World's Strongest Survivor
Chapter 72

Chapter 72 - 72

20 Squad. A Continuing Fate.

A clearly unnatural fog surged and spread through the area, drawing the attention of the players who had been distributing items. Tension instantly heightened as their eyes turned to the scout.

The scout, a disciple from the inner family of the Sanghwa Sect, glanced at the strange fog and firmly concluded:

"It's Simu."

"What's Simu?"

A player asked while watching the rapidly spreading mist.

The scout answered with a grim face.

"When Original Jiangshi are bound together in chains and forcibly controlled with Ink Threads—a special string soaked in spiritual ink to suppress Jiangshi—they form a formation. The resentment and aura of the Jiangshi mix into the mist. That's what we call Simu."

Even players from the same world tilted their heads at the unfamiliar explanation.

"I've heard stories about Jiangshi... but never anything like this."

"I'm from Baekcheon, one of the inner families of the Sanghwa Sect. Trust me."

At the name Baekcheon, players from the martial world nodded in recognition.

"So in short, that mist contains monster Jiangshi, right? As long as we kill them—"

"Jiangshi aren't just some simple monster. Without proper techniques—"

"They're still just field monsters, right? Not even elite-class. Just kill 'em and move on."

As Kite interrupted dismissively, the scout—affiliated with Baekcheon—fell silent. He realized there was no point in explaining further. They were already surrounded by Simu and had no option left but to fight.

Despite this, the players seemed relatively calm, even as the mist closed in on them like a tightening noose.

Seowoon quietly approached the scout and asked:

"Is there a specific method to suppress a Jiangshi?"

"Original Jiangshi are corpses filled with unresolved grudges, buried in grounds thick with yin energy. Usually, they can be killed by severing the head or burning the body, but..."

Kite sneered dismissively at the simple-sounding solution.

But the next words wiped the smirk off his face.

"Inside Simu, it's nearly impossible to cut off a Jiangshi's head with a blade. Worse, living people's energy gets drained severely. You won't be able to use even half your usual strength. And with a Simu of this size... there must be over a hundred of them. Our only choice is to break through in one direction..."

He turned to Juriel with his final words, seeking her judgment. Reading his intent, Juriel nodded and made her decision.

"No need to risk unnecessary danger. We break through."

"For martial artists, conserve no energy—use sword aura to attack. In Simu, vision is extremely limited, so don't get separated from your team. Fire-type magic may be the only effective one."

Juriel glanced around at the mist pressing in heavily, then pointed to one side.

"We'll break through that way and head to the fire-field village behind the forest."

As everyone nodded, the scout led the charge.

Everyone followed.

"Guh!"

"Urgh..."

"Hah!"

The players who entered the Simu groaned involuntarily, struck by an unfamiliar feeling of energy being drained from their bodies.

Only Seowoon tilted his head, unfazed, as he looked at the others groaning in discomfort.

"This... feels worse than I expected."

Kichan, sticking close behind, replied:

"What does it feel like to you?"

"Like... catching a cold and getting chills. You okay?"

"I feel totally fine..."

— Clang... clatter.

Before he could finish speaking, the sound of metal chains clashing and dragging on the ground echoed.

Inside the Simu, where visibility was barely a meter, the sound from all directions sent chills down the players' spines.

Even the confident Kaite threw up a barrier that glowed faintly within the fog.

One by one, others followed suit, summoning their own barriers.

"Grrraaaah!"

"Aaaah!"

Crunch!

A wild-haired Jiangshi lunged out suddenly, baring its jagged teeth. Kichan screamed in fright.

Its ashen blue skin and hate-filled, gleaming eyes were terrifying.

Thankfully, Seowoon jabbed his Blood Bone Rod into its face, caving it in—otherwise, Kichan might've been bitten.

"Get it together."

Seowoon murmured, and Kichan, pale-faced, nodded quickly.

— Clang! Rattle!

— Clang! Rattle! Rattle! Rattle!

— Graah!

Louder sounds of the Jiangshi approaching from all sides made the players hunch their shoulders.

The unseen scout's voice echoed through the Simu.

"They're coming!"

— Bang! Boom!

— Fwoosh!

— Clang clang clang!

Battle sounds erupted all around.

Seowoon and Kichan moved swiftly to fend off the attacking Jiangshi.

Crack!

