Fenrir Hunt (4)
Fenrir was the most iconic legendary monster.
Even on the Asgan Continent, the Korean server, fragments of Fenrir existed, and they were scattered across the world.
Because of this, everyone knew Fenrir's terrifying trait.
It was their indestructible defense and enormous total HP pool.
Only someone of equal strength could kill a powerhouse.
They knew Hyun-soo had landed a hit because he was such a powerhouse, but the world denied it.
The thousands witnessing it on this battlefield had denied it too.
But now, from where Hyun-soo stood.
They could feel it.
The inside of the mouth.
Whether human or beast.
No living creature could ever toughen that spot.
The eyes were the classic example, but eye strikes were rarely allowed in practice.
Humans instinctively blinked at the slightest threat, thanks to their reflexes.
And even if struck, losing an eye wasn't a devastating blow.
The mouth, though?
That changed everything.
You couldn't train the inside of your mouth or make it harder.
Soft, pink flesh tinged with vulnerability.
The weakest spot on any monster.
And if you drove an attack straight down its throat?
The damage would be unimaginable.
Especially if that damage came from the newly awakened power of the Sword King.
Sword Frenzy
Hyun-soo's original Sword Cry unleashed about forty blades alongside a stun debuff, shredding every enemy in range, with additional attack power capping at a mere 200%.
But Sword Frenzy was different.
60 blades tear apart all recognized enemies with 410% additional attack power.
Both Sword Cry and Sword Frenzy shared one flaw.
The blades struck indiscriminately.
Against a single target, more than half often missed the mark.
But when Hyun-soo was inside the mouth, aiming for the throat?
All sixty blades could plunge straight into its gullet.
Kuhooooo—
If Sword Cry overwhelmed foes with a metallic screech like grinding steel, Sword Frenzy erupted in crimson energy surging from the blade.
Everyone held their breath at the red aura bursting from its maw.
And Hyun-soo.
Kwaaak—
Gripping the Twin Dragon Swords with all his might, he felt it.
This power was so immense it nearly crushed him too.
Finally, atop Fenrir's tongue.
Hyun-soo unleashed everything.
Sugaaaaa—!
A single blade struck true down the throat of the mountain-like Fenrir with a massive whoosh.
Kwajaaaak—
-121,016 HP
Ares was a game based on reality.
Vital hits naturally dealt far greater damage.
Starting from that first blade, all sixty plunged into its throat.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwa—!
The blades didn't just dance wildly inside the throat.
True to its "within range" effect, slashes erupted across Fenrir's massive body outside the mouth too.
-131,301 HP
-111,094 HP
-100,001 HP
-141,051 HP
-131,001 HP
-111,001 HP
-149,413 HP
-93,077 HP
-113,008 HP
-154,018 HP
The DPS surging from Fenrir.
Too much to track visually, numbers flashing by in a blur.
And Fenrir, enduring dozens of blades in its throat.
"Kkae, kkae-gang! Kkae-gae-gang...!"
It couldn't bear the agony, reduced to pathetic whimpers.
Before the eyes of thousands.
The 11-meter behemoth that had stood unyielding.
Kiiiii—
Its strength failed, body tilting slowly before collapsing.
Kuwooooong—
Dust billowed thick, then parted to reveal Hyun-soo in his brown coat, gasping for breath.
In stark contrast, Fenrir's ruined maw as it crumbled struck the world like lightning.
And everyone fixated on one thing.
How much damage had that ultimate crammed into the mouth inflicted on Fenrir, the legendary monster with the highest HP total?
Fenrir's HP drops below 7%.
The revealed damage left all in shock.
40% of its HP in one go.
Fenrir's health pool, which even demons yielded to—it had taken that much from a single attack.
And the frozen Blood Ghost Corps commander, Pick.
He denied it, trembled in fear.
'If Fenrir dies, Emperor Volond will slaughter the entire Blood Ghost Corps upon learning of it.'
Fenrir's value was that immense. He had to stop this somehow.
"Everyone, protect Fenrir and retreat with him—nowwww!"
The shocking order rang out.
The mighty Parion Empire.
At least thirteen times larger than Goyad Kingdom.
Experts claimed the 50,000 Blood Ghost Corps equaled 500,000 regular troops.
Yet this colossal force issued a retreat order against one master craftsman's might.
And Commander Pick.
Puwoooo—!
"......"
He tilted his head at the sword piercing his back.
He hadn't even heard it.
More shocking were the words that followed.
"Your master's got some moves. Who knew that was an option? That should do it."
Do what?
"For becoming the new king."
"......!?"
Only then did Pick realize.
The man who annihilated the Blood Ghost Corps and humbled Fenrir.
He was the future king to lead a new Goyad.
Of course, Pick wouldn't live to see it.
Puhwaaak—!
