Chapter 33 – Public Sparring

Meanwhile, around the time the match between the Association Head and Lee Hanseong’s party was about to begin.

Elder Choi Sangguk, who was away on a business trip outside, had also heard the news.

“Secretary Kim. What is the meaning of this? Wasn’t he supposed to be dealt with?”

Kim Jinsu, the older brother of Kim Jinho, had a flicker in his eyes upon learning that Lee Hanseong’s party was still alive.

Their survival meant that Kang Min and Kim Jinho, whom he had sent for the ambush, had failed.

“It seems they have failed.”

“Is that all you have to say?!”

Thwack!

An ashtray flew and struck Kim Jinsu’s forehead.

“My apologies. However, this match will reveal their combat capabilities, so we will not fail next time.”

Kim Jinsu, whose forehead had been struck without shedding a single drop of blood, spoke with a stiff expression.

“Hmm, I wonder if there will even be a next time.”

Beep— Whirr.

A beam projector screen unfolded, displaying footage from the underground training ground.

It showed the moment the Association Head was summoning his Spirits.

“Guan Yu, Cheok Jungeom, Xiang Yu, and even Hercules?”

Guan Yu and Cheok Jungeom were Seven-Star, while Xiang Yu and Hercules were Eight-Star.

All were Spirits belonging to the Golden Constellation of Seven-Star or higher.

An overwhelming force incomparable to a promising candidate party that had just obtained their Awakened License.

“What kind of show are you trying to put on, Lee Hyeonseong?”

Elder Choi Sangguk couldn’t help but doubt the Association Head’s intentions.

Even if he intended to deliberately inflate the opponent’s strength to make them appear formidable, to what extent should they be able to contend? Why?

Just as such doubts arose.

Two Spirits were also summoned from the promising candidate party’s side.

Admiral Yi Sunsin and Taoist Jeon Woochi.

“What?! When did they get a Seven-Star Spirit? Moreover, Admiral Yi Sunsin was originally a Six-Star Spirit!”

“According to the news that just came in, Young Jin Yuseong became Jeon Woochi’s Contractor after forming a new Spirit Contract this time.”

“Could he have already Awakened to 2-Star?”

“It seems the dungeon they cleared this time was at least a medium-sized dungeon. He probably achieved 2-Star Awakening there.”

Suddenly, something occurred to Elder Choi Sangguk as well.

“Could it be that ‘that’ came from the dungeon they went to?”

‘That.’ It referred to a new mythical item that had started appearing in the [Underground] about a month ago.

It was a material called <Fragment of ■■>, and rumors said it could raise a Spirit’s Grade.

Elder Choi Sangguk was also preparing to enter the Underground to verify the truth of those rumors.

“Seeing Admiral Yi Sunsin truly reach Seven-Star, it seems the rumors weren’t baseless after all.”

The [Underground] was a large underground dungeon with multiple entrances worldwide, where the Otherworld and Earth intersected most significantly.

The monsters that appeared were at least Seven-Star or higher, and even Nine-Star to Ten-Star ones appeared frequently, so only high-rank Awakener parties of Seven-Star or above could enter.

“Where is the dungeon they discovered?”

“I don’t know the exact location either… But I confirmed it’s not a private dungeon owned by the Association, so it’s probably a newly emerged dungeon recently.”

“Does that Fragment appear as a reward even in recently emerged dungeons? No, but for a mythical-grade reward to appear, it must be equally dangerous. Did a mere 1-Star party clear such a place?”

The answer could be found by watching the real-time match footage.

Whoosh!

Immediately after the Spirits were summoned, the match’s progression was simple.

Jeon Woochi used his Clone Technique to create numerous clones, and Admiral Yi Sunsin commanded them to surround the opponent.

Then, the Association Head’s Spirits would crush Jeon Woochi’s clones, which were enhanced with various buffs, with overwhelming force.

Swoosh! Clang! Crash! Boom!

With each swing of Guan Yu’s Green Dragon Crescent Blade, Cheok Jungeom’s Nameless Sword, Xiang Yu’s Overlord Sword, and Hercules’ club, dozens of clones were shattered.

“Didn’t they say Jin Yuseong contracted with Jeon Woochi just today? Being able to use the Clone Technique means he has already Synchronized. Quite impressive. What do you think, Secretary Kim?”

“According to my 《Snooping》, all members of Lee Hanseong’s party have raised their Synchronization Rate to the limit of their current Star Rank. Especially Lee Hanseong, he has raised the Synchronization Rate of all his contracted Spirits to over 90%.”

Kim Jinsu answered while reading the numerical values floating above the people visible in the footage.

Since the Spirit he contracted was a legendary spy Spirit, he could glean quite a lot of information even from indirect footage rather than seeing it directly.

“They probably have a Skill that allows them to stably adjust their Synchronization Rate. Some kind of network is connecting them.”

The lamp summoned by Yu Sehee emitted light of Prolonged Life, purification, and Healing Light, tenaciously prolonging the lives of the shattered clones.

