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chapter 177
[The Sea King of the Great White Sea reveals the damage to his status!]
Gooo—
The convection currents of the White Sea began to shift.
All the winds and clouds swirled around the Sea King.
His true form was a Black Dragon capable of controlling fierce winds and thunderclaps. Naturally, in this cloud-filled area, his power shone even brighter.
“Heavy… so heavy.”
Fortunately, his myth had been damaged and his existence sealed, so this was only a fraction of his full power. Had he fully restored his rank, even someone like him would have been crushed instantly.
“Ever since the youngest handled the Nimbus Cloud, I always thought it suited me more than him,” the Sea King muttered, his lips twitching, a foul stench emanating from him.
“Dragons live in the sea and control clouds. So if that wondrous cloud belonged to me… perhaps the world of demons wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
A putrid, corpse-like stench.
“And now, with all our brothers wounded or dead, the owner of the Nimbus Cloud is vacant. Isn’t it only natural that the position becomes mine?”
His vertically slit pupils locked onto Lee Hyun.
“But… the myth left in the sacred relics… it’s horribly persistent. Erasing it isn’t easy.”
“So you want to consume me and claim ownership?” Lee Hyun asked.
“Hahaha. Consume? I wouldn’t dream of killing the youngest brother’s only disciple. I merely want us to become ‘one body.’”
Like Sun Wukong and the Demon King of the Swamp, he explained, the Sea King was a collective formed from countless sea currents. The unified consciousness formed a single ego. One of these would include Lee Hyun.
“Not just you. Even the giants here… I must devour this dungeon to truly resurrect. I will rise again and wage war on those cursed heavenly beings.”
A terrifying proclamation, steeped in hatred.
Lee Hyun didn’t respond.
“He’s completely insane. His thoughts are already contaminated… someone must have intervened.”
His mind, instead, ran deeper.
“Who interfered? Raphael? But surely an archangel wouldn’t do this…”
The correct interpretation: the Sea King’s intentions threatened the world, prompting Raphael to intervene.
“Whatever it is, persuasion is out of the question… we have to stop him until Dae-seong breaches the seal.”
He briefly considered retreating with the Nimbus Cloud to buy time but discarded the idea. The Sea King would simply redirect his focus toward the dungeon giants.
Finally, Lee Hyun decided:
“I’ll give it my all and collide head-on.”
The Hwa-an Geumjeong shimmered.
At that moment, a long spear appeared above Lee Hyun’s head and began spinning rapidly.
[The successor of the ‘■■Great■’ is unlocked!]
Zzzt!
Simultaneously, cyan-white lightning crackled endlessly from his body. Two bolts intertwined in a spiral and shot skyward. Momentarily, the identity of Gurae was set aside, reverting to Jet.
More precisely, it revealed the hidden power of Jet that Gurae had concealed.
[The power of the Astrafe fragment enhances the lightning’s output!]
[Do-eokshini’s deep breath (SS) enters a new stage, slowly fusing Astrafe’s fragment into his breathing.]
The opponent: the Sea King.
Even weakened and using a clone, he remained a monster among monsters—unpredictable even at full power.
“You think you can stop me? Foolish, like the youngest.”
“Whether it’s foolish or not, we’ll see.”
Click!
Lee Hyun removed his stifling mask and hung it on the right side of his head. Feeling the outside wind on his bare face after so long was refreshing.
Then, as Hwa-an Geumjeong focused on the Sea King,
[Sacred Relic: Yeoui Chain activates to restrain the enemy!]
[The Nimbus Cloud maximizes electrical output, increasing temperature and destructive power!]
Wham! Thwack!
Six black-gold chains shot up through the surface of the White Sea, attempting to envelop the Sea King.
Lee Hyun acted at that instant.
Boom!
He sprang from the ground like a flash of light, charging at the Sea King.
“You think this puny thing can capture me? Hahaha! Fine, I’ll play along!”
The Sea King laughed coldly and surged toward Lee Hyun.
Over 40 meters tall, his movement shifted the air currents noticeably.
Clang!
The Yeoui Chain latched onto him, but the anchors at the ends bounced off repeatedly. Wrapping his legs or arms made no difference. Lightning overflowed, but only a few of the sea currents’ faces were broken. The thick hide remained unpenetrated.
“His anti-demon power is incredible. Magic alone won’t suffice… What to do?”
Lee Hyun began stowing his Rune Staff and scanning the area for usable weapons.
“Pater!!”
Suddenly, Queen Hella’s voice rang from behind. Her halberd flew past Lee Hyun’s head and struck the ground.
Looking back slightly, he saw Hella shouting as she led the giant warriors through the doorway.
