SFRW-Chapter 225

Ch. 225 Sword God From The Ruined World

“…My…god…”  

Hyun Joo-yeon stared at the things before her with disbelief, her expression frozen in shock. Even during the Age of Rifts when countless never-before-seen monsters appeared on Earth, she’d never been this horrified.  

“What the hell are those?”  

Gloria’s bow hand trembled violently, while Shinjo’s stiff face perfectly conveyed his feelings without words.  

“Kassal, ever seen anything like that before?”  

Kusak asked, wondering if Seo Do-jun might know.  

“First time seeing them.”  

Seo Do-jun studied the creatures with fascination rather than tension.  

“I’ve seen all sorts of monsters…but nothing as disgusting as this.”  

Even Veronica, who usually maintained a relaxed smile, was grimacing deeply.  

“Should we call those Chimeras too?”  

At Rakun’s question, everyone nodded. There was no other way to describe them.  

Chimeras.  

Artificially synthesized lifeforms combining different genetic materials—or more simply, ‘hybrids’. 

The problem was that these Chimeras were created by imperfect beings: humans.  

While Chimeras could technically be considered creations, humans attempting godlike ‘creation’ only produced abnormal, incomplete lifeforms. Naturally, the results differed wildly from intentions, and most Chimeras became objects of terror that shouldn’t exist.  

The things before them were perfect examples.  

Screeeeech!  

Gwaaaaah!  

Kikikikiii!  

Human? Monster? Beast?  

Unidentifiable lifeforms haphazardly combined humanoid shapes. Hundreds of them, all connected by tentacle-like appendages stretching deep underground.  

They twitched like leashed hunting dogs straining toward prey, their mere presence threatening. Worse, they bared teeth at both Seo Do-jun’s group and the few surviving paladins and holy soldiers.  

“Uwaaaaah!”  

“…M-monsters…”  

“G-god’s wrath!”  

Terrified soldiers turned to flee.  

“Those must be them, right?”  

The Administrator’s Direct force.  

Seo Do-jun nodded at Kusak’s question.  

“Let’s see how tough they are.”  

Kusak immediately conjured a massive fireball overhead—a miniature sun capable of reducing most monsters to ash.  

At his gesture, it flew toward a Chimera mixing ogre, human and wolf traits.  

BOOOOM!  

The explosion scorched everything within meters.  

“Huh? That was eas—”  

As Kusak began dismissing them, the severed tentacle on the Chimera’s back writhed like a snake swallowing prey—and vomited forth a completely new Chimera.  

“…What the hell is that now?”  

Kusak scowled while Veronica and others gagged.  

“A host body?”  

Seo Do-jun guessed the tentacles connected to something underground producing these Chimeras.  

“A host? You mean…something like a Basilisk Queen is down there?”  

The Basilisk Queen.  

A balloon-like monster from their ruined world that Seo Do-jun’s group hated facing most. Its near-invincible outer defenses made even Seo Do-jun—then called Sword God—powerless to harm it externally.  

While not particularly offensive, its true horror lay in—  

“What’s a Basilisk Queen?”  

When Choi Kang-soo asked, Kusak answered:  

“Think of it as a mother monster.”  

“Mother?”  

“A disgusting thing that endlessly births more monsters.”  

Though Kusak chuckled, his expression remained grim.  

As Choi Kang-soo sought details—  

Snap! Snap! SNAP!  

Tentacles detached as Chimeras of all shapes charged like unleashed hounds.  

“Damn it!”  

Choi Kang-soo raised his sword instantly, as did the others. Hundreds of monsters attacking simultaneously was pure terror.  

Already demoralized papal forces screamed and fled—only for a Chimera to leap with impossible agility, tackling a paladin from behind.  

CRUNCH!  

Its elongated jaw unhinged, swallowing the paladin’s head whole in one bite.  

Drenched in blood and brain matter, the Chimera’s satisfied eyes scanned for next prey.  

With unpredictable movements, strange attacks, and tough bodies, only Seo Do-jun’s group could properly fight them.  

“AAAAH!”  

“Save me!”  

“Get awaaaay!”  

Paladins fell rapidly. Watching from the papal building, Pope Alfrey sighed regretfully.  

“Had they not been there, they wouldn’t have died so meaninglessly. Tch!”  

But what could he do? Knowing their secrets meant eliminating all witnesses.  

