Chapter 165: The Horn of Despair (2)
“…I thought I had managed to hide my presence pretty well, how did you notice me?”
A man’s voice came from behind a pile of gold.
The figure that appeared was Riao Wei of the Central Martial Arts Guild.
Noticing him wasn’t the hard part.
It’s not like I was writing characters in front of a scholar or anything.
The fact that he had used a Phantom Boundary meant that I couldn’t just ignore him and move on even if I wanted to.
“I have quite some expertise in boundaries. Plus, if you want to hide that distinct foul smell of yours, try taking a shower at least once a day. Please.”
Jinhyuk shrugged his shoulders.
He had expected that the martial artists would also be aware of this place, but it was better to handle things with a lighter touch here.
Especially since petty provocations like this would be most effective on someone with a high level of pride.
“That mouth of yours…!”
“Let’s skip the boring threats. More importantly, where’s Namgoong Cheon? Why are you here alone?”
Naturally, I had expected Namgoong Cheon to be here too, but the lead actor was nowhere in sight.
“There’s no need for Namgoong Cheon himself to deal with you. He’s already acquired the merits necessary for choosing his force and has left. Just focus on me.”
Hmm, so that’s how it is.
Well, from his point of view, it’s better to just grab the core benefits and return to the martial world than to bicker here.
“Well, it would have been a bit more interesting if Namgoong Cheon were here too, wouldn’t it?”
“Yeah, keep sneering. I’ll make sure to wipe that smirk off your face.”
The corners of Riao Wei’s mouth twisted oddly.
At the same time…
Pssssssssh!
A long scroll emerged from Riao Wei’s subspace inventory.
‘A special item, huh?’
The energy it radiated was extraordinary…
Just at that moment.
[The sacred relic ‘Kwak Hee’s Jochoondo (Early Spring Painting)’ is activated!]
Before my eyes, a landscape painting unfolded.
Ink renderings of the natural landscape…
However, the deep sense of incongruity came from the plethora of figures that should not exist within nature.
“A transference through a painting.”
“…. This is unbelievable. Even though this is a sacred relic given directly from the martial world, you know about it too.”
Riao Wei clicked his tongue in disbelief.
But that was just bluster.
In reality, with a hidden card like this up his sleeve, Riao Wei still had an overwhelming advantage.
‘Sure enough, you’ve prepared quite a bit.’
Hiding the Central Martial Arts Guild’s players within the painting and then drawing them out was an unconventional tactic.
Such deep interference with the system implied that the martial world had taken significant risks.
Failure could have destabilized the inner parts of the multi-layered world. Without a doubt, they’d crossed a very dangerous line.
“Aren’t you worried acting so recklessly? Never mind the coins or sacred relics. If the administrators hear about this, won’t it be big trouble?”
“Thanks for your concern. But that won’t be an issue. If I kill all the witnesses here, this fact will never come to light.”
In the masked ballroom, it was possible to thoroughly examine the labyrinth’s interior, except for one place.
This tomb was a special location under the influence of the 25th floor’s boss monster, where even the administrators couldn’t exercise their authority freely.
Of course, that’s why I chose this place too.
And now, Riao Wei could also take advantage of this benefit.
On top of that…
[Riao Wei is requesting the ‘Protection of Power’.]
[The grand force ‘Martial World’ responds to Riao Wei’s call!]
The sky opened and a giant light descended.
Crumbling… thud thud thud!
The head of the Mo family of the martial sects, Mo Rong, has appeared in the labyrinth.
“This time, I will definitely cut off your lifeline.”
* * *
[‘Kwak Hee’s Jochoondo (Early Spring Painting)’ has completed the spatial transfer.]
“The Central Martial Arts Guild’s 5th Strike Team has been fully deployed.”
“We’ve just received all 50 special forces under the 4th Strike Team’s Yang Sopyeong.”
“The executive team is six strong, exactly as you commanded for preparation.”
A total of 127.
They had gathered enough people to avoid detection from outside.
Although not a large number, it was irrelevant.
They had prepared special weapons for taking down named monsters specialized in PvP rather than large boss monsters.
All of these were tailored cards to capture Jinhyuk.
Moreover, with the seasoned Mo Rong of the martial world joining, the situation was now completely tilted to one side.
“…. It seems the Blood King and the Blood Clan are all dead.”
Even though I’d only told them to remove those around Jinhyuk.
It seemed they must have lost their lives in the process.
“Idiots…”
But I’m different.
Although my skill wasn’t much different from that of the Blood King, Yeom Ho, this place was filled with treasures that could compensate for what skills alone could not.
“It seems you know a lot about the tower too, but I’ll show you that there are mountains you simply cannot overcome with your shallow knowledge.”
Mo Rong reached out his hand to the side.
“Here it is.”
Waiting for this moment, Riao Wei passed him a bright glowing elixir.
[Heart of Magic].
It was a spirit elixir with effects similar to the Shaolin’s Great Return Pill of the martial world.
Actually, it might even surpass it in efficiency.
Once absorbed, the Heart of Magic could be instantly assimilated into the body without any need for energy circulation.
“Don’t let Jinhyuk take that pill!”
“Jinhyuk, sir!”
Cheon Yuseong and Teresa also sensed that the elixir was no ordinary item and drew their weapons instantly.
