Chapter 375: Blue Blood (3)Chapter 376: The Place Called Sanctuary (1)
3.
"Wait a moment. What on earth is going on?"
Black Dragon Master asked in dismay. The dormitory was already in an uproar due to Raviel"s visit.
For my friends, who were enjoying a peaceful evening after work, this was indeed an untimely disturbance.
"Could it be that something major has happened in the Empire? Like a rebellion or an ambush. That"s why suddenly…."
"A rebellion and an ambush both happened, and on top of that, there was a poisoning. Master of the Black Dragon."
"What!? Really!?"
"And fortunately, all three incidents were resolved recently. Now, I am here for a different matter concerning Gong-ja."
Raviel naturally sat down on the sofa and looked at me.
With eyes that seemed to demand an explanation.
Although she didn"t show it outwardly, , I could tell from the sound of her heartbeat and breathing that Raviel was quite uneasy.
"As for the "different matter," even I don"t know the details. I am the one who wants to ask "What exactly is going on?" Gong-ja. You who would be more reluctant to see my life taken once than to see yours severed a thousand times. Why did you make [such a request]? I can"t help but be curious."
Before I knew it, not only Raviel but also all my colleagues were looking at me. Raviel demanded an explanation, and the colleagues wanted one too.
"Hmm."
I took a deep breath.
This was the beginning of the strategy meeting.
"Yes, Raviel.... If it were something that could be resolved by me dying a thousand times, I would never have asked you for such a request."
"Then."
"I would have risked never meeting Raviel again forever."
The eyes of everyone in the common living room were piercing through my face.
"In 24 hours from now, I will be in danger of being permanently sealed."
Silence fell.
People"s reaction speeds varied, but naturally, Raviel was the first to understand. She pulled out her fan and propped her chin with it, muttering, "...I see, so that"s what it was."
"Hmm."
Next to grasp the essence of my words, surprisingly or unsurprisingly, was the Crusader, Patricia.
Patricia crossed her arms and stared intently this way.
"Indeed. The enemy who came up with the most effective tactic against Kim Gong-ja has appeared. "In 24 hours," does that mean you have just regressed a day?"
"Yes."
"If someone is somewhat aware of your abilities, and if that person is sufficiently powerful and mighty, it"s inevitable that you would face such a predicament eventually. Don"t worry, Kim Gong-ja."
Patricia"s words helped the other colleagues gradually start to guess the situation. Count nodded with an "Ah-ha," and Black Dragon Master sighed with a "Aaaah…"
Since I had revealed to these colleagues that I was a regressor, they understood quickly. Only Venomous Snake looked around cluelessly.
"Hey, hey, what"s going on? Why do you all look like you understand? I don"t get it at all."
"It"s simple, Liao Fan. Kim Gong-ja does not die no matter how many times he is killed; rather, he grows stronger with each death. Thus, the only solution is to seal him away without regard for the means."
Patricia explained as if it were nothing significant.
"Isolating him so that no one else can help, and blocking him from taking his own life, effectively paralyzing him for a long duration."
"Ah.... Oh. Yes. I see what you mean. But how did you understand what Gong-ja was talking about so quickly?"
"Because it was a tactic included in the plans I had devised to eliminate Kim Gong-ja. It"s a strategy I"ve concocted myself, so how could I not know?"
"Uh. …Huh? Eh? What did you say?"
"Ignore it. It"s a story that"s no longer important."
Patricia shook her head once and then looked at me.
"So, Gong-ja. Who is it? Who tried to seal you away? Just thinking about it is easy, but to actually execute it is extremely difficult. Is there such a formidable enemy?"
I nodded.
"Yes. The person is named Constellation Killer."
An explanation about who Constellation Killer was continued for a while.
"...."
"...."
Throughout my explanation, my colleagues" expressions grew serious. Even the worst fas.h.i.+on combo of gym clothes and three-striped slippers couldn"t fully mask their grave looks.
That"s because my elimination would essentially mean the collapse of the entire Lion World.
