Chapter 340: Chapter 340

It was fairly difficult for Choi Yeonseung to make others believe in himself, but it was quite easy to make them not believe in certain constellations. In addition, the explosion constellation had plenty of weaknesses one could exploit.

“The explosion constellation has a lot of notoriety in the Abyss.”

[’Endless Linked Explosions’ snorts. He laughs and questions if a human being who is a household member of the ‘Undefeated Incarnation of Training’ would tell the truth.]

Naturally, the explosion constellation didn’t back down either. Since he was known to serve another constellation, Choi Yeonseung’s words weren’t that trustworthy and persuasive either.

“Hmmm.”

Xia Ling looked troubled as he listened to both constellations.

“The power of the explosion is definitely a bit loud. There’s nothing subtle or dignified about it.”

[’Endless Linked Explosions’ says it is ridiculous since your power isn’t that noble either!]

The explosion constellation was hot-tempered.

Almagoria’ vampire magic wasn’t very that elegant either. His fighting style of transforming one’s body and exchanging blood seemed like he was just transforming others into monsters.

At first glance, it looked like the fighting style of a monster!

“Are you disregarding my power?!” snapped Xia Ling with a furious expression.

The explosion constellation attempted to persuade him again.

[’Endless Linked Explosions’ says there is a misunderstanding. He proposes that you and him respect each other’s powers.]

“Xia Ling, this is what the explosion constellation is like. In addition, he’s been involved in all kinds of terrible things on Earth. Making a contract with him will be detrimental to your reputation.”

[’Endless Linked Explosions’ is baffled!]

[’Endless Linked Explosions’ declares that the countries of Earth are plotting all sorts of dirty things and they shouldn’t criticize him.]

The explosion constellation found it unfair because many other countries committed wicked acts just as he had. After all, was there a perfectly moral country on Earth?

However...

[’The Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ says that ‘Endless Linked Explosions’ is a bit vulgar and suspicious.]

[The ‘Greedy Owner of the Treasure House’ says that the greed of ‘Endless Linked Explosions’ is ruining Earth.]

[The ‘Black Magician Who Shares Everything’ also...]

[The ‘Observer Who Returned From a Cold Place’ also...]

[...]

[...]

In situations like this, the loudest one would always win. The explosion constellation wasn’t very popular among his peers.

‘There’s a reason I surround myself with allies and take my reputation seriously, explosion constellation.’

Choi Yeonseung shook his head. How easy would it be if he could just stop caring about his reputation and just rely on his own strength and go on a rampage...?

However, nobody could really do something like that in the Abyss. It was even more so for the constellation who participated in this competition to gain control of Earth.

This time, all the hostility that the explosion constellation had exhibited recently just backfired; it was karma.

“How... How can a constellation have such a terrible reputation?” Almagoria muttered in astonishment. He had lived in the Abyss for a long time as a mortal, but this was the first time he saw a constellation being criticized by everybody.

“I don’t want to make a deal with such a notorious constellation. Let’s just pretend we didn’t have this conversation.”

[’Endless Linked Explosions’ is becoming angry.]

[He says he will never let this insult go.]

The explosion constellation issued a grim warning which made for a somber atmosphere. Constellations were generally arrogant and fierce, and the evil god constellations never forgave anybody for being disrespectful to them.

After being humiliated like this by some mere mortal, it was only natural for the explosion constellation to become enraged and exhibit a murderous aura.

“Hah! I don’t fear a constellation. If you want to fight, I’m right here!”

[The ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ is laughing!]

[The ‘Greedy Owner of the Treasure House’ is laughing!]

[The ‘Observer Who Returned From a Cold Place’ is laughing...]

‘Why do I only see the evil god constellations?’

The evil god constellations seemed more pleased about the embarrassment of Endless Linked Explosions than the good god constellations. It was understandable, as the explosion constellation had gained too much momentum lately...

Fine! I’ll show you!

“!”

You have to take responsibility for your words. I will show you what I am capable of!

‘Oh... They provoked him too much.’

The explosion constellation became enraged and used his power of existence. It was a waste to use his power like that just because his pride had taken a hit, but there were times when pride was more important than logic.

[The ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ is watching with interest.]

[The ‘Greedy Owner of the Treasure House’ is watching with interest.]

[The ‘Observer Who Returned From a Cold Place’ is watching...]

[...]

The other constellations watched the escalating situation with great intrigue. How would the explosion constellation subdue this arrogant mortal?

Firstly, he could send his own household members there. It would consume a lot of his power of existence, but he would definitely punish the mortal if he did that.

Another possibility was that the explosion constellation would use his powers to alter the surrounding area.

‘I don’t think it’s very efficient.’

Even if the explosion constellation used a lot of power of existence, it wasn’t guaranteed that he could subdue Xia Ling with just that.

Realistically, with his ability, Almagoria could withstand thousands of explosions in this area. Before Choi Yeonseung could figure out how the fight would play out, a booming sound shook the nearby buildings.

A bombardment had started over the city, and it wasn’t the explosion constellation’s doing!

“Isn’t... Isn’t that a Chinese military plane?”

“...”

Chinese planes were speeding over the city.

***

“...”

“...Hey, don’t tell me...” murmured one of the diplomats as he didn’t want to admit what was happening before their eyes.

“There are diplomats, hunters, and civilians here. Is China just going to ignore them and proceed with the bombing?”

“There are also citizens from other countries here.”

The diplomats talked among themselves and became increasingly more apprehensive as they saw what was going on.

“I think China might actually do this...”

“...”

The area was filled with a lingering silence.

O’Connor eventually said nervously, “We need to contact them right away and tell them to stop the bombing!”

