Chapter 487
‘Isn’t it strange?’
Choi Yeonseung also felt that something was wrong, though clearly not for the same reasons as the evil god constellations.
-Isn’t the enemy... too weak?
[The power of the ‘Rider of Thirst and Famine’ takes hold of you.]
[The curse permeates your bones and veins.]
The most powerful abilities in the Abyss were those that used a constellation’s power of existence.
The power of existence quite literally allowed the constellation to alter reality, and its potential was limited only by its caster’s will. It was this power that created seemingly impossible things, such as a spear that pierced everything or a shield that blocked everything.
Thus, even though Choi Yeonseung had peaked in martial arts, that power was bound to be dangerous to him as well. After all, it was the power that could ignore the laws of nature!
He would either have to find a natural power that could surpass the power of existence or disrupt it with his own power of existence.
...But thus far, the enemy’s attacks had been surprisingly weak.
Of course, Choi Yeonseung himself was a constellation, so his resistance to such power was bound to be significantly greater than that of humans. He was on a different level from mortals in terms of the depth of his existence.
‘Yeah, I’m still completely fine...’
But even so, how could the powers directly enhanced by evil god constellations be this weak?
The spirit of an evil god constellation, which looked like a giant tree root, rushed at Choi Yeonseung. It judged that it could inflict quite a bit of damage onto Choi Yeonseung as long as it properly used the power of its constellation.
However, Choi Yeonseung used the Origin of the Celestial Divine Arts to change his internal energy into yang energy. Then, the temperature around him instantly skyrocketed, causing the air to ionize and plasma to appear.
-!
The approaching tree spirit panicked and tried to retreat. However, Choi Yeonseung launched his internal energy right away, its scorching heat literally melting the spirit.
‘I didn’t even use concentrated energy...’
Choi Yeonseung had been ready to go all-out in order to strike down the enemy household members, who were being directly empowered and protected by their constellations.
However, he had just managed to kill one of them with one attack.
Something felt off...
‘I’m not subconsciously using my power of existence, am I?’
[The power of the ‘Giant with the First Flame’ takes away the heat!]
[The power of the ‘Beast of Swords and Spears’ grants defense...]
[...]
[...]
[...]
The constellations cast another set of skills on their household members. Their power of existence burst forth, distorting reality.
However, Choi Yeonseung remained resolute despite such a frightening display of power. But then, the goddess of sloth suddenly realized something.
‘The humans on Earth!’
Choi Yeonseung was doing so well thanks to all the humans watching this fight live. There were clearly millions of spectators that had faith in Choi Yeonseung and believed he would emerge victorious.
Their faith weakened the evil god constellations involved in this battle. Given that these constellations feasted on fear and terror, the humans’ unwavering faith in Choi Yeonseung’s victory dealt them a significant blow.
The goddess of sloth was perplexed by this situation.
Even though constellations were known to covet the souls of mortals, they rarely paid any attention to the power exuded by those souls. After all, if a constellation was a scorching sun, a mortal was nothing more than a feeble firefly.
The goddess of sloth had also fought quite a lot in the Abyss, and she had rarely paid any attention to the morale of individual fireflies.
But on this day, the morale of these fireflies shook up the battle between constellations!
[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’ raises his sword in admiration.]
[The power of the ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ flows on your back.]
[...]
All the good god constellations who had finished with their fights elsewhere empowered Choi Yeonseung.
-!!!
-No! Stop him!
A huge wave of power of existence surged forth from Choi Yeonseung.
The household members of the evil god constellations had never felt this weak before. Constellations would only select the most formidable mortals to be part of their household. And yet, these household members were nothing before Choi Yeonseung. It was the first time they realized their own weakness.
It was the first time they felt genuine horror!
***
-There’s an attack!
-Look! The traitors who are trying to sabotage me are attacking me! The media, companies, clans, rich people, beggars, hunters, and even normal civilians. Why are they all attacking me?!
-Waaaaaaah! Huntsman! Huntsman!
Huntsman wasn’t intimidated at all when he first heard reports of the raid, as he didn’t grasp the situation yet.
The moment his opponent, Mike Hwang, gave the order to evacuate and left with the crowd, Huntsman saw it as an opportunity to attack him even more.
-Look at Mike Hwang over there! How can a presidential candidate be so scared? I’ll stay here! There’s no need to run away! I’ll work with the hunters to fend off our enemies!
-Waaaaaaah! Huntsman! Huntsman!
Unaware of what was actually going on, Huntsman’s supporters got even more enthusiastic. He seemed formidable compared to those who had fled in a hurry.
-What should I do?
-Leave him alone. I knew it would be like this.
Of course, Choi Yeonseung had predicted all of this. He already knew that nobody could reason with Huntsman.
In any case, it was only a matter of time before Huntsman’s attitude would change.
-It seems that all the household members of the evil god constellations have been mobilized. The whole area is surrounded.
-The group of hunters from the Western Shields has been shattered! The line of defense has collapsed!
-Mr. Huntsman, you need to evacuate! It’s dangerous! It looks like the evil god constellations are going all out!
-...
Huntsman had initially thought that some crazy lunatics were attacking him, and he was shocked when he realized what was actually going on!
-Let’s run! Protect me!
-Yes!
-Mr. Huntsman! Come this way! I’ve been waiting.
