Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Creature Queen's Raid Team
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“Yeah. That’s why the demons are planning to unleash creatures on Earth right now.”
“Possession is already no joke, and now they’re making creatures on top of that?”
“That’s right.”
“How? They’re not saying the possessed bodies are going to mate and produce creatures, are they?”
“Are you an idiot? Even possessed, they’re still human. How would humans make creatures?”
“Well, this is a world where common sense falls apart so easily... But good to know that’s not it.”
Geon-woo let out a small sigh.
If creatures started spawning from humans possessed by demons, that would be a nightmare beyond imagination.
“Phew, so what’s their method?”
Geon-woo asked Pang, looking at him.
“Well, it seems even the demons can’t create something from nothing, so they’re trying to bring creature eggs to Earth somehow.”
“Creature eggs?”
“Yeah. I nearly went bald figuring that out.”
“How the hell did you even find that out?”
“I mobilized my entire intel team. Plus, I caught a few demon bastards and tortured them.”
“Tortured them?”
“It worked better than you’d think. The possessed demons were super sensitive to pain.”
“So, how are they planning to get those eggs to Earth? If even one slips through, it’ll be chaos.”
From what Pang said, the eggs hadn’t reached Earth yet.
That meant there was still a chance to stop it before things escalated.
“There are seven eggs scheduled to come over. And the Guardians of Neuron Age are gearing up to hit those spots.”
“What, Neuron?”
“We can’t cover all seven ourselves. It’s easier if Neuron Age handles it on Earth. All those guys have over 50,000 souls.”
“So we’ve got nothing to do? We could’ve taken one spot ourselves.”
Geon-woo looked a bit disappointed.
He didn’t have to jump in, but being the top user and at the peak instilled a sense of responsibility.
“Of course we’ve got work to do.”
“Huh?”
“We’re heading to Onbiroad.”
“Onbiroad? Why there?”
Creatures eggs were about to spread on Earth right now, and Onbiroad?
Geon-woo stared at Pang for a moment.
Then he connected the dots between the creature eggs and Onbiroad.
“The eggs are coming from Onbiroad?”
Geon-woo asked.
“Yeah, seems they can’t bring them directly from the demon dimension. So they’re routing through Onbiroad to Earth.”
“I see.”
“The funny part is, it’s not the demons of Onbiroad leading this. Those guys aren’t great at cooperating.”
“True. So who’s doing it?”
“The demons possessing user bodies.”
“And those guys can access Onbiroad through capsules?”
“But if the possessed body dies on Onbiroad, the possession breaks.”
“Huh?”
“It’s a clean way to deal with demon possessions. You take a small soul fusion penalty, but it reliably severs the demon link.”
“That’s...”
“I already tipped off Neuron Age.”
“Good thing. At least users have a way to shake off demon possession.”
“Anyway, that’s not our problem. We go to Onbiroad and smash the ones trying to ship those creature eggs to Earth. If any survive, they’ll just try again.”
“Neuron Age’s Guardians handle Earth, we take Onbiroad?”
“Yeah, though they said they’re sending Guardians to Onbiroad too. I told them to back off.”
“Neuron Age must have some spare manpower.”
“Anyway, you in for this?”
Pang looked at Geon-woo, who nodded as if it was obvious.
* * *
Onbiroad, Belloca.
“Why Belloca of all places?”
Geon-woo asked as he and Pang left the sanctuary.
“Because of you.”
Pang replied.
“Me? What’d I do?”
“You wiped out the demons here. Their defenses crumbled, and they lost a ton of territory.”
“That was the natives, not me.”
“Natives took the land, but you were the cause.”
“And how does that relate to possessed user demons operating here?”
“Simple. Onbiroad demons can’t tell regular users from possessed ones. So...”
“They attack possessed users too?”
“Yeah. No communication possible.”
“So the possessed ones stick to Belloca where demon threats are low?”
“Exactly. Best spot for them to operate freely. Perfect environment for their goal.”
“Getting the creature eggs?”
“Yeah. But not just any eggs. Ever seen a creature egg?”
“They’re everywhere.”
“Know what hatches from them?”
“Bug-type creatures?”
“Right. All creatures start as bug-types. They evolve into beast-types, then human-types. Two more molts from human-type, and they become demons.”
“Got it.”
“But who lays those bug-type eggs?”
“Oh yeah, I remember. Creature Queen, right? The queen.”
Geon-woo recalled the Creature Queen from the demon memories he’d absorbed.
“Yep. Queens lay eggs, then they get moved around for hatching. That’s why you see eggs occasionally.”
“But I’ve never heard of a queen being caught.”
It had been over a decade since fighting demons started on Onbiroad.
Yet this was the first time Geon-woo thought of the Creature Queen.
Meaning, info on her was scarce.
Even scarcer than on demon lords or seal holders.
“That’s how protected she is. Every demon race puts queens as top priority. If a queen’s in danger...”
“All demons band together?”
“Yep. And conveniently, demons are wiped out around here?”
Pang grinned wide, reiterating why possessed users chose Belloca—as if to say it was Geon-woo’s fault.
“Is the queen the origin of demons?”
Geon-woo ignored Pang’s expression.
“Well, once they start breeding normally, her importance drops, but symbolically, yeah.”
“Alright. So possessed demon users are after that queen?”
Regular creature eggs wouldn’t cut it for Earth.
They need eggs that can become queens.
That was obvious enough.
“Right. And places like here, with broken defenses, are the only way to reach her.”
