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chapter 113
“This… this is the middle of a park, and you’re going to fight…!”
“Don’t worry! For something like this, we can just cover it with a pocket dimension!”
Donovan pulled an item from the team inventory and planted it on the ground.
A small cloth flag.
It was decorated with peach blossom patterns.
[Peach Blossom Flag]
A dimensional barrier created by the Peach Blossom Fairy during the era when demons and immortals wreaked havoc on the world.
When unfurled, it separates the space within a 100-meter radius from reality like an illusion.
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Type: Combat Support
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Origin: Tradition “Peach Blossom Chronicles”
In an instant, peach-colored petals swirled like a gust of wind, separating Team Z and Astra from the real world.
The terrain was now sprinkled with floating peach blossoms.
It was an item designed to distort or conceal space so that it could not be observed from outside.
Thanks to it, the hunters could focus on the battle without worrying about external eyes.
[Tradition: ‘Baby General Uturi’ unleashes a blade wave!]
[Tradition: ‘Red Lotus Boots’ strikes from the rear!]
[Tradition: ‘Black Country Fire Dog’ joins the battle!]
Pop!
Fwah—
The Z-team members surrounding Astra drew their items and pressured him.
“Actually, this is perfect. Honestly, I’ve always hated that these guys kept being compared to us. Let’s see who’s really the strongest!!”
However, Astra’s agents wore expressions of excitement.
The original orders to placate Team Z had fallen apart, but in the end, they were martial artists with pride to spare.
Even comparing themselves to the Thunderstrike Squad, who had closed a four-star dungeon alone, annoyed them.
Every time they were asked who was stronger, they had always shouted that they were superior, but now they finally had a chance to show who was truly ‘the strongest.’
Flash! Flash!!
They revealed their own traditions one after another, and just as the two beams of light were about to collide…
Rrrr!!
Suddenly, the ground overturned, and countless black-and-gold chains shot out.
It was the Yeoui Chain.
[‘Sacred Relic: Yeoui Chain’ moves freely according to the senses of the demon!]
“…!?”
“What is this…!”
An item of a form they had never seen before.
The agents tried instinctively to strike it down, but…
Parararak!
The Yeoui Chain twisted like a living creature, avoiding attacks, and even wrapped around their weapons to climb back toward the agents.
The spiritual energy of the chain, infused by Lee Hyun’s will, was now free to act.
“…!”
“…!”
“…Ugh!!”
The agents had no time to dodge.
Before they realized it, the anchors at the ends of the chains had struck their wrists and bodies.
Puh! Puh-puh!
Their bodies staggered, and…
[Energy Drain has occurred!]
“This…!”
“Damn it!!”
They felt their mana being sucked into the chains. Instinctively, they realized that not only mana but also information about their traditions was being absorbed.
What Michael Shepard intended to do to the Thunderstrike Squad, Lee Hyun was now doing to them!
[Cursed Scroll: Mana Extraction, Soul-Absorbing Technique, Data Theft]
[Forcibly reads the traditions of absorbed opponents.]
[Analyzes skill trees and powers of absorbed opponents.]
Mana Extraction and Soul-Absorbing Technique siphon the opponent’s mana and purify it as one’s own, while Data Theft examines the information contained within.
[All information absorbed by Gingoah is stored and integrated into the Tujon Style!]
With Gingoah increasing processing speed, the results rivaled the Eye of Revelation.
As Kim Min-jung’s party attacked in this situation, Astra’s team was thrown into chaos.
They had to focus just to counter mana absorption while also handling relentless attacks.
Kwarrrr—
Kwakkwang!
Rrrr…!!
Michael Shepard was equally bewildered.
“What kind of power…!”
[Gabriel is bewildered by the force pushing away his apostles!]
[Gabriel is horrified that he cannot see his target!]
[Gabriel…]
From the moment he blocked the first axe swing with his fist, Michael realized instinctively that the opponent’s power far exceeded his own.
A ranker boasting strength that overwhelms high-ranked warriors? Was this even possible?
He already knew that Lee Hyun had defeated Zhang Baiyan on Ulleungdo.
But Zhang Baiyan was just a rookie compared to a high-ranker.
His strength had only been achieved after the Central Hero Committee provided massive support.
Compared to actual high-rankers, he still fell short.
Michael, however, was different.
Despite prophecies and fame, he had been a monk in a Catholic monastery in his youth, training his mind and converting it into magical power.
Yet…
“Jet already surpasses most high-rankers! The secondary functions that follow his six stats… are incomparably high! All at least S-rank… How is this even possible?!”
Secondary functions enhance each stat.
Most rankers only had high grades in their main stats; the rest were lower.
Even Michael had only S-rank functions in stamina and intelligence; others were at most A, some even C.
Lee Hyun was different.
Strength, agility, stamina, mana… everything was maxed.
On top of that, he combined exceptional skills, showcasing absurd combat power.
Kwak kwak kwak!!
Every time Lee Hyun swung his axes like a storm, Michael felt repeated, hammer-like shocks.
If he knew all of Lee Hyun’s secondary functions were SS-rank, he would have been horrified.
[Strong external impact accelerates the infection of Umasal!]
And the Umasal, which had already troubled him, added to his dilemma.
“What happens if all secondary functions beyond 200 points reach S-rank?”