One leapt forward, arms raised like a horror movie monster. Seowoon blocked with his Blood Bone Rod, creating a screech like stone grinding.

Ripping off the already inhuman creature's arm, Seowoon grabbed its head and yanked it off just as Juriel and a few mages launched a coordinated wide-area spell.

FWOOSH!

A blazing whirlwind spiraled up into the sky, dyed red with fire. As it swept toward the encroaching Jiangshi, the Simu momentarily thinned, and visibility was briefly restored.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The clattering sound echoed as the players grew increasingly agitated by the brief scene they had just witnessed.

The frenzied jiangshi (hopping vampires) were held back only by the chains connecting them to each other, making them look like chained fighting dogs, ready to snap free and lunge at any moment.

As the oppressive energy, Simu, once momentarily lifted, closed in again from all directions, panic began to spread among the players.

"Go—go, quickly!"

"W-wait! Something's ahead—!"

"Just go already!"

It wasn't about how strong the jiangshi were.

It was the fear—spreading like an infection.

"FOCUS! YOUR! MIND!"

Seowoon's voice rang out, imbued with his internal energy, calming the chaos.

Then, from the front, the scout shouted,

"It's the effect of the Simu! Don't panic!"

With order restored, the battle against the oncoming jiangshi resumed.

Surprisingly, fighting the chained jiangshi wasn't too difficult.

But each wave of combat sapped the players' stamina, and a gnawing unease clung to them.

"Why haven't we gotten out yet?!"

"D-did we lose our way?"

"No! No, this can't be happening!"

Whenever anxiety spread, it swept through the squad like wildfire.

"DIVINE! PROTECTION! OPEN THE PATH!"

The scout pulled a wooden sword from a subspace, affixed a talisman to its tip, and hurled it into the air with a shout.

The sword burst into flames, flying forward and parting the Simu.

"Everyone, look! We haven't lost direction. We're almost out!"

With that, the scout pressed forward, calming the others.

The players continued their advance, fighting jiangshi all the while—until Seowoon noticed something odd: the back he had been following had split into two.

Now there was another person dressed in white archer's attire.

Puzzled, Seowoon slowed down and glanced at the figure who had approached beside him.

"You okay?!"

It was Lilingwei, pale and drenched in cold sweat, her eyes half-lost as she looked up at him.

Her steps slowed until she clung tightly to Seowoon's arm, unable to even ask for help aloud.

Seowoon picked her up on his back.

"I... I'm..."

"Stay still."

Her trembling hands clutched his shoulders tightly.

In the end, it took just over 30 minutes to escape the Simu.

But to the players, it felt like hours—tens of times longer.

"Phew!"

"Hah... Hahhh..."

Once outside, the players gasped for breath as if surfacing after a long dive, distancing themselves from the Simu.

Juriel, checking off players as they emerged, grew visibly tense.

When the scout—who should've been last—came out as the 17th, her face hardened.

"I'll go back in," he said, gripping two talismans in hand.

Juriel shook her head.

Everyone else had the same reaction—horrified at the thought of going back in.

"Let's wait... five minutes."

It was a wise call. If someone had lost their way inside, sending in more searchers could cause worse trouble.

As those five minutes neared their end, two figures burst through the Simu.

"WAAAAAHHH!"

Kichan emerged, screaming and swinging flames in both hands, while Seowoon carried Lilingwei on his back.

The players let out a collective sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground.

Kichan, noticing their stares, awkwardly cleared his throat and tossed the flames back into the Simu. Seowoon gently set Lilingwei down.

As if nothing had happened, Lilingwei quickly regained her composure and walked off to a corner, avoiding Seowoon's gaze.

"I was worried something had happened," said the scout sincerely as he approached.

"We were delayed because a jiangshi grabbed her foot from behind," Seowoon explained.

Noticing how calm Seowoon seemed compared to everyone else, the scout asked,

"Have you perhaps learned the Mo Mountain Sect's arts?"

"No. I haven't practiced any spells."

"Hmm... Impressive. Even the best fighters would panic inside the Simu."

"Well, maybe it's a trait of the internal technique I've learned."

When Seowoon mentioned internal techniques, the martial-artist players perked up.

The scout looked curious too but hesitated to ask directly.

Seowoon leaned in and whispered quietly into his ear,

"I mastered the white flow flame Technique."

