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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 80: Executioner Im Jaebaek (2)
Countless emotions flickered across Im Jaebaek's eyes.
Perplexity.
Doubt.
Hope.
A storm of emotions that couldn't be defined in a single word, even contradictory ones, raged within him.
He barely managed to compose himself, closing off his heart before finally speaking—
"You wouldn't have come all the way to this remote place just to say hello."
"That's true. This isn't a place for a long conversation. Shall we move?"
"I don't know who you are or why you're here, but it's impossible."
Im Jaebaek let out a sigh.
His finger pointed towards the sea.
The surging waves approached the shore, crashing and scattering with a roar and spray.
"This island itself is a prison. There's no way to escape."
"Because of the Bloodfin Salmon?"
Yoojin dropped the honorifics despite having just introduced himself.
Im Jaebaek, not feeling the need to point it out, continued without minding.
"You know well. To avoid the Bloodfin Salmon's attacks, you need a smell they hate."
"Onions."
"... How did you know that? It's something I barely figured out after two years of hardship."
"I happen to know a lot about weird stuff."
Bloodfin Salmon are fish from the world known as the Demon Realm, sometimes also called the Dark Realm.
They have a belligerent nature.
In the water, just two or three of them are enough to hunt even 5 Star level monsters, boasting excellent combat power.
'But even those guys are afraid of something.'
Their natural enemy, the Wraith Bear.
Bloodfin Salmon periodically return from the sea to their home rivers, where they are attacked by Wraith Bears.
You could call it a fear learned at the species level.
But why bring up their natural enemy while talking about onions?
'The Wraith Bear's scent is similar to onions.'
There's hardly any information about the Demon Realm that has been revealed at this point, but how does an organization like the Seagull Group know that?
Yoojin had an idea.
Behind the Seagull Group are the Rakshasa Guild.
And the Arhan Guild lurking in the shadows.
Eeeeeng—!
A siren blared throughout the island.
In broad daylight, the man in the suit was fighting the undead in an open area.
It would be stranger not to notice.
Im Jaebaek spoke urgently.
"Where are the onions you brought?"
"I don't have any."
He didn't even know the destination was an eroded zone.
"Even if I knew we were going to the Bloodfin Salmon's territory, do you think the Seagull Group would have just let me bring onions?"
He hadn't been able to bring a single item except for the [Ring of Darkness], so how could he bring onions?
"You... Did you start this without any countermeasures?"
"I said I didn't have onions. I have countermeasures."
"That's... Argh!"
Im Jaebaek was speechless at Yoojin's shamelessness.
He let out a pointless shout and took a deep breath to calm his boiling anger.
"Let's hear your plan to get off this island."
"Well, seeing is believing. It'll be faster to show you directly."
Yoojin stroked the Ring of Darkness.
A small island that has risen due to the erosion phenomenon.
Fighting in the middle of the sea is a huge variable, but it's solvable.
[Using the Library of Knowledge.]
[You can browse the knowledge left by the previous Masters of Death.]
[Darkness / Curse / Poison /.... You can browse one of the other fields.]
A new field of knowledge that he had left untouched for a long time even after reaching 3 Stars.
Yoojin chose the [Darkness] field without hesitation.
[Knowledge of the necromancy field is engraved in the user's soul.]
The pain was unrecognizably reduced.
He had to be at least a 3 Star to be able to withstand receiving the spells contained in the [Library of Knowledge].
If the pain was as severe as before and the mental exhaustion was significant, he wouldn't even have thought of inheriting it in an urgent situation.
'The higher the rank, the wider the choices.'
Khehehe.
Yoojin chose two spells from the [Darkness] field that were necessary in this situation.
▷Dark Blood
Category: Dark Magic
Rank: D
Restriction: 2 Star or higher, [Dark Mage] class, or [Darkness] trait holder.
Corrupts blood with dark mana.
▷Dark Spear
Category: Dark Magic
Rank: C
Restriction: 3 Star or higher, [Dark Mage] class, or [Darkness] trait holder.
Fires a spear condensed with dark mana.
[The inherited spells do not match the user's class or traits.]
[Spirit power consumption increases by 100% when used.]
[Skill power decreases by 30% when used.]
The penalties were the same as with alchemy.
The darkness field is the domain of Dark Mages or classes that handle [Dark Mana].
The reason necromancers can handle that power is that the source of their spirit power is the mana of the yin dimension.
As for alchemy, it's something he can use thanks to the ring's effect.
He has to accept this much penalty.
〔You're saving one inheritance slot until the end.〕
'I always have to have a trump card.'
〔But didn't the contractor learn Bone Spear as a ranged attack method?〕
'Bone Spear can't be used without bones.'
He was playing the role of a debtor, a role he never imagined, and had to take off all his equipment.
There are Bloodfin Salmon bones scattered all over the island, but those catalysts already have a designated purpose.
