Chapter 985
Episode 244: Ambush on the Red-Eyed Tribe (Part 2)
Crack, boom, screeeech…!
Alongside the roar of cannon fire came the sounds of something shattering and grinding—signs that the highest-level defense systems had been activated.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Luna gave way. From the opening, thousands of snake-like red beams shot out. As usual, Luna absorbed some of them with her body and was forced to shift her position.
“Heh, this is troublesome. So they had first-class defense equipment here too…?”
“Master?”
“But we’ve already gone too deep. Let’s press on. The concentration of enemy brainwaves will soon be more than double what it was just now.”
True to his words, Luna felt her movements growing heavier. Merely mimicking Eltiot’s countermeasures wasn’t enough to handle it.
“From now on, fight as you normally do, but when you have the chance, try to apply what I’ve taught you. Tch, I thought this would be tough training, but it’s all falling apart.”
Eltiot smacked his lips repeatedly as he nimbly dodged the incoming brainwave attacks, artillery fire, and various traps.
His movements were hardly graceful. Sometimes he’d sit with his legs stretched wide, twisting his head side to side; other times, he’d push off the ground from that position, flip through the air, and collapse face-first onto the ground, bouncing around like a super-elastic ball.
He was nothing like Luna, who stood firm like an unbreakable shield, taking every hit head-on.
‘What on earth is that guy…? Dodging everything while moving like that?’
For a moment, Eltiot seemed like a gust of wind—able to take any form, impossible to catch or trap. Not exactly elegant, but effective.
At least it was fortunate that the first-class defense systems only activated after the two had entered the city. If they’d been active from the start, even approaching would have been impossible.
Crack, snap!
Krantel appeared before them, slicing the dark barrier in half. But the wall kept rising anew.
It seemed impossible to keep up with the barrier’s regeneration using conventional attacks. Luna unleashed her decisive move, “Shattering Torrent.”
A massive wave of radiant energy surged up from the ground, tearing through the barriers. Seizing the opening, the two advanced deeper into the city.
“Master, there’s no time to put your advice into practice.”
“You’ll have to use your judgment. But this is strange—soon the enemy forces should be moving in directly. Yet not a single one has appeared. Let’s see… The flagship Laviette is here. The Rakis and their subordinate warriors should be managing Barkl.”
Soon, they fully entered the city. But the streets were empty—no people, no buildings. Just a vast, barren wasteland.
“They must have hidden everything underground or lifted it into the sky. The residents of the former Lutero Federation probably evacuated the same way.”
The goal of this ambush was to seize some of the public facilities the Red-Eyed Tribe had set up. But with the streets so empty, there was nothing to take.
“We don’t know how deep underground they hid it, but if I start destroying the surface to find it, innocent civilians will get hurt. Should we just pierce the sky?”
“Yes.”
Luna’s gaze fixed on the blood-red sky. She clenched her teeth.
Kahaaa—!
With a fierce shout, Luna swung her axe-sword upward, and a dazzling light swept away the enemy brainwaves.
Currently, Barkl had no airborne fortress.
The firepower of Laviette and the regular fleet alone couldn’t fully block such a massive blade of light. The ships in the front line would suffer some damage.
But the next moment, Luna narrowed her eyes and stared again at the reddening sky.
The massive wave of light from Krantel was being blocked by something, scattering before it could even reach the fleet’s shields.
A vortex.
The swirling force from the enormous tornado in the sky was pushing back Luna’s blade. And at the center of the storm, as if a god had descended, a figure was coming down.
Simat, the Red-Eyed Tribe’s war god.
His radiant heart shone like a star as he stood upon the sky itself.
“Zipl hasn’t even come for revenge yet, and Runkandel is already recklessly stirring up our territory.”
Simat looked down at Luna but quickly turned his gaze toward Eltiot instead.
“Ah, apprentice. So that guy finally showed up.”
Luna said nothing, only watching Simat. Just feeling the energy radiating from him sent chills through her body.
“Long time no see, old man. Looks like you were lucky to survive the Great Seal. Or maybe the great serpent took pity on you after all?”
“By the years, it’s been over ten thousand. Yet you still spout nonsense, Red Sky King. Was the great serpent really that soft back then? You seem clever—pretending to be a first-class warrior to avoid the Great Seal.”
“I didn’t avoid it completely. It’s true I was sealed as a first-class warrior, Simat.”
“But you’re not as spry as you used to be, are you? You’ve always been sharp, and yet you managed to survive the downfall.”
“If you envy me, just say so. You should’ve used your head more, old man.”
