Chapter 390

Chapter 390

Chapter 69: The Road to the Tiger’s Den (4)

The authority of Karklein had been a matter settled with Gilenios.

“To think they allowed such a pitifully easy attack.”

Was it due to Gilenios’s negligence, or was the assault more overwhelming than he could handle alone?

Considering the rapidly diminishing divinity, it seemed that Gilenios was indeed using his inherent authority.

Due to the urgent circumstances, it was difficult to receive an accurate report.

As the skies began to tear open again, corrupted divinity targeting the apostles flew through.

While trying to cover the widest range of sight, I noticed something peculiar.

I paused momentarily, putting my spear down, and quickly identified the source of discomfort.

“Four o’clock! At four o’clock!”

“They’re coming from the twelve o’clock direction as well!”

The corrupted divinity emerging from the rifts wasn’t targeting me. Its aim was solely on the apostles.

To make up for the damages caused by the surprise attack, everyone gritted their teeth in dealing with the puppets. As a result, there were no additional losses in our forces.

Clang! Clang!

Observing the movements of corrupted divinity emerging from the beyond, I discerned one more fact.

“There isn’t just one.”

The rhythm observed when the forces moved was entirely distinct.

This meant that at least two puppets were cooperating.

This wasn’t something seen in the American battle. Sometimes they appeared to attack simultaneously.

“That was just coincidental synchronization of attack timings.”

They fought separate battles, trying to defeat me and the apostles on their own.

But this situation seemed to be slightly different.

“If they’re teaming up, then Gilenios alone can’t handle it.”

I was about to enter the rift myself.

Suddenly, two puppets bounced out from the open space.

Immediately, they attached themselves to Kirishi and Ruvian.

Gilenios, showing his face through the rift left by the puppets, took a shaky breath and spoke with a trembling voice.

“I-I wasn’t slacking off, you know? I barely managed to block all that.”

Seeing him all bruised and battered, it seemed that his claim of having exerted effort wasn’t entirely a lie.

“Go in.”

I said without further reprimand.

“Don’t misunderstand your priorities.”

I emphasized that even at the cost of ignoring the puppets’ attack, ensuring the safety of Rice Cake was the priority.

Gilenios nodded obediently and returned into the rift.

The entity with Karklein’s authority repeatedly attempted to escape by opening rifts.

Crackle!

Each time, my authority blocked or struck the entrance.

With Gilenios joining from inside, the rift entrance would either warp or shatter as well.

Thanks to that, the two puppets were trapped and easily bound by the apostles.

I took the opportunity to inflict several cuts on their bodies.

The rest was up to the apostles.

A few minutes after leaving the battlefield and advancing, I arrived near Puppet #1, which wielded the power to monsterize, surrounded by other monsters.

“Quick, isn’t it?”

As Sniper had said, it was truly quick. It swiftly evaded us as we approached.

Unlike the previous ones, it started to take evasive actions, dodging, fleeing, and using other monsters as meat shields.

Just when it seemed like it would be caught, it would slip away, as if taunting us.

Normally, no one would’ve fallen for such obvious tricks.

But for players excited and in the throes of battle, the story might be slightly different.

“You damn rat!”

After Kirishi and Ruvian withdrew to capture Puppets #2 and #3, Toma, who had taken the lead position, deviated from the formation and pursued it deeper.

Immediately, whips created from corrupted divinity shot up from the ground.

It was Puppet #4, which had been hiding underground.

With this, all the puppets’ locations were exposed.

I pushed Toma aside and thrust my spear in place of the whip.

Upon seeing the fourth puppet being dragged out of the shadows, Toma gasped.

“I’m s-sorry…”

I dismissed Toma’s apology with a wave.

I knew his combat sense was lacking compared to the other apostles.

Nevertheless, the reason I appointed him as an apostle was his strong faith.

A trust and devotion so intense it could be seen as fanatical.

Appointed for that reason alone, Toma wielded the most powerful puppet among the apostles.

He was capable of delivering a significant blow to the puppets even without my help.

“Go after #1.”

“Then I’ll handle #4, the one using shadows. I’ll drive it out soon, so just make an opening.”

Following my directive, Toma left while Sniper dived into the shadows.

Left alone amidst the swarming monsters, I began a massacre.

Boom, boom.

Flame Strikes fell successively without pause, and lightning prisons soared relentlessly.

The ear-piercing screams of monsters burning alive threatened to drown the world.

Amidst the chaos, I stood deep in thought.

Pondering over the changed actions of the puppets.

In America, all three aimed to approach me, outright ignoring the apostles.

Their primary goal was blatant.

But this time?

“I wasn’t the primary target.”

The attack using Karklein’s authority.

The assault sneaking in shadows.

Those attacks were aimed at the apostles, not at me.

Despite being alone now, no puppet attempted to approach me.

Instead, each focused intently on dealing with the apostles they were engaged with.

“Are they practicing?”

It seems they learned in the Washington battle that the apostles were my shield.

If they’ve concluded that clearing the apostles is necessary to approach me…

“Then I’ll assume they’re conducting practical training.”

If this hypothesis is true, their teamwork level would increase with each battle.

“I can’t keep trailing and being toyed with like this.”

As my thoughts reached that point, a puppet shot out from the shadows of a tree.

It was Puppet #4, chased by Sniper.

Without even glancing to the side, I reached out my hand.

Whoosh!

A puppet spear, launched with the same velocity as my usual javelin throws, brutally tore into the puppet’s shoulder and side.

“Nice!”

Sniper, following closely behind Puppet #4, gleamed as they plunged their dagger in.

