NOVEL NEXT Chapter 114
“Here come the baseball players!”
“Position it!”
“Hold your ground!”
The baseball players surged in, and a tension filled the air, but we were martial artists honed in real battles. We had trained for this and gained experience from fighting our friends.
Once our battle formation was complete, our temporary stronghold became a veritable fortress.
We had dug a trench around our position, creating a type of moat that held no water, but served as a barrier, and behind that, we built a low palisade.
This perfect stronghold was manned by skilled Nachalbang troops. It would be hard for a group of human soldiers to break through in a short period, let alone what those baseball demons could do.
“Argh!”
“Grargh!”
The scrawny figures of humans, yet possessing the bizarre heads of demons, charged in on two or four legs. Their glowing eyes in the darkness were quite fearsome.
—Paff!
As the front-line demons leaped toward our stronghold, their fate was sealed.
—Perk!
In their attempt to leap over both the trench and the palisade, they became suspended in mid-air, and the Yisangjego, our specialized Nachalbang weapon, pierced their bodies.
“Well done!”
“Keep stabbing!”
You think we’ve only done this once or twice?
We spent whole days on the walls, catching all sorts of spirits attempting to sneak through. The baseball players are no different.
—Udada!
“Yargh!”
“Yargh!”
The baseball players ominously barked as they leaped high toward our stronghold. In response, the Nachalbang troops thrust the Yisangjego with precision, clearing the hordes of baseball demons.
“Hayoung!”
“Yes!”
Then Hayoung chanted a spell and threw a talisman.
—Whirrl!
Flames engulfed the scene. The baseball players didn’t just fail to invade our stronghold; they were burned to death before they could even reach the trench.
“Kill them, keep killing!”
“You’ve gotten skilled at commanding.”
At this point, I didn’t even need to step in; my subordinates were handling everything. Just stabbing the leaping demons with the Yisangjego was enough to take them all out.
If we had been an ordinary sect wielding swords or blades, we would have been embroiled in chaos with those baseball players.
A stronghold? Military tactics?
Do martial artists even have such concepts? There are strategies used in the field, but we don’t fight in a military format like this.
Of course, fighting like that would cause massive casualties. But look! Just by creating a stronghold and preparing for battle, we’re easily killing the enemies without harming our own.
“Argh! Argh!”
“Harhar!”
The excited baseball demons kept jumping and getting skewered. How much time has passed? Maybe they caught on, as they no longer charged but began circling around the trench.
“It seems they’ve figured it out. Though, not all demons are stupid.”
“Oh, how I wish we had archers.”
“Geunhyeop…? Are you planning to make Nachalbang into some sort of rebel army? Archers?!”
“Ugh.”
If only we had real archers.
Unfortunately, it seems that a martial arts sect using archers would amount to conspiracy to rebel. The same goes for using spear troops. Just that pretext would get us blown to bits.
So everyone is using the Yisangjego weapon right now.
It’s not a spear or a blade, so it’s not treated as a war weapon. We can use it as long as we keep a low profile. It’s like a roundabout way of using a spear troop.
“It’s just talk. Look at it! If we had archers, we could’ve turned all those circling demons into porcupines.”
“That may be true, but don’t talk nonsense about archers, Geunhyeop.”
“Okay, I won’t.”
So, should we create spear troops?
Wouldn’t that just skirt the edge of rebellion?
“Waah!”
“Come on, come on!”
“Hahaha! You cowardly demon scum!”
Anyway, thanks to our perfect fortification and overwhelming victory, my subordinates’ morale soared. They even started taunting the baseball players loudly.
“Looks like we’ve won. But be careful. The head of the baseball players might have something up their sleeve.”
“Then we need to reduce their numbers before the head shows up. Everyone, listen! From now on, we’re going to slaughter those cowards! Let’s go!”
“Waah!”
Now’s our time to step out.
—Swoosh!
Drawing the Heavenly Thunder Sword, I led my troops outside the stronghold.
“Grargh!”
As we emerged, the baseball players seemed to think it was time to fight again, charging with gleaming eyes.
—Splat!
With drool pouring from their mouths and sharp claws spread wide, they lunged at me.
“Not on my watch!”
With just a light swing of my sword—
—Slash!
I took its head clean off.
“Die, die!”
“Kill them all!”
“Stand shoulder to shoulder! Don’t let any gaps form!”
Shortly after, the swarm of baseball players crashed into our formation, but their numbers had significantly dwindled, and with their remaining strength, they couldn’t possibly break through the formation made up of Yisangjego troops.
They were getting shredded instead.
“Grargh!”
Just then, a powerful roar resonated from the opposite side.
