Chapter 1205

Chapter 1205

‘

I’ll make sure you die in the most painful way possible, you bastard.’

Siegfried intended to give Plague a very special treatment.

Nearly twenty thousand of the Proatine Empire’s citizens had perished in the plague, so he intended to make him pay a very heavy price for it.

“You little mutt. You would’ve at least lived if you had just ignored me,” Plague said haughtily.

He was completely oblivious to how Siegfried's fury.

“Who? Me?

Pfft!”

Siegfried scoffed, pointing at himself. Then, he sneered, “Say something that makes sense if you want to talk.”

“

Kuhuhu...

You’ll be soon begging me to kill you, foolish mortal,” Plague said with an insidious laugh.

“We will see who ends up begging,” Siegfried replied with a shrug, sounding calm and composed.

He was calm and composed for good reason.

Siegfried was not the least bit afraid of Plague, as most of the attacks would obviously be virus-based anyway.

He possessed a body that was immune to all toxins, making him invulnerable to anything Plague could unleash at him.

That meant that Siegfried would be fighting with all of his skills while Plague would have his core skills rendered useless.

Even though they had yet to fight, Siegfried’s one-sided victory was already practically guaranteed.

“I’ll grant you the most gruesome death I have ever given anyone,” Plague said confidently, releasing a surge of black miasma.

It was a noxious fog filled with the dreaded Black Death virus, a type of virus that could kill its host in mere minutes.

Shwaaa...!

The black miasma coiled around Siegfried like a slithering serpent.

“

Ugh...

This thing stinks,” Siegfried grumbled, wrinkling his nose at the foul fishy stench carried by the miasma.

He would have at least worn a mask to block the smell if he had known, but unfortunately, that was in hindsight.

“

Kuhuhu!

You will soon writhe in agony and grovel before me!” Plague cackled, utterly convinced that Siegfried had been infected.

After all, the virus he wielded was the very plague that had once infected even the angels.

One would have to be on the same level as an archangel to resist the plague he unleashed.

However, it took less than five minutes for Plague’s expectations to crumble.

‘

Huh?’

Plague was visibly confused after seeing that Siegfried showed no signs of collapsing, even though quite a lot of time had passed since he was infected by the Black Death virus.

‘

He should be coughing up blood and his entire body should be turning black by now...’

Plague thought, closely observing his opponent.

However, Siegfried picked his nose and looked bored. It was like nothing was happening to him.

‘

Is he just stronger than the others? Is that why it’s taking longer?’

Plague wondered, slowly growing uneasy.

He waited and waited, but Siegfried still remained unaffected.

In fact, Siegfried even started chatting casually with Hamchi.

“Hey, where should we go after this, Hamchi?”

“

Kyuuu!

Let’s go to another Ancient Dungeon!”

“Shall we?”

Siegfried acted as though Plague didn't even exist.

“...”

Plague was momentarily speechless, utterly dumbfounded by the bizarre spectacle before him.

‘

Could it be... my virus doesn’t work on him...?’

As soon as he came to that realization...

“Hey, is that all you got? Do you have anything else?” Siegfried casually called out to Plague.

“W-What?”

“I’m asking if that’s all you’ve got. Seriously, is this it? It’s kinda pathetic, you know?” Siegfried said, waving his hand as if fanning away the black miasma.

“O-Of course not! This isn’t all!” Plague retorted.

Then, he immediately unleashed his most potent virus, one after another, at Siegfried.

[Alert: You have taken 0 damage!]

[Alert: You have taken 0 damage!]

[Alert: You have taken 0 damage!]

[Alert: You have taken 0 damage!]

(omitted...)

[Alert: You have taken 0 damage!]

A string of notifications popped up before Siegfried’s eyes, informing him that he had taken no damage at all.

This was one of Siegfried’s greatest strengths.

Not only was he the natural predator of magician-type classes, but he was also the bane of any class that relied on poisons or virus-based biochemical attacks. Magicians couldn’t use their skills properly against him, while biochemical attacks dealt practically no damage to him.

