Savior (5)
"Countdown commencing."
The countdown began. Was it because he came from the Duel trial? Unlike the mission-origin goblin who had gifted him the <Avatar>, he didn't say a word despite the bewilderment. Even if he didn't know why he'd been dragged into this space, he calmly stared at Yun-seok, mentally preparing for battle. Of course, he couldn't move, so it was all in his mind.
"3."
3
Looking into the demon's eyes brimming with fighting spirit...
Suddenly, a famous fighter's words came to mind. He had said everyone has a solid plan—until they get punched in the face.
"2."
2
He didn't know why that popped into his head all of a sudden... but it probably wasn't far off. No matter what trick the demon pulled, the outcome would be the same.
"1."
1
"START!"
START!
The moment the restraints released, Yun-seok circulated his Blood Demon Divine Art and forged a Blood Demon Sword.
Attack speed 6x, power 5x, ghostly energy, mana consumption halved, all stats +1. The buffs from King of Ten Thousand Swords, further enhanced by Yang's Art, settled over his body. Yun-seok made the Blood Demon Swords orbit his body like satellites—a trick to maintain the buffs.
Too bad I don't have the Judgment Sword or Oath Ring.
If he'd come equipped, the stat boost would've been insane. There was no way the guy who'd massacred 300,000 people wouldn't have a Judgment mark above his head.
Suddenly, a thought crossed Yun-seok's mind. What would his combat power measure if fully armed? He was curious, but he couldn't test it. He might not just pass out this time.
"Chaos Sphere."
The moment the Blood Demon Sword floated up, the demon spread his palm and chanted the command.
This again?
In this narrow arena, dodging would be trickier... but the skill's weakness was obvious.
Thud!
Yun-seok kicked off the ground and charged the demon. But...
This time it's different, huh?
"Immortal's Call."
No way he'd climbed the Tower with just Chaos Sphere. Thousands of hands erupted from the ground, reaching to grab Yun-seok and the demon's ankles.
No distinction between friend and foe, then.
Not surprising. He'd seen skills like that in the shop—ones that penalized the user but hit harder. The demon must've figured the drawback suited his style.
Unfortunately...
This time, he was the only one suffering.
Restraint skills nullified due to Heart of Freedom.
The thousands of arms rising from the ground melted away just as they reached for Yun-seok's ankle.
"...?"
Was this the first time someone had traded blows so selfishly? With his own feet bound, the demon panicked and pulled out a new skill.
"Eternal Gate."
A translucent curved wall appeared before the demon. Probably used to block ranged attacks while his feet were bound and Chaos Sphere charged. It wobbled like jelly, suggesting low defense. But using it now meant there was more to it.
Whoosh.
Yun-seok test-fired one orbiting Blood Demon Sword at the wall. No impact. It vanished into the wall like slipping into another dimension.
Limited entry angle, but effective.
Still a wall, curved or not. Unlike the immobilized demon, Yun-seok was free to move. Just circle around.
Thud.
Was he hoping Yun-seok would crash into it? When Yun-seok circled instead—having probed the skill with his sword—the demon urgently chanted another.
"Judgment of the Destruction Lord."
Just three seconds into the duel. The first Chaos Sphere hadn't even detonated. Yet this was his fourth skill. Proof he'd been cornered instantly. But it failed too. He couldn't even tell what it was.
Judgment of the Destruction Lord cannot be used within the domain due to Shaman's Law.
About 0.5 seconds. The sky darkened—likely the skill's effect—then reverted as it was sealed.
Out of useful skills? Or given up? Unclear.
But when Yun-seok flanked the translucent wall and reached the demon's back, he just stood there defenseless.
Slash!
Yun-seok first severed both arms and legs. Then...
Thud thud thud.
The severed limbs hit the ground. Exactly one step ahead of the demon, the sphere detonated. Perfect distance calculation... but detonating after everything ended? Pointless.
That was when he mentally rated Chaos Sphere low.
"Gaaahhh! What the hell are you! Who are you?!"
Writhing on the dirt in incomplete agony, the demon wailed in outrage. Fair enough from his view. He'd diligently climbed the Tower, only for some weirdo to shatter it in seconds.
But he needed to learn: From Yun-seok's side, what came next was equally justified.
"Who I am isn't the point."
This bastard had killed 300,000. Whatever method, he'd opened a rift summoning massive invaders to Earth. Motive didn't matter—no sympathy.
