Originally, the underground area of the Demon Lord was a safe place. But due to the constant explosion, shocks, and quakes, the thick stone ceiling collapsed.
Gooooo!
The rocks the size of an adult man’s stomach were falling down. The shock was not something any normal person could bear. There was no way to escape. The rain of the rocks fell everywhere, causing cracks in all directions, and crushing everyone below.
In the midst of it, the Demon Lord and Yupae could not escape.
Duududud
The huge rocks continued to fall down. In the first place, while meeting underground was a means to avoid the eyes of the people, they could not make concrete structures here.
As the underground area collapsed, the small things they made were also collapsing.
The pouring stones and wreckage of the structure weighed probably in the tons. It was difficult even for a martial artist to survive in it, not to mention those who were injured would have no chance.
Thud! Waak!
People cried out, and the sound of their cries in an attempt to live was overshadowed by the sound of everything collapsing.
After the silt and bedrock fell down like a small landslide, only one person survived.
Only Seol-Hwi was untouched.
Skkk
Seol-Hwi walked out alone from the place which had turned into a version of hell. He walked for a long time, holding Songhwa.
And when he reached a suitable place, like a mountain, he laid the kid down.
“Eventually, there will be a day when we meet again.”
Seol-Hwi created a small burial mound and placed the kid in to bury him. Afterwards, as Seol-Hwi slowly turned around to leave, someone spoke.
-How does it feel? To touch Profound Demon.
He could know who it was without seeing them. Right after getting to the Profound Demon level. He could feel these eyes on him, staring at him all the time.
It was the AI, the guy who introduced himself as Sa Yu-kang.
“Well… not bad.”
-Not bad huh. You really deserve to be chosen. It is said that out of the ten million challengers, only three had touched the stage of Profound Demon. Haaa, what a complete twist in the mission where you need to just hold on. This really, how long it took for me to figure it out…
“If you want to compliment me, tell me about the crisis I will be facing in the future. That way you can avoid something like this.”
-That… would make it no fun.
The AI stood there with a distraught look, as if he existed in a position where his past self was watching.
-For now, I cannot guarantee it. The things in the past were so twisted. The path they chose wasn’t a straight path, but a rare one. That is why he managed to climb till Profound Demon, but… more crises will constantly come.
The explanation of the AI meant there would be trouble. Perhaps getting to Profound Demon at this stage was unexpected too.
Well, it would not make sense to use the power of the Soulless and the other world to ascend to Profound Demon. Seol-Hwi glanced at the AI and shook his head.
“I don’t understand it.”
-What?
“This power. Now I can control a power which doesn’t exist in the world. If that is the case, I don’t think I will be attacked. Even so at this level… I need to be wary of trouble?”
Clench
Seol-Hwi clenched his fists.
Even with just that amount of movement, it was enough to shatter the whole area.
The energy overflowing in the body, he could not guess what the limit of it was. If it was him, despite being an exaggeration, it felt like he could throw a mountain.
-Well. When I touched Profound Demon I had similar thoughts. Like I had the world in my palm and I couldn’t be defeated by anyone.
The AI spoke to Seol-Hwi honestly, making him smile.
-Even if you get to Profound Demon, the difference in level will be too much. The Sect Leader is in the second stage of Profound Demon, and there are four levels. And yours level is one. Whether it be a surprise attack or an ambush on him, you will have to plan it too carefully.
Beginning, Energy God, Peak God, and Demon God.
It was something the AI had mentioned before.
“Then you should at least know what crisis is coming.”
-Well for the time being… in the future, if you put some effort, it will be possible to go head to head against the Sect Leader and reach the same stage as him. But that will be all. The current way is against the player…
“No, there is no future. I plan to give it my all this time.”
Seol-Hwi continued,
“I tend to put an end to this life, this time. So help me. Your help is the most needed.”
-Why? Why should I help?
Maybe it was because Seol-Hwi was asking for something instead of begging like he usually did, the AI suddenly turned sarcastic.
Seeing that, Seol-Hwi spoke in a loud voice,
“Because I have no intention of repeating it for as long as you.”
-What?
Seol-Hwi looked at the AI and said,
“I cannot continue to die, start over, and lose those around me. I cannot endure my mind being torn apart like you do to achieve your goals.”
-Huh, then how do you plan to spend the rest of your lives….
“I will handle it myself or do something. But, I will risk everything in this one. The other ones? Start over? I am too tired of it now.”
Seol-Hwi was being honest. Each time he died, he would start over again.
He could not figure out what that meant. The desire to get stronger and his determination to get revenge somehow have now been eaten away by repeated losses.
The AI looked a bit shocked. How many lives did he go through? It was natural that he had the same personality like this now. It was natural for people to go insane in such a process.
No guilt for murder, just the pleasure of a different life every time.
-I thought you were an interesting guy… but quite a lousy one you are.
The AI was displeased.
Maybe it was because he looked like he was giving up after gaining a new sliver of hope.. And it made him angry.
