Pride's Invitation

The hunters who stepped into the massive gate were greeted by a vast temple.

There was no sense of holiness.

The overall tone was purple, laced with a damp, eerie energy that hung low in the air.

Giant pillars lined both sides, and far ahead loomed a massive gateway.

"This is a new one."

"It's ridiculously huge."

"Look over there. Monsters...!"

Grraaah—!

Kraaaah—!

Not far off, monsters stood in ranks.

Thirty violet plant giants in humanoid form.

【Lv. 156】

【Lv. 162】

Each one rivaled a boss in strength.

Over a hundred Ma-in clad in purple robes as well.

Unlike the Ma-in outside, these were mindless beasts, but their power was real enough.

Thud, thud, thud!

The plant giants charged with roars, shaking the ground. And that wasn't all.

Shooo—.

Magic barrages rained down, stitching the air.

It was an overwhelming sight.

But those facing them were Korea's elite.

"Bulmyeol Guild will take the front line."

Sa ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Choiheon and his guildmates stepped forward, their strides relaxed.

Pride's Apocalypse Temple, huh?

Sa Choiheon narrowed his eyes, gauging the monsters and the temple's layout.

Lucifer and Gabriel had gone ahead. They'd have recognized it instantly.

At least it's the better option.

Conquering it fully with human strength alone would be tough.

Still, they had to try as far as they could. At Sa Choiheon's command, his guildmates surged forward in unison.

"We're going in!"

Kaboooom—!

Blue flames erupted like a volcano as Shin Ayun, the Azure Flame Mage, slammed her azure fireballs into the ground.

"I'll block the magic!"

Kwaaaah—!

Space tore open under Yoo Jihoon's ability, swallowing the incoming spells.

Bulmyeol Guild's flashy combo attacks followed.

"Whoa..."

The watching hunters gasped involuntarily.

Techniques never revealed to the public before.

"Don't just stand there gawking! Get it together and move!"

"Got it!"

"Let's go!"

At Chae Arin's shout, Cheongmyeong Guild raised their weapons and advanced to Bulmyeol's right flank.

Hundreds of arrows sliced through the air. Guild mages' spells clashed with the Ma-in's, exploding on impact.

Up front, close-quarters combat erupted with the plant giants. Heavy-armored warrior hunters pressed the assault fiercely.

Clang! Boom! Kaboom!

"Aim for the legs!"

"Urgh!"

"Injured, fall back!"

Fwoosh!

Violet powder drifted from the flower buds atop the plant giants' heads. Hunters who inhaled it clutched their skulls.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Hold your breath!"

"Ugh, my head..."

For a moment, their minds fogged like static-filled noise.

"Healers, treatment now!"

"Danger!"

Kabooom!

Chae Arin's extended holy sword whipped across the ground like a lash, scattering the plant giant and its powder. A hunter's life was saved.

But the battlefield was utter chaos.

Pride's specialty was enchantment and disruption. The monsters inheriting fragments of that power made it hard for hunters to fight at full strength.

Then.

One hunter shouted.

"Mumyeong's back!"

Hunters' gazes flicked skyward for a moment.

Lucifer, bread bag mask and all, was returning.

Lucifer's face twisted like he'd bitten a bug—though the mask hid it.

Damn it.

He'd planned to rush straight to the Seven Deadly Sins, but the gateways blocking each trial were tougher than expected.

Judging it faster to clear the monsters and open the gates than smash through.

A black beam flared from Lucifer's grasp.

Kaboom—!

Five plant giants and about twenty Ma-in vaporized.

Gabriel joined in.

Her foot slammed the ground, launching dozens of monsters airborne. Her fist followed, erasing them.

All in the first five seconds.

Their continued rampage left hunters slack-jawed.

Kabooom—!

S-rank monsters were mere trifles to them.

"Insane..."

"How's that even human?"

"What the hell."

Hunters seeing apostles for the first time exhaled in despair. Their life-risking struggles felt foolish against such power.

"Strong, sure. But not Mumyeong level, right?"

