abcnovels
Chapter 176
Chapter 176
Chapter 176
Being able to set up a separate training room in their Abyss base to train hunters was a great luxury. It was only possible because?Choi Yeonseung was supported and given full authority by the giant company called Dragon Industry.
The other expeditions couldn’t even dream of it. Even if there was one, only a few senior hunters would benefit from it.
It took a huge amount of money to build something that could withstand the harsh environment of the Abyss...
***
“Joseph. The hunters are asking me when the raid is starting.”
“Tell them to wait.”
“What? We have to keep waiting? Being in a dungeon for prolonged periods isn’t ideal.”
“Even so, we still have to. Look,” Joseph said with a sigh.
Although he was an A-grade hunter, he couldn’t treat B-grade hunters badly. He had to handle them with a certain degree of politeness. Otherwise, they would openly express their dissatisfaction.
“The number of expeditions here is higher than we expected. A lot of people out there aren’t under my control.”
The hunters serving as Joseph’s subordinates immediately expressed their displeasure.
“They have no conscience. Weren’t we the first to announce our intention to raid the Abyss Gate?”
“It can’t be helped with other countries, but shouldn’t the US expedition give us authority?”
While some expeditions were supported by countries, there were also those that were supported by companies, like Choi Yeonseung’s. Hence, they naturally didn’t listen to Joseph’s orders at all.
-Joseph was the first to plan the Abyss Gate raid. He’s been preparing for this for a long time. For that reason, even if just nominally, he is still the commander-in-chief...
-What? I can’t hear you. I’m sorry about this. As I got older, I developed a disease that prevents me from hearing nonsense!
This wasn’t unexpected, but Joseph still found it amazing that an S-grade hunter and the chairman of a large company could be so immature.
“These guys have to go first. That is what my master said.”
“......!”
Joseph served the Iron-Blooded General Who Shakes the Battlefield. He was one of Earth’s most famous constellations because he bestowed pretty powerful combat skills. However, the household members and minions knew that serving the general constellation was a daunting task.
It had a thorough performance-based system. If they failed to produce any outstanding results, the general constellation would mercilessly kick them out. Hence, his subordinates had to do their best to get his attention! He was a good god constellation, but he was as cold as an evil god!
… Joseph had the same personality as the general constellation, however. No, he was probably chosen in the first place because their personalities matched.
“We have to let them go first?”
“Yes. We’ll get the chance to take the initiative once they’ve cleared up all the monsters here. Trust me.”
“......”
“......”
The other hunters just nodded. They were dissatisfied, but they couldn’t do anything. After all, those were the orders of a constellation.
***
“We have to be the first to get results. Understood?”
“Yes!”
While some hunters had a wait-and-see mentality, some actively tried to get ahead of others. The hunters from China were one of them.
“The party wants us to get results! We’ll launch an attack today!”
The hunters of other expeditions watched with half expectation and half worry to see what would happen. Surprisingly, the Chinese hunters achieved great results.
“The fortress has been successfully captured!”
“The Chinese expedition succeeded in capturing a fortress...”
They had destroyed a nearby orc fortress. Considering some who had entered the Abyss dungeon couldn’t do the same feat, they showed an amazing performance!
“Choi Yeonseung, shouldn’t we go out too?”Elisabeth asked, sounding quite serious.
Some of the Icarus clan hunters also volunteered to join the expedition, including those who were close to Choi Yeonseung. Even Whittaker joined in!
-Whittaker, why are you coming with us?
-... Isn’t it too much to do this to me right now? Don’t you have any idea how expensive a good hunter can be?
“It is amazing, but it isn’t such an impossible task, is it? They currently have several dozen more hunters than past raids, so it would have been weirder if they failed to capture a fortress.”
The expeditions that consisted of a small number of elites had to dodge all the fortresses and focus on finding the orc boss. On the other hand, the current Chinese expedition had a huge numerical advantage. Hence, it wasn’t farfetched for them to just charge at the fortress head-on, lay siege to it, and capture it.
“Capturing a fortress is useless, you know.”
“It isn’t. Aren’t you curious about how many items they found inside?”
“I’m more curious about how many Chinese hunters died. Did they disclose that?”
“Uh... Do you know?”
“No. I don’t think they made an announcement.”
The other hunters were rendered speechless.
“Why would great artifacts be in a fortress... ” Choi Yeonseung commented with disgust.
“We’re in the Abyss. Isn’t it possible to find great artifacts in there?”
‘Considering orcs are inhabiting the fortress, I doubt there are many.’
Choi Yeonseung’s plan was simple.
-Let’s see what Joseph does and use it against him!
He had already discussed his plan with Hwang Gyeongryong.
-Joseph seems to be certain of something. I think it would be best to watch him and move along with him.
-Yes. I think so as well. You don’t have to take action immediately just because others are. After all, even if you return without producing any results, nobody would blame you for it.
-That already goes without saying, so why do you sound like you’re showing off?
-... That’s not it... Look at the others. The expedition teams sponsored by other companies have been subtly forced to do this. I take care of you quite a lot.
