[Chapter 176]
[Baek Myeonsang (3)]
Even if Baek Myeonsang hadn't suggested it.
Eunha was already looking for a place to confront him.
We can't fight in the underground waterways.
For a being that can split into as many as its masks, the complex paths of the underground waterways are like a home ground.
He could also transform into the appearance of people he had eaten.
So if we fought inside the village, he might change into another human and blend in with the people.
If that happened, there would be no choice but to carry out a massacre.
He wanted to avoid unnecessary sacrifices.
No, to Eunha, they were beings he didn't care whether they lived or died.
However─.
─The Uijeongbu residents still have value to be used. Causing a massacre and making them resent the Fairy Government, reducing their numbers, would rather be a loss.
How vast are Uijeongbu and the northern regions? They should be used as pioneers. Moreover, there might be people among them who could become players.
They were valuable human resources.
People who would become resources for the Fairy Government to recapture Uijeongbu and pioneer the northern regions starting from Uijeongbu.
Eunha intended to make the Fairy Government implement policies in this life that they couldn't in his previous life.
Therefore, he was looking for a place where Baek Myeonsang couldn't properly activate his power after luring him out separately.
But he guided him to a place to subjugate himself.
Residents won't come here, and it's wide open so even if he tries to escape, it'll be easy to track him.
It was an excellent location.
Moreover, the deep hole would make it difficult for him to escape easily.
He sincerely thanked Shin Seoyoung who had created a hole in the middle of Uijeongbu.
And so─.
─You think I don't know what you're up to?
Eunha, who had seen through Baek Myeonsang's intentions from the start, made the first move.
Before he could reveal his true form, Eunha handed him the chocolate laced with Han Changjin's poison.
He ate it without any suspicion and.
Soon that brought about disaster.
─Violent Venom
As Baek Myeonsang coughed up blood and collapsed, Eunha immediately drew his sword.
I can't behead him.
If I do that, he's likely to split.
I must not behead him.
Eunha, who had faced Baek Myeonsang before the regression, knew that separating Baek Myeonsang's body wouldn't kill him.
The moment he beheaded him, Baek Myeonsang would surely split into two - head and body - and revive.
Therefore, instead of slashing, Eunha stabbed Baek Myeonsang's back.
Violent Venom
Once is not enough.
He pulled out the sword and stabbed his back again.
Kyaaaaaaah!!
Baek Myeonsang, who had been violently thrashing his body at the first attack.
When the second attack went in, he couldn't maintain human form and finally let out a scream.
"The pain must be no joke with the corrosive property added."
Eunha smiled grimly.
He twisted his body, trying somehow to escape his attack.
But Eunha stabbed the creature's body with his sword as if it was futile.
Each time, blood gushed into the air.
Eunha continued his attacks even while being covered in that blood.
─Squish!
The blood that was spurting out red at first.
As the color gradually changed, blue blood gushed out.
From that point, the creature's body began to swell rapidly.
Violent Venom
As if trying to protect its body, it spewed out a viscous liquid from every pore.
A pure white liquid covered its body, and countless masks rose from within the liquid.
The masks fell to the ground with thuds.
The masks that had succumbed to the providence of Violent Venom shattered as soon as they touched the ground, dropping mana stones.
Nevertheless, Eunha kept stabbing his sword into the liquid monster that continued to swell its body, paying no heed.
Is this as far as it goes?
When he felt like he wasn't stabbing anything anymore.
Eunha clicked his tongue and stepped back.
Soon the monster that had been lying on the ground raised its body.
You humaaaaaan!!
How... How did you recognize my identity!!!
A liquid monster covered with dozens of masks.
The pure white monster roared at Eunha in a grotesque form.
It was obvious that he was flustered.
It was understandable.
Baek Myeonsang transformed into a human cannot be recognized until he reveals his true form himself.
But he had seen through his identity and attacked when he was off guard, so it was natural to be surprised.
