Chapter 65
Chapter 65
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Ratrohit's Magic Circle on Onbiroad
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ratrohit's magic circle—a counterattack straight into the Demon Realm through it.
To pull that off, they needed to activate the magic circle while simultaneously modifying the Jiangshi Spirits to send into the Demon Realm.
The key to that modification was ensuring the soul-based Jiangshi Spirits could possess hosts on their own, then multiply through predation afterward.
"This is a bit of a problem."
= You're right. It's not easy for Jiangshi Spirits to enter hosts that aren't Jiangshi.
Ilryeong responded to Geon-woo's concern with a dejected tone.
Jiangshi Spirits were created specifically for use in Jiangshi.
That made it tough for them to enter anything that wasn't a Jiangshi.
"Hmm, it seems impossible with living things for now? Or rather, they just can't enter living hosts?"
= But that Ravolas Demon stuck a monster soul into a human wearing bio-armor.
"That worked because the monster soul didn't possess directly—Ratrohit guided the process. If I were in the Demon Realm controlling the Jiangshi Spirits myself, I could probably find a way."
= Ah, yeah, that makes sense. The issue is we need the Jiangshi Spirits to possess on their own right now.
"It's not easy. Not easy at all."
Geon-woo looked troubled as he stared at the Jiangshi Spirit used for testing.
= They can at least seep into corpses, but that requires a corpse nearby, so it's all up to luck.
"Even those corpses have to be small animals or bugs with no resistance whatsoever. And the success rate isn't even that high."
= If we modify the Jiangshi Spirits a bit more...
"That would be great, but the Yulturen souls aren't skilled in that area, and our spirit control techniques make soul modification tough. The modifications we managed so far were only possible thanks to Ratrohit—or rather, the Ravolas race's knowledge."
= I'm sorry, my lord. It's my failing...
"It's not your fault, or your Ungajang's. Your clan specialized in creating Jiangshi and controlling them from the start."
= Still...
"Either way, we can't just waste time like this. Time to get started somehow."
= But we're not ready yet...
"If it doesn't work, we'll overwhelm them with numbers. Pour in the Jiangshi Spirits, and some will succeed in possession. Others will grow stronger through predation and multiplication. We'll keep searching for better methods too, of course."
= Understood, my lord.
"Alright, let's head to Onbiroad then. Paeng went ahead to gather intel—she's gonna chew us out for being late."
= Yes, my lord.
* * *
"Come on in."
"It's been a while, Lord Kolon."
"You're beyond my level now. Seems stronger than even the Master."
"Is that so? But since the lord saw through me, I still have a long way to go."
"What?"
"Hahaha. Just kidding, kidding. Anyway, I heard you played a key role in defending the eastern sector."
"Urgh. That's only because you hit the Demons here hard. They all hunkered down because of you."
He was referring to how Geon-woo had raided the Demons with Dark Phoenix before, snatching their seals and creating Jiangshi Spirits.
Realizing they couldn't beat Geon-woo's party alone, the Demons had relocated their bases entirely.
As a result, Demons vanished completely from around Veloca City, where Geon-woo operated.
Lord Kolon's Bears Territory, close to Veloca City, benefited by stabilizing the front lines against the Demons and expanding its domain.
That was a big reason why Kolon's command rank in the alliance had risen.
"Congratulations on your promotion, in any case."
"Promotion? It's just more responsibility."
For all his words, Kolon's face lit up—he clearly wasn't unhappy about his higher status in the alliance army.
"Ahem. Anyway. Heard you're planning something big this time?"
"Paeng told you?"
"Yeah. It's emptying our territory's coffers."
"Thank you."
"Thanks? We're grateful you shared that magic circle with us."
"The circle only opens from Earth to the Demon Realm, so using it on Onbiroad required research. I didn't have the skills for that."
"Right. The alliance's mages somehow sorted it out. Stirred up quite a fuss among the top brass."
"Because they expect it means we can counterattack into the Demon Realm?"
"Exactly. We've just been taking hits until now, but this gives hope we can strike back. Of course, we haven't perfected it to that level yet."
"With Onbiroad's potential, you'll eventually craft a circle stable enough for an expedition force, won't you?"
"Tch. Without the system, maybe, but reports say the system's restrictions make it tricky."
"I see. Then perhaps...?"
"Nah. We succeeded in creating a semi-field by studying your circle. And opened a passage to the Demon Realm inside it with magic."
"That's fortunate."
"Hohohot. Probably way more stable than opening it from your Earth side. No losing half your forces mid-transit like before."
"As expected! Onbiroad's mystic arts are on another level compared to Earth's. Impressive."
The passage from Ratrohit's circle had been unstable from the start.
Unstable passages led to significant losses en route.
The six monster souls Ratrohit had brought to Earth were actually the successes out of ten attempts.
And that had been considered quite successful.
Yet Onbiroad's mages had produced a more stable circle with reduced risk.
Bang!
"Hey, Geon-woo!"
