Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Black Giant
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Jo In-gwang was conducting experiments using the blue stones provided by Jang Seo-won.
He discovered through his experiments that purifying the blue stones and injecting them into the human body could enhance physical abilities to a certain extent.
He reported this to Jang Seo-won and secured a steady supply of blue stones.
Jo In-gwang knew that Jang Seo-won's goal in providing the blue stones was to bolster the camp's combat strength.
But even if Jang Seo-won desired it, Jo In-gwang felt no hesitation toward human experimentation, an act that might evoke some aversion.
In Jo In-gwang's eyes, the purified liquid from the blue stones offered endless research possibilities.
At first, he confirmed it strengthened ordinary people's bodies to some degree.
However, it was less effective on those with superpowers.
Physical abilities did improve, but not as dramatically as with ordinary people.
There were side effects as well.
In some cases, the body underwent grotesque mutations. Beyond that, cognitive functions declined.
It didn't occur in 100% of humans, but it was fatal for deploying as combat forces.
Then, when he injected the purified liquid into a zombie, it transformed into an absurd monster.
He had injected it into a zombie without knowing better at first, half-destroying the facility and forcing him to relocate the lab here.
There had been some damage, but he confirmed that mixing zombie blood with the purified liquid produced a highly dramatic reaction.
So, he extracted zombie blood, mixed it with the purified liquid, and injected it into humans.
This allowed him to enhance abilities not just in ordinary people but also in superpowered individuals to some extent.
The mixture with zombie blood drastically reduced the probability of side effects.
Jo In-gwang believed that with just a little more research, turning ordinary people into superpowered beings was no longer a pipe dream.
"How much have the side effects been mitigated?"
"Down to 20%."
"I can't provide blue stones like before anymore."
Jang Seo-won had learned that blue stones weren't just enhancers—they were also used in generators.
Their value had skyrocketed.
Thus, he couldn't simply hand them over to Jo In-gwang as freely as before.
Electricity was essential for experiments too.
It was that crucial.
In fact, the generators were the more pressing concern.
Jo In-gwang understood this and had no choice but to accept.
"A research budget cut... It's regrettable, but unavoidable."
"I'll scout other areas to find more sources. Please bear with me a little longer."
"How about the generators? Any progress?"
The generators fueled by blue stones were revolutionary in themselves.
Even though it wasn't Jo In-gwang's field of expertise, he couldn't help but take interest.
"We only have the one we brought, so progress is stalled."
Regret tinged Jang Seo-won's words.
Blue stones popped out whenever you killed a monster.
An absurd device that converted them into electrical energy.
Reverse-engineering such a precious item was risky—if he botched it and broke it, there'd be no recourse.
Jang Seo-won realized he needed to monitor Park Un-ho even more closely.
To acquire more generators, that seemed the only path.
The women summoned Grandpa Munju and sent them off to the Cheonbu Sect first.
Of course, it wasn't just dumping them off blindly.
I still had that much conscience.
The Cheonbu Sect gained the supplies they needed, and I offloaded the women into their care—mutual benefit.
The wistful looks in their eyes as they departed for the Cheonbu Sect did tug at me a bit...
But I had no intention of expanding the family unnecessarily.
With the women sorted, it was time for Jang Seo-won.
I took Seol-hwa and leisurely set off to deal with the thief bastards.
"My lord... do you intend to... dispose of all of them...?"
En route to the generator thieves' camp, Seol-hwa cautiously asked me.
Through the women I'd brought along, Seol-hwa knew I'd wiped out everyone in the raiders' lair.
She seemed worried I'd do the same to Jang Seo-won's survivor group.
I don't shy away from killing.
That doesn't mean I enjoy it, though.
The raiders' lair was a den of the worst human scum, whereas Jang Seo-won's camp likely wasn't on that level.
I had no taste for mass slaughter either—I planned to demonstrate just enough power and issue a warning.
Of course, I had no intention of sparing the leader, Jang Seo-won.
