648

[Chapter 169]

[Small Victory (4)]

Seoul Jung-gu, towards Hoehyeon Station.

The Level 3 monster Freak Sphinx was leading its army south.

"...It's over. How are we supposed to deal with that!?"

Monsters reminiscent of cats or lions were flying through the city skies deceiving Players.

People who couldn't resist mana swung weapons like madmen, falling for the monsters' magic.

The fate of those who barely managed mana resistance was almost the same.

─Question.

They too couldn't withstand the army commander's magic.

It was unavoidable, as covering their ears and closing their eyes to avoid falling for the magic would leave them vulnerable to the army.

"─Kyaaaah!!" "What! Why are you opening the bunker door!?"

"Stop him! That guy's gone crazy now!" "Hehehe! Monsters! Kill them all!"

""""...."""

To make matters worse.

Deceived Players began destroying shelters.

Some shelter doors were opened, and monsters rushed into the shelters.

People scattered in panic.

Players were at a loss for words in the face of total chaos.

"Shelters! Deal with the ones around the shelters first!" "Hunters and Rangers enter the bunkers first! As soon as that's done, Supporters enter the bunkers to treat the wounded!"

"Hurry! Others subdue the rampaging people first! If you flow mana into their bodies, they should come to their sen...kuhek...!!"

"Die! Die! There's a monster here! Requesting support!"

"I-I'm not a mons...kuhek...!!"

"Quickly catch that guy! That bastard's completely lost it!"

A situation where friend and foe couldn't be distinguished.

Players who retained their sanity had to deal with people fleeing from shelters, people under the army's brainwashing magic, and the army itself.

They were severely outnumbered.

Moreover─

"─<Wind Cloud Sword> has fallen under brainwashing magic!"

"Someone stop <Wind Cloud Sword>!"

"Supporter! Supporter!"

Jung-gu was in a situation severely lacking S-rank Players.

As a result, the few S-rank Players were facing Freak Sphinx.

Among them, <Wind Cloud Sword>, the Hanseong Clan Lord and an S-rank Player, fell for Freak Sphinx's magic.

"Stop him! Stop him somehow!" "How are we supposed to stop <Wind Cloud Sword>!?"

"Someone catch the Hanseong Clan Lord!"

With the representative Player of Jung-gu going mad like this.

People's morale fell even further.

Some S-rank Players couldn't stand by and turned their backs to try to stop him.

Freak Sphinx immediately pierced the Players who turned their backs.

""""...."""

The war situation worsened even more.

People who could block Freak Sphinx were gradually decreasing.

They had to stop <Wind Cloud Sword> somehow.

But they couldn't approach <Wind Cloud Sword>, who was trying to cut down approaching people with wind wrapped around his body.

Right then,

─Grooooar!!

For an instant, something blue passed by.

The form that passed like a gale instantly pounced on <Wind Cloud Sword>.

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

The being that slammed <Wind Cloud Sword>, wearing wind armor, into a building wall.

The being that revealed itself as the sand dust settled was a wolf with dark blue fur.

Though it must have received <Wind Cloud Sword>'s attack, there were no wounds on the wolf's body.

"M-Monster...?"

"...Tch, it's a Blade Wolf. For such an annoying thing to appear..."

Level 5 overrank Blade Wolf.

People who recognized the wolf's identity opened their eyes wide.

Then they became wary.

Blade Wolf was quite a tricky monster for Players.

Swords didn't work well on it. Moreover, it was so quick that it not only dodged magic but sometimes even destroyed magic itself.

They couldn't help but be tense with a Blade Wolf appearing in an already unfavorable war situation.

But it─

─Grooooar!!

Ignoring the Players, it immediately leapt at the Sphinx.

Ques...ques...tion....

Grooooar!!

""""...."""

Beasts clashed.

Though the Blade Wolf's body size couldn't match the Sphinx's.

It jumped higher than the hovering creature.

Such a being raised its front paws and immediately knocked it to the ground.

The Sphinx was startled and responded, but having already crashed to the ground, it couldn't respond properly.

The Blade Wolf mercilessly bit and tore at it.

"...What am I seeing now." "Why are monsters fighting each other?"

"But looking now... It's a bit different from the Blade Wolf I know? It's a bit smaller."

"The Blade Wolf is carrying <Wind Cloud Sword> in its mouth and retreating..."

Friend or foe?

Players muttered watching the Blade Wolf retreating with the unconscious <Wind Cloud Sword> in its mouth after fighting the Sphinx.

"...Swift as the wind."

"But where is it taking <Wind Cloud Sword>?"

"Shouldn't we chase after it?"

"It looks like Ain transformed using <Beast >'s power... Surely it's not trying to eat <Wind Cloud Sword>." "Huh? There's someone over there."

