Chapter 597: Minhyuk’s Connections

Richard was very frustrated. He worked hard to become close with these NPCs. To be exact, he considered them as his ‘friends’ in this virtual reality game. But his friends were now going to die because of his stupid mistake. Once the NPCs in Athenae die, they would never be able to revive. It was similar to death in reality. That was why their death meant eternal farewell.

Richard knew that he had to stop and prevent their deaths no matter the cost. But no matter what he did, he could not think of a way to do so. All they could do was to watch the 1.2 million Snake Soldiers charge forward to annihilate them.

But before the enemies could approach, the space in front of them was torn apart as a black beauty appeared and said, “This great one is Great Demon Gremory.”

“…!”

“…!”

Richard’s eyes widened in shock.

Great Demon Gremory!!! That was a name that he heard a lot about. After Great Demon Verus had been sealed by the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, the power and influence of the 72 Devils had weakened. During that time, a demon led her own demon tribe and occupied more than half of the Demon World, aiming for the seat of the Demon King.

That great being’s name was none other than Great Demon Gremory.

“H, how…?”

This was the question that floated in everyone’s head. Everyone saw Great Demon Gremory as a great disaster. No one present believed that Great Demon Gremory was their ally.

‘Is it because she has to take over middle earth and not Leona?’

That was right. This was the more realistic thinking. It was more believable to think that Gremory decided that it was better for her to absorb the Stars’ Path than Leona, right?

Then, Gremory turned to look where Minhyuk was. Her eyes looked both terrifying and breath-taking. However, there was an unmistakable gentleness in those eyes. Gremory had eaten a dish called ‘ganjjajang’ that Minhyuk made for her in the past, and completely fell in love with the taste of the dish.

‘Just one look at this guy and my mouth is already watering.’

But she had not seen Minhyuk for a while. In other words, she had not eaten his food for so long. However, she had suddenly appeared. It would be weird if she immediately said,

‘I want to eat your food…’

right away. She would definitely be a laughing stock.

So, Gremory smiled as brightly as she could and said the words that the humans often said when they wanted to get closer to each other, “Minhyuk, how have you been? I came running because you called.”

The impact of her words was tremendous.

“Keok…!”

“Wh, what…”

“…You’re lying, right?”

“…”

The surviving players, the members of the Maserrati Guild, and even the Named NPCs were all stunned speechless. Great Demon Gremory came running at the call of a human? It was unbelievable since it was something that had never happened at all.

And Richard? He was vehemently denying the impact Gremory has. After all, the truth of the situation in front of them was far too shocking.

‘The NPC that the Beyond the Heavens’ King had called is Gremory? R, right. That’s possible. But he’s only able to call one being. I called 20 Named NPCs, you know? Haha…’?

Richard tried to console himself.

If it was enough to surprise them, what more the commentators and viewers that were tuned in to the scene?

[The great demon that is a candidate to become demon king is close to the Beyond the Heavens’ King…?]

[Did you see her smile? That’s the expression of someone that wants to become close with the other…]

[Crazy…]

[But who do you think will win if Leona and Gremory fought?]

[‘Course, the Great Demon. Keke.]

That was right. Just like the viewers said, in a fight between Great Demon Gremory and the child of the God of Snakes Elizabeth, one of the Six God Monsters, Leona, the one that would come on top would definitely be Gremory.

However, that was only possible if it was in the ‘Demon World’.

“How dare a demon like you… humiliate me when we’re on earth!” Leona shouted as she lifted both of her hands and canceled the demonic energy in the surroundings.

Indeed, demons and demonic beasts could not exert their full strength when they were in the land above. Just like with Great Demon Verus. He fought against the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom with 50% of his powers sealed. Simply put, great demons were unable to display the true extent of their powers in the human realm. The same was true for Great Demon Gremory and her grand army.

“Kill those damn demon trash!!!” Leona ordered, her eyes flashing red.

“As expected… She’s dangerous,” Great Demon Gremory murmured bitterly.

“Hiiiiiisss!!!”

“Hiiiiiiisss!”

“Hiiiisss!”

“Kihyeeeeeeck!”

“Kihyaaaaaaaack!”

“Graaaaaaaa!”

Nearly 1.2 million Snake Soldiers and more than 100,000 demon soldiers hissed and roared at each other. The fierce battle began when one of the demons charged and attacked one of the Snake Soldiers on the head.

Immediately after, Leona’s shining eyes flashed and extended toward the Demon World Corps. The moment the red light touched the demons…

Crack, crack, crack, crack—

…they began to harden and turn into stones.

“…She could have turned us into stones even if we don’t look her in the eyes.”

Of course, it was an AOE skill. Once cast, it could only be used again after a long period of time. But what would happen if the entire Demon World Corps turned into stones? It would be a page in history that would mark the greatest humiliation that Great Demon Gremory suffered. It would mean that she lost to Leona on the grounds above. But…

“I am not someone that a mere snake’s daughter can deal with.”

And when Gremory swung her whip…

Crack—

Black demonic energy surged up and devoured the red light that Leona released.

“…!”

Leona’s eyes widened in shock. The demon in front of her could still devour her abilities even when she was weakened? But not long after, Leona smirked at her. Even if Gremory was strong, she would not be able to stop the 1.2 million Snake Soldiers that were creeping up and slaughtering her Demon World Corps. After all, there was no way for them to fight against the Snake Soldiers with their 50% handicap.

“Your army will be devoured by my children.”

“Well, that might be possible,” Gremory said, shrugging her shoulders. It was something that anyone present could see. Then, she turned to look back at Minhyuk.

“…???”

Minhyuk, who was busy cooking, looked at Gremory in confusion when he saw her suddenly look back at him. Then, Gremory chuckled softly and said, “However, you did something that you should never have done.”

