Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: A Thousand Arms
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Terror dwells in the abyss.
"That" thing wrapped its thousand arms around the Hero's ship. Lurking in the ocean's depths where no one could know its true nature, it was Saar-the being that had borne the name of fear since the world's birth.
"What... in the world..."
In an instant, the ship capsized, Cheret bucked wildly, and Dabvagnel's corpse bounced around chaotically. The sound of bones snapping echoed, jaws twisted, and eyeballs tore free and spilled out.
Countless spines like arrows rained down from those scaled like serpents, but Bulki couldn't tear his eyes away from Dabvagnel, limp and powerless as the arrows shattered his bones.
"Cheret, protect Dabvagnel."
In that moment, Cheret righted itself midair as if floating, then wrapped its body around Dabvagnel's remains. Bulki dropped to the deck and drew his sword.
"I won't forgive you."
[Formation - Prison of Light].
Boom!
The blade erupted in a blaze of glory. Bulki seized the light to secure his vision and hurled his hammer, slaying three in a flash.
Only then did Bulki realize they weren't demons. They were merely currents trailing Saar, merciless extensions of nature-flesh of the god Or. But he didn't know that, and it didn't matter anyway.
"I'll never forgive you!"
Bulki launched himself like lightning toward the monsters.
"Get a grip!"
Meanwhile, the crew huddled in the wheelhouse, oblivious to the chaos below.
"Fire the torpedoes and head straight up, no matter what!"
They did their utmost to keep the terror from dragging them into the depths, but the pull of those countless arms downward outpaced their ascent.
"What the hell is that thing?"
Terror. Saar. The captain locked eyes with it-something larger even than Hoshekh Hatar-and crumpled to his knees, weeping blood.
"No!"
Rondnel shielded him with his own body, but with the captain unconscious, he had no choice but to leave him and block the cross-shaped spear with his sword.
Barrier that Withstands Even the Fiercest Tides.
Thankfully, Rondnel's barrier prevented anyone else from succumbing to terror, but they had no idea how to defeat it.
The horror coiled tentacles of varying sizes from the massive jaws supporting its maw around the ship. Eggs like clusters dangled from it, and its torn chest lowered as it drew even closer.
"First mate! Take command in the captain's place! Fire those torpedoes right now and head straight up! To the surface!"
Shainelius barked orders, stepping in for the dazed first mate.
"I'll hold here-go to the Hero's aid!"
"Got it!"
At Rondnel's words, Shainelius bolted toward the ship's lowest deck where the Hero waited. He would surely be fine. But they needed him now.
Boom!
Just then, a magic shell fired and exploded, shoving the terror back slightly.
"Nngh, hurry!"
The shock rocked the entire ship, making balance nearly impossible, but Shainelius didn't look back as he ran, bow in hand.
"Bulki, where are you? We need you now!"
Clinging to the hope that the Hero could somehow conquer it and banish the terror.
Thud!
Before the battle began, they sounded the drum made from Joins hide, like a ritual. Amid the overcast sky and the ominous tension on the barren high hill, two figures took their places.
"Fight to the death."
"Fight... to the death."
The two Red Blood Savage princes, inheritors of the most vivid crimson bloodline, thumped their chests in greeting. The hordes of Red Blood Savages encircling them did the same, watching the sacred duel with reverence.
The Great Demon King Iven van Ivelhac did as well, of course.
"Begin."
At Iven's command, the elder brother, Gihuk Gurimson, hefted his massive double-headed axe. The younger, Chanheok Gurimson-usually an archer-drew a buckler and one-handed axe for this fight.
"Krraa!"
"Ullar!"
They bellowed war cries in their ancient tongue and clashed.
Thud!
Cheers erupted amid shattering stone and flying dust as Gihuk swung his double-headed axe in a wide horizontal arc. Chanheok instinctively knew blocking would mean death; he leaped back, then slammed his buckler into Gihuk's arm as it descended.
"Hah!"
Gihuk twisted his torso, channeling the force into a full spin, swinging the axe once more. Unable to block, Chanheok shoved to throw off his balance, then drove his blade deep into his brother's side, burrowing in further. The flesh split more like it was being torn than sliced.
"Not yet!"
