Chapter 256

A crown made of black crystal appeared after defeating the fragment of the corrupted As.

For a moment, Seonghyun couldn't understand.

When you defeat a raid boss, the item is supposed to appear as a reward.

Moreover, they were in the middle of a massive event right now.

Until Apophis was completely defeated, it should have appeared as a contribution score.

Why did something like this suddenly appear?

As he was wondering.

A phrase appeared that would resolve his question.

[You have defeated the Hidden Raid Boss, 『Corrupted Serpent of Salvation, Fragment of As』, the guardian of the Hidden Stage, 『Heart of Apophis』.]

[You have cleared the Hidden Stage, 『Heart of Apophis』.]

[Level 200 player 『Seonghyun』 has acquired all contribution points.]

[Bosses related to Apophis in the massive world event 『Temple of Apophis』 will be weakened.]

[Clear rewards are included in the event rewards.]

[A drop item has been generated for defeating the Hidden Raid Boss, 『Corrupted Serpent of Salvation, Fragment of As』.]

[Drop items are separate from reward items.]

[You have acquired the drop item, 『Crown of Obsidian Twilight』.]

[A new set item has been added to the Remnants of the Great Black Mage set.]

He ignored the messages about the rewards being integrated into the event rewards and that the Apophis-related bosses would be weakened, focusing on the last line.

Added to the Remnants of the Great Black Mage set?

'Crown of Obsidian Twilight?'

He had a feeling it looked good at first glance.

Is this also part of Helena's set?

With that thought, Seonghyun examined its effects.

He immediately checked the item's effects.

『Crown of Obsidian Twilight』

→《Almighty》

→A crown of twilight created from obsidian as black as jet by a great, unidentified black mage upon realizing twilight.

→At the end of the night that has swallowed all light, only one sovereign is worthy of wearing this crown.

→Overlord exclusive item.

→-30% cooldown for all black magic skills.

→+100% control over all undead.

→Skill, Twilight, can be used.

→When using the skill, Twilight, it sacrifices an undead to restore mana and health.

→The item grows on its own under specific conditions.

『Remnants of the Great Black Mage Set (5/8)』

→+20% black magic skill power.

→+20% damage.

→+10% mana regeneration.

→-20% cooldown for black magic skills.

→+30% black magic skill power.

→[Locked]

→[Locked]

→[Locked]

'Th-this is...'

Even the usually calm Seonghyun was at a loss for words.

It seemed like the first time he had seen such an option, even among Almighty-rank items.

Effects that would make his sister Yuna question what kind of crazy item it was if she saw it.

And on top of that, it wasn't the end, there was potential for future growth?

He thought the awakening of other monarch-type skills was the reward.

They're giving an item like this too?

'Haah.'

Just how much was Over Palace giving away?

They seemed happy to be able to give something proper this time.

It was truly immense.

After swallowing hard while looking at it, Seonghyun wore the crown.

The crown suited his other items quite well, and Seonghyun scratched his cheek.

'I really look like a Demon King now.'

It was already a bit embarrassing that people called him the Demon King.

In this state, wouldn't it be like admitting it?

It was a little shameful, but.

The effects are good.

Besides.

'It kind of looks cool, doesn't it?'

The crown made of black crystal, obsidian, was certainly quite cool.

With that thought, Seonghyun lightly scratched his head and stood up.

As he was wondering where to go next, wasn't there something left?

-Ssssk?

Seonghyun smiled faintly and extended his hand toward the small, pure white snake still lingering near the fallen fragment of Ass.

The creature's memories flowed into Seonghyun like a panorama.

Apophis and Ass.

The two were a pair of snakes, clones of each other, siblings, and also a single being.

However, Apophis was called a calamity, and Ass was called salvation.

Though they were born at the same time in the same place.

They were called by different names.

Ass, true to her title as the snake of salvation, tried to save Apophis as well.

But Apophis, on the contrary, devoured Ass and rebelled against the gods.

The story went that as a result, they were thoroughly defeated, and the snakes fell into ruin.

Reading that memory, Seonghyun collected Ass's soul.

'I didn't expect to get a soul like this here.'

At the same time, he put the remaining fragment of Ass's corpse into the Netherworld, and likewise took Ass's soul for himself.

Just like when he first entered this place, the surrounding vision slowly blurred and wrapped around Seonghyun, and Seonghyun naturally accepted it and was sucked into it.

8.

The Path of the Corrupted Heart has opened

The users who were in different locations moved quickly as soon as they saw it.

Everyone knew they couldn't beat the level 200 Seonghyun anyway.

But not being able to win and not being able to do anything were different things.

At this rate, they would lose the Corrupted Heart as well.

Everyone ran desperately.

Along the way, they saw traces of a tremendous battle.

They tried to ignore it.

No matter how much of a Demon King he was, he probably couldn't clear the Corrupted Heart alone.

They ran, believing that.

Among them, those who could be called the fastest front-runners.

"Almost there!!!"

"It's the Corrupted Heart!!!"

"I see it...!!!"

They ran with those words.

But by the time they arrived, a message appeared before everyone's eyes.

[The 『Corrupted Heart』 has been destroyed.]

[『Seonghyun』 of the 200 level range has acquired all contribution points.]

[The Hidden Stage, 『Apophis's Heart』 has been cleared!]

