2.

    Dune Wild Trail.

    Although it was always a busy area, this time it was so crowded it defied description.

    Was this what a sea of people looked like?

    The mass surged forward like waves.

    The wilderness, filled with countless people, bustled as everyone gathered in groups according to shared interests.

    Some were organized by guilds, others by parties, while some shouted out desperately to recruit new companions.

    The scene resembled a chaotic marketplace, yet no one found it surprising.

    Dune Wild Trail had always been known for its lively atmosphere.

    Players who had made it this far were no longer beginners.

    For them, such a lively commotion was practically a daily occurrence.

    “There are so many people.”

    Seong was also amazed.

    It was fascinating to see so many people united for a single purpose, forming an enormous collective.

    This was the first time he had seen such a large-scale gathering since starting this game.

    It gave him a strange feeling.

    To think that all these people were here to participate in a massive event.

    Once again, he opened his main quest log, reviewing what he had seen yesterday.

    『Doom Knight’s Invasion』

    →《Main Quest》

    →『Overlord』 Main Quest

    After the death of the Overlord, many of her subordinates were consumed by grief.

    Her disciple gathered the loyal ones to form Overpalace, but not all followed.

    Some fled, some succumbed to sorrow and left the world, and some were driven mad by grief.

    The Doom Knight was one of the latter.

    A being driven mad by sorrow, losing himself entirely.

    In his despair, he set out to conquer vast regions.

    Dune Wild Trail was one of them.

    The Doom Knight, an undead, ravaged the area, leaving nothing but rocks, creating this vast wasteland.

    Even after burning and destroying every village and city in his path, his sorrow did not subside.

    When there was nothing left to destroy, he destroyed his own soul and fell into slumber with his army.

    But after a long time, he awoke, sensing the power of an old comrade nearby—the dark fortress, Noctrynnium.

    When he realized that life had returned to this land, his sorrow awoke again.

    Now, with what remains of his army, the Doom Knight has reappeared in Dune Wild Trail.

    However, his shattered soul has left him mindless and weakened.

    Subdue the weakened Doom Knight, put him to rest, and take him under your command.

    → Overlord-exclusive main quest.

    → Rewards: Overlord-exclusive skill, 『Knights of Ruin』. Doom Knight’s remnants can be appointed as an additional commander of the Legion of Death.

    → Failure: Loss of main quest, Doom Knight disappears, loss of Overlord-exclusive skill 『Knights of Ruin』.

    “It’s just as incredible as before.”

    Although Seong had a different goal than the others, he still needed to act alongside them for now.

    Looking around, he noticed something.

    Among the bustling crowd, several guilds had set up their own camps at what could be considered the front lines.

    Flags bearing the emblems of each guild were erected in various places, fluttering majestically in the western wind, proudly displaying their crests.

    One emblem in particular caught Seong’s eye.

    “Isn’t that the Sick Brothers?”

    It was one of the few guild emblems he recognized besides the Rapid Guild.

    He remembered it because they had once tried to scout him.

    Seeing it here brought back a strange sense of familiarity.

    He didn’t plan to approach them, but spotting something familiar always stirred a bit of nostalgia.

    Seong shifted his gaze.

    “The Rapid Guild isn’t participating in this event, right?”

    Though the guild prided itself on being small and elite, it wasn’t for lack of resources.

    The reason they chose not to participate was simple:

    No one other than Seong could take part.

    “Luna isn’t high enough level yet, is she?”

    It couldn’t be helped.

    Even the highest-level member of their rookie team, Luna, was only in the 70s.

    When Seong met them a few days ago, they had been in the 60s, so their progress was impressive.

    But Seong’s monstrous speed made it impossible to close the gap.

    Thus, the Rapid Guild decided not to dispatch anyone, with Seong’s permission.

    “Yujin noona really has it tough.”

    Recalling the heated argument between Yu Mina and Yujin during a call made his head throb.

    Anyway, that was why the Rapid Guild didn’t send anyone.

    However, they fully supported Seong in what lay ahead.

    During their recent call, Seong had even managed to negotiate additional terms:

    Increased contract bonuses, a salary raise, and most notably, a higher share of streaming ticket revenue—raised from 10% to 30%.

    This was an unprecedented deal for a rookie like Seong, one step below the terms offered to Yu Mina, a current single ranker.

    It showed just how much the Rapid Guild valued him.

    Thinking of how the large event would unfold, Seong smiled inwardly.

    “For now, I’ll just stay in the background.”

    If he got too entangled with other guilds, it might interfere with what he and the Rapid Guild had planned.

    Just as Seong began to blend into the crowd, someone approached him.

    “Hey there, mister. You don’t have a guild?”

