Episode 237
[Experience increased by 21,000,000.]
[Faction Points increased by 200.]
-Oh.
-20 million. Hahaha.
-High-class monster, shudder;
-Let's gather the Adult Faction guys and take it down.
-Seriously, why go into the field?
A message appeared along with Mason's death.
Befitting a high ranking, the reward figures were certainly outstanding.
The fact that the dropped gold and items were insignificant was within the expected range.
'There must be stronger ones out there.'
Rank 350 is quite high, but somehow, I didn't feel like this would be the end.
If there were anyone within the top 300, it was difficult to tell what the gap would be like.
Even if I use the changed Forest of Illusions, I would need to be a little more cautious.
“Lord Black Dragon, may I go that way?”
Just then, Noeul, who had somehow climbed up a tree, asked cautiously.
Looking at Wendy beside me, it seemed she had helped.
“I’ll go that way. Let’s take a detour.”
The ground was so severely stimulated that it was impossible to even stand.
There was no reason to be here.
“When will you… let me out?”
“Ah.”
Pingpong was submerged up to his neck in the ground that had turned into a pool of blood.
With a whoosh,
Hanbit pulled out a rope and threw it, pulling him out.
Although he had turned completely crimson, his pure white shield remained intact.
“…Are there more humans like that from earlier?”
Wendy, who had been watching the battle, had a grim expression.
No matter how strong an elf race is, individual elves do not possess the power to overwhelm everything.
It was inevitably more dangerous, especially when the elves were in such a strange state.
“I don’t know exactly. Once my comrade joins…”
Hanbit paused for a moment while explaining.
His gaze was fixed on the screen of the sky, which had turned crimson.
“…?”
The instruction given to her was to continue moving toward the tree on the left.
It was because he had judged it to be the safest method based on his assessment of the environment there.
Since he had clearly seen her moving just moments ago, the sudden change was strange.
"Haneul, what's wrong?"
Hanbit sent a message immediately.
However, no reply returned in any form.
'I haven't been defeated yet.'
Haneul's nickname displayed on one side was still vividly blue.
At least, it wasn't a situation leading to death.
"Lord Black Dragon, this…"
Noeul also looked serious, as if he had noticed a change.
Just then.
(Crack!)
A golden spark flashed at the edge of the screen where Haneul had been dyed pitch black.
It was truly a fleeting moment, but Hanbit didn't miss it.
'So it's here, too.' It was
a lightning strike that felt completely different from ordinary magic.
It was clearly the power of a spirit.
Having made his judgment, Hanbit immediately looked at Pingpong and said,
"Use the shield now."
"Huh? There's nothing around…"
He brushed off his armor and looked around, then stopped speaking for a moment.
It was because he had seen the Black Dragon's expression turn cold.
"Understood."
*Swoosh*—
As he used the Guardian's Shield, a thin, spherical white curtain spread around him.
"Follow me."
Having confirmed it, Hanbit walked forward with the three others.
*Gurgle*—a
spring of blood gushed from the nearby ground.
The blood-stained Forest of Illusions seemed to be full of traps.
However, knowing the outcome, it could be used to its fullest potential. *
Swoosh*
—Standing at the edge of the spring, Hanbit raised his sword imbued with the attribute of light.
And the moment he plunged the tip into the center…
*Whoosh*—!
A wave of crimson blood engulfed the four of them.
***
"Pingpong stays where he is, and Haneul, keep moving toward the tree on the left from your current position. Be careful not to touch the ground."
*Thump*—!
Upon receiving Hanbit's message, Haneul kicked off without a moment's hesitation.
He didn't forget to use Shadow Concealment to avoid being detected by the enemy.
*Tap-tap*—!
Jumping between trees was now a piece of cake.
This was because he had been training in various ways to improve his movements whenever he had the chance.
Thanks to this, he could increase his speed and move quickly.
As they were advancing in one direction…
*Crack*—!
A faint sound of sparks was heard from somewhere.
Sky, which seemed to be the sound of Hanbit's battle, tried to increase its speed a little more.
But then.
*Pow!*
Suddenly, accompanied by a tremendous light, her body froze.
“……!”
Frozen in mid-air, Haneul plummeted straight toward the ground.
*Splat!*
Lying face down on the blood-soaked ground, her vision turned crimson.
