Part 2, Episode 131.
Red Devil, Asion.
Former King of the Lawless Zone and an early founding member of the Lawless Zone.
At the time, he was such a notorious man that the Red Devil was the first thing that came to mind whenever the word “lawless zone” was mentioned.
A being that was practically the symbol of a villain.
They say he boasts such overwhelming strength that it was said he defeated a hundred people.
“They say I’ve stepped down from being the strongest now, but…”
He was clearly someone who was once renowned as the strongest villain.
When he suddenly disappeared without a trace regarding the throne, all the users couldn’t help but think the same thing.
Why? Why on earth did it disappear?
Not only ordinary users but even villains were disappointed and puzzled.
A top-ranked player in their prime.
There was no reason for the one who was the hope of the villains living in hiding, pushed out by the laws of the 10th Guild and the Empire, to disappear.
People made various speculations about him.
Whether it was that he was blacklisted by Chilgang and had to live in seclusion, or that he died of cancer in real life.
There is even a theory that they changed their clothes and are active under a different name.
Various speculations circulated, but he never revealed himself and was eventually forgotten by the people.
It’s been nearly half a year since their whereabouts haven’t even been found.
Now, the name Black Nightmare was more familiar than Red Devil, and the names of Karmail and the other three kings were more famous than that.
Among users who had only recently started, there were even some who didn’t know Asion’s name.
That is why people say.
Even if Asion appears now, he won’t be the strongest villain anymore.
Because too many strong opponents have appeared to call him the strongest.
Therefore, Dohyeon did not expect much.
To be precise, there was no reason to expect anything.
I thought that since he had gone into hiding, we wouldn’t run into each other anyway.
But now.
Boom.
Contrary to expectations, I came into contact with the Red Devil Asion.
“Kaiser.”
“…….”
A low bass that resonates with a bizarrely heavy intensity.
I don’t know if that is really a human voice or the sound of a demon living at the end of hell.
And what about its appearance?
A height that looks at least 190cm.
True to his name, the Red Devil, his entire body was burning red, and his red wings spread wide to the sides looked just like those of a phoenix.
“They say you waged war against the lawless zone. Along with the guys behind you.”
“That’s right, those are the guys, Asion.”
“……Karma.”
Asion turned to look at Karmail indifferently at his words, which he had interrupted with a grin.
Their gazes were so indifferent and heartless that it made one doubt whether they were truly on the same side.
Enough to make Dohyun, who was watching from the side, flinch for no reason.
Hana Karmail continued speaking, completely unconcerned.
“The fact that you have come here now can be taken as an answer that you stand with us just like before, right?”
“Can you give me an answer? It’s a bit embarrassing to be ignored right in front of an enemy.”
“……A lawless zone never loses. You broke that iron rule.”
“I’m sorry, but we didn’t break anything. Raon, that damn bastard who took your place started a war on his own accord and lost on his own accord.”
“In my time, the lawless zone never lost a war.”
“Is it the same now as it was then?”
“It is no different. Above everyone is still Annihilation, and he. Defeat cannot be tolerated for anyone other than him.”
“Why would someone like that suddenly vanish? Oh, come on.”
Karmail, who had been grumbling at Asion’s unwavering demeanor, flashed a mischievous smile as if something had suddenly occurred to him.
Then, suddenly, he turned his head sharply and looked at Dohyeon.
“You know what? That Kaiser over there was above the Annihilation back in the Demrok days.”
“……I think I’ve heard of it. But that was a long time ago. The Annihilation of back then is very different from the Annihilation of today. Besides, that man started quite late. There is no way I can stand a chance against him now.”
… … No, these bastards.
Dohyeon twitched his eyebrows at the situation where he was suddenly hit by a spark while standing still.
Why am I suddenly getting bashed here?
Do you think I did this because I wanted to start late?
He had merely faithfully answered the call of the nation.
Whether or not he knew that Dohyeon was in a bad mood, Karmail still wore an obnoxious grin, as if finding it amusing.
