
Anyone would snatch up something that screamed 'gate reward.'
Classic outer god treachery.
Kim Hyun squeezed harder.
The sword creaked and cracked.
'Wonder if Shanghai has one too.'
Maybe even Chengdu.
'Guess that means I have to go to Chengdu.'
Kim Hyun was annoyed.
Making her go through extra trouble because of these damn things.
This frustration wouldn't fade without some primo Peking duck.
She smacked her lips.
"Anyway, three minutes—a new record."
Korea's gonna lose it again.