Chapter 310
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 310
Chapter Title: The Subterranean Predator
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Jeong Hoon prepared to enter the portal.
That preparation included some persuasion as well.
"I'm planning to head in here right now."
He pointed at the portal, and Yeo Min-ji looked at it with eyes full of anxiety.
"Are you really going in? A portal with zero information like that is incredibly dangerous."
A portal with no information at all.
Those were known for their brutally high difficulty.
That was why no one dared even think of stepping inside.
"Don't worry too much. This guy says it's fine."
Jeong Hoon glanced at the Seven Sins as he spoke.
As all eyes turned to it, the Seven Sins pointed at itself and tilted its head.
"Me?"
"Yeah. It's okay, right?"
"...Hmm, yeah, I think it should be."
Of course, without Jeong Hoon, it would be a different story altogether, but with Jeong Hoon leading the charge in battle, it figured they had a solid chance of winning.
Besides, it wanted to absorb whatever was inside, so it nodded knowingly.
"That's what it says."
Jeong Hoon flashed a grin, reassuring her and the rest of the group.
"But isn't this a bit too reckless...?"
At Jang Ha-jin's words, Jeong Hoon shrugged.
"We came all the way to the demon realm, and now you're backing out?"
"No, I'm not saying I'm backing out, but..."
"If you're scared, you can wait here. But if there's any loot hidden inside, you'll be cut out of the shares?"
"Hey... when did I say I wasn't going in?"
They'd tasted sweet victory passing through the City of the Gods and the City of Fortification.
Having learned the hard way just how crucial opportunities like these were, how could he pass up a new one right in front of him?
Look at that.
A portal hidden in a rock.
No matter the difficulty, it was practically advertising something amazing inside.
"I'm in favor."
Yeo Sun-woo cast his vote in support.
He was the type to prioritize safety above all.
Without Jeong Hoon, they never would have made it this far.
He wouldn't have broken level 500 or claimed all those opportunities.
When they crossed into the demon realm, he'd made a vow.
Whatever opinion Jeong Hoon put forward, he'd follow it.
"Even if we say no, you're going in anyway, right?"
His mother looked at Jeong Hoon and asked.
He pondered for a moment before nodding.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go in."
"...Alright. Then count me in as well."
She couldn't just stand by and watch her son go alone.
If that was the case, she'd go with him and do everything to ensure his safety.
"If big bro's going, I'm going too!"
"Quit playing the room and just say it straight. Someone might think you're blindly following me without a second thought."
"W-When have I ever been playing the room?"
"That's rich."
Bong-gu had been nodding along as if fully agreeing with Yeo Min-ji and Jang Ha-jin's opinions.
But as things tipped toward going in, he panicked for a second before switching to say he'd tag along.
Quietly reading the room and hitching a ride like that was a talent in its own right.
He hadn't been like this before.
Still, compared to his hopeless early days, this was a clear improvement.
"Big bro! This is so unfair!"
There was no time to listen to his protests.
"Quiet. No time."
"Yes, sir!"
At least he nailed the responses.
"I'll take point. Everyone else, focus on covering me and staying alive above all else."
From levels to stats, Jeong Hoon outclassed them all.
His gear, skillseverything was worlds apart.
With all that experience on top, he felt most comfortable handling it solo.
"Got it."
"Leave the rear to us."
His mother included, everyone nodded.
"Alright, then. Let's go."
Jeong Hoon led the way into the portal, and the others followed suit.
Would you like to enter ???
Enter.
As soon as he confirmed, the portal lit up and swallowed them all.
???'s Space
Their vision went black, then returned.
"We really made it into the portal, right?"
Jang Ha-jin tilted his head.
Just like he said, they were surrounded by forest.
The black forest they'd been trekking through moments ago.
But on closer inspection, there were subtle differences.
Jeong Hoon, with his sharp memory, quickly spotted the variances in the trees and grass.
"It's a different place."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Let's look around for now."
He'd expected to find some special item right away, but the forest was vast.
Something with immense power was supposed to be lurking here, yet there wasn't even a sign of it.
Where on earth could it be hiding?
He was mulling it over when
Guwooooooo
A beastly roar filled the forest, and the ground began to tremble.
Jeong Hoon's face hardened.
'No way it's underground.'
His guess hit the mark.
The earth split open, revealing a forked tongue.
The tongue lunged to wrap around Jeong Hoon, but he swung his spear wide, slicing it clean off.
Schwick.
Green fluid dripped from the severed tongue, regenerating at an astonishing rate.
One strand cut turned into many, reforming into a net that squeezed toward Jeong Hoon again.
He summoned the Seven Sins and activated Shadow Crescent Moon.
The razor-sharp spear strike effortlessly shredded the tongue-net.
"Ooh! That looks delicious."
The summoned Seven Sins eyed the tongue and gulped.
"If you wanna eat it, go ahead."
"Hmm... I want to, but I don't think it'll work right now."
Jeong Hoon kept slashing away as he cocked his head.
"Why not?"
