RKP 411-420

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411

Hi Kraken Zelga.

The highest-ranking species dwelling in the Demon Sea, and the proud 50th in the hierarchy of Great Duke Jörmungandr's retinue.

Its hundreds of tentacles toyed with and crushed countless monsters, and not only the Sea Current Tribe but also other species trembled at the sight of its red eyes.

As a great warrior of the Kraken, as a king.

It proudly enjoyed all that glory.

But everything it enjoyed collapsed upon meeting a human.

Kim Taehyun.

The contractor of Great Duke Rosaria and now the key to the Underworld King, known to all of the highest-ranking species.

The great Kraken King had to lose much upon meeting him.

His master.

Great Duke Jörmungandr. The reason was that he didn't like the attitude of the guide, even though he had invaded his territory.

He lost all but ten of his proud hundred tentacles.

And yet, his attitude was so arrogant that he warned he wouldn't let it go if he caught his eye again.

Zelga couldn't utter a word at his enemy's fierce red eyes and had to run away.

Only after hiding deep in the Demon Sea where he couldn't be found did he realize.

That due to the drop in status, he was no longer the Great Duke's proud warrior.

It was shameful and humiliating.

He belatedly thought of throwing himself into the territory war for the Great Duke and dying a glorious death.

It wasn't long before Jörmungandr came.

[Zelga. I will give you a chance.]

The Great Duke said so and ordered him to cross the gate to Earth.

Kim Taehyun's home planet.

He said that the humans there were not as strong as Kim Taehyun, and that it would be a sufficiently attractive hunting ground for him in his degraded state.

Kim Taehyun would be trapped in the underworld and wander for an eternity, so he ordered him to hunt humans to his heart's content.

[Trample and dominate to regain your status. And then return to me.]

At the Great Duke's solemn command, Zelga led his massive body across the gate.

It wasn't easy.

Due to his degraded existence, he could minimize the laws of the Abyss, but he couldn't completely avoid that curse.

Upon arriving on Earth, he formed an area that humans called a dungeon to maintain his scattered existence.

It was a stopgap measure because this insignificant planet's existence couldn't handle his.

He miniaturized his massive body and devoured the humans who dared to step into his territory without knowing their place.

Their power was so insignificant that no recovery of status was achieved.

Nevertheless, it was satisfying enough that this was Kim Taehyun's birthplace and that they had similar appearances to him.

Before he knew it, Zelga was enjoying hunting humans here.

He devoured countless insignificant creatures and understood their culture, language, technology, and knowledge.

His intelligence increased.

Some of the tentacles he had lost to Kim Taehyun regenerated, and a slight recovery of status was achieved.

The dungeon expanded.

The more it did, the more humans threw their lives away to try to stop Zelga's territorial expansion.

It was an easy hunt.

As the Great Duke said, there were no monsters like Kim Taehyun here.

He would regain all his strength here and once again make his name as a strongman of the Demon Sea.

He would return as the Great Duke's faithful servant.

But at some point, he felt déjà vu.

It took a long time to realize that the déjà vu was connected to the gate he had crossed.

The flow of time had changed.

It was meaningless to him, who had an infinite lifespan, but it was a change that could have various meanings for the humans here.

The gate to the underworld was blocked, but only then could he understand.

What his master meant when he said not to worry about Kim Taehyun returning.

Around that time, changes were also occurring on this planet.

A huge magical distortion occurred.

It meant that an existence worthy of being the Great Duke's highest-ranking subordinate had appeared.

He was happy, but also anxious.

The emergence of an unidentified being increased the power he could expand, but if he didn't recover his strength as soon as possible, it would be difficult to reign as king even in this land of insects.

The successive magical distortions confirmed that thought.

He rapidly expanded his territory, and took the lives of many insects who invaded to stop him.

Before he knew it, Zelga had recovered twenty tentacles.

This was enough.

Zelga prepared to go outside the dungeon.

Just by emitting magic, the Demon Sea devoured the insects.

If he caused a break like this and swallowed thousands, tens of thousands of insignificant creatures, he could recover at least one more tentacle.

At that moment, an unexpected insect blocked the Demon Sea.

An ice wall.

It was a young woman who had entered Zelga's territory several times.

The woman's magic slowed the Demon Sea's progress.

How funny it was to see her throw her life away like nothing to save others.

Hehehe.

Zelga shook his tentacles and laughed for the first time in a while.

After all, the moment this place breaks, all the insects will be swept away by the Demon Sea.

In the end, they will be swallowed and fall as his prey.

[A futile struggle.]

Zelga moved his reduced body.

The woman who used the ice wall couldn't resist at all and gave her body to the tentacles.

She was trembling as a price for resisting the great magic.

Even so.

No fear could be found in her upturned eyes.

"Come on, you monster."

The woman moved her lips even as she spat out blood.

Her insolent attitude ruined Zelga's mood.

Above all, the language the woman had uttered a little while ago.

Wasn't that called New Korean?

The image of Kim Taehyun, which he had forgotten, overlapped.

[How arrogant.]

He loosened the tentacles that wrapped around the woman's body.

He had no intention of eating her easily.

He intended to inform this weak human of the power of the highest-ranking species, then slowly pull out her heart and take it.

[All this is for Lord Jörmungandr….]

The moment Zelga was about to perform a sacred ritual, mentioning the master he served.

Inside the dungeon.

A huge magical distortion occurred where he had been a little while ago.

At first, he thought that the gate that had been disconnected from the underworld had been reactivated.

But it wasn't.

'Something' had crossed over from the activated gate.

How enormous that power was.

The startled Zelga unknowingly put strength into his tentacles.

[Could it be… the Great Duke…?]

It wasn't Jörmungandr's.

If it were, all the demons in the dungeon would have recognized their true master and been attributed to him.

[Then who the hell….]

Zelga trembled at the enormous presence approaching him.

"Kuhuk…."

The woman couldn't withstand the power of the tentacles and groaned, spitting out blood.

It was originally the sight Zelga wanted.

But he couldn't laugh as he looked at the woman.

If the being rapidly approaching this way was an enemy, Zelga would suffer a similar fate.

[Th, this…!!]

There was no time to hesitate.

He drew out his master's authority, which was lacking, the Rampage.

Puhwaaaaak.

The mere twenty tentacles regenerated to nearly fifty in an instant.

Using this power would only be for a short time.

He had to delay the approach of that unidentified being as much as possible.

Before he knew it, Zelga, who had been the master of the dungeon, was in the same position as the insignificant creature in front of him.

The tide of the Demon Sea swirled and crashed down.

It was useless.

Chwaak!!

The Demon Sea parted and an existence revealed itself.

A human who shouldn't be here.

The very person who had brought himself, the great highest-ranking species, to this planet called Earth.

[K, Kim Taehyun…!!]

Taehyun's expression was strange as he looked at Zelga, who was stammering.

"Hi Kraken Zelga!!"

Thump.

Taehyun grabbed Zelga's tentacle and shook it as if he was glad to see him.

And suddenly.

"Huh… Im Ayoung…?"

He discovered the woman wrapped in another tentacle and groaning.

[…….]

"Zelga… you son of a bitch…."

Until Taehyun's attitude changed.

It didn't even take 30 seconds.

Im Ayoung regained consciousness from the liquid flowing into her mouth.

She felt the pain subside as the liquid completely permeated her body.

After a while, someone's hand seemed to be rummaging through her chest, and then a flurry of white light enveloped her body.

She had used a scroll in place of her, who didn't have the strength to move a finger.

Her insides were so messed up by the aftereffects of the reverse flow.

It was several minutes later that Ayoung fully regained consciousness.

Someone was shouting in New Korean not far away.

The focus of her blurred vision became complete.

Her hazy consciousness became clear.

At the same time.

"Hi Kraken!!"

She shouted and jumped up.

It was because she remembered what she had been fighting.

And.

"Ah…."

She was at a loss for words at the situation before her eyes.

The monster that had emitted a huge presence and devoured countless players.

Had its tentacles curled up and its red eyes lowered.

Its massive body was visibly trembling.

The sight was like watching a child who had done something wrong and was being scolded.

"What the hell is going on…."

Ayoung looked at the back of the man who didn't lower his voice even in front of the Hi Kraken.

His face wasn't visible, but his voice was familiar.

No, it wasn't just familiar.

"You…."

It was the voice of the man she thought she might not hear again.

"Kim… Taehyun…?"

Ayoung spoke his name.

Her voice trembled and her vision blurred just from that.

What returned was a calm voice that contrasted with her.

"Ah, you're awake? Wait a minute. I'll take care of this and then treat you."

Taehyun's body, who said that, was emanating deep blue magic.

At Taehyun's voice urging him to swear allegiance.

The Hi Kraken shook his head several times.

Each time, unilateral beatings followed.

Many of the Hi Kraken's tentacles, which had been regenerated with difficulty, were torn off.

Only then did the monster reluctantly accept the deep blue magic.

"Stay holed up in a corner until I find you. Don't even dream of a break."

The Hi Kraken let out a sound like a groan and went back the way he came.

Only then did Taehyun approach Ayoung.

"What… what is this…."

"It's thanks to you."

"What…?"

"Thanks to you, I came to the right place."

"What…."

Taehyun rattled off incomprehensible words, saying that he was able to choose without hesitation thanks to her opening up her magic to the limit.

And.

"I have a lot to ask."

He smirked.

Taehyun raised the corners of his lips and showed his characteristic relaxed smile.

Just that sight alone filled her with so much relief.

Ayoung was nodding her head without realizing it.

The world was newly fluctuating.

Three uncompleted dungeons rated SSS+.

One of them had broken, and testimonies from survivors followed that a player from New Korea had sacrificed her life to avert the worst-case scenario.

People revered SS-rated player Im Ayoung, who had given her life.

They raved that she, not Japan's Yoshikawa Tsurara, who clung to every possible opportunity, was the one who deserved the name of saint.

Such gossip didn't last long.

It was because the fact that China had activated a gate at the New Delhi summit was revealed.

Many countries poured out their anger.

They ridiculed and despised them, saying that they were a race that was of no help to world peace, let alone the planet Earth.

Racial discrimination and terrorism, which had barely subsided after the Gray Plague, surged.

The heat that had revered Im Ayoung as the saint of the East cooled down.

Despite clear evidence, China denied it, and made excuses that the cause of the summit incident was due to the gate experiments that countries around the world were indiscriminately carrying out.

Rather, they declared their will to unify Taiwan and India, which were in territorial disputes, saying that they would no longer tolerate those who were instigating division in the great power.

The World Player Association and the Chinese Federation supported China.

Afterwards, the United States exposed Vincent Chang's corruption, and it became a mud fight.

And suddenly.

Gate breaks occurred in Taiwan's capital Taipei and India's capital New Delhi.

No one doubted that national-level Su Jinchang and Azaruddin Ismail would be able to stop it.

Contrary to popular opinion, however, the assault teams led by the two national-level figures repeatedly retreated.

It was only later that it was revealed that the demons that appeared in the capital were SSS+ rated demons.

Taiwan and India were devastated by the huge dungeon that had taken root in the capital.

P50, to which Taiwan and India belong, requested assistance from player associations in various countries, and several named players from New Korea were dispatched to the scene.

Okay, here's the translation of the provided Korean text:

Chapter 412

Waiting for Park Sung-jin as he crossed the transfer gate was Taiwan's National-Level player, Su Jin-chang.

"Welcome, Player Park Sung-jin."

Su Jin-chang expressed sincere gratitude while greeting the thirty Association players dispatched with Park Sung-jin.

Although he wasn't like Yu A-young, a National-Level player like himself, Park Sung-jin was already a world-renowned player.

He thought that Park Sung-jin, who was among the best of the SS-Rank players, who had reached the realm of the sword, would have good synergy with him.

For Taiwan, which had no SS-Rank players except for Su Jin-chang, the support of Park Sung-jin and the S-Rank players he brought was encouraging.

"Thank you for the warm welcome, Player Su Jin-chang. I'm very relieved the transfer gate is active."

Park Sung-jin shook hands with Su Jin-chang and looked back at the gate he had crossed.

The gate that hadn't been activated no matter what they tried for three years had recently started working again.

Seo Sang-ik and a few other experts only said that the flow of magic had changed.

They couldn't explain the detailed reason.

They were merely vaguely speculating and assuming that it was related to what China had done in New Delhi.

"I'm sorry for being late. It took some time to select useful players."

The players led by Park Sung-jin were dispatched to Taiwan, and the players of the Magicians led by Guo Xiyang were dispatched to India.

Being dispatched to a foreign country as a military force was no different from standing on the front lines, so the procedure was quite complicated.

If there hadn't been a transfer gate, the time to arrive here would have been even later.

"That thought alone is enough. Now, I'll tell you about the movements of the monsters."

Su Jin-chang quickly explained the situation.

Monsters had appeared in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.

Initially, it was measured as simply an S-Rank gate break, and A-Rank and S-Rank players were deployed accordingly.

And the deployed players lost their lives in an instant.

The monster's rank had grown to SS, and only then did Su Jin-chang realize the seriousness of the situation and step forward himself.

In that short time, the monster's rank had grown to SSS.

It was a disaster.

The monster continued to grow even while Su Jin-chang was attacking, and eventually became SSS+.

The monster, which had fended off two waves of attacks, quickly turned into a dungeon, and now an SSS+ dungeon, equivalent to an uncaptured dungeon, had been formed.

