Chapter 294
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 294
Chapter Title: Defeating the Great Forest's Lord
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Jeong Hoon leaped forward, stepping into the Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon.
Rustle
Leaves scattered in a swirling spiral, charging straight at him.
Jeong Hoon drew the Shadow King's dagger and slashed them all away.
At the same time, he activated his buff skills.
Starting with Black Field, all the way to Ultimate Aura.
He even used every item at his disposal, massively boosting his stats.
.
As Jeong Hoon's presence shifted, the Lord of the Great Forest's eyes hardened slightly.
What's wrong? Suddenly scared?
Jeong Hoon taunted it.
As expected of someone who's made it this far.
He had to acknowledge it.
That human wasn't just some ordinary being.
Gaining that level of power was proof that countless transcendents had been sacrificed.
The Lord of the Great Forest.
The Druid observed him cautiously.
He couldn't afford to let his guard down, or he'd be the one taken out.
But Jeong Hoon showed no openings whatsoever.
He merely parted the underbrush with the Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon.
He didn't get close to the Druid's true body.
First, I need to figure this guy out.
This entire space belonged to him.
Charging in blindly would be foolish.
Of course, that approach wasn't bad, but to end it decisively, he needed to find a weakness.
The Lord of the Great Forest uses 'Forest's Curse.'
In that instant, a debuff was applied to Jeong Hoon.
While remaining in the forest, your life force will be deleted. (1 life force deleted every second.)
Healing is impossible for 60 seconds.
Life force deleted every second.
Activating Holy Orb of Glory.
Jeong Hoon used Holy Orb of Glory to immediately dispel the debuff.
Now his life force wouldn't be deleted.
Absorbing shadow.
Jeong Hoon used the dagger's shadow option to absorb the Lord of the Great Forest's shadow.
Additional option from shadow absorption activates.
All dagger stats increase.
In that state, he used the shadow option to create a clone.
The base was the Lord of the Great Forest itself.
As soon as the clone appeared, a massive tree materialized in front of it.
That ability?
Its eyes trembled.
It was a power he recognized.
From an equal transcendent.
The Shadow King, Gwen's ability.
But how could a mere human wield the exact same power as Gwen?
No way?
You got it right.
Jeong Hoon grinned, answering its unspoken question.
Its eyes filled with shock.
Impossible.
I'll show you exactly why it's possible.
Rustle
Leaves surged at Jeong Hoon once more.
He raised his dagger and slashed them all away.
It wasn't just deflecting.
He absorbed the attacks as he slashed.
-Special Ability (1): Absorb attacks from a designated target to activate one of the dagger's five abilities.
This allowed him to activate the dagger's ability right away.
'Annihilation' activates.
One of the five abilities, Annihilation, triggered.
'Annihilation'
-Bleeding damage increases.
-Wounds cannot be healed. (5 minutes)
Not bad.
Rustle
Then the clone, the Lord of the Great Forest, unleashed its power at the true body.
Black leaves spiraled toward it in attack.
The leaves targeting Jeong Hoon switched to the clone.
Seizing the opening, Jeong Hoon stepped with Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon to close in on the true body.
The Lord of the Great Forest uses 'Forest's Wrath.'
It activated another ability.
The clone did the same.
Ridiculous. You think a mere clone can surpass my true body's power!
As it said, perfectly canceling the true body's ability was impossible.
But even a slight gap would do.
Crack!
Jeong Hoon slammed his dagger into its base.
He yanked it out with force and repeated the strike.
Urk!
It let out a groan.
Rumble
The ground shook.
Not a mere earthquakeit was rising using legs rooted beneath.
The already enormous tree shook the earth violently as it moved.
Even the clone mimicked it, doubling the tremors.
Crack!
Jeong Hoon struck relentlessly with the dagger.
Damn, it's tough.
He was impressed inwardly.
He'd hoped to fell it quickly like chopping a tree, but even full-force strikes barely scratched it.
Human! I'll kill you!
The Lord of the Great Forest bellowed in rage, glaring at Jeong Hoon.
Perfect. It's rattled.
Jeong Hoon summoned the Seven Deadly Sins.
Nothing was as efficient against transcendents.
Yawn. What's it this time?
The Seven Deadly Sins yawned widely at Jeong Hoon.
What else? That thing.
Hmm?
The Seven Deadly Sins turned to the Lord of the Great Forest.
Its eyes lit up with interest.
Got food and you're thrilled already?
Salivating just looking at it?
Perfect response.
The creature's eyes trembled visibly upon seeing the Seven Deadly Sins.
H-How is that thing!
Begin.
At Jeong Hoon's command, the Seven Deadly Sins used 'Manifestation.'
A newly awakened ability upon reaching Celestial grade.
Lightning crashed down, a massive shadow enveloping everything.
Impressive no matter how many times I see it.
Even the second time, the overwhelming presence hit hard.
Urk!
The Lord of the Great Forest staggered, dropping to one knee.
All its activated abilities vanished.
In that instant, the forest's authority was stolen by the Seven Deadly Sins.
Oh, Manifestation has that effect too.