It might sound arrogant, but realistically, my existence is too crucial for Lion World. It"s overly central.
First. The five major guilds have settled past grievances and collaborated around me.
Second. The Aegim Empire wors.h.i.+ps [G.o.ddess of Protection] as a deity, and the [G.o.ddess of Protection] calls me the hero and follows me. Thanks to this authority, I can intervene in the Aegim Empire.
Third. The same goes for Raviel"s empire. Effectively, the strategic marriage between Raviel and me ensures smooth communication between both worlds.
Fourth. There"s even no need to mention Uburka"s world where he was born.
I am the pillar of the Lion World.
The harmony between numerous different races and worlds solely depends on my life.
It must not collapse, nor can its disappearance be permitted.
"...Truly, it"s a convoluted fate."
Raviel broke the heavy silence.
"The Constellation Killer we are discussing is my ancient ancestor. Our family was originally commoners, but we quickly rose to the core of power after receiving the favor of the hero who saved the nation. And Constellation Killer left the family with the Wish Sword before he departed."
Wish Sword.
The very sword Raviel had thrust into her own heart while facing the mirror.
"I used the Wish Sword and became a Constellation for a while. Because I became a Constellation, my world was recorded in the apocalypse. Because it was recorded, Gong-ja, I was able to meet you."
"Yes, Raviel.... Fate is indeed strange, I always feel that."
And Kim Yul was the reason the director started the orphanage, and thanks to the director, I became who I am today. Isn"t it a cause and effect that transcends strangeness and borders on the bizarre?
"Yes. I understand the strange fate."
Anastasia, who had been frowning the entire time, spoke up.
"What are you planning to do now?"
"Naturally, I plan to pay him back."
With that one sentence, the night was over for us.
We sat around a table in the living room, and the subordinates needed for the operation were summoned. The Count called forth [The Cat that Bit a Gold Coin]. The enemy we were about to face was a natural predator of Constellations. It was best to seek advice from a Constellation"s mouth.
"Constellation Killer.... Meow. To be frank, it"s difficult."
In response to the question "What should we do to eliminate Constellation Killer?", the calico cat waved its tail.
"Constellation Killer has officially cleared up to the 90th floor as a hunter. And hunters who have cleared up to the 90th floor are basically given their own sanctuaries."
"I know. It"s like the grand library sanctuary, isn"t it? We just need to break into that sanctuary, don"t we?"
"Meow. That"s true but..."
The cats made a subtle expression. They exchanged glances with each other and then cautiously observed my reaction.
"That"s where the problem arises. Screaming Sky~nim. No hunter to date, even Constellations themselves, has set foot in Constellation Killer"s sanctuary. No. There are hardly any Constellations who even possess minimal information about Constellation Killer"s sanctuary."
"...Why?"
"The essence of Constellation Killer"s sanctuary is [Concealment]."
Concealment.
"Woof, more precisely, it"s closer to [Ignorance]. As you know, Screaming Sky~nim, Constellation Killer tosses away his memories more easily than a used tissue. Whether it"s about his own life, what kind of person he is, or why he needs to go around killing Constellations, no one knows, and probably Constellation Killer himself doesn"t know well either."
"...."
"Therefore, Ignorance is truly the essence of Constellation Killer. Woof. We do not know where he is. Even if he were right in front of us, we wouldn"t know who he is. Even if we have the place he"s at right before our eyes, it will probably be impossible to go there."
I sighed deeply.
n.o.body recognized that child, and nothing has changed since Kim Yul sat by the cla.s.sroom window.
"Snake."
I looked down at the snake coiled around my wrist.
"Kiiik?"
"You know the coordinates of Constellation Killer"s sanctuary, don"t you?"
The Snake flicked its tongue.
["The Eye Living in the Labyrinth" boasts that there is no sanctuary whose coordinates it does not know!]
The cats sitting on the table perked up their ears.
