Demon Summoning (3)
Hyun-soo woke up feeling in peak condition.
He quickly pieced together the current situation from the news feeds, broadcasts, and various reports.
'Goyad is definitely going to fall.'
After much deliberation, he found a way to twist the tide.
As soon as he logged into Ares, a notification chimed.
Goyad Kingdom Falls
The blatant depiction of Barad's crisis in the triggered quest made him clench his fist.
But he soon regained his composure.
The Blood Ghost Corps now numbered 44,000 survivors.
Their most terrifying aspect was the current commander-class officers.
'The commanders' average level is 450... Insane.'
Each one was on par with Sword Master Roman or Laisen.
It was proof of how overflowing with talent the Chinese server was.
Yet, looking at the figure before him, he realized something.
'Just as they can handle over 20 knights.'
The target wore a sullen expression that said, 'What're you looking at?'
'Lukio can handle over 20 commanders too.'
The question was whether he'd participate in this battle.
Hyun-soo explained the situation.
"No thanks. I'm sick of fighting."
Regrettably, Lukio was on the verge of teeth-gritting frustration.
It made sense.
Lukio had been gradually demonizing for a long time.
Finally back to human form, and now straight into war?
Of course, if he'd rested enough in Atlas and grown bored by now, things might've been different.
Besides, Hyun-soo was essentially saying:
You're my vassal now, so stake your life to lead us to victory.
"Give me a map of Atlas. I'll head out alone. Still, I hope you win."
It was Lukio's own way of showing sincerity.
After all, Hyun-soo was his benefactor.
Plus, there was still much he wanted to see from Hyun-soo.
Lukio took the map and walked off, back turned.
Watching him go, Hyun-soo grew anxious.
'Can the tide turn without Lukio?'
It might.
But he was certain it would be extremely difficult and grueling.
Suddenly, a magic spell from SNS popped into his mind. Hyun-soo said hesitantly,
"Chicken?"
Lukio didn't break stride.
Hyun-soo scratched the back of his head.
'No way that'd work.'
Then.
"Wait, is 'chicken' short for 'are you chickening out?'"
"...?"
"Ha...! Unbelievable."
Lukio snorted and clapped in mock applause.
"Fair enough. They're from after my time, so it might look like I'm scared to face them."
He nodded emphatically and continued.
"I'm Lukio, the Undefeated Knight. Not scared—just wanted a break. But to think you saw me that way."
"...?"
"Commander-class? To face me, they'd need to be Parion Empire commanders at least."
"...?"
"Makes sense. You'd want to hide having someone like me around."
It was plain fact.
Lukio was a powerhouse meant to shine covertly in the Great Atlas War.
A hidden ace brings unexpected strength against the enemy.
"Can't blame you—I'm stronger than my own lord, after all. Fine, I'll join as an anonymous knight and slaughter them all."
Snorting hot air, he gripped the Supreme Sword tightly, his face brimming with confidence.
Lukio also wanted to test it out.
'Gotta admit, I've grown thanks to that lord guy.'
How far did this power go?
"Let's get going."
And Hyun-soo hadn't just casually said "Chicken?"
Even with low loyalty, Lukio was undeniably his vassal.
That let him gauge Lukio's basic traits.
His personality read:
'High self-esteem.'
'Likes the title Undefeated Knight.'
'Gives 100% once committed to something.'
Nothing wrong with that personality.
High self-esteem matching his power was a good thing.
Besides, it hadn't been long since the little demon Lukio returned to human form from despair.
What would Hyun-soo have done in his shoes?
His revenge target was sealed, partially achieving his goal.
Abandoned by the king he served, he might've sunk into endless helplessness.
Hyun-soo had worried about that.
But Lukio lived up to his title of Undefeated Knight.
"My blood's boiling."
Taking the capital return scroll from Hyun-soo, Lukio looked restless.
Vwoooom—
Watching Lukio vanish in a flash of light, Hyun-soo marveled anew at the power of "Chicken?"
'The small force striking the south gate is special.'
Count Frey, leading 800 Blood Ghost Corps troops, smirked.
Spies planted in Goyad had already analyzed the capital's weak points.
The south gate was farthest from the castle and where soldiers clustered most during war.
Thus, the south gate was sturdiest yet most vulnerable.
'With the Blood Ghost Corps' overwhelming strength, the south gate forces will need to send reinforcements everywhere.'
He exploited that.
The south gate Blood Ghost Corps included over 30 exceptional knights.
Stronger than regular Blood Ghost Corps.
They'd breach the south gate, infiltrate swiftly, destroy everything inside, and topple the royals.
As Frey swept away Goyad's south gate forces, he spotted a warp light.
'Hm?'
Just two men appeared in the light.
'Tsk tsk.'
They faced 800 troops alone.
This war had many foreigners too.
Frey pitied them.
In a mere 2 seconds, it happened.
Ludal.
Elite among the 30 knights.
Level 438 top knight.
He'd thrust his sword at the shabby, ragged-looking man of the pair.
'Dead in 2 seconds?'