“Still, achievements don’t go away. Isn’t it amusing? That someone like the Kaiser is entangled with us in a terrible feud.”
“Above all, the purpose for which you concealed your whereabouts. After all, to achieve that goal, wouldn’t it be better to side with ‘that person’? If we catch that guy, we might even get closer.”
At that moment.
For the first time, a change occurred in Asion’s eyes, which had consistently maintained an indifferent expression.
His eyes, filled with a strong sense of purpose, were blazing like the flames of those huge wings.
At the same time, a boiling voice leaked out.
“…Fine. I accept.”
That was a good idea.
“However, Kaiser. This author is my prey.”
“Hmm, I wanted to take a look at it myself… Well, go ahead. It’s been a while, so I’ll let you in.”
As Karmail reluctantly agreed, Asion turned his head away.
Turning away without a second thought, as if there was no longer any need to continue the conversation, his gaze was fixed solely on Dohyeon.
“……Come in. Let’s loosen up for the first time in a while.”
“her.”
Dohyeon let out a hollow laugh at the attitude, which was as if they were looking at an appetizer served before the main dish.
Warming up? You want to see my hands? They’re really making a scene among themselves.
Swoosh-
“You’re out of order. It’s me who’s supposed to look after the hands, not you.”
Behind Dohyeon, who was slowly taking his position while gripping the riverbank, his colleagues who had been listening also joined in.
The first to intervene was the Empress.
“Anyway, those bastards. I told you, a knife stab is the only cure for beasts who can’t figure out their place and bare their teeth.”
“……Isn’t it usually called a hawk?”
“In my experience, a stab is a direct hit rather than a beating.”
“……?”
The Sword Saint and Ast were slightly stunned by the Empress’s chilling words, which she spat out as if nothing were wrong.
On the other hand, Bjorn, the huge man like a Viking who was facing him, burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha! That’s right! Exactly! You shouldn’t be nice to arrogant bastards. You have to beat them to a pulp so they can’t stand up for themselves until they listen.”
“Just like I’m trying to do to you?”
“Hehehe, no. It’s more accurate to say it’s just like I’m going to do with you, you bitch. You seemed like a guy I’d finally get along with for the first time in a while, but what a pity.”
Even at the Empress’s provocations that came out as naturally as breathing, Bjorn merely wore a smile as if he were pleased.
The Empress frowned, seemingly displeased with the sight, and flicked her finger.
Are you fighting with your mouth? Shut up and come in.
“Are you really taking me on? Just like that pay-to-win guy over there who doesn’t live up to his size said, wouldn’t it be better if that guy took me on?”
“You have a long tongue. Why, are you not confident? Or are you weaker than that skinny guy, whether you’re Karmail or Caramel?”
That can’t be true.
“Then shut up and get into position. I’m going to apply it.”
At the Empress’s growling like a wild beast, Bjorn raised both arms as if he could not handle it.
It was an attitude that showed composure, but it was visible to her.
That look in his eyes and his attitude, desperately trying to hide the fact that he is itching to throw a punch at any moment.
And his patience was short, as destruction was a daily occurrence.
“Right, kill me……!?”
Boom!
No sooner had Bjorn leaped forward and thrown a punch than the Empress swung her sword back, as if she had expected it.
It was the start of the battle.
“Bjorn is fired up, too. If I get involved now, he’ll attack me as well.”
“……Sigh, anyway, Kuku is so stubborn.”
“What? They’re fighting over there, too? Master of the Armory, your swordsmanship fanatic doesn’t look like he has any intention of backing down either.”
It wasn’t even just the Empress and Bjorn.
Ast nodded as he saw the Sword Saint and Sirgan, the King wielding a Western sword, clashing their swords before he knew it.
In other words, this meant that Karmail and Ast would end up fighting.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay? Handling me.”
“That’s kind of disappointing. I came expecting to face Kaiser or the others, but to think I’m ending up fighting a nobody.”
“Huh, I guess being all talk is your breed’s trait?”
“Well… I don’t think I can lose. I mean, to you, of all people.”
Karmail, who said that, was not smiling.