"An uncaptured dungeon...."

Even when he received the briefing in South Korea, he clearly heard that it was the gate break of a Top-Tier species.

To turn into a dungeon in such a short time.

Park Sung-jin frowned at the larger-than-expected scale.

As if understanding his feelings, Su Jin-chang continued his explanation.

The Taiwan Player Association persuaded the government to evacuate most of the capital's population, and currently, the players led by Su Jin-chang were tightly surrounding the dungeon.

This was to delay the dungeon's conversion even a little bit.

"Have you confirmed the monster's species?"

Park Sung-jin asked.

Since some time ago, the magic waves emitted by creatures of Upper-Tier or higher were interfering with and disrupting human transmissions.

Therefore, it was difficult to grasp their detailed information with things like artificial satellites.

What appeared was a Top-Tier species.

An existence that ordinary S-Rank players couldn't avoid death just by facing it.

Su Jin-chang was the only one who had confirmed the monster and survived to this day.

That's why he was asking.

Was it a Greater Demon he saw at the New Delhi conference hall?

Was it a being of the same level?

Was China involved?

"It was a Greater Demon."

Su Jin-chang nodded and answered heavily.

"...That's the worst."

Park Sung-jin gave a realistic assessment.

As far as he knew, there were only two people in the world who had caught a Greater Demon.

Unofficially, Tae-hyun did it three years ago.

Officially, Yu A-young did it recently.

He could be proud of the fact that they were all South Koreans, but they were all currently unable to operate.

Tae-hyun had disappeared, and Yu A-young's treatment was taking longer than expected, so she had to spend a full week in the intensive care unit.

'It's worse than I thought.'

The situation wouldn't be any different in India, where Guo Xiyang was dispatched.

"I don't intend to force you. But for the sake of your country's survival... I'm thinking of going in, even if it's just me."

Su Jin-chang revealed his determination.

Currently, Taiwan's capital was in a situation that wouldn't be strange if it was paralyzed.

If they couldn't stop the dungeon here, there was a risk that the country's existence could be threatened by China's intervention in the future.

"Since I came to help anyway, I plan to fulfill my duty as a player. So don't worry."

"Thank you. I will be grateful for South Korea's friendship."

It was when the two players were in the middle of a conversation.

A new gate opened next to Park Sung-jin.

What appeared was an unexpected face, Saintess Yoshikawa Tsurara, and the 20 healers she led.

"This is a face I didn't expect."

Park Sung-jin said without hiding his thoughts.

Looking at Su Jin-chang's expression, it seemed that he knew she was coming.

"It's been a while, Player Park Sung-jin."

The Saintess, who had completely crossed the gate, greeted lightly.

"Isn't Japan supposed to be mindful of China's eyes?"

Park Sung-jin received her greeting crookedly.

The international situation had been reorganized since Tae-hyun disappeared.

Among them, Japan was taking a precarious tightrope walk to avoid antagonizing the Sino-Federation while belonging to the World Player Association led by the United States.

This was to gain practical benefits between the two great powers.

This much was understandable, but the problem was that they were targeting and antagonizing P50 in order to do so.

It was an act that wouldn't have been possible if Tae-hyun had been alive.

As a result, Japan had recovered its past status to some extent.

"Please don't look at me that way. I had no choice but to do it for the sake of my country's interests."

The Saintess said with a gentle smile.

"If you're going to help, help properly. I despise opportunistic people like rats."

"That's too much to say. No one in South Korea can order me around."

The Saintess retorted without backing down.

Emphasizing a smile that contained a warning that she, a National-Level player, couldn't be threatened by someone like him.

"I should have sent Guild Leader Yu A-young instead of you."

The Saintess's body flinched very briefly at those words.

Thinking that her influence was still valid, Park Sung-jin turned his head to Su Jin-chang.

Su Jin-chang, who had to receive help from both countries, was watching with a troubled expression.

As if to appease his worries, the Saintess smiled at him in a way that was different from her smile towards Park Sung-jin.

"There's nothing to worry about. I can distinguish between public and private matters."

"Thank you. I was just explaining the situation in our country, so please listen together."

A little later.

Players from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan entered the SSS+ dungeon.

'A Greater Demon.'

Park Sung-jin tightened his grip on his beloved sword, Spiral Chilji.

The person who brought him to the brink of death three years ago, and the being who recently brought National-Level players to the brink of death.

The Saintess's presence alone was like having several more lives, but he didn't intend to back down easily.

A situation where life was at stake would be good for breaking walls and growing.

That was why he volunteered to support Taiwan despite the danger.

'I have to overcome a new wall.'

It was when he was thinking that.

The voice of the monster, which had been heard sporadically in his head since some time ago, was heard clearly again.

[Welcome to Bonma's territory, insects.]

Along with the illusion of the Greater Demon Vanessa.

The atmosphere in the area changed.

Beijing, China.

Liu Sibo was receiving reports that were coming in non-stop.

"We have received reports that support from South Korea and Japan has arrived in Taiwan. They are expected to attempt to capture the dungeon by today."

"Support from South Korea has also arrived in India. As soon as support from the United States and two other countries arrives, they will enter the dungeon to capture it."

Normally, he would have frowned at South Korea's intervention.

But now, he was just glad to hear it.

"Hehehe. Isn't it just an attack force that will fail anyway."

Liu Sibo recalled the achievements he had made.

Four Greater Demons had crossed over through the gate he had opened.

He used his own body as a medium instead of Diablo's horns.

His awakening level, which had been stuck at S-Rank, had grown to SS as a bonus.

Ten National-Level players had to risk their lives for Zordiac alone.

He had sent two of those Greater Demons to Taiwan and India.

Now, only South Korea remained.

"It's time for that small country... to pay the price for daring to act like a great power."

The two Greater Demons who had been secretly waiting in the basement of the Association were about to head to South Korea.

No matter how much of Yu A-young, she wouldn't be able to face two Greater Demons at the same time.

She would eventually die from the attacks of the Greater Demons, who would not hesitate in their actions, but it was no longer time to put forward trivial desires.

'The great power is mine.'

He wasn't even answering the chairman's calls.

The Greater Demons would only follow Liu Sibo, the subject of the summoning, so there was no need to be swayed by the chairman, and he didn't even have to hide his ambitions.

'How long did you think I would be the knife you wield?'

Liu Sibo went down to the basement of the Association.

He was suffocating from the magic power emitted by the two Greater Demons.

"We have prepared a meal for the two Greater Demon Lords."

He nodded to the chief of staff.

Kwaaaaaaa.

A huge gate was created before his eyes.

"For the uncivilized things, it shouldn't be lacking as a meal. Please enjoy it to your heart's content."

The two Greater Demons chuckled at Liu Sibo's flattery for a moment.

A huge being entered the gate heading to South Korea.

South Korea Player Association Headquarters.

"It seems that China is involved."

"To be exact, it's probably Chairman Liu Sibo."

Lee Jae-joon's report was followed by Ji Jin-hee's confident words.

The large gate occurred right at the Player Association headquarters.

To Ji Jin-hee, who had witnessed the incident at the conference hall with his own eyes, the situation in Taiwan, India, and South Korea was too coincidental.

"It means they're desperate enough to cause trouble even without horns."

"Or maybe they're causing trouble to get the horns back. In any case, you must evacuate quickly. The S-Rank players are buying time, but... this place is also dangerous."

"That's not true. Against a Greater Demon, the S-Rank players won't be enough. Tell the players to step back."

"Then...."

"There's no other choice, is there?"

Yu A-young, the maximum power, is still in intensive care.

The only SS-Rank players currently available were Ji Jin-hee and Kwon Kang-hyuk.

Yu A-young needs absolute rest.

"Doesn't she need time to mourn her sister's death?"

Even if they didn't have a good relationship.

Even if they were half-siblings.

The death of Im A-young would have been a considerable wound for her as well.

He intended to handle this matter on his own.

"Chairman. Guild Leader Kwon Kang-hyuk has arrived."

"That's not bad timing. I'll leave the rest to you."

With those words, Ji Jin-hee put on his armor one by one.

Three years ago.

It was a unique-grade item made from the scales of the Dragon Elder that Tae-hyun had entrusted to Seo Sang-ik.

If he survived, he would overcome stagnant growth, and if not.

"I'll die."

Ji Jin-hee muttered calmly.

3 years.

He had raised South Korea quite well with the seeds that Tae-hyun had sown.

He couldn't lose them in vain to mere Greater Demons.

"Don't worry. I will definitely protect the fruits."

That was something he hadn't seen in years.

It was a vow that was like a condolence to a player.

Chapter 413

Vanessa

She was a Great Demon chosen by Mammon to command the demonic territory war in place of Beelzebub.

Originally, Great Demons were required to have innate powers.

However, in order to establish a command structure to lead the overheated territory war, the ancient Great Demons Mammon, Mephisto, and Asura selected her from among the highest-ranking demons.

Therefore, Mammon's power of 'Gluttony' flowed more strongly within her than Beelzebub's power of 'Poison.'

"[Lord Mammon must be very worried.]"

The Great Demon Vanessa muttered as she sensed the energy of humans who had entered the dungeon she had created.

It would still take a long time for them to reach where she was.

But she could tell without seeing them.

The humans, who had been cautious, had come with a purpose.

She could feel a strong fighting spirit from those who had cowered and feared her magic power.

"[Did you really think you could face me with such meager strength?]"

Their power was so insignificant.

She couldn't help but recall Mammon's words, "Don't underestimate humans."

How could such insignificant beings harm her?

She could tear them apart and turn them into pieces of meat if she wanted to.

Kekekeke.

A strange light suddenly appeared in her red eyes as she grinned sinisterly.

She realized that one of those who had entered the dungeon was someone she had failed to defeat before.

Su Jinchang.

A man known as Taiwan's national-level player.

Vanessa's face twisted in a scowl.

"[How pathetic.]"

She clicked her tongue in disapproval.

It wasn't aimed at anyone else but her own weakened power, caused by crossing the gate.

The power of the summoned Great Demons was incomplete due to the unstable power of the bug called Ryu Sibo.

And that wasn't all.

She was dumbfounded when she heard that Jordiak had been annihilated earlier.

If Ryu Sibo wasn't an existence valued by the ancient Great Demons...

Vanessa would have torn him to shreds for his incompetence.

"[That's right. Devouring you will fully restore my power.]"

If she regained her power first, she would have the greatest chance of contributing to the Great Demon cause.

For a Great Demon, a higher rank meant being bestowed with greater power and territory.

Vanessa prepared to welcome her guests with a gleeful heart.

"Damn it..."

Park Seongjin spat out a curse.

He looked around.

Players from the associations of Shin-Hanguk, Taiwan, and Japan, the prides of their respective nations, were collapsed on the ground.

It was due to the bizarre magic power that Vanessa had used moments ago.

Since it wasn't responding to the Saintess's skills, they must have reached the brink of death.

Mourning their deaths, he recalled what Yoo Ah-yeong had said before.

'Did she call it... authority?'

The Highest Species.

Among them, the monsters chosen by those called Archdukes were said to use unique powers.

That power was like a superior version of the skills used by players.

Park Seongjin hadn't realized the truth of those words after the incident three years ago, but he was now personally experiencing that they were true.

"Not yet."

Su Jinchang, who had recovered his body with the Saintess's skill from afar, was gathering his magic power.

The unique-grade spear he had been using was already broken and melted, making it difficult to recognize its original form.

The same went for the Saintess.

She was holding on with potions and scrolls, but...

Eventually, her mental fatigue would become unbearable if she continued to spam her skills like this.

Being a national-level power didn't mean being invincible.

Park Seongjin gripped the half-broken Spiral Seven Spear again.

The unique-grade weapon had become an ordinary blade simply by receiving the Great Demon's fingernails.

He probably wouldn't be able to use it anymore after this battle was over.

'No, I'm not even sure if I can survive here.'

Park Seongjin poured magic power into the half-broken sword and watched the battle intently.

Unlike him, Su Jinchang, who had discarded his weapon, was engaging Vanessa in close combat using ancient martial arts.

As expected of what was called Taiwanese ancient martial arts.

After all, the martial arts, which had the same origins as Chinese martial arts, were things Park Seongjin had seen through Taehyun.

Taiwanese Ancient Martial Arts First Form: Fa Jing. Second Form: Cun Jin. Third Form: Chek Jing. Fourth Form: Seon Jing.

And Fifth Form: Penetrating Jing.

Kwaang!!

Three of the Great Demon's fingernails were shattered by the fist unleashed with all his might.

Kekekeke.

An unpleasant laugh echoed briefly throughout the area.

Su Jinchang charged at the Great Demon, who was regenerating at an incredible speed.

A relentless exchange of destruction and tearing ensued.

Park Seongjin gritted his teeth as he watched the scene unfold.

There was no room for him to intervene.

Just as the gap between an S-rank player and an SS-rank player was significant.

The gap between an SS-rank player and an SSS-rank player was beyond comparison.

He had come here to overcome the wall, but...

'I'm just barely managing to stay alive.'

Kim Taehyun.

What would that guy, who had reached the pinnacle of the world, say if he saw this?

Nakata Shinji.

How would that guy, who he thought of as a rival, act?

Eudeuk.

Park Seongjin bit his lip in self-reproach.

"Yoshikawa Tsulara!!"

Park Seongjin called out the Saintess's name and charged towards the Great Demon.

Kkaang!!

He swung his sword and deflected the Great Demon's fingernails.