“Fight with this! This axe is a relic symbolizing Utgard since the elder days! It will help you in facing him!”
Lee Hyun’s eyes widened. He didn’t know how she knew he was a warrior, not just a mage.
‘No need to refuse.’
He smiled and grabbed the halberd. Originally massive—over 10 meters—it shrank instantly to a manageable size.
Perfect. Slightly bigger than needed, which is even better.
[Ymir’s Mountain Axe (Replica)]
A weapon derived from the blood of Ymir, the primordial giant, said to have created the seas and rivers when slain by Odin and his brothers. The axe’s blade runs with crimson patterns from Ymir’s bones.
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Type: Two-handed weapon, halberd
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Origin: Myth ‘Ancient Edda’
Similar to the weapon he had commissioned in Dochol-Yabang.
“Awkward compared to Dochol’s Teeth, but the weight and grip are fine. Decent for one-time use.”
Even a replica, derived from myth, would wield undeniable power.
Boom!
The Sea King’s massive hand came crashing down.
[Power: Do-eoknoegwi activates!]
Lee Hyun became a glowing figure, covered in cyan-white and white lightning, attempting to slide past.
The hand grazed his head; the ground behind him cracked.
Boom!
[Do-eokshini’s Rage detonates!]
Swish!
He slashed the Sea King’s hind leg with the halberd in an instant.
Screech!
The halberd, enhanced with Astrafe’s electrical energy, obliterated a third of the Sea King’s thick ankle.
“…!!”
The Sea King’s previously confident eyes hardened. Lee Hyun adjusted stance behind him, readying the next strike.
“Someone is approaching rapidly from the Black Sea.”
[Combat Sense (S+) detects incoming presences.]
“Finish this before they arrive!”
It seemed to be the raid party, including Ramon. Some members were high-level fighters, possibly Black Maria’s Luciano or Zeus’ sons.
Lee Hyun accelerated his attack.
Boom!
He leapt violently from the surface.
[Do-eokshini’s Trust activates for rapid movement!]
The Sea King’s tail barely missed his feet.
“You rat!”
The Sea King’s face contorted, roaring with fiery breaths.
[Nimbus Cloud gathers beneath Lee Hyun!]
The cloud compressed under his foot, and when he stomped, it exploded with lightning, propelling him like a missile.
He reached the Sea King instantly.
“…!?”
“You said you need the Nimbus Cloud to resurrect, right? Sorry, but it’s mine now.”
Before the Sea King could react, the halberd struck his eye.
[Do-eokshini’s Rage detonates!]
Rumble!
A massive lightning bolt shattered the Sea King’s eyeball. The enhanced power of the lightning was catastrophic, instantly covering half his head.
“Aaah! This… this guy…!!”
The Sea King screamed in pain, thrashing. The White Sea churned violently, spewing elements of fire, frost, and more.
Yet,
Thwack! Thwack!
Lee Hyun used the Nimbus Cloud as stepping stones, moving unpredictably through the air. Explosions boosted his speed multiple times over, leaving only afterimages like true lightning.
Blink.
The sub-skills of Do-eoknoegwi had reached a higher level.
The remaining destruction left behind was significant.
[Rampage (SS) stacks accumulate.]
[Lightning strikes!]
[Gale (S) forcibly controls movement.]
[Yeoui Chain entangles the enemy and delivers electrical energy!]
[Divine Curse of Golden Body accumulates on the boss: recovery hindered, perception distorted, lightning fixed.]
Lee Hyun rampaged across the Sea King’s body, chopping relentlessly. Lightning tore through the sea currents, curses accumulated, hindering healing.
Arms, shoulders, back—everywhere he stepped, flesh was crushed, tendons snapped, and falling lightning worsened wounds.
Zzzzt!
[Lightning converges at one point!]
[‘Thunder Whale’ engulfs the boss monster.]
Currents merged into the shape of a whale, swallowing the Sea King. Jet’s combat technique and Gurae’s magic combined, leaving no mercy.
Boom! Boom!
Chains sank deep into his skin.
Finally, Lee Hyun landed atop the partially destroyed Sea King, smirking.
“Do you know your flaw, Sea King?”
“What are you trying to say—”
“You underestimated me, seeing me only as a disciple of Jecheon Daeseong.”
“…What?”
“I will introduce myself again. My name is Jang Lee Hyun.”
“…!!!”
The Sea King’s eyes widened in shock. He realized too late that Lee Hyun’s fighting style was familiar—agile, precise, destructive, indifferent—the king of demons, the Monkey King.
‘A monkey!!’
It mirrored Sun Wukong from old stories.
“Reflect on that.”
Lee Hyun brought the halberd down with force.
[Do-eokshini’s Rage detonates!]
Lightning rained down.
