Chapter 323

Chapter 323. Massacre Under the Guise of Justice (3)

From the moment Fabian began stalling, I sensed what was happening. The odds were high that what Fabian was waiting for involved Karklein somehow.

So I waited—patiently—hoping that damned creature would appear before me once more!

“Where do you think you’re going?”

There was no hesitation when Karklein emerged, tearing through the dimensional rift.

I succeeded in catching him before he could grab Fabian and flee. It felt like gripping tough rubber.

With a smirk in my voice, I spoke while firmly holding onto Karklein. “Once wasn’t enough for you, was it?”

Surely, after facing me once, he must have learned, yet here he was again. Almost instantly, Karklein attempted to resist.

I didn’t know what he did, but my palm suddenly felt a burning sensation, then the searing sound and the smell of burning flesh began to surface.

As expected, an infection alert popped up, and Karklein attempted to escape. The gaping rift in the dimension was gradually closing.

If I left things as they were, only a part of Karklein’s body would remain, running away without the rest.

‘Do you really think I would let you slip away so easily?’

Karklein’s authority was the enemy’s sole means of connecting dimensions. If I could strike him down, their assault on Earth would surely falter. Letting him slip away was not an option I would entertain.

「System!」

I shouted quickly before Karklein could sever his trail and escape entirely.

「Trait ‘Rogue’ is activated.」

「System switches to support mode. Support target: Player Kang Hyunwoo.」

With the activation of the ‘Rogue’ trait, the System held the shrinking rift.

As the support arrived instantaneously, I quickly synchronized my focus with it.

Unleashing all the divinity accumulated through relentless hunting, I drove my powers to the limit.

To it, I added the enormous force of attribute mana, expanded to a level of ten million, without holding back.

The basic form of my mana arrangement was derived from the lightning spear, though its structure wasn’t perfectly identical.

It was a newly established magic created through Ahel.

– I wish to construct a magic with my mana that could wield the greatest force possible.

Ahel attempted to alter the flame strike to incite full bloom, but what I sought was not an area attack, but rather a magic that could deal a decisive blow in a one-on-one Scenario.

And so, I tinkered with the arrangement for the lightning spear, crafting the result that now sprang forth from my hands.

The lightning turned a resplendent Gold, absorbing the divinity, and concentrated into Kerax’s spear, sparks dancing all around.

‘This magic cannot be realized without a medium.’

Unlike the lightning spear, the extreme heat and pressure generated upon manifestation were far too potent to be sustained by mana alone.

Thus, I had to channel the mana into an object with a tangible form.

However, even with conventional spears or swords, the magic’s intensity shattered them all.

Eventually, only artifacts above a certain rank could withstand the magic’s backlash. Among them, kerax’s Spear endured the most mana.

I transferred mana lavishly into it.

‘Saying it’s not a waste would be a lie.’

However, if I could inflict a critical blow to Karklein, it was an investment worth making.

Powerful divinity and mana gathered together, emanating a searingly bright light.

Finally having completed the magic, I propelled Kerax’s spear forward.

Just then, the forgotten Fabian moved to interfere with its trajectory, subtly extending his weapon towards the spear’s pole.

The alert senses that were honed onto Karklein recognized it swiftly.

“Stay out of this!”

It required little effort to swat away the obstruction.

All I needed to do was swing the high-voltage lightning brimming with divinity.

“Gah!”

Leaving the groaning Fabian, who recoiled from the pervasive lightning at my feet, kerax’s Spear sailed from my hand.

And instantly, the darkness beyond the dimensional rift was blown open.

Only then did I realize that all those shadowy figures were part of Karklein’s body.

Soon, a tortured scream that seemed to split his entire body into pieces reverberated through the air.

「—–!」

Fabian, who had yet to build up his achievement, clutched his head in agony.

“Aaargh!”

But that wasn’t the end of it.

The entire vicinity of Paris, filled with ordinary people, was paralyzed by the sudden disaster.

Waves of individuals fainted from the shock, leading to secondary issues like traffic accidents.

Amidst all the ensuing chaos, I stood firm, staring directly at the one across the rift and declared, “You, too, prepare yourself. I promise I’ll come to take you down.”

With those words, the opening shuttered closed. As I gazed into the void, gritting my teeth, I murmured softly.

“I will surely get that bastard once my preparation is solid.”

The chaos brought by Karklein’s scream disappeared as abruptly as it had come, leaving only the human-made chaos in its wake.

Since I contributed significantly to this disturbance, I took the initiative to rectify it.

“How is this…?”

Fabian, who had just barely managed to stand with trembling legs, mumbled.

“How on earth… how are you so…?”

Only then did I turn to Fabian and couldn’t help but let out a small snicker.

For I saw in his eyes, flowing with jealousy and resentment, a torrent of inferiority despite blood streaming from both his ears.

‘What were they saying? That he hails from an elite family?’

Though not entirely sure, I had some inkling of how Fabian had ended up crossing over to the enemy.

“Why?! What makes you different? How did you do that? What was that magic just now? He’s such a terrifying foe, yet how, why, why?!”

Always believing himself to be the best, having lived his entire life in a world where it was assumed, he must have realized upon becoming a player that the undeniable truth he clung to was shattered.

