Chapter 402: Return of the Moon (1)

There was a madman who was calling himself a god. Even more annoying was that the madman was capable enough to call himself a god.

"I'll show you the true meaning of divinity."

Martial God Namgung Jincheon released neigong-like threads. It wasn’t pure energy similar to what the neigong chip had. The energy contained resentment, anger, envy, jealousy, depression, despair…

It was an energy that seemed like it contained all the negative emotions in the world, and it was disgusting enough to confuse one’s mind. It was one of the main characteristics of neigong when it turned demonic under the effects of the cursed Great Law of the Absorbing Star.

"Ueup."

"Oh, my god..."

The existence of such hideous magic would make anyone feel instinctively disgusted.

"Kukuku. How weak."

Namgung Jincheon laughed. He seemed like he was having fun when he saw the frowns on the Players’ faces. He sighed quietly as he looked all over his body.

"Really, it's a pity. I actually did not realize that I had something so good all this time. It didn’t make sense. Why was I so afraid?"

He should have abandoned the old and worn-out frame he had been using for such a long time. Similar to how a caterpillar would shed its shell to become a colorful butterfly, he became light not only in body and mind but also in soul. With this frame, he was confident that he would be able to beat anyone.

- Oh, my god.

Wisoso gaped while in the Frost Queen’s arms.

- That's... That's definitely His Majesty’s frame!

"What? Tell me in detail."

- If my eyes aren’t broken, then I should be right. That's the most powerful artificial frame the Aeon Empire made for Neo City’s founding emperor!

Namgung Jincheon's eyes turned to Wisoso.

"You have a pretty decent eye, Heavenly Demon’s daughter.[1]"

- Shut up! Don't speak my father’s name with that filthy mouth of yours!

It was the first time they saw Wisoso display such anger.

The Frost Queen tried to calm Wisoso down before speaking, "Contractor, is it possible?"

"I don't know. He’s a damned bastard, but his ability is real."

In fact, Namgung Jincheon could probably beat the thousands of Players here. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken showed up.

‘According to His Majesty, he isn’t just a lucky idiot.’

He was a martial arts genius who could freely use all the martial arts contained in the Sect Record Chip. He was a true genius—a hideous genius. Wasn't he simply the strongest and worst enemy one could ever encounter?

"He’s such a pain in the ass…”

Shin Sung-Hyun walked over to Seo Jun-Ho. He chewed his lips and muttered in a low voice that made him sound like he was talking to himself. “I'm ashamed to say this, but my attacks won’t be able to reach him.”

He had already confirmed the truth with the fight against Namgung Jincheon earlier. It could have just been a difference in talent or a difference in compatibility.

However, it had long become pretty clear that most of the Players, including him, were no match for Namgung Jincheon.

'The chances of winning are lower than zero because he has become even stronger.’

Furthermore, the Players were exhausted from fighting all day.

'The best decision to do here is none other than...'

It was to run downstairs while preserving as much of their forces as possible. Considering the future attempt at clearing the floor again, they couldn’t lose their finest Players here in vain.

‘I don't like running away, but it's a step back to take two steps forward.’

It was the most efficient choice they could make.

Shin Sung-Hyun looked like he was convincing himself before muttering, "I will count to three and build a maze of space in the area to stall for time. Let’s retreat while the maze is active.”

"Do that."

At the positive answer, Shin Sung-Hyun suddenly felt something strange while holding his baton. Seo Jun-Ho’s words sounded like he was telling them to do that by themselves. Looking sideways, Seo Jun-Ho's eyes were fixed on Namgung Jincheon.

His eyes remained unwavering—the mark of a true warrior.

"Specter-nim. Are you not going to retreat?"

"I won’t…"

"Please think of the future! Someone like you shouldn’t die in a place like this."

"Don't worry. I won’t stay here to die."

Shin Sung-Hyun started to get flustered. He wanted to ask if Seo Jun-Ho had gone crazy and if he was confident that he could beat that monster.

‘There’s no need to take risks. Rationally, we should conserve our forces and retreat, then plan for the next attempt.’

He persuaded Seo Jun-Ho once more. "Humanity needs a nexus. A nexus that will bring every Player to rally toward them and move forward. It’s upsetting for me to admit this, but I’m not good enough. Aside from you and the 5 Heroes, no one is qualified yet.”

It was true. He wanted to play to become one of humanity’s nexuses, but he failed. After the 5 Heroes, the only existence that could take on that role was the Thunder God.

‘But he has already passed on.’

That was why he had to save Specter here at all costs.

'I became sure of it when I came up here.’

Earth still needed a pillar called Specter, and the Players who would stand behind him could do bigger things.

‘But he should know that better than anyone else...’

In that case, why was Specter being so stubborn, then? Was it because he wanted to win? Did he not want to run with his tail between his legs because of his pride?

Shin Sung-Hyun's eyebrows wriggled in frustration. He opened his lips, and a harsh voice that seemed to be scratching his vocal cords came out of his mouth as he spoke frankly, "The Players are exhausted and injured. We were in peak condition earlier, but we still couldn’t stop Namgung Jincheon. Now, he has come back even stronger. We’re at an absolute disadvantage!"

“…”

"Please think carefully! It’s just once. It’s shameful, yes, but it will be just this once. It’s a choice that will save more people. The Players here just have to go down, train more to become stronger, and then we will bring more Players up to get rid of that guy. It’s not that difficult, right?"

At that, Seo Jun-Ho finally turned to look at Shin Sung-Hyun.

"Once?"

"Yes, just once!"