"There's some kind of barrier around it. Can't absorb through that."
Apparently, the Seven Sins could see something.
"What about Enhanced Judgment of Death?"
"That won't stick either. It's immune to debuffs."
"I see."
Calling out the Seven Sins was pointless then.
"But if I copy its ability, I think I could!"
Copy.
A power gained from absorbing Shadow King Gwen before.
"What're you copying?"
"Sharp Scales!"
"Scales?"
"Yeah! Copy its ability, pierce that barrier, and I can absorb it!"
"You sure?"
"Yeah! Sharp Scales are the only way to break that barrier."
"Got it."
The Seven Sins copied the creature's sharp scales.
It thrust both hands skyward, forming a blade-like scale above them.
"Here goes!"
Using its hands, the Seven Sins controlled the scale and stabbed right through the tongue enveloping Jeong Hoon.
Pop!
Something burst, and a transparent, sticky fluid poured onto the ground.
'The barrier's broken.'
Jeong Hoon immediately swung his spear, slicing the tongue.
A change occurred.
The tongue, which had been regenerating at super speed, now hung limp, unable to heal.
"Can you eat it now?"
"Of course!"
Like it had been waiting, the Seven Sins rushed in, grabbed the tongue, and began absorbing.
Guwooooogh!
The ground shook violently.
The creature whose tongue was out let out a scream.
'About time.'
Jeong Hoon pinpointed its location from the cries.
Multiple holesits breathing ventswere emitting the sounds.
'I'll burn it all at once.'
He had a method.
The 7th-circle spell learned in the Ruined Mage City's hidden theme.
Jeong Hoon channeled massive mana and cast Creation Fire.
Dozens of small fireball orbs formed in his palm.
Tiny in size, but packed with enormous mana, their destructive power was beyond imagination.
"Here, chow down."
He shoved the orbs into every vent.
Waiting for them to sink in, he expanded their size.
Fwooooosh
The small orbs exploded to sun-like proportions, flames erupting from the vents.
Guwooooooo!
A scream far more agonized than before shook the earth wildly. It split open, revealing a massive fish-like monster.
"C-Catfish?"
"Why's a fish monster under the ground...?"
It resembled a catfish perfectly.
But it lurked in soil, not water.
Hence the rough scales, with sticky fluid dripping between them.
"Ooh, nicely cooked."
Smoke rose from its scales, singed by Jeong Hoon's Creation Fire.
'Plenty defeatable now.'
Inflicting that much damage with Creation Fire meant he could crush it with raw power.
"Hit it with Enhanced Judgment of Death."
The Seven Sins, absorbing its stats, landed a critical debuff now that the barrier was gone.
"Nice work."
The Seven Sins grinned at the praise and kept siphoning stats.
'Too bad I can't use Absorption Great Law here.'
Left alone, it'd drain everything.
But they'd reached this point thanks to it.
So he'd yield this time.
Jeong Hoon stowed his spear and drew Anima.
'Excellent choice.'
Anima grinned at the monster.
Upgraded to Ultimate grade, it applied 5x attack power based on Jeong Hoon's level.
At 795, that was a whopping 3,975 attack.
Insane, considering pre-regression gear averaged 1,000-1,500and that had beaten apostle-level transcendents.
'Back then, breaking 1,000 was a huge hurdle.'
Now he wielded weapons nearly 3x stronger.
Without regression memories, he wouldn't have come this far.
Of course, Jeong Hoon would press on like a starving lion.
Crushing even Baal with ease.
Steeling himself, he drew Anima's string, aiming for the head.
Those monsters' weak spot was always the head.
Smash it instantly to subdue.
'Ultimate Arrow.'
He fired Ultimate Arrow, releasing the string.
Pssshuuuk!
The arrow arced perfectly, embedding in its head.
"Guwooo!"
Its head reeled.
Black flames erupted from the impact site.
Ultimate upgrade boosted black flame proc to 25.
One in fourhit on the first try.
And that wasn't all.
All its defensive skills vanished in an instant.
Dragon Void activates.
Dragon Void.
Nullified all skills on a hit target for a moment.
An overpowered skill, but previously limited by huge level gaps.
Dragon Void
-Type: Passive
-30 chance to nullify all skills on arrow-hit target for 5 seconds. (600-second cooldown after activation)
Post-upgrade, no level restrictionany gap worked.
Five seconds and ten-minute cooldown were fine.
Bang!
His mother's support shot followed.
All skills nullified, Genesis Shot landed true.
Sealed one ability for three minutes.
She targeted its regeneration, and Jeong Hoon nocked another arrow, striking the head dead-on.
Heavenly Strike activates.
Arrow embedded, unleashing an arrow rain.
Anima's specialrandom debuffkicked in.
"Guwoooo!"
Endless arrow barrage overwhelmed it, and it toppled backward.
Thud!
Something popped from its mouth.
Plop.
'Hm? What's that?'
Jeong Hoon approached to inspect.
It had spat out an orb.
A brilliantly multicolored one.