NOVEL WEB Chapter 100: Star, The Ice Crystal (7)
“Argh!” Hong Gi-Nam screamed as he was blown back. His light armor had been shattered, its fragments scattering into the air. He had suffered a hideous, soot-covered abdominal wound that resembled the bite of a vicious beast.
‘How on earth…?!’ Gi-Nam thought, unable to understand what was going on.
He had many enemies; thus, to prepare for potential ambushes, he had paid a renowned blacksmith on the black market a fortune for his armor. Acquiring it had certainly not been easy, considering he had been on a waiting list for over a year, but it had been worth the wait. After all, no other armor he had found could match its durability and Effects. Nevertheless, Chang-Sun shattered Gi-Nam’s armor with his sword as if it were made of glass.
Gi-Nam was sure that his armor’s durability had not reached zero yet, as he had been meticulously taking care of it every day; the only possibility was that Chang-Sun’s sword was more exceptional than his armor.
Zing, zing!
Despite its amazing attack, [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth] roared loudly in disappointment and anger after failing to kill Gi-Nam with a single strike.
‘He’s using demonic energy! This is unbelievable!’ Gi-Nam thought in shock.
Gi-Nam particularly feared the black demonic energy enveloping [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth], which had revealed its true form. While living as a demonic being, Gi-Nam had met many talented demonic beings, but none of them had such exquisite demonic energy!
Everything he knew about demonic energy had been overturned by the demonic energy of [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth]. The demonic energy Gi-Nam knew was dark, grim, sinister, and impure like sewer water, but the energy he was seeing before him was clearer and purer than divine energy. It resembled an abyss that could stir up fear within people’s hearts. Gi-Nam could not believe that Chang-Sun controlled such pure demonic energy…
‘He fooled the whole world!’ Gi-Nam screamed mentally, realizing he had to flee.
If Chang-Sun had been hiding his power the entire time only to reveal it now, that would mean he was very confident he could win while leaving no witnesses. Considering how those with evil-type energy were vulnerable to anyone with higher-level evil-type energy, he had to get away from Chang-Sun.
Pah―!
However, the problem was that Chang-Sun wasn’t done attacking Gi-Nam even if he wanted to run away.
[The Title ‘Jigwi’s Phantom Body’ has been applied!]
[A firestorm rages!]
Using the Eon Fire to its fullest extent, Chang-Sun tenaciously gained ground on Gi-Nam. The blizzard and cold weather, which had been blocking Chang-Sun’s view and slowing him down, were no longer able to bother him, as the Dungeon’s environmental restriction only caused the Eon Fire to resist more and become fiercer.
“Howl,” Chang-Sun commanded, holding [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth] in his left hand and forcefully slitting his right palm. His blood sprayed into the air and mixed with the Eon Fire. Then, the [Yuchang Sword] revealed its azure blade, falling through the air toward Gi-Nam.
Clang!
Gi-Nam hurriedly swung his dagger upward in an attempt to stop the [Yuchang Sword], but his blade shattered into pieces above his head.
‘D-Divine energy, too?! How on earth…?!’ Gi-Nam thought, feeling as if he would faint.
Chang-Sun could handle divine and demonic energy at once? From what Gi-Nam knew, the two energies were antithetical, so they could never be mixed together. Despite that, the divine energy used by Chang-Sun was just as pure as his demonic energy.
The fact that Chang-Sun could easily shatter a dagger forged from [Gon-oh Iron][1], which was as difficult to obtain as [Cold Iron], made it evident that Gi-Nam would undoubtedly be in a great deal of trouble if he did nothing. He and his subordinates could end up being the ones to have their heads slammed into the snowfield of ‘Yeti Hill’, not Chang-Sun.
Pah!
Slash―!
Just then, the [Yuchang Sword] slashed diagonally through the air and cut off Gi-Nam’s left arm, causing a fountain of blood to spurt out. Gi-Nam screamed loudly in pain, “Arrrgh! Blood Wolf! You fucking bastard! Come out now! Do you think you’ll be safe if I die?!”
