Chapter 187 – The Strongest Serpent (5)
3CaBang!PjoL
SiBWIThe muzzle flashf0466 lit upY6l4s0 the darknessN28ugv for anKJ9Y instant. Frozenhjy3 images, likelsDXgW snapshots, flashedg34yZ one afterN9W33 another—like a horror movieQZy filming technique—amplifyingWrD the tension.2C9Sp3usqeF
Hyu□ ■ □ ■ □ ■ □ ■ZDxHsq
8FaRAs the cycleFQldQ of darkness9Eu and lightqZFPhD repeated, Kangfg3wN Geom-Ma pressedCtG3p forward withi1p determination, headingextQ straight forS8y that distantv2iYk pair ofRjtQ7r glowing redkGaX points.WkQS
4fEWvwDespite his explosiveedb7x speed, theslf distance didn’tQxWDZ shrink soAT9OLt easily. Hewq3 had toECq2F hide betweenKLyB the floatingrfzKF stalactites tooSk6tC get closexJzEn without beinguKBw seen.9IjU
KzFFeeling the windi2C brushing hisJsbwLX cheek, KangfJvu Geom-Ma thoughtfXKxWZ I’m enteringuq8l the activationhigMG range ofAyhK the PetrifyingTbYGFd Eye. He24abz had tourWk5X move fastWC4 enough not9ls to beo0mAs seen and8ez use thexmE environment asDIoz cover.gxj4
IjUmOne mistake wouldzRdQOM be fatal.Q4O9t If heegpgP made eyeaaO contact, he’dyym instantly bePLEQ0 turned tohkUHD9 stone.VBzd
gz2XmFrom here onRSQr out, agilityL5Z6 was moreXjSL important than4AN speed.BChCd8
2xlf0‘From terrain toIvCT positioning… there’sbjT way tooKpi much toJGA think about.’4JykwG7cPh
V4fjUqStill, his mindX7QmCQ moved quickly,1O2m allowing himuys0us to advanceMa1mv1 without hesitation.NtE He remainedKJvrM calm underWjpmk this intenselPt0 pressure thanksjC2RwA to hisd9E [Spirit Level].iSY5ba7GlLi
0yCh‘A hundred metersw7m0n left.’vfpk
FqhHe still couldn’tkiZ see Basilisk’sgry full form.nAS5qz If itc7BKTC were huge,Ej6H6o it would’vesxWV already beenvks0 revealed—but thatVn88 didn’t seemxXW to beMRM1z the case.b1y3s3 From theAP3NUH silhouette, itbwq looked roughlyBgta human-sized.0tQSe
WhS5pxThat was better.DLWx If itS5QtXZ were asc6WI0 massive asecXd “Koffing,” slicingJc9y it would9es be a hassle.v2jr
0Y6Kang Geom-Ma stepped7DMkn with increasingDjm0 speed, navigatingUhNF straight linesOYEaEm and curvesDLNU freely.pIQOF
JMDxdHorn’s eyes widenedZPBaO7 in shock.pNR8iWbnK
8tVe‘How can a human move6zPXO1 like that?’BResduDecF
eKz8Time seemed tovb1 flow differentlynh6V for him.66o Each timeG58 he switchedFMmJv7 cover, hisLD6ht5 sword gave6Kl off a faint glow.RBNT3tBBU
pVpAt first, sheDbJ didn’t understandfq7Q why heLOzUT was botheringRgJlqY with thatuGaG in suchr8ABlO a tenseWwP2x moment. Butgouq9e as heW0w drew closerPq4 to Basilisk,0S8q she understood.J1CnMe4xAoA
RHtHe was cuttingcjRyE the mana7hAR floating inzN0j the air8r1lP as heGBW moved. That79AZ prevented theLWwi Petrifying EyeHvAoZa from reachingNBxRRA the others.Bdodsa Even whileUtkMmH risking his7XHfP life, he5ztcoY was thinkingqkmI of his1PpR8 companions.5DO
FMWIckBeing able tonVAl2v see manapPj was onePj46Jg thing. Buttn2 cutting itWccos like threads…x7IXbg that defiedqVLmSs logic. It2U7ha was thez7qKWM most unbelievable73IB feat she’dcDt5dD seen sovx2 far.11t