Then.
"What the—?"
Shwaaaaa—!
One slash cleaved knight Ludal's sword and body in half.
"...!?"
Frey panicked.
The thirty knights sensed something off.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Dressed like a beggar."
As his profile detailed, high self-esteem and all-in effort: Lukio.
"Thirty swings should do it."
"...!?"
Meaning one kill per strike.
Thirty knights.
Empire of Sword Masters, Parion's elite.
One slash through their ranks—head flies—
Sgak—!
Thrust pierces heart.
Kwak, kwajik, uduk, ududuk, ppaduk—
One strike, one kill. Knights fell.
Normally, even the strong struggle to one-shot foes.
'Aiming only for vitals?'
He minimized power usage.
In just over a minute, thirty knights dead, he said,
"Boring, my lord. I'm off elsewhere."
Then vanished like the wind.
"...?"
Frey was stunned.
They were knight division members.
Slaughtered in a minute, and boring?
His eyes fell on the lone flashy-looking man remaining.
Outrageously overpowered freaks were rare on battlefields.
Frey sought to vent the loss of thirty knights on him.
"That damned bastard...!"
Then panicked again.
Sgak—
One greatsword swing sliced three Blood Ghost Corps in half.
'W-what am I seeing?'
Relative powerhouses were few.
Goyad had only Barad near level 500, propping up the nation.
Yet he couldn't believe the ones before him.
'Not Barad—who the hell are they?'
Hyun-soo's calculations were off.
'This strong? What kind of monster did I keep around?'
He realized why the miscalculation.
Just days ago, sealing Gremory had been a struggle.
Gremory was so strong, Lukio seemed weak by comparison.
And another miscalculation hit him.
Sgak—
-Blood Ghost Corps x3 Killed
One greatsword swing cleanly bisected three Blood Ghost Corps.
This was a miscalculation about himself.
Users differed from NPCs.
NPCs' overall strength showed in levels; users' levels didn't reflect true power.
Plus, his unseen period flashed by.
Hunted a dragon in Atlas.
'Blessings from Bokdeongi, Bahala, Arte, Gremory.'
For Undefeated Knight Lukio, inner potential awakened.
High level gains from Gremory hunt led to Desire Dagger, Transcendent+ artifact around his neck.
His displayed level was this, but reality differed vastly.
'Hot.'
Today, he'd confirm what he truly was.
The target: 800 Blood Ghost Corps eyeing him.
"Kill the freak blocking the south gate!"
Blood Ghost Corps were trained fearless, with minimized pain.
800 could overwhelm most territories.
The 800 surged in tidal tactic 'Tsunami'.
'Tsunami' swallowed and swept enemies relentlessly, filling every gap like devouring water.
The gapless charging Blood Ghost Corps.
They, feeling no fear, soon panicked.
Kwaaaaaang—!
Hyun-soo's full-power Twin Dragon Swords first strike shattered the tsunami.
Second strike swept 10 Blood Ghost Corps.
"Gather."
Already clustered, condensing them further was easy.
350 condensed Blood Ghost Corps.
Unable to move without lord's command.
One Blade, Two Cuts
Cleaving power maximized to 641%. Slashes horizontally across 5m radius.
Sgagagagagak—!
Third strike: over 300 Blood Ghost Corps scattered to ash.
"W-what... is that monster...!?"
Count Frey trembled.
Beyond the shattered tsunami, Hyun-soo advanced with ecstasy.
Twin Dragon Swords' forging drew much power from the Supreme Sword.
Superior 'Gather' proved it, and another:
Once More
6% chance to activate.
Uses the most recent skill again.
From Supreme Sword, 'Once More' triggered at 40% with HP <10% restriction.
Restriction gone, probability dropped.
Recent skill, so might proc high or not.
Gather and One Blade Two Cuts linked via 'Chain'.
Brown-coated Hyun-soo eyed Frey; Frey doubted his ears.
"Once More."
"...!?"
The monstrous power repeated.
Of 500 survivors, 350 clustered again.
Fearless trained Blood Ghost Corps felt new shock under supreme strength and oppression.
"Eek, eeeeeek!"
"Hiiiiiik!"
"Monster!"
One Blade, Two Cuts
Just fourth strike: 300 Blood Ghost Corps scattered.
Over the ashes, immense pressure surged from Hyun-soo.
It was the dignity of a future king.
The caliber of a relative powerhouse terrifying thousands on the battlefield.
Surging Overwhelm and perfect timing bred fear.
"L-legs, move!"
"Damn it!"
Ghosts bred solely to kill.
Fifth, sixth, seventh strikes...
Just thirteen strikes total: total annihilation.
"... ."
Frey was speechless.
He'd crushed 800 Blood Ghost Corps and reached him.
But Frey thought differently.
No matter how elite one or two intruders, 40,000 Blood Ghost Corps remained.
Human wave tactics. That alone would subdue him, Frey believed.
His next words made Frey retract that.
"Oh, and I didn't take a single hit."
"...!?"
Frey pissed himself.
Completely soaked.