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Translator: uly
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Clashing with People Before Demons
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Dark Phoenix's Nest.
The place had earned that name naturally because of Geon-woo.
It was here, during the 1st Expedition, that Geon-woo had obtained a large soulstone.
Among the demons who had crossed over to Onviroad at the time, one of the highest-ranking ones had been in this very spot.
Geon-woo had joined forces with the residents of Onviroad to slay that high-ranking demon and claim the large soulstone.
The battle had been so fierce that not only had the Dark Phoenix mercenary group suffered heavy losses, but the residents had as well.
Yet, having slain one of the strongest demons of that era, it was only natural that the news shook all of Onviroad.
That feat had elevated Dark Phoenix's reputation even further.
Of course, right after that, the Dark Phoenix mercenaries had vanished without a trace. But the battlefield remembered the events and came to be called Dark Phoenix's Nest.
The gate where Geon-woo's group arrived was right in the center of that basin terrain known as Dark Phoenix's Nest.
'What do you think is the reason this place got called a nest?'
Having crossed through the gate into Dark Phoenix's Nest, Geon-woo immediately led his jiangshi away from it.
This was standard gate etiquette to avoid bumping into other gate users.
After moving a short distance from the gate, he scanned the surroundings and asked Ilryeong that question.
= Judging by the terrain here, it's a basin. Doesn't it resemble a bird's nest? I'm more curious about the origin of the "Dark Phoenix" part attached to it.
Ilryeong guessed the origin of the "nest" name based on the visible landscape.
Yet he couldn't figure out why "Dark Phoenix" was prefixed to it—because he didn't realize this was the site of the final fierce battle against the demon in the past.
In contrast, Geon-woo had never slacked on gathering information while awaiting his return to Onviroad.
He had especially made sure to secure as much intel as possible on Belloca City and its surroundings, which was how he learned the origin of the name Dark Phoenix's Nest.
'Remember Helparis? The last demon we fought.'
= Of course. He was a noble among demons, a baron, as I recall. Though that was just how the Onviroad residents classified them.
'Yeah, that guy. This is exactly the open-pit mine he was digging up.'
Geon-woo spun around, surveying the entire basin to jog Ilryeong's memory.
= Ah, this is... I see. It was so barren back then, and now it's overgrown with vegetation—I didn't recognize it. Now that you mention it, this must be the place.
At Geon-woo's words, Ilryeong looked around anew and nodded.
'That's why it's called Dark Phoenix's Nest. We were famous as the Undying Mercenaries, right? So the Onviroad residents named it that, hoping we'd revive from this nest.'
= Is that so? Dark Phoenix rising again from its nest... Just thinking about it makes my chest swell with grandeur. So that's the meaning behind the nest.
'You sure haven't forgotten that flowery phrasing, huh?'
= It's a magnificent expression, brimming with heroic spirit. My chest swells with grandeur!
'Fine, if you like it so much. But the situation here isn't great right now.'
= What do you mean by that? The situation here isn't good?
'It's been seven years since we killed Helparis here, and now they're saying we might have to abandon this place. The demons pushing in from the interior aren't pushovers, apparently.'
= I see.
'What, no big reaction? Typical tsundere.'
= Of course not. Now that you've returned, my lord, what is there to worry about?
Ilryeong gazed at Geon-woo with proud eyes as he spoke.
'We'll see about that.'
= Ah, in that case, isn't this the residents' wish coming true?
'Hm?'
= Dark Phoenix truly awakening from its nest once more. You'll be the one to continue the Dark Phoenix legend here, living up to the name. Ohhh, it's deeply moving.
'Overdoing it again. Tsk, enough—let's head up for now.'
Geon-woo shook his head at Ilryeong's exaggerated flapping of arms and began moving the jiangshi.
Leaving the basin here would take them into demon territory.
At that thought, Geon-woo felt his heart race with excitement.
* * *
= My lord!
'I know.'
Geon-woo replied in a low,沉 voice at Ilryeong's call.
= What is it? Could it be enemies?
'Yeah. That aura they're giving off doesn't feel friendly.'
There was a group hurriedly climbing the slope behind them.
Geon-woo had just about reached the ridge above the basin with his jiangshi when over a hundred users poured out from the gate connected to Belloca City.
They all seemed to belong to the same group, marked by a red rose emblem on their chests, sleeves, or cloaks.
"Over there!"
"Chase them!"
Spotting Geon-woo's group on the ridge, they shouted and charged up.
= What will you do?
Ilryeong asked Geon-woo, his eyes coldly fixed on the group below the ridge.
'Well, I came out to hunt demons, but it looks like I'll be tasting user blood first.'
Geon-woo didn't like the current situation, but he had no intention of running either.
After all, death for an avatar wasn't true death, so turning tail didn't sit right with him.
Besides, the pursuers didn't look all that intimidating.
= Then without further ado...
'No. We should hold off on the first strike, at least.'
= Pardon? Why?
Ilryeong wore a puzzled expression, unable to comprehend Geon-woo's decision.
