WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 63: The Great Orthodox-Demonic War (2)

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Apothecary's face turned pale.

Just as she was about to scream in terror,

"Hi-."

"Huhhhhhh!?"

A scream, far surpassing Apothecary's in volume, erupted. It was Medicine King.

This man was old enough to be friends with the Sword Saint, but when it came to screaming, he could put most youngsters to shame.

"Run! Get away! I've never seen such a thing even in Silicon Valley! Ughhh, it's the end! The world is ending!"

"We're already in a world that has ended, you know!?"

I quickly drew out the Holy Sword and slashed at the nearest zombie. Unlike martial arts films, I was more familiar with zombie movies and dramas, and I had personally faced them on the 13th floor. Thanks to this, my blade instinctively beheaded the zombie.

-Kieeek!

The zombie's head soared through the air, still growling. The headless body continued to thrash about, lunging at me. Damn it. Was this the type that only stopped moving when the brain was destroyed? The worst-case scenario.

"Let's get out of here for now!"

"You, who are you people!?"

The two martial artists finally noticed our presence. The righteous old man and the demonic woman looked at us, just as shocked by our group as we were by the zombies.

"...Old man, my eyes must be going crooked. I see living humans, not just one, but four of them. Is the King of the Underworld calling me?"

"I see the same. After being mocked as the supreme fool by you, it seems I've truly become one."

"Quick, run away too!"

I quickly hoisted Apothecary onto my back.

"And if possible, tell us where to run!"

The two martial artists exchanged glances.

"Good heavens. They do seem to be living humans, old man."

"Perhaps we're already dead, observing the scenery of the afterlife...?"

"Then either you and I died and went together to the Peach Blossom Spring, or we fell into hell together."

"As Head of the Martial Alliance, I have devoted myself to righteousness and chivalry, so I doubt I would go to hell. It must be the Peach Blossom Spring. Yet there are no peach trees or fairies here, and gangsi are everywhere. Above all, you are here. It is far too strange to be paradise."

"So, it's not a dream but the living world."

"Are these living humans?"

"They're warm to the touch, so at least they don't seem to be zombies."

The two martial artists were casually bantering, which might have given it away, but we were already fleeing through the zombie forest. Viper took care of the righteous old man, while I carried the demonic woman.

"Where exactly did you all come from?"

The demonic woman looked up at my face with curiosity.

"You've mastered interesting Stepping Techniques. Are you youngsters from the Outside land? Are there still barbarians living on the frontier?"

"We are..."

I didn't fully understand what 'Outside land' meant, but I got the gist of it. Were we from outside the martial world? How should I respond to this? As I pondered, a sound from behind us answered my question.

-Kigik, kieeek!

-Ughhhhh!

It was the zombies. They had fully warmed up and were now chasing after us.

Actually, could this even be called 'chasing'?

What kind of zombies could leap ten meters in a single bound? 'Flying' was more apt than 'chasing'. Hundreds of zombies, like a flock of seagulls, flew towards us, a truly shocking and terrifying sight.

"What, what the hell!?"

Viper was astounded.

"Why are zombies flying in the sky!?"

"It's a Movement Technique I created. I borrowed it from the Kunlun riffraff and refined it."

The demonic woman boasted.

"Look at that. Beyond Traceless Snow Walk, reaching the Airy Void Path! Truly, my teachings have been well received by the Demonic Cult's elites. Even in death, they continue to use the Movement Technique, a true mark of demonic disciples."

"Hold on a second."

I interjected. Despite the bewildering array of unfamiliar terms, I couldn't overlook what was just said.

"They don't forget their martial arts even in death?"

"Huh? Being from the Outside, you're unfamiliar with the ways here."

The woman in my arms tilted her head curiously.

"Martial artists continue to use martial arts even as zombies. It's common knowledge."

"I've never heard of such 'common knowledge'!"

Indeed. Martial arts-wielding zombies!

Had this been a comedy, I might have laughed it off, but this was not a comedy. This was the world of genuine martial arts. This was no joking matter.

"These youngsters, in particular, directly received my teachings. Once they receive my teachings, even in their sleep, their bodies respond to killing intent. Ah, even as corpses, seeing them use the techniques is truly commendable."

