Party of the Supremes (4)
(Party of the Supremes)
Hyun-soo, Bahala, and Kabel were seeing this rare title for the first time.
And it matched the description exactly.
Facing Gremory, whose face was filled with bewilderment, Hyun-soo felt none of the fear from their first encounter.
Ares world rank 1.
The most influential player for three straight years, one of only two users walking the Path of the Gods.
One crane among chickens, ruler of users, genius born of Ares—countless epithets adorned her.
And that wasn't all.
Whirlick—
Playing with the Wicked Dagger as if it were a toy, twirling it this way and that.
'How did you grow the Wicked Dagger to transcendent already? You're insane.'
Asura Kabel.
Hyun-soo hadn't known Kabel's true worth. He'd just seen him as an exceptional information broker.
But now he could think differently.
To obtain unique-grade info that people craved, to possess secrets no one else uncovered.
That required strength.
The Wicked Dagger embodied that strength.
And Asura Kabel, the second user to reach legend status.
Now, his gaze turned to the one grinding his teeth in the center.
A man who had led an era.
Now that he followed Hyun-soo, his status was visible.
He had reached the threshold of legend as the Undefeated Knight.
And now, he manifested legendary power. Thanks to the Supreme Sword Hyun-soo had given him.
And himself.
The first user to become a legend, etching the name of Master Craftsman across the world.
To Hyun-soo, this title held even more special meaning than for the others.
'This title will activate once more.'
In the Great Atlas War event.
His chest burned hot.
Even against the transcendent Gremory, even before the hundreds, thousands of the world's top rankers eyeing Atlas.
'With this lineup, nothing is impossible.'
And Gremory.
Her face, which had recoiled a step in bewilderment, twisted grotesquely.
Shame burned at cowering before mere insects.
They were opportunists.
Seizing the chance because she couldn't summon her 22 legions.
The demonic rage echoed with a strange, otherworldly presence.
"Insignificant worms!"
And it activated.
Demonic Descent was the entry skill all demons triggered on appearance.
Like Hyun-soo's Master Craftsman pride.
But her true status ailment was this.
[Legion Commander's Fury]
Those who hear that otherworldly voice feel a pain dozens of times worse than the sound of nails dragging across a chalkboard.
Blood pours from every orifice in their bodies.
The paralyzed weaklings die without even facing her.
With the voice's waves, Gremory expected their reason to shatter.
But the four moved to their positions.
[Title: Party of the Supremes shines.]
[Nothing]
[With the absolute party, resist any status ailment!]
Nothing could suppress them.
In Gremory's seat sat the man who had once futilely crumbled.
Bahala, with his noble features and tall frame drawing elegant lines like a young lord.
Wielding the black sword Babylon, contrasting his white armor.
He who walked the Path of the Sword God.
His uniqueness lay in wielding even ordinary swordsman skills like a Sword God.
He had slain lesser demon Lukio, achieving irrational strengthening.
[Sudden Quest: Another Demon is Generated.]
Like the Sword God's moniker defending the continent, he triggered a quest.
For an ordinary user, mundane; for Bahala, a special first chapter unfolded.
"To the ground."
Boooom—!
[Slams target with 600% attack power!]
[Opponent stunned for 2 seconds.]
Gremory, mid-air, couldn't resist and plummeted.
In the momentary daze from the massive impact, dizziness hit.
She realized this wasn't a single strike but a combo.
Bahala awaited her on the ground before she even hit.
"To the sky."
Kwaaaang—!
He uppercut the demon in perfect form.
"Kihyaaaaaak!"
What spewed from the demon's maw.
[Combo success!]
[Additional attack power upgraded from 600% to 900%!]
Scream and fury, resisting the paltry stun that had pinned her.
Freed mid-air, Gremory glared ahead, expecting the bastard there.
But he was gone.
Bahala wielded godlike control.
The world said it.
The global game rule-shaker 20 years ago.
In that game was the world's top gamer 'Faker'.
In VR Ares, Bahala's control was Faker-level. Perhaps beyond.
His true value shone.
A chill crept up Gremory's back.
Bahala should have leaped forward in a sensible move.
And as mentioned, he made even basic swordsman attacks special.
"In one strike."
[Three combo successes!]
[900% attack power upgraded to 1,400% damage!]
The moment he drew Babylon from its sheath.
Shiiiing—
Gremory fell into the illusion of her body cleaving in two.
First time. For a demon with superhuman flesh.
Facing the terror of her body being severed.
But.
Puhwaaaaak—!
Vast demonic energy rampaged, brutally shattering the illusion.
Demons had traits and unique powers.
Legion Commander Gremory's 'main' was strengthening and leading her legions.
