Chapter 156: One-on-One Duel (2)

Just as Yoost had feared, Mammon fought as if the battle were merely a game. He had imposed greater restrictions than usual, limiting himself to only twenty percent of his strength. Despite this, Kim Ki-Rok darted and weaved, narrowly avoiding certain death.

"

Ugh.

Damn it..."

No matter how accustomed he was to pain, it still hurt. Kim Ki-Rok glanced down at his left arm. The agony radiating from the limp limb was far worse than he'd anticipated. It wasn't dislocated—it was clearly broken. Nonetheless, Kim Ki-Rok spat the dirt from his mouth and steadied himself again.

"I'm impressed," Mammon remarked, openly intrigued.

"

Hahaha,

is that so?"

Is that so? I feel like I'm dying.

Kim Ki-Rok barely kept himself from spitting out the curse on his tongue.

"You've overcome your lack of strength through keen observation."

"

Ha, haha...

cough!

"

It appeared his intense training had yielded results. He had at least managed to clear the first hurdle, though that was only the beginning. There were several critical objectives Kim Ki-Rok needed to achieve during this battle.

The first was to draw Mammon's attention. He couldn't merely dodge or defend throughout the duel; he had to launch counterattacks, no matter how reckless. Mammon needed to see that he and other Hunters like him had potential worth anticipating.

The second was a direct confrontation. The moment he drew his cursed sword, Du Blanc, Kim Ki-Rok knew he'd have to engage head-on. Du Blanc became increasingly powerful as it absorbed the user's mana. Unless Kim Ki-Rok removed the Demon Realm mana absorbed by Du Blanc in advance, his future would be grim indeed.

I don't even have time to fix my bones...

Kim Ki-Rok sighed inwardly. As Mammon rushed toward him, wearing a bright grin, he braced himself again.

Explosions erupted one after another as the cursed sword collided against the glove imbued with the World Tree's power. Each blow from Du Blanc sent intense reverberations through his body, but Kim Ki-Rok had no other option. He had to sustain this head-on clash to maintain Mammon's interest and gradually drain the cursed sword Du Blanc's overwhelming strength.

A sickening snapping sound came from Kim Ki-Rok's hand.

Ah... Fuck...

The good news was his wrists were fine; the bad news was his fingers weren't. Pain surged through his arm every time he clenched his fist, but Kim Ki-Rok continued to block the cursed sword Du Blanc as if nothing had happened.

Aware he had no choice but to sustain this face-to-face battle, he prioritized deflecting attacks. Whenever possible, he dodged to buy time, predicting Mammon's movements by closely observing his habits and patterns.

Nevertheless, damage was accumulating. His left arm was in ruins, and the ligaments of his right middle and ring fingers were torn. His legs wobbled from the accumulated shock to his body, and his abdomen throbbed from the strain of mana manipulation. He wanted to collapse right then and there, but Kim Ki-Rok persisted. He didn't even have time to check the remaining time.

It was right then when it happened.

[You have successfully rescued the captive dwarves in Dwarf Mine.]

"Wait! Stop!"

Mammon frowned as Kim Ki-Rok urgently reached out with spread palms.

"What is it?"

"Twenty-five minutes... have passed."

Mammon stared at him for a moment before responding, "Huh? Already?" Not quite believing it, Mammon looked back at the four Greater Demons who had been watching the duel. "Is this true?"

A Greater Demon sighed in disbelief. "Yes, it's true."

The four Greater Demons slowly descended and stood behind Mammon, all eyes on Kim Ki-Rok.

"Wow! He really is an interesting one."

"And a strange one, too."

"I'm amazed. Despite the overwhelming difference in power, he's lasted this long."

"Indeed. Even if Lord Mammon restricted himself, this fight should have been impossible. Yet he managed to survive."

The four Greater Demons stared at Kim Ki-Rok with the same curious gaze as Mammon, like children fascinated by a new toy. However, Kim Ki-Rok did not reveal his emotions under their scrutiny. Knowing the gap in their abilities, and that they would be utterly outmatched in the distant future, he pressed on.

"Thank you for the compliment. Could you... give me a moment?" Kim Ki-Rok cautiously asked.

