123.
The giant of the white tiger ran against me.
The distance between the two closes in the blink of an eye.
The white tiger’s claws protruded in an instant and reflected the moonlight.
visor!
I slashed his claws with my sword.
“also… ”
And at the same time, the brow furrowed.
The hand holding the knife hurt.
In terms of speed and strength, it was on a completely different level from the black bear that I faced earlier.
The movement of the moment when Baekho stretched out his foot was so great that even I missed it for a moment.
But even so, the reason I was able to stop the white tiger’s claws was because its movements were fully anticipated.
“Krrr… ”
Baekho, unable to finish me off with a single blow, raised his alertness with a low growl.
I’ve encountered quadrupedal beasts like the white tiger countless times in another world.
As a result, I naturally learned that their patterns are quite monotonous.
If it was natural, it was a natural story.
Compared to humans who use all sorts of weapons, beasts only have two claws and teeth at most.
Moreover, those claws have to touch the ground, so they can’t even use them while driving.
Also, to use the teeth, you have to stick your head in at the risk of your life.
Therefore, it is inevitable that the attack pattern becomes simple.
In addition, the pattern itself is not much different from pets such as dogs and cats, even for beasts such as white tigers, lions, and wolves.
If there is a difference between them, it is about whether or not that simplicity can be covered by a huge body and superior power.
“Then there is nothing difficult.”
That was one of the reasons I was so confident.
Even a white tiger cannot escape its natural limits.
That moment.
“Kwaaang!”
The huge body of the white tiger came like a tidal wave.
But even before he jumped, I knew his intentions.
This is a move to crush me from above.
It is no different from the gesture of a cat jumping up to catch a mouse.
Baekho’s body floats in the air.
Weapons with large sharp claws attacked from both sides.
If it had been in front of it, it would have seemed like a huge tidal wave was coming.
But I was already out of range of his attack.
The only thing left where I was was a single sword strike.
Chew!
Ilseom, who entered cleanly, split the skin of the white tiger.
Then bright red blood dripped onto the white stone floor.
“… … ”
But Baekho didn’t even groan in pain.
Those blue eyes stared at me quietly.
Even though he had been cut himself, his gaze showed only arrogance instead of a sense of danger or anger.
Isn’t this the end too?
coo goo goo-
The ground shook slightly.
The ground around the white tiger was cracking.
And what came out from under it was a sword.
“A knife?”
It was a two-meter long sword made of black metal.
4 such great swords.
And those four great swords floated in all directions as if escorting the white tiger.
He said he was in charge of metal, so he was trying to use his sword without touching it at all.
I didn’t expect this.
However, the appearance of Baekho wielding four swords was somehow familiar.
“One Snow Tiger and four Living Swords… ”
If you compare the white tiger that controls four swords to a monster from another world, it was exactly like this.
Is there anything surprising when you think about it this way?
It was then.
Quick!
One of the four great swords flew without warning.
But it wasn’t difficult to pull it off.
then right after that.
The other three swords flew like arrows, followed by the white tiger.
Chaechaechaeng!
A loud plosive sound resonates in the eardrums.
I evaded the claws of the white tiger while parrying the frenzied sword attack.
But I couldn’t help but get pushed back.
No matter how much I was, dealing with four swords and one beast at the same time was not enough.
however.
“Tsk… !”
I clicked my tongue as I watched a large sword fly into my stomach that I couldn’t block.
The sting, like a snake, flew almost simultaneously with the white tiger’s claws.
Empty!
Although it was blocked by Jericho’s barrier, the spiritual power flew away in a lump.
Is it dangerous as it is?
Having judged that, I decided to cover the white tiger’s eyes first.
＜The battlefield shrouded in fog＞ obtained from Chiu.
And Naga’s ＜Snake God’s Fang＞.
The deep purple poison mist created by those two skills spewed out from my sword.
“Kreur… ”
In an instant, the top of the mountain was enveloped in fog, making it impossible to see an inch in front.
In the misty battlefield, the white tiger stopped its offensive for a moment.
It was because the fog had lost most of Baekho’s cognitive abilities.
If it were an ordinary fog, Baekho’s blue eyes would have seen it through, but the fog containing Chiwoo’s legend had a special meaning to Baekho as well.
