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Chapter 167: Star, Level 50 (6)

“I advise you not to do anything rash,” Bu Yeong-Jin quietly said as he looked at them with his cloudy eyes. He unwrapped his long bandages, made them rigid, and pointed them at the back of the Team L members’ heads, forcing them to stop.

‘When did he…?’?Gyeo-Ul shockingly wondered.

Yeong-Jin was pointing the bandages at their carotid arteries and could instantly cut them if the team L members continued to resist. His eyes noticeably changed as well—his black pupils and white scleras switching colors—when he activated the [Black and White Demon Eyes, his signature skill. It turned anyone who met his eyes into a corpse.

‘What should I do?’ Gyeo-Ul momentarily pondered how to respond to the current situation.

He wasn’t sure if he could use [Shadow Play] to backstab Yeong-Jin through his shadow before Yeong-Jin could slit his throat. Fortunately, Yeong-Jin and Hong-Gak didn’t know that Gyeo-Ul had recently completed [Shadow Leap], which enabled him to move freely to any shadow that Gyeo-Ul could see. It was the perfect skill for surprise attacks.

Meanwhile, the staredown between Chang-Sun and Hong-Gak continued.

Thump, thump…

With each step Hong-Gak took, the train compartment shook hard. Glaring at Chang-Sun, who was still in his seat, he growled. “What… did you just… say…to us? Get…lost…?”

Most rankers would’ve felt intimidated by Hong-Gak’s aura, but Chang-Sun just smirked and replied, “I think you heard me correctly. Why? Has your hearing gone bad? It must be hard for you since you speak really slowly. ”

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ angrily asks what’s wrong with him and advises you to teach him a lesson!]

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ watches the fight between his two subordinates with interest.]

“You bas…!” Hong-Gak frowned and attempted to swing his hammer-like arm to attack Chang-Sun.

As he did, Jaegal Hyeon-Ryong entered the compartment and fixed his glasses. “I thought I could finally rest now. Why is it so noisy in here?”

Hyeon-Ryong’s suit was clean when they entered the Dungeon, but it was covered in dust now, serving as proof that he had gone through a rough battle outside. Nevertheless, he already noticed the staredown between the elders and Team L members with his sharp eyes.

Hong-Gak and Yeong-Jin immediately stood down, having spent enough time in the Council of Elders to know that they should be careful whenever Hyeon-Ryong asked such a question.

“Goliath and Rotting Skull, don’t try to cause a commotion,” Hyeon-Ryong said as if he was scolding children, but what he actually meant was to stop fighting immediately.

At that moment, Yeong-Jin’s face turned scarlet red. Even though Hyeon-Ryong told them to stop, Yeong-Jin’s pride would still be seriously damaged if he tucked his tail between his legs before these children.

“Wu Hou! This is our fight,” he growled.

“Hmm? I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” Hyeon-Ryong tilted his head in confusion.

“I know you have enough interest in that child to make him your disciple, but this is between us.” Yeong-Jin turned his head to look at Chang-Sun.

The Team L members held their breath. It would cause quite a commotion in the White Tiger Clan if the others found out that Hyeon-Ryong wanted to make Chang-Sun his student, but Chang-Sun didn’t even seem fazed.

“I’m certainly very interested in that child, but that has nothing to do with the current situation,” Hyeon-Ryong dumbfoundedly replied. “As a fellow elder, I’m just trying to prevent your pride from getting hurt by that child.”

“… What? What are you talking about…!” Yeong-Jin frowned.

“Has your hearing really gone bad?” Hyeon-Ryong grinned and enunciated each word. “That kid will kick your asses.”

“…!”

“…!”

Yeong-Jin and Hong-Gak looked at Chang-Sun again as their lips trembled in disbelief, naturally having trouble believing Hyeon-Ryong. The two became first-generation Players dozens of years ago, so how could Hyeon-Ryong think they could lose to a novice who had only been a Player for half a year?

“Well, if you insist, I won’t stop you.” Hyeon-Ryong crossed his arms, then coldly continued, “You know about the rule, don’t you? Before you decide, keep in mind that I’ll always uphold it.”

“…”

“…”

Yeong-Jin and Hong-Gak were rendered speechless. Hyeon-Ryong was the Council of Elders’ vice-head, which traditionally held another position—auditor. He kept the elders in ‘line’ and reprimanded the ‘corrupted’ ones, and the first standard that he followed was ‘don’t stain the name of the White Tiger Clan and disgrace oneself as an elder.’

If Chang-Sun, a mere team leader, defeated Yeong-Jin and Hong-Gak, they would be disgracing themselves. Hyeon-Ryong himself would have to step in if they did, considering Munseong and Hyeon-Ryong built the Council of Elders to create ‘indestructible claws.’ Broken ones were not needed in the council. Hence, Yeong-Jin and Hong-Gak couldn’t ignore Hyeon-Ryong’s warning.

