ALL NOVEL Chapter 960
<960 – Slave Hunt (7)>
Devastated earth.
As Oknodie stared blankly at the desolate open ground that had turned into Buzhaar, the magical sword in their hand couldn’t withstand the excessive output and shattered with a clang.
Later, if they were to obtain a new magical sword, it could be used again; however, until the creation of a new one, the finishing move would remain unfurled.
[So, that technique can no longer be used.]
“Professor Buzhaar?!”
[It’s been a while. Truly a long time since I’ve broken even one of my ‘vessels.’]
In the place where Retired Professor Buzhaar’s body had vanished, a dimensional rift opened, and Buzhaar 2 emerged, donning his characteristic white lab coat, stepping out once again.
[Hidden World Raid Boss – Buzhaar]
[Phase 3 – Dimensional Clone]
Buzhaar was confident of victory.
Oknodie had lost the finishing move, but plenty of spare vessels remained, including themselves.
“Talent as a master. Finishing moves as an ambitious person. I’ll admit I fall behind in those two. However, I shall not yield to anyone in terms of preparations as a dark shadow. Now that you’ve lost your magical sword, what do you have left?”
Oknodie felt a huge relief watching the confident appearance of Professor Buzhaar, as if he were ready to proclaim victory.
“Phew! You still have life stacks!”
“What are you so relaxed about? Do you still have faith left?”
“Well, I suppose?”
“A lie. Unless you manage to find all the research facilities where I’ve hidden my dimensional clones, you will never stop the resurrection of those clones. In terms of the durability of the vessels and the continuity of the period, I clearly have the advantage. How, then, can you be so sure of your victory?”
“I have a helper sensitive to dimensional phase shifts, prepared for ‘this pattern.’”
The comrade who had stayed by Oknodie’s side the longest, even dropping out of the Academy to train repeatedly.
Someone who could always return to their original point through the ‘original point’ area.
“The area of the original point can act as a tracker that not only recognizes its own origin but can also awaken the origin of others and trace back to it. If you, Professor, enjoy [Ultimate Potential], then you know what I’m hinting at, right?”
Buzhaar realized.
Oknodie’s finishing move losing its value was not due to it being broken once; it was a ploy to compel Buzhaar to break at least one of his vessels and summon a dimensional clone.
If there existed tracking techniques to trace back to the ‘origin’ of the launched dimensional clone, it could forcibly choke off Buzhaar’s lifeline.
Oknodie had once again perfectly countered Buzhaar!
“Impressive. No shortfall in cunning, even for a dark shadow. Truly a worthy heir to the Foundation. However, I cannot accept defeat; you still have two unstable factors.”
“What might those be?”
“One: If the tracker’s capability to pursue my vessel is lacking, you won’t be able to surpass the [Guardians] who protect that vessel, even if you find it.”
This was a battle to decide who was superior, based on the skills of Oknodie’s strongest subordinate versus Buzhaar’s strongest subordinate.
“And two: It’s a matter of how you will break through the ‘next comprehensive resistance threshold’ without your finishing move.”
Once again, Buzhaar’s massive super armor was being implemented.
Indeed, even a lone attempt to stop it seemed impossible.
For Oknodie at that moment, it was a technique far too demanding to use twice.
“Well, if there’s someone to block it instead, that works!”
This was where Oknodie’s hope shone through.
The one who had grown commensurately to the significant advantage that Oknodie had over the professor’s assassin but had been thwarted previously.
“It was said that a loud signal would come when the time came, and it’s indeed true. Not bad. This could be quite the thrill.”
The maniacal aristocrat Michael appeared, tying one of the professor’s limbs to his waist.
Upon Michael’s entrance, both Buzhaar and Oknodie screamed in unison.
“What the hell is that outrageous strength? Does it mean that a strong being, having reached ‘truth,’ can still exist in this dry era of the mystic seed? Just a mere killing machine, not even an heir to the giant organization?!”
“Noo!! That professor is a required lecture professor for fourth-year students! What about next year’s lecture?!”
Michael, ignoring Buzhaar’s scream, only scoffed at Oknodie’s.
“If you’d die by my hand, it would have been a trash class anyway. Don’t waste your time; be thankful!”
Michael’s response, filled with his own twist of sincerity, didn’t change the shudders of both Buzhaar and Oknodie.
“No matter how much talent you reach truth, you cannot underestimate me! I’ll crush you!!”
“Please crush him, Professor Buzhaar!! Let’s deliver a blow to this wicked Michael, who’s messed with the event trigger!!”
“…Who the hell are you siding with?”
Michael, who had no idea how he had messed up any event trigger, was left in utter bewilderment, having come to help but only hearing curses.
*
While Michael endured the scorn of ungrateful Oknodie, Sing, who had recognized the ‘origin’ coordinates of Buzhaar’s dimensional clone through the original point area, infiltrated the enemy’s territory.
‘What a mess.’
The location where Buzhaar’s dimensional clone was stored was equipped with a stringent security system to protect the precious clones.
The primitive form of a monster mother that devoured all approaching life forms: Monster Mother.
Its flowing flesh devoured and incorporated all objects that came near.
