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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 102: All-Out War (3)
Whoom—!
A fist, accompanied by a sharp cracking sound, shot forward in a straight line.
The figure of the woman at the end of it vanished without a trace the moment it touched the fist.
【Tch.】
Fafnir clicked his tongue and placed his left arm against his chest.
A blue streak that arrived with a 0.1-second difference.
A loud tearing sound echoed from his arm, which was wrapped in dragon scale armor and dark aura, and it was torn apart to the left and right.
"Kihi. Tough, huh? It'll be fun to tear you apart."
While Kim Mijeong was giggling, Song Myeongseok, who had approached from the left, cut in sideways and drew his sword.
[Spectral Sword]
[Fifth Form – Bloodlight Sword]
The red-tinged blade flew with a ferocious momentum, like a beast baring its fangs at its prey.
The Spectral Sword, which exerted its power after surpassing the 'wall' that it could not reach before.
【It would be difficult if you underestimate me just because I am a 4 Star.】
Song Myeongseok reduced the aura manifestation time by infusing spirit power into the blade while running in a sheathed state.
If it were an ordinary hunter, the incompletely realized aura would have damaged the scabbard.
It was possible because he was a wraith with the talent of Heavenly Bones.
The dark aura, which was manifested with sufficient time, had a power that even Kim Mijeong could not underestimate.
[Unique Trait - The Thief's 7 Tools]
[⑤. The Spring that Bends Anything]
Her aura was thinly veiled—less than a fifth of the power of the dark aura Song Myeongseok had summoned as he charged.
As Kim Mijeong, wielding her dagger in a reverse grip, clashed it against the red streak of his attack...
Ting—
【What kind of trickery did you use!】
The trajectory of the Bloodlight Sword was greatly distorted and struck the wrong place.
The dark aura quickly faded.
As Song Myeongseok gritted his teeth and tried to continue his attack, Fafnir grabbed his shoulder.
"Tsk. Too bad."
Kim Mijeong, who clicked her tongue, raised her dagger forward again.
[Unique Trait - The Thief's 7 Tools]
[②. The Ruler that Measures Length]
Evading Song Myeongseok's attack, she concentrated aura on the opposite blade at the same time.
The plan to attack Song Myeongseok with her unique trait, reversing the perception that the dagger was short, fell through.
Kim Mijeong, who briefly exchanged blows and retreated.
Her gaze, filled with regret, did not leave the injury engraved on Fafnir's left arm.
"Wow. Shit. You blocked that?"
An exclamation mixed with a rough tone.
She used [Clone] and [Gust Walk] to deceive their eyes and induce Fafnir's attack to face forward.
The moment she stretched out her fist, she aimed for his heart.
A sharp attack that even a hunter of the same 6 Star rank would find difficult to react to.
【That doesn't look like much of a block.】
"I was aiming for your heart, you know."
【Undead don't die from attacks like that anyway.】
"You won't die, sure. But it'll still sting, won't it?"
Fafnir's eyes narrowed.
An Eldritch Dragon created based on a Draconian corpse.
Unlike ordinary undead, its spirit power is concentrated around the dragon heart, so its combat power plummets if its heart is pierced.
She saw through the core of how Fafnir wielded his power with just one glance.
【Then I'll have to put in more effort.】
"Tch. That skinny thing with the dual swords won't let me."
【Damn it all.】
Song Myeongseok growled under his breath.
He was certain after just exchanging a few blows.
He was no match for the woman who moved like a butterfly.
His quick draw, aimed at a glaring opening, missed spectacularly.
If Fafnir hadn't intervened, he would have been countered.
"Kihi. Interesting. Are you a shaman or something? How'd you know?"
Kim Mijeong grinned.
【You think this is a joke?】
【He's not kidding.】
【He's lost it.】
【Hold on. This is getting good.】
Fafnir's lips mirrored Kim Mijeong's expression.
The two, so alike in their fierce focus, faced each other, a strange reflection across the divide between living and undead.
【Sticking to the original plan?】
【……I have no choice. I'll play along with you.】
【Jo Seungchul. Just provide cover fire.】
【Understood.】
Fafnir as the main tank and dealer.
Song Myeongseok as the sub-dealer.
And Jo Seungchul in a support role.
These were the positions they had pre-determined, anticipating a full-scale battle with the Rakshasa Guild.
