774

 [Chapter 198]

[Goeshini (3)]

Goeshini's Phase 2.

But there was no need to worry.

It had just gotten bigger.

Other than its speed and physical attack power increasing proportionally, its abilities weren't much different from before.

Rather, as its body grew larger it became easier to intercept.

What we need to be wary of isn't Phase 2, but Phases 3 and 4. It would be good if we could kill Goeshini like this, but I wonder if that's possible...!

It's different from Caesar Hopper.

When Goeshini enters a phase, it temporarily deploys a protective barrier that nullifies damage.

It was quite a troublesome trait.

Not magic, even Hamper Wave couldn't do anything about it.

That was why they couldn't stop it from transforming to Phase 2 just now.

Ox Step

Blaze Crasher

As it entered Phase 2.

The invisible trackers occasionally stamped on Goeshini's body became useless.

Eun-ha who briefly clicked his tongue quickly used Ox Step to avoid the front paw falling from above.

Then he who appeared on the opposite side swung his sword with all his might.

He tried to cut off its front paw using one foot as an axis.

──!!

Right then, ghouls rushed in.

A ghoul under its belly took the attack instead.

It was engulfed in flames.

Then it stretched out both arms trying to grab Eun-ha.

Sacred Photon

Right then, No Eun-ah imbued purification magic on clan members' devices.

As Goeshini entered Phase 2, the platoon waiting in the rear moved forward.

Eun-ha cut off a ghoul's neck with a blade clustered with yellow light.

Then he stepped back and escaped from under its belly.

The Lord said,

God is but a trivial being, all things depend on my sword.

Then Iriya's buff.

Besides her, supporters like Cha Eun-woo and Yeo U-bi cast magic to recover HP and mana.

Nevertheless, the speed of mana recovery felt slow.

This was because he had been injecting too much mana into Fire Chicken since earlier.

Eun-ha wiped his lips with the back of his hand.

Diamond Blast

Flash Rain

As Eun-ha retreated, the 2nd team stepped forward.

Eun-ha decided to watch their battle and look for an opportunity.

But not long after, the 2nd team quickly fell.

As the 3rd team was immediately deployed, Eun-ha had to re-enter battle.

Can't be helped. Even if we recover with magic, we can't ignore mental fatigue.

People must be tired.

There's a saying that cats have 9 lives.

Goeshini didn't have 9 lives, but it could be said to have 4, almost half.

So players fighting it were bound to be exhausted.

"Pandora Clan Lord! What are you doing standing so far away? Geez... Hey! When I was your age I swung my sword without even breathing!"

"You'll die if you don't breathe. If you have time to say that, hurry and go save those people. You came after we exhausted our strength and you talk too much."

"What? What did you say!?"

"Hurry and go fight Goeshini. Is this all Blaze Clan's skills amount to? I thought you fought as naturally as breathing even without breathing. Is <Yama > not much after all?"

"You... You'll regret those words. You're looking down on me and Blaze Clan!? You bastards! Prepare military song! Execute!"

""""Execute!!""""

"Torch of destroying communism, one two three!"

Fortunately there was the 2nd Attack Platoon and 5th Communication Platoon.

Eun-ha provoked Kang Hyeon-cheol.

Kang Hyeon-cheol got worked up by Eun-ha's words and blazed flames.

To this, Eun-ha instructed Jin Parang to call back Ryu Yeon-hwa and 3rd team platoon members who were battling Goeshini.

"Those people will buy us time so let's rest briefly. Parang hyung, tell people in the rear to rest too. The burden casters and supporters are probably feeling now is no joke."

"Got it! I'll relay it to the back! ...Oh, I relayed it all! Seo-na said she'll do that."

"Yeon-hwa noona, do you have any potions left?"

"Yeah, I have a few. Do you need one?"

"Just pass me one."

Conserving strength.

Platoon members' faces relaxed.

