Chapter 221
Chapter 221: Raid: Clear
At first, the studio didn't properly understand the divine prowess Baek Woohyun had displayed. They simply treated it as though there had been a temporary delay in the broadcast.
It was a natural assumption on their part. All they saw was only the final scene. The scene where the Hunting Dog Fusion Monster disintegrated and collapsed.
They didn't see him dodging the tentacles and supernatural ability techniques, nor the counterattack that followed. In short, the intermediate process was skipped and only the result was thrown before them.
So it was inevitable that they couldn't properly comprehend the divine prowess they witnessed.
However, it didn't take long for them to realize that this was merely a misconception.
This was because they belatedly noticed that if there had truly been a temporary delay in the broadcast, there should have been traces of the Hunting Dog Fusion Monster having moved as well.
They quickly caught on to the fact that while everything else remained frozen, only Baek Woohyun was free and had defied the flow of time.
The panelists, including Jeong Nayeon who could verify the broadcast's status the fastest, were representative of this realization.
"It's not lag, everyone! The broadcast is fine!"
"It's just, it's just too fast! So fast our eyes can't follow!"
"Holy moly···."
-What kind of crazy talk is that
-It's real?ㄷㄷ Try watching the replay at 0.25 speedㄷㄷ
-ㄹㅇ you can see something flickering faintly;;
-Speed invisible to the eye actually being shown by Hackphysicalㅋㅋㅋㅋ
"I'll replay that scene in slow motion!"
Jeong Nayeon quickly worked her hands to replay the battle scene at the lowest possible speed.
Since she was the broadcast owner, she could set an even lower playback rate than the viewers, and there Baek Woohyun's movements were clearly revealed.
Everything from leisurely walking through the tentacles and supernatural ability techniques to reaching the Hunting Dog Fusion Monster and slicing it like cutting tofu.
The amazing part was that even with the drastically reduced playback speed, his movements were still incredibly fast.
-"Slow. Even your collapse"
-Crazyㄷㄷ what is thisㄷㄷ
-He lives in a different time zone all by himselfㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-??? : Have you ever been cut at the speed of light?
"To be honest, I thought there was nothing Hackphysical could show us that would surprise me anymore. There's even a meme that says 'If it's Hackphysical, it's possible.'"
"Me too."
"I agree."
"But I was wrong. 'If it's Hackphysical, it's possible,' 'Hackphysical can do it'—even those expressions were insufficient. Haha. Even though this is PVE where supernatural abilities aren't restricted, I didn't expect this."
-He's not human lol
-But seriously, is he really the same species as us??
-This one scene scares me more than the special forces meme ㅅㅂㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Too fast so dynamic vision whatever ← shut up
Cha Seongcheol shook his head as if he couldn't compete, and the viewers also empathized with his feelings and expressed admiration.
Just when they thought he'd shown everything he had to show, he revealed yet another facet, making them stick out their tongues in amazement.
"Moreover."
"Moreover?"
"No, never mind. I think I might be mistaken···."
-Gyaaak
-Ah that speech patternㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-There are two ways to make people angry
-If you're not going to say it, don't bring it up in the first place!!
"···Fine! I'll say it! In my view, this isn't the end either!"
"Why do you think so?"
"Well, if you look here."
Jeong Nayeon pointed at Baek Woohyun's face as he stood before the shattered Hunting Dog Fusion Monster.
"His expression clearly shows he's not satisfied yet. Like a 'Tsk, still lacking?' feeling?"
"Is that so?"
"Hmm. I'm not sure."
-Really?
-She's an expert in Hackphysical Studies 101 so she'd know
-To me it just looks like his usual expression?
-Now now, she knows something others don't!!
'Uheuheu' donated '1000 won'!
[An expression only they can recognize? This is delicious]
"Wh-what?!"
"Huk!"
"─Anyway, yes! Now, end! Let's watch Woohyun!"
***
"Phew."
Despite having taken down the Hunting Dog Fusion Monster in one breath, Baek Woohyun couldn't move immediately. He had to endure the aftermath of performing such forceful movements.