Adaquaniel offered to be the one evacuating Huntsman down the aisle. Of course, the spectators were confused by this.
-H-Huntsman! Where are you going?
-Didn’t you say you would maintain your position? Why are you running away?
-I’m not running away. I’m just moving to a different area...
-That’s bullshit!
-Are you really trying to escape by yourself?!
-Everyone, please calm down! The elite hunters, including Hunter Choi Yeonseung, are out there...
-Yes! There’s Hunter Choi Yeonseung, so there is no need to worry! Evacuate in an orderly manner!
Huntsman hurriedly ran down the aisle while babbling gibberish, and his remaining supporters stared at him with bewildered expressions.
They had come all the way to this debate venue to support him, but he was running away while spewing nonsense...?
-That bastard has left!
-But won’t he return? He could stand out as a candidate if he does so!
-Set this place on fire!
Unable to adapt to the sudden situation, the supporters lost their cool and destroyed and set everything on fire.
Bang!
-Re-retreat in an orderly manner, humans.
However, Choi Yeonseung’s side had also predicted this.
The supporters had to contain their anger when Uranta, the giant serving the Warrior With a Hammer, slammed his fist into the ground.
-Get in line. In line.
-Let’s... line up.
-As democratic citizens, we must act in an orderly manner. Right.
As the supporters nervously evacuated, they glanced outside the building, but they couldn’t see much. They were scared because they knew that everyone here would be at risk if the enemies reached the building.
-How is it going? -I think they’re hanging in there...
-Call in more A-grade hunters! Why are there so few of them?
-Make them earn that tax money
Bang!
-E-evacuate quietly.
-...Yes, sorry!
-Evacuate quietly!
***
Experienced hunters saw raids as extended submarine voyages or space flights. Once they entered a dungeon, they would be in there for a long time, completely cut off from the outside world.
Thus, being in a raid could be extremely lonely.
Submarines and spaceships could be contacted, but it was often difficult to do so during raids. However, precisely because of that, hunters were incredibly cheerful when they could finally leave the dungeon.
Even if a raid failed, the hunters would be happy if they managed to return home in one piece.
Wes Morales, an American A-grade hunter, was breathing heavily.
“The Abyss raid failed, but... it still paid off!”
The other A-grade hunter, Nicholas Carter, nodded in agreement.
Surprisingly, two A-grade hunters of the United States were challenging the Third Realm of the Abyss.
It was quite unusual for A-grade hunters, who were wary even of falling leaves, to risk their lives challenging an unknown dungeon like this. They were even doing it in secrecy, so it was likely that no one on Earth knew about them.
“Great work guys!”
“It’s nothing.”
“I’ve managed to survive thanks to you, Morales.”
Even though the raid had failed, the hunters happily embraced each other. In fact, they hadn’t actually thought they would be able to clear this dungeon. They had just wanted to see what this realm was like.
The US government had promised them a huge reward just for that.
“I wonder what’s been happening on Earth.”
“Probably not much”
“What if the Eagles clan won the championship while I was away?”
“Haha, you wish!”
The hunters laughed merrily as they chatted. They eventually came across what looked like a village.
In fact, it was more of a research base for exploration and mining.
“Hey! We’re here!”
“Huh? Why isn’t anyone welcoming us?”
“Yo-you’re back?!”
A representative of the base rushed out at them.
“Why are you so surprised?” Morales asked curiously.
“I’ve been instructed to contact you as soon as you returned. We’ve dealt with all the urgent situations, but...”
“You’re making a fuss again,” Carter said while yawning.
After reaching A-grade, one had to get used to people making a fuss for nothing. Both clans and government officials were guilty of that. They always said things like, “Without you, people will die! We’ll be ruined and the world will collapse!”
In Carter’s eyes, those people always blew things out of proportion. It wasn’t like the world would come to an end without one hunter.
“Alright, what happened?”
“The evil god constellations have invaded again.”
“...”
“...”
The hunters’ eyes widened.
This was really... unexpected...
“Fortunately, we’ve managed to avert a crisis.”
“Ah, so the evil god constellations lost?”
“No. They’re still all over the place...”
“...”
Then they hadn’t dealt with it...
“The president... What did George say? Wait, has George won this election as well?”
“No. President George has withdrawn from this election.”
“Then the new president must be from the Liberal Federalist Party. Is it Governor Kenny?”
“No. I think it’s Gould.”
The hunters came up with their own guesses. Given that they were senior hunters, they also had connections to politicians.
“The Liberal Federalist candidate was... It was Mr. Huntsman. He lost.”
“...Who is that?”
“Wh-where have I heard that name? Wait. He was the candidate of the Liberal Federalists? Why? Are they crazy?”
“If he lost, who won the elections?”
“Senator Mike Hwang...”
“Mike Hwang?... Dragon Hwang’s son?! Isn’t he just a first-term senator?”
“He might be Dragon Hwang’s son, but isn’t he too young? He’s not even fifty, right?”
The hunters were so baffled that they thought they had wandered into an alternate dimension in the Abyss.
“I think the fact that he had Hunter Choi Yeonseung’s full support played a big role.”
“I see...” Morales nodded.
“What the hell?!”
Carter was stunned by Morales’ reaction.
Why was that convincing?!