“The King of Baseball Players! They’ve shown themselves!”
It seemed the leader of the baseball players finally decided to make an appearance. But it was already experiencing the consequences of its laziness, with over half of its minions wiped out without inflicting any damage on us. It was a cruel price to pay for its delay.
Even if their group were intact, could they actually defeat us? What could they possibly do with this level of power?
“King of Baseball Players! Show yourself!”
As I roared, a figure emerged from the darkness, about twice the size of the other baseball players.
It stood on two legs and, seeing it, some of my comrades swallowed hard in fear.
“Huh.”
No need to be afraid.
“Human.”
“Huh? It talks?”
Actually, it’s not strange that a demon can speak.
“We, humans. Brain. Eat.”
“Ha ha ha! You wanna eat my brain? Come and try it!”
“Impudent. I shall eat. Your brain.”
“You dimwit. Can’t you see our numbers?”
“Grargh!”
The King of Baseball Players roared.
“Argh! Argh!”
“Argh argh argh!”
The other baseball players began barking wildly in frenzy. Then they surged toward us with force. The King of Baseball Players did the same.
“Geunhyeop. It seems better to face them simultaneously.”
“Right!”
I noticed that the King’s arms were abnormally long. If it reached out, it could certainly attack without respecting the Yisangjego. That was why it was time for me and my allied technique to step in.
Standing at the forefront of our formation, Serin and I faced the King of Baseball Players head-on.
“Hah!”
Drawing upon my internal energy, I unleashed the Flowing Stream Sword Technique. Simultaneously, a violet aura began to swirl around my sword. It wasn’t quite a cutting wave yet, but I could amplify the sword’s power.
“Human. That power.”
“You aware of it?”
“It looks delicious. Brain. Eat.”
“Stop babbling!”
—Crack!
The King of Baseball Players lashed its long arm like a whip. The hand at the end resembled a heavy flail, and its nails looked like claws.
I can block it.
With a light sideways swing—
—Thunk!
The King’s arm was deflected above.
“Graah!”
Using that momentum, it pounded the ground and closed the distance.
“Spirit Strike!”
With all my might, I unleashed the Spirit Strike.
—Slash!
“Kwaaaah!”
My sword pierced the King of Baseball Player’s body, causing it to explode. Literally blowing to pieces. The King of Baseball Players disintegrated and splattered everywhere.
Its destructive power had greatly increased.
Even after using it once, I still had a significant amount of internal energy left. This was proof that my internal energy capacity had grown.
“Ugh?!”
The baseball players were taken aback, leaping in shock upon seeing their leader fall.
“Th-the Lord has defeated the enemy leader!”
“So brutal…!”
“In just one hit!”
“So amazing! I’m stunned!”
My comrades were in awe.
“What are you all doing?! Wipe out the remnants!”
“Waah!”
By now, the baseball players were already attempting to flee, hurriedly trying to turn their backs on us. Accordingly, our troops released the formation and pursued the fleeing enemies, stabbing their backs.
“Well done, Geunhyeop. Your skill has improved.”
“Serin! Did you see that? I landed that hit without feeling worn out or out of breath. I could probably use it three or four more times.”
“Why is my internal energy increasing so quickly…”
“Hey! But if we kill like that, there won’t be any Yodan left!”
Ah, right!
I immediately inspected the corpse of the King of Baseball Players.
“There should be a Yodan somewhere…!”
The body was a wreck. I felt despair as I rummaged through it. Although it had exploded, it wasn’t entirely in pieces. As I sifted through its insides—
“Oh! Found it!”
I discovered the Yodan!
“Thank goodness!”
“Was it there? Really. I was about to get mad.”
“Ha ha ha! Did you think I would just slice it all up like that? I’m a martial arts master, I can handle this much!”
“Ugh, quit the nonsense.”
The Yodan was a yellowish color, but it still radiated a peculiar ominous aura. I grabbed a water bottle, doused it, and wiped it down with a handkerchief. I should take it somewhere clean and wash it thoroughly before consuming.
“Hehe, all done. We suffered no losses. It seems a few baseball players escaped, but they’re not worth worrying about.”
“Hey, look! Your Yisangjego is a magnificent weapon.”
“Indeed, you are the one who understands my Yisangjego best. Anyway, it’s done, so let’s gather their heads. The coffin will surely be thrilled.”
“Let’s do that.”
It was a request for a pretty hefty sum, but with my subordinates alongside me, it felt like we accomplished it effortlessly.
Not to mention, we even got the Yodan as a trophy, which was just icing on the cake. I wonder what effect it will have? When I consumed Hadong’s, my swimming skills improved.
Truly exciting.