Chapter 79
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 79.
Avoid the enemies as long as possible.
Yoo Baek-jun moved while hiding, observing the movements of the demons. More and more demons were descending to the surface.
"The offensive seems to be intensifying."
"They must sense something suspicious since they're desperately defending the fortress."
"Can they hold out for long?"
"No."
Yoo Baek-jun shook his head.
The number of enemies was overwhelming. If the first wave was in the thousands, now it was in the tens of thousands. This is impossible to stop no matter how hard we try.
All we can do is endure.
"We have to deal with it before that."
As the offensive against the surface intensified, the number of demons guarding the demon realm had significantly decreased.
Noticeably so compared to before.
Yoo Baek-jun continued moving forward.
'This is as far as we go.'
He had reached a point where further infiltration was impossible.
Yoo Baek-jun observed the situation outside.
—By the order of the Legion Commanders! Reinforce the surface! All available forces, follow!
—Hey! What about us?
—You stay here and follow Commander Grimoire orders! Guard Mephisto-sama in case of any unforeseen circumstances!
Demons were bustling about.
"Hmm…."
And then, a massive temple-like structure made entirely of stone. Surrounded by stone walls, with a large number of demons guarding it.
It resembled a fortress more than a temple.
'I remember hearing that there were originally monsters living in the subterranean world. The demons fought them for a long time to gain control of the subterranean world.'
In the process, many demons died, and some legions suffered heavy losses and were disbanded.
That was the setting, as far as I recall.
"Going stealth seems difficult now."
"Yeah, from here on, it's a head-on battle. Though, I won't be the one fighting head-on."
The enemies' vigilance was too tight to infiltrate with this many people.
If it were just me, I could use Wraith Form.
'But this isn't an enemy I can handle alone.'
Yoo Baek-jun took a deep breath.
"The tight security means the enemy commander is inside that temple. And… Yoo Min?"
"...I know. We just have to make a loud disturbance, right? To draw the enemies out."
"Good, you catch on fast."
Yoo Min sighed and gripped her sword.
A sword emitting a chilling blue aura.
An A+-grade item gifted to her by her father.
She carried multiple other swords at her waist due to her unique fighting style.
"You guys stay back for now."
After saying that to Yoo Baek-jun, Yoo Min stepped forward with Han Seong-ah and the swordsmen.
Swoosh! Shadows emerging from the darkness.
—Huh?
One of the demons guarding the temple entrance noticed their presence.
But before he could say anything.
—Guh… Ugh!
A sword pierced his throat.
It came so fast, at such an unexpected moment, that he couldn't even react.
Then, a faint afterimage appeared, slowly pulling the sword from his throat.
—Uwaaaah!
—E-enemies…!
The afterimage swept through the surrounding demons.
Before the panicking demons could even shout about the attack, someone burst out from the darkness like lightning.
Swish!
Yoo Min.
She drew two swords from her waist and swiftly executed the initial forms of the Heavenly Destruction Sword Technique.
Han Seong-ah and the swordsmen followed.
Their blades tore through the enemies, and the swordsmen's defensive techniques blocked the demons' counter attacks.
"...Huh, I thought we were supposed to attack the gate."
They fought noisily.
The commotion drew more demons, and Yoo Baek-jun seized the opportunity to move.
"Let's go."
Yoo Baek-jun and his group scaled the walls.
Watching them disappear into the temple, Yoo Min sighed and raised her sword.
Demons were swarming in.
—What’s all this noise?
And then, a Legion Commander appeared.
The vampire Grimoire, who had shown up when the gate first opened, appeared.
His body was covered in white scars from the effects of the Judgment.
—Prey? Why is prey here?
—Commander G-Grimoire! We don’t know either…!
—Tch, how absurd.
Grimoire clicked his tongue and flicked his fingers in an elegant motion.
Swoosh!
Bats flew in from somewhere and gathered around him, taking shape.
The forms of vampires.
—I was badly injured, but it’s fortunate that my prey came to me on their own.
A smile played on Grimoire’s lips.
—You shall not pass. Offer me your blood quietly…!
His sharp fangs gleamed.
Yoo Min sighed as she watched.
"...Instructor Han Seong-ah, can you cover my back?"
"Yes, young lady."
Yoo Min and Han Seong-ah stood back-to-back.
"...I never thought I’d fight side by side with you like this. Especially in a place like this."
"Neither did I, young lady."
"You refused when my brother and sister asked you to join them. What changed your mind?"
"Who knows?"
Han Seong-ah smiled bitterly.
Even she hadn’t expected to end up like this.
Who would’ve thought? That Han Seong-ah would become someone’s personal instructor.
But she had no regrets.
"Lady Yoo Min, the enemies are closing in."
"Yeah…."
Enemies were approaching from all sides.
Yoo Min channeled her magic. The numerous swords at her waist floated up naturally.
"Just like he said, let’s buy some time."
The swords danced through the air.
* * *
The inside of the temple was chaotic.
—Enemy attack! There are enemies outside!
—What? Enemies? How did they get past the barrier?
—Look outside, you idiot!
—H-humans?!
The demons were in disarray from the sudden ambush. Who would’ve thought humans would attack the demon realm, protected by the barrier?