‘I can do it. Oknodie has shown countless ways to leap through the air.’
Recalling memories from long ago in the Student Dormitory Zone, Sing swung their sword several times and executed a long-range leap resembling air hovering.
The moment Sing reached a point they could not cross, the previously launched blade energy struck fallen structures above to serve as a stepping stone.
Thus, inside the infiltrated research facility.
[Mana Wave Detection has been completed.]
[Approval Complete]
[Entry Granted.]
Observing the security monsters on patrol and the verification procedures of their identities, Sing gauged the ‘origin’ of the verification device.
Then, at the most optimal timing when the guards and the verification device were activated, Sing made their move.
Scrape
The first strike cut through the sensor’s detection wave, buying time.
Scrape
The second strike swiftly silenced the guards by taking them down instantly.
Scrape
The third thrust opened a dimensional gate before the sensors could recognize Sing and the corpses within, pushing them both into an off-dimensional rift.
In a heart-stopping moment, the infiltration that even the detection devices could not recognize was successful, releasing the corpses into a privacy zone where inner detection was non-functional.
‘That was close.’
Sing recalled the moment their long hair and swollen chest almost caught the detection wave.
Yet strange as it was, there was a bit of pride mixed in.
Though their technique might not have been stable, wasn’t the pride of being a woman fulfilled!
Having always worn a gaunt face, things had changed since deciding to live a new life; the blood returned to their cheeks, and smiles blossomed unceasingly.
Having gained various opportunities under Oknodie allowed Sing to take on a more perfect disguise.
[Advanced Invisibility Technique]
In addition, it was the stealth skill learned from the assassin Jiang, who circled around Oknodie like a satellite.
At present, Jiang believed Sing was her older sister, Sia.
Unlike the past where they’d pass by like indifferent predators from different ecosystems, Jiang now showed considerable interest towards the female Sia.
-What do you eat to get so big?
-You’d trade stealth for that? But that voice, it’s voice modulation? Incredible for someone who’s not even an assassin.
-Did you get burned? No signs on your skin. Is that a curse? I happen to know of a tree that thrives on curses. You keep it to not forget your grudge? Admirable. I’ll cheer for you.
Almost failing to provide an excuse that would expose their identity, Sing smoothly grasped the situation and managed to maintain a grudge-filled concept without treating their burnt neck.
Regardless of how they acquired the invisibility technique, thanks to it, Sing successfully infiltrated the highly secure facility.
Inside the storage room where Buzhaar’s dimensional clone was stored, various forms of humans lay sleeping inside bio-capsules.
“It’s a hobby from Professor Buzhaar’s youth, they say.”
“?!”
“These bodies. With varying genders, ages, and appearances. He thought that by changing bodies, he might harbor ideal talent.”
How did they notice?
Though still immature, the advanced invisibility technique learned from Jiang was supposed to be undetected even by a professor-level adept.
From what Sing had heard, even the retired Previous Hero Party’s omnipotent rogue, Professor Destroyer, would be deceived for a moment.
To discern that was already extraordinary.
A massive monster with eight faces and twenty arms, its gaze fixated solely on the face directly in front of Sing, illuminated their path ahead.
“Curious about how I recognize you? Simply, because you are one of the monsters.”
“?!”
“Don’t you know? Your high-level transformation technique utilized in part as monster cells. Specifically, similar to the primordial cells that constitute monster cells. Unlike us born from a ‘father,’ you were born from ‘a mother,’ how fascinating.”
Sing was engulfed in confusion.
That their chest was made of monster cells?!
If Jiang, who advised to drink more milk and get enough sleep, learned this fact, she’d likely come charging to claim Sing’s invisibility technique right away.
However, thinking about it, it wasn’t all that unpleasant.
Who had aided in their physical transformation?
It was Oknodie.
Since the monsters originated from Buzhaar, then if she was born from a mother, who would she be derived from?
‘Oknodie!’
The cells used in Sing’s female form belonged not to Buzhaar, but to Oknodie.
Then am I… related to Oknodie by blood?!
No way.
The child she thought of as a younger sister had actually become her younger sister!
No, if one thought of it as derived from the ‘maternal source,’ didn’t that make Oknodie her mother?!
Regardless of the confusion Sing was in, the Guardian Monster urged.
“You’re a special child. So, what business do you have here in this facility?”
Sing shook off the disorientation.
The relationship with Oknodie could be sorted out later.
“It’s a command from Mother. All clones within the facility must be incinerated immediately.”
“That’s problematic. It’s impossible without Professor Buzhaar’s permission.”
Oknodie also had spoken.
Should they be caught by the enemy, they would say that it wouldn’t be easy to receive permission for the same.
Therefore, she passed down the finishing move that could be used in such cases.
“The principal is coming. To seize this facility.”
“The principal?!”
“If she enters the detection range, it’s already too late. If even one clone is caught, then all other hidden clones will be discovered, and Professor Buzhaar will be killed.”
Without a moment of hesitation, the Guardian opened the emergency button’s cover and smashed it with his fist.
[Emergency Self-Destruction Protocol has been initiated.]
[All personnel within the facility are to execute an emergency escape.]