Chapter 158
It was clearly a different level from the named monsters seen earlier.
Even just the name alone carried a far weightier impact.
'Overwhelming.'
The power emanating from Eclipse not only encompassed the entire space but felt as if it was dominating it.
In reality, Eclipse was causing natural disasters simply by directing his gaze.
"Aaaaargh-!"
"Please! Please! Someone put out this fire!"
The anguished cries of hunters echoed throughout the area.
In his mind, James clearly recognized that he should help the hunters.
But he couldn't easily move his feet.
No, he was unable to move.
'Help? How on earth could I?'
Having met numerous monsters and powerful beings as the vice-master of the Cosmos Guild, he could tell.
'I won't even be able to reach him.'
The gap was literally inconceivable, to the point where he couldn't even entertain the thought of facing him.
Perhaps because of this?
The Spirit King also wasn't classifying James and the other rankers as enemies.
[...]
His gaze was terribly indifferent, as if looking at an insignificant creature whose very existence was meaningless.
However, even amidst that, the emotion of contempt was clearly present.
Eclipse, who had been looking around while repeatedly turning his head, created a huge sphere of flame above his palm while furrowing his brow.
Whisk-!
[Disappear.]
It was the moment Eclipse casually threw the sphere of flame.
"Damn it...!"
James, who had barely regained his senses, desperately launched his body.
Kwagwang-!
The armor, which boasted such excellent durability that it didn't even crack during the fierce exchange with Nouse using the SSS-rank skill Iron Emperor, melted away in an instant.
Hwarareurk-!
As James' body collapsed, wrapped in flames, despair spread even faster.
[Kuhaha-! What a fitting expression for a lowly creature.]
A deep curve formed on Eclipse's lips as he watched this scene.
[Die trembling in fear like that.]
Just as Eclipse made this declaration reminiscent of a demon lord and created another sphere of flame in his palm to shoot, a man with a massive build standing 2 meters tall leapt through the air between the hunters, extending his fist.
[...?]
Kwagwang-!
The being who pierced through Eclipse's flame sphere in mid-air burst into laughter.
"Kuhaha! You've finally appeared!"
His rising voice was filled with ecstasy.
Indeed, unlike the other hunters trapped in fear, a grin was spreading across the man's face.
"I, Baek Mujin, challenge you, Eclipse, to a fair duel! By the way, refusal doesn't exist, so just quietly accept it."
Eclipse silently watched Baek Mujin's spirited appearance.
The only emotion still felt was contempt.
"I'll be clearly different from the rabble you faced earlier, so you'd better take this fight seriously."
Baek Mujin, frowning to show his displeasure, gathered blue energy in his clenched fist.
Paat-!
That energy, shot like a beam of light, barely grazed past Eclipse's hair.
Simultaneously, Eclipse, bursting into laughter, spread both arms wide and created dozens of flames behind his back.
[Yes, unlike the other lowly creatures, you might at least serve as entertainment. Go ahead, struggle.]
Seeing Eclipse's expression turn cold, Baek Mujin drew a deep curve on his lips and shot his body forward.
"Let's have a grand time!"
The blue energy flowing from Baek Mujin's body surged explosively.
Then the spheres poured down, and an explosion occurred.
Kwareureurung-!
With a thunderous roar, the earth's axis shook, as if the world might collapse.
* * *
Bang-! Bang-!
Mizunohara's eyes widened at the enormous explosions incessantly painting the sky.
'Was Baek Mujin this strong?'
Touma (Battle Demon), Baek Mujin.
As a figure who held the position of vice-chairman of the Korean Returnee Association and was considered a key force in Korea's past, Mizunohara had thoroughly investigated him in advance.
That's why Mizunohara couldn't help but be even more surprised.
'His official rank was clearly only SS... Was he hiding his strength?'
Returnees who had honed their innate abilities in other worlds were less dependent on the Force System compared to ordinary awakened ones, so they occasionally showed power beyond their rank.
But Baek Mujin's power now was beyond measure.
'An SS-rank hunter matching a monster that took down even James, an upper-tier ranker, in one blow?'
It was too much, far too much.
To be precise, it could be said to be realistically impossible.
'...This means he wasn't hiding his strength.'
If so, there were only two hypotheses left.
Among them, the more realistic one would be:
'An artifact.'
As it was the fastest and most certain way to show growth, it was currently the most realistic possibility.
However, regrettably, the only things on Baek Mujin's body were the clothes he was wearing, top and bottom.
This meant it wasn't growth due to an artifact.
'Then the remaining hypothesis is... Did Baek Mujin grow on his own?'
It could be called a preposterous hypothesis.
But the clear reality unfolding before his eyes couldn't be denied.
'Baek Mujin is also... an irregular, an existence outside the norm, like Lee Seong-jun.'
In other words, two dragons had revealed themselves in Korea, which he had thought to be a minor country.
'What on earth happened in Korea?'
It was too surprising, too shocking.
At the same time, a bitterness lingered in his mouth.
"...I thought it was an attainable goal, but was it just a vain dream?"
