Chapter 760: Hero Appears.

구우우우우우웅—!!!

The ground shakes madly from the vibration.

Steadying my center with my core strength, I looked up at the empty air.

As if eyes had opened in the void, countless dimensions were torn open.

Numerous dimensional gates were forming above in the sky.

“Fucking bastard.”

Curses naturally escaped me at the sight that unfolded.

It couldn’t be helped.

Not only was the number of dimensional gates significant, but they were all emitting a red light.

This meant that all those dimensional gates were Red-rank dimensional gates, and Red-rank monsters would burst out from them.

Monsters that could only be hunted once one reached the Perfected Peak stage.

They were the kind of beings capable of turning the surroundings into ruins just by appearing.

Of course, at this point, they aren’t really at a level that poses much of a threat to me.

‘If it were just a couple, I could take them down easily.’

Objectively, I could probably handle five or six of them single-handedly at once.

But.

‘That many is just too much.’

There were just too many of them.

Even a rough count puts it over thirty.

Thirty Red-rank monsters?

‘That’s more than enough to flatten Hanam.’

It’s a number I never saw, even in my previous life.

This was completely unexpected.

It’s natural for the difficulty to increase as the number grows, but…

This isn’t just a simple increase.

Especially in a situation like this.

In a situation where it’s already difficult enough to hunt them while running or escaping, I can’t leave this spot.

‘There’s too much to protect.’

I looked around.

The number of people still remaining was about fifty-something.

Naturally, their faces were filled with astonishment.

“Th-those Red-rank dimensional gates… they’re so numerous.”

“Damn it, what are we supposed to do now?”

“How can we possibly block those things…?”

Their words, spoken amidst devastated expressions, lingered in my ears.

How can we block those things?

The words they uttered, even amidst their fear-stricken faces, echoed.

‘Tsk.’

They think of blocking first, rather than running away.

They know it.

What those things will do to this place the moment they retreat.

And what will happen to the people who evacuated.

They seemed to intuitively know.

Thus, they couldn’t run away, even in this desperate situation.

‘…Ha.’

This is really something.

‘Is this because they’re righteous sects, for all they’re worth?’

They truly are stupid humans.

Yeah, given that appearance, they died early.

Do you know why the wars were such a mess in my previous life?

It’s because people like them were the first to die as soon as trouble broke out.

‘Humans who are utterly foolish.’

Because they tried to confront it rather than avoid it, even knowing there was no chance of victory.

Furthermore, reality cruelly offered no miracles.

Thus, they closed their eyes in pools of blood and were buried in the ground.

That is reality.

“Damn it.”

My lips felt dry.

If I mess up, it’ll end up like that again.

The problem is.

‘That this is something I caused.’

This time, it wasn’t the fault of the Heavenly Demon or the Blood Calamity.

But because of the situation I created.

‘Fucking hell.’

I swallowed down the shitty feeling.

I need to assess the situation before blaming myself.

Understanding comes first, rather than self-blame.

‘Find a way.’

And somehow, I’ll find it.

I made my sluggish brain spin rapidly.

[Aaaaaaah—!]

The thing was still roaring loudly.

With its body heavily cracked, it looked like it was thrashing about in desperation.

Taking my eyes off it, I looked at the dimensional gates this time.

But.

‘…That.’

My eyes narrowed immediately.

As I examined the dimensional gates, I could see something strange.

‘There are lines inside.’

Within the opened dimensional gates, I could see unidentifiable lines connecting.

What could that be?

As soon as the question arose, I found the answer.

‘It’s the same as the symbol that was floating in the sky.’

The crimson symbol that had appeared in the void before that thing showed up.

The lines within the dimensional gates bore an exact resemblance to the shape formed when completing that symbol.

Focusing on it, I recalled something.

‘Even though the dimensional gates have appeared, the monsters haven’t emerged yet.’

Is there some reason for that?

If there is a reason…

‘Is it those lines?’

Perhaps the monsters will emerge once those lines are all connected?

Such a thought crossed my mind.

Of course, I wasn’t certain.

I lacked sufficient information.

But.

‘It’s not the time to be picky.’

Even if it’s just a hypothesis, I didn’t have the luxury of hesitation.

쿵-!!

Stomping on the ground, I clad myself in azure flames.

“Listen carefully.”

And before launching myself, I wanted to add a word.

If you don’t want to die, kill that thing.

I was about to say that, but I paused for a moment.

What would be more effective than words like that… Ah.

It came to mind.

