Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Dead End in Ark (3)
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I took care of the Irregulars who were wreaking havoc with terrorism centered around the 5th District.
Heat Manipulation, now evolved to Lv. 2, was overwhelmingly powerful. It could freeze and stabilize an entire collapsing eight-story building.
The trait description had called it A-rank Psyker output, but at this level, it felt almost like quasi-S-rank.
That said, the dramatic boost in Heat Manipulation's performance wasn't solely due to the trait's evolution.
My body brimmed with such overflowing power that it felt like I could leap straight up to the clouds floating in the sky above.
Of course, I didn't actually have that kind of jumping ability, but that's how surging my physical strength felt.
Under the red-flecked sky, my body—empowered by Noble Blood—was in peak condition.
It was probably reacting to that crimson-tinged sky.
"Do-hyun. Do we really have to kill them?"
"Yeah?"
"With your current power, it seems like you could subdue them easily without killing them."
Han Cheong-ah stared at my face impassively. She was still close to expressionless, but there was no sense of reproach in her demeanor.
Her words even carried a tone of concern for me. I had no idea what exactly she was worried about...
"These guys are already dead."
"Pardon?"
"They've all taken massive doses of Experimental Awake. Even if we spare them, they'll just turn into Dimensional Beasts later. Without stabilizers on hand, the best way to minimize damage right now is to eliminate the Irregulars."
The Irregulars I'd killed had all moved like they were high on drugs.
C~B-rank Irregulars smashing buildings without much trouble clearly pointed to some kind of doping effect.
In the original story, Irregulars and criminals consumed Alchemi's Experimental Awake, transformed into Dimensional Beasts, and rampaged through the city.
That was why I stuck strictly to killing. The opponents I faced now were doped C~B-rank Psykers, but the moment they turned into Grade 3 or lower Dimensional Beasts, they'd become monsters tough enough for even active Hunters to struggle against solo.
With only two doses of stabilizer prepared, killing was the optimal choice.
"I see."
Han Cheong-ah nodded with an expression of understanding.
"What, scared of the monster who kills without batting an eye?"
Even to my cheeky question, Han Cheong-ah just shook her head without a change in expression.
"Winter unnie said that the more you commit necessary killings, the more it feels like you're sinking into an abyss. I'm just worried that it might hurt your heart..."
"......"
She really knew how to leave me speechless.
I stayed silent and continued clearing out the Irregulars.
Her concern probably wouldn't come to pass. Even watching these Irregulars drop dead right in front of me stirred nothing more than Oh, they died.
It felt like witnessing some unrelated person dying on TV.
No emotions surfaced, even seeing the deaths I'd caused with my own eyes.
Maybe my blood had gone cold since becoming a Noble Blood.
However, there was one irrefutable piece of evidence that I still possessed a human heart.
If Han Cheong-ah, nestled in my arms, were to die or get hurt...
I...
"Do-hyun."
Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
My gaze shifted to the spot she was pointing at with her finger.
"Something's happening over there."
On the asphalt road, the joints of the black-hooded Irregulars twisted in grotesque, unnatural ways.
It was like watching marionettes moving stiffly. Their bodies swelled up like balloons before bursting apart.
💥 TRANSFORMATION ALERT! 💥 Human → Dimensional Beast
Blood vortex reforming bodies...
Shredded flesh and entrails splattered across the ground, while the blood swirled into a single point.
Centered on the blood, the Irregulars' bodies reformed as Dimensional Beasts. These quadrupedal monsters had massive maws instead of faces, packed with fluorescent blue teeth.
Some resembled enormous bears, others wolves or even humans, all covered in black fur and towering over 5 meters tall.
"Grade 2 Dimensional Beast: Predator..."
Who would've thought Arcana's temporary class would come in handy someday.
⚔ BEAST DATA ⚔ 👹 Grade: 2 🔥 Heat Resistance: High ⚡ Speed: Extreme (Size Defying) 🛡️ Barrier Pierce: Strong 💀 Threat: Ferocious / Durable Heat-resistant with speed belying their massive bulk. Among Grade 2 Dimensional Beasts, they were the most ferocious and toughest. They pierced Barrier Fields with ease, making them a real handful even for active Hunters.
"Grrrrrr..."
Such monsters—three of them—stood on the road.
Han Cheong-ah was breathing raggedly, shocked from witnessing humans transform into Dimensional Beasts.
"Cheong-ah."