In that gap, Su Jinchang used his enhanced skill.

SSS-rank skill 'Blue Sky, White Sun, Everywhere Red Flags.'

Magic power condensed in his hand, forming a sharp spear.

Kwak!!

Just like the Great Demon's thorns had done.

The spear materialized by the skill pierced Vanessa's body.

Following that.

Tting.

[Skill Sword Draw (SS) has been activated.]

[The enhancement of Skill Sword Draw (SS) has reached its limit.]

From left to right.

Park Seongjin's Spiral Seven Spear swept across the Great Demon's upper body.

Seogeok!!

He heard a sound that swordsmen would gladly welcome.

It was the sound of the Great Demon's body, which had rarely shown any openings, being cut in half along with the magic stone.

It would be great if she died from that, but he knew well that she wouldn't die from just that much.

The separated muscles of the monster began to stick together as if they were magnets.

Park Seongjin shouted at the Saintess once more.

"Don't hesitate!!"

"......!!"

The Saintess, who had been hesitating, used her skill on him.

SSS-rank skill 'Holy Revelation.'

The power that had earned her the name of Saintess along with 'Ultra-Fast Regeneration' was bestowed upon Park Seongjin.

Hwaaaak!!

A message window appeared before Park Seongjin's eyes.

It was a message that the awakening rank, which he had been waiting for while training his sword to the limit, had grown.

Tting.

[Skill Sword Draw (SSS) has been activated.]

He poured all of his magic power into the Spiral Seven Spear and swung it towards the monster's horns.

Su Jinchang's skill targeted the completely regenerated magic stone.

The Saintess, clutching the greatsword of an unknown player, aimed for the tail.

The Great Demon grinned sinisterly as she faced their attacks.

Thorn-like fingernails.

Thorns like spears.

They targeted the players who were desperately resisting.

"It's over..."

The Saintess looked at the fallen Park Seongjin and Su Jinchang.

The power of the attacks and the timing were perfect.

If there was a reason for their failure, it was that the Great Demon had been hiding her true power from the start.

Park Seongjin's broken Spiral Seven Spear and Su Jinchang's torn-off arm lay scattered on the ground.

Each of them was in mortal danger.

'I have to run.'

She had done her best, she had to survive.

As the Saintess planned her escape while rationalizing like that.

Hwaaaak.

A small gate opened next to her.

'Reinforcements?!!'

No.

A player creating a gate inside a dungeon to move around.

She had never heard of such a thing in her time as a player.

It was highly likely that what was coming through the gate was a monster.

Her complexion turned pale.

But contrary to her expectations.

A man and a woman came out of the gate.

The woman was an SS-rank player from Shin-Hanguk, and the man was.

"Y-you are..."

The Saintess's face stiffened at the unexpected face.

An emotion of disbelief filled her small face.

It wasn't just her face that was stiff.

"People show their true colors in the worst situations. But what is that expression right now?"

"......!!"

The Saintess's body stiffened at the man's cold words.

It was as if she had become a herbivore thrown in front of a beast.

"Have you already forgotten the two times I helped you?"

She made excuses at the man's voice urging her to answer.

She said it was to protect her country.

She couldn't throw her life away for another country.

Taehyun dismissed such an attitude from the Saintess as an excuse.

"You've become disgusting while I haven't seen you. Yoshikawa Tsulara."

"......"

Taehyun walked past the Saintess and scanned the body of the Great Demon Vanessa.

Since he was using 'Watcher's Eye,' the flow of magic power was vividly visible in his eyes.

Compared to Gorper and Gilfer, she was at such a low level.

"A mediocre guy was acting up."

He couldn't help but utter a harsh evaluation.

Tting.

Taehyun drew the Dragon Slayer Sword that had completely regenerated from his waist.

The Dragon Slayer Sword, which was struggling to regenerate after being damaged by Igmun, was emitting an even sharper edge as it was assimilated with the magic power of the divine beast.

[Where did you crawl out from...]

"No need for long words."

Cutting off the Great Demon's words.

"Let's get hit a little first."

He raised the Dragon Slayer Sword.

New Delhi, India.

There, Kwak Siyang was facing a Great Demon.

Even though he was desperately trying to break through the threshold of SSS-rank, and even though the national-level players of each country were working together.

The Great Demon was an insurmountable wall.

'The gap between Guild Master Yoo Ah-yeong and the national-level players was this big...'

He thought that as he looked at Azarudin Ismail, who was writhing on the ground.

In the end, he would die without breaking through the wall.

He had no regrets.

In any case, he was more satisfied than regretting not challenging the wall.

The remaining members would lead the Magicians well enough.

Still, even if he was going to die.

'I'll take a few of those damn fingernails with me.'

Kwak Siyang desperately scraped together the remaining magic power.

He was planning to launch a final attack using his body as a medium.

At that moment.

Kwaaaa!!

A medium-sized gate opened next to him.

He thought it was the work of a monster, but what came out of the gate were four humans.

Kwak Siyang's expression, which had been surprised as he identified each person, finally turned to astonishment.

"Y-you...!!"

"There's no time, so I'll finish this quickly."

The man who appeared last from the gate.

Taehyun drew the Dragon Slayer Sword.

[This humble one belongs to Lord Asura...]

"I don't want to know."

Ignoring the words of the unknown Great Demon, he swung the Dragon Slayer Sword down.

That was the end.

Shin-Hanguk Player Association Headquarters.

Jijinhee and Kwon Ganghyeok were facing two Great Demons who had broken into a place surrounded by layers of blocking walls.

It was closer to being bait than blocking them.

"I'm sorry. I dragged you into this."

"Hah... damn it. Stop talking like that."

Kwon Ganghyeok, who was rolling on the floor, grumbled at Jijinhee, who was in the same state.

At that moment, when the thorns of the two Great Demons were reaching their noses.

"Association President!!"

Ahn Hyeonsu, who had been hiding behind the blocking wall and constantly looking for an opportunity, intervened.

Seogeok. Seogeok.

Two severed thorns fell to the floor.

[......]

[......]

The gazes of the two Great Demons turned to the owner of the sword that was emitting radiance.

"Evil monsters!! My sword shall punish you!!"

Ahn Hyeonsu, an S-rank player.

He was the rookie that Shin-Hanguk boasted about, and now he was a proud named player, spouting cheesy lines without hesitation.

In his hand was a radiant sword that could be called a Named Weapon.

The effect of the skill 'Radiant Sword' was to ignore physical defense.

The faces of the Great Demons frowned at the weapon that reminded them of a Valkyrie from the upper realm.

But that was only for a moment.

The Great Demon's attack was not something an S-rank player could handle.

Seogeok!!

Puhwaaak!!

Ahn Hyeonsu's arm, which had been holding the radiant sword, flew into the air with a spray of blood.

"Damn it, you cut off a swordsman's hand, you guys have no morals."

414

An Hyun-soo staggered as he rose to his feet.

"Keuh... Guild Leader Kwon Kang-hyuk. I still have one arm left."

Contrary to his words, his face was pale.

Losing an arm was a significant shock for a swordsman, but even worse, the poison of a Great Demon was injected into the severed area.

Kwon Kang-hyuk clicked his tongue and tore a scroll from his pocket.

It wouldn't provide a perfect cure, but it would at least slow the spread of the poison.

"An S-rank isn't fit to be here."

Kwon Kang-hyuk uncharacteristically belittled the opponent's skills.

An Hyun-soo was a talent expected to grow into an SS-rank.

Since two SS-ranks were about to fall here today, he hoped that An would follow in their footsteps.

Ji Jin-hee, realizing his thoughts, let out a hearty laugh.

"Look at your personality. How nice would it be if you spoke a little more gently."

"Shut up. I'm already miserable enough dying here, don't talk to me. More importantly, are we going to keep this kid here?"

Kwon Kang-hyuk gestured with his chin toward An Hyun-soo.

It was a blatant attitude that even if An didn't listen to him, he would obey the orders of Ji Jin-hee, the Association President.

Feeling both proud and sorry for that sight, Ji Jin-hee could only give a bitter smile.

If he were stronger, if he had crossed the wall and become an SSS-rank even a little earlier...

He wouldn't have had to involve Kwon Kang-hyuk to buy time.

He felt too guilty about relying not only on his own life but also on the life of a promising young man.

But what's done is done.

As Kwon Kang-hyuk said, he couldn't afford to involve a future prospect just to buy time.

"Step back. If you show your wounds to the Saintess now, you might live. This is an order as the Association President."

With those words, Ji Jin-hee stood in front of An Hyun-soo.

"If you survive this, please fix that childish habit of yours."

Kwon Kang-hyuk also gathered all his remaining mana to prepare his last skill.

Kwaaaa.

Kwarururuk.

Paradoxically, the more he gathered mana, the darker the shadow of death seemed to loom.

He could feel the mana of the two Great Demons, who were looking at them as if they were playing with them, even more vividly.

"It's a pity I couldn't cross the wall."

"Shibal. If it weren't for the old man calling, I would have become an SSS-rank too."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be so sentimental. It doesn't suit you."

Kwon Kang-hyuk grumbled and glared at the two Great Demons.

He planned to strengthen his lower body and charge in as soon as those poisonous claws became thorns and were swung.

He would take at least one of them with him.

Ji Jin-hee seemed to have the same thought, as his body was taking a stance for a charge, not an ancient martial art.

"Ah...."

An Hyun-soo groaned in helplessness.

To protect him, the great players of Shinhan, Korea, were about to throw their lives away like nothing.

Chivalry and heroism.

That sight was no different from the ideal he had been hoping for.

A surge.

Something hot welled up inside his chest.

He felt like a fuse was blowing in his head.

At the same time.

Ting.

[Awakening rank has increased.]

[Skill Light Hero (SS) has been registered.]

Hwaaaaak.

The light sword he was holding emitted a bright white light.

The pain in his severed arm seemed to ease.

'Light... Hero!!'

He liked the name of the newly registered skill.

An Hyun-soo didn't hesitate.

Without needing to confirm what it did, he immediately used the skill.

Ting.

[Skill Light Hero (SS) has been activated.]

Hwaaaaak.

His body was dyed with radiance.

The poison remaining in his body was quickly pushed out.

The light spread around and reached Ji Jin-hee and Kwon Kang-hyuk.

"Shibal, what is this...?"

"Ooh... is this growth!!"

Kwon Kang-hyuk's dumbfounded expression contrasted with Ji Jin-hee's joyful one.

An Hyun-soo stood beside the two men, gripping the light sword with his one remaining arm.

In just a short moment.

The momentum he was building was incomparably stronger than before.

"I will not step back. A hero is made in times of chaos."

An Hyun-soo said, glaring at the two Great Demons with burning eyes.

"...I'm sorry. Since it has come to this, let's struggle together to the very end."

Ji Jin-hee seemed impressed by the sight of his subordinate and distant junior.

"Shiburral... Please, just fix that way of speaking..."

Kwon Kang-hyuk was distressed by An Hyun-soo's way of speaking, which hadn't been fixed even after his growth.

Three SS-rank players.

Still, the odds of winning didn't increase at all.

The Great Demons' twisted smiles looked like they were looking at delicious prey.

[This foolish one will be taken care of by this one.]

The Great Demon Yaran said, staring at An Hyun-soo.

[Then the other two are this one's.]

The Great Demon Turan decreed the deaths of Ji Jin-hee and Kwon Kang-hyuk.

Even though countless people were scattering in all directions at this moment, it wouldn't matter.

They were beings who had inherited Mamon's authority.

Once this amusement was over, they planned to track down and tear apart all the others.

By doing so, they would be able to recover some of the power that had been damaged when crossing the gate.

The reason they were postponing that task was that those in front of them were the finest among the ones in the area.

[The wench named Yoo Ah-young is nowhere to be seen?]

[There is no place in this area where this one's power does not reach. We can taste these ones and then find her slowly.]

The mere appearance of the two Great Demons had disabled the communication equipment and mana-operated devices in the area.

No matter how far a wingless human tried to run, they wouldn't get far.

A frivolous laugh leaked out at the paradise that would unfold in the future.

Suddenly.

Kwaaaaaaa.

A spatial rift appeared before their eyes.

The mana that leaked out from the rift created a gate.

[…….]

[…….]

The two Great Demons frowned at the sudden situation.

They thought that the gate in front of them was the work of another Great Demon who had been summoned together.

There couldn't be a human so great as to create a gate right in front of the two Great Demons on this planet swarming only with bugs.

From small to medium.

From medium to large.

The gate quickly increased in size.

The three players were equally bewildered by the sudden situation.

Their faces hardened.

They had prepared for death even against two Great Demons.

If another Great Demon appeared here, it was obvious that they wouldn't be able to make any impact.

However, the situation that followed was completely different from their expectations.

"What is this..."

One by one, Shinhan's players appeared from the large gate.

Park Sung-jin, who had been dispatched to Taiwan.

Kwak Si-yang, who had been dispatched to India.

Im Ah-young, who was known to be dead.

Japan's national-level Yoshikawa Tsurara.

But most surprising of all.

Shinhan's top power, who had disappeared three years ago.

Taehyun was there.

"H-How..."

Ji Jin-hee was shocked.

"Hehehe... Hehathat... This shibal!!"

Kwon Kang-hyuk burst into laughter mixed with madness.

And.

"Boy!!!"

An Hyun-soo, unable to contain his joy, shed tears.

