Episode 213 [ Final Battle – 5 ]
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The Demon King was looking down on the battlefield with the huge eyes on the Demon Castle.
The huge pupil repeatedly contracted and dilated, scanning the city of Seoul.
The undead army was spreading out in all directions and attacking several shelters at the same time.
However, many of the nearby undead had been reduced to ashes.
Soon, the Demon King’s gaze stopped on just one player.
“Inferno…”
The flames spreading from her body were turning one side of Seoul red and reducing the undead army to ashes.
Per—uh—uh—uh——!
Every time she swings her giant sword, dozens… sometimes hundreds of them are retired.
If you could directly move the Demon King’s Castle and fire a barrage of rays at Inferno, everything would be resolved, but while the process of ‘harvesting souls’, which absorbs human life force and strengthens the Demon King’s power, is carried out, all functions of the Demon King’s Castle will temporarily stop.
“…The plan needs to be revised.”
It was never good to continue this war of attrition.
Even so, it was a situation that could not be redeemed.
“Only by properly destroying Seoul can we destroy its foundation. But now there are only 10,000 people… and only the first stage of soul harvesting has been completed. “It takes a much longer time to accumulate more of this powerful power.”
The same system message as the player was still displayed in his eyes.
– There are 134 people left to complete Soul Harvest (Stage 1).
Completing the first stage of soul harvesting involves killing 10,000 people and bringing their souls to the Demon King’s Castle… And with 134 people left, 9866 humans have been killed so far.
Although the number was by no means small, it was an insignificant number considering that an overwhelming number of undead legions had been unleashed.
At this, the necromancer stepped forward.
And then he cautiously opened his mouth.
“…Give me Kronos and Atlas.”
Kronos Atlas.
Those were the names of the titan race’s boss monsters. They were also members of the Demon King’s family and were currently waiting within the Demon King’s Castle.
Since they were level 256 and level 241 respectively, they were the greatest power the Demon King had.
However, the necromancer’s request did not mean that he would use them as is.
It was said that only a ‘corpse’ was needed.
“Well, what are you going to do with that?”
“I’m going to make a brimstone-fire rag golem. It’s really big. The bodies of those two won’t burn even in the inferno fire.”
“…I guess so.”
The brimstone-fire rag golem.
It was a powerful skill obtained by eating the Necromancer’s heart after defeating Inferno and absorbing the ‘Devil’s Stone (Inferno)’ as well. A lot of mana
and the corpse of the boss monster. A corpse golem created through consumption.
It was an undead weapon that could not be burned by most types of fire.
“Yes, if that were the case… it would be able to pierce those fierce flames and deal with the inferno. Okay, take them and use them. Instead, destroy the inferno as quickly as possible. Kill them and move as planned. Before Steelaine comes.”
“Yes! “I’ll do my best so you won’t be disappointed!”
The necromancer, who had just taken off his boyish appearance but still looked somewhat innocent, started running somewhere with a bright smile.
***
Inferno advanced.
Her name is Han Ju-hwa.
She was once one of the most powerful players in the world.
However, after experiencing some kind of situation, he began to hide away, almost to the point of hiding.
People questioned her sudden disappearance and all kinds of rumors began to circulate.
I fell in love with an ordinary man and he told me not to fight, so I got pregnant.
Usually it was just gossip.
I didn’t want to be forgotten by the world, nor did I want to ignore the world.
He knew very well that his strength was needed in this dangerous world.
Why don’t you know that even in a difficult battlefield where many players die, it can be easily resolved if you arrive, and thus many lives can be saved?
She was a ‘guardian’. A member of a secret society that seeks to protect this world that has been turned into a game in any way possible.
So sometimes I tried to make up my mind and do something, but strangely enough, I couldn’t.
It was because some terrible memory kept coming back and holding me back.
The one person I was unable to protect because I lacked the strength to do so… I remembered the moment when the life in that person’s eyes slowly disappeared.
prophet.
‘…Ando Suzu.’
When Han Juhwa had just awakened, he met Ando Suzu in the same guild.