This was possible because Kang Hyeon-cheol and Blaze Clan members were sufficiently holding off Goeshini.

Moreover, <Holy Mother> Park Hye-rim was there too.

So they were able to buy time to rest.

Meanwhile, Eun-ha received a potion from Ryu Yeon-hwa.

Mana consumption is severe.

Magic to recover mana with healing magic is slow... This is the most effective.

I don't know how many times I've drunk potions while fighting.

Eun-ha gulped down Jung Seok-hoon's premium potion.

Mana Recovery Potion

Espresso Double Shot

There was no time to frown at the bitter taste.

The concentrated coffee extract quickly recovered Eun-ha's mana.

Now he had to enter the battlefield again.

"Parang hyung, tell clan members directly facing Goeshini. Tell them to use gift-granting artifacts. We'll have to push through with force."

"You're telling others not to?"

"Tell others to do as they see fit."

"Roger."

Eun-ha grasped the ring threaded on a chain hanging around his neck.

As he infused mana into the ring.

The ring emitted a golden light.

Other clan members activated magic imbued in rings in similar ways.

Gift-Granting Artifact

<Amplification >

Byeok Hae-su's rechargeable gift-granting artifact that can be used multiple times with one artifact using high quality materials.

Pandora Clan members wrapped in golden light joined players fighting fiercely.

☆

Twelve Seats <Holy Mother> Park Hye-rim.

She could only be amazed at the battle unfolding before her eyes.

Amazing. They've gotten stronger than before.

Is it buff magic? What kind of structure must the magic have to show such abilities?

Their growth rate is no joke.

Goeshini's recovery ability is excellent.

Moreover, it seemed to have resistance to ordinary magic after entering Phase 2.

Even purification magic doesn't work well.

So Park Hye-rim was anxious and had no choice but to rely on Kang Hyeon-cheol facing it at the front.

But Pandora Clan who were resting in the back re-entered battle.

What happened immediately after was to the extent of having to doubt her eyes with wide open.

Heavenly Step

The Wall Breaker

Flow

Flash Rain

<Vajra Sword> Mok Min-ho.

<Divine Sword> Choi Eun-hyeok.

The two avoid ghouls rushing at high speed.

Though they should be tired from several battles, they showed no signs of being exhausted.

Rather, they had become even stronger than before.

As if they had taken some kind of enhancement drug.

The two's skills changed noticeably.

No, it wasn't just them.

All Pandora Clan members at the front line were showing such appearances.

Golden particles were shimmering around them.

"It seems Pandora Clan members touched something hanging around their necks when the Pandora Clan Lord signaled earlier..."

Park Hye-rim focused on that light.

Though she couldn't understand what kind of magic it was, she could confirm that light was raising Pandora Clan members' abilities by almost double.

It was unbelievable.

It was just amazing.

Understanding of the human body, and implementing that imagination in reality, how could that be easy?

If you delve into just one aspect, doubling enhancement isn't entirely impossible.

But Pandora Clan members' abilities were enhanced overall.

As far as Park Hye-rim knew, there was only one possible inference.

─It must be an artifact.

I don't know how they obtained it, but.

Pandora Clan possesses an incredible artifact.

Not just her, other players seemed to have reached similar assumptions.

They clicked their tongues while avoiding Goeshini's attacks.

On top of that, Pandora Clan's participation was bringing noticeable changes.

Park Hye-rim could confirm waves spreading from behind.

The Lord said,

I will kill death.

<Saint of the Altar> Iriya.

Her magic was simply amazing.

Ghouls falling from above climbing building exteriors vanish futilely as soon as they touch the waves.

Even Park Hye-rim had never seen such powerful purification magic.

Above all─

─The casting time isn't long either.

To be able to produce this much effect just by clasping hands and chanting a prayer... Is this what talent is?

She thought her own talent was no less.

But the moment she saw Iriya's magic, Park Hye-rim realized even she was no more than ordinary compared to Iriya.

