Party of the Supremes (2)
Purum Corp's conference room.
This meeting included video chat participation from branches around the world.
The first topic was Babylon, forged from Hyun-soo's fingertips.
"Bahala was originally someone who couldn't hunt lesser demons. The demon hunt quest was meant to fail from the start, leading to a new questline where he'd walk the Sword God's Path."
That prediction had been utterly shattered.
The moment Bahala met Hyun-soo.
Of course, even back then, Purum Corp's reaction had been lukewarm.
No Master Craftsman could possibly restore Babylon, which was absolutely "irreparable."
But leveraging the Replication Hammer's advantage, Hyun-soo had used 200g of divine ore to reforge a new Babylon.
The second point.
"Encountering a demon this soon is astonishing."
Se-jin nodded, and the story team leader continued.
"Of course, Gremory is currently in her weakest state among demons."
It was true.
Having awakened through sacrificial descent, she was under countless restrictions.
Her true power lay in her legions, which transcended common sense.
A peerless lord.
Commanding no less than 22 legions.
Thus, she herself was the weakest compared to other demons.
But one must remember: she was a peerless lord.
With her army, no demon could touch her lightly.
The US branch head, John, spoke from across the screen.
The China branch head, Tao, followed up.
Se-jin agreed.
0% chance. Undeniable.
Then, Gremory overcame her fear and branded the stigma.
The stigma allowed reading the opponent's memories and pursuing them.
"……."
Se-jin's eyes wavered.
Revealing that user Hyun-soo wielded Babylon and was its creator might have been a mistake.
It had awakened the demon Gremory's greed.
Se-jin judged that everything Hyun-soo had built could crumble.
…A backlash from grasping power that's too great.
Se-jin's chest ached.
Korea's sole legendary figure was facing massive repercussions.
On the flip side.
The branch heads showed inconsistency between words and actions.
Their faces were flushed with excitement.
To them, who hoped their own country's users would shine, user Hyun-soo was a thorn in their side.
Conversely, Se-jin wore a bitter expression as he dismissed all his team members.
At that moment.
Gremory began summoning worshippers.
Something flashed through Se-jin's mind.
Asura?
Before the meeting, he'd received a report from Special User Management Team Leader Kim.
'User Kabel has begun his battle with Asura.'
User Kabel was Hyun-soo's nameless close friend, unknown to the branch heads.
The moment Asura crossed the hellgate, the branch heads realized.
Then something bizarre happened.
Another figure crossed the hellgate and bisected Asura, then locked eyes on one man.
The one in his gaze was Hyun-soo, kneeling.
He moved like light, piercing Gremory's forehead as she soared upward.
With that.
The branch heads couldn't hide their shock and bewilderment.
What had just happened. The new Asura had no reason to oppose the demon.
On the contrary, he should have followed the original Asura's will and become Gremory's dog.
"I'll take the vanguard."
He aimed his dagger at Gremory.
Se-jin's heart pounded wildly at the sight.
Moreover, the supercomputer Ares was linked to Se-jin's phone, and he'd asked:
Is sealing possible?
Naturally, 0%.
Even after Myeolak activated, it was the same.
Se-jin checked his phone and was stunned.
Probability of successful seal: 6%.
A new possibility had opened.
Incredible.
User Hyun-soo had been on the brink of losing everything moments ago.
Yet, through bonds with his nameless close friend, he'd forged a way out of the crisis himself.
Se-jin marveled.
An unprecedented—and likely unrepeatable—demon-sealing party is forming.
The possibility wasn't done rising yet.
The whole world was abuzz.
An undeniable truth.
Master Craftsman Hyun-soo was ultimately just the creator.
Next, people focused on this.
Not all legends were equal.
Top high-rankers' guesses.
Due to his absurd information network—not raw strength.
But that assessment was from the past. Now, he was far stronger than they thought.
Thanks to the Wicked Dagger Hyun-soo had made.
The Wicked Dagger was a growth-type artifact that could reach Transcendent+.
