by Park Saenal
[The duration of Blackening is over.]
[Your demonic power is sealed and your species has returned to a human being.]
[It is impossible for ordinary humans to enter hell. You are expelled from hell.]
“Kuk…!”
Grid’s vision blurred. Then after a moment, he opened his eyes at Reidan’t resurrection point.
{Grid! Are you okay?}
{What, why were you marked in an unknown location?}
There was an uproar in the guild chat window. Jishuka and the Pavranium Expedition members were clamoring. Grid could feel how worried they were.
‘The Elfin Stone raid must’ve succeeded if they can make contact with the outside world.’
{Grid! Look look! These are the items Elfin Stone dropped!}
{Really amazing! A growth type item! We didn’t even know that these items existed!}
“…!”
Grid’s eyes widened. It wasn’t because he checked the item options of Elfin Stone’s Ring and Iyarugt that was shared by the party members. There was another reason why he was surprised.
“You came.”
“…Yura?”
Why was she here? Yura looked at Grid and her cheeks puffed out. She could make a cute face like this?
Yura was standing next to Lauel and the Overgeared members.
‘Acting like this because she’s pretty. Tsk tsk, those pathetic guys.’
Grid was smiling despite this. The power of beauty was truly great.
Chapter 302
Chapter 302
Grid’s party would fail at the Elfin Stone raid. It was regrettable, but it couldn’t be helped. Elfin Stone was too strong. The Overgeared members all thought so, except for Yura.
She believed that Grid would produce results that would overturn everyone’s expectations. This wasn’t an inadequate belief that stemmed from her liking towards him. It was because she became a Demon Slayer and realized the power of a legendary class.
“Didn’t struggling with the strong help you?”
She believed that Grid would succeed in the raid. Yura smiled at Grid. Grid’s expression was full of confidence as he replied.
“Yes, it was a very big help.”
There was an insurmountable wall in Grid’s consciousness. It was none other than Hell Gao. The great demon whose body was sealed by Sword Saint Muller, with only the soul remaining. He was very strong. It was impossible to defeat him unless the fire stones were taken.
But now it was different. Grid was comparable to Hell Gao. No, he might even be stronger after gaining the experience of defeating Elfin Stone.
‘Sooner or later, I will hunt Hell Gao again.’
Then it would be different from the past. Grid would raid Hell Gao without resorting to the fire stones, and would eventually reach a higher ground.
‘I must become the best.’
He didn’t want to ever sacrifice his colleagues again due to his own helplessness. It was enough to only experience that dirty feeling once. Grid’s expression as he vowed was more mature than before. The growth of the 28 year old youth was continuing without stopping.
How charming would he be once he was over 30 years old? Yura’s heart thumped at the thought. She trembled as Grid stared at her.
“But why is your level so low? The 5th place ranker is only level 203? Have you been cheating people?”
What was this? He seemed to go back to the time when he spat things out without thinking. But Yura accepted it well. She thought he was better than a man who was pretentious or always bluffed.
“Check my class.”
“Class? Aren’t you a black magician?” Grid only saw Yura’s level in the guild members information and belatedly confirmed her class. Then he was shocked. “Demon Slayer? What is this? Huh? Uh? L-Legendary…!”
At the press conference for the 1st National Competition, Lim Cheolho had stated this: There were a total of nine legendary classes.
However, two legendary classes were part of Overgeared. Grid’s heart was overflowing with joy.
“You are really welcome!”
Grid was so happy he wanted to embrace her. But he didn’t want to be labelled as a molester and refrained.
After that.
Grid left Reidan with Yura and Huroi. It was to join up with the Pavranium Expedition. He had 84 days left in his quest to secure the remaining pavranium. City 13 was one of the most difficult ones, and it was already cleared. Their power was strengthened, so it would be easier to secure the rest of the pavranium.
***
The 13th vampire city.
After Grid died killing Elfin Stone, the surviving party members searched all over the city. The ultimate goal of this expedition was to secure the pavranium. But it was difficult to find. The scale of the city was too big and it was also dark.
“The torches have already run out.”
“If I had known this, I would’ve packed more.”
“Zednos. You’re a third advancement magician, and yet you can’t use any light magic?”
“I only learned wind magic.”
“Sigh, you should learn the basic spells, regardless of attribute.”
“I’m willing to continue with this path. Who knows? If I keep learning only one type of magic, I might obtain a hidden class.”
“Ugh… What if we ask for Minor to be sent? He would find it quickly.”
“Let’s look a little more.”
Four more hours passed. They killed the scattered remnants of the vampires’ familiars while searching and eventually found a deep cave. The entrance was covered by a rock wall, making it look like a secretive and suspicious place.
“This seems like it?”
Vantner took the lead. The moment when all the people behind him entered the cave.
[The Guardian of the Labyrinth has detected an intruder and woken up from a long sleep.]
[The traps have been activated.]
Papat! Pa pa pa pat!
Kwarururung!
A rain of arrows fell from the ceiling while spikes rose up from the ground. The chain lightning that came from the walls was stronger than many magicians. In the past, Grid couldn’t cope with the damage from Braham’s traps and survived due to his immortal passive. But it was somewhat lacking to threaten the current Overgeared members.
