Party of the Supremes (6)
Lee Se-jin, the CEO, turned off his video chat as soon as the party formed and headed to his office.
The branch managers' video chat was still ongoing as well.
The branch managers from each country also had the authority to monitor the demon seal.
All the branch managers nodded in agreement at China Branch Manager Tao's words.
Party raids.
One of the most crucial elements was teamwork.
In Ares, there were parties dedicated solely to tackling boss monsters, and they had honed the perfect synergy after dozens of runs with the same members.
The difference between good teamwork and poor teamwork was night and day.
US Branch Manager John chimed in.
This wasn't just poking at Hyun-soo.
It was the core truth.
A small chuckle escaped from China Branch Manager Tao.
Among players, there was slang for "troll"—those whose terrible control dragged their allies down and led to defeat.
And unlike Gremory, the branch managers could see the full screen.
They watched the group exchanging subtle glances and moving in perfect sync, flowing like water.
From that synergy, the branch managers realized.
When Gremory's beloved three-headed Cerberus descended.
They had already spotted Hyun-soo preparing Absolute Dominion right in front of Hell Path.
He corrected himself when Cerberus started chomping on Gremory instead.
But when Gremory demonized, the branch managers shook their heads.
Then came the twist.
Sighs echoed as Lukio crumbled soon after.
Of course, Legion Commander Berisa's Eye wasn't absolute.
But judging by what they saw, shaving off the demon's remaining 30% HP seemed incredibly tough.
They were the branch managers leading their countries.
They had far more visibility and vast data than regular Purm Corp employees.
They tilted their heads at the activation of the Murder Ghost Doll.
The Murder Ghost was cruel at times.
It brainwashed allies to kill allies.
What baffled the branch managers was that Gremory, a transcendent being, shook off the brainwashing in just 3 seconds.
And then they saw it.
The brainwashed Gremory walked toward Hyun-soo as if entranced.
Hyun-soo murmured.
Grant me your blessing.
The brainwashed Gremory accepted him willingly, grasping his hand tightly.
The branch managers knew the power of "Grant me your blessing."
It was merely a degraded version of the Saint King's Pledge Your Loyalty.
Degraded because it was consumable.
And it didn't work well on regular players.
Pledge Your Loyalty only granted proportional strength after gaining a strong being's approval.
And now.
The branch managers understood Second Ares better than anyone.
US Branch Manager John shot to his feet without realizing it.
The other branch managers in the video chat did the same.
Dazed China Branch Manager Tao defined the situation.
In Second Ares, Gremory was the strongest and most influential demon.
Nothing like Bahala, Bokdeongi, or Arte.
Of course, Hyun-soo had grown explosively using Bokdeongi and Bahala.
Thanks to their pure potential.
But potential was just possibility—not current overwhelming power.
All the branch managers shared the same question.
"Just how strong will he get?"
John expected calculators clicking and guesses flying across the video chat.
But no voices came through.
Soon, US Branch Manager John realized.
His clenched fists were drenched in sweat.
His heart pounded wildly.
That was why they weren't reacting—like John himself.
'This is fun...'
Branch managers rarely found anything in Ares interesting.
It was natural.
Their perspective differed from average viewers, and entertaining them was tough.
Yet now, every branch manager was so immersed they couldn't even react.
John was in awe.
'If we're this hooked, how much will regular viewers love this?'
Then John could only let out a hollow laugh.
Recording in progress.
All three players were recording.
This was a raid of the supremes destined for eventual release.
Hyun-soo could feel it.
'In this party, I'm the weakest.'
Reducing Gremory's HP by 10% via Absolute Dominion.
It was all thanks to Bahala and Kabel.
Thinking back, Bahala had fact-bombed him about being weak before heading to the prison.
And Kabel saw him as someone to protect.
He wanted to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them.
A natural desire for any player.
Within that desire, he had waited.
'For my growth.'
Though he hadn't tipped off Kabel or Bahala, Hyun-soo had judged that Gremory could grow even stronger.
The moment demonization hit, the perfect opportunity arrived—and unlike Kabel and Asura pulling the strings before, this time Hyun-soo took the lead.
Hyun-soo had heard about Hell King Asura too.
⊳ [Hyun-soo]: Kabel. Can you brainwash Gremory?
⊳ [Kabel]: Possible, but too short. Hardly changes anything...
⊳ [Hyun-soo]: Walk her over. Trust me.
Kabel trusted Hyun-soo.
He marveled watching him approach Gremory and extend his hand.
"...!?"
Humans couldn't stay calm on the battlefield.
