Chapter 228


    The monsters that appeared in the sky had lion bodies and eagle heads.


    Its as Miss Ham Sohyun said.


    Monsters would descend from the sky, and they would be winged creatures with the bodies of a four-legged beast. That was exactly what was happening now. Of course, this prophecy was cobbled together by Kim Hyukjin based on his memory of the past.


    Yes. But lets save the amazement forter. The yers are shaken up.


    There were roughly thirty yers here, most of them archers. Some knew Hyukjin, and some didnt.


    Most of the people who survived this would be top Rankers. And half would die if the raid went as it had in Hyukjins past. Pietro took a step forward.


    The quests name is the War Between Sky and Earth.


    Monsters were descending from the sky, and the sculptures were moving on the ground. The eyes of the sculptures on the stone bridge glowed purple.


    Pietro continued speaking. We dont know how to clear this quest. Weck an outstanding sovereign, and we dont have an explorer, either.


    Of course, there <em>were </em>sovereigns here. One was Kim Hyukjin, and the other was Schultz, a dual-ss yer from Germany whose main ss was archer and subss was sovereign.


    However, we have a prophecy from Taeguk Shield foreseeing this situation. Based on that information, we need to take the sculptures side in this war. I believe this information to be considerably reliable. I think it would be best to progress by hunting the monsters in the sky.


    This wasing from the information merchant Pietro. His words had sway. The archers peered up into the sky.


    Gryphon LVL 36


    Flying creatures were tricky foes, but the monsters weren''t so strong that they couldn''t be defeated. Pietro quickly continued.


    Because a new quest was triggered even before the gate opened, we didnt have a chance to assign a party leader who will represent and lead us.


    There needed to be a party leader to take the reins anyway. Hyukjin knew who the original party leader wasthe German yer, Schultz.


    In the past, Pietro said this:


    <em>Schultz was an outstanding yer. If he had survived that ce, he may have developed into a yer who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Michelle and Salvatore.</em>


    Schultz was supposed to die here. He took responsibility for his decisions and bravely perished while silently helping the other yers escape. Everyone who survived the gate expressed their admiration for Schultz.


    A person who takes responsibility for his decisions.


    That was what Hyukjin knew about Schultz.


    As the person with the most information, I will temporarily assume party lead, said Pietro. I think we should pick the party leader once this quest is over.


    There was no time to say more. The Gryphons circling in the sky were ready to plunge and were spewing bloodthirst towards the earth.


    ording to my information, we belong to the earth. We need to fight the enemies that belong to the sky. At least in this field.


    The archers agreed with him. They believed Pietro was naturally the most informed person here and decided to follow his instructions.


    Everyone took out their bows. The arms of the sculptures on the bridge moved. Stones made of mana formed on their palms, and then, they hurled the stones like they were catapults.


    <em>Whumpf!</em>


    The stones hurtled into the sky. One of the Gryphons was struck by the barrage.


    <em>Kwak!</em>


    The Gryphon squawked with rage and plunged downwards.


    Fire!


    The archers fired in unison. No one used shy skills or powerful attacksthey all used basic attacks.


    Hyukjin liked what he saw.


    Theyre definitely Ranker quality.


    They intentionally usedpact and easy attacks so as to not interfere with each others trajectories. Even with just basic attacks, the yers would have no problem blocking a single assant.


    Normally, that is.


    <em>If </em>that monster wasnt a Gryphon.


    But Gryphons were monsters with a special barrier that blocked normal attacks. Only attacks imbued with mana could deal damage to them.


    The yers will quickly realize that.


    If they couldnt even figure that out, they werent Ranker material.


    I know theyll quickly catch on, but


    Even so, Hyukjin intended on taking action here, with the goal of assuming party leadership for this raid. Schultz was an admirable yer, but in the end, the raid was defeated under his leadership, with nearly half of the yers killed.


    That might not change even if I lead.


    But he was still fairly confident. Hyukjin was armed with knowledge of the future and was stronger than the others. Half of the yers may have died in the past, but that also meant half had survived even without Hyukjins presence.


    This time a regressor is here.


    That alone meant they would be able to pull off a far better clear than in the past.


    Most importantly, I have the [Angel Statues Wings].


