Murim Login - Chapter 295

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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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Chapter 295
A suit of armor gleaming with an oily sheen. A dark green cloak fluttering like wings. And within hollow eye sockets, violet spectral flames burned with an eerie glow.
And… there was a voice.
– Come. Down. Human.
The moment I heard that creature’s voice—like metal scraping against metal—I nearly tumbled from the tree.
‘It spoke?’
This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. The Wyvern I’d hunted in the past, the one-eyed Karus, had been capable of speech as well.
But a monster speaking… that was something far more significant than a simple curiosity.
“A Named Monster…”
The words escaped my lips like an involuntary groan.
That was right. According to everything we knew, only Named Monsters possessed the ability to use language.
And that Named Monster had just been born before my very eyes.
No—not born. It had ‘evolved’.
[Lv.105 Skeleton Warlord]
Evolved? I’d never heard of, much less witnessed, a Named Monster appearing in such a manner.
‘What is this, some kind of Digimon evolution?’
Did monsters actually evolve like that? Was that even possible?
Even I, who had drifted five hundred light-years away from an ordinary life, felt bewildered—and the reactions of my other guild members were beyond description.
“What… is that?”
“Wait, didn’t it just say something?”
“I’ve never seen anything like that in the monster encyclopedia…”
Well, of course not.
Named Monsters were aberrations. Each individual possessed unique characteristics, and their power levels varied. No one could know anything about them until they appeared.
‘But why now, of all times?’
I ran my tongue across my parched lips.
I didn’t know what level this Skeleton Warlord possessed, but it was certainly wielding power befitting a Named Monster.
‘And on top of that, there are two A-rank Skeleton Knights.’
The remaining hundred-fifty or so were all B-rank Skeleton Mages or Warriors. They were an army unto themselves—formidable and troublesome.
But if I took on the leader, the Warlord, and the two core forces, the Knights, it would be a battle worth fighting.
‘We’ve been running Raids non-stop until now.’
There were only fifty guild members inside the Gate at present.
But more than half of them were seasoned veterans who had endured my grueling hellish training, whip and all.
Over the past week, we’d faced so many Skeletons we were sick of them—if we remained calm and composed, we could handle two or three times our current numbers.
‘The new Rookies are also exceptionally talented at the basics.’
We paid salaries equal to or exceeding those of Large Guilds, so we only recruited the best.
This time, I personally participated in interviews and various assessments, even scoring their growth potential.
To weather the storm that was Ares Guild, I had carefully selected only the finest saplings and transplanted them into the front yard of the Peace Guild.
‘We’ll have to accept some risk, but this is worth attempting.’
Choi Team Leader and three others had largely suspended their guild duties and were now devoted entirely to training in the Jin Family’s internal methods.
Had they been here, this battle would have been far easier, but even if they were present, I wouldn’t have deployed them.
A hidden blade concealed within a sleeve is lethal precisely because it remains unseen. I cannot reveal it here, where so many eyes are watching.
Having made my decision, I called out to someone.
“Jin-su!”
“Yes, sir!”
Kim Jin-su, who was effectively serving as my deputy, responded with crisp efficiency. I pointed my dagger at the Skeleton Warlord.
The verdant glow burning within its hollow eye sockets still fixed its gaze upon me.
“That’s a Named Monster.”
A sharp intake of breath rippled through the guild members.
Most of them had been hunters for less than two years—raw recruits. Facing a Named Monster, something even twenty-year veterans rarely encountered, their expressions were saturated with tension.
But Kim Jin-su was different. His initial shock faded quickly, and he nodded calmly.
“I see.”
“Huh. Playing it cool, are we?”
“I’ll admit I’m a bit flustered, but that doesn’t mean I can just stand here helplessly.”
Look at this guy.
I’d known from the start he had guts, but this boldness was uncharacteristic of a first-year hunter.
Sensing my gaze, Kim Jin-su smiled faintly and added a remark.
“If this were a hopeless situation, you would have already signaled a retreat, wouldn’t you? Am I wrong?”
“Hmm.”
“…Or did I misread the situation?”
“No.”
I chuckled and shook my head.
“You’re right. This is a fight worth taking.”
“Ah.”
“I’ll handle those three over there. The rest are on you. How long can you hold out?”