“T-That’s impossibruuu!” Plague screamed in shock, his voice trembling. He belatedly realized that none of his attacks had any effect on Siegfried.

Plague was the Lord of Pestilence, a being who had spread countless viruses and caused widespread massacre in ancient times, but before Siegfried, he was nothing more than an ordinary creature belching unpleasant farts.

Siegfried drew his +10 Sky Piercer and said, “It looks like you’ve run out of tricks.”

“W-Wait...!”

“If you’re done already, then it’s now time to take a beating.”

With those words, Siegfried walked toward Plague with his spear in hand.

***

Meanwhile, Cheon Woo-Jin was monitoring the Nurburg Continent via satellite when he spotted another anomaly.

“What the heck...?”

He noticed a massive gathering at Dragonhead Mountain, located on the very edge of the Marchioni Empire’s territory.

He focused surveillance on the site and...

“These damn lunatics...”

Cheon Woo-Jin couldn’t help but shake his head after realizing the Marchioni Empire’s goal.

Tens of thousands of magicians were gathering at Dragonhead Mountain, and they were creating an enormous magic circle.

The Marchioni Empire’s military engineers were also carrying out large-scale earthwork construction. It was obvious at a glance that they planned to artificially trigger a volcanic eruption, sending lava and volcanic ash toward the Proatine Empire.

“You seriously owe me big time for this one, Han Tae-Sung,” Cheon Woo-Jin muttered.

Then, he immediately warped to where Siegfried was located.

He needed to inform him right away so that the Proatine Empire could prepare and counter the Marchioni Empire’s sinister plot.

***

“...Who the hell is he beating up this time?”

By the time Cheon Woo-Jin warped to Siegfried’s location, he couldn’t help but shake his head at the unexpected sight that greeted him.

Siegfried was pummeling some demon-like creature with his bare fists. Judging from the way he had even set aside his weapon, it was obvious he was not trying to kill the poor thing.

Cheon Woo-Jin had no idea what the demonic creature had done, but he was certain that it had done something to piss Siegfried off big time, judging by how he was getting beaten up.

“

Kyuuuu!

Welcome, Cheon Woo-Jin!”

Hamchi watching from the sidelines spotted Cheon Woo-Jin and scurried over.

“What’s going on? What the hell is he doing right now?”

“

Kyuuu!

Owner punk is teaching that bastard a lesson!”

“

Huh?

What did he do?”

“That demon caused trouble! Owner punk is punishing him for that!

Kyuuu!”

Hamchi quickly explained what had happened.

“

Ah,

I see. Yeah, I can see why he’s that pissed,” Cheon Woo-Jin said, nodding. He could understand what was going on, as he knew better than anyone just how much Siegfried cherished his people. Thus, it was no surprise that he would beat up Plague, the one responsible for the epidemic that took the lives of his people.

“How have you been these days?” Cheon Woo-Jin asked.

“

Kyuuu!

Hamchi has been busy following owner punk around all the time!” Hamchi replied.

Cheon Woo-Jin passed the time chatting idly with Hamchi while waiting for Siegfried to finish venting his anger at the demonic creature.

“I’m just getting started! Don’t expect to die so easily on me!”

“

Ack!

P-Please...! M-Mercy—

ackkk!”

Despite being a demon who was once imprisoned in Purgatory, Plague was pitifully beaten to a pulp. Siegfried had no plans to finish him off, so he only hit him in non-vital areas. Hence, Plague was unable to die and was forced to endure three hours of merciless beating.

“Hey! That’s enough already, Han Tae-Sung!” Cheon Woo-Jin shouted.

He planned to wait until Siegfried could blow off steam, but he decided to interrupt after getting too tired of waiting.

“

Huh?

When did you get here?” Siegfried muttered, tilting his head. He was so engrossed in beating up Plague that he hadn't even noticed Cheon Woo-Jin's presence.

