Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Three Blood Shadow Corpses
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Manan, one of the Blood Cult's Six Great Asuras, along with Baek and his three Blood Shadow Corpses, pressed deeper into the heart of the Rotten Roots.
They were still at full strength, which was far from ideal for Faust.
Ssssss...
The red mist trailing from Qing grew even thicker. It wouldn't be long before they uncovered the fiend who killed him and exacted bloody vengeance.
...Or would it?
Really?
"Baek."
"...Yes, Lord Manan."
"Do you resent me?"
"How could I possibly resent you, one of the Blood Cult's Six Great Asuras...?"
"You can resent me. It's the truth that Kyung died in my place."
"...I do not resent you."
They had come too far already.
"I don't even know how it came to this."
"The Blood Cult is the strongest. No one can deny that fact. And it remains true even now."
Baek spoke with conviction, as if affirming it to himself.
Indeed, the fact that they had pushed this deep into the Rotten Roots without suffering any real losses lent weight to his words.
"...The cult seeks to plant new roots in the West through this deal with Baron Zariel."
"I've heard as much. That's why we approached Zariel... that man."
"A doubt suddenly creeps in. Is now truly the best time to expand the cult's influence...?"
"What do you mean by that?"
They stopped abruptly.
Manan halted and spoke.
"...No. This isn't the time for such talk. For the sake of our fallen brothers sent ahead, we must uncover the secrets of this place."
Tzzzzzt...
Sizzle...
"...Lord Manan, the terrain has changed."
"I see it."
Tzzzzzt...
A bizarre contraption of iron and rubber sparked with lightning.
Looking around, steel mechanisms dotted the area, and the stench of rust filled the air.
"Stay alert. Something's here."
This chamber was smaller than the previous lava cave.
It wasn't long before its master revealed herself.
[Leader battle commencing.]
[The Demon of Thunder, Amon, unleashes lightning to block the retreat.]
[Amon's unique trait 【Mechanic】 is active.]
"Foolish. Had you lived in ignorance, we never would have met here today."
"...Who are you?"
"Now you've saddled me with a tedious chore."
"I asked who you are!"
Click.
A single lamp flicked on, illuminating the source of the voice.
Small horns and hair tied in twin tails.
The great demon Amon.
Of course, the Blood Cult group had no way of knowing her true identity at a glance.
"Another demon... This must be the Demonic Realm."
"How did you end up here?"
"A precious disciple of our cult was murdered. We've come to demand retribution."
"...You think that's possible?"
Manan recalled Baek's words as he answered.
"The Blood Cult is invincible. If you dare mock us... "
"I know confidence is effective at masking fear."
Amon grinned wickedly.
"But confidence alone can't touch the root of that fear."
Clank...
Amon equipped what looked like gauntlets on her slender arms—mechanical devices.
—The railway signal has come into my hands. Don't let it go.
When Faust had asked her to repair the dimensional relay, this was his payment: a prototype he'd made in bulk for Thunder, only for the deal to fall through, leaving her with a stockpile. Only she and a select few she permitted could operate it.
"...What are you babbling about?"
"It's just turning boring labor into play. Listen well."
Against an enemy, one should cut her off and stab her heart without hesitation. But Amon's presence felt unnaturally ominous, making it impossible to act rashly.
"My magic draws from thunder. A wild, savage force. That's why any magic weapon I use once shatters... This one will too, no doubt."
Amon gazed wistfully at the railway signal for a moment.
"That's why I don't care much for using weapons. They're all things I've grown attached to, after all. Still, I have to tame my magic now and then, or this frail body gets hurt by its ferocity. No choice."
"Is this a demon's lair? You... "
"Quiet..."
She pressed a finger to her lips.
"Focus. No assumptions, no overthinking. I'm about to tell you the one and only way past this point."
"You expect us to believe that?"
"Believe it. Satisfy the conditions, and I'll open the path to the core as promised. You've proven your worth, so I swear it as a demon."
Manan and Baek exchanged glances and bit their lips. With no better options, they had no choice but to hear her out.
Tzzzzzt...
"By channeling my magic into the weapon like this..."
Click.
"The signal lights up. There are only two kinds of lights: blue for advance, red for stop."
