Chapter 396: Black Liquid (1)
I decided to fly straight to Buenos Aires, Argentina, because I didn’t want to see the black liquid break through the resistance line because of my slow departure.
When I arrived there, lots of players trying to block the black liquid welcomed me.
“Thank you for coming here, Juyoung Hong!”
“I’m sure you can help us a lot!”
“All of Argentina will never forget your help!”
Since the black liquid started from Argentina, it was obvious that they had to solve the problem more urgently than any other country.
Perhaps because of that, all the members of the Argentinian Guilds, including the Sayens Guild who was based in Buenos Aires, welcomed me more fervently than others.
I returned their welcome by saying calmly, “Thanks for your warm welcome. I don’t know if I can be helpful, but I’ll do my best.”
Since I didn’t have to look conceited or arrogant, I spoke to them humbly.
I didn’t want them to talk behind my back for acting arrogantly.
Moreover, there was no guarantee that I could solve this problem 100%, even though I was fully confident.
Anyway, I conversed with them briefly, then I moved to the actual scene with the leader of the Sayens Guild, who was also in charge of the joint task force which was set up here in Buenos Aires, the epicenter of this terrible phenomenon.
While moving there, I was briefed by Juan, the chief of the intelligence department of the Sayens Guild, about the current situation.
“On the surface, it seems that the black liquid stopped advancing toward the current defense line about 12 hours ago, but it is clear that the power of the black liquid suddenly increased exactly three horus ago. So we were going to give up the first defense line and retreat to the second defense line.”
“Black liquid getting stronger?”
According to the information I was briefed about before, the black liquid became stronger by absorbing humans including the users playing Revival Legend as well as animals including dogs and cats.
In other words, if the black liquid could not absorb humans, animals, and the users of Revival Legend, it could no longer increase its strength.
If the guys here knew about this as well, they would not be stupid enough to let the black liquid approach humans as well as animals. There was no possibility that the leaders of the Sayens Guild were idiots who would take such a risk. And even if some of them were idiots, the others would not sit idle, watching the black liquid’s attack helplessly.
As if he knew the doubts that were running through my mind, Juan, the intelligence department chief, opened his mouth immediately.
“Yes, that’s right. We know that as well. So we blocked not only ordinary citizens but also all kinds of animals from approaching the black liquid. But I think we made light of that black liquid from the beginning. Or it perhaps exercised its power only now after absorbing the animals and humans during the initial days when we could not cope with it properly.”
“Hmm…”
I just nodded quietly without responding directly to his words.
Shortly afterwards, we passed by the 3rd defense line, the 2nd defense line, and finally arrived at the 1st defense line.
“Attack! Step back, Team 1 and Team 2! Team 3 and Team 4, attack it now! Team 5 and Team 6, get ready to attack!”
“Got it!”
“Understood Chain Lightning!”
“My attack destroys everything. Giant Strike!”
:
:
“Fire Spirit’s Wrath!”
“Blow Sandstorm!”
“Bind it, Sticky Roots!”
“Biting Wind!”
Regardless of whether it were single-target attacks or AOE attacks, those who raised their reality actualization rate were launching all kinds of attacks against the black liquid.
Everytime they did so, however, it looked as if they were simply throwing small stones into a deep lake, causing only a series of small ripples on the surface.
Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash!
Of course, the repeated sound of splashing meant there was some impact on the black liquid. As if to confirm it, something like a small ripple appeared on the surface of the black liquid, where black droplets like water droplets bounced up and down in a narrow range.
To be honest,a result like that was too small for the considerable amount of effort they put in to destroy it.
Besides, it was not just the players with a high rate of reality actualization rate that launched the attacks.
“Aim at it accurately!”
“Don’t shoot in the wrong direction!”
Puck! Puck! Bang! Bang!
Behind those who raised their realization rate were more than one hundred tanks, as well as soldiers constantly firing shots using personal firearms, machine guns, and portable rocket launchers such as the RPG-7. Of course, their target was the black liquid.
Watching that, I asked Juan, chief of the Sayens Guild’s Intelligence Department, “Do you think their attack can pay off?”
Of course, there must be some reason why they mobilized all their available weapons to attack the black liquid, and their intensive attack should bring about some results.
However, no matter how hard I watched them, I thought it was extremely unlikely that their attack would disrupt the black liquid’s terrible power.
Juan replied to my question right away, “Well, I admit the possibility is low, but their attack is somewhat effective. You see that black energy over there, right?”
I turned to the place where he pointed his finger at.
Splash! Splash! Splash!
Of course, Juan did not point at any specific place. He just pointed at the spots where their numerous attacks hit the black liquid.
Each time they hit it, there was a small, barely noticeable, impact, which caused the black liquid to ripple. And at that moment a very small amount of black liquid bounced up into the air like water droplets because of the impact.
The black energy that Juan mentioned was released from the black, water-like droplets that were thrown into the air at that moment.
“Oh, I see that.”
I replied, nodding at him.
He continued, “I think that black energy is the essence of the black liquid. In fact, we could block the black liquid from spreading for almost 12 hours by attacking it intensively, forcing it to spew out that black energy. But I am not sure if my judgement is correct.”
If that was the case, the black liquid should have been gradually weakened, but it was gradually getting stronger even at this moment.
“Retreat! Step back!”
“Never touch that black liquid!”
Although it moved very slowly, the black liquid kept moving despite all kinds of defense barriers and attacks, which was really terrifying. Lots of people here were trembling in fear at that sight.
At that moment, I said to the leader, “Please have them retreat to the 2nd defense line.”
Of course, two hands are better than one, and I knew it was much better for me to work with them to block the black liquid.
However, their morale had already plummeted, watching their 1st defense line, the strongest defense line, collapse slowly after defending against it strongly for more than 12 hours.
Moreover, since the second defense line was wider than the first line, there was no guarantee that the second line could block that black liquid.
So I decided that I needed to show them how much power one man like me could show.
At my request, their leader shouted, “Everyone, retreat to the second defense line!”
“Retreat in an orderly manner! Take care of your comrades next to you!”
“Attack it before you step back! Attack!”
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om