The Master's Time

The center of the building.

"Urgh..."

The top-tier Ma-in Montage grimaced.

His clone had been killed.

It was just a clone, but since his senses were linked to it, the pain transmitted directly.

'Even so, to take it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠down in one hit...'

The White Apostle's spear had been swift and precise. The motion, devoid of any waste, pierced the clone's heart along the optimal path.

'No matter. I expected they wouldn't agree to negotiate anyway.'

Montage had fully assimilated with the entire building. His lower body had melted into the walls, leaving only his upper torso protruding.

Centered on him, black liquid spread throughout the structure.

The building's exterior was now completely covered in the black liquid.

Complete isolation from the present world.

This was the first stage in demonizing the building. It had happened gradually while the hunters focused on the banquet.

'Demonization takes time... but if it succeeds, even dealing with Mumyeong should be possible.'

Demonization.

Not just anyone could do it. It was a special ability only someone of Montage's caliber as a top-tier Ma-in could achieve.

An ultimate skill that required advanced technique combined with massive amounts of magi energy.

It allowed him to unleash the power restricted in the present world without restraint. A loophole passed down through demon society for ages.

'This is the last chance left for the moderates.'

Montage had to make a decision.

Not all Ma-in were of one mind.

'With Ganon in chaos after being ambushed by the proxy, there won't be a better timing.'

The radical Ganon had lost his limbs to the proxy. Of course, a Ma-in wouldn't die from that.

The bastard would desperately try to summon the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

'The radicals will gain the upper hand, and the moderates will lose their place.'

On the surface, he cooperated with the summoning, but his true intentions differed.

Rather than being pushed out like that, he judged it better to meet Mumyeong directly and reclaim the source of magi.

'Talks failed, but victory is still plenty possible.'

He had gathered quite a bit of intel.

Ma-in from all over had collected maximum information on Mumyeong. There were gaps, but Mumyeong wasn't omnipotent.

It had been chilling when the Abraksas abomination was taken down simultaneously, but...

He wasn't invincible.

He was just a human, nothing more.

'The situation is manageable.'

Mumyeong had brought only one apostle.

With demonization underway, the building was thoroughly isolated from the outside. He couldn't summon more apostles.

Without the Black and Blue Apostles, victory lay on this side.

Montage, hanging from the wall, flashed a sinister smile.

'Even if things don't go perfectly, it's fine.'

Just holding Mumyeong back would count as merit. It could be excused as buying time to summon the Four Horsemen.

He was confident he could face Mumyeong directly.

'Perfect timing. Good thing I planted the spy.'

Humanity had started to guard against Ma-in, but they still lacked the tech to detect them.

So they wouldn't even imagine a traitor on their side.

Infiltrating humans was easy for Ma-in. Fulfilling the inferior species' desires and cravings was child's play.

Montage chuckled softly in the darkness.

'Now that demonization has begun... there's no stopping it.'

Then, around him, countless starlights gathered. Starlights invisible to Ma-in who weren't players.

Numerous constellations watched Montage.

The bounty on his head kept rising.

The constellations awaited his end.

Montage was unaware of this.

"I'll hold off the demonization from underground."

Anti-magic power flickered like flames over Sa Choiheon's palms.

"In the meantime, destroy the demon realm core and take out the top-tier Ma-in. That'll solve it."

A straightforward strategy, nothing difficult.

I nodded.

The constellations seemed eager for Montage to be eliminated as soon as possible. Gabriel nodded as if she understood.

"Ma-in are annoying. They interfere with my favorite player's exploits and mess up the world... Most constellations hate them."

So that's why the constellations were clamoring to get rid of him.

"From now on, it's a race against time. The demon realm core should be on the 13th floor. Destroy it, and we can escape."

"Hold on."

Among the hunters listening to Sa Choiheon, someone raised a hand.

"If Mumyeong's going, count me in."

It was the towering giant Derek, over 2 meters tall. He bared his teeth in a grin.