Incomprehensible words.
Amon held up one finger.
"The signal has two functions. One links to nearby dimensional relays to form a gate at will. But it can't be used anytime—resources are required."
Then she held up two fingers.
"The other collects what the wearer perceives as noise as those resources."
"...Noise?"
"For example, your pointless chatter or the footsteps from those corpses over there. Make it louder, more grating, and the signal charges faster."
A magic weapon that harvested noise to open gates.
"When the advance signal—blue light—activates, a gate opens, and something from beyond will try to interfere physically. Now, you have exactly two ways to overcome it."
She spoke calmly.
"Kill me, the one supplying magic to the signal, or destroy the signal itself. Nothing else."
"Done explaining?"
"No questions?"
"Why waste time on this nonsense?"
"If I don't explain the rules of the game, my victory is a foregone conclusion—then it's no game, is it?"
The battle began abruptly.
"Let's begin. Inject magic now."
Whirrrrr...
[Amon's basic ability: Mechanic activates.]
[Amon can operate any magic weapon, but those she uses shatter after battle.]
Amon's true power, never seen since her summoning from hell.
Her magic was thunder.
But everyone feared her for the bizarre weapons it powered.
Click.
The lab's lights went out.
Manan mulled over her explanation. A prodigy who had become one of the Blood Cult's Asuras at a young age, he grasped it easily.
'Converts noise to physical force... So we just need to stay silent?'
Manan smiled bitterly.
'Fortune in misfortune? The demon lacks experience with Eastern warriors.'
Eastern martial artists were trained in stealth from childhood. Their movements could slice falling leaves without a sound, blending with falling rain.
Unlike Western warriors, they could fight effectively without making noise.
'And... the Blood Shadow Corpses' skin is harder than steel.'
Phenex's sword hadn't scratched them without infusing heat—they were that resilient.
'Kill the demon before the signal activates.'
Even if it did, the Blood Shadow Corpses could handle it.
Plus, one enemy against five.
It looked favorable.
Manan nodded to Baek.
Nod...
Baek nodded back.
Focusing qi in their eyes let them see through the dark.
'Sending the Blood Shadow Corpses first to surround her, then strike in an instant.'
The Blood Shadow Corpses moved through the darkness without sound or presence. Truly the Blood Cult's pride.
Like fishermen spreading a net to corral river fish, they extended into the shadows.
The Blood Shadow Corpses locked onto Amon's position.
Not yet. Not yet.
The moment both Baek and Manan closed in...
Now!
Crackle!
[Amon uses Unarmed: Workhands.]
[Summoning a pair of hands responsive to Amon's mind.]
Whoosh-!
One massive mechanical hand swept horizontally at the Blood Shadow Corpses, the other at Manan.
Crash!
'Now, Baek!'
[Baek uses Jaw Breaker.]
[Slam upward with force. Hits the jaw? Inflicts 2-second stun guaranteed.]
Fwoosh-!
Amon barely leaned back to dodge the rising kick. But a seasoned warrior pressed on.
Thud thud thud-!
Fists flew without breaking form.
Whirr-
Thud thud thud!
Small mechanical hands floating around Amon deftly blocked Baek's punches. What he'd thought mere ornaments protected her like living things.
Click.
"Ah."
Amon sighed.
"It's over already."
[Amon gains advance signal authority from the railway signal.]
Amon reached toward the Blood Shadow Corpses.
"Advance."
KABOOOOOM-!
What...
'What happened?'
A gut-wrenching flip, like sky and earth inverting.
Manan had seen the gate form. But what followed? He couldn't make it out.
"Lord Manan..."
Something unmistakably made of steel.
Amon's hellforged steel train had charged through the gate, smashing the Blood Shadow Corpses in one go.
And...
They all turned to gore.
"Wiped out...? All the Blood Shadow Corpses dead?"
"I taught you not to make noise."
Screeeeech...
Screech...
Thud...
Sssss...
The train vanished back through the gate.
Her "physical interference" was a massive steel train ramming at full speed.
Naturally, mere corpses couldn't withstand it.
No matter how reinforced with sinister sorcery—they were still flesh and blood.
But those were Blood Shadow Corpses.
