by Park Saenal
‘I am a frog in a well.’
They were in entirely different classes. When Bullet realized the reality of the situation, he was stunned for a moment.
[Death Knight Lubaan has returned to the ground.]
Seeing that his death knight was unable to withstand Grid’s onslaught and had died, Bullet shouted, “Corpse Explosion! There is no other answer!”
The necromancers, who were helpless while Grid wielded his sword without a break, instantly found hope. Corpse Explosion—it was a magic which inflicted damage proportional to the target’s maximum health by self-exploding the summoned undead. A big disadvantage of this magic was that it took a considerably long amount of time to re-summon the destroyed undead. However, its power was outstanding.
The necromancers realized that a long battle with Grid was disadvantageous and started to used Corpse Explosion.
Kuwaaaaaang!
[You have suffered 4,900 damage.]
The moment that the undead approaching Grid exploded…
The necromancers cheered, “Good!”
This was because they saw Grid coughing up blood for the first time. Hundreds of undead that were now walking bombs approached Grid. This scene was no different from a horror movie.
“Grid! Pay the price for your arrogance!”
There was a limit to the power of an individual. Immortal looked down at Grid’s foolishness for facing them alone. Dozens of ghouls closed the distance to Grid, and they exploded simultaneously.
Kwang!
Kwa kwa kwa kwang!
There was a powerful explosion! The explosion centered on Grid shook the empress’ palace. However…
“Uh…?”
Grid was fine. It was because he absorbed the explosion with Kruger’s Mysterious Cloth. He emerged unscathed from the dust.
Puok!
“Cough!”
Kwajak!
“Kyaak!”
Grid in his Blackened State chased the necromancers with an agility that they couldn’t afford. The necromancers continued to die as he flashed about like Hong Gildong across the battlefield.
“W-What…? How can you be fine? Heok!” Drew shrieked as he summoned new undead to stop Grid. Then he saw two delicate skeletons. The undead he thought had been summoned by allies came up and stabbed him. These skeletons were different from normal skeletons. They had ‘expressions.’
Bullet was confused when he saw the skeletons’ ‘⌓ ⌓’ eyes which seemed to laugh at him.
“W-What are these crazy skeletons?”
The unidentified skeletons were weak. Bullet only suffered 100 damage from their stabs. However, he felt a strangely ominous feeling. Undead with facial expressions? He had never heard of it before. Even the best undead, the lich didn’t have expressions.
‘Maybe these are…’
Super rare undead?
‘Who is the summoner? Heok!!’
Bullet’s gaze shifted to above the skeletons’ heads. The names of the skeletons were Overgeared Skeleton One and Overgeared Skeleton Two. The naming sense clearly showed who their master was.
“G-Grid is the summoner?”
A blacksmith with undead? No, how could this be? The moment Bullet had this question…
Puok!
“Keok..!”
He coughed up blood. While Bullet had been busy looking at the Overgeared Skeletons, Grid had come up behind him and stabbed his heart.
“W-Wait a minute…”
He was stabbed once and only had 10% health left. Stunned, Bullet barely managed to open his mouth, “S-Spare me… Please spare me…! I never invaded the Overgeared Kingdom! It was all Veradin’s group! I’m a victim!”
Bullet was well aware that the human mind was surprisingly weak. He believed that if he told Grid the truth like this, he would hesitate. However, Grid’s reaction was different from what Bullet had expected.
“You should’ve stopped it.”
It was a dull reaction. Grid subsequently struck forth, and Bullet turned to gray. His terrible appearance made the few remaining necromancers despair. It was at this moment that they realized when to use the expression, ‘intimidated enough to piss slightly.’ This would continue until they left Immortal. No, maybe they couldn’t get rid of Grid’s revenge until they quit the game.
Grid scared all of them and immediately wore the Hooded Zip Up. Soldiers were rushing over after hearing the damn Corpse Explosions, so he couldn’t delay.
