Chapter 93: The Hundred-Eyed Curse

 The Power of Baekmokgui

[Player Mode]

Baekmokgui revealed its true form.

Unlike the previous battles, which had been a clash of sheer strength, this fight took a completely different turn.

<The Serpent’s Eyes That Catch the Rat>

<The Tiger’s Eyes That Stalk the Prey>

Primal fear engraved into human instincts.

Eyes that triggered terror at the genetic level.

At that moment, Hae Eung Eung’s body froze.

“Now! Bring that human to their knees before me!”

At Baekmokgui’s command, elite soldiers hidden near the incineration site simultaneously revealed themselves.

‘As expected of the cunning queen’s right hand.’

The Youkai Queen.

During the tournament finals, her follower had turned the entire audience into allies,

even snatching the Silent Swordsman’s sword, forcing a loss without a fight.

The Youkai Queen.

One of the two rulers of the notorious Youkai Capital.

Not only was she overwhelmingly powerful herself,

but her words alone had been enough to shatter the bond between the illegitimate prince and the Silent Swordsman.

‘A silver tongue that manipulates hearts. She must know that it won’t work on me.’

Realizing it would be futile, she abandoned persuasion in favor of trickery and sorcery.

Until now, Hae Eung Eung had always dealt swiftly with schemers like the Youkai Queen, crushing their plans before they could take root.

It made sense why the Youkai Queen had entrusted her invasion outpost to Baekmokgui. The creature had impeccable tactical execution.

‘The one who set up the Youki Suppression Field. It seems they can freely activate and deactivate its effects.’

In just a split second, Baekmokgui activated its special ability an ocular technique that forced an unnatural reaction upon its target.

“It’s an ocular technique! Don’t look into its eyes!”

A desperate warning came from the half-youkai, recalling Maganom’s support.

[Hahaha, it’s too late. Once you’ve locked eyes with both of them, your body will be paralyzed with fear…]

Slash! Crack!

Splat!

Baekmokgui’s eyes widened in shock.

Its anticipation for bloodshed its excitement at securing a new host was brutally shattered as its subordinates were torn apart in mere moments.

<Disruption’s Authority>

<Ocular Technique Resistance>

Ocular techniques ultimately stemmed from energy flow.

And the power to destroy that flow at its root was none other than Disruption’s Authority.

Whether it was the Youki Suppression Field or Baekmokgui’s ocular techniques, they were nothing more than paper to be torn apart at will.

‘But this power isn’t exactly efficient.’

That’s why Hae Eung Eung, like Baekmokgui, only activated it for an instant.

‘A body trembling in fear, a heart gripped by terror—those are things I’ve long been accustomed to.’

A warrior of the martial world always faces the fear of death.

A single blade in the enemy’s hands could take their life at any moment.

‘So it doesn’t matter if I can’t break free completely. I just need to move, even slightly.’

Not a perfect resistance, but a brief release.

Just enough to grasp the sword and swing it in that fleeting moment.

[Heh… Hehehehe!]

[You mean to tell me you can withstand my ocular technique without fully neutralizing it?]

[As expected of the strongest swordsman in the human realm. Let’s see how long that arrogance lasts.]

Baekmokgui’s numerous eyes flickered, emitting a myriad of colors.

<The One-Armed Man’s Eye That Severs Arms>

<The Cripple’s Eye That Slices Legs>

A gaze infused with the despair of those who had lost their limbs due to misfortune.

Hae Eung Eung’s stance wavered.

An instinctive fear arose

Would their limbs be severed at any moment?

Should they conceal their arms and legs from Baekmokgui’s gaze?

Their posture faltered.

“Now! The human swordsman is wavering!”

“We can’t miss this chance to slay the strong.”

“Die, human!”

The youkai lunged in excitement.

But just before Hae Eung Eung could be overwhelmed, their stance stabilized once more—

And the youkai were moments away from being slaughtered again.

Baekmokgui’s eyes gleamed once more.

<The Eye of the Long-Term Prisoner Trapped in Solitary Confinement>

<The Eye of the Dead, Buried Alive in a Collapsing Cave>

A forced regression of vision

The sensation of being trapped in absolute darkness, unable to see even an inch ahead.

Beyond the stolen sight, sharp claws and blades grazed the Silent Swordsman’s martial robes, leaving long scars.

[Did you not find that overwhelming?]

[Baekmokgui is not foolish enough to let you counter the same trick multiple times.]

A fierce battle had begun.

Ocular techniques executed at the perfect moment.

The overlapping effects of similar abilities.

Baekmokgui’s subordinates utilizing those abilities to their fullest.

 This combo is insane.

 Damn, there was a broken youkai hiding in the junkyard.

 If we learn that ocular technique, we can use it all the way to the late game.

 Even if your control is bad, just spam the eyes and win.

 Staggering effect, fear effect, vision loss… WTF.

 This thing has every broken ability stacked together.

 I thought the highest difficulty wasn’t that bad, but it actually managed to injure the Silent Swordsman.

 Is the difficulty curve measured by whether the Silent Swordsman gets hurt?

The viewers sensed danger.

A youkai that could use abilities while sealing its opponent’s powers.

Not just one or two abilities

It had a hundred eyes, each with a different ability, freely combining and amplifying them at will.