Song Myeongseok and Jo Seungchul were unhappy about it, but they didn't object after witnessing Kim Mijeong's overwhelming power.
[Kenex Combat Arts]
[First Stance]
[Falling Leaf Strike]
A posture with the hand blade held taut and swung wide.
The attack range is wide, but the motion is also large, so a gap is revealed.
The moment Kim Mijeong, stepping and deflecting the Falling Leaf Strike, tried to penetrate, a green-tinged sword welcomed her.
[Spectral Sword]
[Fourth Form - Emerald Slash]
"Seriously. A tag team? That's not fair, is it? You should fight one-on-one."
【It's not like I want to do this, so just die quickly.】
"Heh. No thanks."
The dagger she'd been holding in her left hand twirled and reversed its grip, scraping against Song Myeongseok's blade.
Kagagak—
The dark aura rapidly depleted.
In contrast, Kim Mijeong's aura shone even brighter.
Shaping aura is the act of imbuing mana with intent and releasing it.
Mana control ability.
And the act of imbuing it with intent.
Kim Mijeong, a 6 Star pinnacle hunter, surpassed Song Myeongseok in every way.
[Kenex Combat Arts]
[Fourth Stance]
[Thrusting Fist]
Whooong—!
A fist grazed past Kim Mijeong's chest.
'Just a graze and it's this powerful? How fun.'
Fafnir.
Created based on a Draconian corpse, his specs were superior to hunters of the same level.
With the [Martial Artist] trait, he received a double stat bonus.
And with the effect of the transcendent-grade artifact, Dragon Scale Armor, he received a 20% increase bonus in all stats.
Although his level was 5 Star, his pure strength surpassed Kim Mijeong's.
'And his aura control isn't far behind either.'
Fafnir's fighting style was also a bad match for Kim Mijeong.
An infighter who blocks small attacks while aggressively pushing in, forcing damage on the opponent.
On the other hand, Kim Mijeong's style favored outfighting, using her quick speed to inflict explosive damage in an instant, or slowly wearing them down.
'If I can't finish it in one go, I'll have to go for a war of attrition.'
1v1, she could win.
The problem was Song Myeongseok, the skeleton knight wielding dual swords.
During the first attack, he rushed in recklessly without considering his ally's skills.
But after exchanging a few words with Fafnir, they complemented each other's weaknesses as if they were one body.
'Can I defeat these guys and kill Cheon Yoojin?'
Sluurp—
Saliva dripped from Kim Mijeong's mouth.
She couldn't hide her excitement at meeting an opponent who was fun to fight after a long time.
"Let's play a little more."
【Try not to fall first.】
Fafnir retorted while regenerating the torn dragon scale armor with aura.
＊ ＊ ＊
[Ghost Eye is deactivated.]
'Kim Mijeong can be left to Fafnir.'
A short sigh escaped his lips.
Kim Mijeong's breakthrough power was the variable that Yoojin, on the defending side, had to pay the most attention to.
The Rakshasa Guild's victory condition was one.
Taking the life of the master who led the wraiths, Yoojin.
〔It would have been a problem if they had slipped past the defenses.〕
'Well, yeah.'
He also prepared Plan B for any possible situation.
It was just that the damage to his allies had increased significantly.
〔Wraiths can be created at any time, can't they?〕
'Low-level undead, yes.'
Mid-level undead strengthened through amalgamation and sorcery are not.
The subordinates needed for the Necropolis expansion.
Low-level undead such as Skeleton Warriors or Revenants could be restored with some effort even if they were completely destroyed.
But he wanted to avoid the situation where undead with names were destroyed as much as possible.
'Then I just need to focus on this side.'
He turned his gaze to the Rakshasa Guild, the main battlefield.
The Tower of the Dead's three units fired freely.
The Revenants and Skeleton Warriors were also widely deployed and fought against the Rakshasa Guild group.
〔But things don't seem to be going exactly as planned.〕
The group did not retreat an inch while fighting against the undead army that swarmed from all directions.
[A Skeleton Warrior has been destroyed.]
[A Revenant has been destroyed.]
[……]
[Control Number – 81/208]
In just 10 minutes since the start of the full-scale battle, more than 100 undead had been destroyed.
Even though Yoojin had personally strengthened them one by one.
And even with the buffs from the holy relic and the black arrowhead tower, the damage accumulated quickly.
〔These little humans. They're quite tenacious, aren't they?〕
'Are you having fun?'
