Chapter 156: The Monarch of Greed (3)

The being that blocked the strike from Andvari, the Deathlord of Greed.

General Zombie stood tall right in front of me.

[……I will eliminate elements that threaten the lord.]

At the same time, General Zombie drew his sharply honed blade.

A different sense of intimidation radiated from his sturdy back compared to before.

In fact, his overall body had grown even larger, and his exoskeleton had become far more solid.

The cordyceps sprouting from his head had also transformed into a lush shape like silver coral.

By the way.

S-grade strike blocked.

It had completely offset the Seven Ghosts Strike secret art, which boasted vicious destructive power.

Zombies’ bodies regenerate the affected parts after a certain time even if severed or damaged.

In that process, the formed chitin exoskeleton changes to be much harder and sharper than before.

Moreover, the parasitic cordyceps seemed to promote the individual’s evolution and growth.

However.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle sizzle—

More than half of the white chitin exoskeleton’s surface had melted away.

I guess guarding can only be done once at most.

It probably wouldn’t withstand the next Greed Slaughter secret art.

It would be better to avoid it whenever possible.

At that moment.

[You’re traveling with quite the peculiar pet.]

Andvari said, looking this way.

[I’ve never seen a creature like this on the Lockpia Continent or in the Demon Realm…… But it looks abnormally resilient for a creature from this world.]

“Do you like insects? There are tons where I work. Want me to bring some over?”

[…….]

Andvari made a strange expression.

It was hard to tell if he was smiling, resigning, or irritated.

[I want to praise your talent for acting cheeky right in front of a Deathlord. But my interest has cooled now. Let’s put an end to this short entertainment.]

Andvari slowly clenched his right hand.

At the same time.

Gurgle gurgle gurgle gurgle gurgle gurgle gurgle gurgle—

The golden swamp covering the ground began to vibrate.

Soon, human-shaped statues surged up from the golden swamp.

Thousands of golden soldiers filled the vast golden corridor.

It was a sight reminiscent of the soldier figurines in Qin Shi Huang’s tomb.

If there was one difference.

Step step step— step— step—

Andvari’s golden soldiers were alive and moving.

Eventually, Andvari spoke in a low voice.

[Interesting human, I will personally remember your face. Like these, you will become a golden soldier and serve me eternally.]

With those words.

Rumble rumble rumble rumble—

The golden soldiers all began to charge at once.

The moment the leading golden soldiers reached right in front of me.

Ding dong!

<Skill ‘Genetic Skin Oil’ is activated!>

<Skill ‘Embers’ is activated!>

A red flash bloomed in the golden palace.

Simultaneously.

Boom boom boom boom!

A wave of flames swallowed the surrounding area.

The golden soldiers melted limply along with the intense heat.

But that was only for a moment.

Gurgle gurgle gurgle gurgle gurgle—

Gold surged from the ground and clung to the soldiers.

The golden soldiers’ lost parts recovered in an instant.

Andvari’s indifferent voice rang out.

[The golden soldiers are immortal. As long as the gold filling this area…… or as long as I do not lose the authority of gold.]

Even if cut down, destroyed, or melted away.

Andvari’s authority of gold turned everything to naught.

Front, back, left, right.

Ceiling, floor, and walls.

A place where everything that exists is made of gold.

To Andvari, this place was no different from a machine gun trench with unlimited ammunition.

Then there was only one way.

……The only way is to get rid of the gold.

Fortunately, there was an appropriate means and method.

I looked at General Zombie.

“Ready, ‘Jang’?”

[Of course…… my lord……. Everything is as my lord wishes…….]

General Zombie bowed his head reverently.

I had given General Zombie a special separate mission in advance.

Then, I lightly snapped my fingers.

Ding dong!

<Obeying the ‘Heat’ command.>

<Opening Morg’s Demon Warehouse.>

The air split open, revealing a hell gate.

Soon, as the entrance to the Demon Warehouse opened.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh~!

Pure white figures began pouring down like a waterfall.

As soon as they landed in the golden swamp, they quickly stood up.

Glossy black eyes.

Bodies covered in pure white chitin.

Sharp jaws clacking greedily.

What poured out from the hell gate were thousands of zombies.

“Devour everything.”

A short and concise command.

Soon, the zombie legion scattered in all directions.

Thousands of zombies began gnawing at everything in sight.

Crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch—!

The sound of tearing and gnawing resonated like white noise.

At that time, the golden soldiers charged toward the zombies.

Slash! Swish—! Crack!

Golden soldiers swung swords, spears, and axes, slaughtering the zombies.

But that was only momentary.

Swoosh— Thud!

A pitch-black arrow pierced the golden soldier’s temple.

The golden soldier flew straight and embedded into the golden wall.

It looked like a doll pinned to a golden board.

[In all my life, this is the first time I’m cooperating with bugs!]

With a hearty voice, Shadow Knight Yi Seonggye revealed himself.

Shadow knights burst out one by one around him.

Soon, the shadow knights clashed with the golden soldiers.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The clashing of metal began to echo throughout the golden palace.

Noises bursting from all directions drowned it out.

Crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch—!

The zombies gnawing on the gold.

The shadow knights protected them so the zombies would not be disturbed.

A rare and precious team play.

At that moment, Andvari looked at the shadow knights and opened his mouth.