"Then, I'll ask you this..." Seo Jun-Ho’s righteous eyes seemed to penetrate not only Shin Sung-Hyun’s mind but also his heart. "Is it the first time for you to retreat like this?"

“…!” Shin Sung-Hyun was at a loss for words. His head hurriedly told him to answer ‘of course not,’ but his lips couldn't move.

'It’s not my first time…’

He had always been a man of efficiency. If there were several paths, he would consider the pros and cons so that he could choose the best way to maximize the gains while minimizing the damage. However, he wasn’t reckless. This meant that he never pursued a path that would lead him to the best gains if he were to lose a lot from it as well.

"Just once… The scariest thing one can ever experience is experiencing that once."

Someone who had already ran away once could run away again. Why? It was all because the option of running away was already carved in their mind.

"Didn’t you say that you wanted to be one of the pillars of the world? A Hero?"

“…” Shin Sung-Hyun kept his mouth shut. He was afraid that if he said yes—Seo Jun-Ho would say that he didn’t deserve to be a Hero.

“The next time you find yourself looking for that ‘once’ again. I want you to remember today—this moment.” With that, Seo Jun-Ho started walking forward.

Shin Sung-Hyun took in Seo Jun-Ho’s wide and reliable back, and he gasped when he once again confirmed that a Hero spoke with their back rather than their mouth.

‘Is it this kind of feeling…’

He had always been wondering why and how mankind could blindly trust and follow one person.

'Now I know...’

Shin Sung-Hyun felt like he finally discovered the reason after seeing Specter’s wide and reliable back. Specter’s back gave off this sensation that would make anyone feel relieved at the mere sight of it during a crisis.

It had to be the reason for their faith and trust in him.

‘Did I always run away whenever I had to choose between retreating and fighting?’

Had he covered it up with the wrapping paper called efficiency and rationality? Upon realizing how shameful he had been, Shin Sung-Hyun was ashamed of himself.

“…”

While walking, Seo Jun-Ho stared up ahead and asked, "You said that we’re at an absolute disadvantage, right?"

"I'm pretty smart myself." Shin Sung-Hyun stood next to Seo Jun-Ho and answered in a blunt voice. "And it’s probably because I’m smart that I’m quick on the uptake and quickly follow what I’ve learned."

Shin Sung-Hyun only took a few steps, but he felt as if his field of vision had become wider. In fact, the things he couldn’t see before started to appear in his eyes.

‘Citizens.’

The citizens of Neo City were scared of Namgung Jincheon’s aura, and they were running away. If the Players retreated downstairs, it would be difficult to guarantee their survival.

‘Going downstairs…’

There was also no rule that prohibited Namgung Jincheon from going downstairs. If he visited Earth while in his current state, the Players would truly have nowhere to retreat.

'To think that he immediately thought of all these...’

Shin Sung-Hyun smirked. The pressure of knowing that he would have to face such a monster melted like snow.

‘I knew it. I can't beat him.’

He could finally see the difference between himself and Specter. To close the gap between them, he would have to chase after him diligently.

"If you keep trying, you will achieve it one day," said Seo Jun-Ho.

At that, Shin Sung-Hyun swung his baton with a refreshed look.

Fast is Largo.

‘It has to be slow, broad, and heavy…’

Shin Sung-Hyun slowed space down and turned it as heavy as a mountain, which bored down on Namgung Jincheon.

"Mmm!" Namgung Jincheon's posture was slightly disturbed by the weight of the space around him.

‘Damn it, is this my limit?’

Shin Sung-Hyun was disappointed.

"My junior said that he’s going to do something noteworthy, and I can’t just stand around and do nothing as the senior, right?” Archmage Skaya Killiland finally cast the dozens of magic circles she had drawn on the side.

"Gravity, thirty-two layers."

Booom!

The combined weight of gravity and space finally forced Namgung Jincheon's left knee to touch the ground.

"Great!" Shin Sung-Hyun heard Seo Jun-Ho’s voice, but just as the latter’s voice reached his ears. Seo Jun-Ho was already standing in front of Namgung Jincheon.

‘He’s fast!’

Shin Sung-Hyun found Seo Jun-Ho fast, and so did Namgung Jincheon.

‘Has he… has he always been that fast?’

Seo Jun-Ho was much faster than Namgung Jincheon’s expectations. However, he wasn't too worried about it.

‘Ghost Step, Sky Prison Step, Seven Star Quick Step...’

Dozens of footwork techniques came to his mind. They were all footwork techniques that he thought he could use to catch up to Seo Jun-Ho’s speed.

‘But I don't have to use any of those...’

Namgung Jincheon had already shaken off the gravity and space boring down on him, but he simply stood there rather than retreating to avoid the incoming attack. There was one reason why he didn’t even think about avoiding the attack.

‘I'll just use Diamond Buddha to fend off the attack, then devour all his neigong at once.’

Layers of dense neigong immediately surrounded Namgung Jincheon like barriers.

However, Seo Jun-Ho’s cold gaze still pierced through all those barriers to reach him.

“The same goes for you,” Seo Jun-Ho coldly spat, “You should observe your opponent first before you strike.”

It was a weapon created by compressing the darkness of the Watchguard of Darkness to its limits, and it was even stronger than Moon Eye when it came to destroying the opponent’s defenses.

‘Death Scythe.’

A pitch-black scythe made of darkness sliced through Namgung Jincheon’s defenses.

1. Wisoso's gender has been pretty unclear until now, but so we went with singular they to keep with the faithful to the raws, but now that it’s clear, Wisoso’s pronoun will be she/her. Thank you for your understanding. ☜