Watching out for incoming attacks, Gi-Nam tried to get as far away as possible, yelling at the top of his lungs using his mana.
Clang, clang, clash!
At the same time, Gi-Nam frantically tried to fend off Chang-Sun’s overwhelming attacks infused with divine energy, demonic energy, and Eon Fire. They left great and small cuts on Gi-Nam’s body as he repeatedly attempted to escape. However, Chang-Sun persistently chased after him.
At that moment, a man loudly yelled, “You son of a bitch, you really can’t do anything right!”
[A new enemy has appeared!]
More than fifty additional Players walked out of the blizzard, all wearing red armor and wreathed in the menacing aura of a wolf pack soaked in blood. The Blood Wolf Group mercenaries, who were as notorious as the Black Ghosts, had finally arrived.
“We have to step in because you can’t deal with one little brat?” ‘Wolf Fang’ Noh Ui-Jeong, the Blood Wolf Group mercenaries’ leader, sneered at Gi-Nam, his eyes shining coldly.
While secretly watching the fight, he had realized that Chang-Sun was a force to be reckoned with. Thus, he had briefly thought of assassinating the client and fleeing. However, Gi-Nam had revealed his group’s presence before he could do so, forcing him to emerge.
‘No, it might be better to just join in on the fight so I can kill the target and take his two swords. Maybe I can also kill that Hong bastard and take his armor,’ Ui-Jeong thought, deciding to look on the bright side.
Ui-Jeong could not tell how Chang-Sun had obtained the divine and demonic swords. However, considering the amount of mana Chang-Sun was using, Ui-Jeong thought he would run dry at some point. Besides, if he could also take out Gi-Nam, who had been bothering the Blood Wolf Group mercenaries a great deal, while eliminating the target, he would be able to take Gi-Nam’s precious armor as a trophy.
Although Ui-Jeong was planning to backstab Gi-Nam, so what? It was nonsensical to expect a demonic being to be faithful and loyal in the first place; Ui-Jeong naturally reached that conclusion. Thus, he ran toward Chang-Sun with all his subordinates, ordering, “Everyone, move.”
Tap, tap.
The mercenaries quickly advanced, leaving tracks across the snowfield. Although the aura of [Tiger Kill] that bore down on the entire battlefield made their skin sting, they ignored the sensation, believing they would be able to kill Chang-Sun using their superior numbers.
Bang!
Glancing at the Blood Wolf Group mercenaries, Chang-Sun shoved Gi-Nam back, planning to attack the mercenaries next.
Oong, ooong―!
Ziiing!
The divine energy of the [Yuchang Sword] and the demonic energy of [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth] collided, making them roar violently.
Gi-Nam fiercely gritted his teeth, leaving a bunch of bloody footsteps and the smell of burnt flesh in his wake as he moved; he had clearly lost a great deal of blood. His body was covered with burn marks and injuries, and it would not be strange if he dropped dead at any moment. Even his <Status Window> displayed the message that he had fallen into the ‘Excessive Bleeding’ state.
“Huff, huff…! I’ll… I’ll at least kill you, you son of a biiitch!” Gi-Nam screamed at the top of his lungs the moment he finally caught his breath.
He was still unable to stop the bleeding from the stump of his left arm, forcing him to put pressure on the wound with his right arm; that was the result of the ‘Persistent Bleeding’ Effect from [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth]. Thus, Gi-Nam’s mind was consumed with the thought of tearing Chang-Sun apart at all costs. As he had lost many of his Clan members, the losses would outweigh the gains if he failed to kill Chang-Sun.
Chang-Sun had been planning to greet the Blood Wolf Group mercenaries charging toward him, but he quietly looked at Gi-Nam and asked, “You’re going to kill me?”
“Yeah, you shithead! Hehehe, hehehe…! Why? Are you panicking now that things have turned out this way? You thought everything would be over once you killed us, but you’re surprised because those guys suddenly showed up, aren’t you? Well, guess what? You’re too late, you motherfucker!” Gi-Nam screamed at the top of his lungs, thinking Chang-Sun was frightened. He smiled crookedly and continued, “I’ll kill you only after I’m done having fun with you and you beg me to kill you, so be prepared…! After I get out of here, I’ll torture your father, mother, brother, and sister in all kinds of ways before I kill them all…!”