"Huhhhhh!? We're going to be caught! We'll be caught like this, Guild Master!"

Medicine King, carried by Viper, screamed. The zombies, leaping into the air, swooped down like fierce eagles, nearly grabbing Medicine King's hair.

"Run faster! Can't you run any quicker! If I get bitten and turn into a zombie, I'll bite you first!"

"Damn, who brought these old men into the team!? And why am I stuck with old men while King of Death gets all the women!?"

"We’re about to be killed by martial-arts-using zombies and that's what you care about!?"

"We’re about to die! What else matters!?"

The Guardian Spirit, keeping watch behind us, yelled out.

-Zombie! It's a zombie!

Damn it.

"Weakness!"

I asked the demonic woman.

"Is there no weakness to these zombies!?"

"Crush their heads, and they stop moving."

"Not that, something easier!"

Truthfully, I was prepared to die at this moment. Ordinary zombies might be one thing, but zombies flying through the air and using martial arts? If they filled the world, even with Sword Saint, Witch, and Heretic Inquisitor combined, it would be a close call.

"Hmm."

The demonic woman nodded.

Then, she pointed over my shoulder.

"They stop when the sunlight hits them."

"......!"

Of course. It was simple when I thought about it.

The scene of zombies beginning to move, of them flying through the air with martial arts, was so shocking that I hadn't considered it.

"Unknown lady! And Apothecary!"

"Hmm."

"Yes?"

The demonic woman replied calmly, while Apothecary responded shakily. I concentrated Aura in my arm.

"Sorry, but I have to throw you! Please land safely!"

"Hmm."

"...Yes?"

And then I threw them as far as I could. Like an Olympian javelin thrower, with all my might.

The woman made no sound as she flew. She just plummeted headfirst into the snow. Apothecary, on the other hand, screamed grandly as she fell. Where she landed, the large Chinese character 大, meaning 'big,' was stamped into the snow.

"Sorry!"

I apologized again, then stopped and turned back.

Hundreds of zombies were rushing toward me.

-Grrrrrrr!

-Kiik!

-Ugh! Grrr!

Chills ran down my entire body.

I had fought zombies on the 13th floor, but these martial arts zombies swarming like mosquitoes from the sky were on a completely different level. Seriously, they were terrifying.

-You're going to die!

For some reason, Guardian Spirit was reveling in the situation.

-To think I'd see a zombie like you dying to real zombies again! Ah, this is great! Another item off my bucket list!

Was he keeping a bucket list even as a ghost?

"Not yet,"

In the middle of the snowfield, I faced the horde of zombies.

"I'm not dead yet!"

I drew the Goddess of Protection's Holy Sword.

Just as the zombies' teeth, clinging to the flesh of someone frozen solid, were about to reach me, I mentally commanded.

'Shiny!'

[Shiny responds to your call, Hero.]

'Shine!'

Whoosh!

The fragment of the Constellation, the first of the five sister swords, the Idol, emitted a brilliant light. The snowfield reflected the sword's light, illuminating the surroundings brightly.

And I realized that I indeed had a talent for naming. Calling Shiny "Shiny" was a truly apt choice.

-Ughhhh!

-Groooooo......

They stopped short.

The zombies, hit by the Holy Sword's light, froze in mid-air. Just like mosquitoes hit by an insecticide spray, they plummeted to the ground. Since the zombies didn't know how to fall safely, the snow-covered ground was punctured with holes like a beehive.

"Huhhh!"

The Medicine King, whose hair had just been seized by a zombie, groaned. The zombie had frozen in place with its hand still gripping his white hair.

"Did I, did I survive again? Ahhh, if it weren't for Marcus, I wouldn't have entered this tower. Oh, my fate..."

"Is everyone okay?"

I remained on high alert. It wasn't over yet. The sky was still covered with dark clouds, and the ground remained shrouded in darkness.

Only the light from the Goddess of Protection's Holy Sword served as our sole illumination.

If the light were to go out even for a moment, those terrifying martial arts zombies would resume their activity.