"Huuu... I'm fine. Just a momentary dizziness."
I gave a small nod. Took a deep breath and deployed my ability.
They had heat resistance, but it wasn't invincibility.
I activated it to test the resistance's limits.
Moisture evenly scattered in the air began to freeze. Crackle, crackle. A fierce localized blizzard whipped up around where the Predators stood.
❄ SKILL ACTIVATED ❄ Heat Manipulation Lv. 2: Extreme Freeze Localized blizzard engulfs targets. Testing resistance...
Heat Manipulation required precise calculations and fine control for targeting coordinates and range—especially for high-power techniques.
If my head overheated from using it, I'd adjust my body's temperature. Always maintaining peak condition.
The resulting ultra-low temperature storm seemed poised to blanket the entire area as it swallowed the enemies whole.
Han Cheong-ah murmured in admiration, naming the technique under her breath.
"Blizzard Breath."
With my hand extended, I clenched my right fist as hard as I could toward the empty air—squeeze. At the same moment, the blizzard cleared, leaving the Predators as ice sculptures.
Crackle, crackle!
But the ice encasing the Predators' bodies cracked and shattered. In their place stood unharmed Predators, now glaring up at the rooftop where Han Cheong-ah stood.
"Huh, they're froz—"
Before Han Cheong-ah could finish, the Predators launched into the air with leaps that defied physics.
I tracked them using Noble Blood's reflexive speed. Cracks spiderwebbed across their protective Barrier Fields.
Time elapsed: a mere 0.3 seconds.
I formed flames in my right hand. Before the Predator could reach the rooftop, I closed the distance in an instant.
Mid-leap, I drove my right fist into one of the Predators hurtling toward me.
BBAAAM!!
Total time elapsed: just 2 seconds.
While the other two landed on the rooftop, I kept my eyes on the one that had plummeted to the ground.
The high heat had shattered its abdominal Barrier Field dead center. As I descended, I thrust my spear hand straight through the Predator's belly.
Warm, sweet blood, flesh, and entrails clung to my palm.
Tough defense against external attacks, apparently. But what about from the inside?
"Close your eyes."
A short command to Han Cheong-ah, then I sent all the blood circulating inside it into overdrive.
"Gruk... Ururk...!"
The Predator's body repeatedly stretched and contracted like dough being kneaded.
"GRRAAAAAHH...!!"
💉 NOBLE BLOOD: BLOOD RAMPAGE 💉 Internal Blood Compression
Ultra-high pressure → Diamond-cutting blades. Shredding from within...
Liquids compressed to ultra-high pressure become sharp enough to slice diamond or non-ferrous metals.
I compressed the blood rampaging inside the Predator to a single point. The blood blades, now razor-edged, swirled and tore its insides to shreds mercilessly.
The blood sprayed from inside out, punching countless holes through the Predator's body. Blood fountains erupted.
SPLOOOOSH!!
As blood sprayed everywhere, Han Cheong-ah's body flinched.
Starting with the splatters on Han Cheong-ah, I drew all the spilled blood in the area to my right hand.
I shaped the gathered blood into a sharp spear form and began heating it to extreme temperatures.
Haze shimmered as steam rose billowing from the heated spear.
Total time elapsed: just 7 seconds.
I leaped back down to the road and hurled the spear at the two remaining Dimensional Beasts.
The spear struck true at the cracks in their Barriers, piercing straight through and finishing them off.
Total time elapsed: just 10 seconds.
I flexed my free right hand, feeling the reality of my power.
Even accounting for Noble Blood performing at its peak...
"Beyond imagination... It's like watching Winter unnie fight."
Han Cheong-ah marveled.
I appreciated the praise, but I hadn't reached that level yet.
Comparing myself to Lee Gyeo-ul—who regenerated infinitely within her Erosion Rate limits and wielded air currents like extensions of her hands—would be arrogant at this point.
Still, I'd definitely grown stronger. I exhaled, reveling in that profound satisfaction.
"I think so too. Truly beyond imagination, Baek Do-hyun."
"Thought you were an ally... guess not."
From the distance, two sets of footsteps approached, accompanied by words of admiration.
A man and a girl, both clad in black hoods like the others.
I called out their names.
"Kang Chang-su. And Akeboshi Ichika."
The final bosses of Red Ark Chapter 2: Irregulars Arc.
Kang Chang-su approached us, crackling with an ominously foreboding red spark.