“Try it,” Chang-Sun urged him.
“What?” Gi-Nam responded, perplexed.
“If you can,” Chang-Sun added.
The excessively calm answer sent a shiver down Gi-Nam’s spine. He suddenly realized his original plan, which was slitting Chang-Sun’s throat while he was busy fighting against the Blood Wolf Group mercenaries, had long since gone awry.
[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ scoffs at your idiotic enemies, who are running amok without knowing their place.]
“…!” Gi-Nam stiffened as he saw a Dungeon Message suddenly appear before him.
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ is looking forward to seeing the upcoming festival of blood.]
Right after the first message, another message appeared.
[A trap is activating!]
After reading the message, Gi-Nam looked up and saw the Blood Wolf Group mercenaries closing in on Chang-Sun. Ui-Jeong, the Blood Wolf Group leader, was taking the lead, smiling viciously with anticipation.
This time, a question appeared in Gi-Nam’s mind: Even if he disregarded the Black Ghosts, why was Chang-Sun standing still when the Blood Wolf Group mercenary troop was right in front of him? Anyone would think Chang-Sun was at a disadvantage, and that he should have run or tried to turn the tables. However, Chang-Sun continued to stay still, seemingly waiting for the Blood Wolf Group mercenaries to approach.
“No…!” Gi-Nam belatedly cried, springing forward in Chang-Sun’s direction to thwart his scheme. However…
~
[A detonator has been activated.]
[An explosion has been triggered!]
~
Boom! Boom, boom―!
Rumble―!
“Argh!”
“Urrrgh! My arm! My aaarm…!”
Several explosions suddenly erupted across the snowfield. Gigantic pillars of fire soared into the air at random intervals, blowing up several of the Blood Wolf mercenaries. Most of their bodies were instantly blown to pieces. Even the mercenaries who escaped the blast radius were engulfed in flames, forcing them to roll across the snowfield. However, the Jigwi’s Eon Fire that consumed them was made of spirits, and could not possibly be extinguished with ordinary snow.
Ding!
Ding!
[The level of the Skill ‘Explosive Thunder’ has increased!]
[The level of the Skill ‘Explosive Thunder’ has increased!]
[The level of the Skill ‘Lightning Web’ has increased!]
…
[The level of the Skill ‘Intermediate Trap Installation’ has increased!]
…
[The level of the Skill ‘Intermediate Rune Engraving’ has increased!]
A constant stream of messages appeared before Chang-Sun. He had created Fire Bolts by combining the [Explosive Thunder] and [Lightning Web] Skills he had gotten from the Jigwis’ nest, then buried them in the snowfield like landmines using [Intermediate Trap Installation] and [Intermediate Rune Engraving]. The time for them to ‘shine’ had finally come.
Through his proficient use of the Concealment and Stealth Skills, Chang-Sun had not only hunted the assassins, but also installed a large trap across the snowfield. The Blood Wolf Group mercenaries had been unaware of that fact as they leaped into the fray, and ended up being blown away as a result…
However, Chang-Sun was not yet finished.
“S-Snow…!” Gi-Nam suddenly cried. He had been running forward to stop Chang-Sun, but he stopped in his tracks when he saw a white tsunami rushing down the ridge. It was an avalanche, and by its size alone, it was clearly unstoppable.
[An avalanche has begun to spread over the battlefield!]
“Ruuuun!” Gi-Nam cried, turning back and running frantically in the opposite direction. The Players from the Blood Wolf Group mercenaries turned as pale as the snow around them, and quickly followed suit.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh―!
However, the avalanche was far faster than the fleeing Players, descending quickly and devouring them whole.
1. The raw is ‘곤오철’. It refers to a kind of iron mined from a place called Gon-oh (곤오) that existed in China during the Xia Dynasty. ☜