〔Khahaha. It seems that a trial worthy of being called a trial has finally come upon you too.〕
'We'll see.'
Yoojin transferred the authority of the undead bound to the black arrowhead tower to himself.
If it was going to be a war of attrition, wouldn't it be a little more advantageous to send wraiths further strengthened by the holy relic buff?
〔How many total troops are left?〕
'A little over 400 now.'
About 200 low-level undead were additionally created because Rakshasa's group arrived later than expected.
〔About 1/4 of the losses. But the enemies are still going strong.〕
'Just watch.'
Yoojin, with his arms folded, replied in a relaxed tone.
At the same time.
Oh Jeongsu, who was in charge of overall command of the group, reviewed the flow so far and tried to figure out what Yoojin's aim was.
'Is he trying to induce a chaotic battle and go for a war of attrition?'
Undead constantly popping out of the fog.
Even when he peeked at the dim current with the search skill [Eagle's Eye], the wraiths kept appearing in his sight.
'If it weren't for the information from the Arhan Guild, he might have succeeded in his intention.'
Everything was out of his predictions.
But Oh Jeongsu was not flustered.
The first awakening time of Yoojin confirmed by the Arhan Guild was two months ago.
Even if he spent all his time leveling up day and night in the border area, there was a limit to the level he could reach.
'His power can't be unlimited either.'
Restricting the group's movement with the bone wall.
The fog that disrupts their vision.
Finally, even the towers in charge of long-range bombardment.
If Yoojin had unlimited power, he wouldn't have resorted to these tactics. He'd have confronted them head-on.
'We'll win if we hold our ground…'
Oh Jeongsu thought, his gaze fixed on the distant Tower of the Dead.
'If only we could take it out...'
But their ranged attacks couldn't reach, and sending martial arts hunters meant risking heavy losses against the undead horde.
'If only the action team leader was here... Seriously, that woman is no help.'
What was the point of thinking about someone who wasn't there?
Oh Jeongsu suppressed his anger and separately called out the mercenary team [Black Wolf].
Min Sangjin, a 5 Star hunter with a large axe slung over his shoulder.
The pair of men and women following him were skilled individuals who had reached the 4 Star.
"Please go in the direction the bones are flying from. There should be a tower about 500 meters away."
"Isn't it impossible to break through those undead?"
"We'll clear the way."
"It looks dangerous."
Oh Jeongsu, sighing at Min Sangjin's grumbling, reluctantly spoke.
"I'll give you 2 billion won as a special allowance."
"This old man is generous."
"We'll go when you give the signal."
"How will you make a path?"
"We'll concentrate the firepower of the mage group."
The mage group, which had been primarily used for checking and fire support.
Oh Jeongsu had saved his mana for this moment.
"Fire all at once."
⋯⋯⋯
[Lightning Vortex]
[Flame Bomb]
[Wind Blade]
⋯⋯⋯
The rearranged mana distorted the rules of the world.
As flames, lightning, and wind raged, dozens of undead gathered on the left side of the group were all annihilated.
"Now!"
"Special allowance! Don't forget!"
The [Black Wolf] team, quickly disappearing as if swallowed by the dim current.
In less than a minute, one of the turrets that had been tormenting the group stopped firing bones.
'Good. Now focus on defense.'
Oh Jeongsu further concentrated the group to build an even stronger defensive formation.
A formation that even tankers and close-range dealers cannot break through.
The bone shells fired by the [Tower of the Dead] are threatening, but they can be blocked if the priest hunters deploy barriers.
'Thanks to the mercenaries acting as bullet sponges, I quickly figured out his strategy.'
If all the Towers of the Dead are destroyed, the firepower of the undead army will be reduced to less than half.
Martial arts hunters who broke through the encirclement and penetrated the enemy's territory.
Time is on the side of the Rakshasa group.
'...What is it?'
A nagging sense of unease settled over Oh Jeongsu.
They had destroyed one of the towers, but the bombardment continued unabated.
Five minutes had passed, and the hunters who had ventured into the fog were still unaccounted for.
‘Does he have more in reserve? And where the hell is Kim Mijeong?’
"Commander!"
"Quiet, I'm thinking."
"No time for that! Look!"
A Rakshasa hunter's shriek cut through the air, and Oh Jeongsu's head snapped to the side.
Black shadows engulfed them.
"Shit."
Thinking was no longer an option.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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