Independent Nation (3)
Kalm hated it.
'Gremory, the demon commanding 22 legions, will invade Atlas in two years?'
Just hearing it made his teeth chatter.
Gremory herself was powerful enough, but each of her 22 legion commanders was on par with a human legend.
'Even if I regain the strength I had back in old Atlas, history will repeat itself.'
That's why he wanted to return to dust.
It was better to let go than cling to fleeting hope.
And becoming soil was a hundred, a thousand times preferable to facing Gremory again. He desperately wanted to go back.
'Kalm, you know what to do, right?'
Bon and Kalm had spent a long time together, so a glance was enough to convey the intent.
The condition for Kalm to pick his opponent was this.
'Someone who looks like a total pushover.'
An lord desperately trying to hold onto them somehow.
A mere human claiming preparations were in place for the demon invasion two years from now.
He would point out the biggest pushover in this territory, shatter their arrogance, and make them face reality.
And it wasn't out of malice toward Lord Hyun-soo.
'Feel it. Feel the terror... and abandon Atlas, even if you have to flee.'
To put it simply, Hyun-soo was as good as marked on Gremory's map.
Though Kalm didn't serve him, the current lord of Atlas and everything he'd built crumbling would leave a bitter taste.
So he rolled his eyes.
'Who'd be perfect?'
Kalm's gaze landed on a suitable target.
A white Sigorzab hound racing full tilt, dragging a human along like a paper doll.
"Bokdeongi, slow down a bit..."
It was to the point where the man looked like a kite.
An adult man being dragged by a mere puppy?
His frame was gaunt, his clothes shabby and unremarkable.
Of course, Kalm was a veteran of countless battles and didn't judge by appearances alone.
Experts like him could gauge a person's innate mana.
'Nothing at all.'
If he couldn't sense it, the person was truly ordinary—or worse.
Kalm's lips twitched wildly.
He pointed with a finger.
"I'll fight that man walking his dog over there."
The man walking the dog, Kabel, tilted his head.
The reason no energy emanated from him?
As a born assassin class, he possessed the passive skill Stealthy Assassin.
He was also the highest-level user with it.
"Kabel, come here a sec..."
Before Hyun-soo could finish, Kabel was already approaching.
"Mang! Mang-mang!"
Bokdeongi was thrashing to get to Hyun-soo.
Kabel arrived and spoke gravely.
"Bokdeongi's poop is looser than usual."
"..."
Kalm stared in utter bewilderment.
This man Kabel was profoundly serious and deep.
Hand even on his chin.
"A dog's bowel movements reflect its health. I feed him only the best every day, so I can't understand why it's suddenly loose."
"Did I cause it with the snack I gave yesterday?"
"...Didn't I say not to give him just anything? If you must, check the ingredients first. No preservatives or additives."
Puhahaha!
Kalm, Bon, and the Black Wind Corps behind them nearly doubled over laughing.
A grown man trembling over a single dog?
The Black Wind Corps were Atlas's elite, forged through brutal training.
Their levels rivaled the Blood Ghost Corps at minimum.
Looking at Kabel, they thought:
'Sir Kalm picked a perfect mark!'
Hyun-soo explained the situation.
"No can do. It's Bokdeongi's walk time right now. Gotta put him down for his nap after."
Hearing that, Kalm nearly burst out laughing.
"That damn mutt means that much to you? Your mind's rotten. How soft must your life have been to say that?"
Kabel hadn't lived a soft life.
In truth, he never slacked on self-training.
He was one of the most intensely disciplined, user or otherwise.
"That mutt? One bite from me and it's done."
'Hey, you crazy bastard!'
Hyun-soo panicked.
Some call people who cherish pets like family extreme.
But to them, dogs and cats heal wounds and ease loneliness—they're family.
Hyun-soo panicked at the fallout from that remark but soon glared.
'Now I'm pissed too?'
Thinking it over, yeah, he was mad.
Screw it.
And as Hyun-soo predicted, it happened.
"..."
Silent Kabel glanced down at Bokdeongi.
"Maaang..."
Bokdeongi plopped down, signaling he'd wait.
Kabel said nothing.
That made it scarier.
Asura's killing was silent.
Kalm, thinking his taunt worked, chuckled and planned a quick kill.
As Kabel stepped forward, black wind aura swirled from Kalm.
Grroooo—
Master of swift sword, Kalm.
No one in Atlas but Commander Bon could match his blade speed.
His swift strike flashed like light.
In the blink of an eye.
The strike reached Kabel's throat instantly.
That moment.
Puk—
"...?"
Kalm's vision spun.
Swift strike or not.
A dagger drawn at impossible speed pierced his brow precisely, activating a skill.