Only Chae Arin narrowed her eyes.

"What're you saying, sunbae? If that's not him..."

"No, real Mumyeong's got way more presence."

Chae Arin had witnessed a world boss die by Mumyeong's hand.

There was something far more overwhelming about it.

"Not going all out?"

"Maybe. Ah, front's clear! Everyone, focus up!"

The apostles eased the pressure.

"Impressive. Treating S-rank monsters like nothing..."

Chae Arin murmured in admiration.

At this rate, clearing seemed straightforward.

At the heart of the Apocalypse Temple.

Pride of the Seven Deadly Sins lounged on a violet throne.

Two thrones total. On the right sat Roland the Ma-in, tense as could be.

Damn it.

Roland muttered inwardly.

He'd summoned a Seven Deadly Sin to survive Ma-in society. But now it was all backwards.

Survived, sure—but as Pride's plaything.

Ha...

No choices left now. Flee Pride, and his head explodes. Return, and the Ma-in kill him.

Nothing to be done.

Roland flinched at the resonant voice. Pride's omniscience read every thought.

A seductive smile graced Pride's face, dulling Roland's mind.

Pride looked up. From the throne, the entire temple interior was visible.

Pride had read Roland's memories.

Thus, events before its descent were clear.

World boss kill.

Death wave.

And slaying the phantom Cerberus.

Mumyeong never revealed his true form.

Black Apostle Lucifer.

White Apostle Gabriel.

Their profiles were roughly known. Famous constellations once—no mask hid that.

"Well... I don't really know."

Roland snapped out of his daze. If he knew, he wouldn't be in this mess.

Pride smiled at the dumb reply.

Roland shuddered at the chilling words. Maybe his fate too.

As an apostle of apocalypse, it knew.

Mumyeong's power was alien. Mocking the system's limits.

Incomprehensible, so I crave it more.

At this rate, Mumyeong wouldn't appear.

Pride gestured softly. Violet mist spread from her hand, filling the temple.

Creeeak—!

Eerie sounds as the trial gateways began opening.

Time to draw in the apostles. Pride aimed to force Mumyeong's hand.

"Isn't that too risky? Luring in two apostles and Mumyeong at once..."

Roland blurted in horror. He'd suffered enough from Mumyeong to fear him.

Pride's eyes narrowed, lips curving seductively. Roland shrank.

Pride spoke without conceiving defeat.

Violet mist thickened from her fingertips, her aura permeating the temple.

Rising from the throne, Pride's voice brimmed with certainty.

The first trial cleared smoothly.

They were midway through the second.

Creeeak, kaboom—!

Amid the din, the gateway blocking the trial swung open. The 20-meter colossus revealed its interior fully.

"What? The gate opened?"

"Sudden strategy shift."

Lucifer and Gabriel peered beyond.

Doors flung wide in provocation.

But battle raged.

Boom! Kaboom!

Over a hundred hunters clashed with hundreds of monsters—all serpents.

2-meter snakes swarmed madly. Black-scaled ones bore red markings on their heads.

Hunters touched by their venom fell into chaos instantly.

Hunters fought both frenzied allies and monsters. Healers treating debuffs were swamped.

And it didn't end there.

Snakes attacked variably.

Ranged venom spitters from the rear.

Frontline chargers like warriors.

Kaboohm—!

Ten colossal serpents rivaling world bosses rampaged everywhere.

Harsher than the first trial, hunters could barely hold the line.

Sa Choiheon, eyeing the open gate, called to the apostles.

"...Mumyeong. Now."

His mana-laced voice pierced the chaos.

Lucifer asked me, surveying all from afar. I was still at the cafe.

"...Even if it's a trap, facing Pride directly works for me."

But why?

A nagging unease lingered.

Too easy.

Find and erase Pride, done.

Easy's good, but...

Past foes warranted it.

They didn't know me or gauge my abilities.

This time differed.

Pride had omniscience.

"Then..."

As I moved to command Lucifer.

Fwoosh—!

