Chapter 101: All-Out War (2)
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 101: All-Out War (2)
Clang!
A martial hunter wielding a shield was pushed back several meters.
The iron plate was dented.@@novelbin@@
The strengthening circuit engraved inside was crushed, and some of the shield's effectiveness was lost.
"Tch. These guys. Are they really undead?"
The hunter who was knocked back steadied his trembling right hand and shouted.
It is well-known common sense in the hunter industry that the undead are inferior to monsters of the same level.
Since Skeleton Warriors are 3 Star, they should have been easily dealt with by the Rakshasa Guild hunters who were selected as at least 3 Star.
"Losing a power struggle to mere skeletons?"
"Be careful. These guys are unusual."
The Rakshasa Guild hunters, who were at the forefront of the group, were shocked by the combat power of the Skeleton Warriors, which was beyond common sense.
The undead, who were superior in spec to hunters of the same level wearing various items.
They were careless and their formation was almost broken in an instant.
"You idiots. Don't let your guard down! Priests!"
[Holy Cross]
[Divine Wall]
The Skeleton Warriors, exposed to the intense light, faltered for a moment.
The white wall, made with divine power, protected the martial hunters whose posture had been broken.
"Straighten the ranks."
At Oh Jeongsu's command, the martial hunters regained their broken posture and once again faced the Skeleton Warriors.
They were undead who were superior in spec to hunters of the same level due to the success of reinforcement.
However, when they clashed again, the hunters narrowly gained an advantage against the Skeleton Warrior group.
"Even if they're strong, they're just skeletons."
"Their movements are obvious."
It takes an average of about 4 years for an ordinary hunter to reach 3 Star.
A level that can be reached by hunting monsters at least thousands of times in the gate.
On the other hand, the Skeleton Warriors swung their weapons in a few fixed patterns like AI, so there was a difference in combat experience.
Another difference is that.
[Striking]
[Full Body Blow]
[Power Bash]
Martial hunters learned various skills and knew how to use them appropriately.
"Mercenaries, advance. Defeat the undead."
"Time to earn your keep."
"Were we supposed to hunt undead?"
The mercenaries advanced according to their employer's orders, even though they looked puzzled.
At the time when the rear troops joined, the Rakshasa Guild members used their skills to break the Skeleton Warriors' formation.
"Kill!"
Crack—
The mercenaries used their numerical superiority to destroy the undead without much damage.
The momentum of the Skeleton Warriors, which had been weakened, decreased.
Rakshasa Guild members retreated a step, watching the situation.
The front and rear were naturally switched.
Mercenaries stood in front of the group, but very few people noticed.
"Advance."
Oh Jeongsu issued the next order before the mercenaries who came to the front noticed anything strange.
'Good. Everything is going according to plan so far.'
Except for the fact that the Skeleton Warriors are abnormally strong, everything is as discussed in advance.
Switching the positions of the mercenaries and Rakshasa Guild members during combat.
They created a structure in which the power of their allies was kept to a minimum and the mercenaries were forced to take on the consumption.
-Kekel. Let's run away.
-Kekel. Enemy. Strong.
When about 50 of them fell, the remaining Skeleton Warriors turned their backs and ran into the fog.
"Huh. Undead using a strategic retreat?"
Oh Jeongsu couldn't hide his absurdity.
It was unheard of for undead of the same level to be over-spec, and it was unheard of for low-level undead to run away.
Common sense was collapsing one after another, so he couldn't come to his senses.
'No. The important thing is different.'
News that Arhan Guild had secretly conveyed.
-Cheon Yoojin may be able to handle the undead.
He thought it was only in the realm of possibility, but at this point, he could be sure.
"Advance. We mustn't give him time."
If more Skeleton Warriors with over-specifications appear, the Rakshasa Guild will also have to suffer damage.
They had to push hard before the enemy increased their power.
The Rakshasa Guild group advanced into the dim current without hesitation.
How far did they go?
A 3-meter-high wall blocked the group's path.
"Bones?"
"What the hell is this place? What is this place?"
When the Skeleton Warriors stood in front of the bone wall, the bones that were staggered and erected moved left and right, creating a path.
When the mercenaries who were chasing after them stood in front of the wall, the split wall returned to its original state.
