Chapter 188

Swaaaaaaaah!

Poison Flash was simple, yet immense.

As if it meant to melt everything in its path, a wave of condensed green energy swallowed Zima whole.

That Black Dragon Wave he threw?

Psssssk!

It crumbled away like burnt-out ash.

[Water Witch : Maxi? What is that skill? ]

[Absolute Unrivaled: It seems to be the Team leader’s work. In… credible. ]

[Spring Apostle: Team leader is the Team leader, I guess.]

A few watching the battlefield voiced their astonishment in the chat.

“……”

Whoooosh!

A headwind whipped back from the blast.

Zima, who had tried to endure it somehow, vanished without leaving even a corpse behind.

[The rankings have been updated.]

[Please refer to the World Ranking Board.]

“Ha.”

As the wind coolly swept the hair from my forehead, I was impressed.

This Poison Flash.

It was even more incredible than I thought.

No matter how many times I’d beaten him, he was still a high-ranker—yet he disappeared in a single blow.

And since the rankings updated automatically, Zima was definitely dead.

He was ranked 79th, so everyone below him would move up one spot.

“Yay! I’m rank 79 now!”

Pzzzzzt!

Floa shouted excitedly, still fighting Bong Jaeyoung in his monstrous state.

“That’s my master! So cool! To take down the infamous Zima in one shot! Ah, and Master! I have a favor to ask, don’t interfere! I’ll show you I can take this guy down somehow! Got it?”

Floa was thrilled by the evenly matched battle.

Her eyes brimmed with competitive spirit.

“Go ahead.”

I replied lightly.

‘By the way, she called me master… Is she really volunteering to be a slave now? Well, it’s no loss for me.’

Kraaaaaaaah!

Boom! Boom! KABOOM! Boom!

Bong Jaeyoung roared and charged, and Floa met him head-on.

‘Bong Jaeyoung.’

I stared blankly at him, eyes rolled back and drool dripping from his mouth.

‘I need to deal with him quickly too.’

Was he in the top 100 now?

‘Anyway.’

There was no time to stand still just because I’d dealt with one person.

And I didn’t have the luxury of helping Floa.

Why?

Sssssst!

Because a swirling mist announced someone’s arrival.

– “Kek kek, the main character has finally appeared, I see?”

The Elder hummed.

– “And mist, at that… Looking at that Formation and the flow of energy, I’m certain. That bastard, it’s Dang Hwi-pyeong, all right.”

“……”

Listening to him, I stared ahead.

A Russian man emerged from the mist.

World Rank 69.

The Insect King, Andrey.

A man a full nine ranks higher than me.

“You.”

He called to me with a stiff expression.

What was chilling was the emotion on his face.

He couldn’t care less about Zima’s death.

Then again, would there be any camaraderie among villains?

They were the type to backstab you at any moment.

Thud.

He walked slowly forward.

Pssssss!

The mist thickened.

“Could it be…”

And the words he threw out next surprised me more than I expected.

“Could it be. This is a completely ridiculous thing to say, but you. Do you know a person called Master of the Ten Thousand Arts?”

“……!”

Ten Thousand Arts.

To think that name would come from a ranker I’d never seen before.

– “Khahahahahaha!”

The Elder burst into a mad laugh, as if he found it amusing.

– “It’s really… It was really you! Dang Hwi-pyeong!”

“……”

Wow.

Did two people who’d actually died meet again as ghosts in another world?

What were the chances?

In this vast universe, of all places.

What were the odds of being summoned to this planet and then encountering each other through Hunters as hosts?

– “Kek kek, well, it’s true I feel a certain gladness, as they say even a bad connection is a connection.”

The Elder shook his head.

– “But that depends on the connection. Dang Hwi-pyeong is the very definition of human trash.”

‘Yes, Master. From what this disciple can see, I think so too.’

Someone who uses people as test subjects and turns them into monsters can’t be called human.

– “Therefore, answer him.”

‘What should I say?’

At my question, the Elder came closer and whispered something in my ear.

‘Ah. I should say that?’

That wasn’t difficult.

I repeated what I’d heard, spitting it at Andrey.

“Huh, so what people say is true. An insect was raising an insect.”

“……!”

Andrey’s expression hardened abruptly.

He clapped his hands over his ears, face grave.

As if he were trying to endure someone screaming at the top of their lungs.

‘Why do I feel like I know what’s happening without him saying a word?’

With a smirk, I kept going.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue once.

“Pests must be exterminated.”

Shnk!

I raised my spear.

The Elder was curious why this phenomenon was happening, but it didn’t seem like that bastard would know.

And even if he did, I had no desire to debate with a bug.

I felt the same way.

Andrey was just an enemy to kill.

Nothing more, nothing less.

“……It is you.”

Andrey bit his lip and spat the words out.

“Are you, like the elder floating above me, also carrying something called Ten Thousand Arts?”

“……”

I didn’t answer.

What I’d said just now was only at the Elder’s request.

I had no hobby of conversing with bugs.

Fwoong!

I sprinted forward at high speed and thrust my spear at his head.

Before the tip could reach him—

Riiiiip!

With the sound of a book tearing, the distance between us widened immensely.

Almost 300 meters.

At the same time, the mist grew even denser.

– “Kek kek, I thought you’d developed a lot, but you haven’t changed a bit. Still using a Formation like this.”

Formation.

Andrey was using a Formation to defend or attack me.

‘This is… A Formation that keeps a constant distance no matter how much I run?’

‘Elder.’

– “What is it.”

‘How do I overcome something like this?’

I asked.

He was the Elder who’d faced Dang Hwi-pyeong in the past.

And since he’d spoken earlier as if he recognized this Formation, I naturally assumed he’d know.

However—

– “How would I know that?”

‘……Pardon?’

