Chapter 39. White Banner Order (2)
"What's going on? Why are there so many of them?"
"Seriously. It's been a while since this many Contractors gathered in Korea's central-western region."
"That just means both the White Banner Order and Black Dragon Society are going all out."
"This battle might decide who controls the entire central-western region."
"The force coming down from the north is the White Banner Order."
"And the one coming up from the south is the Black Dragon Society."
"Correct."
"The ones wearing white uniforms are members of the White Banner Order."
"The people wearing all kinds of different equipment are probably reinforcements sent by the Church of the Morning Star."
"There are more church reinforcements than I expected."
"The Black Dragon Society has expanded by absorbing groups like the Hoseo Faction."
"They'd need at least this many people to fight evenly."
"I'm curious. Do they really have to fight on the highway?"
"Are you blind? Can't you see how rough the surrounding terrain is?"
"The mountains and forests nearby are monster territory."
"If they enter carelessly, the monsters will attack."
"The monsters seem nervous because so many humans suddenly appeared."
"But they won't stay quiet if humans invade their territory."
"Then using tactics like secretly going around and attacking the enemy from behind would be difficult."
"General, what do you think?"
"If we compare the armies, it's difficult to say one side has a clear advantage."
"The White Banner Order is better trained, while the Black Dragon Society has good equipment supplied by Pandemonium."
"Their numbers are also similar."
"Then..."
"Personally, I believe the difference between their commanders may decide the battle."
"You mean Ma Taesu and Sama Yun?"
"Exactly."
The general frowned.
"But Ma Taesu is no match for Sama Yun."
"Ma Taesu is a skilled Contractor, but Sama Yun is simply on another level."
"Is Sama Yun really that powerful?"
"Yes."
"He used to be called the 'Human Fortress' and earned enormous achievements fighting against Pandemonium's forces."
"Then you're saying the White Banner Order has the advantage?"
"However..."
The general narrowed his eyes.
"The Black Dragon Society has Kang Yujin."
"You believe Kang Yujin can fight Sama Yun?"
"I'd say there's at least a possibility."
"The Black Dragon Society has better talent."
"What are you talking about?"
"They don't only have Ma Taesu. They also have Kang Yujin."
"And Lee Jukheon."
"Lee Jukheon? He became useless after losing the Azure Steel Sword."
"Don't you know he became much stronger after contracting with an S-rank Constellation?"
"Go watch Constellation Tube. He pierced Qiongqi's eye!"
"The one who actually finished Qiongqi was that mage-type Contractor."
"He looked pretty good too."
"His magic bullets were impressive."
"Don't forget the Chimera Rider!"
"Seriously? You're making a fuss about small fry."
"They'd all go down in one hit against Sama Yun."
"Exactly. Compared to Sama Yun, they're nobodies."
"If you think about it another way, doesn't that mean the White Banner Order only has Sama Yun?"
"The White Banner Order fights with organization and teamwork!"
"The Church of the Morning Star might also have some hidden trump card."
"But..."
The general spoke carefully.
"The battle may be decided somewhere unexpected."
"What do you mean?"
"Behind this battle is the S-rank Constellation 'Priest King.'"
"The Priest King..."
"He's a very powerful figure."
"Depending on what that Constellation does..."
The general narrowed his eyes.
"The outcome could change completely."
"The Constellations are going crazy."
Jason's excited voice came through the communication window.
"Everyone is talking about this battle."
"..."
"Korea has been relatively quiet lately."
"A battle of this scale is rare."
Jason laughed.
"Hundreds of Constellations are already watching."
"Maybe it'll pass a thousand."
"I can't tell whether that's a lot or not."
"Of course it's a lot!"
Jason sounded almost offended.
"Korea's central-western region hasn't received much attention until recently."
"This level of interest is extremely unusual."
He had a point.
The previous battle against Baphomet had been watched by 218 Constellations.
If this battle exceeded one thousand viewers, that was definitely an incredible response.
"The White Banner Order against the Black Dragon Society."
Jason continued excitedly.
"Two hostile factions fighting directly."
"And on top of that, people are expecting a clash between the 'Human Fortress' Sama Yun and rising newcomer Kang Yujin."
He smiled.
"It's an extremely interesting event."
"..."
"And..."
Jason's smile widened.
"The S-rank Constellation 'Priest King' is supporting the White Banner Order."
Jason's face inside the communication window was filled with excitement.
"This is going to become extremely interesting."
"The live broadcast will be popular, and the video uploaded to Constellation Tube afterward will get an enormous response."
"Of course..."
Jason grinned.
"I'll upload an analysis video and make a fortune too."
Then he paused.
"Of course..."
His smile weakened slightly.
"That's assuming our side wins."
"..."
"Unknown."
Jason looked at me.
"You're confident, right?"
"We obtained the information beforehand."
He leaned closer.