Kim Jin-su answered after a brief moment of thought.
“The newer recruits lack experience, but… we should be able to hold for at least an hour.”
“An hour?”
“Yes. A minimum of one hour.”
The moment Kim Jin-su answered with such confidence, the Skeleton Warlord slowly opened its maw and released an otherworldly resonance that defied description.
– Gha. Aha. Aha. Aha!
Beep!
–
[Lv.105 Skeleton Warlord]
has activated a special skill!
– Special Skill,
[Summon the Dead]
has been triggered!
– The slumbering dead awaken to answer their commander’s call!
It was a cry that sent shivers down the spine—a summons that roused the accursed dead from their eternal rest.
Thud-thud, thud-thud-thud!
Earth erupted upward, and the ground trembled. Pale skeletal heaps rose from countless spots, taking form and joining the horde.
Bone-encrusted longswords and wooden shields matted with root fibers. Among the Skeleton Warriors, I could see Mages adorned with necklaces bearing skull insignias.
Even two A-rank Skeleton Knights had emerged from the earth.
Adding the newly risen creatures to the existing Skeleton force, their numbers now exceeded 300 by a considerable margin.
“….”
“….”
I broke the silence, watching the spectacle unfold before me.
“Kim Jin-su.”
“Yes.”
“One hour—is it possible?”
“Uh, well.”
“Be honest with me.”
“…I think I can manage about thirty minutes.”
“Really?”
“Yes. The situation has gotten worse, but I believe it’s possible.”
Kim Jin-su continued, his expression grim as he gazed at the Skeleton Warlord.
“As long as that bastard doesn’t pull any more tricks.”
“It seems like it will, though.”
“Surely not.”
– Gah. Ahhh. Ahhh. Ahhh!
“See? I told you so.”
Kim Jin-su sighed.
“Please, no.”
Beep.
–
[Lv.105 Skeleton Warlord]
has activated a special skill!
– Special Skill,
[Commander’s Encouragement]
has been triggered!
– The strength, agility, and magic of monsters under the Skeleton Warlord’s command have been enhanced!
– The enemy’s momentum surges dramatically!
The Skeleton Warlord let out a bone-chilling roar!
The effect was extraordinary.
“This is….”
Using [Energy Sense], I could see that every single one of them had gained five levels.
The overwhelming pressure emanating from the Skeleton army of over 300 was incomparable to before.
Glancing to the side, I saw Kim Jin-su standing half-dazed.
“Thirty minutes—is it still possible?”
“….”
This bastard’s now cursing me with his eyes.
Fair enough—even I could see that was pushing it. I clicked my tongue and gave the next order without hesitation.
“Fall back slowly. Don’t provoke them.”
“How far should we retreat?”
“To the Forest Path right before the Gate Entrance. Make sure we can escape at any moment.”
“Since the Forest Path is narrow, they’ll be easier to handle.”
“Exactly.”
Just as Kim Jin-su said, the Forest Path before the Gate Entrance was so narrow that five adult men could barely squeeze through shoulder to shoulder.
Even for Skeleton Warriors, whose frames were relatively thin, seven or eight was the limit.
But….
“Just get out of here.”
My revised plan didn’t include a direct confrontation with them.
“Sir?”
“Take the kids and get everyone outside the Gate.”
Kim Jin-su’s face filled with bewilderment at my words.
“Then what about you, senior….”
“While you’re leaving, they’ll just be playing tag? Someone has to buy us time.”
“Senior! That’s too dangerous!”
“Jin-su. Or rather, my dear members of the Pyeonghwa Guild.”
I looked down with a solemn expression. Below me stood fifty guild members, craning their necks like baby birds to gaze up at me.
“I, and our Pyeonghwa Guild, have always placed the safety of our members as our highest priority.”
A few of the veteran hunters muttered in barely audible voices.
“That’s the biggest load of bullshit I’ve heard all year.”
“I think I nearly died seven times in the past week.”
“I counted about ten for myself.”
Meanwhile, the eyes of the rookies on their first day trembled with emotion.
“Senior!”
“Oh my god!”
“You’d go this far for us…!”
I continued with a voice thick with emotion.
“For your safety, I would bear any risk. Even if my arms are torn off! Even if my legs are severed! I will absolutely return you all safely to the arms of those who love you!”