To this, Eunha retorted.
"Why should I tell you that? I can't reveal trade secrets."
"Bibi bibi papa papa pupu pu!"
Violent Venom
Kyaaaaaaah!!
Eunha swung his sword.
The creature, who had just been thoroughly subjected to Eunha's poison, was startled and pulled back its body.
But Eunha's poison had extremely strong infectiousness.
The moment even one mask was infected with the poison, it spread to nearby masks in a chain reaction.
In the end, Baek Myeonsang had no choice but to tear off parts of his body and flee.
How dare a mere human...!
How dare, how dare, how dare!
Just you wait! I have no choice but to run from you like this now, but I will surely devour you!!
In a grotesque form.
Baek Myeonsang ran.
He had realized he had fallen into a trap.
For a being who exerts strong power when mixed among humans, this place wasn't very good.
Therefore, Baek Myeonsang had his avatar block Eunha's attacks while he tried to climb out of the hole.
Nevertheless, Eunha calmly dealt with the avatar without worrying.
Because─.
"─I can't let someone who says 'just you wait' go and create future troubles."
It wasn't just him there.
Eunha chuckled watching him crawl up the hole, stretching out multiple arms.
He can't climb out of the hole.
Because his companions were waiting above.
Detach The Scene
Priscis Memory, who had come out above the hole first, activated magic to separate the world lines.
Now what happens inside the hole won't affect outside the hole.
And those outside won't notice the existence of the barrier.
Zzzzt!
Baek Myeonsang tried to escape through the barrier.
But Priscis Memory's magic was different from ordinary protection magic.
When he tried to break through the barrier by force, his hand passed through the barrier.
And his hand popped out from a nearby part of the barrier.
When he pushed his whole body in, amusingly, he popped out elsewhere and rolled down the hole.
And fell down.
Immediately─.
─Heavenly Net
Han Changjin also activated magic.
Threads made of mana settled all over the area.
The mana threads melted.
Now all beings standing in the area where the mana threads had melted were as good as in Han Changjin's hands.
He could grasp their location and.
Even from afar, he could interfere with their mana and carry out disruption operations.
Thousand Steps
Spider Web Domination
He used Thousand Steps to move.
Stopping his leap at a distance from Baek Myeonsang, he pulled his ten fingers in a cross.
At that moment, the threads that had melted into the surroundings revealed their form and entangled Baek Myeonsang's body.
The threads not only tightened around his body, sealing his movements, but also cut into the flesh where they touched.
These things...!!
When his feet were tied like that.
Eunha exploded the compressed internal mana on his sword blade.
Platinum Cross
"Have a taste of my fire! What an unexpected windfall after so long!"
Whoosh!!
Not only that.
Kang Hyeonchul, who had been waiting for this moment, also rushed in and swung down his greatsword.
Kyaaaaaaah!!
Baek Myeonsang screamed again.
☆
Thud thud
The creature, unable to counterattack, dropped masks one after another as it was attacked.
The chunks that had fallen off after being hit by Eunha's attack wriggled everywhere.
Despite being covered in Kang Hyeonchul's flames, the chunks were still active.
Wriggle wriggle
Soon they split into smaller pieces.
Suddenly, slime-like substances with arms and legs sprouting began to scatter in all directions.
This is just the beginning.
I knew it wouldn't be defeated in one go, but this is going to be troublesome.
Eunha frowned.
Now that it had split, the battle was going to become difficult.
Sure enough─.
─You have made a mistake in messing with me.
The masked liquid chunks spread out around Eunha and Kang Hyeonchul spoke.
Their masks emitted light.
Whoosh!!
Each mask can only use one type of magic.
But the masks made up for this weakness with their advantage in numbers.
Each mask either supported others or activated different types of magic.
So to block their attacks, the two had to face not one magic, but hundreds.
─Hamper Wave
However, it was useless against Eunha.
