Chapter 208: Chapter 207

Suho's expression hardened. Right now, the population of Manipur was a staggering 3 million. At first, he was worried that all of them would turn into Mist Burns and die, but it turned out that the problem was even more serious.

'In the worst-case scenario, all 3 million could turn into variants.'

Either way, the loss of 3 million people is the same. However, the problem was that unlike the Mist Burns, which disappear over time, the variants could leave this dungeon and spread the damage. Moreover, even though they were half-baked, the danger of the dragonids was not comparable to mere Mist Burns. If all of this was really Siddharth Bachchan's plan, it was truly a terrible thing. He had to stop it.

"Harmakan, is there any way to turn them back into humans?"

[Unfortunately, it's impossible.]

"Antares, what about you?" At Suho's question, Antares also shook his head firmly.

"Impossible. In the first place, dragon blood was injected into races other than dragons, it's a wonder their bodies haven't been destroyed yet."

[That's right. It seems that the star fragments implanted in their bodies are forcibly preventing the fatal side effects. The tremendous pain from that process is what caused their sanity to collapse. Even at this very moment.]

"..."

"Kiiiii..."

Kyaaaaaak!

Listening to their explanation, Suho's gaze silently turned to the variants who were screaming, bound by Harmakan's magic.

[My liege, the only thing we can do is to kill them as quickly as possible. Only death can save them.]

At Beru's words, Suho silently nodded. At that moment, Harmakan's magic destroyed the star pieces embedded in the variants' bodies.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The moment the blue jewels shattered and scattered everywhere. The variants collapsed on the spot with a death rattle.

Crackle!

[Variant 8 has been defeated.]

[Variant 8 has been defeated.]

[Variant 8 has been defeated.]

[Variant 8 has been defeated.]

....

There were no additional level-ups. However, Suho was looking down at the fragmented corpses of the variants with a more terrifying expression than ever.

[Shadow Extraction is possible on this target.]

[Shadow Extraction is possible on this target.]

Should he consider this fortunate? Although their lives were defiled by others, their souls were not contaminated. After a moment of contemplation, Suho reached out his hand towards their shadows.

"I'll give you a chance. If you want to take revenge with your own hands... Arise." At that single word, the wails of the pitiful souls who had fallen into becoming variants began to echo and resound in the air.

Uwaaaaaaaaaaa—!

"...!" Liu Zhigang's eyes widened at the sight. If it had been before his memories of his past life returned, he would have mistaken it for the power of an ominous evil spirit again. But now it was different.

'Did he inherit his father's skill!'

The skill of Sung Jinwoo, whom he had always paid attention to in his past life, was being used right before his eyes!

Swooosh!

Soon, countless shadow soldiers rose before Liu Zhigang's eyes.

[Shadow Soldier Lv.1]

[Shadow Soldier Lv.1]

[Shadow Soldier Lv.1]

....

The souls that had escaped the name of variants through death solemnly knelt before Suho and bowed their heads.

"Guide me." Suho's chilling voice reached their ears.

"To where those who made you this way are."

The shadow soldiers, trembling at his eerie rage, raised their heads again and resolutely rose. Hot tears were flowing from their eyes, endlessly.

* * *

Imphal. The capital and the largest city of Manipur, was an area where traditional Indian buildings and modern residential facilities coexisted. Along with the beautiful natural scenery of Loktak Lake in the distance, it was a complex city where extremely modern multi-story apartments and commercial buildings were mixed together in a disorderly fashion. Although this place now belonged to the Loktak Field, many people were still living here in a way not much different from before.

"Master, are you just going to sit back and watch like this?"

"What is it, man?"

"I'm talking about the Asura Guild. No matter what the situation is, this city is clearly under the jurisdiction of our Imphal Guild."

"So... what can we do?" Ali Hassan, the guildmaster of the Imphal Guild, muttered as he clenched the cigarette in his mouth at the vice master's words.

"You know it too. If it weren't for Stardust, this city would have been ruined long ago."

"Ruined? If it weren't for Stardust, everyone would have migrated to other cities long ago."

"That's ruined in its own way, man. Of course, for us."

"It's no different from being ruined now anyway..."

"Shut up."

Ali Hassan, who dismissed the vice master's words, also had a frown on his face. That's right. Currently, the Imphal Guild had its entire jurisdiction stolen by a large guild called the Asura Guild. Although it was certainly an unpleasant situation, he had to admit what he had to admit. Stardust distributed by them, that mysterious necklace was a great item that prevented civilians from turning into Mist Burns even if they inhaled the blue mist. It was an undeniable truth that thanks to Stardust, the people of Imphal were still able to live their daily lives in this city. However...

"But still, something feels strange."

"See? Guildmaster, you think so too, right?"

"..."

Ali Hassan silently gazed out the window. The city, more desolate than before. The blue mist faintly spread over it. The atmosphere outside the Imphal Guild building was definitely different from before. Thanks to Stardust, people were able to go about their daily lives as before. But why was this city becoming more and more deserted day by day? Like a ghost town appearing in a third-rate horror movie. And one more thing...

