Ch.219EP.49 – The Most Dangerous Creature in the World…(6)

“They’re surprisingly eager to help, aren’t they?”

It was unexpected enthusiasm.

Though I had leveraged our past connection, I never thought things would work out this well.

‘I made the proposal because they at least smelled somewhat human…’

In truth, if it had been Numbers 5 and 6 who were still alive, I would never have proposed an alliance.

Those guys reeked too strongly of blood, and I knew too little about them.

As in any organization, people naturally form their own circles.

In Ihan’s case, Numbers 7 and 11, and 9 and 10 were the ones he was somewhat close with.

…Though Numbers 9 and 10 had their life threads cut by his hand when they tried to stab him in the back.

Anyway, it’s fortunate things are working out well.

Otherwise.

WHOOSH!

CLANG!

“Be careful, Number 8! Even you won’t be safe if you take that curse head-on!”

“What happens if I get hit?”

“Your loved ones might develop an incurable disease, or your fingers might transform into tree branches.”

“…I definitely shouldn’t get hit then.”

Because there would be no way to counter the curse.

‘That’s scary.’

Somehow it’s more troublesome than magic.

With magic, you can usually just endure it head-on, but curses and spells are not only difficult to avoid but also tricky to deal with.

It was fortunate that he hadn’t killed Number 11, or rather, Yan.

While he had deliberately avoided harming him partly because he was a spell caster, Ihan already knew Yan was a spell caster and had intentionally spared him despite having several opportunities to harm him.

After all, you never knew what kind of curse might counter-attack you if you messed with a spell caster.

There’s a reason they say messing with a spell caster can ruin three generations of your family.

But now, having a spell caster as a reliable ally rather than an enemy was truly…

‘Indeed, a monster raid needs at least one reliable mage!’

Ihan felt an indescribable sense of reassurance.

* * *

[Netherworld Monster].

This is what they call a “Hell Monster,” apparently.

“…A Hell Monster is literally a monster that lives in the netherworld. I heard from the organization that because it belongs to the netherworld, it craves the bodies of the living, and even if not the bodies of the living, it devours the bodies of the dead completely. Also, its power and influence are suppressed in the world of the living, so it can’t act freely.”

“What are its characteristics?”

“Regeneration and predation abilities are its specialties, if anything.”

“How do we kill it?”

“All we can do is keep hitting it again and again. When everything it has eaten is digested and it starts to tire, it will automatically disappear.”

“So we just have to endure, is that it?”

“That’s right.”

“…What a terrible creature.”

Lac let out a rare chuckle.

Depending on how you heard it, dealing with it seemed easy.

After all, if you just prevent it from feeding and make it tired, it would disappear automatically.

However, from another perspective, it meant that killing it was actually impossible.

A monster native to the netherworld, the world of death—an illogical and contradictory being to which the concept of death does not apply.

Additionally, its powerful strength, recovery ability, seemingly inexhaustible stamina, and chilling aura and curses were truly terrifying.

“…Is it on the same level as the Demon King?”

A monster with both the strength and troublesome nature comparable to the Troll King they had fought the day before.

That had been a terrifying being, and now they faced something of equal caliber, making him shudder.

Still, compared to yesterday’s fierce battle, there was one better aspect, and that was…

KWAAANG-!!

—The undeniably powerful allies watching his back.

“Hahaha! Die, you monster!”

Maximus’s battle axe pounded the Hell Monster indiscriminately, and helping him, Daina’s single-point explosions repeatedly struck the monster.

“I can’t believe I have to do this again.”

Lac’s spear split in two, transforming into something like dual batons, and the batons imbued with red fighting energy struck the monster.

Since stabbing with blades would only result in quick regeneration, what mattered was hitting it hundreds or thousands of times.

Similarly, Ihan too.

KWANG!

“…Is this really doing any damage?”

He was extending his fist with all his might.

It was a powerful strike that emitted intense air pressure, mixed with the techniques of the Hundred Step Divine Fist.

…However, each hit felt meaningless, like punching rubber, so Ihan didn’t feel like they were winning at all.

[No, we’re definitely winning. Every time you attack, that thing’s presence grows fainter.]

“…Really?”

[If you can’t trust yourself, trust me. I’m the guardian of a holy relic, after all.]

The owl’s confident assertion.

Seeing those serious eyes, Ihan could only nod in agreement.

‘Right, I should think of this thing as a game monster.’

Like monsters in games, specifically from the era when game characters were made with pixel dots.

No matter how much the user hit them, they wouldn’t show wounds, but the gauge bar proving damage was being dealt would gradually decrease.

‘That must be what’s happening with this thing.’