Taehyun, who had emerged from the gate, did not draw the Dragonslayer Sword.

He had already cut down the two Great Demons who had appeared in Taiwan and India.

And he was convinced.

That the ones who had appeared on Earth were the lowest among the Great Demons.

Frankly, it was disappointing.

They were merely top-tier demons who had inherited and were using mediocre authorities.

[Prey comes to us on its own.]

[How did he open the gate?]

The two Great Demons, still not grasping the situation, flicked their snake-like tongues.

The situation had reversed in an instant.

Ting.

[Skill Aura of the Knight King (???) has been activated.]

Kugugugung.

The two Great Demons' faces hardened and their bodies trembled at the unprecedentedly oppressive and massive mana.

"So, this is the level."

Taehyun calmly gauged the power of the demons.

[……!!]

[You!!!]

The two Great Demons shouted and spread a pair of wings.

They raised the energy of their horns and tails, showing their will to shake off the aura.

Taehyun casually used the next skill.

It had a similar nature to 'Aura of the Knight King', but its weight and nature were closer to chaos.

Ting.

[Skill Aura of the Monarch (???) has been activated.]

Kugugugung!!

[……!!]

[Cough….]

The two Great Demons, who had been raising their momentum, knelt down with ridiculous ease.

"Good. That's the look that suits you."

Taehyun looked down at them calmly.

"Heh... Hehehe...."

"Shibal hyungjae…. Still amazing…."

"Boy…."

The three players who had been risking their lives against the Great Demons just moments before were being healed by the Saintess and marveling.

Afterward, he used various skills as if experimenting, but Taehyun never took the Great Demons' lives.

"I will give you the chance to finish them off yourselves."

At Taehyun's words, the expressions of Im Ah-young, Park Sung-jin, and Kwak Si-yang, who had crossed the gate with him, as well as Ji Jin-hee, Kwon Kang-hyuk, and An Hyun-soo, changed.

They realized that he was saying this with their growth in mind.

Taehyun looked at the Saintess, who was sweating profusely from excessive skill use.

"No one is allowed to get hurt. Do you understand?"

"Y-Yes, I understand!!"

The Saintess hurriedly replied to his meaningful gaze.

She was aware that this was the last opportunity given to her.

The first to move was Park Sung-jin.

"Brings back old memories."

With those words, he raised the Spiral Seven Branches Sword, leaving only the handle.

"I concur."

Ji Jin-hee raised his energy and stepped forward.

One by one.

Shinhan's SS-rank players surrounded the Great Demons.

Even during that time, the Great Demons were kneeling under the oppressive force, unable to do anything.

"If you invaded, you should have been prepared to die."

Contrary to his words, Taehyun slightly released the power of the aura.

In that gap, the Great Demons raised their heads and spread their wings.

In order to completely escape the influence of gravity.

"Shibal things!! Where do you think you're going!!"

Kwaang!!

Kwon Kang-hyuk rammed into one of the Great Demons.

That was the start.

Six players rushed in, using their respective skills.

Just pushing them was threatening enough.

The Saintess supported with healing, and Taehyun suppressed the Great Demons with his aura so that they could not unleash their full power.

'Players fighting a top-tier species.'

He kept an eye on each and every move of the players he had influenced.

'As expected.'

Is human evolution not stopping yet?

Taehyun unknowingly muttered those words.

"……."

The only one who heard those words was the Saintess, who was doing her best to use 'Ultra-Fast Regeneration'.

Park Sung-jin, who had grown into an SSS-rank.

Ji Jin-hee, Kwak Si-yang, Kwon Kang-hyuk, and Im Ah-young, who had reached the highest ranks of the SS-ranks.

And An Hyun-soo, who had just entered the realm of SS-ranks.

The six players' momentum was fierce.

But the two Great Demons' resistance was also not easy.

Magic stones, tails, horns.

Because they were detonating the source of their power and releasing their authority, dangerous exchanges were being repeated.

'Well, is this all for now.'

When Taehyun thought that the six players were tired enough, he stepped forward.

He thought they had accumulated enough experience.

Now it was Taehyun's turn to take care of his business.

Ting.

[Skill Apocalypse (???) has been activated.]

Hwaaaaak.

[Skill Chains of Binding (???) has been activated.]

Chwaruk. Chwaruruk.

In the deeply descending darkness.

Chains wrapped around the two Great Demons' bodies.

Taehyun's red eyes gleamed in the darkness.

"You shouldn't even think about resisting."

Ting.

[Skill Ataraxia (???) has been activated.]

An irresistible force.

Penetrated into the memories of the two Great Demons.

Episode 415

Having absorbed some of the divine beast's mana, Taehyun simultaneously peered into the memories of two greater demons.

Yaran and Turan.

They weren't born with a divine power, but their physical bodies and mana were stronger than ordinary demons, soon earning them the title of high-ranking species.

Their appearance, personality, and the power they possessed were beyond special.

They made a name for themselves in the deepest part of the Abyss, and were soon noticed by the greater demon Prahra.

He made a proposal.

Become his subordinates and make their name known.

In return, he would share his divine power.

They didn't like it.

What was so great about a mere greater demon?

What was so special about possessing mere divine power?

Their innate presence and numerical superiority...

Yaran and Turan charged at the greater demon Prahra.

They would tear him apart and devour his mana, just like the other high-ranking species they had defeated.

It was a misjudgment.

The two demons experienced helplessness for the first time upon entering the deepest part of the Abyss.

Unlike ordinary high-ranking species.

They realized that a being called a greater demon was not simply special because of their divine power.

Neither their physical body nor their mana was inferior to Yaran and Turan.

Prahra lamented that he couldn't kill them out of consideration for his own reputation, regretting the situation.

He cut off the strong tail of the high-ranking demon, broke its horns, and tried to extract its magic stone.

The death allowed to demons.

Annihilation was approaching.

If Mammon hadn't appeared, they would surely have met their end.

[They seem useful. If you're thinking of killing them, I'll take them.]

[...This is my territory. It's none of your business.]

The greater demon Prahra's face became unusually unpleasant.

A look he had never shown in front of Yaran and Turan.

[Prahra. You know this isn't a request or a suggestion.]

[...!!]

[Don't make me say it twice.]

With those words, Mammon unleashed a terrifying mana.

The power that bloomed along with the venomous mana was so immense.

Even the greater demon Prahra had to unleash his own mana to counter it.

Yaran and Turan thought a massive battle would ensue.

Greater demons were arrogant and overwhelming beings.

But the situation unfolded differently from their expectations.

[...I understand.]

Prahra lowered his aura and readily replied.

[Take them. As of today, these creatures are yours.]

Thus, the two high-ranking species became Mammon's subordinates.

They later learned.

The dozens of greater demons who were known to rule the demon race.

Even among them, there was a hierarchy.

Ancient greater demons.

The Mammon they served was a being of a different caliber than the other greater demons.

Afterward, they became Mammon's subordinates and traveled through the deepest part of the Abyss.

Becoming greater demons along with another high-ranking species, Vanessa, was a relatively recent event.

Although they lacked a unique divine power and their ranking was lower than Zordiac, who became an archduke around the same time, it wasn't bad.

They showed their loyalty by offering to participate in the territorial war that most of the existing greater demons were involved in.

Mammon told them that they would be of use as well, so they should stand by.

A bug on Earth would open a gate, and they were to cross that gate to Earth and fulfill what that bug wanted.

He urged them, as if instructing, that all of this would be helpful to the demon race.

As Mammon said, the gate soon opened.

Zordiac, who was the most prepared, crossed the gate first.

Shortly after there was no news from him.

Soon, a new gate opened.

It was expanded beyond comparison to the previous one, to the point where all four greater demons waiting could cross without any problems.

Seeing the four greater demons cross the gate, the bug Ryusbo shed tears.

The sight of him calling for the unification of the nation with only four greater demons in front of him was utterly barbaric.

But none of the greater demons complained.

They had already sworn allegiance to the one they each served.

They decided to play along with that sloppy game.

Rather, they considered it a good opportunity to recover the power they had lost crossing the gate.

[Once we recover our power.]

[We can accelerate the resurrection of Archduke Diablo.]

'Diablo?'

Taehyun's mana control faltered at the mention of an unexpected being.

The three ancient greater demons were preparing for the resurrection of Diablo, who had been annihilated long ago.

Thanks to the Archduke Contractor, they were understanding Earth, and the mana of the demon race was becoming familiar to the planet.

Unexpected information began to be read.

'What the hell…'

Taehyun's mind raced at the unforeseen situation.

Thinking about it, it wasn't wrong.

Kasim Jort and Min Jihong had committed countless evil deeds, Jang Linpeng had died long ago, and Asisat Ebi was no longer a contractor.

In other words, Taehyun and Cody Cruz were the only Archduke Contractors who could influence Earth now.

'And Cody Cruz's whereabouts are unknown.'

He recalled the world situation that Im Ah-young had told him.

The pieces seemed to be falling into place one by one.

The two players who were called the strongest and hunted countless fiends and demons.

While they were gone, they were planning to complete Diablo's summoning.

They were planning to incite the fear that was Diablo's divine power and spill a lot of blood.

But.

One of the reasons for invading Shin Korea was unexpected.

'Diablo's horn is here?'

The two greater demons were certain that one of the three vital spots existing for the demon race, the Archduke's horn, was here.

"Association President. Is Diablo's horn in Shin Korea?"

At Taehyun's question, Ji Jinhee told him about what had happened at the New Delhi Summit.

Yoo Ah-young had taken the horn from Ryusbo and handed it over to Guild Master Seo Sangik.

Alchemist was focusing all its efforts on researching it to activate the gate.

"Is there… a problem?"

Ji Jinhee, watching Taehyun's expression, realized that something was wrong.

"It's a big problem. It seems like a large-scale break is possible with that horn as the center."

"...!!"

Ji Jinhee couldn't hide his surprise at Taehyun's words.

[Ka…ha…. Heu-ha….]

[It's already… too late….]

The two greater demons, not in their right minds due to the vast mana scanning their memories, mocked the situation in Shin Korea.

Once their blood was scattered, the Archduke would be resurrected here, and he would devour this land.

[Worship… the Archduke….]

Immediately afterward, the unstable mana showed signs of exploding.

Ding.

[Unique skill Predation(???) has been activated. Targeting the objects.]

Crack.

Crunch!!

A huge maw that appeared beneath their feet devoured them without a trace.

"Where do you think you're going to spill that filthy blood?"

There was no explosion, no lament.

At that moment, the barricades began to fall one by one.

"Association President!!"

Lee Jaejoon appeared with a number of players.

He had returned because he was worried about Ji Jinhee while evacuating the association players.

"Player Im Ah-young… Player Kim Taehyun?!!"

He was surprised to see Im Ah-young, who he thought was dead, and Taehyun, who had gone missing.

He then reported.

"It's a disaster!! Breaks are occurring all over Shin Korea. The flow of mana is unusual!!"

Breaks that hadn't happened even once in three years were occurring in succession.

It couldn't be a coincidence.

"Issue an emergency evacuation order right away, and dispatch all available players."

Ji Jinhee quickly issued instructions, befitting a veteran.

At that moment, another employee from the secretary's office ran in.

"I-It's a disaster!!"

"What the hell is it now?!"

Kwon Kanghyuk, who was being treated by the Saint and figuring out the situation, spat out curses.

"T-That's… A gate break has occurred at the Alchemist Guild headquarters!!"

"What?!"

"...!!"

"We're too late. It seems to be because of Diablo's horn."

Taehyun said so casually.

There would be some sacrifices, but a guild like Alchemist would be able to buy enough time until they arrived.

But.

"Why are you so surprised?"

Taehyun asked, noticing Ji Jinhee's unusual expression.

"Guild Master Yoo Ah-young is… receiving treatment at Alchemist. She can't move her body… during intensive care."

Seo Sangik was out of his mind.

"A break inside the guild?!"

Unlike the so-called great players of Shin Korea, he wasn't specialized in offense.

That's why he paid even more attention to safety management.

He prepared for possible breaks and the invasion of fiends with all kinds of items and systems made by Alchemist's excellent artisans.

He made sure that breaks could not occur within the guild, at least.

He thought it was perfect.

Suddenly, Diablo's horn emitted a fierce mana and created a gate as it was.

S-rank and SS-rank demons began to pour out of the gate.

The safety devices were activated and the barricades blocked the surroundings, but the situation had already changed drastically.

The blood of the players guarding Alchemist and the demons was scattered everywhere.

The gate experiment, which had been attempted so many times for three years, ended in failure.

The demons that were opened at an unwanted time were not at a level that could be blocked by Alchemist's barricades and escort players.

If Yoo Ah-young hadn't been in Alchemist's special treatment room, even more people would have died.

Swoosh.

An S-rank demon was instantly killed by the sword that Ah-young wielded.

Was that all?

Ding.

[Skill Amazon's Ferocity (SSS) has been activated. Targeting the objects.]

Boom boom boom boom.

The bodies of the demons that touched the green mana exploded.

Even though her injuries hadn't fully healed, her actions were unrestrained.

Those who survived gathered around her.

Some of them were escort troops, but they had already sustained minor and major injuries and couldn't be of much help.

It was only possible to send them to the rear to take charge of the rear guard in case something happened.

"We will eliminate the cause of the break as it is."

Ah-young said to those who followed her, as if notifying them.

She would have preferred to break through and escape first, but if the target was a gate break of SSS rank or higher, things would be different.

