Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Hunting Possessed Players in Onbiroad
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= Come to think of it, aren't the Baekin Unit better than your direct Jiangshi subordinates?
"Better? My direct Jiangshi are all living Jiangshi, so they can't even compare to the Baekin Unit. Plus, due to the limitations of Yultren's soul terminals, the Baekin Unit Jiangshi are about 20% weaker in performance. Even just looking at that, my direct subordinates are way stronger."
Geon-woo and Ilryeong were in Onbiroad.
Pang had recently taken on work from Neuron Age, so his activities on Earth had increased.
That's why he hadn't come along this time.
= Sure, their performance might be a bit lower, but numbers are what matter—raw power, right?
"Just say numbers are power. Yeah, if we clashed head-on with the Baekin Unit, my direct subordinates would lose, obviously. With that kind of difference in numbers, it's unavoidable. But they could at least put up a fight?"
= True, you've upgraded all your direct subordinates to living Jiangshi this time. And you've passed on various skills to them too.
"Oh, right. My direct living Jiangshi have higher skill acquisition potential than the Baekin Unit ones. That's why they've each learned one extra skill."
= Mana Propulsion Technique really is useful. It's basically become the trademark of the Dark Phoenix Mercenaries. The locals are already treating it as their signature move. Even the Baekin Unit captains using it has spread that image.
"Ah, it's a shame we can't pass skills to the dead Jiangshi. Tsk."
Geon-woo clicked his tongue with genuine regret.
The weakness of Yultren's soul terminals connected to dead Jiangshi was one issue, but dead Jiangshi also lacked the intelligence to learn complex skills.
That's why skill transfers from possessed demon bodies only worked up to living Jiangshi.
= If you're saying that, there must be all sorts of regrets piling up. But that's only because we could create the Baekin Unit in the first place.
"Yeah, compared to back when we couldn't even dream of making the Baekin Unit, these regrets are just greed—excessive greed at that."
Geon-woo nodded, agreeing with Ilryeong.
Then he spotted something and fixed his gaze.
At the end of that gaze was a group of possessed players.
The place where Geon-woo was now was the entrance to Katrain's sanctuary, the most active battle zone city in Onbiroad against the demons.
Katrain was much larger than Veloka, and with around twenty gates connected to demon hunting grounds, it offered excellent hunting conditions for players.
Naturally, tons of players were active in Katrain.
Geon-woo had been guarding the sanctuary entrance and finally spotted his target.
"Those are all possessed bastards, aren't they?"
= Looks like it.
"If they're gathered like that, they're probably up to something."
= For demon-possessed in Onbiroad to swarm around like that, there's only one thing they could be doing.
"Right? They can't communicate with Onbiroad's native demons anyway. They have no choice but to fight each other."
Even players possessed by demon souls couldn't communicate with the expedition demons from Onbiroad.
They might try gestures with non-creature demons if they met one directly, but that was unlikely.
In that state, the only things a swarm of possessed players could do were group hunts or targeting queen eggs.
Geon-woo had been watching the sanctuary entrance in Katrain based on intel about possessed players planning to go after a queen egg.
He'd played along with the tip and kept an eye out, and it had paid off.
"Looks like they're heading out right away?"
= That's a decent number. What's the plan?
"What? Capture them all alive? You think that's feasible?"
= If we gather the whole Baekin Unit...
"Even with the full Baekin Unit, our numbers are about even—that won't work. Let's thin them out while spotting ones with useful abilities. Grabbing just ten solid ones should be enough."
Turning ten possessed into Jiangshi spirits could yield around thirty skills.
Of course, the spirits used for extraction would dissipate, but that wasn't Geon-woo's concern.
He already had plenty of spare Jiangshi spirits ready for making living Jiangshi.
With reserves stockpiled in a device mimicking Yultren's soul-stuffing machine, he didn't need to gather more spirits.
These days, using demon-possessed for spirits was just gacha for skills.
"Alright, let's go. We can't cause a scene inside Katrain. No point showing locals players fighting each other."
Geon-woo rose as he saw the possessed players heading toward the gate.
* * *
Boom boom boom! Kaboom! Crash!
Rumble rumble! Flash! Boom!
Amid the dense forest, between towering ancient trees, a fierce battle raged.
= My lord! Baekin Unit Squad 3 has one dead Jiangshi destroyed. Oh, Squad 7 too...
"These bastards are tougher than expected?"
Geon-woo frowned at the mounting casualties.
The battle between the Baekin Unit Jiangshi and the possessed players.
The possessed numbered ninety-four, slightly fewer, but they were holding even against the Baekin Unit.
"Amazing. Since when were players this strong?"
Geon-woo was shocked by the attacks leaving deep gashes on the dead Jiangshi.
They were dead Jiangshi with incredibly tough defenses, even wearing lower-grade mana armor.
Yet they were taking heavy damage from possessed players.
"Graaah!"
"Aaagh!"
"Urk!"
Of course, plenty of players were dying to the Jiangshi too.
Just because players could damage Jiangshi didn't mean Jiangshi couldn't overpower players.
= My lord, I've got a rough read on them.
"Yeah, I've picked my capture targets too."
= Then.
"Let's compare notes and grab the overlaps first."
= Yes, my lord.
Ilryeong beamed, pleased with Geon-woo's suggestion.
They linked their consciousnesses and compared thoughts.
= Wow, we both picked ten, and eight match!
