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Chapter 59 – Calamity Fish Hunting (4)
'I should change the name to package delivery instead of scouting.'
Gyesoo mumbled as he covered his entire body with various skills.
Though something like this had happened before it had never become a problem.
Since there was a very clear method.
If he beats him up a little and take him, Kalz Morenn will solve it all.
'Tsk. You should've listened when we were talking about it.'
Gyesoo clicked his tongue and started to pour in his energy into the relic he was holding,
Camille and him were both third years but were at different levels.
They were at similar levels when they came out from within the stomach of the Calamity Fish but while Camille was focusing on useless things such as hunting down the Calamity Fish, he had focused on getting stronger.
And the thing he had faith in.
The skill that was on this thing he had picked up within the stomach of the Calamity Fish,
A strong undulation came out from Gyesoo's sword as it rushed towards Hansoo.
....................
Kalz Morenn frowned as thought of the last scene he had seen.
'That retard, is it that hard to bring a newcomer over here.'
Though there were a lot of prerequisites, it was still a very useful skill since it allowed one to watch over somebody from a long distance.
And the last scene he had caught could only be seen in a way where they were about to fight.
'Tks. This is quite troublesome.'
Actually, it wasn't bad to bring them after beating them up.
There wouldn't be a procedure of struggling and bad feelings will just disappear once they receive the Symbol of the clan.
But the reason why they were scouting was because they didn't have the leisure to give the newcomer the symbol.
They only give the symbol to those who are really strong and control the others with influence or money.
Though they were scouting him because he looked quite strong there wasn't a chance for newcomers, who were quite lacking, to receive symbols.
At the end, it means that the clan has to go through another cumbersome procedure to use some dude that has hard feelings towards them.
But the most annoying thing was that there was a chance that the Gyesoo guy could get destroyed while fighting with the newcomer.
'What is this when I came here for a vacation.'
He wanted to leave that useless guy to die but he was one of the supervisors of the sightseeing this time around.
He had come all the way here because he had heard that the sightseeing that the Quadratus guys operated was very good but if that guy were to die then wouldn't he not be able to see all those good sights.
'Let's see.'
He was too lazy to act himself, if he told the nearby Quadratus people then they will act by themselves.
Kalz Morenn started to collect mana in his seat.
..................…..
Kyaaaaak!
A few men were being chased by hundreds of Dinosaur-shaped beasts.
The man, who had been standing in the very front out of the ones being chased, turned around as he shouted loudly.
"We're using
A very useful skill which you could get around the Middle Root.
It was different according to one's mastery but it allowed sombeody to hide their presence.
Of course invisibility was part of this.
And soon the five people running disappeared as if they were erased.
Kyaak!
The beasts who were chasing screamed out in rage as the ones they were chasing disappeared.
But they remained and searched around the area as if they had no intentions of going back.
And the man sighed in relief as he saw this scene.
'This is really dangerous… it's almost deadly.'
Raptor-shaped beasts who lived in herds on the Middle Root.
It greatly cared for its young to the point where the whole herd will chase them down to the ends of hell to avenge the dead.
Even if the one who had killed them crossed over the Middle Root area and into the Base Root.
After a few days of repetitive work, the path leading from the End Root to the Middle Root was filled with thousands of Gertas.
It was quite a grand sight but the one who had completed this, Cheng, just shook his head as if he was tired.
'Kang Gyesoo, what is so hard for you bastard to bring a newcomer?'
He accepted the fact that that guy's job was important.
The sightseeing that they were preparing was important as well but they could not ignore Kalz Morenn's request.
But shouldn't that guy have come after he had completed it?
There were a lot of things that still needed to be completed in order to prepare a proper tour.
They had to shove some more Gertas onto the paths, prepare the cruise ship a bit more and buy the silence of the Helper clan members too.
'We're busy enough already.'
He didn't like the way Gyesoo carried himself but he had to acknowledge Gyesoo's ability.
No, to be precise it was more his sword than his ability.
The people in charge of the sightseeing who had come here were 11 in total including himself.
Though it was quite a number every missing person felt like a huge gap due to the large amount of work they each had to do.
At that moment a small bird flew in.
"…?"
A single blue bird which flew into where they were hiding precisely.
Though it had come with the full knowledge of where they were hiding they were still not surprised.
Kalz Morenn.
It was weirder for that guy to not know where they were at his level.
'Anyways…to use the
It wasn't hard to acquire and learn but using it well was extremely hard.
He knew it as well but if his comrades didn't help it with the same skill, it was hard to relay it properly.
To make it arrive properly in a situation where the receiver wasn't helping needed extreme control of mana but as he saw the bird which flew perfectly to their location, as if he was proving his position of the captain of the shock troop, he could only marvel.
Soon the blue bird, which had arrived in front of Cheng, blew up with a poof and relayed a message to them.
And he slightly frowned as he read the message inside it.
'…Though it's only a maybe.'
Cheng, who had thrown a
"Stop temporarily! We pause our work here and move out."
Kukulja Lake was right next to the path they were blocking.
It wouldn't take long for them to run over there.
Cheng, who had shouted loudly, took along the Quadratus followers under him as he started to run quickly.
........................
Ooooooong.
The
The runes on the sword, which was devouring the mana, shone radiantly until it couldn't handle mana anymore then it poured out a skill as if it was exploding.
A skill which cut everything in the way of the blade into two with the mana undulations on the sword.
The amazing part about this skill was that it could cover both short and long distances.
It could spread far or wide depending on the user's thoughts and even compress down to the size of a single sword and cut a person in half.
And the way Gyesoo was using the blade currently was the latter.
Unlike before where it was spreading out like a wave, the
An entirely different level from a Mana Reinforcement which was operated by a normal Reinforcement skill.
The Mana Reinforcement of a Reinforcement skill increased the durability and sharpness of a weapon greatly but it was inferior to an offensive skill which was focused on destruction.
And Hansoo knew this as well.
The Parallel Cut was a skill that was quite high up on the rankings out of the skills you could acquire in the Red Zone.
If that skill and the sharpness of the Relic combines and he tried to block it just with the Demonic Dragon Reinforcement then he will receive large injuries.
Gyesoo's furious movements started to get stacked inside Hansoo's head.
And soon a virtual Gyesoo had appeared in Hansoo's head and it showed his next moves.
Hansoo followed that as he moved his body slightly off from Gyesoo's attack parameter.
At that moment Gyesoo's eyes shone.
'He's caught'
Parallel Cut.
The control of the area of effect was according to how the user wanted it.
The extremely compressed skill exploded out the moment Hansoo dodged.
Out the people he had fought after gaining the sword, there were people stronger than him.
But those guys had also lost their necks after getting swept up by the exploding skill the moment they dropped their guard thinking they had dodged it.
'Though you dodge quite well… you won't be different from the others!'
While Gyesoo was making a content expression while looking at the skill that was sweeping up the surroundings like a wave something unexpected happened.
Ooong.
The ring on Hansoo's hand absorbed mana aggressively and then struck back at his skill.
Pachang!
The moment Hansoo's right hand and his skill collided a sound of something breaking was heard as the Parallel Cut, which was aggressively sweeping up the surroundings, got crushed apart.
Gyesoo questioned his eyes when he saw this.
'Fuck. What is that?'
He had thought that it was something like a dispel but it wasn't easy for a dispel to break apart his skill which had a high mana density.
No, there was no previous intel about Hansoo holding onto something like this previously.
'Camille Rowe. This bitch. Was she not even able to pull out all of this newcomer's power?'
He had collected some intel regarding this guy before coming here.
Since there were people who had come with him on the same boat.
And within that intel there was information regarding his fight with Camille Rowe but there was nothing regarding that ring.
But Gyesoo realized that it wasn't time for him to think about such things for a prolonged time.
'Godamnit!'
Hansoo utilized the moment the skill was broken and was charging at him with a fearsome speed.
Gyesoo hurriedly tried to retrieve his sword but it was too late.
'Damn. There's not enough time to use Parallel cut again.'
Parallel Cut had high mana density and a lot of strength but it took a bit of time to charge up.
Gyesoo hurriedly pulled up the power of his
And Gyesoo's body instantly got dyed with a bluish tint.
The skin turns like bronze as Physical and Magical resistances increase by a large amount as well as raising the regeneration speed of health by a large amount.
He didn't use it usually because it was a bit burdensome to use it with
Even if it was just his bare hands his intestines will be pulverized if he was hit by it.
At that time the ring on Hansoo's hand devoured mana again and then charged towards Gyesoo.
'Goddamnit. Really?'
But Hansoo disappointed Gyesoo's expectations.
Chwuuk
The moment the ring touched Gyesoo's skin, his skin which was tinted blue turned back to its original form.
And three of his defensive skills that covered his body got crushed apart like glass along with that.
Hansoo's punch then landed onto Gyesoo's stomach.
Toooong.
"Kuhuk!"
Gyesoo flew backwards as he felt his intestines being twisted and turned.
'What is this nonsense… He can crush apart special skills along with normal skills!'
And his Reinforcement was a problem as well.
Though he had resistance and defensive artifacts but the Mana Reinforcement of that damnable Reinforcement skill was too powerful for them to be alright.
'Damnit. Where did he get something like that.'
Reinforcement skills held quite a high value for being very common.
But if you were to think from a different angle, the Mana Reinforcement from the Reinforcement skill was inferior to the strength of an attacking skill and the resistances were inferior to defensive skills.