"Ah, indeed. If it"s Hishmith Kritz, we can probably know the coordinates. Ignorance is not knowing the truth, and secrecy is concealing the truth. Both share the commonality of the truth being ignored, meow. And Hishmith Kritz is a Constellation that reveals the truth. ...or so to speak."
["The Cat that Bit a Gold Coin" look at you with newfound interest.]
"With Hishmith Kritz, there"s hardly any world we can"t roughly go to. We can buy anything if we are there. Woof. Really, you"ve only collected the most useful Constellations, Screaming Sky~nim. It"s totally overpowered."
"Can we go if we just have the coordinates?"
I ignored the cats" sighs and asked.
The Snake confidently flicked its tongue more vigorously but then slightly bowed its head.
["The Eye Living in the Labyrinth" denies that.]
["The Eye Living in the Labyrinth" compares it to seeing a military facility right in front of you but says breaking security to infiltrate it is a completely different issue.]
["The Eye Living in the Labyrinth" confesses that it only knows that such a place exists, not how to get in there.]
As expected.
Constellation Killer didn"t hide a secret, but erased the memories that could become secrets altogether.
The Snake could sense "that something was there" but couldn"t reveal "what that something was."
"But."
I turned my head.
"What even Constellation Killer discarded and lost, I have by my side."
Across the table.
There sat the subordinates who had gathered here in response to the summons.
Among them, I called the name of the man who would be key in this operation.
"Kim Yul ssi."
"...."
"You probably have the authority to enter Constellation Killer"s sanctuary."
Kim Yul, the [Origin] of Constellation Killer, silently looked at me.
That"s right.
I don"t know how robust the security system of Constellation Killer"s sanctuary was. Even if I knew, there was no guarantee it could be breached.
However, it was too clear who the person that security would automatically let pa.s.s was.
"Our strategy is simple. Hishmith Kritz will disclose the coordinates, and Kim Yul ssi will cross over using those coordinates. Kim Yul ssi, please establish a bridge for us. Then, an attack team including myself will immediately rush over."
"Understood, Family Head."
"If the enemy cowardly attacks with 13 bodies, then we will counter even more cowardly with greater numbers. You don"t need to wait long until we arrive. One moment. Please hold out alone for just one moment."
While Kim Yul was nodding briefly, [The Cat that Bit a Gold Coin] urgently opened its mouth.
"Wait, just a minute. Please wait, Screaming Sky~nim. First... I understand that this person has access rights. But Constellation Killer"s sanctuary is a place with a hierarchy of at least the 90th floor!"
"Is that so?"
"Meow! Of course! There are conditions to gain access to such a place."
The cat stretched out its toes while exposing pink jelly..
"First. In cases where one"s own sanctuary is provided to the Tower. It"s like how [The One with Tasty Ankles] connected his world to 20th floor, just as I have connected my to the 70th floors."
"Who is [The One with Tasty Ankles]?"
"He is also known as Hamustra."
"Why are he called that..."
"Is that really important now?! Please focus on the story!"
It feels extremely important. To the extent that, at this moment, it seems like nothing else is important.
Everyone wore expressions of intense concern, but the cat continued explaining regardless.
"Second. The case where one"s own sanctuary is connected. Like the 60th floors. Usually, subordinate worlds are connected, but there are cases where one"s own world is directly linked. [The One with Tasty Knees] is such a case."
"And who is that...."
"Also called Mutia."
Tasty, is it?
Are Mutia"s knees tasty…?
"If the first is akin to a service duty to the tower, the second is closer to a business method for acc.u.mulating power as a Constellation."
"They seem similar...."
"Well, they actually are similar. As for this, Screaming Sky~nim will know more details when you actually reach the 90th floor... However, these two methods share a common aspect in a different sense. They imply that one can set their own access rights to the sanctuary."
I nodded.
"Any other methods?"
"Third is the administrator of the entire tower. For example, the pillars themselves provide access routes. [The One Who Tasts like Delicious Liquor] was caught by you using this method."