Annihilation
Deals 750% additional damage, guaranteeing 100% hit on a single target.
HP drops below 3%.
Kalm barely survived and collapsed.
And contrary to Hyun-soo's expectations, Kabel was rational and cautious.
He just stared at Kalm like a bug.
"..."
Kalm was speechless. Bon was the most shocked.
'One second...?'
Yes, just one second.
In one second, Kalm was inches from death.
What was shocking was that it came from what seemed like an ordinary passerby(?).
Bon couldn't believe the scene.
'Even legends couldn't neutralize Kalm that fast...'
Of course not.
Assassins traded defense for double the burst damage of typical dealers.
Their skills amplified that, packing instant-kill potential.
"That do it?"
Bon denied Hyun-soo's question.
"Did you hide him on purpose?"
"...?"
Hyun-soo tilted his head. Honestly, no, it wasn't intentional.
Kabel happened by, and Hyun-soo got inspired.
"One more time."
"Why should I?"
"I haven't sworn yet."
Like a kid throwing a tantrum.
Bon knew he was being unreasonable.
To end it, he offered:
"Atlas intel. Win this, and I'll share one piece."
Atlas hid many secrets.
What Hyun-soo knew was just the tip of the iceberg.
And he was curious about the talents slumbering here.
"Approved."
Hyun-soo scanned sharply.
Someone who'd come with him to meet Bon.
'That guy's perfect...'
Bon put forward another.
"Basam, step up."
Not quite Kalm's level, but Basam was an excellent knight.
Abnormally high defense and stamina for a tank.
Basam grew cautious.
'A guy walking a dog is that strong? Who to pick? Maybe...?'
He eyed Nel.
Maybe that woman was weak?
No.
Fooled once, not twice.
Or maybe the decent-looking but not quite one was weak.
'No, drop the weakling hunt. At least someone I can beat—a knight-level.'
His gaze locked on one.
"I'll point to that man."
Hyun-soo nearly danced with glee at his choice.
'Wow, your luck sucks.'
The man was engrossed in something.
***
Lukio had spent ages imprisoned in Gremory's prison.
There, he felt many desires, but hunger hit hardest.
Not unexpected.
He slept plenty, endured torture fine, but Gremory's prison.
Demon food sustained him for decades.
Centipede guts.
Stale pig intestines or blood.
Rotten deer antlers.
If accustomed from the start, maybe.
But human-food-loving Lukio found it hell.
So he thought:
'Once out, I want human food.'
First thing upon arriving in Atlas: chicken breast.
Lukio had always been meticulous with his body.
After decades of guts, popping chicken breast in his mouth brought heavenly harmony.
Tough texture turned soft and juicy.
Nutty flavor deepened with each chew.
So.
Crunch crunch—
Slurp slurp.
Chew chew—
Even following Hyun-soo, he kept eating.
Just boiled in plain water, no seasoning.
Yet eyes welled up at the first bite.
Lukio still looked like a beggar.
Eating chicken breast near Hyun-soo.
Basam pointed at him.
Reason?
'...Chicken breast can't taste good. That guy's nuts.'
Black Wind Corps were strict on diet too.
Chicken breast alone made them gag.
Yet he ate it so happily?
And like seeing food after decades? Plenty suspicious.
But the pointed Lukio said:
"Bothersome."
"...?"
Straightforward. Basam thought:
'Yeah, looks like he won't listen.'
And Basam was convinced he was scared.
Hyun-soo grew anxious instead.
'Ah, just help once.'
Of course, since Lukio's loyalty wasn't secured yet.
He belonged to the territory but wasn't clearly Hyun-soo's vassal.
And defusing fights like this wouldn't help Hyun-soo's image.
Hyun-soo racked his brain.
If this plan failed again, new direction needed.
But before that, Basam spoke.
"Scared?"
"...?"
Hyun-soo panicked.
Lukio, mid-bite and savor, paused.
Who was Lukio?
The man who slew 52 level-450 commanders and a level-480 supreme commander over a "scared?" taunt.
'Why dig their graves with shovels, climb in, and close the lid themselves...'
Lukio made no grand gesture.
Drew his waist dagger.
Shing—
Threw it.
Puk—
Precise brow hit.
Basam's HP drops below 10%.
Watching Basam fall, he resumed crunching chicken breast.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
But did they know?
Overwhelming someone without fanfare.
Nothing scarier.
Black Wind Corps held their breath.
And this overwhelming power revealed an unexpected truth to Hyun-soo.
Bon stared, panicked, stepping back.
"...Why are you here?"
Bon couldn't grasp why he was present.
Yes, they were from the same era.
Bon's words shocked Black Wind Corps, Nel—even Hyun-soo.
"Lukio, walker of the Overlord's Path. Why are you here?!"