-My assertion. No matter how gifted and lucky you are, you will end up killing the Sect Leader. In this world, there are things which can be gained only through the process of repeating life and death, like the equipment that could never be obtained. So far you have gotten past them. And you want to risk it all now?
Seol-Hwi answered it.
“Then I will ask. If I fight with everything like you asked, can that player be killed?”
-…What is the intention of that question?
A voice full of anger. Instead of answering, he asked about Seol-Hwi’s intentions.
“I hope you don’t misunderstand. I just really want to be honest with you, with the method you said, the difference between you and that player? Are you sure it can happen?”
-That…
The AI could not answer.
To be honest, he was not confident. Of course, there were a few things he had not tried yet, but to say it was a possibility, by its nature, was deceiving.
A power beyond common sense, which surpassed even the player—
The AI tried too many times, fought it over and over, and still felt powerless.
-But at least rather than your way…
Even so, what the AI did not want to relent to was the path Seol-Hwi was taking. From his point of view, Seol-Hwi was at the absolute starting point of the Profound Demon level.
He could not just jump over this state. Even if the luck of a genius came into play, he cannot reach that player’s level. The world was like this.
Because there was a wall which could not be crossed by normal means.
“Sa Yu-kang.”
-…?
“I will most likely not live up to your expectations. No, I definitely will not. I don’t have the mental strength or willpower like you. As you know, it wasn’t purely my ability which brought me to Profound Demon.”
Seol-Hwi expressed his thoughts sincerely. The enemy he would face at any time, seemed unlikely to be one he could triumph over.
It was something beyond his level ,and no matter how much he tried, it did not seem like he could rise higher than this.
There were tens of millions of people who challenged this, but why did only three get to this stage?
Luck.
At least he had it. It meant that Seol-Hwi did not gain the power he has now because he had talent.
-Then what?
The AI asked with a disappointed voice. However, he soon returned to his original self.
-Right. You are responsible for this outcome. Right, I understand.
The AI was faintly shaking his head and turned to the side.
-Well, there are things you can only know by experiencing it yourself. There is no need for me to step in and stop. Fine. That thought. I hope you will not be shaken when we meet the next time.
“What? Why does that sound like… ehhh!”
Seol-Hwi was surprised and called for him, but the AI only continued what he wanted to say.
-Remember two things. The adjustment of the system and the death of the Sect Leader.
-The adjustment here means that if you get too strong, the system will start making things difficult for you. Therefore it is important to use minimal force.
-The second is the death of the Sect Leader, delay that as long as you can. Otherwise, you will run into a player right away.
“Hey, it’s like you are leaving…”
-I am not leaving. It is about respecting your thoughts. I will stand by you and watch over you whenever you need me. Remember. Your victory is my victory.
“…!”
Saaaaa
That was the end. The illusion vanished, and no matter how many times he called him, the AI did not appear.
“…In the end, it is a problem I need to solve on my own.”
Seol-Hwi, who was taken aback, soon understood the intentions of the AI.
At least in this life, if he intervened, Seol-Hwi would not be able to properly choose his own path. It was not like he wanted to end up the same way.
Seol-Hwi, too, would not be happy to see him intervene in the middle of this. This was why the AI chose to step back and watch.
“Thank you for all you did up to this point.”
Seol-Hwi looked up, and his eyes were turning white.
It was the forced progression after the mission was completed. It was the passage of time.
“How did you come out alive?”
“I heard the news. I heard the underground prison collapsed.”
There were temporary barracks built in preparation for it. When Seol-Hwi returned, Cho Ah-ran and Ack Bi, who had heard the news, came out to meet him and asked him about what happened.
“The Third Disciple died at the hands of the Demon Lord? For real?”
“Did the Demon Lord fall by your hands?”
At Seol-Hwi who explained it all, the two people doubted their ears.
“Huh, if it comes to this, it can be considered as the weight of victory.”
“Good. How about going for the First Disciple with this force?”
The elders too added that they would help him out. And in response to that,
“No rush. A time like this, we should carefully absorb the other disciples’ forces and then secure victory.”
“In the end, the side with greater numbers has more chances to win. We need a lot of warriors but we lack the power to support from below,”
The Black Demon Warlord and Bloody Death Warlord calmly stated.
In the midst of this, the Earth Demon approached and said,
“Amazing, well… there aren’t enough words to describe it. It must have been difficult, so let’s relax. Today is a nice day, so why don’t we party?”
Everyone agreed with the Earth Demon’s words.
In addition, Seol-Hwi, who finished the toughest task, was literally receiving everyone’s attention.
“Could you please give me a moment?”
Seol-Hwi spoke politely to them.
Several elders were offering to talk, but the Earth Demon declined their attempts.
“This is a person who has completed a difficult feat. Wouldn’t there be plenty of time later for that?”
Due to the consideration the Earth Demon gave him, Seol-Hwi managed to get some alone time. And he naturally headed out—
To his place.
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