"Ugh, yes. My face hurts a little, but I'm all right... Thank you for saving me, King of Death..."

"Damn it, whether it's the Sword Saint or this guy! I want to live a life away from old people!"

Apothecary and Viper informed me of their safety in their own ways.

I nodded.

"Viper, please take care of the others while I deal with the zombies."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm planning to finish off these zombies while they're immobilized."

I aimed the Holy Sword at a zombie.

"It'll take some time to crush their brains one by one, but it shouldn't be too hard..."

"Hold on a moment, young man from the Outside."

The demonic woman stood up from the snow.

She slowly brushed the snowflakes off her martial uniform.

"I must thank you for saving me, a stranger. However, if you plan to annihilate those zombies, I must stop you."

"...Why?"

All sorts of theories crossed my mind.

Perhaps the zombies were cursed in a way that the curse would transfer upon killing them? Zombies are one of the most versatile monsters, becoming either minor mobs or formidable disasters depending on the world setting.

But the reason given by the demonic woman was utterly unexpected.

"They are all exceptional talents of my Demonic Cult."

"Excuse me?"

"They are my disciples and subordinates."

She was serious.

"The Great War to eradicate the Orthodox Faction is imminent. Every master is desperately needed. We're already short on numbers, so I cannot afford to lose more elites here."

What kind of nonsensical talk was this?

Our expedition team couldn't understand her words. A Great War? The world of 'The Veritable Records of the Heavenly Demon' was already on the brink of destruction. There shouldn't be any forces or humans left to wage war.

The Holed-Up Head Librarian had told us when guiding us to the apocalypse.

'When you open your eyes, you'll be in the world of 'The Veritable Records of the Heavenly Demon', 10 days before its unfortunate cancellation.'

'I hope you'll present a splendid ending.'

With only ten days left until complete destruction.

I wasn't sure how many survivors remained in this world... but after ten days, everyone would die. Neither the demonic woman nor the righteous old man could escape this fate.

Whether they knew this future or not, the two martial artists seemed nonchalant.

"The old man..."

"Head of the Martial Alliance. Call me the Great Axe Sage."

"...That old man and I have been engaged in a Great War for three years. Today marks exactly 989 days since the war's declaration. We both vowed in our names that we can't leave this place until one admits defeat."

The demonic woman spoke solemnly.

"Even though they've become zombies, if they use the martial arts of the Demonic Cult, they are still my people. I must protect my subordinates. Don't kill them recklessly. If you must kill, choose those in monk robes..."

"Absurd! How can I let the righteous warriors gathered by the Martial Alliance die!"

The righteous old man jumped up.

"Didn't you swear, demonic woman! That we wouldn't harm the zombies and that it would be just you and me who see this Great War to its end!"

"Promises are meant to be broken."

"This wicked woman! Then I too will crush the heads of those demonic zombies!"

"You wretch! Would the head of the Orthodox Faction truly break his promise? You have revealed your true colors as a hypocrite!"

I was dumbfounded.

"...The world is on the brink of destruction, and you're still continuing this Great War?"

"The order is wrong."

The woman addressed as the Heavenly Demon shook her head.

"The world merely went and ended on its own while we were in the middle of our war."

In other words.

The righteous old man, Head of the Martial Alliance, and the demonic woman, the Heavenly Demon, were fighting a fate-determining battle. That was all fine. However, a virus suddenly spread, turning all their subordinates into zombies.

Ordinary people would have stopped the war and either fled or hid...

"But we can't delay a battle already begun!"

Martial artists are not ordinary people.

Head of the Martial Alliance and the Heavenly Demon... despite their subordinates all turning into zombies, did not stop their war.

In fact, they still regarded their zombified subordinates as their own and continued the Great War amidst the zombie apocalypse for three years.

"I will not stop until I defeat that old man. I still have five hundred zombie soldiers left. I'll lead them to crush the orthodox dogs."

"I'll say the same, demonic woman! The orthodox martial artists who fought you even as spirits are with me! I'll put an end to this wretched war that's lasted 989 days!"

Indeed.

The expedition team wasn't the only one without dreams and hope.

This world itself was devoid of dreams and hope.

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