Demon (5)
"Prepare yourselves. The melee will begin shortly."
There was no matching. That meant his opponent for this trial wasn't a challenger from the same time period, at least.
And a melee? If Geom-ma hadn't tipped him off about the trial's contents beforehand, Yun-seok would've been wondering what the hell this was right about now.
"Countdown commencing."
"3."
According to Geom-ma, these were challengers who had faced this trial in the past. He didn't know the criteria for which opponents appeared—apparently random—but none of them looked particularly dangerous.
"2."
He'd been inwardly worried about that. What if a monster like Cheonma showed up? Sure, duels with the strong were welcome... but there were limits.
"1."
The final second ticked away. The restraints lifted, and a new alert appeared.
"Survive for 30 minutes."
Yun-seok wasn't surprised—he'd heard this beforehand. But the other challengers, treating this moment as stark reality, reacted differently.
"Wait a second!"
The instant it started, everyone's bodies froze as if on cue.
"Looks like we just need to hold out for 30 minutes. No need to shed blood, right?"
It was a man who looked like he was from Murim. Neat attire, an archaic beard. With his sage-like features, he exuded a dignified air.
"......"
Perhaps deeming it too hasty to judge? No one voiced agreement. But no one drew their weapons to dismiss his words, either.
Come to think of it, Geom-ma had said something similar. For the first minute after start, until this message appeared.
Rewards are granted based on the number of direct kills.
Special rewards for ending the duel within 15 minutes.
This trial was different from the others. Not a do-or-die fight—choices were given.
If everyone cast aside greed and united, peace might reign... but
Fat chance of that.
In an instant, the challengers' eyes changed. Amusingly, even the man who'd first advocated peace wore the same look.
"......"
They'd all seen the same message. Yet no one spoke. A heavy silence like the calm before the storm. The arena heated up with their individual murderous auras.
Is this coincidence too?
Observing the challengers impassively, Yun-seok noticed something new. Two demons, two humans, two beastkin, two elves. Remarkably, the eight challengers here had perfectly balanced racial ratios.
And he wasn't the only one who noticed.
—Hey there. Can't be sure with the mask, but it looks like that young friend over there is one of us, paired up like the rest. What say we team up with our kin?
The voice whispered right beside him. No mistaking whose it was—even without the "kin" talk, he felt the internal energy shooting from the lips of the man who'd first called for peace, shaped like sound waves.
—Oh? You don't know jeon-eum-ip-mil?
Jeon-eum-ip-mil
A technique Yun-seok had never heard of. At first he thought it a skill, but observing the flow of internal energy, it seemed more like a trick.
—Then no need to reply. Just nod if you're in.
Cheonma hadn't taught him this. Maybe she saw no value in such petty arts.
But... not knowing didn't mean he couldn't do it.
Like this?
Instead of a gesture, Yun-seok channeled internal energy into his lips and spoke. He manipulated the sound waves with energy to keep them straight and direct them to the target.
Simple principle means plenty of flaws.
Anyone sensitive to energy would notice someone using transmission nearby. And eavesdropping along the path would be easy.
"How can I trust you and team up?"
Did his transmission work? An immediate reply came.
—Knew you were from the orthodox sects. Can't reveal my title due to circumstances, but this old man hails from Jeomchang Sect. No intention of betraying a junior even in a place like this.
Jeomchang Sect. Yun-seok, no Murim native, had no idea where that was. But the confident declaration suggested a righteous faction.
Which made it absurd.
—This old man will create an opening. When the chance comes, kill the pointy-eared elf woman first. She looks the most dangerous. You just kill anyone—don't miss the moment.
Casually proposing such schemes. Well, he had no intention of blaming him for it.
From the 5th floor on, anyone could've escaped if they wanted. Yet these people had chosen the trial, staking their lives to kill opponents.
So Yun-seok had never shown sloppy mercy here. He understood the man's ploy for victory to some extent.
But...
Asking for trust while saying that...
Utterly ridiculous.
To Yun-seok, the man looked like the type who'd stab him in the back at the first opening.
No reply—perhaps taken as tacit agreement—the man proceeded as planned.
"Hey! Everyone, calm down! Even if we fight, let's talk first!"
"Talk? Hilarious."
The demon snorted, the elf stayed silent, the beastkin gripped weapons and scanned surroundings.
"Kill and claim rewards. Same as always. You've all chosen this grand trial yourselves—why hesitate?"