Jeong Hoon dismissed the Seven Deadly Sins the moment it finished manifesting.
A shame he couldn't feed it, but with Soul Absorption Technique, he'd take this one himself.
Finishing his thoughts, Jeong Hoon stepped with Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon.
Crack!
He struck the same spot with the dagger again.
Urgh!
It groaned.
The Lord of the Great Forest uses 'Guardian of Great Nature.'
Judging it couldn't just take this, it hastily activated an ability.
Green energy began shielding its body.
The Lord of the Great Forest uses 'Seed of Regeneration.'
It even used Seed of Regeneration, fully healing the spot Jeong Hoon had painstakingly damaged.
Too bad I worked so hard on that.
Jeong Hoon smacked his lips regretfully.
Shut up!
The Lord of the Great Forest uses 'Forest's Judgment.'
Another ability in quick succession.
The forest resonated, turning red everywhere Jeong Hoon stood.
If not escaped within 1 minute, instant death.
This seemed to be its instant-death move.
Instant death isn't exclusive to you.
Jeong Hoon grinned and struck at its base again.
Ignoring the Guardian of Great Nature protecting it.
Additional option from shadow absorption activates.
'Death Blade' temporarily changes to 'Shadow Blade.'
Perfect.
The early shadow absorption bonus had triggered.
Jeong Hoon immediately unleashed Shadow Blade.
Now it was a race against time.
Whoever's instant death hit first within the minute.
Kekeke! I don't know what you're plotting, but you're dying here.
Is that so?
A 1 chance made it heavily in its favor, but Jeong Hoon had no intention of taking the hit lying down.
Block an instant death with invincibility, and done.
This victory was his, no matter what.
'Forest's Judgment' activates.
The minute passed, triggering instant death.
Kekeke! Human, this is the end!
The Lord of the Great Forest sneered mockingly at Jeong Hoon.
Boom!
In that moment, an explosion erupted from Jeong Hoon's body.
The massive blast engulfed not just him but the clone too.
The clone would vanish on its own if he died, so no issue.
Doesn't look like it.
But what was this?
Jeong Hoon, who should have died, grinned unscathed.
H-How?!
The Druid's eyes shook violently.
Got a way to block it.
'Block' activates.
Block.
It protected him from instant death.
Jeong Hoon struck its base with Shadow Blade again.
'Instant Death' activates!
Now for mine.
Jeong Hoon's lips curled up.
Instant death triggered.
Grrrrgh!
Just like with the puppet, their stats were close.
It couldn't escape instant death either.
Without invincibility, no dodging this.
Shudder
It convulsed and collapsed.
No invincibility?
Jeong Hoon tilted his head and reached out toward it.
To use Soul Absorption Technique.
The Lord of the Great Forest uses 'Primordial Resurrection.'
It activated an ability, its massive tree body crumbling to dust.
Hm?
Jeong Hoon furrowed his brow and turned.
A nearby tree swelled enormously, reforming into the same shape.
Its previously closed eyes opened, gazing at Jeong Hoon in fear.
S-Stop! I surrender!
Such a tenacious bastard.
Would it be so hard to just take the Soul Absorption Technique nicely?
Jeong Hoon clicked his tongue and closed in again with Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon.
Shadow Blade.
Its instant death had a cooldown, but his Shadow Blade's was just 15 seconds.
Crack!
Fresh from Primordial Resurrection, it couldn't use other abilities.
Urk! I said stop! A deal. Let's make a deal!
A deal?
Jeong Hoon pulled out the dagger, cocking his head.
Yeah. I'll grant one wish of yours. Just spare me.
It realized no trick could beat Jeong Hoon.
Surviving via a deal was its best bet.
Pass.
Crack!
After a brief thought, Jeong Hoon struck the base with Shadow Blade again.
'Instant Death' activates!
Instant death triggered once more.
Jeong Hoon waved cheerfully with a smile.
Gaaah! You damn bastard!
The Lord of the Great Forest, the Druid, screamed and perished.
First to defeat the Lord of the Great Forest, the Druid! Achievement points: 200,000 awarded.
30,000 points awarded.
Ultimate Energy has reached Max. Cannot acquire more Ultimate Energy.
10,000,000,000 EXP acquired.
Level up.
All stats 1.
Bonus stat 1 awarded.
Acquired Druid's Seed.
Subjugation successful.
Jeong Hoon reached out toward it.
Using Soul Absorption Technique.
Absorbing a transcendent, no less.
Far beyond the monsters beforeimmense EXP and stats incoming.
Jeong Hoon's lips stretched ear to ear.
At that moment.
Lee Na-yeon and the others couldn't hide their anxiety.
The forest turning red, explosions echoing from within.
Impossible not to worry.
H-He'll be fine, right?
Bong-gu ventured cautiously.
He'll be okay. Hoon's not the type to go down easy.
Everyone nodded at Ha-jin's words.
They'd witnessed Jeong Hoon's prowess countless times on the way here.
Jeong Hoon would surely succeed and return.
Step. Step.
Soon, someone emerged from the forest.
As he approached, everyone's lips curved into smiles.
I'm back.
Jeong Hoon had successfully subjugated and returned.