[Chapter 200]
[A Matter of Moments(5)]
Death is meaningless.
As long as one is imprinted in this world.
She was free from death.
Death did not exist for her.
─Hiss
All the body parts that remember her, scattered on the ground, turn into particles and disappear.
And the disappeared particles are newly composed in one place.
There, a woman without a stitch of clothing appeared.
"..."
Long blonde hair and blue eyes.
And snow-white skin.
The woman's existence was very alien.
In the middle of a dark forest, with human flesh and blood scattered everywhere.
Only she existed separately, without a single wound.
"I've come back to life again."
She looked down at the ground stained with dark red blood, then looked up at the night sky and muttered.
A somewhat dry and barren voice.
It was a tone as if she had given up.
"For Maegu to appear, the situation must be flowing very badly."
How long had it been since she died?
Priscis Memory, after checking the time, sliced the air with her hand.
She extracted memories from the mana dissolved in the atmosphere.
And materialized the staff she frequently used.
Tap
As she struck the ground with her staff.
Her whole body was covered in mana, creating a black dress.
Finally, she even created a wide-brimmed black pointed hat reminiscent of a witch.
"I'll have to go and check how the situation is flowing myself. For now... it would be better to return to Uijeongbu. Ah, since Uijeongbu is set as a dungeon, I'll have to move to the vicinity."
Thinking about Maegu's actions just now.
It seemed like it didn't want to lose the opportunity to come out of the red dungeon.
So it must be hiding its presence and interfering with the people subjugating the Demon Face Manta Ray.
It seemed to be encouraging the Demon Face Manta Ray to head towards Uijeongbu that way.
From the perspective of players fighting the two corps commanders in Uijeongbu, it would be nothing short of a disaster.
So she decided to hurry.
─Extract
☆
The operation was successful.
The point where the two domains intersected was dyed purple.
For the players, it meant they didn't have to struggle to distinguish the intersecting point.
[You can fight with ease in the purple domain as none of the corps commanders' attacks or magic will work! All platoon members must now focus on defending the purple domain!]
[Those confident in physical attacks should attack Cobalt Knight, those confident in magic should attack Crimson Knight to subjugate the corps commanders!]
[People outside the purple domain should draw the corps commanders' aggro while attacking their armies!]
[Those binding the corps commanders' feet, please exert your strength to prevent the corps commanders from moving anymore!]
Telepathy was rampant everywhere.
2nd, 3rd, 4th Attack Platoons.
2nd Supply Platoon.
5th, 6th, 7th, 8th Communication Platoons.
It was natural since 8 platoons had gathered in one place to fight.
The communication was so noisy it was maddening.
Nevertheless, unlike before, the players were in high spirits.
Because they had found the weakness of the corps commanders they had been struggling against, seizing a chance for reversal.
[Demon Face Manta Ray, continuing to head south! All platoon members accelerate the subjugation of the knight-type corps commanders!]
On the other hand, they were impatient.
They could now see the Demon Face Manta Ray on the other side of the night sky.
Behind the people facing Crimson Knight, the domain of the red dungeon kept expanding and contracting repeatedly.
The operation had just succeeded.
Before the Demon Face Manta Ray entered the corps commanders' domains, they had to quickly defeat those corps commanders.
─Heaven's Net
War Crying
"To think the time for this Ariel to shine has finally come? Starting the song!"
The Pandora Clan members were also moving busily.
Han Chang-jin, who was in the purple domain, spread Heaven's Net and used his gift to restrain Crimson Knight's movements as much as possible.
In the case of Kang Si-hyeong and Ariel, they focused on drawing Cobalt Knight's attention.
Lee Cheon-seo was also in the purple domain and was active for the first time in a long while.
I am a fortress with iron-blooded veins.
There is nothing I cannot block.
Of course, the person contributing the most to restraining Cobalt Knight was
[─Ga-yeon, did you hear? Our task is to bind those corps commanders' feet.]
"Ahem."
These two, among other snipers, were also busily changing magazines.
Among them, the roles of these two were quite unique.
It was sniping the corps commanders.
Bong Gu-rae was in charge of Crimson Knight.
Son Ga-yeon was in charge of Cobalt Knight.
[Don't worry too much if you fail. Of course, it's best not to fail, but even if something goes wrong, the clan members will help.]
"Ahem."
[Alright, let's prepare now.]
On top of different building rooftops.
The two, positioned away from the corps commanders' domains, conversed via radio.
Thanks to the mana dissolved in the air outside the domain where the corps commanders were rampaging being relatively less intense.
Originally, there were telepathists next to the snipers at each location as well.
"Ahem."
Anyway, Son Ga-yeon made a sound of clearing her throat so Bong Gu-rae could hear in response to his radio transmission.
It was a signal used by Pandora Clan members when communicating with Son Ga-yeon in situations where they couldn't face her directly.
Clearing the throat twice meant affirmative.
Clearing the throat three times meant negative.
Pandora Clan members could have some level of conversation with Son Ga-yeon using these two signals.
