Demon Beast vs. Demon Beast?
Demon beast versus demon beast? At the sudden approach, the three black-cloaked men instinctively leaped back, widening the distance. One of their eyes narrowed.
...What the hell? Who is this guy?
He stared at the man before him. A tall human with black hair and red eyes. An explosive aura overflowed from him—like flames roaring in the depths of hell. It pulsed endlessly, as if seeking to devour everything in its path. This man before them was far beyond any opponent they'd faced so far. He looked like an ordinary guy at first glance, yet this crushing pressure crawling up their spines... what was it?
"Speak. What were you doing here?"
"......"
"Not gonna answer?"
...No good getting tangled with this one.
Judging as much, the black-cloaked man ignored him and signaled to his subordinate beside him. Spotting it, the subordinate black-cloaked man launched himself toward the resort.
Or tried to.
—Splat!
"Where do you think you're going."
Something black erupted from the ground, snagging the fleeing subordinate's ankle.
"Gah?!"
Caught off guard by the attack, the subordinate groaned as he slammed into the dirt. At the same moment, the leader black-cloaked man drew a dagger from his coat and hurled it. Han Seongjin twisted his head to dodge, then fired off five tentacles.
The tentacles surged toward the leader black-cloaked man and the other subordinate standing nearby.
—Clang clang clang!!
A storm of black blades erupted around the leader, deflecting all the tentacles.
—Slash!
At the same time, he severed the tentacle dragging the subordinate by the ankle. A glint flashed in Han Seongjin's eyes.
To block his tentacles so easily. He glanced at the severed tentacle tip. Black liquid boiled from the cross-section, regenerating in an instant. He shifted his gaze forward.
Beyond the central leader black-cloaked man, he spotted two more black-cloaked figures sprinting down the forest path toward the resort. While the leader kept him busy, the subordinates were up to something. He couldn't let that slide.
In that instant, the ground caved in.
—Whoosh!!
Han Seongjin had kicked off the earth and charged. A speed too fast to track with the naked eye. The leader black-cloaked man flung blades at Han Seongjin as he blew past.
Han Seongjin deployed his Variable Bio-Armor.
—Shrrrrk!
Not partial coverage on parts of his body, but full-body armor. Black plating surged from within, encasing him completely. A mask-like helmet soon formed over his face. Horns reminiscent of a crown protruded from the helmet.
—Clang! Clang clang! Clang!
"?!"
The blades sparked and ricocheted off the sudden armor. Ignoring the attack, Han Seongjin shot past the leader black-cloaked man. For a moment, only a black afterimage lingered.
—Swoosh!!
Bam!!
"Gaaah!!"
The tentacle tore through the air, smashing precisely into the fleeing subordinate black-cloaked man's lower back. The man tumbled across the ground with a scream. Han Seongjin skidded to a halt mid-sprint, spinning from the momentum to whip a distant tentacle. The second subordinate barely ducked.
—Crash crash crash!!
Trees sliced by the tentacle shot skyward.
—Swoosh!
The leader black-cloaked man, now caught up, slashed through the air. A thrust from his dagger targeted Han Seongjin's helmet. He tilted his head slightly, letting the blade glance off. Planting a hand on the ground, he spun, radiating tentacles in a fan toward the three encircling him.
—Clang clang clang!
The three black-cloaked men blocked the tentacle barrage with their weapons and regrouped.
Impossible to escape this guy and reach the resort.
Realizing flight was futile, the subordinates formed up around their leader.
"End it quick!"
At the leader's command, the three erupted with mana simultaneously. Purple mist blanketed the forest. Dozens of shadow blades poured toward Han Seongjin from within.
—Cling! Clang clang clang! Cling!
Sparks flew, shallow scratches marred the armor—but that was it.
└─ Level Increased: Lv.2UNLOCKED ★
Han Seongjin grinned beneath his helmet. A level-up in this situation. At the same time, he tried something new. He'd never done it before, but instinct told him it was possible.
—Shrrrrk!
"What—!"
"The hell?!"
Bio-armor coated the tentacles, sharpening into deadly blades. The smooth tentacles became vicious blade-tentacles.
—BOOM! Boom!
The blade-tentacles shredded the surroundings like a blender. Overwhelming destructive power. Trees flew, rocks shattered, chaos reigned.
Amid the debris, Han Seongjin closed the gap on a black-cloaked man in a flash and threw a punch. The man crossed daggers to block. The impact felt like a truck head-on. The leader black-cloaked man's form skidded back several meters.