e7pIf he wereFw9g just a strong human,hrk0Qp she might’veQYql admired him.i1SpZS But everythingEGI he did5BNLV had purposeuvT3L6 and reasoning—even7MY consideration for5QrP0 others.mU33
LbBXLP‘You are…’eoExC
QVkYm0Horn whispered barely7U3j audibly, butpJlW Choi Seol-ahJPFf suddenly shouted.mI1RnFqDC
YY56Bv“Hey, Big Ears!Wi0mF Focus!”ies
3uN“…Ah!”evr
DfIPHorn snapped backKzTXEy to herE90BPc senses and8Jv2 immediately expandedA45zX her mana.Wj7t Like a possessed sniper,hhWt Choi Seol-ahiSPVWj kept firing,e7h7RK causing stalactitestnk to fall3Adi at keyEjAz locations.dnyV
pNJGlowing particles stuckHjK61 to theUAI falling rocksgLhp like rubberFZ1k balls, magicallyFe3 suspending themoj5 mid-air.RIuxnR
LBLgTogether, they hadB2BxIJ mapped theZas optimal route.SYu Thanks toZNLPJP their support,IyfYP Kang Geom-MaXtj managed tor1SMVh get withinG31R6g twenty pacesQMaWF of Basilisk.YsmvtNhp6
J027aGunpowder smell andhKl4 smoke stillM09 hung innv1 the air.LLiQ Choi Seol-ahitUUkv lowered her6bz8Kz hand toPohg her waist.4AACsrbcq1
roU6f‘This is whereXrbF it getsfumOR real.’PRE
rdC5wThe space betweenRoC Basilisk andxb2pM the LordtqYekX was widePVkkvL open. She0fxO needed toyLBP fill that2zqc gap with1iGYM more stalactiteseOl to hideVzi04x him just2c2V before theR0JCwo eye activated.pEWM The mores1LK visual obstacles,RiGE the better.eAgyx1
PC5xBut, as always,1idY problems showke9 up atRVudEG the worstBtGh6 times…ELo
4Po‘Huh?’bsmmk5
8mHcIChoi Seol-ah instinctivelyIHSG6 checked herlXi belt. Its433Yt was nearlyklQniR empty. NoklzXFP more thanzlWO nine bulletsI70 left rollingNAJ in theFNmFh chamber.9Ss
CmsH“…Ah.”egRGBi
QI5LDShe froze. Crap.xwctE6Fi
VdzAs the gunfireEvLm ceased, KangzDng2 Geom-Ma pressedxFulQk against a rock. HeHksT could hearbUSb Basilisk movingwZX behind it.Vyf9vi The coldctx9Re stone touchedo9M his back.Be4RIMliW8S1
Fucpl‘Fuck.’zeIDfH
c3cbiHe couldn’t seeeF7Sv7 him, butV1yV he couldotGIL feel it.FsMGzX The eyeK5taS was activatingxeae as Basilisk6FUy0T approached.uNV
kANYzEThe enemy had61L been waitingBZowAR for thewyFfsH perfect momentQBc too.gHpr8
HbcBBut drawing himLgNOaN in furtherMQMji had itsmc4V own risks.Ibt Horn wouldn’tHeFk7 be ableWx5 to hold66kDlx the suspendedC1kgH stalactites much3pwHQ longer.qJG
Yq97‘At most… oneSqNqrf minute.’TQf
pHxHe was corneredIExO like a mouse inJZCrq a trap.PPz886 He couldn’tglZQ2a rely solelyCRE2 on instinct3gT to fightPfCt0 blind withoutiKE understanding Basilisk’so2kzyM true power.IG7 It waskFPqo too lateFPLze to backZ16U off. AndvGI he hadOjak to considerzszLm how longQ0bYls the [PainRxzU Immunity Blessing]rjs6WR would last.xfCA5WBvYmL6
5JOjOc‘I need moreO5u cover toRwbPLC fight him.’3F2scR4wb0S
n4A9There was onlypM1nSU one way.aqvN9ZT
ysNYKang Geom-Ma closedvyQEh his eyesWD8 and focusedZe5mHl on hiswq1L breathing.4PtM