The fact that Baek Myeonsang had split meant that their individual tiers had also lowered.
While Baek Myeonsang formed of dozens or hundreds of masks was certainly powerful, those made of a single mask were nothing special.
The waves Eunha deployed centered on himself interfered with the masks' magic.
And that's not all.
Spider Web Domination
They were in Han Changjin's domain.
When he activated his magic, a net appeared on one side and caught them.
Goblin Sword Dance
Toad Mud
Tying mana threads to his dagger.
Han Changjin swung his blade to attack the falling masks.
Moreover, the ground where he danced with his blade began to transform into a swamp filled with poison.
Masks infected by the dagger's poison were subsequently infected by the Giant Toad's poison.
Furthermore─.
─Rewind
Priscis Memory deployed magic on part of the hole.
The condition of the masks caught in her magic reverted to their previous state.
Those that had been finely split returned to chunks.
Ubo Mana Crusher
Whoosh!
A size suitable for cutting with a sword.
Eunha and Kang Hyeonchul immediately swung their swords at Baek Myeonsang.
Once again, his masks shattered.
Bubble bubble
They changed their form.
Realizing this was futile, Baek Myeonsang transformed into monsters that could be found in Uijeongbu.
Kieeeek!!
Grrrr!!
Monsters transformed into various forms rushed at Priscis Memory.
Han Changjin, startled, quickly jumped to protect Priscis Memory.
Some flew in the air and poured magic on the people.
And some─.
─No matter how skilled you are, you won't be able to do anything to me.
Because my life is not just one.
Even if you collapse from exhaustion, you won't be able to kill me!
Baek Myeonsang, split into eight chunks, raised his body while wobbling and shouted.
His hands surrounding Eunha and Kang Hyeonchul transformed into giant sickles.
""...Kuk...!""
The two blocked the sickles rushing to their faces with their swords.
But that was only for a moment─.
""─...!!""
The sickles in contact with their sword blades melted and dripped onto Kang Hyeonchul's hand.
The chunk rushing at him suddenly split into two.
One grabbed Kang Hyeonchul as is, while the other reformed into a sickle and aimed for his neck.
"These bastards are looking down on us!!"
Whoosh.
Kang Hyeonchul raised flames.
His whole body was engulfed in flames.
As a result, the one clinging to him fell off in shock.
Soon, he deflected the incoming sickle with his sword and charged at Baek Myeonsang.
"Do I look like an idiot who would fall for the same trick twice!?"
This time too, Baek Myeonsang split the moment Kang Hyeonchul leaped into his embrace.
But it was futile.
Kang Hyeonchul, wrapped in flames, burned one chunk with his heat.
Then he approached the other one and was about to swing his sword.
Right at that moment─.
─Bubble bubble
The mask facing Kang Hyeonchul transformed again.
The transformation happened in an instant and.
The mask melted and the transformed form suddenly opened its mouth.
It had taken on a human appearance.
"Are you going to kill me?"
"...!!"
A young boy asked.
Kang Hyeonchul, who was about to behead Baek Myeonsang, flinched when a child suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Rationally, he knew it wasn't human but.
He couldn't readily swing his sword at something that exuded such a human-like aura that it was impossible to tell it was a monster.
This is why humans are interesting.
They become soft towards beings that resemble their own form.
A moment of hesitation.
Baek Myeonsang grinned.
While Baek Myeonsang transformed into a human clouded Kang Hyeonchul's judgment.
Other Baek Myeonsangs that appeared from different positions aimed for his back.
─Clang!
A metallic sound.
His attack was blocked.
Eunha, who had been dealing with other Baek Myeonsangs, had reacted quickly.
"Why are you letting your guard down? There's no one here except us. The rest are all monsters."
"...I know. I was just startled when it suddenly appeared in front of me."
"Then don't do it next time. That guy's method is to attack gaps by exploiting human psychology, so be careful."
That's right. You know me well.
But is it as easy as you say?
