Chapter 277

Seonghyun, who was sweating coldly as he recognized the true nature of that technique, couldn't help but be extremely tense.

He had thought he only needed to be wary of the Forbiddens with their magic unleashed.

This was unexpected.

After dealing with the Forbiddens, he would meet them in the finals.

It didn't look easy.

Of course, he had noticed Gamu's strangeness even before that.

Because the atmosphere was strange?

That wasn't the reason.

“……Seonghyun, you saw it too, right?”

“……Yeah.”

“Gamu's soul is halfway out.”

At Helena's words, Seonghyun agreed.

Those who had been in a ghostly state before could see ghosts just like Seonghyun.

So Helena could see it too.

That Gamu's soul was halfway out.

Fiora and Silvanor also confirmed it and were sweating coldly.

Gamu's soul, halfway out.

And they could also see that something had entered the empty space.

“……”

As Seonghyun kept his mouth shut.

Helena spoke.

“That's one of the demon race's techniques.”

“The demon race?”

“Yeah, I told you before that devils and the demon race are different, right? The devils who live in hell aren't as evil as people think. On the contrary, the evil demons that people often think of are mostly from the demon race. Beings that make contracts with souls and corrupt them.”

At Helena's explanation, Seonghyun nodded his head.

Because he had heard it before.

But to think that was a technique of the demon race.

Does that mean they also handle souls like him?

He thought so.

But as if she had read Seonghyun's thoughts, Helena shook her head and answered.

“No, it's not like that.”

“Umm, really?”

“Yeah, I know because I've dealt with the demon race's techniques before.”

“……?”

Then isn't she a Demon King?

Seonghyun thought for a moment.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

As the sharp-witted Helena asked with her eyes raised.

Seonghyun just shook his head.

It was a little scary.

Anyway, as Seonghyun shook his head as if to say it was nothing.

Helena continued her explanation.

“It's a spell that controls someone by parasitizing their own mind in another's body…… I don't know who did it…… probably.”

“It must be someone very strong with a sword. And if they're related to the Rieskan Kingdom……”

“Yeah.”

As Helena also nodded in agreement.

Seonghyun continued.

“It must be the Sword Saint.”

He knew he was looked upon unfavorably.

But he never imagined he would go so far as to parasitize the mind of his own knight.

If he parasitized his original mind, could he bring his power along as well?

He thought not.

But if not, it was a level of strength that was hard to comprehend.

Helena explained to the uncomprehending Seonghyun.

“He can’t bring all of his original power, but he can bring some of it.”

“Some……”

In other words, that was just a part of it.

But even that part seemed difficult to handle.

If Seonghyun were told to shatter the Crystal of Cold and the Curtain of Frost like that, he could certainly do it.

But if he were told to do it by swinging his sword so lightly, it would be impossible.

It was a hardness that even Seonghyun would have to exert considerable force to break.

That alone allowed him to gauge the difference between the two.

But still, he couldn't give up.

He had to obtain the magic-infused weapons to acquire the conditions to obtain the Necromancer Lord.

“Hoo, I’ll have to think about how to win.”

“……It won’t be easy.”

It was the first time Helena had said something like this.

Seonghyun was also tense.

But he nodded his head as if it were okay.

In his honest heart, he was determined to do it somehow.

If he used his full power, perhaps?

With that thought, Seonghyun decided he would have to tell all his vassals to be prepared for the unexpected.

Seonghyun, fully prepared, watched Gamu descend into the stadium with sharp eyes.

To think the Sword Saint would personally intervene.

And.

‘To think they were involved with the demon race.’

That meant that the demon race might have been deeply involved in Helena's death.

He would have to ask Helena after the match.

1.

It was a match that seemed like it would go as expected.

But now, things were very different.

The appearance of the new catfish, Gamu, had completely overturned the game!

The majority of viewers were also excited.

From a spectator's point of view, there was nothing more boring than one side obviously winning.

- Wow, haha, I honestly thought the Demon King would win, lol.

- This changes the story, lmao.

- As expected, named NPCs are different;;;

- The Featherwing Knights are somewhat famous, but aren't they a bit lacking to be called named?

- Besides, he's not even the commander, right?

- He wasn't that strong until yesterday;;;

Some also raised questions.

It was indeed strange how different he was from yesterday.

But so what?

The majority were enjoying it.

Suspicious or not.

In any case, it was a fact that the special NPC was strong.

They just assumed that Gamu was one of those cases.

What was interesting was that they were now passionately debating who would fight that Gamu.

Although the majority predicted that Seonghyun would win.

Weren't there cases like Gamu's?

Therefore, a sense of anticipation began to bloom, wondering if the Forbiddens might actually defeat Seonghyun this time.

- LOL, I hope the Demon King loses this time.

- LOL, fr, I'm a fan of the Demon King, but honestly, it's a bit much if he just keeps winning.

- No, aside from that, the Forbiddens are strong too.

- LOL, it's a different story if the Forbiddens unseal their magic.

As the number of people cheering for the Forbiddens increased.

The Demon King's fans started to argue back.

- They're still saying this after seeing the alliance get wiped out in Apophis, LOL.

