Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Holocaust of the Demon Clan Independent Zone
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"Is it really okay to just leave like this?"
As they departed from the sanctuary, Paeng asked Geon-woo, still not entirely reassured.
"It's not like we can live here ourselves. Why? You uneasy with just one Soonryeong?"
They had sealed the sanctuary's entrance and stationed a Soonryeong along the access path to prevent any intrusions.
"No, it's not that. Honestly, your jiangshi are on another level."
Paeng shook his head.
The Molti jiangshi retained almost all of the Demon Dimension's power, making it stronger than Geon-woo in pure combat ability.
On Earth or Omniroad, there was no one who could match it.
Even a swarm of Omniroad's native Masters wouldn't stand a chance against the Molti jiangshi.
And they'd left that jiangshi as the sanctuary's guardian.
Even if Demons or bio-armor implanteds managed to push that far, getting past the Soonryeong would be impossible.
So there was no need to worry about losing the sanctuary again.
"But what?"
Geon-woo stared at Paeng with a blank expression, as if he couldn't grasp the source of his anxiety.
"What if other people find out?"
"That?"
"Yeah. You said the access restrictions lift once enough soulstones accumulate. And it's not exactly far off."
"The number of users will grow, so it'll happen even faster."
What Paeng was worried about was the new function of the obelisk that they hadn't told anyone else about.
There was something Geon-woo and Paeng had kept from Bayrun and the Guardians.
Once a certain amount of soulstones piled up on Earth, a very special TIO would become available to a select few.
"Giving qualifications to access higher dimensions? If word gets out, it'll be chaos."
That was why Paeng felt uneasy about the sanctuary being open.
Sure, a Soonryeong guarded the entrance, but what if someone nearby used a capsule and could bring their avatar to Earth?
An avatar returning from Omniroad would log into the Neuron Age sanctuary.
That's why Paeng fretted that someone might access the Prophet's Obelisk and learn about the higher dimensions.
"We have the only access rights and qualifications. So don't worry. As long as the sanctuary's owner doesn't change, no one else can pull info from the obelisk. Relax."
Geon-woo reassured Paeng.
"But while you're in Omniroad, the jiangshi can't move."
Paeng's anxiety lingered.
"That's why we're wiping out the Demon Clan Independent Zone this time. Total extermination might be tough, but we can keep them pinned down for a while. Then the Neuron Age HQ will be safe too."
"Yeah? Well, that would ease my mind a bit."
As long as they didn't lose the sanctuary, the obelisk would be fine.
"And even if someone schemes to take it while I'm in Omniroad, it's over when I get back. Who on Earth can handle my jiangshi?"
"No, true. But if that TIO for higher dimensions pops up and we lose the sanctuary or something..."
"If you overthink it like that, how do you even live? Sometimes you just gotta say it can't be helped. That's pointless worrying. Plus, it's Neuron Age HQ. Bayrun will beef up defenses anyway."
"But still..."
"Look, it's not gonna happen, but if we do lose it, we'll just take it back. Let it go."
"Hmm, you're right. Our Geon-woo's not the type to back down. Yeah, exactly."
"Alright then, let's move. Jumper's probably waiting."
Geon-woo hesitated for a moment before quickening his pace to make up for lost time.
Traces of the unresolved battle littered the path ahead.
Many were from his elite jiangshi overexerting themselves.
"I'll have to tell them to be more careful next time. Starting with this Demon Clan Independent Zone attack."
Geon-woo felt a twinge of guilt seeing how much of the damage was from his jiangshi.
At the same time, it hit him again how the Molti jiangshi was an irregularity that didn't belong in this dimension.
* * *
[Is This Okay? Terror Strikes Demon Clan Autonomous Zones!] Gui-zhou, Sichuan, Yunnan, Beiguan, Hunan, Jiangxi, etc.
Holocaust erupts across the former Chinese territories in the Demon Clan Independent Zone.
Word is the massacre in the Demon Clan Independent Zone is being carried out by Demons.
But according to an anonymous tipster, those Demons are following orders from Omniroad 1st Expedition Team hero Kang Geon-woo.
Which means the slaughter in the Demon Clan Independent Zone is his doing...
[Throwing a Stone into a Still Pond!]
This attack on the Demon Clan Independent Zone is a reckless act shattering the fragile peace Earth had been building.
Time to worry about Demon retaliation.
[Escalating Demon Clan Independent Zone Crisis]
Random killings continue, with criticisms mounting that it's gone too far.
Reports estimate over a million casualties from this incident...
Kang Geon-woo—is he a devil?
[Humanity's Foe: Demon Subjugation Faces Backlash] But seeing the rivers of blood in the Demon Clan Independent Zone makes you nod in understanding.
[Distorted Reporting]
Those killed in the Demon Clan Independent Zone were irredeemable even by soul-extraction talismans.
Possession bodies unsalvageable by talismans aren't human.
The media, turning Demon deaths into human ones, needs to reflect.
[China Moves to Reclaim Demon Clan Independent Zone]
As battles drag on, the number of Demon-possessed bodies in the Independent Zone plummets.
