Chapter 204: Chapter 204

Lee Hwa-Rang’s breath ceased.

[You have slain an Avatar of a Transcendent.]

[Due to the contractor’s death, you gain 30,000,000 experience points from the Transcendent.]

[Level Up!]

[All stats +1]

[Bonus stat +1]

[You have acquired the title [Title] Avatar’s Adversary Lv.1]

Sa Jae-Hyeok’s eyes widened at the sight.

“When did you become this strong?!”

He couldn’t read Jeong-Hoon’s movements.

Even with a level up, could he really change this much?

“You’re next.”

Jeong-Hoon grinned at Sa Jae-Hyeok.

Killing a human, not a monster.

This was the first time since his return.

In the game, being killed just meant logging out, but after the realization, it was actual death.

‘I didn’t want to kill if I could avoid it.’

He had ruthlessly killed in the game, but he intended to take revenge by completing the game.

That was why he had held back even when Lee Hwa-Rang provoked him.

However, if he didn’t eliminate them here, they would become obstacles.

There was no reason to hesitate any longer.

And the same went for the Avatars in front of him.

[Celestial Aura activated.]

Celestial Aura enveloped Jeong-Hoon’s body.

An aura of starlight emanated from him, wrapping him in a gentle embrace.

[Attack power and defense increased by 20%.]

[Attack power and defense of targets within range decreased by 10%.]

The targets were all the Avatars.

Jeong-Hoon now held Leviathan in his hand.

“What the—!”

Sa Jae-Hyeok was terrified by the Celestial Aura.

His strength drained away while Jeong-Hoon’s energy intensified.

‘Damn it! It’s not just his level that’s increased!’

The last time he encountered Jeong-Hoon was at the siege.

Although he had been defeated there, Sa Jae-Hyeok had a rough idea of Jeong-Hoon’s skills.

But the Jeong-Hoon he saw now was completely different.

While Sa Jae-Hyeok was in a state of confusion, Jeong-Hoon used Heavenly Steps and swung Leviathan at him.

[First Form: Initiation activated.]

A sharp sword attack poured down, and Sa Jae-Hyeok, startled, deployed his Sword Domain.

However, the Sword Domain crumbled instantly, and Jeong-Hoon’s sword headed for Sa Jae-Hyeok’s neck.

Clang!

He was on the verge of losing his life helplessly.

Just before his head could be severed, something formed a barrier around Sa Jae-Hyeok’s body, preventing the fatal blow.

‘An offer?’

Sa Jae-Hyeok read the message with trembling eyes.

Seeing this, Jeong-Hoon frowned.

‘The Transcendent has intervened.’

Guide of the Fallen Star was the Transcendent who had contracted with Sa Jae-Hyeok.

Judging by its alias, one might think it was Baal, but it was an Apostle-grade Transcendent.

There wasn’t just one star.

There were stars that followed the brilliantly shining star.

In other words, this Apostle-grade Transcendent could be considered Baal’s subordinate.

‘Indeed, Baal. There’s no way that bastard would obediently prevent the Transcendent’s intervention.’

He enjoyed the wager.

Not just the result, but the entire process.

Seeing that the tide had clearly turned in Jeong-Hoon’s favor with the activation of Celestial Aura, Baal had chosen not to block the Transcendent’s intervention.

At that moment, Sa Jae-Hyeok’s eyes lost focus and turned crimson.

‘Sa Jae-Hyeok, you actually sold your soul.’

For an Apostle-grade Transcendent to directly intervene, it needed a contractor.

To exert even greater power, it had to receive a corresponding price from the Avatar.

Sa Jae-Hyeok had just offered his soul as a price, allowing the Transcendent to intervene forcefully.

“I will kill you for sure.”

Sa Jae-Hyeok’s lips curled into a smile as he spoke.

He seemed quite satisfied with the power he had gained.

‘Is this the fate of the one praised as the Sword King?’

It was an even more tragic ending than before his return.

The previous Sa Jae-Hyeok had contributed greatly to the Earth’s destruction, but at least he hadn’t sold his soul.

