“Uh, where is the demon?!”
“Dad, I’m scared!”
“Why does a demon suddenly appear…?”
Confused people began to murmur.
Jeong Yusin also turned his head from side to side to observe the surroundings.
All he could see were ordinary people—there was no demon in sight.
Where exactly?
Right at that moment,
a black mass flew through the sky, drawing a parabola before crashing into the park.
“The sky!! It’s above!!”
Karin was the first to spot it. Next, Jeong Yusin noticed and shouted, but the people didn’t hear and were still flailing around in panic.
“Get out of the way!!!”
Jeong Yusin stretched out his hand, shouting and rushing quickly.
But it was too late.
The demon plummeted right into the midst of the crowded crowd.
KUNG!!!
GEEEEJIIJICK.
Torn pavement, shattered bones, and shredded flesh splattered everywhere.
A giant two-meter praying mantis.
Under its legs, crushed bodies were twitching.
Jeong Yusin’s eyes widened.
Moments ago, a pair of young siblings who were laughing amidst the crowd were now smeared into a bloody mass.
The young boy, whose small hand had been holding his mother’s, stared blankly at her torn-apart corpse.
Tragedy struck in the blink of an eye, and the crowd fell silent.
Then,
“KIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAK!!!”
“RUN!!!”
Terrified people began to scatter, screaming in terror as if their souls had been ripped from their bodies.
Jeong Yusin looked down at the people who had been squashed right before his eyes.
Not long ago, these were ordinary people laughing and enjoying the festival. Now, they were unrecognizable, reduced to pulp.
Instantly, his vision went pitch black.
It overlapped with the image of children with only their heads remaining, staring at him from inside a box in the inn.
Absolutely.
Absolutely cannot let this stand.
“YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!!!”
Jeong Yusin yelled as he charged at the mantis.
“Scath, calm down!!!”
Karin shouted something, but he couldn’t hear it.
[Sacred Weapon]
Driven by anger, he couldn’t materialize the weapon properly in his mind.
He simply swung a long, lightning-like form that seemed to flicker.
SZZZZZEEEEKKK!!!
The light-like blade cut through one of the mantis’s legs and passed through.
CHUUUUUWAAAAAKKK!!!
The sticky green blood of the mantis shimmered in the starlight.
In a spasm, the mantis swung its front legs.
[Sacred Weapon]
Again, he was unable to properly shape the weapon.
A twisted, jagged form resembling lightning.
Embarrassing to call it a sword, but the edge was sharper than any other weapon.
The lightning sword swung by Jeong Yusin collided with the mantis’s front leg.
KAAAAAANGGG!!!
Golden particles sparkled like flying sparks.
The mantis’s front leg was shoved back by Jeong Yusin’s strength, even being thrust upwards.
The mantis’s eyes widened in shock.
“YOU LITTLE SHIT!!!”
Jeong Yusin cursed as he swung the gold lightning horizontally.
CHAAAACKK!!!
Through Level Up, his muscle density and reflexes had skyrocketed, allowing him to ruthlessly slash several of the mantis’s legs apart.
“PIIIIIIILIIIIICKK!!!”
The mantis lost balance and wobbled while screaming.
Without stopping, Jeong Yusin leaped up and slashed straight through the mantis’s neck.
SWHHHHHAAAAACKK!!
The severed head of the mantis flew through the air and rolled on the ground.
“Th…the Giant Mantis defeated so easily?”
“Find…find the injured!!!”
People began to murmur.
“H…Help!!! Demons have appeared in the streets!”
“I’m going!!!”
“I’ll go too!!!”
Jeong Yusin and Karin rushed out of the park together.
While running, he thought,
“Exactly what bastards are these?”
The demons couldn’t just have appeared from the Labyrinth. Thus, the cause was only one possibility.
The east district.
Had the wretched souls, who treated life like a living hell, finally gone insane?
How could humans do this to each other?
Using all his strength, he ran to the streets.
He was close to the inn he operated. The familiar street came into view, and Jeong Yusin felt dizzy.
A massive toad demon sat in the middle of the street, its long tongue whipping around, flinging people this way and that.
The person caught in its tongue was already shredded beyond recognition, a bloody mess.
Without stopping, he charged forward at full speed.
“KIIIIEEEEK??!?”
The toad demon flinched upon seeing Jeong Yusin rushing in like the wind.
[Sacred Weapon]
SZZZZZEEEEKKK!!!