"I'll handle it moderately."
"I see."
Seol-hwa's expression eased with relief at my words.
Jang Seo-won received word that Park Un-ho was heading their way with Baek Seol-hwa.
He had no choice but to concede that Cheon Su-ho's guess had been spot on.
And yet, it still made no sense.
'Does he actually have that much confidence?'
Or was it mere bravado?
He understood Park Un-ho was strong. But a single person couldn't overcome a group.
Not even a superpowered one.
A stealth raid or guerrilla tactics would at least make sense.
But reports said he was strolling in leisurely, as if on a date with Baek Seol-hwa.
Or perhaps it was just a visit to lodge a simple protest.
Park Un-ho possessed a generator worth coveting—no telling where he'd stashed it.
Coming to complain about the theft was recklessly dangerous.
He couldn't fathom Park Un-ho's motives, but it presented a golden opportunity.
"Assemble the troops."
If it was truly arrogant overconfidence as Cheon Su-ho claimed...
It was time to show their full might and shatter that hubris.
A barricaded sentry post.
Beside it stretched a long, sturdy concrete-reinforced wall.
Atop the concrete walls encircling the sentry outpost and the unit stood a considerable force of Awakeners and soldiers in uniforms.
The camp appeared to be in full combat readiness.
That was precisely why I'd come at such a leisurely pace.
And there, abruptly plopped in front of the unit's outer perimeter, sat a massive iron box.
A scan revealed a low-grade Corrupted Being inside.
'What is this about?'
-Clank. Clank.
As the oddity sank in, a frictional unlocking sound echoed, and the iron box sprang open.
Out emerged the weakest of low-grade Corrupted Beings: a giant zombie.
'No way... they plan to pit that against me?'
If so, it was disappointing.
Ridiculous, too.
'Didn't Cheon Su-ho tell them about me?'
Cheon Su-ho hadn't struck him as the loyal type.
-Pew pew pew pew!
Syringe-like tranquilizer darts from all directions embedded into the giant zombie.
The giant zombie dropped to its knees.
-Krurr.
At first, I wondered what they were up to.
But then the giant zombie's skin began bulging and swelling, its body expanding.
It grew to at least twice its original size—around 5 or 6 meters.
-Kraaaang!!
The zombie that had been kneeling rose and let out a roar.
'They're up to something intriguing.'
Its grade hadn't changed, but it had transformed into a visibly stronger form.
-Thud. Thud.
The giant zombie spotted me and Seol-hwa ahead and lumbered forward.
"My lord."
Seeing the giant zombie, Seol-hwa gripped her sword hilt.
"No. I'll handle it."
I stopped Seol-hwa and stepped forward.
My signature black mana flowed out, enveloping my body and steadily expanding its volume.
I intended to create a massive form with mana as well.
My target: twice the giant zombie's size, around 10 meters.
The mana manifesting externally ballooned in an instant at my command.
Wasting an inordinate amount of energy to inflate its volume, the mana ultimately formed a 10-meter black giant.
I'd initially thought it might feel akin to mana armor.
But upon enlarging, it felt profoundly different.
My field of vision and senses scaled perfectly to the size—it was as if I'd truly become a giant.
The sensation was utterly novel.
I hadn't anticipated that merely bulking up the mana would produce this effect.
Yet the now-diminutive zombie charged mindlessly, undaunted by my colossal form.
I brought my fist down upon it.
-Splat!
Unlike its charging momentum, the zombie crumpled into a meaty pulp.
My face twisted in disgust alongside it.
It wasn't my real hand but a mana-forged giant one—yet the tactile feedback of the zombie squelching under my fist was vividly real.
Like crushing a cockroach in my palm. Revolting.
The shocked faces of the humans atop the outpost and walls were visible against my enlarged form and the zombie's wretched remains.
-Thud. Thud.
The massive black giant advanced toward them.
-F-Fire!!!
Jang Seo-won's frenzied shout rang out.