“Envy? The Solar War was a clear victory for our Clear Sky Tribe. You left no descendants, but we still have the Meiwang Tribe of Laprarosa.”
“Your boring jokes haven’t changed. I’ve heard that Meiwang Tribe is practically extinct, and true Runkandel is the only heir. Meanwhile, we’ve only lost numbers; the rest remain almost intact. We were just trapped in the Great Seal for a long time.”
“So the first battle was a clear win for our Clear Sky Tribe. What’s coming now is the second round.”
“Ha… Your brothers are all dead and turned to dust, yet you plan to cling to the Bamel Alliance and fight me?”
“Well, to be precise, from now on my apprentice here will represent the entire Clear Sky Tribe.”
Eltiot pointed confidently at Luna. Only then did Simat seem truly interested, looking down at her.
“The great Cheongpungje as a human apprentice… The world really has changed. Well, Baekgyeong was indeed one of the strongest back then. But you don’t really think one person alone can bring down the Red Sky, do you?”
“Have you forgotten? For us Clear Sky, one is all.”
“No, one is just one. You, who barely survived alone and have become so pitiful, have already proven that.”
Eltiot glanced at Luna before turning sharply back to Simat.
“Those unlucky bastards are the Red-Eyed Tribe, apprentice. Let’s finish this today! Don’t hold back!”
“I’m not holding back, Master.”
Luna thought now was hardly the time for jokes.
The war god had appeared, and the Red-Eyed Tribe’s airborne fortresses could send reinforcements at any moment. If they focused all their power on Barkl now, even Luna’s survival wouldn’t be guaranteed.
Still, seeing Eltiot’s calm confidence, she sensed he had some hidden trump card. After all, Eltiot might not be at his peak, but he was still a Changsung-level warrior.
“I think we’ve talked enough, Cheongpungje. Now it’s time to pay the price for raiding the Red-Eyed lands.”
Simat raised his right hand high above his head.
Instantly, a massive red sphere, like a blazing sun, formed atop his fingers. Its deep shadow cast over the fleet and the ground below.
That sphere symbolized the destruction and massacre the Red-Eyed Tribe had wrought in the past. As Simat lowered his hand, the sphere began to fall.
Eltiot amplified his radiant heart. His usually gentle brainwaves now surged like a tidal wave, fiercely sweeping away the enemy’s brainwaves.
“Take Simat, apprentice. Don’t worry about me until I signal!”
Eltiot leapt first. He jumped onto the sphere and disappeared inside as if diving into water. Luna had no idea what he intended.
‘He must be offsetting some of it from within, carving a path. Impressive. Well, he said not to worry…’
A red blade of energy formed in Krantel.
The Heart Sword, Jeokwol, shot a crimson beam without hesitation toward the sphere Eltiot had entered. The sphere was so huge that Luna had no choice but to open a path this way.
It was easily the heaviest blow she’d ever delivered. When sword met sphere, a shock twisted through her bones.
Ssshhh—!
But the sphere split in two, allowing Luna to spot Simat’s position again.
Simat had anticipated the sphere would be halved and had already closed the distance with Luna. His solar sword, Tetalon, was falling toward her head.
The red axe-sword and the brainwave-wrapped longsword clashed, sharp friction ringing out. Fragments of energy burst between the blades like heavy blood droplets.
“Hoh, just after one exchange, I see why Cheongpungje chose you as an apprentice. Though you haven’t reached Changsung yet, I can feel the power to change fate within you.”
“I always thought the Red-Eyed Tribe were just cowards who ran away after getting beaten. But you’re different.”
Shards of the shattered sphere rained down like lightning, all following Simat’s will and striking only Luna.
Because of this, Luna kept getting hit by debris while exchanging blows with Simat. It was only mildly annoying for now, but her reinforced body wasn’t limitless.
If the fight dragged on, cracks would eventually appear.
“I don’t know exactly what the master is trying to do, but buying time is definitely possible. The real question is, what’s the plan for escaping afterward? Even if you can shake off the others, losing Simat? That’s impossible.”
Swish! Tetalon’s blade grazed Luna’s cheek. Krantel slipped just in front of his collar, and in that instant, Luna felt the vast gulf between Simat and himself.
It was the difference between a star and someone wandering near it.
“But even a star can’t defy fate every single time. You’re still no match for me.”
“Oh yeah? I think I can handle it—”
Before he could finish, Luna caught sight of reinforcements arriving through the fleet. Two aerial fortresses, Pibil and Patl, were emerging from a dimensional rift in the sky.
“Still feeling confident, Baekgyeong?”
Simat smiled coldly, and Luna clenched his teeth.