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Translator: uly
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Three-Legged Crow (2)
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"Undead?"
[Danger level 25. These are corpses of humans who have already died, but they move driven by a curse, craving flesh and blood. Their joints are stiff, making their movements very slow, but their teeth and nails contain corpse poison, so be careful.]
Groooan.
Dozens of corpses shuffling in from the hallway let out hoarse groans as they slowly approached.
Their skin had rotted away, exposing bone in places, and a foul stench emanated from their bodies.
"Jiangshi, was it?"
The Heavenly Demon, who had mastered all the Demonic Sects' great laws, was also proficient in corpse stiffening arts and spirit subduing great laws.
His eyes darkened as he realized these undead were jiangshi created through corpse reinforcement techniques.
"Even monsters made in the martial world have appeared."
A dungeon where monsters from other worlds poured out. That other world included the martial world, with no exceptions.
[There's no need to engage them. Undead move slowly, so they won't be able to keep up with your speed, Heavenly Demon.]
"This seat is the heaven of the demonic path and the grand master of the Demonic Sects. How could I simply leave these restless souls bound by curses behind?"
The Heavenly Demon bit his index and middle fingers to draw blood. Then, he swiftly drew a large array and incantations on the hallway floor.
Scribble, scribble.
As he finished the final character, an orange glow began to surge from the blood-red array and incantations.
[Heavenly Demon.]
Instead of heading to the rooftop, the Heavenly Demon walked back outside. Nameless quickly followed behind him.
[Why are we heading back outside?]
Without a word, the Heavenly Demon crouched low and struck the corner of the abandoned building with full force.
"Soaring Wind Dragon Fist!"
Crack!
It was a strike powerful enough to shatter granite, yet the building didn't budge.
It looked on the verge of collapse, but its durability seemed comparable to the bronze-metal-covered dungeon.
[Heavenly Demon, no matter how dilapidated it appears, this is still a dungeon.]
"As expected... it's like that."
The Heavenly Demon looked down at his hands.
Without internal energy, even his mighty physique lacked the power to destroy a dungeon.
[Even a 1st Grade Awakener can't destroy a dungeon with any skill.]
"Can't? Absolutely impossible..."
In that instant, crimson Blood Flame Radiance surged from the Heavenly Demon's eyes.
The Heavenly Demon had reached the supreme realm unattainable by human bodies. He had shattered everything ever deemed impossible.
Such words were utterly intolerable to him.
Crack, crackle.
A strange sound emanated from his clasped hands.
Whoooosh.
At the same time, a ghastly roar that seemed capable of annihilating souls began shaking the entire ground.
"Heavenly Demon Great Ability!"
While in the Demon Vault, the Heavenly Demon had devised a great law that unleashed the body's innate potential without relying on internal energy.
However, with his infinite internal energy spanning ten cycles, he had never needed to use it.
That was the Heavenly Demon Great Ability.
Throb, throb, pop.
Veins bulged across his body as a flash of scarlet light gleamed in the Heavenly Demon's eyes.
"Fist Demon Seven Forms, Extreme Lightning Chaos!"
Channeling all his power into a single fist, a fiercely rotating blue flame shot toward the abandoned building.
BOOM!
With a world-shattering explosion, the high-rise ruin before him crumbled in an instant.
Rumble.
Amid clouds of dust, the collapsed dungeon vanished into the earth.
[Heavenly Demon's awakening grade is... is...]
Nameless glitched, repeating a low mechanical tone without finishing its sentence.
At that moment.
Screeeeech.
A piercing shriek echoed from somewhere, slicing across the distant sky.
At the same time, something enormous hovered above the ruined dungeon. Squinting, the Heavenly Demon saw feathers gleaming gold, with three sharp talons and wings on a monstrous bird.
"What is that?"
A series of beeps emanated from Nameless's body in response to the Heavenly Demon's question.
[Three-Legged Crow Queen. One of the hidden monsters whose danger level and traits remain unknown.]
"Hidden monster?"
[Monsters that appear upon fulfilling specific conditions. Like those in variable dungeons, hidden monsters can roam freely outside dungeons and have a high chance of possessing valuable relics.]
"Relics, huh."
[You've discovered the appearance condition for the abandoned building dungeon's hidden monster, Heavenly Demon. You can register it in the monster compendium under your name, and the Association will pay a bounty.]
Though the exact meaning was unclear, it seemed they rewarded new discoveries.
He wasn't one to refuse leaving his name. Nodding as he gazed at the glittering Three-Legged Crow Queen, the Heavenly Demon spoke.
"Good. Register it under this seat's name."
[Registration denied. Unregistered Awakeners cannot add to the compendium.]
"I see."
The Heavenly Demon nodded without regret.
This world was merely a temporary stop for him.
[The Three-Legged Crow Queen is a monster whose danger level cannot be measured. But I doubt you'd heed advice to retreat.]
"Of course not."
[Then please refrain from directly destroying the monster's body if possible. The valuable relic inside could be damaged.]
Recognizing that the Heavenly Demon's power surpassed a 1st Grade Awakener, Nameless seemed to give up on combat advice.
"I'll try."
Clenching his fists as he stared at the Three-Legged Crow Queen, the Heavenly Demon declared.
"Heavenly Demon Great Ability!"
Bang.
Unleashing the Heavenly Demon Great Ability, which maximized the body's raw power unlike internal energy, a red mist began to rise around him.
Throb, throb.
Veins wrapping his entire body, enveloped in red mist, the Heavenly Demon resembled a demon king ablaze in infernal flames.
Screeeeech!
Sensing his killing intent, the Three-Legged Crow Queen in the sky flashed its eyes and unleashed an arrogant shriek.
"Come, beast."
