Chapter 86

Volume 14 - Chapter 12

No. 19 Red Knight Phlyton.

He was very dissatisfied with this mission.

His pride was hurt by the fact that he had to do the dirty work for a mere priest.

'I am, after all, a knight in the teens.'

I am a high-ranking knight in the Red Knights, yet I had to be involved in such trivial matters.

'Sending just the knights in the twenties would have been enough, tsk.'

The moment his discontented thoughts were overshadowed by the sight of Grid overpowering Camian, they vanished.

'Strong.'

The Duke of Etrnal, right?

This guy Grid, not only is his personal ability outstanding, but he also possesses several national treasure-level artifacts.

Especially, the performance of the golden spear blade was astonishing.

'There was such a capable person hidden in a small country.'

Camian, though still immature, is a Red Knight. He was one of the strongest.

It was honestly surprising to see Grid crush him so easily.

'About the level of a 21st knight. It was worth me being deployed.'

Phlyton's eyes, which had been filled with boredom, now sparkled.

Finally, his motivation had been ignited.

"Should I make my move now?"

Camian, who had been continuously stabbed by Raphaël's spear and suffered fatal injuries.

Just before he died, Phlyton dashed forward.

At the same time, Grid used Fly.

Phlyton, confirming Grid flying towards him, smiled with satisfaction.

'Does he recognize me as a worthy opponent?'

Phlyton did not let his guard down.

He immediately drew his sword and was about to attack the approaching Grid when he stopped.

'What?'

His consciousness was involuntarily directed elsewhere. He became completely indifferent to Grid and could not swing his sword.

'Why am I acting like this?'

Swish!

Grid brushed past the confused Phlyton at an incredible speed.

***

"Huff... huff..."

<Partner of the Apostle of Justice>

This is the true identity of Huroi, known only to a select few.

When he is with Grid, all his stats increase by 20%. He also has many skills that he can use without equipping weapons.

However, he is different from Grid.

He does not possess the overwhelming stats that Grid has. Fundamentally, he is an orator, and his strength, endurance, and agility, which are related to combat, are severely low.

Moreover, his equipment is not particularly outstanding.

It was impossible for him to fight five Black Knights bare-handed with his abilities.

"Ugh..."

Huroi groaned, bleeding profusely.

The Black Knights regarded him, who was staggering, as their archenemy.

"You wicked scoundrel! To mock our deceased grandmother! I will not let you die easily!"

"What do you know about our parents to speak so carelessly!"

"I don't ask my comrades to pick up soap for me!"

Indeed.

Huroi had already spewed all kinds of insults.

He had managed to hold on so far by debuffing the enemies, but now he had reached his limit.

The cooldown for his insults was still a long way off, and his body was covered in wounds. His health had dropped to a dangerous level.

But what Huroi was worried about was not his own life.

I can die a hundred times. Dropping experience and items? It's nothing compared to my lord's life.

I just want my lord to be safe.

"Lord, Lord..."

How much trouble must he be in, fighting the Red Knights bare-handed?

Huroi turned his gaze towards Grid. He thought Grid must be in a difficult situation.

But the reality was different.

"Die! Die! Die! Hahaha!!!"

"..."

Grid was fine.

He was beating the Red Knight one-sidedly and even enjoying it.

The Red Knight, whose face was swollen from being hit, was pitiful.

"Wow."

I feel like a fool for worrying.

Swish!

A sword flew into Huroi's side and deeply pierced him.

"Where were you looking!"

"Kuh."

Huroi's vision wavered.

His health was now less than a fifth.

If he allowed two or three more attacks, he would die.

Huroi gritted his teeth.

'I'll take at least one with me.'

He had to reduce the burden on his lord.

Determined, Huroi launched himself with all his strength. He grabbed a Black Knight and swung his fist with all his might.

But his skills and strength were not enough to inflict any damage on the Black Knight.

The punches falling on the black armor were like cotton swabs.

"You talkative brat! It doesn't even tickle!"

The mocking Black Knight grabbed Huroi's wrist and raised his arm. Huroi's chest was now exposed. The Black Knight stabbed him there.

-That's normal. How can you defeat a Black Knight without a weapon?

-Right... Grid is abnormal.

Everyone, including Huroi and the viewers, accepted Huroi's death as a matter of course.

But Grid was different.

Grid, who had suggested leveling up together with Huroi but did not form a party to avoid sharing experience.

Grid, who had been worried about Huroi and kept an eye on him, activated the ability of <Secret Hero>.

<Secret Hero> is one of the titles obtained while raiding Darkbus.

The exact condition to obtain this title is to raid three named bosses, each higher in level than yourself, alone.

It is not a title that anyone can obtain, and its value is unparalleled.

[Disrupts the enemies' consciousness.]

Aggro removed.

[Skill <Might> activated. This effect lasts for 10 seconds.]

Reduces the defense of all enemies within a 50-meter radius by 50%.

[Can use skill <Charge> once.]

A top-tier charge skill that avoids all attacks except targeting skills until it reaches the desired target within a 200-meter range.

"How dare you!"

Boom!

Seeing the bloodied Huroi, Grid flew into the air and charged straight at the Black Knights.

His movement was so fast that the camera momentarily lost him.

"Huh?"

Phlyton, who was charging at Grid, suddenly stopped. He could not focus on Grid due to the disruption of consciousness.

Grid ignored him and passed by.

"What a bizarre ability."

Phlyton, who was left behind, swung his sword at the retreating Grid.

Flash!

A powerful aura shot out like lightning.

Grid's back was completely exposed.

It was extremely natural for him to be hit by Phlyton's aura and fall.

