829

 [Chapter 208]

[Devil of the Sea (4)]

Kraken appeared.

As Kraken had stopped appearing in Korea for a while, its rank was lowered by one a few years ago.

But that was just its danger level, not including the pure power the monster possessed.

Moreover, due to the characteristics of the environment where it appeared, its danger increased even more.

This wasn't the Kraken that appeared in the Han River, which was difficult to move in, and destroyed bridges.

"Additional 6th rank monsters confirmed besides Kraken! Total number is 23 and increasing!!"

<Yang Guifei> Tang Xiaoxiao shouted.

Her shout was interpreted into each country's language by interpreters on the ship and transmitted to telepathists.

As a result, the communication process was very complex and long.

The players' responses were also delayed.

To make matters worse─

─Swoosh!!

Through several battles.

Demonpus noticed that the players' movements were affected by the interpreters.

It went underwater and destroyed the ship they were on.

The ship, which was protected by the supporters' protection magic, was easily destroyed by the power of the creature that had transformed into its second phase.

"Communication is down!"

"We can't even talk anymore..."

As a result, players from Korea, China, and Japan had difficulties communicating.

Although there wasn't much cooperation to begin with, they were exchanging information obtained while dealing with monsters.

But with even minimal communication blocked, information exchange was cut off.

In the end, they had to focus more on solo play.

This worsened the situation.

Since they can't communicate with each other, they can't properly decide who will take on which monster.

Moreover, since they decided to let each country handle things on their own without setting a commander...

In reality, there were two monsters of 3rd rank or higher.

While Demonpus and Kraken were cooperating to deal with the players, the players couldn't even decide which one to face.

They were experiencing confusion in a situation where they would suffer severe damage even if they faced the two with their current power.

<Thunder God> Lee Do-jin clicked his tongue while avoiding Kraken's attack.

He ran quickly across the water surface.

Demonpus may be resistant to lightning, but Kraken isn't.

So it would be the right answer for me to deal with Kraken...

He circled around Kraken looking for an opportunity to attack.

The attack had to be careful.

His <Thunder Fire> dealt great damage to monsters appearing in the sea.

The problem was that it could also damage people touched by water.

It's possible to control <Thunder Fire> to adjust so that other people aren't attacked.

But doing that inevitably reduces the attack power of the magic.

When they could communicate, Lee Do-jin was able to reduce the damage from lightning with <Undine >'s help.

But now that they couldn't communicate, it became very difficult to exchange signals with her.

At least <Undine > was following well with her good intuition.

But it's not enough.

To deal with Kraken, we need to pour in even more firepower than now.

And <Undine > is also in a situation where she can't properly protect people now.

Korea, China, and Japan are moving separately.

The formation inevitably collapsed as they had to avoid Demonpus and Kraken.

It was difficult for Undine to cast protection magic on people fighting scattered about.

It was then.

[Pandora Clan broadcasting! Estimated time to target point is about 3 minutes, a party led by the Pandora Clan Lord is expected to arrive! And Korean, Chinese, and Japanese reinforcements are coming from behind! Estimated arrival time is about 15 minutes! This is Ariel the telepathist! Please wait a little longer!]

Lee Do-jin was able to hear the welcome news.

His eyes lit up.

He saw a chance to end the situation with minimal damage.

The Korean players who heard the news all had the same expression.

If the Pandora Clan Lord comes to support, the battle situation will become favorable again. It will be easier to deal with those monsters.

<Cardinal > Noh Eun-ha.

Lee Do-jin highly evaluated his skills.

Last year, he had been inwardly in awe when he defeated Magoo.

So if Noh Eun-ha came to support, there was nothing to fear.

And exactly 3 minutes passed─

─Platinum Cross

A platinum light flashed.

The power of the attack was small, considering the players at the scene.

But the trajectory was enough to take away Demonpus's spirit.

Experienced players took advantage of that gap to attack the creature trying to hide underwater.

[A message from the Pandora Clan Lord! From now on, I will join the Kraken subjugation. Since there are clan members who can speak Chinese and Japanese, we will quickly restore the communication network. So <Thunder God> player, please attack it with <Thunder Fire> after communication is restored. This was Ariel the telepathist!]

Not only did reinforcements arrive.

The communication problem was also resolved.