Hishmith Kritz let out a screech. The cat continued speaking while smacking its lips towards Hishmith Kritz.
"Other than that, well, You have to be in the comparable status. Screaming Sky~nim, you would qualify, but that human would not."
I chuckled.
In short, "Kim Yul has the authority to go to Constellation Killer"s sanctuary, but not the qualifications to go to the 90th-floor."
Conversely, "I have the qualifications to go to a 90th-floor, but not the authority to go to Constellation Killer"s sanctuary."
One could say that each of us is missing one necessary requirement.
"It"s okay."
But put another way, it meant that we could compensate for what the other lacked.
And Kim Yul and I were already bound together.
We were in a relations.h.i.+p where we could call each other informally.
"Kim Yul ssi is my apostle. My hands and feet. So, he can go not as [Hunter] but as [Apostle of the Constellation named Screaming Sky]."
"Huh? ...Ahhh, Aha! Indeed!"
The calico cat looked back and forth between me and Kim Yul and then opened its mouth.
"If he truly is an apostle, it"s possible! If the Constellation permits, an apostle can possess the same qualifications as the Constellation itself."
Kim Yul regained his memories because of me and was revived by me. Now that I have been completed as a Constellation, it is fitting to call Kim Yul my apostle.
Not just Kim Yul. Estelle, Sylvia, the Four Demon Lords, and the believers of the Infernal Heavens. All who received life from me are now equally my apostles.
Therefore, this operation has become possible.
"Kim Yul ssi will cross over first, as my apostle, as our vanguard."
Just as [The Ox that Harvests Ruins] had once led its apostle, The Lady of the Golden Silk, to invade Raviel"s world—.
This time, I will lead Kim Yul to invade the sanctuary of Constellation Killer.
"And as soon as you arrive, please call for me. Summon me. Then, I will rush over immediately with my apostles and followers all at once."
All the pieces of the puzzle were in place.
With [The Eye Living in the Labyrinth], we know the coordinates. With Kim Yul, we can enter the sanctuary. Since I am Kim Yul"s Constellation, I can respond to his call. Others, being my apostles or followers, can cross over with me.
Everything we have achieved from the 10th to the 80th floor made this operation possible.
"Meow. Understood. At least from our perspective, there are no problems!"
[The Cat that Bit a Gold Coin] also guaranteed the success of the operation.
So now all that was left was to execute the plan, but...
"Apostles? Followers?"
Black Dragon Master muttered bewilderedly.
"Wait a minute. I wasn"t called out when Gong-ja was breaking through the heavenly floors! I"m neither an apostle nor a follower or anything!"
"Then you can stay home and watch the house."
Count fanned herself leisurely.
"Just so you know, I"ve become follower of Gong-ja. Being recognized in the heavenly floors as a follower was synonymous with becoming a follower of Gong-ja."
"Hmm. Then the first person to become a follower was me."
Crusader leisurely fanned not herself but the Count.
"Thinking about it, Anastasia wasn"t called as a Judge, huh? Is that so. She didn"t meet the qualifications… That"s regrettable."
"Ah. She often brags about how she was the first to become friends with Gong-ja and whatnot, but in the end, true camaraderie is proven in places like this, isn"t it?"
"Ahaha. I am, for now, a follower of my master too!"
One by one, Crusader, Venomous Snake, and Heretic Questioner spoke.
"...."
Surrounded by the group, the Black Dragon Master suddenly glared at me with eyes blazing with some emotion.
And as if she felt betrayed by me, she exclaimed,
"I, I"ll convert!"
But weren"t you an atheist.
1.
The declaration from Black Dragon Master that she intended to convert was no joke.
[You are recruiting a follower.]
[Black Dragon Master becomes your follower.]
[You can now bestow blessings and powers onto Black Dragon Master.]
Our contract was sealed merely with the exchange, "Will you really believe in me?" "Yes." "Really?" "Yes, really, so just hurry up and make the contract." That was the end of it. There were no other formalities.
