Chapter 85

“Hmm…”

From what he’d seen in the two previous defense battles, this combination of three bosses might be considerably more troublesome to deal with than he initially thought. The Support Captain was likely responsible for revival and healing, similar to the toad-headed monsters from before, and the Armored Captain, judging by his moniker, was probably similar in nature to the rhino monster he’d dealt with in Belkaras.

Jun-sang clicked his tongue and hid himself with Invisibility, then used Phase Shift to quickly approach their location. As he neared the castle wall, which looked as if it had been hit by an aerial bombardment, he saw fierce combat unfolding. Jun-sang first used the quest markers to gauge the positions of each boss. The first thing that caught his eye was a dark brown giant, almost as tall as the castle wall. It had four goat-like horns on its head, and its body was covered in dark brown scales, like armor.

Aside from the giant, the other two were surprisingly small. Of course, that was only in comparison to the giant; they were still about 1.5 times the height of an average human. One wore sinister black armor, radiating ominous flames. He wielded a shield and a sword, his eyes glowing with blue flames, and rode a ghost horse, leading black knights who resembled him in appearance, slaughtering what appeared to be players. The other stood on one of the giant’s shoulders, with a face like a mummified skeleton, covered only in skin, and long, flowing white hair that reached his ankles, fluttering in the wind.

Based on appearance alone, it was difficult to tell which one was the general, but considering the appearance of Kalkash and Sapathan, the generals of other invading armies, it was highly likely that the giant was General Sarga. Jun-sang observed the dark-skinned people, who were being pushed back mercilessly by the black knights, with an indifferent gaze. Their appearance made it difficult to assume they were African. They were probably from Southeast Asia. Unlike the Americans, they were equipped with both cold weapons and firearms, but for some reason, they seemed uncoordinated and tended to operate independently. It felt as if they were splitting into factions and moving separately, even in this desperate situation.

“Tsk.”

Jun-sang clicked his tongue, turning his attention from the people back to the bosses. As expected, the first target had to be the mummy-like monster, who appeared to be the Support Captain. It was emitting a black, smoke-like spiritual energy, continuously chanting gloomy spells, and wherever its voice reached, zombies and monsters, upon taking damage, would emit black smoke from their bodies and recover.

Jun-sang watched the enemy’s battle for a bit longer, then moved to the top of the castle wall.

“Heness.”

As he softly called her name, a faint light emanated, and a girl in a red dress appeared. Heness was momentarily bewildered, then bit her lip as she saw the burning city below the castle wall and the people fiercely fighting against the backdrop of the flames.

“What happened? How much time has passed? Surely… you didn’t fail to stop them, did you?”

As Heness’s questions poured out, Jun-sang shook his head and replied, “Not much time has passed. And… this isn’t Belkaras, it’s Harlagan.”

“What?”

Heness asked again, startled by Jun-sang’s calm reply. “You mean… we’ve been summoned to another place?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

Heness bit her lip and lowered her head. How long had it been since they fought those terrible monsters, and now they were summoned into battle like this again? Had this man… been living this kind of life all along?

Jun-sang saw Heness’s gloomy expression and gave a wry smile. “No need for that look.”

“But…”

“This is my first time being summoned consecutively like this too.”

“Really…?”

“Do I need to lie right now?”

“…”

Heness shook her head. Jun-sang wasn’t someone who did unnecessary things, and it was true that he had no need to lie to her now.

“Anyway, I need your help again for a bit.”

Having said that, Jun-sang summoned Crimson Wolf and put a saddle on its back. He then picked up a short spear lying on the castle wall and attached the Flag of Blood and Chaos to it.

“This flag grants great power to allies just by holding it.”

“Ah…”

“You don’t need to fight. Just keep insulting them from a safe distance. If it gets dangerous, I’ll immediately unsummon you, so if you think you can’t dodge anymore, call me right away.”

“I will.”

Heness gripped the spear with the flag tightly in both hands and mounted Crimson Wolf’s back. As she mounted the wolf, Jun-sang summoned all his spirits and requested, “You all protect her.”

Then, two will-o’-the-wisps, Morning Dew, Gentle Breeze, and Snowflake transferred to her. Jun-sang gently patted Heness’s head and urged her, “If you truly can’t avoid it, you must call me immediately. Don’t forget.”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

Heness clenched her fist and, gripping the saddle’s handle, commanded Crimson Wolf. “Let’s go!”

