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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 104: The Victor's Right (1)
"Run!"
"What about the money?"
"Money won't matter if we're dead!"
The hunters fled.
Defeat was imminent; the Rakshasa Guild hunters and mercenaries alike turned their backs.
〔Are you just going to let those cowardly little humans escape?〕
'Should I pursue them?'
〔They've already witnessed your power firsthand, haven't they?〕
'I've decided it's time to expand my influence. There's no point in hiding it any longer. Besides, I haven't exactly been subtle. I used necromancy the moment I entered the gate after the regression. I kept some things under wraps during the spider hunt, but I openly commanded undead even inside Ground Zero. What's there left to hide?'
"Keeugh."
Another hunter bites the dust.
[Using Dark Calling.]
Magic-types are different; they're valuable for the Necropolis.
'The martial arts types can run. I don't need them.'
〔Aren't you interested in the priests' corpses?〕
'Their blessings interfere with necromancy.'
Priests belong to the Holy Sanctuary they worship, which prevents them from being resurrected as zombies.
The only way to raise them would be to make them renounce their faith in the Sanctuary before death—easier said than done.
〔You simply need to strip away the blessing they carry.〕
'Exactly.'
〔I could probably manage it with my power, but the effort wouldn't be worth it.〕
'Besides, priests aren't exactly known for their combat prowess. Hold on... raising undead from the corpses of priests…?'
Yoojin's constellation, [Heaven-Defying Giant], happens to govern the concept of undead, doesn't it?
'If I play my cards right... it might just work.'
〔What's got you so deep in thought?〕
'Oh, nothing.'
Yoojin pushed the nascent idea to the back of his mind.
He needed to concentrate on the present battle.
〔Those who broke through the encirclement seem to be giving your little minions some trouble.〕
'They're holding their own.'
〔Even with their impressive abilities, your creations are ultimately limited by their simple programming. Are you satisfied with that?〕
'I'm keeping an eye on them with Ghost Eye. They're following orders perfectly.'
〔Hoo?〕
Fafnir and the Little Runts team, too, were performing admirably.
They haven't secured a complete victory yet, but they perfectly carried out the original plan to hold the enemy back.
Especially Kang Minho, with well-timed commands to the Blood Golem, had thoroughly ensnared the axe-wielding foe's legs.
〔Impressive specs for that creation, but its capabilities shouldn't extend that far.〕
'Humans wield tools. The results depend on whose hands they're placed in.'
It's the same with a sword.
A novice with a sword might only manage to hurt themselves. But a master could wield it with the force of a thousand men.
'Could you give me a hand later? Let's deal with the immediate threats first.'
〔You're awfully casual about this.〕
'Wouldn't you rather say I have faith in my allies?'
Yoojin maintained his casual conversation with Kronos, but his attention never wavered from the fight. He was closing in, ready to use Dark Calling.
‘What if some of the hunters regained their senses?’
The thought nagged at him.
'I'd be completely vulnerable.'
Someone like Oh Jeongsu, driven by murderous rage, could easily attack.
Yoojin issued a command to a Brutal.
- Geriaaaak!!!
"You evil thing! Get away! Stay away!"
Brutal charged straight toward Oh Jeongsu.
Lightning magic struck its arms and legs, but it didn't slow the undead's charge.
[Blink]
Oh Jeongsu used Blink to escape the attack, but the moment he was about to rearrange his mana—
"Gotcha."
[Using Corpse Explosion.]
Kwaaaang—!
The corpse of the martial arts hunter beneath his feet exploded.
The armor he was wearing absorbed the user's mana, activating a makeshift barrier, but it couldn't fully absorb the shock generated at such close range.
"Keoheok!"
Oh Jeongsu, riddled with holes, collapsed, spitting blood.
It was a severe injury requiring immediate medical attention.
"H-How..."
"I figured a lightning-attribute hunter would know how to use Blink."
The sense of powerlessness that follows immediately after using Blink.
Even a 5 Star pinnacle hunter isn't free from skill penalties.
Disturbing his opponent's focus, and making Brutal charge was all to provoke Oh Jeongsu's hidden card, Blink.
"What's wrong? You're staggering."
"You... bastard."