Is it supposed to be this rushed normally?
"Woof. That can"t be right…."
[The Cat that Bit a Gold Coin] looked at us incredulously.
"It"s ridiculous to form a follower contract without even offering a skill card. You guys are strange."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Above all, a Constellation and a follower must trust each other. A follower needs to believe they won"t be stabbed in the back by the Constellation, and the Constellation needs to believe the follower won"t betray them. Moreover, a significant connection between them is required…."
I guess we belong to a unique case.
However, this felt normal to me. Not only Black Dragon Master but Crusader and Count had also easily agreed to become followers just like that.
"This isn"t normal at all. Meow. What kind of life have you been living?"
While the calico cat made a disgusted expression, the preparations were all finished.
The raid party a.s.sembled in the s.p.a.cious garden of the communal dormitory. A total of 12 people. Kim Yul, Estelle, Uburka, Sylvia, and the Four Demon Lords were selected from among the va.s.sals. The partic.i.p.ants among my companions included Black Dragon Master, Heretic Questioner, Venomous Snake, and Crusader.
Including myself, there were 13 people.
That was the exact number to match 1:1 with the slaughter puppets of Constellation Killer.
"…We could pretty much end most worlds with just this lineup."
Surveying the might of the raid party, Sylvia clicked her tongue.
Frankly speaking, Sylvia and the Four Demon Lords, including Crusader, weren"t skilled enough to confront Constellation Killer. However, they could certainly buy some time. While they held off, I would quickly eliminate the slaughter puppets and go to a.s.sist them.
"Constellation Killer is a foe capable of ravaging most world too. It can"t be helped. If they didn"t cowardly push with numbers, then I could have fought him fairly one-on-one."
"Uhm, Family Head. If what I heard from Estelle, didn"t you also overpower the Devil King with numbers too?"
"Alright. Is everyone ready? Hey, Head Chamberlain Sylvia. Everyone else is ready to jump into battle, so why are you the only one slacking off? Hurry up and get ready."
"f.u.c.k. I"m really going to quit the Head Chamberlain position someday because it"s so dirty."
Sylvia muttered as she stepped back.
I turned my gaze and looked down at the snake bracelet wrapped around my wrist.
"Hishmith Kritz."
"Kieek."
"Pinpoint the coordinates of Constellation Killer."
The snake bracelet twitched its head and then slithered off my wrist. I felt its slimy touch wrap around the back of my hand as I walked over to Kim Yul.
Then I grabbed Kim Yul"s right hand.
[You temporarily transfer the owners.h.i.+p of "The Eye Living in the Labyrinth" to Kim Yul.]
Slither.
The snake bracelet moved from my fingertips over to Kim Yul"s fingers.
"...Hmm."
Kim Yul furrowed his brow slightly at the unfamiliar touch of snake scales.
"It feels odd. My chest feels a bit stuffy. Is this what it feels like to be surrounded by a Constellation?"
"Ah, yes. It"s like having the paper weight added to your breath."
"That so. ...Has the Family Head always been carrying such burdens?"
"Once you get used to it, it"s surprisingly comfortable."
Kim Yul just stared at me intensely without another word. Silence ensued. Only the snake bracelet on his wrist hissed quietly, repeatedly letting out low a soft sound.
["The Eye Living in the Labyrinth" manifests its authority.]
["The Eye Living in the Labyrinth" begins to search the sanctuary of Constellation Killer.]
[Searching in progress.]
I closed my lips. Could the snake bracelet really locate the sanctuary of Constellation Killer? It had a.s.sured us it was entirely possible, but I wondered if that was true.
The time it took for a single drop of candle wax to melt and drip had pa.s.sed.
[Search complete.]
["The Eye Living in the Labyrinth" has pinpointed the sanctuary of Constellation Killer.]
"Good."
I exhaled the breath I had been holding. Yet, it was too early to relax. The army aiming to siege the fortress had only just discovered its location.
"Don"t worry, Kim Gong-ja."