The hunters wanted to move as rationally as possible because they were risking their own lives, but they had to think about the investors’ demands. If the hunters didn’t kill monsters, get cores, and bring back artifacts, they would be in the red. However, Choi Yeonseung didn’t pay any attention to that.
“If you’re all bored, then head to the training room and warm up. A lot of effort was put into making it. Why aren’t you using it?”
‘You set things up like a madman...’
“Ah. If there is a problem with the Korean expedition, then let me know immediately.”
“Why do you care about Korean hunters and not the other American hunters?” Whittaker?asked out of curiosity.
“It’s what my heart tells me.”
“... I-I see.”
Whittaker was convinced. Choi Yeonseung’s true nature definitely came out when he became an A-grade. It was really unfortunate!
Beeeeep!
“!”
“We’re under attack!”
The expedition’s facilities here were protected by state-of-the-art technology from Dragon Industry. What was ringing right now was the alarm artifact that used magic power to detect monster invasions!
“Monsters are coming.”
“I hope they don’t come this way.”
The hunters came out of the building and stared at the distant horizon of the Abyss.
“... W-wait.”
“This...”
The hunters looked at each other in disbelief. The number of orcs running in the distance was greater than expected.
***
“S-shouldn’t we retreat?” the low-ranking hunters immediately asked, but those in charge had no intention of doing so.
Moving supplies and deconstructing base buildings were costly. They couldn’t retreat just because they were attacked once.
“This is within our expectations. Prepare for battle! Hunters, forward!”
“U-Uh...”
“Do we really have to fight?”
The hunters looked back with bewildered expressions. Even if they had combat experience, they had only ever killed two or three monsters at a time whenever they entered dungeons. They had never faced orcs so many that they blocked out the horizon. How many hunters had experienced this?
“Prepare defense magic first. If they manage to force their way in, the base will be destroyed.”
“Defense magic! Use all your defense magic!”
Fortunately, the senior hunters were more composed than the low-ranked hunters. They were already anticipating this situation even before they entered. The problem was that the number was higher than expected!
“Use defense magic to block the frontlines. Mount Hua Sect hunters, remain in line. There are a lot of them, but not that many will be able to push through.” Choi Yeonseung landed in front of the base.
The other hunters cheered in amazement.
“What are you doing?! Head back inside and fight with us!”
Hunters with the role of tanks often headed to the front, but that was different from Choi Yeonseung doing the same right now. Wasn’t he basically asking them to kill him? However, Choi Yeonseung remained composed.
“Focus on magic.”
There was a reason why A-grade hunters could do whatever they wanted. Those inside were taken aback, but they just followed instructions for now.
-?????!
Having seen nothing but the naive orcs serving as his subordinates, Choi Yeonseung found it refreshing to see red-eyed orcs with red energy enveloping them. Standing in front of the base as if he was nailed to it, Choi Yeonseung?used Origin?of the Celestial Finger. Each time he did, orcs fell down.
-?!
However, the number of orcs was still too great. They flocked and tried to surround Choi Yeonseung, the red energy of a constellation rising from their weapons and brutally squeezing at him. Choi Yeonseung released his sword energy and split apart the surroundings. Although he was still limiting himself to the peak-class stage, he was feeling much more comfortable right now.
He could attack freely without worrying about his internal energy. Otherwise, he would’ve had to use footwork to dodge and knock down his opponents one by one.
[The ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ admires your skills.]
‘He’s watching me?’
Choi Yeonseung clicked his tongue in amazement.
Strangely, the warrior constellation was showing a lot of interest in Choi Yeonseung. He probably resented Choi Yeonseung quite a lot since he lost against him in a constellation battle, but his showing interest in him was just as much of a burden…
-As I thought, this is definitely the realm of the Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood.
-I thought so as well.
-????!
-??????!
As the orcs got drunk in combat and slowly went insane, he felt them becoming stronger.
‘I don’t want to drag this out. I should end them quickly.”
Flash!
Choi Yeonseung ran forward and maximized the output of his Origin of the Celestial Step. Even though all the orcs looked the same, one was exceptionally larger and stronger. It had to be the boss. Killing it would cause the rest of their enemies to quickly fall.
‘The orcs really can’t break through at all!’
Antony paused while casting magic.
Choi Yeonseung’s martial arts?were that phenomenal. He had heard a lot of people say that one good tank in raids could make all the other hunters’ jobs easier, but he never thought he would understand what they meant at that moment.
The formation of all the orcs in their territory had collapsed. Now, they were chasing after Choi Yeonseung. As a result, the base sustained no damage, and the hunters behind Choi Yeonseung could cast their magic without worry. He felt so comfortable in the rear that he couldn’t help but be surprised.
Elisabeth nodded from next to him. She seemed to feel the same way.
“You’re thinking of the same thing, aren’t you?” Antony asked.
“Huh? You were also thinking about what type of magic would let you do that?”
“......”
Antony looked at Elisabeth with a frightened expression.
She was such a lunatic...! How could she think about how she could follow Choi Yeonseung? It was amazing, but even he didn’t think he could follow Choi Yeonseung’s ways.
With a flash of sword energy, an orc warrior’s head was blown away.
Choi Yeonseung had decisively put an end to the battle.