[Using Bone Spear.]
[Using Dark Spear.]
The spirit power and dark magic imbued in the magic weapon [Cursed Fangs] pierced Oh Jeongsu's vitals.
His head slumped forward.
He wouldn't be raising it again of his own volition.
[Using Corpse Explosion.]
Yoojin repeatedly used Corpse Explosion, widening the breach in the enemy ranks.
All the while, he meticulously targeted only the corpses of martial arts hunters to detonate.
Some corpses were resurrected with [Dead Rise] to further hinder the Rakshasa hunters.
"You bastard! Stop desecrating the dead!"
"Desecration? This is the victor's right."
Yoojin chuckled.
Victory brings everything, defeat loses everything.
It's that simple.
The defeated Rakshasa hunters can claim no ownership over anything.
Not their dignity as humans, not their lifeless bodies, not even their souls.
"It's all mine now. Is there a problem?"
Oh Jeongsu, the highest-ranking mage in the group, met a futile end.
The survivors were either slaughtered or fled blindly into the swirling mist.
Only a handful escaped the battlefield unscathed.
Yoojin finally began to exercise the true rights of the victor.
[Using Flesh Control.]
With a casual gesture, he stripped the skin and flesh from the magic-type hunters.
"Answer my call."
[Using Raise Dead.]
[Created 42 Skeleton Mages.]
His powerful voice echoed across the battlefield, and the skeletal remains rose, rattling.
"I salvaged nearly 80%."
He couldn't resurrect the most severely damaged corpses.
He'd tried to be mindful, but it wasn't easy to kill the magic-type hunters while preserving their bodies intact.
Brutal's attacks tended to obliterate them beyond recognition, making it impossible to even tell they were human.
"Choi Hyungtae, I'm giving you three Brutals. Hunt down those who fled."
【Understood.】
"Lee Seungyeon, I'm tasking you with clearing the battlefield."
【Yes, Master.】
The two, having been defeated by Yoojin and resurrected as undead, were now completely subservient to his commands.
The fate of the hunters who belonged to the Rakshasa group would be no different from theirs.
What it means to oppose a necromancer...
Those who set foot on this land would only understand after their death.
'I should join up with the Little Runts team.'
Yoojin quickly moved out.
＊ ＊ ＊
He reached the hill where the second Tower of the dead stood.
"What? It's over already?"
"Yeah, but...not how we expected."
"They didn't suddenly decide to commit mass suicide, did they? Give me the details."
"They...just left."
"Left?"
Yoojin couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"They ran away?"
"Yep."
"They were practically killing each other just minutes ago!"
"No one was seriously injured, though."
"That's not the point."
Kang Minyeong couldn't help but giggle.
"Oppa, you look shocked."
"I am not."
"You totally are!"
"Tch."
Yoojin scowled.
Their weapons.
Their bodies.
Even their souls.
All of it should have been his.
They dared trespass in his Necropolis, and now they were fleeing?
〔Khahaha! Why don't you assert your victor's rights a little more forcefully?〕
'That's why I can't stand clever ones.'
〔Those little humans are truly entertaining.〕
Kronos's booming laughter grated on Yoojin's ears.
"Alright, are you two okay?"
"Yeah, the Blood Golem kept us safe."
"Don't be so humble. You were facing 5 Star hunters."
"Come on, hyung, you're exaggerating."
Yoojin didn't reply, simply shrugging his shoulders.
"You're kidding, right?"
"Let's go. There's one more left."
Kang Minho's back became damp with a silent affirmation.
If the Little Runts team had properly assessed their opponents' abilities, they would have been too nervous to perform at their best.
Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.
〔Didn't you say you trusted your subordinates earlier?〕
'I was evaluating the Little Runts team against their opponents' skills.'
If the situation had truly deteriorated, he was prepared to send Brutal as support.
But watching with [Ghost Eye], they were doing so well that he decided to leave it to them.
The group of four, with Yoojin, moved to where Fafnir's group was fighting.
"Hic. It's completely wrecked, sir."
Lee Seongmin's words weren't an exaggeration.
The ground was deeply gouged.
Trees were broken or uprooted as if a typhoon had swept through.
Shattered rocks from the massive impact littered the area.
