261
“Agh! How long has it been since I’ve had such delicious food?”
“I thought my taste buds were ruined from eating only garbage, but this is so good……”
“If we eat something like this now, how are we supposed to survive the rest of the time?”
“Human! You can keep coming in and out of here, right? Please, can’t you just keep bringing us ingredients? I’ll cook!”
“You’re a terrible cook.”
“Then eat it raw!”
The mutants’ reactions were explosive.
Some were shedding tears, while others were screaming with emotion. It was as if the emotions they had suppressed until now had exploded all at once.
However, even amidst all that, cold sweat was slowly rising within Seun’s tightly clenched fist.
‘When will they notice?’
– The constellation, ‘The Serpent Surrounding the Timing,’ swallows nervously and shares your tension.
– The constellation, ‘The Crow Who Bows Its Head,’ says there’s nothing to worry about, having given away even its treasure, and quietly swallows.
– The constellation, ‘The Full Prince,’ anticipates the increasingly complete table.
If the poison’s true nature is revealed while its effects are only halfway through, Seun could be in danger.
No, he definitely will be. Most of them seem simple, but that guy Kes is quite rational. As soon as he realizes there’s poison, he’ll point to Seun.
“Cough, cough. Delicious.”
But for now, he’s absorbed in the food.
Is it because I’m nervous? It feels like time is passing slower than usual.
Only a few seconds have passed, but my palm is already soaked with cold sweat.
Fortunately, the mutants were more interested in eating even a little more than others, rather than savoring the taste, so the stew quickly disappeared.
In less than five minutes, the huge pot was emptied, down to the last drop of broth.
“Kuaa- I’m full!”
“How long has it been since I’ve had such a feast?”
“The procurement of ingredients is definitely worth reconsidering. Ah, of course, it’s not because it’s delicious, but rather because our current food reserves are insufficient……”
“Yes, yes, our Kes also thinks it’s delicious, right?”
“Ahem, it’s only natural that the food prepared with the ingredients my mother sent is delicious.”
“Acting shy.”
Everyone is making happy faces with their bellies full.
Perhaps, at this moment, Seun is the most worried person on the island?
While everyone was leisurely indulging in their fullness, only Kes regained his senses and approached Seun.
“Thank you. It’s the first time everyone has been this happy since the days of conquering the Black Sea.”
That statement might evoke sympathy, but recalling the events of the Black Sea made it difficult.
Under Estrotsha’s command, they were at the forefront of slaughtering all beings in the sea.
If they were released like this, they would surely repeat those actions.
‘But why isn’t there any sign yet?’
The mutants’ expressions were perfectly peaceful.
It was as if they had embraced all the happiness in the world, being full.
Could it be that they all have resistance to the poison? Enough to detoxify the potent poison created with 6th circle black magic and the potent poison given by Mammon?
While I was worrying about that.
“Cough, cough.”
“Ugh. Why are you coughing right in front of me all of a sudden? How disgusting.”
“No, kuwehk!”
“Ugh! Is this guy crazy? Where do you think you’re…… Kuwehk!”
Finally, the effect began to appear.
The mutants’ bodies seemed to recognize the poison and involuntarily began to vomit what they had eaten.
However, there was no point in vomiting now. The two potent poisons would have already penetrated deep into their bodies.
“What’s going on…… Kuaaaak!”
The dormant symptoms rapidly worsened, starting with this signal.
Blood vessels swelled up black, their throats became blocked, and their eyes became bloodshot. The muscles throughout their bodies twisted.
All they could do was desperately scream.
Even that was only because the mutants’ resistance was strong.
The poison Seun used was at a level that could instantly kill an ordinary person just by touching it to their tongue.
“Could it be!”
Clang!
So, the leader is still the leader?
The moment one of the mutants collapsed to the floor, Kes grasped the situation and immediately swung his ray-like, wide fins at Seun.
The straightened fins were as sharp as blades, and Seun, who had been preparing for the attack, drew his sword.
“Keuheok!”
“Keureureuk- Sa, save-”
However, the situation was leaning in Seun’s favor.
The mutants were all losing their lives as their bodies twisted grotesquely, unable to withstand the poison.
They may have looked strong on the outside, but they had been trapped on this island for a long time without proper nutrition.
They were only prolonging their lives by restricting their movements, and their physical condition was close to death.
Having consumed such potent poison in that state, there was no way they could withstand it, no matter how strong they were.
“Why would you do this! Could it be that Mother…… No, that can’t be!”
Kes spat out dead blood from his mouth, gritting his teeth and swinging his fins.
His bloodshot eyes were gradually losing their function of sight. The muscles were twisting like ropes every time he moved, making it clear how much pain he was in.
Yet, Kes did not stop attacking.
‘There seems to be some misunderstanding.’
Even with his comrades dying, Kes did not doubt that Seun was a pawn sent by Estrotsha.
On the contrary, he seemed to be mistaken that Estrotsha had ordered Seun to kill them.
He was desperately denying it, but that in itself meant that he was acknowledging the fact inwardly.
‘Well, it can’t be said to be completely false.’
What was the reason Seun learned about this island?
It was because of Estrotsha, who informed Leviathan of the island’s existence.
If she revealed the island’s existence, would she not know what would happen to her children’s lives?
Of course, she would.