"Raiding with Mumyeong? Can't miss this kind of luck."

"...Do we need the help?"

Sa Choiheon glanced at me and sent a telepathic message. A secret voice inaudible to those around.

- A powerhouse like you might find even Derek a hindrance.

He must be misunderstanding something.

I'm not that strong.

I can't go solo rampaging through everything solo.

'I have two Overdrive resets left.'

Plus, right now summons for Lucifer and the Blue Dragon were blocked. No response even using the black feather or blue scale.

Forming a raid party would minimize my power usage.

"Come along."

At my words, a bright smile lit up Derek's face. He approached me, beaming.

"Oh, perfect. I won't hold you back. My synchronization with the constellation has improved too."

Once the raid party was decided, someone else raised a hand.

"Mind if I join? Personal curiosity, you see."

It was the reincarnator Isaac. The mild-mannered man walked up to me.

One of the seven stars Sa Choiheon mentioned.

A grand mage, was it? I was curious about his skills too.

"I'll join as well."

Even Japan's Hayato signed on.

From the five nations at the banquet, the top hunters from America, Japan, and the UK had gathered. No one else tried to join.

Partly because India's No. 3 had been taken out by the top Ma-in's clone.

"I'd just get in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the way."

"Me in that lineup... nah."

"Isaac can use healing magic too."

"That's already a perfect party."

No room to squeeze in was another reason.

"Then I'll leave it to you. I'll send updates via terminal if anything comes up."

Sa Choiheon headed down the emergency stairs. The hastily formed raid party climbed up via the stairs.

Me and Gabriel made five total.

Derek, Isaac, Hayato.

A party of humanity's current strongest.

For a normal gate raid, it was a dream team.

"Raiding with Mumyeong—heart's pounding. Haven't felt this since my first S-rank gate."

Derek clenched his fist excitedly. He was itching to see my power. Nothing that impressive, though.

"Demonization's intriguing, and I'm curious about your power too, Mumyeong. I'll give it my all—pleasure working with you."

Isaac came for curiosity about me too? As a mage, his thirst for knowledge seemed intense.

"...Is there even a point in us coming?"

Hayato followed half-doubting. He'd witnessed Lucifer in the SS-rank gate, so that reaction made sense.

But Lucifer wasn't here now.

'Gabriel with her dedicated weapon should be fine.'

Taking out the top Ma-in was necessary. As long as they existed, humanity would have no peace.

Ma-in destabilized world affairs,

shook the economy, and who knew what would happen to housing prices.

Nothing good came from them.

Thud, thud.

Derek pounded the wall while climbing the stairs. This place was originally some hotel.

"Hmm, seems ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dungeonization is progressing too."

"Blasting through the building to the top would be tough."

Isaac stroked his chin and nodded.

Gate raid experts, huh? Their thinking was on another level.

"Might be good—room to fight freely."

Gabriel muttered.

The 1st floor corridor was a total mess.

"Ugh."

Hayato grimaced.

Black liquid writhed, filling the walls, with tentacles and bizarre plants sprouting here and there.

If this creepy scene was the demon realm, their desire to conquer other dimensions made sense.

"Fascinating phenomenon. Other dimensions have lands shaped like this too. Demon seeds are everywhere."

"Come to think of it, you're a reincarnator, right?"

Derek asked bluntly as he walked.

Isaac being a reincarnator wasn't much of a secret. Seemed well-known among top hunters.

"Indeed. My old world had Ma-in too—similar to their habitats, though with differences."

Isaac smiled back. He looked like he was enjoying this.

"Monsters in such environments are usually fixed..."

That was when it happened.

Isaac halted.

Grrr...

From the corridor's bend, a magic beast emerged amid thick magi.

A wolf-shaped shadow. More precisely, a magic beast made of black liquid. Its eyes glowed red, exuding heavy pressure.

A high level.

Hayato's brow furrowed.

"Boss?"

"No, just mob trash."

Isaac answered firmly.

