Chapter 92
Chapter 92.
'The savior of humanity really specially giving up 1st place scene...? Why is the title like this from the start?'
At this point, it wasn't a joke anymore.
It really seemed like she thought of herself as the savior of humanity.
When Lee Ganghan looked at the text that appeared on the screen and thought this.
Swish.
The screen changed and.
A clearing dyed in red light appeared.
'Here is... could it be Heavenly Demon Valley?'
Lee Ganghan had visited this place several times, Heavenly Demon Valley.
The Heavenly Demon Valley in his memory was a fairly wide clearing full of red light, but.
On the screen, other elements had been added to the terrain.
That was namely countless people and corpses lying on the ground.
However, the survivors were huddled together.
It didn't seem like they were fighting each other.
'I thought they put 1,000 people in Heavenly Demon Valley to make them fight, but it's not like that.'
If it was about determining 1st place among 1,000 people.
I wondered if it would proceed in battle royal format.
When Lee Ganghan continued to look at the screen.
Flash!
A pure white light burst out above the sky of Heavenly Demon Valley.
[Mana Limit Value: 11.9]
Text made of light appeared.
'Mana limit 11.9?'
What does that mean?
When Lee Ganghan looked at the text and harbored doubts.
"Ugghh, ughhh...!"
"Stop it! You crazy bastard!!!"
"He's been continuously testing with decimals starting from 10...!"
Screams erupted from where the people had gathered.
'Decimal testing?'
Are they talking about mana 11.9?
Then.
[There are 2 successful candidates.]
The light text changed.
Paaaat...!
Light descended from the sky in two streams.
One toward the owner of this screen.
And another toward the center of the crowd where many people had gathered.
Then.
"Stick close...!"
"Please, this way too...!"
The side where many people had gathered became frantic trying to get closer to the central light.
People who didn't come to this side.
Then.
"Um... sorry, but I'll trouble you just this once!"
A boy with his eyes slightly closed.
Ran toward this side.
'Do you have to touch the light for it to be good?'
When Lee Ganghan thought this seeing people's reactions.
"What's the point of living now anyway?"
For the first time from the screen.
The voice of the short-haired Divine Maiden he had seen earlier was heard.
Slide.
The sound of drawing a sword rang out.
"Ah, please...!"
"Dying would be more comfortable instead."
A sword light drawing a sharp arc.
A blood line appeared on the boy's neck.
Thud...
His head fell straight to the ground.
"Ah, demon...!"
"There she goes again..."
"Don't go that way... You'll die by that woman."
Then the disgusted reactions of the surroundings.
It seemed like this wasn't the first time the short-haired Divine Maiden had cut someone's neck.
However,
"Ugh... but if we get penalized, we'll become monsters and die anyway!"
"Let's all rush her at once instead! Then that woman won't be able to do anything either!"
'Would they become monsters if they don't receive the light?'
People each drawing their weapons.
No matter how strong the Divine Maiden was, if several people attacked together, they thought they could subdue her.
They all tried to rush her at once.
However,
"Right. Die now."
Slash!Slash!
The sword moved a few times.
All the necks flew off.
Even though the Divine Maiden was the one being surrounded.
She slashed through the people in an instant, as if this ragtag cooperation was nothing to her.
'No hesitation in her movements. Just how many people has she killed...?'
When Lee Ganghan looked at the Divine Maiden's skill and instinctively knew this wasn't something she'd done once or twice.
Swish.
The Divine Maiden who sheathed her sword again.
Lifted her head slightly and looked at the light that had descended on the other side.
"The person who passed again is... as expected, that guy."
Unlike this side, the population density on the other side.
Was much more densely packed with people.
"Let us go in too...!"
"No! We barely got a spot!"
"Are only you going to live!?"
Conflict occurred between people trying to get inside.
And those trying to block them.
"Move it!!"
Among such people, there was also a considerable proportion of foreigners.
'Now that I look at it, all the people look young too.'
If I remember correctly, Tower Syndrome started from age 14.
Did these people also get sleeping sickness at age 14 and get dragged to Heavenly Demon Valley, so they're this young?
