World Boss VS World Boss (2)
Musang Guild Leader Park Jung-hoon couldn't hide his shock. Witnessing Sertina's battle not in a game, but in reality. That final, sky-splitting strike sent shivers beyond mere overwhelm—it inspired awe.
"That's Sertina's power..."
He stared blankly at the parted clouds. The sight of her crushing the World Boss Ketehon like a mouse was dizzying even in memory. A conviction solidified in Park Jung-hoon's heart. The only reason such a being hadn't devoured South Korea was purely her will.
Sertina slowly emerged from the smoke, Ketehon's corpse slung over her shoulder. Park Jung-hoon swallowed dryly and hurried to meet her with his guildmates.
As the guild leader overseeing Busan, I owe her a proper thank you.
In that moment, his gaze locked onto the hulking figure behind Sertina. The motionless Ketehon. But Park Jung-hoon, who knew its patterns inside out, spotted the anomaly instantly.
"Damn it, it's not dead yet!"
He thrust his arm out, swiftly pulling his guildmates back. Sertina's eyebrow twitched as she turned to look.
Ketehon. The deep-sea beast sealed in chains. True to its name, it was a beast "sealed in chains." But the fallen body still had...
·····chains bound around it.
Phase 2. The prelude to the next pattern.
Clang! Cracks spiderwebbed across the chains unbidden. A ferocious gust swept in, and Ketehon's laughter boomed across the sky.
[Park Jung-hoon] Hyunwol
"Damn it, it's not dead yet!"
I turned at Park Jung-hoon's shout. Not dead? I'd confirmed its HP at zero.
Then I felt it—an ominous surge. Mana pulsing like it was boiling up from beneath the earth. Small fragments and debris began floating as if anti-gravity had kicked in.
In that instant, Ketehon's azure eyes snapped open.
-GRRRRRRR!
With a guttural roar like phlegm bubbling in its throat, changes rippled through its body. Cracks shattered the encircling chains first, snapping them. Its unnecessarily bulky muscles contracted. Web-like fins and useless land organs absorbed back into its flesh, vanishing.
Its height shrank to about 15 meters overall. But the pressure radiating from that form was on another level entirely. Like a giant's body topped with a megalodon's head. Between its obsidian hide—impervious to all attacks—blue light pulsed.
-KRHAHAHA! Much lighter now.
Ketehon. The deep-sea beast freed from its seal. The moment the ocean's terror fully adapted to land and revealed its true face.
*
The sea monsters sensed the birth of the true Deep Sea King and took to the skies. Tens of thousands blotting out the heavens. I watched Ketehon with half-lidded eyes.
No wonder it felt too easy for a World Boss.
"Thought it was dead..."
-I'll admit you're strong. But that's as far as you go.
I scoffed. "Doesn't matter. Just finish it twice."
Bang!
"...?!"
Its form vanished in a flash. A dark shadow loomed behind me. The heavy fist closing in.
Ah. Too late to dodge.
-Die.
BOOM!
Immense force smashed into me, pulverizing a dozen buildings in a straight line. Dust clouds shrouded the path.
Come to think of it, there was a reason Ketehon was tricky. Its patterns completely changed after revival.
·····Got careless.
Ketehon smirked toward where I'd flown, buildings punched through with massive holes stretching far.
-Hmph, won't be getting up for a while. Now then...
Whoosh!
Ketehon turned its murderous grin on Park Jung-hoon and the Musang guildmates.
-Time to clean up the small fry?
The players flinched into combat stances. Tanks hastily formed a defensive line. Park Jung-hoon broke into cold sweat.
"This is..."
Fighting it for real drove it home. A World Boss in reality was far harder than in-game.
-I'll rip you all apart!
The superhuman behemoth stomped forward aggressively.
We have to stop it here! The thought flashed through Park Jung-hoon's mind. For the fleeing civilians, at least.
Its charging fist met a barrier of blood.
Thud!
A blood blade immediately slammed into Ketehon's body.
-Gurk!
Its size dwarfed the Blood Demon Sword skill Park Jung-hoon knew. Infused with mana, resized and empowered.
"...Didn't expect her speed to ramp up that much."
Ketehon's eyes widened in bewilderment.
-H-How?! I definitely crushed you! How are you up already?!
I scratched my head with a bored expression, watching it sputter.
"Y'see... I've got this chronic weakness."
-Chronic... weakness...?
Its throat bobbed. It seemed eager to hear what it was.
"I'm just so light."
I poured power into my right fist. Met its gaze.
"...When you let your guard down, one hit sends me flying far."
