Chapter 88
Chapter 88
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Black Wolf's Howl
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The attacks were mostly coming from the Black Wolf bastard.
The mid-grade monster dogs just kept me surrounded, holding back unless they had a perfect opening.
It was a ploy to distract me, but with Suni around, it was no issue.
「Master, we're advancing.」
With Seolhwa's transmission, the Heavenly Gate Sect launched their assault.
"Ji-a, don't push yourself too hard. Stay safe and stick close to Seolhwa."
「O-okay.」
「We'll protect Lady Ji-a with our lives, on the Heavenly Gate Sect's honor.」
Seolhwa, who knew exactly what worried me, spoke reassuringly.
I'd hesitated a lot about including Ji-a in this hunt.
Her telekinesis might lack raw power, but its binding effect to halt monsters' movements was incredibly useful.
I wouldn't have forced her if she'd refused, but surprisingly, she was quite eager.
The Heavenly Gate Sect was outnumbered even without the Black Wolf. A little support from Ji-a would make a huge difference, so I brought her along.
She wasn't fighting directly, and she had her suit. It would've been a waste not to use such talent.
Now, what choice would this bastard make?
Even if it kept up the joint assault with the mid-grade monster dogs, I had no problems.
The low-grade monster dogs alone couldn't handle the Heavenly Gate Sect.
If things stayed like this, those low-grades would get shredded by the Heavenly Gate Sect in seconds.
That alone would let me breathe easier.
The bastard's eyes flicked toward the Heavenly Gate Sect.
-Kruuung!
At the Black Wolf's bark, the mid-grade monster dogs surrounding me all charged toward the Heavenly Gate warriors at once.
Thanks to the Heavenly Gate Sect, I'd finally forced a one-on-one with the bastard.
-Grrr.
The Black Wolf bared its teeth at me, growling as if displeased.
Then, something protruded from both sides of its front paws, growing larger.
'........Bones?'
It looked like massive bone blades gripped reverse-style in each front paw.
"What the... hell is... this?"
They say even a dog from a schoolyard knows poetry after three years. Had it picked up swordsmanship fighting the Heavenly Gate Sect guys?
-Kyung!
The bastard kicked off the ground and lunged at me.
'This fucker's fast!!'
And on its enormous bone blades hurtling toward me shimmered a faint sword aura.
Its bone blades clashed with my greatsword.
-Kwang!!
"I can't even... believe this shit..."
I could almost hear the world ending.
A dog bastard using sword aura? The end times were upon us.
The bastard attacked swiftly not just with the bone blades sprouting from its front paws, but with its teeth too.
-Kwang. Kwang.
We rapidly traded blows.
Maybe because it was a dog bastard.
Its speed, the feel—it was completely different from that Tyranno monster.
Much stronger.
Our physical stats were similar, but its smarts made its combat utility exceptional.
Not that I was scared.
The problem was this cunning bastard would drag the fight out long.
Time was on my side,
but not the Heavenly Gate Sect's.
Glancing at them mid-fight, they were holding up well so far.
Ji-a seemed to be doing fine too.
'Can they hold out while I fight...?'
If the Heavenly Gate Sect broke, Chae-won and the kids would be in danger.
The Black Wolf's eyes I'd been fighting changed.
It must've realized I wasn't pushover after its "masterstroke" bone blades failed to land properly.
Suddenly, the aggressive Black Wolf shifted to defense.
"Son of a..."
It had noticed me worrying about the Heavenly Gate Sect.
'Sharp-eyed bastard.'
It pulled back distance, then suddenly let out a howl.
-Awoooo~!
I had a bad feeling about this.
Chae-won watched the battlefield from the apartment rooftop.
-Peng! Kung! Kung!
The heavy blasts from Un-ho fighting the monster echoed even here.
Around her were not just her little sister and Hana, but many Heavenly Gate Sect members gazing at the scene.
Praying aunties were there too.
'Are they fighting like family or something.'
Chae-won felt a bit embarrassed wearing her suit when she couldn't help, but Un-ho told her not to overthink and just wear it.
It wasn't much compensation,
but she was maxing the suit's monster detection range to monitor the situation.
Because Un-ho warned her to watch for burglars.
Un-ho wielding his greatsword against the massive monster wolf looked like a scene from myth.
-Kung. Kung.
The dull booms every clash of Un-ho's greatsword and the giant wolf.
Chae-won knew Un-ho's abilities were special, but not to this extent.
And down there in the fray were Seolhwa and Ji-a unnie too.
