Chapter 327: My Turn to Give You a Taste
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 327: My Turn to Give You a Taste
The dense forest was currently being torn apart by a rampaging gale. Countless shards of stone, mingled with the debris of shattered branches and leaves, formed a dark cloud that blotted out the sky, looking for all the world like the onset of the apocalypse.
At the periphery of this tempestuous domain, massive trees stood linked like giants. Combined with a web of twisting, distorted vines, they formed a colossal wall, transforming this area into a place from which not even a flying insect could escape—a Dead Domain.
A Dead Domain targeted at a single person.
"Is something the matter, Muen Campbell?"
At the center of the Dead Domain, the Priest maintained his composed smile, watching the figure not far away.
"Just a moment ago, you were so certain that you were the type who grew stronger when fighting alone. So why is it that I only see you scurrying about in a panic?"
"Ahem, sometimes there’s a bit of a gap between the advertisement and the actual product. Please, don't mind it."
Muen coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood and casually wiped it away on a nearby rock.
At this moment, he looked a bit pathetic.
No, "extremely pathetic" would be more accurate.
His golden hair, which usually looked like morning sunlight, was now tossed about by the storm like withered autumn grass.
After giving his overcoat to Liya, the only shirt he had left was now in tatters. The expensive fabric had been reduced to rags that even a beggar would snub, hanging precariously off his body. He stood in stark contrast to the Priest, who remained utterly spotless.
The skin exposed through the rags no longer possessed its usual marble-statue definition and beauty. He was covered in wounds—blade cuts, claw marks, and even a large patch of charred skin across his broad back.
That was the result of Muen being struck by lightning hidden within the storm. Had he not reacted quickly, half his body might have been pierced by that celestial wrath and turned to charcoal.
And the cause of such severe injuries... was merely a probe.
That was right. The exchange over the last few minutes had clearly been nothing more than the Priest testing the waters.
The Priest still stood in his original spot; from beginning to end, he hadn't moved a single step.
Yet in those few short minutes, he had utilized over five types of Divine Grace, each capable of dealing Muen a fatal blow.
But despite possessing such overwhelming power, he was exceptionally cautious.
He seemed fully aware of his weaknesses as a normal human, so from the very start, he had remained hidden behind a sturdy barrier of Holy Light. He used these powers of Divine Grace from a distance, slowly carving wounds into Muen’s body like a dull knife through meat, gradually squeezing the life and limits out of him.
Just like an old turtle hiding in its shell.
But this was exactly the kind of enemy that caused the most headaches.
Not to mention, he wasn't the only enemy here.
Even Muen, who prided himself on being a human cockroach—the "old ox that can't be plowed to death"—was starting to feel breathless under this torrential onslaught.
So, what should he do next?
He could only...
"Muen Campbell, I have a proposal."
During this breathing room that seemed intentionally granted to Muen, the Priest suddenly spoke.
"A proposal?"
"Indeed." The Priest smiled. "Why don't you just surrender? How about it?"
"Hmm?" Muen, unsure of what the Priest was plotting, asked suspiciously, "If I surrender, you won't kill me?"
"I'll still kill you, of course. That is the employer's mission."
"Then what's the difference?"
"There is a massive difference." The Priest continued, "Since the end result of death is unavoidable, why not choose a slightly easier way to go?
"After all, I am one who serves the Goddess, a priest who once explained the Holy Scripture to countless believers. Even if you are my enemy, and even if the employer requested we kill you in the most cruel manner possible, I will still grant you the necessary mercy.
"Therefore, as long as you surrender, I will let you die without any pain."
The Priest’s face was full of compassion, as if he were offering a devout morning prayer.
However, the words coming out of his mouth were enough to make one's skin crawl.
To die without pain...
Muen chuckled.
For a villain, that really was quite the mercy.
"But I'm sorry," Muen refused flatly. "So far, death is pretty much the only thing I'm afraid of... wait, no, Cleavers should be the second thing. So..."
Muen blinked, asking expectantly, "Can I have a third option? For example, you just let me go and we become best friends?"
"No." The Priest’s smile vanished, replaced by an expression of pity. "A pity, Muen Campbell. I admit, you are indeed impressive for being able to hold out until now."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"But... this is checkmate."
The Priest’s cold voice fell like a supreme sentence from a god.
Simultaneously, unlike the gradual pressure from before, an intense premonition of death suddenly pierced Muen’s mind.
A long-suppressed, terrifying malice erupted.
A foul, stinking wind carrying horrific killing intent swept in from behind.
But this attack didn't come from the Priest. It was... Hyena.
During the Priest’s probing just now, Hyena—the beast that had been lurking and waiting—finally bared its fangs at Muen!
However...
Was the killing blow they’d been building up to really just an attack from Hyena?
Muen frowned, turning to face Hyena.
By now, Hyena had completely transformed into a monster. He was covered in scales and jagged bone spurs; his sharp claws looked capable of shredding steel with ease.
His eyes were a solid crimson, devoid of any semblance of reason.
But if it was just him, Muen could still use his speed to—
"I said, it is checkmate."
A faint voice drifted from behind Muen.
The Priest flipped a page in his Holy Scripture.
In an instant, the air around Muen froze.
The raging wind seemed to have its pause button pressed. Then, Muen felt the air around him become incredibly viscous.
Like water.
Like sludge.
Like wet cement!