Lee Do-jin's gaze met Eun-ha's as he passed overhead for a moment.

The two nodded.

He really is an amazing person.

Without even seeing the battle situation, he saw through the situation that I couldn't fully exert my power...

He even brought players who could interpret while coming as reinforcements...

What was I doing at that age?

Is this the difference in talent?

Or is it a difference in perspective?

Lee Do-jin had never felt a gap in talent and skill before.

But when he saw Noh Eun-ha's skills, he often felt that he was woefully lacking compared to him.

Noh Eun-ha was an existence outside the norm, enough to make an honor student who had never felt inferiority feel inferior.

☆

Communication between Korea, China, and Japan becomes confused, and the battle becomes difficult.

Knowing what happened in his previous life, Eun-ha selected clan members who could speak foreign languages in preparation for his sortie.

It's concerning to leave only Baek-ryeon in the conference room, but it should be fine.

Im Ga-eul is there, and Lee Jung-hyun too.

Mei Ling and Lin who can speak Chinese.

Hoshimiya Kaede who can speak Japanese.

Eun-ha quickly resolved the communication problem using the three.

Thanks to this, the Korean, Chinese, and Japanese players started moving quite precisely.

It would be perfect if I could command on top of this... But that's a problem I can't help.

If Korea, China, and Japan cooperate properly, we should be able to resolve the situation quickly.

But those participating in the subjugation operation all had strong pride.

They disliked receiving instructions from people from countries other than their own.

Nevertheless, the fortunate point was that they were all experienced enough to be considered national representative players.

Just by having interpretation working smoothly, they could carry out the subjugation operation without harming each other.

"The problem is that when the octopus and squid monsters go underwater, we don't have proper means to respond."

Meanwhile, Demonpus and Kraken didn't just take it lying down either.

When the battle turned unfavorable, they took quite cowardly offensive measures from the players' perspective.

They attacked from underwater while coming to the surface as little as possible.

Of course, Eun-ha considered that too when selecting clan members.

Gift <Beast >

Mode: Diva Siren

Underwater was Ariel's stage.

Transformed into a mermaid, she targeted monsters trying to ambush underwater.

Triton Spear

The power of the device was added.

She wielded a trident made in Hephaestus's forge.

A trident that freely controls water.

A rough whirlpool swirled below the water surface where the players were standing.

As she stirred up the water violently, even the monsters couldn't move freely.

Meanwhile─

─Ariel Bubble

Ariel didn't miss rescuing people who fell into the sea either.

When she removed her hand from her lips, a huge bubble formed.

The bubble moved in the direction she blew a kiss and protected people who had fallen into the sea.

People who entered the bubble soon had their breathing problem resolved and floated to the surface.

"Anyway, Ariel is helpful at times. The clans located in Busan and Jeju Island must be crazy about her."

Eun-ha chuckled.

Ariel alone was noticeably changing the battle situation.

She was extremely beautiful as she appeared above the water surface occasionally like a jumping fish.

While water droplets sparkled in the sunlight, she sparkled along with them.

"<Mermaid >..."

"<Mermaid >."

Mermaid, they say.

Without anyone telling them.

The Chinese and Japanese people had been calling Ariel that for some time.

She looked like a mermaid princess to people from other countries too.

It could be said that the most beautiful person here was not Japan's <Undine > or China's <Yang Guifei>, but Korea's <Mermaid >.

By the way, dealing with Kraken is quite troublesome.

If it goes underwater, I have no way to deal with it.

Meanwhile, Eun-ha frowned.

After receiving a heavy attack just now, Kraken was hiding underwater and not showing itself.

"Maybe I should have brought Kang instead. If I had fed it lightning, I could have subjugated it with that attack just now."

Peep!!

"Why are you upset about something like this? It's about using the right thing in the right place."

Peep!!

"Alright. I'm sorry, okay?"

Buldak was making a fuss.

Eun-ha roughly soothed Buldak and fell into thought.

How do I catch this thing?

Even when Ariel cast attraction-type magic, it didn't budge...

We need to draw out Kraken.

But there was no proper way.

He couldn't go underwater himself to fight it either.

It would be difficult to swing swords.

"Magic is fine at least... Ah."

Then he had a flash of inspiration.

Eun-ha looked around.

Soon he could find Bae Su-bin.