Though his overwhelming willpower suppressed it from showing outwardly, his body was on the verge of collapsing and convulsing at any moment.
Naturally, tremendous pain was tormenting him accordingly.
So he only began walking again after considerable time had passed.
Specifically, around when the studio had replayed his battle scene in slow motion, marveled at his impossible divine prowess, and then grilled Jeong Nayeon.
It meant the situation was serious enough that even he, who could overcome ordinary wounds and pain in a single breath, had to stop for that long.
"······."
Fortunately, perhaps thanks to defeating multiple Hunting Dog Fusion Monsters, no more enemies blocked Baek Woohyun's path afterward.
He leisurely caught his breath as he advanced deeper into the underground research facility, soon reaching a location where the final monster would clearly reside.
A place where everywhere was covered with Otherworld Mucous Membrane, where an ominous energy was clearly palpable even from the entrance.
Ordinarily, it would be wise not to set foot in such a place, but unfortunately, he had no alternative choice.
In any case, the reason he came here was to enter and directly fight and resolve whatever was inside, whatever it might be.
He couldn't turn back now. If he were going to do that, he would have done so long ago.
Gooo-
"Huaaaa."
"······."
In the vast cavity stood a single woman alone with both arms spread upward. It was a posture as if receiving something in abundance.
Baek Woohyun realized she was actually absorbing the power of the Otherworld that filled the cavity and making it her own.
This seemed to be why the Otherworld Mucous Membrane hadn't spread outward as much as expected. Its proliferation had been delayed because the predator inside had devoured it all.
'Then.'
Just how much Otherworld power had she absorbed?
Baek Woohyun's spine chilled as he looked at the woman's back. It was because he had a premonition that this would be no easy battle.
After all, this was a situation where Abrasax-Deus, who was trying to kill him, had presented the insane opponent called the Hunting Dog Fusion Monster as a trash mob.
Considering that, no explanation was needed for how strong this woman, the research facility's final opponent, would be.
What was even more terrifying was that the woman was one complete entity.
Unlike the Hunting Dog Fusion Monster, which was four people forcibly stuck together in a wretched state, she maintained a completely human form.
The fact she hadn't transformed into a monster despite possessing even more Otherworld power seemed to show the wall that existed between hunting dogs and Hellhounds.
"Hello, intruder has come do you want to die, I want to kill you."
"······."
The woman, noticing Baek Woohyun's presence, turned to look at him. Chattering in the same unbroken speech pattern as the enemies he'd fought earlier.
It seemed she'd absorbed too much Otherworld power and developed some kind of mental problem. Just like the researchers and the Hunting Dog Fusion Monsters.
This didn't just refer to her tone. Her expression, gaze, and gestures were all abnormal. Like a malfunctioning doll.
Even her skin was dyed a pale blue color. It was an element revealing she had become an existence closer to an Otherworlder than an Earthling.
'And yet she's still wearing the Hellhound Badge.'
"Why don't you answer my greeting, you're a bad person so that's why right then I can kill you."
"······."
"Die."
Shuaak!
Tentacles surging from the Otherworld Mucous Membrane were swung toward Baek Woohyun. The tens of tentacles visible at a glance were viciously threatening.
Their speed and power were fearsome, but the fact they were born from the Otherworld Mucous Membrane was also noteworthy. Currently, this entire place was covered in Otherworld Mucous Membrane.
In other words, tentacles could appear and attack not only from where he stood, but from above his head or behind his back as well.
The moment he was pushed back, he might be hit without even getting close. Knowing this, Baek Woohyun didn't just dodge the tentacles.
Immediately immersing himself beyond the Slowed World into the Stopped World with minimal leaps, he reached the woman who stood between Earthling and Otherworlder.
The military dagger swung at her, the blade prepared by Abrasax-Deus!
Seo-geok!
As before, the blade smoothly cut and split the Hellhound woman's neck. It was such a clean slash that it didn't seem to have cut through the neck bone.
However, what happened next was clearly different from before. Even in the Stopped World, blue blood spurted from the severed neck!