"...!!!"

The scout's eyes widened in shock, and the other players' curiosity grew even more intense.

Juriel, who had been tending to Lilingwei, now approached Seowoon and Kichan.

"Everyone okay?"

"Yes. No serious injuries."

"Then let's move. The sun's already setting."

She turned away with a strangely cold air, leaving Seowoon tilting his head in puzzlement.

"Oh, by the way—my name is Kaien. I'm from the Sanghwa Sect, a disciple of Baekcheon."

Kaien introduced himself again and led the way, with Seowoon sticking close behind.

While most kept formation, Seowoon, Kichan, and Juriel moved more freely.

Especially Seowoon—no matter who he spoke with or where he went, Juriel never intervened or assigned him a fixed spot.

Despite just two battles, everyone who had seen him fight accepted this without question.

Walking beside Kaien at the front, Seowoon chatted and scouted the surroundings.

"White flow flame Technique from Yugok Ipsun... That's incredible. Did you get it from Cloyd?"

"It's a little different. I learned it directly from the master."

"You... You were personally taught by Yugok Ipsun?!"

"Well, I just happened to have a connection."

"So that means... that master is in Cloyd too?"

"Yes, though it doesn't seem like they're too interested in playing. But I guess they're famous, huh?"

"He's the founder of Yugokmun and the living sage—respected as the greatest elder in all of Murim..."

"I don't really know much about his personal life. But that spell you were using earlier..."

As Seowoon trailed off, Kichan answered with a smile.

"Our Baek cheonmun has inherited the spells and spirit of Sanghwamun. Martial arts, of course, are part of it, but our priority is to subdue the wicked and ensure peace for the people.

That's why all of Mosan's spells have been passed down to us in Baekcheonmun."

"Ah... You're doing a noble thing," Seowoon replied.

Kichan nodded with a proud expression.

"That's why even other Murim factions give us some respect. Our martial skills may not be impressive, but they hold our principles in high regard."

As the conversation went on, and after learning various things about the spells, Seowoon subtly brought up the scout guarding the rear.

"The scout back there..."

"He's an old acquaintance of mine. He's from the unorthodox sects, but unlike most, he understands honor."

Later, as their conversations continued, Seowoon slowly moved to the rear to approach the scout.

"Oh, Seowoon," the scout greeted cheerfully.

"I came to keep you company," Seowoon said playfully.

At the mention of company, even the usually quiet scout brightened up and started chatting.

"I've known Kichan a long time. When he first asked me for help tracking some evil sorcerer, I thought he'd lost it. I mean, Baekcheonmun is a righteous sect, and I'm an unorthodox martial artist. Why would he ask me?"

"Is there a big divide between the orthodox and unorthodox?" Seowoon asked.

"Well, we walk different paths... But anyway, once I got dragged into helping him chase that sorcerer, it turned out to be surprisingly fun. Helping people, regardless of martial skill, has a kind of reward in itself. I guess I realized that in true righteousness, things like status, age, or ability don't really matter."

Seowoon nodded and gave encouraging responses, his eyes gleaming.

'That's two I've definitely won over.'

Giving up the item and taking the risk had paid off.

Turning those two, who were normally withdrawn and barely talked to others, to his side was a major success.

Before long, dusk began to fall, and ahead of them, a small field cultivated by slash-and-burn farmers came into view.

Kichan, leading the group, raised a hand and halted. Everyone stopped in place.

Remembering the last time they fell into a trap, Kichan quietly climbed over the village's shallow fence and checked the area for signs of movement.

Only after he nodded in confirmation did the players move into the village.

By now, they were used to combing villages in pairs, but just as they were getting started, Kichan's shout rang out from outside, sending all the players rushing out and into battle stance.

"Enemy!"

The players burst out to find a man bleeding and gripping a badly damaged sword.

Seeing the crowd of players charging at him, despair flashed across the man's face.

Just as the players were about to strike him down, Seowoon shouted:

"Stop!"

It wasn't just anyone—it was Seowoon giving the order. The players froze in place, still keeping an eye on the man.

Seowoon walked past them and approached the stranger.

The man, who had been gripping his sword tightly and glaring in suspicion, slowly began to change his expression.

Seowoon looked at him and sensed that his instincts had been right.

[T/L: Read extra Chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : https://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]