"I brought her to see if she swims well, and there's a use for it like this."

Eun-ha raised the corners of his mouth.

He needed Bae Su-bin's power.

He flew to her.

"Su-bin."

"What?"

Bae Su-bin was busy attacking monsters that appeared above the water surface.

Eun-ha smiled seeing her speak in an irritated tone.

"I'd like you to go underwater and lure Kraken with magic."

"What? What the hell are you..."

"It'll probably get annoyed and try to come up if it keeps getting hit by explosions underwater. Or it might even lose consciousness from the loud explosion sounds."

"I can cause explosions underwater even now without going in, you know? There's no need to go in..."

"Unless Kraken is nearby, what effect would explosions from here have when it's hiding deep? Forget it, just go in quickly. Then Ariel will take you to where Kraken is."

"No, hey, you crazy bastard! Listen to me... Brrrr!!"

There was no time to talk.

Eun-ha unceremoniously pushed Bae Su-bin into the sea.

When Bae Su-bin tried to surface, Eun-ha pressed down on her head.

In the end, she fell into the sea flailing her arms and legs.

Nooooooo!!

Eunnnnn!!!!!

Haaaaa!!!!!!!

Strange sounds were heard from underwater.

It was the sound of Bae Su-bin being alive.

Eun-ha was relieved.

"Su-bin, you're suffering. I'll make sure to give you a vacation later. I wish you good luck."

"Why are you smiling while saying that?"

"When did I?"

"A guy more devilish than the devil."

Kaede was disgusted seeing Eun-ha's actions.

She quickly distanced herself in case she might be thrown into the water like Bae Su-bin.

"Are you thinking of throwing me in too?"

"Why would I throw you in? You can't shoot arrows properly underwater."

"I guess so."

"But Hou, you can swim too, right?"

"Why are you asking that?"

"You can't? Are you a beer bottle?"

"...No. Don't come near me."

Kaede took a defensive stance.

Eun-ha finally turned away.

Just then, a surprising change was occurring underwater.

Boom boom boom boom boom!!

Bae Su-bin had caused explosions.

She activated magic enough to shake the sea violently.

It seemed she was causing explosions by pouring in her internal mana.

Water columns shot up here and there.

"Looks like she's really angry."

Eun-ha muttered as if it was someone else's business.

Then he waited for Kraken to surface soon.

It won't stay still after being bombarded like this.

"Keh...! N-Noh Eun-ha, you... bastard! Keh, cough cough! You jerk! Why do you always do this to me!"

"Good job. Is Kraken coming?"

"I'll kill you! I'll just kill you and die too! Do I have to be treated like this at my age!?"

"I'm doing this for your own good."

"Hey, you old fart! Come here!"

Bae Su-bin surfaced.

Soaking wet, she glared at Eun-ha viciously.

Unfortunately, it seemed she had no strength left to kill Eun-ha.

Eun-ha sighed.

Then he took off his jacket.

"Good work. The seawater must be cold, so wear my clothes at least. I'll leave Buldak to you too."

"This is giving medicine after disease!"

Eun-ha draped his jacket over Bae Su-bin's shoulders.

He also deactivated Phoenix Wings.

He placed Buldak on Bae Su-bin's head and snapped his fingers.

Now the flames would warmly heat her body temperature.

Just then─

─It's coming.

Eun-ha sensed Kraken's presence.

Holding two swords, Eun-ha turned towards the direction it was surfacing.

Soon it surfaced.

Eun-ha infused mana into his swords.

"It'll be different from when I was 6 years old."

A monster to confirm.

How much stronger he had become.

It was a battle power measuring device.

Eun-ha raised the corners of his mouth.

☆

Lao Chen, one of the Eight Generals, was dealing with Demonpus.

But his gaze was directed not at it, but at Noh Eun-ha.

What kind of guy is he?

No, he has that much power but isn't a Twelve Seat?

Does Korea have no eyes to see?

Lao Chen was amazed at Eun-ha's skills, who led reinforcements and reversed the tide of battle that had been tilting.

When they first met at the hotel, he had only thought he was simply strong, but he possessed overwhelming power beyond his expectations.

"Crazy bastard..."

And he wasn't normal.

He threw his own clan member into the sea to lure the monster.

That made Lao Chen like him even more.

Lao Chen also didn't care about anything to fight strong opponents.

