Chapter 279
Chapter 279
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 279
>Chapter Title: The Fourth Legion Leader of Ruin
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>It was chilling.
There was no other way to put it.
The place was shrouded in a dead silence so heavy it was suffocating.
And it was all because of the monster looming before them.
Boom! Thud!
Its massive frame made the ground tremble with every step.
Crude armor that barely covered its hulking, muscular body.
A huge, iron-hard hand that could crush a human like an insect.
The beast, reminiscent of a mythical minotaur, was nothing short of a shock and terror to the players.
And it was no wonder.
“...Leon got one-shot?”
“Insane...”
“No way. How are we supposed to take that thing down?”
The performance of killing a Top 10 Guild Master in one blow was more than enough to shatter their will to fight.
And it wasn't just the guild members who felt the impact.
The others were on edge too, if not quite as badly.
Even the fanatics of the Kashin Church, who had been ready to chase heretics to the ends of hell, now stood frozen, staring up at the monster.
“What the hell is that?”
“...No idea.”
Arthur and the Empress wore unusually grim expressions.
‘Even accounting for him letting his guard down...’
It was still absurd.
The thought of being in Leon's place sent chills down his spine, but the real problem was something else.
[Fourth Legion Leader of Ruin]
-Title: Legion Leader of Ruin, Limit-Breaking Demonic Beast, Vanguard
-Type: Abyss, Demonic Beast
-Traits: Authority of Ruin, Limit Break, Legion Leader, Overwhelming Power, Brutish Simplicity
-Description: A Legion Leader sealed away for ages.
One of the five Legion Leaders serving the Lord of Ruin among the Abyss's many powerhouses, his destructive power inherited from the Authority of Ruin is unparalleled.
Though renowned for his overwhelming destructive might, he is currently in an unstable state, having lost his reason.
-All stats are reduced by 30%.
-Some traits are sealed.
-Some skills are sealed.
-Contact with the Authority of Ruin results in instant death. Beware.
‘Authority of Ruin... So it's not just one instant-kill move?’
The skill he'd seen earlier was definitely Ruin's Grasp.
If it stemmed from the Authority of Ruin, it wouldn't be strange if there were several more like it.
‘The Abyss... Just like with the tomb. Coincidence?’
It had been a hunch back then, but here the info laid it out plain as day.
That made the comparison all the clearer.
The boss from before, a disaster in its own right, hadn't borne the title of Legion Leader.
This monster did.
‘Meaning it's at least stronger than the Disaster of the Forgotten Tomb.’
Worst-case scenario.
They needed every bit of firepower they could muster right now.
Arthur's face hardened as he scanned their surroundings. The Empress and Kaiser were exhausted, Leon and Damien dead for nothing.
Over half the guild members were gone; even including the Kashin Church, they barely topped a hundred.
The Disaster of the Forgotten Tomb had overwhelmed several times this number. Could they take this with their current forces?
‘...Whether we can parry it or not is the key.’
If that instant-kill could be parried like the tomb's disaster, they had a shot. If not...
It was game over.
Did they all sense it?
Eyes turned one by one, until every gaze fixed on Do-hyun.
Eyes pleading for an answer.
He knew what they wanted, but unfortunately, Do-hyun couldn't give it.
When he'd first encountered the beast, he hadn't just backed off.
He'd tested it out of course, to make a proper call—and within 20 seconds flat, he'd retreated without hesitation.
[The skill imbued with the Authority of Ruin cannot be parried.]
[Warning! Contact results in instant death.]
‘Damn it!’
The Authority of Ruin was exactly that—an authority.
Not a normal skill, so no parrying it.
A boss with instant-kills galore and no parry window. A Legion Leader of the Abyss to boot. Picking a fight was suicide.
‘That's why I planned to sneak in while the Top 10 Guilds distracted it...’
The Top 10 Guilds allying against him had thrown a wrench in that.
And that wasn't all.
Back then, chains had bound it, making it targetable. Now, the seals were off.
‘This is bad.’
The smart move was to bail fast, but he couldn't.
[The Eye of Truth is active.]
‘...Sigh. Why the hell is that there?’
Something red that should have been tucked safely behind a wall was embedded near the beast's heart.
To get what he wanted, he had to take it down.
Even if not, he needed at least one solid hit to that heart.
[HP below 30%.]
[Mana below 20%.]
When he wasn't even at full strength, HP and mana not fully recovered.
‘...We're in deep shit, Master?’
‘Sigh. That's my luck. Nothing ever goes easy.’
‘This lowly sword will do its utmost to assist.’
‘Liza-liza!’
Do-hyun chuckled at Charlie and Eliza burning with resolve even now.
Seemed hopeless, but when had it ever not?
No point despairing now.
‘With the Emperor's temperament, failing this raid means no chances for a while.’
If it had to be done, he'd make it happen.
Like always.
And there was more reason not to give up.
-Vessel's... master...
-...Kill it. Kill to be freed...
The beast met Do-hyun's eyes and spoke in a deep rumble for the first time.
Its voice, hollow like it was brainwashed, echoed the words of the Abyss powerhouse from Brion.
Even the name: Fourth Legion Leader of Ruin.
Surely tied to that "Immortal Lord."
