Chapter 193 |
Seong-Hwi passed through the complex tunnel layout, pulled by the chain whip. He flew out of one of the countless holes and landed on the ground.
Pwoo! Bulgasal trumpeted as it ran to Seong-Hwi and tackled him as if wanting to be praised.
Its trunk, having taken the form of a chain whip, slowly returned to its original plump caterpillar appearance.
“Yeah, great job,” Seong-Hwi said as he patted Bulgasal’s head.
He thought, The Performing Chain Whip… Is it able to use the weapons it has digested?
Once he decided to use the countless holes left by the World Tree, the only problem that had remained was figuring out how Seong-Hwi would return after holding off the dragons’ pursuit. He had initially planned to use the Wings of Evolution to escape and use either the Hunting Feather or the Night Stalker to regroup with his comrades.
However, this was Forestis. Regrouping was more than possible, but it would take time to traverse through the thick and complex forest. However, Bulgasal solved that problem for him. Seong-Hwi had converted his Destiny Force to Mineral Force when Bulgasal kept trumpeting and hitting him with its trunk.
Bulgasal had said confidently, “I’ll bring you home, Daddy! My trunk is my hand!”
“Yeah, I suppose you eating those precious things like a glutton didn’t go to waste,” Seong-Hwi remarked.
Seong-Hwi looked to the left, where Saleana was explaining the situation to the anxiously trembling fairies as kindly as possible.
“My name is Saleana, a fire spirit. I was one of the people who helped you—”
“Waaaaah! Fire! Fire!”
“Fire is scary!”
“She must be Agave’s subordinate!”
The fairies stared in terror at the Salamanders surrounding Saleana because Agave, the one who had oppressed and exploited them, also used fire. They felt like they could smell the burning corpses of fellow fairies.
“O-oh, no…”
“Step aside for a second,” Seong-Hwi said to the flustered Saleana and stood before the fairies.
The fairies stopped crying immediately, their tearful eyes fixed on Seong-Hwi’s forehead.
“I-it’s… the Second Knight.”
“Is it… Really true?”
“If there is the Second Knight… Is there the Queen, too?”
“Waaaaah! Sir Second Knight!”
The fairies who saw the rainbow sword mark on Seong-Hwi’s forehead with their Fairy Eyes flew toward him in relief. He was the only one they could trust in this dark and scary place.
“Waaah! We were so scared!”
“Our comrades were killed… one by one!”
“Sniff! Hurgh! But… Who are you, Sir Second Knight?”
Fairies clung to his chest, climbed on his shoulders, and some even went inside his pockets. Seong-Hwi, surrounded by fairies of various colors, stared triumphantly at Saleana.
“W-what in the…” she stuttered, lost for words by the fairies’ behavior. They were treating her completely differently despite having assisted in their escape.
Alright. The fairies are on my side. You’ll need my permission if you want their help, Seong-Hwi thought as he smiled nastily, which the fairies couldn’t see.
“Tsk, tsk. He’s up to something again,” Leo remarked.
“Up to what?” Wang Chen asked.
“You should be wary of Seong-Hwi’s goodwill. You’ll be in his pocket the whole time. Well, in the end, it’ll benefit you.”
Leo recalled what had happened with Filipe Kabuka. Seong-Hwi had left Leo with only one choice, eliminating all others. After some time, he admitted that Seong-Hwi’s method had been correct, but the fact that it was excessive remained unchanged.
Just then, an Akasha Message appeared before Seong-Hwi.
“Hm?” he expressed.
[Condition of Trait Quest: Savior II, fulfilled.]
[Converting Trait Savior’s Hand to Savior’s Gaze.]
…
[Savior’s Gaze (Trait)
Rank: D(99)
Description: A kind gaze that can discover those who desperately desire salvation.]
“This is fucking useless…” Seong-Hwi mumbled.
***
“We’re here,” Wang Chen said with shining eyes as they made their way through the jungle.
“Wow… A road like this in the middle of a jungle,” said Leo, walking right behind him, in amazement.
A path as wide as an eight-lane freeway had pierced the dense rainforest. One could imagine the power of the Insect King’s charge just from the width of the trace.