In a place where only those who survived the crossroads of life and death gathered, understanding he wasn’t the best, his inflated ego must have crumbled.

Fabian likely tried to compensate for his incompetence with social skills, but he couldn’t overcome the influence I exerted through Lily.

Being unable to become the best here too must have driven him to judgments clouded by emotional imbalance.

‘Well, it’s none of my business.’

Whatever the story or reason, since he betrayed Earth, he was now merely my enemy.

I regarded him indifferently and waved my hand.

The lightning followed my intention, scattering the crimson blood in the vicinity.

Yet, the sight of flowing red no longer aroused any emotion in me.

“Gilenios.”

After completing the hunt, I summoned Gilenios and moved to the French branch of the Association.

There, with the help of the transformed appearance provided by the dwarves’ magic tools, I lent a hand in managing the chaos.

* * *

‘It seems I don’t need to be concerned about the French branch anymore.’

For the two days spent stabilizing the city’s chaos, I also used the opportunity to observe the power shift within the Player Association’s Paris branch.

Fortunately, many allies Lily had secured to counter Fabian took swift action upon his downfall, quickly assuming control.

They effectively managed the abrupt turmoil, ensuring that no major issues would arise for a while.

Satisfied with the situation, I returned home relieved.

Afterward, the Main Scenario concluded, granting me a substantial amount of achievement points—including a VIP store discount coupon.

I owed this to my extensive hunt of traitors worldwide, utilizing Gilenios.

Despite other guilds using teleportation circles, they couldn’t beat the efficiency of Gilenios’s authority.

I achieved all my goals through this mission—uncovering traitors, accumulating achievements, and acquiring the discount coupon.

‘Time to acquire a new spear.’

Having bid farewell to Kerax’s spear, it was finally time to shop for a new weapon.

Thanks to the achievements I had steadily accumulated, I was thoroughly enjoying the process.

However, the shopping spree didn’t take long.

I had already pinpointed what I wanted from the VIP store.

After some system maneuvering and several clicks, I secured a legendary item within just a few minutes.

“Ho-ho.”

The 「Spear of Vetroban, tullum’s Hero」 was now in my grasp:

• Category: Artifact

• Acquisition Difficulty: Legendary

• Rank: ★★★★★

• Description: The legendary history of the king who sacrificed himself by holding the front lines to buy time for evacuating his subjects continues to echo in the words of survivors. The spear, loyal to Vetvaluun during his final stand, wishes for what its master yearned for. The 7 Great Gods, witnessing their history, have endowed it with a special power.

• Special Effect: Time Stop

This spear possessed the extraordinary ability to halt time for 10 seconds.

I decided I must own it the moment I saw this special effect. Now I possessed firepower unmatched by any other.

My skill in wielding weapons was also top-tier compared to others on Earth.

With rich combat experience to guide the application of my skills, I had no need for merely powerful artifacts, given I could topple a city or a nation with my strength alone.

A unique-effect artifact deserved a premium.

‘For example, even a clone-creating artifact I recently acquired at a Guardian auction was worth collecting if it came into view.’

Who knew when or how it might prove useful?

Among them, the Time Stop effect held enough allure for me to take interest.

Should there come a time when even the overwhelming power and skill I amassed couldn’t overcome a certain situation—when the mere blink of an eye might decide my failure or defeat—having an extra opportunity beyond that moment was invaluable.

No sacrifice felt too great if it granted even one more chance, despite the achievements I had to exhaust for it.

‘A cooldown of 30 days—the backlash of causality must be considerable.’

Wearing a satisfied smile, I swung the spear leisurely. Though it didn’t offer the combat enhancements of Kerax’s spear,

‘The weapon’s durability and design aren’t bad, either.’

It was more than enough for a settled weapon choice when I suddenly received an unexpected notification.

「Kerax’s spear, imbued with thoughts, returns to the player, Kang Hyunwoo.」

A clang resounded. Bewildered, I murmured,

“… What’s this now?”

Kerax’s spear, which I had hurled at Karklein, tumbled into my room.

‘The thought of being free from random chatter was somewhat pleasing, though.’

All undone in an instant.

“Hey, what’s up? How did this happen?”

Receiving no response from Kerax, I sighed inwardly.

‘He only babbles when he wants to—how typical of that old partner.’

It seemed our connection hadn’t quite ended yet.

Though unaware of how Kerax had returned, I decided it wasn’t worth discarding a returning spear.

‘Since it’s not a bad thing to have around.’

Thinking optimistically, I lifted Kerax’s spear, placing it beside my newly acquired Spear of Vetroban. I went through a few guild reports to wrap up the day’s tasks.

During this time, it was habitual for me to have message notifications muted. Thus, I remained unaware of the storm of messages that populated during my slumber.

Upon awakening, however, I was faced with a jaw-dropping message.

「Kerax’s Spear attempts evolution, using divinity stolen thus far.」

「Kerax’s Spear evolves into a more complete self.」

「Kerax consumes the Spear of Vetroban, tullum’s Hero.」

「Progress: 0.01%」

……

「Progress: 100%」

「Kerax successfully consumes the Spear of Vetroban, tullum’s Hero.」

「The spear consumed by Kerax is now bound to the player, Kang Hyunwoo.」

“Huh?”

What in the world was this?

Damn System