Park Seongcheol, together with Admiral Yi Sunsin, stacked various buffs to enhance the clones’ capabilities.

However, even that much was insufficient to withstand the Association Head’s Spirits.

Whoosh!

Before long, Guan Yu, who had summoned his Red Hare, and Xiang Yu, who had summoned his Black Horse, pierced through the encirclement, leaving trails of red and black tails behind.

It seemed they intended to directly target Lee Hanseong’s party hiding behind the clones.

Shimmer!

However, the moment they noticed the charge, the real bodies of the party, including Jin Yuseong, had switched places with their body doubles, the Black Shadow Clones.

Shadow clones sprouted like mushrooms among Jeon Woochi’s clones, and they continuously switched positions, engaging in a chase.

Moreover, they even used the Shapeshifting Art to change their appearances to match Jeon Woochi’s, making it difficult to tell who was real.

“Is Jin Yuseong the core of the party?”

From what was seen so far, it seemed so.

But the next moment, Kim Jinsu’s eyes widened in shock.

Whoosh!

The Grade of Lee Hanseong’s party visible in the footage suddenly skyrocketed in an instant.

By at least two levels!

“4-Star Rank…!”

“4-Star? What are you talking about?”

“The Grade of the promising candidates connected through Lee Hanseong suddenly surged.”

At Kim Jinsu’s words, Elder Choi Sangguk, who had been scrutinizing the footage more intently, realized it was true and his eyes gleamed.

“Oh ho. I wondered why the promising candidates followed Lee Hanseong. So he had such an ability.”

A gaze shimmering with greed.

But soon, a sigh escaped him as he realized he wasn’t the only one who knew this fact.

“Tsk. Killing him is out of the question now.”

“Yes, once this footage spreads, interest in Lee Hanseong will reach its peak. And that will likely translate into support for Association Head Lee Hyeonseong.”

“When he fell to being a 1-Star Contractor, I thought it was an opportunity, but who would have thought he’d make such a comeback?”

The tables had turned.

Now, public opinion was on the Association Head’s side.

Aspiring for the next Association Head position in this state was preposterous.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Just then, Kim Jinsu’s phone began ringing with consecutive text message alerts.

After checking the contents, Kim Jinsu’s expression hardened.

“It seems all the people we recruited are being arrested. Seeing the Association Head’s direct assault team moving personally, it looks like the Association Head intends to cut us out using this opportunity.”

“Has the Association Head’s counterattack already begun?”

“If this continues, we’re in danger too. Perhaps it’s better to cut ties from my end…”

“No, the Association Head won’t stop at just that. He intends to cut us out completely this time.”

“Then what should we do…?”

“It seems the fact that we were behind the ambush has been revealed.”

Elder Choi Sangguk, being someone who also targeted the Association Head, was a Nine-Star Awakener.

A veteran who had contracted with high-rank Spirits belonging to the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation.

For a moment, he considered turning the crisis into an opportunity and directly attacking the underground training ground where the match was taking place while the Association Head’s subordinates were away, but…

“Attack now? No… That feels like a trap.”

Even if the Association Head purged them, considering public opinion, he couldn’t kill them.

At most, sending them to a penal unit would be the limit of the punishment they could receive.

But if they took direct action, the Association Head would gain justification to kill them.

Even if, by some chance, they succeeded, the Association Head position would be out of reach anyway.

Regardless of the outcome, it was a choice leading to ruin.

Boom! Boom!

The match shown in the footage had now reached its climax.

Xiang Yu’s “Lifting the Cauldron to Show His Might” pressed down on the entire training ground, while Admiral Yi Sunsin and Park Seongcheol’s “Blood Flame Mountain River” released a blood dragon, struggling to resist it.

Jeon Woochi and Jin Yuseong’s “My Way is Threaded by One” unfolded, breaking down the boundaries between Daoist Arts and maximizing the efficiency of the arts themselves, while Cheok Jungeom’s “Single Sword Slash” cut through those very arts.

The Lamp of Prolonged Life was already flickering precariously as Yu Sehee deflected Guan Yu’s Green Dragon Crescent Blade with her light-emitting mace.

And the most powerful Demi-God, Hercules’ “Hydra Slayer,” targeted Lee Hanseong.

A legendary Skill that multiplied into nine attacks, with flame damage following each attack, hindering Regeneration.

In response, Lee Hanseong drew a demonic sword filled with the energy of the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation.

Crackle!

Multiple Awakening Skills overlapped upon it.

The demonic sword wreathed in black flames and lightning was clearly of Legendary Grade.

Looking again, Park Seongcheol’s armor, Yu Sehee’s mace, and Jin Yuseong’s shoes were the same.

Immediately after, Hercules’ nine-fold attack and Lee Hanseong’s Slash collided.

Clang!!!!!!!!

“Completely decked out in Legendary Equipment. Did the Association Head open his treasure vault for them?”

Upon confirming the Legendary Equipment Lee Hanseong’s party was wielding, his resolve solidified.

