963

Under the night sky with clouds covering the moon, monsters are rampaging.

Dream demons with mixed appearances of various animals like elephants, pigs, hippos, and dogs were entering people's dreams and plunging them into nightmares.

Monsters reminiscent of bats were spreading special ultrasonic waves, causing confusion in people's mana detection abilities.

Monsters resembling monkeys and eagles were attacking people with their quick mobility.

Also, werewolf-type monsters were lurking in the darkness, waiting for opportunities to ambush.

'And there are also crustacean monsters coming up from the sea...'

People who woke up in the middle of the night had to face all of these creatures.

Whoosh! Boom boom! Whoosh!

People kept setting off flares in the night sky to illuminate the darkness.

Flares were rising from other places too.

Not only the Korean conquest team but other conquest teams were also being attacked by monsters.

'Fortunately, everyone's awake. If we had been caught unaware, it would have been a real disaster.'

Before the regression, the conquest team that entered the 2nd floor suffered a big blow from a monster night raid while unable to deal with dream demons.

Eun-ha clicked his tongue while dealing with the monsters.

On the other hand, he instructed the conquest team.

"Prioritize killing the dream demons!"

If they let the dream demons they had managed to draw out into the real world escape now, it would leave trouble for later.

The conquest team, agreeing with Eun-ha's judgment, focused on subjugating them as much as possible.

At this time, Iriya and the supporters, who had an advantage in compatibility, played a big role.

'Next, we need to take down...'

Eun-ha looked up at the night sky.

Bat-like monsters and various types of flying monsters were flying around the night sky, looking for opportunities.

As a result, the burden on the conquest team inevitably increased even more.

Of course, people skilled in aerial combat and those capable of interception from the ground were dealing with them, but...

Whoosh! Boom boom!

Screech!

Unfortunately, the results weren't satisfactory.

The creatures were not only very quick but also acted quite intelligently.

People focusing on aerial combat, like Bae Su-bin riding a broom or Jo A-ra who had transformed La-ra into a fairy transformation and was wearing a dress with rose petals fluttering, fighting against the creatures, were struggling.

Rustle! Rustle rustle!

Growl!

People like Bong Gu-rae or Son Ga-yeon supporting the aerial combat from the ground were in the same situation.

They were frequently interrupted by werewolf-type monsters attacking stealthily while cloaked in darkness.

They couldn't properly demonstrate their skills.

So.

'I'll leave the dream demons to Iriya and the others, and I need to support the aerial combat.'

Having made his decision, Eun-ha immediately tried to transform the Phoenix cloak on his shoulders into wings.

It was then that Kaede caught his eye at the edge of his vision.

Swoosh! Whoosh!

Hoshimiya Kaede, taking steps as if dancing, her long hair fluttering.

She was dealing with monsters rushing at her with almost miraculous rapid-fire, supporting the aerial combat.

Eun-ha spotted a werewolf-type monster approaching her.

<Wubo >

It was too late to shout a warning, and it might even cause Kaede to make a mistake.

So Eun-ha kicked off the ground, instantly closing the distance with Wubo and moved behind her.

Almost simultaneously, the werewolf-type monster dropped its stealth and lunged at her.

Growl!

"...What!?"

Whoosh!

"...!"

He wrapped one arm around Kaede and pulled her back.

Naturally, she couldn't help but be startled as she entered Eun-ha's embrace.

For a very brief moment, she reflexively tilted her head back to look up at Eun-ha, her eyes wide open.

"It's okay, stay still."

"..."

To reassure Kaede.

Eun-ha spoke in a low voice above her head.

Meanwhile, he kept his eyes on the monster.

For Eun-ha, having embraced her, it was too late to respond to the creature's attack.

But he wasn't worried.

'You think you're the only one who can handle darkness?'

Having absorbed Baek Seo-jin's myth earlier, Eun-ha could now freely manipulate darkness.

Conveniently, it was pitch black around.

Eun-ha, manifesting his internal mana, easily called forth darkness and enveloped himself and Kaede.