‘It is unfortunate that I missed Agnus.’
However, it would be terrible if his identity were to be discovered here. The angry empire would attack the Overgeared Kingdom if they discovered the truth.
‘I have to escape.’
Grid planned to leave via the north gate. The vigilance there should be relatively weak since it was located opposite the collapsed southern wall.
***
In the north of Titan, there was a dwelling area filled with mansions and villas for the empire’s nobles.
First Knight Mercedes’ mansion was also located there.
“Who would dare go against the empire…?”
Mercedes was informed of the southern wall collapsing and immediately equipped her sword. She was about to wear the Red Armor, only to hesitate and leave her home in a one-piece outfit. Then she encountered a group of Red Knights. Mercedes looked confused. The knights gathered in the garden were Fourth Knight Gyuratan and his followers.
Gyuratan shrugged. “Breaking another imperial order… I guess the rumor must be true.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Rumor has it that you have lost respect for the emperor and that you are trying to rebel.”
“What is this unfounded accusation?”
“Anyone would think like me unless they are a fool. The wall collapsed as soon as there were rumors that His Majesty was going to deprive you of your qualifications. Isn’t it something that the forces behind you committed?”
“No one is going to believe this.”
“No, everyone will be led to believe it. Didn’t you create this chaos to leave your mansion? I don’t know what type of terrible punishment you will receive.”
“…This conversation is meaningless,” Mercedes said. Then she noticed something. “You are planning to frame me, just as you did to Piaro 12 years ago.”
“Speaking the name of a traitor. It is clear evidence of your betrayal.” The corners of Gyuratan’s mouth curved upward. His mouth was too big, so his smile was bizarre as a clown’s.
“First Knight Mercedes, I sentence you to death.”
The Fourth Knight’s punishment began. The moment Gyuratan gave the order, five Red Knights attacked Mercedes.
Supaak!
Mercedes spun around in her pure white clothing. She rotated while pulling out two swords, soundlessly cutting apart the flowers and trees in the beautiful garden. Blood splashed from the chest of the Red Knights.
Gyuratan clicked his tongue. “Knights in the 20s aren’t enough.”
These weak people were really of no help.
“They aren’t that far from the squad of Red Knights that I killed.” As Gyuratan spat out those shocking words, Mercedes flew toward him like a butterfly. Gyuratan saw Mercedes’ exposed thighs, but there was no desire in his eyes. Sexual desire was something only lowly creatures like humans and animals felt.
Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!
Just before Mercedes’ two swords reached Gyuratan…
“Uh!”
Black magic power was released, and it hit Mercedes. The unexpected form of the counterattack caused Mercedes to panic and cross her swords.
Kwajajajak!
However, it was impossible to defend against magic with just two swords. The absence of body armor was too big. Blood spurted out as Mercedes flew through the sky and hit the wall of her mansion. Gyuratan laughed while approaching her slowly. Covered in demonic energy, his skin was pale and his eyes were all black, without any whites.
“In the pa
st 12 years, I have been irritated by your eyes. Your clear eyes seem to penetrate all hidden secrets like a curse. I wanted to rip them out every time I saw them. I wanted to see your pained appearance.”
“Pant… Pant… You…”
“But Limit trusted you so much. I couldn’t see any gaps to break through. Kukuk, the story changed after you were stupid enough to start digging into Limit.” Gyuratan reached out a wrinkled hand. His long fingernails headed toward Mercedes’ eyes. “Thank you for digging your grave yourself. Watch in limbo. Scream in pain and sorrow at the sight of the empire that you wanted to protect so much.”
“Ugh…!” Her body wasn’t listening. The deadly demonic energy, more poisonous than any poison, was strangling Mercedes’ heart.
As she waited for death, unable to resist…
“That woman is mine,” a male voice rang out.
Puk!
Puuok!
A golden spear filled with divine power flew and pierced Gyuratan.