‘Linked to my class. This is a main quest, no doubt.’
Now he knew—this wasn't optional. It was mandatory.
His grip tightened on his sword hilt.
“Do it?”
A cynical voice cut in.
The Empress.
Do-hyun gave a low reply to her question as she approached.
“Looks like we have to. Got reasons to take it down.”
“Hmm. That so?”
It was an answer that deserved a "you're crazy," but the Empress just nodded casually.
“Then let's do it.”
“You sure?”
“What if I'm not? If we can't take it, the raid fails anyway. Right?”
“...Fair point.”
Arthur approached with a heavy response.
Holy energy roiled fiercely from him, sword aglow.
A sign he was fully battle-ready.
“Reasons to take it down aren't just yours. Everyone's got skin in this labyrinth raid.”
“...”
“Didn't expect to fight alongside you.”
He stopped right in front of Do-hyun, turned to face the Legion Leader.
Sching—
Arthur's sword traced a graceful arc, severing the Legion Leader's massive hand.
Whoosh—it burst into flames, vanishing midair.
[The Goddess of Purification's holy light incinerates evil.]
[Target resists due to superior rank.]
[The Abyss entity, 'Fourth Legion Leader of Ruin's' left hand burns away.]
“Couldn't get the arm, huh.”
Arthur's unique ability, devastating against evil: the Light of the Goddess of Purification.
----!!
While it muttered at Do-hyun, the Legion Leader belatedly noticed its missing hand and unleashed a ear-splitting roar.
Even its formidable regeneration couldn't heal that.
The Light of the Goddess of Purification gained immense power against the Abyss.
‘So that's Arthur's ability...’
Never appreciated it as an enemy. As an ally? Rock solid.
One instant-kill hand versus two was worlds apart.
Raaaaagh!!
[The Abyss entity, 'Fourth Legion Leader of Ruin' is extremely enraged.]
[Trait 'Overwhelming Power' activates.]
[Gains even greater overwhelming power proportional to rage.]
[Trait 'Brutish Simplicity' activates.]
[Gains immense power proportional to loss of reason.]
“It's properly pissed now.”
“No matter. Aggro's locked here, so we're good.”
“...?”
The Legion Leader thrashed in fury, roaring, but Do-hyun's group held firm.
No need to fall back.
Whoosh-! Whoosh! Swish!
A blonde woman swung her massive greatsword wildly.
Hacking at its raging legs with mad abandon.
“...The fanatic?”
“When did she start that?”
Do-hyun muttered in disbelief, and Charlie replied fondly.
-From when it said it must kill to serve its lord.
-She called it blasphemy for daring to threaten a god, said it must pay with death, and started chopping at the legs?
-Liza-liza...
-Yes! A woman of truly admirable convictions. I should love to converse with her.
A rare genuine praise for another.
Do-hyun pictured her chatting with Charlie.
That reaction bot and a fanatic...
‘...Nightmare fuel.’
No way that'd end well.
But it didn't stop there.
Psssh—
An arrow sliced through the air from afar, vanished from sight, then reappeared before the Legion Leader's eyes and detonated.
Boom boom boom!
Not just one.
Dozens exploded on its face in seconds; even it couldn't ignore that, pulling back from the fanatic to shield its eyes.
“That's not enough. Hurry and join or it'll be dan—”
It bought time, eyes locked longer, but no real damage.
Arthur prepared to charge, but the Empress cut in casually.
“Nah, they've done their part.”
“...?”
At her relaxed tone and puzzled looks.
She muttered into thin air like whispering to someone, smirked, and stepped back.
That instant.
“That guy's...”
A hazy silhouette descended through the explosion's dust.
It landed before the Legion Leader: long black hair, black martial robes.
Arthur knew one such woman.
“No way?”
His eyes widened.
[Uses 7-Star Heavenly Demon Divine Fist.]
[Heavenly Demon Divine Fist, 4th Form - Phoenix Claw that Tears the Heavens.]
Slash- rip- slash-
Raaaaagh-!
Claw marks raked its head, then cascaded down its body, carving dozens of wounds in seconds.
In under 2 seconds, over a dozen strikes: the Heavenly Demon.
“Heavenly Demon? Why are you...”
Before shock at her surprise entry faded, a hulking man leaped in from the opposite side.
Blotting out the sun, gripping a massive iron mace.
He swung.
KABOOM!!!
A missile-like explosion rocked the air; the Legion Leader's bulk swayed hard for the first time.
Countless troops surged in like they'd been waiting, swarming it.
“Now! Pile on!”
“Waaaaah!!!”
A motley crew in varied garb, but some caught Arthur's eye.
“...Rudy? Why are you guys here?”
“Master. Explanations later. Focus on the raid.”
The King's Ten Star Knights.
The guild members dazed at the sudden melee only briefly.
“Great timing.”
The hulking man who'd landed a clean hit turned with a hearty laugh.
Do-hyun smirked back.
“Didn't die after all? Old timer.”
“Pfft, like I'd lose to a punk like that?”
“Would've without the Sovereign, I'd wager.”
“Shut it, you.”
The boisterous giant and aloof beauty.
Astr and the Heavenly Demon made their entrance with a bang.