"Answer my call."
Spirit power seeped into the decaying body of the Bloodfin Salmon.
A moment later, it thrashed violently like a live fish.
It looked as if it would jump into the sea at any moment.
"Wait a minute."
Yoojin approached the revived Bloodfin Salmon.
＊ ＊ ＊
On the coast, a man and an undead were clashing.
Kim Jongwook, the hunter in charge of Strong Algae supply, calmed his trembling arm.
'Even though it's different from mine, it's definitely Aura.'
Dark Fighting Aura based on spirit power.
After exchanging a few blows, he got the feeling that this was no easy opponent.
Kim Jongwook pretended to be relaxed and stepped back, distancing himself from Song Myeongseok.
"Skeleton, where did you suddenly pop out from?"
【You are not qualified to hear that, mortal.】
"How dare a half-dead undead be so impudent."
【I will watch to see if you can still talk after you die.】
"How about this? The experience of dying twice!"
[Aura]
[Gatling Attack]
A clear blue light emanated from both hands, wrists, and even elbows.
Kim Jongwook retreated, releasing the Aura he had secretly gathered to its maximum.
【Not bad for a mortal's technique!】
[Dark Fighting Aura]
[Spectral Sword]
[Fourth Form - Emerald Slash]
Clang-Clang-Clang-Clang—
Mana imbued with will clashed.
Dozens of attacks and defenses were exchanged within a second, aiming for each other.
Crack— Crack—
The blue energy that couldn't be neutralized accumulated one after another as blunt impacts on Song Myeongseok's body.
The armor made from [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] was dented.
His joints creaked.
Song Myeongseok, who had awakened Dark Fighting Aura after being promoted to Skeleton Knight.
On the other hand, Kim Jongwook was a veteran who had reached 4 Stars and had been handling Aura for several years.
【Good! Very good!】
The blue energy became even stronger.
As soon as he was revived, Song Myeongseok had adapted to his new body by fighting the Little Runts team with his abilities restricted.
And...
'His Aura is getting sharper?!'
While clashing Aura with Kim Jongwook, a 4 Star hunter, he was gradually getting used to Dark Fighting Aura.
The power of the Heavenly Bone characteristic, which the Arhan Guild had put so much effort into, even procuring an S-rank skill book!
This was the moment when Song Myeongseok's outstanding talent shone.
Slash—
A drop of blood formed on the back of his hand. A laceration was engraved on the spot where he had just blocked the blade.
'If this continues, I will lose.'
Kim Jongwook's eyes glanced behind him.
He wasn't willing to die here.
Pride or whatever, it only mattered if he was alive.
'I've already sent the signal, so once the ship arrives, the rest of them...'
Near the Strong Algae labor camp, a medium-sized ship armed with magic cannons was anchored and waiting.
A ship that manages the Seagull Group's core businesses, such as smuggling, Strong Algae sales, and labor camp management.
The island was also small, so there was nowhere to run if they fired.
【You can't focus even with me in front of you?】
An unpleasant feeling of intent.
Kim Jongwook's back went cold at Song Myeongseok's intensified killing intent.
[Spectral Sword]
[Fifth Form - Bloodlight Sword]
"Do you think the same attack will work on me?"
【I never said that.】
[Dual Tiger Gauntlets]
[Dual Blades]
[Spectral Sword]
[Fifth Form - Bloodlight Sword]
Crimson energy surged simultaneously from both sides.
Kim Jongwook's jaw dropped at the Dark Fighting Aura gushing from the two swords.
'Dual wielding also has its main weapon!'
Even Kim Jongwook, who had spent a long time at 4 Stars, needed concentration to release Aura with full power in both hands.
The reason he retreated earlier was to buy time to increase his Aura output.
However—
Despite being 'boosted' to a high level thanks to Yoojin, Song Myeongseok quickly grasped how to control Dark Fighting Aura.
His ability to control Dark Fighting Aura surpassed a hunter's common sense.
'If it's the same power as before, I have no choice but to sacrifice one arm.'
His judgment was swift.
To block both attacks, Kim Jongwook's total amount of Aura was insufficient.
If he had time to breathe, it would be a different story, but he lacked the strength to counter the attacks that were already rushing in.
Kim Jongwook concentrated mana in his right arm.
'If I block the attack and then get past that half-dead guy and head for the sea...!'
Slice—
Huh?
The sound of something being severed.
The mana that he had poured into his arm to the maximum wouldn't go below his elbow, as if it had lost its way.
Kim Jongwook belatedly realized the reality.
'It wasn't blocked, it was cut off?'
The power of the Dark Fighting Aura was incomparably stronger than during their first clash.
Just as words of resentment were about to pour out of Kim Jongwook's mouth in frustration—
【I don't like the way you speak.】
The sword imbued with Dark Fighting Aura grazed his neck, and he collapsed on the ground, unable to utter another word.