=······!=
Instinctively recognizing he mustn't touch that, Baek Woohyun stepped back, and simultaneously exited the Stopped World.
He couldn't continue maintaining a world that consumed tremendous mental strength. It was also a situation where wounds and pain were gnawing at his body.
'That just now.'
Hudeudeuk!
"Geureuruk!"
Through the blue blood, the Hellhound woman clutched her neck and widened her eyes. Her pupils, half-dyed violet, shone clearly with killing intent.
Then the blue blood that had been spilling to the floor, along with what had already pooled there, surged up and wrapped around her like a cocoon.
It was a sight clearly revealing the blood had some other effect. If Baek Woohyun hadn't stepped back, he might have been hit by it.
'The opponent couldn't react to the Stopped World.'
The Hellhound woman had allowed the slash defenseless.
The anomaly occurred only after that.
After the wound was created, blue blood spurted from there, exploiting that instant.
Blood that originally would have flowed only after Baek Woohyun stepped back.
'Only the blue blood responded to my speed.'
There was no need to deeply investigate the cause.
It must be Abrasax-Deus's interference.
The blue blood was a phenomenon created by accepting Otherworld power.
What was important now was that the blue blood, which could react in the Stopped World, had completely wrapped the Hellhound woman in cocoon form.
This meant he couldn't shatter her in one blow like when facing the Hunting Dog Fusion Monster. They would surely react on that side as well.
'Moreover, the cocoon form is also concerning.'
What exactly is a cocoon?
A cocoon is the shell a larva creates to protect itself when undergoing metamorphosis.
But would the Hellhound woman emerge unchanged from inside the cocoon wrapped around her? After creating a cocoon and all?
'Absolutely not.'
"Phew."
Baek Woohyun briefly steadied his breathing.
Since he didn't know what would emerge from the cocoon, he decided to tear it apart with all his might.
If he could inflict damage while she was mutating into some unknown existence, he could lead the subsequent battle more advantageously.
Of course, it was clear even that would be extremely difficult. The opponent wouldn't just leave the cocoon alone. Just looking at how the Otherworld Mucous Membrane was wriggling proved that.
At least the fact she didn't greet him in a mutated state showed Isaac's touch to some degree. Desperate balancing, perhaps.
Conversely, it meant the enemy emerging from inside was strong enough to accept such a penalty.
=I'll finish it before the mutation!=
Baek Woohyun, cutting short his brief thoughts, immediately lunged toward the blue cocoon.
Things like tentacles surging from all directions weren't much of a problem yet, so he easily reached a distance where his blade could touch the cocoon.
The problem came next. The fact he could attack the cocoon meant the reverse also held true.
Shu─a─ak─
Thorns surging from the cocoon precisely tried to pierce Baek Woohyun despite the Stopped World.
As if asserting that he wasn't the only existence unconstrained by the flow of time.
Baek Woohyun felt a gaze watching him from beyond the thorns. That gaze he'd occasionally felt before, that he'd confirmed when meeting the Doppelganger!
=Deus!=
Jjeo─jeo─jeong─
The military dagger struck away the thorns and furthermore tore part of the cocoon. Through the split gap, something violet was revealed.
As expected, it was a grotesque form that couldn't be considered the Hellhound woman he'd just faced. Clear proof she was mutating into something else inside the cocoon.
Gritting his teeth, Baek Woohyun continued attacking the cocoon while simultaneously blocking the surging thorns again.
Jjeo─jeo─jeong─
Seo─geok─
A fierce exchange occurring within the Stopped World!
The confrontation between Baek Woohyun trying to prevent the mutation and the cocoon trying to protect it was relatively in the former's favor.
The thorns that could only extend in straight lines weren't very effective at stopping the monster called Baek Woohyun.
However, that didn't mean Baek Woohyun could perfectly prevent the mutation either.
Not only was he wounded, but as someone who hadn't reached Transcendence, he didn't have the strength to break through the cocoon's defense and tear apart the unmutated contents.
He merely damaged the cocoon with a few slashes.
Jjeojeojik-!
Thus, after time passed, finally.
The cocoon split in half.
=Hello=
=···!=