"Reinforcements!"

"Where did they come from? Wherever they're from, we can breathe a little easier."

"Clan Lord! Identification confirmed! It's Pandora Clan!"

<Swift Wind> Jin Pa-rang.

The alias people would come to call Pandora Clan's Jin Pa-rang in the future, known for the anecdote of knocking out <Wind Cloud Sword> with one strike, engaging in fierce battle with Freak Sphinx, and fleeing like the wind carrying <Wind Cloud Sword> in its mouth.

☆

Avoiding monsters encountered along the way.

Eun-ha, who found Hoehyeon-dong at maximum speed, frowned.

"What kind of war situation is this?"

The clan members agreed.

Players are having seizures and fighting unable to distinguish friend from foe.

Shelters are destroyed, and people are coming out screaming for help.

Lastly, S-rank Players who should be blocking the army commander have fallen under brainwashing magic and are disrupting the frontline.

"Why is the Hanseong Clan Lord like that too? Ha, what's the point of someone who should be commanding Players getting caught? Pa-rang hyung."

"Why? Should I go stop that person?"

"You know well. Go make that person come to their senses, or if that's not possible, at least knock them out."

"Just knock them out and bring them back? That's my specialty!"

Even the Hanseong Clan Lord <Wind Cloud Sword> was under its magic.

In a situation where the representative Player of Jung-gu was currently dancing with a sword.

Eun-ha couldn't help but sigh at the pathetic situation.

In the end, Eun-ha decided to have Jin Pa-rang subdue <Wind Cloud Sword> first.

Gift <Beast >

Mode: Blade Wolf

There was still some distance to reach the Players facing Freak Sphinx.

So Eun-ha decided to send Jin Pa-rang, the fastest among his companions, first to sort out the situation.

Fortunately, Pa-rang jumped into the chaotic war situation and knocked out the rampaging <Wind Cloud Sword>.

It was possible because <Wind Cloud Sword> was disoriented, and Pa-rang suddenly charged in for hand-to-hand combat.

Grrrr

"Well done. Hyung, do something about those people who've lost their minds. The S-rank Players that other Players are ganging up on to deal with now."

Jin Pa-rang dropped <Wind Cloud Sword> in front of Eun-ha with a thud.

Eun-ha slapped his cheek hard.

"Ugh..."

He showed a reaction.

He furrowed his brow.

Fortunately he's not completely unconscious. This person can't just be unconscious while we struggle. We have to work him to the bone.

Trying to be comfortable somewhere...

Come to think of it, it was because <Wind Cloud Sword> failed to respond properly that he had to come up to Jung-gu.

But he didn't want just himself and his clan members to struggle while the person himself was comfortably unconscious.

He decided to work all those Jin Pa-rang brought back.

"Ara, you wake these people up and roughly treat their urgent wounds. Then send them to the frontline even if they refuse."

"Okay, I'll do that. The treatment will be done quickly!"

Eun-ha decided to leave <Wind Cloud Sword> and the unconscious Players to Jo Ara.

Then he prepared to enter the battlefield with the rest of the clan members.

"And you try not to come out from the rear if possible. The war situation is chaotic, so you might get attacked by brainwashed people if you're not careful." "...Alright. I'll cover you from the rear. Thanks for worrying."

The frontline is collapsing.

At this rate, it seemed difficult to face the army even if they entered the frontline.

A new frontline had to be created.

Eun-ha looked down at the war situation.

It would be good to retreat two blocks back from the frontline.

If we push back the current frontline, a wide open road appears left and right.

We can block monsters coming down from above at the intersection of roads, or if necessary, lure them to the intersection and surround them in a U-shape.

After finishing his thoughts, Eun-ha explained the strategy to the clan members.

Unfortunately, Jin Pa-rang in Blade Wolf mode was unskilled at using telepathy and couldn't relay to Players over there.

We'll have to go directly to tell them.

Anyway, we can only push back the frontline if we can block those guys...

Excluding those having seizures.

They had to gather those with sound minds to the newly created frontline as much as possible.

Only then could they check the army.

Right then─

─Question.

The creature that had no chance to use brainwashing magic while battling S-rank Players seized the opportunity.

Unfortunately, it was a situation where people who had regained their fighting spirit with Jin Pa-rang's appearance were looking into its eyes.

No. If even those people fall for it, we'll lack core forces to block them...

Eun-ha clicked his tongue loudly.

He had to quickly prevent them from falling for the magic.

But the distance was too great to run from where he was standing.

Of course, there was Right Step.

The problem was that even if he used Right Step, he had no magic to protect them from the Sphinx's magic.

Right then─

"─Kaede. Send me over there."

