Chapter 31: Core (1)
Chapter 31: Core (1)
Sword qi.
It’s the expression of condensed energy in the form of qi and a sword.
Its sharpness and destructive power were incomparable to that of simple sword energy.
And the Alpha had tremendously tough skin that could even withstand sword qi.
Thud!
The body of such an Alpha Horn Jackal was split and collapsed.
Peng Neung-gyeom, who had fought with it directly, couldn’t accept what his eyes were seeing.
‘Who the hell is… ah?’
He was shocked by the sight.
It looked blurry when the man unfolded the attack because of the speed he was moving at, but the man stopped for a moment while cutting the monster.
It was Chun Yeowun, who was wearing a long black coat which was fluttering.
‘No protective suit?’
Outside the barrier is supposed to be full of toxic substances.
Peng Neung-gyeom was able to protect his body using internal energy, despite that he wore a protective suit because he would be exposed to the toxic substances for a long period.
But what was even more shocking than that, was,
‘He cut down that Alpha while holding a woman?’
In Chun Yeowun’s arms was a woman who seemed to be in her mid to late fifties.
Just looking at that, he couldn’t even understand how they managed to come out here.
At that moment, Chun Yeowun reached out to the body of the Alpha.
Crack!
The section on the left side of the monster which had been split, bulged and soon something pierced out of its flesh.
A black sphere the size of a human head.
“Ah! The core!”
“Core!”
Shouts came out of the mouths of the Gate Keepers around him.
It was the core which had come out of the dead Alpha’s body.
The correct name is
[Gate Core.]
Nano explained it to Chun Yeowun.
‘Gate Core?’
[That’s right. It’s similar to energy points in normal monsters, but these cores are said to control the energy waves which are connected to the Gates.]
‘You mean that energy we felt when the Gate Warning was given?’
[Right. The Gate closes when the outer shell of the core is broken.]
Chun Yeowun nodded as if he understood Nano’s words.
Chun Yeowun’s ability to feel energy has changed a lot since he entered the Heavenly Master Level, which allowed him to feel energy differently from how ordinary people do.
That was why, Chun Yeowun, who was just going to cut it down and leave, stopped in front of the Alpha.
‘It’s similar.’
Chun Yeowun sensed that the energy flowing from the core was similar to the energy wave he felt when Gate 26 opened.
‘If this is left like this, these strange monsters will keep coming.’
[Right.]
‘Hmm.’
Chun Yeowun frowned and stretched out his hand.
The core which was protruding out of its flesh, was sucked into Chun Yeowun’s hand.
Grab!
Chun Yeowun holding the core in his hand, increased his energy.
‘Quite solid.’
The outer shell was a lot harder than he thought, but it wasn’t hard enough that he couldn’t break it.
Crack!
Cracks formed on the black sphere.
The outer shell of the core began to crack like glass.
Pang!
A strong wave of energy erupted from the cracks.
Swoosh!
The wave rapidly spread in all directions when the shell shattered.
But something strange happened.
As the wave spread in all directions, the far away flock of Horn Jackals suddenly changed direction and ran towards the west.
‘Oh-ho?’
It looked like they were heading back before the gate closed.
“They’re going back!”
“We won!”
“Woahhh!!”
At that sight, the infantry below cheered.
Them running back meant that the core was broken, an indication that the battle was over.
But it wasn’t all over yet.
In front of the wall, the officers who were standing were ordered.
“Don’t laze around! There are still some left!”
“Get rid of them!”
Not all Horn Jackals were running away because the core was broken.
One or two km away, many retreated.
But a hundred or so of them remained near the wall as if they were covering for the group which was retreating.
Rather than calling them intelligent, it was more of a group instinct.
Swoosh!
The outer shell of the core shattered into powder.
But there was something surprising in it.
A fist-sized sphere emitting bright light like an LED light bulb.
[Pure core.]
‘Oh… something similar to the core of spirit beasts?’
A great energy could be felt from it.
Although it wasn’t imbued with spiritual energy unlike the cores, it still had pure energy in it.
‘I must be lucky.’
Chun Yeowun was satisfied.
The annoying thing called a Gate was closed, and he had a core in his hand, it was a win-win situation.
Since everything he had come here for was done, he had to get out quickly and heal the woman.
That was when someone came to him.
“Yah, you did a very dangerous thing coming out of the walls without even having a protective suit on.”
It was Do Jung-rak, the leader of the Gate Keepers.
He was mesmerized by the sight of the Alpha being slashed in half in one strike, but he frowned at the sight of Chun Yeowun holding someone and not even wearing a protective suit.
“Haa… Haaa…”
Geum Oh-yeon’s face was pale.
Worried that her condition might be bad, Do Jung-rak said.
“It looks like she’s been poisoned by the air, are you okay?”
With that, he pulled something out from his waist.
It was a mask, which was attached to a small oxygen cylinder.
“Use this.”
“What is this?”
“Emergency oxygen supply for if our helmets break and we get exposed to the toxic air. As far as I know, there’s a medicine which suppresses the toxins in the oxygen tank. It will suppress the symptoms for a bit.”
At the favor done by Do Jung-rak, Chun Yeowun’s expression softened.
After entering this unknown world, he was the first person to show kindness on their first meeting.
He was touched.
“Thank you.”
Judging that the man had no ulterior motive, he put the core into his pocket and took the emergency oxygen mask.
And made Geum Oh-yeon wear it.
She put the mask on and pulled the band behind her head, after taking a couple breaths, she seemed to have calmed down.
“Oh! It’s working!”
Do Jung-rak smiled brightly at it.
Chun Yeowun nodded.
‘He seems like a decent person.’
There was nothing wrong with having a relationship with such a person.
“I will never forget this favor. Can I know your name?”