All the Baek Myeonsangs laughed wickedly.
They changed their appearance again.
Human forms.
The appearances of people he had devoured until now.
They rushed recklessly at Eunha and Kang Hyeonchul.
Kieeeeek!!
It hurts! Don't kill me! Why are you doing this to me!?
Hyeonchul! Don't you remember me? I, I was with you at the Academy... Kieeeeek!!
Save me! I'm not dead yet! I'm just trapped inside this thing's body!
Please don't kill me! Don't kill me, I said! No! I don't want to die twice! Kieeeeek!!
"Damn it...!!"
Baek Myeonsang possesses the memories and abilities of the humans he has devoured.
Without showing any hostility, people rushed in recklessly.
While shouting to be saved, it was hard to think their appearance was fake.
Could they possibly be real?
Even a slight doubt dulled the sword.
That's right! I'm not a monster! My resident registration number is...!!
Mother! I want to tell my mother! Tell her I'm still alive!
Hyeonchul! Don't you remember me!? Wow, I'm really glad to see you! But why... No, why are you pointing your sword at me... Kuaaak!!
The Baek Myeonsangs die.
Masks shatter.
But the beings dying before their eyes couldn't be seen as monsters.
People are dying.
Baek Myeonsang cunningly enacted even the dying scenes vividly.
He acted human until the moment he disappeared into a mask, breaking down the group's mental state.
Especially Kang Hyeonchul─.
"─Damn it all!!"
Kang Hyeonchul, who had lost numerous comrades in the 1st Uijeongbu Recapture Battle, fell into rage and spewed flames.
He rampaged madly and charged at the mask laughing among the people.
And─.
─Got you.
By disregarding the Baek Myeonsangs in human form.
Kang Hyeonchul, who had destroyed the mask he was aiming for, was caught by the humans chasing him.
One of them changed their face into a mask.
Humans are so interesting.
Even knowing they're already dead, to struggle like this!!
"...!!"
I'll devour you first!!
Kang Hyeonchul tried to raise flames.
Then the people holding his body activated magic.
They interfered with Kang Hyeonchul's internal mana, preventing him from raising flames.
Furthermore, their bodies turned into liquid and began to press down on Kang Hyeonchul.
He's about to be buried as part of Baek Myeonsang.
Right at that moment─.
─Phantasmal Beast Transformation
Phoenix's Cloak
Eunha raised flames.
The area was engulfed in a sea of fire.
Kieeeeek!!
Don't do this! I'm human!!
Help!! Save me!! Rescue me!!
That madman is killing people! I'm human, I tell you!!
My child! Just don't kill my child! I'll die instead... Kieeeeek!!
People's screams don't stop.
As if devouring their screams, the sea of fire grows more relentlessly.
"Now that you've experienced it once, you understand how that guy tricks us, right?"
"You... Did you deliberately..."
"Yes, I just let you get caught. You won't fall for it again after getting a harsh lesson, right?"
The Baek Myeonsangs pressing down on Kang Hyeonchul either fled or were killed.
Eunha looked at him struggling to get up as if he was pathetic.
Then he turned his gaze to Baek Myeonsang avoiding the flames.
The ones who had split and become human were staring intently at Eunha.
Don't kill me.
What did I do wrong! I'm not a monster, I tell you!!
Hey, young man! This isn't right! Are you saying you have no blood or tears? Are you really going to kill us?
Don't you have parents!?
"Geez. This is really driving me crazy. And don't bring up our parents, you monster."
Eunha got annoyed.
He frowned.
He passed through the flames using Ubo and stabbed his sword between the old man's eyebrows.
"─Are you humans? You're monsters."
Kieeeeeeek!!
Don't kill me! Save meeeee!!!
"There's only death for monsters."
The voices Baek Myeonsang creates never reach him.
Whether monster or human.
All beings that obstruct his path are his enemies.
Enemies he must kill.
He shows no mercy to enemies.