Chapter 288. Do Not Speak That Name – We Need Overwhelming Victory

The whole world would be watching my battle with the colossal evil. To serve as a stern warning, I couldn't waver even a little, no matter who the opponent was.

It was something I'd steeled myself for the moment I declared the holy war.

The peace upheld by my very existence. Grandfell might not get it, but for an ordinary everyman like Lee Hoyeol, there was no such thing as feeling comfortable in that position. I had my pride, too.

How could I claim to be the perfect absolute being while fussing over my sparkling outfit in a situation this critical?

But I could act like that absolute being.

I have no choice but to do it, even if I don't want to.

This damn motormouth had spouted off so much up until now. Which meant the difficulty of this battle was going to ramp up on its own yet again.

Colossal evil. Even if it was the archenemy acknowledged by Akkshan. I couldn't show even the slightest shake.

For the peace of both the real world and the Arcana continent, I had to desperately play the part of the shameless one.

Someone might ask if that's even possible in a life-or-death situation. I'd fire back: Are you only worrying about that now?

From my days with nothing to my name, I'd been thrashing around just like this. It was a bit embarrassing to receive such concern now.

Plus, it's different from back then. I'm not alone anymore.

Alkari let out a sigh.

"Akkshan... you mean they've truly returned...!"

Not only our steadfast seniors who hadn't lost their pride even in hell, but also Akkshan's guardian spirit awaiting them, Tempest. And the Shadow Mercenaries, who had their own scores to settle with the colossal evil.

A gravelly voice rang out.

"...Damn it all."

"Uahaha."

"Laughter? You've gone completely mad."

Henderson and Rackid. Even the two men in the worst shape cracked open their eyes and hauled themselves upright.

The ones more shocked than anyone were the Shadow Mercenaries, who knew their conditions best. Alkari flinched and rummaged for something, then grabbed two vials of potion that clinked together.

"...Without even downing an elixir, how...?"

How what? It had to be the Dawn Set's effect. But I kept quiet. Rackid was scowling.

"Damn, my eyes hurt so bad I can't even keep 'em shut properly."

...Impressive, Dawn! Waking people on the brink of death just from the glare.

No wonder cameras around the world were zeroing in on me. Self-luminous, through and through.

My eyes met Rackid's gaze as he looked my way.

"Knew it had to be you."

He spat gruffly, then shook his head.

"No, I knew it was you, sir. Damn, I've never used polite speech in my life... Sorry about that. Cut me some slack since I'm injured."

...Was invoking our employment relationship working? Rackid, who wouldn't bend even for the elf Elcidoir, was being surprisingly compliant. Was he faking it? No way—with his personality, he'd never read the room.

Besides, the Dawn Set's effect only applied to those who saw me as their commander. What better proof could there be?

Before I could say a word, the mercenaries started murmuring.

"...Looks like he took a nasty hit to the head."

"Leave him be."

"To think you'd say something like that, Mr. Rackid...!"

Maybe embarrassed by the murmurs, Rackid's face twisted, but the timing was perfect. The Seven Deadly Sin of Envy bellowed.

"You dare act so leisurely with the colossal evil—me—right before you?!"

The natural enemy effect honed my senses to a razor's edge. My five senses caught every change. It granted dominance over demons in every way—essential for boss fights, even in pattern recognition.

I warned them.

"Beware the darkness, my lieges."

Phase, Envy's Threshold. Ever since entering, the mountain range had been shrouded in pitch-black darkness. "Beware the darkness" was Grandfell-speak for "watch every direction."

And then.

Squirm—!

Enormous hands burst from the shadows.

Wolf shouted.

"Everyone, evade at full speed!"

The Shadow Mercenaries scattered in a frenzy, dodging the assault. Tempest evaded the grasping hands of Envy with storm-like agility.

Of course, I stood stock-still, not moving a single step. Just staring down Envy calmly.

It might look like I had a death wish. But I'd said it before, right? Ordinary hunts wouldn't cut it.

What I needed was an overwhelming victory report. A display of unflinching poise before the colossal evil.

Watch.

In that sense, I had to thank Grandfell's talent once more. Envy's field-wide attack patterns and structure were formalized in my mind.

So I opened my mouth.

"Using dimensional rifts is not a bad attempt."

Of course, even as I spoke.

Screeech!

The wayward hands of Envy hurtled toward me. But who was Grandfell? The embodiment of pride, unbowed by mere demonic interference. He would finish his words, no matter what.

"However, failing to know your place was your miscalculation."

Utterly effective, especially against an opponent who hadn't entered the realm of the uncanny.

I knew better than anyone how much you could feast on the uncanny. I'd gobbled plenty with it myself.

That experience taught me: Fight fire with fire.

Seven Deadly Sin Envy. Of course it was strong. Its level might even double my own 700.

But I could say with certainty: In the realm of the uncanny, I was ahead.

You couldn't cross into reality on your own power, could you?

When Envy targeted Senior Banggrit, it had Karimjeba as an accomplice. Of course, even Karimjeba couldn't open dimensional rifts alone. They must have collaborated.

But the key was relying on outside help.

Even if you mimicked the access device's structure.

That was thanks to Grandfell's brilliant talent. No one's aid involved.

In simple terms, you made a huge mistake.

"One does not meddle so lightly with dimensions."

The manifesting uncanny. Don't assume you're the only one who can interfere with dimensions.

I sealed the open dimensional rift.

Imagine it.

"...!"

From the flesh. Through the dimensional rift as medium. What happened to Envy's hands protruding across the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠field?