She would know that her children’s lives would be in danger the moment their existence was leaked.
However, Estrotsha valued herself more than her own children.
The immediate pain.
The immediate fear.
She sold out her children to alleviate those things.
“Say something!”
Dead blood gushed from Kes’s mouth as he shouted loudly.
Judging from his physical condition, it seemed like he would go into shock if he moved even one step, but he was swinging his fins forcefully with just his willpower.
Indeed, a strong person.
No matter how evil they may be, those who reach the power of a Ranker inevitably possess the corresponding mental fortitude.
Moreover, what’s even more serious is…….
‘He’s resisting.’
The poison that had been spreading through Kes’s body was stagnating.
He looked like he would die if touched, but his body was desperately resisting the poison to survive.
This is dangerous.
It’s not just heroes who grow when driven to the brink of death.
If he develops complete resistance to the poison, Seun could be in a dangerous situation.
“Find out the reason from your mother. I’ll send you to the same place soon.”
“What?”
Confusion was visible on Kes’s face as he sensed hostility towards Estrotsha in Seun’s words.
Even though he denied it verbally, he thought Estrotsha had sent Seun to kill them, but he realized that wasn’t the case.
However, there was no time to think.
Not only was there no time, but he wasn’t even in a state to think, as he lacked even the blood flowing to his head.
– Through internal energy, the third form of the Blood Wolf Sword Technique, Blood Wolf Assault, is enhanced.
– According to the mysteries of the Supreme Sundering Art, the power of the martial art is enhanced.
He launched a surprise sword attack at the bewildered Kes.
He blocked the front with his fins like a shield, but Seun’s sword tilted diagonally as if anticipating it, tearing through Kes’s lower body.
“Does that mean Mother didn’t abandon us?”
Hope flickered in Kes’s eyes, which had been red with blood from the poison.
Even in this situation, he was seeking his mother’s love. It was an obsession.
‘Well, that’s the only reason he was able to endure that long time here…….’
The moment hope flickered, the writhing in Kes’s body subsided, and his bloodshot eyes gradually regained their original color.
Beyond resisting the poison, he was autonomously recovering from it.
Seun’s worries were coming true.
Taat!
He had no intention of waiting until the poison was completely detoxified.
Seun immediately drew up his internal energy, kicked off the floor, and stepped on the Butterfly Dance.
As softly as a butterfly, yet as quickly as lightning, he sprints forward.
Kes, whose bloodshot eyes had not yet fully recovered, could not keep up with Seun’s movements for a moment.
“If Mother remembers us, we can’t die here either!”
Giiiing!
Aura swirled from Kes’s fins.
It was a real aura, different from the aura seen in the Pirate King’s sword before. It was a technique that only Sword Masters, the pinnacle of swordsmanship, could use.
The light of the aura was as hard as a weapon forged by a master craftsman, but it was scattered and unbalanced due to the poison.
Even so, aura is aura.
The moment the two fins crossed, the aura was fired towards Seun.
Kwakwakwang-!
The aura spread out in an X shape, destroying the cave.
Although it was an imperfect aura due to the poison, its destructive power was stronger than any sword strike.
However, Seun’s figure was not visible in the devastated landscape.
“Where did he disappear to…….”
“Here.”
Kes raised his head.
Seun’s figure was reflected in his shaking eyes.
Butterfly Dance, which combines free movement and fast speed by combining Transcendence Steps, Niche Step, and Aerial Walking. It was a movement possible only with that.
In Seun’s sword was the image of a giant wolf as huge as Mount Tai [a sacred mountain in China, often used metaphorically for immense size and weight].
– Through internal energy, the strike of Mount Tai Blood Wolf is enhanced.
Kwaang!!
No matter how skilled Seun is, he is not yet at the level to break through a perfect aura.
However, the opponent’s aura was extremely unstable due to the poison.
Moreover, he had missed Seun’s direction and failed to attack, leaving a large opening.
“I can’t die like this……!”
Kes barely turned his body and blocked the sword with his fins, but it was difficult to withstand.
His body was too damaged to draw up a new aura.
Keugeugeuk!
In the end, the wolf’s figure sank its red teeth into Kes’s fins.
Kwajik!
Kes, who called out to his mother until the moment of his death, was eaten and disappeared into the wolf’s jaws.
“Hoo…….”
Even in a state where his body was ruined by being poisoned by a potent poison, he had such combat power…….
Indeed, if they had faced each other in a normal state, he wouldn’t have been a match.
It was thought that even if he had faced Kes one-on-one in a normal state, let alone fighting against multiple opponents, it would have been a close call.
– The constellation, ‘The Serpent Surrounding the Timing,’ looks around you with a strangely heavy feeling.
– The constellation, ‘The Crow Who Bows Its Head,’ is satisfied with the performance of the treasure it gave.
After the battle with Kes ended, I looked around and saw that all the other mutants had already died.
I finished off the ones who were barely breathing by stabbing them in the heart with my sword.
A gruesome sight of poison and blood splattered everywhere.
Seun unleashed the most appropriate ability to clean this up.
– The entire island of ‘Hermits of the Black Sea’ has been designated with the Authority of Gluttony.
– The fangs of gluttony pounce on the monsters!
Kwajik!
The teeth that appeared as if they had been waiting tore at the mutants.
Soon after, Beelzebub’s cheering voice was heard.