But Grid was using <Charge>. He could automatically avoid all attacks except targeting skills.

As if he had eyes on the back of his head, he moved his body to dodge Phlyton's aura and broke through the sword techniques of four Black Knights with a single movement.

"What...?"

The Black Knight, who was about to stab Huroi's heart again, looked as if he was possessed.

Grid's movement was that miraculous.

"Get lost."

Smash! Thud!

"Kuh!"

The combo of Raphaël's spear blade, following the unyielding justice.

The Black Knight, whose defense was reduced by <Might>, suffered significant damage from the impact.

Grid kicked the fallen Black Knight away and scolded Huroi.

"You're still weak, aren't you? You're a complete punching bag."

"Haha... I am weak."

He swallowed the unspoken words, "Only in the Tembaldan."

"Hurry up and advance to the third class. Then I can make new items for you. Your biggest problem is still your lack of equipment."

"I will keep that in mind."

"Let's form a party."

Just as Grid extended his hand to Huroi, Camian, who had regrouped, rushed over and slashed Huroi.

"Cough...!"

"..."

Huroi's blood splattered Grid's hoodie.

Grid's expression turned stone-cold.

Even as he was dying, Huroi was worried about Grid.

"Please... survive. My lord must not fall."

[Morale boosted.]

[Attack and magic power significantly increased for the next attack.]

[The next attack will definitely be a critical hit!]

Thud!

Huroi, who had used his strongest buff skill to save Grid, collapsed.

With only a sliver of health left, Camian swung his sword at him again.

Grid had realized that he cared for Huroi.

Swoosh!

Camian's intention was fulfilled.

Grid launched himself to protect Huroi. He blocked Camian's attack with the Holy Shield, which he had not used in a long time.

"You! You look like a turtle!!"

Camian, mocking Grid for holding the shield to protect his comrade, swung his sword wildly.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Thud! Thud!

Grid could only defend the front where Camian was. He could not deal with the Black Knights stabbing from behind. He could not avoid them while protecting Huroi.

Huroi was disgusted.

"How can a lord sacrifice himself for a subject! Stand up! Fight the enemy! I don't want to hold you back!"

"You and I are friends before we are lord and subject, right?"

"..."

"Well, I do use you quite a bit, even if we are friends."

I will repay your true heart someday.

He had made this vow many times.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Rip!

Grid's body, thoroughly protecting Huroi, was covered in wounds.

'Fool. Sacrificing yourself to protect a mere subordinate, how foolish.'

Phlyton had crossed his arms again.

He had lost interest in Grid and returned to being a spectator.

Meanwhile, Camian's relentless attacks continued.

"That damn golden spear blade is the only thing you have!"

Camian did not give Grid a moment to breathe.

An alert window appeared in Grid's vision, who was gritting his teeth and enduring.

[Effect of Legendary Blacksmith's Patience activated.]

[Health, defense, and dexterity increased by 200% for 1 hour.]

A skill that could not be used intentionally and only activated when enduring to the extreme.

Thanks to this, Grid found some breathing room, while Camian and the Black Knights' faces turned pale.

'Unbelievable defense!'

Camian and the Black Knights looked at Grid, who would not fall no matter how much they stabbed and slashed, as if he were a monster.

To them, Grid's armor and shield were too astonishing in performance.

But how long could he hold out?

"Limit Sword!"

Camian deployed the skill he had learned from Sword Master Limit.

Swoosh!

The sword, imbued with a burning aura, knocked the Holy Shield into the air. It was an overwhelming attack.

Five Black Knights simultaneously stabbed the defenseless Grid.

Right at that moment.

The mask of the Slaughter Demon, which covered half of Grid's face, turned a vivid red.

This was the reason Grid had allowed the Black Knights' attacks without using Raphaël's spear blade.

[<Demon's Blood Tears> effect activated. Attack power increased by 50% for 5 seconds.]

"Now it's my turn."

Activating Blacksmith's Fury, Grid stood up and declared to Camian.

"You damn brat, I'll kill you within 5 seconds."

His eyes behind the blindfold emitted a deep red light.

Sensing the danger, Camian activated <Keen Senses>.

Grid's fist flew at him. Camian tried to dodge, but Raphaël's spear blade, which had flown in, stabbed his side, restricting his movement.

"Ugh!!"

What is this attack power?

It is incomparably stronger than before!

Grid's fist continuously hit Camian's face, which was shocked by the impact piercing through the Red Armor.

The Black Knights tried to control Grid by attacking Huroi, but it was futile. Raphaël's spear blade flew to protect Huroi.

Swoosh! Clang! Clang!

Thud!

With the叠加的buffs of Blacksmith's Fury, Demon's Blood Tears, and Morale Boost, Camian, who had been hit non-stop by Grid's fists for 4 seconds, finally fell to his knees. He could not even last 5 seconds due to his already low health.

"How... can this be..."

A gray pillar shot up into the sky.

A scene symbolizing Camian's final moments.

"..."

Beating a Red Knight bare-handed (or rather, with a shield)!

Everyone was shocked. The whole of South Korea was in an uproar. This news would spread worldwide within a few minutes.

Currently, the OGC channel's viewership had surpassed 41%.

"Are you enjoying the show?"

At the OGC broadcasting station.

Director Lee Kuk-rae, who was cheering about the huge success, had a visitor.

Her perfect proportions and slender legs captivated everyone.

She was none other than Yura, so beautiful that she made everything else fade away.

"I'm here to collect Young-woo's ransom."

Yura, whose smile could charm anyone, regardless of age or gender.

Her eyes, however, were as cold as ice.