Iriya's magic was truly beyond common sense.

Is it because she possesses the gift <Miracle >?

<Miracle > really is amazing.

<Empress > Shin Seo-young too.

People possessing the gift <Miracle > implement phenomena difficult to implement with human knowledge.

Park Hye-rim recalled Iriya being known as a <Miracle > holder, which was now widespread in the industry.

Then she recalled one more person.

Butterfly's Blessing

Sacred Photon

<Fairy > No Eun-ah.

Though known in the industry to possess a gift called <Future Vision>.

Park Hye-rim knew well that was a lie.

She couldn't not know what gift her disciple possessed.

She too was a holder of the gift <Miracle >.

"<Saint of the Altar> and Eun-ah are really amazing."

Butterflies made of mana.

Butterflies flying on the wind from far away sprinkle excrement over the area.

Yellow excrement.

Ghouls touched by the excrement are purified, and people are able to make attacks imbued with purification magic properties.

Magic that can simultaneously give attacks and buffs, surely only possible for Eun-ah.

Park Hye-rim couldn't even attempt such magic.

She marveled at her disciple's growth.

Now 3 years...

No. If my position became vacant, it wouldn't be unreasonable for Eun-ah to be recommended as a Twelve Seat.

No Eun-ah now had 9 years of experience as a player.

She had long since proven strength worthy of being a Twelve Seat.

Moreover, unlike the past, Pandora Clan was now receiving A rank evaluation.

Among the virtues required of Twelve Seats was also definite combat power that could be drawn upon in emergencies.

So No Eun-ah satisfied all conditions necessary to become a Twelve Seat.

Above all─

"─If I step down from the Twelve Seats, the most suitable candidate would be Eun-ah."

Park Hye-rim was certain.

No Eun-ah would establish new achievements in this recapture war.

If the justification of being her <The Seed> is added to that.

No Eun-ah was the person closest to being the Twelve Seat in the supporter division.

Of course, all assumptions were only possible if Park Hye-rim herself stepped down from the Twelve Seats.

Unfortunately, she had no thoughts of stepping down from her position yet.

I'm still active too!

What retirement?

She was still too young to be called <Holy Mother>.

That's what Park Hye-rim thought.

She supported the 5th Communication Platoon with magic that wouldn't lose to No Eun-ah.

Incidentally, she healed Kang Hyeon-cheol who was knocked down by Goeshini.

Meanwhile, her gaze was directed at another disciple.

─Copycat's Mirror

Wind of Purification

<Angel of the Battlefield> Cha Eun-woo.

She didn't show amazing skills compared to Iriya and No Eun-ah.

But that was just because she was overshadowed by them, not that Cha Eun-woo was incapable.

She stands out the most among supporters of similar age.

It's just not noticeable because <Saint of the Altar> and Eun-ah are monsters.

Even now steadily.

Cha Eun-woo was fulfilling her role while purifying ghouls.

Furthermore, she was also healing injured people brought to the rear by hunters.

─Gift <Cell Activation>

Meanwhile, Pandora Clan had many other skilled supporters besides them.

Among them, <Cheering > Yeo U-bi.

Park Hye-rim quietly marveled at the magic she deployed.

"Surely <Cheering >'s gift..."

Park Hye-rim had checked Pandora Clan's gifts in the Player Library before.

According to her memory, Yeo U-bi was a holder of the gift <Cell Activation>.

A gift that activates cellular activity to enhance healing ability.

Yeo U-bi used that ability to─

──!!

Turn ghouls into lumps of flesh.

Park Hye-rim doubted her eyes seeing that sight.

Then she grasped the situation.

"She forcibly activated their cells to swell their flesh."

The same principle as cancer cells.

Cancer cells that seem to proliferate infinitely.

Yeo U-bi used <Cell Activation> to proliferate ghouls' cells.

She turned ghouls dynamically running on limbs into indistinguishable lumps of flesh, ultimately sealing their movements.

