The Sudden Emergence of Pride, Apostle of the Apocalypse

With the restrictions lifted, Lucifer dragged Pride deep into the temple alongside Gabriel.

The hunters were left stranded in the situation.

'This isn't good. Is Mumyeong not here?'

Sa Choiheon's face hardened.

The gateway stood wide open, but the hunters couldn't pass through. Countless demonic beasts blocked their path.

The second trial.

Hundreds of demonic beasts surged toward the hunters. Among them, the most troublesome were the massive serpents.

Basilisk subspecies.

Blood-red patterns were etched on their heads. Pride's mark. A irritating effect that interfered with the hunters' minds.

With a single twitch of their bodies, the hunters' formation crumbled dramatically.

Screams and shouts echoed through the cursed interior of the temple.

Sa Choiheon's Space Sword cleaved a giant serpent in half.

"Tch."

He'd consumed quite a bit of energy to take down just one. At this rate, there was no end in sight.

The tide of battle wouldn't turn.

"Guild master! Attacks aren't getting through!"

"We've deployed barriers, but at this rate..."

"Cheongmyeong Guild side, hold the line—don't let it collapse!"

Sa Choiheon charged forward ahead of his struggling guild members.

Kicking off the ground and leaping into the air, countless blue lines etched across the space around Sa Choiheon.

'The difficulty is abnormally high.'

Shattered demonic beast fragments scattered around him. But there was no end. Even Sa Choiheon was overwhelmed by the sheer numbers.

For the other guilds, simply holding their ground was an impressive feat.

Gritting his teeth, Sa Choiheon swung his sword like a madman.

'It's too early for Korean hunters.'

The Apocalypse Temple wasn't supposed to appear at this point.

Forcing boss clears on players whose tutorial hadn't even ended.

At that moment, a fierce wind howled through the massive open door ahead.

Holy power.

Black demonic power.

A gale blending the two forces. Proof that the apostles were clashing with the Seven Deadly Sins deep within the temple.

"If we break, it's an immediate dungeon break. We hold with everything we've got!"

Sa Choiheon shouted. His mana-infused voice rang in everyone's ears. A few hunters roared back in response.

Hold.

Maintain the front line.

No need to conquer.

That had been the goal from the start.

At present, Korean hunters' strength was obvious. Conquering the Apocalypse Temple was out of the question.

'Prevent the dungeon break and endure. That's the best current hunters can do.'

Thus, there was only one way to conquer the Apocalypse Temple.

Mumyeong.

Everything hinged on him.

A gamble, perhaps. But the only option.

Sa Choiheon, having witnessed Mumyeong's power firsthand, was certain.

'Mumyeong, when will you show?'

He might already be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fighting Pride. If so, all they could do was pray for a swift victory.

The front line began to give way.

"Everyone, hold somehow!"

"Yuseong Guild, all hands to defensive formation!"

Sa Choiheon's Space Sword, Chae Arin's holy sword, and Yuseong Guild's ice magic erupted.

Countless spells scattered.

Purple-armored demonic beasts clashed with hunters.

The ground behind the demonic beasts cracked open.

From within emerged Pride's clone. A seductive woman in robes.

The clone was named Pride's Priestess.

A clone, yet its abilities were lethal. A vile thing that stole minds with a mere glance.

For a moment, the male hunters' eyes glazed over.

"Debuff removal skill!"

"Use it now!"

The hunters weren't helpless victims.

Buffer hunters swiftly cast debuff removal skills.

Pride's Priestess floated into the air.

Her lips curved into a soft smile.

A vein bulged on Sa Choiheon's forehead.

Mumyeong still hadn't appeared.

Was there a reason he couldn't? Some condition that needed fulfilling?

Nothing was certain.

Yet they had to wait. He was the only way out of this.

'This is the turning point.'

Pride's Priestess's seduction would continue. Many hunters might lose their lives.

The moment Sa Choiheon steeled himself and gripped his sword—

"...?"

Amid the fierce battle.

Only Sa Choiheon sensed it.

A powerful presence from behind. He turned his head.

Through the hunters tangled with demonic beasts, someone in a black robe approached.

He'd never met them before, yet somehow Sa Choiheon knew.

The real Mumyeong.

Mumyeong had arrived.

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

And with that—

A tidal wave of death engulfed hundreds of demonic beasts.

Entering the temple's interior, I swiftly pressed onward.

Passing the site of the first trial, toward the second.

The battlefield where hunters and demonic beasts clashed. Spells flew wildly, blood and flesh sprayed.

The heat of battle, unlike any I'd known, closed in.

No tension.

My heart raced, but my mind stayed cool. Everything seemed sharper, somehow. Maybe it was my constitution.