The red-furred wolf leaped from the castle wall onto a nearby roof at Heness’s command. Jun-sang watched the wolf carrying her disappear into the distance, then concealed himself again with Invisibility.

Immediately, Heness’s shouts began to echo across the battlefield.

“You idiots, idiots, idiots, idiots, idiooots!”

The moment her high-pitched voice spread everywhere, those deeply immersed in battle suddenly felt a shocking impact, as if someone was fiercely trampling on their chests, and they instinctively staggered. It was at that very moment that Jun-sang moved. He immediately performed a Phase Shift, appearing behind the mummy monster standing on the giant’s shoulder.

Jun-sang, suspended in mid-air, unleashed Dual Storm. The two iron balls, leaving his hands, flew towards the mummy monster at terrifying speed. The mummy monster, staggering from Heness’s sudden mental attack, was hit consecutively by the two iron balls without a chance to dodge. Fortunately, the first iron ball was blocked by a shield it had already erected. However, the second iron ball, which flew in as the shield shattered like glass, was utterly impossible to avoid.

Support Captain Belbaran instinctively stretched out his hand, which was literally nothing but bone and skin, but the terrifying, thorny iron ball crushed Belbaran’s hand, tore through his withered skin, and instantly pulverized the bones within. General Sarga, enraged by Heness’s sudden shout, was about to roar back when he suddenly jumped in surprise as Belbaran, who had been on his shoulder, was shattered, and the iron balls, carrying the momentum, struck his back.

Jun-sang, who had shattered Belbaran far more easily than expected, immediately performed a Phase Shift through Sarga’s shadow, then reappeared among the black knights who were slaughtering the dark-skinned people, riding ghost horses. Realizing that the newly acquired Super Rare grade Dual Storm was much more powerful than he had anticipated, Jun-sang didn’t hesitate. He summoned the squirrel, let it loose, and immediately began to move, unleashing Dual Storm towards the black knights.

Kwagagagak!

In an instant, the black knights’ armor shattered, and the ghost horses were crushed and began to fall. The dark-skinned people, still disoriented by the girl’s sudden voice, were stunned to see the black knights who had been pushing them back being instantly crushed and falling. But before they could even catch a glimpse of Jun-sang, Heness screamed again with all her might.

“You stupid poop bugs!!!”

As the most humiliating and filthy curse Heness knew erupted, a thudding sound, like a heart stopping, struck both friend and foe indiscriminately. The dark-skinned people clutched their chests and collapsed, only then seeing the girl riding a red beast, enveloped in five mysterious energies.

“Durga, Durga!”

It was impossible to tell who had first uttered the name. But the people, bewildered by the effect of the “Foul-mouthed Granny,” now saw the red wolf she rode as a lion or a tiger, and the flag in her hand as a symbol of a goddess’s authority. At first, only one or two people showed such symptoms, but as her curses continued to pour out, people began to fall into confusion one by one, and as those before them chanted “Durga,” they began to follow, calling out the name as if possessed.

“Ahem… Ouch, my throat.”

Heness massaged her throat, then saw the people bowing towards her.

“Why are they doing that?”

Heness tilted her head, then, seeing Jun-sang fighting the black knights, she snapped back to attention and began swearing again.

“Stupid! Idiot! Ugly poop bugs!”

Thanks to her enthusiastic cursing, the black knights, in a state of panic, were pulverized by the two iron balls Jun-sang wielded. Their armor was incredibly tough, barely flinching from ordinary impacts, but the massive iron balls named Langdazal’s Fury were weapons designed from the outset to destroy such sturdy defenses and structures.

It was at that moment that General Sarga’s roar erupted.

-Khuuuuoooong!

As the roar burst forth, the confused black knights’ crimson eyes, hidden within their helmets, began to glow with killing intent once more. But before they could fully regain their composure, Heness’s curses erupted again.

“Shut up! You big, stupid oaf!”

Why was it? The moment meaningless words erupted from the mouth of the girl riding the red wolf, Sarga felt a sense of loss, as if he had lost something very important. But that was only for a moment. Sarga shook off the strange power gnawing at his mind and roared loudly again.

-Kuhuuuuoooong!

Of course, Heness had no reason to back down.

“Idioooot!”

Jun-sang couldn’t help but chuckle as he listened to the verbal sparring between Heness and Sarga. But before the smile could fade from his lips, Armored Captain Hatum, riding a gigantic ghost horse, charged at Jun-sang. Of course, Jun-sang didn’t extend the courtesy of waiting for him. He immediately threw the iron ball in his right hand at the ghost horse Hatum was riding.

