Chapter 388

Chapter 388

Chapter 69: The Path to the Tiger’s Den (2)

As expected, a new Hole opened up.

I wanted to close it immediately, but there was a slight problem.

“I couldn’t enter the Hole.”

I attempted to break through the general-rank monsters to approach it, but it was a futile effort.

It seemed sealed tightly, as if there was a lid placed over it.

“Meanwhile, things kept crawling out from inside.”

Damned System was working on figuring out the cause in the meantime.

In that situation, my mood had started to hit rock bottom.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, K. It has been confirmed that through shadow movement, three entities resisting the puppet authority have been spotted. One of them seems to use the monster transformation authority.”

In a different Hole, Omby’s puppet had appeared, but in the Hole in Seoul, there wasn’t a single one emerging.

“All apostles stationed in North America have been called, but the situation isn’t good. If possible, we ask for your direct support, K.”

“… I’ll consider it.”

“We will be waiting.”

After finishing the call with Lily, who had returned to the hall, I gritted my teeth.

Seeing her unusually urging for haste seemed to indicate the situation was really dire.

This wasn’t the first time a request for support had been made.

Before I was contacted by Lily, I was contacted by Kirish from the Order of Palao, with whom I had built a connection in India.

A creature capable of monster transformation had appeared, and they urgently needed support.

There were only two requests for support so far, but they would soon increase.

Reports would keep coming from other areas regarding the appearance of puppets.

Seeing Seoul before me being tranquil was proof enough.

“This bastard…”

Crack.

A savage noise emerged from between my clenched teeth.

It seemed Omby believed I wouldn’t give up this place.

This shallow trick must be a result of that belief.

The creature clearly intended to devour people and gather corrupted divinity during my hesitation.

Omby’s plot was blatantly clear.

Even knowing this cheap trick should not be humored, I still wanted to stay in Seoul in case I fell into this crafty trap.

“The fact that a Hole was opened in Seoul means they would come this way.”

It wasn’t staggered over time; they had blatantly opened it.

Thus, through this place, Omby’s puppets or main body would cross over.

They would surely do it while I was away.

Telling me to leave Seoul when it was an obvious trap?

My heart told me I shouldn’t, but my mind told me I should.

“Damned.”

I spat each syllable as if grinding it through, speaking to the presence I felt behind me.

“Kim Yul.”

“Y-Yes!”

Kim Yul, who had been quietly watching after climbing up the building, responded quickly.

And I conveyed the answer I had arrived at after much deliberation.

“Apostles will take charge of Seoul.”

“What? Oh… Alright.”

I felt worried and anxious enough to be stuck there, but I couldn’t let emotions cloud my judgment.

I needed to move, entrusting Seoul to the apostles.

It was unwise to bind a key force like myself in a not very dangerous location.

Even though the trap was plainly visible, this seemed the best response at the moment.

The little solace was that I wasn’t leaving without any countermeasures in place.

“Gather the apostles. Include all new personnel. Absolutely no solo operations.”

I had continually increased the number of apostles by absorbing the status of Karlos.

In places like the United States, where Lily was, and India, where Kirish was, they were holding on by facing the puppets with the increased number of apostles.

So, in an emergency, this side could also manage to delay.

“Hold out as long as possible if hunting proves impossible.”

With Gilenios by my side, I could quickly respond to any sudden changes.

“Be sure.”

Kim Yul nodded more earnestly than usual after I repeatedly warned him.

“Got it.”

“Relay this to the other apostles. Go.”

“You be careful too!”

After Kim Yul left, it was the System’s turn.

“Just in case, keep a close eye on this area.”

I might not excel at destruction, but when it came to guarding, I had a knack.

With the System watching over in my absence, I could be a little more assured.

《System Message》

Understood, Kang Hyunwoo.

We will take special care to ensure there’s nothing to worry about.

“… I’m counting on you.”

After hearing the System’s confirmation, I spoke as I glared at the Hole, which stayed unmoving.

“Rice Cake, come here.”

Having turned his main body into the form of a rice cake and leaning over the rooftop railing, Rice Cake promptly came running over.

Rice Cake was essential for finding Omby’s puppets, so he had to come along.

“The first place in need of support is India and the United States.”

And if I had to choose which to visit first…

“To Washington D. C in the USA, next to Lily Evans.”

Though it was unfortunate for Kirish, the head must be defended first.

If Lily collapses, it will become difficult to manage players extending worldwide.

After setting my hunting order in my mind, the air sliced open.

Though each step towards it felt heavy, I didn’t glance back.

* * *

Whenever the Gold light and the black light entangled, heaven and earth trembled.

Simply being present at the scene made Lily feel chills down her spine.

Every clash of these two forces spread shockwaves, constantly reminding her that this battle wasn’t of humans.

Yet, she couldn’t flee from that place.

That battlefield, way beyond human reach, was precisely where she had to stand.

‘Two confrontations have already passed.’

The prior battles were tenacious but concluded unsuccessfully.

Considering Hyunwoo’s divinity, the battle couldn’t be prolonged.

After steeling her mind, Lily tightened her grip on her sword, keeping a vigilant watch over the clashing powers.

“The puppet main body is approaching!”

A Sniper, who was observing from a different perspective, shouted.

The first to react was Aresa, who had long synergized with him.

She promptly blocked the path of the approaching Puppet 1.

Simultaneously, Lily spotted a black shadow.

‘Left side!’

Puppet 3 was burrowing towards the direction of Hyun-Woo.

Without a second thought, Lily raised her sword.

Clang!

Barely blocking only one arm felt like halting a massive boulder, exerting intense pressure.

Hyun-Woo was busy blocking the corrupted divinity being poured by the three puppets in unison.

