Demon King's Castle (4): Hunter's Domain
As soon as the rift's location was pinpointed, players swarmed in. Some even beat Hoyeol there. Wasn't he always so predictable in his actions?
"I guarantee it. Sir Hoyeol will 100% come to this Hunter's Demon King's Castle! How can I be so sure? Come on, just look at the patch notes!"
With all the experience he'd racked up as a player, gauging rift difficulty was child's play. The patch notes alone told the whole story.
"Our Sir Hoyeol isn't the type to shove tough jobs onto others, is he? To the point where you wonder if he's pushing too hard. How many times has he charged into rifts no one else would dare touch, leading by example?"
And sure enough, that prediction hit the mark. Reports poured in from the other rifts. No sign of Hoyeol at Rhythm's Demon King's Castle. None at Indulgence's Demon King's Castle either. Breaking news everywhere.
The players waiting in front of [Hunter's Demon King's Castle] were already licking their chops.
This is a goldmine.
Visions of massive views danced in their heads. Just how many major factions had mobilized for this? Lionheart Knights, who’d been lying low. Shadow Mercenaries. Goddess Church holy knights, of course. And the Mage Tower, stepping out publicly for the first time!
Even footage of their exploits would be a hit.
Yeah, even just capturing their action would draw insane attention. And on top of that? Hoyeol was still in the mix.
"Isn't it exciting? Sir Hoyeol leading all those forces!"
Forget views or NetTube fame. Any Arcana player would feel their heart race at the thought. Who could've imagined it? A single player commanding forces like this to conquer a rift.
And amid that massive hype...
Hoyeol appeared. With just two allies.
"......Huh?"
Expectations flipped to confusion in an instant. The onlookers could only panic.
Tens of thousands had gathered at Rhythm's Demon King's Castle. Hundreds at Indulgence's Demon King's Castle. They knew the scale.
"......It's a bit different from what I imagined."
Of the three Demon King's Castle rifts, this one boasted the highest difficulty. Everyone expected a massive force here. But only Hoyeol and his two shadows approached the rift.
Clack—
Yet as they drew closer, the doubts melted away like snow.
"Hold up, everyone. Isn't that...?!"
The Mage Tower's chief mage, Marcelo, with his commanding presence. Kichi, leader of the infamous Shadow Mercenaries. Now they could see who the shadows were.
Their levels and skills had never been publicly disclosed. But from Arcana's game days to now, they were legends.
But then—
Something stole even their attention. Hoyeol, radiating an overwhelming presence. Players watching him muttered in awe.
"......Whoa, that's no joke."
"Even at a glance, it's on another level from before..."
"Sir Hoyeol, your gear looks insane now!"
Hoyeol had equipped three more unique items. His gear had definitely upgraded. But not to this extent of awe. What drew eyes and amplified his presence?
[Aesthetics: Medium]
It was all thanks to his risen aesthetics stat. An effect even the Mage Tower didn't know about. With the world's eyes on him, they could only marvel, clueless to the truth.
Amid it all, Hoyeol spoke.
"Let us begin."
Flutter—
His cloak billowed like wings. He looked every bit the judge descending from the heavens.
Clack—
No fear, hesitation, or worry. Just unwavering strides. The moment Hoyeol, Marcelo, and Kichi entered the rift, even the mesmerized players snapped to.
"Th-then I'd better hurry too!"
That alone was cinematic gold. But as players moved to follow—
"......!"
A message stopped them cold. The rift's reality check.
"......"
Lv.850 recommended level. Phrases like "brush against it and die" came to mind. Or the shrimp's back exploding in a whale fight.
No matter how good the views, trading life for them is too much...
Time ticked on as players hesitated. Hoyeol's goal? Total domination. No time for dawdling.
"Wait... yeah! Buff up, deep breaths!"
They had no idea.
*
"My pitiful life..."
Kichi muttered, glancing around warily. Dragged here against her will, she hated this. Especially since, like last time, the cost-benefit sucked.
...No choice. Self-defense.
Lee Hoyeol, you made me this way.
Yeah, depending on the situation... time to bolt.
But her impure thoughts stayed thoughts. Thanks to the two men beside her. Damn Mage Tower co-chiefs.
Marcelo said calmly, "It shouldn't take long."
Kichi gaped. ...Is that really something to say staring down a Demon King's Castle?
Words were cheap. She'd spewed lies to cling to Yusra Kingdom herself. But she knew lies. Marcelo meant every word.
"It'll end before the tea cools."
...Hoyeol was the same. Worse, even. Ending a Demon King's Castle like a sandcastle?
Kichi sighed quietly. "Hoo—"
She'd lied for Yusra. But he'd seen through it—and used it. With him glaring now...
"Guess I gotta expect the expectations. Such is my fate."
She abandoned her schemes. Instead, she schemed differently.
Those scrubs won't take my share.
Demon king or officers' heads, then done? Her eyes sharpened at the thought. Marcelo noticed.
A fine assassin.
That was his take. Then—
"!"
The approaching castle. A roar shook their eardrums.
Rumble—!
From above. A flying ship emerged from thunderclouds.
Marcelo wasn't surprised. Hoyeol had briefed him. But Kichi was.