It grew sharper each time it slew a recognized powerhouse.
Kabel, wielding the now-complete Transcendent Wicked Dagger, had challenged Asura.
Hm?
In the midst of a fierce battle with Asura.
Kabel was struggling to land a finishing blow.
A critical hit would do it, but it wasn't easy.
Then Asura was forcibly sucked somewhere.
Semi-compulsively. Seizing the gap, Kabel slashed wildly at the retreating Asura.
When Asura descended into the prison, Kabel delivered the final strike, cleaving him completely.
At that instant, it dawned—and echoed across the world.
He has ascended to the new Hell King by single-handedly slaying Hell King Asura.
A world-shaking message.
But Kabel had set world messages to anonymous.
Breaking news flooded the globe.
Asura Kabel, the protagonist, had no time to bask in notifications.
He'd gauged the situation with his own eyes.
After stabbing soaring Gremory with his dagger, he stood by his close friend's side.
Kabel was certain.
Without this dagger, I couldn't have beaten Asura.
It was the work of his sole close friend.
Then, the inheritance notifications began rampaging.
Second Legend
The surging power told him.
Current Kabel: At least twice as strong as before.
Not many could match him now.
And he reaffirmed.
Asura Kabel had only two beings he wanted to protect in this world.
The first: Bokdeongi, who gave him affection, love, comfort, and warmth.
The second.
'My one true friend.'
Do you know?
Those who have few to protect devote everything to safeguarding them.
"I'll take the vanguard."
Yet even with Asura Kabel, the odds were just 6%.
Meanwhile.
Another bearer of possibility.
The man flung back by Gremory's power gripped Babylon tightly.
Kwaaak—
Shame, humiliation, rage boiled up.
He'd heard his comrade tell him to flee—and even that he couldn't accomplish.
In this moment, one's arrival opened the possibility.
Gremory, stabbed by the dagger, crashed to the ground, buying a few precious seconds.
Bahala gripped Babylon with both hands.
His heart raced.
He knew better than anyone.
Lukio, the lesser demon still unconscious.
Through him, he'd awaken new power.
Puhwuuk—!
Finally, Bahala's sword pierced lesser demon Lukio's heart.
With less than 2% HP left, killing him was easy.
That instant.
Successfully slew lesser demon Lukio.
Sword God's Path job quest completed.
In one corner of the prison.
A pillar of light descended from the sky, enveloping him.
Sword God affirms resolve.
Only you can walk the true Sword God's Path.
Sword Mastery Supreme → Sword God Mastery
All sword skill attack power +15%, cooldown -20%.
100+ bonus points distributed for current situation.
Inherit new Sword God skills.
Once more, Bahala—who had awakened the Sword God's Path—ascended higher and walked toward Hyun-soo and Kabel.
And Bahala was one who could perceive probabilities himself.
Factoring in the overall situation.
17%
Another possibility had opened.
Where Bahala had just been.
The one with infinite potential was regaining consciousness.
Srurur—
Demonic energy dwelling in his body surged and dispersed.
That being.
Kidnapped by demon Gremory, unwillingly stripped of all emotions and reason, on the verge of demonization.
"……."
Tears streamed endlessly from his eyes.
Becoming a demon was worse than death.
Yet it was unexpected.
Dead as a demon, he hadn't fully perished—and returned human.
No one in this world fears death without dread.
Kwaaak—
In this moment, the undefeated knight's eyes turned bloodshot red.
He saw it. The one who made him this way!
'You are my tool.'
The one who tried to reduce him to a mere tool.
'Emotions are a luxury for the likes of you.'
The demon who mocked and ridiculed him.
But as he reached for his sword, he realized.
Human now, he was far weaker than as a lesser demon.
He couldn't possibly strike demon Gremory.
No, maybe I can.
His thoughts shifted.
In Lukio's memories, there was one.
The one who cleaved tormentor Robus with a single stroke.
Clad in a coat, soaked in blood, but eyes unquenched.
That man extended a large hand and said.
"Pledge your loyalty to me."