The sword that was aiming at the area between his eyebrows suddenly bent like a sickle and cut at his collarbone. He was a bit flustered, but Kraugel calmly blocked it with his sheath. He had expected an anomalous attack from the time he saw the shape of the soft sword, so it was easy to respond.

The soft sword that was blocked by the sheath bounced back using its elasticity. Kraugel drew his sword. At the same time, he turned the sheath around, held it in the reverse direction, and pushed it.

...Oh my?

The eyes of the yangban, Yeum, widened. It was because her sword was attached to the humans sheath. She was in a hurry to retrieve her sword when Kraugels sword cut her waist. It was an attack that dug deeply, but Kraugels expression wasnt very good.

A basic attack is pointless.

A basic attack didnt deal much damage. He gauged Yeums defense and kicked up. Jajinmoriit was a kick that could be used even at a close range. It made the concept of space meaningless and exerted a chasing effect.

Yeum was pushed back several meters and was ready to chase after him immediately. Through the dust, she could see the back of the human that was running far away. Usually, a person would think they had missed the opponent. However, Yeum was a yangban. In front of her, a half-god, the concept of distance had little significance.

Shunpo.

Yeums body teleported dozens of meters ahead. She spread out the capturing technique and snatched at the humans robes. Then a sharp blade swept over Yeums white hands like a storm. It was the manifestation of Formless Will.

He has awakened the heart.

The vast majority of the yangbans didnt understand the concept of Formless Will. For them, Formless Will was just an innate strength. Even Garam recognized Formless Will as a power of the yangbans. However, Yeum had an accurate understanding of the heart and Formless Will. This was the result of studying martial arts beside Mir without being complacent about her strength.

Tong!Tong tong tong tong tong!

Yeum matched it. She responded to Kraugels Formless Will with her own Formless Will. The invisible blow collided with the invisible sword energy and a storm erupted. Meanwhile, the battle between Kraugel and Yeum continued. Yeums techniques encompassed fists, angled attacks, the palm, and the sword, and they were varied and complex. Her attacks that left behind afterimages were as flashy as the tail of a peacock and Kraugel was desperate to stop them. Yes, he somehow blocked them.

Yeum greatly admired it. The opponent was an ordinary human. He hadnt even accumulated transcendence. However, his heart and his techniques were unusual. Among them, his swordsmanship was particularly remarkable.

The swordsmanship is similar to Mirs... no, maybe it is a bit better.

This was a human who used swordsmanship comparable to Mir, the strongest of the yangbans. If he accumulated transcendence and completed his body, wouldnt he far transcend the category of a human?

Its great.

Yeum was blocked by the sword curtain used by the human being and she was forced to step back. She was filled with pure curiosity and questioned the human who was regaining his breath, You arent a transcendent. How are you distinguishing between my various attacks? It isnt possible just because you have good eyes.

......

Kraugel didnt answer. He had no reason to explain that he was predicting and responding to attacks by reading the fine movements of her muscles, the direction of her eyes, and the habits that the other person was unaware of.

The situation is bad.

Kraugel had only been in Kaya for two days and he already met with a yangban. It was too much to dismiss it as bad luck.

Is it because I had a conversation with the residents to gather information?

The waterfall that was said to contain Mullers secret techniquethe only clue was that it was a place where there is no sunlight, so Kraugel interacted with the residents to gather information. Then he stepped back and encountered the yangban in front of him. The possibility that it was a simple coincidence was very low.

I was too short-sighted.

The yangbans lost the red phoenix and black tortoise to an outsider (Grid) and their colleagues were also killed. Even the arrogant ones wouldve been alarmed. It was clear they would thoroughly defend the blue dragon and the white tiger. It was enough to keep an eye on the people of the Kaya Kingdom and the Pa Kingdom.

I should give up on communicating with the NPCs here.

He had to work thoroughly alone and in secret. The difficulty of the quest surged, but Kraugel didnt hesitate. He had a lot of experience in uncovering and solving labyrinths alone. The biggest problem right now was how to get rid of the yangban in front of him. However, could he get rid of her? The level of the other person was too high.