As Geon-woo marveled at the new circle and praised Onbiroad's mystic arts, the door burst open. Paeng stormed in.
She wore Yulturen treasure armor that covered even her face.
She only showed her face around Geon-woo.
"Circle's complete, huh? Good work."
Geon-woo greeted the clearly pleased Paeng.
"Why'd you take so long? You said you'd be right here!"
"Miss me that much?"
"You promised!"
"Sorry. The Jiangshi Spirit mods were dragging. Oh, unrelated—but did you track down those possession users to beat the crap out of?"
"Changing the subject?"
"Hahaha. Can't just keep apologizing."
"Always scheming."
"So, did you find the possession users?"
"You think that's easy?"
"Couldn't find them? Possession users have to log into Onbiroad too, right? To grow their awakening abilities."
"Nah, I found 'em. But I ain't telling you right away."
"What?"
"Seven-day date coupon! Anywhere—Earth or Onbiroad."
"What's that supposed to mean? A date coupon?"
"Eat together, watch a movie, stroll around, that stuff. I'll be generous: lunch to dinner, counts as one day."
"What nonsense..."
"Or find the possession users yourself."
"Urgh! Fine, one day. I can hang out one day."
"Seven days!"
"Two! No more!"
"Seven!"
"Two! Or deal's off!"
"Hey! You added one, I subtracted two! So three days it is!"
"Haa, three times. Yeah, three. Deal?"
"Heeheeht. Deal deal deal!!"
"Urgh!"
* * *
"Sending more?"
"What a pain."
Cheon Su-wan scowled fiercely at Geon-woo.
"Still hanging with these guys?"
Geon-woo glanced at the possession users with Cheon Su-wan.
"Can't you tell? But I hear you hate transplant users like me more than possessions."
"Hate? Possessions can revert once you extract the Demon soul. You transplants in bio-armor can't. No going back to normal."
"Normal my ass. What about the 400 million who awakened on Onbiroad? How are awakeners different from us transplants?"
"Huh?"
"Aren't awakeners normal humans anymore? System-modified, right? And those who bring their avatars to Earth leave their real bodies behind—moving as avatars. So what's the difference? Don't tell me it's just the bio-armor look that bugs you."
"Uuum."
Did he have a lot pent up?
Cheon Su-wan grilled Geon-woo on what was wrong with transplanting bio-armor.
And Geon-woo had to concede the point somewhat.
They were definitely no longer pure humans due to external forces.
But there was a difference between them.
"Fair enough, but the problem with you transplants is you end up getting eaten by the Demons in the end. Physically and mentally—Demon genes take over."
"How would you know? Seen it? You seen it? And is it a law every transplant ends up that way?"
"No?"
"Sure, some get eaten like you say. But there are exceptions. I've hit 100% assimilation with my bio-armor now? Still got my mind. Turns out there are quite a few like that around."
"Quite a few? Really?"
Geon-woo was startled to hear there were many at 100% assimilation who stayed sane.
"Tch, not many—just occasionally. But that's different from none at all!"
Cheon Su-wan flushed, realizing he'd exaggerated, but shouted anyway.
"Fine. I admit it. Some of you bio-armor transplants don't lose body or mind to Demons—or at least it's possible. Admitted."
Geon-woo had no choice but to acknowledge Cheon Su-wan's claim.
Proof stood right in front of him.
"About time."
"But that doesn't change much."
Listen to the end, though.
Flames erupted in Cheon Su-wan's eyes at Geon-woo's follow-up.
"What?"
"Doesn't mean you'll side with humans. Best case, you lot band together and form your own faction."
Transplants saw themselves as no longer human.
With that mindset, Geon-woo had to reject them.
"Ha, got nothing to say this time. True. We can live with humans, but claiming we're human? Tough. But the 400 million awakeners are the sa—"
"No, we're still human. Our original bodies are."
Geon-woo cut Cheon Su-wan off.
Transplanting bio-armor changed the race entirely—no longer human.
Unlike awakeners, transplants couldn't pair with humans or produce offspring genetically.
That alone set awakeners and transplants apart.
"You little shit."
Feeling outmatched in the argument, Cheon Su-wan glared murderously at Geon-woo.
"Well, gotta throw down anyway, right? That's why I tracked you down."
Geon-woo eyed Cheon Su-wan and signaled his guards and White Guard Jiangshi to move.
Their target: hundreds of possession users out on an upper-rank beast raid.
A few pure users mixed in, but most had transplanted their bodies with bio-armor.
To extend bio-armor effects to avatars required fusing 50,000 souls—only Cheon Su-wan qualified here.
= 'Ilryeong, subdue as many Demon souls as possible and turn them into Jiangshi Spirits. Test skills too while at it.'
= Yes, my lord. Commencing.
At Geon-woo's order, Ilryeong drew yellow talismans in both hands and flew into the battlefield.
Geon-woo, meanwhile, strolled casually toward Cheon Su-wan.
Cheon Su-wan advanced toward Geon-woo just as eagerly.