But that thing was beyond that level.
Gyesoo, who had mindlessly stood back upright while flying, was astonished at the sight of Hansoo who had caught up to him and was about to strike him again.
If this goes on then he will be beat up to death.
'Dammit… if I knew it'd be like this then I would've prepared something like the feather.'
But where would he get something that expensive?
Gyesoo distanced himself from Hansoo with
"Wait! I'm just doing his under a request! I'm a victim too! Damnit! Do you think a medium-sized clan like us can decline an order from above!"
Though he had shouted it out in panic, it was true to some degree.
What kind of strength would they have for them to decline the request of a captain of a shock troop of a huge clan.
"And you will really die if you don't follow us!"
These words had two different meanings.
He might die under the hands of Kalz Morenn but he will also die if he remains on the End Root.
Hansoo, who had been charging towards Gyesoo, made a cold expression.
He knew.
Since he had heard about the Sightseeing business that these guys had started around now.
'Crazy bastards.'
A business created for those above who had increased their strength but weren't able to fulfill their twisted desire.
Hansoo looked at Gyesoo with a cold expression as he thought of the tourists who came to see the event of thousands of newcomers, who would be trapped here by the Quadratus, getting eaten by the Calamity Fish.
Chapter 60 – Calamity Fish Hunting (5)
"You bitch! I already told you everything I know!"
Gyesoo, who had already become a mess, looked at Hansoo who was trying to wield the
For him to try killing him after he had puked out everything he knew!
Gyesoo, after getting pushed back as far as he could get, shouted loudly as he looked at Hansoo.
"Yeah! You Bastard! Do you know who will come once I die! The Kalz Morenn I spoke of earlier will come!"
Gyesoo then pointed towards his forehead.
A small pink eye symbol.
It was the symbol of
"You don't seem to know but he's watching everything through this! If you kill me then he won't stay still!"
Hansoo snorted inwardly.
When the Thousand Li Eye of the Man caught within Jealousy was activated once it could only see about 3 seconds.
And light pink meant that it had a low mastery level.
There was no way to watch over everything with that.
But Hansoo made a surprised expression.
"What! Goddamnit! Such a guy will chase me down!"
Gyesoo looked at him and then laughed.
"Kuhuhuhu. Yeah you bastard."
'Hurry and run away.'
Since he had done this much, he will not be able to kill him.
There was a large difference between beating him up without knowing and killing him even after telling him that there was somebody watching behind him.
Since that would mean that he would be completely ignoring Kalz Morenn.
And Kalz Morenn's personality was definitely not something that would let something like that pass by.
Puuk!
Gyesoo tumbled around from the shock of the back of his head getting smashed.
Hansoo had done this to make him pass out.
'As I expected.'
Gyesoo laughed inwardly even while losing consciousness.
Since the fact that he had made him pass out meant that he feared Kalz Morenn to a degree.
That guy would probably run away as quickly as possible now.
Within the blurring sight, Hansoo was quickly moving towards the jungle.
'Run away… I'll definitely kill you.'
Gyesoo's thoughts ended there as he passed out.
But unlike Gyesoo's thoughts, Hansoo stopped his movements and then quickly came back.
'Acting is tiring too.'
Hansoo looked at the passed out Gyesoo on the ground and then stared up into the sky.
Blue Carrier Pigeons, which were flying back and forth since a while ago.
'Soon this guy's comrades will come.'
According to the information Hansoo had heard from him, the 11 supervisors, including himself, and their subordinates summed up to about 100 people.
It was not a low amount of people at all.
And another troublesome aspect.
'Hmm. Kalz Morenn…'
Hansoo muttered quietly.
Actually Hansoo didn't know who this Kalz Morenn was.
Since he couldn't remember him it seemed like this guy had died before getting to the Indigo or Purple Zone.
One who could only snort around the Red Zone couldn't stay within Hansoo's memories.
'There's so many things to remember already.'
There was only one important fact.
That he was the captain of the shock troop of Lighthouse.
That alone told him that he was a formidable fellow.
Since that spot was not something earned through poker.
He couldn't ignore the captain of the shock troop of Lighthouse.
Which meant that it was impossible to gather the materials while receiving the disruptions of those guys.
Hansoo looked at the passed out guy on the ground for a while and then stood up.
'I should prepare a bit.'
The main point of the sightseeing business was quite simple.
Gather up the beasts, block up the paths leading out and sink all the ships.
If you do just these two things then the newcomers would not be able to leave at all.
They isolate the End Root like this and then go out onto the sea on the cruise ship and watch it devour the Root.
Of course the main show is watching the newcomers struggling above the Root.
There was no reason for backlash since the Helper clansmen would've pulled out the people needed by the VIPs or VVIPs.
'First I must check which beasts have been gathered up.'
Hansoo lifted up the passed out guy and then hid him in the corner of the jungle.
Since he might be found before he came back.
He then went into the forest as he ruthlessly used Parallel Cut to chop apart the trees and advanced through the jungle.
The objective of Quadratus is blocking the newcomers from leaving the Root which the Calamity Fish will eat up.
They would've definitely gathered tons of beasts at each side of the Kukulja Lake, which acted as the boundary line.
Since they won't have to guard a large perimeter if they blocked along the Kukulja lake.
Kyaaaak!
Roars could be heard after a short trip through the jungle.
Gertas who were filled up with rage because they had lost their child couldn't get to stomp over the culprit.
'It was Gertas huh.'
He hadn't known which of the 13 beasts with herd-like natures they were but after checking them it was the Gertas.
'Good.'
Hansoo, who had personally confirmed the Gertas being near, quickly headed towards a different direction.
And then quickly started to harvest something in the forest.
'Daron Vine's Root… gathering some Amars.'
It would've been hard if he was bare-bodied but the
'Dumbass. That's not how you use this.'
That guy had been using this by pouring mana into this and either exploding or compressing it to strengthen the sword but the true usage of the
Stretch.
As Hansoo poured in Mana, a free-formed blade grew out.
This was the true usage.
Something that the guy, who only knew how to blow it up or compress it, couldn't use. A free-form blade that required the mana control to be extremely fine to the point where one can do both things simultaneously.
Hansoo swung that blade in all directions as he cut off the beasts' necks and collected the needed ingredients.
The free-form sword of which the length and shape kept changing constantly aimed for the unguarded spots of the beasts.
'Let's see. I should need about 20 of them.'
Hansoo, who had squeezed out the incense pouch of 20 Amars along with a few other ingredients, approached the Gertas who were aggressively roaming around.
The Gertas charged at him but it was fruitless.
Chwak!
Hansoo was cautious to not get any of the blood on his body as he swung the free-form sword around.
The stretched out blade cut of the neck of the Gerta.
'Done.'
Though it would be better if he had the blood of the baby it would take too much time for him to find the hidden baby.
Since the Quadratus guys will arrive soon.
Hansoo poured the blood on his free-form sword onto the prepared ingredients and then quickly put in into the
'It's troublesome if the scent gets spread.'
Hansoo quickly moved his body towards the passed out Gyesoo after he had completed his work.
He was still passed out.
And above that Gyesoo, a few Blue Carrier Pigeons were flying around.
They will arrive if they receive the help from the receiver but since they weren't receiving the help they didn't arrive.
But soon his comrades will arrive.
Hansoo quickly approached the mess of a guy.
A guy who had become bloodied from head to toe from the battle with him.
But the injuries were healing at a rate that could be seen with the naked eye.
If some more time passes and then he uses the regeneration rune, he'll probably be healed to the point he'll be able to move again.
Hansoo approached the passed out Gyesoo.
And then he quickly pulled out the mixture he had made, put it into the split wound on his thigh and then quickly shut the wound.
It will take some time for the gap completely heal.
And he didn't have the time wait for that.
'Let's see.'
Hansoo fumbled around his pockets as he pulled something out.
'I'll return your business card.'
As Hansoo stuck the business card which was made of the Padro Larva's hide onto his thigh, the business card melted down as the wound on the thigh closed up.
Hansoo, who had made a satisfactory expression at the completely healed wound, nodded and disappeared into the jungle after clearing up his tracks.
Soon slashing sounds were heard as Cheng, one of the commanders, and his subordinates appeared.
Cheng made a dumbfounded expression as he looked at Gyesoo laid out on the floor.
'This retard… he really lost?'
Cheng looked at Gyesoo as he was seriously pathetic but then just shook his head.
He wants to throw Gyesoo into the Kukulja lake after taking into account the fact that Gyesoo had worked so hard was still laid out like this but this guy was a bit special even out of the commanders.
Since he was a guy who had been inside the Calamity Fish.
"Let's take this guy and go back!"
'Damnit.'
He didn't want to report this situation to Kalz Morenn…
He had to wake this guy up no matter what and make him report it himself.
All the aid was on the cruise ship anyway.
Cheng took Gyesoo and then quickly moved towards the cruise ship.
........................…
"Hmm. When does it start."
Kalz Morenn looked towards the distant sea with a content expression.
The Calamity Fish was still quite a distance away but if you take into account his great eyesight and the size of that thing, it wasn't hard to spot it.
'The Quadratus guys are quite good.'
Getting a 2000 man boat was hard enough but these guys somehow managed to station it right next to the root.
'Anyways. That's why there are so many tourists.'
If they had thought that it was dangerous from the start then the tourists wouldn't even have gathered.