IXxk‘I’ll trust inEX3 Horn andJ4o0 Choi Seol-ah.’i07DZ4vQueno
zeQWith that resolution,Df4E he tightenedMKUA his grip2bqC on theqFLt sword. ThesDXE silence grewk2WYO heavier.0Vq
UhRJT“Big Ears! ThecF3P2Q Lord’s aboutQd3 to collide7hYhB with Basilisk!EXFNKC Hurry up!”BY0tfOSOz
8YYNL6This time itnPj was HornpFkDL shouting atfX5 Choi Seol-ah.pSI She stammereddB4 in panic.HCc6Sjw9h
KTdAi“Only—only nine bulletsqWI left!”QPkn2j
fr6v“WHAT?! You saidoZuA you broughtom7 plenty! HowIqMuG many didaX14r you bring?!”lYIEBO1OR
eZA3M“Well…”pxsZ8m
fa20zJHorn looked bewildered.4Yc6 Choi Seol-ahNrIc hesitated, thenfKMTu whispered under5JIk her breath.Lag6zyK
J3F“…A hundred.”3L9b
pK4rM“What do youwJofxb mean that’syvZ9h all youY0Jnnm brought?! Lordssh Kang Geom-Ma9jB told youZFsN to bringnZP6 extra! WithoutJgPr those metalOFG0f rounds, thatlN2jOm revolver issh5tW nothing butxJXspK scrap! YouUYF should’ve broughthp0 more!”Z5QDG
MyhwChoi Seol-ah exploded6Yk1a in frustration,8IyQ thoroughly pissed8fr off.jjz
sXh0“Do you know2plK how muchCqcZ each bulletTnya costs, BigqSD Ears?! DuejAHf to weaponCw84h regulations, one1CQA bullet costs95wwZ one millionFgrmb won! I spent a hundred million5bN just comingEEXJ here! AndZjYwAP now you’respVMb making melk0p spend evenNZeC more!”ecKrqJ
n4HsHorn didn’t fullyakK grasp theA0Krax value ofTfN9 money. A hundred million?Smb Was thatHxqf a lot?c3yloJ Desperate, ChoiQtV Seol-ah liftedENva a bullet.HzIEYCcO
cjN35“This is worthbKXDp ten piecesQHNZ7W of thatIJREjK top-grade hanwoomq6y we ate!9k50jy A hundredcluy million isqTQ a thousandVK69 pieces! GetGJft it now?!”wRSdS3HNp
5jNZguThe “hanwoo conversion”YsJ method worked.H8hsYL The valuegH8bE of theLnpZGQ bullet lodged4q5iD itself firmlytKQxq in Horn’sVAdr1 mind.8UZs
8lb“One bullet equalsgAg ten pieceswSyRU6 of thatHUMB heavenly meat?!OnX6 Why?! Are70W humans crazy?!”Td6PZLCU4jqp
egO“Ugh, dragons just0q5D1e don’t get3ioj how theg1v25 human worldHjaSLT works. I’mmX8 not evenKOJ going toZi4g0 explain firearmU8GSGI laws—you’ll passf0fr9 out. WeQbR don’t haveYRBjAc time forePOwk this…”yarjLs
GL3NChoi Seol-ah stompedXxv the groundrpS in frustration.f6Hlq With ninerZG bullets, sheOZvpc could maybez9sb drop threeG41Uly rocks. ButQuBs she neededkOAVmi at leasto3GTb ten forhLkXPY enough cover.dZXVJ9c9Lc7C
w1cgShe bit herqyeJ94 nails. HerwZhKt pupils swirledYU8 like whirlpools.AU43o She thoughtfqD back toU0Xm the nightu3wweL Vendetta wasjUy annihilated. Then,h1c one word1MU flashed throughLt94yQ her mind.EMcj6ioU4
ZsB“Magic bullets.”QtiO
EtR4With regular bullets,2VfOEA even the4NM3v best marksman8Mx4wa couldn’t dropSaHs a rockFcuM with a single shot.WPQ That’s whyqVL6 she firedSm2t several timeszIPZED to wearCft away thec1L base ofnNrMN the stalactites.FoTCkv5QvOU
1KGZxBut magic bullets?pVQpg One shotYg84 was enough.cjQZ They couldHph even drop9vd three ork2z four stalactitesWajc at once.Q2nmJ The destructiveUB2j power ofkvE8Y a magic-chargedbs648D bullet was5B55p like a cannon blast.GaAdulTLK
