Episode 419:
The Great Devil appears at the New Korea Players Association Headquarters and a break occurs at the Alchemist Guild Headquarters.
After all the incidents, Taehyun was once again realizing how long the past three years had been.
‘It’s exhausting.’
After hearing Secretary Yoon Miso’s comprehensive report, Taehyun sank down on the sofa in his room.
Although his physical and mental strength has become stronger than before, these hard tasks still tire him out.
An SSS-level player with a perfect human body.
It was for a similar reason that Yoo Ah-young kept trying to escape from work.
“What a great woman.”
Taehyun muttered, remembering Yoon Miso, who had just finished reporting.
3 years was definitely not a short gap.
To make matters worse, my superior went missing and was presumed dead.
Nevertheless, she was quietly doing her job.
In particular, the management ability that took over the Blackhead Training Center and took a breather by understanding the trends in the player industry was admirable.
It started out as a secretarial task, but Taehyun might later be helpful in unexpected ways with the Hanbit Guild.
It took quite some time to organize my thoughts after hearing the general report.
Afterwards, Taehyun opened the status window.
It was something I had not been able to do because I had been processing things quickly from the time I was assimilated as a divine beast in the Abyss until the moment I returned to Earth.
‘Since it has been assimilated with the magical power of the divine beast, there must have been quite a few changes.’
Maybe his all stats might have surpassed 1000.
“what?”
Taehyun checked the status window and unconsciously made a puzzled sound.
This is because there is no bigger change than I thought.
“Is this…the end…?”
His age was 23, his grade was ???, and his stats had increased slightly.
It’s just that it’s lower than expected.
It was an achievement if all stats, including charm, exceeded 600, which could be said to be a small achievement.
Also, the fact that the progress rate of the quest race war slightly increased and the progress rate of the territory war increased significantly was also a significant change.
“I’m a little disappointed.”
Taehyun clicked his tongue and glanced at the status window once again.
What was most noticeable was the progress rate of turf wars, which rose to 60%.
Even at this very moment, great dukes are fighting fierce battles all over the Abyss.
In particular, Taehyeon’s group, including Rosaria, would be fighting fiercely with the enemies in District 15, where Shinsoo was located.
Tiring.
[Skill Gate Apostle (???) has been activated. Coordinates have been specified.]
Quaaaaa.
A small gate opened in Taehyun’s room.
These are coordinates that lead directly to Rosaria Castle, which is the safest place for Taehyeon in the deepest part of the Abyss.
Paz, that is. That’s it.
The gate did not allow Taehyun to enter.
Tiring.
[Skill Gate Apostle (SSS) has been strengthened. Magic power consumption accelerates.]
Quaaaaa!!
The magic power swirling around the body strengthened, and the gate grew in size.
Small to medium Medium to large.
Nevertheless.
Pazzzzz ie. That’s it.
“…I guess that doesn’t work either.”
Entry was denied as if there was an invisible wall.
The law of the Abyss is at work.
The situation at the time was so urgent that he only took the power of the large supply and escaped assimilation with Shinsu.
I couldn’t help but feel regretful that the situation was like this.
To get to the Abyss, it seemed like I would have to go through the dungeon like last time.
“Well, there are still quite a few top-tier dungeons left.”
Taehyun thought of Xelga, the highest ranking member of Jormungand.
A being who drove Lim Ah-young to the brink of death even though Tae-hyeon’s attack reduced her to less than half of the power she once displayed.
SS rank player.
Among them, even though it has reached a level that can be considered the highest level, which is on the verge of breaking down the wall, there is still an unbridgeable gap with the monsters at the deepest level.
From what Taehyun could tell, among the players currently active, Yoo Ah-young was the only one who could engage in a battle worthy of the Archduke’s family.
She, too, is currently receiving intensive treatment due to Diablo’s erosion.
“Diablo….”
Taehyun thought of the former Archduke’s magical power that he had missed right before his nose.
Although it was obviously in an incomplete state after being destroyed by the king, the pressure of the power it radiated was not light.
In the world of imagery, its presence has risen to a level where it can be called the next great supply.
The erosion of the world of images leaves aftereffects no different from death.
Even if Ayoung regains her former strength, it is not certain whether she will be able to fully recover that strength.
“Diablo. “Should we just deal with that guy and move on?”
I was planning to go to the Abyss through the dungeon of Zelga, who I saved anyway, but my plan was delayed a little.
Earth and Abyss.
We compared the situations in the two worlds.
‘Rosaria will not fall easily.’
Despite being called the weakest of the Grand Dukes, it has managed to evade checks and survive until now.
Although that power is imperfect, Typhon and Gilfer are also present.
Since she had endured even while Taehyun was assimilated into the divine beast, she would have been able to do something this time too.
That’s when I was thinking about that.
A familiar voice came from the earrings I was wearing.
[Knock knock~.]
“…Guild leader Yoo Ah-young. “Have you come to your senses?”
[then. I’m Yoo Ah-young. New Korea’s best player.]
She emphasized the words ‘New Korea’ and ‘the best.’
I want to emphasize that Taehyun was away for a considerable amount of time.
“Your voice is shaking… but didn’t you need more time to treat the reflux?”
Ayoung’s indifferent worry made her laugh through the earrings.
[I’m Yoo Ah-young. The best information guild in New Korea. Night Walker Guild Leader.]