"Haa..."
Chae-won sighed without realizing.
Thinking even Lee Ji-a, who trembled at one zombie, was fighting below filled her with inexplicable helplessness.
"The ground's gonna cave in."
It was Han Su-ji.
She'd stayed back for the kids' safety, just in case.
"Unnie..."
"What.....I get it, but....does that even make sense...?"
Han Su-ji seemed to finally grasp Un-ho's absurd combat prowess.
Against that ridiculous monster, Un-ho wasn't just holding ground—he even seemed slightly dominant.
The giant wolf called Black Wolf that had been fighting Un-ho suddenly backed off and howled.
-Awoooo~!
And Chae-won heard from her suit what she hoped not to.
The suit's voice AI warned in a dry tone.
"Ah, Uncle! One mid-grade monster and eight low-grades are heading your way!!"
「Ah, Uncle! One mid-grade monster and eight low-grades are heading your way!!」
Chae-won's urgent voice came over comms.
'This bastard.....had hidden reinforcements.'
Peel its hide, and a human might crawl out.
The Black Wolf's expression looked triumphant.
After howling, it watched me warily without attacking.
Stalling for time.
The reinforcements' path led straight to where Heavenly Gate warriors and monster dogs were locked in fierce combat.
As if asking what I'd do with your four comrades about to die.
'Even if I want to finish quick.....if this bastard runs, can I catch it?'
To catch it, I'd need overwhelming speed.
It's a four-legged beast.
Honestly, no confidence.
If I went to handle its reinforcements, it'd obviously charge the Heavenly Gate Sect.
"Suni, any ideas?"
No clever plan came to mind, so I asked Suni.
In worst case, sacrifice Heavenly Gate humans as bait and grab the kids.
'Rocket?'
'B, B-Rank core?!'
Suni's words startled me.
'Burning a B-Rank core like this?'
A Dimensional Rift core so rare in the world.
Insanely expensive.
Rechargeable, but not infinitely, so it hurt a bit.
Hadn't even dealt with the Black Wolf yet, couldn't drain my mana.
'F-fine. Time to flex.'
Situation didn't allow skimping, but it stung.
Pulled the B-Rank rift core from Inventory.
Suni began siphoning its energy via mana interference.
-Wooong.
A circle of black mana formed behind my back.
And into that black mana halo poured the massive energy extracted from the core.
The Black Wolf sensed something ominous in my actions and charged.
Sorry, but I didn't need focus for this.
Suni was handling it.
No inconvenience fighting it.
Felt immense mana condensing behind me.
Scared it might explode.
'I-is this safe?'
'So there is some shock.'
The mid-grade monster dog pack was nearly upon the Heavenly Gate warriors.
Their agitation was palpable even here.
All their fighters tied up with other mid-grades.
'G-gotta hurry.'
Suni sounded relaxed.
'Has she ever been urgent?'
Except when I was in danger, probably not.
Turn my back to the Black Wolf.
Showing your back in combat is risky, but I trusted Suni and pivoted.
Suni displayed projected path before my eyes.
Calculated the incoming mid-grade's speed for rendezvous point.
Felt the Black Wolf's attack from behind.
At the same moment.
-Kwaaang!!!
An enormous explosion burst from the mana halo.
The shockwave hurled the Black Wolf far away tumbling.
And I rocketed forward instantly.
Mad acceleration slammed insane pressure on my body.
If not for my tough physique, I'd have blacked out.
As Suni said, I was flying like a rocket.
Low-grade monster dogs in my path exploded on impact.
Mana armor and sturdy body weathered it fine.
In seconds, I closed on the mid-grade monster dog lunging at Heavenly Gate warriors.
Raised my greatsword and charged straight.
Mana wrapped the blade, sharpening to a lethal edge at the tip.
'One shot kill.'
Its eyes widened in shock at my sudden approach before it could react.
-Kwa-jik!
In a blink, I pierced and passed through it.
The mid-grade's body burst, spraying blood.
Couldn't tell if my sword or body crushed it.
Then I slammed into the ground.
-Kung! Drdrdrduk!
A thick, deep furrow formed where I crashed, kicking up massive dust.
I shook myself off from within.
Whole body ached.
If it were anyone else, bones shattered, body pulped into meat paste.
Suni sounded a bit down.
'I-it's fine?'
Suni's cute? mistake worked out perfectly anyway.
Vagabond body strengthening skill points now full.
Time to show the Black Wolf bastard the world's bitterness.