Honestly it wasn't a very pleasant sight.

The sight of lumps of flesh writhing was quite grotesque.

But it's effective. Ghouls were troublesome enough as is.

One of the terrors of ghouls could be said to be their dynamism.

They were quick.

On the other hand, purification magic took a long time to cast.

So ghouls nimbly avoided purification magic or broke through the front lines to rush to the rear.

In contrast, Yeo U-bi's magic didn't take much time, and was sufficient to bind their feet.

Right then─

─Kieeeeeeek!!

Goeshini made a final struggle.

Unable to withstand the players' offensive, it soared into the sky bleeding profusely.

Its wings turn black.

Magic circles appear around its mouth.

Instinctively, they could tell it was dangerous magic.

Right then─

─Phantom Transformation

Phoenix's Wings

Sparks flutter.

Three pairs of wings made of flames spread wide in the middle of the battlefield.

<Crimson Wing> No Eun-ha.

He soared into the sky.

Necklace of Restoration

Mana Drain

Goeshini activated magic.

That magic is nullified.

Blue particles flutter.

Soon the blue particles seeped into Eun-ha's blade.

Light flashes.

The sword emits pure white light.

─Dunning Blade

A trajectory of light is drawn in the air.

Confusion appears on Goeshini's face.

Park Hye-rim could sense it.

Ah, it's over with this.

No one would doubt.

They subjugated Goeshini.

""""...""""

That's how it was supposed to end.

☆

They subjugated Goeshini.

All the ghouls disappeared.

People's faces brightened.

"Whew..."

In contrast, Eun-ha's face was dark.

He had the sensation of cutting down Goeshini at the end.

The problem was─

─No mana stone came out.

He may not have found it.

He wanted to hope for that.

But Eun-ha's intuition was telling him something completely different.

"Hey! Pandora Clan Lord! How can you have all the fun by yourself!? Am I just bait? Look at him snatching away food that's already cooked..."

"You should kill when you can kill. Isn't that obvious?"

"Hah, geez... A guy with no romance."

Then Kang Hyeon-cheol approached.

 Kang Hyeon-cheol seemed displeased at being implicitly used as bait by Eun-ha.

In reality, Eun-ha had used Kang Hyeon-cheol and Blaze Clan members as bait to draw Goeshini's attention.

Then he and Pandora Clan members subjugated Goeshini.

It was understandable for Kang Hyeon-cheol to be displeased.

But Eun-ha had no leisure to deal with his grumbling.

"Instead of saying such things to me, hurry and send people to search for Goeshini's mana stone."

"Huh? Come to think of it, where is this guy's mana stone? Since it's a high-rank monster, the mana stone should be quite large and noticeable. Surely other guys didn't secretly hide it..."

Soon Kang Hyeon-cheol frowned.

He looked around.

It was right then.

Nyaa nyaa

A cat's meow was heard.

Cracks appeared on the faces of people rejoicing in victory.

They closed their mouths.

In that situation─

Nyaa nyaa

The sound continued.

People turned their heads towards the direction of the sound.

"Over there!"

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

A player discovered Goeshini.

On the windowsill of a building's 1st floor.

It was sitting there looking at the players.

Nyaa nyaa

It meowed.

People thought that for a moment.

But it was just wagging its tail.

The sound came from elsewhere.

"T-there's one there too..."

""""...""""

Another player pointed.

Under the shadow of a building.

There was a cat there.

Nyaa nyaa

This time from inside a pile of rocks.

Nyaa nyaa

""""...""""

This time beside a player.

Soon the player─

─Crunch!

The cat's shadow became three-dimensional and devoured the player's upper body.

""""...""""

What on earth happened.

People couldn't understand.

They couldn't believe reality.

Nyaa nyaa

And regardless of people's reactions.

Countless cats appeared.

Before they knew it, pitch black cats were filling the roads.