Part 2, Episode 160.
“……You mean annihilation?”
“Extermination? Really?”
“Where? Where is it…… OMG, look over there! It’s real!?”
“Wow, this is insane… Is this for real?”
The undisputed strongest player, Myeolsal.
The highest level that an existing God of Savior user can reach.
The only man currently in the middle of a third conquest of the New World.
His appearance was drawing the attention of not only the users but also the countless alien races engaged in war.
Even Astra’s interest.
“……That man. He is strong. Did such an apostle really exist?”
“You may not know it, but he passed through Elanis in the past. Even back then, he was an unrivaled Apostle… but now, I feel an aura so strong that it is almost embarrassing to compare him to then.”
“indeed…….”
“Did the author destroy the nuclear weapon? The night of madness has stopped.”
Is it because I killed the second-in-command, the most troublesome enemy, as soon as I appeared?
Despite being in the middle of a war, both enemy and friendly forces stood frozen as if in shock.
And among them, the users were the most shocked.
“Wait, how did Myeolsal get here? Wasn’t he in the Third New World?”
“Come to think of it, nobody really knew the latest updates on Myeolsal, right…?”
“Then were you in Elanis?”
“It’s not Lacsia, so why are you here? I mean, if you were here, shouldn’t you have come from the beginning? Why did you come now?”
Now that you mention it, you’re right.
Myeolsal, who has never appeared in this kind of content because he was always focused only on conquering the third New World.
Even this time, amidst the chaos caused by the continental quest, he didn’t show his face even once.
That is why I didn’t even expect it…
I never imagined that he would appear like this.
“Is that important right now? Kaiser and Myeolsal have met!”
“Wait a minute. Didn’t they say those two were ranked 1st and 2nd in Demrok? So, the former 1st and the current 1st have met?”
“Wow, this is insane…….”
“It’s the first time those two have met. Isn’t something going to happen?”
Isn’t there even a narrative between Myeolsal and Kaiser that even the users know!
Two people met for the first time during a war between invaders and alien races where a massive army of ten thousand had gathered?
This fact alone already made users feel something stirred deep inside their hearts.
Given that they were like that, the parties involved could not remain indifferent.
Swoosh.
[Agerina… … Ugh, ugh… … .]
Was it the shock of the fact that the second-in-command had died? Or was it the shock that the self-destruction, which was the last resort, was futilely blocked?
Myeolsal looked down with cold eyes at him, who had slumped to his knees in front of her and was muttering blankly, and quietly turned his gaze away.
There was a man there wearing a black mask and a martial arts uniform, Kaiser.
Myeolsal, who had been staring at him intently with unwavering eyes and without the slightest change in expression, slowly opened his mouth.
“……It’s been a while, Kaiser.”
“Well, to say it’s been a long time, haven’t we had quite a few close matches?”
“That’s true. We only brushed past each other a few times in Demrok, after all.”
That’s right.
“……Was it your technology that located the nucleus?”
Well, that’s true.
I see.
After an incredibly awkward conversation, the two remained silent.
Only a stiff silence hangs between the two.
Contrary to the users’ wishes (?), they were not keeping each other in check or being wary of one another.
I just had absolutely nothing to say.
Even during the time of Demlok, they only knew each other’s names and had never formally spoken face-to-face like this.
Actually, I thought it wouldn’t be here either.
I thought that if we were to meet, it would be as enemies…
To think we would meet as allies.
As the saying goes, you never know what might happen; it was a combination that even he found laughable.
As if it were the same for Myeolsal, he stared intently at Dohyeon with a mysterious look.
I don’t think they want to start a battle of wills.
I couldn’t tell what was going on inside his head because of that guy’s machine-like poker face.
I just kept my mouth shut because I didn’t really have anything to say, but it seems the users didn’t see it that way.
“Wow… I can’t breathe.”
We’re just staring at each other, but what’s with the atmosphere? Is this what it means for the air to be heavy? It’s overflowing with tension.
“Aren’t even the other races watching those two?”
“But why aren’t they talking to each other? Are they having a power struggle?”
It looks like they’re assessing each other’s levels.
“Can you figure that out just by looking?”
“What would ordinary people like us know? Someone at that level must be able to sense something.”
Judging by how they seem busy constantly whispering while looking this way.
With the atmosphere turning out this way, I felt awkward turning my eyes away first, so I just stayed still.
[… … Crunch.]
Along with the sound of teeth grinding, a spine-chilling, ghost-like voice filled with deep sorrow rang out.
[You damn bastards… how dare you… I will never forgive you. I will definitely tear you two to shreds.]
Batan recovered from the shock at just the right moment and stood up.
Just like the words spat out, an ominous black energy violently surged from both hands, spread wide as if ready to tear apart at any moment.
But that was just a prelude.
Kwaaaaaa–!!!
“W-what’s up all of a sudden!”
“Ugh! That startled me.”
“What is it now!?”
The violently surging energy surged upward with the force to pierce the sky as if exploding.
Everyone’s attention was drawn to the sight that looked like a pillar of darkness stretching out.
Alterion’s expression hardened.
“……So you were still hiding your strength. You’re a vicious fellow.”
“Is this his final desperate struggle…? That black mana is growing, burning up his life force. It looks like this will be the final battle.”
Alterion nodded at Astra’s words.
It was just as I said.
The magic Bataan cast was black magic, considered forbidden.
A technique considered the absolute worst among life-burning black magic.
[The leader of the hostile forces, ‘Batan’, burns his life force to cast forbidden magic.]
[The final magic, ‘Destruction of the Body and Return to the Way,’ is activated.]