[Blackfield activated.]

[All stats are adjusted by 1.5 times.]

[Due to the influence of Blackfield, all stats of monsters that invade the domain are decreased by 10%.]

[The debuff does not apply to the target ‘Sa Jae-Hyeok’.]

He quickly added Blackfield.

All stats increased by 1.5 times.

[First Form: Initiation activated.]

Jeong-Hoon’s Embrace surged towards Sa Jae-Hyeok.

Sa Jae-Hyeok manifested his sword path and began to counter the sword attack.

‘Even though I’ve entered his space, I can see it!’

What he couldn’t read before was now clearly visible!

Although temporary, Sa Jae-Hyeok’s abilities had reached the level of the divine.

‘I see. So this is the level he has reached?’

Excitement made his blood boil.

Sa Jae-Hyeok enveloped himself in Celestial Aura.

Although it was inferior to Jeong-Hoon’s Celestial Aura in every aspect, it was enough.

‘Gale Sword.’

The skill he couldn’t use properly before due to his panic.

Sparks flew from Sa Jae-Hyeok’s blue sword energy, and small whirlwinds arose.

The small whirlwinds grew in size, strengthening the Sword King’s sword path.

Domain Enhancement, one of the options of Gale Sword.

By strengthening the domain, Sa Jae-Hyeok’s senses were further heightened.

And with that, he swung his sword.

A fierce gust of wind accompanied the sword strike, sweeping towards Jeong-Hoon.

“Haa!”

Jeong-Hoon took a deep breath and deployed Devour.

[Second Form: Devour activated.]

Clang! Clang!

Jeong-Hoon’s Leviathan clashed with Sa Jae-Hyeok’s Black Dragon Sword.

* * *

With each clash, whirlwinds erupted, engulfing the nearby Avatars.

They hurriedly created distance, moving far away.

“We’ll die if we get any closer…”

“Oh my god… To think there were such skilled individuals in Asia…”

The two had reached a realm that was impossible to approach.

“Yes! I-Is it impossible for us to gain such power too?”

“That’s right! Give us power too!”

However, there was no response from the Transcendents.

* * *

The battle dragged on.

At first glance, they seemed evenly matched, but Sa Jae-Hyeok was currently utilizing all his skills to fend off Jeong-Hoon’s attacks.

On the other hand, Jeong-Hoon’s face was full of composure.

Therefore, Sa Jae-Hyeok gradually grew impatient.

‘Shut up! I know that much!’

The buffs were granted in exchange for his soul.

The duration of those buffs was now coming to an end.

If this continued, he would die at the hands of the man in front of him, and his soul would be handed over to that Transcendent.

He didn’t care about the latter, but he would never accept the former.

‘A price! I’ll pay an additional price!’

‘You damn bastard!’

There was no further response from the Transcendent.

“What’s wrong? Reaching your limit?”

Jeong-Hoon’s lips curled into a smile as their swords clashed.

“Don’t bullshit me!”

Clang!

Damn it!

Sa Jae-Hyeok gritted his teeth.

All his attacks were being blocked.

“Let’s end this.”

As Jeong-Hoon spoke, countless sword energies erupted from Leviathan, filling the air.

[Hundred Sword Wind Flower activated.]

Hundred Sword Wind Flower, which he could now unleash by swinging a certain number of times with Leviathan.

“W-What?!”

Sa Jae-Hyeok shuddered at the overwhelming presence of Hundred Sword Wind Flower.

[Third Form: Annihilation activated.]

Jeong-Hoon raised his sword, aiming for Sa Jae-Hyeok’s neck with Annihilation, and thrust swiftly.

‘This crazy—!’

Sa Jae-Hyeok belatedly realized that he had unconsciously exposed an opening and hurriedly raised his sword to defend.

Clang!

He swung his sword, disrupting Sa Jae-Hyeok’s sword path, and dodged to the side.

He successfully evaded the attack, and Sa Jae-Hyeok rotated his body, aiming for Jeong-Hoon’s side and swinging his sword once more.

Clang!

