Chapter 124: Duo. The Heavenly Demon Appears
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 124: Duo. The Heavenly Demon Appears
The remaining section of the tunnel collapsed completely. From within the thick clouds of dust filling the area, the heavy thuds of combat and the roars of a monster echoed out.
— Kuaaaa-weeeeeee!
Seo-un’s brow furrowed. The mechanical distortion underlying the roar was growing even more pronounced.
What kind of dinosaur sounds like that…
As the thought crossed his mind, a sudden gust of wind swept the dust clouds away.
No way. Is it really like this?
As if reading his mind, Nam Sa-gwang asked, —Is there such a creature in your world?
Through the monster’s torn and peeling hide, a steel framework was visible. In place of its gouged-out eyes, a sinister red light leaked out. It was a sight straight out of a sci-fi movie.
—There’s no way. If I had to guess, maybe in a fantasy setting…
Seo-un trailed off. As he spoke, he was reminded of the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven, whom he had fought before.
Nam Sa-gwang glanced at the momentarily silent Seo-un before turning his gaze back to the battlefield.
The knight, with a Pyeonjeon lodged in his shoulder and one arm hanging limp, gripped his sword with his left hand and gasped for breath. He looked like the perfect target for a backstab.
The martial artist didn't look to be in much better shape either. Thinking it was the perfect time to move in for the kill, a look of impatience flickered across Nam Sa-gwang’s face. Just then, Seo-un spoke.
—We have to wait. Looking at the monster’s state, there’s a Phase 2.
As if waiting for Seo-un’s cue, the monster’s skin sloughed off, and the horns protruding from its back were fired toward the players like harpoons.
— Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Each projectile slammed into the ground with enough force to pulverize a corpse.
The two players barely managed to dodge the horns, but then eight missiles were launched from the monster’s belly.
It shoots missiles too?!
Seo-un shook his head as he watched the buff monster’s attack pattern change completely. He couldn't maintain his composure while looking at an Armored Dinosaur that utilized every bit of sci-fi technology seen in movies or animation.
Seeing such unrealistic things happen on an excessively realistic map of Earth made his sense of reality plummet. It felt more realistic to imagine beating up a monkey while riding a cloud in the sky.
— Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
As soon as the dust cleared, the eight missiles, which had flown in a staggering trajectory, fell around the two players and exploded.
— Kuhaaaaaa!
Amidst the rising flames and debris, the monster opened its maw and spewed a torrent of fire.
Under the fading sunset, the two players—unable to escape and limping heavily—burst through the flames and charged at the monster in a final, desperate gambit.
— Crunch! Zap!
— K-boom!
Every time the knight’s and martial artist’s blades struck the monster’s body and legs, sparks flew and small explosions erupted.
The monster, now leaking brown oil instead of red blood, and the players were reaching the climax of their battle.
Seeing the two players focus entirely on the buff monster, having already abandoned their guard against other nearby enemies, Seo-un spoke.
—Now.
The corners of Nam Sa-gwang’s mouth twisted upward; he had been restless from waiting so long. The two figures, donning their Cloaks of Stealth and jumping down from the roadside trees, vanished as they merged with the newly fallen darkness.
— Clang!
— Kuwaaaa-weeeee!
— Thump!
The knight finally managed to topple the massive beast, but the brilliant golden light surrounding his body vanished the moment it fell. The martial artist lunged his sword, which was slightly coated in Aura, toward the bright, round energy core exposed on the monster’s belly—but his body suddenly jerked.
Before he could even react, a whip coiled around his waist. As he was dragged right in front of Seo-un, Nam Sa-gwang unleashed his Hand Aura and struck the man’s neck, sending him flying into the air.
— Thud.
The knight screamed in rage as he watched the martial artist’s lifeless body collapse to the ground.
“You sons of bitches!!!”
From the knight’s perspective, he had every right to curse a thousand times over.
You should have backed off if you thought it was too much. You were greedy until the very end.
The knight charged with a blazing Aura Sword in his left hand, but he couldn't even leave a scratch on Nam Sa-gwang before his head was severed, ending his life in vain.
—Seo-un!
At Nam Sa-gwang’s Voice Transmission, Seo-un, who had already drawn and aimed his bow, released the string. The Pyeonjeon pierced the energy core of the monster as it struggled to rise. The arrow glowed red and exploded, causing the monster’s innards to swell and burst. A pillar of fire shot up, dyeing the night sky crimson.
— Ding! Nam Sa-gwang - Do Yeo-muchi (Kill with Aura.) 94/150
— Ding! Nam Sa-gwang - Clai (Kill with Aura.) 93/150
— Ding! The buff monster, Armored Dinosaur, has been hunted. Glory to Player Jin Seo-un!
