The Sword That Devours Death
It was the work of an instant.
Pfshaaa—! Pffft!
The Shadow Beasts in the direction Mumyeong was facing exploded one after another. It was a situation that defied common sense.
······I can't believe it even seeing it with my own eyes.
Isaac's eyes widened.
The reincarnator Isaac had deliberately held back his power.
He'd acted like it was a hassle, but dealing with Shadow Beasts was child's play for him.
The immense mana and spell mastery he'd accumulated in his previous life. In this one, he'd reached even higher realms sooner. Yet he hid his strength for one reason.
I wanted to gauge Mumyeong's power.
It was just like when Abraksas's monstrous bird died. Nothing could be felt. Not even the tiniest flow of mana.
What incredible power.
That fact ignited Isaac's scholarly curiosity even more. He, who had reached the realm of grand archmage, could sense nothing.
This was utterly unprecedented.
Skills require some form of energy to activate, but Mumyeong's power ignores that entirely, as if to flaunt it.
Mumyeong turned to look behind him. The hem of his black robe fluttered. For a split second, a chilling sensation crawled up Isaac's spine.
And in the next moment.
Pfshaaaak—!
The Shadow Beasts baring their teeth behind Isaac exploded all at once.
"Truly astounding. I could make it the subject of my research."
A hollow smile crept across Isaac's face.
Mumyeong muttered something very faintly.
And the monsters met their end.
Even so, seeing it up close with his own eyes gave him a vague outline.
Word of power? Authority? No, something more fundamental and higher-dimensional.
Isaac, the reincarnator who had lived over a millennium in the Empire. His achievements went beyond mere magical advancement. He was proficient in peering into other dimensions.
Having observed countless dimensions, he could finally be certain.
How should I define it?
Every time Mumyeong shifted his gaze, Shadow Beasts burst apart.
It was a power difficult to comprehend easily.
No physical force, no mana imbued.
Not even mental energy was visible.
Yet it undeniably acted upon the world.
A power beyond?
It wasn't something he could gauge from just one or two glimpses.
Krummmble—!
Thanks to that, Mumyeong and the group could charge ahead like mad. Shadow Beasts kept lunging, but they weren't even obstacles.
"I have no idea what's going on, but it's impressive, Mumyeong!"
Derrick followed, full of admiration. Hayato had already given up analyzing and was running in silence.
Isaac had once felt a similar sensation.
A power so overwhelming it choked the breath, dominant enough to defy analysis.
If I had to compare, it's akin to the Rulers' power.
The Rulers who governed the Abyss and Chaos.
Their authorities shared similarities.
Forces that altered the world,
shaking the laws themselves.
Not identical, but
the closest match he could find.
How could such power reside in this one individual······.
His thoughts reached that point, and Isaac's expression grew grave.
The reason was simple.
Mumyeong's origins were far from ordinary. Nothing else explained it. This wasn't power a typical Awakener could wield.
He likely bore an extraordinary bloodline. Even Isaac was a reincarnator; there was no rule saying others couldn't inherit such lineage.
If he carries a Ruler's blood······ it makes sense.
That was the only conclusion in this situation.
Pffft, pfshaaa—!
The scene unfolding before his eyes was too surreal.
I need to stick close from now on.
Isaac swallowed dryly as he thought that.
Floors 1, 2, and 3 fell with ease.
I kicked off the ground at full speed and ran.
I slaughtered every demon beast in sight, ascending floor by floor.
The building's demonization had blocked elevators and connecting passages. Stairs required zigzagging through opposite corridors per floor. We had to pass every level manually.
Of course, no issue.
Range: 400m, within my line of sight.
Plus, lower level than me.
Meet those conditions, and no enemy could touch me.
"Ambush ahead—be careful, Mumyeong!"
Isaac shouted.
Several Shadow Beasts lurked around the corner of the corridor.
But I didn't slow.
I kicked off harder and leaped.
It would've been suicide before······.
I can see them clearly.
The Shadow Beasts waiting on the right side of the bend charged toward me.
The sight etched into my eyes like slow motion.
Perfectly clear.
Thanks to the End+ item Ainhearjar's effects, my physical abilities reached SSS-rank.
If I could just spot them first.
Pffft, pfshaaa—!
The beasts couldn't match me.
Especially weakened by Gabriel's ultimate.
Sticky Shadow Beast fluids soaked the floor. I didn't hesitate and charged on.
This time, tentacles lashed from the walls.
Slash—!
I swung the Mumyeong Sword, severing them cleanly. Even without buffs, the Mumyeong Sword was a Myth+ top-tier item.
Krummmble—!
Gabriel barreled through, smashing walls to clear traps and surprises.
I'd ordered her to conserve as much as possible.
Manage the hunger.
Gabriel only up to her ultimate.
After that, my Weakling Extermination was overwhelmingly more efficient.
Crunch.
I bit into a white bun.
Now left with one full and two-thirds. Might be tight.
Wanted to ration more.
Situation didn't allow. Had to end it fast.
Still, good news.
My tolerance for hunger has surged.
The vicious hunger penalty from ability use.
Ainhearjar toughened my body, boosting hunger resistance too.
A healthy body breeds a healthy mind? Still starving, but bearable. Felt like I could push limits before eating.
Running full tilt, Derrick's gleeful voice echoed from behind.
"Mumyeong, you've trained your body relentlessly too?! You're blazing fast!"
Is that how it looks?
"Item or training—how would you know?"
Isaac chided incredulously. Derrick didn't back down.
"No, I can feel it. The body of a great hero radiates from you."
Derrick nodded.
Sharp eye.