Hearing the Heavenly Demon's murmur, golden killing intent gleamed in the Three-Legged Crow Queen's eyes.
Screeeeech.
With a long cry, it transformed into a streak of golden light and dove swiftly toward the Heavenly Demon's head.
"Good."
Crouching with fists clenched as he faced the Three-Legged Crow Queen's earth-rending momentum, the Heavenly Demon roared.
"Fist Demon Seven Forms, Soaring Wind Dragon Fist!"
The golden streak plummeting from the sky clashed midair with the crimson surge rising from the ground.
Boom!
Amid thunderous explosion, golden feathers scattered in all directions. The Heavenly Demon's Soaring Wind Dragon Fist had shattered the Three-Legged Crow Queen in midair.
Tap.
Landing on the ground, the Heavenly Demon sighed as he watched the glittering golden feathers fluttering about.
"This... can't be controlled like internal energy."
Shaking his head, he gazed at the dispersing feathers of the Three-Legged Crow Queen.
He picked up three particularly iridescent ones with his fingers.
"I'll take these."
[Mission complete: Obtained three Three-Legged Crow feathers. Return to base?]
Nameless displayed the map again as the Heavenly Demon nodded.
[Then I'll guide you back via the secret passage in the rooftop building set by Manager Jang.]
Spinning its round body with a whir, Nameless turned around.
[Is this what they call karma?]
"What are you saying?"
[The Three-Legged Crow King has appeared. Appearance condition: Annihilate the Three-Legged Crow Queen in one strike.]
A black-glinting bird hovered silently high above.
Startlingly, it made no sound or presence, evading even the Heavenly Demon's keen senses.
Without Nameless's 360-degree monster detection, he might have been ambushed.
"Helpful. I nearly got sneak attacked."
[Did you think I was just a navigation device?]
"Indeed."
[Thank you for admitting it so readily. Will you handle that Three-Legged Crow King too?]
"Not a chance."
Surprisingly, the Heavenly Demon shook his head. His body was slick with cold sweat, and his fingertips trembled faintly.
"The Heavenly Demon Great Ability... takes more of a toll than expected."
It was created under the assumption of lost internal energy, but never intended for actual use.
Merely a curious technique he devised before leaving the Demon Vault, to leave for posterity.
In practice, even his diamond body struggled under the strain.
[How long can you maintain that level of full sprint?]
"About one quarter-hour."
[Place me on your shoulder.]
[Searching for escape route.]
Nameless's body glowed as it scanned the dungeon map, drawing a blue line beneath the Heavenly Demon's feet.
[I've calculated a path evading the Three-Legged Crow King's attack range based on your sprint speed. When I say run, follow this line.]
As the Heavenly Demon nodded, Nameless shouted.
[Now!]
Whoosh.
The moment he dashed along the blue line, a whistling sound came from behind.
Likely the Three-Legged Crow King diving from the sky.
Beep. Beep.
Anticipating the attacks, the blue line zigzagged ahead. Breath heaving, the Heavenly Demon gritted his teeth and ran.
[Enter that building ahead.]
The instant he leaped into the abandoned structure, a supersonic whoosh sliced off the top.
Crashing against the wall amid clattering debris, he had no time to catch his breath before following the next blue line.
"W-What's that thing!"
Screams reached the Heavenly Demon's ears. Looking up, he saw dozens of Awakeners gathered at a small building.
Even in full sprint, he felt the same shock.
"What is that?"
[A rest area operated by Association-affiliated Awakeners.]
"Rest area?"
[A convenience space for Awakeners to rest comfortably inside dungeons. They offer sleeping quarters and sell various items and food.]
After needless exposition, Nameless continued.
[The Awakeners running the rest area are all 4th Grade or higher. Don't enter—pass by the side.]
The Heavenly Demon brushed past the rest area, following the blue line without looking ahead.
Then, static crackled, followed by massive screams around it.
"Gaaah!"
"What the hell breaks a barrier in one hit?!"
"Hidden monster! Prepare to attack!"
Glancing back, the rest area was chaos.
"..."
Watching, the Heavenly Demon felt a unfamiliar prickling in his chest.
Unaware it was his conscience nagging him.
* * *
Inside the Doubly Blessed Interior Shop.
"Wow! Is this really Three-Legged Crow feathers?"
Seated at the reception table, Jang Chaewon gaped at the feathers the Heavenly Demon brought, unable to close her mouth.
"Usually they're glossy black... but these shimmer with iridescent colors? The spiritual energy is way denser too."
"I'm glad the shopkeeper is satisfied."
"Satisfied? This is beyond that! I can make top-grade brushes with these. You worked hard, Hea—"
Her beaming smile faded mid-bounce like an excited child.
The Heavenly Demon looked uneasy, dark circles stretching under his eyes.
"What's wrong? Hurt? Did something happen in the dungeon?"
"N-No."
Forcing a smile, he shook his head.
"Just a bit tired."
"Right, right. Rest up—you earned it. I'll pop over to the general store nearby."
"Understood."
Grabbing her handbag, Jang Chaewon left the shop cheerfully.
But the Heavenly Demon's gaze fixed on the TV inside.
Muted, it showed emergency news: the wrecked rest area, Awakeners collapsing under the Three-Legged Crow King.
-Today afternoon, in the XX District Safe Dungeon Zone, the hidden monster Three-Legged Crow King appeared...
-Regarding the destruction of an F-grade dungeon from unknown causes, authorities condemned the Association's oversight of unregistered Awakeners...
"Hmm."
Nameless, perched on his shoulder, spoke amid his deep groan.
[It's fine, Heavenly Demon.]
Pride and confidence laced Nameless's voice.
[That many people won't die at minimum.]
It was the pride of protecting its user from danger.