Chapter 126: Duo. The Mountain Named Heavenly Demon
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 126: Duo. The Mountain Named Heavenly Demon
Clang!
At the clear chime of a bell, two martial artists who had been sitting with their eyes closed snapped them open in unison.
The pair rose from their spots simultaneously. The twin martial artists, who looked uncannily identical, stepped out of their coffins and turned toward the white-haired old man holding the bell, offering a respectful fist-to-palm salute.
“Hehehe. It seems I have no choice but to use you this time. I wanted to save the Living Jiangshi for later, but if it’s you two, you should be able to handle even the Heavenly Demon.”
At the old man’s words, the two Jiangshi curled their lips into identical, chilling smirks.
—We follow the orders of the Lord of Red Flower Island.
The two Jiangshi bowed, speaking the same words in a perfectly synchronized voice.
As the old man waved his hand behind him, twenty coffin lids flew open, and twenty pale Jiangshi rose.
“Then, let us go.”
* * *
“Now that’s impressive.”
Hidden beneath his Cloak of Stealth atop a high-rise building, Seo-un watched the scene through a monocular. Beside him, Nam Sa-gwang clicked his tongue.
“Those bastards. They actually managed to complete the Living Jiangshi.”
“So those are Living Jiangshi? The ones moving so fluidly while wielding Aura?”
“It’s almost impossible to distinguish a Living Jiangshi from a normal person.”
“If I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought they were Players.”
“Tsk, troublesome bastards just keep popping up.”
Nam Sa-gwang shifted his gaze away from the two Jiangshi, who were currently manifesting Aura to dismantle iron Golems. His attention was drawn to a man holding a skull-shaped staff, who was continuously summoning Golems and firing flashes of light at the twins.
“That’s the fifth time already.”
“The two Jiangshi are definitely starting to slow down.”
As the man summoned dozens of Golems and layered on debuffs, the two Jiangshi—who had previously displayed incredible martial prowess—began to move sluggishly. Just as it seemed the fight was reaching its conclusion, the twins began to retreat.
“I guess they weren’t planning on seeing it through to the end.”
Nam Sa-gwang nodded at Seo-un’s remark.
“It’s a lion’s den.”
“A lion’s den?”
Nam Sa-gwang spoke while keeping a close eye on the retreating Jiangshi.
“They say that if you put unfamiliar male lions in the same enclosure, random fights break out at first. But they don’t have a massive fight to the death to make the other submit right away. They clash moderately to gauge the opponent’s strength. They also watch other lions fight to measure their power.”
“Just like us.”
Nam Sa-gwang nodded. “Yeah. They say the real life-and-death struggle only happens after those minor skirmishes are over and the hierarchy is established. That’s when the two or three lions who haven’t settled their rank begin a bloody battle to the death to become the alpha.”
“It feels like the time for that bloody battle is coming soon.”
Time passed quickly.
Seo-un and Nam Sa-gwang became lions trapped in the cage, engaging in numerous battles. When an opponent seemed weak, they took their lives without hesitation. Conversely, when they faced a strong foe and a conclusion seemed unlikely, they retreated quickly to minimize damage.
During those three days, only eight survivors remained, excluding the two of them. The Force Field had shrunk to a three-kilometer radius centered around Ganseok Station.
“It’ll end today.”
“Probably.”
Seo-un nodded. Seeing how the Magnetic Field had been restricted to a quarter of its size in just one day, it was more than likely that the conclusion would be reached before nightfall.
As the two stepped out of the dilapidated building, the setting sun stained the surroundings a deep, bloody crimson.
— Ding! Heavenly Demon…
— Ding! Heavenly Demon…
— Ding! Heavenly Demon…
The notification sounds chimed consecutively as the man began to exert his presence once again. The two of them threw themselves toward the center of the brewing storm.
At the intersection in front of Ganseok Station, a battle was in full swing between the Heavenly Demon and a temporary team of Players.
“It’s an Aura wind!”
Dozens of steel Golems swarmed around two Players to protect them, but a single gust of wind swept through, cleanly severing the waists of every single Golem. The Heavenly Demon, who had created the gale of Aura with a single gesture, stomped his foot.
As his Stomp slammed into the earth, spiderweb-like cracks spread in all directions, and the ground beneath them collapsed. As if that wasn't enough, the area shook as if struck by a massive earthquake, and the surrounding buildings began to crumble.
