Fenrir Hunt (1)
Sword Sage Laisen.
He was seventy years old, but still one of the strongest figures leading Goyad Kingdom.
Originally, there had been Roman as well, called the twin pillars alongside him.
But that man had tried to kill the king's heir and ended up slain instead.
As a result, those who had followed Sword Master Roman were forced to huddle in fear.
They couldn't easily choose a new master.
But the moment war broke out, Sword Sage Laisen raised swordsmanship families across the nation.
"Old men don't die. What nonsense."
Laisen gazed at the knights prepared for death.
Knights summoned from across the country.
Many among them had once followed Sword Master Roman.
They had wondered if following a new Sword Sage was right.
But his single phrase set their blood ablaze.
"So even if we die, I'll go first. You all live."
"Waaaaah!"
Having lived a long life, Laisen knew how to command people.
And the real reason they chose to follow him.
It was because he truly embraced death.
Yet even as veteran Laisen poured out every ounce of strength from his nursing days, even fighting with resolve to die, he couldn't reverse the swift tide of collapse.
Then, at that moment.
A man who was still just building his influence.
A young upstart in Sword Sage Laisen's eyes.
He heard the news that eight hundred Blood Ghost Corps had been annihilated by Hyun-soo's fingertips.
How...?
Sword Sage Laisen could only be stunned.
The reason he'd thought Hyun-soo hadn't joined the battle.
Not a single scratch marred his body.
Annihilating eight hundred Blood Ghost Corps without a single wound?
Sword Sage Laisen had once sparred with Hyun-soo and lost by a hair's breadth.
After that day, he'd felt his own limits and grown stronger.
He'd shown firsthand that users and NPCs grow together.
But now, sensing the aura emanating from the current Hyun-soo.
So that's it... Being weak means you can grow stronger than anyone else.
Until seeing him, Laisen had been filled with distrust toward Hyun-soo.
Could someone so weak lead the kingdom of the mighty Sword King?
But now that thought was changing.
...He's strong.
Laisen smiled inwardly.
Perhaps my king saw what I couldn't.
The joy of their dramatic reunion was fleeting.
Dung-dung-dung-dung!
The sound of drums pounded fiercely from amid the Parion Empire forces.
The signal for total assault.
"Sir Laisen, withdraw all troops from now on."
"...What are you saying?"
Laisen furrowed his brow.
Total assault.
If they didn't fight back, the Blood Ghost Corps would fill the walls leading to the capital.
The story changes when they reach the walls versus when they don't.
Once they close in, the fall accelerates.
They'll scale the walls, fly in on airborne monsters to slaughter the archers atop them.
And masses of Blood Ghost Corps will drop down for a massacre.
Yet despite his incomprehension, Laisen sensed Hyun-soo had a plan.
Soon, hearing it, Laisen paled.
"Neutralize them...? Thirty-five thousand Blood Ghost Corps?"
Laisen knew what power he meant.
But he still couldn't grasp it.
The royal family had analysts who gauged the king's power.
Sword King's killing intent.
That force was immense.
Tested in the coliseum, it had swallowed five thousand whole.
But that was it.
"Withdrawing the army isn't easy. And without certainty it can be done, they won't retreat."
If they withdrew and it didn't go as Hyun-soo said, Goyad would fall even faster.
Soon, proof came from Hyun-soo's finger.
"...?"
The ring on the hand he extended.
Laisen recognized it instantly and fell on his ass.
"Impossible..."
No matter how strong Laisen was, he was just a powerful human in one kingdom.
Humans had beings they simply viewed with terror.
Demons.
Transcendent beings no human dared even dream of slaying.
Records abounded of demons toppling kingdoms in a day or massacring them.
Yes.
Demons were such existences.
Transcendent toying with humans.
And those who slew demons were the grandest legends among legends.
The one who forged that legend.
Laisen had also heard recent tales of seals spreading across the continent.
"I'll withdraw all troops."
Resolved, Laisen rose.
"Should I announce it?"
"Don't. But even without announcing, if the knights you lead retreat, the withdrawal will spread naturally. Have them shout 'retreat'."
Laisen was impressed.
The knights following him now made up 30%.
In chaos, reason paralyzed by fear, even the resolute will retreat with the army.
Hyun-soo had read that in an instant.
"When all forces have withdrawn, every citizen and soldier must plug their ears, close their eyes, and never release him. There'll be one massive tremor. Open your eyes ten seconds after that."
Laisen nodded firmly.
Status abnormality machine.
The best counter: don't hear, don't see, don't feel its power.
Even for a demon's.
But normally, it's useless.
You face it suddenly, can't fight blind and deaf.
But 'knowing and preparing' versus 'not knowing' was worlds apart.
As Laisen turned to go, he glanced back.
"...Your Highness bears deep wounds."
The words held layers.
And a question: is it possible?
His answer.
Hearing it, Laisen stared long.
"...I see. Then I'll kill the bastard who did that to my friend."
If bluffing, absurd words.