It wasn’t something I should say, but there happened to be one useful thing.

“It’s now. If we kill that thing now, we can save people.”

“…!”

“There’s no other chance besides now.”

As the words left my mouth, the atmosphere changed.

Whether they were filled with fear or steeped in despair.

Their gazes were all uniformly similar.

If I don’t do it, someone will die.

I don’t know why they care about that, but…

Those foolish ones considered this more important than their own lives.

The people gathered here now were exactly like that.

Perhaps.

“So.”

Excluding me, that is.

“We absolutely must kill that thing.”

After spitting that out, I launched myself forward.

[Aaaaaaah—!!]

The thing was still screaming ferociously.

I arrived before it in an instant.

화르르륵–!!

The azure flames wrapped around my body moved to my hands.

Gu-yeom-tae-a-rang.

The compressed flames clung to my fist, exploding at its tip.

It was a full-power strike.

As the blow was about to land…

[Kyaaaaaaah-!]

The thing that had been screaming ferociously moved and dodged the technique.

투아아아–!!

The flames erupted, creating a large blaze behind it.

Retracting my hand, I immediately twisted my body.

콰득-!

My claws dug into the ground.

This bastard was damn fast.

I could see my combat uniform was slightly torn.

Though I couldn’t confirm, it was obvious I had sustained a wound on my upper body.

However, I didn’t pay attention to such minor wounds.

My gaze shifted upward.

‘The lines.’

I checked the connecting lines of the dimensional gates.

‘Hmm.’

They were still connecting.

It seemed making it move didn’t stop them.

That was quite disappointing, but what was fortunate was…

‘It slowed down.’

The connection of the lines had noticeably slowed.

It seemed making it move hadn’t been entirely ineffective.

This meant…

‘The dimensional gate and the monster’s mind, or perhaps its power, are connected. It doesn’t activate smoothly just because it’s being used.’

서걱-!

Extending my claws once more, I continued to analyze.

‘Is this the monster’s power?’

I swung my leg.

쾅-!!

[Kiiik-!]

Hitting my foot, the barrier shattered.

Since I couldn’t surround it with flames, my power was lesser, and the impact was shallow.

But it didn’t matter.

쉬리리릭-!!

Because I could feel numerous presences approaching from behind.

“Yippee!!”

Along with a cheerful voice, a staff flew in.

콰직-!

[Kuuuik-!]

A blunt assault penetrated the broken barrier.

Hitting its upper body directly, debris flew.

Seeing the flying debris, my brow furrowed.

‘It’s too unnatural to be skin.’

I analyzed each and every detail during the fight.

It was headache-inducing.

“Hyaht!”

Perhaps one hit wasn’t enough, as Bongsun-i, with an excited face, tried to follow up with consecutive attacks, but…

The barrier had already regenerated right after.

Even knowing that, Bongsun-i didn’t stop attacking.

Did she believe it would work? No.

It wasn’t faith in her own attack, but…

쉬이익–!!!

It was faith in what was coming next.

콰직-!

A golden flash struck, shattering the barrier once again.

The small gap that was created.

Bongsun-i didn’t miss.

“Hiyah!”

콰즉-!

[Kiaaaah–!]

The monster writhed in pain, taking consecutive hits.

As it moved as if trying to counterattack, I immediately grabbed Bongsun-i and pulled back.

One swing.

Immediately after my claws sliced through the air.

“Hooook!”

“I’ll join in!”

Several people appeared and rushed at the monster.

Their clothes were all different.

And the internal energy within their bodies was all different; they were martial artists.

Their cultivation levels ranged between Peak and Perfected Peak.

Considering their age, their levels could be considered high, but…

They weren’t at the level to join this fight right now.

They surely must have known that.

‘Why are they coming?’

I couldn’t understand.

If they had eyes, they’d know it was obvious they’d die if things went wrong, even if they came.

‘Is it chivalry or something like that?’

Why are they pointlessly pursuing that, when chivalry is nowhere to be found in this rotten world?

It was truly laughable.

캉-! 콰앙-!!

“Keuk!”

“Be careful…!”

Hitting the inside of the broken barrier deals impact.

[Kiaaaah–!]

It screamed from the consecutive impacts, but the level was lower than before.

Emitting killing intent, it swung its arm rapidly.

It’s dangerous.

If left like that, they will all die.

But intervening would be detrimental.

There’s no safe way to save them.

Somehow, my body would be harmed.

It would be better to abandon them, but…

“Ah, fuck.”

