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Chapter 362: Between Good Karma and Bad Karma (3)
-What?
The iron-armored toad, referred to as a count by the beastmen, widened its eyes in shock.
Meanwhile, Yeongwoo was already rushing past the corpses of the 011 Team members, closing in on the two remaining enemies.
“No time for introductions!”
As Yeongwoo shouted this, he extended Bastard to a length of 6.6 meters.
Upon seeing it, one of the beastmen opened his elongated snout wide in disbelief.
-What on earth is that?
And then—
Screeeeech!
With a chilling sound, Bastard slashed through, splitting the beastman vertically.
-Ack!
A short cry was all that escaped as the beastman's head split, and his mane was stained crimson.
The toad count, now clutching his fallen comrade’s bisected body, wailed the beastman's name in despair.
-Poima...!
Poima.
A white-maned beastman from an unnamed planet.
-Poima, I swear I’ll avenge you!
The toad’s eyes grew wet as he glared at Yeongwoo, who merely shrugged while gripping Bastard.
“Why are you making me out to be the bad guy? We’re both villains here.”
-You despicable scum!
“Still, I gave you time to mourn. Why do I get the blame for that?”
As Yeongwoo said this, he glanced around once more.
Thankfully, no one had come to ambush him yet.
Meanwhile, the iron-armored toad raised both arms and assumed a combat stance.
-Hyah!
-I am Count Katissan from the distant planet Berek!
“......”
It was evident that the toad count specialized in close combat.
His peculiar stance alone made it clear that he practiced some unique martial art.
Could he steal that?
The arena, known as the promotion ground, didn’t explicitly state whether spoils of battle could be claimed.
There was only one way to find out.
He would just have to take him down and see.
The moment Yeongwoo made this decision, Count Katissan charged forward, waving his arms wildly.
-Kraaaah!
What was with this guy?
The clumsy-looking movements of Katissan made Yeongwoo furrow his brows momentarily.
Crunch!
“......!”
From beneath Katissan’s shoulder blades and lower lats, additional arms suddenly emerged, bringing the total to six fists barreling toward Yeongwoo.
“You crazy toad bastard.”
Though it caught him off guard, Yeongwoo, having endured countless battles, wasn’t overly surprised.
Besides, he had a sword.
-Hyah!
Yeongwoo stepped back with his left foot, using it to stabilize himself as he swung Bastard, cutting through Katissan’s fists.
Screeech!
The newly sprouted arms, unprotected by iron armor, were severed instantly and spun midair.
However, there was a problem.
-Huh?
Even Katissan’s original arms, clad in iron armor, were flying off in the same direction.
Yeongwoo’s demonic sword had effortlessly sliced through the iron protection.
-How... How is this possible?!
As Katissan, who had trusted the strength of his armor, looked utterly bewildered, Yeongwoo thrust his blade into the toad’s abdomen and declared coldly.
Crunch!
“Head to hell first!”
-What?
With those final words, Yeongwoo’s Bastard rose from Katissan’s abdomen to the top of his head, splitting him in half.
Splat!
The thick skin split to either side, and the massive shadow he cast on the ground was also divided in two.
Thud!
With a dull impact, the entirety of Team 011 was annihilated.
Boom!
「023 Team achieves first elimination in the promotion ground!」
A system notification appeared high in the air for everyone in the arena to see.
So there was a ‘First Blood’ concept here, too.
As Yeongwoo tilted his head to read the message, another notification followed.
「011 Team has been eliminated.」
Now it had changed to 48. S
hortly after, another message appeared.
「Team 037, annihilated.」
“......!”
The number was familiar.
It was one of the five teams that had landed in the central area of the midwestern sector.
023, 046, 037, 011, 002.
Now, with 011 and 037 gone, the remaining teams were...
‘002 and 046.’
But it wasn’t just the midwestern sector where the real competition had started.
Bang!
A sharp, intense alert echoed, followed by consecutive annihilation notices.
「Team 009, annihilated.」
「Team 041, annihilated.」
Two teams wiped out almost simultaneously.
This was proof that battles were erupting across the entire promotion field.
[46/50]
Four teams had essentially been eliminated as soon as the trial began.
Finally realizing the violent and murderous nature of the trial, three of Yeongwoo’s teammates shuddered.
-W-what kind of battle is this...?
-It feels like we’ve only been here for ten minutes, and already four teams are gone?
-If we’re not careful, we’ll...
Sensing the growing fear among his teammates, Yeongwoo turned to them with a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry too much. I’ll personally write your eulogies if the time comes.”
-......!
-W-what?!
-Eulogies?!
Then, as if remembering something, Yeongwoo turned to Aldo.
“Oh, and Your Highness is an exception. I’ll do my best to protect you.”
Aldo glanced nervously at the others before cautiously asking Yeongwoo:
-W-why is that?
“You must have a royal ship at your disposal.”
-Well, that’s true, but...
“In that case, I’d like you to visit my planet when this is all over. We could use some help.”
Aldo was the second prince of Doatel, a planet known as the sanctuary of the galaxy.
If Yeongwoo survived this promotion grounds, he planned to send Aldo an invitation to his wedding.
As for the other two...
“I can’t cover three people alone, so you’ll have to fend for yourselves. But since we’re teammates, I’ll lend a hand if I can.”
In essence, it was a declaration of self-preservation.
-...Ah.
-Seriously?
In this brutal trial, if they couldn’t defend themselves, their bodies would be sent back to their planets accompanied by Yeongwoo’s morbid eulogies.
“Well then, let’s all get ready. We’ve got incoming.”
Yeongwoo raised his Aratubank and turned to face the east.
From that direction, a group of ominous figures was swiftly approaching.
Crash!
Other than one figure glowing white all over, the rest wore black armor or draped themselves in chains.
And above their heads...
[002]
Another familiar number was displayed.
‘002. These guys don’t seem like your average team.’
Yeongwoo had a hunch that they were the ones who had annihilated Team 037, which had landed nearby.
And sure enough...
Zing!
“......?”
A sound came from their direction.
Swoosh!
A laser beam shot up into the sky.
“What?”
Then, a thin, guided strand descended from the sky, heading straight toward Yeongwoo.
Zap!
It landed right at his feet.
“Oh, crap.”
Yeongwoo’s eyes widened in realization.
Having faced a relatively weak Team 011 earlier, he had overlooked one crucial fact:
Everyone here was a representative of their respective planets.
Which meant that planetary bombardment weapons weren’t exclusive to him.
-Your Highness! Take cover immediately! It’s an airstrike!!!
As Yeongwoo shouted to protect his precious guest, the skies above the promotion grounds truly began to open.
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