Crackle.

The piercing light stung the eyes as it flashed.

About an hour after we crossed over to Mumbai, the puppet hunt concluded.

Throughout this process, I discovered something new.

“The puppet without authority acts as a connector between Omby and the puppets.”

When that puppet dies, the other puppets become incapacitated for a short time, as Sniper testified.

The final one we chased in Washington also collapsed suddenly, making it easier to drive it out of the shadows.

“Right after the one Asa was dealing with died.”

The puppet killed then also manipulated corrupted divinity without using any authority.

Reflecting now, it seemed not that it lacked authority but possessed another unknown power.

“Sure, the one that attacked me in Seoul had no distinct power either.”

After consulting with Rice Cake, it was confirmed that once that puppet died, the threads tied to the other puppets’ heads were severed.

I shared this information with the association, and during that process, I received reports on new incidents that transpired over the past few hours.

“In the Norwegian Sea?”

According to Lily, a new puppet had been sighted.

“Yes, Ethan and the apostles in Europe are countering it, but… they’re struggling as there’s no one with Water attribute.”

And it wasn’t just there.

Sightings of puppets increased in Nigeria in Africa, peru in South America, and Japan in Asia.

While the exact number remains unspecified, puppet sightings were confirmed in all Holes except Seoul.

After a brief consideration, I stated.

“First, locate the one without authority. Don’t hunt them immediately; it’s crucial to determine which entity possesses that ability.”

“Yes, understood.”

Given that our opponents had the monsterization authority, I couldn’t just stand idly by either.

However, merely running around thoughtlessly wouldn’t end this vexing matter, prompting me to rethink continuously.

“If touched, it will likely break again.”

Musing about the direction with the Hole, the System confirmed my thought.

《System Message》

The probability is high.

Omby doesn’t want me to come over.

There must be a reason for that.

“To confirm, I have to go over.”

But is that the best option? Is there no other way?

Must I personally write the path to the tiger’s den?

“Drawing it out is also a method.”

Though how to draw it out remains a problem.

“Usually, lighting a fire and filling the den with smoke makes it come out.”

Like the wisdom of ancient hunting, there’s likely a way to draw Omby from beyond.

Whether I go over or make it come here.

Both possibilities remain open, utilizing the Holes scattered worldwide…

“Worldwide…”

Suddenly, a word lingered in my mouth.

Chewing over it, I mumbled alone.

“Giving up on all is too difficult, isn’t it?”

《System Message》

Excuse me?

Although the System queried, I refrained from explaining and kept silent.

I was busy making the plan that sparked in my mind more concrete.

As I was deep in thought, kirishi approached and spoke.

“Is something wrong?”

In a tattered state after engaging in battle and then with the puppets, his appearance was a mess.

Considering he bothered to find me despite being exhausted, it was obvious he had a purpose.

“If it’s not urgent, close the Holes first…”

“Not for the time being.”

I refused even before Kirishi finished talking.

Newly appeared Holes can’t be crossed by the power of ordinary players.

Because Omby is mimicking the System to prevent it.

Only I, supported by the System, can cross over.

But if I attempt to cross, they’ll likely sever the tail by destroying it again.

In this situation where neither move seems viable, I can’t haphazardly shut the Holes.

They’re paths for monsters to cross and simultaneously, routes for me to reach Omby.

“What did you just…”

“No intention of closing the Holes for now.”

This is not the time to meddle with the path to the tiger’s den.

But Kirishi didn’t seem to agree with my decision.

“Hey! Hundreds, thousands will Die if we leave the Holes like this!”

“I know.”

I understood the heartache of citizens dying.

I’m not a machine void of emotion either.

Still, it didn’t sway my decision-making.

I didn’t seek his agreement from the start.

“If it’s unpleasant to follow my will, handle it with your own hands.”

Hearing my cold, almost callous words, kirishi grit his teeth.

Yet instead of giving him my attention, I continued staring in the direction of the Holes.

Having decided on my course, there was nothing more I could do by staying here.

Moving even a little faster was a better option.

Leaving Kirishi behind without hesitation, I turned away.

And I summoned the one essential to the plan formed in my mind.

“Gilenios.”

It was time to wring out a self-proclaimed slave who pledged to lick my feet if I just spared him.

* * *

In the gap, where Gilenios had been tirelessly running around, he suddenly halted, yelling.

“Damned!”

In a space void of anyone but himself.

The muffled voice faded without even an echo.

Yet Gilenios, full of rage, continued muttering curses angrily.

“Argh! Dammit, damn this! Cursed!”

With one last hope, he clung desperately and crossed over to Earth.

He finally left the doomed land and stepped onto a new settlement.

This new world’s civilization was highly advanced.

Not only simple amusements but diverse cultures, innumerable arts, and delectable snacks were there to enjoy.

Gilenios truly loved the urge to live anew on Earth.

To the extent he fervently wished this land wouldn’t end up destroyed.

Nonetheless, life in a new world wasn’t all joy.

“Am I a slave? Am I?! What else is this but slavery?! Damned!”

The god he newly served was neither merciful nor lenient.

Damned System

**New Elements and Characters:**

1. 길레니오스 = Gilenios (he)

2. 타락한 신성 = corrupted divinity (it)

3. 카클라인 = Karklein (na)

4. 전투 현장 = battlefield (it)

5. 기리시 = Kirishi (him)

6. 라위안 = Ruvian (him)

7. 토마 = Toma (him)

8. 저격수 = Sniper (na)

9. 백설기 = Rice Cake (it)

10. 옴빈 = Omby (it/na)