“O’Connor, that... I’m sorry to say this, but that probably won’t work.”

The diplomats already knew how this would go.

Even if they complained that there were people here, the Chinese officials would just pretend that there was some problem with communication, and then they would lie that they would punish whoever was in charge later!

“Still, haven't all the bombings been stopped so far?”

After humanity received magic, they had been developing it along with technology. Naturally, experts had been studying and experimenting with the combination between magic and modern weapons. A typical example of that was magic-infused bombs or missiles!

However, Almagoria had lived in the Abyss for a long time, so he could deal fairly easily with such an attack. He summoned his minions in the sky and even put up a shield to block all incoming bombardments.

Those on the side of the government were most certainly surprised by this as their bombings weren’t doing anything, and the vampire just continued to summon more of his warriors. The hunters didn’t want to go in either...

“Now that I think about it, their attack is futile. Why are we worried about it?” asked Choi Yeonseung incredulously.

The faces of the diplomats lit up as if these words gave them hope. There was no damage from the bombardment so far, which meant that in the future...

“Come to think of it, some people said that China has poor military technology.”

“...No, I don’t think so.” Choi Yeonseung frowned.

Suddenly, there was a different noise than that of the Chinese bombs.

‘What? There’s now way they’ve come up with some new technology. Don’t tell me...’

Choi Yeonseung was struck with a sudden sense of foreboding.

The diplomats exchanged looks as if they were thinking the same thing.

[’Endless Linked Explosions’ laughs!]

“!”

They couldn’t believe it... Was that really the case?!

Choi Yeonseung was stunned. The explosion constellation had lent his strength to the Chinese military unit that surrounded the city. His power would turn a simple bombardment into an insanely destructive force...

‘Do they really have no conscience?’

The explosion constellation was an evil god constellation, so it was hard to believe that the Chinese military had accepted his power. Even if they were desperate...

“That’s just too much!”

“They’re monsters!”

“...??”

The Chinese hunters, who were working under Xia Ling, became extremely angry. Then they looked embarrassed when they met Choi Yeonseung’s eyes.

“Uh, we should be angry about this, right?”

"Tha-that’s right... In any case, we have to take action immediately,” said Choi Yeonseung. He shifted his attention to his group and continued, “I don’t know what their goal is, but we can’t just stand still and do nothing. First, we need to save those foreigners who are trapped in those buildings.”

Nobody could predict how devastating this bombing would be, so Choi Yeonseung couldn’t afford to leave those people in those buildings.

They had to save those people.

“But will the vampire let us rescue them?”

Bang! Baaaaang! Bang!

“Just do whatever you need to! Can’t you see how chaotic the situation is?!” snapped Xia Ling. He was frantically summoning minions to fend off the bombardment.

“I will do it. Let’s go!”

“No, I’ll go rescue them. Hunter Choi Yeonseung, please stay here and defend against the attacks!”

O’Connor volunteered to do the unpleasant work himself.

‘In such a situation, the safety of civilians comes first. Hunter Choi Yeonseung is exactly like the rumors portray him to be!’

‘Now I see why people call him the Pushover...’

The two A-grade hunters met eyes and nodded at each other even though they were thinking different things.

Trying to lessen the tension, Aine added, “The bombardment probably won’t be that bad. The Chinese government doesn’t want to kill all of its own citizens. They’ll just break the shield and the minions of the vampire.”

“The problem is that even if they don’t have bad intentions, it’s going to be a disaster if one missile falls in the wrong place. Didn’t they borrow the power of the explosion constellation? He’ll most likely make a move as well.”

Choi Yeonseung had an almost perfect understanding of how constellations acted. They were like loan sharks; they never gave their power away for free.

Even if the Chinese enjoyed his powers for the time being, they would inevitably pay the price!

The Chinese army had borrowed the constellation’s power to break the city’s defenses, but no one knew if he would stop there.

-I need everyone to lend me some strength.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ uses the power of existence!]

[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ uses the power of existence!]

Choi Yeonseung couldn’t use his power of existence directly because there were many constellations watching, so he borrowed the power of existence of the two other constellations!

‘But I can’t expect much.’

The power of the two constellations wasn’t that strong, so Choi Yeonseung’s ability to fight was limited. What was the most efficient way to use the limited power?

“Master!”

Odaigon, who had been watching over the orcs in the realm, suddenly showed up with a staff in his hand. He was dazed for a second after teleporting so suddenly, but he grasped the situation incredibly fast.

“Protect the people here along with this human!”

“I understand!”

O’Connor was taken aback by the hunter he was seeing for the first time. He was surprisingly handsome, but O’Connor didn’t remember seeing him before.

“Hey, follow me!”

“I understand.”

“Oh...?”

Odaigon looked at O’Connor, baffled; not many humans were this polite. People usually replied to him with things like “Who are you?”, “Do you know who I am?” or “Do you want to die?”, so it was natural for him to have such a reaction. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

‘There is still hope for humans!’

Odaigon and O’Connor were ready to put up shields. Meanwhile, Choi Yeonseung quickly went to the top of the tallest building in the vicinity.

‘It’s a spectacular sight.’

Vampire summons and planes collided in the air.

-Breached! The shield has been breached!

-Almagoria! The shield has been breached!

-Aghh! Hang in there! I’ll be there soon!

Choi Yeonseung couldn’t see their faces, but he could feel the sense of triumph of the pilots as they shouted in their planes.

They finally breached the city’s solid defenses.

[’Endless Linked Explosions’ shows kindness.]

Suddenly, a missile was fired and flew through a hole in the shield

-!!!!!

-What are you doing?

-I-I didn’t mean to fire it...!

“I knew this would happen.”