Except unlike a game, the gauge bar isn’t visible.

Ihan decided to think simply and, trusting the owl, continued to pound the opponent relentlessly.

That’s right…!

‘I’ll just keep hitting it until it dies!’

After all, he had confidence in his stamina too.

* * *

‘…Terrifying individuals.’

Meanwhile, Yan, who was helping them by appropriately countering curses from behind, had to feel astonishment.

[KEEE!!?]

…The Hell Monster was being utterly defeated.

Some might doubt whether such a Hell Monster was weak, but that would be nonsense.

This Hell Monster’s strength coefficient increases explosively according to the number of lives it has devoured.

It would be at least similar to the level of the Hungry Demon King summoned the day before.

…That Troll King, hungry as it was, could destroy an average small country in less than half a day.

So the reason the Hell Monster is being defeated now is simply…

‘Because they are strong.’

“Don’t come at me!”

“It is you who is coming to me!!”

“Hahaha, if I had a punching bag like this, I’d want to pound it for a month…!”

Although Yan was counteracting the curses, he couldn’t block the aura—the “death energy”—emitted by the Hell Monster.

Yet those three were withstanding the death energy and continuing to strike the Hell Monster.

CHWAAAK!

Suddenly, spikes like those of a porcupine sprouted from the Hell Monster’s body, threatening them, but the three knights…

KWAJIK!

Shattered them.

KKADDEUK!

Shaved them off.

WAGEURAK…!

Crumpled them like paper.

The sight of knights overwhelming a Hell Monster.

It was an unbelievable moment…

A shockwave swept over his body with a whoosh, and Yan stuck out his tongue.

“Were they this strong…?”

He certainly knew those three knights were strong.

Hadn’t he heard it many times from the organization?

That in the current era, they were the closest to the realm of Aura Users, that is, [Superhumans], and the only ones with the possibility of reaching that level.

‘…There’s such a big difference between hearing about it and experiencing it firsthand.’

But as if to prove that knowing something and seeing it directly are completely different, Yan, having the opportunity to observe their activities up close, was breaking out in cold sweat.

Such a thrill…

‘I’ve only felt this from the First Apostle and the Archbishop.’

But clearly, the nature of their strength is different.

While they are pure humans advancing toward the peak, the leaders of the organization are slightly beyond human, evolving into “grotesque beings”…

…Well.

HWOOOOK!

“…Though that’s pretty grotesque too.”

Yan wore a helpless smile as he watched the knight now named Ihan, formerly Number 8, perform an impossible suplex on the Hell Monster that stood over 9 meters tall.

…In fact, Yan suspected that the factor injected into Number 8 might have been from the Troll King rather than just a troll.

*

*

*

“…By now, they should still be fighting fiercely.”

“How cruel. They’re important executives of the Black Moon, yet you’re using them as sacrifices like this.”

“They’re all ‘sinners’ anyway, aren’t they? Especially the Fifth and Sixth Apostles, who crossed the line. It might be unfair for the Seventh and Eleventh Apostles… Well, necessary sacrifices, I suppose.”

“You know that’s a cowardly excuse, right?”

“Call it hypocrisy. We’re all going to be fried in hell anyway. What does it matter if we do something wicked?”

“…I don’t think you’ll be going alone. I’ll be going too, so the road to hell won’t be lonely.”

“That’s unlike you to offer comfort.”

“Hehe.”

The middle-aged man laughed, and the young boy laughed with him.

Though they appeared to be at least 30 years apart in age, they both exuded an atmosphere of cunning and melancholy that couldn’t be defined by appearances alone.

Emitting an aura like enlightened monks, they stood at the top of a building, exposed to the wind and rain.

Just a while ago, it had been a peaceful night with a crescent moon clearly visible, but now, as if by some magic, dark clouds swirled and covered the moon, soon unleashing thunder and raindrops.

Tuk, tudududuk!

The raindrops that initially fell lightly, wetting the ground bit by bit, now poured down like a downpour. At some point, it became difficult to even maintain visibility.

“Did you predict this rain too?”

“You know that despite being called a prophet, I’m not a real prophet.”

“Then this is…”

“Perhaps even the Great Light, Creator of Heaven and Life, knows…”

Splash, splatter…!

The middle-aged man heard footsteps splashing through the rain.

Countless footsteps gathering, fearlessly walking through the rain and mud.

“…The anger of the young lambs going to punish their master’s servants.”

A resonance more magnificent and grand than any orchestra’s performance.

Though the man claimed not to be a prophet, it seemed as if he could already see the future in his mind.

Tonight.

The world will be turned upside down─.