青苹果乐园影院

Chapter 248 - Pioneering Africa (2)

Approximately eighteen hours had passed, and a new day had, once again, arrived. The minds of both Kang Shin-hyuk and the other superhumans were getting worn out little by little as they continuously fought the gates that eroded the sea and skies.

“It was like this even before we’ve arrived. Can we really fight there?”

“The goal is to build a bridgehead. This expedition is a success simply if we pioneer a less risky route and create the possibility of restoring Africa.”

“Damn, I should’ve skipped it this time too.”

“Even though everyone is struggling, you’re like this.”

“Is it okay for our country...?”

The biggest problem with the expedition right now was a lack of troops to protect their home countries. They had thoroughly divided those who would go on the expedition and those who would protect the country, but the fact that their defense had become weak didn’t change. In order to suppress the damage as much as possible, the expedition was conducted in secret to prevent information from being exposed to Jormungand. However, Kang Shin-hyuk, who knew of Zeus’s connections to Jormungand, couldn’t rid himself of the feeling that they were carrying a ticking bomb.

“Africa, it’s tough...”

“We haven’t even arrived yet.”

“It’s okay because we’re already on the way.”

Bridget Poulsen seemed clueless, and Shin Eunah, who assumed the worst in the first place, looked calm. Kang Shin-hyuk had to admire how much determination she had shown to participate in this expedition. Was that the weight of No. 1?

“Ah, land!”

“Really?!”

“It’s Casablanca...!”

Just then, shouts of joy erupted from multiple ships at once. Lifting his head, he could see a dot on the horizon. The superhumans could barely confirm the existence of land, so it would still be a few more hours for them to arrive.

“No matter how much I think about it, the distance is weird.”

“It’s because the gate’s erosion has changed the topography. It’s not that strange.”

“If it continues, there won’t be any traces of Earth left.”

“Yes, I think that’s very likely.”

The battle continued even after confirming they were heading in the right direction. Monsters of at least B-rank, and all the way up to SS-rank, were showing up, but everyone was aware this was nothing compared to the mainland.

“Save your strength; don’t go all out here!”

“Casablanca is right there! Keep it up!”

“It’s a wyvern!”

Wyvern? Now? He saw a slender drake flying through the sky, its huge wings spread out. Its whole body was dark red, huge horns sprouted from the top of its head, and sharp thorns gleamed dangerously at the end of its wings.

-That’s the one you’ve been waiting for. SS+ rank [Hell Spike Wyvern].

“The name is really cool.”

Several wyverns were flying behind it, each one of them with thorns as well. However, the color of their bodies was lighter, and they had no horns.

-SS-rank, Spike Wyvern.

“They look a little weaker.”

Several superhumans were already launching long-range attacks but taking down an SS+ rank wasn’t an easy task. When the lead Hell Spike Wyvern avoided the missiles, the wyverns behind him naturally followed. Surprisingly, it flapped its wings to shoot the thorns attached to its wings. It tore through the mainmast of one of the ships, and the superhumans moved in a frenzy to restore it. It was considerably powerful to break through the protective shield of the ship.

“Tsu, I have to deal with that one.”

“I’ll do it.”

When Shin Eunah clicked her tongue and tried to step forward, Kang Shin-hyuk stopped her.

‘These are some appropriate foes to try it on.’

-It is true according to my own judgment. The Hell Spike Wyvern is a rare variant. He has control over almost all flying monsters lower than him like he is ‘taming’ them.

While preparing for this expedition, Shin-hyuk had prepared not only armaments but also other things, including taming tools. In fact, if he could use the power of monsters to deal with the gates, what could be better? He had not forgotten his experience of taming the wyverns at the gate with Eleanor.

“Are you going to tame it?”

Eleanor spoke up at that moment, recalling the same experience. Kang Shin-hyuk nodded and brought out the blue cow.

“If I tame that, I can take care of the others. Hell Spike Wyvern Rider, how cool.”

“Really?”

Eleanor rejoiced in excitement at the idea. Shin Eunah turned away, and Bridget tilted her head, not understanding the situation.

“What else are you going to show? Do you still have some hidden tricks?”

“We’ll see.”

The bike soared into the sky. The Hell Spike Wyvern, sensing his approach, screeched and threw out thorns, but surprisingly, they converged into one point and disappeared as if being sucked in by a vacuum.

“Is it tasty?”

-Myuuuuu!

Onyx’s reaction was dramatic. He had guessed it, but their thorns were all metal, and the more metal Onyx had devoured, the more control he had over it.

-Myu, myuuuu!

“Be patient.”

-Quoooooooh!

The wyvern let out a frenzied screech, realizing its attack had gone to waste. It seemed like it was preparing its breath attack this time, but just before it could use it, Kang Shin-hyuk activated space coordination to move onto its back from the blue cow.