“Titan.”
Kuwaaah!
Vantner summoned an illusionary giant. It was a skill that increased the physical defense power of each party member, as well as blocking the projectiles.
Jjejeong! Jjeejeeeong!
Most of the arrows were neutralized by the giant. The thorns rising from the ground pierced the soles of their feet, but the increase in defense allowed them to avoid any fatal wounds.
“Wind Curtain!”
Chain Lighting was weakened by Zednos’ magic. Thanks to that, the party members could escape from the traps. Two very large golems were waiting for them.
“Wow, they’re huge. Aren’t they a bit bigger than the ancient weapons that attacked Reinhardt?”
“This golem…”
Jishuka and Vantner were familiar with these golems. The two people thought about it.
“They resemble the golem that Grid fought when he obtained the pavranium.”
“However, they look much bigger and stronger.”
“It means this place definitely has pavranium.”
“Okay, let’s take them down lightly.”
The two guardians of the labyrinth! They were 150 levels higher than the golems that Grid defeated in the past. They were also stronger than the ancient weapons that invaded Reinhardt. But the Overgeared members also grew. The golems couldn’t exert any power against the elites of the Overgeared Guild. No matter how high their stats, the golems had simple defensive patterns, so they weren’t a threat to rankers who had transcendent control skills.
“The defense is quite high.”
“Slow down and concentrate on the feet. Knock it down.”
“Z
ednos, look for the mana core. Then I can deal fatal damage to the mana core with my quick-draw sword technique.”
Kurururu!
20 minutes after the battle started. The guardians of the labyrinth had high defense and health, but they eventually collapsed. The party members’ expressions brightened as they identified all the minerals that dropped.
It was because they imagined Grid’s happiness. As they were thinking this, someone’s voice was delivered into their minds.
[Now dogs and cows dare touch my things.]
“Dog?”
“Cow?”
“Us?”
He was referring to them, who were in the top 20 of two billion users?
“Who are you to say that?”
Vantner growled and asked the voice.
[I am the great magician Braham.]
Braham was looking forward to it. He wanted to see their terrified reactions when they heard his name. However, the Overgeared members responded in a completely unexpected way.
“It’s just a specter of the past.”
“You’re the one who installed the traps? You have a sneaky personality.”
“If you’re dead, you should leave peacefully. Why are you staying in this world to harm people?”
“Give us the pavranium.”
[You guys…!]
Braham knew that the intruders were Grid’s subordinates. It was thanks to Euphemina, who was currently in the Siren Kingdom. Braham had watched them through Mumud’s Orb when she had been staying at Reidan. Braham didn’t like them.
[You truly fit together! All of you are just like Pagma’s Descendant!]
Grid, the thief who stole the pavranium instead of making the Vessel of the Soul. Even now, he was sending his minions to rob Braham’s pavranium. It was an act that couldn’t be forgiven.
[I will show you!]
Grid would take a direct hit if he killed these guys! Braham pulled out the weapon he had prepared for when he would reunite with Grid.
[Mumud!]
Kwajak!
An old coffin emerged from the ground. The Overgeared members were surprised at the sight of the coffin.
“Another vampire?”
“What magician can summon a vampire?”
The Overgeared members determined that it was a vampire, but this was a big mistake.
Creak.
It was a skeleton, not a vampire, that emerged from the open coffin.
“Skeleton?”
In Satisfy, skeletons were summoned using bones. What skeleton was kept in a coffin? Zednos turned pale as he found the orb in the skeleton’s hand.
“Mumud…! I knew that name was familiar. He was Braham’s disciple!”
“Then?”
“That skeleton, it’s a lich!”
“What?!”
A lich was on a different dimension from a skeleton. They possessed infinite magic power and were rumored to surpass the 10 great magicians of the continent. Braham’s soul fluttered as he identified the nervous reactions of the Overgeared members.
[Demands are a privilege of the strong. You want me to give you the pavranium? You children who don’t understand who you are going against, I will punish you.]
Kiyaaaaaah!
The lich stood up. The magic power emitted by it was reminiscent of Elfin Stone.
“Let’s escape. We can wait until Grid comes back.”
“Yes, we don’t have to fight it now. Let’s go back safely.”
They were still exhausted after the Elfin Stone raid. The risk was high and there was no merit to fighting the lich without a plan. The Overgeared members quickly judged the situation and tried to escape.
Step step.
At that moment, someone’s footsteps were heard in the cave.
‘Perhaps?’
‘Grid!’
Grid always appeared with perfect timing. He was like a character in a movie who appeared in a moment of crisis. He was a person who made them feel a strange anticipation.
“I finally found it. Lich Mumud.”
“…!”
The Overgeared members thought the footsteps belonged to Grid. Their brightened faces distorted instantly. They never imagined the true identity of the owner of the footsteps.
“Why are there so many guests?”
A man appeared in front of the Overgeared members and the lich. He swept back his pale green hair and scanned the Overgeared members.
“Look at these guys who are rushing around because they received their third advancement. Don’t you know how to play alone?”
