Immortals vs. Grim Reapers - chapter 49
Chapter 49. Ghosts Die Twice (1)
“Urghhhh!!”
Ju Gangrim was gritting his teeth, his face turning bright red as he ran.
The weight of a healthy adult male is around 70kg. On top of that, Ju Gangrim was equipped with all sorts of gear for combat.
While the robes made from the Death Sword made Ju Gangrim more agile and stronger, it didn’t reduce the weight. And now, that weight was entirely on the seagulls.
Thud, thud.
There was no time to feel sorry for the seagulls plunging into the sea.
Ju Gangrim, who had leapt into the air, now had the hem of his robe soaking in seawater.
The distance to the ship had closed considerably, now just a few meters away. But the bridge of magpies was no longer enough.
“Prince of Gangreung!!”
Just before plunging beneath the surface, Ju Gangrim kicked the seawater with all his might.
The enhanced jumping ability from his robes and superhuman will momentarily propelled Ju Gangrim’s body into the air.
But that was it.
It wasn’t enough for Ju Gangrim’s body to reach the ship.
However, at that moment, a miracle occurred.
Instead of falling, Ju Gangrim’s body rose several times higher than expected. Bewildered by the sudden situation, Ju Gangrim looked back.
Ttaekachi was desperately flapping her wings, her talons gripping Ju Gangrim’s shoulders tightly.
He had always thought she was big, but with her body the size of an adult male’s upper body and wings spread, she was as large as a decent-sized eagle.
But even Ttaekachi’s strength, surpassing that of a normal bird, wasn’t enough to lift Ju Gangrim.
Ttaekachi slammed Ju Gangrim into the ship’s hull.
Bang.
Though he collided with enough force to potentially shatter, it was enough for Ju Gangrim. He barely managed to secure himself by embedding his hand axe into the surface.
“Well done!”
Ttaekachi let out a single “caw” – whether in protest or cursing was unclear – before settling on the water surface as if collapsing.
The seagulls that had been trampled by Ju Gangrim were floating on the surface with dazed expressions.
Ju Gangrim inwardly expressed his gratitude once more and began climbing up the hull.
Clang, clang, bang.
Since the soul-binding talisman wasn’t sharp enough to pierce the hull’s surface, he had to climb using only the Death Sword.
Ju Gangrim climbed by propelling his body upward while simultaneously striking down on the smooth hull with his hand axe.
It was an impossible feat for an ordinary person, but Ju Gangrim could do it.
“Ugh, huff, huff…”
Having barely made it onto the ship, Ju Gangrim encountered a sailor looking at him with a bewildered expression in front of the railing.
Thinking he might be in league with the Prince of Gangreung, Ju Gangrim gripped his hand axe, causing the sailor to drop the radio he was holding and run frantically in the opposite direction.
Ju Gangrim picked up the radio.
Profanity-laced responses were flowing from the radio.
[What do you mean some madman was jumping across the sea stepping on birds, then suddenly grew wings and rammed into the hull, and now is hopping up with just a hand axe? Are you on drugs?]
“No drugs. It’s all true.”
Ju Gangrim answered instead. The reply came immediately.
[You’re in that state because you’re not on drugs! Get a psychiatric consultation as soon as you reach land!]
While he could fully understand the captain’s concern for the sailor’s mental health, there were now more important things to worry about.
Out of concern for the captain and the innocent sailors on board, Ju Gangrim radioed:
“Captain.”
Ju Gangrim raised the blunderbuss and began searching for which of the numerous containers on board might house the Prince of Gangreung.
“Take the crew and evacuate to a safe place. It might not be a situation where I can fight selectively if it becomes dangerous.”
***
Despite sunrise, the day wasn’t bright. The clouds tilted steeply westward as if rain would fall any moment, and the shadows were deep.
The waves were high, but the heavy cargo ship barely swayed in them.
However, in the middle of the sea, a quiet tension was brewing.