Besides, this world still has plenty of humans. Paladins and soldiers could always be replaced after conquering the continents.  

“The more I watch, the less I understand them.”  

Alfrey frowned at Seo Do-jun’s group holding their own against the chimeric legion.  

Warriors of their caliber should have made names for themselves during the Great Monster War—especially coming from the monster-ravaged southern regions. Their sudden appearance made no sense.  

“Bekha couldn’t have secretly trained them…”  

Too powerful to be the old Papal Court’s doing, and their attitude toward Seraph differed too much from Bekha’s faction.  

“Whatever. They won’t escape.”  

Regaining composure, Alfrey watched as hundreds more Chimeras emerged from tentacles.  

“You’ll tire and fall like all humans! My legion grows stronger by devouring you! Hahahaha!”  

His laughter filled the chamber.  

***  

CRACK!  

Rakun shattered an overgrown arm used as a shield, exhaling as he surveyed the battlefield. Memories surfaced—fighting unknown monsters in their ruined world, endless battles that exhausted even a warrior like him.  

Plop! Plop-plop-plop!  

More Chimeras dropped from tentacles. Rakun’s eyes showed clear disgust at the endless tide.  

“This is pointless.”  

Fighting the Basilisk Queen had been similar—an airborne monstrosity spewing enemies until the sight alone nauseated them.  

“Unless we kill whatever’s producing them…”  

This battle wouldn’t end. Worse, the tentacles were rapidly absorbing dead soldiers’ corpses—obviously using them as nutrients to spawn more Chimeras.  

With thousands of corpses available, the horde would keep growing.  

‘If it processes all those bodies…’  

Facing tens of thousands of Chimeras would be impossible. Rakun knew they couldn’t afford delays—and Seo Do-jun clearly agreed.  

“Rakun! Veronica! Kusak!”  

At Seo Do-jun’s call, Rakun beheaded an attacking Chimera and turned.  

“I’ll find the host! Hold the line until then!”  

The three nodded simultaneously. They’d done this before—to defeat the Basilisk Queen, someone had to infiltrate internally, and Seo Do-jun was perfect for it.  

At Rakun’s signal, Veronica and Kusak gathered everyone.  

“Choi Kang-soo! Focus on healing with holy power at the center!”  

Choi Kang-soo nodded silently, sheathing his sword. They formed a circular defense with Choi Kang-soo, Kusak and Gloria inside.  

The recovered Grichuk and Koroka guarded one flank while Seraph and Jerome fought back-to-back.  

Confident in their defense, Seo Do-jun sprinted toward the chasm spewing tentacles.  

Countless Chimeras attacked, but each sword swing felled dozens.  

Near the pit, tentacles absorbing corpses lashed out like whips.  

Slash! Slash!  

Severed tentacles sprayed vile blue liquid that dissolved whatever it touched with a hiss.  

‘What kind of monstrosity made these?’  

The acidic tentacles suggested the underground host would be troublesome—but Seo Do-jun feared nothing.  

Sizzle!  

Lightning magic evaporated the acid instantly.  

Whoosh!  

In the brief moment before regeneration, Seo Do-jun dove into the pitch-black abyss.  

“…Will he be okay?”  

Hyun Joo-yeon watched Seo Do-jun disappear into the horrific pit of writhing tentacles.  

“Unless there’s something like Barhaut down there?”  

Veronica winked, implying nothing could truly challenge Seo Do-jun.  

“Look.”  

She pointed as hundreds of tentacles rose simultaneously, spraying acidic rain in all directions—Seo Do-jun had severed their connections to help the others.  

“That’s Kassal for you. Ha…having to leave such a magnificent man alone! If not for you two—”  

Veronica glared resentfully at Hyun Joo-yeon and Gloria. In the past, she could’ve claimed him, but now…  

“Let me be clear—either one of you decides, or both give up. And don’t even dream of sharing! If two can have him, so can I.”  

One or three.  

Her serious warning flustered the two women.  

“Hey ladies! We’re kinda fighting here? Focus!”  

Kusak’s irritable shout made Veronica cackle:  

“The eunuch cries again today!”  

“Fuck you! I told you I’m not—!”  

As they bickered while fighting, Seraph and Jerome exchanged looks of mutual understanding:  

I can’t wait to get away from these lunatics.