"Wh-what is that...?"
Shadow Mercenary leader. She knew Arcana's rumors, legends, intel. But not flying machines.
"How does something that big fly?"
She'd seen planes in the adventurers' world. But this was Arcana-born.
A calm voice answered. "Flying ship."
"......Flying ship?"
"Indeed, a pinnacle of dwarven engineering."
"......!"
Dwarves! She knew them. Requests for dwarf gear came occasionally.
But how are they so unfazed? Both of them?
Especially Hoyeol. Like he'd expected this.
...Nah, no way.
She reined in. She was overrating him because he had her weakness.
Unless he predicts the future.
How could this world know Arcana's events? But Hoyeol's next words shocked her.
"As rumored, you have not forgotten your ancient pact."
...Rumored? He really predicted this? And what's this ancient pact? Scary.
She sneaked peeks at Hoyeol again.
Yeah, whatever. Good thing I ditched the bad ideas early...
.
.
Dwarven engineering pinnacle. The flying ship triggered quests. Two of them.
Akshan's Annihilation
Akshan's and demon hunters' annihilation. Last demon hunter.
Uncover the truth of the Holy War.
📍 Train your weakened body. (Repeat)
📍 Grasp forces in the Holy War. (In Progress)
⊳ Meet the Goddess Church saint. (Success)
⊳ Uncover the Goddess Church saintess's true nature. (Success)
⊳ Hunt the demon disguised as Goddess Church saintess. (Success)
⊳ Uncover Mage Tower's original sin. (Success)
⊳ Confirm pact with dwarves. (In Progress)
Holy War. Dwarves tied to the event that doomed Akshan too.
High El's Arcana updates confirmed it.
I figured.
Dwarves vanished after activating Quirnburk Mechanical Tower. Now hunting demons with flying ships.
Like Mage Tower, they owe Akshan.
I eyed the objective.
Not just a promise—a 'pact'...
Dwarves honoring their broken Holy War pact now. Even against a demon king.
Proof in the next quest.
Demon King Phlaurus vs. Dwarves
Demon king and dwarves. Who wins?
Demon King's Castle and flying ship. What symbol remains?
All rests on your judgment. Seize victory rewards by merit.
📍 Join a faction and lead to victory. (In Progress)
⊳ Join Demon King Phlaurus's side. (Selectable)
⊳ Join dwarves' side. (Selectable)
Current Merit: 0p
To dwarves, the flying ship was like the Mage Tower. Betting it on battle against a demon king? Ironclad proof.
"As rumored, you have not forgotten your ancient pact."
Over a decade's gap. Demon hunters suffered, but not me.
No grudges from the start. Yet I brazenly declared,
"I shall doubt your honor no longer."
Choice made, of course.
You have joined the dwarves' side.
Demon King Phlaurus deems your faction hostile.
The presence from the Demon King's Castle. Worlds apart from Decarabia. Overwhelming pressure that'd abnormality any average mind.
But no averages here. Marcelo and Kichi aside.
Me, Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo, cowed by a demon?
Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo's pride soars highest before demons, defying contradiction.
Impossible.
We charged into battle. Emphasis: overwhelming victory. No trading blows.
Hence full prep. I recalled active buffs.
Mana regen slightly increased (3 hours)
Mana regen greatly increased (30 min)
Potion overload. Every good elixir guzzled till bloated. Plus prime Mage Tower magic tools and gear.
◈ All magic destructive power +100% for 1 min on use. (24h cooldown)
◈ Attribute magic: mana cost +30%, power +30%.
◈ Stores user's attribute magic. Number proportional to colors. Stored magic costs 30% less mana.
◈ Stored: 100 spells
Effects clear: 100 attribute spells incoming. Brutish, even on rethink.
Elytra skips search, but not interference to manifestation...
Most mages couldn't dream of it. Grandfell's talent hack.
But my best.
Flutter—
Mana surged, elytra flapping like wings. Recalled stored spells. Recall skips search. But interference uses [Aesthetics].
...For real. Mana draining at terrifying speed.
No panic. Potions, gear—even if short—
Predator-Prey Relationship
Before demons, no faltering. That's me. Grandfell.
Marcelo spotted my desperate casting. "I'll clear the path."
Swifter than my hack. Ten thousand demon troops evaporated.
Demon legion commander Etio emerged.
"!!!"
He knelt instantly.
"My damn fate!"
Swish—
Kichi's dagger shredded his legs.
Beyond fallen Etio: Demon King Phlaurus.
I didn't hesitate.
Exorcism Ritual
'Robes Tainted by Evil' selected as offering.
Inviting Demon King Phlaurus to the ritual.
.
.
Clunk—!
Iron Castle Ho shuddered.
"Damn it. Thunderstorm of all things."
Its sole weakness: bad weather. Even pinnacle tech bowed to nature.
Bad timing with demon king ahead. But relentless helm work paid off.
"Got it. We're out!"
Iron Castle escaped the storm. Demon King's Castle loomed.
"......W-wait. What's happening down there?"
A crumbling castle. Devastation.
Who could corner a demon king but not a demon?
"No way...?"
Dwarves of old knew.
"Demon hunter! Found Akshan's survivor!!"