Chapter 31: Villain’s Battle (Part 5)
The two first swords fighting in the motel hallway were fully aware of the fact that mutants and monsters would soon arrive.
Although the sound of the emergence of the light pillar was quite loud, what was more striking was…
In front of the two, a timer appeared.
But the time inside seemed a bit strange.
In the moment of confusion, the remaining time until the appearance of the monsters decreased to 8 seconds, while the two top swordsmen paused their swordplay.
In response, Yeongwoo quickly checked his wristwatch.
Perhaps from now on, monsters and mutants would appear every day at this time.
The remaining time had decreased to 5 seconds, and ultimately, the anxious Sangju’s Strongest Sword, suggested a ceasefire first.
“H-Hey… How about putting out the urgent fire first?”
At that moment, dealing with the monsters quickly was far more important than dueling challengers who were of no help in household affairs.
Ruling over a ghost city where everyone was dead had no meaning.
“How about it? We’re running out of time, decide quickly.”
Dokgo Sehwan 01, Sangju’s Strongest Sword.
This man in his early 40s was in a state where he hadn’t even put on underwear.
All he had was an early bird he hastily grabbed from the room earlier.
Thanks to that, he looked ridiculous on the outside, but to Yeongwoo, who had mixed swords with him, he felt like an enormous monster.
The reason Yeongwoo couldn’t outright reject the ceasefire proposal was because of that.
‘I can’t guarantee victory . The sword is too fast.’
So, is there a solution?
「Golden Punishment」 – Legendary Bracelet
【Inflicts pain on the enemy.】
【Accumulated Golden Ratio: 2】
Yeongwoo looked at the golden bracelet wrapped around his wrist.
The only equipment he hadn’t confirmed the effect of yet.
‘It seems useless to confront with weapons. Maybe there needs to be direct stabbing or physical contact….’
But the opponent was so agile that even simple contact was not easy.
There was no sharp strategy at the moment.
‘Should I call Youngtae now? No, I should call him when I’m sure, and I only have one chance left today’
In a brief moment, Yeongwoo, who had many thoughts, made a decision before it was too late.
First, pull Sangju Strongest Sword and go towards the mutants, then take their senses and fight again.
“Okay. Let’s deal with the mutants first. If we leave them alone, even the strong ones might die.”
Then, Dokgo Sehwan chuckled and stepped back.
“You’re not a completely ignorant guy.”
At the same time, he kept an eye on Yeongwoo and began putting on clothes scattered around the motel room.
“Do you have time to put on clothes now? Weren’t you usually naked more often?”
Looking at the half-worn panties on Dokgo Sehwan’s buttocks, Yeongwoo said, and the guy growled, frowning.
“Be careful with your words, you little brat.”
At the same time, golden waves emitted from his body, but it didn’t have much effect on Yeongwoo.
Yeongwoo’s eyes were also burning with a golden light.
Dokgo Sehwan stared at Yeongwoo like that, then finished putting on the clothes he was holding.
Meanwhile, Yeongwoo left Sangju’s Strongest Sword in the room and walked out of the motel.
The timer that had long expired had disappeared from view for a while, and instead, numerous blue pillars were tearing through the air in Sangju City.
‘Where are the mutants?’
According to what he had heard earlier, there was a group in Sangju City that monopolized monster hunting, practically serving as the subordinates of Sangju’s Strongest Sword.
Therefore, the monsters scattered around now were likely being swiftly dealt with by Sangju’s subordinates.
So, Yeongwoo just needed to find the mutant first.
Since they were not at the level of Sangju’s Strongest Sword, it would be impossible for them to intervene.
Finally, Yeongwoo’s gaze stopped somewhere in the north.
Though the distance was considerable, a distinctly red-colored light pillar was descending.
Anyway, Sangju’s Strongest Sword would inevitably follow.
Yeongwoo pressed the ground firmly and turned his body north.
As if a bullet were being fired, he advanced forward, beating the ground.
Indeed, who would be the mutant on the second day in Sangju City?
From the flow so far, it was clear that an individual stronger than yesterday would appear.
As for the mutants encountered so far, they are some kind of ‘miscellaneous mob’ based on goblins, gnolls, etc.
But, as confirmed with his own eyes yesterday morning, someone had mutated into a high-level monster like a dragon.
The timing of their appearance was the issue; they would inevitably show up sooner or later.
While Yeongwoo was thinking this, a strange scene passed by as he continued north.
‘There are more people than I thought.’
What Yeongwoo saw were people moving vigorously as if they had heard an air raid alert.
Those who were outside had all moved into nearby buildings, and conversely, people were rushing out of buildings.
Moreover, those coming out were armed and had an unusual momentum.
‘Those are monster hunters.’
Yeongwoo sensed that they were the privileged class in Sangju City.
Of course, the ‘monster hunters’ who had come out with their equipment, seeing Yeongwoo, who was moving rapidly, realized that something was happening.
“He’s not Strongest Sword…?”
When they realized that the barefoot superman walking through the city did not look like the familiar face, everyone flinched and took out their weapons.
However, Yeongwoo didn’t have the luxury to pay attention to the henchmen.
From behind, Sangju’s Strongest Sword, Dokgo Sehwan, was emitting a formidable presence as he followed.
Now, he was fully armed, even holding a shield.
Since they hadn’t declared their names to each other, Dokgo Sehwan simply called Yeongwoo Strongest Sword.
“Don’t forget! We deal with the mutants first!”
Reconfirming the agreement with Yeongwoo, Sehwan quickly closed the distance.
The agility was enough to give you chills.