I replied, dumbfounded.

– “In the first place, I never bothered to learn something as tedious as Formations. I didn’t even include them in Ten Thousand Arts.”

‘……?’

– “Kek kek, things like Formations are only learned by cowards like Dang Hwi-pyeong. A true powerhouse ignores such things and solves problems with strength. Therefore, don’t you even think about learning such a pathetic art.”

‘……I see.’

Somehow, it was a very Elder-like way of thinking.

So what should I do?

‘First of all, Andrey is weak.’

He was only at a high rank because the bugs he commanded were effective and his Formation was mystical.

My summons were already handling the monsters he’d made just fine.

‘Think, think.’

To be honest, I wasn’t that worried.

Because I was someone who’d cleared Dungeons and trials far more difficult than this.

‘If it’s a Formation that constantly keeps a certain distance…’

Fwoosh!

‘There’s only one method I can think of.’

‘I can just use a bow, can’t I?’

Archery was clearly included in my Thousand Skills.

I changed my Godslayer-grade weapon into a magnificent bow and drew the string.

I’d practiced with Eldrin every training session.

So I could at least shoot properly.

‘Wait a minute?’

Rather than just shooting—

What would happen if I fired Poison Flash through the bow?

Poison Flash was a skill without weapon restrictions.

If so, couldn’t I deliver that immense destructive power from long range?

– “Hoh, you bastard……!”

It was then that the Elder looked at me with a moved expression.

– “Are you a genius…? Hah, to think my disciple’s head works so fast…! What a marvelous thing! Indeed, did the effects of the massage also extend to the brain?”

‘No, Elder… Is that an insult, or a compliment?’

Besides that—

‘You’re the one who created that skill. Why are you asking me?’

– “It’s a compliment, you brat! Quickly, draw your bow and shoot. I’m looking forward to it.”

‘Ah, yes.’

Even though I felt a little uneasy—

Swish.

I nocked an arrow that appeared on its own and aimed at the distant Andrey.

“Hoo.”

Aim, breathe, fire.

The three-step procedure Eldrin had taught me.

And in between—

Wooooong!

I gathered my energy.

===

“……”

At that moment, Andrey wore a pained expression, hands clamped over his eardrums.

》“That damn Ten Thousand Aaaaaarts!”

》“What? Pests must be exterminated? That damn old geezer remembered me!”

》“What are you doiiiiiing! Kill that child this instant! Tear that bastard to shreds before my very eyes! If you don’t, I’ll modify the Vile Dokgo and melt your brain!”

Dang Hwi-pyeong, unable to hide his excitement, kept erupting in fury.

‘Can’t he please just shut up.’

Andrey didn’t know what had happened between the Elder and Elder of the Ten Thousand Arts in the past.

But there were two things he worried about.

1. That Dang Hwi-pyeong would be uncooperative.

2. That he could really modify the Vile Dokgo.

The second threat, in particular, sent shivers down his spine even hearing it.

‘First.’

He’d created distance with the guy using the Formation Dang Hwi-pyeong had taught him.

‘But…’

Something felt off.

Like everything he’d carefully prepared was being shattered.

The fortress of Formations made of Dokgo had been broken.

Zima was dead.

The monsters he’d painstakingly created were locked evenly against some skeleton troop and a mafia-like group.

And the Steel Fist he’d diligently tamed for three days was being handled by Thunderstrike.

That led to a 1-on-1 with Joo Donghoon.

But it felt like this Joo Donghoon was tied to Dang Hwi-pyeong’s past.

A past where he’d been completely and utterly defeated.

‘Dammit.’

Is this the right move?

Wouldn’t ignoring him and running be the way to save my own life?

》“You baaaaastard! I asked what you are doing! Use a Formation or whatever and make that damn bastard submit right now! Can’t you understand? If you want to achieve the unification of the world you dream of, you must get rid of that damn bastard first!”

But Andrey couldn’t.

Because Dang Hwi-pyeong, glaring daggers from behind him, was far more terrifying.

“……”

Rumble-rumble!

Andrey kept his mouth shut and spread his hand wide, drawing up his energy.

‘I have to make the most of the Formation.’

Dang Hwi-pyeong’s Formation was mystical.

To the opponent, he was far away.

But to him, the opponent appeared right before his eyes.

And that wasn’t all.

His attacks would land.

Shnk!

Andrey silently unleashed the energy he’d gathered.

Kwagagaga!

An energy blast boasting immense destructive power shot forth.

“Devour him, my insects.”

Just as the strike—unfolding like hundreds of insects crawling with a disgusting sound—was about to hit Joo Donghoon—

Whoooooosh!

“Hup?!”

Andrey’s eyes flew open.

A terrifying green energy was flying straight at him.

‘How…?’

He’d definitely cast the Formation.

There was no time to think.

Andrey threw himself to the ground.

However—

“Keuk!”

He clutched his left arm as if it had been grazed.

Even with his reaction speed, he still took the impact.

“……A poison arrow?”

Amazingly, Joo Donghoon—who’d been wielding a spear, sword, and shield—was now using a bow as well.

‘What the…’

Andrey was confused.

Wasn’t he—

A Necromancer?

Why was he so good with weapons?

》“You foolish baaastard! Ten Thousand Arts is literally ten thousand arts! He uses more than ten thousand different techniques! Move the Jade Balance you placed in the Water Ki to the Fire Ki right now!”

“Ah, I understand!”

At Dang Hwi-pyeong’s urgent command, Andrey quickly modified the Formation as he’d been taught.

Clutching his grazed arm, he ran and moved the tools he’d arranged as ordered.

》“You now have seven more clones of yourself. That alone should be confusing enough. Quickly! Tear him apart this instant!”

Dang Hwi-pyeong’s enraged shout rang thunderously in Andrey’s eardrums.