“You’ve come!”
In the midst of the chaos, the Heavenly Demon spotted Seo-un and Nam Sa-gwang and shouted.
“Let’s join forces!” a Knight pointing his sword at the Heavenly Demon cried out.
The Living Jiangshi manifested their Aura and lunged at the Heavenly Demon’s back, while a red-haired martial artist swung a blade imbued with Blade Aura. With a thunderous roar, dozens of steel Golems hurled parked cars at the Heavenly Demon, and Golems made of molten lava scrambled to grab him by any means necessary.
Into the heat of the battle, the remaining four Players poured every attack they had at the Heavenly Demon. Debuffs flew toward him alongside intense ripples of Mana. The red-haired martial artist and the Knight in white armor—whose gear was cracked and chipped in various places—tried to cut down the Heavenly Demon with white-hot Sword Aura.
Amidst the battlefield, Seo-un shouted.
—Retreat this way!
Shouting to lead the Players toward the back of Ganseok Station, Seo-un multiplied into dozens of clones and swarmed the Heavenly Demon.
Clang!
Nam Sa-gwang blocked the Heavenly Demon’s Sword Aura and sneered. “I guess you can’t even bring out your Nascent Soul?”
At his taunt, the Heavenly Demon smiled as if enjoying himself. Along with his smile, a gust of wind began to blow from his body. The moment he felt the single streak of warm wind, Nam Sa-gwang retreated, but his right arm had already been severed from his body.
Having witnessed the Heavenly Demon’s divine power properly, Seo-un shook his head. He wasn't on the same level as the other Players.
You could put him in the Epic Monster category and he’d still be overkill.
Faced with that overwhelming power that seemed capable of devouring most Epic Monsters alone, Seo-un summoned every single aircraft he had prepared.
Shhhhhhh!
The Heavenly Demon smiled as the planes began to appear with a deafening roar. Seo-un’s eyes widened as no fewer than four planes were destroyed in the sky by the Nascent Soul that had emerged from the Heavenly Demon’s body.
“Go ahead, try to bring more for me to absorb.”
The Heavenly Demon stood his Nascent Soul beside him as if playing a game, while the wreckage of the planes fell from the sky behind him.
Boom! Whoosh!
Seo-un’s brow furrowed as he watched the Heavenly Demon standing tall amidst the engulfing flames. He was like a mountain that could never be climbed. A heavy feeling settled in Seo-un’s chest, as if he were looking at a peak so high it crushed his spirit just by gazing up at it.
Seo-un’s gaze sank deep as he looked at a gas station about 50 meters away from the Heavenly Demon.
“Everyone, attack!”
At the Knight’s cry, the heated battle resumed amidst the falling debris. Countless clones attacked the Heavenly Demon, and the Knight’s white Aura flew toward him. Nam Sa-gwang’s Hand Aura and the red-haired martial artist’s Blade Aura joined the assault.
However, they couldn't even graze the hem of the Heavenly Demon’s clothes.
The Living Jiangshi manifesting Aura were the first to be torn apart, closing their eyes without being able to avenge their master. Starting with them, the number of Players began to dwindle one by one.
When even the Alchemist, who had been casting debuffs until the very end, died, the Heavenly Demon—now free from the debuffs—turned around, feeling his body grow lighter. To Seo-un, it looked as though the man could have ended this game in an instant if he wanted to, but was intentionally holding back to match their level.
Everyone else had disappeared, leaving only loot boxes on the shattered asphalt. Only Seo-un and the armless Nam Sa-gwang remained.
“Haah… Haah… Why? You could have ended the game long ago.”
At Seo-un’s question, the Heavenly Demon simply shrugged. “Who knows.”
Seeing the Heavenly Demon staring straight at him with an unreadable expression, Seo-un fell to his knees.
“Cough!”
Dark blood poured from his mouth. Watching the black blood soak the asphalt, Seo-un barely managed to push himself up.
“I’m going first.”
The moment Seo-un nodded at Nam Sa-gwang’s words, Nam Sa-gwang charged at the Heavenly Demon once more.
Thud.
Nam Sa-gwang’s head, which had been charging with such momentum, fell helplessly to the ground. In that brief interval, Seo-un ran toward the gas station and smirked.
“Do you think you can take me down with you if you go there?”
Seo-un smiled at the Heavenly Demon’s words, which hit the nail on the head.