At the time, both were S-rank players and were attracting attention as rookies. The two people, who naturally became close friends, spent 11 years together performing the Guardian Quest and becoming heroes who control the world.
However, at some point, the number of shadows targeting Ando Suzu, who possessed the special ability of prophecy, began to increase… This was the appearance of a ‘villain’.
The Guardian prioritized protecting Ando Suzu. And Han Ju-hwa claimed to be Ando Suzu’s guardian. As he spent the longest time with her, he believed that there was no shield as perfect as himself.
And in fact, the villain’s shadow was illuminated one after another by her strong light, and he did not even dare to approach.
But one day… it must have been during the annual event for world players held in Washington, D.C., USA.
An event hosted by Gordon Price, a wealthy man and member of the Guardian.
I thought there was no problem with safety because security was more thorough than ever and numerous guards were deployed.
I was complacent.
As the event was coming to an end, assassins appeared with a sudden explosion and attacked Ando Suzu all at once… At
that moment, everyone was panicking and busy with their own thoughts, and Han Ju-hwa reacted quickly. She raised a pillar of fire and completely pushed back the weapons and skills flying in from all directions.
‘…I was able to save it.’
However, perhaps the villains’ level had risen, and several of their attacks managed to pierce through her pillar of fire… and lodged themselves in Ando Suzu’s chest.
Right in the heart.
So the prophet died.
‘…It’s my fault. ‘If only I were a little stronger.’
Han Ju-hwa thought so. If only his abilities were a little stronger. If it had been Busan… it would have been different.
That thought dominated her mind for a while.
After that, she developed symptoms of panic disorder, including shortness of breath and weakness in her body, just thinking about going out of Busan.
Inferno, the 3rd ranked player in Korea, has panic disorder. Isn’t this a funny story?
“Villain. You guys did it…”
She gritted her teeth and moved forward.
Soon, the Demon King Castle appeared in the distance.
The cause of everything is right there.
A being that kills prophets and is encroaching on the world.
A villain… or something more, has come to Seoul.
It was Lee Hyun-wook who told her that fact.
He sent her a short message along with a number of items.
The villain who killed the prophet has cornered their leader and will soon make him pay for his crime. And his name is the devil.
She was planning to shoot down that Demon King Castle now.
‘Now there is no shortage.’
The power he possessed was stronger than ever.
As proof, the Demon King’s attacks have been blocked very easily so far.
But then—
coo—un——!
Something huge fell from the Demon King’s Castle.
“……huh?”
Size about 50m.
A figure larger than a building slowly stood up.
But the sight was extremely bizarre.
Grrrr——
At first glance, it looked like a titan, but should I say it was strangely twisted? It had three heads and six arms.
The internal organs, bones, and flesh were twisted here and there, covering the entire body like armor.
And he was holding a blunt weapon made from the shinbone of a giant.
A sulfur-fire rag golem. It was the worst undead weapon made by randomly gathering multiple corpses.
Also….
rrr——!
Green flames began to burn from its body.
Han Ju-hwa snorted.
“Fire? Are you showing off fire in front of me?”
She held out a Leviathan in annoyance.
Then flames shot out from the tip of the sword and flew toward the rag golem in a whirling motion.
Even though it was a huge figure over 50 meters tall , it was hers. She
couldn’t withstand the attack.
If she set her mind to it, she could even destroy a building in an instant.
And for a monster in such a living form, she would be even easier prey.
‘It’s just a big pile of ash.’
I was confident that I could turn it to ashes in an instant,
but…
huuuu…
even though the flames she shot out had stopped….
purr….
it was perfectly fine.
Let alone turning to ashes, my skin didn’t even melt.
All I did was get pushed back dozens of meters.
“…Huh?”
She was embarrassed.
“…It doesn’t work?”
It couldn’t be.
No matter how much fire you have, there are different levels of fire. The fire of the inferno was enough to completely roast even most fire attribute monsters.
But that was different.
‘Do you mean fire at a similar level to mine?’
If so, it meant that fire couldn’t defeat him.
And if the fire doesn’t work…
‘…what should I do?’
There was literally nothing she could do.
At that moment, the guy kicked the floor and started running.