    Eclipse Order (Rank 4).Tempest Wing (Rank 8).Sick Brothers (Rank 12).Junhyuk of the Korean branch of Sick Brothers, the guild’s pride.Kurosawa Ren of Tempest Wing.Mayrin of Eclipse Order.

    Mayrin interrupted again, defusing the tension.

    The energy of Kurosawa Ren and Junhyuk visibly deflated.

    Among the three, Mayrin was undeniably the strongest.

    While Kurosawa Ren and Junhyuk aspired to take second place, they had no illusions about defeating her.

    The gap in their abilities was overwhelming.

    When someone that strong spoke so casually, it was hard not to feel disheartened.

    “Anyway, the Rapid Guild hasn’t even declared participation, so...”

    “They’re definitely not coming.”

    “Wahaha! That’s such a shame, but oh well! Let’s have fun amongst ourselves!”

    “...Haa.”

    “Anyway, there are ten minutes left before the event starts?”

    “It’s almost time! Let’s prepare and meet again soon! Fair competition, everyone! Let’s do our best!”

    With her infectious energy, Mayrin left first, leaving Kurosawa Ren and Junhyuk drained.

    They soon returned to their respective guilds.

    As the event approached, time seemed to fly.

    Ten minutes passed in an instant, and then the system message appeared.

    [A large-scale event quest has been generated!]

    『Legion of Calamity』

    →《Large-scale Event》

    The Legion of Calamity has awakened from its long slumber.

    They despise and loathe all living creatures.

    Defeating members of the Legion of Calamity will increase your achievement points.

    Achievement rankings can be viewed in real-time by looking up at the sky from anywhere in Dune Wild Trail.

    Stop the endless waves of the Legion and restore peace to Dune Wild Trail.

    → Rewards: Experience gained from defeating the Legion, tiered rewards based on achievement points:

    1st Place: Three Legendary-grade rewards.2nd Place: Three Unique-grade rewards.3rd Place: Two Unique-grade rewards.

    The event had officially begun.

    From the horizon of Dune Wild Trail, something shimmered like a mirage.

    Was it the heat haze trembling?

    No.

    “Gwoooaaarrr!”

    “Kiiiieeek!”

    “Kyaaaah!”

    Countless undead surged forth.

    Some were rotting, others completely skeletal, and some were mere floating spirits with no physical form.

    These unholy creatures were revived and swarmed forward.

    Their numbers were so overwhelming that they resembled a tidal wave of disaster.

    Even with so many players gathered, the sheer scale of the Legion of Calamity left everyone frozen in fear.

    Then, something rose into the sky.

    Blocking out the bright sun, a dark sun ignited, plunging the entire area into shadow.

    The dark flames consumed everything, burning hungrily and engulfing the world in a fiery abyss.

    A suffocating sulfuric smell mixed with the scent of burning ash as the black sun bathed everything in darkness.

    Was it meant to empower the unholy creatures?

    Just as despair took hold of the gathered players, the ground turned black, and countless spikes rained down from the heavens.

    Pshk! Pshhk! Pshk!

    The spikes didn’t target the players.

    Instead, they pierced the Legion of Calamity, eradicating them.

    It wasn’t over yet.

    The spikes writhed, absorbing the darkness around them and drawing nutrients from the Legion.

    The spikes became stems, sprouting thorns that spread in all directions.

    A sweet, deadly fragrance filled the air as black flowers blossomed.

    The intoxicating aroma drew the Legion in, the creatures helplessly approaching the alluring flowers.

    The flowers, motherly yet sinister, ensnared everything in their grasp, their petals consuming all that came near.

    Krrraaaaack!

    The sound of sharp, biting destruction echoed as the black spikes halted the Legion’s advance.

    From the blackened sky, a figure descended.

    Clad in a dark robe and a jet-black mask, the person exuded an overwhelming presence.

    “W-What the hell?!”

    “M-Masaka...!”

    “Uwaaah!”

    Junhyuk of Sick Brothers stood frozen in shock, Kurosawa Ren stared in disbelief, and Mayrin’s eyes sparkled with excitement as if she had been waiting for this moment.

    Only one person could make such an entrance at this moment.

    The Demon King.

    Everyone thought his level had been too low to participate.

    But they were wrong.

    Either his progress had been absurdly rapid, or their initial assessment had been way off.

    While the three top guild leaders understood immediately, the rest were left bewildered.

    Who was this?

    Countless eyes turned to the figure.

    Could it be the Demon King?

    But wasn’t it too soon for him to have reached this point?

    No one could be sure.

    Suddenly, a notification popped up.

    [Rapid Guild Live Broadcast Alert]

    [Legion of Calamity VS Demon King]

    The notification confirmed the identity of the figure.

    It was Seong.