Who could speak in such an unreasonable manner to the prestigious Overgeared members? There was only one person. This man had the nickname of Crazy Person. Or Mad Dog.
“Agnus…!”
Chapter 303
Chapter 303
“Agnus…!”
He was ranked 6th after Yura disappeared from the rankings list. He was originally thought to have an epic class, but now it was known that he had a hidden growth class. He never showed up in public. However, a few top rankers knew his strength. They often bumped into him at the hunting grounds.
“Hey, Overgeared noobs.”
Jishuka, Peak Sword, Pon, Regas, Faker, Vantner and Zednos. Agnus didn’t shrink back despite facing the party of eight. Rather, he poked fun at them.
“I’ve been looking for that lich for 11 months. Don’t touch my prey or I’ll kill you.”
“You bastard!” Vantner cried out furiously towards Agnus. “If you don’t want to die, don’t make fun of us!”
Agnus shrugged. “Bald Vantner. You’re really stupid.”
Vantner’s face turned red.
“I’m not stupid or bald! This is a shaved head! Aren’t you the one interfering? We found this place first!”
“So what? Are you going to fight that lich?”
“Why not?”
“Kukuk! Aren’t you funny? You look tired, probably from defeating the master of this city? Mumud was close to being a legendary magician. Now that he’s beyond death, he’s even stronger. He isn’t something you guys can go against.”
“You bastard! Yet you want to raid him alone…? Oof! Oof!”
“Relax. Our purpose isn’t to raid the lich.”
Jishuka blocked Vantner’s mouth. Then she suggested to Agnus.
“I will give you that lich. We won’t get involved in the raid. Instead, we have something separate to do. Can you not restrain us?”
“I will think about it if you kneel down.”
“You should act in moderation, Agnus.”
“Kukuk, yes, yes. I understand.”
Jishuka was surprisingly passive towards Agnus. This was also a good development for the Overgeared members. Agnus would get the lich and they could concentrate on securing the pavranium.
Vantner couldn’t accept it.
{Are you going to just let him go? Why are we leaving it alone when he is treating us like this?}
Vantner was the lowest ranking member of the party. He had no experience with Agnus. However, the other members were different. They all had at least one hunting ground overlap with Agnus.
{It’s better to avoid Agnus.}
The sky above the sky, Kraugel. Pon acknowledged Kraugel as this. However, that was just in a one-on-one fight. Agnus was king of the dead and could rule over hundreds.
{He’s a man who absolutely shouldn’t be our enemy.}
Vantner didn’t understand.
{All of you have been saying that he’s great for a long time, but I honestly don’t know. Is he so strong that we have to flee, despite there being eight of us?}
{We aren’t running away. We are just avoiding him?}
{That is the same thing! Ah, damn! I’m sorry towards Grid! Ignoring the Overgeared Guild is no different from ignoring Grid!}
{…Speaking of Grid. If the two people meet, they will fight.}
{Their personalities are similar. Grid and Agnus absolutely shouldn’t meet.}
{We need t
o find the pavranium before Grid arrives.}
Papat!
The determined Overgeared members scatter all over the cave. Vantner was left staring at Agnus alone, and eventually had to follow his party members. Agnus looked at them and muttered.
“Don’t rush. I have to test the performance against you if I get Mumud.”
Braham shouted at Agnus, who was smiling in a disgusted manner.
[Why do things keep on getting twisted? Who are you?]
“Me?” Agnus’ gaze shifted towards Braham’s soul. “I am someone looking for your body.”
Kwajik! Kwajijik!
The ground around Agnus split apart and hundreds of skeletons popped out. Death knights and a lich were included. Third advancement necromancers could obtain death knights, but liches were different. There was no lich summoning in the skill tree of the third advancement necromancer.
In the first place, liches were originally human. Even the great magician Braham couldn’t fully control Lich Mumud. He took advantage of the coffin for vampires. Braham identified the lich summoned by Agnus and was astonished.
[You…! You are Baal’s Contractor!]
“Don’t bring up that damn name.”
Agnus frowned and waved his hand. Then the death knights and hundreds of skeletons hit Lich Mumud.
Kiyaaaaaah!
Mumud fired off magic power. The flash of light shot forward in a straight line, turning the skeletons in front to powder. It was like a dark dragon’s breath.
“Hoh.” Agnus didn’t shake despite losing dozens of skeletons at once. Rather, he was pleased. “As expected.”
Now, become his.
“Kuahahaha!”
Agnus burst out laughing. In response, the death knights, lich and skeletons’ eyes turned red. Braham’s soul shook like a lamp in front of the wind.
[This dog…!]
He couldn’t lose Mumud. Braham only had a handful of souls left, so Mumud was almost his only support. But Baal’s Contractor showed no mercy. The powers of the death knights and lich strengthened the skeleton soldiers, gradually driving Mumud on the defensive.
[Indeed, you were chosen by Baal for a reason…!]
Puok!
The death knight’s sword struck Braham’s soul fragment. At the same time, Braham’s voice stopped. It took a few more minutes before Lich Mumud was under control.
