I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - Chapter 363

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 363
Ep. 363
Of course, Erubein wasn’t simply brushing things off without anything to say.
United States, Erubein’s residence.
“It’s been quite the journey.”
Erubein gazed at Ihyeon’s message floating before his eyes and offered a brief reflection.
Yet the path he had walked thus far, along with all his accumulated thoughts, was anything but short.
To be precise, he had long since passed his prime and was now at an age where retirement was becoming a serious consideration.
Most of the Hunters who had emerged around the same time as Erubein had already stepped back from the front lines, taking positions as guild executives or government officials.
That Erubein could still remain active, and until recently as an overwhelmingly dominant force, was truly the result of the effort Ihyeon had mentioned.
Everyone had grown so accustomed to Erubein’s era that they seemed to have forgotten this fact.
Erubein smiled and closed the chat window with Ihyeon.
It had been nearly a month since he cleared the 98th floor, so he would now enter the 99th floor.
Erubein had now become someone who watched another surpass him.
He knew Ihyeon’s abilities all too well, but the 90s were so close to the tower’s end that every conceivable variable could emerge.
‘I hope he reaches the end without incident.’
Erubein offered a silent prayer and closed his eyes for a moment.
* * *
Ilgyeok’s monthly conquest cycle.
Ilgyeok didn’t announce which floor he would be conquering.
Unlike before, the floor Ilgyeok entered wasn’t being relayed by others either.
Yet South Korea was filled with palpable tension.
No one dared make bold predictions, but within days, Ilgyeok would surely attempt the 99th floor conquest.
As news outlets endlessly speculated about the theme of the 90s floors,
the internet was releasing this tension with its characteristic humor.
[ Title: Come on, the day of South Korea’s collapse~
Big corporate brothers, time for 99% discounts, right? Those of you who’ve been saving ammunition for this day, hit that recommend button.
Haha, 98% or 99%, what’s the difference? I just bought everything I wanted last month anyway.
“You guys who waste money like that will never be able to buy a house. You should have waited for a 100% discount next month like I did.”
└ But it’s weird how GDP skyrockets every time even with 90% discounts.
└ The discounts are limited quantity first-come-first-served anyway, and honestly people spend more money out of good mood when Ilgyeok succeeds. Why else would the Economic Ministry officially mention the Ilgyeok effect in their annual reports? ]
Since Ilgyeok first rose to stardom, major corporations had been offering discounts matching each floor he conquered.
As the number approached 100, many questioned whether such events could be sustained, yet surprisingly, companies continued maintaining the discount promotions.
Of course, they couldn’t distribute products indefinitely within a timeframe like they did initially.
Most limited quantities to a thousand, at most five to ten thousand, but even that was a massive event, and consumers didn’t really mind anyway.
They simply enjoyed sharing in the sensation of Ilgyeok climbing floor by floor.
Only the dramatic discounts of 90% and above were limited quantity, while the substantial 30-40% discounts on the day of conquest proceeded on quite a large scale, making it a good opportunity.
This had become a sort of cultural phenomenon quite some time ago.
Finally, the 99th floor.
Ihyeon had gathered the Spirits, Blue, and the Vice Captain in the annex for a final strategy meeting.
“Is the 99th floor still the Land of Storms?”
“Yes, my Lord. Unlike before, the time spent there was not particularly long. The High Priest’s temple was located not far from the fortified rocky mountain.”
Deep within the Land of Storms, at that.
The temples of the Bishops I had seen until now were similar in scale to Earth’s great cathedrals, but the High Priest’s temple was said to be of an entirely different magnitude.
“The terrain is treacherous. There is an active volcano, and while rain does not fall, lightning strikes with quite a threatening frequency.”
“That’s something we can prepare countermeasures for, at least.”
“The problem is that place is… in a state of constant total eclipse.”
It was evidence that the High Priest was a creature of an entirely different dimension compared to the Bishops I had faced so far.
Even the Bishops who could fly and move about were mostly limited to partial eclipses, managing at best to maintain a total eclipse by gathering their strength for brief moments.