＊ ＊ ＊
The Seagull Group members remaining on the island were swiftly subdued.
Except for Kim Jongwook, who had surpassed the wall, they were at a similar level to the debtors undergoing forced labor.
Although they were armed, unlike the debtors.
"You bastards! You were stingy with the food, weren't you?"
"You guys try wearing the diving suits! You need to know how hard it is!"
They were outnumbered and lacked the will to fight.
While the debtors were taking control of the island, the Seagull Group ship, alerted by the siren, raised its anchor and approached the island.
"Shall we kill a few as an example?"
"Hey, can't you see that Jongwook's head has been cut off? Kill them all."
Among the crew on board, no one was stronger than Kim Jongwook.
Wearing diving suits, they could still secure some mobility, though less than on land.
Eliminating them all before the debtors approached.
That was the only option left for the Seagull Group members.
"Fo...?"
Thud—!
The hull lurched violently.
Some of the crew members standing on the deck were caught off guard by the unexpected impact and fell into the sea.
"What's going on?"
"B-Bloodfin Salmon!"
"Nonsense! We released the onions. How could they approach?!"
"See for yourself!"
The captain, disbelieving the pale-faced crew member's words, came out onto the deck.
His eyes trembled.
"H-Holy shit. What the hell is that?"
Marine monsters surrounded the ship.
They resembled the inhabitants of the eroded zone, the Bloodfin Salmon, but there were differences upon closer inspection.
Their entrails spilled out from their bellies.
Despite showing signs of decay throughout their bodies, they swam nonchalantly in the sea.
Another peculiarity was that they were clad in bones as if wearing armor.
"They're the Bloodfin Salmon that were scattered on the island."
"The dead ones came back to life?"
"There's no other explanation! They've returned as vengeful spirits!!"
"Ghosts! We're all doomed!!"
Overcome with fear, the crew member unconsciously hit the mark.
While Song Myeongseok was fighting Kim Jongwook, Yoojin had revived the corpses of the Bloodfin Salmon scattered across the island.
〔Are you trying to subdue the ship with those minions?〕
'Revenants aren’t enough.'
The ship's firepower and the defensive magic circles installed throughout the hull.
If they were prepared for the Bloodfin Salmon's attacks, he couldn't sink it with the power of the Revenant alone.
[Using Flesh Control.]
[Using Bone Control.]
He dismantled the severely damaged corpses without hesitation.
16 bodies remained.
It was enough.
He repaired the Revenant's bodies with the flesh and blood of the Bloodfin Salmon extracted using Flesh Control.
And he armed them with bones like knights in heavy armor.
[Using Dark Blood.]
[Contaminating the target's blood with dark mana.]
Blood that was already dried or rotten.
However—
Yoojin imbued the trace amounts of blood remaining in the Bloodfin Salmon corpses with dark mana and engraved a strengthening circuit.
'If I link dark mana and spirit power...!'
[The corpse that became the Revenant's host is reacting to the dark mana.]
[Partially drawing on the power of the being that was the origin of this individual.]
[Revenant → Evolving into Scara.]
Bloodfin Salmon are inhabitants of the Demon Realm.
The dark mana awakened the potential dormant within their bodies.
To be precise, it was drawing on the concept of 'Bakunawa', a powerful magical beast and distant ancestor of the Bloodfin Salmon.
[TL/N: Bakunawa — A creature from Filipino mythology. It's a gigantic sea serpent said to cause eclipses by swallowing the moon.]
By absorbing the bones and flesh of their already dead brethren, they partially recreated the glory contained in their ancestors' blood.
They were reborn as undead that surpassed their original rank.
〔Indeed. You had something up your sleeve.〕
'I learned Dark Spear just in case, but it seems I won't need to use it.'
A 4 Star marine undead monster.
Scara, unlike the Revenant, cannot handle Dark Fighting Aura.
They lack the intelligence and the capacity for it.
Instead—
-Kaaaaoooo!!!!
Having their origins awakened by Dark Blood, they possessed power comparable to an ogre in the sea.
Tremendous monstrous strength erupted from their 10-meter bodies!
Kwaang—!
The ship lurched violently every time the Scara rammed it.
The crew members manning the magic cannons fled into the ship's interior, trembling with fear.
"You idiots! If we don't fire, we're dead!!"
"They won't die even if we shoot!"
"The cannons that turn even Bloodfin Salmon into mush aren't working?"
"Then try it yourself!"
The ship was armed assuming the onions would be neutralized.
But they were no match for the Scara.
A moment later.
Gush-Gush-Gush—
Seawater poured through the widening gaps.
Parts of the hull, crumpled by the strong impacts, were torn like paper.
The trump card prepared by the Seagull Group sank into the depths of the sea.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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