Chapter 396 - Prelude to War

Chapter 396 - Prelude to War

“Alright, let’s depart as soon as I contact the angels. You guys can stand by in front of the Gate,” Oh Kang-Woo said as he stood up.

The party members nodded and left the room.

“Oh, and Si-Hun,” Kang-Woo called Kim Si-Hun, who was about to leave.

“Y-Yes?” Si-Hun stared at Kang-Woo while completely flustered.

His eyes were shaking and his lips were quivering.

Kang-Woo asked while tilting his head, “I’m not going to eat you up or anything. What’s been with you since earlier?”

“Ah, hahaha. It’s nothing. I’m just not feeling very well.” Si-Hun scratched his head while smiling awkwardly.

Kang-Woo smirked. “I guess even you get like that sometimes. Are you nervous?”

“Yes, since we’ll be fighting the Constellations of Evil head-on.”

Kang-Woo put his hand on Si-Hun’s shoulder and patted it lightly. “Don’t worry too much and lighten up. I’ll protect you when it comes down to it.”

Si-Hun remained silent.

“Come to think of it, you said that people have gathered to join your fight, right?”

“Oh, yes.” Si-Hun nodded in slight embarrassment.

After Si-Hun’s name had spread throughout the continent, people who wanted to join the hero’s adventure gathered in the empire. Most of them were swordsmen, but there were many mages, priests, and elementalists as well.

Kang-Woo had told Si-Hun to choose the most skilled among them and set up a task force similar to the Sirius Corps back on Earth. Although he had been worried that it would become a group of people wanting to play hero, the warriors who had gathered to join Si-Hun’s adventure were more skilled than he had thought. There were even people who were head and shoulders above the rest.

“Bring them all as well,” Kang-Woo stated.

“Understood.” Si-Hun nodded. He knew that their help was more imperative now than ever. “In that case, I’ll be taking my leave, hyung-nim.”

“Sure.”

Si-Hun bowed and left the room.

‘Now, then.’

Kang-Woo took out a communication crystal orb. Since he had explained the situation to his party members, it was now time to have the angels participate in the operation. He called Uriel.

[What’s up, Kang-Woo?] Uriel answered ecstatically.

Kang-Woo responded as if he was suppressing his rage, “The Godly Pantheon messed up.” Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

[What?]

Kang-Woo repeated what he had explained to his party members. Uriel cursed and ran straight to Michael. Kang-Woo ended the call as soon as he got confirmation that the angels would head to the enemy’s base right away as well. All he had left to do now was go to his party members who were waiting for him.

“My king,” Balrog called as soon as Kang-Woo opened the door.

Kang-Woo turned his head. “Were you waiting for me?”

“Yes.”

“Why? You should’ve just waited with the others in front of the Gate.”

Balrog remained silent as he stared at Kang-Woo with sunken eyes. He said with a low voice, “Kim Si-Hun is—”

“Balrog,” Kang-Woo interjected. “Shouldn’t you be waiting in front of the Gate?”

Balrog closed his eyes. “You knew.”

Kang-Woo smirked. “It’s hard not to when it’s that obvious.”

He recalled Si-Hun’s expression that had been on the verge of falling apart. There was no way that he wouldn’t know after seeing that.

“Hah,” Kang-Woo feigned laughter.

He had been prepared for this day to come since he knew that it would happen one day.

‘The day that everything came undone.’

Kang-Woo closed his eyes.

“What will you do?” Balrog asked.

“I’m not gonna do anything,” Kang-Woo answered without hesitation.

Balrog’s eyes widened as if he had not expected that answer. “You will be able to erase his memories if you use the Authority of Subordination again.”

Cha Yeon-Joo frowned and picked her ears as if she had heard wrong. She looked around with fierce eyes and saw Han Seol-Ah walking toward her.

“Seol-Ah, did you just sw—”

“Haaa.” Seol-Ah ignored Yeon-Joo as she stared daggers at one person.

It was the woman with black tentacles for hair.

Grind, grind.

Seol-Ah glared at Proserpine with bloodlust while gritting her teeth.

“You’re going to... steal my Kang-Woo?”

It was unthinkable. She could not stand for it... ever. Enormous energy weighed down on everything around her as chilling bloodlust oozed from her gaze.

“Ahem,” Yeon-Joo quickly looked away from Seol-Ah.

She could instinctively tell that she shouldn’t talk to Seol-Ah right now.

Tai Wuji stared in silence at the army coming out from the golden Rifts.

There were so many of them that he did not know where they had all come from, but he was not focusing on anyone else but the monster wearing human skin.

“You’ve come.” Tai Wuji glared at the monster while gripping his sword.

He subtly trembled. He had no idea whether it was because he was thrilled about the battle that was about to take place, or if it was his unconscious fear of the monster. If there was one thing he knew...

‘I can’t avoid a battle against him.’

The battle between them almost felt inevitable.

“Yeah, I have,” Kang-Woo said as he walked forward with a smile.

His heart beat crazily with each step he took. He stared at his enemy ecstatically.

All eyes focused on Kang-Woo the moment he walked forward. It was only natural since the man who seemed to be the enemy leader was staring straight at him, and so were the archangels.

“Hm?” Kang-Woo expressed confusion as all the attention was focused on him.

‘The hell?’

Friends and foes alike were all staring at him.

‘Is this...’

The atmosphere called for him to make some sort of battle cry.

‘Fuck, I can’t think of anything when I’m put on the spot like this.’

He had never used a battle cry when he had commanded demons in Hell since they fought all on their own even without him saying anything.

‘Shit.’

Kang-Woo turned to Yeon-Joo. “Hey. The battle cry you did last time was pretty good. Why don’t you do it this time as w—”

“Come on, don’t be like that.” Yeon-Joo snickered and continued, “Our Great Lord Kang-Woo should be the one to sound the battle cry in times like this. Something concise yet powerful, something that will send our morale through the roof!”

She was getting her revenge from the time in the Manchurian Plain when Kang-Woo had left her in charge of an entire army and disappeared somewhere. Yeon-Joo stared at him joyfully as if telling him to have a taste of his own medicine.

“Shit,” Kang-Woo cursed lowly.

He had a feeling that he wouldn’t be able to avoid it. The gears in his head turned in overdrive.

‘Oh, come to think of it...’

He recalled watching a movie with Echidna while lazing on the couch. He had no idea what it meant, but it was an extremely cool battle cry.

‘Yeah, let’s go with that.’

Kang-Woo nodded and stomped his feet.

Boom—!!

The ground shook. Enormous golden light surged out from Kang-Woo as if the sun had appeared atop the red earth. It was a magnificent sight to behold.

Kang-Woo raised a golden sword high and shouted, “Avengers!!”

He then lowered the sword and pointed it at the enemies.

“Assemble.”