“Overgeared King…?” Gyuratan, who had barely overcome Rebecca’s curse, cried out with astonishment while Mercedes recalled a fairy tale she had read as a child.
Chapter 797
Chapter 797
[You have been discovered by a magic power detector!]
[The effect of the Hooded Zip Up has been rendered ineffective and Stealth has been turned off.]
[The magic power detector is looking at you, and any actions considered dangerous in the next three minutes will cause it to strike.]
He had seen this happen dozens of times since he first entered Titan. Grid became a person in a plain white hooded outfit.
‘How much money do they have?’
It wasn’t just the palace — the magic power detectors were installed in ordinary stores, even including the slums. Just this was a small glimpse of the great wealth and technological prowess of the empire that ruled the continent for hundreds of years.
‘I can’t draw any attention to myself.’
Grid barely escaped the palace, suppressing the urge to rush as he headed to the north gate. He boldly walked down the street without covering his face and ID. Satisfy had a huge player count of two billion: wouldn’t there be at least one or two people with the ID of Grid? When he walked by on the street, he looked like a passerby to the people around him. There wasn’t a single person who observed him closely. If he hid his identity and acted suspiciously, he would become more noticeable.
Kwaang!
“…?”
The relatively quiet north street. Grid entered a new area without much difficulty since people were concentrating on the south wall. Grid suddenly stopped, hearing a loud sound at the end of the quiet street. Grid had heard this sound thousands, if not tens of thousands of times.
‘Combat? Who is fighting here?’
Grid could ignore it. He needed to get away from Titan as soon as possible, and not get caught up in an unknown fight. But Grid found it hard to just walk away. This was because a golden exclamation mark shone in the direction where the fighting was heard.
A quest signal!
‘A quest at this time?’
Who in the empire would give him a quest in this turmoil?
‘Who is associated with me?’
Grid found it hard to imagine, but he didn’t give up and kept thinking. As a result, he could recall one person with surprising speed.
“…Mercedes!”
The First Knight who shared a secret with Grid. She was committed to revealing the truth about what happened 12 years ago. In some cases, there was the risk of being exposed. The moment he thought about this, “Quick Movements!”
Grid didn’t delay and rushed over. Since Blackening was on cooldown, he used Quick Movements to greatly increase his agility and ran over to the scene of the battle. From there…
“Thank you for digging your grave yourself. Watch in limbo. Scream in pain and sorrow at the sight of the empire that you wanted to protect so much.”
A middle-aged man, who looked like a more bizarre version of Grid’s Blackening form, was threatening Mercedes. She was wearing a white dress and coughing up black blood. Grid received a notification window.
[A new quest has been created!]
[For Piaro]
★ Hidden Quest ★
First Knight Mercedes, who was digging into the truth about what happened 12 years ago, is experiencing a great crisis.
If you are unable to save her, Piaro will forever be labeled a traitor.
Save Mercedes!
Quest Clear Conditions: The survival of Mercedes.
Quest Reward: 50 increase in affinity with Mercedes. An event with Mercedes will occur.
Quest Failure: Mercedes’ Death. All episodes related to the Red Knights will be deleted.
‘Isn’t this funny?’
Grid couldn’t understand what was happening. Why was Mercedes in such trouble despite being comparable to Piaro? And where in the world was her iconic red armor?
‘In any case, this is a game.’
He was sick of the formula of a strong enemy being nerfed as soon as they turned friendly. Grid transformed one of the four God Hands into Lifael’s Spear. In the battle with Immortal, only one God Hand transformed so the remaining three God Hands were available to be transformed into items.
“Ugh…”
The moment Mercedes moaned and was on the brink of death.
“That woman is mine,” shouted Grid as he gave an order to Lifael’s Spear.
Puoook!
[You have dealt 26,900 damage to the target!]
The enigmatic man threatening Mercedes coughed up blood and stepped back. The fact that Lifael’s Spear caused enormous damage showed that he was obviously a demonkin. And demonkin were helpless in front of Rebecca’s divine artifacts. Grid expected the demonkin called ‘Gyuratan’ to not be able to move for a while. He planned to use this gap to save Mercedes.