When Lee Ganghan was watching the people.
Swish.
The screen's focus moved.
It magnified and showed the central part of the light on the other side.
Then there.
'That's... me, isn't it?'
Among the teenagers.
Lee Ganghan stood tall, having grown alone.
***
The light from the sky that people regarded as a lifeline.
That applied not only to the short-haired Divine Maiden.
'It was applied to me too.'
It shone equally on Lee Ganghan in the screen.
And next to him.
'That child... looks exactly like Yuri?'
A young girl who looked exactly like Shin Yuri stood with her lips bitten.
'Come to think of it, Yuri said she was 3rd place too.'
When she said she was 3rd place in Heavenly Demon Valley.
I thought she was a competitor fighting with me.
Until now, they seem like collaborators.
When Lee Ganghan was carefully observing the two.
Hiss, hiss, hiss...
Red mist began to rise from the ground.
Then.
"Ugh, ugh..."
"It's starting again...!"
"Please! We want to go inside too!"
The terror-stricken people tried to go inside, but.
"Cough, cough...!"
"Ugh, ugh... again..."
"It hurts...! It hurts, I said...! When will this end!!!"
People who couldn't touch the light turned bright red all over.
Thud, Thud.
They fell to the ground one by one.
'Certainly, they said they become monsters.'
And soon.
Crack, Crack, crack...!
The bodies of the fallen people twisted grotesquely.
Snap, Snap.
Their joints twisted strangely, and people who started walking on all fours with hands and feet.
Rustle!
Began crawling on the floor at rapid speed.
"Hii, hiiiik...! Again...!"
The survivors were horrified seeing this.
Those who had become monsters looked at them.
Growl, growl, growl...
Their heads rotated 360 degrees and they drooled.
"Keeeeek!"
Monsters charging with grotesque cries.
At a speed too fast to be human.
The survivors huddled together in a circle.
"Ki, kill them!"
"Ugh, why are there so many today...!"
Survivors each holding weapons and fighting desperately against the monsters.
That side became a scene of carnage like this, but.
The location where the Divine Maiden was wasn't peaceful either.
"Kieeee!"
People who couldn't dare approach her and fell also became monsters identically.
They were charging at this side.
That side at least had people huddled together forming some kind of formation.
The Divine Maiden had to face monsters alone.
However.
"No development, these guys."
Slide.
The Divine Maiden who drew her sword once again.
Walking with light steps as if strolling through the neighborhood.
Lightly slashed the monsters rushing toward her.
'...Is this really power that a young girl can produce?'
Like a solo player.
A Divine Maiden showing the appearance of at least a Gold-grade warrior player.
That much, in Heavenly Demon Valley, she reigned alone as an irregular.
Unlike when they were people earlier, monsters had no intelligence.
"Keeeeee!"
No matter how much they were slashed, they mindlessly rushed at the Divine Maiden.
"Get lost."
Slash!
The sword mercilessly slaughtered them.
After roughly clearing up the monsters like that.
Swish.
The Divine Maiden looked again toward where Lee Ganghan was.
There.
'...I'm fighting too.'
Lee Ganghan, who alone had an adult body.
Was mercilessly slashing monsters while holding a large sword.
"Let's fight! If we suppress them just a little more, it'll be over!"
And Shin Yuri shouting to the people while assisting Lee Ganghan.
The survivors had greatly reduced in number compared to earlier, but.
Still showing fairly good teamwork, they overcame the monster attack.
"Hmm... as expected Lee Ganghan, you're strong."
Seeing that.
The Divine Maiden accurately recited the name 'Lee Ganghan'.
'How does she know my name?'
The death match in Heavenly Demon Valley.
Listening to people's stories, it doesn't seem like it was just a day or two.
Was there a chance to exchange names before this video?
Lee Ganghan continued to watch the battle situation while harboring such doubts.
Since there were originally no people around.
Unlike the Divine Maiden who was resting after slashing all the few monsters.
"Kieeeek!"
The area where Lee Ganghan was had many people originally.