"Not everyone lives like you. Hey, miss! What about you? There's a way for all to survive—do you really want bloodshed?"
Chatting with the demon, the man smoothly turned to the elf woman he'd targeted earlier.
She hesitated, and he pointed at Yun-seok, shouting:
"That young brother there has joined me. Please lend your strength too, miss!"
First a question, now persuasion with clear targets. Thinking numbers were key, perhaps.
The elf nodded after a moment's thought.
"Alright. If there's a way for everyone to survive even here, I'd love to see it."
Three challengers allied in a flash. Seeing the majority form, one beastkin joined.
"You all look tough, and we don't know the extra rewards. No need to risk it. Count me in."
Four united. The rest couldn't move rashly. Two demons, one elf, one beastkin. Unless they banded together, opposing the majority was folly.
"Tch. Might as well treat this as a rest floor now."
Soon the remaining elf and beastkin decided too. Only the two aggressive demons left... who could only watch warily, not attacking first.
Yun-seok was impressed. The man's political skill had flipped the situation instantly... but it made him confront peace's essence.
Like nukes deterring war, power was prerequisite for peace.
Thus the bitter taste. He sensed the man still eyeing a chance to execute his earlier plan.
In the end, even that was a ploy.
Before rewards were mentioned, he'd proposed peace. Now even that sincerity was doubtful.
Yun-seok drew Judgment Sword. He eyed each challenger in turn.
You have encountered evil.
Three bore the mark. The two demons itching for fight... and the man who'd orchestrated this.
Just a psycho after all...
He almost laughed incredulously. If there'd been purpose, needing extra rewards, it'd be somewhat better.
But no—he was enjoying this chaos. Even claiming Jeomchang Sect and righteous pretense felt like lies.
What the hell is this guy?
Yun-seok pondered but stayed still. Perhaps sensing something off as he drew his sword, the man cautiously asked:
"Young brother! Sheathe your sword! No one wants blood in this situation. Don't provoke. Same for everyone. I get the unease, but put away your weapons!"
He addressed not just Yun-seok but others. Yet no one holstered their final bastion.
The man ignored them.
"Miss! At least you sheathe yours! Didn't you say you wanted to see a way for all to live? Help this old man!"
Clinging only to the elf woman. Simple reason: despite her frail demeanor, she emanated the most extraordinary aura.
"...Fine."
Reluctantly, she sheathed her weapon.
And right then—
—Now!
With one transmitted word, the man's form vanished.
Authority? Skill? Yun-seok didn't know. But like his spatial move, the man instantly appeared beside the elf woman.
Thrusting at her heart—
Yun-seok smirked self-mockingly and slashed empty air.
Others might think I'm the crazy one...
Cheonma Sword, Second Form: Temporal Black Severance
Schwick—!
A red line appeared on the elf woman's neck, her head sliding off to the floor.
You have killed 1 enemy.
Not by the man's ambush.
By Yun-seok's sword.
"......?"
The man froze, baffled by the event before his blade even touched. He couldn't comprehend... but Yun-seok had only watched out of curiosity about his moves.
The outcome was predetermined from the start.
"Sorry to you all."
Yun-seok apologized to the other challengers. No rationalizing with "they chose the trial" or "these are Tower copies."
"...Y-young brother? What are you saying? D-don't tell me you did this?"
Yun-seok ignored the man—no need to respond.
Instead, he continued to the others:
"I need to grow stronger."
Today's events drove it home. Power was essential for peace. Absolute power to suppress all.
Of course, if he wanted, Yun-seok could've ensured no one died here. He had the strength.
But how long would that work?
Half-measures wouldn't achieve his goals. Facing everything head-on, shouldering all, reaching the end—that was Yun-seok's demonic path.
No one else's decree; his own choice.
Shaman's Law expands the range of Judgment of the Destruction Lord by 10x within the domain.
Preparations complete, Yun-seok faced the man again.
"I don't know if you cleared this trial and went up... or not. But if we meet again..."
Yun-seok intoned the command inwardly. Beneath the blackened sky, he declared:
"Wherever it is, I'll kill you again."
Ziiiiiing—!
With a space-rending roar, the light of ruin descended on the entire arena.
Amid it, Yun-seok murmured:
"Not that you'll remember."
Victory.
Predation
Killing seven challengers at once triggered Predation, stacking alerts.
Ignoring them, Yun-seok glanced at the bracelet on his wrist. The gray bead had darkened further sometime.
But that didn't matter.
It was just starting to feel cumbersome now.