“Wrap it up. I’ve got something important to tell you.”

“What is it? Just say it now. I can hear you just fine!”

Siegfried kept throwing punches at Plague’s solar plexus while talking.

Meanwhile, Plague wept while enduring the blows, ‘

T-This guy is the devil! He’s the devil himself!’

“This isn’t the time for that! The Marchioni Empire is scheming to screw you over big time!”

“

Huh?

What are they up to this time?”

“They’re trying to...” Cheon Woo-Jin proceeded to explain what was happening at Dragonhead Mountain.

“Those sons of bitches! Damn those bastards!”

“

Gaaagh!”

Siegfried’s fury flared even more, and Plague suffered for it.

“So stop wasting time on a trash mob like that and just finish it,” Cheon Woo-Jin grumbled.

“Okay, got it,” Siegfried replied with a nod. Then, he turned around and grumbled, “Damn it... Those bastards just keep trying to stab me in the back with their dirty tricks. I’m going to kill them all!”

He was furious not only due to the Marchioni Empire’s shameless backhanded tactics, but also at the fact that he had no clear way to retaliate.

He was feeling endlessly frustrated. War was not an option, and lodging a formal protest would achieve nothing.

‘

I’ve got to come up with something. No way I’m just gonna let this go,’

Siegfried thought, his mind racing, trying to think of a payback.

Just then...

‘

Hold on... What if I let this guy loose in the Marchioni Empire?’

A brilliant idea struck him.

To Siegfried, Plague was nothing more than a punching bag, a walking training dummy that smelled bad. However, Plague was no different from a walking bioweapon when placed in a large city with a huge populace.

If Plague traveled around the Marchioni Empire and spread his virus everywhere, then the casualties would be catastrophic.

“Hey,” Siegfried called out, pausing the beating.

“...?” Plague peeked between his fingers.

“Do you want to do a little job for me?” Siegfried asked with a grin.

“W-What do you mean by that, s-sir?” Plague asked in response, freezing at the unexpected proposal. Then, he thought, ‘

W-What is this devil scheming now?’

He couldn’t understand why he was suddenly being offered a deal after being mercilessly tortured for hours.

“It’s nothing difficult. I’m just saying that we should work together. I mean, look at you right now.

Tsk, tsk...

What a mess! Isn’t this all pointless? Aren’t we just wasting our time doing this?” Siegfried said, helping the demon up and brushing the dirt off him.

‘

W-What trick is this?! What is this devil scheming?!’

Plague trembled, certain that a far more cruel torture was incoming.

“Hey, you want to live, don’t you?” Siegfried asked, wrapping his arm around Plague’s shoulders.

“Y-Yes, I do, sir. But...”

“I can kill you with my eyes closed. But honestly, it feels like a waste to kill someone as talented as you.”

“

Huh...?

”

“So I’m thinking of sparing your life if you swear absolute obedience to me. What do you think?”

“T-That is...”

“It’s better than disappearing forever, isn’t it?

Ah,

you know what happened to your brother, right? I’m the one who killed him, by the way.”

“W-What?!” Plague was shocked at the revelation. His brother, Romulus, was one of the dreaded Four Apocalypses, the very embodiment of all disease.

However, the man before him had actually murdered Romulus?

Terror gripped Plague's heart.

‘

I think... I really fucked up this time...’

Plague thought.

Unfortunately, it was far too late by the time he realized what was going on.

Siegfried was not one to let go of the prey he had sunk his claws into.

Thus, Plague only had two options—get beaten into oblivion and die, or kneel and submit to survive.

“So? What do you think? Do you wanna die or—”

“I-I submit! I swear absolute allegiance to you, sir!”

“

Oh?

”

Plague shot straight up and saluted like a soldier standing before his commander.

“Loyalty! Loyalty! Loyalty!”

Siegfried’s rehabilitation methods were so effective that even the Lord of Pestilence was rehabilitated after just a single session.