As he accidentally inhaled the thick gas into his lungs, a burning, searing pain tore through his chest.
Muen’s breathing immediately grew erratic, but more lethally, the terrifying pressure surrounding him—as if he were in the deep sea—caused his movements to... slow down.
With the enhancement of Time Dilation, Muen’s speed could indeed reach a terrifying level. In terms of pure speed, even Hyena, whose physique far surpassed ordinary people, could do nothing to him.
But that was under normal circumstances.
No matter how fast you were...
What if you were in water?
What if you were in sludge?
What if you were in cement that was about to set?
Could you still be that fast?
The answer was...
No.
"Gah-gah—Ten Billion!"
Hyena let out an excited, primal shriek from his drooling maw. His claws, coated in poison and powerful Fighting Spirit, thrust toward Muen’s defenseless vitals without hindrance.
When speed could not be utilized and there was no Holy Light to bolster him, the disparity in realm and power would finally be laid bare.
Thus.
It was unstoppable.
"See?" The Priest smiled faintly at the sight. "The speed you take such pride in is nothing more than this. As I said before, I have already seen your limits. Naturally, you have no chance of victory."
Pfft—
The sound of claws piercing flesh rang out, followed by a spray of brilliant blood.
Though he couldn't appreciate the look of despair on Muen's face since the boy's back was turned...
It was beautiful.
It reminded the Priest of the morning he left the church.
The "flowers" that bloomed from those children back then had been just as exquisite.
"A pity," the Priest whispered. "No one ever understands my mercy."
He slowly closed the Holy Scripture, as if to put a perfect period on this hunt that had exceeded all their expectations.
"Cough, cough..."
But suddenly.
Just as the performance was about to end, and the actors were preparing to bow and head backstage for their paychecks, the person who was supposed to be playing the corpse let out an ill-timed, dry cough.
"A bit too hasty, don't you think? I haven't even finished my lines yet."
"Hmm?"
The Priest’s hand froze as he was closing the scripture.
He snapped his head up to look at Muen.
The hideous monster was lunging onto Muen, looking as if it were about to tear him apart and devour him bit by bit.
Those sharp claws had indeed accurately pierced his flesh. A simple twist would be enough to rip him in two.
However, at this moment, two pure white short blades were crossed between the gaps of the claws, holding them back with a death grip. Even though Muen was trembling, the claws could not move forward another inch.
"How is this possible!"
The Priest’s pupils shrank. For the first time, he lost his composure. "You should have been suppressed to your absolute limit! It’s impossible for you to block Hyena’s attack!"
"I was indeed at my limit."
Muen looked at the equally stunned, hideous face of Hyena and grinned. "But only when you reach the limit is there a possibility of a breakthrough, right?"
Suddenly, like a surging river finally bursting through a long-blocked dam, a torrential amount of Fighting Spirit flowed over Muen’s body. Using this instantaneous explosion of power, Muen swung his blades, actually forcing Hyena back in a direct confrontation.
The wound on his abdomen from the claws was still bleeding, but Muen didn't care. He simply closed his eyes, carefully sensing the feeling of power that had accumulated to its peak and finally erupted.
A breakthrough in realm.
Third-Tier Martial Artist.
"No wonder protagonists everywhere love doing this. It feels great..."
Muen let out a long breath and looked at the Priest with a smile. "Thanks, Mr. Pressure. Without you, I might have had to wait several more months to naturally reach the Third-Tier."
"...Is that so?"
A hidden light flickered in the Priest’s eyes, but it quickly subsided. He said expressionlessly, "But so what? Even if your realm increased, the jump from Second to Third-Tier still won't solve your predicament."
He flipped open the Holy Scripture once more.
The storm sent by the gods once again enveloped the Dead Domain, leaving Muen with nowhere to run.
"You're right about that."
But this time, Muen acted as if he didn't feel the terrifying pressure at all, casually shrugging his shoulders.
Whether it was the Second-Tier or the Third-Tier, there wasn't much difference when facing a Fourth-Tier monster and a cleric who worshipped who-knows-how-many gods.
Because this level of increase wasn't a fundamental change.
He still couldn't win. He wasn't like a protagonist who could suddenly jump a minor sub-realm and immediately turn the tables to hammer his enemies.
"However."
The corners of Muen’s mouth curled into a strange smile. "Since I've achieved my goal, there's no need for me to hide anymore."
"Hmm?" The Priest frowned.
Hide?
Hide what?
Did he still have a trump card?
No.
Stay calm.
Even if he had some move he hadn't used yet, it couldn't possibly change the outcome. Any external object was insignificant before the grace of the gods.
But then, the Priest saw Muen raise his hands and gently touch the two short blades together.
Electric arcs surged, and an Alchemy Domain expanded, enveloping Muen and the nearby Hyena within it.
"?"
The Priest frowned again.
Because Muen’s presence had vanished.
It seemed to have been shielded by that strange domain.
...He used this move to evade our tracking before, didn't he?
But why?
Is this his trump card?
Erasing his presence right in front of us?
We aren't blind!
"Just now, you guys gave me quite the 'thrill.'"
While the Priest was caught in cautious hesitation, flames suddenly began to ignite on Muen’s body inside the Alchemy Domain.
Crimson flames.
"Now..."
Enveloped in the crimson fire, Muen looked at the Priest and smiled thinly.
"It's my turn to give you a taste."