I looked up at the demonic beasts before me.

All demonic beasts in the Apocalypse Temple outleveled me.

My level was 90.

A gap I couldn't bridge right now.

Too low for Weakling Extermination. Instant Death, my unique skill, could only take one at a time.

But no problem.

"Die."

I uttered the word.

Beasts that shouldn't die exploded into chunks of flesh. Every monster in sight detonated.

Level-up notifications floated before me. I swiped the system window aside.

'Now it's possible.'

Plip plop.

Fragments of the unique skill reset ticket scattered from my grasp.

While the ultimate lasted, Instant Death could handle multiple foes at once.

No matter the numbers, no matter the levels.

"I-it's Mumyeong!"

"Wait, didn't Mumyeong go through that door earlier?"

"Then who's that...?"

With the demonic beasts gone, the five guilds' hunters turned their gazes to me.

Most monsters vanished, giving the hunters breathing room. I walked slowly through their midst.

The hunters parted like the Red Sea. No one dared speak to me.

They just stared in shock.

Step, step.

I cut through them swiftly.

Lucifer and Gabriel were surely facing Pride inside even now.

The outcome uncertain.

I needed to join quickly, spot Pride, and eliminate her.

"Mumyeong."

Then Sa Choiheon approached. His eyes resolute. Before I could speak, he did.

"I'll support with full force. Not sure if it'll help, but..."

I nodded.

I needed it.

Needed it badly.

Ultimate or not, I was weak compared to S-rank hunters.

Utterly outmatched against Pride.

No way to block incoming spell barrages from afar. Couldn't cover every contingency.

"I-I'll help too."

Cheon Iryeong, trailing timidly behind, spoke up cautiously.

I stepped forward.

From the open door's interior, numerous demonic beasts emerged. As if waiting, they cried out.

Several scantily clad women hovered in the air. Sa Choiheon furrowed his brow.

"Seven Deadly Sins Pride's clones. Not to be underestimated—be careful..."

"Die."

My voice, low enough for only me to hear.

Pride's clones perished in unison.

Before Sa Choiheon could finish. Clones or not, they were living beings.

"Unnecessary worry, it seems. Even seeing it firsthand, it's absurd..."

Sa Choiheon stared at me, incredulous.

"Whoa, wow..."

Cheon Iryeong's eyes sparkled beside him.

Pride's clones, huh.

As clones of an Apocalypse Apostle, they were formidable. Levels shot up insanely.

And that wasn't all.

Purple souls endlessly seeped into the lantern in my hand. Even clones held fragments of souls.

The light gathered within exploded outward.

I stowed the reset ticket from the notification into my inventory. Sa Choiheon and Cheon Iryeong watched intently.

Cheon Iryeong beamed proudly at Sa Choiheon.

"I fixed that one."

"You fixed it?"

Sa Choiheon tilted his head, brow furrowed.

I ignored them and moved forward.

Crossing the second trial's door brought the third trial site.

Waiting were hundreds of demonic beasts. Ominous auras flickered from their bodies. Eyes glowed red.

In their midst, a pitch-black path burned—like one scorched by Lucifer unrestrained.

Something flew at speeds invisible to me. Sa Choiheon's sword flashed, deflecting it.

Sa Choiheon muttered.

"...Not even worth dodging?"

I just hadn't reacted.

Can't dodge what you don't see.

Prismatic light burst from Cheon Iryeong's dagger. She parried effortlessly too.

"Mumyeong trusts us, right? Right?"

"..."

I nodded slowly.

Not wrong. I'd expected them to handle such tricky attacks.

I spoke quietly.

At my word, the beasts densely blocking the path perished instantly.

Bloody explosions bloomed like red roses across the area.

The beast barrier guarding the third trial vanished. Nothing blocked the next door now.

Trudging through the river of beast blood, I advanced.

My robe billowing, I ran. Sa Choiheon and Cheon Iryeong kept pace beside me.

Beast souls seeped into the soul lantern. Not enough to fill it.

As I went, I fed a boss-grade beast soul into the lantern. It gleamed, spawning an item in midair.

Two reset tickets left now.

Sa Choiheon's brow arched.

"You really fixed it, Cheon Iryeong?"

His face showed utter disbelief. Cheon Iryeong puffed up proudly.

"The fruit of my efforts."

"In less than two days."

I fed the next soul into the lantern.

This one from a demon kill. The lantern glowed again.

Exactly what I needed.

Not luck.

Not mere reward. A miracle's manifestation.

The name fit.

I tore the ticket immediately.

Next, the artifact.

View-sharing still impossible, but I knew my apostles were battling Pride. Fierce winds occasionally gusting from within the temple.

Aftershocks of combat.