China asserts it's their original territory and vows to reclaim it...
[Bio-Armor Implanteds Claim Ownership of Demon Clan Independent Zone] Implanteds who escaped the holocaust declare a split from Demons and stake claim to the zone.
Implanteds rejecting Demons survived the holocaust...
[Just Nine Demon Monsters]
The ones shaking the Demon Clan Independent Zone: a mere nine Demon freaks.
But no attacks have touched those nine Demons.
Even small nukes were deployed, yet failed to take down the Demon monsters...
"Whoa, you see this? They used nukes?"
Paeng turned his tablet screen toward Geon-woo.
"Not nukes—bombs like Mom and Dad."
"Mom and Dad?"
"MOAB and FOAB."
"Those went off? Aren't they in the US and Russia?"
Paeng's eyes widened in shock at Geon-woo's words.
Mother of All Bombs from the US, Father from Russia—the pinnacle of non-nuclear weapons.
Practically nukes without the radiation.
"China had to have equivalents. Anyway, the jiangshi took a few hits."
"And they're fine?"
"Honestly, I'd be in danger, but the jiangshi shrugged it off."
"Unbelievable. Is that for real?"
"That's why the Demon-possessed scattered. They realized there's no winning."
"Got it. So why spare the implanteds?"
"They're not Demons, for one."
"Huh?"
"Aside from the initial implanteds, the second- and third-gen ones from fission aren't turning Demon as often."
"So you let them live because they're not Demons?"
"Cheonsuwan said it before: what's the difference between a user avatar and a bio-implant body?"
"Dude, how are they the same? Totally different."
"Aside from looks, both aren't exactly human."
"Even so..."
Paeng frowned, unable to accept Geon-woo's logic.
"We're lying in capsules with our real bodies while living as avatars. Does that make this avatar human?"
"No, but..."
"Look, I think avatars are better than bio-armor implanteds. But killing implanteds who aren't under Demon thrall just because they're different feels off."
"And Demons?"
"Those bastards hijacking bodies? No forgiveness. They're just parasites."
"Implanteds?"
"Sane ones chose it, so live and let live. Demon-turned ones get killed. The moment they turn, they're the ones who murdered the human and took the body."
"Complicated. Easier to wipe 'em all."
"That's just my standard. Go with it."
"Yeah, whatever. You're the jiangshi master—do you. Demons are getting cleaned up anyway."
Paeng finally nodded, accepting Geon-woo's purge criteria.
"Alright, possession bodies are mostly handled. Time to check Omniroad."
"Omniroad?"
"That jerk who messed with me—Hellfaris."
"Oh yeah! Forgot about him since he vanished."
"He's gotta be in Omniroad somewhere. No way back to the Demon Dimension."
"True."
Demons who came to Omniroad for conquest can't return to their dimension.
Their only way back is conquering the dimension, subjugating it fully to their home realm.
Fail that, and home's off-limits forever.
So that new Demon boss Hellfaris who popped up is lurking in Omniroad.
"Kill every one we see, and he'll show eventually."
Geon-woo figured cleaning Omniroad would be easier than Earth.
No natives there sided with Demons, at least.
"The Prophet's Obelisk... Ah, no. Demons, implanteds—they won't target Neuron Age HQ now."
Paeng worried about the sanctuary again before shaking his head to dismiss the needless fear.
"Oh, even from Omniroad, no worries now. If anything happens to the Neuron Age sanctuary, Soonryeong will let me know."
To ease Paeng's mind, Geon-woo revealed a new fact.
"What? When you shift dimensions, your left-behind jiangshi go limp like toys without batteries, right?"
Paeng stared at him, baffled.
"Molti's special."
Geon-woo's answer was simple.
But it was enough for Paeng, who nodded.
"Yeah, if it's the Molti jiangshi..."
Plausible enough.
"Molti's soul is insanely strong. Way beyond Earth or Omniroad locals."
Geon-woo elaborated as Paeng watched.
"So?"
"A jiangshi spirit from that soul resists control hard. But I made the Molti jiangshi spirit anyway."
"And?"
"Our consciousness link is rock-solid. Sure, different dimensions sever it."
"But the Molti jiangshi spirit can reconnect briefly?"
Paeng recalled Geon-woo's words about Soonryeong notifying him, eyes lighting with realization.
"Exactly! Even from another dimension, Molti can transmit my will briefly."
"Oh, really?"
"Couldn't do it as a death jiangshi—no will there. But as a living jiangshi, it works."
"Why didn't you say sooner?!"
"Just figured it out recently. I was worried about sanctuary reset too. Can't move Soonryeong at the entrance from Omniroad. Took trial and error to find this consciousness link workaround."
"You could've told me earlier! I worried for nothing."
Paeng looked relieved yet a bit miffed.
"Learned it recently, I swear. Anyway, we'll know instantly if the sanctuary's in trouble. So drop it and let's head to Omniroad."
"Sweet! This time we nab that bastard. Let's go!"
With minimal safeguards at the sanctuary, Paeng's response brimmed with cheer.
And so, Geon-woo and Paeng headed to the nearest Gwangju sanctuary for Omniroad.