Chapter 83
Chapter 83
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Adaptation Won't Be Easy
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Have they left?"
"Yeah."
Baylor nodded with a hardened expression at his subordinate's question.
"Whew, that's a relief."
The subordinate let out a deep sigh of relief.
"A relief? A powerful force that protected Earth is gone."
"But so is the headache they brought."
"Even if they were a headache, they were still part of humanity's strength. Now that they're gone..."
Baylor's face remained grim.
He, too, had been wary of out-of-spec existences like Geon-woo, Pang, Muhammad, and the others.
The unease of having uncontrollable threats nearby.
Because of that discomfort, he had hoped Geon-woo and the rest would head to a higher dimension.
But the moment they vanished through the dimensional gate and it sealed shut, a profound sense of loss hit him.
After all, Earth's greatest shield was gone.
Strictly speaking, Earth's dimensional exchanges were only now truly beginning, and at a time like this, their reliable backing had disappeared.
"We couldn't have kept them here anyway. The dimensional system itself rejected them."
Sensing Baylor's feelings, the subordinate offered some consolation.
"True. It was inevitable."
As the subordinate said, what could they do when the system and order of the dimensions rejected them?
"From now on, we'll have to handle things ourselves. Plenty of work ahead."
"You'll be busy, Director."
"Probably. No amount of preparation will be enough. Who knows what'll happen with the dimensions we'll encounter."
"We should hurry and rebuild the Guardian structure first..."
"Yeah. And renegotiate with Onbiroad..."
"The remaining demon-possessed will fade with time anyway, but the bio-armor implant users..."
"No. Reports say the possessed are undergoing survival mutations now that the connection to the demon dimension is fully severed."
"But their numbers are so few..."
"Even if few, the fact of mutation matters. They could explode in numbers at any moment."
"Then we should go for swift extermination over natural attrition..."
Baylor shook off his lingering thoughts about those who had left, focusing instead on reviewing the tasks ahead.
And at that moment, Geon-woo set foot in a higher dimension—the demon race's domain.
* * *
"Hoo! This won't be easy."
The place they arrived at after passing through the dimensional gate.
It was a stone chamber deep underground.
This was the hideout that Gongryeong, in Molti's body, had painstakingly carved out after establishing himself somewhat in this dimension.
Long ago, an earthquake had split part of the mountain, creating a narrow, gloomy crevice.
Deep inside that perpetually fog-shrouded fissure, he had found an unassuming shadowed nook in the rock wall.
He had dug into that shadow to form the stone chamber and inscribed the corresponding magic circle for the dimensional gate there.
Geon-woo now stood in that very chamber.
"Haa, haa! Breathing's uncomfortable!"
Beside him, Pang gasped out her plea, her face pale and drained of color.
"Huuuuh. Huu, huu!"
"Sseeeak! Ssak!"
"Huuk, huuk!"
"......Suuuuh suuuuh!"
The rest of the group was in the same boat.
Jumper in particular couldn't even lift his head, forcing out thin breaths.
"Puhuu, the, world, huuuk! rejects, puuuk, me."
Muhammad was in the best shape after Geon-woo and Pang.
Unlike usual, he was in a bulky, fully shelled form encasing his entire body.
It was Geon-woo's first time seeing Muhammad's complete transformation.
Heavy armor suit made of shell?
Aside from the horns protruding from shoulders and elbows, it evoked a tank character from some old mecha anime.
"Yeah. Huuuuk! Feels like the world's density is different, huuuk. Like breathing underwater."
Even Geon-woo, in the best condition, struggled with his breaths.
"Hak! Hak! You look better than us, haaa."
"Huuuuk! Pang, you're improving bit by bit. It's just adaptation, huuuuk! Nothing toxic in the air, huuu no."
"Yeah, no poison. Haaaa."
"Don't breathe in my ear. You wanna joke around in this situation, huuuk?"
"Ho, hoho. Haaa."
Pang stuck close despite Geon-woo's scolding.
Geon-woo dragged her along as he headed out of the chamber.
He issued orders to the others still inside.
"We stay here till we can move freely. Huuuu, there's extra rooms outside, so leave two empty and settle in."
"Huuuuh. Y-yes, sir. Huu, huu!"
"Sseeeak! Yes, leader."
"Huuk, huuk! Roger that! Huuuk!"
"Suuuuh suuuuh! ......!"
"Puhuhuhu, got, some leeway?"
Muhammad asked Geon-woo.
He skipped formalities when mumbling to himself but switched to respect when addressing Geon-woo directly.
During their time together in the higher dimension, he had acknowledged Geon-woo as leader and pledged obedience, showing respect accordingly.
Iban, Tucker, Cheonsuwan, and the others followed the same agreement.
Pang alone was exempt from such promises.
At some point, she had started acting closer than a mere comrade.
"You okay? Think they noticed the gate opening?"
"Huuu, your breathing?"
"Yultren's armor's great. Covers my face completely, so breathing's easier."
"Yeah? Huuuk."
"Yep."
"Still, without armor, huuuk..."
"Don't worry. We can train to adapt. Gradually reduce the armor's effect. Might even be easier that way."
