Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Raid (4)
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A chill spread across the floor where Pubkil's foot landed, cracking open as ice surged upward. Eric, who had frozen Pubkil's leg in one shot, shouted at Roni.
"Roni!"
"Yeah, man! I'm on it!"
At the same time, Roni swung his massive axe. With a sharp clang, Pubkil's hind leg shattered like breaking ice.
Kieeeek!
Pubkil threw its head back toward the sky and let out a wail. As it shuddered, trying to regenerate its hind leg, Scarlett dashed forward.
A massive flame erupted like a burst of fire, searing the shattered hind leg to prevent regeneration. Pubkil shook its body. Then it glared down at Eric below, baring its teeth.
Shhwick!Thud!
Jacob was the one who smashed a hockey stick into Pubkil's face as it gaped its maw wide toward Eric.
"I saved you, Eric!"
Passing by the innocently grinning Jacob, Clark unleashed his psychokinesis. Thread-like psychic energy yanked at Pubkil's foreleg, sending it tumbling head over heels.
Arf! Arf!Whine!
"Looks like it's calling for backup."
Scarlett responded to Clark's mutter.
"Better if they come at us so we can wipe them out."
"Whoa! Now this is a proper workout!"
Eric and Jacob chimed in after Roni. The hunters showed no signs of fatigue—in fact, they looked thrilled.
"Ji-young? You ready?"
Scarlett grinned and asked Ji-young.
"Of course."
Ji-young, positioned at the center of the 5th Branch hunters, stepped toward Pubkil. She stared at the fallen beast as it howled for its allies, then rolled up her sleeves in a showy gesture.
With that, Ji-young leaped into the air. She raised her right foot high and slammed her heel down onto Pubkil's crown.
Krunch!
Its skull was already caved in from Jacob's hockey stick blow. Pubkil went limp after Ji-young's strike.
"Impressive. She can wield physical prowess like that even while using mental powers..."
Scarlett nodded at Eric's quiet murmur.
"The Center 1 leader is on another level."
"Whoa! Ji-young! Train with us from now on!"
Even Roni sounded excited.
"Get a grip. That's just what an SS-grade does!"
Clark grumbled, then froze and pointed straight ahead.
"Get ready, everyone. We've got company."
All eyes turned to where Clark pointed.
Grrr.
Pubkils began emerging one by one, baring their teeth. Spotting their fallen comrade on the ground, their eyes darted wildly.
"One, two, three, four... six, seven, eight. Whoa, just eight of 'em!"
Roni counted on his fingers. Clark boasted,
"Guess these are all the scouts patrolling nearby. Anyway, let's sweep 'em up and find their main nest quick...!"
"Clark."
Scarlett sighed and continued.
"Forgot how rushing in last time got us wrecked by the Pubkil boss? We take it slow this time, plan properly. Especially now that Ji-young and Su-ho are with us."
Clark furrowed his brow. He whipped his head around and stared at Su-ho dismissively.
"What big help is he gonna be? Tch. Last time was just me getting careless!"
"Cl-Clark!!"
Squeee!
A Pubkil diving at Clark from above tumbled to the ground. Standing calmly in front of it, dusting off her hands, was Ji-young.
"Why."
She had grabbed the Pubkil's foreleg mid-dive toward Clark and slammed it down.
"Careless again?"
Clark's face crumpled at Ji-young's leisurely smile. He looked offended, like his pride stung at being saved.
"Who the hell...!!"
"Watch the front before you talk."
Clark's gaze snapped forward at her words. He gritted his teeth and assumed a battle stance.
One of the Pubkils encircling the hunters and helpers growled lowly.
"I'll kill you crueler than you did my friend. I'll smash your head, chop your legs, and chew you up bones and all while you're still alive."
"Yeah, yeah. But you gotta win first."
Another Pubkil snickered at Clark's retort.
"Dunno what you're yapping about, but the guy who took one hit from our boss last time and ran sure talks big."
"What?!"
Roni held back Clark as he bristled with rage.
"Whoa, Clark. Calm down. Getting mad means you're losing. Yeah!"
Roni swung his axe with whooshes, glaring at the Pubkils.
"This is why Dead Zones suck. Monsters talk and taunt you."
Eric nodded in agreement beside Jacob.
"Shut up!"
The Pubkils lowered their torsos, baring fangs.
"Let's handle them first."
Ji-young stepped forward. She slowly scanned each Pubkil, then lifted her toes off the ground. The Pubkils flinched simultaneously.
"Ugh... my body, my body...!"
"I'll kill you... all."
Ji-young tilted her head with a smile.
"I expected more from a Dead Zone. These seem weaker than Centepis?"