I surged like lightning, punching its gut.
Thwack!
It opened its maw mid-flight from the punch.
-What kind of weakness is that, you coward!
Thud! Screeech!
Ketehon planted its massive foot, friction halting its slide. Denser now, maybe? Didn't fly as far as expected. The pressure on my fist felt different. Like... soft tofu versus firm?
I aimed Blood Eater at it and declared.
"Keep thrashing. Like the bug you are."
-What?!
I stepped forward, mana surging. Crimson eyes blazed with killing intent.
"I'll smash you as many times as it takes."
The clash of two premier World Bosses. Park Jung-hoon could only watch, dumbfounded.
Boom! BOOM!
Blue energy beams from the sky erased everything. Raging blood sword ki sliced space itself. Shockwaves erupted with every collision. The mere gusts crumbled nearby buildings.
"Insane power."
Park Jung-hoon felt like he was in a typhoon. Signs ripped free, street trees snapping wildly.
-Die! Die! DIE!
Ketehon's speed was blistering. One stomp leaped it a hundred meters, claws shredding buildings. The destructive force from its mass and velocity hit like an anti-tank rocket.
But Sertina's speed defied reason. Even S-rank players could barely track her as she barreled with circular shockwaves, battering Ketehon. Each blood blade swing screamed through the air.
Park Jung-hoon closed his eyes, recalling the moment Ketehon's fist had flown at them. Who attacked whom, who saved them—it was crystal clear.
His resolve hardened instantly.
"We help too!"
"Huh?"
Ketehon's fist had targeted the players, but Sertina blocked it. No doubt—she was a solid ally.
"Everyone remember Ketehon's patterns? We go textbook. Don't hit Sertina!"
"Got it!"
"Let's go!"
"Trolls pay full potion costs today!"
Guildmates leaped off buildings, charging Ketehon. Sertina aside, its speed was trackable.
The players suddenly jumped in to help. Surprising, but I didn't refuse.
In the chaos of pouring magic, Park Jung-hoon yelled.
"Scatter!"
Krunch!
Ketehon's massive jaws bit the rooftop where players clustered. They dispersed with veteran precision, as if forewarned.
"...Not bad."
I raised an eyebrow. They had something I lacked.
Pattern knowledge. Experience facing "Ketehon" countless times in the virtual world. They read its impossible moves like prophecy.
Ketehon's HP drain ticked up slightly faster.
"Good. This'll end quicker than expected."
I slammed Blood Eater into its gaze-distracted body. The heavy bulk cratered the ground, radial waves shattering earth.
-GRRAAAGH! You dare!
Ketehon glared ferociously, claws lunging at me. Then a white flash speared its left eye.
Thwoom-BOOM!
-GRAAAAAH!
"Woo-hoo! Nailed it!"
Titan activated amid Cha Eun-joo's excited voice.
That strong?!
Main cannon power beyond player limits. First time seeing it live. Why she's rank 1 Techno Master made sense.
Dozens of small turrets orbited the ship, swatting incoming monsters.
"Not so close!"
-SKREEE!
Kim Jin-woo and Sniper Villain focused fire on protecting Titan. Bought me time.
I mounted Ketehon's back, pinning it with gripped force.
"Stay down."
-GRR!
"Where does a fish thrash on land?"
Swordsmen, dark swordsmen, fighters—melee classes charged weapons high.
"DPS time!"
"Unload all ultimates!"
Skills relentlessly stabbed its body. Flashing effects galore, none touched my skin. Felt oddly trusted— a bit proud.
-Urgh, you bugs!
Ketehon flailed arms, shaking off players and rising. Blue glow intensified from body cracks.
"AOE incoming! Dodge!"
"Tanks, defenses up!"
Blue-white light swelled to burst. I leaped back swiftly. As tank wall activated their shields...
-I'll make you regret it!
Circular energy blasted like an atomic bomb.
BOOM!
Splitting topsoil, vaporizing high-rises wholesale. Cha Eun-joo's airborne Titan wobbled perilously.
"Whoaaa!"
Tanks inched back amid the energy storm. As the wave subsided, Ketehon kicked off the ground.
Whoosh!
Soaring past skyscraper tops. Enraged, it raised a hand skyward.
-Power of the deep sea...!
In that instant, another ocean formed over Busan.
"Gasp! What the?!"
"Shit!"
Players gasped in horror. A kilometer-wide water sphere spun grandly, spraying mist.
Ketehon's ultimate: [Deep Sea Incursion].
The unavoidable AOE insta-kill activated.