The Hunted Demons, The Hunting Demons
Victoria’s Glory: Sword Light
Description: The body of Victoria’s Glory is always enveloped in a silvery-white aura. This is a fragment of the power of Diana, the guardian deity of the ancient kingdom of Victoria, known as Sword Light. When activated, the light flowing through the blade materializes, exerting both physical and magical force. While its basic power is already formidable, it can be amplified in number and strength depending on the user’s abilities. If the user’s information includes a registered power, that power can be infused into the weapon. It can be used three times a day, with the count resetting at the start of a new day.
Initially, I considered using the terrain for hit-and-run tactics. But it quickly became clear how futile that would be. We lacked the experience, speed, and skills to lead a guerrilla war with the users.
I thought about going solo, but shook my head. Even with the Shadow Queen on our side, our strength would plummet the moment I left. It was better to keep potential problems close rather than leave them behind.
So, I chose interception. It wasn’t a straightforward approach. If we were going to fight, it was better to strike first than wait for the vagrants to arrive. I led the users to a location suitable for confronting them, then slipped away to stir up the vagrants and draw them to where the users were waiting.
The plan was about to bear fruit.
The vagrants chasing Kim Su-hyeon were seasoned. They had lost comrades to the unexpected onslaught of sword light during the initial ambush, but that was a surprise attack. They wouldn’t be caught off guard again. As they pursued Kim Su-hyeon, they were prepared, responding immediately when the glowing sword was aimed at them.
A barrage of light, shadows, arrows, and spells rained down. Simultaneously, layers of translucent barriers formed in front of the vagrants. They were confident these shields would block or at least mitigate most of the attack. Anticipating the slaughter to come, they gathered their magic.
But their confidence shattered when the sword light reached the first barrier.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The luminous blade, like a tangible sword, tore through the barriers with a resonant clang. As the vagrants staggered from the magical collision, the users’ attacks slipped through the gaps in the torn shields.
Thwack! Thwack! Thud! Thud!
Boom! Boom! Crash! Crash!
Screams filled the air as the furious wave of attacks engulfed the vagrants. The sword light, still potent after shredding the barriers, cut through them with a chilling glow. Shadows descended, arrows and spells struck relentlessly, creating a cacophony of explosions and cries. Some attacks even skidded through, kicking up dust.
“Damn it! Everyone, fall back!”
Despite the dark night, the dust clouded the air. But for those with keen senses, such visual obstructions were trivial.
A sharp voice pierced the haze as a woman in black tights darted forward. Her hair, a deep black with a hint of red, scattered crimson flecks with each movement. Her eyes glowed a vivid red, matching the fiery magic emanating from the daggers in her hands.
“Hup!”
The woman, Baek Seo-yeon, crossed her daggers in an X with a fierce shout. The magic enveloping the daggers extended, whipping like a lash. With a flick of her wrist, the arc of the blade deepened, ensnaring the incoming magical projectiles.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A deafening roar swept through the area. Baek Seo-yeon winced, her body trembling from the impact. Despite the filtered attack, the shockwave coursed through her. She gritted her teeth, raising an eyebrow in surprise. As shadows burst like fireworks in the air, a flash of understanding crossed her eyes.
“So, that’s it… The Shadow Queen… Huh?”
Her voice, a low growl, trailed off as she looked up, her tone rising in realization.
Whoosh!
A sharp wind sliced through the air. The chilling intent in the sound cooled the anger that had been burning in Baek Seo-yeon’s mind.
She thought she had them. She planned to instill fear and hunt them down mercilessly. But reality defied her expectations. Kim Su-hyeon’s relentless assault left her skin crawling.
As the silver arc of his attack streaked toward her, Baek Seo-yeon gripped her daggers tightly, crouching low. She summoned her red magic once more.
Clang!
The clash of magic echoed through the forest. As red and silver energies collided, a dazzling light exploded.
The skirmish ended in the users’ favor.
The swirling waves of magic, like paint mixing on a canvas, signaled the start of a full-scale battle.
About 40 vagrants remained. To be precise, 41. Go Yeon-ju had estimated around 40. When I first saw them, there were 50. Her prediction was slightly off, but with reason. Among the 50, ten were mages and priests, carried by the other vagrants.
It was amusing at first, but ultimately irrelevant. The initial ambush and clash had already claimed nine lives. That alone was a significant achievement.
Now, it was time to truly stir things up.
Clang!
Victoria’s Glory and the daggers clashed, both charged with magic. As the heavy impact hit, a sense of déjà vu washed over me. It wasn’t the daggers blocking my power. The woman before me was clad in red from head to toe. Even her daggers glowed with red magic. I hadn’t noticed during the initial ambush, but up close, she felt strangely familiar.
Crack! Crack!
A clear sound, like shattering glass, rang out. Glancing over, I saw a crack running down the dagger in her trembling hand. It had held up well, but ultimately couldn’t withstand the power.
“No way… The Black Wolf…?”
Her voice, filled with disbelief, sharpened my focus. Seizing the moment, I thrust my sword forward.
“Ugh!”
Clatter!
The woman instinctively recoiled, stepping back. Dropping the dagger was a wise move. The sword’s tip narrowly grazed her shoulder instead of her head. Of course, the dagger shattered into fragments.
She flipped backward, retreating swiftly. I didn’t pursue. There were things to confirm, and the vagrants had regrouped during our brief exchange.
Blood trickled from a thin cut on her left arm. She had avoided a direct hit but was still grazed by the sword’s magic. Supported by the vagrants, she rose, her face twisted in a snarl.
