Chapter 45 Part1 (1/2)
<chapter 45.=”” heaven=”” defying=”” general's=”” stage=”” -=”” 1=””>
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo first followed the golems' presence. If he wanted everything to go as planned, then he'd need to make contact with them first.
He and his party had run through the city without stopping, and he'd roughly recorded info on the city, which made it easier to use his Wild Card skill. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo and Jin, who melted into the city's darkness, resembled shadows as they ran with such speed and secrecy.
But Jin, who was running at full speed, wasn't feeling very good.
”I know it's a.s.similation, but it's strange because it feels like I'm stuck to the ground...”
”We have no choice. Your light-speed sprint is way too conspicuous.”
”Ugh. d.a.m.n it.”
They quickly found their objective. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo and Jin had met him a few times before; the elite level 7 golem, Guillotine Steelworker, was leading many level 6 golems in breaking through the traps. They were blazing a trail through the minefield so to speak, using their bodies as a sacrifice.
[Be strong. We're slowly getting closer to our destination.]
[Yes, sir!]
[Some of the traps we haven't set off keep summoning spirits and monsters... Huh!? Who is it!?]
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo and Jin hid within the building's side post, but when the time was right, he released his a.s.similation with the darkness and came forward.
Guillotine, who hadn't been able to sense him before he exposed himself, was shocked and pointed his spear at him. A level 7 elite just wasn't enough to threaten him anymore.
”What did you come here for, Golem?”
[Y-You are...!?]
Guillotine glared at him. Did he recall Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's black armor (while hiding within the shadows, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's armor was replaced with the element) and the imposing horse he was riding? He exerted even more pressure into the spear.
[Paul Zero, were you the Heaven Defying General...?]
”A lot of you called me that.”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo confidently nodded his head. He'd introduced himself as Paul Zero in front of Arema Steelworker and Guillotine in the past, but they wouldn't think that he was the same undead as before. After all, his growth rate was astounding, even to him.
[You've finally shown your true colors...! There was a lot I wanted to ask you. To think you'd use your subordinate to spy on us and expose us to the imperial army!]
”Oh.”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo briefly looked through his memories and as though he'd remembered, soon replied in a sluggish voice.
”Now that you mention it, that did happen. Yeah, it did. I ordered my subordinate to do that. So how about it? Did you get into contact with Anti-Skull after that? Considering how they're here too, it seems like you've gotten quite friendly with each other.”
[You b.a.s.t.a.r.d...!]
That's right. In the past, before he'd fought against the Lightning Shadow General, Hansen Von Dorthe, he'd first impersonated Kadinan's (satellite city) lord, Nellopa, and had sent a false report that 'The Golden General, Arema Steelworker and Seagald Von Retadane's Anti-Skull had joined forces and were attacking the city'.
Following that event, the imperial army became wary of both Arema Steelworker and Anti-Skull, forcing the golems and Anti-Skull out of hiding. It seemed like Guillotine was under the impression that Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had ordered a subordinate to carry out his plan under his name, but unfortunately, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had executed the plan himself.
[Who do you work for? How can you, a mere undead, do such a thing!?]
”I'm sick of questions like that. I don't work for anyone. I just do what I want. Unlike you guys, who're just the Magic Emperor's faithful hunting dogs.”
[...!]
”So how long do I have to wait here before Arema Steelworker arrives? If you want to keep me here, then say something more exciting.”
Guillotine Steelworker was speechless. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was exaggerating a yawn, and Guillotine kept opening and closing his mouth, but he eventually managed to say something.
[You. Did you know from the very beginning...? What are you planning!?]
”Planning? Don't say something so sad. I just don't want to lose your forces for nothing. You've already expended some of your forces getting through these traps. A good general values his soldiers' lives. Am I wrong?”
'How are you so good at cutting down a person's self-confidence?'
'Hey, the way you said 'so good' sounded a bit weird?'
While Lee s.h.i.+n Woo and Jin communicated via telepathy, Guillotine's body shook. 'A golem can shake when they become level 7?', Lee s.h.i.+n Woo asked, only to notice Guillotine's shaking starting to intensify. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was shocked.
[You'll regret it...! Our Lord will soon be here with the remainder of the Four Heavenly Commanders. I know how strong you are, but we'll see how relaxed you are after they come...!]
”Oh man, I'm so scared. No matter how strong I am, I have no plans on fighting the level 8 Golden General.”
[Do you want to talk? It's already too late. By becoming an undead, it seems that in exchange for your strength, your brain's rotted away. It's too late to feel regret...]
[Guillotine, are you alright?]
[My lord!]
In the midst of Lee s.h.i.+n Woo playing around with Guillotine, several golems rushed onto the premises, accompanied by powerful energy being shot towards Lee s.h.i.+n Woo.
While its power was significantly reduced due to the countless traps nearby, it was still a concentrated blast of a level 8's mana, so it was enough to cause Lee s.h.i.+n Woo to worry.
[...A s.h.i.+eld?]
But the energy he'd shot out (it was probably metal element mana) was blocked by a s.h.i.+eld that came out of nowhere, causing it to vanish.
”Did you really think I wouldn't be prepared when I've come all this way to meet the Golden General?”
[Ugh...]
The s.h.i.+eld was the level 7 t.i.tan's Fortress and was one of the 17 weapons that Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had summoned and fully charged.