[Destroying the body, I take a step onto the path of the ‘Abyss,’ the true darkness.]
[The final phase is activated.]
[The Abyssalization of Batan begins, and as time passes, it draws closer to the Abyss.]
Death of the body and return to the Way.
This dark magic, which involves shattering a mortal’s vessel to embrace the abyss, was on a completely different level from merely making a pact with the abyss.
Unlike inheriting a portion of the Abyss’s power in a mortal body, this technique is literally becoming the Abyss itself.
Moreover, Batan is not just an ordinary mage, but a dark mage who has reached at least the 9th Circle.
[Caution! A dark mage with outstanding potential has attempted the God-Slaying Sword.]
[It is a being with a deep understanding of the abyss and exceptional adaptability.]
[If he becomes the complete Abyss, he gains the potential to become the ‘Powerful of the Abyss,’ and a catastrophe may strike in the distant future.]
[A sudden event occurs.]
[Stop Bataan from becoming the Abyss. Failure may trigger a Doomsday-grade Continent Quest later.]]
“……Doom level?”
“Damn it, wasn’t the continent quest the final stage?”
“You’re completing a continental quest right now, right? So if I can’t defeat that, does it come back with an even higher difficulty?”
“oh my god.”
Users frowned at the notification that rang out like a warning sound to comfort everyone.
The alien legions, instinctively sensing danger, also all hesitated while keeping a close eye on Bataan.
Grr-
The beasts of the abyss bowed their heads toward Batan in unison, as if paying their respects to the one who might become their new master.
It is an unbelievable sight for the actions of the abyss, driven by nothing but instinct.
[K-Khahaha! I feel infinite power. Ah, this is the abyss… … Is this the power they lived with? What a beautiful being they are!]
The guy’s voice is becoming strange, as if he were possessed by a ghost.
Its form also merely maintains a humanoid shape.
The face glimpsed beyond the shimmering darkness is akin to the demonic beast of the abyss.
“It doesn’t look like a good stage for a greeting. Let’s take care of that guy first.”
I agree.
At Myeolsal’s words, which were nonchalant even in this situation, Dohyeon also answered as if spitting out a remark and gripped Cheonbyeon.
And then, the moment I was about to take a step forward.
Someone stood in front of Dohyeon.
It was annihilation.
I’ll step forward first.
He spat it out and placed his hands on his hips before I could even hear an answer.
Then he picked up the third scabbard of the four swords.
And at that moment.
[Ah, this power is exactly what I have longed for… … Yes, this is my fervent wish. Hahaha! This is the moment of the end!! All of you, kneel miserably before this overwhelming power!]
Saaaa-!!
Bataan, which had become half an abyss, rose into the air and scattered a thick black energy over a wide area.
The part submerged in energy is being consumed by darkness where not an inch can be seen.
Just as users felt an instinctive fear and recoiled at the prospect that the entire world would be plunged into darkness if left unchecked.
Flash!
As Myeolsal drew his sword, a streak of light shot out.
Swish-!
The sound of something being cut echoed beyond the hazy vision.
* * *
Annihilation.
The strongest player in God of Savior. The symbol of the top 10 guilds. The pinnacle.
There are countless names that follow his name.
To the point where it seemed meaningless to even count them, everything with the title of “strongest” attached to it was headed for annihilation.
However, there was one type of tinnitus that people surprisingly didn’t know about.
-Master of the sword.
Whoosh!
[Unique Ability ‘Transcendence’ Unique Ability ‘Master of the Sword’ is activated.]
[You gain the qualification to become the master of any sword, and the sword’s performance and power grow in proportion to the master’s level.]
[The magic sword ‘Rupture – Blade’ receives the effect of ‘Sword Master’.]
The first and last unique ability possessed only by Annihilation, even though it is not a signature trait.
Therefore, the master of the sword becomes a title that signifies only annihilation.
He was originally called that because he wielded five magic swords, each possessing different abilities, and engaged in combat that was nearly omnipotent, truly befitting the name of the Sword Master… …
“… … All-rounder? Yeah. It is all-rounder, after all.”
Dohyeon let out a hollow laugh as he witnessed his swordsmanship firsthand.
Five swords?
A near-omnipotent combatant with no weaknesses?
Half right and half wrong.
Because that wasn’t the kind of thing that could symbolize the destruction I witnessed firsthand.
[Casting the special option ‘Dharma Annihilation Slash’ of the Legendary (Unique) Weapon ‘Rupture Realm – Sword’.]
[Destroys all magic within casting range for a single cast.]
[Bataan’s ‘Darkness of Destruction’ has perished.]
Saaa-
[What is this… …?]
“Ah… the darkness was cut?”
“What the….”
“crazy…….”
Possessing a wide range of anti-magic techniques that are effective even against magic performed by a Black Mage of at least the 9th Circle?
That was fraudulent too, but more than that…
[Activates Signature Trait ‘Sword Soul’.]
[You can imbue a soul into a sword you possess that can grow.]
[A soul has been imbued into the Legendary (Unique) Weapon ‘Rupture Realm – Blade’.]
[A soul has been imbued into the Legendary (Unique) weapon ‘Dragon-Slaying Magic Sword Xante’.]
… …
[A total of six magic swords possess ‘Ego’ and enter the ‘Sword of Self-Power’ state.]
[Special options also apply to the area of the Sword of Igi.]
“Huh. It’s not even five swords to begin with.”
Ego Swordsmanship performed with no less than six magic swords of fraudulent performance.
That was the very symbol that made annihilation the pinnacle.