Geon-woo glanced not at the approaching group below, but at the other users scattered around the basin.
'It'd be overkill to just cut them down without a word. This is my Onviroad debut—I don't want to get branded a PK criminal.'
He wasn't scared of a fight, but there was no need to invite bad publicity.
= Because of the other users watching?
'Exactly. Too many eyes.'
= Understood.
Ilryeong nodded after confirming the users scattered around the nest.
They had been eyeing Geon-woo's group with curiosity ever since their arrival.
Now, with this sudden clash against a new armed force, they had an exciting spectacle to watch, their eyes gleaming.
"You bastards! Stop right there!"
While Geon-woo conversed with Ilryeong, the unwelcome guests rapidly scaled the steep hill and closed to within ten meters.
The apparent leader of the group bellowed first.
He carried a large metal shield on his back and a sword at his waist, with a red rose emblazoned on his plate armor chest—clearly a tank warrior or knight class.
"What's this about?"
Geon-woo stepped forward, flanked by eight jiangshi left and right, and asked.
"You're Kang Geon-woo, aren't you?"
The man eyed Geon-woo and asked in a tone full of certainty.
'You know my name?'
Geon-woo was slightly surprised to hear his name from the man's mouth and asked back.
Users here looking for him?
And with such hostile intent?
As puzzlement flickered in Geon-woo's eyes...
"Kill him!"
The man immediately pointed at Geon-woo and ordered his comrades behind him.
"Uwaaaah!"
"Chaaat!"
"Kill!"
"Bonus!"
The users behind didn't hesitate, charging at Geon-woo all at once.
The distance was barely twenty meters.
The physical abilities of demon-hunting avatars far surpassed those of ordinary people.
They closed in on Geon-woo's group in an instant.
But even in that brief moment, things arrived before the people.
Pew-pew-pew! Whirrr! Thwack!
Over a dozen arrows, followed by thrown hand axes, spears, and daggers, rained toward Geon-woo.
Attacking the moment they confirmed him.
No hesitation—immediate and clean execution.
But.
Clang-clang-clang! Kagagang! Kgang!
Two jiangshi blocked in front of Geon-woo, batting away the incoming weapons.
They then braced to intercept the charging users.
One was a massive jiangshi with a shield raised, the other wielding a crescent blade.
These were the fifth and sixth jiangshi Geon-woo had acquired: Oryeong and Yukryeong.
Sometimes called Shieldryeong (盾靈) and Spear-ryeong (槍靈), they were tank-positioned jiangshi.
"Twinryeong, Flashryeong. Go!"
But before Shieldryeong and Spear-ryeong could clash with the users, Geon-woo issued a new command. The two jiangshi leaped straight into the midst of the users.
These were Geon-woo's second and third jiangshi: the dual-wielding Ilyeong called Twinryeong (雙靈), and the katana-user third called Flashryeong (閃靈).
Slash! Scriiit! Shgaaak!
"Ugh!"
"Aaak!"
"Guh!"
Twinryeong and Flashryeong were agility-stat-focused jiangshi, known for their speed.
The two who plunged into the hundred-plus users exploited that trait, butchering them at speeds invisible to the eye.
They only appeared when clashing with foes, flickering here and there like a stuttering video frame as they dispatched enemies.
"Gungry eong!"
Geon-woo then called forth another jiangshi.
His fourth, Saryeong (四靈), was an archer jiangshi called Gungryeong.
Pew-pew-pew-pew-pew! Pew-pew-pew!
Pum-pum-pum! Pum-pum-pum! Pubek!
"Kuh!"
"Aaak!"
"...!"
Gungryeong, following Geon-woo's will, unleashed a barrage, emptying a quiver of thirty arrows in seconds.
Just three jiangshi were launching a direct assault on over a hundred users.
Yet the attackers were collapsing pathetically, like rotten straw bundles.
"H-how is this...?"
"Magic armor! Magic armor! They're all wearing magic armor!"
"Damn it, blades aren't penetrating!"
"What the hell are those monsters?"
"I-I can't die here!"
By the time users finally reached Spear-ryeong and Shieldryeong, they let out despairing groans.
Their attacks couldn't even properly scratch the shield and armor.
Only then did they realize the two jiangshi wore magic armor—enchanted plate.
"Ughhh, no match..."
"Run!"
"We're dying! Dying!"
The clash was brief, but dozens had already fallen dead.
Death meant losing everything they carried.
Those who realized this lost their earlier bravado and faltered.
They could get guild support upon respawn, but not full compensation for losses.
That thought deflated their puffed-up courage.
"You fucking idiots! What the hell? Get out of the way!"
"Stupid bastards!"
Then, a few users who had been slowly ascending from the basin floor shouted and bounded up the slope.
They leaped over twenty meters into the air in a flash, yelling.
"Die!"
"Haaat!"
"Chaat!"
There were six in total.
One each at Twinryeong and Flashryeong, one each at Shieldryeong and Spear-ryeong.
And the last two batted away Gungryeong's arrows, heading straight for Geon-woo!