Chapter 246: Episode 246

One of them was relentless, constantly probing for an opening, using traps and ambushes. But he was a fool. He fought like a hunter, but he treated his prey like a beast, and that was his fatal flaw. He even used a hawk to survey the area, but it was useless.

’He’s watching again today,’ Barus thought, his knuckles white around his axe handle. ’When is that other one going to make a move?’

That was the real problem. The second hunter. He’d been hiding in the bushes since the first day, just watching. He didn’t seem to be allied with the first one, but he was undoubtedly a threat.

’Damn it. Should I strike first? No… it could be a trap. He’ll have to show himself eventually. I’ll kill him then!’

The cabin was his fortress, ringed with electric wires and magic traps that even a skilled hunter couldn’t easily detect. He was safe.

[The traps have been dismantled.]

[The sources of magic have been destroyed.]

His confidence shattered. The situation had taken a dark, unexpected turn. He was coming. It had to be him. He didn’t know how the hunter had bypassed his defenses, but he was finally making his move.

“I-It’s fine,” Barus stammered, his voice trembling. “No matter how he hides, my Eye of Truth will see him!”

His special skill allowed him to see through any stealth or concealment. Besides, the cabin itself was filled with dozens more traps. The figure in the window was walking straight into a death trap.

The footsteps stopped just outside the door. Barus’s grip on his longsword tightened, tension coiling in his gut.

’Come on. Come on, you bastard. Why aren’t you coming in?!’

But the hunter who had cornered him made no move to attack. It was bizarre. The seconds stretched into an eternity, yet the man didn’t even touch the doorknob. A cold sweat trickled down Barus’s spine.

’Damn it. Damn it! I’LL KILL YOU!’

He couldn’t wait any longer. His murderous instincts screamed at him to strike. ’Kill him. Kill him and feast on his entrails!’

The cabin had more than one exit. A back door and a hatch in the roof.

He would strike from behind. The hunter’s leisurely confidence would soon vanish.

’Hehehehe. Die!’

His longsword sliced through the hunter’s neck. But he felt no impact. No spray of blood.

“W-What?!”

“You won’t be using that chain anymore,” a low voice growled from behind him. “It’s time for you to die.”

The hunter was there. No, not a hunter. A starving wolf. A predator that hunted other hunters, its eyes burning with killing intent.

“Eeeek! Die! Die! I said die!” Barus shrieked, spinning around.

“You were anxious, weren’t you?” Kadum’s voice was a low rumble. “You could feel your death approaching. Your blade has grown slow.”

“Uwaaaah! Just die!”

“And all that Freeze you’ve been inhaling has only made your paranoia worse.”

Barus’s longsword couldn’t even graze him. His hands trembled, and his mind was consumed by a suffocating fear. This was a mistake. He never should have charged. ’I’m going to die. Eaten by a monster. I, who have always been the predator, am now the prey.’

“Die now,” Kadum commanded.

A flash of steel, and his left arm fell to the floor. His vision blurred as his blood pooled around him.

“I… I am…”

A final thrust, and all thought ceased.

—

[A White Army soldier has eliminated the target.]

[Victory for the White Army!]

[The first crystal spire is captured by the White Army.]

It was a hunt that preyed on primal human fear. Kadum had lured his target out with Magic Tracking and finished him cleanly using Danger Sense and Destructive Instinct.

Taehyun looked at Vesta, a satisfied smile on his face. “And with that, the first battle is my victory. As promised, I’ll be taking a piece of information from Kaide.”

“What in the world is that hunter?” Vesta demanded, his face pale. “To eliminate the target so easily… I can’t believe it!”

“Did you really think hunting a human would be that easy?” Taehyun retorted. “This was your hunter’s mistake for underestimating his prey. Just admit it.”

“Kugh!’ It’s not over yet! There are still five spires left!”

He was right. It was only the first capture. The rules stated that the first faction to capture four spires would win. There was still a long way to go. Vesta swallowed his anger and produced the promised information.

“Here. I don’t know why you’re looking for the beastmen’s settlement, but it’s useless. Kaide only encountered them after passing through several gates.”