The moment restrictions lifted, fierce currents swirled. A familiar energy. Gabriel's holy power, probably.

"Whoa..."

"Second restriction lift. Perfect timing. Pride won't notice us now."

Crossing the third door revealed a long corridor.

Instinct told me.

At its end waited one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Then, Sa Choiheon and Cheon Iryeong's steps noticeably slowed. Sa Choiheon's expression twisted uncomfortably.

Cheon Iryeong looked ready to drop dead.

"Ugh, this feeling... somewhere... How are you fine, Mumyeong-nim?"

"It's a superior being's presence. Stay behind Mumyeong. Forcing it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠without presence will wreck your body."

Unlike them, I felt nothing.

Arrival of Eternal Night's second ability.

My presence accumulated with each kill.

That was why.

Handling presence came naturally. Direct it right, and I could shield allies.

Not just Cheon Iryeong—Sa Choiheon stepped back too.

"Phew, I can breathe."

"One warning, Cheon Iryeong. Never think of facing Pride directly. Those without presence can't challenge superiors."

"You have presence?"

"No. None."

"What, acting all high."

"..."

Anyway, both moved easier now. Sa Choiheon pointed ahead.

"Through there is Pride."

At the corridor's end loomed a gateway radiating purple light.

Nothing barred it.

Pride's presence must've been the final trial.

No obstacle for me now.

Two Instant Death uses left.

Ultimate still active.

I pulled a white bun from my robes and bit in. Hunger vanished, fullness surged.

'Eliminate Pride the moment I see her.'

I stepped through the gateway.

Reaching the temple's end, I looked up.

A fantasy audience chamber appeared.

Ruined by apostle-Seven Deadly Sins battle. On the verge of collapse.

At its far end, two thrones. Both empty.

Then the Apocalypse Apostle was...

My gaze naturally lifted. No ceiling in the chamber. Just filled with purple mist.

Something plummeted from above. With a sharp whoosh, Lucifer slammed into the ground.

"Urgh..."

Battered Lucifer struggled up. His eyes widened at me.

"M-Master."

Then another roar. Gabriel crashed down this time.

"Ugh..."

Gabriel wiped blood from her mouth and looked at me. Restrictions lifted.

"Sorry. Couldn't win."

Her blank expression felt somehow bitter.

But they'd held well.

Until I arrived.

Pride's voice echoed from the ceiling. Itching the ears.

"Master, be careful!"

Just a bit itchy, nothing more.

Delusional misunderstanding.

Eight clones descended through the purple mist.

Was the real body among them?

Uncertain.

View-sharing cut intentionally? Still hiding in the mist.

Clones were no issue.

"Die."

My brief command instantly killed the eight clones. Soul fragments flowed into the lantern.

Pride's voice returned.

"What does your puny brain know?! Gabriel, cooperate."

"...Combo attack."

Then Gabriel and Lucifer kicked off the ground. No time to think.

Multiple whooshes echoed from the purple mist.

Purple mana shards rained madly. Pummeling the ground endlessly. Floor cratered and upheaved in massive shocks.

Sa Choiheon and Cheon Iryeong behind me kept deflecting shards.

Even against Lucifer and Gabriel, Pride's voice was leisurely.

Then she dropped the bombshell.

Mocking tone, like she was dying of laughter.

"..."

The Apocalypse Apostle had figured it out.

The secret of my power.

One weakness of Instant Death.

"Mumyeong. Tell me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠how I can help."

"I'll do whatever I can too."

Sa Choiheon and Cheon Iryeong pressed urgently. I raised a hand to stop them.

It's fine.

Ultimate 'Arrival of Eternal Night' has three abilities.

First: Instant Death AOE.

Second: Presence accumulation.

Third...

Special ability.

Special ability activated.

Yearning for it, dense light flared over my eyes.

Pride hidden in the veiled mist appeared clearly. A pitch-black, dense aura blazed like flames.

Pride cackled.

Hid in mist.

Simple, effective.

But now, I saw it.

Not just Pride's dense aura...

Even the death energy gathering toward her.

Light black as pitch swirled chaotically following my gaze. Dark yet flowing brightly like fluid.

In an instant, death energy converged on Pride's core.

I sensed it instinctively.

Now.

"Die."

Pride's arm exploded outright.

'...!'

For a split second, death energy amassed at her heart surged to her arm.

But Instant Death struck true.

A massive shockwave burst.

Purple mist cleared, revealing Pride. Clutching her missing arm, she let out a short sigh.

Pride's face twisted in panic.

No dismay on my end. My pounding heart cooled to ice.

I fixed her with a chilling gaze.

No matter.

Now, scheming survival was her job, not mine.

I simply, calmly, invoked death.

This moment,

I held overwhelming advantage.