Dead by Lukio's hand.
Hyun-soo felt it.
The denial of thousands, erased in that single moment.
Then, the Blood Ghost Corps charging madly to protect Fenrir.
And Fenrir snapping back to its senses.
A battered wreck, but it sensed hope.
7% HP left.
Even that was beyond what Goyad's Sword Sage could touch.
The man ahead had expended much strength.
'I have to escape.'
The Goyad forces witnessed the unbelievable.
Fenrir, who toppled two fortresses and threatened the capital.
Kuwooooong—
Now fleeing with tail between its legs.
It sent shivers through Goyad's ranks, but also ignited fury.
'We can't let it escape!'
'It'll come back!'
Hyun-soo agreed.
But could he catch the fleeing Fenrir again?
As doubts swirled.
Linkage. The word branded onto the Twin Dragon Swords.
This linkage chained powers for faster casting and greater force.
Like Gathering.
Gathering was Draw's maximized form.
But Hyun-soo's mind raced.
Even drawing it once wouldn't stop the escape.
He etched a new 'concept' into his mind, maximizing Draw.
Draw
Jjaaaaak—!
The distant Fenrir yanked back.
Nothing new so far.
Kwaaaaang—
It staggered from the hit, flying back.
That too.
But the evolved Draw held this power.
Draw
Struck enemies are infinitely drawn for 4 seconds.
Fenrir tried fleeing again post-hit, but got yanked once more.
Jjaaaaak—
Kwaaaang—
It tried the sky next.
Jjaaaaak—
Yanked again.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Five.
Eight.
Endlessly drawn and struck.
Master Craftsman Hyun-soo shone brighter; legendary Fenrir suffered humiliation.
The escaper and the absolute blocker.
"Kkae, kkae-gae-gang!"
Fenrir's HP drops below 1%.
Finally, with nowhere to flee, Fenrir screamed before Hyun-soo.
The howl of a wolf over a century old.
One victorious sword stroke remained.
One Stroke, Two Cuts
The pinnacle of linkage.
Hyun-soo pulled his sword back, the final slash writhing in anticipation.
And then.
"This place is......"
A woman shuddered at Hyun-soo's opening mouth.
Nel.
'Too fast.'
The feats Hyun-soo achieved now, witnessed by all.
Proved he aimed for an unprecedented legend in Goyad, to become a hero.
As Hyun-soo began with "This place is......", Nel thought.
'Too fast, but it's the right moment. No choice.'
She imagined his words.
'This is my land, the kingdom I will rule.'
Slightly different phrasing, but the same intent—she had no doubt.
Nel was awestruck.
Those words would nail down a new king's birth in Goyad the instant he spoke.
'Say it. Proclaim the dawn of the new king's era.'
She anticipated.
Elsewhere.
A kingdom's king smiled bitterly at the words from those lips.
'......Already come this far?'
Barad knew what he would say.
The ripples it would cause.
If he solidified his position with such a claim.
'......I'd be forced to step down under pressure.'
Barad would lose his throne, not yield it willingly.
His heart ached fiercely.
Not the picture he desired, but crafted by his sole friend Hyun-soo.
"......"
The king forced a smile.
Half genuine. For his one true friend.
For the successor to his house's swordsmanship.
'Banya, your father must yield now.'
It hurt deeply, but he blessed it sincerely, turning away.
Yet his eyes wavered at the words that followed.
Defying both his and Nel's expectations, words spilled from Hyun-soo's lips.
Hyun-soo knew well.
'A chance that won't come again.'
He acknowledged it was hasty, but if possible, seize it.
Yet he knew.
Barad, who gave him so much, guided him, cherished him—would be pushed out.
He hated that.
So Hyun-soo solidified his own position his way, and even safeguarded the king's.
His lips parted.
"This place is......"
All eyes locked on Hyun-soo's mouth.
"My liege, my people, my soldiers......"
He didn't claim it for himself alone.
Inclusive of all.
And finally.
"Our kingdom."
Not claiming it solely for himself.
Instead, the impact was greater.
"......"
The three marquises were moved to tears.
In a moment to exalt himself, he declared it 'our kingdom'.
Sword Sage Laisen unwittingly roared in cheers.
He acknowledged their shared fight, mentioned Barad, called it his kingdom.
Yet 'my' for the heir's firm position, 'our land' respecting all.
And with that.
Seogeoooook—
Fenrir oxidized to ash.
Hyun-soo, naming Barad, the people, soldiers—all who fought today.
This only fueled the people's and soldiers' fervor to praise him more.
The king kept his seat too.
As Fenrir fully scattered.
Hyun-soo, using 'our', hinted at forging his path to kingship his way.
Amid cheers contrasting the retreating enemy, he stood.
All here felt it.
Hyun-soo was building a new kingdom his way.
And it was our kingdom.