Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: The Demons' Arrival and Yulturen
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Painakal had been just the beginning.
After that came the scorpion-type monsters so common in the desert, followed by rock lizards, sand snakes, and even earthworms.
“What’s with all these monsters? You wouldn’t see this many even if you camped out in the desert for months.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re dumping all the fighting on me and acting this chill right now?”
“Geon-woo, it’s because you’re so damn strong. Honestly, what could I even do if I jumped in? You know what my awakening ability is.”
“Ugh.”
Pang’s main force was his hydra.
But in this place where the system’s abilities were sealed, Pang was playing it up.
“Hang in there. We’re almost there.”
Pang said, staring at one spot in the darkness-shrouded city.
Geon-woo’s gaze naturally followed.
“Even on Earth, we don’t have buildings that tall.”
He tried recalling the world’s landmark structures, but nothing compared.
It was that massive and towering.
“That’s where we’re headed. Looks like they punched a hole in it.”
Pang pointed to the traces of destruction on the building.
The structure at the center of the ruined city resembled an obelisk.
The problem was, there was no visible entrance into it.
That must be why the ones who got there first had blasted a hole in the wall to make one.
“Thousand Hands’ doing?”
“Probably. Arthur and Alphonse were handling supplies for the raid, and they had some high-powered magic items or scrolls among them.”
“How’d they even get that stuff in here? It wasn’t easy for us just to reach this point.”
“From what I know, you can at least log out here, so they’re coordinating from Earth.”
“Hmm. And then?”
“They log back in fully immersed, have guildmates outside pack what’s needed, and drop it at the intermittent sky entrance.”
“But can Thousand Hands’ group actually receive those supplies while raiding that building?”
“Apparently so. I couldn’t figure out how, though.”
“Alright. Let’s head in, then. No one guarding the entrance makes it easy.”
“Honestly, the building’s so huge they don’t need to guard that hole specifically. They wouldn’t have the manpower to spare anyway.”
“Looks like they can’t reinforce with more people separately?”
“If people aren’t included in the supply drops, probably not. They likely have to scatter randomly like us and make their own way here.”
“With user abilities sealed, that’s tough unless you’re exceptional. These monsters aren’t messing around.”
“Not messing around? Looked like a joke to me.”
Pang grumbled, recalling Geon-woo battling the monsters after achieving the Indestructible Earth God state.
“Isn’t that something for a freeloader to say?”
“Tch.”
“Anyway, let’s go in.”
Geon-woo started toward the distant central building.
That was when it happened.
= My lord! Demons!
Ilryeong suddenly sent Geon-woo a warning.
In that instant, Geon-woo grabbed Pang’s hand and dropped low.
“What the… hell?”
Pang bristled at Geon-woo’s sudden move but shut up when he saw the serious look on Geon-woo’s face as he stared in one direction.
Pang glared that way too.
And soon after.
A group of demons and humanoid creatures emerged from the hole in the obelisk building.
“Demons?”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
“No idea. But they’re clearly after this Easter egg too.”
“Twenty demons. Over a hundred humanoid critters. Most look like they’ve evolved past basic humanoid.”
“Tribe chief, great warriors, shamans. Plus mutants with special abilities.”
“What’s the play?”
Pang turned his hooded face toward Geon-woo.
“There’s a perfect saying for times like this.”
“Huh?”
“Reap the benefits while they fight—the fisherman’s profit.”
Geon-woo flashed a bright grin, his white teeth gleaming in the darkness.
* * *
Geon-woo and Pang quietly trailed the demons.
The demons didn’t suspect anyone following, so they didn’t bother with rear guards.
That made it easy to shadow them, but Geon-woo started feeling something off.
“Don’t they seem weirdly familiar with this place?”
“Yeah, kinda.”
Pang nodded, sharing the same vibe.
“Means they know it or it’s familiar territory.”
“A fragment from another dimension, and demons know it?”
“Their own dimension wouldn’t have become a fragment, so probably one they invaded.”
“Makes sense. And these demons took part in that invasion or are connected?”
This time, Geon-woo nodded.
Pang’s guess matched his own thinking.
“Let’s learn from them for now.”
“Yep.”
By watching the demons ahead, they could figure out how to use the buildings’ functions.
Opening doors or turning on lights seemed simple enough.
But it required finding some kind of terminal, which neither Geon-woo nor Pang had done yet.
‘Ilryeong, what do you see?’
= A few demons have special devices. They use them to locate control panels in the buildings.
Ilryeong was observing the demons up close, invisible to others.
‘If we snag one, can we use it?’
= No separate controls. It just reacts if a panel’s within thirty meters.
‘Got it.’
= When close, the demon’s device syncs with the panel, activating it. Then touch controls. I’ve figured out symbols for opening and closing doors.
‘I see.’