“The master of the armory, the Master of Babylon with the most powerful blow. I am well aware of your fighting style and characteristics.”
A tone devoid of intensity, going beyond mere conviction, as if simply conveying facts written in a dictionary.
“That’s why I’m saying this. You and I are incompatible. Not quite to the extent of the Empress and Bjorn, but… if we had equal skill, it’s a compatibility that couldn’t be overturned.”
It’s the same on the Sirgan side.
The number one master of Western swordsmanship.
In fact, he was a descendant of a historic European swordsmanship family and was renowned as an unprecedented genius.
I don’t know about other styles, but his family’s swordsmanship is particularly strong against Eastern swordsmanship.
Furthermore, in this place where his genius and movements made possible only by virtual reality were combined, he had never been defeated by an Eastern swordsman.
Not even once.
In a word, it meant a brutal counterattack.
It wasn’t just my colleagues.
[Recognizes the existence of a person with whom you have a bad relationship.]
[Player ‘Ashion’ is not in a hostile relationship with Kaiser.]
I didn’t expect this.
Asion is clearly someone who has withdrawn from the lawless zone.
The signature trait was not activated because he was a man Dohyeon had never seen before and had no connection to him whatsoever.
Of all the opponents, I have to fight the only one among the four whose Bitter Relationship Field doesn’t activate.
Regardless of the difference in combat power between them, it was the worst situation for Dohyeon.
Since Dohyeon had to fight right now without the help of the fraudulent trait of being granted a counter ability, he was the one with the lowest specs here.
“This isn’t fun. To think the outcome will be decided so easily because of your comrades’ pathetic pride.”
I felt a terrible sense of pressure from Asion as he took a step closer, saying, “Boom.”
That guy was right from start to finish.
An evaluation that is not without its flaws, whether logical or theoretical.
“……Are you laughing?”
Far from being nervous, Dohyeon grinned.
“Oh, sorry. I was just dumbfounded.”
“……What’s so ridiculous about that?”
Matchup? Counter?
Dohyeon’s expression, which had been letting out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded, suddenly turned cold.
The voice that came out was even colder than that.
“How many people do you think I’ve met like that?”
A swordsman without a single legendary skill.
However, since enhancements don’t attach well and equipment performance is lacking, and as a swordsman without legendary skills, I have always fought at a disadvantage.
A counter? It’s such a disadvantageous fight that discussing such a thing is meaningless.
It was Dohyeon who was always standing at the end of all those fights.
and…….
“I guess the saying ‘birds of a feather flock together’ is true. I am what I am, and those guys were probably just as bad, if not worse, than me.”
An extreme pay-to-win middle-aged man with no physical prowess or anything else except for a single powerful shot.
A swordsman who excludes all numerous powerful instant skills and insists on relying solely on swordsmanship… … even maintaining a historical drama style of speech.
A no-holds-barred berserker who burns his own life force and engages in ultra-close-quarters combat without ever turning his back.
Since every single one of them was missing a screw or two, there were countless ways to counter them, and there were so many opponents that it was hard to count them all.
And it was Dohyeon’s colleagues who trampled on all of them and maintained a single-digit ranking.
“Counters? Matchups? So what? Hey, do you know what’s most important in a game? Experience.”
Everything is difficult the first time, but if you have ever overcome a disadvantageous situation, the second time is easy.
And what if that becomes three times, and then four times?
You can do it easily five times, six, seven… and when it goes beyond dozens, you lose confidence.
Jill herself. It would be the same for her colleagues as well.
No, on the contrary, it was going to be even worse than before.
“I can’t guarantee anything about these guys now, even if I went back to the Demloch days.”
“what…….”
It was just as Asion was about to speak at the incomprehensible words.
BANG!
As if Dohyeon’s words were a prophecy.
A loud roar echoed from behind, followed by the sound of something falling with a thud, and I could immediately tell what the source of the sound was.
“……Bjorn?”
A huge man lying sprawled on the floor in front of the Empress, who is in a stance of extending her fist.
Because Bjorn was blinking blankly.