“Your back is open... I can control this by myself, right?”

-Kiiiiii!

The Hell Spike Wyvern bucked wildly. His thorns tried to shoot out towards Kang Shin-hyuk, but there was no way for him to be shaken loose. Rather, such unexpected behavior caused the wyverns following him to scatter.

“The Death Puppeteer is on the wyvern’s back!”

“It seems to be over SS-rank. Well, he’s dealing with a boss-class aerial monster alone...”

“Now’s our chance, shoot them... damn it!”

Just as the superhumans tried to shoot down the aerial monsters while Kang Shin-hyuk dealt with the Hell Spike Wyvern, something else popped up as always.

“A giant monster is appearing in the sea!”

“Is it a whale? Stop them first!”

“The monsters in the air can’t attack us for a while! Deal with those in the sea first!”

Kang Shin-hyuk paid no attention to the sea as he moved atop the back of the wyvern. The thorns were constantly rising toward him, but Onyx took care of them all. Even after the wyvern began to spin, Kang Shin-hyuk stayed closely connected to it with the soul connector. It wasn’t just a way for him to stabilize himself, but a way for him to deeply grasp the wyvern with his spiritual power and establish dominance. How it progressed from birth to growth, and its ability to control other wyverns and aerial monsters, was transmitted to Kang Shin-hyuk’s mind through his spiritual power. The threads began to shake, but he strengthened them further.

“Well, it’s quite tricky when it comes to SS+ rank.”

-You’ve grown a lot as well, member. SS+ rank monsters are easy to kill but not to control.

The Hell Spike Wyvern’s movements began to quiet down a few minutes later as Kang Shin-hyuk’s spiritual power overwhelmed him. If he could tame him, now was the time. He produced a choker similar to the one he made when taming the Flame Wyvern, but the energy contained in it was incomparably dark.

[Sacred Choker of the Blind God]

[SS Rank]

[Special Abilities: Domination, Enhancement, Evolution]

*Domination: Blind loyalty is given only from those who are completely overwhelmed. The subject wearing the choker becomes able to communicate with the owner and is completely free from all other bonds.

*Enhancement: When wearing the choker, the monster is strengthened beyond the limit. Applies to body stats, magic, and natural special abilities.

*Evolution: New possibilities are gained through faith in the master.

[An ancient treasure that proves that neither good nor evil was contained in the hands of the creator. The owner is fixed as ‘Kang Shin-hyuk’ and can never be changed.]

He had been a little nervous when he made it without much thought, worrying that it might work on people too. So, he was relieved when Lee Na-hee had helped him set it so that the authority of the artifact was limited to himself.

‘Though then Na-hee tried to joke by putting it on.’

Lee Na-hee was a cute girl, but sometimes she was very annoying. He let go of his thoughts of her and put the choker around the wyvern’s neck.

-Quoooooh!

It screamed at the feeling of being forced to obey, but Kang Shin-hyuk kept his cool. Sympathy against these monsters who sought to hurt people meant nothing. Only when these guys came to the side of humanity was there was a reason to see them as a friend.

-Quo... kuooooooh?

Thanks to Kang Shin-hyuk previously overwhelming him with spiritual power, the artifact took effect quickly. As proof, golden stripes ran over his body as Guardian Golden Dragon was applied directly to him.

-Quooooooooh!

At the moment when his body, which had reached its limit, evolved with new possibilities, the wyvern forgot his humiliation and roared with satisfaction. The wyverns who followed him realized that he had turned away, but as he roared again, they became his faithful servants once more.

“Okay, then take the aerial monsters out. Bring in those who can be brought in, got it?”

-Quaaaah!

“Yes, from now on, your name is Hell.”

-A 600,000HP bonus from the administrator admiring the cruel naming of the member!

-Quoooo!

However, the wyvern seemed to like the name as he turned to the other monsters. The sight of more than ten SS-rank wyverns turning in unison was exciting.

“Okay, this will work.”

Kang Shin-hyuk returned to the blue cow and descended to the sea. He had a casual expression on his face, but the other superhumans who witnessed him had blank looks on their face.

“No, what the hell...?”

“It had been tamed. Now it’s on our side.”

He briefly responded to them, brandished his scythe, and threw it at a monster rising above the sea. Bridget Poulsen watched him speechlessly.

“Wow...”

“The Puppeteer tamed the wyvern!”

“What? The limit of taming wasn’t the S-rank?!”

“Look at that. There are golden stripes on its body! It’s overwhelming the other monsters...!”

Even during the heated battle, the superhumans chatted as they sensed the change in the tide. At the end of the fight, Hell flew down onto the ship where Kang Shin-hyuk was aboard, bowing his head to him. The superhumans even gave him a new nickname, the ‘Life and Death Puppeteer.’

Two hours later, with the help of Hell, they had smoothly arrived at the African continent.