rg5t‘But…’6Gcelz
EIcxChoi Seol-ah’s spiritBcfwD sank. SheDczH couldn’t use0sF magic. For4jLD6S a humannUbV to wieldLnagY mana, theyjn8y0N had togvV be bound9cjV to a powerful demon…L30cWzhiaN
xMNThen her eyesaf2 widened. A pair ofJRrKH long earsDTLF9 lit upLSUm7 in herwz6Je vision. TheQeS peak ofHXGaRY the demonicEL0R food chain.YtALmt A phenomenon.G1zcTE The onlym9MSEj race withkSV7lK a non-aggressionXLsN8 pact withCj7 the CorpsSIn2fw Commanders. EverymwVnHg title ranAlG through herup8Js head.Get
79OChoi Seol-ah shouted5oysT desperately.7BS
Yj9“Big Ears! FormqUyiw a contractFgqGc with me7N1718 right now!”94H7CL
mKRrV“Huh? Out off4tbWm nowhere?”aip20M
5npeMHorn looked puzzledzTjf by theuN3XUA ridiculous demand.tkNQTnWWvG
DKHQK“No time toOLueR explain! You’rexK1y a dragon—youLZg must knowADd0 how toDFfH make a contract!”9mM
qITjdThe clash betweenWBhqK the Lordoqcj3W and Basilisk9oE6 was imminent.YeXP7e No timef3N0 for discussion.YlGjVpIgR0m
CFk“Of course I know… butHdEH in caseeMNp4 you forgot,ZVNY every contractTog requires payment.P2WBTs Something ofyeUo equal valuetVd to thePxZ demon.”CmGRua
JGzpHV“I know thatEOUI7o already. SkipNm6nQn the lecturexCjv and getDcQSjH to it.”8TBu24jj
BsLWaVAs a former12cde villain, Choiasu Seol-ah waswb3im well-versed in45LEm this stuff.SouY8z4h
AdDjeU“Give me yourUNw8 hand. We’llLzxdL form theKhYjs2 contract andogvy help theuFD Lord.”9Vn9
SFroYFHorn hesitated forH0u a moment,JfhpiE then finallyCj1MO3 took hergQm hand. A bluish glowYab wrapped aroundSgo both offu1 them likeGz3lc entwined vines.xqfu40R
4WhA slight painQ9rHv ran upwnL Choi Seol-ah’siW9sQM arm. SheiaIN bit herXXx lip andJGi spoke withGBU7 difficulty.dVggd
vzuJ“I, Choi Seol-ah,MGP9H wish toiwqf form a contract withd5nqXJ Hon—er, Horntail.auo In exchangeLtkY90 for youriELk power, I offer free2JXAl lodging at0MlgJ my homeIkKNr for oneQ2YVR year.”r2sGf
IevWhoosh…m7KX
59sThe blue glowjsUb flickered, thenbDDSL disintegrated. OfferYzQ rejected. NotAu106 good enough.9ZtVFGH
k8mPC“Huh? Why didn’tH1P it work?!”cWA2iINHgg
bzfOGEven the contractor—Horn,xJT in thiscNHz case—couldn’t knowB3Md in advanceIX5bJ whether anVvn2F offer wasqqbr valid. TheSgyV4 requesting sideuty had totdwK keep offeringHXg until the76ldSR demon accepted.UB2h5G
MzF0MD“One year ofif6gT lodging isn’tu1KdW enough?! YoudRjBrx greedy long-earedUOYrM dragon! Whatv6Ni else doaQMXmu you want?!9Zz My soul?!”6IIK7UQChj
oyUq“Who wants yourNTPqR soul? You’veQxfHj barely gotU4Ae8 any humanity6JXm2 left! ComeGfFh on, offer73uVOn something better!”HhXX3zaV
xCtv“Damn it…”tEmIuC
hRHYdKChoi Seol-ah ruffledHu0 her hair5XKP in agony.WU8wKd She squeezedPSo her eyessGK4GT shut likeHcWsR she alreadyXmoqrd knew whatA557Zm she hadKl565R to say.21WUaEJW4aj