Chun Yeowun could have expelled the toxic substances in the woman’s body if her symptoms had gotten worse, still, it was clear that he received help in the midst of an urgent situation, so he asked for his name.
“Hahaa, what is all that? A person’s life depended on it, it’s only natural to help. I’m Do Jung-rak working as a Gate Keeper in Shenyang…”
Then someone appeared and intervened.
“I know it’s rude, but would it be okay to interrupt the conversation? Leader Do?”
It was Moyong Geum.
Do Jung-rak frowned at the sight of him interrupting a conversation.
The two of them were aware of each other, and were always in a competitive relationship when it came to defending against the Gate.
‘What is he planning?’
In the eyes of Do Jung-rak, Moyong Geum was a warrior and a businessman who was made of money.
To him, the man was obviously planning something.
Of course, his prediction was correct.
‘I can’t miss this opportunity.’
Moyong Geum’s eyes were on Chun Yeowun, well, on the pocket where the light of the core was glowing from.
He had interrupted the conversation to get the C-class core which Chun Yeowun had obtained.
‘I wouldn’t be able to handle that Alpha by myself, but I’m lucky that a Murim warrior got it and not the Gate Keepers.’
When Gate Keepers get a core, it turns into government property.
That way, he couldn’t get it by any means.
In that regard, the young man ahead must be a Murim warrior, considering Moyong Geum’s current position in the Murim Association, he could offer money and a position in exchange for the core.
“My young friend here has great skills. As branch director of the Shenyang Murim Association. I would like to commend this achievement wit…”
“Do Jung-rak. I will repay you later.”
Cutting off his words, Chun Yeowun thanked the Gate Keeper.
‘This jerk?’
Moyong Geum’s face inside the helmet distorted.
Do Jung-rak felt better about what happened and responded with a smile.
“Repay me for what? The relation is all we need. Hahaha.”
On the other hand, the displeasure Moyong Geum felt was increasing.
However, there were many eyes around him, so he couldn’t lash out.
Suppressing his emotions, he said.
“My young friend here seems to have a good sense of morality. I like…”
“Then I will leave.”
Chun Yeowun interrupted him once again.
The suppressed emotions of Moyong Geum were released.
“This young one is quite rude. Don’t you know who I am?”
Moyong Geum was a person with high pride.
As the chairman of the Yeon Company and a branch director of the Murim Association, he thought that most Murim warriors were under him.
But as Chun Yeowun kept ignoring him, he couldn’t help but get angry.
“Don’t bother me. I will find you when the time is right. Descendant of Moyong.”
“What?”
Moyong Geum was taken aback by Chun Yeowun’s words.
It was the first time that someone was speaking to him in such a manner.
Besides, he had the title of chairman, yet he was being called the Descendant of Moyong.
“Descendant of Moyong? Ha! Look here young one, you’re going too far. Even in the 21th century society there’s a thing called respect in Murim. Do you think that the rules between seniors and juniors are something to be taken lightly?”
As soon as he said that, he sent a message.
He couldn’t speak out loud because there were other people around them.
[Don’t act cocky. Are you making fun of the Association?]
Chun Yeowun shook his head at the message.
Still, Moyong Geum’s eyes turned angry.
[I was wanting to have a nice conversation with you, but if you keep acting like this, I will have no choice but to revoke your registration as a member of the Associatio…]
Puck!
“Kuak!”
At that moment, Chun Yeowun’s hand struck his neck.
Moyong Geum, who was suddenly hit, grabbed his neck as he was pushed back.
“Kuak… Kuak… yo… you…”
It was weird.
He was protecting his body with energy, yet the attack hurt.
Shhh!
‘Huh?’
At that moment, Chun Yeowun approached him and put his hand on the helmet.
Flustered, Moyong Geum tried to cut Chun Yeowun’s hand which was holding his helmet with his sword, but
“I told you not to bother me.”
Pak!
“Kuk!”
Clang!
Moyong Geum became paralyzed and the sword in his hand dropped.
It felt like his head was spinning.
“Kuak… kuak…”
Blood was dripping from his eyes, nose, ears and mouth, he trembled and then fell to the floor unconscious.
“Ahh…”
An exclamation flowed out of Peng Neung-gyeom’s mouth as he watched this.
He thought that the man was greatly skilled as he cut down the Alpha at once, but he far exceeded his expectations.
He subdued a Superior Master as if it was nothing.
‘He’s such a monster.’
He only looked like he was in his twenties, but he was outstanding.
And in a place like this, Moyong Geum, the chairman of the Yeon Company and a branch director of the Murim Association was turned into this.
“Father!’
Moyong Yi-sun, who had just arrived at E-3 wall with around 30 Murim warriors from the company, rushed in.
Moyong Yi-sun, who saw that his father collapsed after Chun Yeowun’s small attack, shouted in anger.
“You bastard! How dare you touch him!”
Visor!
Moyong Yi-sun and the other warriors drew their swords.
Chun Yeowun, who looked at them, discarded his soft expression and looked at them with cold eyes.
‘This…’
He thought that this would happen, and he also thought that the Peng family would intervene.
This was an expected situation.
It was then.
“Stop!”
Someone intervened.
And it was.
“President Yeom Ki-seop?”
He was the president of the Six Road Toys.
At the unexpected appearance of the unexpected person, Moyong Yi-sun and the others stopped.
Moyong Yi-sun, who was still angry, shouted at Ki-seop, the president of a competitive company who had previously belonged to the same Association, and who intervened.
“President Yeom. This isn’t a situation you get to interfere with.”
Moyong Yi-sun thought that the man was trying to mediate between the involved parties.
However, the response was unexpected.
“If anyone wants to attack this man, you will have to go through me, Yeom Ki-seop.”
“Wh-What?”