Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Undead Legion's Last Stand
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I can't even remember the last time I had to force my utterly exhausted body to keep fighting like this.
People say it feels refreshing to stretch your limbs after a long time without exercise, but that's not me at all.
"Hah... ugh..."
My right arm was completely wrecked. The sackcloth I'm wearing was patching up the mangled limb, but the injury was so severe it would take a while. A crown crudely tied to my limp right hand with some string dangled there, emitting a faint glow.
My left eye was messed up too, throwing off my vision. One of my legs was broken, but I'd wrapped the area in blue runes to hold it together as best I could.
"Damn guides. You bastards."
The sky tore open once more, unleashing another 10,000 from the undead legion. I'd been battling these corpses for hours now—I couldn't even recall how many I'd slain.
I was just moving on autopilot. But even so, I wasn't relying on instinct.
The Paradox Flame blazing across the ground was burning away their movements. If I focused it on a handful of monsters, I could incinerate their mobility entirely, leaving them unable even to twitch a finger. But right now, it wasn't just a few.
The Paradox Flame, spread wide to cover the area, couldn't fully halt the horde—it was merely slowing them down.
Any greedier, and I'd lose control.
"What're you staring at? Think you've already won?"
The undead legion's archers nocked arrows aimed at me. The arrows rained down like a swarm of hornets, each one a deadly threat. I swung my left hand to bat away the incoming volley.
As I blocked the arrows, the corpses wielding spears and swords crept closer.
I parried a sword swinging at my shoulder, only for a spear to thrust toward my exposed chest. I shoved my useless right arm forward to take the hit.
I leaned back to dodge an axe aimed at my neck, and another raised a hammer. My spear lashed out first, smashing its skull before the hammer could swing.
The sleet had turned into cold, soaking rain. The downpour mixed my blood from open wounds with the filthy puddles on the ground.
"Damn bastards. You think you're picnicking under an awning or something?"
Why was this taking so damn long? Four spears and two swords targeted me. I blocked them, channeled mana, and slammed my spear into the earth. An explosion ripped through, sending chunks of corpse flesh flying everywhere.
"..."
A low rumble echoed as a building finally gave out under the accumulated impacts and collapsed. That made over fifteen structures this monster horde and I had demolished already.
"No way they're gonna make me pay for this... right?!"
I blocked three swords with my spear, then shoved back hard, hurling the attackers into the rubble of a fallen building. They crashed through the wall of another intact structure, burying themselves in the debris piled beyond.
Part of me wanted to scream, "Come on, all of you at once!" But if I had the energy for that nonsense, I needed to save it.
I had no idea how much longer I'd have to fight like this... and honestly, if they all rushed me at once, I'd be in real trouble.
"You're completely insane. I didn't think you'd hold out this long."
One of the freshly teleported foes gaped at me in dismay, marveling aloud.
"What, falling for me because I'm too cool?"
"Our lord commanded us to capture you alive rather than kill you. He must have big plans for you."
Oh man, they were seriously smitten. Capture me alive? Greed for talent often ruins plans—classic mistake.
"Capture? You must think I'm some pushover."
After failing to kill me despite throwing everything at me so far, now they wanted to take me prisoner?
"You've slain 40,000, but 30,000 of the undead legion still remain here."
"...Damn, that's a lot."
Anyway, their movements had changed. The cold weapons slashing at me weren't aimed to kill anymore. Even the mages were trying to paralyze or slow me down.
"Our lord judged that even if this operation fails, capturing you alive would make the gains outweigh the losses."
Hearing that, I spat out a bit of blood along with a chuckle.
"With your frail mortal flesh, you've faced 70,000 of the undead legion. Should you receive Gonzalok's blessing and perfect your body, who knows how great a boon you'd be to our lord's grand undertaking."
I tore a strip from a nearby fallen corpse's clothing, scrawled something on it with my blood, and tossed it to him.
"If you make it back, pass this to your boss. My autograph."
They were such avid fans; least I could do was sign something. He caught the cloth and snorted derisively.
"Even on the brink of death, you still have the spirit for jokes. Our lord's judgment was spot on."
All the while, the mages kept trying to bind me. The undead legion swapped swords and spears for clubs and staffs.
They were serious about capturing me alive. Unbelievable.
"Fuck this, there's a limit to underestimating someone."