But it wasn’t Jeong-Hoon who blocked Sa Jae-Hyeok’s attack.

“W-What…?”

Sa Jae-Hyeok’s eyes widened.

His Black Dragon Sword was blocked by countless sword energies.

“I told you, it’s over.”

Jeong-Hoon smirked.

At that moment, the countless sword energies swirled and engulfed Sa Jae-Hyeok.

Sa Jae-Hyeok’s body, struck by the sword energies, began to burn fiercely.

“Uaagh!”

Sa Jae-Hyeok screamed in unimaginable heat.

“Does it hurt?”

Jeong-Hoon asked, watching him writhe in agony.

“Uu, Uaagh!”

Sa Jae-Hyeok couldn’t even answer, overwhelmed by the excruciating pain of his entire body burning.

“If you hadn’t interfered, I wouldn’t have killed you.”

Jeong-Hoon muttered and quietly watched Sa Jae-Hyeok burn.

Soon, his struggles subsided, and he became completely still.

[It’s over.]

‘Indeed. I don’t know what tricks he used, but it was incredible.’

The power gained in exchange for his soul was beyond imagination.

He had fought almost equally against Jeong-Hoon, who had reached the celestial realm.

Jeong-Hoon approached him and pierced his neck, ensuring his death.

[You have slain an Avatar of a Transcendent.]

[Due to the contractor’s death, you gain 30,000,000 experience points from the Transcendent.]

[Level Up!]

[All stats +1]

[Bonus stat +1]

[[Title] Avatar’s Adversary grows to Lv.2.]

“Now it’s your turn.”

Jeong-Hoon’s gaze shifted to the Avatars standing at a distance.

They were also the first Avatars who had contributed to disrupting the world.

They would hinder his plan to end the game and bring peace, so he had to eliminate them for sure.

“P-Please spare us!”

“We were wrong!”

Having witnessed the deaths of Sa Jae-Hyeok and Lee Hwa-Rang, the Avatars quickly made their decision and knelt.

However, Jeong-Hoon mercilessly began to slay them.

* * *

After killing all the Avatars, Jeong-Hoon’s level rose to 342.

A rift formed in the air, and the crimson eye appeared once again.

“Weren’t you supposed to prevent the Transcendent from intervening?”

A demon was a demon after all.

That guy prioritized pleasure above all else.

He never expected Baal to keep his promise in the first place.

‘This actually worked out better.’

Despite the Transcendent’s intervention, Jeong-Hoon had eliminated all the Avatars.

This only served to pique Baal’s interest further, not diminish it.

“Oh really? Anyway, I won, so make sure the reward is ready.”

Baal’s eye disappeared once again.

[Devil’s Deal activated.]

[The difficulty of the task has increased.]

And a new task appeared before him.

[2. Devil’s Call]

– Hunt 2 demons.

– Time Limit: 60 minutes

– Failure results in death.

Two demons.

[Lv.??? Baron]

[Lv.??? Bayuda]

They were named demons with unknown levels.

Despite the difficulty being set to Hard, the task’s difficulty increased, and a second named demon appeared.

Even for Hard mode, named demons…

That Baal bastard.

He must be getting desperate.

Of course, for Jeong-Hoon, named demons were monsters he could handle.

[Demon Slayer]

– Type: Title

– Grade: Legendary

– When hunting demon monsters, attack power increased by 20%.

– When hunting demon monsters, damage dealt increased by 10%.

– ‘[Passive] Gaze of Purification’ automatically activated.

– ‘[Passive] Hammer of Justice’ automatically activated.

Demon Slayer, which he had acquired after defeating Rakandra.

The title’s grade was Legendary.

And as expected of a Legendary title, its abilities were also broken.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Gaze of Purification helped decipher the named demons’ patterns, and Hammer of Justice had an option to ignore their patterns with a low probability.

‘There’s no invincibility pattern.’

The named demons summoned by Rakandra had that pattern.

Fortunately, these demons didn’t have an invincibility pattern.

Jeong-Hoon unfolded Heavenly Steps.

———