749

 [Chapter 192]

[Clash of Gods (2)]

Ghouls suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Monsters that instinctively try to eat people, don't feel pain, and keep squirming even when their heads are smashed.

The ones that appeared near the National Assembly building eventually escaped the area and were turning all of Yeongdeungpo-gu into a wasteland.

"Kyaah! What is this!? Aaah...!!"

"Someone get these things off! A person is being bitten! Hurry!!"

Players who rushed out after hearing the news were disgusted by the scenes unfolding across Yeongdeungpo-gu.

It was an urban area.

But monsters appeared en masse in a city with high population movement, so it was extremely troublesome.

Fortunately, they didn't use magic so the urban area wasn't collapsing, but─

"─Ugh...!! Why are these things so strong!?"

"Be careful! It jumped over the wall! It must be hiding somewhere!"

Even without using magic, the ghouls were quite annoying beings.

They were fast and strong.

And their mobility demonstrated excellent effects in a city overflowing with buildings and people.

Furthermore─

"─I got it! This is the en-cough...!!"

"These things don't die even when killed.... How the hell are we supposed to deal with this!?"

"You have no choice but to decompose their bodies with purification magic! If that's not possible, attack their heads or legs to eliminate their mobility!!"

They pressured players with bodies that don't die even when killed.

In such a situation, supporters were already in short supply.

Purification magic that cleanly decomposes decayed tissue was generally only possible with some expertise in medicine.

There was no way to immediately supply such personnel.

Moreover, even among supporters, personnel with such abilities were rare.

In the end, most players had no choice but to smash their heads to block their vision, or break their legs to make them lose mobility.

"You bastards! Do you know what you're doing right now!?"

"Ah, really! Get out of the way!?"

To make matters worse.

Players had to be hindered by ordinary people while attacking ghouls.

Each time, players had to change the path of their swords swinging towards ghouls in bewilderment.

"─Can't you hear those kids' voices right now! Try listening to their voices a bit!"

"What? Listen to their voices, what do you..."

The players were bewildered.

But they came to hear it too.

Sa...ve...me....

He...lp...me....

Hun...gry....

Ever since the huge explosion at the National Assembly building a little while ago.

The ghouls had been making such sounds while pouncing on humans.

People who were initially crying for help while being attacked by ghouls─

"─M-Mom? Is that you, Mom?"

Ye...s....

Soon became brainwashed by the sounds ghouls transmitted through thoughts.

Like that, they voluntarily threw their bodies to the ghouls.

The ghouls grew stronger and stronger.

Dad.... I want allowance....

Voices of people who died are heard from the ghouls.

People who subconsciously realized this either offered their bodies to them voluntarily, or tried to protect them.

And in the latter case─

"─Cough...!"

"It's okay... son. Mom is fine."

Whether it was people who tried to protect.

Or players who were hindered.

The ghouls didn't hesitate to devour them, taking advantage of their hesitation.

And as time passed again─

"Uh...uh...uh...uuuuuuuwaaaaaaaah!!!!!"

""""...!!""""

Some ghouls transformed.

Some ghouls had their physical abilities increase even further, or used magic.

And they infected people.

""""...""""

People who grasped the situation fell into great shock.

At this rate, the country seemed like it would be completely destroyed by ghouls.

Nevertheless, they had no idea where to even start dealing with this.

The players in Yeongdeungpo-gu couldn't handle the situation.

It was when they felt helpless.

Touch of the Gentle Breeze

Bandages of Healing

Suddenly wind blew.

Gentle wind pushed back the rushing ghouls.

At the same time, white bandages shot up from behind the players' shoulders.

Infinitely stretching bandages grabbed the bodies of ghouls in the area one by one.

"Is everyone okay!? Please wait a little. I'll cast healing magic after dealing with those guys."

The time players bought against the ghouls was by no means meaningless.

The time they bought was enough for players from other areas to be dispatched.

And luckily.

Clan members had just returned to the Pandora Clan hall at Sadang Station to report mission completion.

"Unnie! I've caught all the ghouls! Now's the time!"

<Angel of the Battlefield> Cha Eun-woo.

She was the one who saved the players.

She wasn't the only Pandora Clan supporter there.

Fairy's Call

<Fairy > No Eun-ah.

She was there too.

She imbued mana into the golden ring made from a Chungmu-grade treasure.

As mana rippled around her, palm-sized fairies appeared.

Be careful, child.

You be careful too.

Fairies whose features couldn't be discerned.

Only that they were a married couple could be known.

─Butterfly's Blessing

Sacred Photon

The fairies assist with control and casting to support high-dimensional magic.

She left preparation to the fairies while activating the artifact Butterfly's Blessing.

Based on her vast internal mana.

Countless butterflies appeared.

Eun-ah, protected by the butterflies, cast the magic the fairies had been preparing just before.

──!!!!!

The butterflies emit dazzling light.

Butterflies that looked like they were wrapped in particles of light began to flutter.

Scattering particles of light.

The butterflies filled the surroundings.

"Support has come from the Pandora Clan, can I know who the representative is among those here? We came in a hurry so we haven't grasped the detailed situation."

