abcnovels
Chapter 556
Chapter 556
Chapter 556
Lee Changsik had received the title of Iron-Blooded Ice Emperor for a reason.
The atmosphere was rather awkward, but Lee Changsik didn’t care and firmly continued, “Yes, I know it’s shocking, but now there’s something more important than that. We all need to get going...”
“Don’t lie!” Barigos shouted while stomping his feet. The framework of the building creaked from the impact, even though the building was designed to absorb such shocks on account of being at the hunters’ training ground.
“I’m not lying.”
“Then explain it, human! Why didn’t Choi Yeonseung tell me? If you can’t explain that, you’re lying!”
“Uh... Other constellations would’ve found out if he’d told you,” Lee Changsik replied as if wondering why Barigos was asking such an obvious question.
Barigos listened and pondered on it.
“That’s right. It makes sense. I acknowledge what you’re saying.”
“...”
Han Seha wanted to hit Barigos but managed to restrain herself.
“What do we do now?”
“We go and fight together.”
It was a simple yet difficult choice to make. This was the first time a confrontation between constellations was taking place on Earth, so it was very likely for mortals to perish if they got involved, but Lee Changsik was going there anyway. If he stayed here while the household members of the Master of Slowness and Silence attacked Choi Yeonseung to protect their master, he would forever be ashamed of himself as a hunter.
“Let’s go.” Han Seha stood up with her weapon.
Kwon Yeongseung and Jeong Wonuk were taken aback. She was being way too hasty, not giving it even a second of thought... The two of them had many worries, so they thought it was very embarrassing for Han Seha to just say something like that.
“What? Don’t tell me you’re not going?” she asked Kwon Yeongseung.
“O-of course I’ll go...” Kwon Yeongseung responded without thinking.
“Then why do you look so lost? Let’s go already. ”
“...Uh...”
Kwon Yeongseung followed along with a dazed expression.
Of course, he would never hesitate to help Choi Yeonseung if offered the opportunity. However, he would’ve liked to think about it for at least thirty minutes, make up his mind, and contact people around him...
‘Ugh... She always does that!’
Kwon Yeongseung glared at Han Seha from behind as they went out.
***
Enemies attacked from all sides.
The household members serving the Master of Slowness and Silence launched an attack to defeat the intruders.
Choi Yeonseung didn’t step forward to take them down. Instead, his forces appeared behind him, leveling up the playing field.
The orcs were the first ones to rush out of his kingdom.
“Harvest the enemies’ heads!”
The orcs leapt forward with fierce momentum and unleashed a powerful internal energy attack. This particular formation, which they had practiced for a long time, further amplified their strength. Moreover, Choi Yeonseung’s power of existence also strengthened them.
“They’re just orcs! Take care of them!”
Initially, the household members of the Master of Slowness and Silence disregarded the orcs, as they knew that they weren’t particularly strong in the Abyss. They were numerous and violent, but there were very few outstanding orcs out there.
Given their tendency to fiercely compete with each other, few orcs survived long enough to gain a meaningful level of strength.
That was why the enemy forces snorther when the orcs showed up...
But just then, a minion of the slowness constellation was thrown back after attempting a reckless melee attack on an orc. On top of that, the orc’s sword energy had shattered the minion’s powerful enchanted blade.
“?!”
“I will harvest your head, you foolish violence-dependent race!”
The orc swung his sword like a thunderbolt, and the proud minion of the Master of Slowness and Silence collapsed helplessly.
“Cut down all enemies here!”
“Tear apart the foolish enemies who rely on violence and refuse the mercy of our master!”
The orcs held their formation as they advanced onto the battlefield.
Following their charge, Choi Yeonseung’s household members appeared one after another—Ganonvial, the lich, along with the golems, the doppelgangers, the vampires, and the demons led by Illingars.
Odaigon commanded the rapidly growing army.
“Protect Master so he can concentrate on the duel!”
“Defeat those who dare enter our master’s realm so carelessly!” shouted the enemy household members in gloomy voices. Even though Tardus had fallen, there were other warriors who could take charge.
It wasn’t just the Abyss races; the hunters serving the Master of Slowness and Silence were also rushing to the battlefield.
The enemy’s numbers were overwhelming.
‘There’s no point in drawing out this battle.’
Choi Yeonseung quickly thought of a strategy as he observed the sheer number of enemies rushing in. He couldn’t even guess how many minions the Master of Slowness and Silence had. His forces on Earth were already vast, and adding those from the Abyss as well...
But that didn’t matter.
After all, he had come here to kill the Master of Slowness and Silence. Rather than engaging in a prolonged battle, Choi Yeonseung planned to win by defeating him in a duel.
[The ‘Master of Slowness and Silence’ has appeared.]
In the distance, a giant whale-like being emerged. He seemed indifferent, as if he had no interest in all this fighting.
Choi Yeonseung got goosebumps.
The Master of Slowness and Silence had appeared!
-You are a fool. We acknowledge your cunning trick, but do you really believe it will make a difference?
One of the household members next to the whale reproached Choi Yeonseung. Of course, that mortal dared to speak that way to a constellation only because their powerful master was there.
-You think your strength compares to our master’s? What do you think the power you’ve gained from your trick will accomplish?
‘Going for the low hanging fruit, huh...’
Choi Yeonseung ignored the enemy’s provocation. Indeed, he couldn’t deny that pretending to be human while actually being a constellation was a devious strategy.
But if he couldn’t refute it, he might as well pretend he didn’t hear it!
-Can you beat Master with your own strength, or do you need other constellations to jump to your side? Surely you don’t think they’ll help you after deceiving them all this time, do you?
[The ‘Chef of Endless Gluttony’ asks why you are listening to that impertinent mortal.]
[He urges you to attack right away.]