Originally, a sniper didn't need words.
They only proved themselves with silent bullets.
Gift
With just one shot.
She could prove her existence.
She was confident of that.
She activated her gift.
Sizzle!!
Her body heats up.
The rapidly heated body gradually begins to overflow with power.
Her power imbues the bullet as well.
While hunters or rangers struggle to use magic mediated by bullets in the gun.
Snipers who basically fight one shot at a time were skilled at imbuing magic into bullets.
Moreover, in a state where her gift was activated, she became one with the sniper rifle.
She could check the state of the loaded bullet even with her eyes closed.
"Phew...."
Soon she got used to the heat.
Son Ga-yeon steadied her breathing.
Then she held her breath.
She aimed at Cobalt Knight through the scope, waiting for it to show an opening.
Finally, when the players who attacked it according to the navigator's instructions immediately retreated.
Only its figure was captured in the scope.
She had been waiting for this moment.
─Boom!!!!!!!
Her muzzle spat fire.
The bullet that left the sniper rifle flew towards it emitting light.
It couldn't react in time.
While it reacted nimbly to attacks from people stepping on its domain.
It couldn't react to attacks coming from outside the domain.
[─Ga-yeon, this is a message from the Clan Lord. Well done. This was Jin Seo-na.]
Her bullet not only attacked the corps commander's side but even destroyed its armor.
That much could be said to be the result of accumulated attacks on the corps commander leading to the destruction of its armor.
Nevertheless, her performance was welcomed by players who had been attacking the weak points created by
Moreover, even Eun-ha had praised her.
"Ahem."
Son Ga-yeon cleared her throat to hide her bashful feelings.
Meanwhile, at that time, Bong Gu-rae was aiming at Crimson Knight from another location.
Tang!
The bullet that left the muzzle flew towards the corps commander's armor.
But the bullet, belonging to physical attacks, passed through the corps commander's body.
At that moment, the gift activated.
Gift
Physical attack and magic attack.
The gift didn't belong to either.
Rather, as the bullet passed through it, the gift exerted a powerful effect.
It fell into a stunned state.
Though it was only for a very short time, there was so much players could do in that interval.
Immediately, players shouted and poured attacks on it.
"Hmph, then we should keep checking so our darlings do well."
He confirmed that the gift worked.
Now Bong Gu-rae decided to focus on shooting the corps commander.
At that moment, monsters that had climbed the wall rushed at him.
Grrrr!!
Bong Gu-rae, who had been moving alone.
He, who had been lying prone on the floor sniping the corps commander, exposed a defenseless state to the monsters.
The monsters swung their front paws and tore his abdomen before he could react.
Mirroring
With a sound of glass breaking.
Bong Gu-rae's body turns into mana particles and disappears.
They were greatly agitated seeing the place where he had disappeared.
They didn't realize it was an illusion created by Bong Gu-rae.
"─Hmph, what a sight."
An artifact made with a Chungmu grade treasure.
The ring-shaped artifact could be set to copy what it reflected and project it elsewhere.
Bong Gu-rae, who had been in the building right next door, aimed a short-barreled gun at the confused monsters.
The rangers and telepathists would take them down anyway.
Still, he wanted to make them pay a fitting price for killing his doppelganger.
Tang!
Without even knowing they had been sniped.
The monsters collapsed after being hit by the bullet and vanished.
☆
The players are giving it their all.
With the Demon Face Manta Ray in sight, it wasn't the time to spare strength.
They didn't want to lose the two corps commanders who were nearly defeated just because the Demon Face Manta Ray's power reached them.
Flash Rain
Diamond Blast
All with the same feeling.
Players with their backs to each other in the purple domain faced the corps commanders.
In the case of Eun-ha, Choi Eun-hyuk, and Mok Min-ho, they were facing Cobalt Knight.
We've already taken air superiority.
It will be hard for it to fly now.
The attacks of the two ended.
Eun-ha rushed at the corps commander along with Yu Nam-hoon.
It couldn't spread its wings like before.
This was because guardians including Chu Young-hoon, Kang Si-hyeong, and Lee Cheon-seo had thrown chains and nets to block its movement.
Moreover, rangers, snipers, and hunters were killing the flying monsters.
Blaze Crasher
Tyrant Paddock
The sword blade is engulfed in flames.
Eun-ha avoided the incoming swords and launched a sword strike at it.
Its protection magic was torn away.
In that gap, Yu Nam-hoon, who was running behind Eun-ha, swung his sword.
The poison that fell from the blade slowly corroded its armor.
Violent Flame
Seeing that the poison was working.
Eun-ha sent telepathy to Seo-na to have people retreat.
After confirming that people had retreated, he launched poison imbued with flames.
Poison that causes sepsis, corrosion, and makes the opponent suffer.
The poison in the form of flames fell all over the corps commander's body.
The poison reacted immediately.
Furthermore, it caused a chain reaction.
Graaaaaaah!!!
The corps commander screamed.
