177 - The Six Claws (3)

177 - The Six Claws (3)

TL/Editor: raei

Status: ongoing

Illustrations: none

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Episode 177, Chapter 46: The Six Claws (3)

"What's wrong?" Keria asked, turning to Hiseller. He was more concerned about Hiseller's reaction than the collapsing building in the heart of the empire's capital.

"...That's the place," Hiseller replied.

"What?"

"That's where the Plant was."

"...!"

Keria's eyes widened in surprise at Hiseller's words.

"You mean..."

Before Keria could finish, a series of explosions rocked the capital. Boom! Bang! Bang! Boom!

As if triggered by the initial blast, thick smoke began to rise from various parts of the city.

Hiseller's face hardened even more.

"Don't tell me all these explosions are..."

"Yeah, they're all where the Plants are located."

An attack. All the Plants in the capital were under assault by someone.

And with that realization, one person came to Hiseller's mind as the likely culprit.

Zion Agnes. The demon realm's biggest headache and Hiseller's current target.

No one was supposed to be able to attack the Plants, but if anyone could, it would be him.

'How did he find out all their locations?'

Hiseller shook his head, pushing the thought aside. Right now, he needed to stop these attacks before the Plants were completely destroyed.

If all the Plants and their 'cores' were demolished, it would derail their grand plan to devour the empire from within when the great war broke out.

"We need to go now. Which Plant is the most crucial?" Keria asked, already moving towards the door.

"The western and eastern outskirts. Two locations," Hiseller replied.

"Then let's split up. Since the locations have been discovered, it's best to abandon the facilities and just retrieve the 'cores'."

As Keria stepped outside, he paused and turned back to Hiseller.

"Try to avoid combat this time. This attack is likely a provocation from them."

"I know," Hiseller replied.

After Keria vanished, a grin spread across Hiseller's face.

"But that doesn't mean I plan to avoid fighting."

There was a strange anticipation in his voice, stemming from the prospect of meeting Zion Agnes soon.

---

Plants.

As the demon realm's key facilities in the capital, it had one purpose: to continuously inject massive amounts of demonic energy into a specific area, transforming it into an environment identical to the demon realm where only demonic creatures could survive.

Kyaaak!

Crackle!

The western outskirts Plant, the most important of all, was currently under indiscriminate attack by an unidentified group.

Masked swordsmen advanced through the Plant's interior, which undulated as if alive, mechanically cutting down the demonic creatures that rushed at them.

"Who are you?! How did you find this place...?!"

The demons watching this scene were filled with shock. They never imagined this place could be discovered.

'We must hold out until reinforcements arrive!'

With this thought, the demons looked around and saw a man slowly entering the Plant behind the masked swordsmen, his steps languid.

'That's him!'

Instantly realizing this man was leading the attack, the demons charged towards him.

If they could take out the leader, they might be able to buy some time.

But they overlooked two crucial points.

Rattle!

First, the other swordsmen made no attempt to stop them as they approached the man.

And second...

"You're...!"

They recognized the man with ash-gray hair far too late.

These oversights led them straight to their doom.

With one step forward, the man unleashed a monstrous darkness that engulfed the demons entirely, crushing them with a sickening crunch.

It was an unexpectedly inglorious end for demons whose individual strength nearly reached the superior level.

'This should wrap up quickly.'

After effortlessly erasing the attacking demons, Zion watched emotionlessly as the Twilight Sword Corps rapidly destroyed the Plant's 'roots'.

After concluding the meeting at Chimseong Palace, Zion and all those involved in this operation immediately sprang into action.

Keria snorted, quickly shaking off the ominous feeling he got from those words.

"Ha, do you think they'll hold out until then?"

"Of course," Zion replied with a grin.

As black stars began to swirl in Zion's eyes, he added, "I sent some capable people there."

Boom!

With those words, a deep darkness spread throughout the entire Plant, devouring the space around them, and the real battle began.

---

At the other crucial Plant in the eastern outskirts:

"What the hell! Why isn't he here?!" Hiseller shouted in frustration as he slaughtered the swordsmen and mages around him.

Disappointment filled his eyes.

The reason was simple.

Zion Agnes wasn't here.

All he found was a special unit composed of Ascalon and Ozlima's elite forces.

Of course,

"The enemy is just one person! Concentrate your fire- Urk!"

Crackle!

They were no match for Hiseller.

To face one of the Six Claws, who represented the demon realm's power, you needed a warrior of 'Seven Heavens' caliber at minimum.

The number of special unit members was rapidly dwindling.

Despite this, Hiseller's actions grew increasingly cruel, as if his frustration at not meeting Zion remained unvented.

"Aaargh!"

"Aaaah!"

Endless screams filled the Plant as it descended into chaos.

"Right, I should just quickly seize the core and head west," Hiseller muttered, his face twisted in a frown.

Just as he was about to unleash an attack powerful enough to annihilate all the remaining special unit members,

Boom!

A tremendous strike, fired from far away, blocked Hiseller's attack for the first time.

Amidst the terrifying shockwave that erupted from this clash, a figure slowly emerged.

A middle-aged man with steel-like muscles covering his entire body, his eyes filled with firm resolve as he glared at Hiseller.

It was Liam Rainer.

"I'll be your opponent here," Liam said in a gruff voice.

After briefly looking at Liam with a strange expression, Hiseller let out an exasperated sigh.

"Ha..."

"You think you can face me?" Hiseller said incredulously.

He could tell at a glance.

The man before him possessed rare strength for a human and had managed to block his attack, but he still hadn't reached 'Heaven'.

That meant he couldn't possibly handle Hiseller.

Yet he spoke with such confidence. It was absurd.

"And alone at that? Hey, have you lost your mind? You should know better than anyone that it's impossible."

"No, it's possible," Liam replied confidently, clenching his right hand, covered in calluses.

At that moment, whoosh!

Bright red flames erupted from the red ring on Liam's hand, explosively enveloping his entire body.

The dazzling holy power flowing from these flames covered the surrounding space completely.

Heat Heaven Armor Muspelheim.

It was the divine artifact Zion had specially 'lent' to Liam for this operation.

"That's..."

As Hiseller uttered these words in shock, sensing Liam's power increasing exponentially along with this unexpected sight,

"And I'm not alone," Liam continued, his voice carrying through the flames spreading throughout the Plant.

At that moment, swish-

The space next to Liam opened, and a man appeared.

A man with vacant yet somehow profound eyes, as if he was missing a screw.

It was Tirian Prieharden, a companion of the hero in the chronicles and the reincarnation of the only level 10 archmage in history.

---

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