Yun-seok carefully gripped a horn and yanked it out mercilessly.
"Gaaaaahhh!"
Were horns extra sensitive? He screamed more than when his limbs were cut.
Thud.
Yun-seok planted his foot on the demon's head, pressing down. The shrieks quieted—effective. Now they could talk.
Yun-seok asked calmly.
"Why come to Earth?"
"..."
The demon wasn't cooperative. Yun-seok crushed his thigh.
Psssh!
Blood gushed from the healing stump.
Yun-seok wasn't worried about death by blood loss before answers. With wounds already regenerating, his stamina was sky-high or he had recovery passives.
Insurance anyway.
Self-harm impossible within the domain due to Shaman's Law.
Low chance of self-harm skills, but maybe adaptations. Escape sealed.
Time to get serious.
Stab!
He drove his sword into the thigh, twisting the hilt. The demon thrashed in agony but glared with defiance.
"You think that'll make me talk...!"
Torturer's pain amplification was 20x. Impressive spirit.
But Yun-seok was the same.
"Talk or not, doesn't matter. You'll die in maximum pain."
"...?"
The demon eyed him like a madman. Normally, interrogators promise mercy or quick death for cooperation. Same outcome regardless? Who'd talk?
His eyes betrayed that logic. Yun-seok smirked.
The demon still didn't grasp his situation.
"Gaaahhh!"
It'd take time, but he'd break. Exactly as Yun-seok wanted.
* * *
A day? Two? No idea. Maybe more. No night here. Yun-seok no longer felt hunger; time blurred.
The meat lump ahead probably felt the same. A day like a year.
"..."
Meat lump. No better word. Limbs gone, but basic shape remained...
Stab! Stab!
Like stabbing logs. No screams even from sword thrusts. Eyes open—conscious—but pupils unfocused like a broken lens.
No answers now, but Yun-seok didn't care. He had all the info.
Didn't expect WP as the motive.
Simple reason: Fulfill his contracted manager's wish to scrap a Tower-linked dimension. Unlike Elle's past-life wish, likely a fabricated one post-fulfillment to farm WP via contractor. Higher difficulty, bigger reward. Rift-opening authority? Plausible.
He chose Earth. Weakest of four dimensions, per 6th Floor Plaza intel. Without Yun-seok, success likely. Definitely.
That guy from the 6th Floor Plaza too... Invaders aren't the only threat.
Shoulders heavier. No obligation to save Earth, but if he was the only one who could... it fell to him.
Time to head back...
As thoughts wandered.
Rrrumble.
The near-dead demon twitched faintly. Stats and heals reached limit.
Tremors stopped soon.
Victory.
Unique skill Predation activated.
Acquiring one of opponent's skills at random.
Acquired Judgment of the Destruction Lord (B-).
Plundering one of opponent's equipment at random.
No equipment available for plunder.
Absorbing portion of opponent's highest stat.
Absorbed Stamina stat.
The dry air cleared. Salty sea wind brushed his nose. Opening his eyes, he saw the demon's limbless corpse tumbling from midair.
Sudden thought made Yun-seok chuckle.
To others, it'll look like I just slapped him dead.
Not wrong. He'd spent time interrogating, that's all. If he wanted, he could've done it for real.
Roll roll.
The corpse rolled down the hatchery's slope, then stopped. And...
Devoured by tentacle-like protrusions from the hatchery's skin. Miserable end in a distant dimension. Self-inflicted—no pity.
Yun-seok used Purification Light again.
"Greeeeek—!"
Brilliant radiance poured from him. The body touching it melted like lava.
But maybe Purification Light alone couldn't erase the core. New flesh regenerated inward as it melted. Tens of thousands of tentacles lashed out.
Futile. Numbers didn't matter—they dissolved before reaching him.
Sizzle!
With Purification Light, no attacks would land. Problem: Destroy the core.
Options aplenty. Yun-seok picked the riskiest—to test the new skill.
No real danger anyway.
"Judgment of the Destruction Lord."
Sky blackened at the chant. Yun-seok panicked.
Wait, what about this mana...
Nearly half his Blood Demon Qi drained. First time a single skill cost this much since mana hit S.
Power proportional to mana. How strong was it?
Answer in one second.
Kaboom!
Earth-shattering roar. Red lightning struck.