Several of them let out passionate cries.
“We can fight!”
“Please let us fight alongside you!”
I bit my lips firmly and shook my head.
“That’s impossible! Someone must bear the burden of sacrifice, and in a situation like this, it is best that I step forward!”
“But still…!”
Whoooosh! Crack!
Before anyone could finish speaking, an ominous black aura came flying at us.
Towering dozens of meters high, the Skeleton Warlord—whose girth spanned several meters—sliced a massive tree horizontally in half, letting out a sound like metal scraping as it roared.
– All… of… you… die… now!
Whoosh, crack!
I leaped down from the tree and shouted.
“Everyone, fall back to the Gate! I’ll cover the rear!”
This time, no one tried to stop me. Over three hundred Skeleton Warriors had begun their advance.
Clatter. Thud. Clatter. Thud.
The monsters moving in perfect formation exuded an oppressive aura.
The ones enhanced by the Warlord’s special skill moved with tremendous force, and faint flames flickered within their hollow skulls.
– Graaaaaaah!
As the Skeleton Knight commander let out a roar, corroded arrows and attack spells erupted from the rear ranks, hurtling toward the Pyeonghwa Guild members.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Boom!
“Block them!”
“Tanks! Keep your shields up and fall back slowly!”
“Suppressive fire, now!”
The distance between the two forces was roughly three hundred paces. To retreat safely, we needed more distance.
I swung Baek Yeom, blocking the vanguard of the skeletal horde.
“You bastards! How dare you threaten our precious Pyeonghwa Guild members!”
Screech! Crack!
The spear shaft, infused with power, shattered bones, and the transparent spear blade extended outward, slashing in all directions.
In a single strike, I cut down ten of them, but then three Skeleton Knights rushed at me simultaneously.
– Graaaah!
– Graaaaaah!
Shiiing!
Three streaks of black aura barely grazed past my body.
As blood trickled from my neck where the wind pressure had cut me, anguished cries erupted from the guild members already entering the Forest Path.
“Kyaaaah! Senior!”
“Watch out!”
Clang clang clang clang!
I desperately deflected the relentless aura strikes as I shouted with strain.
“Go! I’ll catch up soon!”
“But…!”
“Jin-su! Get moving!”
Kim Jin-su, who had been hesitating, led the guild members toward the Gate and called out.
“You must come back safely!”
I smiled faintly and nodded.
“I will.”
“I’m sorry, Senior!”
“It’s fine. Go!”
“Ugh!”
Kim Jin-su’s figure, hesitating until the very end, disappeared beyond the Gate.
Now all that remained were hundreds of Skeleton Warriors densely packed along the Forest Path and me.
– Y-o-u-r… l-i-f-e… e-n-d-s… h-e-r-e.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Through the gap of bones splitting apart like the Red Sea, the Skeleton Warlord emerged into view.
– H-a-v-e… y-o-u… a-c-c-e-p-t-e-d… d-e-a-t-h… h-u-m-a-n?
But I wasn’t listening to his words.
Only after sweeping my hawk-like gaze across the surroundings did I exhale a sigh of relief.
“Phew, they’re finally all gone.”
– …?
“Those kids are unnecessarily sentimental. When the Team Leader says to go, they should scurry off immediately. Help? What help? That’s not how it works, right?”
I wiped the blood smeared on my neck. I thought I’d controlled it well enough, but the cut was deeper than expected. About 0.2 centimeters?
“Damn, what a waste of blood.”
The Warlord’s violet core flickered uneasily.
– W-h-a-t… i-s… t-h-i-s… t-r-i-c-k-e-r-y?
“Nothing special, really.”
Looking at the experience points—no, the Skeleton Warrior battalion—that completely filled the narrow Forest Path, a satisfied smile crept across my face.
“You all die here. That’s all you need to know.”
– W-h-a-t… d-i-d… y-o-u… s-a-y?
Instead of answering, I took a deep breath.
Every muscle in my body trembled, and following the incantations of the Flame Dragon Divine Art, the fire dragon coiled in my dantian stirred to life.
And in the next instant, I became one with the spear in my hand and unleashed it.
“One Flash.”
Kwaaaaaaaa!

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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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