Thump—thump—
Because of his heavy body, his movements were a dream, but he crossed the block in just one step. We got closer in an instant.
Han Ju-hwa shot a pillar of fire at the guy again.
However, it stretched out its four arms forward and began to break through the pressure of the pillar of fire.
Boom… Boom…
In an instant, it was right in front of us.
It was a distance that he could have reached if he swung a blunt weapon.
Accordingly, the subordinates who were protecting her stepped forward.
“Protect Inferno!”
“Shoot anything!”
They blocked Inferno’s path and kept it in check by firing all kinds of magic at the brimstone-fire rag golem.
However, their mission was not combat in the first place, but merely guarding Inferno…
“Not a single thing works! ”
It was impossible to subdue such an overwhelming enemy.
“Sister, you need to avoid it first! “Prepare your teleportation magic right now!”
“no! “If you get out of here, the shelter will collapse!”
There are tens of thousands of civilians behind her.
If you get out of here, they will all die.
“But…”
Then— The brimstone rag golem’s body swelled and…
boom! pop! pop! pop!
With the explosion, pieces of rotten flesh flew out and exploded again.
“—Tsk!”
The players, including Han Ju-hwa, were swept away and thrown back and forth by the explosion.
Still, Han Ju-hwa was resistant to explosions and fire, so he quickly came to his senses without any injuries.
But not her teammates.
“Ugh…….”
“Uuuu——!”
They were broken here and there, complaining of pain. Some seemed to have lost consciousness. Maybe he could have died.
The moment Han Ju-hwa looked at that scene, he felt his breathing become short of breath.
“Ah… like this again…”
It wasn’t because I lacked stamina or took damage.
‘shit! ‘I don’t have enough strength again.’
The anger and excitement that had been boiling up just a moment ago cooled down and were replaced by helplessness and fear… It was, shamefully, a moment.
“Huh—huh—”
Panic disorder.
The trauma I thought I had suppressed came flooding back. Suzu Ando’s face came to mind, and I saw her face overlapped with that of her subordinates who had fallen nearby. I thought it was different, but it ended up being the same
. Is it?
But this time, I had no intention of going back and hiding in a place where I could feel safe.
“But I have to do something.”
The lack of strength was the same as always.
However, he failed because he lacked strength, and he never ran away because he lacked strength.
She got up shakily and moved forward.
Even if he had to die, he planned to at least not let his comrades die anymore.
“Lee Ho-jin, I buy time. Take the kids and get out.”
“But if you do that…”
Flames surged from her entire body,
“If you come this way, you too will burn to death.”
It was her firm will.
“Ah….”
Undead
troops suddenly gathered around the brimstone and fire rag golem.
They climbed up the body of the brimstone and fire rag golem and began to melt and be absorbed.
Gurgling – Gurgling –
Their flesh and bones were tangled here and there….
Kukdudd….
The flesh moved to four of the six arms of the brimstone rag golem and stretched like a whip, and they lifted towards the sky. It was raised.
“Sister! “It’s dangerous!”
Soon it flew at random towards Han Ju-hwa.
bang-! bang-! bang-! bang-!
The place where she was standing was destroyed.
This time she narrowly escaped it, but she couldn’t continue like that.
Attacks don’t work and defenses are outstanding.
She would soon die.
“…I failed again this time. “I keep failing at important moments.”
But then—
– Inferno was perfect.
A voice rang out through loudspeaker magic.
Han Ju-hwa raised his head.
A man was floating quietly in the sky.
Stillrain.
He had finally arrived.
– You protected Seoul. Millions of people.
“Ah…”
And around his body, numerous metal weapons were floating densely.
Steel Rain. As its name suggests, Steel Rain, the blades were pointing towards the ground as if they were going to fall at any moment.
But today, the shape was like that . It was quite different.
They were all giant swords over 2 meters tall… they were Mowglais.
Somehow, there were known to be 4 of them in total… Hundreds of them were decorating the sky.
– From now on, I’ll take charge.
He slowly raised his left hand . I lifted it.
The weight in my fingertips felt much heavier than usual.
The steel rain that was to fall on Seoul today was expected to be heavier than usual.