Originally a martial god, Chi-woo is a being with a tradition of using the white tiger as his divine beast.
That’s why Baekho’s divinity and authority alone were unable to see through Chi-woo’s fog.
Also, the poison in the fog paralyzed the white tiger’s sense of smell.
Because of this, all he had left was his hearing.
However, I was able to manipulate even that hearing through the lore of Kinnara.
Quick!
The greatsword reacted to the sound of my footsteps echoing in the wrong place and scattered into the air.
“hmm… ”
I looked at it leisurely and looked in the direction of the white tiger.
Now, Baekho was in a hurry.
Even if I stay still, this poison fog will slowly eat away at his stamina.
But from Baekho’s point of view, he couldn’t move freely in this place.
Didn’t I just prove that my sword could tear even the skin of a white tiger?
So, if Baekho moved clumsily, he could get hit by a sword flying from behind.
Is that why?
coo coo coo-
The ground trembled incomparably louder than when the sword was pulled out.
At the same time, the ground on the side of the white tiger cracks open.
The time when I wanted to pull out a 20-meter long sword just by looking at the sound or vibration.
Silver-colored metal clung to Baekho’s body.
“… Armor?”
Before long, Baekho armed himself with thick armor.
It looks like a tiger wearing full plate armor.
And in that state, he started wandering randomly through the poison fog.
If I had that armor, I wouldn’t be afraid of my sword.
then…
Looking at it, I intentionally erased the fog slowly.
“… … ”
Slowly, the thick fog dissipated, and the altar on top of the mountain regained its original form.
Then, as if they had waited, the loud footsteps spurring the stone floor drew closer and closer.
It meant that Baekho recognized me and was running this way.
But right before the white tiger reached me.
First, four greatswords rushed at me.
Four sword attacks attacking from all sides.
And behind it, the white tiger’s head was visible.
He was boldly sticking his teeth in his helmet.
“Are you here?”
Immediately, I wrapped my sword in flames.
The fierce flames did not end at the sword, but burst out with fierce flames around me.
“-!”
Then, Baekho’s eyes, which had been keeping his cool, finally showed astonishment.
It seemed that he had noticed my thoughts now.
What I want to use is the five elements.
Baekho presides over metal in the Five Elements.
Metal has a sympathetic relationship with flame, which can melt it.
Baekho seemed to believe in his own armor.
It was like I had the means to break through it from the start.
Roaring!
The flames that exploded like that melted the greatsword that had been attacking from all sides at once.
And the single sword, which was burning red, struck the head of the white tiger left alone.
Kwadeuk!
With a terrifying sound, my sword pierced the white tiger’s helmet as it was, and lodged itself in the middle of its head.
“Kreur… ”
At this, Baekho, who had a knife stuck in his forehead, opened his eyes wide once.
He let out a sound like a sigh and closed his eyes.
“hmm… ”
The new model of the white tiger disappeared in a blur, and the quest was completed.
And at the same time, the scenery of the white altar illuminated by the moonlight slowly faded.
Soon I returned to Inwangsan where I was originally.
Meanwhile, the stone statue of a tiger standing there was broken with its head broken.
Of course, the entrance to Baekho’s sanctuary has disappeared.
“… It’s over.”
I let out a short sigh and decided to go home first.
It was already late afternoon.
and after a while
When I got home, I opened the window to check the result of the white tiger’s division.
Then, the four skills added by Baekho caught my eye.
＜The Forged Vessel of the Gods＞
epic soul item
3. Backhoe
unique skills
– One who dwells in steel: Metallization of spiritual power. Create metal by forging spiritual power.
– Taesan King of Beasts: Intimidate enemies with the characteristics of all four-legged mountain beasts.
– Predatory Beast of Metal: Recognizes and remotely manipulates metals within range.
– Silver Shining Sangun: Summon the White Tiger’s alter ego by combining metals.
The techniques were mostly as expected.
However, the third and fourth skills need confirmation.
“hmm… ”
I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a 500 won coin.
Then, holding it tightly in my hand, I used the third skill of manipulating metal.