“Got it. So what’s our job?”
Geon-woo, having grasped the situation, asked Pang.
“Take out the demon-possessed users, obviously. Like I said, kill them here...”
“And the possession breaks?”
“Yep. And if we get the chance...”
“Grab the Creature Queen too?”
“Exactly.”
“Cool. You know where those possessed bastards are?”
“Of course. Follow me!”
Pang confidently led Geon-woo to the gate.
The giant’s dimensional space was stocked full for expeditions, so no need to browse the street shops.
* * *
“Surprising. Forming a raid team like this.”
“Looks totally normal on the surface. They leaked info on the demon creature queen and formed a team to take her down.”
“With that pretext, they hire native mercs and borrow top user power?”
“Yeah, then kill everyone at the end or snag the queen’s eggs.”
“But they didn’t expect us crashing the party?”
“No way. Think they know I uncovered the egg plan? Do I look that sloppy?”
Pang pouted, annoyed.
“I trust you. But Neuron Age is an organization. Those places always have leaks.”
“True. Still, they promised tight security, so I’ll trust ’em.”
“Somewhat reassuring then. Huh?”
“What?”
“Creatures!!”
Geon-woo, chatting with Pang, suddenly yelled.
The entire raid team turned to him, then scanned the direction he pointed.
Brrrbrrrbrr! Shhhshhh!
Clang! Grrrrowl! Yap yap yap!
“Bug-types en masse, lots of beast-types too!”
“Ranged DPS, what are you waiting for? Fire!”
Pewwww! Shhhhshhh!
Whoooosh! Flash! Kaboomboomboom!
There was a densely wooded hill ahead in their path, and creatures were pouring out from it.
Even Geon-woo hadn’t sensed them until they moved.
“Human-type creatures. Using abilities to hide the rest!”
Geon-woo shouted, guessing why he’d spotted them late.
At that moment, a group of human-type creatures emerged from the forest.
“Weird. A whole pack of shaman human-types.”
Pang, disguised and face revealed after joining the raid with Geon-woo, looked shocked.
“Charge! Kill them!”
“Don’t rush. Hold formation!”
“Block them!”
Native mercs and users in the raid formed groups, going defensive.
But at the moment bug-type creatures breached the ranged attacks and hit the formation.
Shhhshhh! Pssshhboom!
“Damn! Poison!”
The bug-types exploded in unison, spraying thick fluids.
“What are you doing? Poisoned guys fall back and chug antidotes! Wind magic or abilities—blow away the poison cloud!”
Whoooosh! Whoooosh!
Clangclang! Yap! Groooowl!
While bug-type suicide bought time, beast-types charged in.
Leaping, baring fangs.
“Argh! My arm!”
“Gah! Let go! Let go!”
Thud! Thunk!
“Die! Where do you think you’re coming at?!”
Fights broke out everywhere from the beast incursion.
But no weaklings in the raid team.
Everyone competent, beast-types getting cleared fast.
But then.
- Dororiri. Gapajira. Salkerira!
- Dororiri. Gapajira. Salkerira!
- Dororiri. Gapajira. Salkerira!
The human-types at the forest edge chanted in unison, changing everything.
Crunch! Crunch!
“Fuck! Necro types! Watch the dead ones too!”
“Smash their heads.”
“If not, chop legs first. Takes time to reattach!”
Crack! Grind! Sizzle!
“Careful! Defense skyrocketed. Blades aren’t cutting!”
“Defense shamanism too?!”
“Huh? More creatures incoming!”
Chaos in the raid from reviving dead creatures.
Then another wave emerged from the forest.
“Human-types mixed in.”
“Way more than before!”
“Tighten formation! Don’t scatter!”
New wave tensed up the raid team.
They’d had breathing room before, but now it was serious.
“What’s the play? Wanna cut loose?”
Pang, blending in as a decent contributor among users, asked Geon-woo.
“No Hydra, Yulturen’s armor on basic mode for melee only. Got it?”
“Obviously. You?”
“I’ll back you up with telekinesis, naturally.”
“Hohoho. Got it. Ready?”
“Yeah.”
Show Hydra, and they’re busted.
So Pang charged as a two-handed sword warrior.
“Haaah!”
Slash! Whirling! Slash! Slice!
Pang leaped dozens of meters, swinging his greatsword dazzlingly.
His avatar, enhanced by jiangshi refining potion, outclassed normal users in all physical stats.
System buffs for users plus jiangshi refining on top—few natives could match.
Add near-perfect defense from Yulturen’s armor, and one-man army was no surprise.
“Gotta help a bit. Ilryeong, harass those shamans over there.”
= Yes, my lord.
Cracklecrackle!
Hearing Ilryeong, Geon-woo split the earth, swallowing over ten creatures.
Ground cracked, sucked them in, then sealed shut—impressive sight.
“Nice! Keep pushing!”
“I’m in!”
“Let’s gooo! Uuuuraaa!”
With Pang and Geon-woo advancing, users stepped up too.
Geon-woo sidelong-glanced at possessed users’ avatars.
But they weren’t acting suspicious yet, cooperating to slay creatures.
‘Makes sense. Won’t mess around till they get the queen’s eggs. Still, stay sharp.’
= Of course. I’ll keep watch without slacking.
‘Yeah. Huh? Pang?’
Users were pushing back creatures, but meanwhile Pang leaped toward the human-types.
Geon-woo tensed slightly, ramping up telekinesis, ready to support.