Unlike when they first encountered it, no majestic appearance could be found in it.
I am, I aaaam...!!
Wearing tattered armor.
The corps commander with blood dripping.
The swords that had been flying around were now barely protecting it.
It lost composure.
Players instinctively felt that its life was nearly at an end.
─Whoosh!!
Therefore, it resisted desperately and obscenely.
It tore the net while flailing and tried to leave its position to avoid creating a purple domain.
Fisherman's Foot Binding
The players wouldn't just stand by.
Kang Si-hyeong threw the recovered chains, grabbing its ankle.
Players swarmed around him, pulling to prevent it from escaping.
A test of strength ensued.
Soon it tried to cut the chains.
"It would be a shame if you ran away from me! How can you think of running away in the middle of a battle!!"
At that moment, Kang Hyeon-cheol kicked off the outer wall of the building and jumped down.
The flames imbued in his greatsword swirled and fell on top of its head.
Whoosh!!
A pillar of fire shot up.
Kang Hyeon-cheol and the corps commander were engulfed in flames.
From within the pillar of fire, metallic sounds were heard in succession.
The two monsters were fighting.
Eun-ha plunged into the flames.
Ox Walk
Wearing a cloak of flames.
He dives into Kang Hyeon-cheol's flames that try to burn everything except himself.
Soon Eun-ha discovered the forms of the two monsters clashing swords repeatedly.
Dunning Blade
He absorbs Kang Hyeon-cheol's flames.
The sword blade is dyed bright red.
As a result, the momentum of the flames burning the surroundings subsided.
"You...! Hey, this is my...!!"
Kang Hyeon-cheol noticed the anomaly.
He cursed and said something.
Eun-ha didn't even listen with half an ear.
Rather, he raised the corners of his mouth.
This worked out well.
The crazy squid is holding it down, so I can aim properly this time.
And if I left the final blow to you, would I have to be cursed at by kids like Min-ji?
It was too busy dealing with Kang Hyeon-cheol to pay attention to Eun-ha.
Eun-ha immediately kicked off the ground.
Only then did it realize Eun-ha's presence and try to respond belatedly.
Ox Walk
Fake.
Eun-ha disappeared from its sight.
It flinched.
By the time it turned its head, everything was already settled.
Dunning Blade
Two swords cry.
Like the sound of flames burning.
The swords reminiscent of the morning sun carved into its chest.
──!!
Once.
And─.
──!!
Twice.
A new trajectory passed horizontally over the vertical trajectory.
Brilliant light engraved a cross trajectory on its body.
I... am....
It tries to respond.
The blades floating in the air flashed.
But those blades lost their momentum and disappeared into particles.
"─This land has been ours from long ago. Just disappear."
The corps commander vanishes.
Eun-ha sneered at it.
☆
Cobalt Knight vanished.
But it was too early to relax.
Crimson Knight remained.
And─.
─Bubbbbbbbbb
The Demon Face Manta Ray approached.
The red dungeon domain overlapped on top of the red domain.
Crimson Knight, noticing this, immediately tried to move into the red dungeon.
Heaven's Net
The two desperately tried to grab it and restrict its movement.
I am the guardian of this land.
I will surely annihilate you.
But in the end, it stepped into the dungeon.
As the dungeon's power was transmitted to one foot, its armor transformed.
"Damn..."
Red and black.
Its armor color split in half, and its aura changed drastically.
The players clicked their tongues.
Now only this one is left....
This one is the problem.
A corps commander immune to physical attacks.
Eun-ha was gloomy.
He couldn't take action himself.
It was a situation where they had to rely on the casters' firepower.
Just as Eun-ha was thinking this─.
─Hanmae Style Special
Infinite Shower
Ryu Yeon-hwa stepped forward.
She boldly entered the red domain and swung her spear.
A torrent of water materialized from her spear, quickly freezing into countless ice shards that rained down on Crimson Knight. The corps commander, caught off guard by the sudden attack within its own domain, struggled to defend against the onslaught.
"Now's our chance!" someone shouted.
The casters, seeing the opening created by Ryu Yeon-hwa, unleashed their most powerful spells. Fireballs, lightning bolts, and arcane missiles streaked through the air, all converging on Crimson Knight.
The corps commander's armor, already weakened from previous attacks, began to crack and splinter under the combined assault. It let out a deafening roar, a mix of pain and fury.
Eun-ha, watching from the sideline, felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could defeat this monster before the Demon Face Manta Ray's influence grew too strong.
But the battle was far from over. Crimson Knight, driven to desperation, began to unleash attacks with reckless abandon. Its sword strikes, empowered by the red dungeon's energy, carved swaths of destruction through the battlefield.
Players scrambled to avoid the deadly blows while maintaining their offensive. The air crackled with energy as magic and monster abilities clashed in a spectacular display of power.
As the fight reached its climax, Eun-ha knew that the next few moments would determine the fate of not just this battle, but perhaps the entire Uijeongbu recapture operation. With bated breath, he watched as his comrades gave their all against this formidable foe.