“The Tenth Fiend,” Seong-Hwi mumbled as he stared at the road.
This was the power of someone at the bottom of the Ten Lords and Fiends, his goal. Simply seeing the trace left by that monster showed Seong-Hwi how far he still had left to go. He couldn’t waste time being proud after defeating a mere inferior dragon.
“The spirit monarchs should be at the end of this path,” Saleana said. She then smiled amicably at the fairies clinging to Seong-Hwi and said, “So, may I ask whether you can contact the Vindicta Resistance, dear fairies—”
“Hmph!”
“We won’t betray Vindicta!”
“Yeah! We appreciate your help, but we won’t sell out our people!”
The flustered Saleana shook her hands and said, “No, it’s nothing like that! We simply wish to receive your help—”
However, the swinging of her hands caused sparks to form in midair. The startled fairies hid behind Seong-Hwi.
“W-we don’t know!”
“Ask the Second Knight!”
“We don’t mind telling the Second Knight.”
Seong-Hwi’s smile grew wider. He wanted to grab each fairy and kiss every single one of them.
He patted Bulgasal, who was dissatisfied that it had to share the hoodie pocket with the fairies, and said, “Let’s advance for the time being. We should be able to arrive by today as long as we stay on this path. We’ll discuss details after that.”
***
Seong-Hwi, Leo, and Wang Chen sprinted along the wide path without hindrance. Night had fallen, and everything was dark. Saleana had taken the lead, flying and acting as a torch.
“He lies… at the end of this path,” Wand Chen mumbled.
The flames Saleana emitted made it look as if his deeply sunken eyes were contorting. He felt like he could hear the voices of his comrades who had stupidly decided to trust him.
“Could we earn enough Coins with this business, Boss?”
“Business is good since so many idiots are willing to buy our service, but we should make a clan of our own someday, shouldn’t we?”
“You have my unconditional trust, Boss. At the very least, you won’t let us starve, would you?”
They were inseparable comrades—no, brothers who had been together since the mandatory quest. While the others backstabbed their comrades to escape to the Mirror World, he and his eleven comrades had defeated twelve Fallen Knights to obtain Teleport Rocks. Even in the Mirror World, they had stuck together to overcome life-threatening situations, consolidating their bond even more.
Wang Chen gritted his teeth. It had been his idea to enter the laughable Clan Spirit Tours to collect the Coins they needed. He had planned to use the Coins they earned to buy high-ranking items, create a clan, and reclaim a city. He even had a clan name in mind: Twelve Brothers.
However, dreams were often broken, and his goal had vanished as if it were fleeting. Those with no goal were meant to die.
My only regret is that I failed to die alongside you all there! I will join you all soon! Wang Chen shouted inwardly, his eyes filled with resolve.
Seong-Hwi stared at Wang-Chen from beside him. A white light flickered in his eyes momentarily.
[Activating Trait: Savior’s Gaze.]
[Wang Chen desperately desires salvation.]
What an interesting trait, Seong-Hwi thought.
He had acquired the trait, Savior’s Hand, when he completed the quest, Rescue, at Clan Trophy. It was a useless trait that slightly encouraged those whose hands he grabbed, but it had been converted to Savior’s Gaze after rescuing the fairies.
Although an ability to discover those who desired salvation seemed just as useless as its former version, it was certainly a rare trait. He had never heard of such a trait even in his past life.
“Do you want salvation?” Seong-Hwi asked Wang Chen.
“What?”
“I asked if you want salvation.”
Wang Chen stared at Cheon Seong-Hwi, RB, a human superstar rapidly rising through the ranks.
He replied mockingly, “Salvation? Does something like that exist in this world?”
If there were such a thing, he and his comrades would not have ended up this way.
“Or, what? Are you mocking me for returning alive by myself from the Insect King’s clutches? Are you asking me if I’m happy that I was saved?” Wang Chen grimaced and screamed, “I don’t need that kind of salvation! What use is it if I’m the only one who gets it?! It should’ve either saved us all together, or shoved us all into Hell!”