Moreover, she had just heard from Seo Sangik that a gate break had occurred at the association headquarters.

In the current situation, it was better to deal with one as quickly as possible and go to help, rather than dispersing the players.

'Damn it!! Treating me like a patient!!'

Yoo Ah-young resented Ji Jinhee, who didn't ask her for help even in an urgent situation, and Seo Sangik, who followed the order.

Of course, it was true that her condition with the mana backflowing was dangerous, but what good was that if she died?

'Anyway, they're all so rigid.'

She said, raising her senses even more.

The released green mana rummaged through the Alchemist building.

And she could reach it.

The source of the break, emanating a terrifying mana that could not be compared to the New Delhi Summit.

The demon's words could be heard in her head.

Serve him, not Rosaria.

If she did, he would bestow upon her incomparable power.

The human bugs.

He asserted that they would kneel before the Lord of Terror.

"That's too bland for a demon's whisper, isn't it?"

[It's a choice you'll regret.]

"Your bullshit is at Kwon Kanghyuk Guild Master's level. Sorry, but I'm the crazy bitch in this area."

[...]

Silence for a moment.

[Face the terror.]

Centering around Diablo's horn, the Alchemist building began to transform into a massive dungeon.

Ah-young clicked her tongue.

She was the only combat force, but there were too many people to protect.

At that time.

"...!!"

Her mana touched a huge being.

It had a similar nature to the greater demon Zordiac she had faced before, but its presence was incomparable.

"...Archduke."

416화

Chills.

Goosebumps rose.

At the same time, I was sure.

That the being reaching my senses and the owner of the voice echoing in my head were the same.

The Archduke of Abyss.

"Diablo."

The one who turned the Alchemist Guild into a dungeon.

Ah-young spoke the name of that immense being.

The dungeon's unique sinister energy made it feel suffocating.

'Damn it. Was it this much?'

I belatedly regretted choosing to attack rather than run.

I knew the cause of the dungeon transformation had horns, but it was clearly incomplete.

I thought at most one or two more archdemons would appear.

Even if.

Even if Diablo truly resurrected, it would be in an incomplete state.

I thought I could somehow handle it with my own power.

It was a clear misjudgment.

'He's not comparable to someone like Jordiak.'

Clearly, his power was not much different from that Jordiak, but the qualitative level of his authority was different.

Just touching the magic was making my body tremble and my mind dizzy.

A creeping fear began to take over my entire body.

"G, Guild Leader Yoo Ah-young...?"

Seo Sang-ik, who was next to her, had a look of asking what was wrong.

To his eyes, Ah-young seemed to be trembling for no reason.

The others in the rear were the same.

They recognized that the guild building had become a dungeon, but they didn't properly feel Diablo's presence.

They just thought that a gate had opened and turned it into a dungeon, and that Ah-young, who was a national-level powerhouse, would have some way to deal with it.

'This is a disaster.'

What if this power that was eating away at me reached others?

Their minds would be destroyed without a doubt.

It was truly a terrifying authority.

"Everyone... get away..."

"W, what do you mean?"

Seo Sang-ik asked back, unable to understand the words she managed to utter with difficulty.

"If we stay here... we'll all be annihilated..."

Seo Sang-ik shook his head.

He said that her condition was not normal since she had come out during intensive care, and that they should leave together.

Nevertheless, Ah-young's attitude was firm.

"We can't win against something like that. Someone has to buy time."

"......!!"

She was a woman who had become the best player in the world, beyond South Korea.

And she was saying that buying time was all she could do?

The confidence she had shown a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.

Murmurs grew louder.

[What would those ignorant fools know.]

'......'

She ignited her magic at the voice in her head.

She should have unleashed her purple power from the beginning to shake it off.

With that power, she could buy some time.

Diablo's sneer, reading her thoughts, echoed in her head.

[You're comparing me to someone like Bonma Rosaria. Wrong. The power of fear is not that weak. Engraved fear will not easily disappear.]

Tzzzzzzzz!!

Yoo Ah-young unleashed green magic.

She was about to use purple magic next.

"Guild Leader Yoo Ah-young!!"

Seo Sang-ik shouted, pointing ahead.

Magic was gathering before her eyes, creating a blurry shape.

At the center of the shape was Diablo's horn, emitting purple magic.

"Get out of the way!!"

She shouted and swung her sword without even having a chance to use purple magic.

No.

She tried to swing it.

Tremble, tremble, tremble.

Her body only trembled, not moving as she willed.

'What...'

She twisted her unmoving body and looked behind her.

Over a hundred survivors of Break who had gathered around her.

All of them were sitting on the floor.

They had fainted or died just from facing it.

'Is it too late...'

Now even escape had become impossible.

Diablo, having fully formed into a complete demon, stared at her intently.

[Truly, they are inferior beings. To be in such a state just from facing my incomplete self.]

"......"

[Become my contractor.]

Ah-young couldn't dare to utter a refusal.

Her body was frozen by the overwhelming presence.

She was just quickly racking her brain.

The words "incomplete" from a moment ago struck her.

'Could it be that he needs a human body for a complete resurrection...?'

[Indeed.]

Diablo didn't bother to hide his intention.

Because he was confident.

Regardless of her will.

She would eventually become his contractor.

She would become a servant to fulfill the duty of announcing the resurrection of fear in this place.

[Not just a lowly succubus's contractor.]

Heh. Hehehe.

Ah-young's body twitched.

Not because of the fear constricting her body.

Because a glimmer of hope appeared.

'I'll trap him in this body.'

It was a faint hope, but.

It wasn't a bad plan.

[You're thinking presumptuous thoughts.]

"If you're incomplete... there's no way I can't subdue you."

Her body twitched as she said that.

It was only a slight movement, but Diablo was impressed just by overcoming the fear.

Ding.

[The skill Amazon's Valor (SSS) has been enhanced. Magic consumption is accelerated.]

Tzzzzzz!!

The green magic enveloping her whole body was further enhanced.

'It's not good to be exposed to this kind of power for a long time.'

If even she, who prided herself on her completed body, was like this.

How could untrained ordinary people and players below SSS-rank withstand this power?

If she couldn't defeat him.

She had to become a sacrifice and seal him in her body.

Ah-young, having regained control of her body, swung her broken sword violently.

Whoosh!!

Even though it clearly pierced his form, she felt nothing.

Diablo sneered, saying it was futile.

'I guess I have no choice but to use that power.'

She hadn't completely healed from the backlash yet.

Nevertheless, it seemed impossible to inflict damage with her current magic power.

Purple magic.

She brought out Rosaria's power.

Gush.

Red blood was vomited.

Two tentacles writhed.

Her magic was amplified, and madness gleamed in her red eyes.

Bang!!

The sword she had stabbed exploded, and the body that the horn had formed exploded.

[Not bad.]

An arrogant voice echoed in her head.

The horn, still emitting a powerful aura, floated in the air.

Ah-young swung her tentacles at the horn, replacing her broken sword.

Squeeze!!

The two tentacles constricted the horn as if not to let go.

Crackle. Crackle.

She tried to crush it as it was, but.

[Rosaria's power is mental domination, right?]

Diablo didn't seem to feel any sense of crisis.

[Shall we see what the power of that contractor is like?]

'......!!'

Hwaaa.

Ah-young's vision turned red.

Chinese Player Association Headquarters.

"The South Korean Player Association has been devastated."

"Large-scale evacuations have been confirmed."

"The magic reaction in Seoul, the capital, is growing enormous."

"A Break has occurred in an area presumed to be the Alchemist Guild."

Ryu Sibo couldn't help but laugh at the continuous stream of news.

"Isn't everything going according to plan?"

Isn't everything going as I thought?

He chuckled to himself, celebrating the current situation.

A sense of elation enveloped his body as the seemingly tangled plan unfolded as he intended.

At that moment.

"Chairman!! Chairman Jeong has arrived."

"What?"

Before Ryu Sibo could give any orders, Jeong Cheong entered.

"Ryu Sibo!!"

The chairman's face, shouting his name, was filled with anger.

"Chairman, let me explain everything..."

Slap!!

Ryu Sibo's head turned from the strong hand, which couldn't be considered that of a 60-year-old.

"How dare you carry out work on your own without my orders!!"

Jeong Cheong's roar continued.

Ryu Sibo chewed his lips as he listened to those words.

It didn't hurt.

As an SS-rank Awakener and an S-rank player of a great power, there was no way he would be shocked by the slap of an old man who couldn't even train properly.

It was just that.

"I feel disgusted."

The fact that he had to watch the arrogance of a being far inferior to him was unbearably unpleasant.

"You!! How dare you speak to the Chairman like that!!"

Two players, acting as Jeong Cheong's closest bodyguards, roared.

They were also SS-rank players affiliated with the association, talents he had personally recommended to the chairman.

"Is the hunting dog barking at its owner!"

Ryu Sibo glared at Jeong Cheong, rebuking the bodyguards.

"Chairman. You're too passive."

At Jeong Cheong's command, the two bodyguards pounced on Ryu Sibo.

But.

Hwaaaa.

The poisonous magic emanating from Ryu Sibo repelled the bodyguards.

The two bodyguards were easily repelled, groaning.

Ryu Sibo gave a bitter smile to the chief secretary, who had suddenly become a witness to insubordination.

"What are you doing? I'm just suppressing those who attacked the chairman. You should go out and pay more attention to the gate."

"A, I understand!! I'll follow the orders!!"

Once the chief secretary left, only Ryu Sibo, Jeong Cheong, and the disarmed two bodyguards remained.

"Y, you dare do this to me and think you'll be safe..."

Slap.

Ryu Sibo slapped Jeong Cheong.

It was a light swing, but that alone sent Jeong Cheong's body flying through the air.

Ryu Sibo grabbed the unconscious Jeong Cheong by the hair and sat him on the sofa.

"Ugh..."

"Chairman. Why did you have to meddle?"

Ryu Sibo straightened his superior's disheveled clothes.

He took out a handkerchief and personally wiped the burst lip and the flowing blood.

"Don't think unnecessary things and sit here and watch South Korea collapse."

Ryu Sibo picked up the receiver and connected to the underground laboratory.

[Chairman, the gate is expanding. At this rate...]

"It doesn't matter. Don't spare magic amplification stones for the expansion of the gate. We need to summon more archdemons."

[...Understood.]

Ryu Sibo burst into wild laughter.

The moment Diablo fully resurrects.

He would become the king of the new world.

He would become the prophet who announces the end of the old era.

"Until then, you need to stay alive, so take good care of yourself."

Jeong Cheong trembled at Ryu Sibo's whisper.

Forcibly opened, Ah-young's mental world.

It was filled with fear.

Diablo's authority was mocking Ah-young's mind.

[For a contractor of Rosaria, your mental strength is terrible.]

The fragment of the Archduke sneered.

She was tough for a human, but to be played with by his incomplete self.

Ah-young was resisting by emitting purple and green magic, but her mental strength was rapidly depleting.

It didn't seem like it would take long for him to completely take over her body.

Since there were quite a few humans in the dungeon he had created, he could take over her body and then eat them to recover his energy.

[Obey me.]

If you do, everyone will be saved.

Diablo spoke as if brainwashing her.

Each time, Ah-young's mental strength was greatly reduced.

[If you don't obey, everyone will die.]

The green magic completely disappeared from Ah-young's body.

[Why don't you know that mental domination is just a trivial trick in the face of fear.]

The purple magic completely disappeared.

In the gap, purple magic took over her body.

At that moment.

[......]

Diablo realized that someone had entered the mental world.

The moment he recognized it.

There was a man behind him.

He felt a magic power that couldn't be compared to the woman he dominated.

"Guild Leader Yoo Ah-young."

The man.

At Tae-hyun's call, Yoo Ah-young turned around.

"...Did I get eaten?"

The madness flowing from her was so natural.

If it weren't for the demon's magic leaking from her body, he wouldn't have doubted it.

Tae-hyun muttered, emitting purple magic.

The corners of Ah-young's lips curled up.

"I see. So you're the real one."

Her arrogance was so high.

"You've become a top-tier species. Yoo Ah-young."

Tae-hyun said that and took a step forward.

417

Taehyun looked around.

It was so bleak that it could not be called her mental world that he had seen before.

Diablo's horn.

It must have been toyed with by the red and purple magic power spewed out by the thought of the Grand Duke.

"Guild Leader Yoo Ah-young. You seem to be more popular with the Grand Dukes than I thought."

Taehyun made a joke as he looked at Yoo Ah-young, whom he had met after a long time.

A spare, you say.

You were so afraid of being taken over by the power of the Grand Duke.

Opening perfect crimson eyes and overflowing with ominous magical power, she was a perfect high-ranking species.

Even Kasim Zolt would not show such a perfect appearance.

'Because that guy gave up being human and became a complete demon.'

The corners of Ah-young's mouth went up bitterly as she looked at Taehyun.

The appearance was familiar yet unfamiliar.

"So, Rozaria's real contractor came all the way here."

It was definitely Ah-young's voice, but.

Taehyun was not naive enough not to recognize the insidious nature in it.

"Diablo."

The being who had successfully entered Ah-young's mental world and completely dominated her body.

Once a complete Grand Duke, he spoke the name of that guy.

In his memory, he was supposed to have been annihilated by the King.

How could such a guy appear on Earth, not even in the Abyss?

Taehyun's gaze reached the foreign object sprouting from Ah-young's head.