‘I was already going to do that.’
Choi Yeonseung gathered his power of existence. In any case, he just had to attack the Master of Slowness and Silence. The collateral damage would take out most of the household members around him. There was no need to answer every single one of them.
[The ‘Fighter of Sweat and Flesh’ will help you.]
[The ‘Fighter of Sweat and Flesh’ opens the dimensional door and his army has started to descend.]
[The ‘Monk Pursuing Glory’ will help you.]
[The ‘Monk Pursuing Glory’...]
[...]
[...]
It wasn’t long before that household member of the Master of Slowness and Silence had to eat their words.
Several constellations declared their participation.
-...
The household members of the Master of Slowness and Silence were perplexed; they clearly hadn’t expected this.
-Wha... What?! Constellations, have you lost your minds? Weren’t you upset by his despicable deceit?
[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’ warns you not to speak arrogantly.]
[He says that such trickery is acceptable compared to what your master is doing.]
[The ‘Fighter of Sweat and Flesh’ urges you to think of the pride of a constellation that persevered in order to stop your master’s plot.]
‘...Uh, they’re being more generous than I thought.’
Choi Yeonseung was slightly moved by the support of the constellations. He had assumed that they would curse at him once he revealed his identity, saying things like “You despicable bastard!” or “You dishonorable cheater!”
However, it seemed that the Master of Slowness and Silence was so notorious that nobody even thought of rebuking Choi Yeonseung.
-You foolish constellations... You will soon kneel before Master. Are you watching? No matter what tricks you try, humans won’t surrender to you. They will surrender to my master! Right now...
[The ‘Master of Slowness and Silence’ devours the household member.]
The giant whale suddenly opened his mouth and swallowed the household member. He hadn’t done that out of hunger or because he needed to regain his strength. It was just because the household member had been too noisy.
Losing one’s composure and getting loud meant losing one’s qualification to be in the household of the Master of Slowness and Silence.
Choi Yeonseung took a deep breath. Along with his tremendous power of existence, the powers of other constellations began to converge in one spot.
***
Gilbert Gerrity, one of America’s A-grade hunters, shook his head. Upon waking up, he found himself in a bleak, prison-like place.
“How... How dare you do this to me?!”
No matter how many incidents and bad situations he had been involved in, Gilbert couldn’t believe they had kidnapped and imprisoned him like this.
“Aren you crazy?! Do you know who I am?! If you don’t release me right away...!”
His relentless screams went unanswered.
Gilbert Gerrity released all the magic power within him, intending to make an example of this impudent warden.
However, his magic power didn’t emerge.
[The power of the ‘Master of Slowness and Silence’ has silenced your skill.]
“...”
Gilbert Gerrity was stunned.
So he had been kidnapped by an evil god constellation...?
“Why are you doing this? Is it because of Parker Group? They did that with their own hands! Of course they’ll be ruined if they manage things like idiots! Remember the agreement, Master of Slowness and Silence!”
Once again, he received no answer.
Gilbert Gerrity kept struggling for days until he eventually fell silent out of exhaustion.
‘What do these bastards want from me...?’
He knew that the Chinese government would keep dissident hunters in camps, but he hadn’t expected an evil god constellation to do the same thing.
‘Damn bastards! The evil god constellation has learned their messed up tactics!’
Imprisoning someone like this had only one purpose—submission. After all, why else would they keep an A-grade hunter here like this? It was clear that whoever kept him here wanted him to pledge his allegiance to the Master of Slowness and Silence.
Gerrity wasn’t the first one being kidnapped and forced to submit to an evil god constellation, and he wouldn’t be the last one.
‘Then should I just surrender?’
Gilbert Gerrity was worried. In fact, the reason he had been holding on for so long was simple.
...He was afraid that if he served the Master of Slowness and Silence, he would no longer be able to do the things he enjoyed!
It was ridiculous, but that was his actual reason.
‘There’s no fun in the realm of the Master of Slowness and Silence, just quiet meditation...’
That was why Gilbert Gerrity didn’t want to surrender.
In the meantime, some other hunters had been sent into the camp.
Like him, they had been captured but hadn't submitted to the Master of Slowness and Silence. There was Isabella Meyer, another A-grade hunter from the United States, and quite a few other high-rated hunters.
But as time passed, some of them caved and declared their obedience to the Master of Slowness and Silence and escaped.
That made Gilbert Gerrity even more uneasy.
‘Ah... Should I just join them...? No... But... Aaahh... Fuck!’
Bang!
“?!?!”
After agonizing a few more days in silence, the camp suddenly collapsed. The hunters trapped inside tried to figure out what was going on.
The household member in charge of the camp warned, “Be still, mortals! I’ll tear you apart if you try anything! Anyone who dares to sympathize with the invasion of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training...”
Hearing that, the hunters instantly realized what was going on.
The Undefeated Incarnation of Training had launched an attack!
Gilbert Gerrity immediately made up his mind. Regardless of whether they emerged victorious or faced defeat here, he absolutely wouldn’t serve the Master of Slowness and Silence!
“It looks like the army of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training has come! Let’s join in!”
“...Y-yes!” Gilbert Gerrity cried out, and other hunters followed him.
They felt a huge wave of power of existence in the distance. A whale was slowly swimming across the sky, and on the other side, as though facing it, was a tiny dot.
Judging from the tremendous power radiating from that area, it seemed that the Master of Slowness and Silence and the Undefeated Incarnation of Training were having a stand-off.
But at that moment, the Undefeated Incarnation of Training crashed to the ground with a thunderous roar.
“...”
Seeing that, Gilbert Gerrity felt that he should’ve just stayed in the camp...
“Isn’t that Hunter Choi Yeonseung?”
“Has your eyesight gone bad while being in the camp? Does that look like a human to you?”