His eyes reddened. He had been scared of the Chaos Mana that the Insect King emitted. His desire to live had dominated his mind, which was why he had run away by himself. He despised his own survival instinct. He wondered why humans were built to be so cowardly.
“Hah,” Seong-Hwi chuckled dumbfoundedly as he stared at Wang Chen’s crumpled expression.
Wang Chen’s eyes reddened more with rage as he asked, “Are you trying to show off your talent? Is it so funny to watch the struggles of those under you?”
“It sure is.”
“What… did you say?”
Seong-Hwi did not avert his eyes from Wang Chen’s resentment-filled eyes and said coldly, “If you hate being alive so much, then die. Though you’ll be forever remembered as a loser.”
“You… You know nothing about the despair I’m feeling! Someone overflowing with talent like you could never—”
“But I do,” Seong-Hwi interjected.
He knew better than anyone how filthy it felt to run away as his comrades died behind him. He had done so when he had fled with the Destiny Stone like a coward on the day that the Capital collapsed.
“If you have time to despair, you should be using it to think about how to kill the bastard. If your hands are severed, use your feet; if your feet are severed, use your teeth; if all your teeth fall out, curse him to death. You should use whatever means necessary to climb and tear him apart!” Seong-Hwi shouted.
Even when Regnator had severed his limbs, he had used his chin to crawl to the Destiny Stone and swallow it—all to spite Regnator even a little. Wang Chen was overwhelmed by the crimson madness exuding from Seong-Hwi’s eyes.
He thought, What is he… talking about?
“You want to be killed by the Insect King? That’s a terrible mentality. If I were you, I would’ve thought about using any means necessary to kill him!” Seong-Hwi said.
Kill one of the Ten Lords and Fiends? That’s impossible. Is he insane? Wang Chen thought.
“What? Do you think it’s impossible? It sure is, at this moment in time, but it won’t be impossible forever, as long as you’re alive!”
“As long as… I’m alive?”
“My goal is to survive. If I can stay alive, I will shine brightly one day. However, I bet you would just go out like a momentary spark.”
Wang Chen’s lips quivered. He wanted to say something as a retort, but couldn’t find the words.
***
Daybreak gradually lit up Forestis, letting all life know it was a new day. However, one place was not as warm as the morning sun. The Insect King in black armor walked forward as countless flies flew hectically around him. They were not just regular flies; they were Insectum’s greatest form of defense and method of attack. It was an army of vicious flies that devoured the forest in Insectum’s path and tore apart any skill that flew toward him from time to time.
The heads of the young, middle-aged, and elderly women, all with red hair, spoke one after another.
“I am slowly.”
“Getting sick of.”
“The slow progress.”
They were Adi Dahak’s three heads. The battle against the rampaging World Tree finished at last, and each army was busy replenishing its reduced forces. Insectum was in an endless cycle of creating a path and walking along it. Watching it happen over and over again was boring, but challenging the Insect King would only benefit those who patiently waited for their chance.
“At the very least.”
“The spirit monarchs alleviated the boredom.”
“But they’re gone now.”
The four spirit monarchs had been busy stopping Insectum’s advance, but had retreated after suffering internal injuries. Once they left, no one was left to stand in Insectum’s way.
“Hm?”
“Hm?”
“Hm?”
Adi Dahak’s three heads expressed confusion. Every Ranker aiming for Insectum looked at one area. A tiny dot was standing before Insectum in the large space. A closer look revealed the heavily panting man as a human; his legs were trembling so intensely that it looked like he was dancing. The Rankers couldn’t believe that a weak human, seemingly so weak that a single push could kill him, had gotten in the Tenth Fiend’s way.
“Ahaha!”
“How ridiculous.”
“Who is that human?”
That was what everyone gathered around this area was wondering.
“Huff…Huff… Stop… Stop, you motherfucking insect!”
The man, panting so hard that it looked like he was about to faint, pulled out a whistle from his pocket. It was Wang Chen.
***
[Guide Whistle (Destiny Weapon)
Rank: B(99)
Description: The whistle of a former supermarket parking guide. It draws attention and binds an enemy’s movements using a sonic wave of mana.
Unique Skills: (3)]
Wang Chen pulled out his Guide Whistle, placed it in his mouth, and blew it with all his might and mana.