"You've already finished preparing everything needed for victory, haven't you?"
"..."
I answered Jason's question with silence.
The battle was fierce from the very beginning.
The Black Dragon Society and White Banner Order had hated each other for years.
There was no room for compromise.
Both sides were determined to settle everything once and for all.
Their forces were nearly equal, so neither side could decisively overwhelm the other.
The battlefield continued shifting back and forth.
"Sama Yun isn't appearing."
Ma Taesu muttered while studying the battlefield.
"I thought he'd stand at the very front and lead the attack."
"My prediction was wrong."
"Do you think he's planning something?"
"He's not really the type to plot."
Ma Taesu shook his head.
"He's probably just watching the battlefield."
Then Ma Taesu turned toward Joo Minha.
"Joo Minha."
"Yes?"
"I think it's about time to deploy you."
"What do you think?"
"We're ready."
"If the enemy commander is quietly sitting in the back..."
Ma Taesu smiled.
"Then we should send our assault team straight toward him."
"Then we'll depart."
"I'm counting on you."
After seeing Ma Taesu bow slightly, Joo Minha moved away.
She joined Kang Yujin, Seok Taejun, and Lee Jukheon, who had been waiting in the rear.
"It seems we can start moving."
"They sure made us wait."
"Ma Taesu was probably thinking carefully about when to deploy us."
After answering Lee Jukheon, Joo Minha turned toward Kang Yujin.
He was sitting on the highway divider while staring at the sky.
"Kang Yujin, are you ready?"
"I think it's going to rain."
"What?"
"Looking at the sky..."
Kang Yujin narrowed his eyes.
"It feels like rain."
"There aren't even many clouds."
Joo Minha looked up too.
It didn't seem like rain at all.
"Anyway."
Kang Yujin hopped down.
"Let's go."
Seok Taejun, who had been stroking his Chimera, approached him.
"Kang Yujin, are you sure I can use this?"
"I already told you to use it."
Kang Yujin gestured toward the weapon in Seok Taejun's hands.
"If you're going to fight while riding the Chimera, a long weapon like that should be useful."
Seok Taejun was holding the spear Kang Yujin had previously purchased from Number 49.
"But this thing cost one hundred fifty million Coins..."
"Then lend it back to me later if I need it."
Kang Yujin shrugged.
"I don't think I'll use it this time, so I'm giving it to you."
Kang Yujin himself was completely unarmed.
The hundred-million-Coin mace he had been using had been swallowed by Taotie.
So at the moment, he had no weapon at all.
"Hey, Kang Yujin!"
Lee Jukheon shouted.
"If you're casually giving away your equipment, then pay me back for my clothes!"
"I told you I'd give you what I'm wearing."
"Weapons and armor aren't the same!"
Lee Jukheon shouted.
"I don't want to wear protective clothing soaked in your sweat!"
"You're already wearing equipment borrowed from the Black Dragon Society."
"If you don't like it, buy new armor with your own money."
"I still have debt because that Apostle forced me to buy a two-hundred-million-Coin sword!"
Lee Jukheon continued complaining.
Kang Yujin ignored him and walked forward.
"I'm going first."
"Hey! Wait!"
Lee Jukheon chased after him.
Seok Taejun and Joo Minha followed behind them.
"Kang Yujin is here!"
"Ohhh!"
"I've been waiting!"
The chat exploded with activity the moment Kang Yujin appeared on the frontline.
[B-rank Constellation 'Hunter Favored by the Moon Goddess' looks forward to a fearless display of bravery.]
[B-rank Constellation 'Hunter Favored by the Moon Goddess' sponsors Kang Yujin with 500,000 Coins.]
[B-rank Constellation 'Hunter Favored by the Moon Goddess' sponsors Seok Taejun with 500,000 Coins.]
[B-rank Constellation 'Hunter Favored by the Moon Goddess' sponsors Lee Jukheon with 500,000 Coins.]
[B-rank Constellation 'Hunter Favored by the Moon Goddess' sponsors Joo Minha with 500,000 Coins.]
[A-rank Constellation 'Third Son of the War God' encourages Kang Yujin to display the might of one warrior against a thousand.]
[A-rank Constellation 'Third Son of the War God' sponsors Kang Yujin with 2,000,000 Coins.]
[A-rank Constellation 'Fairy Who Controls Water' asks them to show excellent teamwork again.]
[A-rank Constellation 'Fairy Who Controls Water' sponsors Kang Yujin with 1,000,000 Coins.]
[A-rank Constellation 'Fairy Who Controls Water' sponsors Lee Jukheon with 1,000,000 Coins.]
Messages from Constellations sending donations continued appearing across the observation screen.
Kang Yujin hadn't even done anything yet.
The enthusiastic response proved just how much the Constellations expected from this battle.
"Hyung, should we also send a small donation using the name 'Golden and Silver Children'?"
"Stay still."
