A Hair's Breadth Difference (2)
“What? Retreat?”
Shinwa Guild's raid leader, Kim Hyun-seok, scowled irritably, pinching the bridge of his nose. Shinwa had solidified its position as Korea's second-place guild after Gaon. But from the world's perspective, they were barely clinging to the top 100—a frog in a well. Still, there was such a thing as pride.
“No, Analyst Nam. I admit our raid team's skills are lacking. Especially compared to Gaon, we must look utterly pathetic. I admit that too. But isn't this looking down on us a bit too much?”
Gaon and Shinwa had cooperated since the Yusra reconstruction. Gaon had far outpaced Shinwa as a guild, but Shinwa could offer business expertise as a chaebol-backed group to the bloated Giant Alliance. It was a fair give-and-take, business thorough and detached from grudges. Nam Cheolmin communicating with Shinwa now proved it.
So this didn't make sense.
-“I'm not underestimating Shinwa.”
“Then give me a reason. That's why I can't accept it. Our average level is 450, you know. We can hold our own here, can't we? President Baek will join us soon...”
-“It's not that. An unexpected incident occurred.”
“What? An incident?”
Kim Hyun-seok calmed his excitement at the urgent tone. Now he noticed the relentless typing in the background. Only then did he grasp the situation.
“...Is something happening up top?”
The Zero Mountains. As vast and towering as they were, incidents never ceased since the reality update. Dragons lurked at the peaks as a given, and places like where Hoyeol, the Shadow Mercenaries, and giants clashed were somewhere in those mountains.
Kim Hyun-seok smacked his lips and continued. “Even so, the lower areas should be fine, right? We should avoid unnecessary casualties, of course. This is low ground, after all.”
He wasn't wrong. The Zero Mountains' vastness wasn't all bad. An incident up high had negligible odds of affecting the bottom.
But not this time.
-“Damn.”
Tap.
The frantic typing stopped. The background clatter ceased, followed by Nam Cheolmin's shout.
-“Raid Leader Kim! That area's not safe anymore. The Zero Mountains are backflowing! High-level monsters from the upper zones are invading lower territories and descending!”
“...?!”
What?
It defied Arcana's logic entirely. But he couldn't question it.
In the vicinity, 'Blood-Starved Mountain Wolf' appears.
“R-Raid Leader?!”
Blood-Starved Mountain Wolf…!
An unmistakable monster. Kim Hyun-seok, who saw Nam Taemin as his rival, knew it well. Know thyself and thy enemy for a hundred victories. He painfully realized his own level daily, so he'd diligently watched Nam Taemin's battles on video.
This was the monster even the great Nam Taemin struggled against.
“Damn it!”
-“Raid Leader? Has it already come down that far?”
“...It's a Blood-Starved Mountain Wolf.”
Kim Hyun-seok assessed Shinwa's forces. “...Tch.”
Without master Baek Isul, if everyone fought desperately... they might handle one wolf. But.
'Their true strength is in packs.'
A mob with a named leader, moving in organized, tricky patterns. Even when Gaon defeated them, Nam Taemin bit the leader to death, then swept the demoralized pack.
Kim Hyun-seok gritted his teeth. 'I'm not Nam Taemin, and Shinwa isn't Gaon.'
Annihilation loomed in his mind. But Kim Hyun-seok and Shinwa forgot one thing: Gaon's brain was with them.
-“Raid Leader. Tell Shinwa's mages and agility 400+ players to inflict self-wounds deep enough to trigger [Bleeding] status.”
“...!”
-“They prioritize weaknesses— the injured first. Agility 400+ can barely evade pursuit. Mages, you know: teleport away as mana allows.”
We're still miles from Gaon.
Kim Hyun-seok issued orders per Nam Cheolmin. Guild members scattered swiftly.
“Whew.”
Nam Cheolmin sighed in relief upon hearing. This way, Shinwa could escape safely.
But.
“Huh?”
Shinwa's positions on the monitor looked off. Not retreating—advancing instead.
“Hey, Raid Leader Kim. Can you hear me?”
-“...”
“Raid Leader Kim Hyun-seok of Shinwa!”
Swish— rustle— The sound of parting brush continued. No disconnection or trouble.
Nam Cheolmin hesitated, then click— moved the mouse.
“...Emergency situation—understand.”
Gaon and Shinwa were mere collaborators. Drone monitoring wasn't in the agreement.
He muttered, rationalizing. “Even the Commander would approve.”
But the situation demanded it. Nam Cheolmin maneuvered a Gaon drone over the Zero Mountains toward Shinwa's position.
His quick call revealed it.
“That's...?”
Seven Akshan demon hunters.
And.
Ding!
“Wh-what the hell?!”
Them attacking players.
*
Splat! Blood sprayed everywhere.
The sticky unpleasantness on her skin. She opened her tightly shut eyes.
...Not my blood.
Gre Mory stroked her trembling throat. It was attached. Perfectly fine.
Only then did she see the fallen player on the ground.
