Chapter 53 (1/2)
Episode 4: The Great Colonizing Age / Chapter 53: Investigation (4)
TL: emptycube
Editor: Obelisk
“So what do you call yourselves? We call ourselves earthlings.”
{… The El tribe{1}. Other inhabitants of Dragonic call us ‘els’.}
What was unexpected was that they were els. The moment Choi Hyuk said, ‘Let’s spar’, their initial confusion had disappeared. They tensed themselves and observed Choi Hyuk and the Berserkers. They were experienced fighters.
‘Good.’
Choi Hyuk felt cheerful.
“Everyone back off.”
The Berserkers stepped back, and Choi Hyuk’s stretching figure stood out to the els.
“I’m Choi Hyuk.”
Remember it. No, I will make you remember it. Though he didn’t speak those words, his immediate charge forward seemed to emphasize them.
Whoos.h.!.+
Choi Hyuk’s charge was strange. He wasn’t kicking the ground physically, but rather, it seemed as though the ground was pus.h.i.+ng him forward and the fortress was pus.h.i.+ng him upwards.
When they were still going, ‘What the?’ Choi Hyuk had already climbed to the top of the fortress.
Bang!
Choi Hyuk’s palm thumped into an El tribe soldier’s chest. Several soldiers behind the el rolled on the ground in an instant.
Boooo.
Vibrations that sounded like daegeums{2} erupted. It seemed to be the els’ special groaning sound.
{…}
The el, who looked like the leader, didn’t give them any orders. Even still, as if it was engraved in their bodies, the El tribe’s soldiers got into formation and started to fight back.
Cold air fogged up the swords of Choi Hyuk and the nearby soldiers. An aura that felt as if the blood and flesh of nearby enemies would freeze and pop. If there were only one or two, it would have been fine, but as ten soldiers surrounded him, it was quite menacing.
Choi Hyuk utilized his karma trait, Mind’s Eye, to its limits. He could clearly see the thras.h.i.+ng karma, and he could also see its weak point. He skillfully hit away the oncoming karma that attempted to freeze his flesh. Then he punched the weakest point of the karma, where the blade and handle of a sword connected.
Gong!
The magic was broken and the sword itself was shattered as a result.
{What!}
The El tribe soldiers became baffled. Booo. He heard the sounds of daegeums once again.
Bang!
He struck the soldier whose sword had been shattered.
Thump.
His Karma Heart thumped loudly. Karma rode his body and accelerated. Previously, only the pathway on his right arm was open, but now, pathways were open on all four of his limbs. His karma had become even faster and stronger.
Goong!
The shattering swords were like snow, flying everywhere, and the soldiers looked like they had experienced an avalanche. The els, who attempted to face him in close combat, had scattered like withered leaves.
“This is boring.”
Choi Hyuk’s provocation.
Bang! Shhhhhriek!
At this moment, an unexpected attack flew towards him. Choi Hyuk felt something approaching with great speed and dodged it. He first heard the projectile smas.h.i.+ng against the fortress and only then heard a sharp whistling sound.
Choi Hyuk looked at the watchtower the projectile flew from. He was surprised.
“Guns?”
He could only think of them that way.
On top of a tall watchtower sprouting from the fortress, El tribe soldiers were shooting with human-length wooden guns.
{The opponent’s senses are extremely good! Treat him as a monster that is at least Draco ranked! Platoon 1 to 3! Open fire!}
Bang, bang, bang! Shhhhhhriek!
Sounds of gunfire rang out rhythmically.
To fool Choi Hyuk’s senses, they shot bullets immediately behind one another and changed the bullets’ trajectories. Sometimes, one bullet would even split into 3-4 pieces like magic baseball throws in comics.
“Wow…”
The guns didn’t use gunpowder. The bullets were shot with the power of karma. As these bullets were filled with hostile karma, if he tried to defend himself sloppily, his Karma Barrier, or anything in their way, would be ripped to shreds.
3-star monsters weren’t affected by human guns. However, if they had those guns, they would be effective against 3-star and early 4-star monsters. Unfortunately, their opponent was the wrong match.
Choi Hyuk’s Endurance was currently at 3-star, but his fighting style was to use his Control, which was on at the extreme limits of 4-star, and his senses to cover his other stats. This wasn’t a problem.
When he pushed his Mind’s Eye even further, Choi Hyuk’s eyes were dyed with a bluish tinge. The bullets flying from everywhere flowed like leaves and their tips were pointed. Choi Hyuk was even able to clearly distinguish the shapes and it wasn’t hard for him to dodge them.
{Oh my G.o.d…}
The els murmured amongst themselves with sounds of daegeums. If he had endured the bullets with his body, they wouldn’t have been so surprised, but he avoided them all?
‘Wouldn’t this be impossible for the great warriors?’
Buds of respect began to sprout in the hearts of the els.
At the same time,
Goong!
As if trying to firmly brand him into their hearts, he pushed his palm at the chests of the El tribe soldiers.
The els shrieked as they flew away and fainted.
{Don’t get c.o.c.ky!}
This time, an el wearing a smooth robe made of intertwined leaves instead of armor appeared. Karma gathered on the arm-length branch in his hand in a strange way. The karma surrounding Choi Hyuk seemed to synchronize with him as it started to roll around strangely.
{Restrict him!}
Whoos.h.!.+
When the el waved his branch, roots grew out from everywhere and started to bind Choi Hyuk’s arms and legs.
“Huh?”
Choi Hyuk became surprised at the fact he wasn’t able to avoid being bound by the roots. His body felt strangely heavy.
“What is this? Now I see, there wasn’t only one of you…”
While the el wearing a robe had grabbed Choi Hyuk’s attention, other magicians hidden amongst the soldiers had cast magic that numbed Choi Hyuk’s body and made him feel a strong pressure from his surroundings.
Choi Hyuk’s eyes s.h.i.+ned blue. He a.n.a.lyzed the karma near him. It was quite elaborate. It wasn’t to the point of being unable to free himself, but he would either take a long time or have to push himself.
Unfortunately, the situation didn’t allow for him to take his time.
{Squadron 1 and 2! Volley!}
Many more soldiers than before simultaneously shot at him.
The Berserkers were spectating this scene.
“Wow… They’re strong. What would happen if we fought them? Would we lose?”
Individually they were weaker than the Berserkers when they compared fighting skills and the strength of their karma. However, if they considered their extraordinary weapons, skills, and tactics, it wouldn’t be an easy fight.
“I dunno. We’ll probably have to fight to be sure…”
Baek Seoin answered in a serious voice. The Berserkers prided themselves in never losing against opponents of equal numbers. Yet, when they saw how the els fought, it was difficult to guarantee this.
“That… Anyways, I bet the leader won’t lose.”
“That’s for sure.”
Baek Seoin nodded at Lee Jinhee’s words.
——————–
{Choi Hyuk}
Power: 365 (+213) (4★) Speed: 371 (+201) (4★) Control: 453 (4★)
Endurance: 100 (3★) Stamina: 359 (3★) Recovery: 371 (3★)
Retribution points: 400 (4★)
*Free karma points: 0
{Unique Skill}
-Eyes of Distinction