[Activating Unique Skill: Pause.]
The whistle, which he had used since working at the Wellcome Supermarket in Hong Kong as a parking guide, screeched. A sonic wave of mana was generated from his unique skill, Pause, which could bind his enemy’s movements. However, as one would expect, the skill did not work on Insectum. Wang Chen couldn’t even seal his movements for 0.1 seconds.
The Rankers, waiting for the chance to strike Insectum, laughed simultaneously. There were dragons, demons, angels, beastfolk, and more.
“Ahahahaha!”
“What a playful farce!”
“I commend you, human! How did you know we were bored?”
“Kekekek!”
“Haha!”
In the eyes of the intermediate and superior races, a weak human with no secondary force or noteworthy skill getting in Insectum’s way was beyond laughable.
“You call that thing you’re exuding, mana?”
“Kyahaha! How cute!”
“Is that a C-rank skill? You expect to stop Insectum with that?”
“I’m rooting for you, human!”
The whistle’s screeches desperately echoed amidst the mockery and disdain. Wang Chen frantically blew his whistle, his face bright red, again and again.
[Activating Unique Skill: Pause.]
[Activating Unique Skill: Pause.]
[Activating Unique Skill: Pause.]
[Activating Unique Skill: Pause.]
…
The feeble sounds of the whistle died in vain, drowned by the laughter of the powerful. Wang Chen’s death approached apathetically.
He continued to blow his whistle as he thought, Why am I… so weak?! I can’t even… stop a single step!
Tears flowed from Wang Chen’s eyes as he continued to blow his whistle. His mortal enemy, who had turned his eleven brothers into Bodies, was right before him. The monster had destroyed his world in moments, but he couldn’t exert even the tiniest influence on him.
The sounds of the whistle grew quieter. Wang Chen took his mouth off the whistle and panted heavily. He had exhausted his mana supply.
“ARRRGGGHHH! BRING MY BROTHERS BACK, YOU FUCKING INSECT!”
All he could do now was scream at the monster. Insectum outstretched his hand, and a dark green energy mixed with mana, Erosion Force, and Chaos Mana gathered on his palm. It was the Extermination Wave.
It’s… over, Wang Chen thought.
He knew it would end up like this. He had come here to die regardless; he would use his death as an apology to his comrades for running away like a coward.
I’m sorry… that the one you trusted and followed… was someone like me!
He wanted it to be over now. He wanted to be freed of agony. He was sure death would bring eternal rest. However, Seong-Hwi’s words echoed inside his head as he was about to accept death.
“If your hands are severed, use your feet; if your feet are severed, use your teeth; if all your teeth fall out, curse him to death. You should use whatever means necessary to climb and tear him apart!”
He recalled the power and mysterious force he had felt from his words.
“I’m… frustrated,” Wang Chen mumbled, glaring at Insectum before his eyes, the proud superior races looking down at him from the skies, and the intermediate races mocking him from behind the bushes. He screamed, “MY WEAKNESS FRUSTRATES ME!”
“Gyahahahaha!”
“Ahahaha!”
“A fantastic performance!”
“Now, this is my kind of soap opera.”
“More! Scream more, weak one!”
Insectum fired the Extermination Wave.
Wang Chen, certain of his death, mumbled, “If there is a next life… I wish to become strong—”
Just then, an iridescent light filled his vision. He felt nausea, hallucinations, and the sensation of moving extremely fast, then everything went black and silent.
***
Nothing was left in the area where the Extermination Wave passed through, but the Rankers’ gazes were fixed on the thickets in the north.
“What was that just now?”
“It was so fast.”
“If my eyes didn’t deceive me… It was a fairy.”
“Was there someone like that among the fairy Rankers? Are they one of Adi Dahak’s subordinates?”
Various voices intermixed but died down soon after. Their interest in the blur disappeared, and they shifted their focus back to Insectum—all but the first-grade angel with nine pairs of sprouted wings, his eyes closed and holding a book with his right hand. The angel, whose expression was intensely crumpled, was Raziel, the Angel of Secrets.
“The heathen!” he mumbled.