Humanity's levels topped out in the 150s now. Only special elites or bosses had outlier levels.

Impossible for regular mob trash.

"Levels are just numbers, right?"

Boom—!

Derek shot forward like a cannonball. His massive fist slammed into the Shadow Beast's forehead.

The Shadow Wolf's head twisted unnaturally.

A fine strike that rang through the air, but the Shadow Beast didn't fall. Its eyes flashed.

"What? It tanked that?"

The Shadow Wolf didn't stay idle. Sharp blade tentacles sprouted from its spine, lunging at Derek.

Shatter!

Vending machines and chairs exploded into pieces. Countless fragments scattered in the air. Derek barely dodged, his eyes shaking.

"My attack didn't go through?"

Shock at his blow not landing.

Then.

Kaboom!

Countless magic bullets materialized in the air, engulfing the Shadow Beast. Thick smoke rose.

"Step back. This is for magic."

Isaac extended his hand, manipulating mana. Blue ice and red flames orbiting him fused into a stream and fired.

A massive explosion erupted.

Boom—!

But the Shadow Beast leaped through the blast. Its body was riddled with holes, yet mobility intact.

As blades shot from its spine—

"Ain che dol ha man."

Isaac chanted calmly and swiftly. Four magic circles formed around.

Crunch! Crunch!

Ice pillars erupted from the circles, skewering and binding the Shadow Beast. Its blades melted in flame pillars rising from the floor.

"The most annoying thing about Shadow Beasts... is they keep reviving unless you shatter them completely."

Whoosh—.

A gentle breeze blew before Isaac. Crackle! It instantly became razor wind, shredding the Shadow Wolf to pieces.

Only then was the Shadow Wolf defeated.

Isaac hadn't broken a sweat.

"Powerful, but not common. They don't swarm or pack-hunt. Annoying, though."

First time seeing proper magic. Felt like intricate technique, not just skills.

"Magic's nice. But next one's mine."

Derek crossed his arms, brow furrowed.

Hayato just looked impressed.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's hurry to the next floor while we can."

As Isaac stepped forward—

Whoosh.

A sinister aura settled over the entire corridor. Shadow Beasts began emerging from walls and ceiling.

Grrr—.

Front and back blocked solid by Shadow Beasts. Multiple red eyes glowed in unison.

Derek tilted his head.

"Didn't you say they don't pack?"

"Usually... but this is a first. Command tower directing them?"

Isaac sounded troubled.

Then, Sa Choiheon's voice blared from the terminal.

Static, crackle—!

Noise from the terminal cut off contact with Sa Choiheon.

"..."

8th floor?

We're on the 1st.

The other hunters' gazes turned to me.

"Mumyeong, your turn. I could take them... but it'd take time."

"Finally, Mumyeong's real power."

"Please."

The hunters' eager eyes poured in.

We needed to break through fast.

Shadow Beasts were higher level than me.

I still had the ultimate reset scroll, but even using an ultimate was problematic.

Overdrive lasted only 10 seconds.

Meaning Instant Death cooldown vanished for that duration.

Clear the foes here, but enemies above remain. Physically impossible to reach 13th in that time...

Only one answer.

"Gabriel."

I called Gabriel's name.

"Got it."

As if waiting, Gabriel raised her light spear. Pure white light streamed from its tip.

Gabriel spoke softly.

"From now on..."

Boom—!

Gabriel slammed her spear into the ground, a holy wave shoving back the sinister aura.

Brilliant white light exploded from her, flooding the corridor.

"It's the master's time."

Kaaaa—!

Not the end. I raised my right hand with the black bracelet.

Limit Breaker had two abilities.

One lifted restrictions.

Already used multiple times via apostles. But not what I'd use now.

The other ability.

Temporary level gain.

I shifted my gaze to the Shadow Beasts before me. They instinctively shrank back.

Their levels all down 30%.

In other words...

All of them now within my Weakling Extermination range.

I opened my mouth while staring at them.

Die.

That was enough.