And a 2000 man boat was at the level where it could withstand the waves created by the Calamity Fish.
But unlike Kalz Morenn, the newcomer standing next to him, Ailen, was making a rather bitter expression.
Kalz Morenn chuckled.
'Look at this kid.'
He was a guy that he held dearly.
And that was why he had brought him along after paying the tourism fee.
Kalz Morenn knew the reason why he was making such an expression.
"It hasn't been long since you came into our clan right?"
Ailen pondered for a moment and then answered.
"It has been about 27 days."
"And when did you come to the Otherworld?"
Ailen shrugged his shoulders
"1 year. Since I came through the last year's tutorial."
Kalz Morenn smiled contently at those words.
Only strong people could come into Lighthouse, one of the six pillars.
But this guy had come into Lighthouse in 1 year and into the most dangerous Shock Troopers.
If you take into account the fact that most people in Lighthouse were 3rd and 4th years, then this guy's talent was amazing.
And that was one of the reasons why he held him so dearly.
'It's probably because he's still a 1st year…'
Such a thing like this would probably make him feel a little dirty.
To shove down huge groups of people into the stomach of the Calamity Fish and watching it.
Kalz Morenn spoke towards Ailen.
"You probably know by now… what do you think of every day while you live?"
Ailen shrugged his shoulders as he answered.
"Getting stronger."
Kalz Morenn chuckled.
"Right? Surviving day by day isn't your goal anymore right? Since you aren't at that level anymore."
"…"
"I was like you around that level too. But… you start to think differently right before you go up."
There's nothing he should be scared of right now.
Since they, who ruled over the Red Zone, were really strong.
They had long been qualified to go up to the Orange Zone.
But there was only one reason why they had remained here.
Of course they won't start off from the rock bottom.
Since there was still a gap from those who barely qualified to go up to the Orange Zone and them.
And they would probably be able to rise above others faster than them.
But that wasn't the important part.
There won't be people who would tremble at the sight of them and there might be people who he would have to run away from.
He had to struggle to get stronger again and go back into dangerous places.
"Do you know what comes up in your head at this point?"
"…What comes up in your head?"
"You start to get an idea that you have to rule as much as you get here and then go up."
It was hard to remain in one place forever without going up due to the World Tree's structure.
And when you become one of the clansmen of the Six Pillars, and the top within that clan, you start to get thoughts such as this.
But this wasn't easy either.
There was no way to fulfill the stomach.
Since the only thing to eat here were Nutritional Fluids.
There wasn't much need for sleep and one would get fed up with lust after a day or two.
He needed something more fun and intense.
Something to fulfill this desire of the ones who will go up soon and become tired again.
And the Quadratus Sightseeing was something created for people like this.
'I look forward to it.'
It was quite a good sight to see dying people struggle.
That alone wouldn't be enough but there were thousands of people and such a thing would become very grand once the Calamity Fish takes part in it.
According to the ones who had seen it before, this was really a good sight.
Shouldn't he have a look at such a wondrous sight before going up.
At that moment he felt a presence approach him.
Then Kalz Morenn clicked his tongue after seeing what had come.
"Did you seriously lose?"
He had told the other Quadratus guys just in case but for him to really lose.
While Gyesoo was making an embarrassed face, Kalz Morenn wrinkled his nose at the very faint scent.
A scent which normal humans could not smell and only he, who had learned
And then he looked towards the origin of the scent.
Gyesoo's thigh.
Kalz Morenn frowned his brows as he looked at Gyesoo with an incredibly fearsome expression.
"You retard…"
"Pardon?"
Gyesoo was shocked at the sudden bloodthirst rushing towards him and replied unconsciously.
........................…..
Kyaaaak!
A very faint scent breezed past the noses of the Gertas.
A scent which was created when the extremely agitated Gerta's pheromones and blood were mixed.
It was clear what his scent meant.
That the killer of one of their kind had been covered with their blood.
The strong scent, which seemed like it was asking for revenge, was carried by the winds.
And it was amplified thousands of times.
Kyaaaak!
Thousands of Gertas which were roaming near the Kukulja Lake started to madly dash towards the origin of the scent.
And Hansoo laughed as he saw this sight.
He couldn't gain a large amount of time but this was enough for now.
'I should finish fast and go make some of that Nutritional Fluid. I wonder if that Gyesoo guy is alright.'
He didn't know who Kalz Morenn was but according to what he heard about his personality, it would be hard for him to ignore such a blunder like this.
Hansoo rushed out to complete the extract within the time that Gyesoo had kindly bestowed him.
Chapter 61 – Calamity Fish Hunting (6)
'Let's see…'
Hansoo looked at the relic in his hands and then walked into the woods as he sliced a nearby Chehykle tree with the blade of the Forgotten sword.
And then sticky sap started pour out from it.
Hansoo got the small remaining amount of Amar's Incense, mixed it with the sap and then spread it on the Forgotten sword until all of the surface was covered.
'It's done.'
Hansoo walked up to the lake and resumed his previous hunt after covering his whole sword.
Pagagagagak!
The heads of the fishes got crushed apart from the countless blade slashes as they died off.
Hansoo nodded as he saw the fishes charging at him.
'At this level I can probably go and hunt the grown ones.'
It was an obvious fact that the adult ones had more of the extract within them than the baby ones.
If he hunted the adult ones then he could probably complete the extract in a shorter time.
The reason why he had not done so was because he had no way of getting through their thick skulls and scales but it was now more efficient to hunt the adult ones since he had obtained the Forgotten Sword.
'The location of the adults is in the deeper part of the lake.'
He needed some preparations to go there.
Hansoo pulled out all of the extracts from the heart and then started to run along the lakeshore.
After a long while he could see a plant with its roots submerged in water.
A plant which lived by sucking onto the toxic water,
Hansoo rushed onto the lotus like plant.
Tututuk.
He pulled out the Ghweche along with its roots, opened it and then retrieved a handful of seeds.
Hansoo then proceeded to collect the seeds of a few more Ghweche plants and then threw one into the water as a test.
Pushushushuk.
Surprisingly, the small seed didn't sink when it entered the water and instead started to madly swell up.
It swelled up by absorbing the water-soluble toxin which made the toxic waters toxic.
Hansoo got on top of the seed which had swelled up to the size of a human head.
It started to sink slowly once Hansoo got on top of it but as he got off the seed it came back up with its buoyancy.
'Good.'
Hansoo then proceeded to create a bridge along the surface of the water towards the center of the lake where the adult fishes would be living.
At that moment a light shone in the distance behind Hansoo.
Hoooong.
At the same time very hot air rushed towards him.
Though the actual heat was weak, if you take into account the distance from him and the origin of the flame then that location would probably be similar to hell.
'I should hurry a bit more. It's still quite more amazing than I had thought.'
Hansoo quickly started to run towards the inner parts of the lake after checking his rear.
...........................…
Kuuuuuuuuu
Tens of Gertas were laid out on the floor after becoming roasted by the dark red flame.
And Cheng and the other Quadratus members gulped as they saw this sight.
Though thousands of Gertas were running towards them, the man who had created the scene in front of them was much scarier.
Kalz Morenn, who had dark red flames swirling around his hand, looked at the Gertas he had roasted and then turned around as he spoke.
"Let's hear it."
"Pardon?"
"Let's hear about how you are going to deal with this. I've gotten curious as to how and why you guys do your job like this."
"… We will take care of it."
Then a few people ran down as they launched off the cruise ship.
Ooonng.
The 2000 man cruise ship started to get further and further away from the land.
The Gertas who had run up roared in anger but they could only roam round the edge of the waters since they had no way of getting close to the cruise ship.
Kalz Morenn stood still for a moment and then opened his mouth again.
"Are you worrying about my safety right now? I'm asking as to how you are going to perform the sightseeing. If this goes on then all the newcomers will leak out. Can you guys block it all up?"
Gyesoo stumbled as he carried his injured body and walked out.
"I'll solve it. If I run around the Kukulja lake and lead those things then the newcomers will see that and…"
Kududuk.
"Aaakk!"
Gyesoo screamed as Kalz Morenn's hand suddenly dug into his thigh.
Kalz Morenn ignored his screams as he dug his thigh out and then pulled out a soggy reddish mixture.
Kyaaak!
As the mixture came out from his body the Gertas started to get even more agitated.
Kalz Moren threw that towards the Quadratus and then spoke.
"This guy is the guide, he can't die. Take this and spread it along the roads."
"…Understood."
The Quadratus felt cold sweats run down their backs as they looked at the shore where the Gertas were going crazy.
They had to carry this around and then spread it along the roads.
Though they can bring back the Gertas onto the roads if they spread this but carrying this around meant that they had to keep all of those Gertas on their tails.
They couldn't even imagine the number of people who would die during this process.
'Damnit. It got screwed up real dirty.'
Cheng looked at Gyesoo with a resentful expression.
But he could only go.
If not then he would probably die in the hands of Kalz Morenn instead of the Gertas.
It seemed like that Kalz Morenn, who was full of anticipation, started to feel worse and worse as the plans got screwed up.
'If we can settle the matter for now with this then it'll be good.'
But Kalz Morenn destroyed Cheng's anticipation.
"And what are you going to do about that Hansoo fellow."
"…"
"Take responsibility and bring him over. I really want to see his face now."
"Understood."
Cheng clenched his teeth and then shouted.
"Plug up the roads first! Then… find that guy with the lake as the main location!"