= But the demons’ devices are odd.
‘How so?’
= Sleek metal object with a marble-like orb in the center. Emits a unique wavelength.
‘The wavelength triggers the panels?’
= Yes.
‘What’s weird about it?’
= Try examining one with your Heavenly Brain Multi-Heart Sub-Spirit Jiangshi Technique at full power, my lord.
‘Scan it with the technique?’
= The orb seems to contain a spirit.
‘A spirit? Like a soul?’
= Yes, somewhat altered.
‘Huh.’
“What’re you doing?”
Geon-woo had been deep in telepathic talk with Ilryeong, so Pang waved a hand in front of his face.
“Just thinking. You saw those weird devices some demons have, right?”
“Yeah. They react with the buildings.”
“Exactly. Was wondering if we could swipe one.”
“Forget it for now. Let’s keep the easy ride going as far as it takes us. Don’t wanna blow our fisherman’s profit by stirring things up.”
“Oh, right.”
Traces of Thousand Hands’ group had vanished at some point.
They’d seen frequent wall holes at first, but those stopped.
Either Thousand Hands found a new route, or the demons had branched off differently.
Either way, no reason to poke the demons and paint a target on themselves now.
“Whoa, door’s opening. This one’s big.”
“Wait, that thing?”
“Damn! No way—is that an elevator? Straight shot to the upper floors?”
“Pang, that’s not the point. Can we ride it without getting spotted?”
“Without getting caught?”
“Who said anything about getting caught?”
“Impossible.”
“Shit, fight here?”
Geon-woo scowled.
But the demons who opened the elevator-like door didn’t move right away.
It clearly held maybe fifty at most.
They’d need at least two trips.
Something was wrong, though—they huddled, arguing.
‘What’s going on?’
Geon-woo messaged Ilryeong.
= Would you like to check the situation through me, my lord?
Ilryeong replied to his query.
Geon-woo had absorbed demons’ memories while capturing some to make jiangshi.
He was the only user who could speak their language.
“……Energy’s too low.”
At the gathered demons’ spot.
The one under all their gazes scowled.
Originating from a worm-like species without shells, they evoked maggots overall.
Even their human-like features were wrinkled, maggot-reminiscent skin.
These were the demon tribe called Balam.
“Without the main core active, this is the limit.”
“No way to pull energy from elsewhere?”
“Sorry. I don’t know how.”
“No, it’s impressive you know this much of Yulturen tech. From a dead dimension, no less.”
The demon leader acknowledged his subordinate’s feat without rebuke.
“We’ll have to leave half behind and go in batches.”
“Ugh. How far have the Earthlings gotten?”
“Looks like about 75%.”
“They must’ve gotten Yulturen info somewhere. Couldn’t have come this far otherwise.”
“That’s our read too.”
“But nothing to worry about. With this elevator, we’ll jump to 80%. Overtake them in one go.”
“Then wait and wipe them out.”
The subordinates hyped reversing the tide via elevator.
“Even splitting forces in half?”
The leader asked cautiously again.
“Trust us, my lord. This place seals dimension balance system powers. What can Earthlings do here?”
“Exactly. They’re primitives—ignorant of abilities, superpowers, mysteries.”
“No need to fear them where the system’s down.”
The demons pitched to their leader.
But up close, they split into two subtle factions.
Same words, but clear mutual wariness.
“On the other hand, full-immersion mysteries remain intact. Even without system power, they’re potent. Be cautious.”
The leader warned his rivalrous subordinates against mistakes.
“Critters can handle that. We take the elevator, leave some to block the Earthlings, and head up first.”
One faction’s demon proposed.
The other gritted teeth, a step behind.
“Critters, yes. Leave them for the Earthlings, we go straight to the top floor. Secure core control, activate it, and the whole city’s ours.”
The leader seemed to accept one side’s pitch.
The proposing demon seized the moment, flattering.
“Didn’t expect the lord’s Yulturen collectible to help like this.”
“Preserving a dead dimension’s race as trophies? Common hobby.”
“Still, having a Yulturen specimen—soul-preserved, no less—is lucky. Reacts with the ruins perfectly.”
He slathered honeyed words again, not letting the chance slip.
“Enough flattery. Decision time.”
The lord cut it short firmly, embarrassed to drag it out.
“Yes, my lord.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Both factions straightened, awaiting orders.
“The second stays here with two knights. No elevator, so find another route to the upper levels at your discretion. Leaving one Yulturen specimen for that—without it, the ruins will attack. Jelo! You can handle it?”
“Yes…. I’ll do my best.”
Second-in-command Jelo answered stiffly, displeased.
Meanwhile, the first beamed, going with the lord—gloating openly at his rival.
“Brats. Yulturen specimen, soul-preserved, huh?”
Geon-woo, who’d watched it all, sparkled with resolve.