Fierce mist surged like a tsunami through the shared vision. Violet haze blanketed everything.

Crackle, static—!

"What is this? The mist..."

"Can't blow it away with wind pressure."

The apostles' panicked voices came through. Then full static, like vision noise.

Nothing visible.

Even Lucifer's telepathy crackled with noise.

Seven Deadly Sin here?

But invisible.

No sight, no Instant Death.

Kaboom!

Something exploded.

Hunter screams, Lucifer's groan.

Urgent voices only.

Nothing visible.

Not a thing.

My feared scenario unfolded.

I tore the silver ticket.

Fierce explosions rent the air. Noise worsened.

Then.

Amid the racket, a clear voice pierced through.

Snap.

That was it. Shared vision went dark. Connection to Lucifer severed.

"..."

I looked toward the Apocalypse Temple. Violet energy surged fiercely.

Heart raced.

Mind cooled.

I bit my lip.

I'd half-expected this.

Instant Death's weakness was clear from the start.

Cut off from apostle vision, distant me could do nothing.

Creeak. Thud.

I shoved back the chair and stood.

Rushed down the cafe stairs.

Donned cloak and mask in the alley.

If lucky, Lucifer and Gabriel could win.

But limit release lasted 3 minutes flat.

Gabriel said power levels even.

Luck might clinch it.

Stake world destruction on luck?

Instant Death wasn't invincible.

Couldn't hit unseen foes.

Vision severed, I was helpless.

Nothing from the cafe.

Solve it simply then.

Enter the temple myself.

"Ugh, everyone's already inside?"

Cheon Iryeong arrived late at the temple entrance. The area was chaos.

"Connection lost?"

"Noise too bad—can't link up."

"Some boss-level thing showed..."

Guild reps shouted urgently.

Situation turning critical.

Temple exterior wide open.

Cheon Iryeong paused before leaping in. A note from the workshop.

She unfolded the crumpled paper again.

- Wait at the Apocalypse Temple entrance.

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Yeah. With Mumyeong Hunter here, no need for me anyway.

Cheon Iryeong halted hammer in hand. Ordered to wait, so wait. Her role now.

As she pondered sitting under Cheongmyeong's tent.

Step, step.

A black-robed figure approached the temple. No one noticed.

Stealth?

Cheon Iryeong pierced it with detection skill. But robe interior invisible.

Item effect?

Gender, face—nothing discernible.

The black robe slowly neared her.

Why?

A faint awe stirred.

And it felt familiar somehow.

"Mu-Mumyeong...?"

The black robe extended something to the murmuring Cheon Iryeong.

A broken lantern.

Seeing it, Cheon Iryeong realized.

No way.

Why learn repair skills.

Now she knew.

For this.

"I'll give it a shot. Leave it to me."

Taking the lantern, Cheon Iryeong raised her hammer. No ordinary hammer.

Vulcanus, mythic smith god.

Effects guaranteed.

Deep breath. Cheon Iryeong swung with full might. Prismatic light bloomed from her hands, touching the lantern.

Clang—!

A clear ring as the Broken Soul Lantern glowed. Eyes gathered, but.

Shaaa—!

Fierce white light poured from it.

Cheon Iryeong's pinnacle repair skill mended the lantern.

From the fading glow emerged.

A prismatic soul lantern, awe-inspiring in form.

"Whoa..."

Cheon Iryeong stared blankly, even after fixing it herself—the crystalline beauty unbelievable.

To her, Mumyeong said one word.

"Thanks."

Joo Kanghyeok, lantern in hand, strode toward the temple.

Reborn by Cheon Iryeong, the lantern was enhanced.

Swish.

Joo Kanghyeok pulled a soul from inventory.

The golden soul lantern couldn't absorb boss souls.

But flawless? Different story.

Slurp.

The lantern absorbed it. White light filled its interior.

Fwoosh—!

The lantern blazed radiant white again.

Crackle, fizz.

The black ticket materializing in midair was.

A reward nonexistent at present.

Sizzle!

Joo Kanghyeok tore the ticket without hesitation.