“That’s none of your business,” Taehyun said, pocketing the information. “Shall we proceed?”

“Grrr.’ As you wish.” Having boasted so confidently only to suffer a humiliating defeat, Vesta was in no position to make excuses.

[Preparing the battlefield for the second capture point.]

[Each soldier will be moved to the Revived Plains.]

The screen shifted to the Revived Plains, where two more crystal spires stood. Taehyun waited patiently for the next battle.

[The battlefield for the second capture point is ready.]

[This battlefield’s event is a Summoning Duel.]

[The field will be changed to an Arena.]

[Number of participants: 1.]

[The soldier and their respective army commander can communicate freely during the battle.]

[Detailed objectives will be announced after the battlefield begins.]

This time, a summoning-class soldier was required. The Black Army would undoubtedly send out Remberd, the so-called Gravedigger. In that case, the White Army would need to counter with a Spirit Master.

“Your opponent is a gloomy type,” Taehyun informed Riashu. “Spends all his time digging up graves. Just the kind of person you’d hate.”

“I-It’s no use trying to scare me!” she retorted. “I’ve built up some resistance. It won’t be a problem!”

“Ghouls might try to cling to you,” he teased.

“Kyaaaaak!’ Stop it! Stop!”

Riashu was ready. Taehyun selected her without hesitation and watched as the screen changed.

[Battle Start!]

The two summoners materialized in the arena. Or rather, one summoner and one Spirit Master.

“Klklkl,” Remberd rasped, his eyes lingering on Riashu. “Well now, a young lady with a rather delectable figure. She’ll do for some light entertainment.”

“Ugh. How disgusting,” Riashu muttered.

The two faced off, sizing each other up. In a summoning duel, revealing one’s summons first was a disadvantage, as it allowed the opponent to summon a counter. Bored, Taehyun turned to Vesta.

“Hey. Care for another bet?”

“What is it this time?” Vesta growled.

“Well, I find myself in need of some Zen. Let’s put something on the line.”

The wicked demon was at it again.

—

[White Army: 20,000,000 Zen]

[Black Army: 20,000,000 Zen]

As an S-rank raider of the Tarantula faction, Vesta had plenty of Zen to spare. With the stakes set, they watched the match unfold. The winner would take all. Taehyun smirked as Remberd began his summoning.

[A High-level Ghoul has been summoned.]

[A Corrupted Dullahan has been summoned.]

[A Dark Knight of Embers has been summoned.]

From the coffin he carried, a host of undead creatures emerged, all of them high-grade combatants. He had even summoned a Dark Knight, said to be on par with an A-rank Hero Guardian. Remberd grinned from ear to ear, already tasting victory.

“Lady, if you don’t want to get hurt, you’d best surrender now. You wouldn’t want to be defiled by my ghouls, would you?”

“Is that all you have?” Riashu asked, unimpressed.

“Klklkl.’ A shame, but your bluffing won’t work. I’ll enjoy playing with you!”

In this battle, the annihilation of the opposing soldier was permitted. He could wipe out her summons and then have his way with her. His lecherous eyes roamed her body.

Just then, she began her own summoning.

[S-rank Keeper Spirit Master Riashu’s special ability ‘Spirit Summoning’ has been activated.]

[S-rank Keeper Spirit Master Riashu has cast Aura of Water.]

[A High-level Water Spirit, Meshad, has been summoned.]

High-level spirits began to materialize around her. Vesta, watching the screen, shot to his feet. “H-How can she be an S-rank Keeper?!”

“Did I forget to mention that?” Taehyun said casually. “Well, no matter. Balak is an S-rank dungeon now, you see.”

“Kugh!’ S-Still, Remberd has a Death Knight! High-level spirits are no match for it!”

“My, my. A little patience, Vesta. You should watch until the end.”

It was true that even high-level spirits would struggle against a Death Knight. But Riashu was an S-rank ’Keeper’ Spirit Master. Unlike ordinary Keepers, her power lay not in durability, but in her immense pool of mana.

[A High-level Water Spirit, Meshad, has been summoned.]

[A High-level Light Spirit, Rapasha, has been summoned.]

[A High-level Electric Spirit, Pishamiter, has been summoned.]

