I groped the jet-black mask covering my face and surveyed the lines of those cultists.
The mask I’m wearing today is a new style, unlike my usual taste.
“Hss—ha—”
A gas mask with a large purification canister.
Amid the throng of zealots, one with crimson skin so vivid it recalled a poison-dart frog leapt forward and shouted.
“Rip that bastard’s limbs apart and offer them as a sacrifice for the new temple!”
“Hahap!”
At the commander’s cry, the fake monks all burst into battle cries in unison.
Wielding kila daggers—short blades engraved with elephant-head ornamentation and complex runic patterns—the faux monks of Sangbulsa charged.
Though they wear Buddhist-inspired robes, perform ceremonies modeled on Buddhism, and freely use Buddhist terminology, they merely imitate the appearance.
They are not Buddhists.
“You bastards, posing as monks to commit atrocities—”
I increased the skateboard’s speed, widening the gap between me and the charging faux monks, then cast my spell.
“Get struck by lightning!”
[Mannoe]
Psssss! Crack! Psssss! Krak-a-kak!
Lightning erupted from the center of the enemy ranks, branching out in all directions to create a horrific whirlwind of arcs.
“Gyaaaaargh!”
Though they bore roughly human silhouettes, these creatures are not human.
Crunch—grind—crack—
Their appearance lacked the overt monstrosity of Deep-Sea Folk, but they didn’t feel fully human either—something grotesquely off.
Their skin gleamed unnaturally; not a single hair grew on their bald scalps.
Born with innate cruelty and physiologies far better suited to the harsh environment than humans.
They are a hybrid race engineered by [Predator of the Mountains], mixing amphibian-based life-forms’ blood.
“So I used electricity—but they’ve got a lot of buffs, it seems.”
Amphibians—
In other words, skin-breathers.
Their physiology should be vulnerable to lightning and fire. But some surreal interference grants them strong magical resistance.
“Forcing the ritual to start early?”
A typical pattern, indeed.
An evil ceremony to invoke the power of [Sangdubul]. The ritual’s location must be...
“Right there, of course.”
I gazed at the structure rising behind the throng of monks. A construction site barely taking shape as a temple.
“They really intend to build a temple here.”
This narrow gorge lies between Bihaksan and Jawungsan.
Before the great collapse, it was more of a valley than a gorge, with a sizable golf course right beside it.
“Stop them! They must never reach the temple site!”
“Hahap!”
The monks cried together, matching in disciplined unison—precisely 108 of them.
Of course it’s 108 for the Buddhist theme. But I don’t need to fight all those little bastards.
[Accelerate]
Vvvvvrrr—
Normally I’d use [Leap], but given my current phobia, I can’t. Not that [Leap] would immediately trigger panic, but...
‘Still, I avoid it.’
The skateboard rocketed toward a sheer cliff—nearly ninety degrees—rising to an immense height.
“They’ve driven me right into this!”
The poison-dart frog skinned zealot cheered without knowing what I planned.
I didn’t slow down. As I reached the cliff—
[Leap]
[Gravity Control]
[Invisible Hand]
Crack-a-bar!
I vaulted up, landing on the cliff face and began sprinting along it. Following the gorge leads directly to the temple site they guard.
“All right, I’m off.”
Adjusting my posture with magic, I passed over the heads of the faux monks blocking the gorge.
“This can’t be! Grab him! Run! Stop him! Protect the temple!”
“Hahap!”
The amphibian hybrids in red and blue skin climbed the gorge walls in disciplined formation.
I had to inscribe double- and triple-layered runes on my skateboard with magic just to match their climb using only my legs and hips. Pathetic. I cast a spell toward the gorge wall.
[Oil Coat]
A spell that reduces surface friction to near zero. The hybrids climbing after me—
“Gyaaaaargh!”
“Ah—!”