"Jealous of that armor for once. Huuuuk. Huuuk!"
"You're already way better than before."
"Thanks to Gangsigong. Huuuk. The more Gangsigong adapts, the easier it gets for me, huuuk. Plus, nothing tougher than a jiangshi body."
"Hoho, tough body, I like. Hoho."
"Quit messing around. Where you groping?"
"Why? Just fingertips touching gives a thrill?"
"Huuu, that's your anti-demon energy flowing. Stimulates my Gangsigong."
"Wow! Really?"
"Closest energy to my Gangsigong. When running it at max like this, huuuk, I sense you and other jiangshi energies clearer."
"Oh, I see."
"There's the entrance. Have Baegindae guard outside the valley, close guard the entrance. Huuu."
Gongryeong had collapsed the entrance to the chamber.
From outside, it looked like a natural rockslide.
Geon-woo first summoned a few Baegindae jiangshi to clear the stones.
Once open, he sent the rest of the Baegindae out to the canyon beyond.
"Not dangerous? Remote mountain might have strong beasts. Not easy then."
"Told 'em to avoid fights if possible. Huuu. If not, overwhelm with numbers. Numbers are the ultimate thug, right?"
"Fair. Hundred fearless jiangshi..."
Considering this was a higher dimension, too soon for complacency, but Pang relaxed a bit, trusting the Baegindae.
"Back inside then. Minimal defenses set. Huuu."
"So what's first?"
"Dig the rabbit hole, obviously."
"Psychokinesis check?"
"Without jiangshi, it's my bread and butter. Gotta test it."
"I'll tag along and check too. Call Heedra, play hide-and-seek with existence denial. Oh, physical stats? You spar with me, Geon-woo?"
"Spar one close guard. Huuu."
"Aw, who said spar? Eeeeng. Don't you know? Eeeeng?"
"Huuuuk. Cut the crap."
"We left Earth behind—new start vibes, eeeeng?"
"Haaa."
"Hee hee heee."
Geon-woo sighed, Pang dangling from one arm, as he began psychokinesis testing.
Kugugugugu kuguguguk!
= My lord, you haven't forgotten this Illyeong, have you? I wish to materialize as well.
'Hold on. You're my trump card.'
= If you say so, no choice, but remember this Illyeong can form a body too.
'Yeah, I know. I know.'
= Lady Pang would understand if I appeared. No need to worry.
'......'
Geon-woo fell silent.
He hesitated to admit that Pang's reaction was a big reason for delaying Illyeong's materialization.
Even on the island, Pang had eyed Illyeong warily at times, sending chills down his spine for no clear reason.
He wondered if it was jealousy.
Kuguguk! Kugugugugu!
"Psychokinesis power's way down too. Huuuk, huuuk. Maybe 30% compared to Earth or Onbiroad."
Geon-woo muttered while shaking off complicated thoughts, using psychokinesis to carve corridors and rooms.
"What was that? Felt something weird just now. Like you're hiding stuff."
"Hiding what? Huuk."
"No? My intuition says so! Intuition!"
"Shut it and huuuuk go adapt in some room. Huuu don't rely on that armor too much. And huuk huuk from now on, I gotta get serious."
"Tch, fine! Got it!"
Sensing it was time to back off, Pang huffed, turned, and stormed into one of the newly made chambers.
'Feels 70% weaker with the dimension shift.'
= At your current level—equivalent to Baegindae Molti ginger jiangshi—you match low demon nobles or knights.
'That was their average while surviving here. So I'm stronger than average demons but just low noble among nobles. And that's after full adaptation.'
= Jiangshi need no separate adaptation, so your forces are near 100%.
'Near 100% even without me—depressing.'
= But you'll grow again, my lord. This dimension will one day kneel at your feet. This Illyeong believes in you.
'Thanks.'
Geon-woo thanked Illyeong's encouragement, then raised a pedestal from the chamber floor and sat cross-legged atop it.
Now, time for a thorough self-check.
* * *
"He's here!"
Ururururung!
"Your Excellency, what is it?"
The guard knight asked in alarm at the sudden surge of mana.
"That bastard's come!"
"You mean...? No way, the one from the Earth dimension..."
The close aide knight understood Shepalt immediately.
"Yes, I sense the seal he possesses."
"We'll find him!"
"Yes—find him no matter what! No matter what!"
Helparis's marquess, Shepalt, glared at his departing subordinate's back, clenching his fist tight.
Location unknown, but he had definitely crossed into this dimension—so his minions would track him down.
He had ordered even rival or opposing clans to yield for results in this matter.
Thus, wherever in demon territory, the moment he surfaced, Shepalt would know.
And then.
"I'll make him feel how insignificant he is down to his bones. And how coming to a higher dimension as vermin was his gravest mistake—until his soul dissipates. Kuhahahahaha."
That expedition to the lower dimension had become an indelible humiliation.
Even after returning to the origin, it would circulate as gossip among all demons.
He couldn't erase it, but he could vent.
"You bastard!"
Krunch crunch!
The bones in Shepalt's gripped fist ground audibly.