She signaled the hunters below to attack.
The battle-ready hunters charged at once.
"Whoa! Yeah!"
Roni kept swinging his axe with exclamations, while Jacob brandished his hockey stick beside him. Scarlett hurled massive fireballs at the Pubkils. Clark copied her ability, raining down smaller ones of his own.
Ji-young slowly descended from the air, watching the Pubkils get overwhelmed and burst into flames.
Arf! Arf!
Kyaaack!
The Pubkils shrieked in agony, breaking free from her control and thrashing. Their frantic shaking slowed. When all movement ceased, the roaring red flames began to die down.
The last wisps of smoke dispersed into the air, extinguishing the fire. The Pubkils' remains were revealed.
It was gruesome—no, grotesque. The black fur covering their bodies had burned away completely, exposing bulging eyes and organs amid the dripping flesh.
"Ugh..."
Jacob grimaced and turned away. Even the 5th Branch helpers, Tag and Stephanie, hesitated and stepped back.
"Whoa! Helpers! Time to work!"
Lerry shouted at the helpers and approached Roni.
"Bro, Clean me up."
"Yeah, no worries."
As Lerry began Cleaning, Tag and Stephanie reluctantly followed suit. Su-ho scanned the area, ready to Clean.
Ji-young was already being handled by Kwon Oh. That left Clark and Scarlett.
Su-ho headed toward Scarlett as if it were obvious. Clark called out.
"Hey, you. Clean me."
With that, he turned away curtly, as if done talking. Su-ho stared at Clark for a moment, then resumed walking toward Scarlett.
"Hey, hey! Didn't you hear me?"
"Were you talking to me just now?"
"Who else would I be calling?!"
Su-ho let out a small, pitiful sigh.
"I didn't know 'hey you' meant me."
"What...?!"
"And I'm planning to Clean Hunter Scarlett first right now, so wait your turn if you want it."
Su-ho brushed past the stunned Clark and said to Scarlett,
"I'll start the Clean."
As Su-ho placed both hands on Scarlett's back and focused,
"Su-ho? You're a real character."
"Me?"
"Look, Clark can't even get a word in."
Scarlett laughed, glancing at Clark's sullen face.
"It's nice and quiet."
Su-ho spoke flatly and concentrated on the Clean. Ever since arriving at Center 1 and training with Jin Seong-hyeok, his focus had sharpened. Strangely, the Clean felt smoother too.
Scarlett sensed it as well. The stifling knot in her chest vanished in moments. She couldn't hide her surprise.
"You... what are you, exactly?"
"Pardon?"
"I've never had a Clean like this. Does Center 1 get this from you every time? I'm jealous."
"I'll take that as a compliment. Thank you."
"It is. Thanks."
Su-ho withdrew his hands, scanning the surroundings. As expected, everyone else was still Cleaning.
His speed was unmatched.
"What? You already finished?"
Clark eyed Su-ho up and down in disbelief.
That guy's all that's left.
'That guy,' huh.
Jin Seong-hyeok chuckled, reading Su-ho's thoughts.
'Don't laugh. That jerk pisses me off—I don't wanna do it but I have to.'
'Poor kid. Think of it as charity.'
'Charity's for people who deserve it. What's the point with someone who gripes about everything?'
Even so, Su-ho walked toward Clark.
"I'm sensitive, so be thorough."
Clark snapped curtly.
Why's he acting like it's my fault when I'm doing him the favor?
'How about smacking the back of his head and then Cleaning?'
Su-ho gave a hollow laugh at Jin Seong-hyeok's suggestion.
'If I could, I would.'
Without retort, Su-ho placed his hands on Clark's back. Might as well finish quick. He focused intensely.
He pinpointed the pulsing knots at his fingertips and dissolved them in one go. The unpleasant emotions absorbed into his body? He was used to them now—no big deal.
As Su-ho rapidly Cleaned and sensed no more knots, he pulled his hands away.
Clark asked, sounding shocked.
"Is this even possible? What kind of Clean...!!"
Scarlett spoke to the incredulous Clark.
"Impressive, right? So behave, Clark. If you want another one."
"Behave? When have I ever been bad?!"
Scarlett shook her head at his obliviousness and said to Su-ho,
"Good work, Su-ho."
"No problem."
Ignoring the two, Clark turned to the hunters and helpers.
"Once Cleans are done, let's move. Find the Pubkil base before it gets any later and wipe it out."
The Pubkils scouting meant a base nearby for sure. Long ago, after getting badly wounded by the Pubkil leader and fleeing the Dead Zone, Clark had to retreat.
Clenching his fist, he ground his teeth.
"This time, I'll blow that bastard's head clean off."