Geumgak answered Eungak without taking his eyes from the screen.
"Sending small amounts right now won't mean much."
"We'll send a large amount after they do something impressive."
He focused on the screen.
Kang Yujin and Lee Jukheon moved forward first.
Behind them came Seok Taejun, his Chimera, and Joo Minha.
"The Black Dragon Society guys are literally moving aside for them."
"Everyone knows how strong they are now."
And then...
They charged into the enemy formation.
"They're breaking straight through!"
"Smash through them!"
"Let's go take Sama Yun's head!"
Members of the White Banner Order rushed toward Kang Yujin and Lee Jukheon.
The White Banner Order specialized in coordinated combat.
Even while charging together, none of their movements interfered with each other.
But was that level of teamwork enough to defeat Kang Yujin's group?
"They're going down instantly!"
"It doesn't matter how many attack together!"
Kang Yujin wasn't even holding a weapon.
He swung his arms several times.
Members of the White Banner Order flew away one after another like fallen leaves.
"Wait."
"Didn't Kang Yujin struggle against their coordinated attack last time?"
"Yeah. He only gained the advantage after using the mace."
"But now he's beating all of them with his bare hands."
"Did he simply get used to their tactics?"
"Or..."
"Did he become stronger than last time?"
"No way..."
Kang Yujin wasn't the only one performing well.
Every time Lee Jukheon swung his sword, members of the White Banner Order collapsed while spraying blood.
"Lee Jukheon is doing fine even without the Azure Steel Sword."
"Right?"
"His movements actually look better than before."
"Maybe losing that powerful weapon stopped him from depending on it."
"Then..."
"Is this his original ability?"
Kang Yujin and Lee Jukheon were advancing so quickly that Seok Taejun and Joo Minha barely had anything to do.
If they continue straight ahead...
Geumgak adjusted the observation device and changed the viewpoint.
The screen moved toward the rear of the White Banner Order's formation.
A huge man was sitting on the hood of a car with his arms folded.
Sama Yun.
They're going to reach Sama Yun soon.
Anyone could tell.
Sama Yun was waiting for Kang Yujin.
Does he intend to defeat Kang Yujin personally?
If Sama Yun defeated Kang Yujin in a one-on-one battle, it would become a massive event.
The consequences would extend far beyond the battle between the White Banner Order and the Black Dragon Society.
It would even affect the world of Constellations.
If Sama Yun loses here... the Priest King will take a huge blow.
Rumors had already spread that the S-rank Constellation "Priest King," an enemy of Pandemonium, had personally become involved in this battle.
If he organized such a large operation and still lost, his reputation would inevitably fall.
He would also suffer significant damage to his Origin Power.
But if Kang Yujin loses...
The S-rank Constellation contracted with Kang Yujin would suffer far more than a simple setback.
From the situation, it seemed that the S-rank Constellation had placed everything on Kang Yujin and his companions.
If Kang Yujin lost and died...
That Constellation could be completely ruined.
Geumgak didn't know the exact internal situation.
But the Constellation might even become incapable of recovering.
What will happen?
Geumgak swallowed nervously while staring at the screen.
"So you've arrived."
Sama Yun raised his hand, signaling the nearby White Banner Order members to step back.
Then he climbed down from the car and planted both feet on the highway.
"Nice to meet you, Kang Yujin."
"You're Sama Yun?"
A young man was staring at him with a cold expression.
It seemed he had arrived a little ahead of his companions.
"You're thinner than I expected."
Sama Yun looked disappointed.
"Honestly, I'm a little disappointed."
Kang Yujin looked him up and down.
"Compared to you..."
"More than ninety-nine percent of humanity probably looks thin."
"Hahaha! Fair enough."
Sama Yun nodded and walked toward him.
"Anyway, it's nice finally meeting you."
He smiled.
"How about a handshake?"
"Sure."
Kang Yujin briefly answered and held out his hand.
Sama Yun smiled.
Then he stretched out his own arm.
Wham!
Instead of shaking hands, he clenched his fist and smashed it into Kang Yujin's jaw.
"Why the hell would I shake hands with some male whore who bends over for demons?"
Sama Yun glared furiously.
"Right?"
A decent-looking young man like him had joined the Black Dragon Society and chosen to cling to demons.
Sama Yun couldn't forgive that.
He would beat some sense into him.
Then he would impale him on a bamboo spear as an example.
"I see."
At that moment...
Kang Yujin's upper body, which had been knocked backward, returned upright.
Something flashed.
Sama Yun felt an impact against his left cheek.
Kang Yujin stared at him calmly.
"So your species doesn't greet people with handshakes."
His fist was still raised.
"You greet people with punches, Gorilla Ahjussi."
"You little bastard...!"
One of Sama Yun's molars had broken from the impact.
He spat the shattered tooth onto the ground.
Then his eyes widened in rage.
