The Late Game Healer Is Way Too Strong – Chapter 176

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕𝟔: 𝐒-𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬’ 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 2

In a dark, winding cave, a lone figure rose from the damp ground, its form obscured by the shadows cast by jagged stalactites.

The figure, draped in a flowing robe, let out a low chuckle, the corners of its mouth curving up in a sinister grin.

“What seems to. . . please you so. . . Penelshul?”

“Long time no see, Diakan. There’s been progress.”

“Indeed. . . We are proceeding. . . as planned.”

Diakan replied, his voice raspy and his face haggard, dark circles etched beneath his bloodshot eyes.

He leaned against a protruding rock formation, his gaze sweeping across the cavern.

“Hmph, you’re talking nonsense.”

A deep, gravelly voice echoed through the chamber, drawing the attention of Diakan and Penelshul.

An elderly man with flowing white hair and piercing eyes approached them, his expression stern.

“Doctor to grace us with his presence in such a. . . peculiar place. What brings you here?”

Penelshul inquired in his languid drawl.

True to his words, the doctor had always been confined to his research facility in the Nevada desert, rarely venturing outside.

Aside from the initial gate experiment in Korea, his public appearances were few and far between.

“Why, do I need an invitation to attend a meeting, Penelshul?”

“Of course not. The doctor’s presence is always. . . welcomed.”

“How. . . unexpected. . . A face-to-face meeting instead of a holographic conference. I almost. . . forgot your features. . .”

“Hmph, you also appeared as a hologram during the 4th Hierarchy meeting, Diakan.”

“Indeed. . . However, that is because. . . I am of a lower rank. It is. . . within my purview.”

The doctor tapped his gnarled wooden staff against the cave floor.

Thud.

At once, the stone beneath them shifted, forming a crude chair.

“You can now. . . wield mana freely. It seems the doctor has. . . become a formidable mage. He has finally. . . joined our ranks.”

“Unlike you, I do not possess a body that was. . . originally attuned to magic. To achieve this level of proficiency after a lifetime of research has been an arduous task.”

“I understand. . . Which is why you. . . indulge in such ‘mana’ consumption. Overcoming. . . its drawbacks. In any case. . . it is a welcome development.”

“Shut up, Diakan, Penelshul. You’re not my superiors. Stop with the unnecessary compliments.”

The doctor dismissed their remarks with a wave of his staff.

Diakan cleared his throat and projected a hologram into the air.

On the faintly glowing hologram were the faces of the doctor, Diakan, and Fenrys, along with their project assignments.

“Today’s meeting is. . . as you know. . . a progress report on our current. . . endeavors.”

“Tut! Such matters should be. . . reported to our respective superiors. There is no need for us to. . . gather like this.”

“That is incorrect, doctor. . . This 3rd Hierarchy meeting has been. . . personally requested by a 2nd Hierarchy superior. . . Please mind your. . . language.”

Diakan shot the doctor a warning glance, his voice barely above a whisper.

“A superior, you say. . . Is there a 2nd Hierarchy present. . . among us?”

“Yes. . . They are present. . . in this room.”

Diakan’s gaze flickered upwards as he answered the doctor’s question.

The doctor nodded slowly, his lips curling into a faint smile.

“I see. My apologies.”

“No matter. . . While we are on the subject. . . Let us review the doctor’s project.”

Diakan tapped the doctor’s image on the hologram.

“The doctor’s project. . . is primarily conducted alongside Crowel. . . The ‘Artificial Gate Project’ has garnered. . . considerable attention from above. Particularly, the ‘Reverse Gate’ deployed in Germany. . . could potentially serve as the. . . cornerstone of 〈Pandemonium〉 in the future.”

He continued, outlining the details of the doctor’s project.

“However, the consensus is that it is. . . still in its developmental stages. The potency of the ‘Artificial S-rank Gate’ is. . . said to be inferior to that of a natural ‘S-rank Gate’.”

“Hmph, it takes a lot of preparation to create a stronger gate. The last gate incident focused on quantity rather than quality.”

“Oh, how convenient. Yet we expected several nations to be annihilated. None of the countries where the S-rank gates appeared were destroyed. Moreover, we suffered a lot of damage.”

Penelshul’s words caused Diakan’s already grim expression to darken further.

The 3rd Hierarchy primarily carried out the directives of 〈Pandemonium〉 under the guidance of 4th Hierarchy.

They occupied roles akin to administrators or researchers.

The doctor, as a researcher, supplied the magic and items he developed through Crowel, while Diakan primarily utilized them in his operational role.

However, as he failed to produce any significant results in his field missions, Diakan’s position had become precarious.

Penelshul’s mention of ‘losses’ was a thinly veiled jab at Diakan’s current predicament.

“The project is. . . progressing well. Both the superiors and the demons. . . are satisfied.”

“Do not lie, Diakan. That gate project was single-handedly ruined by that sl*t Ruslana. And the devil Orobas. . . perished as well.”

“Doctor. . . Had the gate’s potency been. . . adequate in the first place. . . None of those casualties would have occurred. . .”

“What?! Are you blaming the failure of the project on me now? It was your fault for putting an imbecile like Ruslana in charge from the beginning!”

A surge of killing intent radiated from Diakan’s agitated form, sharp as needles.