So they were still continuing to fight.
"Can't, can't hold out anymore..."
"Ugh, ugh, Ughhh!"
The formation that had been desperately blocking attacks also collapsed.
When people who had been receiving the light's benefit also fell one by one, bitten by monsters.
"Keeek!"
From behind Shin Yuri.
A monster ambushed her.
When she, who had been fighting with a spear, couldn't deal with that surprise attack in time.
Slash!
Lee Ganghan's sword moved.
The monster's body split in half at once.
"Yuri, are you okay?"
"Ah, uh... thanks."
Unlike in reality, the two spoke casually to each other.
'Well, they are the same age.'
Still, they seem closer than expected?
The way they looked at each other intensely.
Didn't seem like an ordinary 'comrade' relationship.
"Tsk, tsk ~ playing around, are we?"
The Divine Maiden watching this from afar chuckled and jeered.
I could understand that feeling inwardly.
'...What exactly was I doing here?'
When Lee Ganghan felt awkward seeing such a version of himself.
Lee Ganghan and Shin Yuri in the screen.
And the few remaining survivors cooperated with each other to clear up the monsters.
After dozens of minutes of death struggle ended like that.
Ding.
[The test of Heavenly Demon Valley has ended.]
A message appeared saying the test of Heavenly Demon Valley had ended.
"Finally over?"
Yaaawn.
The Divine Maiden who had been yawning just showed an indifferent reaction upon seeing the message.
"What, what?"
"It says it's over...?"
"Is this hell finally over?!"
"Wow!!!"
The surviving survivors.
Hugged each other in joy.
'I only saw the final test scene, but did these people continue fighting like this?'
Then their mentality breaking was understandable.
When Lee Ganghan thought that.
Hiss, hiss, hiss...
Red mist spread over the corpses of monsters and humans scattered on the ground.
"Ahhh... died again...!"
"Ugh, ugh..."
"When will this really end...!"
People who had died or become monsters.
Revived again and let out pain-filled groans.
Even after revival, it seemed like the pain from before death remained.
People sitting on the ground holding their heads and crying.
Among them.
"Shit! Switch the order!"
"Now it's my turn to be inside!"
"We died too!"
"Hey, do you know how terrible becoming a monster is?"
People who had been on the outskirts.
Made a fuss saying it was their turn to go inside this time.
However.
"Wait, don't get excited. It's over now!"
"What...?"
"A message appeared! Check it out!"
When the few survivors announced that the test was over.
"Finally... finally it's over?!"
"Fuck... fuck!!!"
"It's not fake, right? You're not going to backstab us after this, right?"
The revived people couldn't easily believe this.
Yet harbored hopeful expectations.
Then.
Ding.
[Beginning final settlement...]
When the final settlement message appeared.
"Wow!!!"
"It was real?!"
"It's, it's over?!"
Cheers erupted from all directions.
It seemed like repeatedly dying and living in Heavenly Demon Valley during their teenage years wasn't just once or twice.
People bursting into tears of relief and sitting down on the spot.
Swish.
Following the short-haired Divine Maiden's gaze.
The screen's angle also took a 360-degree look around the situation in Heavenly Demon Valley.
'But the candidates don't seem like 1,000 people?'
The Heavenly Demon candidates of Heavenly Demon Valley.
I'm sure it was said to be 1,000 people.
That's why I thought it was less than the number of patients worldwide who had 'Tower Syndrome'.
But the people gathered here were far from 1,000.
At most, it seemed like about 200 people.
'People who recovered from Tower Syndrome... were they completely retired from Heavenly Demon Valley?'
Rather than repeatedly dying or becoming monsters here like that.
Getting eliminated would be better.
'But what's the elimination criteria?'
Perhaps because the video left by the Divine Maiden was.
The final part of the Heavenly Demon Valley test, there were quite a few unresolved questions.
Still.
'Well, more important than that... would be 1st place.'
Did the Divine Maiden really give up 1st place as she said?
When Lee Ganghan focused on the screen.
Finally.
"Ah..."
"That's...!"
A ranking board appeared in the sky.