What else? They got sliced clean off. Just like that right arm back then.

"G, guaaaaaaaah!!"

I chanted calmly amid Envy's scream.

"Did you not say the right arm was merely the beginning?"

Thud. Plop. Crack.

The severed forearms dropped. My eyes met the Akkshan seniors'. Naturally, no surprise from them.

Why? There's a saying that even whales dance for praise. Even back when Arcana was just a game, I'd never heard praise from Akkshan.

But.

I'm a demon hunter too, like it or not.

I'm getting used to Akkshan's communication. Their dry gazes say it all. Actions over words.

"!"

Click.

They briefly stowed the crossbows in their hands.

Shing.

Demon hunters charging with swords raised. The moment ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠close combat began, their tenacity—unbroken even in hell—shone.

"Don't cling to me!"

Envy thrashed desperately to shake them off, but it was futile. I'd felt it during joint training quests: Their persistence was no joke.

Tat-tat-tat!

More pro than me. Before Envy's demonic regeneration kicked in, they unleashed a barrage of slashes.

Slash slash.

As my plain skill window showed, demon hunters had no flashy techniques.

But the overwhelming total stats born of tenacity. The destructive power pouring from it made even simple moves grandiose.

"Kwaaaaaah!!"

Of course they'd land effective hits.

No time to admire.

I wasn't planning to hang back and let the seniors handle it forever. They'd glare if they caught me just watching with a demon right there.

Besides, I needed victory. Even if I gave my all, it had to look effortless. Overwhelming victory with room to spare.

Strike while the iron's hot.

I raised Guicheol.

—Master, shall I cleave that one?

The Sword Path of Pride that unleashed with Guicheol. Too wasteful to use those variable sword arts now. From the look of things, this pattern wouldn't last long.

I answered Guicheol.

"It holds not even that much value."

Arrogant? Judge for yourself as you watch.

I had confidence. And faith in my own struggles.

Even skipping steps, I'd never taken the easy path.

—As my master commands.

Even using Guicheol proved it. The Duel of Spacetime with Sword Saint Shegwin. That taught me maximizing Guicheol meant entrusting everything to it.

But since then, I'd never handed my body over again.

Not just that. Even when I could cheat with the uncanny.

Pure hand-to-hand, pure magic, pure swordsmanship. I'd piled up diverse experience.

That effort let me stand tall before Grandfell's motormouth. Upright before the colossal evil.

And strike a fatal blow in that state.

Flash— Phase.

A space transcending real physics. Like rifts, events here didn't affect reality.

Meaning no worries ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about damaging Zero Mountains—I could go wild.

Shimmer— Lights blinking in the sky drew closer at accelerating speed.

The pressure forced even the Akkshan seniors, relentlessly carving up Envy, to step back.

Roar— The light blazed red, revealing its presence.

Among Grandfell's talents for never forgetting what he witnessed, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his magical prowess stood out.

Meteor Strike.

Yes, the magic unleashed by the rampaging Tower Master's body.

For overwhelming victory, overwhelming destructive power was essential.

"...?"

Envy, helpless under the onslaught, barely lifted its head. It flinched at the intense meteor light and muttered.

"...Dawn?"

Meteor Strike plunging from the darkness. One could call it dawn, poetically.

But don't delude yourself, colossal evil.

"Regrettably."

"...Regrettably?"

"Dawn shines not upon the inferior such as you."

The Dawn Set's effects applied only to allies.

"If you understand, make haste."

"Make haste? I? For what?"

"Do you think you can withstand it?"

"...?"

"God's Judgment."

"G-God's Judgment...?"

"Armageddon."

...No wonder it felt too quiet! Instead of the official name Meteor Strike, slapping on dramatic aliases like "God's Judgment" and "Armageddon" with all their loaded meaning—what was that about?!

Was it part of the holy war, so holy names? That naming sense... I can't comprehend it, nor do I want to.

But one thing was clear: Armageddon... no, Meteor Strike's power was no joke.

Natural enemy-amplified combat power included circle effects.

My manifestation power. From 1,000 percent. Leaped even higher.

Far surpassing any twinge of shame!

*

Unreasonable.

Envy couldn't believe this situation.

It had anticipated the demon hunter wasn't ordinary.

But this exceeded expectations.

Summoning fallen demon hunters from hell. Reviving the Shadow Mercenaries from death's shadow.

One absurdity after another.

So doubt crept in.

...Not because of natural enemy.

I am a Seven Deadly Sin. Unlike mongrel demons of the Demon Realm.

Natural enemy was overcome long ago.

It wasn't just Akkshan's shadow on him.

Envy concluded. No, it had to.

What the hell is he?

It desperately sought the reason. A fledgling demon hunter. What could make him special?

Then one possibility hit.

The brilliantly shining attire. That's when it noticed belatedly. His hair color.

"...Silver hair."

Envy's pupils shook violently.

Silver hair. Staring straight into Hoyeol's eyes, it said.

"You are...!"

.

.

.

Meteor Strike detonated. Right on target, nailing the 2nd phase finisher.

Let's see, next pattern...

Phase seemed to end at 2nd phase.

Envy emerged from the receding darkness. But for some reason, it was staring right at me.

"...Silver hair."

Then continued.

"You are... a Claudi."

What, you only realized now? And if you did, shut up about it.

With the whole world watching. Why spout that name drop by drop?!

I replied in a voice laced with cold emotion.

"Dare not utter that name."

"...As I thought!"

"Having spoken it, bear the consequences."

Shimmer— Surging appropriate mana.

The price for dredging my dark history would be merciless...!!