Just as the doctor raised his staff and began to utter an incantation, Penelshul’s shadowy figure interposed itself between them.

“Calm yourselves. A 2nd Hierarchy superior. . . observes us. If you wish to engage in combat, issue a formal challenge.”

Penelshul tilted his head from side to side, his gaze inquiring.

The doctor was the first to lower his staff and rise from his seat.

“Hmph! I’m not an Awakener anyway, so I don’t know how to fight. I’m not stupid enough to risk my life in an unfair duel. However, I swear. . . I won’t die alone.”

He glared at Diakan and turned to leave the cave.

“The meeting is adjourned. Nonetheless, it was good because I saw something interesting.”

“Penelshul. . . Was your provocation. . . intended to lead to. . . this outcome from the start. . .?”

“Oh, dear. Diakan, I do not possess foresight. I merely observe and predict. The actions of the doctor and yourself are predictable.”

Penelshul’s lips stretched into a chilling grin from within the depths of his robe.

Diakan watched him, a bitter taste in his mouth.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had been a pawn in Penelshul’s game all along.

“Penelshul. . . Is your plan. . . proceeding smoothly? Rumor has it. . . that you are operating alone. . . without the cooperation of the 4th Hierarchy.”

“Kukuku. Diakan, I don’t work with others carelessly. The 4th tier didn’t recognize my abilities. I’d rather sow and reap my own seeds.”

Diakan swallowed his retort and nodded slightly.

After witnessing Ruslana’s demise, it was clear that entrusting tasks solely to subordinates was unwise.

Moreover, there was no significant progress from Kaise, Laban, and Arumu, to whom he had entrusted the work.

“Perhaps you should consider my proposal. To take a more hands-on approach, Diakan.”

“I will give it some thought. . . May your plan. . . bear fruit.”

“Hee hee hee hee.”

Penelshul’s form dissolved into the darkness like a drop of black ink.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

Choi Kang-yul was speechless at the battle unfolding before his eyes.

Since his academy days, he had witnessed countless battle videos of Hunters.

He had observed mock battles conducted by seniors and had never missed a single combat video of the top-ranked Hunters active in South Korea.

However, the battle currently taking place before him eclipsed all that he had seen before.

“Extend, Ruyi!!”

With Lo-an’s incantation, the Ruyi Jingu Bang surged forward, its tip aimed at Siwoo.

Multiple layers of shields spun rapidly, deflecting the incoming Ruyi Jingu Bang in different directions.

A large circle materialized behind Siwoo.

Mana surged within, emitting a blinding flash.

[Snow Flower: White Fang]

Dozens of ice shards solidified in mid-air before shooting out like bullets, targeting Siwoo from all sides.

“You won’t have it so easy!”

In an instant, Benedict’s staff moved like an orchestra conductor’s baton, weaving magic into reality.

[Time Traveler: Song of the Wanderer]

Tchak!

The ice shards, which had been closing in like the teeth of a wild beast, froze in place.

Benedict twirled his staff gracefully.

Siwoo’s attack, which had radiated an oppressive chill, began to disintegrate into particles of mana.

“Hahaha! You cannot wield magic so freely in my presence!”

Benedict laughed triumphantly and swung his staff once more.

In an instant, a time-bending blade sliced through the air, aiming straight for Siwoo.

Siwoo had erected a mana shield, but he did not recklessly absorb the attack.

He swiftly dodged Benedict’s attack by leaping into the air.

He had seen Benedict’s ability to instantly convert [Snow Flower: White Fang] into mana particles, so he anticipated that this attack would have a similar effect.

“Impressive reflexes!”

As Benedict prepared to launch another attack, Do Kyung-hoo, who had been standing nearby, extended his hand.

“It’s my turn now.”

“Oh~~ Is that so?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Do Kyung-hoo’s body moved like lightning towards Siwoo.

“Kukukukak! It’s been a while since I’ve crossed swords with a human!!”

The blade at Do Kyung-hoo’s waist flashed.

Siwoo concentrated his shields, which had been enveloping him in a 360-degree radius, to the front.

Kwaaaaaaaaaag!!

A monstrous sword strike tore through the air, slashing through the spot where Siwoo had been standing.

“If you had taken that head-on, you would have been cut in half.”

Siwoo chuckled as he looked at his shield, which had been completely severed.

“My beloved sword, ‘Ghost Slayer’, feeds on mana. You should know that, shouldn’t you?”

“Is there a Hunter in South Korea who doesn’t know that?”

“Kukukuk. . . I’m glad you haven’t forgotten. If I don’t give it my all, I’ll lose face in front of my juniors.”

“Shall we end the warm-up and get serious?”

Siwoo infused his ring with mana.

━Hee hee hee!

A cerulean horse, its mane and tail billowing, materialized and snorted, greedily absorbing his mana.

“You’ll need to defend yourself carefully.”

Siwoo mounted Pumirmir and drew Balmung.

“Kukukukak! This monstrous beast! You’re the only one in South Korea who would dare to face me with a sword!”

Do Kyung-hoo exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement.

Pumirmir dug in its hooves and charged forward like a bolt of lightning.

Siwoo raised Balmung high and swung it down with all his might at Do Kyung-hoo.

Zzzzaaaappp!!!

A blinding flash illuminated the surroundings.

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