“…?”

“You brought that human child to the brink of death.”

“…???”

Leona could not understand what Gremory meant.

‘

What kind of bullshit is that?

’

She had never attacked the human. In fact, it was Minhyuk, who cut off her hair of vipers and stabbed her with ‘Sword of Frenzy’ and ‘Sword of Absolute Death’, before hiding away inside a barrier. It was as if he came here to tease her and annoy her. In other words, the one that was almost beaten to the brink of death was Leona.

“I… to that human…”

“Did you know? Something terrible will happen to you if you touch a single hair of that human child?”

“No. I have never even touched…”

“Now, keep your eyes wide open and look.”

“No, that’s why I’m telling you…”

Leona felt extremely wronged.

‘No! I was not even able to touch a single hair on that guy! In fact, I was the one that got hit and beaten!’

But then, Gremory looked up at the skies with a wide smile on her face and said, “The first disaster has arrived.”

Everything happened so suddenly. The once blue skies had suddenly turned white. When Leona lifted her head and looked up, she saw a forty meter long sword falling down from the skies.

“…!”

At the same time, a man and a woman appeared in a flash behind Gremory. The man had one arm raised to the skies while the woman beside him was glaring fiercely at Leona, a fierce momentum covering her body.

Then, the man said, “Do you know this great one’s name?”

“…”

Leona was left dumbfounded. Were they waiting for their turn to appear?!

‘I’m sure of it! After all, these bastards are saying the same words that I said earlier…!’

But after the daze, Leona realized that a disaster was about to fall on her.

“This great one is the Sword God!”

“…?!”

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang—

Everyone was shocked. Then, the forty meter long sword fell amidst the Snake Soldier army. It was like a nuclear bomb. Anything and everything within a fifty meter radius, including all of the Snake Soldiers, were annihilated the moment the sword struck down on the ground.

The entire world was shocked. This was the advent of a true ‘god’, an event that no player had ever witnessed before. As the sword fell down, the man said, “I heard that you were trying to kill that young man over there?”

“N, no. I…”

Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab—

In just one second, the Sword God stabbed his sword six times. Leona, who was caught defenseless, felt the green blood spurt out from her body, her knees touching the ground as her body collapsed.

Valen and Roina immediately turned around and attacked the Snake Soldier army. With every brandish of Roina and Valen’s swords, tens of Snake Soldiers would fall. However, there were just too many of them. In fact, it was still hard even for the Demon World Corps to get the upperhand in this battle.

Meanwhile, Leona, whose body was covered in green blood as she regenerated and recovered her wounds, felt really,

really

wronged. At the same time, she felt humiliated and disgraced.

“How dare…!”

But then…

“Do you know this great one’s name?”

“…”

“This great one is Spear God Ben.”

Then, the man turned toward the Snake Soldier army and cast an attack with tremendous power.

“Absolute Pinnacle Spear.”

A spear made of light fell down from the skies at the speed of light and dropped in the middle of the Snake Soldier army.

Slash, slash, slash, slash, slash—

The single attack devoured thousands of the Snake Soldiers. At the same time, the man’s spear stabbed through the heart of the kneeling Leona.

Stab—

“Keoheok!”

“Did you just try to kill His Majesty?”

“Urk… I… his hair…”

“Shut up,” Old Man Ben spat coldly as he roughly pulled the spear from Leona’s chest. Then, he immediately turned around and jumped into the fray of the Snake Soldier army.

Tears were now welling up in Leona’s eyes.

‘I… I… really… did not touch him…!’

Why wouldn’t they believe her? She was the one that got hit by Minhyuk!

‘Anyway, from now on…’

Leona believed that there would not be anyone else coming, right? There was also one thing that she found strange.

‘Why are they giving me enough time to recover?’

That was right. After inflicting tremendous damage on Leona’s body, they would immediately turn around and attack the Snake Soldier army.

‘Right, it’s just a coincidence.’

The thought flashed in Leona’s head as her body gradually recovered. But then…

“Do you know this great one’s name?”

“…”

Leona was left speechless once again. When she looked up, she saw a two-meter tall and dark-skinned man towering over her. This man was the one hailed as Lesser Demon Diablo.

“Beyond the Heavens’ Shield. Elpis.”

Stab, stab, stab, stab—

“Did you just try to kill His Majesty?”

“…”

Stab, stab, stab, stab—

One by one…

“Do you know who I am?!!”

“…”

“I’m Conir!!! Conir heard that you bullied His Majesty!!! Wailing Child!!!”

Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab—

…they came out and struck Leona.

At the same time, in a place near where the battle against Leona was taking place.

Several people gathered together, emitting a tremendous amount of pressure. Among these people were Sword Emperor Ellie, Overlord Raldo, Dragon King, Saintess Loyna, Elf King Argon and many more. All of them were waiting with their troops lined up behind them. The troops’ total? They numbered over a million.

Marquis Arna stood among the troops of Orodith Empire. He looked at the people around him who were giving off a fierce, vicious momentum as they waited for their turn. However, there was only one thought running through their heads…

‘What should I do to make my appearance look better?’

‘Gremory’s appearance had too great of an impact. I have to make a better appearance than her.’

‘I’ll make sure to have the best appearance out of everyone here.’

Marquis Arna looked at them. He was obviously a noble recognized by his kingdom. But now…

“Next. Sword Emperor Ellie.”

That was right. He was now calling out who was next in line. What Leona thought was ‘impossible’ had now come true. Minhyuk’s allies were literally ‘drawing lots’ and taking turns jumping into the battlefield.

As for Sword Emperor Ellie? She was now charging toward the battlefield with a subtle smile on her face,

‘I’m going to be the one with the best appearance.’

Minhyuk, who later learned of this fact, had called them,

‘Gremory and the Attention Seekers’.