[Power to control the dead…… To think you can even use the power of death. What exactly is your identity?]

“Warehouse keeper.”

[An amusing answer.]

He seemed to take it as a joke.

Andvari raised his golden greatsword.

At the same time.

-Ding dong!

<Obeying the ‘Heat’ command.>

<Opening Morg’s Demon Warehouse.>

I summoned cargo from the Demon Warehouse.

Ding dong!

<MRG-1689, ‘Raw Hide Bag of the Reckless Parvenu’ is being rented.>

Gold coins began pouring from the yellowish raw hide bag.

Clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter~!

A golden waterfall poured over Andvari’s head.

But.

[……The same trick won’t work.]

The gold coins melted like water droplets the moment they touched Andvari’s body.

Soon, the gold scattered and rose like thousands of flower petals.

[Is that all the tricks you can pull?]

“……There’s still one more left.”

I snapped my fingers once more.

Then, another bag appeared from the Demon Warehouse.

Thud—

A round shape fell from the bag.

[Planning to pour gold again? It’s just a meaningless waste of time.]

However.

[This is…….]

Andvari’s brows furrowed.

The object falling from the sky was not gold coins.

A pungent smell stung the nose.

Thud— thud thud— thud thud thud thud thud—

It was garlic.

Flutter—

<Garlic Sack of Mass Preservation>

– Storage Number: MRG-4683

– Storage Grade: Safe

Its appearance was an ordinary sack filled with 20 kg of whole garlic.

However, even if the contents were removed, the mass always remained 20 kg, maintained by new whole garlic multiplying as soon as it was taken out.

Therefore, the sack must always be positioned with its opening facing upward toward the sky.

“A stupid magician made this to solve a food shortage or something. But why garlic of all things? There are plenty of other crops that could be staples.” —Federback—

The infinite garlic sack used against the Vampire Lord in the Ulhyeol Blood Castle.

Then.

Thud— thud thud thud— thud thud thud thud thud thud~!

A garlic shower began pouring down over Andvari’s head.

[……Kuh!]

It could not be made into a living being or gold, and since it was not gold, it could not be controlled.

Before Andvari could even raise his greatsword.

Rumble rumble—

Tens of tons of garlic buried Andvari.

“Garlic is good for the body. Eat a lot.”

The soul food of Koreans.

The endlessly pouring garlic soon began to reach the ceiling.

I looked around at the situation.

The golden statues were also being mercilessly felled before the shadow knights.

At that moment, Cheok Junkyung took a drawing-sword stance.

“Goksan Cheok Family First Form: Iron-Severing Single Flash”

Slice—!

A single horizontal trajectory engraved in the air with fierce wind pressure.

Then.

Thud! Thud! Thud thud thud thud~!

The heads of the golden statues all began falling to the ground at once.

Soon, dozens of shadow arrows poured down from the sky.

Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom~!

Golden soldiers with limbs pierced as if pinned to the ground.

The arrows shot by Shadow Knight Yi Seonggye hit without missing a single one.

The golden statues were swept away like fallen leaves in the autumn wind.

Golden fragments rolled around on the ground.

Each time, zombies swarmed and gnawed on the bodies of the golden soldiers.

Then.

Rumble rumble rumble rumble—

One of the golden pillars supporting the ceiling slowly tilted to the side.

Because the zombies had mercilessly eaten away at the base of the pillar.

At the same time.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The golden pillars toppled one after another like dominoes.

The golden palace had already turned desolate.

Even the golden swamp, whose end was hard to fathom, began to show its bottom.

Crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch~!

The golden swamp, pillars, ceiling, furniture, and ornaments.

Not a single speck of gold dust remained where the zombie legion had passed.

Enough to visually confirm the gold decreasing.

Watching that sight, a sigh escaped me involuntarily.

……Somehow it doesn’t feel like someone else’s problem.

Because at this very moment, a similar scene was probably unfolding in the depths of the Demon Warehouse.

At that time.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle~!

White steam rising from the mountain-like pile of garlic.

Soon, the garlic melted away, and the smell of burnt garlic began to vibrate everywhere.

Bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble—

Then, Andvari stepped up, trampling the melted garlic.

[It’s been a truly long time since a being has irritated me this much.]

Andvari extended both hands forward.

Then.

Swish swish swish swish swish!

Golden hands surged up from the ground like mushrooms after rain.

Golden hands extending in all directions like tentacles.

Then, the golden hands entangled the zombies.

Then.

Crack— craaack— craaaaaack—!

In the blink of an eye, the zombies turned into gold.

At the same time.

『Seven Ghosts Second Strike Secret Art: Greed Slaughter, Mammon』

Crimson lava swallowed the shadow knights.

Ding dong!

<The damage value of the shadow knights has exceeded the critical threshold.>

<The summoning of the shadow knights is canceled.>

The zombie legion and shadow knights were swept away in an instant.

But at that moment.

Slice—!

A black figure passed by, slashing Andvari’s side.

[……Master, I have waited a long time.]

Death Knight Jean stood tall before me.

At the same time.

-Ding dong!

<MRG-682 ‘Undying Wyvern’ is being rented.>

Another ally appeared from the crack in the Demon Warehouse.

Jeanne d’Arc, General Zombie, and the Undying Wyvern.

It was the moment when the maximum combat power of the Demon Warehouse had gathered all at once.

“Now, shall we finish this?”