One of the three sources of power that demon races above the high-ranking possess.

The horn of a Great Demon.

It was too small to be called even a Great Demon's, let alone a Grand Duke's, but it was revealing an undeniable presence.

Though weak, Diablo's authority was surely contained within.

He must have created the current situation with that weak authority.

It was not difficult to infer.

'Has she completely taken over Rozaria's magic power... This is dangerous.'

He had already heard that she had risen to the top of the players while Taehyun and Cody Cruz were away.

It was also easy to predict that she would have achieved explosive growth as she became accustomed to handling the power that Rozaria had planted.

But in her current state.

"Our long-awaited reunion has become a mess."

Taehyun clicked his tongue and strengthened his purple magic power.

This place was her mental world, dominated by the Grand Duke Diablo.

He was thinking of using 'Ataraxia' to regain ownership of her body.

However.

"Heh... Hehehe..."

Ah-young burst into an uncharacteristic frivolous laughter.

"For Rozaria's contractor to be acting up like this. It seems there are many useful bugs while I, this body, am sleeping."

Crack. Crack.

Her fingernails grew long, and a pair of wings spread out on her back.

She had 'Demonized'.

"Even if it's a mental world, this is too much."

The burden on the body when using the body of a Great Demon is not small.

In the current situation, recklessly using 'Ataraxia' would risk collapsing Ah-young's mind.

He complained for a moment that he used the skill he had worked hard to obtain so easily.

Instead of the purple magic power that Taehyun had suppressed, he raised azure magic power.

He changed his card to 'Demonization' to drain her stamina.

"That power!! It's Gorper's!!"

Diablo, excited by borrowing Ah-young's body, shouted.

"That'll make the conversation faster."

Taehyun proposed a bet.

How about the winner gets ownership of the body?

Diablo burst into mad laughter and refused.

"The more bodies, the better. Your body is already as good as mine."

Why make such a proposal?

With that, he aimed for Taehyun's body with his elongated fingernails.

Clang!!

Taehyun nonchalantly knocked away the thorn-like fingernails.

It was like a Great Demon clashing.

'This is troublesome.'

He clicked his tongue at the unwelcome situation.

What Ah-young was emitting was no longer Rozaria's magic power.

The authority she was emitting was also the same.

A new power that was fundamentally different from spirit.

His body seemed to stiffen with the authority of 'Fear'.

'Is this the extent even in an incomplete state?'

A Grand Duke is a Grand Duke.

Taehyun acknowledged that enormous presence.

"Come to think of it, there was a time like this before."

He muttered, knocking away her fingernails that were fiercely aiming at him.

Three years ago.

It was Rozaria's magic power that swallowed her up, but.

In that he suppressed her rampage, it seemed similar to the current situation.

Of course, the difference was that the current her had achieved unbelievable growth and was accepting the Grand Duke's power more deeply.

Having accepted Rozaria's power and even Diablo's fragments.

Excluding Taehyun, there would be no one else who could subdue her.

He retreated backward, creating distance.

"Where are you running away to? There's nowhere to escape."

Yoo Ah-young flapped her wings and narrowed the distance in an instant.

Taehyun used spirit to slow Ah-young's movements.

"You're even using the Dragon race's authority!!"

Diablo was pleased with the divine power beyond what he expected Taehyun to show.

This was exactly what he wanted.

This was the body he wanted.

He poured out his blatant desire for a stronger body.

"There's no use in pouring out nonsense with such sincerity."

Taehyun, who said that, looked at his own body.

Since it was a mental world, super-fast regeneration was no problem.

What he was using instead of magic power here was mental strength.

From Diablo's point of view, it would be okay even if her mind was destroyed, but Taehyun's circumstances were different.

'I have no choice.'

Taehyun's preferred fighting style was close-quarters combat.

In a 'Demonized' state, it was difficult to have a proper brawl.

He wanted to use Belzebub's poisonous magic power, but that would shake her unstable mind even more.

'Devouring' was also the same.

Above all, he didn't know what kind of reaction Diablo would show when faced with the King's power.

'Belzebub had a fit.'

If the trampled guy was like that.

Diablo, who had tasted death, might lose his self-control and go on a rampage.

In the current situation, it seemed that a simple method, not tricks, was suitable.

The fewer variables, the better.

"I'll have to beat him out even if I have to."

He released 'Demonization'.

Immediately after.

Crack.

Brown magic power rose from his body using 'Beast Transformation'.

"Hey old man. Have you heard of Orgal?"

"......!!"

Diablo admired the further strengthened magic power.

Ignoring that reaction.

Ancient Chinese martial art, 5th form, Penetration Force.

Bang!!

Merciless attacks continued.

Ancient Korean martial art, 1st form, Taebaek.

Crack!!

Yoo Ah-young's body, directly hit by Taehyun's hand, bent in a deformed manner.

And then it quickly regenerated.

Puff. Puff.

Long fingernails were embedded in Taehyun's chest.

With just one horn, she was using power that was no less than a Great Demon's.

"I'll ask. How can a human contain such power?"

Are you Belzebub's contractor?

Diablo asked that.

'Talking nonsense.'

Taehyun felt déjà vu from that guy's words.

It was a feeling he had experienced when facing Gorper in the past.

'This guy, is his memory not intact?'

If you think about it, it's a natural thing.

He's a guy who has already been annihilated once.

Whatever means he used to revive.

There's no way there wouldn't be a risk.

You could easily infer it from the actions that Typhon and Elven showed immediately after their revival.

"One won't be enough."

Immediately after, a red horn sprouted on Ah-young's forehead.

Using her body, she artificially created another horn.

The authority that had been pressuring Taehyun was further strengthened.

"......!!"

He was suffocated by a sensation like being stabbed all over his body with a knife.

This must be the feeling of those who resist Taehyun's spirit.

"What a great body. What an amazing mental strength."

Clap clap clap.

Diablo clapped as he watched Taehyun resist his authority.

Taehyun frowned without realizing how disgusting the attitude of treating Ah-young's appearance so casually was.

That appearance was interpreted differently by Diablo.

"That's right. I'm curious to see how much you can endure."

Crack.

A third horn was created.

He still hadn't created a tail or a magic stone, but.

Even with just that, he could feel the presence of about three Great Demons rampant on Earth.

Puck.

Elongated fingernails.

Sharp thorns pierced Taehyun's shoulder.

Puck.

Other thorns pierced Taehyun's legs.

He could feel the firm will not to let go.

"Obey."

The remnant of the Grand Duke, who had come right in front of him, commanded.

Taehyun raised his hand and grabbed her shoulder.

"You came of your own accord."

"......?"

The guy with Ah-young's face looked puzzled.

He didn't bother to answer the question.

From now on, he would feel it directly with his body.

Kiiii-

Kiiiing-

He created two magic stones in his body.

In the mental world dominated by red and purple magic power.

Hwaaa.

Dark red magic power bloomed and darkness descended.

"......!!"

Yoo Ah-young's body twitched as she sensed that something was wrong.

From the crimson magic power, she sensed the energy of the being who had defeated her.

"It's already too late."

Taehyun strengthened 'Apocalypse'.

Swish. Swish.

'Chains of Binding' wrapped around Ah-young's body.

Magic power was sucked in through the chains.

The sucked-in magic power quickly filled the demon race's magic stone and the vampire race's magic stone.

The appearance of cowering at the authority of 'Fear' a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.

Diablo seemed unable to accept the fact that his authority was not working even though he had three horns.

"What kind of Grand Duke is he from when?"

A mere remnant.

A mere fragment.

"You were unknowingly harboring a huge power."

Taehyun mocked Diablo.

"You've already put the Grand Duke's power in your hands."

A huge spirit crushed Ah-young's body.

The ferocious hands of the beast race grabbed her shoulder as if to crush it and would not let go.

"......!!"

He realized that he had fallen into a trap, but.

"I caught you, Diablo."

It was already too late.

Taehyun no longer hid his power.

The mental world was shaken by the magic power released with all his might.

Through the chains wrapped around Ah-young, through the fingernails she had driven in, and through the hand Taehyun was holding.

A huge amount of magic power was quickly absorbed.

He was going to suck in the power of the parasitic Diablo as it was.

Purple and red magic power could be seen wriggling in Yoo Ah-young's body.

Eventually, Diablo came out of Yoo Ah-young's body.

Because otherwise, he would have been sucked into Taehyun as it was.

[That was an unbelievable guy.]

He couldn't believe how humans could use such power.

He muttered to himself that the only one who had driven him this far was 'that guy' who had annihilated him.

[There's no way you could be that guy.]

"Are you still not grasping the situation?"

Taehyun mockingly imitated Diablo's tone.

He mocked the imperfect Grand Duke's memory, saying that nightmares are repeated.

"Don't worry. Diablo."

Then he released the power that he no longer had any reason to hide.

Tear.

A huge mouth popped out from under his feet.

"I'll be sure to send my regards to Belzebub directly."

[......!!]

Before the guy could do anything.

Crunch!!!

The mouth of devouring bit off the Grand Duke's thought.

That was the end of it.

418

The maw of gluttony devoured Diablo's fragment.

Even in a mental world, the body where the Grand Duke's fragment lingered couldn't possibly be unscathed.

As Diablo departed, Ah-yeong's body swayed heavily.

Tae-hyun supported her collapsing form.

She felt unbelievably light, considering she had just opened three horns.

"How are you always so battered every time I see you?"

It would take more than a couple of months to quell the backlash.

Tae-hyun said, looking at her unconscious form.

Krrrrr.

The mental world was collapsing.

In the first place, this place wasn't where she had come of her own will, but a domain Diablo had forcibly dragged her into.

Leaving her in this state, without consciousness, would lead to the collapse of her mind, and even the regression of her physical body, making all the effort she had put in so far meaningless.

"That won't do."

Diablo's residual magic power surged around them.

"The remnants of fear, huh."

Tae-hyun unleashed his magic power.

Unlike when he faced Diablo, this magic was more refined and clean.

Crackkk.

A massive maw formed beneath his feet.

It was when the maw of gluttony became large enough to fill the mental world.

"Let's go, Guild Leader Yoo Ah-yeong."

Kwaduk!!

The predator's maw closed, severing the connection to the mental world.

He opened his eyes.

What he saw was the interior of the dungeonized Alchemist building, just as it had been before entering the mental world.

And above the fallen Yoo Ah-yeong was the problematic horn.

[How do you possess that power…!!]

A voice, presumably Diablo's, echoed in Tae-hyun's mind.

It had a dark and destructive feel, unlike Beelzebub's.

"You expect me to tell you for free?"

Tae-hyun scoffed at Diablo's attitude.

If he wanted an answer, he should pay the appropriate price.

And in this case, that price was.

"Your life."

Tting.

[Unique skill Gluttony(???) has been activated. Target is being identified.]

Crackkk!!

The maw of gluttony emerged from all directions, baring its teeth.

The encirclement was perfect.

Yet,

Kwaduk!!

The maw of gluttony only bit at empty air.

"Running away, huh."

Tae-hyun clicked his tongue and unleashed his magic power.

He thought Diablo would have moved somewhere within the dungeonized building.

"Diablo. Turning the building into a dungeon as a medium was a mistake."

No matter how large the building might be.

In the end, it was just an enclosed space.

It was when Tae-hyun's spreading magic power reached the edge of the space.

[It's impossible.]

Diablo's voice was heard again in Tae-hyun's mind.

"No, it's soon."

Dismissing it as a meaningless escape, Tae-hyun's magic power entered the very end of the building.

The place where Diablo's horn had hidden.

[This is not the end.]

Diablo spoke in a voice that sounded like he was spitting out words.

The magic power once again took the form of a maw.

[When we meet again.]

A gate was created around the horn.

[You will face complete fear.]

Kwaduk.

The closing of the predator's maw and the closing of the gate were simultaneous.

"Lord of Fear, my ass. You're quick to run away."

Tae-hyun overlaid his magic power on the closed gate.

He intended to read the flow of magic and use 'Apostle of the Gate' to chase after him.

Fortunately, there were more than enough traces left behind to track him.

So, if the break hadn't occurred, he would have definitely pursued him.

Drddddddd.

With the horn, which had been acting as the core of the dungeon, disappearing, the building began to shake.

The entire building was about to break.

Tae-hyun's gaze turned to the people who had collapsed.

Many had already lost their lives.

Still.

He had to choose.

Whether to take the survivors and escape, or abandon them and chase after Diablo.

No matter how capable Tae-hyun was, he couldn't do both.

'Damn it.'

He cursed at the unsatisfactory ending.

If he had known this would happen, he would have brought another person from the association.

Trying to move as quickly as possible had ultimately led to this result.

Then.

"……!!"

A clever idea came to mind.

He didn't hesitate for long.

Tting.

[Skill Apocalypse(???) has been activated.]

[Skill Apocalypse(???) has been enhanced. Magic consumption is accelerated.]

Hwaaaak.

The darkness created by the crimson magic power spread rapidly in all directions.

The shaking of the building subsided with the spreading magic power.

But in the end, it only delayed the time leading to the break.

Tae-hyun used the next skill.

Tting.

[Skill Energy Drain(???) has been activated.]

[Skill Energy Compose(???) has been activated.]

The dungeon's magic power, which had been touched by 'Apocalypse', was quickly sucked in.

The unstable magic power, which had been fluctuating and shaking, formed a single center point.

The more the magic power was absorbed, the faster the dungeonization began to be undone.