My body was already moving, like an idiot.

Maximizing firepower, I increased my speed to the maximum.

화륵-!

As embers burst forth, my body flew.

Quickly approaching, I reached out my hands to the martial artists.

There were too many people to grab directly.

Using spatial manipulation, I pulled them out.

“Huk!”

콰드득-!

The martial artists barely escaped before my fingertips hit the ground.

Afterwards, the monster’s gaze turned towards me.

An attack followed immediately.

‘Damn it.’

Because I had just exerted excessive speed, I could feel the recoil.

It was too late to dodge the attack.

My shoulder was about to be torn off just like that.

퓨슉-!

투앙-!!

[Kiriririk!?]

“Hm?”

Something flew in and attacked the monster’s claws, blocking them.

Upon closer inspection, it was an arrow.

An arrow? In this situation?

It was only for a moment that I was surprised by the unexpected object.

“…Duck.”

At the words that followed, I instinctively lowered my head.

A sword blade grazed past where my head had been.

파지지지지직—!!!

[Kiaaaaaaah–!]

Light flashed.

Namgung Bi-ah, the wielder of Neuro-energy, had started confronting the monster directly.

No, it wasn’t just Namgung Bi-ah.

“I’ll take the right side.”

“…Yeah.”

Along with the voice, golden flashes mixed within the sharp Neuro-energy.

Simultaneously with Namgung Bi-ah, Wi Seol-ah’s sword swirled.

스릉! 쉬이익-!

Sword energies of different colors flowed gracefully above in the air.

While seeming like they would collide, they narrowly missed each other.

So as not to interfere with each other’s sword paths.

Yet they didn’t lose power.

서걱-!

Wi Seol-ah’s sword sliced through the barrier.

Since she could wield Mind Sword too, she could cut through the barrier.

The gap that opened.

As soon as the gap opened, Neuro-energy pierced through.

파지지직—!!!

[Kiayayaya!]

The staff swung its arm as the monster, wrapped in Neuro-energy, attacked.

퉁-!!

Bongsun-i blocked the attack.

Daggers flew in to fill the gaps.

Blocking the attacks, sword strikes raged, led by Mind Sword.

[Kyaaaaaaaaah—!!!]

서걱-! 서걱-! 쿵-!

The synergy of the four was almost perfect.

Since no openings were visible, even other martial artists couldn’t join in.

“…Uh…”

That was the same for me.

As I watched, my mouth fell slightly open.

Why are they so good…?

It was baffling.

I could understand it for the three of them, since I’d known them for a long time.

But what about Bongsun-i?

“Hiyahahahaha–!!!”

Laughing broadly as if incredibly excited, she swung her staff.

Yet, unlike her light demeanor, it was a heavy attack.

Even without reaching its core, it was bouncing off the monster’s attack, wasn’t it?

It was truly an incredibly powerful sight.

Thanks to that, the monster was unable to regain its senses and was being pummeled relentlessly.

[Kya… Kyaaak…!]

It was almost pitiful now.

Seeing that, I lifted my head.

I checked the dimensional gates again.

Then.

‘…Tsk.’

The lines were still connecting.

Even though they had slowed, it seemed like time wasn’t on my side.

I felt like I had to finish it somehow.

Even if the monster was currently losing, if I couldn’t block those dimensional gates, it would eventually be the end.

꾸욱-!!

I focused my energy into my heart.

Spinning the ring rapidly, I gathered energy throughout my entire body.

It was to create the Holy Spear.

A strike much larger and more powerful than usual.

For that, I compressed a considerable amount of internal energy.

‘Ask Wi Seol-ah to break the barrier.’

‘And then….’

Even the power to break the barrier felt too precious to waste.

I’d ask Wi Seol-ah for the gap, and then deliver a full blow with the Holy Spear.

Just as I was judging that…

[Kiii…]

웅-!

“Huh?”

Suddenly, I felt a reaction from within my heart.

The monster, which was being beaten up thoroughly.

It was a sensation coming from it.

This… Could it be?

“Get away-!”

“…!!!”

At my urgent shout, everyone immediately detached themselves from the monster and flew towards me.

At that moment.

[Kyaaaaaaaaah—!!!]

It opened its mouth wide and let out a ferocious scream.

That wasn’t all.

후우웅–!!

Light gathered from its torn mouth.

쿠아아아아아—–!!!!

Immense energy burst forth.

Seeing that, I threw myself forward.

As the light poured down, it engulfed my body.