"What?"

"I'll go and try to divert attention."

Just as Eun-ha was about to use Right Step.

Kang Si-hyung said such words.

☆

There was a need to preserve the remaining forces to face the Sphinx's army.

And the Players currently fighting the army commander were those capable of close combat and responsible for dealing damage.

If even they fell under brainwashing, they wouldn't be able to block the army even if they pulled back the frontline.

Then we'd have to pull back the frontline further down... maybe even to Yongsan-gu.

Kang Si-hyung read Eun-ha's thoughts.

If they made a mistake, the clan members fighting in Yongsan-gu could be harmed.

As Kang Si-hyung was originally the one who should fight at the very front, with the role of blocking monsters.

He could grasp that the current situation wasn't good.

That's why─

"─Kaede. Send me over there."

Kang Si-hyung said with a hardened face.

The only person who could protect the people fighting the army commander here now was himself.

It was something even Eun-ha couldn't do.

Something only he could do.

So Kang Si-hyung decided to head towards the chaotic frontline despite being afraid.

"─Alright."

Perhaps sensing his determination.

Hoshimiya Kaede, who had been flustered, soon nodded.

She didn't try to stop him, nor did she try to say anything.

It was the same for Eun-ha and the other clan members.

There wasn't time to think about whether Kang Si-hyung's thinking was right.

Time was that pressing.

Star Picking

A very short time.

The clan members simply decided to follow Kang Si-hyung's judgment.

Hoshimiya Kaede shot an arrow.

The arrow made of mana that left the bowstring flew in a straight line drawing a long trajectory.

Kang Si-hyung, who was in a ready stance, jumped to catch the trajectory passing above his head.

"...Kuk...!"

His vision rapidly shifted.

Kang Si-hyung forcibly opened his eyes squinting from the wind and exerted strength.

"...!!"

Narrowed field of vision.

He saw the army commander.

The distance gradually closed.

He could confirm it was beginning preparations to activate brainwashing magic.

Kang Si-hyung immediately jumped down.

"─If you saw me, tell me the answer!!"

Gift <Howling >

Gift-imbued artifact

<Amplification >

The army commander about to punish wrong answerers.

People forcibly drawn to the army commander's voice by the laws of magic.

Kang Si-hyung shouted with all his might to divert their attention.

Gift <Howling >, a gift that focuses attention through voice.

People's heads turned naturally.

Even the army commander's head turned.

Naturally, the army commander's magic was foiled, and it showed signs of being flustered.

Meanwhile, Si-hyung grabbed the shield on his back as he jumped down from the trajectory.

Swish

The device he asked Byeok Hae-su for last year.

Though he only managed to bring his shield rushing to cross over to Gangbuk, it was still fine.

The silver shield with no decorations rapidly began widening its diameter in response to Kang Si-hyung's mana.

Then the shield changed shape and wrapped around his two hands.

Before he knew it, he was wearing gauntlets bigger than his head.

Gigant Hammer

In that state, he interlocked his fingers.

His fist swelled greatly.

Magic he created recently with Bruno's help.

Crunch!

Kang Si-hyung slammed his armored fist into its face with all his might.

It was effective.

Kieeeeek!!

The Sphinx that took the attack to its nose bridge writhed covering its face with its front paws.

Its nose seemed to have broken.

Kang Si-hyung shouted to the dazed Players in that gap.

"I'm Kang Si-hyung of Pandora Clan. Quickly retreat to Toegye-ro! We're going to pull back the frontline from now!"

"A-Alright... Everyone retreat!" "Pull back the frontline!"

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

The cry of a Player who suddenly fell from the sky, reminiscent of a small giant.

Players who came to their senses hurriedly turned their backs carrying the wounded.

Meanwhile, Kang Si-hyung spread protective magic to protect the Players.

"...Kuk...!!"

However, it was insufficient to block Freak Sphinx.

He only blocked for a few seconds.

Si-hyung had to look up at the army commander that seemed to have made him its target.

─Question

Level 3 monster.

I'm scared, my legs are shaking.

Nevertheless, Kang Si-hyung gritted his teeth and raised his shield.

He was determined to endure somehow.

So even when it asked a question─

─How does a giraffe cry?

Kang Si-hyung didn't panic.

He activated his gift again to prevent others' gazes from turning to the army commander.

"Kiiiiiiriiiiiiin!"

...Wrong answer.

Freak Sphinx paused for a moment.

But it narrowed its eyes and grinned.

Kang Si-hyung had gotten the question wrong.

In other words, he was bound by the laws of magic.

To this, the army commander tried to activate brainwashing magic on him─

─Platinum Cross

Flash.

A stream of light cut off the hair that had stretched out long like a snake.