A guy who had set them up like this wouldn't have hidden.
'He said he was going to kill the Calamity Fish right.'
Since that guy was doing something in the Kukulja lake then he wouldn't be able to leave far until that was accomplished.
Kalz Morenn then looked at Gyesoo with a cold expression.
"You will talk to me for a bit. About what you failed."
"Uuuuu…"
Gyesoo made a expression filled with fear from those terrifying eyes.
.....................…..
Kudududuk.
Hansoo stabbed the Kukulja's skull and then quickly stabbed into the heart, pulled the heart out and then threw it into the Selfish Wealthy man's Food Jar.
The efficiency fell in comparison to squeezing it out on land but he didn't have the confidence to drag them onto land.
Shhkung.
'I've still almost collected it all.'
The
But there was still a problem.
'…My stamina is too spent.'
The place where he could get the Nutritional Liquid was a bit far away from the Kukulja's Lake.
His stomach was completely empty after fighting for two days straight without any nutriments.
Slashing the sword once was getting hard.
Kadududuk!
The Kukulja noticed Hansoo getting weaker as they rushed towards him even more crazily.
At that moment something cut through the toxic waters and flew towards him while making pagagak sounds.
An arrow filled with the power of a skill.
'It's a skill of the targeting type.'
Hansoo compressed the free-form blade and then swung it.
Boom!
He had deflected the arrow but the injuries that had barely healed ripped open, due to him straining the muscles of his whole body , and spread around as the Kukuljas who smelled this started to thrash around more aggressively.
A person who looked like a commander of the Quadratus was looking towards him by the lakeshore and was preparing a skill.
'It seems they have stopped the fire for now.'
Actually, the two days he had gained were quite a lot.
Though it would've been nicer to have a bit more, it happened already.
He had to solve this situation.
'I don't have the strength to have a prolonged battle.'
He was hungry, was lacking in stamina due to the long fight he had and was losing blood as well.
And Kukuljas were rushing towards him crazily from below.
But he still had to complete the extract.
'I'll get rid of the guys who follow me.'
Hansoo stepped onto the heads of the crazily rushing Kukuljas as he started to run towards the other side of the lake very quickly.
And Cheng grinded his teeth as he saw this.
"Shoot out restraining skills so he won't run away and chase him!"
The other commanders made a bitter expression at this.
"You want to go in there?"
The bridge trick that Hansoo had done wasn't hard for them.
And hunting down a tired person was an easy task for them.
But even with all this it was still a bit burdensome for them to go into the lake which was swarming with Kukuljas.
Cheng shouted at those words.
"The conditions are still the same! And don't you know that it'll become more tiresome if you don't catch him while he's that tired? And say we don't catch him here… what are you going to report then?"
If he runs away to the other side of the lake then it really becomes hard to catch him.
Since the Kukulja lake was as big as the vast End Root.
If he hid in the jungle then things become really tiresome.
Everyone gulped at those words.
If they miss the chance to catch him while he's tired then they have to meet Kalz Morenn.
They could still clearly remember the scene where Kalz Morenn dipped Gyesoo into the sea and pulled him back out like Shabu Shabu as he asked him about his responsibilities.
Gyesoo had only stopped at a half-body bath in the toxic waters because he had the experience of the insides of the Calamity Fish.
If they fail then they might take on a full body bath instead of a half-body bath.
'Fucker. We aren't even below that guy!'
But such a lame excuse did not work in this world where the differences in power were clear.
Since they had signed the contract to bring that guy back it was likely that they will suffer if they were to even discuss about it.
The commanders, who were grinding their teeth, and the other Quadratus floated on pieces of wood or Ghweche seeds as they quickly pursued Hansoo.
'You bitch. I've almost caught you! I'll vent all my anger on you!'
Unlike them, who were running with not many obstructions, their target with a bloody body was being attacked by the Kukuljas.
At that moment, Hansoo suddenly stepped onto the Kukulja as he jumped up into the air.
"…huh?"
A formless energy flowed into the sword on his hand as it instantly turned into a whip.
"Block it!"
At those words the people who had been running activated their skills to guard their fatal spots and focused on regaining their balance.
Pik.
Pipipik.
'…Mmm?'
Cheng made a confused expression at the whip that had swept around them.
The glamorous attack just swept around their limbs as if it wasn't targeting their fatal spots from the beginning.
It was extremely sharp so their flesh was cut but it wasn't in fatal locations.
Cheng smirked as he saw this.
'Did he perhaps think that we will run away from fear when we got injured?'
Bleeding actually did make things a bit more burdensome.
Since Kukuljas will charge onto them if they bled.
But Hansoo was bleeding much more than them anyway and this amount of injury would heal up before a minute was up.
But the moment Cheng and the other Quadratus tried to rush in enthusiastically, something unexpected occured.
Chwuuuuk.
The injuries got wider and wider as a large amount of blood started to flow out.
"Uuk! What is this!"
"Heal! Use the healing rune!"
"Dammit! It won't close up!"
Blood was pouring out from the injury made by the whip.
And the Kukuljas, who had smelled the blood that had been spilt on the waters, rushed at them madly.
Pududududk.
"Waak! Damnit!"
'What is this nonsense!'
Cheng screamed inwardly in puzzlement as he struck at the Kukuljas charging at him.
He was sure that such an option wasn't on Gyesoo's sword.
Hansoo made a cold expression at the top of the lake which had become chaos itself.
'Now our situations are a bit more equal.'
The second power the
Once you were hit by the attack filled with the strange power of Nurmaha then the injury will not heal while the power lingered on the injury and instead cause a large amount of blood to pour out.
A top rated skill which was fatal towards the guys who trust in their healing skills and fight recklessly.
He had been saving it because the mana usage was very large but this was the perfect time for it.
'But this isn't quite enough.'
He was still bleeding as well and the Kukuljas were charging at him and them without distinguishing between them.
It had just become even.
And the fight was better the more unfair it was.
Hansoo ripped off the sap that was covering the blade with his hands.
Then the scent of the Forgotten Sword, which had been hidden beneath the strong Amar scent, started to permeate all around.
The Kukuljas who had smelled this flinched in surprise as they crazily tried to distance themselves away from Hansoo.
They could only be scared.
Since this scent was that of the fearful predator that ate them as snacks.
Pudududuk Pudududuk.
As the scent which could be smelled from hundreds of meters away under water spread, the Kukuljas made a huge riot in order to get away from Hansoo.
And Hansoo used this timing to throw the seeds to create the bridge as he got out to the lakeshore.
Then he looked at the relic on his hand.
This was an object that had been kept within the Calamity Fish for a very long time.
Its scent could only be strong.
He couldn't hunt properly if the Kukuljas ran away so he had hidden this scent but this was the most effective way in order to escape like this.
"Ahhhhk!"
"Kuaaaak!"
'They won't be able to come out.'
That place was dangerous even for him.
Since the fear of the predator that had appeared for a moment had increased their vicious instincts a step further.
Hansoo, who had been looking at the Kukuljas who were gathering onto the center of the lake in a crazy manner, hid the scent of the Forgotten sword again as he completed the Kukulja extract.
Hansoo sighed as he looked at the mess his body had turned into.
He had predicted that it wouldn't be easy but it was extremely tiring.
There was a huge difference between the beasts of the Red Zone and the people of the Tutorial.
'Keldian. I might kick your ass if I see you again.'
Hansoo, who had been thinking of Keldian who had set up a strict schedule for him, thought of the next objective.
Nutritional fluid.
The reason why the wide World Tree Mountain Range became an area of dispute.
And one of the other reasons why he had to heal this World Tree.
'If I collect that then it'll be the end.'
Hansoo looked at the Kukulja heart extract which he had filled half of the pouch with and then started to gather the Ghweche seeds.
And soon Hansoo gathered a few thousand Ghweche seeds and quickly rushed towards the location where the Nutritional fluid flowed, the
Chapter 62 – Calamity Fish Hunting (7)
Kalz Morenn clicked his tongue.
'The Blue Carrier Pigeons have not been flying back for a while'.
This meant that everyone who had gone off had failed.
'I can't leave this to them anymore.'
He thought that he would be able to find that guy using Gyesoo's trait pretty quickly but it seems that there was a lot of restrictions that made it so that he could not find the person he found earlier for a whole month.
'Well. He probably never thought of losing to a newcomer in the first place anyway.'
Ailen asked with a slightly confused expression while looking at Kalz Morenn warming up his body.
"…You said you weren't going to move because you came for vacation right?"
Kalz Morenn smiled.
"I came here to enjoy. I feel like that guy will make this fun for me. It's been a while since I found somebody who offended me like this."
There's no satisfaction in smashing down timid people.
Wringing those who offended you was truly fun and satisfying.
"I'm going. You watch for those who run away towards the plains above the Kukulja Lake."
Kalz Morenn left those final words as he quickly disappeared from the top of the boat.
..........................
Hansoo thought about his next objective as he erased his tracks.
Since he had collected the Kukulja Heart Extract it was now time for him to go to the next stage.
'I need to supplement it with Nutritional Fluid.'
One of the the two core ingredients of the Hardening Liquid.
Hansoo took out the Juicer he received from the Helper clansman and then ran towards the End Root between the sea and the Kukulja lake.
In this place, if you ignore the few special cases within the World Tree Area, it was impossible to satisfy one's hunger and thirst without the Juicer.