However.
“Overgeared King…?”
Gyuratan was fine, unlike Grid’s expectations. He pulled out Lifael’s Spear that pierced his waist. His health gauge was also intact.
‘Transcendent named?’
A chill went down Grid’s spine. After running as hard as possible, he was almost at Mercedes’ location. This meant he was close to Gyuratan.
“Mercedes! You were in league with the Overgeared King! This has made your betrayal clear!” Gyuratan shouted excitedly.
There was a smile of joy on his face as he stabbed towards Grid, who was reaching for Mercedes. The weapon that Gyuratan wielded was a twisted, bizarre looking sword that was similar to its master.
Kwaaaaang!
“…!”
Gyuratan was shocked. He thought that he had stabbed Grid while Grid was paying attention to Mercedes, only for two golden hands to fly and block his sword.
‘Autonomous artifacts?’
One person passed through Gyuratan’s mind. He made a strange expression as the God Hand armed with the Ultimate Enhanced Mjolnir flew towards him. Lifael’s Spear, which had fallen onto the ground, also aimed at Gyuratan. Gyuratan allowed an attack from another golden hand and Lifael’s Spear, which flew from behind. Despite the numerous attacks, he was fine and only became stiff for a moment. Gyuratan withdrew the golden spear from his chest and didn’t release it.
“I see. Overgeared King and Templar… No, Overgeared.”
Over the past few years, there was the unprecedented event in which Yatan Servants were slaughtered throughout the continent. The culprit was Overgeared. He was a strong man who had artifacts that moved by themselves.
“Kukuk, you aren’t an ordinary person. You managed to build a kingdom. It is no wonder that you can kill the Yatan Servants.”
“Who are you?”
Few people knew that Grid was the Yatan Servant Slaughterer. Braham and Yura were the only ones who knew the relationship between Grid and the Yatan Church. Yet this demonkin grasped Grid’s identity at once, meaning that he had a close relation
ship with the Yatan Church.
“Are you also a Yatan Servant?”
Gyuratan nodded at Grid’s question. “You could say that. All creatures under heaven are the servants of God Yatan.”
This wasn’t the answer he wanted. Grid started frowning.
“Be careful!” Mercedes was staring at Grid only to suddenly shout, “He will use black magic!”
“What?”
His opponent quickly neutralized the two swords wielded by the God Hands, Lifael’s Spear, and the stiffness of Mjolnir, just to use magic? Grid became alert, but it was too late. Gyuratan had started casting the magic circle from the moment he began the conversation with Grid. A spell started forming under Grid’s feet.
“Naive guy,” Gyuratan ridiculed.
Kuwaaaaaah!
A big explosion occurred at Grid’s feet, causing a gigantic hellfire to billow out and swallow Grid and Mercedes at the same time. The momentum reminded Grid of Hell Gao before the fire stones were mined.
“It is my unexpected luck to be able to handle two troublemakers at the same time.”
Gyuratan was delighted. He believed that Grid and Mercedes would vanish without a trace after being swallowed by the black flames. No humans could survive when hit directly with this magic.
‘Now how should I weave these two together?’
Sururuk.
His pale skin started to fill with rosy color as his whites appeared amidst his pitch-black eyes. He returned to his human form, no, disguised himself as human and wondered how to report today’s events to the emperor. He never imagined that he would be hit back.
“What is your weakness?”
“…?!”
Did Grid use his body as a shield? Through the smoke, Mercedes was held up in Grid’s arms and didn’t have a single scratch on her. It felt like Grid alone had endured the explosion. Yet there was a problem.
“Why are you fine?”
Grid didn’t have any outstanding injuries, an unbelievable fact given that he had just encountered hellfire.
“Don’t you know why I am called the Overgeared King?”
Grid’s sword struck Gyuratan.