""""...""""

Like a lie.

Only the ghouls disappeared precisely.

The players knew how amazing that skill was.

"─It's really fortunate that you and Eun-ah are here. I was just worrying on the way here about what to do if there weren't many supporters capable of high-dimensional purification magic."

Not long after that.

Twelve Seats <Holy Mother> Park Hye-rim also appeared.

<Holy Mother>, <Fairy >, <Angel of the Battlefield>.

The three priestesses had gathered.

Their presence reassured people's hearts.

☆

At that time, near the National Assembly building.

The chaos was fiercest there.

Players couldn't properly demonstrate their skills as they fought ghouls while saving ordinary people.

Eun-ha was relatively free.

Because everything around Sindorim was ghouls.

But even so─

─No end to killing them, no matter how many I kill.

I can't even get close to him, so I'm just wasting energy for nothing.

Eun-ha was also struggling like other players.

The number of ghouls was considerable.

And they were rushing at him in groups.

Blaze Crusher

It's fortunate I can fly.

Otherwise I would have been captured by the ghouls targeting me on the ground.

Eun-ha lashed out with flames clinging to the winter crawling with snowflakes like a whip.

After pushing back the ones chasing him, he folded his wings and dove sharply.

Prominence Lance

He stretched out Winter Blooming Coldly.

The flames clinging to the sword tip envelop him, creating a drill-like shape.

Eun-ha immediately attacked Sindorim who was protected by ghouls.

"─Don't interfere with me!!"

Sindorim didn't just take it.

He swung the skull staff.

The skull staff emitting red eye light offset the flames and impact.

"Ugh...!!"

He groaned briefly.

He seemed to feel considerable burden.

Nevertheless, he focused on maintaining protective magic to block Eun-ha's charge skill.

"...!"

Exchanging blows several times.

Sindorim could grasp that Eun-ha was quite a tricky opponent.

A player with quick mobility, air superiority, and above all, using magic vulnerable to ghouls.

He felt the greatest threat from Eun-ha among the players here.

So he used his own body as bait to take down the most troublesome opponent.

Eun-ha fell for his intention.

Sindorim ordered the ghouls gathered around him.

Corpse Explosion

The ghouls leap towards Eun-ha who lowered his altitude.

Sindorim timed it to explode their bodies.

The explosion caused by over a dozen ghouls engulfed Eun-ha.

Earth Dragon's Scales

But Sindorim's joy was short-lived.

He stiffened his face seeing Eun-ha unscathed even from the explosion as he avoided his position.

"This is really no joke..."

Ptooey.

Eun-ha spat out the dirt that entered his mouth onto the ground.

He clicked his tongue after blocking the heat with crimson wings and the impact with <Earth Dragon>'s magic.

He wasn't gaining any particular results despite raiding Sindorim together with <Earth Dragon> and other players.

It's already hard to get close with him using ghouls as shields, but he's getting stronger as time passes.

There's no beating quantity.

No matter how much he burned with fire, Sindorim created that many ghouls as if it were nothing.

Moreover, now there were even ghouls that could infect others into ghouls.

On the other hand, those fighting with him were no match for the number of ghouls, and were getting tired as time passed.

As if mocking them─

"─Mana contains countless thoughts you don't know about."

""""...""""

Sindorim spread both arms.

The mana dissolved in the air reacted.

Thoughts residing in mana activated.

Ghouls appeared in droves.

A scale that could almost be called an army.

Soon Sindorim who dominated them pointed his staff at Eun-ha.

Kyaaaaaaah!!!!

I want to live! I don't want to die!

Mustrunawayrunaway!They'recomingtowardswherewearerightnow...!!

The ghouls charged.

The players were dumbfounded.

Over dozens of ghouls rushed in from all directions.

Moreover, among them─

─Draw sword, annihilate target.

There were even those who were once players.

Unlike ordinary ghouls, they were holding sharp weapons.

They even had the ability to command ghouls.

Now even commander-class ghouls are coming out.

We need to take these guys out first.

Eun-ha gritted his teeth.

He couldn't let ghouls that were threatening just by quantity gain control too.

The players' thoughts aligned.

But they were barely managing to deal with the rushing ghouls.

Blast Cross

To this, Eun-ha took flight.

Since Violent Venom wasn't working on ghouls at all.

This was the only magic effective against dealing with an army.

He swung his sword imbued with flames, carving a cross trajectory on the ground.

Nevertheless, they were persistent.

Memories.... Need memories.

Not enough not enough!!

Ghouls directly hit by the magic completely disappeared without a trace.

But ghouls positioned on the outskirts where the magic's influence reached charged while covered in flames.

They tried to take people's lives even as their bodies collapsed while covered in flames.

To this, <Earth Dragon> and players immediately poured out magic.

<Earth Dragon> collapsed the ground to drop them into pits.

Players poured firepower incessantly in that gap.

Flame Thorn

Eun-ha decided to leave it to them.

He flapped his wings and brushed past them.

For an instant.