Ilryeong's face lit up even more at the quick result.
She was thrilled at how much their tastes aligned.
"Looks like we have similar eyes for talent. Deploy the direct subordinates and capture them one by one. Start with that one."
Geon-woo pointed to a greatsword user inflicting especially deep wounds on the Jiangshi.
He'd already silenced three dead Jiangshi single-handedly.
= Yes! Handling it now.
Ilryeong eagerly sent the direct subordinates into motion at Geon-woo's pick.
Shield-bearing Sunryeong and spear-wielding Changryeong charged, while Sulryeong unleashed a CC alcohol spell.
Ilryeong's spirit form followed, holding a Monster Emperor Paper Talisman.
To make a Jiangshi spirit, they needed to subdue the player and then slap a talisman on the possessing demon body.
The talismans used on regular possessed back on Earth worked, but for efficiency, Geon-woo preferred brute force subdual against possessed players.
However, talismans effective against demon-possessed could only be made by Ilryeong's spirit form, so there was no alternative.
- Graaaaaah! Graaaak!
The player was quickly subdued by Sunryeong, Changryeong, and Sulryeong, and Ilryeong slapped a talisman on the possessing demon spirit.
With almost no resistance to spirit attacks, the demon spirit writhed in agony and was sealed by the talisman.
= Making it a Jiangshi spirit now.
Ilryeong began the process immediately after subdual.
During it, options for the demon's knowledge and skills floated up for Geon-woo to choose from.
If it had been a native Onbiroad demon, memories would merge directly, but for spirits transferred from Earth in possessed state, this selection opportunity arose.
"This one?"
Geon-woo spotted a unique technique he'd never seen before.
= Amplification skill?
Ilryeong checked the options via their linked consciousness.
"Yeah, a skill that consumes origin to boost other skills' power."
= But what's origin?
"Good question?"
= Not some innate energy or something, right?
"Whatever it is—innate energy or not—if it's called 'origin' and consumable, it's probably not worth it."
= But a lot of them are using similar stuff?
"It's not their own bodies. Not even the Earthlings they directly possessed—avatars, whatever. No need to be picky."
= Oh, true.
"Anyway, let's keep it for now. The others..."
= Most are ones you already have, my lord.
"Then this and this."
= Yes, duplicates might boost efficiency a tiny bit even if you already have them.
Geon-woo selected a passive sharpening senses and a mana circulation method boosting reflexes.
With three items chosen, the subdued demon spirit let out a horrific scream and crumbled to dust.
- Kiiiiieeeek!
That's when it happened.
"Over there! They're over there!"
A group of players burst from between the giant trees.
Geon-woo instantly realized they were possessed too.
"A trap?"
= Too late for that... My lord, that's Thousand Arms Complete in the mix.
Ilryeong spotted Thousand Arms Complete among the possessed players as she replied.
Geon-woo also noticed quite a few pure players mixed in.
"That one's not possessed? What's going on?"
Geon-woo wondered if Thousand Arms Complete couldn't tell possessed from normal and was tagging along blindly.
But.
"That's him! That's Kang Geon-woo! The Dark Phoenix leader!"
Seeing Thousand Arms Complete point at him with clear hostility changed his mind.
Thousand Arms Complete had brought the possessed players targeting him.
And it sure wasn't friendly.
Otherwise, the players wouldn't radiate such intense killing intent.
Plus.
"Reinforcements are here! Press them!"
Even the possessed fighting the Baekin Unit reacted, confirming the newcomers were enemies.
"Thousand Arms Complete, what the hell is this?"
"What're you asking in a situation like this?"
"You know those are demon-possessed players, right?"
"Ha! So what?"
"Thousand Arms Complete! How can you side with demons?"
"Bullshit! Places with people are all the same! Think demons are different? I join the winners—that's it. I'm already a discarded pawn anyway!"
"Discarded pawn?"
"With over 50,000 soul users out there, I'm way behind. Gotta find a way to turn it around, right?"
"So you joined the demons?"
"Hahaha. It worked on Earth. And my rep got me some perks."
Thousand Arms Complete bragged, covering himself in armor.
The dark brownish-black shell gleamed.
"Hmm?"
"Cool, huh? It's like Onbiroad mana armor, but from the demon dimension. And thanks to 50,000 soul fusion, I can use it on my real body or avatar."
"Not some stag beetle."
Geon-woo's first impression of the armor was exactly 'stag beetle.'
Especially the head-like pattern from abdomen to chest—it was a dead ringer for one.
"You think that's just decoration? Come try it!"
Noticing Geon-woo's focus on the pattern, Thousand Arms Complete smirked smugly.
"Yeah, guess we're not here to catch up. Let's throw down."
"You're dead!"
Geon-woo maxed out Gangsigong for the first time in ages and launched at Thousand Arms Complete.
Whoosh!
His form, boosted by Mana Propulsion Technique on top of his base speed, streaked toward the foe.
A greatsword had appeared in Geon-woo's hand at some point.
Thousand Arms Complete met the blade with his bare, armored fists.
Boom! Scraaape! Crunch!
"Urgh! You punk! You're strong!"
Thousand Arms Complete blocked a few strikes, then grimaced and groaned.
"Nice armor, huh? But if that's all, you're dying here today. And I'll hunt you down on Earth too!"
Geon-woo had no intention of forgiving a human siding with demons.
Voluntary collaboration was worlds apart from mere possession.