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that as long as Lee Seong-jun and Baek Mujin existed, Mizunohara and Japan's dream of becoming the strongest in Asia had become unreachable.
Normally, this wouldn't have been an entirely welcome situation.
But at this moment, it was a great relief.
'With Baek Mujin as he is now...!'
He could bring down Eclipse, whom Mizunohara hadn't even dared to face.
Naturally, Mizunohara's gaze, filled with hope in his eyes, turned towards Baek Mujin and Eclipse engaged in fierce battle.
* * *
When Nouse, Naiard, Silais, and Glaire, the named monsters reaching ranker level, appeared, Baek Mujin had to use all his might to suppress his instinct that was about to explode like an active volcano.
He had clenched his fist so tightly that even blood flowed from his palm.
This was because for Baek Mujin, not being able to enjoy a fight with a strong opponent was a situation no different from torture.
Perhaps the heavens recognized this struggle?
Right after all the named monsters, including the wraith spirits, fell.
Finally, Eclipse, the Emperor of Wraith Spirits, revealed himself.
There was no longer any need for patience.
He immediately clenched his fist wrapped in fighting energy and leapt into the battlefield.
It was time to receive the reward for his time of endurance.
Eclipse's power, which made his whole body tremble, was truly worthy of being called excellent.
For Baek Mujin, who desired struggle, fighting, and his own growth, Eclipse was truly the best treasure he could ask for.
Indeed, as Baek Mujin split the incoming flames and dove towards Eclipse, his eyes were shining brighter than ever.
"As expected of the Black Gate! Excellent! Too excellent!"
Massive amounts of energy began to surge from Baek Mujin's hands as he continued his movements, wrapped in a protective fighting energy around his entire body.
Bang-!
Eclipse's eyes flashed ominously as he calmly created a barrier of flames and widened the distance.
Following that, a huge light gathered in the sky above.
Kugugung-!
It was the moment when Eclipse, who had raised his index finger towards the lights gathered in the sky emitting a thunderous roar, spoke as if commanding:
[Strike down.]
The gathered light streams became a single bolt of lightning and struck down towards Baek Mujin's head.
However, the light stream failed to harm Baek Mujin's body.
[Not bad.]
A huge turtle-like form that arose with blue energy protected Baek Mujin's body.
Of course, it wasn't an ordinary turtle.
The turtle's shell, with a head and tail in the shape of a dragon intertwined, was reminiscent of the Black Tortoise, one of the Four Guardians.
The sturdy shell of the Black Tortoise was blocking the successive attacks, but Eclipse's face was still full of composure.
[But in the end, it's just the power of a lowly creature.]
It was the moment when Eclipse, sneering, stretched out his palm.
Kwagwang-!
Suddenly, the earth rose high, trapping Baek Mujin at the center of the huge Black Tortoise.
At the same time, the powers of the fire, water, earth, and wind elements began to gather in the open sky above.
The elemental powers, completely mixed into one, became a huge light and fell towards Baek Mujin.
[Now disappear.]
Kugugung-!
The descending elemental power shattered the Black Tortoise's shell without leaving a trace.
Baek Mujin's form inside was also swallowed by the explosion.
[Still... it was quite a unique entertainment.]
It was when Eclipse, seeming to predict victory, was slowly shifting his gaze.
"I'm sure I told you not to let your guard down."
Ssiik.
Baek Mujin's face, with a smile spreading across it, filled Eclipse's vision.
[You... Don't tell me?!]
Eclipse, narrowing his eyes, tried to hurriedly stretch out his hand, but even this didn't go as planned.
In an instant, the head and tail of the Black Tortoise enveloping Baek Mujin's entire body forcibly bound Eclipse's body.
"It's too late."
The Eclipse before him was an opponent as strong as Lee Seong-jun.
However, he wasn't as sharp or keen as Lee Seong-jun.
He was merely a novice recklessly wielding immense power.
'As expected, only Lee Seong-jun can truly make me happy.'
Baek Mujin, spreading a crazed smile across his lips, clenched his fist.
"Now die."
It was the moment when Baek Mujin, pronouncing his sentence, stretched out his fist.
The Black Tortoise enveloping his entire body opened its jaws wide and swallowed Eclipse's upper body.
Kwajik-!
Seeing Eclipse's body with only the lower half remaining, hopeful voices naturally flowed from the hunters' mouths.
"Did we take him down?!"
"Did, did Baek Mujin win?"
There was no answer.
But Eclipse's appearance with only the lower half remaining made it impossible to think he could be alive.
"Woaaah!"
"We won! We've won!"
"We stopped the Black Gate!"
Voices filled with joy erupted along with cheers.
Some were embracing each other and bursting into tears.
However, the expression of Baek Mujin himself, who could be called the main party, was more rigid than ever.
'The message didn't appear.'
The Force System, which could be considered the notification confirming victory, continued to remain silent.
The current situation meant one thing.
'Eclipse is alive...!'
Baek Mujin, hurriedly turning his head, could confirm it.
The true form of Eclipse, rising from the lower half that had been standing still.