Yeum. She had a smiling face and soft attitude, but there was no mercy in her hands. She knew how to objectively analyze the enemy. She was never arrogant and careless, unlike other yangbans. Her skills were unsurprisingly excellent.

I didnt know that the skills of a yangban would be this high.

In the past, Kraugel had warned Grid of the dangers of the yangbans.

At that time, he didn't know there was a gap between the yangbans. He took the three yangbans he saw in Pangea, including Garam, as the standard for the yangbans. That wasnt the case anymore. In the past few years, he had been collecting information about the yangbans through many quests.

Only the seven yangbans who had passed Chiyous Test with high grades could take off their gats. They were the truly strong ones. Yet Yeum possessed higher than expected skills despite wearing a gat. Even a yangban wearing a gat was this strong...

Kraugel couldnt help thinking of Grid who had killed several yangbans.

The gap has widened further.

Kraugels heart jumped when he realized the difference in skill with Grid. His blood boiled as he recalled the goal of competing against Grid again. However, he suppressed it. It wasnt time yet. He would end up learning Mullers secret techniques if he was obsessed with winning against Grid.

Then I am bound to lose.

He absolutely refused to lose while using someone elses power. He didnt want to disappoint Grid. He realized it for certain when he saw that Grid didnt participate in last years National Competition. It was a fact that a rematch with Grid shouldnt be set as a short-term goal. The current him didnt meet Grids expectations.

...The game is fun. Exciting. Long.

Kraugel tried to control his mind by repeating his positive thoughts. Then Yeum spoke to Kraugel, You seem to have many thoughts. Dont try to understand the situation. If you keep thinking about why I attacked you or why you cant beat me, then you wont understand until the very end.

I dont care.

It was Kraugel who felt insignificant when Yeum intervened as he was thinking about Grid. Yeums face went blank for a moment, but she soon laughed. You are so terrified that youve lost your mind.

Yeum infused energy into her soft sword. The anomaly of the soft sword wasnt working so she determined it was better to suppress the opponent with a strong sword. The people above are a bit sensitive these days. It is forbidden to have outsiders active here, so please die.

There is no retreat.

It was easy to understand why Yeum chose to fight here despite the narrowness. In the first place, Shunpo was a problem. It was hard to get free. Kraugel looked around again and concluded that retreat was impossible. Therefore, he took a posture.

I wonder if I can decrease her blood below half. I have to confirm it now that things are like this.

......?!

Space Sword.

The Sword Saints swordsmanship split apart the mountain and the half-god paid homage to his blow. Each time their swords collided, birds flew from the turbulent forest and covered the sky with black.

***

[Hell Gao, the master of Hellfire has appeared.]

[Hell Gaos roar has applied fear, confusion, and debilitating effects.]

[You have resisted.]

[Hell Gaos fire has reduced fire resistance by 50%.]

[You have resisted.]

[Hell Gao, who has restored a lot of magic power, has used his strength. A river of hellfire is summoned in the area.]

[The health recovery effect is reduced by half due to the influence of the hellfire river and continuous burn damage is received.]

[You have resisted.]

[Hell Gaos stats will rise significantly as the hellfire river flows.]

[Fire pillars have risen and attacked you.]

The moment Hell Gao appeared, a river of fire was also created in the dungeon.

......!

Pillars of fire rose from the fire stones and struck at Grid and Mercedes. The fire stones were scattered in so many different locations so it felt like the fire was coming from all directions. Mercedes shouted to Grid, who couldnt easily find a path of retreat, Come over here!

......?!

Mercedes was standing still and shouting. Grid had no way of knowing what her intentions were, but he trusted her unconditionally. He rushed forward. Pillars of fire burned the dungeon. However, there were some areas that werent affected by the flames, one of which was the area where Grid and Mercedes were standing.

Wow.

Blue hair swept over the face of the admiring Grid. Mercedes moved like a flash and raised a shield into the air.

