Suddenly, nasty sorcerous energy erupted from the icy ground, shattering it and floating up.

-Dammit. What annoying energies.

The duo could feel Belphegor and Leviathan’s presence in the sorcerous energy because the pieces of emotions mixed within made it easy.

“We’re in the right place,” Gi-Gyu announced. The hell king clones and the truth was undoubtedly just beneath them.

Gi-Gyu expanded his senses, sweeping the presidential palace like a tsunami swept a boat.

“...”

Tao Chen and his 1,000 players were already inside the presidential palace. Gi-Gyu sensed hundreds of different energies crashing into each other and explosions occurring everywhere.

Sparks, embers, and ice shards seemed omnipresent inside.

The two sides were equally matched. Tao Chen’s army was strong, but so were their enemies. Tao Chen’s side could have won quickly if not for the many seatholders on the other side.

Gi-Gyu wondered, ‘Can they really do this?’

Tao Chen had taken the main entrance with his elites and created diversions on the others. He was the strongest player in his player group, but he had failed to defeat even Botis in the past. He had many players with him now, but still…

Bodhidharma asked knowingly, “Are you worried about them?”

Gi-Gyu smiled, inferring the monk’s real question.

“Could you do it?” Gi-Gyu asked.

Bodhidharma nodded. The smile on the monk’s face revealed how he truly felt. “I will destroy the smaller fish in your place, so you go ahead and take down our main enemy.”

Gi-Gyu could tell that Bodhidharma wanted to help. The monk knew what Gi-Gyu needed and was only happy with the mission Gi-Gyu had given him.

The truth was that Bodhidharma wouldn’t be much help to Gi-Gyu at the moment.

‘He may be Bodhidharma, but…’ 

The monk was nothing more than a Kronos fragment. He was strong in the past; now, he was just a newbie player. If it weren’t for the skills and magic he had accumulated in his past life and his physical form’s strength, Gi-Gyu wouldn’t have even brought him.

“Wait.” Gi-Gyu walked up to the monk and placed his hand on Bodhidharma’s shoulder. The invisible thread-like link between them became thicker and more lucid.

Twitch.

Something crawled on this connection to move toward Bodhidharma.

Bodhidharma looked shocked. Soon, he smiled as if he felt much more comfortable and replied, “Thank you.”

Gi-Gyu replied with a small smile and jumped into the crevice that the sorcerous energy eruption had created. Watching Gi-Gyu disappear quickly, the monk clenched and unclenched his fists.

Gi-Gyu had just given him a large amount of magic, enough to fill the monk’s body. Moreover, the two distinct energies didn’t clash; instead, they swirled inside him in perfect harmony.

Bodhidharma closed his eyes as his power created a small storm around him. It grew until it was as strong as a hurricane. Soon, it calmed down.

The monk had wielded strength much bigger than this in the past, so he could use Gi-Gyu energy with no problem.

“I feel so much better now,” Bodhidharma looked at the ice wall, which had remained intact. He swung his hands to form the round pattern of a Taegeuk. His magic-filled Taegeuk hit the wall but didn’t create a loud explosion. Still, it was good enough to create a small opening for the monk to enter.

“Good,” Bodhidharma spoke in satisfaction. His accuracy and control in creating this perfect circle were impressive.

Just like that, Gi-Gyu and the monk went their separate ways.

***

After Gi-Gyu had jumped down, he expanded his senses again to study his surroundings.

-What a beast.

Lou's whisper rang in Gi-Gyu’s head.

“You mean me?” asked Gi-Gyu apathetically. He had already found the correct path and his enemies' strengths.

-Don’t be ridiculous.

Gi-Gyu grinned, aware Lou hadn’t called him a “beast.”

-I can’t believe a simple magic injection changed him this much.

Lou was talking about Bodhidharma. Before Gi-Gyu had left him, he gave the monk some of his energy. It was a large amount, but that alone couldn't have done much. After all, magic without skills was like a gun without bullets.

“He’s a legend for a reason,” Gi-Gyu replied. The word “legend” described Bodhidharma perfectly.

-So, a past version of your father is a legend. And your birth father is also a legend. Ha! You must be very proud of your family.

Lou sounded sarcastic, but he wasn’t being spiteful.

“But shouldn’t you be more careful?”

-About what?

“Your personality,” Gi-Gyu said to him as he began walking.

It had been a long time since the duo last chatted like this. After absorbing Leviathan and Belphegor, Lou needed time to recover and train himself to be stronger. On top of this, absorbing the hell kings had brought about unexpected changes in Lou.

-It’s all right. Time will fix it.

Lou’s personality had turned a little less serious. This was because he had absorbed incredibly biased emotions.

According to Lou’s data, Lou hadn’t absorbed all the hell kings for more than one reason. It wasn’t just because they had surrendered to him but also because the hell king’s powerful emotions could make Lou lose himself.

‘Lou was afraid his true personality would disappear.’ 

Emotions could affect one’s personality greatly. The hell kings had immense power and distorted emotions.

Jealousy, anger, arrogance, and lust—These crude emotions were the sources of the hell kings’ true powers. Lou couldn’t pick and choose what he absorbed from a being; he had to accept their power and emotions.

“Just be careful,” Gi-Gyu warned. He didn't want Lou to destroy himself for power. Lou needed to be just as cautious as the time he ruled hell.

-Shut up.

Gi-Gyu smiled at Lou’s answer, but this smile didn’t last long. He had been sprinting for a while now, but he still hadn’t met a single enemy.

