Dududududu!

The bamboo flute vomited light and soon began to fluctuate wildly.

- The Great King's holy spirit worrying about his country… The Dragon King... The Thieves of the Heaven and Earth… Tame.

The low, thick voice from the flute seemed to be chanting a Buddhist prayer.

'This is...?'

After acquiring the Flute of Tidal Breath, Seo Jun-Ho did some research. These sentences were part of a song dedicated to the tomb of King Munmu by the scholar, Woo-Hyun.

‘The king's soul, which was worried about his country, became a dragon king, and defeated the bandits of heaven and earth.’

At the same time, a system message flashed across his mind.

[The Flute of Tidal Breath has been played.]

[You have chosen to use all the effects.]

[Checking Player Seo Jun-Ho's power.]

[Title, ‘Helper of Ascension’ has been confirmed.]

[The first sound of the Flute of Tidal Breath has used the ability, ‘King's Space.’]

[Calculating and configuring the space where the user has the highest probability of winning.]

[Creating King’s Space, ‘East Sea, S-Grade.’]

‘The East Sea…?’

The moment his eyes opened, the light from the flute engulfed the world.

***

Slap! Slap!

“…”

The Heavenly Demon slowly looked around at the sound of waves hitting his ears. Not too long ago, he was definitely standing at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. But now, he couldn’t see the fence, the mound, or the crowd that filled the stadium.

‘Not just vision, but hearing as well?’

Even the noise of the helicopters, which he was thinking about shooting down because they were so noisy, had disappeared. All he could see was the vast sea. Even the place where he was standing was on a deck—he was on a ship.

'It's not a little trick like a simple illusion or hallucination.’

In other words, death here meant actual death. Feeling a little interested, the Heavenly Demon observed the ship carrying him. It was not a small fishing boat that fishermen rode, but a military ship that could carry hundreds of people.

"Well, that's an interesting ability."

He spat out his impression with his hands behind him, then raised his head and spoke. On the other side of the gym-wide deck stood Specter.

"But this is disappointing..."

The Heavenly Demon even overlooked Specter using items, but all he did was change the venue of their fight. His expectations weren’t met. Specter was a long way behind the expectations the Heavenly Demon had been hoping for from the legend of the past.

"Did you hope I would get seasick?"

“…”

Specter turned his head and looked at the sea. He had also completed his own calculations.

'The Flute of Tidal Breath said it’d calculate and create a space where I'm most likely going to win.’

The space that had been created was this place—the East Sea.

‘It's likely because of the Frost skill.’

Certainly, if he used that skill, his chances of winning would significantly go up. He was also prepared that his identity might get revealed. Not giving his all into the fight against the Heavenly Demon would be arrogance. However, it was not easy to reveal his Frost skill.

'The moment I use the Frost skill, he’ll definitely become wary of my second power.’

The power to freeze was a technique that could only be maximized when the other party was unaware of its existence. As soon as the Heavenly Demon experienced it, he would move with it in mind next time.

‘So the Frost skill should be used at the most important moment... Like when I can definitely take his life.'

It should be used then…

"That's too bad, too bad.” The Heavenly Demon was truly bored. He wanted to try fighting with all the 5 Heroes, including Specter. "But there's only one...”

"I don't remember saying I was alone."

“…?”

The Heavenly Demon’s eyes blinked. Until a little while ago, he definitely couldn't feel any signs of anyone else around. However, it was different now.

Step, step, step.

Hundreds of soldiers climbed up from the ship's basement and filled the deck. However, it wasn't just them.

[The second sound of the Flute of Tidal Breath has used the ability, 'King’s Army.’]

[The soldiers' level and skills are inherited from the user.]

[1000 of Silla’s naval forces, led by the founder, Kim Yu-Shin, are with you.]

[On the S Grade battlefield, East Sea, the soldiers' abilities are increased by 30%.]

As if he had performed magic, other military ships began to appear around him. There were five other ships.

"I have no plans to let my guard down against you," said Specter as he stared at the Heavenly Demon with a cold look.

He was going to defeat the Heavenly Demon with all his might. That was the only plan at the moment.

"…About a thousand people? It'll do for a moment of entertainment."

Despite being surrounded by a great number of opponents, the Heavenly Demon didn't bat an eyelid. In fact, it seemed as if he had just come into a cafe with a good atmosphere as he stood there with a satisfied smile.

"Move the boats together!"

A loud voice broke the momentary silence. At the same time, the soldiers from the surrounding military ships threw chains and built bridges to connect the ships in an instant.

'That man...’

Specter looked at the man walking toward him on the bridge. He was a handsome man in dark green scaly armor.

‘Kim Yu-Shin.’

The two eyes that looked at Specter were filled with a general's spirit. He came up to Specter’s side and greeted him with his eyes.

"Nice to see you, descendant."[1]

Greeting with a slight bow of his head, Kim Yu-Shin raised his hand. Without any rambling oration greeting, he gave an order.

"Hit!"

“…”

There were no roars that would usually be unleashed when so many people had gathered. With tight lips, the soldiers rushed to the Heavenly Demon with their swords, spears, and shields.

Craaaack! Crack!

The swords were broken, the shields were crushed, and broken spears flew into the sky.

'He’s impressive...'

Nevertheless, the soldiers persisted in attacking the Heavenly Demon. Like a scene from a zombie movie, they crowded around without giving him an opening to run away. They didn’t stop even when their weapons and shields had disappeared, and even when their limbs were severed.

