Chapter 666
Immediate after the incident with Clemence, Kang Jinhyuk returned to the village where the Spirit Beasts resided.
The expressions of the members who heard the whole story stiffened.
It was only natural to become serious when a formidable enemy intervened out of nowhere.
“The King of Light Spirits has fallen into their hands, you say.”
Chun Yoosung fidgeted with his sword.
“The timing was bad. They came with a deliberate plan.”
“I, too, have heard of the Returnees. I’ve even met a few of them. Most were quiet, but some were real bastards.”
Alice tapped her chin with a finger.
As a True Ancestor who had lived for a long time, her experience was extensive.
“Is there any way to know where those Returnees went? Just knowing the location would give us more options for responding. I can be of some help in finding entry routes or shortcuts.”
“They seem to have moved toward the Fairy Spring.”
In response to Pesis’s question, Jinhyuk revealed the location he had tracked using the remaining light residue from Livolt.
Then, a heavy groan came from the Elder.
“That’s a place beyond our influence. Of all places, they had to go there.”
The Fairy Spring was, as the name suggested, a sanctuary in the canyon imbued with the essence of the fairies.
Even the Spirit Beasts, who respected each other, did not approach it carelessly out of respect.
If they chose that place, they must have had their reasons.
“We’ll have to fight there to capture the canyon and retrieve the King of Light Spirits.”
“Losing the location advantage is painful, but isn’t this a much better situation than dealing with those Primordial beings or whatever?”
“Yeah. Even with simple calculations, our chances of winning are ten times higher. Yeah.”
“Our CEO is a monster who even blocked the Covenant.”
“In front of the boss, Returnees or Divinity are just paper tigers.”
“Mogiii!”
The reliable members of the Veteran Corporation showed overwhelming support.
His heart was slightly touched.
He had suffered a lot trying to coax and appease these unruly kids, but he felt that his sacrifices and efforts had been somewhat rewarded.
“By the way, I’ve been wondering since earlier, what exactly is that human?”
Alice pointed to someone with her finger.
The raid leader, who had lost all his comrades to Clemence, was standing blankly in one corner.
“He’s a loser who chose the wrong side. But he’s perceptive enough to survive on his own.”
He was the only one spared from the wrath, thanks to not drinking the Primordial Blood.
He had lost everything in an instant and seemed to be in great shock. Nevertheless, one goal was clear.
Revenge for his Swingbat comrades who had gone through thick and thin with him. Whether he became a cripple or went to their side in death, he had to finish this last task before moving on.
“I’ll do whatever you tell me to do. I’ll give you any information I have. So, let me join the fight.”
“Can you tell me everything about Seo Jeonghee? I want to know who else she’s made a contract with and how she can move.”
“I don’t know everything, but I have data saved on a USB just in case. I’ll give it all to you.”
“Not bad. And one more thing.”
Jinhyuk nodded and added.
“I’m the type who can’t sleep well unless I repay anyone who messes with me a hundredfold, but moving outside the Tower is very restrictive because of the law.”
“You want me to arrange a private meeting with Seo Jeonghee?”
“Wow. As expected of a raid leader, you’re good at understanding things.”
He would be able to handle the dirty work outside the Tower, so he was qualified enough to join the Veteran Corporation as an intern.
‘I haven’t copied his Unique Ability yet, either.’
It was one of the lowest-grade Unique Holy Spears, but it was useful enough as material for fusing with other Unique Holy Spears.
Now that the direction was set, it was time to find out what the other side was thinking.
Jinhyuk took out one of the cards he had planned.
—
A valley with beautiful, overflowing springs. Unfamiliar intruders appeared in the haven where cute fairies lived peacefully.
“Cute kids. I want to see those happy smiles twist in pain as soon as possible. Oh, no. I should put a few of them alive in formalin and put them in the exhibition hall!”
“You may be a Returnee, but your tastes are really hard to get used to.”
“Hehe! Why? Isn’t it good because it’s honest and straightforward?”
The Returnees moved toward the spring.
“Huh?”
“What is it?”
“Yeah, what is it?”
The fairies, who had been playing among themselves, tilted their heads as they looked at the outsiders.
It was customary for ordinary residents, as well as the gods, not to touch the fairies. This was because they had built an ecosystem isolated from the outside world and had no vested interests with any race.
Moreover, if the fairies were killed, curses would be cast by the Operators and others who sought the balance of the Tower, so there was even less reason to touch them.
It meant that no one would be interested unless they were insane murderers.
But.
Unfortunately, for those who considered curses commonplace, such things were no threat.
“Let’s begin.”
[Clemence activates the Unique Ability ‘Necropolis’!]
As the mad archmage unleashed Mana, the forest was instantly dyed black.
Rumble, rumble.
Huge ribs soared above the spring. Spirits and ghosts began to appear among the trees and grass.
A completely changed landscape.
The ominous, wave-filled demon realm created an atmosphere as if the world of the 50th floor had been moved.
As the stage was set, the muscular man dissolved Primordial Blood into the spring.