Clang, clang.
The alleyways formed by containers were complex and chaotic. Ju Gangrim walked through, tapping the containers with his hand axe.
He didn’t think the captain would contact the coast guard or try to subdue him personally.
This was a suspicious ship bribed by the Vito Family to transport illegal immigrants.
It would be troublesome if they unnecessarily involved the police and caused a commotion. The captain was likely viewing this fight as some kind of conflict between organizations.
For a family that employs assassins, it wouldn’t be strange for assassins from the other side to attack.
Moreover, since the opponent might be an awakened one, there was no need for a captain who just transports goods to risk his life fighting.
Indeed, the captain seemed to have understood well, as neither the crew nor anyone else was visible.
But a presence could be felt.
“How did he gather ghosts in the middle of the ocean?”
Ju Gangrim muttered, observing the ghosts wandering between the containers.
As dawn was breaking, the ghosts were wedged between the narrow containers, watching Ju Gangrim.
After observing these ghosts for a moment, Ju Gangrim realized they were all extraordinary.
‘Is this some kind of carefully curated collection?’
The ghosts each had different attire and uniquely grotesque forms.
It meant they were evil spirits with deep grudges who had lingered in this world for a long time. They had probably created quite a few victims as well.
These were the so-called hunting dogs of the Prince of Gangreung.
‘The reason he didn’t bring them out in the museum then… must have been because he needed a medium.’
Whether it’s a severed monkey’s hand or a straw doll, some device is needed to bind and control ghosts.
Though Ju Gangrim wasn’t well-versed in sorcery or magic yet, he could roughly guess.
The fundamental principles of magic and science aren’t that different. To cause a reaction, a catalyst and an action are needed.
Probably somewhere in these containers, the Prince of Gangreung is hiding, performing a ritual or dancing.
“So, what’s the plan? Are you going to keep hiding and watching me so gloomily?”
Ju Gangrim was absent-mindedly tapping containers with his hand axe when he casually struck the chain securing a container.
It was with the back of the axe, so it shouldn’t have been anything to worry about, but what happened next proved otherwise.
Click, click!
Suddenly, the chain securing the container snapped and lunged at Ju Gangrim. The chain used to secure containers was heavy and thick.
It was a chain that could blow off an adult man’s head, so Ju Gangrim barely managed to dodge. But it didn’t stop there; as the container tilted, it came crashing down towards Ju Gangrim.
Bang!
With a thunderous noise, Ju Gangrim stared at the container edge that had struck between his legs.
Though he had narrowly avoided it, the thought of it hitting directly between his legs sent a chill down his spine.
Ju Gangrim wondered if this was an attack from the Prince of Gangreung, but he still couldn’t sense any particular presence.
Chik, chiiik.
The radio crackled to life.
[Ah ah ah ahhh.]
For a moment, an eerie moan flowed from the radio. A chill emanated from within the radio, and shortly after, a deep female voice was heard.
[You’re a tough one.]
Though it was a woman’s voice, he immediately knew it was the Prince of Gangreung speaking.
The Prince of Gangreung had possessed Ju Gangrim’s radio with a ghost to speak.
“Is this attack your doing?”
Ju Gangrim asked without pressing any button on the radio. After all, the Prince wasn’t really communicating through the radio, but listening and speaking through a ghost possessing it.
[Attack? Don’t be ridiculous. That’s just the ‘sal’ still clinging to your life thread. It’s weakened a bit, but there’s no way there’s a shaman in Korea who could perform that level of exorcism ritual.]
“Nothing much happened until now, so why suddenly?”
He had nearly choked to death on his saliva, but he had survived being surrounded by countless zombie hordes, being pounced on by a pack of eight dogs, and being attacked by motorcycle ninjas on the highway without major incident.
So why now are stationary container stacks attacking him?
[Either you were lucky, or there was someone with strong energy nearby. But now, you’re alone here.]