Growl!?

As a result, the monster's attack was deflected by the darkness that had transformed into a solid material.

Eun-ha didn't stop there.

'Now it's my turn.'

Switching from defense to offense.

Eun-ha transformed the darkness surrounding them into sharp needles, piercing the monster.

Yelp!

The creature, stabbed in the chest without a chance to resist, died on the spot.

Eun-ha, not even paying attention to the creature disappearing into particles, checked on Kaede in his arms.

"Are you okay? Be careful."

"Uh..."

Hoshimiya Kaede, deliberately avoiding Eun-ha's gaze, hung her head low.

She replied in a trembling voice.

And she stammered.

"Um... Th-Tha..."

"Tha?"

"Tha..."

Kaede keeps getting embarrassed.

Eun-ha, noticing her intention to express gratitude to him, waited with a mischievous face.

Finally, with the tips of her ears turning red, she turned her body abruptly.

"Arigatou..."

She said thank you in Japanese.

Eun-ha couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"You can just say it in Korean, why are you speaking Japanese?"

"Sh-Shut up. It's my heart..."

* * *

As a result of the conquest team fighting hard, the situation was gradually being sorted out.

Eun-ha, who had been taking down flying monsters, assessed the battle situation from the air.

'I can leave the rest to Ara and Su-bin, right?'

Now he decided to help with the ground battle.

Eun-ha, circling the night sky once and descending, landed on the ground with his wings of fire spread.

Then he joined the people engaged in ground combat.

Kiki kiki kik! Kiki... ik?

"What's the point of pushing with numbers? You're no match."

He cuts down the monkey-type monsters that were rushing in, relying on their numerical strength.

Eun-ha, who easily dealt with them, lightly swung the Honghwa Sword to shake off the blood on the blade.

The monsters' characteristic blue blood splattered around.

"...Huh?"

It was then that he felt a presence.

Eun-ha turned his gaze towards the forest where darkness was thick.

Rustle rustle! Crack! Rustle!

"..."

Multiple presences with clear killing intent were rushing towards the conquest team.

'This movement...'

It didn't seem to be monsters.

Which means...

Just then.

"Woooaaaaaaah!"

[Eun-ha! It's a message from Player Ezekiel, the representative of the American conquest team!]

People from other countries' conquest teams jumped out of the forest, shouting battle cries.

At the same time, Jin Seo-na's urgent voice was transmitted through telepathy.

[People who have been brainwashed by dream demons are fleeing to our camp! He's asking if we can treat them humanely if possible, sorry!]

Only then could Eun-ha understand the identity of the people who had suddenly appeared.

They were players from the American conquest team who had fallen victim to the dream demons' brainwashing.

'No choice!'

Eun-ha, clicking his tongue hard, immediately instructed the Korean conquest team.

"These are people from the American conquest team! They're not in their right mind due to brainwashing, so subdue them with utmost caution!"

Subduing people from the American conquest team was undoubtedly a more tricky task than taking down monsters.

The Korean conquest team members all frowned deeply.

Nevertheless, following the instructions, they set out to subdue the Americans who were swinging their weapons without hesitation.

"I'll take care of this person!"

"Ah, understood! Be careful!"

Of course, Eun-ha joined in too.

Concerned about damage to the Korean conquest team, Eun-ha mainly took on opponents who were difficult to subdue.

The current opponent, a man wielding a greatsword, was no exception.

"Monster..."

The man growled lowly.

His bloodshot eyes, with veins popping out, were full of killing intent, and his voice was tinged with hatred.

Eun-ha, who had suddenly become the object of hatred, snorted.

"Calling a person a monster... You've completely lost your mind."

Judging from how he had been swinging his greatsword and threatening people earlier, he's quite skilled.

It would be dangerous to leave him be.

I need to knock him out quickly.

Eun-ha entered combat to subdue the man.

"Fuuuccckkk!"

"Don't swear."

The man showed a reckless side as he tried to kill Eun-ha.