Since the camera broadcasting the party screen had been focused on her gaze, it was clear that he was experiencing the same thing. *
Thump—*
Just then, the sound of something descending by her bedside was heard.
'Damn it…!'
Unable to do anything, Haneul couldn't even identify the opponent.
She couldn't even feel the wind of the spirit Shuriel.
Was it a unique monster inhabiting the forest?
A deranged elf?
A player from the Adult Faction?
None of them were harmless, but right now, she was too helpless.
*Crack—*!
Amidst a whirlwind of thoughts, a golden spark flashed.
Though not clearly visible, it was a brief light appearing at the edge of her vision. *
Swoosh—
* At the same time, a chilling sensation ran through the back of her neck. She
couldn't tell if it was a weapon or something else.
Only a vivid sense of impending death filled my mind.
But then…
Thud!
Suddenly, accompanied by light footsteps, the sensation in the back of my neck vanished.
Thoughts raced rapidly in this unexpected situation.
Reaching a conclusion wasn't difficult.
'Lord Black Dragon!'
Hanbit wasn't someone who would fail to notice the current anomaly.
He could predict, without even seeing it, that they were using some other method to reach this place.
If so, there was only one reason why the enemy had disappeared without killing him.
They were luring the Black Dragon as their target.
'I have to tell him…!'
In a situation where he couldn't even move his fingertips, making any contact was impossible.
Coming here to save him in this state would be like running into a trap.
If this were to ruin everything, it wouldn't be surprising if he fell into self-loathing.
Absolutely not that…
Whoosh!
Just then, a heavy wind suddenly settled into the space.
It was only a moment before a familiar voice was heard.
"I'll get you up."
Hanbit's voice rang out in my dark red vision.
At the same time, my frozen body was lifted high into the air. With
drops
of blood dripping down, the stifling vision before her eyes returned to normal.
She could see her older brother, Noeul, and Pingpong beside her.
“The paralysis will be lifted by the purification of light. You two stay here.”
Having moved herself to safe ground, Hanbit turned her back alone.
Standing directly in front of her as she walked slowly was a blonde man.
It was Odin, who had attacked her in the Cube of Hell.
***
“To think we meet again here.”
Standing with her sword hanging down, Hanbit looked at the enemy.
Just like in the Cube of Hell, she never imagined she would end up with a relationship like this with Odin.
It felt as if her judgment of people, built up over such a long time, had been shattered.
“Odin…”
“He used to be so damn nice, why did he become like this?
” “He’s the epitome of a reverse transformation.
” “Moreover, didn’t he get stronger too quickly?
” “All the answers lie within the Holy Kingdom.”
The viewers felt the same way.
It was proof of just how firmly established their perception of Odin was.
“You didn’t really need to lure him in.”
Hanbit said, glancing sideways at Ha-neul, who was recovering behind her.
Regardless of whether he noticed it upon seeing the golden spark, the intention behind not launching further attacks on her was clearly to draw him in.
After all, if he had killed Haneul immediately, Hanbit would have made a different choice.
“I will give it my all this time as well.”
Odin spoke with a sullen expression, as if such intentions did not matter.
In the feeling that he had become even colder than in the Cube of Hell, his former good-natured self was barely visible.
“I will do the same.”
*Crack!*
At that answer, an intense electric shock erupted around Odin.
It seemed to convey a sense of determination.
"Humans have crossed the line."
Just then, Ariel's voice suddenly echoed in his head.
It was an emotion closer to lamentation than anger or anything else.
Hanbit had already realized the reason for this, too.
'What on earth have they done?'
A small, humanoid spirit with golden hair floated beside Odin's head.
There was a huge problem he had only just discovered because he hadn't seen it clearly in the Cube of Hell.
It was different from the appearance of the high-ranking electric spirits seen countless times in this other world.
Should I say that some artificial alteration had been added?
It was absolutely not something a spirit could have done on its own.
Moreover…
*Crack*!
The lightning itself was noticeably stronger than when I had seen it in the Cube of Hell.
Even if it was due to individual stats and skill mastery, the rate of growth was certainly strange.
*CRASH*!
At that moment, an intense area of lightning sprang up around the two of them.
Hanbit responded by using the Dance of the Heavenly Sword.