- Yeah, the Forbiddens are nothing. To beat the Demon King, you'd have to bring Gamu.

- LOL, they're talking like it's an even match with the Forbiddens, LOL.

- They're strong when fighting multiple opponents, but it's a different story with the Forbiddens who have that kind of breakthrough power.

- Yeah, what's so different, LOL.

Although there were quite a few who bet on the Forbiddens.

The majority still favored the Demon King, Seonghyun.

Considering his past achievements.

It was quite difficult to ignore them.

Especially, wasn't Seonghyun the one who got to Apophis faster than even the Single Rankers?

That's why the fans believed in him.

Although they liked the Demon King.

There were those who thought it was about time he fell, and they were predicting the Forbiddens' victory.

But unfortunately.

- Who do you think would win if Gamu and the Demon King fought???

- LOL, I really don't know about that one.

- Wouldn't Gamu win? I can't forget that overwhelming swordsmanship;;;

- Honestly, I agree with that too, LOL.

- The Forbiddens are honestly no match.

- I agree.

Even those who were cheering for the Forbiddens, saying 'you never know.'

In their honest hearts, there were far more people who wanted to see the showdown between Seonghyun and Gamu.

Should one say that the Forbiddens were not even in their consideration?

It was true that they were strong.

But had they shown the potential to take on Gamu and the Demon King, who had displayed such grandeur before?

Of course not.

The majority of people wanted to see the showdown between Gamu and Seonghyun.

While the story was flowing like that.

The matches progressed.

And the round of 32 was all finished.

As expected, Seonghyun and the Forbiddens advanced to the round of 16.

The two were pitted against each other.

And the round of 16 team that was matched against the Featherwing Knights forfeited.

So it proceeded quickly.

Finally, the long-awaited Round of 16 match between Seonghyun's team and the Forbiddens team was just around the corner.

Hwoooong.

The waiting room was filled with a murderous aura.

The Forbiddens rose from their chairs as if they had finished their preparations.

A menacing aura arose as if all preparations were complete.

The aura, which gradually darkened as if turning into black smoke, gradually took on the form of magic.

Their leader, Zaya, stepped forward and spoke.

“Unleash all magic.”

“Of course, leader.”

“Naturally, captain.”

“I’ll cover you from behind, boss.”

There were no playful smiles as usual.

All four of them had a resolute determination.

They didn't even think about Gamu.

It wasn't that they were unaware of public opinion, but the current Forbiddens had no time to worry about such things.

Their biggest mountain right now was Seonghyun.

They entered the stadium with only the thought of defeating him.

And the stadium appeared with a bright light.

As Zaya took the lead and stepped onto the brightly lit stadium.

A sound was heard from somewhere.

Clack, clack, clack.

The sound of something walking.

That sound, like the clacking of dress shoes, felt like a heartbeat to Zaya and the Forbiddens.

Along with the sound of slow footsteps.

Someone appeared from the entrance of the waiting room opposite where the Forbiddens had come out.

Wearing a crown of black crystal and a mask of ink-black, if one were to shape pitch blackness into a person, would it look like that?

It even gave the illusion that pitch blackness itself was walking.

As the king of all darkness manifested in the world and stepped onto the brightly lit stadium.

It even gave the illusion that the stadium, which had been bright until just a moment ago, was turning dark.

The Forbiddens frowned as they looked at him.

A formidable enemy, indeed.

But they too unleashed their magic and brought out their full power.

But why?

“……He’s not even looking at us.”

“……Tsk.”

“……Ha.”

Keron, as well as Beltaine and Ired, looked at Seonghyun's side as if they were dumbfounded.

The Demon King's team.

They were naturally looking at the Forbiddens.

But they gave the illusion that they were looking past them, at someone else.

Of course, the Forbiddens were not unaware.

Gamu.

It was impossible not to be concerned after seeing that overwhelming match.

But to the Forbiddens, the mountain that was even closer than Gamu was the Demon King, Seonghyun.

They hadn't taken it into account.

But did the Demon King not even see them as a mountain?

Their pride couldn't help but be hurt.

But their leader, Zaya, spoke calmly.

"Don't be swayed. Right now, we are the challengers."

She didn't bother to express themselves as the weak.

Challengers.

Like those who climb to conquer a mountain.

To conquer that great mountain.

They faced it with the attitude of a challenger.

At Zaya's words, her comrades also nodded with fierce eyes.

Exuding magic, they reached a point just before fighting, facing Seonghyun. Seonghyun also looked at them, feeling they were a formidable opponent, and nodded.

"Now you're looking this way."

At Zaya's words, her comrades smiled.

And Seonghyun prepared himself.

Purple flames and black darkness surged in both his hands.

And around him, his vassals were also preparing.

Helena held her black parasol with a casual smile, while Fiora was transforming her appearance with a gruesome sound.

Also, the elf swordsman Silvanor drew his sword and took a stance like a charging knight, ready to shoot out at any moment.

Even Seonghyun alone exuded an aura that was difficult to handle.

But the Forbiddens didn't care.

They too drew out all their magic to their fullest potential.

The special effects of magic.

They were thinking of fighting while utilizing them.

As the two sides faced off.

The broadcast spirit's shout was heard.

[The match begins!!!]