[Buff of Mechanica. For ten days, your skin becomes as hard as steel, increasing defense by 4 times. For ten days, you can freely control all electronic devices on the map.]
As Seo-un heard the two buff messages, Nam Sa-gwang shouted.
“We have to go!”
Even without those words, Seo-un could feel numerous presences closing in. He moved immediately. He could sense the ripples of Mana and the signs of players preparing to attack from all directions.
—Unless they have Carmen’s Eye, ignore them all.
As they ran, Seo-un’s gaze turned toward the numerous cars parked in a nearby lot.
— Vroom! Vroom!
— Waaaaang! Beep!
The moment his gaze landed on them, the cars in the parking lot started their engines, revving wildly and honking their horns. Then, the vehicles began to race out in every direction.
As the cars sped off to draw attention and confuse the gathering enemies, Nam Sa-gwang asked.
—Is that the buff’s power?
—Yeah. This buff is going to be quite useful.
Even while sending the Voice Transmission, Seo-un’s eyes remained fixed on the activated Map. Seeing him look as if he had already decided on a destination, Nam Sa-gwang spoke curiously.
—You’re planning something again.
—A fun idea came to mind.
Every time those words left his mouth, he had baffled players with his absurd plays.
—What are you going to do?
—First… let’s go to Incheon Airport.
*
— Vrooooom!
Nam Sa-gwang and Seo-un were riding in a Porsche, surrounded by several large trucks.
“This is a ‘car’?”
“Yeah. It’s not some grand item. It’s a common object in my world.”
Watching the vehicle carry them down the highway, Nam Sa-gwang inspected the interior of the fast-moving Porsche.
“Impressive. It’s faster than most horses.”
“If it weren't for the trucks, I could go nearly three times faster than this.”
“What?”
Nam Sa-gwang’s eyes widened at the claim that it could reach speeds even a master of Lightness Skills couldn't keep up with.
“Why are you bringing those big, dull-looking vehicles along?”
“It’s to prepare for any magic or attacks that might fly our way. If necessary, we’ll have to smash through the gates and burst out.”
Nam Sa-gwang nodded at that. After driving for a while, the salty scent of the sea began to drift in, and soon, the airport, sparkling with brilliant lights, came into view.
The moment they switched lanes toward the departure gate, the expressions of the two men in the car crumpled.
— Whoosh! Crash!
A flaming rock struck a truck, flipping it onto its side instantly. The Porsche’s hood crumpled, and the car flipped over. Seo-un clicked his tongue as he watched the Porsche explode.
“Tsk. That was a fairly expensive car.”
“These ‘cars’ have terrible magic resistance. To be destroyed by such a minor spell.”
“Well, why would we need magic resistance in the modern world I live in? It was a world where magic didn't even exist.”
Nam Sa-gwang nodded and stood up atop a streetlight. Seo-un did the same, standing on a streetlight and watching a small figure in the distance.
“So there were players stationed at the airport too. I thought there wouldn't be anyone decent this far from the objects.”
He had honestly expected only campers to be here.
“Even if they aren't ‘decent,’ they’re still Crowns.”
With those words, Nam Sa-gwang kicked off the streetlight and charged toward the enemy.
— 100, 190. There are two more. —
At Hamit’s briefing, the corners of Seo-un’s mouth curled up.
Using a Mage as bait to lure us in?
He had been a victim of Teaming many times, and he had done it to others just as often. Since becoming a Regular Player, he had only done team play, so he could see right through the opponent’s shallow trick.
Seo-un drew his bow and began to move.
— Bang! Bang!
Merging with the darkness, he fired arrows at the two hidden enemies. Immediately, the two jumped out and charged at Nam Sa-gwang.
Good judgment. They’d rather focus on the visible enemy than deal with an invisible one?
Their split-second decision was good, but there was one crucial piece of information they lacked: the fact that the enemy they were focusing on was Nam Sa-gwang.
The two martial artists’ eyes bulged as Nam Sa-gwang drew Hand Aura with both hands, slicing through the incoming magic and pressing them with his sheer martial prowess.
Belatedly retreating toward the Mage to protect him, the two martial artists struggled to block Nam Sa-gwang, but they soon felt the fight becoming increasingly difficult. The magic from the Mage, which had been intermittently checking Nam Sa-gwang, had suddenly ceased.
The moment they realized they had been too distracted by the powerful foe and widened their field of vision, an alert sounded.
— Ding! Jin Seo-un - Jalen (Kill with Aura.) 88/150
At the same time, the two players looked at each other. They had no idea when their companion Mage had been taken out, or why he was dead at such a distance. Fear began to take root.