Hansoo could finally see a greenish part on the center of some blazing ruins that resembled a vein after a long run on top of the tree root.
'Found it. The Exterior.'
The Root of World Tree was largely divided into the Exterior and the Interior.
The Interior absorbed the toxic waters from the Roots and then sent it to the Trunk which acted as the main part of the tree.
And the Exterior supplied nutrition to all of the World Tree by purifying the toxic waters into the Nutritional Fluid.
The Exterior, which was made of tens of thousands of strands, spread out from the deepest parts of the World Tree Roots and even to the outside.
And the only place where the survivors of this place, which was always burning, could find liquid and food was that World Tree Exterior's Nutritional Fluid.
A large amount of people were using all their strengths and using the Juicer like the Helper clansman had told them.
But of course there was a problem.
'Barely any comes out.'
"Dammit! What is this! It barely comes out!"
"Uuu. What will this amount do to anyone!"
This machine, which had a few skills applied onto it, pulled out the Nutritional Fluid once one takes it and puts it onto the Exterior.
But if not much of the Nutritional Fluid flowed through the Exterior then what would the Juicer do even if it had extremely good specs.
As if the Exterior was symbolizing the dried up World Tree, a very small amount of Nutritional Fluids were running through it.
'I need to find a thicker Exterior.'
He had to scratch off quite a large amount of Nutritional Fluids for the Hardening Liquid.
It wasn't hard to find a thicker Exterior.
Since if you follow the Exterior up, you will find a thicker Exterior where the other Exteriors met up.
But there were people on the thicker Exterior already.
'We meet again.'
Hansoo shrugged as he looked at the 150 people gathered.
Yohan and the others were driving out the other people approaching the Exterior as they were filling up their Nutritional Fluid Containers.
"Get lost!"
"Don't come close! We will use this place first!"
The people who were driven out cried out in rage.
"You damned bastards! If you suck it all up then what do you want us to do!"
Yohan smirked as he laughed.
"If you feel wronged then go up higher than us and suck it up there."
"…Fuckers."
The people cursed quietly.
Who didn't know about that.
But the higher they go the stronger the beasts and people get.
Of course it was more dangerous to go higher.
So people realized it at once.
That they had to get stronger no matter what and then keep climbing up.
If they keep sucking out the Nutritional Fluid in the Exterior above then the people below will barely be able to taste the Nutritional Fluid.
Which means that they had to persevere to get the Nutritional Fluid no matter what, get stronger and then drink from the Exterior above where there is more Nutritional Fluid.
Hansoo shook his head as he saw this scene.
'How could there be unity if things go like this.'
It was basically the same as fighting for water during a drought.
Actually the fight to take over the Nutritional Fluid was even more intense above.
'And this is why I must revive the World Tree even more.'
It was impossible to unite people when the amount of food was limited.
It was already not enough but if the people who will be sent in next year are taken into account then it will really be insufficient.
They will all starve like the Communism of the old days and then all die of starvation.
Unity was a job that was after revival of the World Tree.
'Well. It's not to the point where they will starve to death yet.'
Which means that it wasn't time for him to care yet.
Hansoo landed in front of Yohan who was driving off the other people.
And as soon as Yohan saw Hansoo, his expression scrunched up.
Then he shouted loudly.
"Kang Hansoo! Where did you hide the boat!"
"Mmm?"
Yohan loudly shouted.
"We can't go up higher! There are beasts swarming up above!"
There was a reason why Yohan and his crew were staying a bit below the Lake.
They had seen the Calamity Fish on the way.
And because of this they tried to climb up as fast as possible as soon as the instructions of the Helper clansman ended.
But they gave up as soon as they saw the beasts blocking their way.
Since thousands of beasts were swarming around.
The lake was even worse.
And they were raising their strengths by collecting the Nutritional Fluid like this and hunting weak beasts because they could not die like this.
But if they had a boat then everything would be solved.
"Give us the boat. You don't need it. We will leave on the boat."
They had rushed back to find the boat after seeing that the road was blocked but they could not find it as if this guy had hidden it.
Hansoo shook his head at Yohan words.
He had to ride on that to hunt the Calamity Fish.
"Persevere well here. Don't think about going up."
"…what?"
"I'm going to kill that Calamity Fish so. I need to use the boat there."
"…"
'He's really insane.'
He had heard something like this when this guy was fighting that Camille woman.
'You want us to believe such nonsense? Just say you don't want to give us the boat instead.'
Yohan grinded his teeth.
Hansoo chucked as he looked at that Yohan.
Since he could guess what he was thinking.
'Don't do that.'
If he had let these guys off in a different place then it would've taken a lot longer.
He could understand Yohan's intentions so he just shrugged and didn't really say much more.
Since he had long gotten used to people telling him to put down the luggage after he had saved them too.
While Yohan was grinding his teeth, Hansoo leisurely went up to the Exterior and then plugged the pointy part of the Juicer.
Chuuuuuuk.
And then the Juicer activated as it pulled out the Nutritional Fluid a drop at a time.
Hansoo then drank the Nutritional Fluid that came out from the Juicer.
'Hooh. Much better.'
Though the World Tree had dried up, it was still the World Tree.
He had just drank just a few drops of the water of life that was provided through the Exterior but it already started to fill up Hansoo's whole body with nutrients.
The slowed down healing speed from the lack of nutrition quickly came back to normal as the Nutritional Fluid swirled around his body.
'Since I quenched my thirst it's time to move.'
Hansoo got up his seat.
The amount he needed to gather was not possible to be gathered here anyway.
There were two reasons why he had come to the Exterior on the bottom.
To replenish his spent stamina and to use it as the starting point to go to a bigger one.
Even more so since this thing went up and down through the underground.
"Don't piss people off randomly and just stay here for a bit."
The time was getting saved due to him having earned quite a nice weapon.
He would be able to set off towards the Calamity Fish in just a little while.
Hansoo ended with those words as he followed the Exterior into a corner of the jungle.
Yohan looked at that Hansoo with a cold expression.
'I need to find the hidden boat.'
The reason why that guy could be so laid back was because he had the boat.
Since he could leave at any time.
Yohan had to find the boat.
'But how?'
That guy was so cautious to the point where he was constantly erasing his tracks as he moved.
And the dangerous jungle.
It would be hard to chase.
But Yohan suddenly had a strange thought.
'Was something over there?'
If you follow the way he had come from the lake was there.
A guy of that level would've already been to such a place and came back but for him to only come out now.
'Is something over there?'
There was a possibility.
Since that guy had a strange psychic power.
Then the reason why he had driven the boat to this dangerous place could be explained.
'Killing the Calamity Fish. That's definitely a lie… Is he trying to gain something here and then escape with the boat?'
And the fact that he had told them to stay here was even more suspicious.
Yohan cautiously gathered up a few people and shared his thoughts.
A few of them actually made a doubtful expression but then they agreed with Yohan's thoughts of having a look as they created a search team to follow the path Hansoo had come from.
And soon they arrived at the lake which was quite familiar to them.
The lake of the monsters which had thrown them into despair.
But there was a person who had gotten there before them.
'…Who is that?'
There was a man who was meticulously searching around the lake in Yohan's sight.
The foreign looking man searched around the root but once he saw them he ignored them as if he lost his joy and started to focus onto the work he was doing.
'Damnit. They're all the same.'
Yohan, whose pride had actually taken quite a toll due to Hansoo, had actually gotten pissed at the attitude of the man ignoring them but couldn't really say anything back because that man looked dangerous at just a simple glance.
Even without the Helper clansman's warning he could still feel the strange bloodthirsty aura radiating from that man.
Yohan decided to ignore that man just like how he had done to them and spoke to the surrounding people.
"Since it looks dangerous let's back off for now and then look for Hansoo's tracks when that man leaves."
Yohan did not realize that this was a fatal mistake.
The ears of the man, who had been ignoring Yohan and his crew, trembled as he yelled out roughly.
"Hey you over there! You know Hansoo?"
'Shit!'
Everyone was shocked at the sudden shout of the man.
They didn't know who he was but they didn't want to get mixed up with such a dangerous person.
Yohan tensed up but then thought that he didn't have anything to lose as he broadened his chest and tried to speak.
"We do but then what are yo…"
Puuuk!
"Kuuhuuuk!"
The broadened chest had to be folded back immediately.
Yohan looked at the man who had appeared in front of him in an instant and had smashed him on his stomach with a pained expression.
'What… did I even do wrong?'
Kalz Morenn looked at that Yohan as he spoke.
"You bastard. Dare to look at my eyes when you're just a mere newcomer. You want to die."
"Kuhuuuk…"
'Damnit. With just that as the reason…'
It felt like his whole intestines were tangling up from just one kick.
At the same time Yohan realized why the Helper clansman told them to not piss off the people who had come in the previous year.
Since the explosive movements that were combined with skills were hard even for their eyes to follow.
"Good. It was hard enough to look for his tracks anyways, you guys will help me a bit."
He was about to explode from annoyance because that guy had hidden his tracks so well but for these guys to get caught.
'Kuhuu. He probably knew that someone was going to chase him but it seems like he didn't expect something like this.'
Kalz Morenn looked at the chicks with a cold expression.
.....................…
"You got off here?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Kalz Morenn estimated which way that guy would've gone.
He didn't know why Hansoo was running around the jungle but he probably knew that there were going to be pursuers.
'There's no way that he'd hide his tracks otherwise.'