They flailed comically for a moment, then began plummeting to the floor. Dozens tumbled from the gorge, mixing with the ones chasing me, forming a pile of—
“Mo-move!”
“Gyaah!”
“No—!!”
The hybrids formed a tower. Very well—take this.
[Earthquake Strike]
[Great Upheaval]
Rumble—crack—
Intense tremors struck the gorge wall, cracks spreading like a spider’s web.
KRAAAANG! KWA-RUMMM!
“No—impossible!”
“How could you cast such a spell without casting time!?”
“Gyaaah! Evacuate! Evacuate!”
“Out of my way! Run!”
In moments, the gorge was a scene of chaos. I ignored it and sent my will to where Jang Hyundeok waited nearby.
“Hyundeok, are you in position?”
—Ack!
“What is it? Something wrong?”
—No, I was spacing out and got startled when I heard you.
“...Don’t space out now—focus!”
—Okay! And I’m ready.
“Good. Wait a moment. It’s hard to see from here.”
—Ugh, wizard, I’m kinda scared...
“Hang in there. Oh, I see one. Move the third disk three slots to the left.”
—Three slots to the left...
Clack-clack-clack—
Three heavy thuds sounded beyond Hyundeok’s voice.
“I meant based on your perspective! Your left side!”
—Come on, who do you take me for? Hmm, then to the left...
Clack-clack-clack-clack-clack—
Six thuds this time. The bastard turned it right too.
I wanted to scold him more, but now wasn’t the time.
“Mana—”
A half-naked amphibian martial monk lunged at me.
Gyaaah—damn!
[Leap]
KRAAASH!
I saw the wall I’d been on shatter from his kick. I dodged easily, but—
“Ah—damn it.”
I’m furious that to avoid that kick I had to leap so far through the air.
My neck muscles spasm. My breathing quickens. Adrenaline surges and my vision darkens.
Calm—calm down.
Calm— I just jumped—
“Hooo—”
I barely steadied my breath and looked at the hybrids before me. Strange attire: loose monk’s pants with military shoes. Their faces bore expressions of rage and combat fervor.
Their bare chests sported vivid yellow-and-black stripes.
‘Another poison-dart frog skinned one.’
This is one of Sangbulsa’s martial monks—an elite disciple, unlike the 108 lesser zealots.
Like poison-dart frogs that secrete lethal toxins, these disciples’ skin actually secretes venom.
Moreover—
“Hyah—”
They spread their arms sideways and even lifted a leg in a kung fu stance.
“Haah—”
A blue-skinned martial monk of similar build approached and struck the same pose.
Hm... They’re not playing—this is kung fu?
“Of course. A Buddhist theme leads back to Shaolin.”
No joke.
Eighteen poison-dart frog hybrids now stood before me in a formation reminiscent of the Eighteen Arhats.
“Deep Abyss Hunter! Your wicked deeds end here!”
“I will make this your grave!”
“Well, you all seem so close—kind of envious.”
The Jawungsan Gorge Sangbulsa event comprises four phases.
First, break through the 108 lesser zealots’ formation. Next, pierce the eighteen elite disciples’ Eighteen Arhats formation.
After defeating the martial monks, you face the spellcasters’ sorcerer-monks.
Defeat them, and depending on clear time, either [Sangdubul] descends, or you fight the sect’s leader—like [Shouting Demon Frog], a judgment-level zealot.
‘But right now... there’s no leader.’
Normally, I’d arrive after the fake temple was completed.
Using all my intel, I skipped several planned quests and events.
In other words, I’ll skip the final battle.
“Well, being this close should suffice.”
Though the martial monks’ dazzling techniques draw the eye, I turned my gaze beyond them to the temple site.
“How dare you look away!”
Fists, kicks, shoulders, elbows, knees—a barrage of blows. Even grazing damage injects venom and is deadly.
[Suppress]
I unleashed a dampening ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) field to weaken their power and swung my Sain Chamjeong Sword.