It was the woman with the dagger and Fafnir's group who had completely changed the surrounding terrain.
"Damn. This is ridiculously fun!"
The woman's cheeks were flushed.
Just looking at Kim Mijeong's expression, one might believe she was on a date, not in a life-or-death battle.
"Is she some kind of pervert?"
"Don't say that in front of her, Minyeong."
"Who would be happy in this situation? She can't be right in the head."
"That's rude."
【You still have the energy to flap your gums, I see.】
[Kenex Combat Arts]
[Fourth Stance]
[Thrusting Fist]
A strike too swift to block even for the eye.
Kim Mijeong, clicking her tongue at Fafnir's vicious attack, held her twin daggers in a reverse grip.
Clang—!
Sparks flew wildly alongside the sharp metallic sound.
Daggers moving with uncanny grace.
The aura imbued in the blades flowed in perfect sync, deflecting Fafnir's fist to the side.
At the same time, it scraped against his scales.
"Tough skin. I was hoping to chip away at him little by little, but my backup arrived."
As Kim Mijeong grumbled, an undead emerged from behind Fafnir.
[Spectral Sword]
[Second Form – Luminous Blade]
Song Myeongseok, stepping forward, swung his sword.
Kim Mijeong, as if anticipating the attack, retreated.
Thwack—
A strand of her hair was caught in the sword's trajectory and lightly severed.
【Hold still, ma'am. I'll give you a nice trim.】
"If you're going to cut it, make it a star shape."
【You—!】
‘Song Myeongseok… Why do you have to react so strongly to such obvious taunts?’
Despite her nonchalant words, Kim Mijeong's appearance was far from calm.
Dark burn marks remained on her arms and legs.
Her light armor, designed for swift movement, was torn in several places.
Her breathing was also slightly ragged.
'Fafnir and Song Myeongseok aren't in perfect shape either.'
Fafnir, who was tanking the attacks, had exposed bone showing.
Song Myeongseok's armor was also damaged in several spots.
‘If I had been any later, it could have been dangerous.’
"Hey. Are you Cheon Yoojin?"
"Speak respectfully, or informally. Pick one."
"Talking to you makes me want to be respectful."
"Don't bother with a tone that doesn't suit you."
Yoojin shook his head from side to side.
A connection from his past life.
He never imagined they'd meet again in this place.
〔What do you intend to do?〕
'Kill her.'
The conclusion came without a moment's hesitation.
Kim Mijeong is dangerous.
If she had wanted to, she could have bypassed Fafnir and targeted either the black obelisk or Yoojin himself.
It was only her whimsical nature that prevented her from doing so.
'I can't let her get away.'
Her lightning-fast strikes and overwhelming force...
Even the spirit-infused mist he created was no real obstacle.
If he doesn't take her down here and now, he won't be able to relax for a moment while he's in the Necropolis.
"Cheon Yoojin-ssi. Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"You're going to kill me, aren't you?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Hmm. This is so much fun. What to do? I don't really want to die, though."
〔The little human has quite the talent for provocation.〕
'I think she's serious.'
〔Hmph. It seems to me like an inappropriate infatuation given the circumstances?〕
'Exactly. She says she doesn't want to die, but she hasn't chosen to run away either.'
Perhaps she's become intrigued after exchanging blows with Fafnir?
Well, that's just like a mad dog.
‘Wait… This situation… Could I use it to my advantage?'
After organizing the thoughts that surfaced in his mind, he spoke.
"I'll give you a choice."
"A choice?"
"Die here and now. Or surrender."
"How incredibly merciful."
Kang Minyeong's lips twitched.
"That's probably the most out-of-character thing I've ever heard you say, oppa."
"He must have a reason."
‘These guys…’
Saying it like that makes him sound like a pleasure-seeking serial killer who's mastered the art of murder.
〔Given your actions so far, it doesn't seem entirely out of character.〕
'Hey, watch what you're saying.'
〔But haven't you considered the possibility of a false surrender?〕
'I told you, I'll know by watching her.'
Yoojin crossed his arms and waited for Kim Mijeong's response.
＊ ＊ ＊
"I surrender."
The two daggers she dropped clattered against the ground.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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