Then there was only one choice that guy would make.
Running away from him when Gyesoo hadn't even told him about himself was an impossible thing.
It was impossible to run towards the wide open plain above the Kukulja lake because he had told Ailen to guard that area.
The only escape route then was the sea.
If he went near the boat and then waited then he would be able to catch him for sure.
'If not then I can just break apart the the boat first. Since I can kill him slowly once he can't run away anymore.'
Though Hansoo had hidden it, it wasn't hard to find the traces of the boat with a skill once they reach the place where they had gotten off.
Yohan, who had been looking at Kalz Morenn with a fearful expression, spoke.
"Anyways… will you really give us the boat? Once you find it?"
Kalz Morenn looked at Yohan with an amused expression.
'These guys. Do they not have a very good relationship?'
From what he heard, they would've all died if not for this Hansoo guy but they were cooperating extremely well.
He was going to twist the necks of a few people if they didn't comply but he felt awkward to do so when they cooperated so well.
'Well. It's better for me.'
Kalz smiled contently as he spoke.
"Of course. You guys take the boat."
He was going to destroy it anyway for the tour but this was the time to give hope.
They would cooperate better if there was a chance for survival.
As if those words gave Yohan strength, he steadily headed towards the location where they had gotten off the boat.
And then he spoke towards Kalz:
"It's here."
"Let's see…"
Kalz Morenn's skill,
Since the fairy's boats weren't hard to find due to their particularities.
'Tsk. It'd be nice to find Hansoo with this.'
But there were too many different scents mixed in the last battlefield for that.
But soon the confident face of Kalz Morenn scrunched up.
"…This guy and that guy. Why are they all retarded."
The location where the Aronan's Chaser pointed to.
He could feel the traces of the boat a few hundreds meters deep under the sea.
But how would Hansoo pull that up.
The 500 man boat's weight was not something a human can pull up.
Even if the amount of their muscles increased, there was still a limit with a human's body mass.
Where would he find a rope to pull that up while withstanding the toxic waters.
'These retards… he didn't hide it, it just sunk.'
This meant that Hansoo guy had gained a boat somewhere else already.
A boat that the Quadratus guys had not smashed yet.
'Quadratus and these guys. They're really extremely frustrating.'
The important fact was that he had wasted time because these guys.
Catching him would become much harder due to this slight change.
Since when it came to pursuing someone the difference between a few hours and half a day was the difference between heaven and earth.
"These bitches…"
"Huuuuak!"
The thing that he needed the most currently was somebody to vent his anger on.
The dark red flames started to float around Kalz Morenn as if they were reacting to his rage.
..........................
'Hmm. Good.'
Hansoo, who had sliced apart the beasts in the Exterior located deep within the jungle and was pulling out the Nutritional Fluid with the juicer, nodded at the smooth process.
There was no need to share it because it was an Exterior located in a dangerous place and he was also gaining runes steadily even while chopping apart the beasts.
'It seems like the work will finish faster than my expectation. Anyways, I thought that Kalz Morenn guy would chase me but I seem to be wrong. Did he lose his way somewhere.'
But Hansoo just shrugged his shoulders.
'I wonder why my luck is so good. It's good anyway. Once the materials Camille Rowe finds get mixed in then it'll be completed.'
Hansoo, who had been sucking the Nutritional Fluid out from the Exterior, quickly moved towards the next Exterior.
Chapter 63 – Galadriang's Relic (1)
Kwarurururu.
Kalz Morenn was standing within the blazing jungle.
"Hooh. This rat of a bastard…"
Boooom!
Five days.
He had searched around this area, looking for Hansoo, for five days.
He wouldn't have been this mad if there weren't any traces in the first place.
But the most annoying thing was that there were very faint traces of him left behind.
Sometimes a faint scent could be smelled and sometimes the traces of the Forgotten Sword he had stolen from Gyesoo were left behind.
This made him even madder.
Since he was just tailing his back even if he was chasing with all his might.
'Goddamnit…'
It would've been easier if he had brought some of his subordinates here but he had come here for a vacation.
But then he'd rather commit suicide than receive Ailen's help.
Since he'd lose face.
Then Gyesoo spoke cautiously towards Kalz Morenn.
"How about… catching Camille Rowe?"
"Camille Rowe?"
Kalz Morenn slightly frowned as he heard this.
This was something that Gyesoo had been suggesting for a while.
Since Hansoo's main goal was the Calamity Fish, he would naturally be dragged in if you catch his comrade.
But there was a reason why Kalz Morenn had not done this yet.
'Damnit. Not being able to catch a single newcomer is enough face lost but for me to take people hostage?'
If Amil Stadan, from one of the Six Pillars
No, he would become a public object of ridicule to the clans of the twelve roots.
But his rage was currently exceeding his pride.
There were instances in his plan where he would not be able to catch a guy for 5 days.
'Well if I take care of things well…. There won't be rumors.'
Kalz Morenn asked Gyesoo.
"How do you want to do it? You told me you couldn't use your trait yet."
Gyesoo laughed.
"Hansoo might erase his tracks but why would she. She would not think that someone will be chasing her."
"Hooh."
"Since we almost finished the sightseeing preparation, we'll separate to find her and then send a Blue Carrier Pigeon once we do."
Kalz Morenn made a satisfied expression as he nodded.
"You be careful. You are the main actor of the 2nd part of the tour. Remember why I take care of you so well."
"…I know very well."
"You guys find Camille according to your plans. I shall continue searching for Hansoo."
If he gave up like this then his pride would be damaged.
Camille was a last resort.
'I will catch him before that.'
Gyesoo nodded as he saw Kalz Morenn grind his teeth and send Blue Carrier Pigeons in every direction.
.....................….
"Hooh."
Hansoo looked at his food jar container.
A container that was full of the Nutritional Fluid and the Kukulja heart extract.
'I've almost collected all of the materials for the Hardening Fluid too.'
Since he had some time left until Camille would finish gathering all the materials, he had gathered a few extra materials that he would use on the boat.
As he saw flames exploding from place to place, it seemed like that Kalz Morenn had been enraged to no extent.
'It is pretty annoying.'
But it seemed like that Kalz Morenn wasn't that talented despite being the captain of the shock troopers.
If Kalz had raised his chaser skill then it would have been harder to hide his tracks.
'Let's have a peek.'
Hansoo adjusted the shape of the formless energy of the Forgotten Sword so that light would be diffracted.
It wasn't that hard. He just needed to change the thickness a little bit.
He then proceeded to apply mud onto his face as he started to look over the cruise ship in the distance along with his transformed sword that acted like monoculars.
He knew of the cruise ship's location due to the heat that had come off during the Gertas incident.
In order to not get caught within their eyes he had to stay this far back to look over them discreetly.
Hansoo frowned after looking over the location of where the Blue Carrier Pigeons were flying and Kalz Morenn's movements.
'Look at these guys. They changed the target.'
He didn't think that Kalz would've done such a thing due to his pride of being the captain of the shocktroopers of Lighthouse but it seems that his rage had overcome his pride.
'Let's move.'
He had collected all the materials anyway.
The time had come for him to reunite with Camille.
'Let's see… she would be around the Erum Mines or Kukuru burrows by now.'
A dumb person wouldn't know but Camille was rather smart so she would choose the most efficient route.
Which meant that she had to be in one of these two.
'I have to find Camille before them.'
Otherwise it'll become troublesome.
'First I'll go to Kukuru burrows.'
Hansoo carefully got out of his seat and quickly headed off somewhere.
...................
Kaaaaaak!
Camille madly slashed her short spear towards the Erums running towards her.
Hoooong.
The short spear endlessly slashed through the air.
The respiratory holes of the Erums, who had the shape of a beetle, were sliced apart as they dropped down.
Kwadududk.
Camille split the stomach of the Erum, took out the secreting gland and then squeezed the liquid into a small bottle.
'I collected it all.'
Camille cracked the joints on her body.
She had collected all of 14 ingredients out of the 17 ingredients Hansoo had asked.
'My progress is faster than I expected, it seems like I'll finish in about a day.'
Camille started to head out of the mine after looking at the bottle of liquid.
But at the same time she could feel somebody coming into the mine with her acute battle senses.
Camille tensed up and focused.
Erum Mines were quite difficult for newcomers.
Which meant that whoever came here was not a newcomer.
But she sighed as she recognized the footsteps and breath and climbed up.
"You're here. Why are you here already though? I haven't collected it all."
Hansoo shrugged at Camille's words and spoke.
"The situation changed a little. Some annoying guys seem to have gotten on our tail."
"Annoying guys?"
Camille made a confused expression.
If this guy, who didn't recognize how high the sky was, thought of somebody as annoying then that person would be far beyond that.
"Who is it?"
"Kalz Morenn."
"…What did you just say?"
"Kalz Morenn. He seems to be the captain of the shock troopers of Lighthouse."
"What the hell have you done while you've been away from me!"
Camille shouted with a flustered expression.
She was a third year too but Kalz Morenn was at a different level.
If she fought him then she'd just melt down without being able to do anything.
'No, why is such a guy on the End Root?'
But there was only one important fact.
That those guys will chase them.
Camille made an expression full of despair and then spoke towards Hansoo.
"Let's start up the boat. There's no time."
She hadn't gathered all the ingredients but if they waited here and then encountered Kalz Morenn then they would both die.
No matter how strong this guy was he could not go against Kalz Morenn.