Gre Mory laughed shakily. “Ha... haha... hahaha... HAHA!!”
This was true power. These pathetic humans were better than demon lords or legion commanders?
“Daring to target my queen...!”
A sly demon would lose will amid such carnage. But look at these foolish adventurers—desperately protecting her?
'With this power, it's possible.'
Gre Mory assessed. 'In this world churning with negativity...!'
A third world, neither Demon Realm nor Arcana Continent. Her short stay meant scant knowledge, but one glimpse revealed ten truths.
Churning negative emotions never lied.
“Heh.”
Gre Mory's lips curled high. Predator fear lingered, but she'd found a path.
“That bravado won't last.”
Her, provoking Akshan predators? 'Forgive me, you lustful cur.'
The foreign blood in her veins grew more appealing. But the arrogant fools ignored her still.
Thud. Clank— thud.
The seven demon hunters moved in sync. Bolts reloaded into crossbows.
Gre Mory hiccuped nervously behind encircling players. A grotesque mix of terror and sneer.
“What do Akshan's dogs know? How human life is treated here! They kill each other—what's wrong with that? But you killed such humans!”
Humans valued worthless lives. This world, Arcana, or devoured Seorn Continent—all the same.
“You've done demon-like deeds!”
But this land, the adventurers' world, brimmed with contradictions. Non-humans already claimed humanity.
-“Supernova? That demon-like scum?”
-“Yes, my queen.”
-“Trash hailed as heroes? What a joke.”
A demon piercing human negativity—only she could spot the hypocrisy. Good news, of course.
'You'll bear all the sins.'
Strange machines would spread it fast. Truth: humans enthralled by her power sacrificed themselves. But to lowly eyes...
Gre Mory's lips twisted grotesquely.
“Not demon hunters—human hunters, right?”
Yes! Akshan looked like murderers.
Gre Mory schemed. 'Dodging battle was a boon.'
This fight yielded much: power confirmed, and crucially—
'A chance to discredit Akshan.'
Like the Arcana holy war. Crush the revived Akshan from the root.
Tat-tat!
“Pfft, you're pissed.”
The demon hunters charged.
'So persistent.'
Gre Mory grinned through gritted teeth. New body or not, predator fear etched deep.
Reciprocated, it seemed. 'Annoying pests.'
Even cornered, Akshan stabbed relentlessly. Emotionless, bloodless, tearless.
Whoosh—!
Crossbow bolts accelerated.
Shwick—!
Like yanking a hound's leash.
Swoooosh—!
Pulling silver threads linked to bolts.
Slink—!
Bolts veered unpredictably.
Gre Mory yelled desperately. “Protect me...!”
She thought they'd target her amid adventurers. But Akshan's madmen exceeded imagination.
Thud!
“Guhk?!”
The bolt's odd curve was simple: to hit armor joints, weaknesses.
Not satisfied with one.
To gift the next adventurer.
Thud! Thunk! Thud!
“Guhk?!”
“Ugh!”
“Hngh!”
Adventurers collapsed screaming.
“...You're truly insane.”
Gre Mory couldn't fathom it. The situation favored her, yet Akshan's madness chilled her.
“Killing humans freely to hunt me? As rumored, mad dogs. No wonder Arcana's evils feared you...!”
She realized anew: Akshan was dangerous. Crush the sprout now, uproot utterly.
Perfect timing. No mere predator.
Akshan acknowledged, yet she trusted her edge.
“But this isn't Arcana.”
Hunting demons by any means? Unacceptable here.
Glance.
Gre Mory eyed a player. Tiny machine on armor—body cam—acted like a demon eye, they said. Surely broadcasting Akshan's atrocities.
She stared at her predator.
“Like in Arcana, you won't be understood here, Akshan. Know why? Humans are born that way. All harbor evil inside.”
“...”
No reply, as expected.
“Fine.”
Gre Mory wasted no more time. Time to sever the food chain.
She summoned demon king, evil, hybrid power.
“Rise, my soldiers.”
...Twitch.
Fallen players stirred. Gre Mory smiled satisfied.
'Reborn, I'm no longer prey.'
But.
...Twitch.
Gre Mory overlooked it.
Akshan's second ironclad rule.
Akshan Iron Rule
While [Exorcism Ritual] is active.
Demon hunter attacks.
Damage only the demon.
...Twitch!
“...Hngh!”
The fatally wounded player gasped roughly. Touched his pierced throat.
No wound, no bleeding, no pain.
Only one thing visible.
Allure has been dispelled.
“?!”
Gre Mory's pupils shook violently. Too late, she realized.
The suppressed feeling wasn't mere fear.
“Guhk...?!”
Gurgle!
Blood surged from Gre Mory's throat.
...How?
Why are the humans fine?
Their throats were pierced.
Illogical. Impossible. Unacceptable.
I, with demon king and evil power—why vomit blood?
Can't accept... absolutely...!!
This moment.
Gre Mory's hundreds of emotions boiled to one.
'...R-run...!'
An unbreakable predator-prey bond.