Han Seongjin stepped forward and slammed his fist into the ground.
BOOM!
The earth exploded in a dust cloud.
—Swoosh!
Dust obscured the black-cloaked men's vision. A tentacle pierced one subordinate's shoulder in an instant. The leader dove in recklessly, slashing it away. The tentacle tore free, ripping flesh from the shoulder. It felt like striking steel. His dagger vibrated from the shock.
Impossible. Attacks aren't landing at all. And the tentacles... they've changed. Tougher now.
The leader black-cloaked man met Han Seongjin's red eyes. Through the helmet, they gleamed like a predator eyeing prey.
Far off at the resort, voices drifted over.
"The resort is currently off-limits. We're holding an important Inferno operation meeting."
"No such thing! Open the damn door!"
"Pardon? Director of Administration said it himself—there's no way..."
The black-cloaked man ground his teeth. Other factions in the administration were growing suspicious. The barrier wouldn't hold much longer.
Thud, thud. A massive figure in black armor approached, cracking his knuckles. Just watching made their legs tremble. Goosebumps prickled the black-cloaked man's back.
This feeling... it's like...
Like facing Him. The supreme being they could only revere from afar. Staring at this man evoked that presence. Their bodies shook involuntarily, combat will crumbling at the realization they couldn't possibly oppose him. He clenched his jaw, forcing his mind to focus.
"Nngh... I'm fine, Leader... For our cause..."
Blood poured from the subordinate's mangled shoulder. The other was battered head to toe. The leader black-cloaked man bit his lip. He pulled a bead etched with strange runes from his coat and smashed it on the ground.
"Plan A failed. Adjusting objective. Shift to Plan B!"
"Yes!"
Suddenly, their shadows rippled like a vast swamp, swallowing the three.
"Where do you think you're running."
Han Seongjin thrust tentacles rapidly. Just before they impaled a black-cloaked man's head—
—Swoosh!
Their bodies sank into the ground and vanished into the shadows. Han Seongjin's tentacles whipped past where the head had been.
"Tch."
He clicked his tongue behind the helmet. Shadow-based spatial teleportation, huh. They'd slipped away. A chance to uncover their scheme, lost. His gut screamed they were the masterminds behind this incident.
'Plan B,' was it?
The words echoed in his mind. Original plan failed, switching to another. Meaning their scheme wasn't over yet. His head spun, but he shoved it aside.
Deal with that later...
The priority was that. He turned toward the resort. Up close, the air shimmered even from afar. Ordinary eyes might miss it, but his saw it clear. Something was wrong.
His body launched toward the resort.
Resort basement.
"......"
The combat team faced off against the high-rank demon beast. At the words "high-rank demon beast," all eyes turned to confirm, but the charging lesser demon beasts left no room to focus.
Ricardo memorized every move of the beast. The battle's outcome hinged on it. He channeled mana through his body, ready to respond instantly.
[......]
The high-rank demon beast's gaze swept the circle of struggling fighters, appraising each one as it slowly turned its head. Then its eyes—
"......?"
—locked on Serena. Precisely, her sword. Feeling the stare, she gripped it tighter.
Soon.
—Shing.
The high-rank demon beast, the black knight, drew its sword from its waist. Dark as its armor. It gripped it right-handed and lowered into stance.
Ricardo blinked once.
And—
"!"
The jet-black sword hurtled toward his throat. In the blink of an eye, it had closed the distance. Ricardo reacted instantly. Golden light coalesced at his neck.
—Claaang!!
"Ngh!!"
Defense succeeded, but his body flew back.
—Clang!
Serena angled to parry the knight's horizontal sweep. Her white blade clashed with its black one.
—Clang clang! Clang!
"Nngh!"
The knight shoved her flying. Her body left the main group, soaring far. The knight kicked off the ground, overtaking her midair in a flash. Serena rolled on landing, regaining stance. The jet-black sword charged at blinding speed. She deflected it at an angle. A pillar behind shattered from the shockwave.
Serena counterattacked.
—Clang!
The knight retracted its sword instantly to block.
—Shk!
It crossed blades, locking hers firm. Its left hand snapped out like lightning, wrapping and pinning her sword. Her blade sealed in an instant.
"!!"
She gasped at the demon beast wielding swordsmanship.
—Swoosh!
