Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Chapter 11.
Kwaaaaaa—!
The agonized roar of the Corpse Giant mingled with that eerie voice.
Kim Han-yul didn't even get a chance to question how this stranger knew her name.
No—she didn't even have time to process whether she'd heard correctly.
Joo Do-gyeom's voice continued without pause.
"You're an Implementation Artist, right? How long to make a motorcycle?"
"T-ten seconds?"
Before she could question why, her professional judgment answered first.
Joo Do-gyeom nodded.
"Five."
Are you insane?!
She wanted to scream, but the words died in her throat as she watched Do-gyeom's massive hammer shatter the descending palm of the Corpse Giant.
Kwaaaaa—!
Another unearthly shriek.
A sound even her elite Ace Team had never heard before.
'Who is this guy?'
Even as questions swirled, time was ticking.
Mana rapidly concentrated in her hands, and the motorcycle materialized in an instant.
'Did I barely make five seconds?'
Meanwhile.
Do-gyeom—who had just shattered not just a palm but an entire arm of the Corpse Giant—kicked off the air and mounted the bike.
Han-yul barely had time to gape before scrambling on behind him.
Escaping took priority.
But the direction Do-gyeom was steering made no sense.
"Wait—that's back toward—"
No words. Just full throttle.
Vroooom—!
The engine roared as the shadow of the Corpse Giant's palm smashed where they'd just been.
BOOM—!
The ground trembled.
In that split second.
Do-gyeom gunned the bike straight through the Giant's spread legs.
"We're heading downtown."
Since when was that the plan?!
Before she could protest, Do-gyeom answered:
"Want to kill that thing? Then follow my lead."
Preposterous.
Having fought it firsthand, she knew better.
Yet...
Part of her wanted to trust the man at the wheel.
Biting her lip after a moment's hesitation:
"Who are you?"
"Joo Do-gyeom."
Short answer.
The bike raced forward.
Behind them, the Corpse Giant and zombie horde gave chase.
From Do-gyeom's perspective, meeting Han-yul was pure luck.
'I could solo it, but it'd take forever. With an Implementation Artist? Different story.'
Kim Han-yul, Implementation Artist.
Future top-34 ranker.
'34th at her peak, right.'
Her specialty—Implementation Art.
The ability to materialize imagined objects, spirits, even lifeforms.
Overpowered? Absolutely. But with limits.
Implementation types restricted by overall rank.
In the future, she mastered ten variants.
Most devastating? Battle Angel manifestation.
Before the Demon King's war.
Against the Earth Dragon—humanity's worst threat at the time—without her Battle Angels, extinction would've been certain.
The tragedy?
'She died in that fight.'
They weren't close.
Future Han-yul had been cold; Do-gyeom wasn't sociable either.
But her skills? Undeniable.
'Lacking in direct combat, but support-wise? Top-ten material.'
Had she survived the Demon King war? Outcome might've differed.
Who'd have thought she'd be struggling here now?
'Still, this works.'
The Corpse Giant's mechanics were annoying.
Soloing it would've been tedious.
Han-yul's arrival changed everything.
Zombies swarmed from all sides.
Unfazed, Do-gyeom asked:
"How many item types can you implement now?"
Han-yul stiffened.
"Seriously—how do you know my abilities? My name too?"
Past the point of brushing off.
Do-gyeom's mind raced.
Bluff? No.
Convincing lies required.
Fortunately, he'd prepared excuses.
"Scouting potential allies. You're a candidate."
"So you stalked me?"
"Uncomfortable? Leave now. But I'm killing that thing regardless. Your call."
Perfect pressure.
Han-yul couldn't comprehend his confidence.
No—it made no sense.
'Solo the Corpse Giant?!'
Yet somehow... she believed he could.
Amidst her turmoil:
"Five seconds."
"What?"
"Three, two—"
"Fine! I'll cooperate! But explanations later—"
"One."
"Motorcycle, mana pistol, chain net, floating slime—"
"Enough."
Do-gyeom cut her off.
"Make the heaviest chain net possible and trap it. That's all I need."
"Pointless! It'll shred through—"
"Long enough."
A crimson glint flickered in Do-gyeom's eyes.
No joke.
That brief window...
'Will be enough.'
However strong the Corpse Giant, against Heaven-Slaying Star's Mandatory Death Eye?
It's already dead.
