Chapter 288

Chapter 288: Ranking Battle (8)

Zone C, District 1.

In the middle of the wasteland, green fog was rising.

“Build another mine.”

Goyeom waved his hand. From his pale fingertips, pale green energy crept out.

There were no barriers or wooden fences at his feet.

Only dry soil and poison puddles dotted the ground.

“Immortal, aren't you going to build defense facilities?”

One proxy asked carefully.

The corners of Goyeom’s mouth twisted.

“Barriers?”

He snorted.

“Instead of wasting time sitting around building things like that, it's better to plant another solid mine. Resources are defense and power. And……”

As he snapped his fingers, the soil beneath his feet bubbled up. Jet-black mud surged, and a single poison flower bloomed. Acrid poisonous energy flowed from the purple petals.

“This is my barrier.”

Goyeom spread his arms.

The same flowers were blooming all over the wasteland. Poison puddles pooled like swamps, and a light green fog hung thick over the ground.

A concentration that would rot one's lungs just by breathing in.

“When the wave swarms in?”

He muttered slowly.

“The moment they step, they melt. The moment they breathe, they suffocate. Nothing reaches here alive.”

Ten Thousand Poison Immortal.

A man harboring over a thousand types of poison within his body.

A monster capable of inflicting fatal wounds with mere contact.

For him, barriers were a luxury.

“As expected of the Immortal.”

Other proxies bowed their heads and busily flattered him.

It was understandable, as although there were five participating proxies, Goyeom was the figure who could truly be called a powerhouse.

“This is enough without barriers. No, rather, barriers would only hinder the spread of the poison.”

“Naturally.”

Goyeom raised his chin arrogantly.

It was then.

A system window appeared.

[Insurance System has been opened!]

[Each proxy can bet on the ‘Survival/Collapse’ of other zones.]

“Oh.”

Goyeom’s eyes flashed.

“It’s finally open.”

He snapped his fingers to open the insurance window. The status of other proxies' zones was listed in a row.

“Let’s see. Who looks the easiest.”

Zone B, Zone D, Zone E.

Goyeom’s hand, which was scanning the dividends, stopped.

Zone A, District 1.

Kim Minwoo.

[Current Status: Lord's Castle Stage 2, Multiple Tower Deployment, 4 Mines.]

[Estimated Survival Rate: 99.7%]

[Option 1: Collapse before 3rd Wave ― Dividend 47.0x.]

[Option 2: Survive until 3rd Wave ― Dividend 0.7x.]

“……What?”

Goyeom’s brow furrowed.

0.7x.

It meant that betting on survival was actually a loss. The system had judged that ‘this guy will survive almost certainly.’

“What kind of monster is this?”

He scrolled down.

The record of the 1st Wave appeared.

[Zone A District 1 ― 1st Wave Results]

[Total Kills: 10,000]

[Damage: 0]

[Defense Facility Damage: 0%]

[Clear Time: 8 minutes 12 seconds.]

“…….”

Goyeom’s expression hardened.

He annihilated ten thousand enemies in 8 minutes.

Zero damage. Zero damage to defense facilities.

And he did it alone.

“Isn’t he a crazy bastard?”

A proxy cut in from the side.

“Immortal, they say that Zone A proxy is the winner of the Lower Ranking Battle. That he handled all the Demon Lord proxies by himself…….”

“I know.”

Goyeom waved his hand.

He knew. The name Kim Minwoo.

The monster who won the Lower Ranking Battle solo. The rumor that half of the 72 Demon Lords had placed a bounty on his head.

But odds of 0.7x?

‘That basically means there’s no way to kill him, right?’

Of course, one could aim for a jackpot by betting on his failure to withstand the wave. But if one bet like that and invaded, they might end up getting their own throat slit instead.

At least Goyeom had absolutely no intention of opening a gambling table against such a monster.

Goyeom ground his teeth.

Time taken for him to clear the 1st Wave: 25 minutes.