But the greatsword swung by the man didn't even graze Eun-ha's clothes, repeatedly blocked by the Honghwa Sword and Twilight Sword.

Rather, unable to withstand Eun-ha's strength, he was pushed back or had to give up his stance.

And then...

'What's this? This person...'

The more he fought, the stronger he was becoming.

Eun-ha couldn't help but be inwardly surprised.

His eyes widened.

'It's not just my imagination.'

The man was continuously getting stronger even at this very moment.

He was growing based on his battle with Eun-ha.

'No, this is...'

He's learning.

That expression would be more accurate.

When that thought crossed his mind, Eun-ha realized.

'No doubt about it. It must be <Berserk >.'

The gift <Berserk >.

More precisely, <Endless (Berserk)>.

A gift that, once activated, prevents maintaining sanity until losing consciousness, but in exchange, increases learning ability proportional to mana consumption and activation time.

It was also the gift that symbolized Noh Eun-ha before the regression, known by the alias <Berserker >.

The man, caught by that gift, was expressing hostility towards everything in his sight.

'Come to think of it, there was someone in America with the same gift as me.'

How could the pre-regression Eun-ha have defined his gift as <Berserk >?

It was because there was a player in America with the same gift.

That man was right in front of him now.

'His name was probably...'

Blake Parker.

Eun-ha, recalling the man's name from his now faint memories, created distance for the first time.

He had to change his tactics to counter <Berserk >.

'I didn't expect him to participate in the conquest... This didn't happen before the regression. Did a butterfly effect occur? Wait, but if he has the same gift as me, he shouldn't have been brainwashed... Did he lose his sanity purely because of the <Berserk > gift rather than being brainwashed?'

But it doesn't matter either way.

He dismisses idle thoughts.

'I could end this in an instant, but that would be a shame. It's a learning opportunity.'

Eun-ha lowered his stance, taking a posture ready to charge at any moment.

"Monster... Monsteeerrr! I'm gonna kill them all!"

Meanwhile, Blake, engulfed in madness, was heading straight for Eun-ha without any hesitation.

Eun-ha raised the corners of his mouth.

"I keep telling you, I'm not a monster."

While calmly regulating his breathing, he manifests his internal mana.

He recalls the past that can never be returned, the memories from before the regression, chewing on anger, hatred, and regret.

'For <Berserk >...'

He turns that into an ember that burns his heart and soul.

He forcibly awakens the gift that's in a dormant state, unable to meet the activation conditions.

"<Berserk >."

Eun-ha activated the gift.

<Gift: Endless (Berserk)>

His heart starts beating rapidly.

His blood boils, and strength overflows throughout his body.

His vision turns red and narrows.

However.

"Don't get cocky."

He didn't lose consciousness.

Eun-ha immediately took a step and charged at Blake.

They collide.

───!!

The two swords and the greatsword clash, spreading metallic sounds.

They leave fast and dazzling trajectories, slow and heavy trajectories in the air.

Sound and light constantly reveal their presence.

And gradually...

"Damn it!"

The gap widens.

At some point, Blake Parker couldn't keep up with Eun-ha's speed.

He couldn't gain the upper hand in strength either.

The sword he swung recklessly was deflected by Eun-ha's swords so easily it was almost laughable.

Eventually, he even momentarily lost his balance and staggered.

Eun-ha didn't miss that moment.

'Now!'

He steps forward with his front foot, diving into Blake's space.

During that time, Blake instinctively moved the greatsword in his right hand.

Eun-ha raised the Twilight Sword in his left hand, preparing for the attack falling from above...

Whoosh!

He swung up the pommel of the Honghwa Sword, which he had been holding reversed in his right hand.

He struck Blake's chin with it, delivering a shock to his skull.

"...Kuhek!"

Blake stumbled.

He completely loses balance and collapses.

No, he faints.

"Thanks to you, I learned well. Thank you."

In a somewhat playful tone.

Eun-ha spoke to Blake who had fallen flat on the ground.