Chapter 173
Seong-Hwi held the Titanic Tide Kris in a reverse grip as he stared at the enemies charging at him, thinking, I should refrain from using the secondary force conversion as much as possible since I don’t know what could happen further underground.
“Die!” shouted a man as he swung down a greatsword and activated a skill.
Seong-Hwi simply took one step to the side, and the greatsword sliced nothing but air. The man gasped as he saw Seong-Hwi standing beside him.
H-his time is far more compressed than mine! Just how high is his Dexterity?!
He could see Seong-Hwi raising his arm and swinging the dagger at his head, but he was still stuck in the motion of swinging down his greatsword. The Titanic Tide Kris stabbed the man’s forehead, creating an uneven wound due to its wavy edge.
Seong-Hwi’s body began to distort, but it only looked that way to others because he was so fast. A body fell to the ground with a hole in its forehead each time they saw Seong-Hwi’s afterimage.
“W-what the hell?!”
“I can’t see him!”
“What are you doing, binders?! Keep him still!”
“How are we supposed to bind him if we can’t see him?!”
The Dark Humans panicked. Twenty of them had already died, but they couldn’t even see Seong-Hwi properly. Their panic only amplified once Seong-Hwi activated his traits.
[Activating Trait: Thousand-Man Killer.]
[Activating Trait: Scorn for the Weak.]
AHHH—!
The screams of a thousand vengeful spirits echoed, freezing the Dark Humans under the thick and sharp bloodlust. Scorn for the Weak was also effective because Seong-Hwi was the strongest one here.
“I finally get to try you guys out,” Seong-Hwi mumbled.
He was planning to test out the new items he had been given in Ferrum. He stomped on the ground with the Pressurizing Leather Boots. Powerful pressurized air blasted from its soles, immensely boosting his speed. Dark Humans fell to the ground with their tendons severed.
“Urgh!”
“Ahhh! I don’t wanna die!”
Dark Humans fled in fear as their comrades began to collapse even faster than before.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Seong-Hwi said as he pointed his leg at one of the fleeing humans.
This time, the soles of the Pressurizing Leather Boots sucked in air, pulling the human toward Seong-Hwi, who simply pointed the Titanic Tide Kris forward.
“Ahhh!” the Dark Human screamed.
The man convulsed as he was skewered on the dagger.
“These are great,” Seong-Hwi said, smiling in satisfaction as he tapped his boots on the ground.
The soles of the Pressurizing Leather Boots were made with the hooves of an ircus, a goat that could gather and release air. The secrets of the animal that could freely traverse steep mountains had been preserved in the boots.
They’re useful for movement, but they’re not bad for combative purposes either, Seong-Hwi thought.
Just then, dozens of fire magic skills flew toward Seong-Hwi and struck him.
“We killed him!”
“Keep firing!”
More skills directly struck him, creating a thick cloud of dust.
“What happened?”
“He was ripped to shreds!”
The Dark Humans were certain they had killed Seong-Hwi, but they couldn’t have been more wrong.
“This is great too,” Seong-Hwi said as he stared at the Archane Hoodie, exuding dark energy, with a satisfied smile.
The Archane Hoodie was crafted from a fragment of the dark spirit monarch. Alongside the earth element, the dark element boasted impressive defensive capabilities. While the earth element excelled in physical defense, the dark element excelled in magical defense.
Seong-Hwi took advantage of the thick dust cloud and charged at the Dark Humans.
“Gaaah!”
“Die! Die!!!”
The Titanic Tide Kris stealthily killed Seong-Hwi’s enemies, and he also used the trait he had earned after killing Filipe Kabuka.
[Activating Trait: Foul Play.]
[Foul Play (Trait)
Rank: D(99)
Description: Enhances the penetration, power, and stealth of attacks made from inside the target’s blind spot.]
Everywhere was a blind spot because of the massive dust cloud. Seong-Hwi’s attacks grew more powerful and stealthy thanks to the trait’s effect. As the screams sounded from everywhere, someone used a wind skill to blow the dust away to reveal over three hundred corpses around them.
“Gasp!”
“What the hell... This is insane!”
“M-murderer!”
The corpses had been attacked on their carotid, spine, brain, heart, and other vital areas of the body. It was the work of a seasoned butcher. Red blood poured from the corpses, creating a swamp of blood.
“Urgh...”
“Help... me...”
Some were still alive, and they crawled on the ground like worms. Seong-Hwi crushed the head of one of the Dark Humans by stomping on it as he released his leather boot’s pressurized air, splattering brain matter and skull fragments.