Thus, he wasn’t in a leisurely position to handle close combat with those creatures.

That’s why Lily and the apostles interposed themselves between Hyun-Woo and the puppets, obstructing the path away from the puppets.

“Grr!”

A groan escaped from her clenched mouth as Sniper too managed to block Puppet 2.

Yet, none of the three apostles deployed in North America managed to inflict significant damage on Omby’s puppets.

Click-clack!

Even when weapons clad in puppeteer authority were swung with all their might, they simply scratched metallic sounds and bounced off.

“Utilize the authority!”

Nonetheless, instead of retreating or abandoning seemingly pointless attacks, the three stood their ground.

At any cost, they had to prevent Hyun-Woo from making contact with those puppets.

Even if it meant having their bodies torn apart and their lives lost, they must ensure.

“We must avert a disaster where the puppet authority is stripped.”

This duty fell on the apostles during this battle.

Although it was impossible to kill them with the apostles’ abilities, separating them as far as possible was the aim.

At that moment, something sparkled from where Hyun-Woo was.

The questioning flash brushed past Lily’s shoulder in an instant.

Puppet 3 hurriedly twisted its upper body.

Ssst.

The sound of slicing skin accompanied the tearing of Puppet 3’s collarbone.

Hyun-Woo had launched a crystallized puppeteer.

Lily reflexively thrust her sword into the puppet’s wound.

And with maximum possible force, she imbued the tip of her sword with the authority.

“Kieeek!”

A chilling scream echoed that couldn’t be deemed human.

Meanwhile, javelins armed with puppeteer authority shot into the puppet’s abdomen from behind her.

Lily, unsatisfied, stabbed again and again!

Omby’s puppet attempted to resist, breaking her arm, and pounding her waist, causing her abdomen to be severely torn.

Nevertheless, Lily didn’t fall back.

She continuously poured authority into Omby’s puppet, wriggling like a fish out of water until it ceased moving.

Raising her sword from the puppet’s chest, Lily swung it vigorously.

Crash!

A strong downward stroke pierced through the puppet’s neck.

Having failed to completely sever it with one stroke, she struck again and again.

Only when the puppet’s neck was sliced entirely did an explosive sound erupt from behind her.

Unexpectedly tossed away like a rag doll due to the earlier explosion, Lily watched.

The Gold light engulfed and overtook the black light, growing massive!

“Huff!”

Somehow regaining her balance mid-air, she landed, stabilizing herself on the ground.

Kr-chak!

Unable to resist the impact, the cement road cracked and erupted in sharp points.

Yet, Lily didn’t pay attention to the road, which had reached that state due to her.

She was looking up at a massive cloud of dust that had soared up.

Precisely, at Puppet 1 that burst out from there.

Losing one arm and bleeding black blood from a seemingly torn tongue, the creature stepped forth.

“Yiaaak!”

Aresa, following closely on its tail, gripped a reversed dagger, driving it into the chopped-off hand’s stump.

Flash! Flash!

Amid the wildly diffusing flame magic and puppeteer authority, puppet 1 screamed.

Simultaneously, as if trying to shake Aresa off of it, the creature stretched out a hand.

Thud.

Somewhere, a heavy resonance resounded, and suddenly, another shadow darted out from the cloud of dust.

Flashing, it slid right past Aresa’s side and embedded into the hollow of the puppet’s chest.

Simultaneously, an exceedingly intense light spread out, almost blinding.

With a bang, puppet 1’s body exploded.

Thud, thud.

Leaving behind black flesh scattered in all directions, hyun-Woo pivoted his body.

Assuming a javelin stance quickly, he hurled a spear that shone golden.

Puppet 2 sprang out from the shadow cast on an intact building’s exterior wall with a thump.

And Hyun-Woo’s spear embedded itself right into Puppet 2’s torso.

Immediately, Sniper leapt out of the shadow from which Puppet 2 had emerged.

Stepping on Puppet 2, Sniper lightly jumped off, causing the puppet to plummet swiftly toward the ground.

On the ground, sharp puppet-covered thorns awaited the puppet.

Crash! Krack!

A chilling sound accompanied the brutal impaling and shredding of the puppet.

And finally, all three of Omby’s puppets appearing in Washington D. C were exterminated.

This event transpired 1 hour and 12 minutes after Hyun-Woo arrived at the site.

The battle, once unbearably loud, sudden fell into silence.

The quiet was first broken by Aresa, who had been flung away by Puppet 1’s explosion.

“Woohoo…!”

Even as she quickly regained her balance and positioned her weapon, she shouted as she collapsed onto the floor.

“It’s over!”

She raised her hand in the air exuberantly, only to flop fully onto her back.

Lily too felt all the strength draining from her weary body.

Supporting herself with her sword, she chuckled wryly while aligning her fractured bone.

‘It doesn’t even compare to facing a Legion Commander.’

Having the puppeteer authority allowed her to inflict some damage eventually.

Nonetheless, penetrating the enemy’s hide alone was overwhelmingly challenging for her.

Although she had achieved it, by borrowing the mighty force backing her.

While Lily and Aresa savored their victory, Sniper emerged from the shadows, speaking.

“It’s finished, good work.”

“You too.”

Covered in dust, hyun-Woo briefly responded to Sniper and moved on.

“Where to?”

“The Hole.”

Sniper, as well as Lily, immediately followed Hyun-Woo.

After Aresa hastily got up and tagged along, they swiftly moved.

The group arrived at a seemingly abandoned Hole nearby the battlefield.

Damned System

New Elements and Characters:

– 릴리, Lily (she): An ally of Kang Hyunwoo who actively participated in the battle against the puppets along with other apostles.

– 현재 위치: Washington D. C, uSA.