[『Seonghyun』 of the 200 level range has acquired all contribution points.]

"...?"

"...Wh-what is this...?"

"A h-hidden stage? There was something like that!?"

"N-no, more importantly... wh-what in the world happened here..."

Fragments of the Corrupted Heart were scattered everywhere, and the carcass of a giant black snake was torn to shreds, strewn about the area.

A scene of battle that could be called gruesome.

In this place, where it was hard to even imagine what had happened, stood two women.

No, to be precise, one woman and a girl who still looked young.

A red-haired woman in a black dress, calmly holding a parasol without a single drop of blood on her or even breaking a sweat in this chaotic place, and in contrast, a girl who looked like a slime that contained the universe, caked in blood from the Corrupted Heart.

Watching the two, the users swallowed hard.

But the Demon King was nowhere to be seen.

That meant.

"...D-did they clear the main stage with just two followers...?"

"A-and the main person went to the hidden stage?"

"...Crazy..."

On a different level.

Those words came to mind naturally.

Weren't they also members of ranking guilds?

Some of them were even called rookies or rising stars.

People who would soon join the first team and become rankers.

And yet, they were slower than the Demon King's followers.

No, if those two were to attack, could the users here even hold out?

They trembled at the thought.

We're so different.

The difference isn't just in skill.

Just as the users were filled with amazement and their respect for Seonghyun was growing.

The red-haired woman.

Helena smiled elegantly at them and said.

"Hmm, then we'll be on our way."

-We-we'll be going now.

At Helena's words, Fiora also shyly said her goodbyes and disappeared with Helena.

The users, left behind at the already destroyed Corrupted Heart, could only stare blankly at the spot where they had vanished.

9.

During the height of the event, the level 350 event was being handled by a single user.

A user facing the giant black snake all alone.

Kwaaaaaa———!!!

It seemed impossible to take down the building-sized creature alone.

She had exhausted too many skills against the single rankers, making it even more difficult.

None other than Yuna, ranked 9th, no, now ranked 5th, was battling the massive black snake alone.

The soulless body of Apophis.

Perhaps because it had lost its soul, the battle pattern itself was nothing special, but.

'Am I going to die?'

Due to its sheer size, a simple swing of its tail was close to an instant-kill move.

The situation was so bleak it felt like she would lose if things continued this way.

She was somehow holding on, attacking with her remaining skills.

Even so, she had managed to inflict quite a few wounds on it.

But she still felt overwhelmed.

Then, the moment Seonghyun cleared the hidden stage.

Suddenly, the creature started to scream.

-Kueeeeeeek!!!

"???"

The creature writhed in agony, as if it had suffered immense pain, vomiting blood.

Sure enough.

[All internal organs have been destroyed.]

[『Seonghyun』 of the 200 level range has acquired the contribution points.]

[World Boss, 『Soulless Body of Apophis』 has been greatly weakened.]

He's amazing, anyway.

He even knows how to help his older sister.

"Aigoo, what a good boy."

Yuna said, gripping her sword.

‘This makes it manageable.’

At the same time, she unleashed all the power she had been saving up and rushed toward the creature.

This is enough.

'I should get him a present later.'

Yuna grinned and moved to slice the creature apart. This text is hosted at NoveI~Fire.net

10.

While they were in despair.

Helena and Fiora were using teleportation to escape to another location.

The reason they were moving?

It was simple.

"Seonghyun just arrived."

-A-as expected of the Lord!

They had sensed Seonghyun's return and started moving.

As they moved quickly.

Seonghyun appeared near the entrance of the Corrupted Heart, and at that moment.

Seonghyun, emitting a dark aura and displaying the dignity of a king.

Helena and Fiora felt it at the same time.

He's gotten stronger!

The two shouted towards Seonghyun, who had further solidified his qualities as a monarch.

"Seonghyun!"

-L-Lord!

Seonghyun, wearing the Crown of Obsidian Twilight, turned his head.

Only then did he see the two and smile.

And in front of Seonghyun.

-Mutter mutter.

-My Lord!

-Ooh! The Lord is truly amazing!

"Ah, you have become even stronger."

"Congratulations."

-Pieeeeee!

-Kkaeeeee!

-Congratulationseu!

The followers also gathered one by one to congratulate Seonghyun.

As Seonghyun nodded, seeing his followers after a long time.

Another message appeared before Seonghyun's eyes.

[The 『Body of Apophis』 is being executed.]

[『Yuna』 of the 350 level range has acquired all contribution points.]

[The event will end when all missions in other level ranges are completed.]

[All missions in the 200 level range have been completed.]

[All users in the 200 level range are being moved to the waiting room.]

[Calculating contribution points.]

[This is the contribution ranking for the 200 level range.]

[Contribution Ranking]

[1st Place Team 『Seonghyun』]

[2nd Place Team 『Seonghyun's Backup Team』]

[3rd Place Team 『Rapid Guild』]

......(omitted)

[Calculating rewards.]

[Please wait a moment.]

Seonghyun, an individual, was recognized as a team for 1st place.

2nd place was Seonghyun's backup team.

And 3rd place was Rapid Guild.

In other words, it was a victory for Rapid Guild, which had secured all the top ranks.

Seonghyun smiled faintly as he saw it.

He wondered what the rewards would be.