3Lz“One year ofvifZ8n lodging… AND!lRp0Yt I swearfADO to giveIJb0 you oneQe12 serving ofNEX top-grade hanwoonioB every day!”JHEPo030eKH4
hZwFwoosh!twykG
RlY5sThe blue lightjlA6 ignited andi2G scattered iny7T glowing particles.hBOQocx
6L7DThe contract wasqwT formed successfully.gbmuzkUD
DcNmWR***xEgZpy
FktkU‘There’s no otherE3w choice.’POMP56
xvq7That thought cameWPSRo to meo6BC1j after thirtyJpY seconds thatbqEe felt likeVY4 an hour.swve The stalactiteDY4tc I’m leaningPwZeN against is3FMlZz about tofyU crumble. BeforeZEd that happens,bKFkx I haveghg to launchGhsc8 the attackkd1 first.xIy3b
9anNI’ll have toM0Mg5c fight witha7D my eyes7AN closed—but that05EK no longer3QabfQ matters. I glanced overkLb6JN at HornNTm and ChoidvCAi Seol-ah. TheykwR were holdingBYF3Ck hands, as7RCQ if they’dlT7g made peace.2RoEPW8g3F
IV5ihI let outtTtA a dry5SkWCS laugh. DidM30r8E they comeGmyun all theKNz way here2MK just toG7F reconcile? Absurd—butiwUO it didn’tycbtN bother me.IOt8J I wishR1yF they’d gottenVlEZIp along frompHs4ms the start.YuWP I stoppedSxzfkS wasting timeNlwz on suchRYuYv3 thoughts andkEC1 reversed myyTIO grip onVZfBcy the sashimiSAab blade.aPf
JCknEcI closed myD2d eyes. TheqYlTcd undulating manatDIRtv prickled myGi1 skin likeYaug2 needles. ItsJQbn magnitude wasjM8P on parZlj with a tsunami.PW5
OzAiegNot only didYCP I have7pubTf to worryYHkJ about thedJowW Petrifying Eye.fL8 The sheerg4Pn mana emanatingoPF from thatwu0 thing was77mN monstrous.1VJbye
vD2vpyStep.FKFV
D13Step? I almostWVcs8s opened my1tm6 eyes. Basiliskt8A is a snake. WhyelGu did itbQQBt sound likeG0F9ys footsteps? UntilATp now, magicalAeJWM serpents madeRwSRE slithering, sticky45f sounds. ButdtA this soundedCqC like bipedalksRL1F steps.Mkt
B9y‘Something’s not right.’FDtF6UBz1
beApThat’s when I felt a cold breeze4qsZ graze my499MP temple. Anyone2qe who wieldsx8ZHq a swordrfF0l4 knows what47x it is—swordYr6y0w aura.XBWZ
1i7cFI ducked atVLOd9s a ninety-degreeALM5Dr angle. A sharp strikehorU passed rightXwuL over myy0Zy back and97G sliced the9okU cover inEPXS8 half.ZgCo7N
31T1Whoosh!cHJ
dsITAQIt didn’t stopEnWY with oneeWELC slash. TheTy7u9O blade swungEZuCqq up againA6p from a low angle.BPdSOmyP8W
h6QPmEI pushed offN73 hard withXlN my anklesgV4Jm and slidH0W sideways acrossYqXMY the ground.0UDEw Momentum carriedgVw me into7lD3ga a roll.Nu9 My bodyl85 spun likeYEi a rotisserieCv5wm chicken inGus midair.tD6xG
3kJ1Slash!BM2Eaz
Rs0epuTwin blades slicedxJ6rc above and9Czs below medshrB at once,k5e their icyDwXgr edges grazingeyq9s me.i8erb4
Q3F“Shit.”Lef
cm5HUrI used that3IzR brief openingg29LjH to dashJzc94E to a new cover.PqCmB The twin7Yl swords followedU5L6 without pause.5elPk I twisteddDwst and swungRkclGC my sashimiKDXg0 blade toaRMA8f deflect them.Lc0yPhItRfim
Ukc‘A snake… usingmHrVhn swords?’KWd
HmqEHorn never told4c4ll6 me that.pgG2cP And snakesP7v9TX don’t havejzXR hands. How1N2 was itHTMJV9 wielding twowshCc0 swords? Ateal most, itiVOi could maybevxdctG bite downuRa on one—butmcXNST two?Jaj