Honestly, his pride was scratched a bit.

“……Hmph.”

He closed the insurance window.

“Well, it doesn't matter.”

Goyeom grabbed a poison flower and crushed it. Poisonous liquid flowed from his palm.

“No matter how strong that guy is, he won't be able to touch this place. Because there's no reason to fight a losing battle.”

Furthermore, Kim Minwoo was the hottest target among the participating proxies this time.

There would surely be those aiming for his zone.

‘He wouldn't dare empty his spot easily. Even if Andromalius is there…… it would be difficult to defend against everything.’

His eyes narrowed.

The conclusion was simple.

Not touching each other.

It was a rational judgment.

At least, Goyeom himself thought so.

[Time remaining until 2nd Wave: 12 minutes 33 seconds.]

The numbers were ticking down.

Goyeom leisurely spread poison fog and waited for the wave.

Certain that his poison wouldn't be breached.

＊ ＊ ＊

[Notification: Insurance has been registered in Zone C District 1.]

[Subscriber: Zone A District 1 Proxy.]

[Betting Content: Collapse before 2nd Wave.]

Goyeom’s eyes widened.

“……What?”

‘What did I just see?’

His finger trembled as he pressed the notification again.

[Zone C District 1 ― Insurance Status]

[Collapse Betting: 1 case.]

[Subscriber: Kim Minwoo (Zone A).]

[Betting Resources: 500]

[Expected Payout upon Betting Success: 2,200]

“This crazy bastard?”

Goyeom’s face turned red with rage.

Just a moment ago, he thought ‘it’s fine as long as we don’t touch each other.’ That it was a rational judgment. That there was no reason to fight a losing battle.

But the opponent drew his blade first.

And he bet on ‘Collapse’ no less.

“He dares empty his main base to bring down my zone?”

The subordinates stirred.

“Immortal, it means that man is coming personally. According to insurance rules, if you bet on ‘collapse,’ you can invade that zone.”

“I know, fuck!”

Goyeom ground his teeth.

Kim Minwoo.

The monster with 47x odds.

That guy is coming to invade personally.

“……Good.”

Venom filled Goyeom’s eyes.

“Just try coming. Let’s see if you can survive in my poison field.”

Goyeom closed his eyes.

All sorts of poisons flowing from his body spread stickily throughout the entire zone.

It was a deadly poison potent enough to make one foam at the mouth and collapse just by touching it.

It was at that moment.

Kugugugu―!

The earth rumbled.

[The 2nd Wave begins!]

A black tide surged from beyond the horizon.

A scale that appeared to be double that of the 1st Wave.

“Hmph, I’ll deal with this first.”

Goyeom raised his hand.

The poison fog thickened.

A green curtain shrouded the entire wasteland.

The hounds at the forefront screamed as soon as they touched the fog.

Their skin melted, eyeballs burst, and limbs collapsed into mush.

“See that? This is the power of the Ten Thousand Poison Immortal.”

Goyeom laughed arrogantly.

Right then.

A black shadow appeared beyond the poison fog.

“What is this?”

A figure walking through the fog.

He was unscathed even as the poison brushed against him.

No, rather, he was absorbing the poison.

Goyeom was appalled at the sight of his extreme poison being sucked in like dust into a vacuum cleaner whenever it touched him.

‘What the?’

Absorbing poison?

And my poison at that?

The black figure strode forward, parting the poison fog.

It was Kim Minwoo.

“Hello, Ten Thousand Poison Immortal.”

Kim Minwoo smirked.

“Your poison tastes pretty good.”

“You crazy monster bastard…….”

Pitch-black poisonous energy rose from Goyeom’s fingertips.

It wasn't a simple poison mist. Condensed energy swirled violently above his palm.

The true martial art of the Ten Thousand Poison Immortal that melts flesh and rots bones.

“There have been many bastards who came to devour me until now.”