But her 'sub' alone wielded immense power, proving why she was level 600s without legions.
Borrows traits from her 22 subordinate demons.
7th Legion Commander Tazio: Legion's mightiest warrior.
Demonkin resemble humans, but Tazio towers at 3m, strength crumbling mountains.
Vast demonic energy hammered down like a two-handed strike on Bahala.
Kuhwaaaang—!
[HP falls below 60%.]
"Cough...!"
Bahala couldn't believe it; Gremory reveled in ecstasy.
The human's power was impressive, but flashy before her.
Gremory took only 4% from Bahala's combo.
[Gremory's HP falls below 25%.]
Her HP had recovered nearly 30% in that time.
But what of Bahala?
He lost 40% HP instantly upon hitting the ground.
In one blow!
Gremory's confidence swelled.
"Is this the extent of the opportunity you created?"
Arrogant, she dismissed the others as insignificant, drowning in hubris.
Until the killer ghost murmured.
"Hell Path."
The demon's heart sank.
Hell.
Couldn't compare to the demon realm.
That was on the scale of the entire demon world.
Hell for an individual loomed vast.
It was instant.
Her surroundings turned to hell, stench of the dead and red lava erupting everywhere.
[Hell Path.]
[Enters Asura's space.]
She had mocked Bahala moments ago.
His three hits took only 4% HP.
Reminded anew of the demon's vast HP pool, absurd regen, and defense.
That arrogance crumbled.
[All defense falls 50%.]
[Asura's all attack power rises 25%.]
"...!?"
Flustered, Gremory whipped her head seeking Asura.
Why Asura bore the killer ghost moniker.
Like a ghost slaying silently.
Thus, the killer ghost approached without sound.
"Blink."
Kwaduduk—!
It happened in a flash.
Like a lantern flickering off and on, per the skill name.
The dagger pierced her face.
[Deals 1,100% damage!]
Lower DPS than Bahala's 'In One Strike' combo.
But this was Asura's space.
Gremory, who mocked Bahala's 4%, paled.
[Gremory's HP falls below 19%.]
Demon HP vanished 6% in one hit.
And the silent ghost's swing approached again.
Srghuk—!
The moment her abdomen was slashed, excruciating pain enveloped Gremory.
The reason: the fully transcendent Wicked Dagger inflicted 90% critical damage.
And its horror stemmed from Hyun-soo's forged Six Stabs.
A combo where one attack dealt multiple hits.
5-6 was world-class.
But fully grown, it tormented even demons.
[16 Stabs.]
Pupupupupupupupupu—!
"Kihyaaaaaak!"
A satanic shriek burst from Gremory.
16 basic hits. Blink-level.
[Gremory's HP falls below 12%.]
Regen couldn't keep up.
But Gremory realized reality.
She couldn't recover because she was under attack.
Buying time was easy; Hell Path dispersed if the caster took massive shock.
Third Legion Commander's power.
Legion Commander who 100% hits and cleaves foes.
Wields massive greatsword.
His sword cleaved the ghost-walking Asura.
Shiiiing—!
"Kuh...!"
[HP falls below 50%.]
Gremory seized the chance to kill him, seeing Asura stagger from 50% HP deleted in one blow.
Kururur—
[Hell Path disappears.]
The moment Asura staggered.
Gremory was certain.
Lose one of four, the party crumbles; they revert to greenhorns.
She couldn't summon legion commanders, but replacements abounded.
Just 1 minute. Time to summon him.
Hell’s ultimate beast.
Offspring of Cerberus even demons feared.
Demon Baal's gift to Gremory.
"Rip him."
[One-Headed Cerberus Lv.547]
The Cerberus appearing beside her roared.
"Kuhwaaaaaak!"
Normal Cerberus were small, but this variant was huge.
8m tall monstrosity.
No magic, but fangs piercing dragon hide.
The moment it bared teeth at Asura.
Kabel smirked.
"...?"
In her brief fluster.
Flash—
Hell Path gone, Gremory saw the man beside her.
Brown-coated, Babylon's creator.
But Babylon's maker advantage, strong for a blacksmith—still inferior to the trio here. A lesser human.
That human gripped the 'dagger necklace' at his throat and spoke.
"Thou, bow before me."
Gremory realized.
Bahala's opener, Asura's Hell Path—paving stones for this.
Certainty she'd summon another demon beast with her legion power.
Kwajaaaak—!!!!!!
The 8m Cerberus stuffed Gremory in its maw and crunched.
Crack, cruuunch—!
As her bones warped.
"How is it."
Hyun-soo twisted his lips.
"Getting bit by the dog bastard you raised."
The demon felt humiliation toward a human.