But as if he'd anticipated it all, Gihuk released his right hand from the axe and seized his brother's sword. The wound was little more than a scratch despite the blood; he headbutted him. As Chanheok reeled, Gihuk kicked him away.
"Nngh!"
The one who raised the dust-the greatest warrior of the Red Blood Savages.
"Regain your footing, Chanheok!"
The brother seemed intent on killing him.
"Is it alright to let this go on?"
Levanaharon asked from beside Iven. Iven merely watched the fight with a relaxed expression, saying nothing. This only heightened Levanaharon's anxiety.
"My lord Demon King... You're not planning to kill them all, are you?"
Clinging to the despairing dread that the Demon King would surely make a ruthless choice.
Shainelius loosed an arrow from her sword Yaoerkeshet. One mermaid crumpled; two more spewed black ichor and collapsed simultaneously.
"What curse birthed these abominations?"
In the narrow passage, with slug-like mermaids clinging to floor, walls, and even ceiling as they advanced, Shainelius ran and ran. She kicked one scaled head aside, and far down the stairs below gleamed a sadly warm light.
"Tch."
At the lowest deck, where the passage widened slightly, she considered using her omens to fire her bow-but fearing she might hit Bulki, she gripped quivers in both hands and pressed on.
One crushed into its skull. Two lifted from gut to throat and rent. The last flung away.
"Bulki!"
Bulki answered from amid the sticky blood-flow.
So much blood that the light from his sword boiled it, filling the corridor with reddish steam like the maw of a serpent.
"This... Did you kill them all? Kill them again even after death? Bulki, you okay? The crew's patching the passages where these monsters leaked in. But that's not the issue... Bulki?"
Bulki still seemed lost in rage. Shainelius approached and shouted again.
"Snap out of it! Terror from the deep has come outside- we have to deal with that first!"
"I know. Open the door for a sec."
"Are you sane? We're deep underwater. And outside..."
"I know! But, but! I have to kill more of my enemies. That's all I have left-my will."
As Bulki yelled, the air shifted in an instant. That desperation looked just like...
"No different from a demon."
Shainelius flinched. She didn't know it yet, but this was the moment her fate was sealed.
"Don't taint your convictions. Without true ones, you're no different from demons! Let's head up first. We'll find another way to get you out there. Bulki."
Hands trembling with rage and fear. Bulki finally sheathed his sword and took her hand. Bound by fate, the two ascended.
Boom!
Gihuk Gurimson's massive axe blade slammed into the earth, erupting soil.
"Nngh, can't see..."
Chanheok Gurimson had no choice but to retreat, searching the dust for his brother. Never knowing when or from where the blade might sever his neck, he couldn't even wipe the flowing blood.
"Here?!"
Chanheok charged a shadow with his buckler thrust out. But that massive shade was mere illusion from the light. The real Gihuk Gurimson swung his enormous double-headed axe at Chanheok.
"Grk!"
Chanheok barely blocked with his buckler, but his arm snapped beneath it-and the recoil hurled him far away.
"Will you continue?"
He spat a mouthful of blood, then discarded the shattered buckler. It was his answer: he could still fight.
"You have no chance of winning, Chanheok."
"The Great Demon King commanded one of us die."
"If that's your reason to fight, you'll lose."
Gihuk Gurimson advanced slowly on his brother. The warrior's resolve drew cheers from every spectator watching the desperate duel.
"It was for everyone! We were starving! The starving never yield!"
Chanheok charged his approaching brother, raining sword strikes as he screamed. Gihuk, as if the outcome were decided, dodged, blocked, dodged again-then kicked him away. The one bearing his race's survival cried out once more.
"And after starvation? Slaughter. Did your petty tricks feed you and our kin? I did! I killed even those we could speak to, tearing and breaking! Even our own kind! You're not ready to bear that sin!"
"What does it take to be ready?! If I have to kill our entire race myself to end it, then rather..."
Chanheok abruptly fell silent. For that was the creed he hated most.
"Fight to the death."
"Now do you see? Noble or not, our wills are the same."
At his brother's words, Chanheok halted. Unable to slay his kin, unwilling to burden his brother with their race's sins, Gihuk turned to the Great Demon King and shouted.
"My lord! I am ready now!"
And he knelt.
"Please... save our people."