    In his Inventory was the item he had gotten by clearing the Wind Temple with Hyun Junghwa, an item he was certain would y a key role in this gate.


    I will save who I can save and get everything I can get.


    That was why he was here.


    [Using the special skill sh Step.]


    Thanks to the Grudge Inmyeonjo, he already had experience facing a flying monster. It was a lot easier this time. Hyukjin rushed forward with sh Step,nding on the Gryphons neck and plunging his sword directly in the Gryphons skull.


    <em>Splurt!</em>


    His transcendent sword went in like a hot knife through butter. The Gryphon crashed onto the ground, briefly thrashing before dying with a body full of arrows.


    In this gathering of archers, Hyukjin purposely showed a shocking technique like sh Step and killed a Gryphon using a sword.


    Im sure that got their attention.


    Hyukjin didnt have any fame to his name. If he wanted these people to obey and follow him, his only choice was to prove his skill. So for starters, he drew their attention.


    And then, he gave the signal.


    Junghwa. Mark. Hyun Junghwa and Mark were standing behind him. Cover me.


    Okay.


    Understood.


    * * *


    * * *


    Now that Hyukjin had their eyes, he needed to begin the real work. He had to produce a scene impressive enough to garner the heartfelt acknowledgement of top Rankers in the archer ss.


    Ive produced plenty of scenes for the Guardians.


    Producing scenes for yers was even easier. Hyukjin pulled out the Ink Bow.


    Hyukjin knew Ahn Seohyes altered incantation, the incantation uttered not to protect and revive, but to destroy and eliminate. They were the words Seohye had unconsciously manifested in the past.


    The incantation uttered by a Barrier Magician resolved to martyr.


    She subtly changed the Incantation of Salvation conceived by Hyukjin, deploying her Nemesis Doom Barrier with all her soul and might in order to kill the Fire Giants.


    Its the perfect incantation for the current situation.


    Hyukjin kicked off his productionone made for Rankers and not for Guardianswith that incantation. His eyes turned crimson red.


    On the other side of the world, at the DMC Riverview Xi, the Guardian Tower Ahn Seohye standing in the middle of the crosswalk was struck with a strange feeling. She suddenly recalled fighting the Fire Giants. All she could do was think or murmur to herself.


    One who trusts even without seeing shall die even in life.


    Thinking back on it, it was different from the incantation Hyukjin had uttered. His incantation had ended with live even in death.


    What came after that?


    She didnt remember the exact lines that followed.


    Why did I suddenly remember this?


    An elementary school kid crossing the road looked up at Ahn Seohye.


    Mom. Look over there.


    Why?


    Over there. The red eye is shaking a bunch!


    Seohye was deep in recollection and didnt hear the kid.


    I think it wascerating something something after that.


    The incantation Seohye couldnt remember reappeared in the world through Hyukjins lips.


    Thus shall I sublimate thycerating suffering into eternal peace.


    He uttered the final lines that Seohye had spoken with tears of blood running down her cheeks.


    [<em>You who has killing intent.</em>]


    [<em>Imand thee. Return to thy eternal slumber.</em>]


    With that, theplete opposite of the Incantation of Salvation waspleted.


    [You have partially seeded in uttering the Will Incantation.]


    At the same time, red mana began to ripple from Hyukjins body. Junghwa and Mark stood next to him and provided cover. He had told them in advance that this would happen.


    Mark fired his bow into the sky while covering Kim Hyukjin.


    What is he doing?


    He saw red mana rippling out of Hyukjins body, but he didnt know what the man was preparing. The terrible bloodthirst he felt from that red mana made him shiver. Just standing next to Hyukjin made the hairs on his body stand on end.


    But thats not all.


    Mark had the feeling that intense bloodthirst was fused with something else. This was just his gut feeling, a deduction born entirely out of a yers intangible intuition.


    I think this is fire energy.


    Mark wasnt the only one who felt it. Junghwa felt the same thing. She felt the same kind of mana she sensed from fire attribute yers.


    The person in question, Kim Hyukjin, felt it as well.


    He had the feeling he had taken one step closer to the secret that had remained hidden in the Ink Bow all this time.


    The Ink Bow is responding to a power I possess.


    The Ink Bow in Hyukjins hands began to change.