But they couldn't run. They couldn't see any opening to escape the clutches of the two enemies who had now joined forces to pressure them.
— Crunch!
— Slash!
The two men, who had ended the lives of the martial artists almost simultaneously, ignored the alerts and looked at each other.
“If only it were always this easy.”
Nam Sa-gwang shook his head at Seo-un’s remark.
“There’s no way guys like this are common. Look at the state of their gear. They’re definitely the type who hid and got lucky enough to climb into the high ranks. That’s why their farming is in this state.”
Since everything Nam Sa-gwang said was true, Seo-un nodded. At best, they were unremarkable players of the Black Sword grade.
“Is that place the airport?”
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
Compared to the pitch-black darkness that had reigned since the KEPCO explosion, the airport was brilliantly lit. Nam Sa-gwang’s jaw dropped. As he looked at the massive airplanes lined up along the runway, his aura seemed quite intimidated.
“Wh-what kind of monster is that?”
“It’s not a monster; it’s a transport called an airplane. Think of it as a luxury mode of travel.”
“We ride that? It’s much bigger than the road we came on.”
“It travels through the sky.”
“What?!”
Nam Sa-gwang wasn't one to be surprised by something flying in the sky. However, he couldn't help but be shocked that such a massive hunk of iron could fly.
“Hurry up. I told you I thought of something fun.”
— Shoooooooo!
As soon as Seo-un finished speaking, the planes began to move, racing down the runway and taking off into the sky.
“My god… it really flies!”
Only after seeing the massive plane lift itself into the air did Nam Sa-gwang realize Seo-un wasn't talking nonsense. He wore a dazed expression.
“Stop being surprised and let’s get on.”
Seo-un leaped toward the entrance of a plane that had opened its doors in front of them. He kicked off the ground and jumped several meters in a single bound, boarding the plane. Nam Sa-gwang quickly followed suit, not wanting to be left behind.
As soon as he boarded, the plane’s door closed, and Seo-un comfortably reclined in a first-class seat.
“Let’s rest for a bit first.”
“Huh? We’re not flying?”
Seeing the disappointment on Nam Sa-gwang’s face—as if he had been secretly looking forward to it—Seo-un chuckled.
“Neither of us has had a proper sleep in a while. We need to replenish our strength. Oh, the in-flight meals…”
Trailing off, Seo-un rummaged through the interior, heated up some in-flight meals, and handed two to Nam Sa-gwang.
“Tell me if it’s not enough.”
He also brought some curry and pasta for himself and began to eat. After eating their fill and taking a deep nap, the plane finally began its departure.
“Ugh…”
Nam Sa-gwang grimaced at the alien sensation he was experiencing for the first time. It was Seo-un’s first time on a plane as well, but he maintained a calm expression as if he were perfectly used to it.
Eventually, as the plane roared into the sky, Nam Sa-gwang couldn't take his eyes off the view outside the window.
“Have you never experienced an Upper Realm map? It’s a map where you fly above the clouds.”
Nam Sa-gwang, who knew well that Seo-un had caught the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven in the Upper Realm and learned Yoseonsul, shook his head without looking away.
“I’ve experienced an undersea map, but I haven't been to that Upper Realm yet. To think I’d experience flying in the sky like this.”
As the plane leveled out and maintained its altitude, Seo-un spoke.
“If you jumped out from here, would you be okay?”
Nam Sa-gwang, who had been staring at the dark ground for a long time, nodded.
“I wouldn't be seriously injured. However, the consumption of internal power would be significant, since I’d have to glide.”
“Glide?”
“You don't know? It’s a technique where you pour internal power through the Yongquan Acupoint to slow your descent.”
“There’s such a thing? And here I was worried about parachutes. Teach me that.”
Nam Sa-gwang stared at Seo-un, who had just roughly learned the gliding technique from him.
“You can tell me now. What exactly are you planning to do by flying all the way up here?”
“Oh! It’s nothing much. I’ve set all the planes to crash into the KEPCO branches spread across the Incheon area. And three planes, including this one, will circle the sky and help us at the decisive moment. Is there a law that says only Mages can summon meteors from the sky? I’m just summoning planes to crash them as needed. Of course, we can't wait too long because of the fuel.”
At Seo-un’s words, Nam Sa-gwang imagined this massive plane plummeting from the sky and crashing into the ground.
“Horrifying. It’s an attack that even the greatest knight would find difficult to withstand.”
“Let’s get ready to jump.”
As soon as the emergency exit of the plane, which had lowered its altitude, was opened, Seo-un and Nam Sa-gwang threw themselves out. After being swept away by the air currents like kites with broken strings for a moment, the two stabilized their forms and plummeted downward.