Kim Yul broke the silence.
"The enemy does not antic.i.p.ate our surprise attack. This operation will definitely succeed."
"…Yes. But Constellation Killer is a hunter prepared for all eventualities. Even if unexpected, there likely is a manual for when his sanctuary is invaded."
"There probably is. However, he would never have prepared for [an invasion by himself]."
Kim Yul took something out of his pocket.
A hair tie. Not the yellow rubber band handed him in mockery by the villains, but the hair tie I had gifted him when I accepted him as my va.s.sal.
"Constellation Killer will undoubtedly hesitate for a moment. All we need is that moment of hesitation. If you need one second, I will buy you that second."
Kim Yul tied his hair with the tie. Tens of thousands of strands of hair gathered into a single bundle. Seemingly resolved, Kim Yul muttered softly.
"Teleport."
Flas.h.!.+
A white light enveloped Kim Yul"s entire body. He disappeared into the light shortly after, and I began counting in my mind.
My lips twitched.
"1 second."
By now, Kim Yul would have arrived at the sanctuary of Constellation Killer.
"2 seconds."
Constellation Killer would have detected the intruder and immediately initiated interception.
A normal Constellation or hunter would be first shocked by the fact that their never-before-breached sanctuary was invaded. However, Constellation Killer wouldn"t. He would simply act according to the pre-set manual.
"3 seconds."
But the ident.i.ty of the intruder was someone no manual could account for. Because it was himself.
Here, Constellation Killer would momentarily halt the interception to verify whether the intruder was indeed his exact double.
Therefore.
"4 seconds."
Kim Yul could keep the promise he made to me.
[Your Apostle earnestly calls for you.]
A voice echoed in my head.
I maximized my aura to stretch out my sense of time. Regardless of how my time flowed, the voice coming from the isolated underground 1st floor from all stages sounded solemnly.
[Your Apostle asks that you be with him at his location.]
[Will you descend?]
Faced with this new message, I did not hesitate. To inform the raid party waiting around that I was deploying, I deliberately shouted.
"Yes!"
A black shadow covered the top of my foot.
Under normal circ.u.mstances, I would have simply perceived it as "being enveloped in black light". But in this severely extended moment, I could examine the details of the "black light".
It resembled human hands.
Arms rose from the shadow. Fingers caught on the tip of my foot. Palms grasped my ankles. Arms painted in pitch black like noise crawled up innumerably.
"...."
There were countless hands, but for some reason, I could distinguish each anonymous arm. They were differentiated. They were the hands, the arms, of the people I had killed—- whose traumas I had glimpsed.
Among them was Kim Yul"s hand.
I reached out and grabbed his plea.
[You respond to the call of your Apostle.]
Countless palms crawled up and enveloped my entire body.
[Descending.]
And thus, I was transferred, buried in the black hands.
"6 seconds."
The next moment greeted me with a scene familiar, yet not.
It was a junkyard.
Outdated sc.r.a.ps of metal and emptied plastics were merely waiting for someone to pick them up. No one did, so the garbage piled up into mounds, all the way to the horizon.
Summoned from the sky, I plummeted down looking over the junkyard that stretched to the ends of the world.
[You have entered the sanctuary of Constellation Killer.]
The sunset was dazzling.
The glow of the setting sun struck past me and illuminated the junkyard on the ground.
"7 seconds."
Like the ancient ruins left in an old ruin"s city, the garbage was heaped into mounds. At the very top of those ma.s.sive graves. Like an orange half-peeled and discarded, plastic bottles dangled loosely from their labels.
The labels, once blue, had faded to gray. The sc.r.a.p metals were stripped of their coating, exposing the inner parts.
In that place where all colors faded and all metal degenerated, there were those who brandished silver iron swords, their silver hair fluttering about.
They all looked identical.
"8 seconds."
But they were not the same at all.
12 slaughter puppets charged towards a single human. They were in the middle of charging. They simultaneously sensed my presence and all at once, lifted their heads. My descent from the high skies met with 12 pairs of eyes.