They rushed outside in a panic.
But some remained.
"Kill them all as we go. Jin Seo-yeon stays in the back. The rest of you, protect her and follow."
"Yes."
"I'm not some helpless child, you know."
Ignoring Jin Seo-yeon’s complaints, Yoo Baek-jun entered the temple.
Demons were moving frantically.
He activated his skills one after another.
'First, Berserker.'
Yoo Baek-jun’s eyes turned red as if filled with madness, and a red aura emanated from his body.
Next, Blood Flow Acceleration.
His mana circulated violently, accelerating his blood flow. His body was fully activated.
'Kill as many as possible.'
Stacking buffs.
Yoo Baek-jun locked eyes with a nearby demon. He grinned savagely.
Boom!
And then, he charged.
Dodging the demon’s counterattack with a twist, he drove his fist into its face.
With a loud crack, the demon’s face exploded.
The demon’s corpse collapsed.
—W-what…!
A nearby comrade gasped in horror.
Was it surprising that one punch blew a face apart? The next target was him.
The demon frantically summoned demonic energy.
"Guh!"
Yoo Baek-jun deflected the incoming orb with his reinforced hand and closed the distance.
Then, he punched straight through the demon’s chest. Its heart was obliterated instantly.
His fist was drenched in blood.
'Faster.'
He moved fluidly.
Sometimes fists, sometimes a sword, sometimes a spear.
Switching between three weapons freely, he slaughtered the demons.
—R-red…!
Yoo Baek-jun’s body grew even redder.
Berserker—a skill that resets its duration and grows stronger with each kill.
The stacks were nearing their limit.
"Haa…!"
Following Yoo Baek-jun’s rampage, Lee Jun-woo and the swordsmen chased after him.
Lee Jun-woo clicked his tongue in disbelief.
'What kind of power is this?'
He was stunned internally.
He knew Yoo Baek-jun had grown stronger. His growth rate was extraordinary.
But the power he was displaying now was abnormal. It was stronger than what he should have.
'His aura still feels like a B+-grade Hunter. But why?'
Watching him fight these demons was like watching an S-grade Hunter.
It felt utterly bizarre.
—They’re over there!
—Don’t let them go any further!
Demons heading for the main gate noticed the commotion and turned their way.
As they charged, multiple layered barriers suddenly unfolded before them.
—Guh! What the hell is this?!
"Move fast."
"Ah, yes."
Jin Seo-yeon’s magic.
She urged the swordsmen forward. The demons would take time to break the barriers.
They just had to cut down whoever stood in their way.
—Stop them, stop…!
—For Lord Mephisto!
Demons blocked their path.
Their attacks utilized their racial traits and demonic magic, but that was all.
Nothing they couldn’t handle.
Yoo Baek-jun tore through the demons’ barriers with Moon Cleaver, and the swordsmen following him cut them down in an instant.
'Not much left now.'
The temple’s interior was maze-like.
The swordsmen hesitated at the forks, but Yoo Baek-jun advanced without pause.
After running for a while…
Boom!
A massive door appeared.
After clearing the demons guarding it, Yoo Baek-jun shook the blood off his sword and hand.
"Young master, beyond that door…"
"I know. I sense a powerful presence."
"Yes, their commander must be there."
Yoo Baek-jun and the swordsmen took a brief moment to regroup.
Jin Seo-yeon had set up barriers along the path, so pursuers would take time to catch up.
Yoo Baek-jun glanced at her.
"Whew, haa, ha…!"
"Hey, you okay?"
Jin Seo-yeon was panting heavily.
She looked exhausted. When Yoo Baek-jun asked out of concern, she shot him a cold glare.
"Did you forget… I’m a mage?"
"Did we run too much? Why not just fly with magic? Saving it for what?"
"Who knows… what’s ahead…? Shouldn’t I conserve my mana…?"
"Fair point."
Jin Seo-yeon caught her breath.
"You’re out of shape."
"Ever think maybe you’re just reckless…?"
Yoo Baek-jun clicked his tongue.
Typical of mages from the Magic Tower.
"Young master, what should we do?"
"Jin Seo-yeon and I will handle the enemy commander. The rest of you guard the entrance. And take these."
Yoo Baek-jun handed the swordsmen magical tools. Barrier-creating devices.
He’d asked Jin Seo-yeon to make them in advance. They’d be a big help.
"Set them up in the room beyond that door so the enemies won’t notice us fighting."
"Are you sure you’ll be alright?"
"Well, we’ll see."
Yoo Baek-jun shrugged.
If Mephisto were in perfect condition, they’d stand no chance.
But right now, he was heavily injured from Judgment and under debuffs.
In this state, it was doable.
No, they even had the advantage.
"Let’s go."
Yoo Baek-jun pushed open the massive door.
Creak—
With a loud groan, the door opened, revealing a vast chapel inside.
And a giant statue, demons, and Mephisto under their protection.
—H-humans… here…?
—We need more time! Just a little longer!
Mephisto’s eyes were closed, engulfed in an immense amount of demonic energy.
Probably undergoing healing.
"Can’t let that happen."
Yoo Baek-jun drew the Thunder Spear from his subspace.
Before he heals himself, we kill everyone here—including him.
No exceptions.