'As expected.'

A huge amount of energy is needed to achieve dungeonization.

And the incomplete horn had managed to do that without a proper host or contractor.

Even if the monsters were summoned through the Abyss Gate, the dungeon itself was merely being controlled by its incomplete magic power.

The fact that it was returning to its original form simply by absorbing and sucking in the magic power was proof of that.

He condensed the absorbed magic power into a sphere.

It was a task he had done countless times with the Philosopher's Stone.

It wasn't difficult.

And.

Tting.

[Skill Apostle of the Gate(???) has been activated. Coordinates have been identified.]

Kwaaaaa.

A huge gate opened in the air.

The magic power that Diablo had left behind was so dense that it wasn't difficult to pinpoint the coordinates.

'If he moved that way, it must be related to the one who summoned him.'

Tae-hyun sent the condensed sphere of magic power through the gate.

He wanted to cross that gate himself, but.

The building, now devoid of magic power, would be swept away by an explosion.

If 'Apocalypse' couldn't be maintained, all the survivors here would die.

He also had to prevent the loss of the Alchemist Guild headquarters, which could be said to be the essence of Shin-Hanguk's science and technology, as much as possible.

"Let's see."

He wondered where Diablo had fled.

Tae-hyun focused on resolving the dungeon break, watching the Philosopher's Stone completely disappear beyond the gate.

News of the Philosopher's Stone came from an unexpected place.

Ryu Sibo was certain.

That he would become the master of the new world.

As the reports continued, that conviction painted an even clearer future.

"Chairman. I told you so. Everything will go according to plan. If you keep doubting like that, you'll end up like this. Tsk tsk."

Ryu Sibo clicked his tongue and stroked Jungqing's swollen face.

That alone made Jungqing flinch and tremble with a groan.

He had only given him a brief lesson.

And the reaction was quite a sight.

"To think that the highest authority in the Great Nation is so weak… Don't worry. You have a lot to do, so I'll treat you with respect until then."

Poke poke.

Jungqing gasped and recoiled as Ryu Sibo poked him with his finger.

"Hi, hik…."

Kilkikil.

Just as Ryu Sibo was enjoying the reaction.

Kwaaaaa.

"……!!"

Ryu Sibo flinched at the sudden crack that occurred.

What appeared through the crack that had become a gate was a single horn.

His eyes widened.

Because that horn was the very one he had hoped to retrieve so desperately, the Horn of Diablo that Shin-Hanguk had snatched from New Delhi.

"Ooh…."

Ryu Sibo was moved and grabbed the horn that was emitting ominous magic power in the air.

At that moment.

[So it was you. The one connected to this humble one.]

"……!!"

The language of a demon was heard in Ryu Sibo's mind.

It was familiar yet foreign.

Even so, he could tell.

"Grand Duke… Diablo…!!"

Ryu Sibo shouted the name of the owner of the voice.

[What a truly primitive body. I don't know how my fragment became connected to someone like you.]

Diablo recalled Yoo Ah-yeong and Kim Tae-hyun, whom he had targeted earlier, and spoke those words.

Even though that body exuded the aura of an ancient Great Demon, and had summoned his fragment in this small planet, its power was so weak.

[A presence like an insect.]

Diablo assessed Ryu Sibo's existence like that.

[But I do like that lowly desire of yours.]

"……."

Even with the raw evaluation, Ryu Sibo did not feel offended.

Because Diablo, who had spoken to him for the first time, was saying that he wanted to possess his body.

[Pledge your allegiance to this humble one. Then you will gain the power of fear.]

"There's no reason to refuse!!"

Ryu Sibo shouted and unleashed his magic power.

It was a power he proudly displayed, but it was not enough for Diablo, who had just fought a fierce battle.

[What a truly amusing situation.]

The two bodies he had wanted rejected him, but the body he had no choice but to choose was desperate to be assimilated with him.

[Don't worry. The price of accepting fear will not be light.]

Gwak.

The hand holding the horn gained strength for a moment.

Kwak!!

The hand, swung wildly on its own, plunged the horn into his heart.

"Keuk…."

Ryu Sibo groaned.

A darkly discolored blood was seen flowing down his mouth.

At the same time.

[Accepting vast amounts of magic power.]

[Assimilated with a great being.]

[Awakening grade increases.]

Unbelievable messages followed.

He felt a power he had always thought was the exclusive domain of national-level powerhouses.

"Finally…."

[The Lord of Fear has arrived.]

An ominous voice echoed in his mind.

"I am the Lord of Fear…."

It was the moment Ryu Sibo was about to announce the birth of a great being.

Kwaaaaa.

A gate opened and a small bead appeared.

"……?"

Ryu Sibo stared blankly at the beauty that seemed to have been carved by a master craftsman.

On the other hand.

[……!!]

Diablo immediately recognized that his power was felt from that small bead.

[You idiot!! Avo….]

Before Diablo could even give the order.

Kwaaaaaaa!!!

The Philosopher's Stone, which had been condensing powerful energy, unleashed its magic power.

The world was changing rapidly.

Gate breaks, which had not occurred even once in three years, were happening one after another, and monsters of SSS rank or higher were appearing.

Ten national-level powerhouses.

Even if more than two of them rushed in, they couldn't handle the existence of the Great Demon.

The appearance of that alone plunged the world into chaos, but the massive explosion that occurred at the headquarters of the Chinese Player Association was like pouring oil on the chaos.

Chairman Ryu Sibo officially announced the death of Chairman Jungqing, and at the same time announced his SSS-rank awakening, emphasizing the spirit of the Great Nation.

Countries belonging to the Chinese Federation supported Chairman Ryu Sibo, who had proclaimed revenge for Chairman Jungqing.

The cause of the explosion at the Chinese Player Association.

They pointed to Shin-Hanguk as the suspect.

The reason was that a high-risk gate break had recently occurred in Shin-Hanguk.

Fabricated information and false media colluded to define Shin-Hanguk as a hostile country.

"I will bring down the iron fist on those who cause the division of the Great Nation."

The World Player Association, the European Union, and the P50 expressed their dissatisfaction with the blatant provocation.

Gate breaks occurred one by one in countries that opposed Ryu Sibo.

Coincidentally, there were no gate breaks in places related to the Chinese Federation, and Ryu Sibo said that it was God's punishment.

The world was entering a new era of change.

Episode 419

The great demon appeared at the New Korea Player Association headquarters, and a Break occurred at the Alchemist Guild headquarters.

After the series of events, Tae-hyun realized how long the past three years had been.

'I'm exhausted.'

After listening to Secretary Yoon Mi-so's comprehensive report, Tae-hyun slumped on the sofa in his room.

His body and mental strength were incomparably stronger than before, but these tedious tasks still exhausted him.

An SSS-rank player with a perfectly developed human body.

The reason why Yoo Ah-young kept trying to escape from her work was similar.

"She's an amazing woman."

Tae-hyun muttered, thinking of Yoon Mi-so, who had just finished her report.

Three years was not a short period of absence.

Especially when her superior was missing and presumed dead.

Nevertheless, she had been quietly doing her job.

In particular, her management skills, which she had honed by acquiring the Blackhead Training Center and grasping the trends of the player industry, were admirable.

It started as a way to have her take on secretarial work, but in the future, she might be helpful to Tae-hyun in ways he didn't expect, along with the Hanbit Guild.

It took quite some time to listen to the summary report and organize his thoughts.

Afterward, Tae-hyun opened his status window.

He hadn't been able to do it until now, being busy dealing with things quickly since returning to Earth after merging with the divine beast in the Abyss.

'Since I've merged with the divine beast's magic, there must have been a considerable change.'

Maybe all stats had exceeded 1000.

"Huh?"

Tae-hyun unconsciously made a puzzled sound after checking the status window.

There wasn't as much change as he had expected.

"Is that... all...?"

His age was 23, his rank was ???, and his stats had increased slightly.

It was just lower than he had expected.

Even if you call the slight increase where all stats including charm exceeded 600 a prodigious achievement, it was an achievement.

And it was a meaningful change that the progress rate of the quest 'Race War' had slightly increased, and the progress rate of the 'Territorial War' had greatly increased.

"A little disappointing."

Tae-hyun clicked his tongue and scanned the status window again.

The most noticeable thing was the Territorial War's progress rate, which had risen to 60%.

At this very moment, archdukes must be engaged in fierce battles throughout the Abyss.

In particular, in District 15, where the divine beast was located, Rozaria and Tae-hyun's party would be fiercely fighting against the enemies.

Ding.

[Skill 'Apostle of the Gate' (???) has been activated. Coordinates have been identified.]

Kwaaa.

A small gate opened in Tae-hyun's room.

Coordinates leading directly to Rozaria's castle, the safest place for Tae-hyun in the deepest part of the Abyss.

Pazzz. Pazzz.

The gate did not allow Tae-hyun to enter.

Ding.

[Skill 'Apostle of the Gate' (SSS) has been enhanced. Magic consumption is accelerated.]

Kwaaaaaaa!!

The magic swirling from his body intensified, and the gate increased in size.

From small to medium, from medium to large.

Even so.

Pazzzzzz. Pazzz.

"...I guess it's not working."

As if there was an invisible wall, entry was denied.

The laws of the Abyss were in effect.

At the time, the situation was so urgent that he only took the power of an archduke level and then broke away from merging with the divine beast.

Now that the situation had turned out like this, he couldn't help but feel disappointed.

It seemed like he would have to go through a dungeon to get to the Abyss, just like last time.

"Well, there are still quite a few top-tier dungeons left."

Tae-hyun thought of Jelska, the highest-ranking servant of Jormungandr.

An existence that had been reduced to less than half of its former power after being defeated by Tae-hyun, yet it had driven Im Ah-young to the brink of death.

An SS-rank player.

Even those who had reached the top level, just before breaking through the wall, still had an insurmountable gap with the monsters in the deepest part.

As far as Tae-hyun could tell, Yoo Ah-young was the only player currently active who could have a proper battle against an archduke's servant.

But even she was currently undergoing intensive treatment due to Diablo's corruption.

"Diablo..."

Tae-hyun recalled the magic power of the former archduke that he had missed right in front of him.

Even though he was supposedly incomplete after being destroyed by the king, the pressure of the authority he exuded was not light.

In the mental world, his power had risen to the level of the next archduke class.

The erosion of the mental world leaves aftereffects that are no different from dying once.

Even if Ah-young regains her former strength, there is no certainty that she will be able to fully recover that power.

"Diablo. Do I have to deal with him before moving on?"

He was planning to go to the Abyss through the dungeon of Jelska, whom he had spared anyway, but the plan was delayed a little.

Earth and Abyss.

He compared the situations of the two worlds.

'Rozaria won't fall easily.'

She was called the weakest of the archdukes, but she had survived until now while avoiding checks.

Even though that power was incomplete, Typhon and Gilfer were also with her.

She had endured while Tae-hyun was merged with the divine beast, so she would be able to manage somehow this time as well.

He was thinking that when.

A familiar voice was heard from the earring he was wearing.

[Knock, knock~.]

"...Guild Leader Yoo Ah-young. Have you regained consciousness?"

[Of course. I'm Yoo Ah-young. The best player in New Korea.]

She emphasized the words "New Korea" and "best."

She wanted to emphasize that Tae-hyun had been away for a considerable amount of time.

"Your voice is trembling... Didn't you need more time to treat the backlash?"

Ah-young chuckled at his indifferent concern, which was transmitted through the earring.

[I'm Yoo Ah-young. The best information guild in New Korea. The guild leader of Night Walker.]

"Let's get to the point."

[Hmph~ I knew our Tae-hyun had private informants, but he's trying to act cooler than I thought?]

"I don't like beating around the bush."

[Okay, okay. That's your charm, after all.]

Ah-young said that and continued.

His remarks, which had been strange from the beginning, and his actions had crossed the line.

"The line being?"

[I think he's eating people. And quite a few.]

"......"

Tae-hyun was momentarily speechless.

Cannibalism is the instinct of a monster, a characteristic that doesn't simply arise from being monsterized.

Unless it's not just a simple monster, but a top-tier monster.

'So he merged with Diablo's horn.'

The day Diablo's horn disappeared.

The explosion of the wish-fulfilling jewel that Tae-hyun launched occurred at the headquarters of the Chinese Player Association.

It had the power that could be said to be the breath that the leader-class dragon exhaled with all his might.

Despite the considerable casualties caused by that attack, despite the deaths of numerous top-tier players, Ryu Su-bo, who had been at best the lowest of the SS-rank players, survived.

Immediately afterward, he announced that it was a miracle he had achieved by reawakening to SSS-rank in an extreme situation, but Tae-hyun did not believe those words.

Rather, his suspicion of him deepened.

[So you didn't know about this?]

When the silence grew longer, she muttered to herself that she had repaid the debt of pulling her out of the mental world with this, and she muttered this and that on her own.

"Thank you for the information. More than that, Guild Leader Yoo Ah-young. Is the treatment over?"

[Not yet.]

Yoo Ah-young's voice sounded somewhat heavy as she said that.

'So the risk is interfering with recovery.'

Then there was no reason to hesitate.

"I'll go there now."

[Huh?]

Before she could answer.

Ding.

[Skill 'Apostle of the Gate' (???) has been activated. Locating coordinates.]

Kwaaa.

Tae-hyun created a gate leading to the basement of Night Walker without hesitation.

Unlike just now when he was denied entry to the Abyss, he didn't feel anything blocking his movement.