The enormous, one-meter-diameter iron ball, shot out like a cannonball, crushed the ghost horse Hatum was riding in an instant. Enraged at the destruction of his beloved steed, Hatum lunged at Jun-sang. Red light burst from within his helmet, spreading killing intent everywhere, but unfortunately, Jun-sang’s gaze was far more intense than Hatum’s. Jun-sang activated both Gaze of Terror and Evil Eye simultaneously, staring at Hatum as he flew towards him. The moment their gazes met, Hatum was greatly startled by an unknown force constricting his body. The power of terror, piercing through his eyes, spread through Hatum’s limbs like an incurable poison. Hatum finally realized. That this man was a stronger being than himself.

Jun-sang watched Hatum, who had lost control of his body and was flailing, falling to the ground. He retrieved the iron ball he had thrown and immediately activated Crushing Blow.

One step,

And two steps.

Jun-sang, who had been slowly walking one step per second, finally reached his fifth step and unleashed the immense power condensed in his muscles towards Hatum, who was staggering to his feet.

FLASH!

A beam of light descended into the chaotic, battle-scarred city of Harlagan. The light seemed to swallow all the surrounding commotion, leading the surroundings into silence, and then, at some point, it gathered all those sounds and unleashed a roar.

CRACK!

When people startled and regained their senses at the sudden thunderous sound, Hatum’s shattered armor pieces had already exploded in all directions like bomb shrapnel.

“Hoooh…”

As Jun-sang knelt on one knee, emitting white smoke from his entire body, Heness, who had been in a shouting match with Sarga, quickly rushed to him.

“A-are you okay?”

“Not really.”

Heness quickly dismounted the wolf to help Jun-sang, but Jun-sang slowly rose and told Heness, “Good work. I’ll call you again as soon as it’s over.”

“What?”

Heness’s eyes widened at Jun-sang’s sudden words, then her face paled as she looked at Sarga, who was rushing towards them in anger. Only then did she realize her mistake in leaving Sarga and running to Jun-sang. But before she could say anything else, Jun-sang immediately reverse-summoned Heness and Crimson Wolf, then used Phase Shift to escape the spot.

Sarga, furious, had been rushing towards the man who had defeated Hatum and the woman riding the red wolf. When they suddenly vanished, he immediately began to scan his surroundings. But at that moment, Jun-sang had already moved back up onto the castle wall through several Phase Shifts.

“Hoooh…”

Jun-sang took a deep breath, waiting for his overloaded body to return to normal. He could recover faster using healing potions or Heness’s whip, but Jun-sang didn’t hurry. He simply didn’t feel the need to.

Sarga, who had been angrily smashing buildings, saw the people who had been disoriented by Heness now scrambling to their feet and fleeing.

-Khuuuuoooong!

Sarga drove his few remaining black knights to chase them.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Sarga, with booming footsteps, chased after the small, fragile humans, snatched one of them in his hand, and was about to crush this insignificant life form with a squeeze of his grip. But he didn’t know. That at that very moment, a man emitting an eerie, Rakshasa-like glow was descending behind him. And that in his hand, a bloodthirsty demonic entity of darkness was gripped!

The black, double-bladed axe mercilessly severed Sarga’s neck. Sarga looked at the human screaming in his hand, then suddenly realized that the surrounding scenery was spinning. What on earth had happened? But before he could think further, Sarga’s head plunged directly into the ground, wet with blood and flesh. Sarga saw. A small creature with flashing red eyes rapidly rushing towards him. That was his last memory.

Jun-sang immediately returned Blood Sucker to his inventory after severing Sarga’s neck and landed on the ground.

“Hoooh… Hoooh…”

Sarga’s headless body staggered, not easily falling. But that was only for a moment. His body then crashed down with a tremendous roar, destroying an innocent building. Jun-sang once again hid himself with Invisibility and used Phase Shift to leave the spot. There were still a few black knights left, but that number was enough for the remaining players to handle. Probably.

Jun-sang climbed onto the roof of the castle rampart and lay down, staring at the sky. After a little while, a small creature scurried towards Jun-sang from somewhere, then leaped onto his chest. He looked down to see a bizarre-looking squirrel with its mouth covered in blood and flesh.

“Good work.”

Jun-sang summoned the water spirit to clean its mouth. He wanted to give it a handful of peanuts as a reward, but for some reason, he didn’t want to lift a finger beyond that.