The High Priest’s domain had never once had its eclipse state lifted, at least not until now.
Though the sun was hidden behind dark clouds and could not be seen, the report came from the One-Strike Knight Order, who received buffs similarly to the Duogsinis, so it was certainly fact.
“If it’s a constant total eclipse, it might have approached the Lich’s Life Vessel to some degree.”
“That is correct, Master.”
“This will be quite troublesome.”
But there was fortunate news as well.
“The fact that there are fewer Duogsinis and Saedos than expected is good news.”
“It is thanks to the Achievements you have accomplished, Master.”
The main headquarters of the religious order.
Of course, the absolute numbers could not be called small, but they were still fewer than Ihyeon and the Knights had anticipated.
The absence of the Bishop forces that had been swept away on the plains, and the two Right Lawkeepers that Blue had already broken beforehand, made a significant difference.
Practically, the only remaining elite were the High Priest and the Bishops who dwelled with him in his temple.
Though Jia’s words were somewhat embarrassing, the absurd progress Ihyeon and the Knights had shown on the 90th floors had certainly been a real help.
“Still, we must not be careless. It will be incomparable to the time of the 95th floor Bishop coalition, so do not let your guard down.”
“Of course.”
“You bet!”
“Yes!”
Ihyeon tapped the desk with a sharp sound to draw attention, then left the annex.
‘The 99th floor is the High Priest. And the 100th floor is… probably someone behind the High Priest.’
The long 90th floors were now nearly exhausted.
It was time to climb one of the two remaining steps.
Behind Ihyeon as he left the annex, Jia and Elsie, Blue and the Vice Captain followed closely.
Clack— clack— clack clack——
Following them, the One-Strike Knight Order also gathered one by one, displaying their grand presence as if swearing to share life and death with Ihyeon.
“…You all need to guard the house. Where do you think you’re going?”
“Huh?! But Vice Captain, you said we’d fight that High Priest bastard!”
“We’re definitely going to have an incredible battle, and you’re not including us in it?!”
“I, I was a core fist even like this, a core fist!”
“So what exactly is a core fist?”
…Of course, they were only assigned to house security today and could not participate in the conquest.
Still, with a decisive battle against the High Priest looming, even with minimal security personnel, roughly a dozen or so remained.
I could only say that he was unlucky.
Some squad members unrelated to the operation had interjected along the way, but it was merely their gratitude in supporting Ihyeon.
Ihyeon chuckled softly and spoke to those who would enter the tower with him.
“Let’s go.”
* * *
Crack-crack-crack——!!!!
Lightning struck down from above.
A dark expanse where only the occasional flash of lightning could illuminate the terrain properly.
In the middle of the plain where Ihyeon stood, a massive temple-like structure loomed.
And surrounding the temple in concentric layers was an expedition force of 100,000.
The only place where the encirclement had not formed was even further north than this northern edge of the great steppe—where a volcano raged with violent explosions.
Kiiiii….
The Duogsinis, who had conquered the steppe for countless ages and played upon it as if it were their own domain, were now cornered at the final temple, facing off against the expedition.
The Saedos controlling them did not appear to be in good spirits either.
Meanwhile, Ihyeon’s expedition was different.
“Finally… the final battle.”
“Let’s make the steppe safe.”
Rumors had already begun circulating through the expedition that this battle would be the last.
That rumor left not premature hope, but unwavering resolve.
The expectation that if they survived this battle alone, they could live as they once did without fearing the Eodukshin and Duogsinis anymore.
Though among them were young warriors who had never experienced that former life even once.
‘Strictly speaking, with the High Priest’s backing still remaining at the 100th floor, this wouldn’t be the final battle.’
I anticipated the remaining tasks ahead, however roughly, but kept silent about it to the Spirits and the Knights.
After all, the High Priest’s backing that Erkastrula had mentioned was something I would have to face directly.
I had no desire to break the warriors’ morale by mentioning that a transcendent existence beyond the High Priest still remained.
It was a moment of tension, as if the war would begin the instant someone gave the signal.