I drew my holy sword.
"9 seconds."
And I muttered under my breath.
["The Sky That Gathers Screams" calls its apostles and followers.]
[Several apostles respond to your call.]
[Several followers respond to your call.]
Pitch-black shadows formed around me, still descending from the sky.
[An apostle of "The Sky That Gathers Screams" manifests.]
[A follower of "The Sky That Gathers Screams" is summoned.]
There were eleven shadows.
Like fragments of a shattered meteor, we plummeted fiercely. The fierce wind grazed my cheeks.
Initially enveloped in pitch-black shadows, my allies, as they faced the wind, shed their blackness revealing their faces. Some blinked in wonder, some furrowed their brows against the strong headwind, and others grasped the hilts of their swords, looking down at the ground.
"—-Transfer!"
And Black Dragon Master used her ability without hesitation.
Black Dragon Master activated the Instant Transfer skill, collecting the scattered, falling allies one by one. She was a hunter with a keen sense of aura herself. Black Dragon Master wasted no seconds, linking the eleven members of the raid party from hand to hand.
"Kim Gong-ja!"
Black Dragon Master reached out to me last.
"Grab on!"
What was there to hesitate about?
I grabbed Black Dragon Master"s bare hand.
"15 seconds."
The next moment, we were on the ground.
Constellation Killer was taking a defensive stance due to our emergence.
But the time he was allowed was merely 6 seconds.
Initially, he deployed a net to attack Kim Yul alone, then changed its formation to intercept me, and finally had to adjust again to respond to the 13 invaders.
"16 seconds."
Three times, unantic.i.p.ated situations successively hit him.
Three times, Constellation Killer was denied the time to adjust by us.
"17 seconds."
And we were not weak enough to fail to hunt a prey that had shown vulnerabilities three times.
Swishhhh!
My sword was the first to slice through a slaughter puppet. It was the one closest to Kim Yul. With one strike, two strikes, three strikes, I sent sword paths in three directions, dismembering the limbs of the slaughter puppet.
"Urghhhhhh!"
Following me, the next to swing weapon was Uburka. Uburka swung his axe, severing both legs of another slaughter puppet in one swoop.
Under normal circ.u.mstances, Constellation Killer would have engaged Uburka in an evenly matched battle. However, Black Dragon Master"s transfer was a surprise attack. Constellation Killer fell without being able to a.s.sume a proper stance.
The fight that started as 13:13 quickly changed to 13:11. (ED: If you are confused by the earlier mention of "12 against 1" and now its "13 against one," note that the Main Constellation Killer is not included in the earlier group of 12 and is likely commanding those 12 puppets.)
"I see."
One of the Constellation Killers among the slaughter puppets muttered.
"Screaming Sky. Are you a prophet?"
The balance of the fight rapidly tipped.
The remaining 11 slaughter puppets were forced to scatter and fight us individually. Uburka and Kim Yul joined forces to slay another puppet.
13:10.
"Did you foresee my plan to seal you and attacked this place first?"
"No. I am not a prophet. I am a regressor."
Kim Yul, Uburka, and Sylvia teamed up and charged at a new puppet. By this point, the slaughter puppets had barely managed to regain their composure. Clashes began to erupt everywhere. The sharp cries of Black Dragon Master and the spirited shouts of Crusader tore through the sunset.
"A regressor? Impossible. I antic.i.p.ated that you might be a time manipulator and prepared almost perfect countermeasures."
"If I had been alone, it would have been perfect."
I charged at Constellation Killer.
Seeing me rapidly approaching, Constellation Killer bit his lip momentarily.
What calculations were being made in his head right now? How quickly was he reviewing the numbers?
I had no way of knowing what was in his mind.
But I clearly heard the voice that Constellation Killer uttered as he opened his lips.
"I discard the memories of the past 29 days."
*****
ED: Phew! Finally done! Enjoy! P.S. Only 24 chapters left until completion.