"How does a giraffe cry like that."

"Eun-ha, actually giraffes don't cry like that..."

"Stop taking its side and just be quiet." "...Okay. Sorry."

With a chuckling sound.

Noh Eun-ha appeared in front of Kang Si-hyung.

☆

"Si-hyung, you take charge of pulling people back now. Draw the monsters' aggro as you see fit too."

"Got it! I'll do that!"

Thanks to Kang Si-hyung, not many people fell for the brainwashing magic.

Even those who did were quickly awakened by Players who regained their senses.

People began retreating like that, and Eun-ha faced the Sphinx.

─Question.

The Sphinx with its nose grotesquely bent.

It spoke to Eun-ha with a very angry face.

The laws of magic enveloped his body, slowing his movements.

Nevertheless, Eun-ha didn't panic.

He just watched it and the surrounding monsters snickering at him.

In any case, even if he didn't do anything─

─Flow

Crescent Moon Slash

Choi Eun-hyuk would take care of it.

Eun-hyuk had deliberately gone far around to avoid being detected by it and was waiting for an opportunity until now.

He appeared from the left alley and quickly struck the army commander focusing on Eun-ha.

Kieeeeek!!

It was just a shallow wound.

Only enough to leave a cut on the Sphinx's cheek.

But even that was enough to make the Sphinx flinch and step back.

It has no room to pay attention elsewhere when asking questions.

So if one person focuses its attention and another launches a surprise attack, it works.

Though Silla Clan had also informed them.

Eun-ha knew how to respond to Freak Sphinx based on memories from his previous life.

Its ability was dangerous, but it also had many weaknesses.

The problem is the monsters assisting its vision... We should deal with those first to reduce damage.

Thanks to him and Kang Si-hyung properly drawing aggro.

Choi Eun-hyuk was able to approach the army commander protected by its army.

However, as a result, he was left in the midst of the army.

To this, Eun-ha─

─Right Step

Burst Counter

Just as the army was about to rush at him, Eun-ha used Right Step to jump into the midst of the army.

Choi Eun-hyuk, who gave up on defense and charged at Freak Sphinx with full power, was defenseless.

Eun-ha, who appeared in front of Choi Eun-hyuk, immediately swung down his sword.

Boom boom boom!!

An explosion erupted.

Monsters swarming towards the two screamed at the sudden explosion.

They fell in droves.

Kieeeeek!!

The army commander roared.

It cleared away the smoke and fired magic at them.

The two scattered left and right.

"Choi Eun-hyuk, move so you don't enter the Sphinx's field of vision."

"Are you okay? Won't it be hard?"

"Don't worry about me and just avoid on your own. I have something I can rely on."

Question!

The moment those words were heard.

Choi Eun-hyuk moved his body that had become heavy, bound by the laws of magic.

There were three conditions for falling under Freak Sphinx's magic.

One, hearing the word 'question'. However, covering your ears couldn't block the sound ringing in your head.

How does a bear eat an apple?

Two, failing to say the correct answer.

Failing to answer caused the laws of magic to lower mana resistance.

Finally three, looking into its eyes.

It cast brainwashing magic on those who looked into its eyes.

Which means─

─Just don't look into its eyes!

Sword Spirit Encirclement

Choi Eun-hyuk glanced at the sword he had positioned behind the army commander, flying in the sky.

At that moment, he who had been standing in front of the Sphinx moved to behind it.

This allowed Choi Eun-hyuk to avoid the army commander's brainwashing magic.

He who fell from the sky infused mana into his sword.

Wrong answer.

Meanwhile, at that time.

Eun-ha, who failed to answer the Sphinx's question correctly, was looking into its eyes.

It grinned.

It activated brainwashing magic.

Then, Eun-ha grinned too.

"─It doesn't work on me."

Gift <Unknown >

His heart pounded.

The gift activated weakly, awakening his mind.

Kieee?

The creature showed a strange reaction to the unexpected situation.

By then, Eun-ha's sword had already turned pure white.

Crescent Moon Slash

Meanwhile, Choi Eun-hyuk activated his magic.

Three swords revolving around him, including the one he held, fired sword strikes.

The army commander, already focusing on Eun-ha, was hit by the sword strikes and its body tilted forward.

As it tilted like that─

─Platinum Cross

With a slash.

The stream of light that left Winter Blooming Coldly's blade cut off the front leg supporting its tilting body.

...Huh?

It rolled its eyeballs.

Its pupils shook greatly.

The severed left front leg.

Blood was dripping with a splat.

Kieeeeek!!

It screamed.

Eun-ha mocked it.

"I have a question too."

He said, pointing his sword.

"─Which part will be cut off next?"