Use everything that can be used.

Most people in post-destruction China had such a mindset, and Lao Chen was even more so.

He felt a sense of kinship after seeing Noh Eun-ha's battle.

This guy is the same as me!

He's a guy who doesn't care about anything to fight strong opponents!

Lao Chen laughed heartily.

He wanted to rush at Noh Eun-ha right away and compete.

He liked Noh Eun-ha dealing with Kraken over there more than the Demonpus in front of him.

"Noh Eun-ha..."

Lao Chen murmured his name.

Not just him, but people from other countries were also muttering to remember the name Koreans were shouting.

His overwhelming appearance against Kraken, commanding the battle situation, and coordinating with party members were that impressive.

There were even voices saying Korea must have too many people like Noh Eun-ha for him not to be selected as a Twelve Seat.

China values skill highly.

Only the strongest people in China can become Eight Generals and Seven Star Generals.

Korea was a special case.

 In China and Japan, players simply skilled in combat became national representatives.

This was because in China, the authorities held power, and in Japan, the royal family's authority prevented other stakeholders from infringing on their authority.

In contrast, Korea had a structure where players checked each other to prevent other stakeholders from infringing on the Fairy's authority, which was put forward.

For Lao Chen, who didn't know much about Korea's special circumstances, Noh Eun-ha's skills were just a waste.

He's someone who could have easily been selected as an Eight General or Seven Star General if he came to China.

A rough energy was felt.

Lao Chen turned his back on Demonpus and looked for Noh Eun-ha.

As expected.

He was activating magic.

His swords standing on the water surface were shining and making Kraken tremble.

It was an unbelievable sight.

The monster was afraid of Noh Eun-ha and was trying to run away completely.

But players were holding it so it absolutely couldn't escape.

Finally─

─Hundred Flowers Blazing in Chaos

Remnant Moon Howling Star

The two swords emitted light.

The swords he was holding suddenly scattered into particles of light.

Particles sparkling like stars in the night sky flickered around him.

It was a mystical sight.

"Let's see if you can withstand this too."

Noh Eun-ha signaled.

He waved his hand through the air.

The light particles, receiving the order, moved and flew towards Kraken.

""""...."""

A truly surreal battle.

Each particle of light was decomposing Kraken's body as if tracing the trajectory of a sword.

People including Lao Chen were completely overwhelmed.

Perhaps...

Unable to take his eyes off that sight.

Lao Chen thought.

This guy was in a different league.

He was undoubtedly stronger than himself.

No, perhaps─

─He could even become the leader, let alone being selected as a general.

Noh Eun-ha would be stronger than any player Lao Chen had experienced so far.

China's strongest?

Lao Chen, who had seen the skills of the leader of the Eight Generals, couldn't easily deny the rising question.

Therefore─

"─It makes me want to fight even more."

His competitive spirit flared up.

Lao Chen was even more drawn to him.

Most people in post-destruction China had such a mindset, and Lao Chen was even more so.

He felt a sense of kinship after seeing Noh Eun-ha's battle.

This guy is the same as me!

He's a guy who doesn't care about anything to fight strong opponents!

Lao Chen laughed heartily.

He wanted to rush at Noh Eun-ha right away and compete.

He liked Noh Eun-ha dealing with Kraken over there more than the Demonpus in front of him.

"Noh Eun-ha..."

Lao Chen murmured his name.

Not just him, but people from other countries were also muttering to remember the name Koreans were shouting.

His overwhelming appearance against Kraken, commanding the battle situation, and coordinating with party members were that impressive.

There were even voices saying Korea must have too many people like Noh Eun-ha for him not to be selected as a Twelve Seat.

China values skill highly.

Only the strongest people in China can become Eight Generals and Seven Star Generals.

Korea was a special case.

In China and Japan, players simply skilled in combat became national representatives.

This was because in China, the authorities held power, and in Japan, the royal family's authority prevented other stakeholders from infringing on their authority.

In contrast, Korea had a structure where players checked each other to prevent other stakeholders from infringing on the Fairy's authority, which was put forward.

For Lao Chen, who didn't know much about Korea's special circumstances, Noh Eun-ha's skills were just a waste.

He's someone who could have easily been selected as an Eight General or Seven Star General if he came to China.

Lao Chen felt even more drawn to him.