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Why... Why aren't those Asura guys conquering this dungeon yet?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying! They managed to conquer one at the beginning, but since then, it feels like they're just dragging their feet."

Siddharth Bachchan, the Guildmaster of the Asura Guild, was a renowned powerhouse even in India. Despite him taking the lead, the Loktak Field, including Imphal, was still shrouded in blue mist.

"If they were going to drag it out like this, it would have been much better if they had let our guild conquer it from the beginning!"

"I know, you have a point so shut up."

"Sigh. I'm sorry. In the first place, this is our jurisdiction, it's frustrating to just watch with the gate right in front of us."

"..." Ali Hassan silently spat his cigarette on the floor and crushed it with his foot.

'...Do you think I'm not frustrated?'

Well, this could be considered a kind of tyranny of a large corporation. The Asura Guild had boldly taken away all the conquering rights from the Imphal Guild under the pretext of protecting the citizens. And the Imphal Guild couldn't protest at all. All 3 million citizens whose lives were saved thanks to Stardust welcomed the intervention of the Asura Guild with open arms. As a result, the Imphal Guild was now reduced to this state of idleness. Of course, it wasn't like they had absolutely nothing to do. In any case, since this entire area had turned into a den of magical beasts, the current mission of the Imphal Guild was to stand guard, to prevent the magical beasts from approaching people. But until when? In the end, unless someone entered the gate and conquered the dungeon, the city of Imphal would never escape from being a field-type dungeon. Yes, in other words...

'This city will have to live under the care of the Asura Guild forever. It's not even a city-state, what the...'

It was then.

"Guildmaster!" Suddenly, there was a small commotion outside the building, and a staff member hurriedly opened the door to the president's office.

"Something terrible has happened! I think you need to come out and see!"

"Why? Did another horde of magical beasts appear?"

Even as he spoke, Hassan tilted his head. If a horde of magical beasts had appeared, he should have felt their unique bloodlust early on. But there was no such sign, and the expression of the staff member who came to find him was also somewhat subtle.

"What in the world..."

Bang!

At that moment, the door the staff member had entered through was violently shattered, and someone entered the president's office.

"Who is it!"

"Who's this guy!" Startled, Ali Hassan and the vice guildmaster instantly took up a fighting stance and glared at the intruder who had barged in unannounced.

'A villain? Or a gang?'

Whatever it was, it was absurd. No matter how much the Imphal Guild's reputation had declined, what kind of crazy people would dare to break into a Hunter guild! But then...

"Hmm."

"...?" Something was strange. The intruder who had barged into the Imphal Guild tilted his head after checking the identities of those in the president's office.

"Is this the right place? These guys don't seem to be from the Foreign Religion."

"What, you bastard? What language is that?" As an unfamiliar language flowed from the intruder's mouth, Ali Hassan was wary of him and at the same time, glanced at the vice guildmaster.

"I, I don't know that language either." He hurriedly shook his head. But if your head isn't good, it's your body that has to do the work. The vice guildmaster jumped out towards the intruder with a fierce expression.

"I'll subdue him first and then call an interpreter! Who the hell is this guy, daring to break into our guild...!"

"W-wait...!" Ali Hassan hurriedly reached out his hand to stop him, but it was too late.

Bang!

"Ugh?!" He closed his eyes and sighed at the sight of the vice guildmaster, who had bravely jumped out, being helplessly thrown back and crashing into the wall.

"...You should pick your fights." Who could he blame? It was the vice guildmaster's fault for lacking the ability to read the opponent's strength.

Gulp. Ali Hassan swallowed hard and calmly raised his magic power throughout his body. However, ignorance is bliss, and you can only see as much as you know. He couldn't bring himself to run forward like his pathetically fainted friend.

'...Strong. So strong that I can't even gauge it. Could he be S-rank?' As the president of a guild, Ali Hassan had met S-rank Hunters several times before. But he could confidently say that there was no one like this among the S-ranks he knew.

'Who the hell is he?'

Suddenly...

"What? These guys aren't even wearing necklaces? Is this really the right place?" Another intruder poked his head into the president's office and came inside.

"...!" A white-haired old man speaking Chinese. The moment Ali Hassan saw his face, his eyes couldn't help but widen.

"Li-Liu Zhigang?!"

There was no Hunter who didn't know Liu Zhigang's face. China's one and only 6-star Hunter. A wanderer who always roamed around looking for battlefields despite possessing such overwhelming power. Why did the great Liu Zhigang suddenly appear in this city...! But, there was something that confused Ali Hassan even more.

"Hmm. So what are you going to do now?"

"...?!"

Liu Zhigang, the fearsome Sword Demon whom even the Chinese government couldn't dare to stop, was politely speaking to the young man who had entered first, like a gentle lamb! Ali Hassan couldn't help but be shocked at the sight.

'Who the hell is that guy...!'