The number of spirits grew exponentially, quickly surpassing Remberd’s undead host. Leading an army of over a hundred spirits, Riashu fixed Remberd with a cold stare.

“Did you say I would be defiled by ghouls? I’ll show you what real defilement is.”

“W-What is this? How can one Spirit Master summon so many spirits?!”

“Somehow, I managed. Now, everyone, attack!”

“S-Stop them! Stop them at all costs!”

The two armies clashed. In terms of both numbers and elemental advantage, the spirits were overwhelmingly superior. The undead creatures began to disintegrate before the radiant light of Rapasha. Remberd desperately sent his Death Knight of Embers charging toward Riashu, but it was useless. She had summoned a water spirit for just this occasion.

[High-level Water Spirits, Meshads, have cast Rain Drop.]

[The Death Knight of Embers begins to be neutralized.]

The blazing embers sputtered and died. The water spirits relentlessly cast their skills, dousing the flames. Then, the electric spirits waiting in the rear made their move.

[High-level Electric Spirits, Pishamiters, have cast Thundercloud.]

[Enhanced by the effect of Rain Drop, the Thundercloud unleashes even more powerful thunder and lightning.]

[The water-soaked Death Knight of Embers enters a state of electric shock.]

As if to add insult to injury, lightning rained down upon the waterlogged arena, doubling the critical damage from the electric shock. The undead army he had so proudly summoned was annihilated in an instant.

’Thud.’

Remberd fell to his knees, his face a mask of despair. “Impossible. For me, a Gravedigger, to lose… It can’t be.”

“Hurry up and beg for your life,” Riashu said coldly. “Of course, I won’t accept.”

“Save… ’Gyaaaaaaak!”

And so, the Gravedigger met a gruesome end. The second battle was another victory for the White Army. Taehyun rose and walked over to Vesta.

“I told you to watch until the end. Now, you owe me twenty million Zen.”

“Kuuuugh!”

A loss was a loss. With trembling hands, Vesta handed over the pouch of Zen.

—

[A White Army soldier has annihilated a Black Army soldier.]

[Victory for the White Army!]

[The second crystal spire is captured by the White Army.]

The crystal spire on the left side of the Revived Plains turned white. Two spires remained. The moment they captured four, the battle would end in Balak’s victory.

“This is getting boring,” Taehyun yawned. “Don’t you have anything more interesting?”

“Grrr.’ Enjoy it while you can,” Vesta snarled. “This next battle will be different.”

Perhaps the second defeat had made him desperate. Vesta, who had been staring intently at the screen, finally played his trump card.

[Rule Maker’s second ability is activated.]

[Vesta will personally set the details of the battlefield.]

[The third penalty is activated.]

[The White Army’s number of participants increases by one.]

The administrator himself was now designing the battlefield. As a result, the third penalty was revealed. Taehyun leisurely crossed his legs and awaited the third battle.

[The battlefield for the third capture point is ready.]

[This battlefield’s event is the Hunt for Polaris, the Gryphon King.]

[The field will be changed to a Gryphon Nest.]

[Number of participants: 2 (Black Army: 1).]

[A soldier with a magic-related class must participate in this battle.]

[The soldier and their respective army commander can communicate freely during the battle.]

[Detailed objectives will be announced after the battlefield begins.]

The third stage was set. They would be facing the king of the gryphons, a creature with high magic resistance, in its own nest. Furthermore, a mage was a required participant. Vesta clearly intended to secure victory by any means necessary, relying on his raid team’s own mage.

“Now, choose your participants,” Vesta said, a hint of triumph in his voice. “You are specially permitted to field one additional soldier besides the mage.”

“Wow. Your mage must be quite something,” Taehyun said, feigning concern. “To nominate a mage against the gryphon king, with its high magic resistance… I’m a little scared.”

“Hmph. It’s too late for regrets. The White Army’s defeat is already sealed. Go ahead and struggle. I’ll be watching.”

“Well, I suppose I’ll have to struggle a bit,” Taehyun mused. “By the way, care for one more bet?”

The demon, having discovered the thrill of gambling, was tempting him once more.

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