Once Mammon nodded, Kim Ki-Rok rechecked the message.

[244 dwarves have successfully escaped. Additional rewards will be granted.]

[The most active Awakened within Dwarf Mine is Baek Min-Hyuk.]

[All Awakened remaining in the Gate after Baek Min-Hyuk's escape will be forcibly returned.]

Kim Ki-Rok let out a sigh of relief.

Good. I have five minutes...

He had given instructions to the clear team beforehand. If they followed his plan exactly, he had five minutes to execute his next move. Kim Ki-Rok then glanced at Mammon, who looked disappointed, frowning and licking his lips.

Taking a deep breath, he continued, "So, Lord Mammon?"

"I'll keep... my promise," the demon replied with hesitation.

"Thank you. The grace period will be ten years at most, but I may contact you sooner."

"Understood."

"And..."

Mammon tilted his head.

Kim Ki-Rok slowly shook off some of the accumulated damage in his body and retrieved a potion from his subspace pocket. Although his severely damaged left arm remained useless, his right-hand fingers returned to full functionality, and his mana-holes stabilized.

"

Phew!

That's somewhat better. Now, Lord Mammon."

"What?"

"You seemed a little bummed, so I want to make you a proposal."

Mammon looked puzzled. "I am... disappointed. But a proposal, you say?"

"Yes. I won't be able to hold my own if you use your full power. So, let's say you use forty percent."

"Forty percent?"

"Yes. I propose a one-strike duel with you at forty percent strength."

Mammon was at a loss for words. "You could die."

"Yes. I could. I wouldn't be able to guarantee survival even in my best condition, let alone now. So, if I win, please give me one of your treasures."

Mammon seemed slightly taken aback, but a smile slowly crept across his face as Kim Ki-Rok continued his absurd proposal.

"This is assuming I survive, but if I do, you'll get your satisfaction, and I'll walk away with a treasure."

"You still have something hidden."

"Well, to be honest... yes. I still have an ace up my sleeve."

Mammon chuckled and turned around. He moved about ten meters away and looked at Kim Ki-Rok. "I like your proposal. Do you plan to dodge my strike?"

"I'll try to block it."

"What treasure do you want?"

"I'll leave it to you, Lord Mammon."

"Why?"

"So I can curry favor with you and spend the entire ten-year grace period getting stronger."

Mammon burst into laughter and gave an order to the Greater Demons. "Step back."

The four of them rose into the air, leaving Mammon and Kim Ki-Rok alone on the battlefield.

"Are you ready?"

"Just a moment, please."

Kim Ki-Rok pulled out a scroll from his subspace pocket. Since his left arm was badly injured and wouldn't move, he bit down on one end and tore it off. He did the same with two more, ripping them quickly in succession. As the last one unraveled, the third layer of a dome-shaped shield shimmered into place around him. He reached into his pocket again, retrieved another scroll, and tore it the same way. This time, a flash of light erupted and the blue shield blanched to a translucent white with a sharp crackle of paper.

"Is that... a Sacred Power Transmutation Scroll?"

"Yes, it is. It temporarily transforms mana into sacred power."

"Is that the source of your confidence? That's a bit disappointing..."

"Not exactly." Kim Ki-Rok lowered his head, pulled out a necklace from his subspace pocket, and put it around his neck.

"Oh?"

"This necklace bears the blessing of the Saintess. It amplifies sacred power."

"Is that all?"

"

Phew!

" After taking a deep breath, he simply nodded in response and replied, "Yes."

"I see. Good."

Mammon gripped his sword with both hands and slowly lifted it, a dark aura gathering around the blade with a low, rising hum.

"Woah! Well, fuck me..."

Mammon's Aura Blade had grown to ten meters tall, and it wasn't simply large—it was a long, thin blade made of highly concentrated mana. Merely gazing at it sent chills crawling down the spine.

"

Hoo!

I can't believe this."

Although the Aura Blade had shrunk to a thin layer barely clinging to Mammon's sword, the threat it radiated remained undiminished. If anything, Kim Ki-Rok's anxiety deepened.

Mammon confirmed once more, "Are you ready?"

"I am."

"Then let's go."

"

Haah.

Alright."