He swung his blade, cutting off the tongue effortlessly.
Once again.
[Sacred Weapon]
A one-meter spear formed instantly, which he plunged directly into the toad’s head.
“KREEEEH!!!”
The toad screamed, twisting its body violently.
Ignoring it completely, Jeong Yusin exerted all his strength to jam the spear deeper into the toad’s head.
“KEEYEEH!!!”
The toad emitted its final cry before collapsing to the ground.
“Thank you!!! Thank you!!!”
“Because of you, we survived!!!”
Familiar faces approached, bowing in gratitude. Some who had previously looked down on him were among them, while others had treated him indifferently.
However, now they all spoke respectfully and bowed deeply.
Jeong Yusin shook his head.
“We should move somewhere safer. Please evacuate into the buildings quickly!”
Upon urging, everyone scattered to different directions.
At the end of the street, someone approached.
One person. And one demon.
“…Who are you?”
“UUURGH.”
It was the gifted swordsman he had seen before. He seemed off, just emitting eerie groans.
His name was Ret. He was supposed to have disappeared in the Labyrinth; how did he escape?
And why was he standing there so amicably with the demon?
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
“Hmmmm…”
Ret responded with a sinister laugh. His eyes were completely rolled back, showing only the whites. He was clearly not right in the head.
‘No sword. And his magic power is almost depleted.’
If he had been wearing decent equipment, it would have been better.
Jeong Yusin gritted his teeth.
At that moment,
The guard troop rushed into the park yelling,
“Hey, everyone evacuate!!”
People who were still lingering, confused, were quickly guided to safety by the guards.
The guards surrounded the demon standing next to Ret.
A man who looked like the captain approached Ret.
“Hey, why are you with the demon? Are you the one controlling it? Come with us to the guard post.”
From the guards’ perspective, Ret seemed like the obvious suspect.
SWIRL.
Ret drew his sword with a sinister laugh.
The captain’s face hardened.
“Do not resist! This will only make things worse…”
POW!!
A flash of light, and
With one swing, the captain’s head was severed.
THUMP!!! TUMB!
The cleanly cut head landed on the ground and rolled away.
“…”
An icy silence.
No one had seen the sword’s trajectory.
Ret now held a rusty iron sword in his hand.
The guards stared dumbfounded at the scene.
“Everyone back off!!! Something’s wrong with him!!!”
Jeong Yusin shouted, stepping forward.
“The captain with the Stone Skin inscription was killed in one stroke…”
“H-H-Hey!!! It’s too dangerous!!”
The guards themselves were confused and fumbling. They looked like fresh recruits.
Jeong Yusin quickly picked up the captain’s sword. Karin stood beside him.
“Scath, are you fighting alone?”
“No. But I’m worried about the demon standing next to Ret.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“I trust you. Don’t get hurt.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
Karin stepped aside and grabbed two daggers from the guards.
“Are these fresh recruits? These guys seem pretty nasty. Would you call for backup?”
“Never!!! Who dares command the Labyrinth City guards?!”
An unknowing new recruit snapped at Karin, who appeared relatively easy to handle. A familiar guard nearby stepped in quietly.
“No, no… This young lady is Lady Karin, daughter of Lady Ingrid.”
“HU…HUH?!?”
The recruit trembled and immediately bowed deeply.
“S-Sorry!”
“Don’t mind it. I’m requesting backup not as Ingrid’s daughter but as a scout’s instinct. Don’t confuse them.”
Karin turned her back and spoke.
“…Understood. Let’s go!”
The guards hesitated for a moment, seemingly confused, but immediately realized the severity of the situation and dispersed.
Jeong Yusin gazed at the demon standing next to Ret.
Thanks to the studies with Mion, he understood.
Ironically, this opponent was a Skin Walker from the Forest Zone.
Demon enveloped in animal hides, sprouting black fog, it wanders the forests alone.
At least three mid-level explorers were required to defeat it. He was quite worried.
“Don’t wear that face. Even if you can’t kill, you can hold out.”
Karin calmed Jeong Yusin.
“I trust you.”
Hearing Jeong Yusin’s concise answer, Karin smiled faintly.
“Alright.”
The two faced their respective opponents.
SWIRL.
Jeong Yusin drew the captain’s sword.
‘Can I win?’
The opponent possessed the genius swordsman’s inscription. He had seen him fight. Overwhelming mastery. It was hard to predict victory.
However,
He could not retreat. If this guy runs loose down the southern street, it will certainly lead to a great disaster.
