Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Evil Zone Sweep (3)
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Jin Seong-hyeok's voice echoed in Su-ho's mind as he stumbled back.
'These are the offspring of the main body.'
Offspring? All these grotesque things crawling up from the ground were just the babies?
'Where's the main body?'
'Who knows. Probably watching from not too far away.'
Su-ho's face grew serious. Even with the elite members of Center 1 gathered, dealing with this many and then beating the main body?
'Mr. Jin Seong-hyeok... If those earlier ones were the size of babies... how big is an adult?'
'About newborn size.'
'Then... how massive is the main body?'
'Big enough that offspring are just a mouthful.'
Jin Seong-hyeok continued nonchalantly.
'It spits a poison that paralyzes and kills on contact. Surprisingly quick despite its size. Other than that, it should be manageable.'
Su-ho knew "manageable" for Jin Seong-hyeok didn't apply to anyone else.
'Got it.'
At least he had a rough idea, so he could plan. The offspring didn't spit poison, so the odds were decent...
"Everyone, be careful!"
Su-ho looked up at Tae-il's shout. A faint vibration trembled through his feet.
The quakes grew stronger, shaking the ground's surface. Something ominous was coming—a rumbling horde.
Thud thud. Thump.
Bulging mounds of earth surged toward where Center 1 stood, encircling them. Something burst from each mound simultaneously.
Kieeeek! Kieeeek!
As monsters erupted one by one, everyone drew weapons or braced to charge.
When the last hidden one emerged, the Hunters moved as one without a word.
Kai Qing sliced the lunging monster segment by segment. Beside him, Mei leaped skyward in a blink, then smashed both fists into its head.
Boom—.
Its skull exploded, spraying dark green fluid everywhere. Mei wiped her glasses with her knuckles, grabbed a twitching leg, and ripped it off.
Kieeeeek!
With a calm face, she clenched her fist again as Liu Xian stepped up beside her. The Center 2 leader held crimson energy orbs in both hands—not lightning or fire, but something else, each the size of his face.
He hurled them at the monsters.
Kaboom! Kaboom!
Ji-young had mentioned Liu Xian's specialty was explosions. Those orbs were like bombs—devastating ones. Just two wiped out the monsters in front of Center 2 Hunters.
Liu Xian brushed off his hands lightly and formed new orbs. He stepped forward as more approached.
Center 3 Hunters passed the exploded corpses.
Masa—the supposed scumbag—wielded dual swords, slashing wildly like a madman. "Slashing" fit better than "bending"—precise cuts.
Wherever Masa passed, monsters split symmetrically from head to tail in straight lines with a crisp snap. Su-ho shivered just watching; Masa's movements were ghostly. His sword arm—and body—blurred unless frozen mid-motion. Insane speed.
Buta, who looked lazy, had ditched his chips to fight. He clapped his palms together.
Rumble—.
The ground split beneath his gaze. Monsters tumbled in. Buta gripped his hands and shook. The rift slammed shut.
Kieeeek!
Each shake reopened and crushed the earth. Even earth-loving monsters couldn't survive his shock therapy.
Flattened corpses twitched, then slumped lifeless.
Buta smugly pulled out his chips.
"Gotta smash bugs like bugs."
"Plenty more bugs left."
Takahiro's curt words made Buta pout and pocket the chips. Takahiro's eyes finally shifted to the monsters.
Storm clouds gathered over the clear sky, rain falling only on the monsters.
Soon soaked, lightning flashed from above.
Kaboom! Keeek!
Lightning. Water and electricity control—Takahiro's power. He stomped the charred monsters, eyeing the bumpy earth.
Kieeek!
A monster sprang like a spring, its jaw pincer aimed at his face.
Clack—.
It stopped at his nose. Ji-young held the pincer casually.
The monster writhed grotesquely.
"Hate grabbing these things."
Boom!
She slammed it underground and snapped its segments with telekinesis.
Kiiik!
She crushed its head with her heel and straightened slowly.
Monsters kept bursting endlessly, all hideous.
As Centers 2 and 3 fought frantically, a flash caught Su-ho's eye. Drawn to it, he saw Eun-woo.
His blade gleamed in sunlight, etched with constellations.
Facing a charging monster, Eun-woo swung expressionlessly. Stars twinkled with each motion.
Like a dance. Light steps, fluid swings—like a manga hero.
Unlike Masa's brutal dual-wield frenzy, Eun-woo's swordplay was elegant, lethal.
Monsters bisected diagonally by his blade thudded down.
Splatter—.
Dark green fluid stained it. He flicked it clean and posed.
Left foot forward, grip firm, eyes closed then open. He watched the horde, then swung once.
Golden flash erupted. It cleaved the pack in half like a blade.
Instantly. They rolled, precisely halved.
Zone 1's SS-grade reps were monstrously skilled. Su-ho marveled until Jin Seong-hyeok spoke.
'Still only this level? Disappointing.'
'...This seems pretty impressive.'
'Most are worthless, bar a few.'
Who could match Jin Seong-hyeok anyway?
'To compete with other branches and tackle Last Zone monsters, they need to get stronger.'
Jin Seong-hyeok muttered, laced with worry. He'd met all branch Hunters; Center 1 felt weakest by comparison.
Like it or not, Evil Zones led to Dead and Last Zones. To survive, they needed more power.
Much more.
Kieeeeek!
Hunters tired against the endless spawn. Helpers moved behind for Cleans. Su-ho rolled up his sleeves.
Eun-woo got Airin's Clean; Kwon O-na and Tae-il handled other centers.
Ji-young remained.
'Mind your face.'
Ignoring Jin Seong-hyeok's tease, Su-ho approached. Ji-young spoke first, as if expecting it.
"I don't get Cleans on-site."
Jin Seong-hyeok had said she never brought Helpers into the field.
But Su-ho wouldn't back down.
"That's why you rampaged last time. More are coming—better take it."
Monsters lingered. Offspring respawned endlessly, and the boss mother waited.
Another rampage like last time? Reversible, but he needed to drill caution into her.
"Rampage again, and it might really be over."
Her eyes flickered at "over."
"Clean me, then."
She turned her back silently. Su-ho placed his hand carefully and focused.
Normal Hunters would've had tangled negative clumps by now. Ji-young's were minimal.
Negativity barely registered. She'd devised her own method, avoiding field Cleans.
Minimizing residue through precise control each use. Tedious for her, but it worked.
"Get on-site Cleans from now on. Takes three minutes."
"Three? Too long."
A-grades took 5-10 for patches; three was "long"?
"One minute."
"No way... you're not saying finish in one, are you?"
She chuckled softly.
"Knew you could. Done?"
"W-wait!"
As Su-ho protested it wasn't, she stood abruptly, gaze elsewhere.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The ground quaked—far stronger than before.