Chapter 251
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 251
Chapter Title: Wrath of the Sun
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11:59:59
The countdown began.
In response, the users unleashed a barrage of attacks toward the barrier.
However, just as Jeong Hoon had said, not even the tiniest crack formed on it.
In other words, neither physical nor magic attacks could dispel the barrier.
"Sure enough, it's useless."
"Yeah. Just blindly pouring attacks won't solve anything."
The users, overhearing Jeong Hoon and Rangrang's conversation, quickly halted their assaults and decided to explore other options.
But even that drew mostly negative reactions.
"They say there's no way to break the barrier."
"That bastard's planning to crank this penalty all the way up."
No surprise there.
'He's staying silent, so there must be no way to break it.'
'Hmph, that human's got sharper eyes than he looks.'
Who could react positively after hearing that exchange?
So there's really no way to destroy it.
'Tch, we can't even make an attempt.'
Mukho and Anima seemed ready to throw in the towel too.
The giant soldier Urus lay sealed, motionless, which made it look like an easy kill.
That only amplified the regret.
"Who said anything about giving up?"
Jeong Hoon drew closer to the barrier.
Sealing Barrier
A barrier sealing Urus.
If it vanished, Urus would awaken.
Is there some other method?
'Didn't he say there's no way to break it?'
Mukho and Anima cocked their heads.
"There probably is."
Before his regression, right before the betrayal, he'd shattered a barrier just like this.
In the very dungeon where he'd barely staved off annihilation.
To reach the boss, he'd had to eliminate that barrierwhich, exactly like the one sealing Urus now, ignored all physical and magical attacks.
And Jeong Hoon had succeeded.
'The same method should work here.'
The barrier wasn't flawlessly sealed across its entire surface.
Mana flowed outward from the initial installation point, enveloping the surroundings.
Targeting that outflow concentratedly would allow him to break it.
'Of course, not with physical or magical attacksby dispelling the barrier's ritual.'
Fortunately, the ritual on Urus's sealing barrier was one he knew well.
That let Jeong Hoon keep his cool.
'Alright then, time to get started.'
Jeong Hoon placed his hand on the barrier and began moving slowly along it.
He was searching for its central point.
The clueless users tilted their heads, watching his actions.
"What the hell is he doing?"
"Yeah, no idea."
And that was when it happened.
Roar
A volley of Fire Spears rocketed toward Jeong Hoon as he scoured the barrier.
"W-what?!"
"Watch out!"
The users shouted in alarm.
Using Light Barrier.
Jeong Hoon didn't spare the Fire Spears a glance. He deployed Light Barrier.
Boom! Boom!
The spears slammed into it and evaporated in seconds.
The users' eyes bulged at the sight.
"Fire Spears?"
"More importantly, isn't that guy a Martial Artist?"
A Martial Artist deploying Light Barrier?
It gleamed with an ethereal shineno ordinary skill, that much was clear.
"......Impressive."
James Marcus, observing from nearby, couldn't suppress his awe.
He'd sensed it ever since the guy effortlessly overpowered Alessandro Braiden, but this Martial Artist was no ordinary player.
"That man's full of secrets."
James wholeheartedly agreed with Amelie Reina's assessment.
He hadn't used Light Barrier during their clash with Alessandro.
"Exactly. That's why I want him on our side more than ever."
If this Martial Artist joined them, he'd be a game-changer in wrapping this whole mess up.
"Speaking of which, what happened to that guy?"
She glanced at Alessandro.
Killing intent poured from him in waves, dwarfing anything from their first encounter in the great cavity.
The Fire Spears packing far more punch than before, too.
"......Don't tell me he made a contract."
The last time they'd seen Alessandro, he'd been powerless.
Now he'd not only recovered but brimmed with mana on another level entirely.
Which meant he'd contracted with a Transcendent.
"......That's the kind of power a contract grants?"
James Marcus and Amelie Reina hadn't taken the plunge.
Sure, their initial offers had tempted them, but on what basis could they trust those beings enough to commit?
James had sniffed out the trap instantly and backed off.
Smart move, too.
Avatars got exclusive questsall designed to accelerate Earth's doom.
Amelie was the same.
Doubts lingered, leaving her contract on indefinite hold.
That's how she'd ended up as James Marcus's ally.
"Alessandro......you went and crossed that line after all."
It stung to see a former close ally reduced to this wreck.
Jeong Hoon, oblivious or indifferent, kept his eyes fixed on the barrier without a glance Alessandro's way.
"You goddamn punk!"
Alessandro snarled in fury and invoked Creation Ice, forging a colossal spear.
Vastly larger and sharper than any standard Ice Speareven from a distance, the chill bit deep.
Destructive power like that would overwhelm even Light Barrier.
Only then did Jeong Hoon shift his gaze to meet Alessandro's.
"Busy as hell here. Should've finished you off back then."
Jeong Hoon let out an exasperated sigh.
"Kuhuhu, I'll make you rue the day you spared me."
Alessandro flicked his wrist, launching the massive Ice Spear at Jeong Hoon.
Crack.
It pulverized the Light Barrier on contact. Jeong Hoon executed True Heavenly Demon Supremacy Step, evading it effortlessly.
'Who the hell is backing him?'
Jeong Hoon narrowed his eyes at Alessandro.
That Creation Ice boasted destructive force well beyond 9th Circle.