Naturally, Sehwan, too, had nothing on his feet.
‘Let’s deal with the mutants first. You won’t give up the reward, right?’
Yeongwoo alternated his gaze between Sehwan, who was surpassing him, and the red light pillar that was getting closer.
At this rate, he would encounter the mutants within a few seconds.
“What about the elimination reward? Does the person who delivers the final blow get it?”
As Yeongwoo asked Sehwan on his back, suddenly,
With a solid sound, a hologram of the Gumi Sword Technique appeared in front of Yeongwoo.
It appeared flat on the ground.
It meant an attack that couldn’t be blocked even with a shield was coming.
Immediately, Yeongwoo halted all his thoughts, lowered his body, and slid forward as if slipping down to the front.
Kicking up dust, Sehwan, who had been running ahead, also attempted to slide.
He, too, had received guidance in Sangju Sword Technique.
As the two top swordsmen moved like each other’s shadows, a message appeared only in front of Yeongwoo.
「The sensory value has temporarily increased from the original 100 to 480.」
The value was significantly different from when Yeongwoo first clashed with Sehwan.
This meant… he had stolen the senses of another entity, not Sehwan’s.
It was the second mutant in Sangju City.
With a sound as if space were tearing apart, a blade passed over Sehwan and Yeongwoo’s heads.
Yeongwoo felt all the hair on his body stand on end and quickly raised himself.
Then, about 10 meters in front, a vague silhouette of something stood erect.
Although it seemed to be about 5 meters tall, it wasn’t a single entity.
The opponent was a knight riding on a large black horse.
The knight, as dark-skinned as the horse, was covered in a shabby cloak and armor all over, holding a sword with a blade length easily reaching 3 meters in its right hand.
“What the fuck is that?!”
The mutant they encountered yesterday didn’t have such a presence, and Dokgo Sehwan’s face froze upon seeing it.
Yeongwoo, seeing this, informed him of what today’s mutant was in a low voice.
“Dullahan. A headless knight.”
Instead of answering, Yeongwoo pointed a finger at the knight’s left hand.
More precisely, it was holding the severed head of the knight itself.
Sehwan finally noticed.
The fact that the head was not attached to the knight’s torso.
The guy was holding his own severed head tightly with his left hand.
Moreover, the problem was that the severed head, with both eyes wide open, was trembling with lips chattering as if sharpening its teeth.
Therefore, instead of asking Sehwan quickly, Yeongwoo couldn’t help but speak.
“Why did that person become a mutant?”
That person, Dullahan, had a name tag attached to his torso.
[Sangju City Mayor – Kim Hyunho]
Because he was the mayor.
Becoming a mutant meant he had faced public judgment.
Why did Sangju City Mayor Kim Hyunho end up on the shortlist for the filtration vote?
“Damn, the mayor’s back.”
Sehwan, who belatedly checked the name tag, made a puzzled expression.
Then he continued his words.
“There were allegations of sexual misconduct.”
Yeongwoo made a frozen expression.
Coincidentally, it was very similar to the current theme of Sangju City.
“It’s not certain, and the reset started before the investigation could progress.”
In other words, there were only allegations of sexual misconduct, and public judgment took place before the truth could be revealed.
“…So, in reality, he could be an innocent person.”
“It’s possible. Or maybe not. Of course, if he was really innocent….”
Sehwan’s follow-up words, suggesting he might be very angry now if he were innocent, were not continued.
Sangju City Mayor Kim Hyunho swung his sword again, the horse hitting the ground with his hoof.
Just like before, a creepy sound of a breaking wave echoed, and the two top swordsmen saw it clearly.
The black sword that the guy was holding was increasing in an unbelievable length.
The length of the black sword seemed to be over 10 meters.
“He brought something tremendous. Did he bring that to sweep away all of Sangju City?”
Yeongwoo spoke, dodging the faint trajectory while Dokgo Sehwan spat on the ground.
“Stop the bullshit and figure out how to kill that monster.”
Sehwan’s hands and feet were trembling thinly as he spoke.
Even the superhuman who had monopolized 3 million Karma was inevitably afraid of a struggle with a monster that he hadn’t even dreamed of seeing.
On the other hand, Yeongwoo was slightly better off than Sehwan in the current situation.
At least he knew that a monster named Dullahan existed in games.
‘It’s something I’ve seen in games… but facing it in reality is really overwhelming.’
What criteria determine the selection of mutants or creatures?
Is it based on games, novels, or the entire human imagination?
After thinking this far, Yeongwoo stepped backward, taking a combat stance.
No, Sangju City Mayor Kim Hyunho was tapping the ground with his hooves again.
‘Since he’s not saying anything, he’s just thinking of killing all of us. It won’t be easy to befriend him this time.’
Yeongwoo watched the mayor’s movements, and when he saw him moving, he secretly narrowed the distance with Dokgo Sehwan.
After the mutant’s next attack, the plan was to deal with Sehwan first with his newfound senses.
‘Now, my senses are more than double of his. If I combine forces with Youngtae, we should have a good chance.’
Once again, with the unique sound of a breaking wave, the strange blade swept through the air.
“Again? Doesn’t that crazy guy get tired?”
While Dokgo Sehwan was panicking and moving backward, Yeongwoo also jumped backward, grabbing the pumpkin-colored wind chime hanging around his neck.
He blew into the wind chime, producing a loud noise.
As the mayor and even the Strongest Sword of Sangju City were staring at Yeongwoo, the unexpected happened.
And right after the mayor finished his sentence.
A massive gnoll came tearing through the sky, leaping down.