Oh Jeongsu issued the next order.
"Make a way."
"Yes, sir."
"You folks with axes and maces, show some strength."
"Are the mages just playing around?"
Thump! Thump!
Like the pre-cataclysmic dividing line, the bone wall stretched out long.
They only needed to break it as much as the Rakshasa Guild could advance.
The wall had high resistance to physical attacks, but it staggered greatly when it received magic attacks.
As part of the white wall collapsed, a path was opened for about 10 people to pass through at the same time.
'Trying to buy time?'
The reason why the bone wall and the undead summons were lingering around was obvious.
Oh Jeongsu had no intention of giving Yoojin time.
Even after that.
The bone wall, which was erected at 50-meter intervals, blocked the group's path twice, but it didn't last even a minute before making way.
"I will give 5 times the commission fee to those who find the target."
"But who is the target?"
"Hunter."
The mercenaries muttered, ‘That's right,’ as if they knew it.
The route was too bizarre to be called monster poaching.
If the reason for the week-long hardship was 'people', then the reason for their obsession with security could be explained.
"Well, let's take a look at who it is."
"You just have to find them."
The moment the mercenaries broke down part of the third wall and entered, a black object cut through the dim fog and fell into the middle of the leading mercenary group.
* * *
Kwaaaang—!
The ground shook as if a shell had fallen.
Hunters near the wall had their ears ringing from the delayed impact sound.
Blood scattered amidst the dirt clods flying in all directions.
The arms and legs of the hunters who were within the bombardment range were also caught in the shock and tumbled around here and there.
"Sh-shit!!!!"
"Priest! Priest!!!!"
"Agh, it hurts. It hurts!"
"What flew in?!"
1 death.
3 seriously injured.
7 minor injuries.
It was not a big loss compared to the size of the group, but the momentum of the mercenaries, which had been heated up by the unexpected attack, cooled down like cold water had been poured on it.
'It's just the beginning, and it's going to be troublesome if they're already losing momentum.'
Yoojin, who was surveying the battlefield with Ghost Eye, sneered.
‘Heh heh. I've put so much into this. I might as well savor every moment.’
[Activate the defense function of the Tower of the Dead (4,6).]
All six towers were installed in the Necropolis.
The first three were made, but thanks to the Rakshasa Guild arriving later than expected, he was able to create additional structures.
〔Only three have a range that reaches. If you drag them further, the firepower will be maximized, won't it?〕
'There is a possibility that there are hunters with excellent breakthrough ability, even if not as good as Kim Mijeong.'
The effective range of the [Tower of the Dead] is up to 500 meters.
One was placed near the black arrowhead tower, and the other five were built at a slight distance so that the ranges overlapped appropriately.
Because he could not predict which direction the Rakshasa Guild would attack from, the firepower was dispersed.
〔But during the spider hunt, didn't you predict the path of the little humans?〕
'There was a Black Herb farm then.'
Another difference from that time is that he is wary of corpses.
Well, everything is as expected.
Since the Arhan Guild had finished investigating Yoojin, it was natural that some of his abilities would be revealed.
〔Khahahaha. You're awfully calm considering your predicament.〕
'Me? Why? I've prepared far too much to even consider this a crisis.’
Neither Kronos nor the Rakshasa Guild has yet grasped the significance of fighting on a necromancer's turf.
"You stupid bastards. Prepare defense magic and skills!"
As Oh Jeongsu's sharp voice whipped the mercenaries and Rakshasa hunters in the group, black objects flew in from both sides with a sonic boom.
Kwaaang—! Kwang!
The impact sounds that occurred in succession.
Damage also poured out from both wings of the group.
"Bones?"
"It's the power of a 4 Star magic."
"Priests, keep that barrier up! One hit without it, and you're finished!"
‘Interesting.’
Yoojin observed that the Rakshasa Guild's flanks were reacting more quickly than the main force. He stroked his chin, considering this.
'They used their heads a bit.'
〔Why do you judge that?〕
'The main force deliberately turned to the side and pushed the mercenaries into a possible trap.'
The initial attack caused over ten casualties, but the subsequent barrage was far less effective.
It was becoming clear that the hunters stationed on the perimeter were significantly more skilled than those in the center of the formation.
