Chapter 146

Slash!

"Keyuk?!"

Swish!

"Aghh!"

In an instant, red lines were drawn across the throats of the nearby villains, one after another. Blood gushed from their cut open necks.

"...It's a stealth skill!"

"Uwaaaah! He's alive!"

Slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash!

Under the exploding fountains of blood, the invisible assassin's daggers began to mercilessly slaughter the villains.

"B-but! His corpse is clearly over there...!"

The villains, who had been triumphant just moments ago after killing Kang Taeshik, were terrified, gawking at his lifeless body on the ground. But even in that fleeting moment.

"Ack!"

Someone's neck was severed.

"Aaack!"

Someone's leg was cut off.

"H-help!" 

There was a crazed assassin chasing after those who turned to flee, letting out a silent laughter. The stealth skill Kang Taeshik possessed in life remained intact even after he became a Shadow Soldier.

"There he is!" 

Whoosh! Boom!

At that moment. The magic-type villain who had set Kang Taeshik on fire earlier gritted his teeth and conjured another massive fireball.

"You useless bunch! Panicking over a single assassin!" He confidently ignited a massive flame in his hands.

"He'll die with just one hit!"

This wasn't an exaggeration or a bluff. Assassins were known for their powerful and precise attacks, but their weak defense was a major disadvantage. They didn't even wear armor, claiming it hindered their agility. That's why they were mediocre fighters who could only show their true potential when hiding behind sturdy tankers.

But what about magic-types? First of all, they didn't need to engage in hand to hand combat like assassins, so they could wear heavy and durable armor for protection. And no matter how many monsters swarmed them. Or even if an invisible enemy appeared, like now, they could just unleash wide-area magic attacks!

"Get out of the way, you idiots!"

"Move!" At the warning from behind, the villains scattered in all directions.

Whoosh!

But even as they fled, the invisible assassin continued to claim their lives. Suddenly a massive fireball flew towards the last victim and exploded covering the entire area in flames.

Kaboom!

At that moment, Kang Taeshik, now a Shadow Assassin, was inevitably caught in the explosion. But the emotion he felt as his body melted away in the intense heat wasn't fear or pain

[... Hahahaha.]

It was an overwhelming admiration and gratitude for Suho, who had taken him in as a Shadow Soldier. And at the same time he realized:

[So this is what it means to be a shadow.] He understood the true value of the power bestowed upon him.

Life and death. The one who controls the life and death of the enemy at the boundary between light and darkness. That was the essence of an assassin.

[Truly, this power is most suited for an assassin.]

He suddenly recalled the gaze of the man who had given him his first death long ago. He remembered the movements of that man, who carried the deepest shadow within him. Imitating that man's movements, Kang Taeshik gripped his two daggers in reverse and his eyes gleamed, ready for slaughter.

Whoosh!

A new power flowed into his melting flesh. The black energy that formed him instantly recombined his body back into shape. He darted forward like a demon and stepped on the foot of the magic-type villain who had dealt him his second death.

Crack!

"Aaack!" The villain was startled by the sudden pain in his foot and tried to retreat hastily.

[Too late.]

Slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash!

"...!"

He mercilessly slashed at his momentarily immobilized victim.

Faster.

Faster and faster!

Even faster.

Countless lines were carved into the villain's body. And a horrific scream erupted from his mouth. A cruel yet beautiful spray of blood bloomed. Beneath it, the silhouette of a ruthless assassin, drenched in blood, was revealed. His eyes and mouth were curved into a wide smile.

[Struggle all you want. From now on, I am invincible.]

B-rank assassin, Kang Taeshik. The moment he became a Shadow Soldier. He had become the ultimate reaper, free from the assassin's sole weakness.

'...He's like Que.' Suho inwardly compared him to the Shadow Lancer, Que, as he watched him fight.

Lee Minsung, the A-rank villain. He had been modified by the Queen Bee, losing all his skills but gaining immense piercing power and speed, transforming into a lancer. He had become a specialized damage dealer, sacrificing defense for agility. But Kang Taeshik, the B-rank assassin, had become a completely different kind of Shadow Soldier. He was slightly slower, but he had the stealth skill. Que, who attacked with lightning speed, and Kang Taeshik, who was literally invisible. They were both 'Knight-rank' Shadow Soldiers, but even with the same rank, their power levels weren't exactly the same.

However...

A knight is one who fights for the king. The distinction of who was stronger wasn't particularly important. But one thing was certain. In Suho's judgment, the current Kang Taeshik had a distinct advantage that other Shadow Soldiers lacked.

[We can utilize him without worrying about exposing our abilities to anyone.]

"Indeed." Suho smiled faintly and nodded at Beru's words.

"He's going to be quite... useful."

At that moment.

Rumble!

An indescribable roar echoed, and a heavy silence descended upon Yamri Village. At the same time, something unbelievable started happening.

Rumble, Rumble, Rumble!

Suddenly, the very space of the village began to distort grotesquely. The roads and buildings warped and merged, and massive barriers started rising from the ground.

"Wh-what's happening?!"

