콰앙! Bang!
Groooooaaaaar-!
With Taylor joining the fray, the battle between Phloclade and the Hero intensified even further.
Meanwhile, Choi Hyun-seok, who had fled to a spot slightly away from the battlefield, let out a sigh of relief.
“Shit… I really thought I was going to die.”
He pretended to be relaxed and even provoked them, but his back was soaked with cold sweat.
It had been a series of dizzying situations.
Dancing the butt dance on a rope with lava below wouldn’t be more thrilling than this.
A very minor mistake could lead directly to death.
In such a moment of crisis, Choi Hyun-seok did everything he could.
“Hero! Don’t forget my help either!”
“Ah, thanks. I lived thanks to you.”
Choi Hyun-seok readily admitted it.
In fact, Rachel’s help was significant this time.
She didn’t inflict direct damage, but she cleverly interfered with Taylor in her own way.
Like suddenly bursting bright light or blowing wind mixed with sand.
“The item I bought from the Hero Shop was good too.”
“I gave you the information to buy that!”
“Yeah, yeah. You did well today.”
“Hehe…”
Rachel, praised, grinned and scratched the back of her head.
The item they mentioned from the Hero Shop was perfume.
□ Perfume that Demons Like!
Description: A perfume with a scent that demons like. You can gain some favor from demons. However, the effect is minimal due to its large versatility.
Ability: –
Required Hero Points: 100
Rachel had previously read the Encyclopedia of Demons.
She explained several things about Phloclade’s characteristics.
“Um, I think he had a sensitive sense of smell and liked fragrant things!”
As soon as he heard the story, Choi Hyun-seok immediately purchased this perfume item.
He invested a whopping 100 Hero Points in an item with minimal effect and no ability.
It would have been impossible under normal circumstances, but now was the moment to bet.
And the result of the bet was successful.
Perhaps because he was sensitive to scents, the perfume had a greater effect on Phloclade than expected.
“You really survived.”
A familiar silhouette approached.
Turning around, Loiger was standing with his arms crossed.
Choi Hyun-seok smiled and replied.
“Yes. I somehow survived. Now it’s time to fulfill the promise.”
The promise was about the deal between Choi Hyun-seok and Loiger.
“Use the demon to create chaos and reduce the enemy’s strength. If I survive, you will join me, Commander. Let’s blow those guys away together.”
“Aside from the chances of success, why should I agree to the deal?”
“If you go back alone, you’ll take all the responsibility. Are you okay with that?”
In the end, Loiger accepted the offer.
If Choi Hyun-seok’s words were true, the chances of winning, which were close to zero, would increase slightly.
As Choi Hyun-seok said, even if he survived alone, Loiger would not be in a good position.
And his pride as a high-ranking demon kept him from leaving.
“Are you really confident?”
“I’m not particularly confident.”
“The probability of success is slim. If something goes wrong from the start, you could die in vain.”
“I know.”
“Even so, you’re going to do it?”
“What does it matter if I’m confident now or not? What do the odds matter?”
Choi Hyun-seok slowly raised his demonic energy.
“Either way, I’ll die if I stay still.”
The demonic energy stimulates every part of Choi Hyun-seok’s body and activates it to its limit.
“So. I’m just going to do it. Desperately. To survive.”
Death Flower, Phlomote.
As the fighting spirit progressed, Choi Hyun-seok’s body was dyed pink.
The heart beat quickened.
The eyes were bloodshot.
Loiger watched the scene with worried eyes.
‘Even if he can handle demonic energy, a human cannot use Phlomote.’
Phlomote.
It was a fighting spirit that temporarily unleashed explosive power.
Phlomote is a demon-only fighting spirit.
No matter how much Choi Hyun-seok can handle demonic energy, his body is human.
There is no way he can use a fighting spirit tailored to demons.
‘I heard he succeeded by luck before, but the Commander helped him then.’
I know that Choi Hyun-seok used Phlomote up to stage 3 before.
However, at that time, Hemis’ demonic energy was in Choi Hyun-seok’s body.
In other words, it means that it was not a fighting spirit used by Choi Hyun-seok’s own power.
‘Even if he succeeds by luck, it’s only stage 1. There is no possibility above that, and even if it does, it’s dangerous.’
As he continued to think, Choi Hyun-seok’s entire body was completely dyed pink.
He had completely entered Phlomote Stage 1 – Bloom.
“Keuheuh…”
Choi Hyun-seok frowned and breathed roughly.
Loiger stood in front of him and made eye contact.
“Consciousness?”
“I’m okay.”
“Can you move?”
“Not yet…”
Choi Hyun-seok shakes his head.
Loiger’s face contorted.
‘Is it too much after all…’
It seemed like he had succeeded in using Phlomote, but he couldn’t control his body as he wanted.
This was a common side effect even for demons.