Goyeom’s eyes shone gloomily.

“Do you know what their end was? Every single one of them died foaming at the mouth at my feet. You are the same…….”

“Save your last words for the afterlife.”

Kim Minwoo’s hand cut through the air.

Blue magic circles bloomed in succession.

A woman with fluttering silver hair and a skeleton knight clad in jet-black armor revealed themselves simultaneously.

Goyeom’s eyes flashed upon seeing Merhen.

A summon to watch out for. A monster with a notorious reputation among mages.

‘I’ll kill that bitch first.’

“I'll finish you!”

Goyeom shot out like a lightning bolt.

His hand, laden with poisonous energy, reached for Merhen’s heart.

The corners of Merhen’s mouth twisted.

―Hmph, idiot.

A barrier made of bone soared up in front of Goyeom.

The magic didn't end there.

Cold air froze his body, and earth jutted out to bind him.

Not only did a strong wind push his figure back, but scorching heat covered his face.

Goyeom hurriedly drew up his mana.

The moment he circulated his poison arts to strengthen his body.

Kkuu.

‘W-What?’

His poisonous energy dried up in an instant, and his body became frail like tofu.

“Kuaaak!”

While Goyeom howled in pain from being hit directly by magic, Cedric’s spear struck down like lightning.

Kim Minwoo’s sword aimed for his flank.

Attacks rushing in from both sides simultaneously.

Goyeom gritted his teeth and extended his poison palm once more.

Right at that moment.

Kkuu―!

A bundle of pure white feathers jumped into the middle of the poisonous energy.

Hayang’s beak opened.

The jet-black poison disappeared into that small mouth as if being sucked through a straw.

“What the hell…….”

Goyeom’s face twisted in astonishment.

Seogeok―!

The spear pierced his body, and the blade slashed at his immobilized form.

Goyeom hurriedly swung his hand.

A palm strike, now merely packed with raw mana rather than poison, clashed against the blade.

Jiiing―.

A gloomy metallic sound tore at the eardrums.

Ulkeok―!

At the noise that seemed to rise from hell, Goyeom coughed up a mouthful of blood.

In a split second.

Merhen’s magic froze the atmosphere, and Cedric’s spear dug into the opening.

He couldn't think straight.

“Kuh-euk! What kind of sorcery―!”

Goyeom screamed.

But there was no one to answer.

For the two Legion Commanders, beating down a single martial master was all too familiar a task.

It took less than a minute for the spear to pierce his chest and the sword to sever his neck.

Ten Thousand Poison Immortal Goyeom.

A proxy who would have been treated as a powerhouse in the Middle Ranking Battle instantly turned into a headless corpse.

Kim Minwoo sheathed his sword.

“Deal with the rest.”

Merhen and Cedric moved.

Goyeom’s proxies screamed and fled, but there was nowhere to run on the Land of Death.

The massacre ended quickly.

[Zone C District 1 has collapsed!]

[Acquired Insurance Dividend of 2,200!]

System windows appeared one after another.

Kim Minwoo shrugged.

“That was easy.”

The first outing went smoothly.

＊ ＊ ＊

Meanwhile, Andromalius in Zone A…….

‘Why isn't anyone coming?’

He tilted his head.

It was because, although he had been somewhat tense due to the insurance element, Zone A was peacefully quiet to a suspicious degree.

Even when waves swarmed in, the well-reinforced defense facilities and towers were performing their roles surprisingly well.

Honestly, it was to the point where defense would be possible even without him.

“……Really, no one is coming.”

Like that, the 2nd Wave ended peacefully.

Andromalius slumped his shoulders.

“I really intended to show you this time.”

He muttered toward the empty air.

The dignity of a former 72nd Demon Lord.

Combat skills honed over hundreds of years.

The proof to clear the stigma of so-called 'getting a free ride.'

He had prepared everything.

“……But what use is it if there are no guests…”

Andromalius let out a sigh.