Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 338: Liberation (3)
**Korean Awakener Association.**
The association was currently in a state of panic due to an unforeseen variable.
It was unavoidable.
All efforts to prevent the gate from opening had been in vain.
*Rustle, rustle!*
The interior had turned into chaos.
Trying to sort through the endless reports and various situations was practically impossible.
“The safety mechanisms have all been breached. The g-gate… it’s opening!”
At someone’s shout, everyone’s gaze turned to the massive screen in the center.
“This can’t be…”
Association President Han Sangjin also stared blankly at the opening gate.
A simultaneous outbreak on a global scale was already spiraling out of control.
*Screeeeech!*
As the branches with countless mouths completely emerged from the gate…
…a hellish cataclysm began.
“Ahhhhhh!”
“Aaaaaah!”
“My eyes! My… my eyes!”
“Nghhhh!”
Players stationed outside the gate to prepare for any contingency screamed in agony.
They collapsed, blood pouring from their eyes and mouths.
Even dozens of mental defense spells and top-tier armor were of no help.
Some rankers barely survived, but that was all.
*Rumble, rumble, rumble!*
As the branches swept the surroundings, a red mist of blood arose.
A single, light movement.
With that, even the seasoned rankers who had been through countless battles were wiped out.
The military unit that had been tightly surrounding the gate area also turned to ash without being able to put up proper resistance.
In the face of such devastation, the control rooms of the Awakeners’ Associations in various countries became even more frantic.
“The Olympus Guild’s Assault Team 3, which went to the Paris C-15 Gate, has lost all vital signs.”
“The area around Gate A-01 in Washington, USA… 1 km has been wiped out. There are no survivors.”
“The Gandhara Guild, which went to support in China, has also sent out an emergency SOS signal!”
Reports poured in from everywhere.
But.
The biggest problem hadn’t even begun yet.
What had crossed over so far were just the branches.
The main body still hadn’t been revealed through which gate it would emerge.
Right at that moment.
“Th-there’s a new magical reaction detected.”
Another report came in.
A place from which the most powerful magic emanated, not just from the branches.
“B-00. Gapcheon Gate…”
The worst-case scenario had unfolded.
The main body would manifest in Korea.
“……”
Han Sangjin pressed his lips tightly together.
There were only about 10 minutes left.
A heavy silence, like the depths of the ocean, hung over the room.
“Evacuate everyone through spatial teleportation magic… Withdraw the military units as well.”
“Yes? B-but…”
“No matter how many there are, it won’t help. It will only add to the body count.”
At first, he had thought they didn’t know.
Perhaps humanity could fight and survive.
If this many rankers and players were fully prepared, maybe it could work.
However, upon tasting even a fragment of the magic emanating from Shub-Niggurath’s body…
He realized all such hopes were utterly futile.
This was not something that could be fought against.
No matter if they were the assault teams of the largest guilds, or even the most renowned rankers…
They could not turn this situation around.
Nonetheless…
There was one, just one.
If there was a sliver of a chance left… ‘Player Kang Jinhyuk.’
It would likely be in the hands of one man.
Han Sangjin’s gaze turned to the screen once more.
Surely, all the players would be on the island that had appeared in the East Sea.
There was no time for them to return within such a short period.
Yet, why?
Han Sangjin still could not tear his eyes away from the screen.
As if he believed that someone would appear on that screen.
***
[The gate has opened!]
The chains surrounding the gate shattered into pieces.
Beyond the now completely open space…
“…”
Shub-Niggurath gazed upon the world.
The blue sky and the river.
The endlessly sprawling cityscape.
This was the world of humans outside the tower.
And the reason it had come here…
Boredom.
Yes. If one were to put it bluntly, that was the reason.
This was the place where insignificant creatures had repelled the Black Goat.
*Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble!*
A terrifying magic flowed out from beyond the gate.
Just by touching it, the grass burned black, and the river dried up.
An unimaginable abyss.
If there were an end to curses, this would be it.
However…
“…?”
Something caught Shub-Niggurath’s eye.
In the deserted city where everyone had already fled, a few people stood with their weapons drawn, waiting for it.
Of course, it was laughable.
No matter how much it was constrained by the system, it could kill them with a mere breath.
But, due to a trivial curiosity, it momentarily delayed killing them.
“Humans, are you not afraid of me?”
*Screeeech!*
Just by speaking, the steel frames of the buildings twisted like candy.
Red smoke rose through the shattered windows.
“Indeed… it’s quite impressive. It’s not an exaggeration to call it beyond regulation.”
“To hear my voice and still maintain your sanity. Impressive.”
Normally, just facing it would be enough to drive someone mad or make them faint.
Sometimes, they would even die.
The fact that they endured it meant they were quite exceptional players.
Moreover…
Those next to them were also maintaining their sanity.
Its interest grew a bit more.
These humans might be able to provide some amusement to break the monotony it had felt for eons.
“I will ask for your names.”
Shub-Niggurath’s gaze shifted to each person.
“Kang Jinhyuk.”
“Chun Yoosung.”
“I’m Teresa.”
“I am Wolyoung, the sword serving my lord.”
“I’m Andrea.”
“I am the proud head of Ataraxia and of pure blood… Alice von! Mmph!”