Then an invisible force, like telekinesis, tried to snatch the coin from his hand.
Also, the force wasn’t that strong.
From nob le mt l. com
Just about my strength.
I nodded.
Unlike formless flames and electric shocks, it doesn’t seem to steal the opponent’s control.
With a skill of this level, it seemed like Baekho had to use it to the extent of manipulating multiple swords at the same time.
“next… ”
Then I tried the fourth skill with a coin.
A skill that summons the alter ego of the White Tiger.
Then, the coin actually crumbled here and there, and soon the shape of a white tiger the size of a fingernail was created.
The appearance of a white tiger with armor all over its body.
“he-“
Besides, it made a cry.
Now the size is too small, but it looks cute… Conversely, if the size is large, is it possible to reproduce the white tiger?
When the skill was released, it did not turn back into a coin, but remained as a white tiger.
It was like a small figure.
I roughly grasped the performance of the skill and closed the window.
And this time, he sang Keng Keng.
“Keng!”
Wasn’t it all because of Keng Keng that we originally decided to catch the white tiger?
So I checked Keng Keng’s status window.
Then, fortunately, the penalty that Yomulhwa had had disappeared.
Baekho also had the power of a mountain god.
Having achieved my goal, I closed the window with satisfaction.
From Suzaku and Blue Dragon to Baekho.
With this, is there only one Hyeonmu left?
“… … ”
I activated Hyunmu’s quest navigation and looked at the arrow.
Actually, when I came down from Mt. Inwang earlier, I checked the arrow just in case.
Even after returning home, the arrow still pointed north.
Seeing that the direction has hardly changed, Hyeonmu is somewhere in the north.
It also seemed quite far away.
“… Don’t stay in North Korea.”
I muttered so sincerely.
Even the exorcist police cannot go to Pyongyang to find Hyeonmu.
When I finished my work, I collapsed onto the bed.
* * *
and two days later.
On another Monday, I heard new news from Seo In-na.
“A foreign business trip?”
“okay. You said you would go often.”
It seemed that the second overseas business trip had been decided.
The last time I went was a few months ago, so it was time to go again.
“Departure is next week. Fortunately, it’s not such an urgent matter this time.”
Seo In-na smiled and said.
It’s good that I can afford it, but for some reason, her smile bothered me.
So, I went straight to the question.
“Where are you this time?”
“Peru. But do you know where Peru is?”
Peru?
where is peru
When I couldn’t answer, Seo In-na added.
“It’s a country in South America. Location wise, it is a country on the left side of Brazil, and historically it is also the birthplace of the Inca civilization.”
Hearing that, I thought I knew where it was.
“It must be very far.”
“Yeah, that’s right. It’s literally a country on the other side of the world. I looked it up earlier and found that the direct flight is over 32 hours long.”
“Does it take that long?”
“okay. It took me that much when I went to South Africa.”
It’s like going to South Africa.
Thinking like that only made me feel farther away.
To have to sit in that small seat for 32 hours.
It’s already dark before my eyes.
“then… What about the case?”
“The incident itself is simple. Recently, Inca ruins have been newly excavated. It’s an investigation about it.”
At that, I tilted my head.
archaeological investigation?
Shouldn’t that be left to the archaeologists?
“Is that what gets us there?”
“Remains in South America are often dangerous. It was an area where large-scale human sacrifices were common in the past. Especially Mexico… That’s why the Aztec human sacrifice culture is famous.”
I heard that story too.
Did you say that the number of victims was in the hundreds of thousands?
When I pretended to know, Seo In-na continued.
“Even in the Incas, there was a custom of human sacrifice, although not as much as the Aztecs. dozens to hundreds of people at a time. It’s not that many, but it’s been done consistently for quite some time. And if the site of such human sacrifice was discovered for the first time after hundreds of years… What could be in it?”
“It sounds a bit dangerous when you hear it like that.”
“yes? That’s why the horse is a site investigation. Actually, it’s a hazard identification and cleanup operation. The real investigation will come later.”
Understanding the story, I nodded.
“Have you decided which team members to go with?”
At my words, Seo Inna raised her finger and pointed behind me.
When I turned my head, Choi Eun-yeong was smiling awkwardly there.