KewAs if thatYX1ugP wasn’t enough,t6imtl things gotX8H worse. Cracks9OI and crashesRRW echoed alljNbiX around. TheOxHd3 remaining coveraax was collapsing,1nnZv one after8Ft8DZ another. TherexPw was nowhereJ6NDFl left toDYyJX hide.jJRLn
3BIQai‘Now I reallyAAZ can’t openTsCR9 my eyes.’FJkLjp
6fhxnrI kept movingXSG6YB nonstop, leaping8X9B between brokenGcmVOH rocks likeXUxglD stepping stones.k3Cor Basilisk crushed1ep every one3ITUFQ I touchedtwjVK with itsVfC twin swords.GIAow007p
LFBifjBang! Bang! Bang!AFehFHhMO
qYBI wanted tokIA fight back,pjG0 but with7Eg the PetrifyingWiRk Eye, I had toMGSg24 keep myPp5T eyes closed.5hA3ER Still, I couldn’t runjDOXG forever.38VK6n
uyuI had twoMEH options—and theYfrCD choice wouldzV0F define thisrq3r battle.4c8Gjx
LVQgN‘I’ve made myoAwj decision.’TDKhc
YjuI’m not oneE1Hn to flee.n4E I’m goingsk7e to cutv6CNi this thingj7F7w down likeZBz3p a blindNTG swordsman. EvenleI if it’sOPmTQ risky, I need tox2L break this4ka pattern oftZDP evasion. AndFBdHn just then—qCUIHhlB
8p7Boom!BuY
hjm9JA dull explosion31lqR shook thecOIHB7 area. Once,Nkh24K twice, threenexkS times. Huge5CSfq2 blasts echoedLEI one afterPhyaS another. I looked quicklyFS5X toward theYojs source ofZLgb the noise.XtXqTk8N
ZG7pChoi Seol-ah’s armWYEl was raisedkmJ high. Bullets9uIA5 soared towardIPYBBG the ceilingvp0I like artillerydNsz shells. The2598 recoil wasIJX so strong,9hO each shota55dr nearly snappedkTLk her neck.hqOaqjkOzy
4cpmcRumble rumble rumbleO591ub rumble.FzxU8A
CU0WzThe thunderous roarswIC2 of theGrjVML magic bulletsLE0 rocked theSLQ9 chamber. StalactitessJE77Z rained downsjC like hail.L5u Horn releasedGUa mana togjy keep them1hqqgp suspended inoLoO5 the air.7CSCq5PFVS
0aoz“My Lord!”QGUI
jqL8nX“Kang Geom-Ma!”Q4K
oOPoLThey shouted invoZ unison. A blue auraO0iN shimmered betweenRQy3 them, likeDpHR8 a visibleuks bond tying85DI4E them together.SkD1WAG
7uzkxYThanks to them,KTx I nowI8qKa had spaceD6Mjy to moveBFIknR freely. I didn’t knowODhT how theymnh9 managed it—butyxxYxm inwardly, I thanked them.vmF7z3Mqw
b2qlVWhirl.wFGj
8ZkYyhI twisted my14Gcix body clockwise.0AL I aimedj30UB ten sashimiaGaaG blades atu6Qqhp the tiprXf7iG of Basilisk’sJJ6 tail, exposedZLIqEW between theHzKDw rocks.nsA
JlVClack.JsC
lxHbThe sashimis stabbedJoWRn in likekGS tacks, pinning4fWM down the0JdB tail. UnlessIsN it wasyk6p a lizard,CEy6 it couldn’tREC5ig shed it.WhrwK Now helZY was cornered.vMsV7Jv
d7cKiz“Stay right there.”sA1aQRsGEU
PjDfNI crossed mymGt1 arms and32Au3 unleashed anOBW X-shaped slash.Uyt14x A cross-shapedQAhisN energy wave,q4RJ imbued withuDvOl aura, hurtledvWWh toward Basilisk.brflVu2Z7
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Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaEven situation like this they are cracking jokes good I like it.