"Did you gather all the materials?"
Camille shook her head at Hansoo's words.
"Not the Kukuru Scales, Mixblood Fairy Breath and Arantal Lights."
Hansoo started to pull some things out of his pockets after hearing Camille's words and spoke:
"It's Kukuru Scales. I've gotten it on the way here. Focus on getting the other two for me."
"…What are you going to do?"
Hansoo looked at Camille and spoke.
"I'm going to buy some time while you gather the materials."
Not a single material could be left out.
Since an unstable Hardening Liquid will be made.
"Let's meet at this location after you gather the materials. I will bring the boat there."
Hansoo then told her the place they would meet up at.
Camille looked at Hansoo with a worried expression and asked.
"Isn't it better to collect the materials quickly with me?"
Hansoo shook his head at these words.
He had seen it on the way here.
The net had been closed up much more than he had anticipated.
At this rate they would be caught by the time they gather the materials and get to the boat.
One person had to buy some time.
'There's no need to lead the others astray.'
He just needed to get Kalz Morenn distracted.
Since Camille could handle the rest.
Hansoo then thought of Kalz Morenn.
He had left traces around wide open spaces on purpose while running away.
Very faintly.
Only so that one could find them if they had a chaser skill.
He had left olfactory traces sometimes and other times he left temperature related traces or footsteps.
And he saw Kalz Morenn chasing him from afar with the transformed sword and then checked his reaction.
The result was clear.
'The chaser skill he had learned… is a type of scent chaser.'
That guy was chasing his direction with the changes of scent.
Hansoo thought up to this point as he ripped a piece of his clothing off, ripped it to shreds and smeared blood onto it.
He then held onto it tight with his hands as he spoke to Camille.
"I'll leave it to you."
Hansoo ended with those words as he quickly started to run towards the jungle and Camille looked at Hansoo with a complicated expression but then also ran off to gather the materials.
......................
'…Mmm?'
Kalz Morenn frowned at Hansoo's scent which had suddenly gotten stronger.
'He had hidden so well up to this point, why is this?'
Kalz Morenn deducted the reason after a brief thought.
The answer had come out.
'He has been watching me.'
The reason why Hansoo had shown himself was clear.
Since it was after they started chasing after Camille Rowe.
'If I knew that he would come out like this then I would've done this sooner.'
Kalz Morenn didn't actually have a lot of expectations against that Camille girl.
Since he hadn't thought that Hansoo was a person who would jump out because of one hostage.
He had told Gyesoo to do this because he was so fed up but for such a thing to happen.
'I'll gladly kill you.'
Kalz Morenn laughed maniacally as he chased the traces.
The traces were very clear unlike the ones so far.
He had thought that these were traces to lure him in but such a thing could be clearly seen.
All his senses and the skill were telling him clearly.
That Hansoo had just gotten past this area.
Kalz Morenn made a cold expression after chasing these traces for a long time.
'If he set up a trap then…'
Hansoo might not even be at the end of this chase since he was much more formidable than he had expected.
If that happened then he was really going to find that Camille and rip her to shreds.
Hansoo might be different but she can't run away from him.
It would be quite a nice target to vent his anger on since it seemed like Hansoo valued her greatly to come out like this.
'I should tell the guys to find Camille first.'
Kalz Morenn flinched momentarily while he was just about to send a Blue Carrier Pigeon to tell them to keep chasing Camille's traces.
And then he changed the message of the Pigeon as he saw somebody standing in the distance.
Kalz Morenn walked towards Hansoo who was standing with a leisurely expression by the Kukulja Lake after sending the Blue Carrier Pigeons.
"I really wanted to meet you. Friend. I would've been really disappointed if I wasn't able to meet you this time along."
Hansoo chuckled towards that Kalz Morenn.
"I could only help you since you could not find me after all that. I even left hints."
Though the hints had not been left behind to help him but saying this was enough to stimulate him.
And as expected, veins appeared on Kalz Morenn's forehead as soon as he heard Hansoo's words.
Because everything from having to run after a one single newbie to worrying to get disturbed for the sightseeing and faking a hostage wielding replayed in his memory.
'This fucking son of a bitch…'
But soon after, Kalz Moreen took a deep breath in and out.
This guy was a fish that was a already caught.
'Even if you have a boat that you left somewhere… I won't allow you to get over there.'
As long as one comes into his sight, they can't escape by running.
He just needed to catch him and slowly smash him apart.
"You brat. Let's see if you can still say that while you're getting burnt."
As Kalz Morenn approached him with flames surrounding his body, Hansoo threw the Ghweche seeds in his pocket onto the lake as he ran away on the lake.
And then he sliced his thigh.
Then blood started to pour out as it spread out in the Kukulja Lake.
Pududadadak.
The Kukuljas were madly rushing towards him since he had covered the sword again.
Kalz Morenn flinched at this and then mocked him.
"What are you trying to do? Are you trying to hold on over there?"
Others might be different but he wasn't scared away from going towards the lake from the fear of getting bit by Kukuljas.
He just needed to burn them all.
Kalz Morenn stopped atop the Kukulja's bodies as he madly started to run atop on the lake.
Everytime Kalz Morenn stepped on the Kululja's head, their skulls were crushed like tofu.
Hansoo looked at Kalz Morenn and then laughed.
Of course he couldn't lead him astray and then get to the boat on top of the water.
That guy was clearly much stronger than him.
Since he was on a different level from Gyesoo or the other Quadratus guys.
But there was no need to go atop of the water.
The breeding lake was something that the Kukuljas, who originally lived on the sea, had dug out.
The underground passage here is connected to the sea.
Hansoo finished his thoughts and then looked at the artifact on Kalz Morenn's neck rapaciously.
'If he has something like that then he would definitely follow me right?'
"Keep my item safe."
Hansoo smiled at Kalz Morenn, who had the survival-type artifact that was extremely hard to acquire, as he jumped down towards the lake where the Kukuljas were swarming in.
"This crazy bastard…"
Kalz Morenn grinded his teeth as he saw this.
Chapter 64 – Galadriang's Relic (2)
Kururururk.
Hansoo ripped off the covering on his Forgotten Sword as soon as he sunk into the water.
Kuaaaaaak.
Then all the Kukuljas, who had been chasing him from the scent of the blood, were frightened as they ran away in all directions.
And in the place they had run to, there was another target.
But Hansoo didn't care for such a thing as he started to swim away madly.
If that guy was someone who he could kill with the Kukuljas then he would've done so above the lake.
Boooom!
And as he expected, an intense heat wave exploded out from above the lake.
Tens of Kukuljas were roasted in an instant.
The power of that attack could be estimated to a degree from the fact that the ones underwater had become like that.
Hansoo, who had covered himself with the Demonic Dragon's Reinforcement, extended out the Magic Force of the reinforcement and then created it into the shape of the webbed feet of a duck.
He then flapped his arms and legs and quickly started to head downwards.
Deeper and deeper.
So that the attacks above the water wouldn't reach him.
Then soon the toxic water that Hanoo was swimming through started to boil.
'He's following.'
He knew even without looking.
Since the heat was slowly approaching towards Hansoo.
Hansoo stabbed the wooden pipe he had prepared into the
Chuuuuuuk
Then the air he had gathered previously started to come into Hansoo through his mouth.
He had to breathe.
'Tsk. It'd be nice if I had a survival type skill.'
Survival type skills, or artifacts with survival type skills applied onto made it easier to adjust to extreme environments.
They just were extremely hard to acquire.
Hansoo thought of the artifact on the neck of Kalz.
An artifact that boosted the survivability of one when they are underwater or about to faint.
If he has that thing then he can breathe under the waters.
'Follow well.'
Hansoo breathed air as he searched for the path.
'There should be traces around here…'
Finding the exit was easy.
Since the location where the adult fishes, and not the baby ones, are swimming meant that it was closer to the sea.
And Hansoo had already looked over that location while creating the Kukulja Heart Extract.
If you follow the traces of the adult Kululjas then the path leading to the sea would come out.
Kwaaaaaaa.
At that moment an extreme amount of heat was directed towards Hansoo.
Kurururu.
Hansoo frowned at the intent of the heat that was trying to boil him alive.
Since he felt the Magic Force of the Demonic Dragon Reinforcement being taken off in chunks.
'It would've been dangerous if I fought him above the water.'
The only reason why this was possible was because he was being chased under the water.
Otherwise his skin would've been cooked red in an instant.
Hansoo didn't slow down his swimming speed as he swung the formless whip behind him.
The waves that were transmitted through the liquid told Hansoo numerous things.
He could guess the guy's location to a degree without looking back.
No, the flapping of the Kukuljas surrounding him told the exact location of that guy.
Paaat.
The formless whip with the
Booom!
The Magic Force of the Demonic Dragon's Reinforcement collided with his skill and created a huge force wave.
Thankfully, the reinforced whip was able to penetrate Kalz's Magic Force and skills and succeeded in creating a very minute injury.
'Thankfully it's a Reinforcement of the Inferno type.'
Inferno type Reinforcement's offensive powers were extremely high in comparison to other reinforcements but their defenses were a bit lacking.
And as if Kalz's skills were the same as that, his defensive skill masteries were a bit low and were of lower quality.
Pasasak.
The
And as the injury got wider, blood started to pour out and the Kukuljas who smelled the blood under the water started to madly rush towards him.
Kuduk.
