Chapter 40.
"Nice timing!"
It was a close call.
Had I arrived even a moment later, they would have felled Gallos and obtained the 'Qualification'.
But he survived.
I joined the battlefield at the perfect moment, raised zombies, and blocked the attacks aimed at Gallos.
The bastards urgently surveyed their surroundings.
But there was no way they could notice us.
Because our position was behind a massive rock perched on a cliff at the island's edge.
From there, I peeked out to check the situation and commanded the zombies.
Hidden behind the rock at the edge of the island, on the cliff, I assessed the situation once more.
A man with orange hair wielding a giant axe.
'The Power of Noon. It sure is a powerful trait.'
I knew very well what trait he was currently displaying.
The Power of Noon.
It was stronger than any trait that had appeared until now.
Its instantaneous monstrous strength was among the very best.
'The problem is that it's temporary.'
He could only wield peak power for a mere hour.
After that, his strength dwindled every hour, and after two hours, he returned to his original state.
Its maximum duration was three hours.
The drawback was clear.
But that instantaneous monstrous strength more than compensated for that drawback.
At least from twelve to one o'clock, his strength transcended imagination.
'It’s only because it’s him that he can face Gallos as an equal.'
I stared at Gallos, the bronze statue, confronting the orange-haired man.
The Guardian began to move alongside its Phase 1 Protection System.
His strength was overwhelming for current humanity to handle—a being truly in the realm of monsters.
A monster that would have crushed an opponent's flesh in an instant had they not been an Awakened of the Power of Noon.
'As expected, the Power of Foresight. They planned this strategy very well.'
You could tell just by looking at the formation.
That they had prepared a tailored strategy for this Tintagel Castle raid.
Binding Gallos for a time with the Power of Noon while aiming for the core with long-range attacks deployed in the rear.
But they had overlooked one variable.
Namely me, and Jeong Dohwan beside me commanding zombies.
"Gruugh…."
I raised the corpses that had met their end by Gallos's hand and formed a guard.
Thud, thwack!
Flying projectiles and arrows pierced the zombies' flesh, but at least regarding projectiles, the dead were nearly invincible.
Unless it was an attack that destroyed the flesh, they took no damage at all.
And.
"Guh!"
I had them attack the orange-haired man confronting Gallos while protecting Gallos's core.
Because of that, the situation reversed.
He was already struggling just to block Gallos, and now zombies were clinging and biting at him.
"Krrk!"
He couldn't help but rage.
But this wasn't the end of my preparations.
Rustle.
I took out a ghillie suit from the backpack I was carrying.
I donned it, matching the surrounding rocks, and lay prone.
Click.
I pulled out the sniping airgun I had prepared and loaded it.
And without delay, fired.
"Gack!"
The lead pellet was aimed at the rear formation.
It was where the group aiming for the core was gathered.
"It's the enemy!"
"Where, where is he?!"
The heads of those who realized there was an enemy other than Gallos turned in every direction.
But there was no way they could notice.
The ghillie suit enhanced to Transcendence with Reason absolutely could not be discovered as long as I didn't move.
Moreover.
Thwack!
"Gurk!"
There wasn't even a sound when firing the lead pellet.
『Transcendence Enhancement (★): No noise is generated when firing bullets.
Transcendence Enhancement (★★): Bullets have a normal chance to inflict Bleeding.』
Thanks to the Transcendence effect that was like having a suppressor attached.
With a ghillie suit that blended into the surroundings and no sound either, the chances of them discovering me were practically zero.
'First, these guys.'
I left the orange-haired man for Gallos to handle.
"Gck!"
"Ack!"
I kept firing lead pellets, attacking the ranged Awakened.
"Focus! Find him from where the bullets are coming from!"
Perhaps they weren't completely brainless, as they tried to focus and search for where the bullets were coming from.
But would that be easy?
「Submit!」
A black mist-like energy, the power of death, resurrected those who had died as zombies.
"Grugh…."
The comrade who had been mixed in with the group and attacking until moments ago, now an enemy zombie, attacked the group.
"Shit!"
Three zombies.
They threw the formation the bastards were concentrating on into disarray.
Now that they couldn't focus on their surroundings was the opportunity!
Thud!
"Ugh!"
With the possibility of my position being exposed gone, I fired the lead pellet with ease.
That was the beginning of a vicious cycle.
Unable to identify where the bullets were fired from because of the zombies, casualties surged because of me, who could fire with ease.
And those casualties became zombies again, throwing the formation into chaos.
If the battle had continued like that, I might have taken victory with ease.
But Black Moon—they definitely weren't ordinary.
Slither.
A presence.
A faint noise that could absolutely not be detected without a hearing aid.
I sprang up and swung the katana I had placed to my right.
Shriek!
I sliced at empty air where there was nothing, but I felt sensation in my hands.
"Grk…."
One who revealed himself along with a dying groan.
The one with a slashed chest was an Awakened who had manifested a stealth trait.
Thud.
I stared briefly at him as he collapsed to the ground.
'My position has been exposed!'
As evidence of that.
"…."
I could confirm that the eyes of those fighting the zombies were now fixed on me.
"Whew."
Since I knew I could no longer hide my position, I revealed myself.
"How'd you figure it out? Looks like you had someone with a detection-related trait."
At my words.
A flinch.
I could see someone in the group slightly trembling.