He decided to abandon the desperate attack that was little more than a last stand.

However, he had no intention of being captured by the Association Head’s side and remaining idle.

“We go to the Underground.”

He judged that if he obtained the <Fragment of ■■> and promoted his Nine-Star Spirit to Ten-Star, he would gain the power to change the situation.

* * *

Fortunately, since he was already preparing to enter the Underground, most supplies like food and combat equipment were ready, so Elder Choi Sangguk and Secretary Kim Jinsu’s movements were swift.

Ding! Ding!

Meanwhile, notifications about the arrests of the people they had recruited kept coming in.

The two hurried their steps toward the location of the Underground entrance.

“It seems we need to hurry a bit more.”

“Tsk. We’re a step behind.”

But when they arrived at the Underground entrance, the Association Head’s direct assault team, led by the Association Head’s secretary, was already blocking the way.

“Elder Choi. Where are you going in such a hurry?”

“Well, if it isn’t Secretary Do. Why aren’t you by the Association Head’s side? What brings you here?”

“You already know, don’t you? You’ll have to come with us for a while.”

“And if I refuse?”

As Elder Choi Sangguk showed signs of resistance, the assault team members surrounding them all simultaneously assumed defensive stances.

Spirit Hero Treasures were summoned, and all Spirits of Seven-Star or higher were summoned.

“If you resist, we’ll have no choice but to subdue you by force.”

“Kehaha!”

Faced with a force of over ten Seven-Star Spirits and even one Eight-Star Spirit, Elder Choi Sangguk burst into laughter.

“By force? You think you can capture me with just you lot?”

Whoosh!

The next moment, his Spirits were summoned before Elder Choi Sangguk.

Seven-Star Shuten-doji, Seven-Star Red Boy, Eight-Star Yaksha, Eight-Star Rakshasa, Nine-Star Ox-Demon King.

Up to Six-Star, only human Spirits like historical figures existed, but from Seven-Star onward, beings transcending humanity could appear, including humanoid monsters or ghosts, they said.

Elder Choi Sangguk’s Spirits were exactly that.

Shuten-doji, an Oni (demon) from Japan, and Yaksha, the prototype of such Oni from hell.

And even the Ox-Demon King and Rakshasa couple from Journey to the West, along with their child, Red Boy.

Not a single human was present.

It meant that the Contractor, Elder Choi Sangguk, had a personality close to inhuman.

“Do Junyeong, I’ll advise you out of old sentiment. Step aside. Then you won’t get hurt.”

Whoosh.

Kim Jinsu also summoned his Spirits and advised Do Junyeong, the Association Head’s secretary.

Three Spirits were added: Seven-Star Spirit Giparang, Seven-Star Spirit Hong Gildong, and Eight-Star Spirit Yaksha.

Although the number of high-rank Spirits of Seven-Star or higher was about double on the assault team’s side, the overall combat power wasn’t significantly different.

The difference of one Star Rank grows larger as the Star Rank increases.

“So the rumor that you recently contracted a new Eight-Star Spirit was true. Who would have thought it would be a Yaksha.”

Do Junyeong broke into a cold sweat as he looked at the two Yaksha summoned together in one place.

Considering Shuten-doji, a variant of Yaksha, it was practically a situation with three Yaksha gathered in one place.

Combined with the fact that it was underground, it wouldn’t be strange if <Legend Resonance> occurred.

“Even if you’re with a Nine-Star Awakener, there was a reason a mere 5-Star Awakener tried to enter the Underground.”

Legend Resonance was when three Spirits sharing the same history or legend gathered, and their legends resonated, unleashing power surpassing their original Star Ranks.

And Elder Choi Sangguk’s Ox-Demon King, Rakshasa, and Red Boy were famous Spirits synonymous with such Legend Resonance.

With just the three monster Spirits from Journey to the West being dangerous, if two Yaksha and an Oni also underwent Legend Resonance, the assault team’s defeat was certain.

“…Abandon the operation! Evacuate the area swiftly!”

Do Junyeong, having assessed the situation, gave the order to retreat, but before that, Elder Choi Sangguk’s Spirits began their attack.

“Sorry, but I disagree with Secretary Kim’s opinion.”

Crunch! Thud! Slash!

“I believe it’s better to eliminate those who will become enemies anyway in advance.”

“Argh! Choi Sangguk, you bastard!”

Seeing the assault team members dying in an instant, a few who lost their reason attempted to retaliate, but all counterattacks were futilely blocked.

Only Do Junyeong, who maintained his reason until the end and focused solely on evacuating, managed to escape, albeit with injuries.

‘I must inform the Association Head of this.’

Elder Choi Sangguk was aware that Do Junyeong had escaped, but he did not pursue.

“Hmm. Did Secretary Do get away? We can’t afford to waste more time here, let’s just go.”

“Yes.”

Instead, as originally planned, he entered the portal leading to the Underground with Kim Jinsu.

In the place they left behind, only the pungent smell of blood and corpses remained, forming a chilling silence.