"Uwaaaack!" Even the villains were panicking, which meant this wasn't their doing.

Kang Taeshik, who had been slaughtering the villains, hurriedly reappeared before Suho and reported: [My liege! I have something to report! The moment I died, an old man tried to corrupt my soul!]

"An old man?"

[Yes! I couldn't see his face, but I think the magic circle that bound me back then is spread throughout this entire village!]

[Why are you only saying this now?!] Beru scolded him, but Kang Taeshik remained silent. He couldn't bring himself to admit that he had been momentarily lost in the pleasure of killing.

[My liege! This is definitely a sorcery used by the members of a Demonic Spirit Clan!] 

Beru had personally experienced various types of sorcery used by the Demonic Spirits during the Monarch's War. But the problem was that their magic was so diverse that he always encountered new and unfamiliar variants.

[The Demonic Spirits are vicious creatures who enjoy capturing their enemies, torturing them, and experimenting on them! That's why they're proficient in all sorts of bizarre magic and sorcery!]

The Demonic Spirits' obsessive curiosity and observational skills were infamous throughout all dimensions. And among them, the most renowned sorcerer was undoubtedly 'Candiaru.' The fact that he was able to design the leveling system that transcended human limitations was ultimately the result of countless experiments and sacrifices. One of those experiments was the 'Pyramid of Amut,' where he researched body reinforcement techniques. Considering all this evidence, Suho could guess the intentions or the creature who tried to corrupt Kang Taeshik's soul, the so-called 'old man'.

"Could it be that the Demonic Spirit Clan has been conducting experiments in this village? Like the Pyramid of Amut?"

Suho leaped between the tilting ground and buildings, observing the fleeing villains and he noticed the electronic anklets still on their legs.

"...Perhaps the one who helped the villains escape from Jisan Prison was also this Demonic Spirit."

The Pyramid of Amut was a place where countless challengers had willingly entered over the years, only to be captured by Amut and subjected to torture disguised as body reinforcement training, ultimately dying. The Item:'Mummy's Bandage' was created through those countless experiments. And even after the bandage was made, many more died and turned into mummies unable to endure the training… Then what about this place?

[I think so too! Perhaps the Demonic Spirit Clan orchestrated the prison break to use the villains as test subjects for their research...!] But before Beru could finish his sentence. Something astonishing happened.

Rumble, rumble, rumble...!

Suho and Beru looked up at the gigantic hand casting a massive shadow over them as it appeared in the ominous sky, slowly descending towards them. Recognizing it, Kang Taeshik shouted urgently.

[That's the hand! The hand of the old man who tried to take me!] The skeletal arm that tried to snatch his soul had now manifested in the real world. This time, the target was once again Kang Taeshik's soul.

[Chuckle. I can't let such a delicious evil spirit slip away.] Kang Taeshik, even as a Shadow Soldier, shuddered at the old man's booming voice from the sky.

The Demonic Spirits' nature was to treat souls as playthings and he was the old man's new favorite toy. Of course, no one knew what would happen if Kang Taeshik, now a Shadow Soldier, were to be captured by that hand. But the moment the enemy revealed its true form. Suho immediately took action.

"Gray!"

"Woof!" At Suho's call, Gray came running from afar, leaping over the walls.

Gray had been relentlessly chasing and attacking the villains since they left the convenience store, and in stark contrast to his cute appearance, fur around his mouth and his fangs were stained with the blood.

[Kurrung! It's time to show your newfound power!] Beru, sensing Suho's intention, immediately used his skill.

[Beru uses Skill: 'Harsh Command'.]

[Skill: 'Harsh Command' increases Gray's stats by 50%.]

[As a side effect of Skill: 'Harsh Command,' Gray is afflicted with the 'Curse of Madness'.]

At that moment. Gray's eyes changed drastically.

"Growl...!"

But it didn't end there. With the sacred relic of the Fang Monarch, Item: 'Rakan's Fang', now residing within him. Gray was finally taking his first step as the true successor of Rakan.

Whoosh!

Gray's body, which had been running towards Suho, was enveloped in a divine silver light and began to slowly grow larger and larger. At the same time, Gray's expression, which had been that of a cute puppy, gradually turned ferocious, like that of a giant tiger. And as the power of 'Rakan's Fang' and 'Kasaka's Poison Fang' manifested within him.

"Rooooar!" Gray's bestial roar shook the world.

Suho quickly drank a potion to replenish his mana depleted from using the Blizzard of Frost. Then he leaped from the tilted ground and onto Gray's back, shouting,

"Gray! Charge!"

"Rooooar!"

With Suho on his back, Gray's thickened forelegs pushed off the slanted wall with tremendous force. Their target was the old man's giant hand.

[Skill: 'Iron Body Technique' activated.]

"Illusion or sorcery." Suho threw a punch, his fist enveloped in black energy.

"A man's gotta use his fists."

Kaboom!

A massive explosion erupted when his fist connected, shattering the old man's giant hand into pieces.

[This power, could it be...! ] The old man's surprised cry echoed.

[The Iron Body Monarch?!]