Its sheer, overpowered assault was overwhelming.

<Speedmaster has donated 100,000 won!>

“If a youkai can injure a player who wiped out 15,000 viewers down to the last three, it’s strong for sure.”

 Yep, Speedmaster himself has certified its strength.

 If Sensei acknowledges it, it’s definitely legit.

Even Speedmaster

A top-tier physical streamer

Had admitted its strength.

<WhyAmITheOnlyOne has donated 10,000 won!>

“But how do you guys even know what each eye does? Do paid subscribers get a text popup saying, ‘This eye inflicts fear!’?”

 We’re experiencing it through sensory link.

 Ah…

 So you wanted to know the effects so badly that you willingly got hit with the debuffs? Absolute madmen.

 Guys, please don’t try this at home.

 Why do you get to have all the fun?

 I turned my synchronization rate to 70% and linked my senses… Now my vision is completely shot, I can’t see the stream, and I’m listening to the chat through TTS…

 Bro, are you an idiot?

Others were experiencing this in full 4D, while he was essentially listening to a radio broadcast.

 He’s not a veteran player; he’s a caveman.

 Actually, radio comes in handy in survival games sometimes.

Even through indirect sensory linking

Baekmokgui’s ocular techniques induced extreme fear and discomfort.

The power of those eyes was so intense that even the sensory-linked viewers were dropping like flies

Without a single clash of brute force.

[Are you still insisting on momentary liberation? Ocular techniques are like bandages.]

[One layer might be easy to remove, but two layers, three layers… As they pile up, you’ll eventually be completely immobilized.]

[And if that happens… Hehehe. I… I won’t be able to hold back anymore. That body… I’ll just take it for myself.]

A boss with a unique combat style

One who weaponized curses through their eyes.

It wouldn’t be surprising if they fell at any moment.

The sheer power of the colorful eyes was overwhelming.

One hundred eyes.

One hundred different curses.

As if facing an attack from a hundred youkai at once,

The threats were ever-changing, relentless.

Maintaining composure under such an onslaught

Enduring the assault of Baekmokgui’s elite forces

It was so punishing that discussing the odds of survival was meaningless.

 Doesn’t something feel off?

Hasn’t it been over three minutes into the boss fight?

 How the hell are they still holding out?

Even the highest-ranked viewers

Those who would normally push through just to earn the honorary title of “Last Survivor” in the sensory link

Had already tapped out, unable to endure the relentless attacks.

Yet, Hae Eung Eung

Had not fallen.

They were enduring this brutal trial alone.

Not because they were wasting dispel techniques,

Nor because their martial arts abilities were carrying them.

‘Of course, losing my body is terrifying. But… is this truly what despair feels like?’

A lifetime of survival in Murim, even after losing an arm.

‘Even in pitch darkness, Murim’s pursuers never lost my trail.’

Experience in battles fought blind, exchanging swordplay in total darkness.

Countless hardships endured in Murim

The trials that hardened them beyond fear

Had forged an unbreakable will.

‘Compared to those agonizing moments, there’s no reason to let emotions control me now.’

They had already overcome such fears once before.

This was nothing more than a mild inconvenience.

Through sheer willpower, they nullified fear itself.

Three layers?

Four layers?

It didn’t matter.

They weren’t some sheltered young lady from a prestigious clan who had merely enjoyed a comfortable tour of Murim.

They had returned from trials so grueling that no man would dare attempt them.

Slice!

Thud.

As the last subordinate fell before the Silent Swordsman’s blade

Baekmokgui’s once elegant face twisted in frustration.

[Story Mode]

[The restrictions of a hundred eyes. The joint assault of a hundred youkai.]

[To overcome such an offensive, to withstand the onslaught of an entire legion]

[Heh… I have no choice but to acknowledge it.]

[Your strength truly is remarkable.]

[Honestly, I underestimated you a little.]

What did it matter if humans worshipped them as the strongest in the mortal realm?

The only stories Baekmokgui had heard

Were those from deserters who had fled the Youkai Realm after failing to protect their queen.

Even for a mere human, the preparations had been excessive.

Yet the outcome was complete annihilation of their forces.

[For ordinary youkai, defeating you would be nearly impossible.]

[That applies to me as well.]

[Which is why, from this point forward, I won’t be using ordinary methods… so don’t resent me too much.]

The Baekmokgui Subjugation Battle.

Phase 2.

[My eyes… are not only on my arms.]

With a soft rustle, their robes slid down

Revealing a breathtakingly beautiful form,

Adorned with countless eyes that stared directly at them.

 Oh, shit, wait a sec.

 No way. No way, right??

 The air just turned ice cold…

 PUT YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON, YOU FREAK!!!

 STOP! STOOOOOOOP!!

 COVER UP!! CLOSE YOUR FRONT!! RETIE YOUR BELT!! NOWWWWW!!

Just as the viewers screamed in realization

[Nudity, explicit content, and other sexually suggestive material detected.]

[Exposure of the female waist, hips, and buttocks has been identified.]

[No age restriction settings are enabled.]

[Blind warning (1st strike) applied.]

[Broadcast will be blacked out for 10 minutes.]

Baekmokgui’s power had turned the stream into a black screen.