In that instant.
I threw the concealed weapon I had hidden inside my coat.
Whoosh, thud!
The concealed weapon, completed with a focus on speed-increasing effects, accurately pierced the bastard's forehead.
"Detection traits are a pain."
Everyone blinked at what happened in an instant.
"You bastard—"
"Kill him!"
Along with the ensuing rage.
Swoosh!
Projectiles and arrows they threw poured down.
Although I wore bulletproof combat armor and various protective gear, if I were struck in the head or other vital points that the protection didn't cover, even I would inevitably be rendered combat incapable.
But that wouldn't happen.
Shhring!
The three-meter ring blade I had taken out in advance.
Of course, it was the Twin Dragon Swords.
『Twin Dragon Swords
Classification: Sword
Grade: Lowest-grade Treasure
Durability: 250/250
Unique Effect: Raises allies' morale
Unique Curse: Increases enemy ranged weapons' chance to inflict critical hits by 100%
Enhancement Effect (9/99): Moderately raises allies' attack power
Enhancement Effect (15/99): Moderately raises allies' defense
Enhancement Effect (20/99): Moderately raises allies' accuracy
Enhancement Effect (30/99): Moderately raises allies' critical hit chance
……
Enhancement Effect (99/99): Moderately raises all combat abilities
Maxed Effect (Max): If in naval combat, all abilities greatly increase
Transcendence Effect (★): Special move 'General's Battle Cry' usable once (1)
Transcendence Effect (★★): Acquires Maxim 'He who seeks life shall die; he who seeks death shall live'
Description: Having forged the Twin Dragon Swords, the spirit soars for a thousand ages. With a vow sworn upon mountains and seas, loyal wrath is the same in ancient times and today.』
The Twin Dragon Swords are a general's blade.
A Treasure specialized in strengthening allies rather than individual martial might.
That's why all its effects are focused on strengthening allies.
What should be noted here is not the unique effect, but the 'unique curse' entry.
'Increases enemy ranged weapons' chance to inflict critical hits by 100%.'
In other words, it made one vulnerable to ranged weapons.
But then why?
Why pull this out in a situation where all sorts of projectiles were flying?
It was because of the Reason Transcendence Effect.
'He who seeks life shall die; he who seeks death shall live.'
If you wish to live, you shall die; if you wish to die, you shall live.
These were the words Admiral Yi Sun-sin recited for his subordinates trembling in fear during the Battle of Myeongnyang.
And this maxim had become a Maxim residing in the Twin Dragon Swords.
He who seeks life shall die; he who seeks death shall live.
And the Great Fortune I currently possessed.
When these two Maxims combined, an astonishing situation unfolded.
Swoosh!
A projectile fired by the bastards grazed my cheek.
What was this like?
Could I say it was like breaking through a downpour without being hit by a single drop?
'The moment these two Maxims combined, projectiles could never touch my body.'
Of course, there could be Maxims or unique effects that could break through it, but at least in the current situation, that wasn't applicable.
Now that Treasures were just beginning to manifest, there existed nothing that could break through my Maxim.
This group they had prepared for Gallos was no different from paper dolls that posed no threat whatsoever to the current me.
Breaking through the rain of pouring projectiles.
Splat!
I broke through just like that.
"Don't resent me. I'm also quite pressed for time right now."
Shriek!
I cut down one Black Moon organization member who was still dazed and frozen.
Thud!
He collapsed, bleeding.
But murder, the sentiment it gave me, was nothing.
Merely.
Swish, swish swish!
I swung the Twin Dragon Swords like a machine.
The three-meter ring blade mercilessly cut down every body within reach.
I continued the massacre like a wolf that had leaped into a flock of sheep.
And.
"Guugh—"
"Grugh."
Each time they died, their corpses became zombies and turned into enemies.
Within minutes, those who had shown a difference of dozens in numbers were now at a numerical disadvantage.
Realizing the projectiles didn't work, they had scattered in all directions.
And around me, zombies raised by the old man were arrayed, letting out their distinctive ghastly cries.
'The most troublesome bastard is being taken care of by Gallos himself.'
Unable to receive supporting fire from his allies, the orange-haired man was fighting a desperate battle against Gallos.
Gallos's characteristic was that he prioritized the enemy before his eyes.
That meant the struggling orange-haired man couldn't ignore Gallos and come here.
They had brought a tailored strategy to deal with Gallos, but.
'If I exploit that in reverse, I can reap the benefits.'
Of course, there were still many I had to deal with.
But that was a problem I could resolve shortly.
"All troops…."
Shouting those words as if catching my breath.
"...Charge!"
That was the General's Battle Cry, a One-Star Transcendence Effect.
The momentum of a renowned commander that drastically raised all abilities of allies in an instant.
Of course, by allies.
"Guh!"
"Grugh!"
It included the zombies created by the old man as well.
Though they were originally nothing more than lowest-grade undead, the moment the Twin Dragon Swords and the General's Battle Cry were added, they could be reborn as threatening beings comparable to ordinary Awakened.
Thud thud thud!
A horde of zombies charging, kicking the ground.
Those who were originally incredibly slow ran at astonishing speeds and attacked the enemies.
Before long.
"Kuuuaaaargh!"
The screams of the Black Moon organization members being attacked by zombies began to echo clearly throughout the area.