No more debate.
Han-yul stopped questioning.
They'd already plunged deep into downtown.
No retreat now.
Had her teammates stayed? Different story.
'They all fled.'
After that failed fire mage's last-ditch attack? Everyone assumed the raid was over.
The bike, pursued by zombies and the Giant, reached downtown's heart.
Before a mountain of corpses.
Twin skyscrapers loomed.
Do-gyeom jerked his chin toward them.
"Get inside. Top floor. You know the rest?"
"Got it. But if it charges the building—"
Before Han-yul finished dismounting:
"Won't happen."
Vroooom—!
Short answer as Do-gyeom wheeled the bike toward the Giant, massive hammer in one hand.
Han-yul gaped at his retreating back.
'Madman. One-handing that hammer while riding? His strength's D-rank at best!'
Dungeon rules don't lie...
Shaking her head, she entered the skyscraper.
Han-yul was right.
No D-rank strength could one-hand that hammer.
Let alone while riding.
But Do-gyeom had tricks.
Burst techniques—momentary power surges with severe recoil.
Like Soaring Roc Wing Art used at the Cannibal's Mansion.
For this?
'Divine Beast Potential Art.'
Exactly as named—invoking mythical beast strength.
Channeling inner energy through meridians, not for speed but raw power.
Crack—!
Something tore inside.
Unprecedented strength flooded his veins.
『Skill acquired: Divine Beast Potential Art (1-Star)』
『Temporary STR Rank Up: D- → D』
『Duration: 10 minutes』
Not bad.
Still insufficient.
'Again.'
No guilt over straining his barely-recovered body.
This was routine.
Bang—! Crack—!
『Skill Rank Up: Divine Beast Potential Art (2-Star)』
『Temporary STR Rank Up: D → D+』
『Duration: 7 minutes 30 seconds』
Now the hammer felt paper-light.
With bike momentum added—
CRASH—!
The Giant's leg disintegrated like artillery hit it.
Kwaaaa—!
Roaring, the Giant flailed wildly.
Do-gyeom smirked, wheeling around to smash its other leg.
Then began circling its torso.
Zombies?
Laughable.
Casual hammer swings turned them to mist.
Problem? Numbers.
They couldn't touch Do-gyeom.
But the fallen Giant? Perfect regeneration fuel.
Worse—
Kwaaaa—!
The Corpse Giant's shriek collapsed part of the corpse mountain, spawning fresh zombies.
Standard annoying mechanic.
Do-gyeom ignored it.
His split consciousness focused solely—
On the Giant's Death Mark.
Huge. Deep.
Staring drained his energy.
Pure physical combat without Heaven-Binding Qi Art's recovery?
He should've collapsed already.
But—
One hit.
'That's all.'
Heaven-Slaying Star's promise.
Infinite regeneration?
Undead traits?
Meaningless.
'Just one clean strike.'
Right... there.
Bang—!
A blue mana shot exploded from the skyscraper.
Signal received.
Do-gyeom wheeled toward the building.
The Giant—newly regenerated—gave chase.
Mental countdown:
'10, 9...'
8, 7.
...
2, 1.
Maximum rear brake.
Wheeeeen—!
The bike's front wheel lifted skyward.
No matter.
One-armed, Do-gyeom pivoted the bike mid-air—
SLAM—!
Front wheel cratered the ground.
Right as—
A massive chain net enveloped the Giant's torso.
It strained to break free.
Do-gyeom floored it.
VROOOOOOM—!
The bike tore across pavement, onto the net's edges, riding the uneven surface upward.
Up the Giant's thrashing body.
Higher.
Higher.
Now—airborne.
Do-gyeom abandoned the bike.
Flipping mid-air, his inverted body faced downward.
Eyes locked on the Giant's crimson-marked crown.
Hammer raised.
Body torque.
For one suspended moment—
Time dilated.
『Skill acquired: Heavy Hammer Strike Art (1-Star)』
Divine Beast strength.
Heavenly Strength Steps' precision.
All concentrated into one descending strike—
Right through the Death Mark.
Then—
KWA-BOOOOOM—!
Not an impact.
A detonation.
The Giant's body exploded outward.
Chunks of flesh rained down.
Plink plink plink—!
Amidst the carnage—
"Haa..."
Do-gyeom exhaled, standing atop the Giant's remains, eyes glacially calm.