*Whoosh*!
*Crackle*!
The sharply swirling sphere of wind collided with the area of lightning, unleashing intense sparks.
Trapped together, Hanbit and Odin stood facing each other on the blood-splattering ground.
"…I've obtained that."
*Whoosh*!
In the hand of Odin, who had been wielding a silver hammer, stood a dazzling blue spear. It was
the Spear of the Tidal Wave, one of the artifact weapons.
Looking closely at its appearance, it seemed to bear the touch of the craftsman Astel.
The lightning mixed with the stream of water was unique and beautiful.
"-What's with the spear?
" "-Where did the hammer go?
" "-To think you'd cowardly switch weapons.
" "-It looks damn expensive? " "-Is
the Holy Body Faction the future… ?" "
-$$Instant Payment Upon Joining ★Holy Body Faction★$$
" "You've grown stronger quickly in many ways. You must be a promising talent in the Holy Body Faction?"
"……."
Odin fell silent at the tossed remark.
His answer was manifested not in words, but in actions.
Crack—!
Odin vanished with an intense bolt of lightning.
Unfazed, Hanbit swung his sword straight into the air.
Crash—!
The impact, accompanied by a sharp roar, sent his body flying.
As expected, the power and speed were unbelievable, but this was no ordinary place.
Whoosh—!
As Hanbit was pushed back, he quickly thrust his sword at a precise spot on the ground.
Crack—!
Odin, charging forward while flashing his light again, swung his spear with great force.
An unconventional attack utilizing a long reach.
However, the terrain had already begun to change.
Kwa-gwa-gwa!
Bloody thorns sprang from the ground and completely covered the vision.
Because of this, the spear Odin swung could not reach Hanbit.
Whoosh!
Having laid down a sphere of gravity on the ground, Hanbit moved by stomping indiscriminately on the earth, trees, and rocks.
The branch of the World Tree in his hand also exerted its full power.
Kwa-dd-!
Vines extending from all directions turned the interior of the domain into a sea of obstacles.
Tat-!
Having altered the environment to his advantage, Hanbit moved through the area at tremendous speed.
No matter how much stronger Odin had become, the difference in experience was absolute.
Clang!
Kaang!
The relentless barrage of attacks continued frantically.
The blood-red ground also kept changing in ways that were difficult to even predict.
Whoosh—
Amidst all this, the wind grew increasingly stronger and thicker.
The flow inside and outside the domain also shifted sharply.
Crack!
Odin also enveloped himself in lightning as if to retaliate, but even his eyes couldn't properly follow it.
As expected, he was still inexperienced.
"That guy is weird!"
Sylph questioned the high-ranking electric spirit.
Perhaps because of this, it felt as though he was pouring his strength into it with a little more passion.
Whoosh!
In the meantime, the amplifying wind exceeded its limit.
Ta-ta!
Hanbit, who had been racing inside the domain, took a stance in a blind spot hidden by vines.
And the moment he slipped through the gap…
Whoosh!
He used a blade of wind toward Odin.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
At the same time, dozens of blades of wind generated from the sphere poured down like a madman.
No matter how fast the movement was, there was no way to dodge within the domain.
Swoosh—
As if Odin had judged it the same way, he stopped moving and took a stance.
And the moment the sharp blade of wind was about to reach him…
Kwa-wa-wa!
A massive ocean current enveloping his body surged up like a waterspout.
Whoosh!
The power that took the incoming blade of wind head-on distorted into a bizarre form and let out a scream.
Watching this, Hanbit immediately kicked off.
Whoosh!
The multicolored blade was thrust toward the rift.
The attack, flying toward the enemy's neck, delivered a solid hit.
Thud!
The tip of the sword dug into Odin's shoulder and pierced through it deeply.
It was due to the slowed movement, perhaps from the aftermath of the technique.
*CRASH!*
The surroundings were frenzied with noise from the lingering clash of forces.
With his vision obscured, what appeared on the camera was nothing but noise.
*Swoosh!
* Hanbit attempted to draw his sword to deliver the finishing blow.
But then.
*Thud!*
Odin grabbed the sharp blade and thrust his head forward.
Meeting his gaze, he spoke in a heavy voice.
"Lord Black Dragon, you must not go to the World Tree right now."