In response, Mammon approached Kim Ki-Rok with a smile that mixed anticipation and concern. He advanced step by step until stopping right in front of him.

"Don't die."

With that warning, Mammon brought his sword down at lightning speed. Kim Ki-Rok thrust his fist toward the cursed sword Du Blanc, now wrapped in the Aura Blade. The blade whistled as it cut through the air, and when it struck Kim Ki-Rok's hand, a blinding, deafening explosion erupted.

***

A small wind cleared the smoke that filled the area.

"

Ha!

"

"That's insane!"

Some demons exclaimed in awe, while others cursed. Various reactions burst forth, but they were all directed at one person.

"You blocked it," Mammon said, putting his cursed sword Du Blanc back into his subspace and nodding in satisfaction.

Kim Ki-Rok knelt, arms hanging at his sides, and managed to answer through the pain. "Yes. I think I'll need to focus on healing for about half a year, though."

"Right, so the deal was to fight with either you or someone you suggest, correct?"

"Yes."

"This warrior who will find me in ten years... No, the warrior I will fight, will they be stronger than you?"

"Yes. That warrior will be able to kill you, Lord Mammon."

Despite the confidence behind that statement, Mammon laughed pleasantly and asked as he reached into his subspace, "What type of warrior will I fight?"

"They'll be swordsmen."

"Kim Ki-Rok, what type of warrior are you?"

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"I'm not sure. I don't discriminate when it comes to weapons."

After a moment of thought, Mammon fixed his gaze on Guardian, equipped on Kim Ki-Rok's hand, and nodded. "I see."

He wasn't sure if Kim Ki-Rok would be able to fight him in ten years. But if Kim Ki-Rok did, he would surely use this weapon called Guardian.

Mammon pulled out a sword and a pair of gaiters from his subspace and tossed them in front of Kim Ki-Rok. "The sword is for the warrior who will face me, and the shackles are for you to use."

"Thank you."

"Kim Ki-Rok."

"Yes, Lord Mammon."

"Ten years."

"Yes, we'll see each other again in ten years."

"

Hahahaha!

Sounds good."

Mammon turned away, clearly in a good mood. He then paused, glanced at Kim Ki-Rok's condition, and gave orders to everyone who had been watching the duel. "Yoost. Demons."

"Yes sir!"

"It's one year. Don't make me say it again." Mammon fixed his gaze on a particular individual. "Yoost."

"Yes, Lord Mammon!"

"One year," he reiterated with emphasis.

Yoost hesitated ever so slightly before finally answering, "Understood."

After getting Yoost's confirmation, Mammon finally used teleportation magic and disappeared from the battlefield.

***

On Earth, at the entrance to the Dwarven Mine Gate, all the Hunters who had been forcibly returned opened their eyes and quickly looked around for Kim Ki-Rok.

"Guildmaster!"

The Hunters turned toward the shout. The moment they saw Kim Ki-Rok, they all froze. He appeared to be suffering from multiple fractures and was kneeling, arms hanging limply. Without any delay, the members of the DG Guild rushed to him.

"You're alive!" one of them exclaimed.

"Cough! I'm... alive. I'll probably need to recuperate for about half a year, though. Ouch."

"What on earth happened?!"

"Greater... Demon. Greater...

Ack!

"

Lee Ji-Yeon took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from Kim Ki-Rok's mouth.

"Are you really okay?"

"I won't die. But I won't be able to use my arms for about... half a year...

Arrgh.

"

Despite his pain, people were somewhat relieved to see Kim Ki-Rok's unyielding smile. However, when Kim Ji-Hee appeared to greet Kim Ki-Rok, everyone's faces grew tense.

"M-Mister?"

"Ji-Hee...?"

She opened her mouth, then closed it again, voice trembling. "Mister..."

"It's okay," Kim Ki-Rok said gently.

"

Hic!

Mister... blood... hurts... It hurts..."

"I'm okay," he whispered. As he moved, however, a ragged cough tore from his throat, spraying blood.

"No... no!" Ji-Hee cried. "If Mister dies... you can't—

waahhhhh!

"

Her voice broke as she collapsed beside him, sobbing uncontrollably, her small frame trembling.