Meteor Strikeit was thought to be one of the strongest spells until Grid witnessed Brahams Meteor, and it fell toward every point where the fire pillars didnt reach. Mercedes shield now blocked one of them.

Grid clicked his tongue. Is this the power of Keen Insight?

She could grasp and target the boss attack patterns in an instant. It was truly a powerful force to watch out for. Mercedes spoke to Grid, who was looking at her like she was beautiful, Dont fall into the river.

Yes.

His transcendent senses were also sending him warnings. He was able to resist the burn damage and recovery reduction effect caused by the heat of the hellfire river. However, once his body directly touched the hellfire river, his flesh and bones would melt.

Once Hell Gao fully recovers, will he launch powerful flames like that river?

A chill went down Grids spine as he was reminded that Hell Gaos nickname was master of hellfire.

Who are you?

Beyond the flames, Hell Gaos voice could be heard.

Whats the matter?

Hell Gao came in and out of here like it was his own house, and he became accustomed to conversations with human beings. He was more talkative than when he fought against Grid a few years ago. He even sensed something strange and immediately asked questions.

You guys... are you legends of the past generation?

Hell Gao had regained a considerable amount of power after suffering the humiliation of being beaten by humans several times. The physical body might only be borrowed from a demonkin, but his magic power had reached almost half of when he was in his prime.

Hell Gao was planning to hold a killing celebration this time. He was convinced that the humans who humiliated him for years would never be able to handle his present self. Then what was this? What was the identity of these two humans who possessed a strength that modern humans couldnt show?

Hell Gao was perplexed only to suddenly meet Grids gaze. He kept his mouth shut for a moment before shouting. You! You are the guy from that time!

[Hell Gao, the master of Hellfire, recognizes you.]

[The title Recognition of the 9th Great Demon has been acquired.]

[Recognition of the 9th Great Demon]

[A celebrity in hell.

The hell reputation system is activated.

The more you build your reputation, the less you will be penalized in hell.]

[You have defeated many great demons.]

[5,000 reputation points have been acquired through the influence of the magnificent achievements.]

[The penalties in hell are reduced by 10%.]

It is nice to see you giving me a gift.

This was a great profit. Activities in hell could be guaranteed, and hell was arguably Satisfys best hunting ground. Hell Gao stared blankly at Grids genuine joy and burst out laughing. Kukuk!Kuhahahat! Right! I am glad! Really glad!! I have always dreamed of getting revenge on you! God Yatan finally listened to my wishes!!"

The experience of defeat in a fight against a miner and a swordsman, not the Sword Saint, was the greatest shame of Hell Gaos life. The reason Hell Gao diligently kept coming to the human world over the past few years was actually because he wanted to get revenge.

Today, the opportunity finally came. Hell Gao was very happy.

You are worthy of being the human who defeated me. You have become stronger! It will be worth taking you down! Kuhahahat!

...You have become very chatty.

Among all the great demons Grid had met, Hell Gao gave off the lightest feeling. However, the power he radiated was great. Grid didnt release his tension even if it wasnt for the warnings from his transcendent senses.

Lets go, Mercedes.

I will follow you.

...Can you take the lead?

Grid thoroughly relied on Mercedes after witnessing the true value of Keen Insight. It was the first time that he recognized those with finite lives as people to depend on rather than a person to be protected.

[Overgeared King Grid is writing the eighth epic.]

[The beginning of the narrative comes from the confrontation with the great evil roaring beyond the soaring flames.]

Gladly, Mercedes replied.

[His knight takes the lead in the furnace filled with the demonic desires.]

[One step. Enduring the flames of hell.]

[Two steps. The back she showed as she confronted the great evil with devotion shared the burdens he had been carrying so far.]

Exactly 15 days left until the submission date for the Overgeared event ends! There still aren't as many entries as last year's competition so I hope you are all working on your submissions within the last two weeks! Remember, multiple cash prizes to be won!

6th Anniversary Event Link (Submission End Date: 15th November)