[SSS-Grade Weapon Sain Chamjeong Sword (Green Bamboo) Unique Effect ‘Flame Resonance’ Activated]
// Flame Resonance: Increases all fire-type magic effects by 100%.
[Buncheonnoeryeom]
KWA-RUMM! Flare—SWWWWWEEEE!
Crimson flames and lightning radiated from my body.
Though they struck first, the eighteen martial monks lay fallen.
“Ugh—how can a wizard move so fast...?”
“A-absurd power...”
“Gasp—but as long as we have Sangdubul’s blessing, we—”
“Huh? They’re still standing?”
Despite being hit directly by massive arcs of fire and lightning that sent rock fragments flying, the martial monks still stood.
“Gotta cut off their buffs first.”
[Identify]
Whooo—shhh—
My senses expanded to locate the sorcerer-monks concealed behind the martial monks.
They held ornate kila daggers, beseeching the deity they serve.
“O, Great Sangbul—grant us bodies like adamant, speed like lightning, strength like mountains, sever our ten thousand tribulations, bathe our foes in bloody flames, may the wicked kneel and heed Sangbul’s teachings—”
“Enfold us in your merciful embrace, O Great Sangbul, purify us by your will, banish all disasters, bestow sanguine blessings, and cast out these vicious, hideous fiends—”
Their entreaties generated abyssal waves.
“Enough with your chanting!”
[Stench Cloud]
Fwoooosh!
A yellow cloud spread in all directions.
From the nearby martial monks to the zealots pouring in from behind.
“Ugh—!”
“Cough—ugh!”
“Not for nothing did I bring a gas mask.”
The gas contains powerful lachrymatory agents.
I only needed respiratory protection, but for skin-breathers, it’s a devastating assault.
The yellow cloud continued spreading at tremendous speed—seeping into the incomplete temple interior in no time.
“Gack! Caughh! Caargh!”
Exposed to the lachrymatory agents, the sorcerer-monks paused their prayers and began coughing—their magic-resistance buffs dispelled.
And now, I believe?
[System: Exclusive Trait ‘Feast’s Offering’ Activated. ‘Abyssal Entity: Gajashirah Buddha’ is enraged at you.]
[Gajashirah Buddha] means “Elephant-Headed Buddha.”
In other words, [Sangdubul].
Rumble—grind—
The under-construction Sangbulsa building collapses. A colossal brass Buddha statue rises from the ruins.
Its body is Buddhist in form, but its serene Buddha head replaced by that of an enraged elephant.
“Aww—He’s mad!”
A grotesque, nauseating figure, as if an elephant, human, octopus, bat, and every monstrous trait of amphibians were forcibly fused together.
‘As expected, he intends to manifest through the statue.’
The only medium-bearing spirit at Sangbulsa, Pyo Ducheonwang, isn’t present. Without a medium, they resort to desperate measures like “The One Who Waits.”
“Gr-grrr—grggr—grrrr—”
The elephant-headed Buddha statue slowly opens its mouth, nearing the climactic moment of descent.
“But today, I won’t let that happen.”
I sent my will to Jang Hyundeok, hiding nearby.
“Hyundeok, move the second disk five slots to the right.”
—Five slots to the right!
Clack-clack-clack-clack-clack—
“And the first one one slot to the right.”
Clack—
Preparation complete.
Fwoooosh!!
A ward of specific frequencies radiated from high above the gorge.
[The power of ‘Abyssal Entity: Sangdubul’ is weakening.]
“All right.”
Scattering the mana crystals that would serve as conduits, I summoned arcane energy. Whuummm—
Massive power was drawn in.
If this hadn’t reached the fifth echelon, I’d have been drained into a mummy by now.
But!
Psssss!
A gargantuan magic circle covered sky, earth, and every visible surface.
Did it work?
I manipulated the surrounding circles to complete the spell.
[Forced Expulsion: Sangdubul]