Especially against beings who could kill them effortlessly.
'You two created possibilities.'
Bahala awakened through Lukio.
Kabel forged his second legend by slaying Asura.
Hyun-soo's possibility via Lukio's Pledge Your Loyalty?
Far inferior by comparison.
But this time would be different.
Kwaaaak—
Gremory, brainwashed, gripped Hyun-soo's outstretched hand.
Hyun-soo, squeezing with all his might, felt his heartbeat thundering in his ears.
Thump—!
Transcendent being.
The strongest demon in current Ares.
Through such a foe, Hyun-soo shattered his limits with infinite growth potential.
Bokdeongi's blessing was 49%, Bahala's 56%.
He reached an absurd blessing level.
All stats +3%.
HP & MP totals +8%.
All masteries +2 levels.
All weapon attack power +17%, magic attack power +17%.
All weapon defense +20%, magic defense +20%.
All attack skill power +20%.
All skill cooldowns -20%.
Attack power vs. Good... Corrected.
Saint's aura flows.
Converted to attack power vs. Evil.
Attack power vs. Evil +10%, critical hit chance +25%.
Unprecedented growth.
A colossal power incomparable to before settled in.
Hyun-soo, once mere support, now led the party.
⊳ [Hyun-soo]: Can you move?
⊳ [Kabel]: Yes.
⊳ [Bahala]: Me too.
⊳ [Hyun-soo]: I'll take the lead.
Gremory spoke.
Even perfect attacks couldn't seal her.
But this growth.
It rivaled the Sword God's awakening and Asura's class change.
Kuwhaaaak—!
Regaining her senses, Gremory panicked.
For a split second, she felt immense power surging from her body.
And that power had made the man before her even stronger.
His aura was incomparable to moments ago.
As a demon, Gremory couldn't hear notifications, but a player would have.
Berisa's Eye corrected.
Can be sealed!
No notification, but Berisa's Eye had already warned of the possibility.
'M-Me? Sealed by a mere human?'
Especially by the man before her—a mere crafter.
"You dare believe a blacksmith like you can seal me!?"
But Gremory.
Her body moved unnaturally from the brainwashing backlash.
Her shout to make the arrogant human face reality.
Instead, it made her confront her own.
Letters engraved on the Twin Dragon Swords, raised high and tilted.
Legendary Artifact
Still brainwashed, flustered, and calling him a mere blacksmith—perfect for status intrusion.
Stunned.
Cannot move.
Gremory's eyes widened.
Before two immensities, she shrank back.
One was the human who had achieved mad growth.
The other, the aura flowing along the greatsword he wielded.
Forming the Twin Dragon Swords, your heroic spirit echoes through the ages.
The greatsword's aura and the human's power crushed her.
Vowing upon mountains and seas...
The loyal warrior's fervor endures from past to present.
One transcendent blade and one powerhouse shattered her momentum.
Labeled legendary, but truly Legend Above Legend grade.
Kwadududuk—!
Demons had defenses too.
Cracks spread, fractures forming across them all.
Demon Gremory's info downgraded and updated!
The arrogant demon fell for the trap of her own hubris.
Merely a 50-level drop numerically, but the armor downgrade meant far greater damage incoming.
Gremory realized it too.
Hyun-soo soared toward the broken her.
Peulleok—!
In that instant, swapping to the other Twin Dragon Sword unleashed a massive pressure.
Three Feet Sworn to Heaven.
Mountains and Rivers Tremble.
Letters branding red on the Twin Dragon Swords triggered debuffs.
The immense pressure pinned the demon race, rendering movement impossible.
Kugrrrrg—
Stunned and crushed, Gremory trembled in fear but feigned composure with a laugh.
"Seal me now, and nothing changes."
One Swing Clears All
Yet the overwhelming energy gathering on Hyun-soo's sword showed no sign of fading.
"Even sealed, in two years I'll hunt you down and destroy everything you've built—everything you've created!!"
A terrifying warning.
For a transcendent demon to harbor hatred toward one human and vow utter destruction.
It even manifested systemically.
Demon Gremory's object of grudge confirmed.
She will hunt you down relentlessly.
A declaration that could crumble everything.
The realization.
Sealing her now was just buying time.
Gremory believed she'd claimed mental victory.
His world would collapse.
Even if he overcame this, despair over two years from now would terrify him.
But there was Hyun-soo, fluttering his coat from the sky, smirking.
"Bring it."
He pulled back the Twin Dragon Swords with an arrogant grin.
That expression brimmed with certainty, envisioning two years hence.
"By then, I'll be king."