'It won't end so easily, huh?'
He had worried that the home-field advantage might make it end too anticlimactically.
He's glad that those were just unnecessary worries.
Otherwise, he would have felt resentful for working so hard for two weeks without a single break.
-Go.
Yoojin issued instructions to the undead connected by the Bonds of the Spirit.
Undead emerged from the direction where the bombardment had just come from.
【Master's enemies. Destroy.】
【I'll burn them all.】
The group's flanks came under attack from Choi Hyungtae, Dark Minion Lee Seungyeon, and their undead horde, created with [Dead Rise].
Every ten seconds, a black shell, imbued with concentrated spirit power and launched from the tower, detonated with the force of a 4 Star magic.
"Spread out the formation widely. Push back the undead and advance."
"W-We'll retreat."
"You idiot. Do you think the undead will just watch while we break down these walls?"
Breaking down the walls just enough for the group to advance became a poison.
It was also difficult to send some of the hunters back to check the [Tower of the Dead].
And even advancing was not possible at will because the undead were swarming from all directions.
"Priests, concentrate on defense. Mages, wipe out the undead swarming on the right flank."
It's not the time to allocate mana.
Only by pouring out the firepower saved up now can a variable be created.
Oh Jeongsu released the mana that he had rearranged with difficulty while commanding.
[Chain Lightning]
Krrrrr—!
The lightning created by a 5 Star mage tore through the Skeleton Warriors.
More than ten were turned to dust in one blow.
"Damn it."
Not being able to wipe out 3 Star undead with [Chain Lightning] released at maximum output.
Oh Jeongsu, whose pride was hurt, spat out a rough curse.
'What kind of undead are they!'
Thwack!
Another massive explosion rocked the battlefield.
The chaotic situation prevented the group's mages from effectively retaliating.
Meanwhile, their unseen enemy beyond the fog had free rein.
A desperate gambit was needed.
"You there, you!"
"Yes."
"Follow me for a moment."
Oh Jeongsu gritted his teeth and quickly moved his legs.
* * *
[Gust Walk]
Kim Mijeong leaped over the front line built with Bone Wall.
Though Skeleton Warriors throughout the territory targeted her, a flash of her dagger was all it took.
Skulls split, and bones clattered to the ground.
"Ugh, after all that work, it'd be a pain if this ends too quickly."
She grumbled, infiltrating deeper into enemy territory.
A fireball, a 3 Star Fireball spell, hurtled towards her, unerringly predicting her path.
Woo-oong—!
The blue aura imbued in her dagger cut through the fireball.
It's a spell that originally explodes as soon as it touches something.
However, Kim Mijeong's aura interfered with the rearranged magic structure, completely erasing the power contained in the sphere.
"Kihi. You think you can stop me with something like th—?"
[Quick Reload]
[Fireball]
In less than a second, another fireball was launched. She swung her dagger again, but—
This time, she couldn't completely nullify it, and the fireball exploded.
"Damn it. My clothes got dirty."
Stopping in her tracks, Kim Mijeong brushed off the ashes on her equipment.
Jo Seungchul's jaw twitched resentfully as he saw her emerge from the explosion unscathed.
【The opponent is a 6 Star pinnacle hunter. It would be strange if it worked.】
【That's right. You should focus on supporting us instead of recklessly stepping forward to die.】
Fafnir and Song Myeongseok stepped forward.
Kim Mijeong's eyes widened.
"Undead wielding dual swords."
【Are you talking about me?】
"You went to that uninhabited island in the East Sea, right?"
【Yes, I did.】
"Kihihi, wow. This is really awesome!"
Kim Mijeong couldn't contain her laughter at this unexpected stroke of luck.
"You have no idea the trouble I went through trying to track that guy down!"
【So, you followed his trail all the way here?】
"Total coincidence. I swear."
Kim Mijeong brought her dagger close to her lips and lightly kissed it.
"Tsk. There's a lot I want to ask your master, so this is perfect."
【Huhu. If you want to ask questions, you must first defeat us.】
"That's exactly what I intend to do."
Kim Mijeong slowly approached.
Fafnir and Song Myeongseok scattered to the left and right, then launched their attack almost simultaneously.
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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