—Everyone’s attention will be focused on that massive thing passing by, won't it?
—For now. I’d appreciate it if they did.
Seo-un, who was gradually getting used to the sensation of gliding by pouring internal power through his Yongquan Acupoint, landed on a tall building with Nam Sa-gwang. At that moment, the plane they had been on ascended back into the sky.
“It sounds even louder from the outside.”
Seeing ripples of Mana following the plane passing through the sky, it seemed there were players everywhere mistaking the plane for a monster.
“Did you come on that? Impressive.”
A chill ran down their spines at the calm voice that spoke despite them not sensing any presence. Turning around quickly, they saw a man with long hair sitting casually on the rooftop railing, holding a bottle of wine in one hand.
He was in a completely relaxed posture, full of openings, yet just looking at him made their chests feel tight and their blood boil.
“Do you not intend to answer?”
“The Heavenly Demon…”
The man looked at Seo-un, who had unconsciously uttered his name, with an indifferent expression.
“That’s not an answer.”
—Sa-gwang. How long can you hold out?
Nam Sa-gwang, who had already drawn his Hand Aura and was in a combat stance, shook his head.
—Three minutes if it’s long. Thirty seconds if it’s short.
—Do you have a Teleportation Scroll?
—I do.
—When I give the signal, use it without looking back. Let’s meet again at Munhak Stadium Station.
Normally, Seo-un might not have believed that Nam Sa-gwang could only hold out for that long. He would have surely dismissed it as Nam Sa-gwang being dramatic.
However, looking at the man called the Heavenly Demon himself, Seo-un couldn't be certain if Nam Sa-gwang could even hold out that long.
“Right. We came on that. Let me ask you something too. Why are you playing this game?”
At Seo-un’s question, the Heavenly Demon, who had poured wine into his mouth straight from the bottle, spoke.
“The same as you. Because there is something I desire. You look like an Earthling… you might be of help to me.”
As he finished speaking, he reached out toward Seo-un. Seo-un’s body was pulled toward the Heavenly Demon’s grasp as if being sucked in by a vacuum.
— Whoosh!
If Nam Sa-gwang hadn't stepped in and swung his Hand Aura, Seo-un would have surely been caught in the Heavenly Demon’s hand in an instant.
“Tsk, tsk. Have you still not fixed that bad habit of meddling in others' business? When you made such a mistake last time, you were given that body as a restriction.”
“Shut up! You demonic fiend!”
As Nam Sa-gwang flew toward the Heavenly Demon, swinging his Hand Aura in a rage, a pitch-black Nascent Soul erupted from the Heavenly Demon’s body as if his soul were separating, and charged toward Nam Sa-gwang.
— Clang!
Nam Sa-gwang, who had hurriedly retreated after the Heavenly Demon’s Nascent Soul cut through his Hand Aura in just a few moves, sent a Voice Transmission.
—Are you done yet?
—Not yet. Just wait a little longer.
Finishing his words, Seo-un also leaped to Nam Sa-gwang’s side to assist him. The Heavenly Demon’s Nascent Soul dealt with the two as if they were insignificant.
Nam Sa-gwang’s face crumpled as he watched the entity leisurely handle them with only one hand while keeping the other behind its back. Perhaps the Heavenly Demon was the only person in all three dimensions who could treat the two of them like this.
Thanks to the Nascent Soul playing along and matching their pace, the two were managing to hold out somewhat easily. Then, the Heavenly Demon, who was sitting on the railing in the distance drinking wine, spoke.
“Is that the reason you’re stalling for time?”
Though it was hidden by clouds, the Heavenly Demon pointed upward as he heard the growing roar. Seo-un, his mouth twisting into a smirk, spoke.
“I wonder? Do you really think that’s my only move?”
Curiosity flickered in the Heavenly Demon’s eyes at Seo-un’s words.
“What an interesting child. Fine. Do as you wish. I’ll let you live as long as you remain interesting.”
“You’ll regret it.”
“I wonder. I have no memory of ever feeling such a thing in my life.”
— Shoooooooo-vroooom!
Finally, as the massive nose of a plane began to poke through the clouds, Seo-un shouted.
“Now!”
Nam Sa-gwang was the first to retreat, tearing a scroll and vanishing through space.
“Just a mere escape? Tsk.”
“I’m not done yet?!”
Seo-un, who had replied until the very end, reached out as he Blinked behind the Nascent Soul, which was right in front of him and about to jump toward the plane.
As if showing the height of arrogance, the entity ignored Seo-un’s hand and focused on the falling plane.
And the moment Seo-un’s hand touched the Nascent Soul’s back, the Heavenly Demon’s eyes widened. Not only that, but the Nascent Soul also trembled violently as if it were startled.