Squeak―!

Choo!

[The desert train ‘ANG’ has arrived at the ‘Boiling Hell’ station. Those who wish to disembark are advised to do so now. ]

[The desert train ‘ANG’ will stay in the ‘Boiling Hell’ station for 24 hours.]

The notification message about the desert train arriving at the station popped up at that moment. Seemingly having no intention to deal with Yeong-Jin and Hong-Gak anymore, Chang-Sun stood up from his seat. “I’ll get going.”

The train stations all over the desert had food and water. They also occasionally had weapons the Players could use to kill the monsters that flew at the train, so dropping by the stations was a must.

The atmosphere was still heavy inside the train, so the Team L members busily looked around, observing the situation. When Gyeo-Ul stood up and followed Chang-Sun, the others quickly joined them. All Yeong-Jin and Hong-Gak could do was watch them leave because of Hyeon-Ryong, who made them tiptoe as if they were walking on a thin layer of ice.

“I hope you two are already gone by the time the train departs again,” Chang-Sun concisely said before exiting the train compartment. He sounded sarcastic although he remained nonchalant, causing the bomb, which had barely been defused, to light back up.

“I’ll kill you…!” Hong-Gak pulled his arm back despite already having difficulty holding down his anger.

He was a hot-tempered and simple large man, so Chang-Sun easily got on his nerves by smirking. Hong-Gak stepped forward and abruptly pulled out his most prized weapon—the [Twisted Mother’s Hammer], which was way bigger than a human head. He then swung it at the back of Chang-Sun’s head.

“No, Hong-Gak!” Yeong-Jin hurriedly tried to stop Hong-Gak because it felt as if Chang-Sun intentionally provoked him, but Hong-Gak had already launched an attack.

Boom!

The hammer was crushed, its fragments scattering in the air, before it could reach Chang-Sun. At the same time, Chang-Sun swung his whip, which hadn’t been divided into several threads yet, like a bolt of lightning.

Smash!

Rumble―!

“Arggh—!” Hong-Gak groaned in pain.

Covered with a thick layer of aura, Chang-Sun’s whip sent Hong-Gak flying in the opposite direction as soon as it struck Hong-Gak’s upper body. He eventually crashed outside, destroying multiple train windows in the process and rolling through the railroad for quite some time he finally skidded to a stop. A cloud of smoke was rising from his burned body. Chang-Sun seemed to have used his whip to burn Hong-Gak with Eon Fire as well.

Perhaps because his ribs and every bone in his limbs were broken, Hong-Gak was lying on the ground like a marionette that had lost its master. Yeong-Jin could only watch in disbelief. Few people in the Council of Elders could stand toe-to-toe against Hong-Gak due to his supernatural strength, yet Chang-Sun not only won against him but also easily overpowered him in the process. Could Yeong-Jin have won if he fought Chang-Sun? Realizing Hyeon-Ryong’s warning wasn’t a lie, Yeong-Jin broke into a cold sweat.

“This is your last warning. I’ll kill you if I ever see you tomorrow,” Chang-Sun coldly warned Yeong-Jin, then got off the train. As he did, he came across Woo-Chan, who was walking back and forth in front of the train compartment. Noticing his shaking legs, Chang-Sun realized that witnessing him overpower Hong-Gak had instilled so much fear in Woo-Chan that he couldn’t bring himself to enter the compartment.

“Y-you…!” Woo-Chan stuttered in fear.

“Oh, yeah. I forgot I had to deal with you too.” Chang-Sun narrowed his eyes.

Following Department Head Shim Geon-Ho’s order, Woo-Chan requested the Crna Ruka Clan to assassinate Chang-Sun, so he immediately understood what Chang-Sun was trying to do.

“W-wait, listen to me—!” He tried to come up with an excuse, but it was already too late.

Crack!

Feeling no need to listen to him, Chang-Sun grabbed Woo-Chan‘s neck and put pressure on it, instantly killing him. Chang-Sun just walked away when Woo-Chan’s head leaned back and his body drooped, leaving the corpse on the ground.

Woosh!

The Purgatory Brazier’s flames swiftly engulfed Woo-Chan and disappeared when only his ashes remained.

[You have entered the ‘Boiling Hell’ station.]

* * *

“Hmmm…!” Henri slowly opened up his eyes and saw the familiar, old ceiling of the desert train. The first question that came to his mind was why he was staring at the ceiling.

“Can you hear me?” Nicolas said.

Hearing Nicolas’ voice, Henri quickly sat straight up, and the events that led to him passing out flashed in his mind. The thought of his defeat overwhelmed him and made him feel helpless, but after he saw what had happened inside the train, Henri screamed. “Director Fouquet! What happened…?”

Nicolas was the one who recruited and taught Henri, so he feared Nicolas. However, even he and the other Revenant Players were also covered in bandages, sitting or lying down on the floor due to various kinds of injuries. The whole compartment looked like a mobile hospital.