All three at once...
"Lord Manan!"
Baek's shout snapped Manan back.
"This is our chance! For the grand cause!"
Ah, how true that was.
If there was a moment to kill the demon, it was now.
The instant the Corpses fell in one strike.
Before the signal recharged.
Fwoooosh-!
Baek and Manan charged Amon desperately.
[Baek uses Primrose Frenzy.]
[Forward barrage of punches at 30% power shoves the target back.]
Thud thud thud thud thud-!
[Manan uses Crimson Bone Claw.]
[Red qi forms beastly talons to shred the target. Effect scales with qi volume.]
Rooooar-!
Crunch!
Riiiiiip!
Amon's two massive mechanical hands split to engage the warriors.
Thud thud!
After three seconds of trading blows, one word flashed in their minds.
Impossible.
No breaching her in short order.
Riiiip!
"Baek..."
Mid-exchange, Manan called to him.
"......"
"Die in my place."
Baek glared at Manan.
Eyes resolved to sacrifice.
"I'll die too. But... I'll tell you what's beyond, no matter what."
"Lord Asura... I trust you."
Click.
Blue light on the signal.
"Hup!"
Fwoooosh-!
Baek unleashed all his qi.
Toward Manan.
Booooom-!
Manan rocketed away.
And.
[Amon gains advance signal authority from the railway signal.]
"Advance."
KABOOOOOM-!
Baek left no scream—his fate evident from scattered flesh and shredded clothing.
Manan neither mourned nor grieved. He did what must be done.
Ssssss...
The blood serum trapped in the dead Blood Shadow Corpses flowed into every orifice of Manan's face.
To the living, it was pure poison.
[Manan uses Ghastly Murder Ghost.]
[Absorbing blood serum surges physical abilities briefly.]
[Becomes a living corpse, gaining new powers.]
[Fail to adapt within time limit? Death.]
Manan, now a living Blood Shadow Corpse.
Death was inevitable, but as the group's leader, he'd honor his promise to Baek.
What to do.
How to fell this demon.
Even as a corpse, Manan thought. If this power couldn't surpass those eerie hands, he'd die just like Baek.
He refused that.
He accepted death—but at least take the demon with him.
'Noise?'
Yes, this power could do what they hadn't tried before.
...A silent death.
Kill without a sound.
'Possible?'
Yes.
If given time.
Whoooosh...
Not a sound.
A change within Manan.
Concentrating blood serum fused with qi at his fingertip.
Slowly... very slowly.
Compress the serum filling his shoulder to arm.
Then fire it...
"Regrettably, playtime's over."
What?
'I made no sound?'
Yawn...
Amon yawned, addressing Manan in the dark.
"You've wasted time foolishly. You didn't grasp the rules."
No...
"You thought no sound meant safe. That's why I said no overthinking."
Click.
Blue light truly lit the signal.
Advance.
Manan revisited the rules he'd thought he understood.
—The other collects what the wearer perceives as noise as resources.
'No way...'
Noise wasn't the key.
Perception was.
Don't make noise?
Don't make what the demon perceives as noise.
[Amon gains advance signal authority from the railway signal.]
"Advance."
KABOOOOOM-!
Screeeeech...
Screeeeech...
Manan desperately used his corpse strength to block the train.
Screeeeech...
Screech...
"Huff... huff..."
The train halted.
Sssss...
It retreated through the gate. Manan's body that stopped it was mangled.
"Heh... hehehehe... What was that?"
"......"
"Noise. What... "
Amon laughed like a child, teeth bared.
"Your heartbeats."
"Cough... No... heh... That's... impossible. Then... no one can... win."
Unreasonable.
That was a demon's true power.
Facing death, Manan asked.
"What's... beyond...?"
No kind answer.
"No need to know."
Drip...
Manan broke his promise to Baek, dissolving into gore.
The obnoxious trio, finale bosses of Episode 2's second act, and Manan of the Blood Cult's Six Great Asuras, caught in their web. They perished without learning the Rotten Roots' core secret.
[Episode 2 Act 2 finale: Blood Cult group ends soon.]
[A peculiar item found in Manan's possessions, caught by chance.]
[Luck aura graces spoils acquisition.]
……