Kalz Moren clenched his teeth while swimming and then gathered a large amount of the power of Reinforcement on this hands.
Then he singed his injury.
Chiiik.
Blood squirmed around as it tried to come out but there was no way to since he had forcefully signed the injury and closed it up.
The power of the hemorrhage tried to constantly widen the injury but Kalz Morenn smashed the skulls of the Kukuljas swarming towards him as he pulled out the pieces of bone, used them as needles as he stabbed them in between his injuries and then singed it again.
Hansoo clicked his tongue as he looked at that sight.
'That's one tough guy.'
Doing such a thing meant that he had no intentions of going back up.
The will that wanted to catch him no matter what.
Kalz Morenn, who had closed the injury to an extent, stepped on the Kukuljas rushing towards him as he tried to get closer to Hansoo.
'Shall I give him a few more presents.'
Hansoo pulled out a few Ghweche seeds from his pouch as he stabbed them through with his whip.
Like a skewer.
And before the seeds could puff up he swung the whip and threw them towards Kalz Morenn who was trying to approach him.
This time, he applied
Since it was a bit hard to use them both at the same time.
It was too inefficient and too mana-costly to use both Power Destruction and Hemorrhage when his attack wasn't a direct attack.
Koooong.
Kalz Morenn clenched his teeth as he saw the whip flying towards him again.
He had to block it no matter what.
It'll become very troublesome if he were to keep getting injured by that vicious object.
Kurururu.
Kalz Morenn brought his defensive skill to the limit as he poured the flame of the Magic Force towards the whip.
If the Magic Force of the attack was the same as before then it will melt against his flame.
But Kalz Morenn was shocked at that actually happened.
Shrururuk.
The flame of the Magic Force disappeared as if it was erased.
Hansoo's whip had become weaker as if it was also affected by the skill but it was still flying towards him.
Soon the whip broke through his defensive skill like it was glass and then penetrated his body.
Pushushuk.
'Goddamnit! What the hell is this!'
Did he have to get stabbed through like this constantly!
But Kalz Morenn, who had been hit by the whip with a nervous expression, suddenly made an evil smile.
'Ah I see. It seems that he can't use both skills at the same time.'
The whip that was weakened from his skill and attack was weak enough for him to tough it out with his resistances.
As long as that damned Hemorrhage didn't come at him then an attack of that level wouldn't be able to threaten him.
But even before Kalz could finish his thoughts, something started to puff up between his armors like underneath his arms.
'Uuk?'
Kalz Moren was flustered momentarily at his body that started to rise up suddenly.
Then he grinded his teeth as he found out the identity of the object that was making him rise up.
'Ghweche Seeds. This damned bastard… he prepared things like this as well?'
And for him to be able to store this underwater meant that he had already done some things to the seed.
Which meant that Hansoo had led him under the water after he had already planned the underwater as the stage they would have the fight.
'Kuuuuk.'
Kalz Morenn glared at Hansoo after ripping off the Ghweche balloons.
The distance between them that he had closed had been returned to what it was before due to him having risen for a moment.
And the Kukuljas were weirdly not approaching Hansoo and were only madly charging against him.
'If I catch him… I can kill him if I catch him!"
This was clear no matter what tricks Hansoo had up his sleeves.
'You Bitch. I'm going to keep chasing you!."
He felt like he would really go crazy if he backed off here.
But the thing that made him mad was a different emotion.
'Afraid? I'm afraid of this guy? A newcomer?'
It wasn't that Hansoo himself was scary.
'Fuck… I don't know what else he has prepared.'
Hansoo had led him towards the Lake and had completed the preparation to fight him in it.
Which meant that Hansoo had already estimated that he would follow him and as well as the fact that he would jump under the water.
This meant that Kalz was running around in the palm of Hansoo's hands.
And Hansoo was not afraid of Kalz at all.
Which meant that Hansoo was confident enough to either run away from him or even kill him if he were to follow him till the end.
'I cannot agree on this!'
Kalz Morenn quickly went up to the surface of the water and then started to run atop of it. (*TL : IT'S JESUS)
'Move quickly on top of the water, get above him and then catch up by diving down!'
This was just a lake and there was a limit to its depth.
Since he had found out his direction and movements, he would be able to chase him much faster if he were to chase from above.
But Kalz Morenn frowned after running for a bit.
"Fuck…"
A giant mountain that was blocking his path.
A mountain was standing between the lake and the sea.
'I'm going in'.
If he were to climb over the mountain then he might be lose him on the entrance of the underwater passage that could be anywhere.
But Kalz Morenn flinched the moment he tried to jump into the underwater passage.
Since he felt that something was different.
Then his expression crunched up as he felt the area around his neck.
"This son of a bitch!!!!!"
Kalz Morenn screamed out in rage after getting his
Since going through the underwater passage, which he didn't know the length of, while not being able to breathe was almost the same as committing suicide.
Kalz Morenn's expression, which was covered by rage and agitation, started to get colder and scarier.
And soon Kalz Morenn started to quickly run on top of the water as if he had determined on something.
..............................….
"Huuoop!"
Hanso who sticked his head out of the sea surface after getting out of the lake, took a deep breath and then looked around his surroundings.
'Let's see. Though he might be pissed off quite a bit… he won't be able to chase.'
He was quite a distance away from the boat.
Hansoo quickly ran along the shore and then jumped into the sea after arriving at the spot where he had sunk the boat.
Plonk.
'It's nice.'
Hansoo made a content expression as he put on the Ahol Breath's that he had stolen with the whip onto his neck.
His reaction speed and movements will increase greatly from this.
A human could die no matter how high their runes were if they didn't have the necessary elements but this thing filled up that spot.
'There isn't much difficulty in breathing.'
Hansoo threw away the pipe and then continued downwards.
Bubble bubble.
After a while the large boat that he had sunk could be seen.
An enormous boat that was not possible to raise with the abilities of a human.
But there was a way.
Pongpong.
Hansoo filled up all the passages that led towards the deck with the Arun Wood planks.
And then he poured all the Ghweche seeds within his pockets out.
Rumble.
The Ghweche seeds that were released inside the boat started to suck up the boats at an extreme speed.
Puaaaaaaak.
The volumes of the seeds started to increase very rapidly.
Hansoo retrieved the Arun Wood planks and Kelk mucus sacs and then quickly came outside the boat.
Bubble bubble bubble.
The toxic waters that filled the boat started to pour out of the holes after getting pushed back by the puffed up Ghweche seeds.
And soon the area below the deck was filled with tens of thousands of Ghweche balloons.
Kududududuk.
The boat that had sunk deep within the sea started to make large noises as it started to rise up.
Hansoo quickly got onto the rising boat and grabbed onto the controls.
Then the boat started to turn under Hansoo's controls even while underwater.
This was pretty simple since it was a boat with the fairy's magic applied to it.
'Since there might be people around, I'll raise it after I get a bit far away.'
The 500 man boat moved quite a distance while rising up to the surface and by the time it had come above the surface it was quite a distance away from the shore.
Hansoo fixed below the boat with the Arun Wood and Kelk Mucus Sacs, shrugged his shoulders and, pulled a few Ghweche Balloons to control the buoyancy of the boat and then started head towards the location where he told Camille that he would meet her.
'Time to go catch it.'
The preparations were complete.
'He will have to follow right? After getting robbed by a newcomer like this?'
Hansoo laughed coldly as he thought of the Cruise ship that was somewhere in the distance.
.....................….
Gyesoo made a shocked expression after seeing the mess Kalz Morenn had become when he came back.
Did he turn like this while going against that newcomer?
'What is this. He was mocking me for it.'
Smirks tried to rise up from within but Gyesoo quickly maintained his expression.
The moment he does this then he will get burnt to death.
Though Kalz Morenn didn't seem like he was that agitated, Gyesoo knew instinctively.
That the Kalz Morenn whose pride has been damaged greatly was the most dangerous.
Kalz Morenn looked at Gyesoo and the Quadratus as he spoke.
"Let's go to the Calamity FIsh."
"Pardon? That's only after the Calamity Fish arrives here and eats the roots…"
Gyesoo made a confused expression.
There were 2 stages to the Calamity Fish tour.
The 1st stage where they watch the Calamity Fish gobble up the root.
The 2nd stage where they proceed inside the Calamity Fish up to a safe distance and then look around its insides.
'Well. That's not really the goal of the tour to be exact.'
The reason why Gyesoo was still alive and why so many strong people were gathered was because of the 2nd stage of the tour.
But Kalz Morenn spoke with a cold expression.
"No. We're going now. I'll take care of it. Let's go. I'll convince the other sightseers. Since they will be quite fed up by now."
"…"
Gyesoo and the Quadratus could not say anything due to Kalz Morenn saying this with an expression that told them that he will rip them apart if they were to disagree.
.........................
"Hmm…"
Camille stared at the distant sea from the promised location.
'…He'll bring the ship to this location?'
Camille thought of the last words Hansoo had said during their conversation.
The insides of the Calamity Fish were quite complex due to many organs being tangled up with another.
Her guidance was needed to proceed on the safe and easy routes.
Hansoo replied to those words.
'What is he thinking of.'
Camille thought of the second attempt that she had with Gyesoo.
When they almost died because they made a wrong turn after going in without knowing anything.
That path was indeed very fast but also very dangerous.
'Did he find someone to help him somewhere? It'll still be very dangerous though.'
Camille looked into the distant sea with a bitter expression.