It was also proof that Phlomote was a difficult and dangerous fighting spirit.
“It’s better to give up at this point…”
“Not yet…”
Choi Hyun-seok interrupted.
“It’s not enough yet.”
“What?”
“I can’t beat him with just stage 1…”
“You don’t mean…”
Choi Hyun-seok’s demonic energy began to vibrate once again.
Loiger’s prediction was wrong.
What Choi Hyun-seok meant by ‘not yet’ was not that he couldn’t control his body, but that the use of Phlomote was ‘not yet’ finished.
“I’m going straight to stage 2.”
“No! Even if you succeed, your body won’t be able to handle it.”
“It won’t take long, so get ready.”
Choi Hyun-seok ignored Loiger’s words and moved on to the next stage.
The demonic energy raged violently and stabbed his whole body.
The pink color of his body deepened and gradually turned red.
Hot steam began to pour out from his entire body.
‘Control the demonic energy, but don’t control it at the same time. Let the demonic energy go crazy along a set path.’
The world darkened.
Choi Hyun-seok closed his eyes and focused everything only on the flow of demonic energy.
At that moment, an unexpected notification rang.
[The grade of Demonic Energy Control skill increases from D → C]
The grade of Demonic Energy Control skill rose in an extreme situation.
At the same time, changes began to occur in Choi Hyun-seok’s body.
Pudeudeudeuk…!
[The body is temporarily synchronized and transformed with demonic energy]
Horns began to grow through Choi Hyun-seok’s head.
Phlomote Stage 2 – Full Bloom
Soon, two horns were completely in place, and Choi Hyun-seok opened his eyes.
A strange madness gleamed in his eyes.
Choi Hyun-seok smiled even in the midst of severe pain.
“Hoo…”
‘Phlomote’ is an ancient word meaning ‘Death Flower’.
As the original meaning suggests.
Choi Hyun-seok’s last flame began to bloom.
***
Numerous sword energies poured out along the trajectory of the sword wielded by Taylor.
The tentacles, which stretched out in all directions like a spider web, were cut off, and then Phloclade’s scream was heard.
Seogeogeok!
Groooooaaaaar!
It wasn’t that difficult to deal with Phloclade.
Perhaps because he was tired from the previous battles, he was weakened.
Although a few more heroes were hurt.
Taylor was able to corner Phloclade without any particular damage.
“I should have done this sooner. He was easier than I expected.”
“Geuwooo…”
Taylor held the sword in reverse grip.
Phloclade was panting beneath his feet.
If things continued like this, his life would end soon.
However, he couldn’t just throw away valuable experience points.
‘I’ll level up quite a bit after a long time.’
His current level is 993.
Since he had dealt with such a strong demon, he might reach 1000 at once.
“Now stop…”
It was enough to be immersed in sentimentality for a while.
After killing Phloclade, he had to go hunt down the fleeing traitor.
“Die.”
The moment Taylor was about to plunge his sword down.
“Heup!”
Taylor instinctively raised his arm to guard.
The fleeing traitor, Choi Hyun-seok, was next to him, having appeared out of nowhere.
A flying kick.
Originally, it was an attack that could be easily blocked.
But this time, it was different.
The power contained within was unusual.
Kwaddeudeuk…!
A shock that felt like bones would break was felt.
Taylor, hit by the kick, flew away like a cannonball.
And Choi Hyun-seok, left alone on top of Phloclade, raised his fist.
“Phloclade! You’re mine.”
Kwajik!
Phloclade’s head was shattered and he died on the spot.
At the same time, tremendous notifications began to flood Choi Hyun-seok’s mind.
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]….
The second battle was beginning.
***
Taylor, who had flown away, crashed into a huge rock.
He raised his body with a groan.
“Hoo… Really, really annoying…”
Choi Hyun-seok, who suddenly appeared, not only blew him away, but also took Phloclade’s last hit.
Last hit.
In other words, the experience points given to the person who dealt the final blow amount to one-third of the total experience points.
The guy who didn’t even participate in the battle took one-third of the experience alone.
But the real problem wasn’t experience points.
Taylor narrowed his eyes and glared at Choi Hyun-seok.
‘That guy, could it be…’
Eyes filled with madness.
A body as red as blood.
Steam rising from his entire body.
Taylor knows what those symptoms are.
‘He used Phlomote.’
Demon-only fighting spirit, Phlomote.
Although it is very famous and anyone in the demon race can learn it.
It was now obsolete and difficult to see.
This is because it was a fighting spirit generally used by high-ranking executives of the Demon King’s army in ‘situations where they were prepared to die’.
Taylor, who had been a hero for quite some time, knew the dangers and power of Phlomote well.
In fact, he had fought against enemies who used Phlomote several times.
‘Not only does he handle demonic energy, but he even uses Phlomote… Was he actually a demon and not a hero?’
