Chapter 152: Escape (2)

Suddenly, the four Greater Demons that had appeared in the border city seemed to lose interest. They muttered something to themselves and vanished into thin air. Once the demons disappeared, the warriors who had been staring death in the face breathed a sigh of relief, while the strategists' expressions hardened.

The Greater Demons, who treated everything as a game, abruptly lost interest and returned to the royal city of the Black Kingdom. There could be only one reason for all four of them to simultaneously lose interest and return when they had been toying with the Aura Masters: they had realized there was no one here capable of entertaining them. Even if they went out of their way to find someone, no one could quench their thirst.

"This must mean they've been discovered, right?" asked Emperor Aestro of the Aians Empire.

Pilarin nodded. "Yes. More precisely, we believe they've deliberately revealed themselves."

"There seems to be a change in plans."

"Of course. It's natural to make changes in strategy depending on the situation."

The Greater Demons had remained stationary in the royal city of the Black Kingdom. They only moved after the ten Greater Aura Masters of the Continental Alliance, who were just below Grandmaster level, had been mobilized. It would take time for the rescue team to move from the southwestern border to the dwarf village, so the heroes adjusted the timing of the rescue and recapture operations to coincide with the rescue team's successful infiltration.

This situation was no different. In response to the Greater Demons' movements, the rescue team of seven Greater Aura Masters revealed themselves within Black Kingdom territory. Knowing they were the ones the demons were interested in, they deliberately drew attention to themselves. The team even attacked a nearby castle to make their presence unmistakable, ensuring the Greater Demons remained focused on them. No matter the cost, it was imperative to save these dwarves—skilled craftsmen who could contribute to the creation of hundreds, even thousands, of powerful soldiers.

"Sir Pilarin."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Do you think Hero Kim Ki-Rok will survive?"

"I'm not sure," he answered bluntly, to the king's clear astonishment. "I

truly

don't know."

It was a reckless attempt. No, it would be fair to say the plan was utterly insane. But assuming the timing was right and Kim Ki-Rok truly possessed exceptional strength, the operation was perfect. He was cunning, capable, and—if the reports were to be believed—somehow strong enough to make it work.

Still, he's a strange one...

Pilarin thought.

***

After Serena beheaded a demon with her sword, she quickly summoned an Elemental to form a massive water shield overhead.

Fire arrows made from the mana of the Demon Realm rained down from the sky, only to be swallowed up by the water shield imbued with elemental magic. With a sizzle, the water shield extinguished the flames and purified the mana of the Demon Realm.

After blocking the Black Magic, Serena transformed the water shield into arrows and attacked the Black Wizards flying in the sky.

Not all the Archmage Black Wizards had followed the Greater Demon to the border city. Upon hearing news of the emergence of the rescue team led by Serena and the escape of the dwarf slaves, they had hastily left their royal city in pursuit.

The Black Wizards used teleportation magic to evade the water arrows and began casting again.

"

Hoo...

"

She could easily take down a 6th-Circle Archmage Black Wizard in a direct fight. However, considering the dwarf survivors and Kim Ki-Rok, who was key to the operation, they had to prioritize their escape.

"Let's increase our speed," Serena ordered.

The rescue team members and the Gate clear team gave brief affirmations of understanding. They formed a protective circle around the dwarf survivors and began their exodus.

***

"Hmm... Like this... And that..."

Kim Ki-Rok was roaming around in Hoesen, a territory very close to the dwarven mine village. Having discovered some ruins thanks to the combined efforts of the rescue team and the Gate clear team, he shuffled about, shifting his body from side to side.

"Ah, this isn't it." He mumbled, tilting his head.

Using Record to summon a giant dictionary, Kim Ki-Rok flipped through its pages, then closed his eyes. With surprising grace, he moved through the deserted territory, eyes shut, almost as if he were dancing.

"Hmm... No, let's try again."

He pulled out the dictionary once more, reviewed it, and closed his eyes.

"One, two, three." Kim Ki-Rok counted and stepped to the side. "Wait a little. Talk. Two, three."

He raised his arms to protect his torso and chest, lightly jumped, then stepped backward, positioning himself in front of a collapsed building.

"Have a conversation right here."

Kim Ki-Rok lowered his left hand and extended his right. "Strike once and use it."

He shuffled forward again, turned his body back to its original position, and leisurely strolled around once more.

***

"

Haa, haa, haa...

" Serena slowly lifted her head, unable to count how many monsters she had taken down.

Monsters roamed the earth, while the sky was filled with Black Wizards. Towering above them, four men with black skin and horns stood atop the Black Wizards, looking down as if evaluating their worth.

"Lady Serena, we can't go on any longer," reported Reardon, the dwarf Champion of the White Hammer tribe, in a low voice.

She gritted her teeth, deeply conflicted. Since the signals they sent would decide Kim Ki-Rok's survival, Serena wanted to hold out as long as possible, but their enemies were overwhelming.

"How much time have we bought Hero Kim Ki-Rok?"

There was a brief pause before Reardon replied. "Twenty-five minutes."

Twenty-five minutes.

Biting her lip hard enough to draw blood, Serena looked up at the four Greater Demons and said, "Send the signal."

"Signal!" Reardon shouted as soon as Serena's command fell.