They saw me as some wild boar that escaped the zoo? Fine—give it your best shot.
Even if the teleport op failed, capturing me meant success?
Then I'd wreck both your fancy plans.
"Once I'm done here, I'll head back to China and lop off that precious lord of yours, then hang his head from the flagpole on Gwanak Mountain."
This was just one more crisis among the countless I'd overcome. Like always, I'd pull through.
The battle dragged on. I lost track of time, but the enemies in my sight were dwindling.
"What? No more coming?"
I steadied my trembling body and muttered that. The teleports had stopped. One of two things: either Shijou's hunters had toppled the tower, or Shijou's defenses were stretched too thin, so they halted teleports here to focus on holding Shijou.
These remaining foes looked like my last guests.
"Lord's orders or not, we have no choice now."
The surviving corpses gripped razor-sharp weapons once more, abandoning clubs and staffs. The mages switched from binding spells to lethal ones.
The archers, silent moments ago, nocked arrows anew.
"Told you—greed ruins everything."
I rasped in a hoarse voice.
"Chasing what you can't even eat... just like a dog scarfing stolen chocolate and ending up at the vet."
"Even with our reduced numbers, killing you is no problem."
That's what they wanted to believe. They'd failed when they had even more troops. No chance now.
"You've failed. Admit it."
The teleports stopped, but I fought another three hours after. These ones had come through—I had to finish them.
"Hunter Yoo Chan-seok, are you... are you alright?"
Kneeling amid mountains of motionless corpses, leaning on my spear and gasping for breath, I was alone.
As Gangnam became fully secure, people approached, clearing the piled bodies.
"Like hell I am."
I muttered. They probably didn't hear.
Asking if I was okay now? They weren't blind. No clue who sent them, but medics were on standby.
"We'll start treatment immediately."
I raised a hand slightly.
"No need."
The rags I'd gotten from killing the Su Bun Tak had incredible regenerative power. I'd taken more damage than it could keep up with while facing hordes—that was all.
Given enough time, my body would heal. So...
"Get a plane ready at Incheon Airport. I need to head back ASAP."
I had to rejoin Shijou. By the time the flight landed, I'd be mostly recovered.
"And clear out those reporters waiting over there. I don't want to waste time on them now. Once everything's wrapped up..."
One of the medics radioed someone. Moments later, helicopter rotors thrummed overhead, and it lowered a rope ladder toward me.
Damn—my right arm wrecked, and they drop a ladder? But helos had no choice; the area was corpse-choked, no landing zone.
Using only my left hand, I climbed the ladder into the chopper. It headed straight for Incheon Airport.
Once at the airport and aboard the plane, I closed my eyes briefly.
—Hunter Yoo Chan-seok, we've arrived at Shanghai Pudong Airport.
I snapped awake at the announcement. My body was fully healed. Only then did I closely inspect the state of my rags.
"Whoa, can this even be repaired?"
Looked impossible. I'd probably have to repurpose the surviving fabric into something else.
That might reduce its performance, but it'd served me well in Korea—no regrets. I removed the rags over my clothes, folded them neatly.
"You've been through a lot."
After disembarking, I hurried toward Shijou. The path was clear; just run. Wouldn't take long.
"If things go well here, it'll be a huge advantage for us."
Our main force had already breached the enemy lines and secured a foothold.
On top of that, Gonzalok had poured massive troops into Shijou. The batch teleported to Korea was wiped out, and Shijou's defenders had taken heavy losses too.
"The more we kill in Shijou..."
The more our chances rose in this war-like subjugation. Total annihilation would be ideal, but would Gonzalok's lot retreat once losses mounted? The thought flashed through my mind.
I shook my head. No way. Gonzalok wouldn't pull back.
I contacted Major General Oh Il-seop.
—Reinforcements, you say?
"Highly likely. Consider the time and budget they sunk into that massive structure."
Retreating would mean losing it entirely. Shameful waste.
—Indeed, Shijou's structure remains intact.
They'd only halted teleports to defend against the hunters' all-out assault.
"Gonzalok's undead legion still has reserves. They'll send reinforcements."
Once reinforcements stabilize Shijou's defenses, they'll try teleporting to Korea again.
We had to strike before then, seize Shijou completely, and topple the tower. That's why I'd flown back at max speed.