Instinctively realizing that if they just watched, the situation would worsen further.
But it was too late.
Glug glug!
Mo Rong had already tossed the elixir into his mouth.
“It’s too late…”
“Ah…!”
A sigh escaped their lips, but it was only momentary.
What followed was a chilling aura that pierced to the bone.
The atmosphere rapidly changed.
Thud thud thud thud!
Around Mo Rong, black clouds of energy started to billow out.
To be able to wield such vividly materialized energy alone indicated that he was on a completely different level than the Blood King I had just confronted.
“Haha! Yes, this is it! I can’t control the surging power!”
Mo Rong burst into insane laughter.
It was no wonder he was so delighted, having gained an entire gap of internal energy in one go.
Even if the effect of the Great Return Pill lasted slightly more than an hour, in this very moment, no man could stand against him – he was that powerful.
“…”
Jinhyuk stroked his chin thoughtfully.
It was nice to see him brimming with confidence now that he’d become an ultimate weapon…
But how could this be a problem?
Just in time, I too had found quite an interesting item.
All at once, Jinhyuk held a crude horn, made of a water buffalo’s horn, in his hand.
While Mo Rong was busy swallowing the elixir and the atmosphere became hectic, I wasn’t just idly standing by.
I had secured an item that matched the potency of the elixir… or perhaps was even more suitable for an old expert.
“That, that can’t be!”
Upon seeing the horn, Mo Rong’s face twisted in horror.
You can choose only one treasure per person from the tomb.
That was fine so far. Among the myriad treasures here, choosing any would be a matter of personal freedom.
But of all things…!
Picking the one thing that should never have been touched.
It was too perfect to be a coincidence, considering Jinhyuk’s wickedly smiling face.
He definitely knew what he was doing.
“How in the world do you know what that is?”
“I just picked the most ominous-looking thing, you know?”
“Don’t spout nonsense! How can I believe such an absurd reason!”
Mo Rong’s veins throbbed in his neck.
“Believe it or not, I don’t care.”
Jinhyuk shrugged as if it made no difference to him.
“Besides, since I got it, I’m really eager to put it to good use.”
“S-stop! If you blow into that…!”
Mo Rong reached out desperately, but it was already too late.
Far too late.
Jinhyuk proudly blew into the horn with full lung capacity.
Bwoooooom!
The resonant sound filled the room.
[‘The Horn of Despair’ has been used!]
[The first despair descends!]
If anyone knew what it was, they would never have approached the horn of despair.
Because it literally summoned despair every time it was blown.
Each time, bringing about calamities severe enough to plunge everyone into the abyss.
At that very moment…
“Rooooar!”
Something massive roared.
At the same time, piles of gold crumbled, and a 5-meter black scorpion emerged.
[The Guardian of the Tomb ‘Black Scorpion’ awakens!]
A mighty sentry dwelling in ruins and labyrinths.
A mid-sized monster famous for its venom that could dissolve the organs just by grazing by it.
With a base level near the triple digits and an exoskeleton hard as steel, capable of withstanding energy attacks.
In other words, it was a guardian that was extremely difficult to deal with.
“Ultimately… the guardian of the tomb has awoken. The worst has happened because of you.”
“Wow, was that horn supposed to awaken the guardian of the tomb? That’s the first I’m hearing of it.”
Jinhyuk teased as if he truly hadn’t known.
“Stop talking as if it’s someone else’s problem! Even if you don’t know, your comrades will be torn apart and die! Surely, you know that guardians are beings that exist outside of the rules.”
Thanks to Penheimer’s negotiations with the administrators, players who die are transported to the masked ballroom.
But if killed by a guardian, they wouldn’t enjoy that privilege.
However…
“That might be true. But my philosophy is to only raise the strong.”
Not flowers in a greenhouse, but wild beasts that survive in the jungle.
In the same vein, only chicks strong enough to squat at least 500kg thrice could remain in the High Water Corporation.
“Screeech!”
The Black Scorpion lashed out with its pincers.
Wham wham wham!
A golden statue was split in half with a single strike.
“D-dodge it!”
The Central Martial Arts Guild’s players screamed, their faces ashen.
Frantically flailing to survive, they couldn’t escape the perfectly predatory Black Scorpion.
A pincer quickly snatched a player.
Sploosh!
A crimson stinger on its tail pierced his back.
Venom injected with a bubbling noise.
“Aaaagh!”
In less than three seconds, a human turned to jelly. Being caught meant instant death.
“Ugh!”
Mo Rong grimaced.
No matter how much he had boosted his internal energy with the elixir, the opponent was a labyrinth guardian.
He could not be underestimated.
“S-save me!”
“Damn it. What are the tanks doing!? If they don’t hold the front, we can deal damage. Are we going to die like this!?”
“Are you crazy? How are we supposed to block that?”
The Central Martial Arts Guild players had trained harshly enough, but they were different from the residents of the martial world.
In both individual skill and the determination to fight.
It was not even comparable.
Especially because, as the Black Scorpion rampaged, the elites of the Central Martial Arts Guild were being smashed to pieces like brittle stalks of millet.
In just a few more minutes, they would surely all be devoured.
His decision didn’t take long.
“Stop flailing around and spread out!
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