***

The artifact Kim Ki-Rok held began to vibrate. It was a gift from Reardon, the cold-headed dwarf whose burning passion for his kin never wavered.

"Oh dear. Twenty-five minutes?"

It was enough time for him to let out a sigh.

"I've held out for up to thirty-eight minutes before, so this shouldn't be a problem..."

From his 77th Attempt to the current 93rd—in other words, ever since he had minimized damage using Guardian—he had struggled to change the events that followed. Even during Attempts when all his limbs were severed, he had stubbornly held on to gather more information. He used every possible method to stay alive and, with his comrades' help, managed to collect valuable intelligence.

As a result, starting from his 85th Attempt, he had been able to safely navigate the "changed future" that followed the use of the Guardian and the arrival of the Greater Demon.

"Let's see, let's see. What do we have heeere..."

Leaning on one leg, Kim Ki-Rok pulled the blue glove from his subspace pocket.

[

Guardian (S)

]

Description: A glove created by Grace, the Priestess of the World Tree. It contains the power of the primordial World Tree.

Limitation: High Elves and those who have received permission from the Priestess of the World Tree

Effect 1: Halves 50% of mana from the Demon Realm within a ten-meter radius

Effect 2: Increases all stats by 30%

Effect 3: Level decreases by 1 every 10 seconds when worn

"Now, come. Come quickly, please."

Somewhere, four Greater Demons were trailing Mammon, a Greater Demon known to grant a single wish to anyone who piqued his interest.

***

In the Black Kingdom's capital, Kraesel, Mammon lay on his bed staring blankly at the ceiling and muttering, "Sword God..."

When he had descended to Middle Earth in response to a human summoning, the Greater Demon Mammon had encountered a man known as the Sword God. Despite being human, he was a one-in-a-million figure who had managed to reach the Grandmaster level, a feat thought impossible given a human's lifespan.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Of course, the one-on-one duel with the Sword God had ended in Mammon's victory. Though severely injured, Mammon had laughed. He had been astounded by humanity's potential. That was why he ignored the requests of the Black Wizards who had summoned him and instead waited for more exceptional warriors to appear.

As if in reward for his patience, a man known as the Fist Emperor eventually emerged. The fight with the Fist Emperor had been enjoyable, though he lacked the uniqueness of the Sword God.

Mammon had indeed made the right decision. Even when the summoner founded the Black Kingdom and various species formed a Continental Alliance to resist its conquest, Mammon waited calmly, hoping for another human who might entertain him.

"Hmm... should I just go back?"

Nevertheless, there was a limit to his patience. Since the appearance of the Sword God and the Fist Emperor, no one else had met his expectations.

Mammon muttered to himself with a bored expression, "Alright. I'll wait, whether it be ten years or a hundred years. At some point, they'll be—"

He stopped mid-sentence, brow slightly furrowed. Mammon made a strange expression, sat up, and used his teleportation magic, arriving in the middle of a ruined city. Yet another human stood before him, a weakling not even worth the trouble of lifting a finger.

"Oh dear," said the human.

The Greater Demon only clicked his tongue in response. Annoyed, Mammon simply sent an Aura Blade flying toward the man and turned to leave. This was punishment for making him travel all this way. Just as he was about to teleport away, however, that strange expression returned to the demon's face.

"Oh my, why'd you attack me all of a sudden?"

Mammon turned to see the mere human beaming back at him. "You..."

"Yes?"

"Who are you?"

"Ah, my name is Kim Ki-Rok."

"Kim Ki-Rok?"

"That's right. My name is Kim Ki-Rok." The human laughed heartily.

A being he could turn to dust with a single gesture was smiling fearlessly.

"Excuse me, Lord Mammon?" Kim Ki-Rok said.

"What?"

"Did I perhaps pique your interest?"

Mammon looked at the human named Kim Ki-Rok with that strange expression more.

"Uh, did I not?"

"No, you did. You have piqued my interest."

"Well... I've heard that from time to time, you grant one wish to a human who piques your interest. Is that true?"

"Yes."

"Oh? Then could you grant my wish?"

He was weak, yet somehow survived the attack, an impossible feat given his meager skill level.

"Hmm..."

Mammon stared at the human as if deliberating, then suddenly kicked off the ground to launch himself forward.

***

Oh my, my levels

.

The moment Mammon's right foot moved, Kim Ki-Rok unleashed mana to activate Guardian and raised his arms to shield his upper body and head. With a deafening crash, he was knocked backward, skidding to a stop right in front of a collapsed building.

"Oh my. That was a close call."

"You."

"Ah, yes."

"Just who are you, exactly?"

"My name is Kim Ki-Rok. Now, will you grant my wish?"

Mammon fell silent, seemingly lost in thought. Then he let out a quiet chuckle.

"What's your wish?"

"If our fight doesn't end in twenty-five minutes, you, Lord Mammon, will have to wait until I—or someone I recommend—grows stronger."

"What?"

"I propose a twenty-five-minute short match. If you can't kill me within those twenty-five minutes, you have to wait until I, or those I recommend, become stronger. Oh!" Kim Ki-Rok, turning his head with a bright smile, addressed the four Greater Demons who were looking down at him with the same puzzled expression as Mammon. "That includes you gentlemen as well. What do you say?"