Chapter 292: The Black Goats (2)

From beyond the Gate, an indistinct form burst forth.

Gigantic black branches.

Numerous mouths and teeth attached to it.

And then.

From the liquid dripping from the teeth, goat-like figures as large as dozens of meters appeared.

They were the spectral soldiers of ‘Shub Niggurath.’

There were only five of them, but it was impossible to gauge how formidable the mana each one possessed.

“Screaaam!”

“Arrghhh!”

The mere sight was enough to drive one’s mind to madness.

The tether of reason snapped, and the cells within screamed out.

“Grrrrr….”

Magic-oriented players managed to withstand it somehow, but their will to fight had long since vanished.

“What kind of monster is that….”

“It’s impossible for us…. to stop them.”

Stall for time until stronger rankers arrive?

How arrogant that thought felt was painfully clear.

Even if rankers somehow managed to come, could they even scratch these creatures….?

It was impossible to imagine such a scenario.

At that moment.

A rumbling sound.

The river began to darken.

An unknown liquid spread along the ripples.

Every cell in the body sent an instinctual warning.

Danger.

“Run… away!”

The players raised their shields as they shouted to the civilians standing behind them.

Boom, boom, boom!

A black wave swept through the riverside in an instant.

The shields shattered like glass, and the tankers behind them couldn’t withstand the shock, spewing blood from their mouths.

“Screaaam!”

“Squeaaal!”

Screams echoed everywhere.

Allies were dying helplessly.

Shields, barriers, everything was meaningless.

This was hell.

The very heart of hell.

Knowing they needed to flee was one thing, but frozen limbs refused to obey.

If even they were in such a state… what about the civilians?

An overwhelming terror.

But then.

The wave was repelled as if blocked by something.

“I apologize for the wait.”

A group of players appeared in front of them.

It was Cheon Min-su, the star dealer of the Balhae Guild, and their main assault team.

“It’s Balhae! That’s Cheon Min-su of the Balhae Guild!”

“They have a holy artifact too. It’s the great defense artifact ‘Thousand Li Wall(千里長城)’!”

“Can we… can we actually survive this?”

Cheon Min-su, one of the top players in Class A.

And those who came with him comprised an assault team, all with experience in tackling high-level dungeons.

Moreover, they had brought a ‘green’ grade holy artifact specialized in base defense.

[The special effect ‘Mountain River Treasure Trove (山川珍奇)’ of the Thousand Li Wall has been activated!]

[The defensive power of the base is increased by 500%!]

[Morale increases by +30!]

[All stats owned by individuals will increase by +3!]

[(Absolute Rating Effect): Aggro from all enemies will focus on the walls!]

The holy artifact, a miniature version of the Thousand Li Wall, shone brilliantly.

Golden mist rose, and long walls stretched along the Gangcheon River.

At the same moment.

“Grrrrrr….”

The black goats, which had fallen from the tree, began to move.

Boom!

A heavy impact was felt at the bottom of the river.

Due to their colossal size, small waves began to push toward the riverbank.

“Player Cheon Min-su, those creatures….”

“Don’t worry too much. According to the analysis team, the branch with countless teeth is the enemy’s main body. However, it has already failed several times to come out of the Gate.”

“So you’re saying the main body can’t come over?”

“At least for now.”

Cheon Min-su nodded his head.

The monsters in the river were likely underlings controlled by that creature.

Enough time could be bought until the main guilds of Korea and the Japanese reinforcements arrived.

“Everyone get ready. While those creatures slam against the walls, we’ll make a surprise attack from behind in one swoop.”

Cheon Min-su issued commands to his peers.

“Five of them….”

“If three of us take one each that should do, right?”

“They’re strong but if the main body doesn’t move, it’s worth a shot. If it’s a bipedal goat, cutting its tendons will do the trick.”

Sssshh! Clang!

Various weapons were drawn.

Due to their large size, the closer you got, the more targets you had.

Just then, the goats reached the front of the Thousand Li Wall.

Boom!

As a repulsive power touched the wall, a thunderous noise resonated across the whole city.

However, the wall, like it defended the borders in the past, also withstood this current assault.

…Now.

“On three.”

Cheon Min-su lowered his center of gravity.

Featherweight magic and speed enhancement magic were stacked, enabling them to fight on water.

“One.”

Mana gathered toward the legs as if ready to launch.

“Two.”

Thump!

Puffs of smoke rose from the ground.

“Three.”

And they all disappeared.

They targeted the rear of the black goats.

A precise and punctual surprise attack.

But then.

“Huh…?”

Despite piercing from a blind spot, a chill ran down Cheon Min-su’s spine.

That feeling, those senses…

It’s unmistakable.

[Aggro effect does not activate on the target.]

The special effect of the Thousand Li Wall… The absolute judgment effect of the ‘green’ grade holy artifact…

Did not work.

Only when they got close did Cheon Min-su finally realize.

They had only gauged the mana on the surface of the black goats.

In the depths, there flowed currents of dark and sticky malice that could not be compared to the surface.

“Ah… No!”

It was too late to cry out in desperation.

Dozens of lines shot out from the body of the black goat that detected the players.

Ssshhick!

A black line scanned across Cheon Min-su and the other players’ bodies.

The acrid smell of burning flesh stung their noses.

And a bitter taste of iron surged from deep within their throats.

“Cough…”

Cheon Min-su looked down in disbelief at his vanished lower half.

And that was.

The last scene he would remember.

“Grrrrrr!”

Mana condensed on the horn of one of the black goats.

Line, not a sphere.

A sphere of gathered malice and mana released a dazzling glow.

Boom, boom, boom!

The sphere passed through the Thousand Li Wall and evaporated the players behind it.

[Thousand Li Wall has been breached.]

Roads and buildings collapsed.

A mere movement altered the terrain and natural features.

And so.

The most terrible nightmare commenced.