Michael swallowed the blood that rose in his throat. It tasted metallic.
“And what are all these scattered malevolent thoughts?”
Gabriel was caught off guard, unable to predict Lee Hyun’s moves.
Michael feared the afterimages appearing like daydreams after each clash.
Psychometry manifested slightly even in combat.
This was why Michael insisted on facing Lee Hyun directly, using bare hands.
Yet again, he could not read anything about Lee Hyun.
All he saw were bizarre, unidentifiable entities.
“…Demon Lords! These must be Demon Lords!!”
Some sat submerged in a cursed swamp, wailing; others loomed over burning hellfire beneath a pitch-black sky.
A cold ice fortress appeared, as did rivers of boiling sulfur.
And… amid these Demon Lords sat the Overlord, radiating overwhelming presence and ferocity.
He was so massive and malformed that even looking at him properly was difficult.
All visible was his long, flowing white hair.
His back faced them, hiding his face.
To force a look would feel like one’s eyes would burn.
Even the soul seemed to rot in his presence.
Fear gripped Michael’s mind.
“What are these…!”
Lee Hyun’s traditions were so opaque, the Demon Lords were nearly impossible to decipher.
Perhaps only fragments were visible, or maybe Michael lacked the capacity to perceive them.
One thing was certain:
…It was impossible to ‘peek’ at Lee Hyun now.
“Ah, so that’s why!”
[Gabriel orders his apostle to close the ‘Eye of Revelation’!]
“Ahh! That’s why all references to Jet were deleted from the Apocalypse!!”
Kwaaang!!
Michael was forcibly thrown from deep thought.
“Uwaaah!”
He staggered and vomited for a long while.
Simultaneously, anchors struck him.
Puh-puh-puh—
Rrrr!
The chains tightened, stiffening his body.
Screeeech!
The axe swung up to his chin.
Michael crossed his arms to block it.
Bang!!
He hovered in the air before barely landing on the ground, bloodied.
“…In the end, we couldn’t read anything. Not me. Not Gabriel.”
Gabriel might have sensed something, but instinct told Michael that even he would be confused.
[Gabriel is perplexed by the opponent’s tradition that he cannot uncover.]
[Gabriel speculates the opponent might be an ancient god unknown even to himself.]
“…Ancient god?”
Michael wanted to think further but had to stop to deflect another axe.
Bang!
Drdrdr—
His hands shook, blood seeping from the cuts.
“I… cannot comprehend you.”
Lee Hyun’s golden eyes glinted coldly.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Your reaction. Honestly, you no longer owe Korea anything, right?”
Michael swallowed the blood again.
“No, rather, Korea owes you. Isn’t that so?”
“And?”
“So what’s strange is that you insist on Korea. You have no reason to!”
Michael had pledged loyalty to the U.S., willing to give his life if necessary.
But that was only because he believed the U.S. would reciprocate his loyalty.
Korea had failed its victims.
“Think about how your comrades were treated after the Gangneung incident. Even starting with the Baekya Unit—Lieutenant Yoon Baekjo—was his sacrifice remembered?”
Lee Hyun recalled a former junior who had breathed his last, heroic until the end.
“I assure you! Instead of being honored, he was buried to avoid public concern—”
“You’re mistaken.”
Lee Hyun interrupted him mid-sentence.
His golden aura shimmered.
“I do not pledge loyalty to Korea.”
“Then? Why insist so?”
“To myself, my people, and my land.”
“…!?”
Michael’s eyes widened.
Lee Hyun stepped closer.
“All that made me who I am, I serve that alone.”
“…!!”
The axe blade hovered at his neck.
“No repayment is needed. My people will repay it.”
Kwaaang!
Lee Hyun kicked Michael hard in the abdomen.
He rolled and hit a rock.
When he raised his head again,
Bang!!
The axe was by his head.
Had it swung a little differently, his skull would have shattered.
Sweat ran down Michael’s forehead.
“And if necessary, I’ll change it myself.”
Lee Hyun approached, pulling the axe from the rock.
Michael could say nothing.
He was loyal not to a country, but to his people… and would change the world if needed.
…So arrogant.
One person could change the world.
It sounded more absurd than a 15-year-old boy’s childish declaration of rebellion.
Yet… Michael felt the presence of Lee Hyun intensely at this moment.
“I will no longer question your rudeness. Even if it was calculated, giving Soma to Min-jung was appreciated.”
“…”
Lee Hyun, shouldering the axe, spoke coldly.
“But I will no longer forgive anything. Leave.”
He retrieved all Yeoui Chains previously embedded in Michael and Astra agents. A black-and-gold bracelet appeared on his right wrist.
Kim Min-jung, Eom Gi-seon, and Seo Ae-ri followed him as he left.
“….”
“….”
“….”
Astra stared blankly at his back.
Just before Lee Hyun’s group opened the gate and departed,
Michael asked urgently:
“Other forces will try to bite you! The people and land you value could be destroyed! Even so… you don’t care!?”
Michael didn’t expect an answer; he just wanted to ask—Lee Hyun’s resolve.
Lee Hyun paused.
Then:
“Let anyone come. Anytime.”
“…!!!”
He left, leaving only this arrogant statement behind.
Michael stared at the space Lee Hyun had occupied… for a long, long time.