“…”

The Heavenly Demon slightly frowned. He hadn’t expected that the soldiers he thought were ‘extras’ would be able to inflict pain on him.

‘Annoying.’

He had no intention of continuing with this dogfight anymore. Lightly striking the ground, the Heavenly Demon rose into the air and stomped on the soldiers' heads.

Pop, bang!

Every time his feet touched the soldiers, their heads would explode with the sound of a balloon being popped.

‘Impressive.’ 

The soldiers were fighting much better than Specter had expected. If he joined, he would be able to drive the Heavenly Demon back. Specter made a sword of darkness, and the moment he was about to run forward, Kim Yu-Shin grabbed his shoulder to stop him.

When Specter looked back, Kim Yu-Shin shook his head silently.

"It's not your turn yet."

"…This is a great opportunity to drive him into a corner."

The Heavenly Demon was currently wandering in the air as if he were playing around. Naturally, his balance would be more unstable compared to standing on the ground.

"You should wait...”

However, Kim Yu-Shin remained calm despite the death of a large number of his soldiers.

"…Your soldiers are dying."

"Don’t mind that."

“…”

Specter frowned deeply. Oh, was he that kind of guy? A superior who used his subordinate's life as a chess piece.

"They're brave." Kim Yu-Shin slowly continued, "So, don't judge their choices by your standards."

His eyes were on the battle. No, to be exact, he was looking at the faces of the dying soldiers one by one.

"…Choice?"

The soldiers showed no fear even till the moment they died. In fact, they even clung to the Heavenly Demon to force him to make one more movement.

"They are weak, and that man is strong."

"Do you want me to just watch?”

"Do you finally understand? That's right. Just watch." Kim Yu-Shin nodded. "My subordinates are draining his strength. Use them."

"…Are you telling me to use the lives of a thousand people?”

"People?" A smirk appeared on Kim Yu-Shin’s mouth. "We appreciate your words, but do you really think we're living people?"

"…That's…"

Specter didn't think so. They were the Flute of Tidal Breath’s creations, nothing more. However, Specter couldn't stay still when he saw them dying in front of his eyes.

“We are people whose bones had already become one with the ground. Just think about using us thoroughly."

“…”

Specter was lost in thought. If it were him, would he be able to sacrifice himself in a world post-death?

"Take it." Kim Yu-Shin handed him a sword.

"This is…?"

"It's the Blue Dragon Sword."

[The third sound of the Flute of Tidal Breath has used the ability, ’King's Armor.’]

[You can temporarily use the ‘Blue Dragon Sword,’ a sword that purifies all evil.]

‘The purification of all evil...’

It was true because he could feel the refreshing power winding around his body when he held the handle of the sword with the head of a blue dragon engraved on it. With this sword, he would be able to cut down even the Heavenly Demon’s vigorous demonic energy.

"It's almost my turn.”

Kim Yu-Shin took a step. There were no more than a hundred people standing on the deck now. In a short time of only about twenty minutes, the Heavenly Demon had killed nearly a thousand people.

‘That devil bastard.’

The Heavenly Demon never batted an eyelid. In addition, he even looked bored now. Specter bit his lips hard.

"At least, we should attack together...”

"I told you already. Use us till the end. If you want to protect something, strengthen your resolve."

He slowly pressed the helmet on his side onto his head.

"Then… Win, descendant."

After leaving his dreary words, Kim Yu-Shin walked to the Heavenly Demon with a clean iron sword.

"There’s still one more left?"

With his hands behind his back, the Heavenly Demon crushed the head on his foot. After taking care of all one thousand soldiers, the only outcome was that he was starting to pant a little.

"…Well done," Kim Yu-Shin spoke.

"It wasn’t much trouble."

"I'm not saying that to you."

The dead soldiers quickly turned into smoke and went up into the sky. It was a shabby ending for the brave warriors who protected their hometowns even after death. It was an ending that no one would acknowledge.

'…No, there’s at least one.'

Kim Yu-Shin recalled the cute and sentimental descendant behind his back and pulled out his sword. He didn't say a word, but he charged at the Heavenly Demon.

“…”

Specter watched the battle between the two men from beginning to end. Kim Yu-Shin had no intention of winning from the beginning, so he looked like a man who knew he couldn't win.

‘So from start to finish...’

He devoted himself to his goal of draining the Heavenly Demon’s strength.

"… Hu."

The Heavenly Demon pulled out Kim Yu-Shin's heart and finally took a breath. The unknown general, who had utilized a strange energy instead of magic throughout the entire battle, managed to endure ten minutes in a one-on-one fight against him.

"Finally, the distractions are gone."

“…”

Only two people were left standing on the five connected ships. The strong soldiers who had filled the entire area until just a while ago had already disappeared into the sky.

'I have definitely received all your wills.’

Drop!

It was proven by a drop of sweat falling from the Heavenly Demon’s forehead. It was a meaningful drop that had been obtained in exchange for the sacrifice of as many as a thousand people.

“…”

The moment the sheath of the Blue Dragon Sword fell to the floor, a great darkness stretched out and rose from Specter’s body.

1. Kim Yu-Shin is an ancient general as well as the founder and leader of the Silla Kingdom’s naval forces, which is why he may be referring to Seo Jun-Ho as a descendant. ☜