With her sword bound, the knight thrust its right-hand blade. Serena ducked, twisted, and hooked onto her own sword. Spinning, she kicked to shove the knight back and yanked her blade free. Distance opened; deadlock again.
Suddenly, the knight vanished from view. Then a blade tip materialized before her eyes. She jerked her head aside. The edge grazed, blood trickling from her cheek. She leaped back instantly. The knight closed in, thrusting.
—Clang!
She parried glancing off her blade. Hooking the knight's sword on her guard, she slid along it to thrust. The knight dodged. It wrapped her blade again, clamping it under its arm. Thrusting once more with its right sword. Serena ducked as before, twisting to hook—
—Thud.
But this time was different.
—BOOM!
"Guhk—!"
As she hooked, the knight slammed her sword to the floor. Her body crashed down.
—Swoosh!
The knight thrust at her prone form.
"Tch!"
She kicked the blade off course and rolled free. Swordless now. She drew her spare from her waist. The folded blade shink-ed open. The knight charged.
—Clang! Clang clang! Clang!
She parried, repelled, deflected.
—Clang!
Blades locked.
—Whirl!
"!"
It twisted instantly, wrenching her sword aside. Knocking it away, it kicked her body.
—Thud!
"Gahk...!"
The demon beast's kick buried into Serena's side, sending her flying. The knight shot like lightning, thrusting. Target: her heart. The jet-black tip sped toward Serena, pinned against the wall.
—BOOM!
In that instant, Ricardo blasted the knight away. It tumbled back, rolling into a somersault landing.
"Hoo... You alright, Serena?!"
"Cough, hack! Hah, haa... I'm fine. But... getting up right away might be tough."
Serena clutched her side, grimacing. Knowing her, that meant serious injury.
"Understood. Rest up no matter what. Luckily, no lesser demon beasts approach that thing."
As Ricardo said, the lesser demon beasts avoided the high-rank's fight. As if they dared not interfere. A relief for him. If they had, he'd have to protect Serena and fight the high-rank—impossible even for him.
Far off, the main group's situation worsened. Exhausted fighters retreated inward for priest healing, others held the line, rotating as fatigue set in. Barely holding, but for how long?
[GRRAAAAH!]
The crocodile lost a leg to demon beast attacks but tore apart several in retaliation. Z-team's spear-wielding warrior swung desperately. Without them drawing aggro, the main group would've wiped already.
—Whirr.
Ricardo spread his hands. Golden orbs formed in his palms. Far away, the black knight high-rank demon beast advanced again, sword scraping eerily.
He had to drop it fast.
Clink.
The knight raised its sword, tip on Ricardo. As if demanding payment for interrupting the duel.
It's coming!
Ricardo braced.
That instant.
—RUMBLE RUMBLE BOOM!!
The entire hall shook like an earthquake. Concrete dust rained from the ceiling like snow; debris bounced on the floor.
"Wh-what?! The ceiling!"
"It's collapsing!! Everyone, evade!!"
As the main group shouted, the ceiling caved in.
—Crunch! Crumble!
Chunks crushed demon beasts. The main group barely reached the edge.
—KABOOOOOM!!!!
A massive roar, and something black plummeted like a meteor through the smoke.
It crossed between Ricardo and Serena, crashing atop the charging high-rank demon beast. Midair, a massive black line whipped like a lash.
—BOOM!!
[?!]
No time to react. The knight's black sword clashed with the tentacle, but overwhelming mass and spin sent it flying.
—CRASH!!
The high-rank demon beast's form cannonballed into the hall wall.
"......!"
Dust settled, revealing the thing from the ceiling.
A grotesque figure clad head to toe in black armor. Crown-like horns on the helmet. Ricardo's face twisted at the overwhelming sight.
Another high-rank demon beast? He bit his lip. The first knight alone meant probable wipeout—now this monstrosity that one-shotted it burst through the ceiling.
Ricardo stepped forward, anticipating attack. But the demon beast's reaction was unexpected.
...Ignoring me?
It merely scanned the room. No attacks on people, no destruction. Then its gaze fixed one way. Following it—
—Creak, thud!
At the far end, the black knight rose from the rubble with grotesque joint pops. It regripped its black sword toward the intruder that crushed its pride.
[ROOOAAAR!!]
The knight's roar shook the hall. The demon beast blasted forward at unseen speed toward the knight. The knight charged back.
—BOOM BOOM BOOM!!
The bloody clash of two black-armored monsters began.