He wasn't just back to being a level 500 Archmagehe'd become something monstrous.
Only a certain caliber of Transcendent could bestow that much power......
'No wayBaal?'
A contract with Baal would explain it.
"Hey, you contract with the red eyes or what?"
"......"
Alessandro's shoulders jerked at the mention.
His flickering gaze screamed, How did you know?
"Bingo."
Jeong Hoon had suspected as much, but Baal meddling directly? Unexpected.
He'd all but forgotten the guy after their bet.
'Must've been bored out of his skull.'
Baal found Jeong Hoon endlessly fascinating.
No bet in play meant no direct intervention, so he'd latched onto Alessandro just to watch how Jeong Hoon handled it.
Win-win for him: no bet losses, and Alessandro's soul ripe for the taking.
'Not letting him get his kicks, though.'
Jeong Hoon would've loved to leave Alessandro writhing in agony, but the guy's an avatar now.
Time to end him here.
He'd wanted to handle the barrier first, but focus was shot.
'Was hoping to clear it before the other avatars jumped in.'
Obviously, plenty of avatars lurked here.
More than half the rankers, easy bet.
Who'd turn down power like that?
James Marcus had cherry-picked allies from the non-disruptors.
He'd clocked early how avatars sped up the apocalypse.
"......Fine. So what're you gonna do about it?"
Alessandro grinned wickedly and began his next spell.
Fist-sized orbs materialized overhead, ballooning rapidly.
They swelled to fill the great cavity in heartbeats, radiating blistering heat that stunned everyone inside.
They scrambled to evacuate, but the countdown had locked the exits.
'9th Circle. A human reaching that realm......'
Anima reeled in shock.
Wrath of the Sun.
A 9th Circle spell summoning an artificial sun to incinerate all in its path.
"Baal really shelled out the big guns."
Alessandro was level 500, surebut no 9th Circle.
That was a realm forbidden to humans.
Pre-regression, Jeong Hoon had only touched it upon ascending to the heavenly plane.
"I'll kill every last one of you!"
Alessandro was half-unhinged.
Not gunning just for Jeong Hoonhe meant to torch the entire chamber.
'Crazy son of a!'
'We'll get fried too!'
The lurking avatars, biding their time, panicked.
Alessandro: ex-level 500 Archmage.
Contract: lord-class Transcendent.
Them: lower levels, apostle-class contracts.
The gap was night-and-day. No surviving his all-out assault.
"Hey! What's your class?"
"Group up and brace for impact!"
Users hustled into defensive formations.
Avatars blended in, forming parties.
"Die, all of you!"
Alessandro hurled the completed sun at Jeong Hoon.
The colossal orb hurtled straight for him.
Jeong Hoon didn't dodge.
KABOOM!
It smashed into the ground and detonated in a deafening roar.
Crackle. Crackle.
The explosion's flames sputtered and faded with time.
'Kuhuhu! Yes! I really did it! He's dead!'
Corpses littered the area around Alessandro.
They'd split duties for defense, but 9th Circle magic proved too muchtotal wipe.
The stench of charred flesh hung heavy.
Alessandro's grin never wavered.
No one could tank heat like that.
"How do you like that? Revenge achieved!"
He bellowed into empty air. A rift tore open, revealing red eyes.
Hmm. You truly believe that?
Baal's tone dripped displeasure.
"What, bummed you didn't snag my soul?"
Alessandro smirked.
Victory in this bet was his.
Humans are such bores after all. Guess it'll have to be that one human.
Baal muttered cryptically. Alessandro tilted his head.
"Hey. What're you on about?"
That's when it hit.
A familiar voice rang in his ears.
"If not for Rune, that would've been a real close call."
The guy who should've been ash and bone stood there, whole and strolling toward him.
Alessandro gaped in horror.
"H-how?!"
"Heretaking it back."
Jeong Hoon flashed a grin and thrust his hand out.
Flames erupted across Alessandro's body and detonated.
He perished without so much as a scream.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. Thank you."
Wrath of the Sun.
Yet survivors endured.
James Marcus first and foremost.
America's strongest Paladin lived up to the title, shield hoisted to weather the blast.
Amelie Reina, sheltered behind him, emerged unscathed.
A handful of other rankers pulled through via artifacts and skills.
"Think you could treat the wounded?"
"The wounded?"
Amelie Reina furrowed her brow.
James Marcus stood firm.
"Yes. There are far too many."
"What if you end up healing contractors? And you're not exactly pristine yourself."
"I'm fine. Please. We can't afford to bicker nowhow do we take down that thing?"
James Marcus jabbed a finger at the giant soldier Urus.
"......Hoo. Alright."
Amelie sighed in resignation and moved to heal other groups' casualties.
Priests weren't just her, of course.
High-rankers galore meant diverse classes.
Plenty dead, but survivors outnumbered them.
Left alone, James Marcus turned toward Jeong Hoon.
Direct hit from that spell should've left anyone wrecked.
Yet here came Jeong Hoon, striding out without a scratch. James's eyes ballooned.
'......No way!'
How does anyone tank a spell that'd shred Light Barrierstraight onand walk away fine?
Worse, he'd somehow offed Alessandro without a fight.
Internal detonationbody blown to bits.
Gruesome as it was, Jeong Hoon shrugged it off and resumed probing the barrier.