“Let’s get to the point.”
[Looking cold, does this really mean Kim Tae-hyun?]
Although she grumbled, she told me the information that had been compiled a little while ago.
[Ryusbo Players Association President. [This guy’s behavior is strange.]
This was something that Taehyun had already guessed after hearing it from Yoon Mi-so.
But when it comes to information, the more information, the better.
“Isn’t Chairman Ryusbo’s behavior strange enough?”
Taehyun asked.
I can’t say it’s attractive information at that level.
[Hmph~ I knew Taehyun had a private informant, but he’s trying to pass it off as being cooler than I thought?] “
I don’t like talking back.”
[What do you know? Because that’s your charm.]
After saying that, Ayoung continued.
His remarks and actions, which were strange to begin with, crossed the line.
“What if it’s a line?”
[It looks like they are cannibalizing. And that’s quite a large number.]
“….”
Taehyun was at a loss for words for a moment.
Man-eating is not a trait that arises simply from being a monster’s instinct.
Unless it is not just a monster but a top-class monster.
‘As expected, it has fused with Diablo’s horn.’
The day Diablo’s horn disappeared.
Taehyun’s Yeouiju explosion occurred at the headquarters of the Chinese Players Association.
It was so powerful that it could be said that the breath of a leader-level dragon was released with all its might.
Even though the attack caused significant casualties and many top-level players were oxidized, Liu Shibo, who was at best the lowest-ranking SS-level player, survived.
Immediately after, he announced that it was a miracle that he had achieved reawakening to SSS level in an extreme situation, but Taehyun did not believe his words.
Rather, my suspicions about him only deepened.
[You didn’t know this, after all?]
As the silence became longer, she mumbled various things to herself, saying that she had repaid her debt for taking her out of the world of images.
“I would appreciate any information. More than that, Yoo Ah-young is the guild leader. “Are you finished with treatment?”
[Not yet.]
Yoo Ah-young’s voice when she said that was somewhat heavy.
‘Are risks hindering recovery as expected?’
Then there was no reason to hesitate.
“I’m going there now.”
[Hmm?]
Before I could answer.
Tiring.
[Skill Gate Apostle (???) has been activated. Specifies the coordinates.]
Quaaaaa.
Without hesitation, Taehyun created a gate leading to the Night Walker’s basement.
Unlike a moment ago when entry into the Abyss was refused, I did not feel anything blocking my movement.
* * *
Night Walker special training room.
“It’s a complete mess.”
Taehyun, who examined Yoo Ah-young’s physical condition, made that assessment.
These were not empty words.
Her body was in tatters as Diablo’s magic eroded away, as it was not enough to regain strength in a situation where the reflux had not properly recovered.
Even if she received intensive treatment, Rosaria’s magical power in her body could not be restored.
If we compare it to the highest level of monsters, it is in a state that is no different from being downgraded.
Still, her expression wasn’t as bad as I thought.
“Well, I didn’t think I could handle this power forever. “Now that you’re back, that’s enough.”
There was even a hint of relief on his face as he said that.
“….”
Taehyun shook his head.
There are not many humans who can accept the Archduke’s magical power.
Moreover, she even showed some degree of control over that power.
It is a waste of power to lose it like this.
“Guild leader Yoo Ah-young needs to conserve his body.”
“I think that’s what I would say.”
Yoo Ah-young did not lose and listed Tae-hyun’s past recklessness one by one.
“That’s it. Just focus on horsepower control.”
“…?”
Instead of answering, Taehyun released his magic power.
Tiring.
[Skill Apocalypse (???) has been activated.]
Huaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Darkness fell over the area.
“uh?”
Yoo Ah-young looked embarrassed at the sudden situation.
This was because I had seen Taehyun so far, so I did not know the meaning of the unfolding of this field.
As far as she knew, ‘Apocalypse’ was a place for full-scale combat and torture.
“It might hurt a little.”
“Now wait a minute…. Taehyun…?”
Her words could not continue.
Tiring.
[Skill Chain of Binding (???) has been strengthened.]
[Skill Energy Drain (???) has been strengthened.]
[Skill True Blood (???) has been activated.]
As if there was no need to hear it, he came down from the darkness. Chains wrapped around my body.
The magic power that was scattered around her body drained away at a rapid rate.
The magic power sucked through the chain was filled into the vampire’s magic stone.
“Huh…”
Ayoung moaned.
And when it became clear that there was no more magic power left in the body.
Phew.
Taehyun’s fingernails, which had suddenly turned into those of the devil tribe, dug into Ayoung’s abdomen.
“Ugh…”
Ayoung coughed up a handful of blood.
Taehyun didn’t care and strengthened his magical power.
By controlling the ‘Energy Drain’, new magical power was injected into her.
The place where Diablo’s destructive magic escaped was filled with Rosaria’s purple magic.
How many times did I vomit blood?
From some time ago, the magic power of the dream demon tribe had been flowing through her body.
‘Has he become more proficient in mana control after merging with the divine beast?’
Otherwise, it would have been impossible to inject magic power this cleanly.
Tsuzzzzzzzz.
Purple magical power radiated from her body.
Grumble, rumble.
Unique tentacles appeared one by one.
Nevertheless, Taehyun was not satisfied.
‘This level cannot overcome the wall of a proper great evil.’
so.
There was a need to take more definite measures.
Taehyun used the next skill.