Eun-ha twisted his body mid-flight to aim at a commander-class ghoul trying to ambush them.

Thorns of flame orbiting Winter Blooming Coldly pierced its head.

After subduing it with a single shot, he twisted his body again to chase Sindorim.

Blaze Crusher

The sword strike of Winter Blooming Coldly curved to target Sindorim.

Then a ghoul appearing from somewhere blocked the attack by burning its own body.

A commander-class ghoul beside him attacked Eun-ha with a greatsword.

Furthermore─

─Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!

Sindorim's staff flashed its eyes.

The ghouls screamed with ear-piercing shrieks.

Nearby ones ran on all fours to chase Eun-ha.

Then they piled their bodies to create a mountain.

Ghouls piled up to a height Eun-ha could reach finally collapsed in droves.

Peep peep peep!

Eun-ha, who was exchanging blows with the commander-class ghoul, hurriedly dodged.

The fire chicken cried fiercely.

He avoided the hand of one jumping up to grab his wings, then brushed past the falling ones.

There were several mountains of ghouls.

The falling ones quickly ran along the ground to create mountains in Eun-ha's path.

When even the sky entered the ghouls' domain like that─

─Corpse Explosion

Sindorim activated magic.

The falling ghouls exploded.

Eun-ha was hit by the backlash from the explosion.

He flies to an unintended place.

Unfortunately, there was a mountain of ghouls.

Corpse Explosion

Another explosion occurred.

This time the entire mountain exploded.

Eun-ha wrapped his body with three pairs of wings to defend against the explosion.

But ghouls from the mountain on the opposite side threw their bodies.

Ones that jumped up stepping on each other's backs fell onto Eun-ha's head.

He couldn't withstand their weight while focusing on defending against the explosion and fell to the ground.

Blast Counter

The ghouls move even as they fall.

They try to touch his body at all costs.

Eun-ha swung his sword in the air while shaking off their hands.

The area where mana was visible even to the naked eye.

The visualized mana was stimulated and caused chain explosions.

The ghouls' arms and legs flew off.

Thud

Thud thud

He consumed a considerable amount of mana.

Activating mana drain.

Eun-ha walked out of the explosion wrapped in a cloak of flames.

"..."

Ghouls surrounded the area.

Despite consecutive explosions, their numbers hardly decreased.

Eun-ha was suddenly surrounded alone by ghouls.

It wasn't a situation where he could spread his wings and fly away.

Before that, they would rush in to interfere with flight.

Sonic Wave

Prominence Dance

Ghouls keeping him in check.

A commander-class ghoul gave instructions.

The ghouls moved.

Eun-ha immediately relied on intuition and swung two swords.

He maximized the function of his detection net using Ye-gyeong's principle.

"...Impressive."

Seeing that sight.

Sindorim couldn't help but admire.

Sindorim, who distanced himself from Eun-ha, didn't take his eyes off Eun-ha.

He gripped the staff tightly.

That's how much of a threat Eun-ha's attacks were to Sindorim.

"But this is the end."

Nevertheless, Sindorim was confident.

There was nothing he could do in a situation where he fell alone in the middle of lurking ghouls.

Like that he can't spread his wings, and will only get tired as time passes.

Though he's somehow fighting now, soon the time will come when his strength runs out.

Then the ghouls will absolutely not miss that chance.

It was when he thought that.

─Star Plucking

Whoosh.

A sound of air being cut was heard.

Sindorim raised his head towards where the sound came from.

A long trajectory shot up.

After reaching its highest point, it fell in a parabola.

Coincidentally, it was where Eun-ha was.

Soon a thud sound was heard.

Gift <Beast >

Blade Arm

 Something shot up from the dust.

Like the leg of a huge beast.

It struck down the ghouls.

"─Hey, hyung, did you wait long? That's what you get for jumping into enemy lines alone."

"I never thought the day would come when I'd receive help from you. Good timing."

"Seo-na contacted me. Apparently the clan grasped the situation and sent people who were at the hall. And it seems Soo-bin convened the Inquisition and they're on their way here."

"...That would be great news if not for the Inquisition part. Shouldn't we get out of here before then?"

"Don't worry. Just follow closely behind this hyung."

<Gale > Jin Parang.

He grinned triumphantly.

Right after, his canine teeth suddenly grew and his whole body began to be covered in fur.

─Gift <Beast >

Mode: Blade Wolf

Blade Thrust

In an instant a huge wolf appeared.

The surrounding space rippled.

Blades appearing from the ripples pierced through them.

At the same time─

─Gift <Beast >

Mode: Blade Wolf

Blade Gale

The huge wolf charged.

Its bristling fur became like blades, piercing through the bodies of ghouls jumping in fearlessly.

The wolf charging at gale-like speed created a blue road.

And that road─

"─...!!"

Was coincidentally advancing towards where Sindorim was.

Preparing for collision with the huge wolf.

Sindorim tried to prepare magic.

Right at that moment─

─Wubo

Hamper Wave

Prominence Dance

No Eun-ha closely chasing behind the wolf.

Eun-ha jammed the magic immediately and swung swords imbued with flames.