“No. I’m definitely not dying by your hand.”
Having finished his sentence, Seo-un ripped a Mana Explosion Scroll.
Please, let it work.
In the midst of the exploding flames, he felt his entire body burning as he was pushed back. Even in a situation where he couldn't stand properly due to the force of the explosion, Seo-un utilized the principles of the Thousand Pound Drop to plant his feet as firmly as possible and reached out his hand.
The moment he felt a massive presence within the flames, he thrust his hand out without even confirming the enemy’s position. His attack, which contained all his focus but not a hint of killing intent, finally grazed the Heavenly Demon’s shoulder.
Seeing the shallow cut on his shoulder, the Heavenly Demon—who remained perfectly fine even within the flames—widened his smile.
“To think you actually touched my body. That was an impressive strike. I shall remember that attack.”
Seo-un smiled back at the Heavenly Demon. His smile, with his facial skin almost entirely melted and burned away by the fire, was chilling even to the Heavenly Demon.
“I shall give you a peaceful end.”
Just as the Heavenly Demon raised his sword, a notification rang in Seo-un’s ear.
— Ding! Damage Mirror successful. The Giant’s Dagger scatters and disappears.
The Heavenly Demon’s perfectly fine chest suddenly split open, and blood spurted out. His skin, which had been protected from the flames by his Aura Barrier, began to burn with agonizing pain. Sensing that something was wrong, the Heavenly Demon swung his sword down, but Seo-un had already vanished from the spot using Blink.
Blinking behind the Heavenly Demon, Seo-un thrust his Blood Bone Claw forward. His fingertips pierced through the Aura Barrier and sank deep into the Heavenly Demon’s back.
—Hmph.
Instead of a groan, the Heavenly Demon let out that single heavy word as his body spun around instantly. However, Seo-un was no longer there when he turned and swung his sword.
Whir-whir-whir-whir-whir.
The sound of an approaching helicopter, which he had prepared in advance, echoed. As the helicopter, loaded with all his remaining Mana Explosion Scrolls and bombs, drew near, Seo-un lunged at the Heavenly Demon once again.
He was barely clinging to life due to the wounds from the Aura; his internal organs were mostly destroyed, and his internal injuries were severe. Almost all of his skin had melted away in the fire. He thought it was incredible that the Heavenly Demon could still stand and only let out a small grunt after receiving such wounds, but it was time to end this.
“Die, you bastard!”
Seo-un, charging with a hideous appearance as his regenerated skin and hair burned away again, was cleanly cut by the Heavenly Demon’s sword. The moment he was cut, he vanished, and his severed hair was instantly incinerated by the flames.
Crunch!
Before Seo-un could even smile as his Blood Bone Claw pierced accurately into the side where the spleen was located, the Heavenly Demon grabbed his hand tightly.
“This time, even I was in danger.”
The moment the Heavenly Demon tried to move, the incoming helicopter crashed into the burning gas station.
KABOOOOM!
With the following explosion, Seo-un’s consciousness was cut off.
[ Ring-ring-ring-ring! Cloyd Survival has ended. ]
[ Ta-da-da-da-da-da! Congratulations on becoming one of the Top 2!
You have earned the qualification to participate in the next game.
You receive the second-largest reward from this game. ]
Hearing the notification that he was one of the final two, Seo-un’s expression crumpled as he opened his eyes.
* * *
The massive flames from the explosion suddenly split apart. The hideous form of the Heavenly Demon walking out from within began to heal little by little. By the time he had completely stepped out of the fire, the wounds all over his body had fully recovered.
—Jin Seo-un—Jin Seo-un (Suicide.) 1/150
The Heavenly Demon’s smile deepened as he looked at the final survivor list.
“He kept his word before he left. I hope to see him again… Since I haven't seen him until now, does he usually play Squad Games?”
The Heavenly Demon’s smile grew even wider as he checked the rank list in the center of the rapidly changing waiting room.
—1st. Heavenly Demon.
.
.
21st. Jin Seo-un.
* * *
[ Ding! You have recorded a TOP 2 finish in your first Ranked Game. 300 Reward Coins are granted. Kill Bonus! 50 additional coins are granted. You have reached the Top 5 for 6 consecutive times. An additional 480 coins are granted. ]
Despite the generous rewards, Seo-un’s crumpled expression did not soften. The final struggle against the Heavenly Demon would not leave his mind.