Someone with strong energy? Ju Gangrim wondered if there had been such a person, then thought of Yu Wolryeong.
But Yu Wolryeong seemed more like someone who would absorb all the gloominess in the world rather than having strong energy.
Therefore, Ju Gangrim could only think of one answer.
“Or you’re just a quack shaman?”
[…Let’s make a deal.]
The Prince of Gangreung ignored Ju Gangrim’s words and spoke slowly.
[Go back. Then I’ll perform an exorcism ritual for you. You won’t have to face death from such unlucky incidents anymore.]
“And if I refuse?”
[Then you’ll have to play hide and seek to find where I am among these many container boxes. By the way, this cargo ship has many things you wouldn’t expect.]
“Are you joking?”
Ju Gangrim, as if it wasn’t even funny, began stuffing various odds and ends he had prepared into the blunderbuss. Then he muttered in a contemptuous tone.
“Do I look like I’ve split myself into multiple bodies to chase you all the way here?”
***
Ju Gangrim strode past the containers, heading in the direction where the evil spirits in the blunderbuss were howling.
The Prince of Gangreung’s ghosts watched Ju Gangrim silently. As his pace quickened, the number of wandering ghosts gradually increased.
Thud, thud. Dark spots began to spread across the deck. Raindrops were starting to fall.
As he got closer to where the evil spirits were howling, the atmosphere around began to change.
Unidentifiable branches were hung on sacred ropes everywhere, and yellow papers with something red scrawled on them – talismans – were stuck to each container.
Judging by the strong smell of blood, they seemed to be written in blood. Ju Gangrim could tell that the Prince of Gangreung had prepared thoroughly, albeit hurriedly.
Caw.
The sound of a crow cawing was heard. Ju Gangrim stopped as if coming to his senses. Somehow, fallen leaves were rustling at his feet.
Though still on a cargo ship full of containers, impossible fallen leaves and a desolate incense smell were pressing in from all directions.
Ju Gangrim realized he was walking straight into the Prince of Gangreung’s trap.
He had almost caught him once before and was confident he could win again, but it wasn’t a smart move.
One mistake in letting him escape was enough.
Just then, a noise interrupted Ju Gangrim’s thoughts.
“Ga, gagagaga, ga, gaga.”
Something with twisted limbs sprang out from the opposite side. Ju Gangrim recognized it as the sailor who had run away after seeing him earlier.
But its limbs were grotesquely long, and its jaw was split open so wide it reached its chest, dripping blood.
“Gigik, gi, gigik.”
“Gyaha, gyaha, gyaha, gyaha.”
Sounds like unknown beasts howling in the middle of the night came from all directions.
The ghosts that had just been wandering around earlier were now appearing in complete physical forms.
Ju Gangrim realized they were all sailors who had been turned into ghouls by the Prince of Gangreung.
“Gagagagaga!”
The ghoul with long limbs that had appeared first lunged at Ju Gangrim.
Ju Gangrim gritted his teeth and swung his hand axe to block.
Though the Death Sword could pierce steel, it couldn’t completely cut through the enhanced zombie’s arm, stopping at an awkward depth. Talismans plastered thickly could be seen through the torn clothes.
Other ghouls also rushed at Ju Gangrim simultaneously.
Ju Gangrim realized that they all had strength at the level of enhanced zombies, no, they were enhanced zombies themselves.
They were all enhanced by deeply resentful evil spirits and the Prince of Gangreung’s talismans.
Chik, chijijijik.
[The deeper you come, the deeper the ‘sal’ will become.]
The Prince of Gangreung whispered.
[You’ve already committed countless killings. Your karma must be deep. Ghosts bearing grudges against you will soon try to drag you into hell. Don’t gnaw away at your short life thread yourself, just jump into the sea or something.]
Ju Gangrim’s lips twisted at the Prince of Gangreung’s words. After making a strange expression, Ju Gangrim curled up the corners of his mouth.
“You… you still don’t know who I am, do you?”