[‘Primordial Blood’ is being injected!]
[‘Ownerless Shadow Sapling’ is rapidly growing!]
“Screeeech!”
A sharp scream pierced the eardrums of the fairies, who were still unaware of the situation. It was a chilling shriek that blew away the strings of consciousness at once.
Ssshhhk….
The fairies who had lost consciousness fell to the ground.
They were a race with some knowledge of magic, but they were not strong enough to withstand the power of the Primordial head-on.
As soon as they touched the ground, spirits entered the fairies’ bodies.
“Kek!”
Crimson blood poured out. The heart rapidly lost its function.
But that was only for a moment.
“Ku… Screeeech!”
“Kyaaaah!”
The fairies’ foreheads tore open, and a third eye sprouted from within.
Their cute appearance was gone. They were now transformed into demons with sharp teeth and claws.
A legion of thousands of fairies was born.
Among them was Livolt, who was once the King of Light Spirits.
“Not bad.”
“Whew. I heard you even killed gods in your world, so you’re really amazing. Did you say that all the dead become your subordinates while Necropolis is activated?”
“That’s the ability. Well, now that we have a rough idea of our forces, shall we prepare to welcome our guests and go treasure hunting?”
A clue about a certain book was hidden somewhere in this canyon.
They didn’t know exactly what it was, but they didn’t need to know what the Primordial wanted.
It was something they shouldn’t be interested in.
They knew from experience that the safest path for each other was to achieve the objective cleanly as requested.
The Returnees immediately began a massive search, using the spring as their base.
—
About an hour later.
Jinhyuk and his members arrived a little away from the spring.
“Contractor.”
Alice muttered with a stiff face.
“It’s terrible.”
“This is too much.”
“Ugh.”
“Mogiii….”
“They’re a million times more vicious and inhuman than the boss.”
The other members also frowned.
The sight of the fairies and the forest, transformed so horribly, naturally made them retch.
‘They chose this place for the synergy between Necropolis and the sapling.’
Jinhyuk slowly looked around.
Aside from being simply disgusting, it was certainly extremely efficient. The fairies lived in groups and had little contact with the outside world, so how they would fight, or what their main abilities or tactics would be…
…Everything was unknown.
From the opponent’s point of view, it would be very burdensome to enter this area.
‘Moreover, they must have upgraded their own specs with the power of the sapling, so it will be several times more difficult.’
If they just pushed through with force, there was a risk of getting caught.
Then, only the Returnees would benefit.
If their goal was to secure clues about the Necronomicon, they would definitely try to buy as much time as possible.
“If you give me three minutes, I’ll find the best route to enter.”
“Then, I’ll make the next plan accordingly.”
While Pesis activated his ability, Jinhyuk carefully devised the most optimized strategy.
But right then.
Rumble!
Something huge rose from among the fairies.
Colorful minerals. Mana Stones.
They had gathered only high-purity, rare ones, so even Jinhyuk had never seen so many Mana Stones in one place.
The dazzling light struck his retina.
However, another emotion penetrated far more strongly than the feeling of beauty or awe.
‘This is a disaster.’
“Mogiii!”
Goguma’s eyes were filled with appetite.
For an Ancient Dragon in its growth phase, Mana Stones were a more important source of energy than anything else.
Moreover, those large and rare Mana Stones were more than enough to make it lose its reason.
Before he could even reverse-summon it into Subspace, Goguma kicked off and shot forward.
“The probability of a successful surprise attack is now 0.0012%, yeah.”
Frey quietly recited the calculated value.
Even without the reminder, they couldn’t avoid the situation where they had just advertised their attack.
There was no choice.
Jinhyuk pressed his throbbing temples and drew First Blade.
“Playing mind games is not in my nature.”
“Kuhahaha! I, who govern the Apocalypse, am also best suited for a frontal breakthrough!”
Alice and Behemoth also summoned their respective weapons.
Rumble, rumble.
A force that could overwhelm even the main gods of any great mythology surged.
“Screeeech!”
“Screeeech!”
The corrupted fairies immediately rushed in.
“Don’t kill them!”
If they killed the fairies, troublesome curses would stick to them. The Returnees didn’t care about curses, but if they were restricted from climbing the Tower, it would be difficult in many ways.
At Jinhyuk’s command, the combat style shifted from killing to suppressing.
Thump, thump, thump!
Behemoth knocked away the incoming fairies with the flat of his greatsword.
“Ke…ek!”
“Keok!”
The fairies, coughing up clots, writhed on the floor.
Alice’s skewer also mercilessly blasted away the fairies’ limbs.
There was no need to mention Chun Yoosung, who was a killing machine from the start.
It was true that they weren’t killing them…
But with only their breath barely clinging on, the canyon would probably have to wonder whether to cast a curse or not.
About a minute after the battle began.
Thud.
A figure they had met once appeared among the fairies.
“Hmph. I came because the alarm was ringing so loudly, and it turns out a big fish has been caught?”
It was Clemence, the Sorceress of Pain.