Choi Hyun-seok’s appearance could no longer be called human.
The huge horns that grew above his head were no different from the symbol of a high-ranking demon.
Taylor’s eyes lit up as he thought that Choi Hyun-seok might have been a demon from the beginning.
‘Stage 2… What a stupid guy.’
Judging from Choi Hyun-seok’s condition, it seemed like he had entered Phlomote Stage 2.
If so, he won’t last long.
5 minutes. 10 minutes at most.
When Phlomote is over, he will either die or fall into a state of combat disability.
In fact, victory has already been confirmed.
From now on, even if Taylor runs away, the enemy will self-destruct.
But Taylor had no intention of running away.
It is a disgrace to run away from such an enemy.
‘Death Flower. I’ll cut off his head in that state.’
It is true that Phlomote is a great technique that puts one’s life on the line, but there are limitations.
Other fighting spirits cannot be used while using Phlomote.
The ability to handle the body deteriorates due to extreme pain and suddenly strengthened physical abilities.
In other words, it means that it is difficult to see the fun even if you use it against an overwhelmingly strong enemy from the beginning.
That was why Phlomote was not used and became obsolete.
And the gap between Choi Hyun-seok and himself is literally overwhelming.
Taat!
Taylor kicked off the ground and raised his magic power.
“Sseup…!”
One deep breath.
Soon, Taylor’s sword is wielded indiscriminately.
Advanced Hero Swordsmanship
Form 3 – Brave Slash
12 consecutive attacks were made in the blink of an eye.
Considering that he swung it 3 times when he first learned Brave Slash, it was a huge number.
It was proof that Taylor’s fighting spirit proficiency was that high.
Swaeaeaeaeek-!
12 sword energies flew along the trajectory of the sword wielded by Taylor.
At first glance, it seems like he swung it randomly, but that is not the case.
It was an attack with meticulous calculations that blocked even the opponent’s escape route.
Taylor had no doubt that Choi Hyun-seok would die from this technique.
But that belief was quickly shattered.
‘He avoided it?’
An unbelievable thing unfolded before his eyes.
All the slashes narrowly grazed Choi Hyun-seok’s skin.
Blood splattered, but it was just a graze.
It’s not a fatal wound.
It was a monstrous dynamic visual acuity and physical ability.
‘How can he do that in a state where he even used Phlomote…!’
Even the enemy is in a situation where he has used Phlomote.
Movements are bound to become clumsy as a reaction while using Phlomote.
To show such artistry in that situation.
It’s impossible.
At that moment, Choi Hyun-seok’s face contorted.
“Just wait there.”
Tuwoong!
Choi Hyun-seok kicks off the ground and runs.
Taylor raised his magic power again.
‘I can’t allow him to approach.’
As a result of fighting before, Choi Hyun-seok shows even better skills in close-range combat.
If he allows the guy to approach in the current situation where he has even used Phlomote, it could become dangerous.
Advanced Hero Swordsmanship
Form 7 – Guts to Cut Through the Waves
Taylor’s sword was swung horizontally.
At the same time, a wave of magic power spread out.
A wide-area fighting spirit that attacks a wide range.
The intention was to push Choi Hyun-seok away with this and step back.
But this time, the prediction was wrong.
‘He broke through…!?’
Choi Hyun-seok broke through the fighting spirit head-on.
It is impossible considering the gap between the two, but Choi Hyun-seok’s sense made it possible.
He found the weakest part of the wave of magic power, concentrated his power, and broke through.
Artistic things were happening in succession.
Choi Hyun-seok, with a demon-like face, got closer in real time.
“If I catch you, you’re dead!”
“Damn it…”
Taylor turned around with an annoyed face.
‘I can’t help it. Now that it’s come to this, I have no choice but to buy time somehow.’
It hurts his pride, but it seemed like he had to buy time and take the victory.
At that moment.
A tall, handsome man appeared in front of Taylor.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?”
“You are…!”
Commander Loiger.
Taylor frowned at the unwelcome face.
“How dare you sneak in as a fugitive?”
“I don’t think you’re in a position to say that, since you’re the one trying to run away now.”
“Get out of the way!”
Sword and sword clash.
Kaang!
Taylor’s eyes narrowed.
The power in Loiger’s sword was much stronger than before.
‘This guy too, Phlomote…’
Loiger’s skin is also pink.
Perhaps he didn’t use Phlomote Stage 2 like Choi Hyun-seok, but he seemed to have used Stage 1.
“Do you think you can win even if you guys struggle!”
At that moment, magic power exploded from Taylor’s body with a roar.
Loiger flew backwards powerlessly from the impact.
And…
“I told you, if I catch you, you’re dead.”
A voice heard from behind.
At the same time, Taylor’s body floats up.
‘What a fucking…’
The world turned upside down.