“Murderer? That’s hilarious. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black,” Seong-Hwi mocked as he scanned the Dark Humans, expressing fear, despair, hope, and rage as they stared at Seong-Hwi and the exit behind him. He asked, “Do you want to get out? Unfortunately, this is only the beginning.”
Twelve iridescent wings sprouted from his back.
[Operating Wings of Evolution.]
[Twelve Wings.]
All his stats and the bloodlust emitted through the Thousand-Man Killer trait were enhanced by a multiplier of 3.5.
“Gurgh...”
“How are we supposed to defeat that monster?!”
“H-he’s a High Ranker!”
The thought that they could never defeat Seong-Hwi was imprinted in their minds.
Seong-Hwi smirked as he said, “It’s time for phase two. Let’s speed things up a little.”
Various cards flew out from the Tarot Deck of Destiny, releasing twenty-eight each of swords, wands, pentacles, and cups.
***
Seong-Hwi’s teammates stared at the space where several explosions echoed from. Among them, Ha-Eun and Yong-Su were especially pale from witnessing the massacre.
“Urgh... Why is the commander doing that?”
“The commander comrade sure is terrifying. I’d rather go straight to the afterlife than meet him as an enemy...”
Leo, Enrique, Yuki, and Chaya knew Seong-Hwi’s personality and tendencies because they had worked with him before. Douglas and Evgeny were seasoned veterans, so they believed that Dark Humans should naturally be wiped out. However, Ha-Eun and Yong-Su, members of the pioneering faction whom Evgeny had brought with him, had never seen such mass slaughter. Ha-Eun’s reaction was especially reactive.
“W-why is he doing that? Urpp! I’m gonna vomit!” she said.
This was her fourth year in the Mirror World. She thought she had experienced various things in the Mirror World, including murder, since she was little, but she had never experienced such a bloody and disgusting atrocity. What Seong-Hwi was doing wasn’t even murder; it was nothing but butchery.
“Urpp! Bleghh!” Ha-Eun vomited as she put her hand on a wall.
She stared at Seong-Hwi, who was moving like an emotionless machine that only found pleasure in killing, and wondered, How can he kill so many people without a care? How can he enjoy murder purely for the sake of murder?
She could only think of one reason.
“He’s a psychopath. The commander is insane! He’s enjoying murder. He’s so disgusting! Filthy murderer!” Ha-Eun shouted.
As she was about to continue, Chaya grabbed her by the collar and shoved her into a wall and shouted, “SHUT UP!”
“Kurgh! W-what the hell?!” Ha-Eun said, staring at Chaya’s black eyes blazing furiously.
“Don’t you dare condemn hyung-nim! Don’t you dare call his acts disgusting!”
“L-let go of me!”
“The only people who talk like you are the ones who’ve never seen what it’s like at rock bottom!” Chaya’s hands on Ha-Eun’s collar trembled as he continued, “I’ve seen it! You can’t unsee it when you live on South Earth. You see bastards skinning people alive and sprinkling salt over their open flesh, torturing children as they relish in their agony, and even those who rape and murder daughters in front of their fathers!”
“You—”
“Those are the kinds of bastards that Dark Humans are. They’re vermin that must be exterminated! They harass the weak, drunk on their meager power!”
Chaya had seen many things during his year in the Mirror World. He had seen the atrocities committed by those at the bottom of the barrel. The acts were so horrendous that simply mentioning them felt like a crime. They truly showed the human mind’s endless capacity for imagination.
“Someone has to clean up the shit, even if they’re ostracized by society because they’re covered in it!” Chaya shouted.
Ha-Eun couldn’t find the words as she stared at Chaya’s furiously blazing eyes.
Chaya continued, “Don’t you dare run your mouth when you don’t even know what he’s been through and how many he’s saved!”
He knew Seong-Hwi as a kind person. Seong-Hwi saved him and his little sister. He helped newbies during the Edu attack and went even further to infiltrate Clan Trophy’s headquarters and save the imprisoned humans and other races.
He also read countless articles uploaded to the Network after that incident. His war against Hard Drug, clearing of an S-rank dungeon, and even the establishment of an alliance with Faber. Seong-Hwi worked harder than anyone to help others, saying that it was for self-benefit.
“He’s the hope of humanity, not your Tortoise Emperor! It’s just that Seong-Hwi hyung acts in the shadows. How dare you—”
Just then, Evgeny grabbed Chaya’s hand and said, “That’s enough, kid. Let her go.”
“Don’t you dare disrespect hyung-nim, pioneering faction! You have no right to denigrate—”
Evgeny interrupted, “Who said anything about disrespecting him? That aside, let her go! You’re choking her!”
Chaya returned to his senses and stared at Ha-Eun, whose face was turning blue.