‘It figures that my luck has been this good.’
He swallowed a sigh that came from within.
“Hmm…”
“Quit the laughter.”
Jeong Yusin slung the sword on his shoulder and slowly approached.
Ret maintained a middle stance, immediately lunging for Jeong Yusin’s neck.
“Here he comes.”
He gripped the Long Sword with both hands in an X-pattern and swung it.
KAAAAAANGGG!!!
Metal clashed, sparks flying.
Ret instantly brought his sword down from the collision.
Aiming for his wrist. The fluid change in direction sent chills down Jeong Yusin’s spine.
He immediately stepped back, wielding the Long Sword with one hand.
[Sacred Weapon]
SZZZEEEEK!!
A blade of light shot towards Ret’s neck.
THUD!!!
Ret effortlessly deflected it and rushed forward, bringing his sword down on Jeong Yusin.
From above.
KAAAAANG!!
Jeong Yusin blocked and followed up with a back-handed swing at Ret’s head. Ret also immediately raised his sword and countered, aiming for Jeong Yusin’s head.
KANG!!! KAAAAANG!! KANG!!
Ret’s blade barely grazed Jeong Yusin’s cheek.
SQUISH!!
[Avenger]
Jeong Yusin’s eyes blazed with turquoise flames.
Warm blood flowed down from his cheek, but he couldn’t move his hand to wipe it; Ret’s sword was constantly hunting for his life.
KANG!! KAAAANG!! KANG!!!
The swords entangled, and the two men circled each other like dancers.
After more than a dozen intense exchanges of offense and defense,
PLOP!!
Ret’s sword pierced Jeong Yusin’s shoulder.
“DAMN IT!!!”
The turquoise flames grew stronger.
Driven by the mad talent from the genius swordsman’s inscription, Jeong Yusin, who had wielded a sword for barely a year, could only acutely feel the disparity in skill.
Ret swung the sword.
Like a wounded beast, Jeong Yusin’s movements grew faster, but it was futile against the masterful swordsmanship.
At that moment,
He lost sight of Ret’s movement. The price was high.
CHUNK CHUNK CHUNK!!
All fingers except the thumb on his left hand were cut off.
The excruciating pain momentarily froze his body.
SWZZZEEEEK!!
Ret’s thrust straight for his heart.
Jeong Yusin desperately raised his arm.
KRAKRAK!!
The cold blade pierced through his flesh, shattered his bones, and embedded deeply.
The immense pain of iron nails drilling into the bones shook his brain.
Jeong Yusin’s eyes were filled with bloodshot veins.
Damn.
GRIT.
He clenched his teeth. He couldn’t end it here. Managed to protect the heart at least. Won’t die instantly. There must be a way.
The left hand, having lost fingers and with shattered bones, couldn’t handle the sword.
He swung the Long Sword with one hand, intending to decapitate Ret in a single strike.
But Ret deflected the sword and immediately lunged again.
Right before Ret’s sword pierced Jeong Yusin’s throat.
A life-or-death situation.
The world slowed down.
A golden bright light from the night sky rushed towards Jeong Yusin like a bullet.
“…What is this?”
“SCAAAATH!!!”
Karin’s horrified voice echoed slowly from somewhere.
Jeong Yusin turned his head. A bloodied Karin was slowly running towards him, incredibly risking coming from behind the enemy.
And what a sight—Karin looked terrible.
Then,
The golden spirit collided with Jeong Yusin’s head with a solid ‘ding.’
At that moment, the slowed world came to an end, and darkness came over him.
Jeong Yusin opened his eyes.
“What is this?!”
Utter darkness.
Just like when he had transferred to another world, he found himself enveloped by darkness.
The intense pain that had been wracking his brain was nowhere to be found.
Even the fingers he had lost were fully intact.
As Jeong Yusin looked around, a woman surrounded by golden light descended slowly from above.
Long blonde hair.
Clad in a simple sheet of fluttering fabric, known as a peplos, commonly worn by women in ancient Greece.
The shortness of the fabric around her thighs looked more like something favored by Spartan women.
Her aura was similar to Mion’s, warm and holy.
Her bust was either similar or perhaps slightly larger than Mion’s.
“I see, how disrespectful.”
The woman spoke. Unlike Mion’s lazy eyelids, she had distinct and somewhat stubborn-looking eyes.
Jeong Yusin tore his gaze from her bust and looked at the woman.
“Who are you?”