I activated the Third Eye, intending to gather only the necessary information.
Player Status
Name: Baek Seo-yeon (5th Year)
Class: Slayer of Heatwave (Secret, Master)
Attributes
“Damn it!”
‘It’s Baek Seo-yeon.’
The moment I heard the woman’s voice alongside the user information, I was certain. The vagrant I had just exchanged blows with was none other than Baek Seoyeon. Her appearance here was unexpected, to say the least. I felt a mix of disbelief and a sense of hitting the jackpot. It wasn’t quite the thrill of seeing Belphegor, but there was an undeniable excitement.
With a determined heart, I aimed for Victoria’s Glory. No matter what happened here, Baek Seoyeon had to be dealt with. No, killing her wouldn’t suffice. That would be a last resort if circumstances didn’t allow for anything else. If possible, I wanted to leave her crippled.
“Strength 2, Agility 1. And good equipment… Jackpot.”
With that resolve, I let out a thin smile. Baek Seoyeon’s eyes flickered with a spark, as if she had read my expression. She scowled and quickly muttered something.
“Front, back, dust! Cut, Shadow Queen, back! 15! 16! 10!”
At her command, the vagrants moved swiftly. I quickly analyzed the situation. They left 15 in the center and split into three groups. Sixteen veered off to the sides, likely targeting the users behind me. Ten retreated, mostly consisting of mages, priests, and a few archers. The central group of 15 was made up of close-combat fighters and archers.
Gripping my weapon tightly, I charged straight into the center. Some of the 15 rushed at me head-on, while others scattered in different directions.
“More archers than expected.”
Keeping that in mind, I moved. Leading the charge was Baek Seoyeon, clutching her last dagger.
As we entered each other’s range, our blades clashed once more. This time, Baek Seoyeon’s attack was more restrained, focusing on defense, ready to retreat at any moment. She seemed determined not to lose her dagger as easily as before, angling it to deflect my strikes.
“This used to be my specialty.”
I smirked inwardly and used the technique of redirecting force with minimal effort.
Smack!
“Ah…?”
Baek Seoyeon’s eyes widened as her right arm was forced back, leaving her right side exposed. It was a perfect opportunity.
Honestly, Baek Seoyeon wasn’t an easy opponent. She was a formidable force in the history of the Hall Plain. Yet, she was being pushed back so easily because my skills were far superior, and she lacked information. She wasn’t prepared for a battle that defied conventional tactics.
Of course, Baek Seoyeon had her own contingencies. The presence of 14 vagrants targeting me was proof of that. As her arm was forced back, I sensed a barrage of arrows and hostile intent aimed at me.
In that fleeting moment, I weighed my options. But the answer was clear. Both the 14 vagrants and Baek Seoyeon were important. With that decision, I paused, watching Baek Seoyeon retreat. Then, I summoned all my strength and stomped the ground with all my might.
Boom! Crack, crack!
The ground caved and split beneath my feet. Like an uppercut, the shockwave surged from the earth, disrupting the incoming attacks. Though they quickly regained their trajectory, I had aimed for those few seconds of disruption. As soon as my foot hit the ground, I activated the power of my sword.
With a surge of energy flowing into Victoria’s Glory, I swung my blade wide.
Shing! Shing! Shing!
Ten beams of light flashed in all directions, accompanied by simultaneous screams and splatters of blood. Most of the killing intent dissipated, but some remained.
Baek Seoyeon had already lowered her arm. I immediately used the ability to switch positions.
Whoosh, whoosh! Thud, thud!
The sound of something embedding into the ground. Looking up, I saw a few vagrants sprawled on the earth and another version of myself fading in the distance. Right in front of me was Baek Seoyeon, her back turned, focused on the front.
“What…?”
Sensing something amiss, Baek Seoyeon turned her head slightly.
As our eyes met, I brought my sword down.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Ah, it’s really hot today. Maybe it’s because it’s summer, but I can’t seem to get into the groove. ;ㅅ; By the way, the Joara site has changed a lot. What do you all think? I’m still getting used to it, but I think it’ll be convenient once I do. Haha. Whew. The battle scene will conclude in the next chapter. :)
『 Reader Comments 』
UsainBolt: Congratulations on being first. I think this is the first time I’ve seen you in the top comment. Honestly, your nickname gave me a start. Faster than anyone… Haha. Enjoy this chapter!
RioRio: Really? I tried Ice Blast last time, but it didn’t quite suit me. Maybe I’ll give Esse a try. Hehe.
Lea: The closest answer is number 1. Haha.
Hanhae: The grand name of “god” is indeed a power beyond measure. But if we had to compare, Hwajeong is above Raijin.
Fortune: There are slight differences between cities. It takes about three weeks to walk through Eden without interruptions, and over four weeks if you account for dealing with monsters. The distance between continents is at least two months, if not more. There are no “horses” in the Hall Plain. Such riding animals are rare, but there are exceptions, like taming a unicorn. :)
ThePrestige: Congratulations on your first comment. Haha. The plot is planned out, but I’m currently out of reserves. ㅜ.ㅠ
PahalPahal: Raijin is indeed a power beyond measure, but it’s a different kind of power compared to Hwajeong. If we had to compare, Hwajeong >>>>>(5 times!) Raijin.
hohokoya1: I think if we move at super speed in part 2, we could reach 600 chapters (though it would be very difficult). I’ll be making appropriate omissions for that. Haha.
Melis: Corrections completed. Thank you. (__)
Yusaku: Yes! Enjoy your read!
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