True, I had a hero's body. Item-granted, but.
Derrick bellowed.
"First fight with Mumyeong—I can't end it looking pathetic!"
Boom—!
Derrick leaped with full power, dropkicking the Shadow Bear ahead. A strike tearing air.
Pfshaaa—!
Regrettably, the Shadow Bear was already in Weakling Extermination's sight.
It scattered into black fluid.
Kaboom!
Missing, Derrick smashed a hotel planter and rolled. Covered in dirt, he thumbs-upped.
"Excellent teamwork."
"······."
Derrick brushed off soil nonchalantly and resumed running.
Constellation 'Achiever of the 12 Labors' is facepalming.
So many oddballs.
Grrr······.
Krrrh······.
Soon, Shadow Beasts blocked the front densely. Too many to count. Sending swarms meant they were cornered.
"Count on you, Mumyeong."
Isaac stroked his chin. Derrick and Hayato watched me too. Top hunters fixated on me—odd feeling.
Anyway, meet expectations.
Die.
With that word, waves of death rippled like tides.
Kaaaaah—.
The dank corridor purified in seconds.
"I'd scout him for the British guild."
"No, ours would be better if he joins."
"······Is there a guild that could contain Mumyeong?"
Now just run the path.
Montage swallowed a groan.
Fast. Too fast. None of my predictions hit. Did I underestimate Mumyeong?
Didn't expect Shadow Beasts unable to even grab his ankle. Upper-rank phantasm beasts.
Varied types.
Wild dogs, wolves, bears, lions, crocodiles······.
Optimized for stalling. Immense vitality, regeneration beyond trolls. Even a chunk of flesh revives them fast.
Even apostles hindered by their diverse abilities.
Yet Shadow Beasts melted before Mumyeong like snow.
Shattered beyond regeneration.
Frustrating.
Floors 6, 7, 8, 9······. Blasting up at hyperspeed. Montage's face hardened.
If demonization had progressed properly······.
The building should've been a full demon realm by now.
This damned human······!
Thick anti-demon force rising from below slowed demonization. How does one wield anti-demon power rivaling ma-in?
Tch, but almost there.
Demonization nearly complete.
That instant.
Kaboom—!
The 13th floor door shattered.
"Checkmate."
Gabriel muttered.
Mumyeong and the group stood before the door.
They'd pierced all those beasts like nothing.
"······."
Montage, pinned to the wall, slowly raised his head. His face twisted.
Situation dire. Couldn't counter properly. Most power used for demonization.
Montage barely spoke.
"Wait a moment. If I die, you can't stop Apocalypse's Four Horsemen. Your world ends. That fine?"
Just stall a bit longer.
"I'll abandon my magi source! Tell you the Four Horsemen summon site! So just······."
Montage halted.
Realized words wouldn't sway them.
The foe was Mumyeong.
He knew the fate of all who opposed him.
Ha, too hasty······.
No, plan solid. Seized building on time, severed from present world. Perfect until demonization failed.
Fixated on Mumyeong, overlooked variables.
Step, step.
Mumyeong approached, sword drawn.
"N-no. I can't die like this!"
Montage screamed. He, top ma-in of millennia, ending so pathetically. Unacceptable.
A glimpse of eyes from the robe.
Endlessly cold, profoundly sunken.
No mercy there.
Mumyeong—Joo Kanghyeok—focused intently.
Since reaching the 13th and facing Montage, a strange sensation enveloped him.
Instant Death would end it now······.
Yet his hand wouldn't leave the Mumyeong Sword.
The blade trembled faintly.
As if conveying something.
Shooo—.
Joo Kanghyeok drew the pervasive death energy around him.
Death energy enveloped only demon beasts. Ineffective on lifeless or dead corpses.
It repels if applied.
That's normal.
Imbuing matter with death energy impossible.
But the Mumyeong Sword craved it.
Fierce déjà vu gripped him. Mind rejected, body moved unconsciously.
As if done countless times.
Joo Kanghyeok cloaked the Mumyeong Sword in death energy.
Schling.
Astoundingly, the energy sucked into the blade. A bizarre haze rose from the infused edge.
······!
He instinctively knew what to do.
Numerous constellations are watching you.
Constellation 'Otherworld Discipline' watches the ma-in's demise.
One step forward.
Kaaaaah—!
Writhing tentacles surged around the bellowing ma-in. Horrific speed. Slash—! Joo Kanghyeok cleaved them effortlessly.
Severed tentacles turned to ash and scattered. Burning from cuts, vanishing fast.
Wielding Ainhearjar's sword skills, Mumyeong delved deeper.
Krummble! Paang!
Vast magi erupted, but Gabriel's light spear from behind incinerated it.
Nothing blocked Mumyeong and the top ma-in now. He raised his sword. Fluid, flawless motion.
Pfook—!
Thrust into the shrieking ma-in's death throes.
The death energy-wreathed blade pierced the ma-in that instant.
Pfshaaaak—!
Montage met his end.
Drenched in dark red fluid, Mumyeong stood motionless awhile.
"······."
Mission cleared.
Acquired Myth+ grade equipment selection right and Platinum Coins.
Settling Platinum Coin quantity.
Numerous constellations admire the flashy execution.
Numerous constellations wish to make you their avatar.
Amid the flood of messages.
This······.
Mumyeong gazed at his sword. Strangely spotless, the pristine blade gleamed sharply, untainted by blood.
Mumyeong Sword.
Not just a name alike.
No ordinary blade.
The only sword that took death energy.
But that's not all.
Stabbing with death-infused Mumyeong Sword······.
Allowed Instant Death without Unique Skill Reset.