“I am the Dark Emperor. Wuho Law of the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
Each of them spoke in turn before Shub-Niggurath.
A total of seven.
Few in number, but each one among the strongest.
At least, by human standards.
“Interesting. For a brief diversion, this isn’t bad.”
*Hehehehehe!*
*Screeeech!*
Countless branches burst into mad laughter.
[Shub-Niggurath uses ‘Primordial Language’.]
With a blood-red status window, a moment of blankness occurred in their memories.
Although it lasted just a mere 0.1 seconds, it left them completely defenseless.
Despite using ‘Mental Barrier,’ ‘Mandala,’ and even a seven-star formation, they ended up like this.
“Is this what a final boss is…?”
Jinhyuk barely managed to calm his trembling arm.
Honestly, it made him feel nauseous.
But…
He couldn’t falter here.
From now on, a battle that defies common sense would begin.
“I ask everyone to focus on drawing its attention as much as possible. Here, Teresa and Master’s roles are particularly important.”
“Leave it to us, Jinhyuk.”
“To think about fighting such a monster. Truly, you are a disciple worthy of me. Well, if worse comes to worst, what’s beyond the North Funeral Mountain? Let’s rampage to our heart’s content this time.”
Teresa and the Dark Emperor stepped forward.
*Wooong!*
‘Blessing of the Stars’ and…
*Pazzzzt!*
‘Dark Heavenly Demon Art’ were manifested.
Simultaneously.
*Boom!*
*Bang!*
Teresa and the Dark Emperor moved in different directions.
Left and right.
Massive bursts of energy exploded from both sides.
Teresa’s sword, infused with holy power, cut horizontally, while the Dark Sovereign’s fist, condensed with fearsome energy, drove forward.
However…
*Boom!*
Even attacks that could kill a high-ranking creature in one blow had no effect on Shub-Niggurath.
It was as if an invisible wall blocked them.
The sword and fist halted in mid-air.
“Is that all?”
Shub-Niggurath muttered, as if bored.
From anticipation to disappointment.
Its emotions changed.
That’s when it happened. The atmosphere around them changed.
“It’s coming!”
The Dark Emperor urgently shouted.
And with that warning…
*Shing, shing, shing!*
Sharp winds sliced through the air.
*Sizzle!*
Red steam rose from the cut air.
That was close.
If they had been a moment slower, they would have been sliced in half, along with the dimension.
“Just by looking at it… No, it attacked with that power just by thinking?”
Alice added, sounding almost exhausted.
The embodiment of thought.
As a supreme being, Shub-Niggurath possessed the ability to turn imagination into reality.
Everyone saw this as a hopeless situation, but Jinhyuk, on the contrary, found hope.
He had dodged the trickiest and sharpest initial blow.
That meant they could still respond effectively.
“Alice.”
“Yes.”
“Prepare the strongest attack you can muster. When I give the signal, we strike then.”
“…Are you really going to try this?”
“Everyone is risking their lives, so we should at least cross this single-log bridge. Let’s give it a shot and leave an unforgettable mark on that thing’s face.”
“…Alright. I’ll do it.”
Alice nodded slightly.
[Unique Holy Spear ‘Revelation of Genesis’ is activated!]
A crimson ring appeared behind Alice.
*Wooong!*
All the moisture around them turned into red droplets of blood.
Soon after, they began to form into thin, long spears.
The most powerful strike, using all her magic.
With this…
Jinhyuk drew Kruger and his saber.
Now, it was a matter of time.
How long they could hold out, even a few seconds more. That was the key to everyone’s survival.
***
They needed to buy time.
They had to create an opening.
With that single thought, the Dark Emperor took a stand at the front line, cutting off his retreat.
*Boom!*
*Boom!*
The Dark Heavenly Demon Art, with the power of a seven-star formation, made the heavens and earth tremble.
But.
*Screeeech!*
*Hehehe!*
There were too many.
No matter how deep his internal energy was or how brilliant his techniques were…
Against an overwhelming number, all of that seemed to lose its luster.
“Ugh…!”
With a heavy impact, his breathing faltered.
It was dangerous.
He thought so at that moment.
[Teresa activates her 2nd Awakening skill ‘Call of the Stars’!]
A dazzling meteor shower poured down from the sky.
A strike filled with the power of the stars descended upon Shub-Niggurath.
*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*
A scene that could be described as a carpet bombing.
Countless lights converged at a single point.
“I’ll support you!”
Teresa, clad in white armor, poured all her magic into it.
She had long surpassed her limits; the color had drained from her face.
“Thank you.”
The Dark Emperor, catching his breath, expressed his gratitude.
And immediately, he lunged towards Shub-Niggurath’s main body.
*Thud!*
One step.
The stride imbued with internal energy spread across the ground.
*Thud!*
Two steps.
The distance closed, not by much.
Still, the cracked ground seemed to tell how heavy the next step would be.
*Boom!*
With the third step.
All the energy felt from the Dark Emperor’s body disappeared.
It wasn’t a mistake.
The technique wasn’t over yet.
It just…
All the energy, compressed to the extreme, had seeped inward.
Teresa’s meteor shower should have inflicted at least some damage on Shub-Niggurath’s exterior.
“This is all of me.”
The Dark Sovereign’s fist cut through the air.