Night Walker Special Training Room.

"You're a mess."

Tae-hyun evaluated Yoo Ah-young's physical condition like that.

He wasn't just saying it.

Her body was tattered, not only because she had drawn out her strength again in a situation where the backlash had not fully recovered, but also because Diablo's magic was eroding it.

Even if she received intensive treatment, Rozaria's magic that had resided in her body was in an irreversible state.

To compare it to a top-tier monster, it was in a state no different from being degraded.

Nevertheless, her expression was not as bad as he had expected.

"Well, I didn't think I could handle this power forever. Now that you're back, it's enough."

There was even a sense of relief on her face as she said that.

"......"

Tae-hyun shook his head.

There are not many humans who can accept the magic power of an archduke.

Moreover, she even showed that she was able to control that power to some extent.

She was too precious of a force to lose her power like this.

"Guild Leader Yoo Ah-young needs to take care of her body a little."

"That's what I should be saying."

Yoo Ah-young didn't back down and listed Tae-hyun's recklessnesses in the past one by one.

"Enough. Focus on controlling your magic."

"......?"

Tae-hyun released his magic instead of answering.

Ding.

[Skill 'Apocalypse' (???) has been activated.]

Hwaaa.

Darkness fell on the area.

"Huh?"

Yoo Ah-young had a flustered expression at the sudden situation.

Because she knew Tae-hyun so far, she knew the meaning of this field being deployed.

As far as she knew, 'Apocalypse' was a space for all-out battles and torture.

"It might hurt a little."

"Wa, wait... Tae-hyun...?"

Her words were not followed.

Ding.

[Skill 'Chains of Restraint' (???) has been enhanced.]

[Skill 'Energy Drain' (???) has been enhanced.]

[Skill 'True Blood' (???) has been activated.]

As if he didn't need to listen, chains that came down from the darkness wrapped around her body.

The magic that was disturbed in her body quickly drained away.

The magic sucked through the chains was filling the vampire's magic stone.

"Keuh..."

Ah-young groaned.

And when it became clear that there was no more magic left in her body.

Poohk.

Tae-hyun's fingernails, which had already turned into those of the demon race, pierced Ah-young's abdomen.

"Cough..."

Ah-young spat out a mouthful of blood.

Tae-hyun didn't care and strengthened his magic power.

Controlling 'Energy Drain', he injected new magic into her.

Rozaria's purple magic filled the space where Diablo's destructive magic had drained away.

How many times had she vomited blood?

At some point, the magic of the incubus race was flowing through her body.

'Has his magic control become more skillful after merging with the divine beast?'

If not, it would have been impossible to inject magic so cleanly.

Tsuzzz.

Purple magic was emitted from her body.

Drip. Drip.

Her unique tentacles appeared one by one.

Even so, Tae-hyun was not satisfied.

'This is not enough to break through the wall of a proper great demon.'

So.

It was necessary to take more definite measures.

Tae-hyun used the next skill.

420

Ding

[The skill Watcher's Eye(???) has been activated. Identifying target.]

Taehyun's eyes turned crimson and azure.

At the same time, the flow of mana within her body became vividly visible.

Diablo's mana had permeated throughout the damaged areas of her body in the form of purple mana.

While the green mana was not able to exert its full power at the moment, once the mana within her body stabilized, the two types of mana would naturally blend together.

'This should be enough.'

Now was the crucial part.

As if checking for a reaction to a vaccine, Taehyun thoroughly scanned her mana and used the next skill.

Ding

[The skill Energy Compose(???) has been enhanced. Specifying form.]

Kwaaaaaaa.

The dark red mana that bloomed from Taehyun's body was absorbed into her.

"Ugh... euh..."

Kwaddeudeud.

The condensed mana next to her heart could be seen taking shape.

Beyond the completed human body, another heart that those who have reached enlightenment possess.

A magic stone that mimicked the heart of a demon.

Taehyun had artificially created it.

And inside the body of another person.

"Ugh... ah..."

Ah-young writhed in pain.

Cheolreureuk. Cheolreureuk.

Each time she twisted her body, the chains of restraint tightened their grip.

They were absorbing a certain amount of mana to prevent a rampage.

The absorbed mana was being drawn into the vampire's magic stone that Taehyun had created.

About an hour passed like that.

A satisfactory magic stone, one that could be said to be of an SSS-rank monster, was created.

'Whether she can maintain this or not is up to Guild Leader Yoo Ah-young.'

A magic stone forcibly created without being registered as a skill, far inferior to what the highest-ranking species possess.

If she recklessly drew out power as before, the magic stone, unable to withstand it, might explode from the inside.

Conversely, if she succeeded in completely maintaining this magic stone and making it her own.

'It would greatly reduce the burden of using Rosaria's power.'

Taehyun pulled out the hand she had shoved in.

Thump.

Ah-young knelt, bracing herself on the floor.

Super-speed regeneration was activated, leaving no trace of penetration anywhere on Ah-young's body.

"Hah... hah..."

She breathed heavily.

Only the bloodstains caked around her mouth showed that Taehyun had pierced her abdomen moments ago.

"What... the hell..."

Ah-young's expression hardened at the magic stone she felt in her chest.

She, too, had realized what Taehyun had done.

"This is the power you would have naturally obtained if you had formally become a Grand Duke contractor."

He explained.

The Grand Duke's mana and authority were not something that could be received with a human body or mental strength.

Beyond the completed human body.

If one did not obtain the power in the realm of the highest-ranking species, one day either their mind or body would collapse.

"......"

She seemed to have understood the effect of the newly created magic stone at once.

The mana that could be used immediately was weak, but it was different from when she only had one heart.

Green mana flowed from her original heart, and purple mana surged from the magic stone that Taehyun had created.

Perhaps if the two mana were to completely mix together.

"Hoo... it will be incomparable to what it was before."

As if reading her thoughts, Taehyun said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Why... to me...?"

It was a procedure that could have torn Yoo Ah-young's body to shreds if she had failed to control her mana.

Having focused quite a bit, half of his 800 mana had been depleted.

If it were his own, it would be one thing.

She knew that Taehyun did not take risks at the expense of others' lives.

That was why she was asking.

Why was he making a choice that violated his usual beliefs?

"Because I can't stay in Shinhan indefinitely."

"Are you going back to... the Abyss?"

Taehyun nodded.

Returning to the Abyss was something that should be done sooner rather than later.

If it was delayed, it would eventually not be helpful to this world either.

"Don't worry. I plan to take care of Diablo for good before I leave."

"That's not what I meant!"

She showed an uncharacteristic, emotional side.

It was from the thought that Taehyun, who had returned after three years, would soon disappear again.

Three years had passed in the blink of an eye.

If that was the case, who knew how many more years would pass next time.

'Are you going to make me wait again! Are you going to go ahead alone again!!'

Since it had come to this, she would go to the Abyss with him as well.

Originally, exploration was better with two people than one.

She asserted her company, putting forward her own arbitrary logic.

Her behavior, acting like a child unlike her age, was just like the Yoo Ah-young she knew.

"It's difficult for you."

"I may look like this, but I'm a national power..."

The strongest among those at the national power level.

She was about to say that, but Taehyun cut her off and flared up his mana.

"I can say with certainty that if we enter the deepest level, Guild Leader Yoo Ah-young will not last a day."

"......"

Weak.

So grow up as soon as possible and rise to an equal position with him.

Taehyun stimulated her with obvious words.

"No, it's difficult to think of the growth rate of a 'monster' like you and a 'extraordinary genius' like me as the same..."

"There's nothing to worry about."

Kwaaaaaaa.

Purple mana bloomed from Taehyun's body.

"......!!"

"There's nothing more important to a player than actual combat."

Her body flinched, recalling the pain from earlier.

She babbled that she was still a patient and that she was not in a state to properly use mana.

It was an unimaginable change in attitude compared to when she was usually eager to fight Taehyun.

That much was the magic stone creation process just now painful.

But.

"There's nothing to worry about about that either."

Taehyun dismissed her concerns.

Ding.

[The skill Ataraxia(???) has been activated. Identifying target.]

Unlike the deeply sinking azure eyes, purple mana surged from the crimson eyes.

"Ah..."

Ah-young moaned without realizing it.

"Wouldn't it be better to be beaten voluntarily?"

The way Taehyun spoke those words.

He did not look different from Diablo, who called himself the Lord of Terror.

The headquarters of the Shinhan Player Association, about a quarter of which had been destroyed in the battle with the Great Demon.

Due to the destruction of the considerable level of barricades, barriers, and transfer gates, repairs were still underway even after three days.

In the chairman's office, which had been restored first, those who could be said to be Shinhan's greatest power were gathered.

As SS-rank, there were Ji Jin-hee, Kwon Kang-hyuk, Kwak Si-yang, Lim Ah-young, Ahn Hyun-soo, and Seo Sang-ik, and as SSS-rank, there were Park Seong-jin and Yoo Ah-young.

And now, a player whose rank could not be measured.

Taehyun, who could be said to be Shinhan's greatest power, was receiving everyone's attention.

"I don't know how long it's been since we had a meeting where we all gathered in person."

Ji Jin-hee said with a touching expression.

"Getting old makes you nosy."

Kwon Kang-hyuk grumbled, but unlike usual, no one said anything to him.

This was because they knew that he was deep inside, unlike the words he spoke.

Above all, Taehyun, who was evaluated as the strongest in Shinhan's history, had returned.

Today, no matter what happened, they could laugh and move on.

"Hehehe. Then shall we hear from our younger brother why he went AWOL for three years?"

When Kwon Kang-hyuk asked with a sly look, Taehyun stood up from his seat and bowed politely.

This was because he knew that he had unintentionally worried them.

"I'm sorry."

Starting with an apology, Taehyun said the alibi he had thought of in advance.

He said that he had set foot in a strange place in the deepest level and that it had taken a long time, and that he had been unable to contact them.

The group seemed to be taking Taehyun's words at face value.

"As expected, the Abyss is a place with endless possibilities. To think that there is a place that could trap Player Kim Taehyun."

Seo Sang-ik said with a curious expression unique to researchers.

Although the Alchemist Guild's headquarters had recently been turned into a dungeon, causing the deaths of many guild members and the destruction of facilities, he quickly regained his composure and devoted himself to recovery.

"Then there's a high probability that Cody Cruise is alive as well."

The one who said that was Park Seong-jin.

The only player who had reached SSS-rank in this battle.

If his power stabilized, he would also gain the title of national power.

Taehyun told him that he would.

"This means that the balance of the world will be newly organized."

At Kwak Si-yang's words, the people gathered in the conference room nodded.

Kim Taehyun and Cody Cruise.

If the two players who were most suited to the term national power returned, it was not difficult to predict that the world order led by the Four Great Organizations would change.

At the center of that would be Shinhan and the United States.

"What are you going to do?"

The one who asked that was Lim Ah-young.

She was the one who had witnessed Taehyun not dealing with the boss of the uncompleted dungeon.

Therefore, she was in a state where she realized earlier than anyone else that Taehyun's way of thinking was different from that of ordinary players.

"China just declared war, right?"

Taehyun mentioned the possibility that Ryu Sibo had become one with Diablo's horns.

The faces of the group all hardened.

"That crazy bastard was ranting too much. There was a reason he believed in it!!"

Kwon Kang-hyuk growled and shouted.

In any country, the place where the country's greatest power gathers is the association headquarters.

Therefore, China was in a situation where it had lost many high-ranking and top-ranking players due to the explosion known as the Gate Break.

Nevertheless, they did not understand why Ryu Sibo, who had coincidentally survived, was talking about war.

Taehyun did not reveal that the explosion at the Chinese Player Association headquarters was due to the wish-fulfilling orb he had flown.

'Not everyone needs to know the truth.'

Only Yoo Ah-young, who dimly guessed Taehyun's actions and thoughts, was wearing a strange expression.

"So what do you think they want, Taehyun?"

"You must have heard Guild Leader Yoo Ah-young's report."

He mentioned the information that Association Chairman Ryu Sibo was practicing cannibalism.

"Is that... true?"

Kwak Si-yang asked back in a trembling voice.

"Well, I haven't seen it myself, so I can't be sure."

"Oh my, does that mean you don't trust my information?"

Taehyun chuckled at Yoo Ah-young's joke.

"That's not it."

Diablo's power was fear.

Chairman Ryu Sibo and Diablo's horns would not have completely merged.

So if casualties occurred in the war, it would be to eat those emotions and become stronger.

"It's crazy talk, but if my brother says it, it must be true."

Kwon Kang-hyuk gave strong support.

"Then should we ask Director-General Go Tae-wook for cooperation?"

Taehyun shook his head.

As with everything, the orthodox method would take a long time.

"Evil must be punished with evil."

"......"

"......"

"......"

There was no one here who did not know Taehyun's personality.

He would repay what he had suffered several times over, and in the process, he would eventually realize even the things that were thought to be impossible.

"Officially, I am still missing. There is no need to move on a national level."

"Are you going to... handle it alone?"

Taehyun nodded.

"It's enough for one person."

Everyone was dumbfounded at the answer that seemed like that was what he had intended from the beginning.

Only.

"Ssibal.... Now I can really feel that my brother has returned!!"

Kwon Kang-hyuk chuckled.

"Ah, youth.... Have you decided to walk the path of Shura..."

From Ahn Hyun-soo's reddened eyes, a tear flowed down.

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