“Wait.” Gi-Gyu paused and scattered his energy around to study his surroundings.

Just as he had expected, his enemies were well prepared. Gi-Gyu had felt numerous presences the moment he entered this place, but none of them were moving. It was as if they were waiting for him.

It was an obvious trap, but he needed to keep going.

“I have no other choice.”

Hermes covered Gi-Gyu’s feet and gleamed as Gi-Gyu ordered, "Super Rush.”

It was time to move faster.

***

“Tao Chen!” Sun Won screamed and rushed forward. He swung his left hand to intercept the flaming sword aiming for Tao Chen, which then burned his left hand.

“Ugh,” Sun Won groaned.

“Are you okay?!” Tao Chen asked. He didn’t stop moving the Green Dragon Crescent Blade while glancing at Sun Won in worry.

Thankfully, a support player waiting nearby quickly came to help.

“Recover!” Sun Won’s left hand returned to normal when the support player used his skill.

“Haa… Haa…” Sun Won panted but didn’t stop to rest. He wasn’t alone. One thousand players worked together to create a path through the enemies surrounding them.

Tao Chen bit his lower lip, realizing the enemies were stronger than he had thought. The information his spies had delivered and his arrogance had resulted in this.

“Hahahaha! These stupid humans are so persistent!” yelled a creature shooting fire at Tao Chen. “You better be grateful that you get to die at my hands! I am Aamon, the Flame Marquis!”

The demon’s roar made many players turn pale. There were many high-rankers among the 1,000 players, and most were very well-informed. Therefore, Aamon was not an unfamiliar name.

‘Dammit. Why did it have to be Aamon?!’ Tao Chen couldn’t believe it. Aamon held the seventh Seat of Power, higher than Botis’. The players who knew much about demon history were well acquainted with the story of the Flame Marquis.

‘Aamon has even fought Baal, the first Seat of Power and someone close to becoming a hell king. Aamon is a crazy fighter.’

It was no wonder the players feared the enemy. Moreover, Aamon wasn’t here alone. It was accompanied by various seat holders, numerous low to mid-level demons, and countless players drunk on the First Potion.

“Ackkk!” Tao Chen’s players screamed.

“Protect the injured!” Tao Chen ordered. This was no time to worry. As the head of the group, he needed to lead.

Thankfully, Tao Chen’s allies didn’t shirk in fear despite their enemies' strength. They fought calmly, and he knew that was only possible because of Gi-Gyu and Bodhidharma.

“We have sparred with beasts stronger than these demons!” Tao Chen’s eyes burned as he screamed at Aamon. His players formed a protective wall around him as he gathered energy in the Green Dragon Crescent Blade for his next attack.

“How dare they?! Do they think they can compare to the masters we have been training with?!” Tao Chen’s roar was punishing, somehow silencing the demons. No one knew why, but the demons had stopped yelling, so only Tao Chen’s voice rang in the air.

“Ah…!” exclaimed some of his players, encouraged by his vigor.

Soon, all the players roared, “No, they are not!”

Tao Chen ordered, “Then do not fear them any longer!”

He swung the Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

Creak.

A strange sound filled the space, but nothing happened.

“Hahahaha! I was impressed by your bravery, which is the only reason I listened. But your arrogance is unfounded! This is a joke! Hahaha…” Aamon's laughs fizzled out when he looked down.

“...?” Confusion filled Aamon’s face.

Fwoosh!

To Aamon’s shock, its left ankle was gone, and its leg was bleeding like a fountain. It was about to fall but managed to regain its stance.

Tao Chen’s eyes no longer burned with turbulent emotions. Calmness appeared in them as he gazed at Aamon.

Pssshhhh!

Another grotesque sound was heard.

“Kwarrrrh!”

“Kreeeek!”

The demons screamed in pain as their bodies split into two.

[You have demonstrated will beyond your limit to use a skill beyond your limit.]

[You have obtained a new skill: Space Slash.]

Tao Chen heard several system announcements in his head. He was listening to them when suddenly, his eyes wavered.

[You have found a clue about how to rise above your limit.]

[You have gotten one step closer to becoming a ruler.]

[Former Ruler (1/3)]

[You will reach a higher status after meeting all the conditions.]

‘A ruler?!’

“Tao Chen!”

Tao Chen, who was gaping in awe, opened his eyes when he heard a sudden yell. He was in the middle of a battle, but the system announcement was shocking enough to make him lose focus.

‘A ruler…’

Sadly, he didn't have the time to think further about this news.

“I’m going to kill you! I’ll kill you!” Aamon’s original form was descending right before Tao Chen’s eyes. Aamon’s player body swelled up as it shed its mortal shell.

Then, the real demon appeared in the presidential palace.

Tao Chen had gotten stronger just now, but he still wasn’t sure he could defeat Aamon.

“This is no time for despair.”

Tao Chen refused to surrender. He grasped his Green Dragon Crescent Blade tighter.

Aamon’s energy was enough to make Tao Chen take a step back. The seventh Seat of Power, who had once fought Baal, was undoubtedly a powerful enemy.

Tao Chen sprinted forward as he screamed, “For the people! For the country!”

Aamon’s giant fist was burning with a humongous flame and heading toward Tao Chen. The heat and the incredible magic overwhelmed Tao Chen.

Just then…

Boom!

A loud blast forced both Aamon and Tao Chen to stop. Between the Green Dragon Crescent Blade and Aamon’s burning fist, a figure had appeared.

“I’m sorry I’m late. I’m here to help.”

“Monk!”

Bodhidharma stood between them with a smiling face.