But his skin felt it wasn't.
Seeing that confident, assured expression, Laisen turned.
"Retreat! All forces, retreat!"
Laisen's shout.
It struck Goyad's army like lightning.
The knights he led followed, trusting him utterly.
"What?"
"Why retreat?"
"Dunno, but we retreat too."
"Retreeeeat!"
"Retreat, I said!"
With it, cries of despair from citizens believing defeat spread everywhere.
Those wails shook Goyad's capital, spurring the Blood Ghost Corps faster with victory's joy.
Many Goyad knights and soldiers questioned it.
"Retreat? Fuck this shit! Who guards the kingdom if we fall back?!"
Knight Ken was among them.
He charged the Blood Ghost Corps, refusing retreat.
But.
"Ken."
"We gotta go."
"Retreat order!"
"Fuck, I'm fighting!"
His comrades grabbed his arms, dragging him inside.
Ken.
For the first time, he resented this country.
Retreat meant yielding the land, proving their weakness.
Screeech—
The gates slammed shut fast.
Hearing it, Ken's eyes bloodshot.
"You fuckers, I can fight more...!"
Now fully inside.
"..."
He saw the capital's huddled, weeping citizens and soldiers.
They suppressed cries or furious shouts.
The walls too.
At center, Sword Sage Laisen.
Shh.
He pressed a finger to lips secretly, gesturing low like the others.
Then Ken understood.
Goyad hadn't retreated.
They, pushed back relentlessly, prepared a counterstrike.
Soon Ken huddled too, ears plugged, eyes shut.
Waiting for the massive tremor as Laisen said.
I didn't know Fenrir had such power.
A variable.
The three marquises.
Goyad's most precious figures now.
"Summon Gremory."
Between wide-mouthed Fenrir and the three marquises.
Through that gap, summoning Gremory, Hyun-soo's heart pounded madly.
Demon Descent
Afflicted with Extreme Despair status.
Afflicted with Extreme Frustration status.
Afflicted with Extreme Terror status.
Afflicted with status abnormality...
"H-heuk...!"
"B-breath...!"
"Hiiik!"
Thirty-five thousand Blood Ghost Corps.
All plunged into panic upon encountering the suddenly appeared demon Gremory.
Demon Gremory's status abnormality choked their throats, disrupting breathing.
Blood seeped from everywhere, heightening primal terror.
Ancient texts described it: 'One who encounters a demon meets death on the spot.'
Indeed, the HP of thirty-five thousand Blood Ghost Corps plummeted rapidly.
Not just them.
Fenrir, facing the demon head-on.
Did a legendary monster feel no fear?
No.
Even the strongest human freezes before a gunman firing wildly.
Especially the aura from transcendent demon Gremory—something mere Fenrir couldn't withstand.
And Hyun-soo, hidden among the Blood Ghost Corps.
Disguised in a dead one's artifact, he looked just like them.
Naturally, Hyun-soo fell under the status abnormality too.
Is this all you saw?
Gremory's prison.
When Gremory's Ring said 'not as impressive as thought,' Bahala and Kabel's expressions were subtle.
Hyun-soo hadn't believed it then, missing things from overconfidence.
Now he felt it.
Of course, he knew they hadn't hidden it maliciously.
Thanks instead. Because you didn't tell me, I saw broader.
Not knowing sparked genius ideas.
What they saw: up to 'Demon Descent' status abnormality.
And Gremory's disdainful look at Fenrir upon descent, treating it as mongrel trash.
She sensed it.
The human who sealed her.
Where he was.
"Move."
"Kyak!"
She kicked Fenrir away.
Her gaze sought one man, found him.
The instant Gremory's eyes locked, Hyun-soo's middle fingers flipped up.
"...!?"
Gremory, furious at being summoned, seeking her summoner.
She saw him grinning like 'hehehe, fucker.'
Facing him, unbelievable power rippled out.
Kuwoooo—
The Blood Ghost Corps there couldn't comprehend.
"Die."
Why the demon glared at their side with such hatred.
Why she unleashed max demonic energy.
Kuwoooo—
Condensed rage.
And Hyun-soo, holding Gremory's Ring, knew.
If summoned and seeing him, what fury she'd unleash, which legion commander's power she'd borrow.
That commander.
Legion 2, titled Explosion Legion Commander.
"..."
"..."
"..."
All eyes turned skyward.
"I'll kill you no matter what!!!!"
With Gremory's sanity-shredding scream, a massive black spear laden with explosive force plummeted straight down.
Demonic energy-clad, yet beautifully majestic.
Where it fell.
None other than where Hyun-soo had stood moments ago.
Using Return Scroll.
Hyun-soo vanished in light; 0.1 seconds later, it struck his spot.
Pfooooosh—!
That instant.
The spear's true power revealed.
Like a nuke.
Hellfire waves spread, massive inferno explosion erupted.
Kwahaaaaaaaang—
The heaven-shaking hellfire blast swept fifteen thousand Blood Ghost Corps.