Ssssshhhhh———!!!!
“L-look over there!”
“An Eodukshin is rising from the temple!”
A massive Eodukshin suddenly rose from the temple that resembled a great fortress.
The sheer amount of Eodukshin alone was enough to raise a single Eodukshin and still have plenty left over.
It must surely belong to the High Priest.
I decided to watch what the High Priest was plotting.
After all, the sword was in our hands.
The Eodukshin condensing in the air above the temple began forming the upper body of a giant.
“Uooooo!!!!”
Kieeek——!!!
Unlike the startled expedition, the cult side’s momentum surged.
The belief that even if the entire world crumbled, the place where the High Priest stood would remain intact.
Though they had lost reason and morality, that was still why they were called the cult.
Soon, an overwhelming presence filling the sky above the temple burst forth with a roar.
“How dare you set foot in this sacred place! Annihilate all these heretics!!!”
The volume of that voice made thunder itself sound like mere pebbles clashing together.
It was the signal flare announcing the beginning of war.
Keeeeeeek—!!!!!
The Duogsinis, which had been growling while awaiting only this signal, began pouring toward the expedition in unison.
But that wasn’t all.
Kwaarrrrung—!!!
Kyaaaak—!!!
The now-familiar combination of Thunderbirds and Harpies took flight from within the temple in perfect synchronization.
Though the cult’s forces were cornered, they still possessed sufficient reserves they had been conserving, and their numbers were quite formidable.
However, contrary to the cult’s fierce momentum, the expedition showed no signs of wavering.
Tension hung thick in the air, but despair did not easily take hold.
That was because—
Buuuuuuu———!!!
“The horn trumpet has sounded!”
“We charge too!”
“Just follow the commanders in!”
‘If they come out to us, all the better.’
Ihyeon and the expedition were confident they would not be outmatched in terms of raw military power.
The expedition surrounding the Grand Temple began charging toward the Duogsinis in unison.
Among them, four units stood out particularly.
Naturally, these were the main forces of the expedition led by Jia, Elsie, the Vice Captain, and Blue respectively.
Thud-thud-thud-thud——
The Purungs, meeting the grassland and displaying their power without reservation, stood as a sturdy vanguard.
Though the Duogsinis varied greatly in size depending on the individual.
Pow—!
“Purung broke through! Go! Go!”
They could not compare to the Purungs, which were like tanks plunging into combat between infantry.
“Wahoooo!!! Tiger fox, I’m starting to like you!”
Urrrrgh——!!!
Elsie rode atop the Great Tiger, wielding a massive claymore and rampaging freely.
Through the black tide of Duogsinis, the expedition’s main forces advanced like icebreakers, pushing forward relentlessly.
Aerial forces like Harpies and Manticores were frequently intercepted by crossbowmen and priests hidden throughout the expedition’s ranks.
Of course, even so—
‘We’ll gradually reach a stalemate soon enough.’
In a war of this scale, momentum alone could not decide the outcome.
Though Jia, Elsie, Blue, and the Vice Captain displayed brilliant prowess, they could not advance too deeply to maintain coordination with the majority of regular units following behind them.
The 90th floor range was also beginning to show signs of conclusion, but Ihyeon’s top priority remained minimizing casualties among the Nomads.
To the Nomads, Ihyeon might appear as a hero who suddenly descended like a comet to save the grassland.
From Ihyeon’s perspective, it appeared as though the Nomads—otherworlders with their own ambitions to climb the tower—were being exploited for his purposes.
Though their interests aligned, it remained uncomfortable to demand sacrifices from them without reservation.
Thus, after pushing forward to a certain point, he had them run nearly parallel to the front lines thereafter, concentrating their efforts on literally ‘grinding through’ the threatening Duogsinis.
‘In truth, those four could breach all the way to the Minister’s Palace in a single surge if they wished….’
And so Ihyeon sat at the main camp, observing the battle unfold favorably as anticipated.
At first glance, Ihyeon appeared to be seated farthest from the battlefield.
Yet in reality, he was more deeply embedded in the fray than anyone else.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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