“Ah...” he expressed and loosened his grip.
Ha-Eun coughed, catching her breath in tears.
“Huuu. What are you to Cheon Seong-Hwi for you to be so riled up?” Evgeny asked as he pounded Ha-Eun’s back and stared at Chaya.
Chaya thought about what he was to Seong-Hwi and recalled their conversation in the moonlit hallway of the Lodi Hotel, remembering his emotionless eyes.
“What are you most curious about? I’ll at least answer one question truthfully.”
“Then... what am I to you? A brother or a mercenary?”
“A mercenary.”
Chaya thought, But that’s just what he thinks. Like how he’s free to think whatever way he wants, I’m also free to do the same.
His expression hardened as he said, “I am... his little brother.”
“Cheon Seong-Hwi’s little brother? I was never told he had a brother,” Evgeny mumbled.
Yuki smiled as she uncrossed her arms, and Enrique stared at Chaya with interest as he swept back his blond hair.
Leo approached Chaya, placed his hand on Chaya’s shoulder, and said, “Well said. Seong-Hwi’s little brother, huh? Then you’re my little brother, too. I am Le-Yeyo, a Maasai warrior. I am Seong-Hwi’s best friend.”
Douglas stroked his chin as he said, “Kekek! It’s been a while since I’ve witnessed such an interesting sight. I like how human you are, Chaya Singh Rai. I’ve had jajangmyeon with Seong-Hwi before. In other words, we’re inseparable.”
Chaya stared at the two men and said, “I see. Thank you, Mr. Leo and Mr. Douglas. I am Chaya Singh Rai, a Gurkha warrior. Please call me Chaya.”
“Okay, Chaya. One more thing—my name is Le-Yeyo, not Leo.”
“Oh, so... Leo?”
Leo remained silent momentarily and said reluctantly, “Forget it. Just call me Leo. Huuu. Everyone else does.”
***
The Hyena, Grichuk, the leader of Clan Scavenger, stealthily sprinted toward the dungeon exit and thought, I knew it!
Grichuk had considered the possibility of this being a trap from the moment that his subordinate Rodrygo mentioned there was a gap in the enemy’s encirclement. It was human nature to want to climb when pushed down. Hence, he was almost certain that it was a trap, but he kept the information to himself.
Keke, who cares if it’s a trap? He can’t stop all of us!
Grichuk had united the Dark Humans and led the charge to the trap, simply for self-preservation. He couldn’t care less about others—the only life that mattered was his own. It was the mindset of a true opportunistic Dark Human.
Besides, we can’t beat him, no matter what we do.
He glanced behind him at Cheon Seong-Hwi butchering the Dark Humans. He initially considered fighting back. After all, it was over three thousand against one. He thought he could behead him as he waited for him to be fatigued from the prolonged battle.
However, Seong-Hwi was a true monster. High Rankers were also known as one-man armies, and Grichuk believed Seong-Hwi had also reached that level.
But only a god could fully block this massive tunnel!
Grichuk arrived at the rectangular pillar after turning all his subordinates and other Dark Humans into bait.
I’m saved! Now, all that’s left is to let South Earth know about this incident! That way, we’ll also be able to unite as one in a flash!
He licked his lips as he placed his hand on the rectangular pillar. The surroundings changed from the warm, stuffy underground air to the cool, refreshing night air. He had escaped Subterra and was at the entrance to the Capital’s South Earth, where they had entered Subterra from.
Grichuk shouted ecstatically, “Ahaha! I’m free—huh?”
He suddenly widened his eyes in shock.
“Looks like one escaped,” mumbled a blond middle-aged man with blue eyes as he stared at Grichuk. He was smelling a white carnation in his right hand.
“Remy... Martin?”
Also known as the Maestro, he was an external manipulation High Ranker who used telekinesis.
“Lee Kang-San and Cheon Seong-Hwi are both so self-absorbed. It’s all my way or the highway with them. I wish they’d think about the position of those who have to clean up their messes...” Remy mumbled.
Kang-San had headed to Elvenheim, and Evgeny had entered Subterra with Seong-Hwi. In the end, Remy was left as the only member of the pioneering faction and had to discuss the alliance details with the Steel King, Bafor. Not only that, but before Seong-Hwi entered Subterra, he requested that Remy guard the entrance to kill any Dark Human who escaped, if there were any.
“Well, I don’t mind helping since I like Operation Pest Control,” Remy said as he let go of the white carnation.
The flower floated in the air, and thousands of petals blew out of the stem, filling the surroundings.
[Activating Unique Skill: Memories of Father’s Day.]
“Goddammit—!” Grichuk’s screams echoed throughout the empty South Earth entrance.