There was one more thing that made Henri anxious. At the rearmost part of the compartment, Mireille Aliano was shivering as she fidgeted with the ring on her finger. Seemingly half out of her mind, she incomprehensibly murmured, “She’s not here… She’s not inside the ring… Where did my Guardian go…”

“All of this is the Tyrant’s doing,” Nicolas said, making Henri turn his head toward him in disbelief. Nicolas continued, “He was really strong, and I understand why you got defeated so helplessly. Even I was knocked out in one strike.”

“…!” Henri held his breath when he heard the monstrous Nicolas had lost. Considering the position Nicolas held in France—the ‘Immortal Overlord’ Jacque Valentine’s favorite disciple and the next Revenant Clan leader—then his story didn’t make any sense. However, Henri couldn’t reject it due to the French volunteer Players who were injured and lying on the floor.

“Henri,” Nicolas coldly said.

“Huh? Yes!” Henri straightened his posture. A shiver ran down his spine for some reason, and he got goosebumps all over his body.

“I have work for you.” Nicolas narrowed his eyes. Henri swallowed his saliva nervously.

* * *

“Do you know why the ‘Wuthering Stone Desert’ is a stone desert?” Thanatos asked.?

It sounded as if Thanatos was just going to deliver a joke, so Chang-Sun considered not answering. However, since there was a chance Thanatos would tell him the Dungeon’s secret, Chang-Sun said, “Why?”

“It’s not a real desert.” Thanatos shrugged.?

“… What?” Chang-Sun slightly frowned.?

“It’s the dead Surtr’s skin.’

“…!” Chang-Sun’s eyes widened.

“The entire Dungeon is Surtr’s corpse. The stone desert is the corpse’s skin, which means when the land cracks, it’s his skin cracking. His energy is the reason why it’s so hot in there,” Thanatos explained, but he seemed to be having a lot of fun for some reason.

“How can monsters live in there, then?” Chang-Sun asked.?

“He was still the Fire Giant King and the ruler of <Muspelheim>, so although his divine class wasn’t as high as mine, it was still pretty high. That’s why it isn’t strange for new lives to be born there.” Thanatos nodded.

“Huh!” Chang-Sun exclaimed.?

“So getting to the underground floor of the Dungeon is basically just ripping through Surtr’s muscles and going up his veins,” Thanatos said.?

“Where exactly is the ‘Rhaegaren,’ then?” Chang-Sun asked.?

“Like I told you, it’s an armory that holds Surtr and <Muspelheim>’s valuable treasures. Authorities manifest there too, so it’s only natural that it isn’t out in the open,” Thanatos shrugged.?

“Then…” Chang-Sun narrowed his eyes.?

“Yes, the ‘Rhaegaren’ is at his heart. You’ll find it while you go up his veins.” Thanatos grinned.?

Hearing that this gigantic Dungeon was Surtr’s corpse itself shocked him quite hard. Even though he was a giant, the Dungeon was still unbelievably large to think of as someone’s corpse.

‘The train will leave the station in twenty-four hours… and I have to find Surtr’s heart before then?’?Chang-Sun summarized his plan.

It would be difficult. The Dungeon was so huge that finding a way into its underground floor in itself would already be much more difficult than clearing most Dungeons. Chang-Sun immediately started planning, but he suddenly felt his chest heating up and realized the [Stigma] had been activated.

[The Skill ‘Stigma’ has been activated, awakening the Attribute ‘Eon Wind’!]

‘She’s finally up,’ Chang-Sun noticed.

Feeling something wriggling, Chang-Sun soon heard someone speaking inside his head. She sounded in pain.

『Human… who are you?』

After hunting the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ in ‘Wind Hell,’ Chang-Sun took away her <Starlight> and saved it in his [Stigma] as his third Attribute. The remaining fragment of the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ in that <Starlight> had just woken up.

As she asked that question, Chang-Sun sensed shock, confusion, and distrust in her voice. Even though she had lost her power and was now just a fragment, the fact that she had been hunted down still shocked her. Nevertheless, although she was overwhelmed with various emotions, she felt suspicion the most.

『I’ve been watching you ever since I got trapped here because I have so many questions, and I thought I have to find out more about you in order to kill you. You’re a human, so how did you decrypt the [Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan]? What’s your relationship to the Pale Star? 』

The ‘Wind-Hating Daughter’ was really confused.

『But there is something about you that confuses me the most.』

With a trembling voice, she asked,『Why do you smell like Ithaca?』

Chang-Sun stopped. He already expected she would ask her a lot of questions, but he certainly didn’t expect to hear that name. Ithaca was the Guardian he served for the first and last time in Arcadia, the Celestial that Gramps handed over right before he died, and… the only woman Chang-Sun ever loved.