Episode 539. Lucifer of Ruin (3)

The heart of the fake dungeon.

The fierce battle with Lucifer had continued for over an hour.

“Kkuh….”

Moon Surin frowned and slowly took a deep breath.

Lucifer’s strength was beyond imagination.

He possessed a strong body and magic power that deflected any attack, and even if an attack luckily landed, he regenerated quickly.

‘Everyone’s wounds are increasing.’

My right arm, which had been grazed by Lucifer’s magic power earlier, still felt numb.

I wanted to get support from Baek Ahyoung, but she was pouring all her effort into Lee Hoyeon’s treatment, so she was busy.

“Student Council President. Are you okay? If you’re having a hard time, take a little rest.”

“No. I can’t do that. Besides, the people in front worry me more than I do.”

“… Yeah. If it really comes down to it, I’ll step in. Close-combat fighting is possible for me to some extent, you know.”

Rebecca looked straight ahead and smiled bitterly.

Although she herself was struggling, her concern was for Scarlet, Alice, and Irene, who were exchanging direct attacks with Lucifer up front.

All Rebecca could do was provide support using the barrier of runes.

Rebecca took a deep breath and stirred up her magic power.

Breathing became increasingly difficult.

It was because of the magic power of the Underworld filling the center.

Thanks to Liliana, Lucifer’s seized magic power had been driven out, but ultimately, Liliana’s magic power was also Underworld magic at its root.

A slight burden was unavoidable for the women.

“Kuaaaaaaa!”

Kwang-!

Lucifer spread his wings, and a strong storm of magic power raged.

‘The barrier is scattering.’

Rebecca’s magic power was being overwhelmed by Lucifer’s magic power.

The battle for territory was becoming increasingly difficult. Providing support with the rune barrier and telekinesis also had its limits.

If it became a battle of endurance, Lucifer could not be defeated.

“Liliana. Isn’t a bit stronger attack possible? We must inflict a fatal wound.”

“I’m trying too… Hmm. Driving out the magic power is also quite difficult.”

Liliana checked the magic power inside her body and shook her head.

She was using the magic power that had been sealed by the golden seal again, but Liliana’s skill fell significantly short compared to Lucifer.

Even now, she was barely holding on.

“Then perhaps I should rely on Mage Im Sol-nim or Daeun-ssi….”

Rebecca turned her head and checked behind them.

At least two people were capable of launching threatening attacks against Lucifer.

The problem was whether they could hold out until then.

Taang-!

Lucifer’s threatening attack headed towards Alice and Scarlet.

Lucifer’s attack, which was fatal even just grazing someone, was an immense burden to the front-line fighters.

“Damn… I’ll block it!”

Moon Surin, having raised her magic power, quickly pulled Alice and Scarlet closer, applying pressure to Lucifer.

A moment later. By a hair’s breadth, Lucifer’s body passed the spot where the two had been.

Lucifer also knew what kind of attacks dealt damage to him.

While continuing his attacks, he targeted Im Sol, Liliana, and Nam Daeun with his magic power.

Trying to contain Lucifer as much as possible placed too severe a burden on the front-line fighters.

“Scarlet. I’ll take over. Step back after a moment.”

“… No. Irene-nim. I’m okay.”

Scarlet replied to Irene’s words, hiding her trembling hands behind her back.

The battle with Lucifer required constant vigilance; you couldn’t let your guard down even for a moment.

The moment you allowed even a single attack, you’d be removed from the battlefield, and someone else would have to fill your empty spot.

Complaining about being a little tired wasn’t an option.

It was an urgent situation, having to fight a life-or-death battle in a dungeon they were suddenly kidnapped into.

Scarlet scrunched up her face in frustration.

Working as an informant for the Iris Guild, it wasn’t that sudden battles hadn’t occurred before.

However, Scarlet was feeling a wall, a limit, for the first time in a long while.

‘A real monster… and real geniuses.’

Lucifer was the strongest enemy she had met in her life.

Perhaps even if all the Iris Guild’s executives attacked, it would be difficult to win.

He was truly a monster, fitting the description of a ‘human legion’.

But Scarlet found the women confronting that monster for a whole hour even more astonishing.

Alice and Irene sisters?

Although she thought of them as genius sisters, when they actually teamed up, the term ‘genius’ felt insufficient.

Lucifer’s attacks were like elephants to Scarlet.

If she blocked them head-on, she would be crushed, so she had to avoid them as much as possible.

Alice and Irene were different.

At first, it was the same as Scarlet.

They too concentrated on avoiding Lucifer’s attacks.

But now, the two of them had reached the level of parrying the attacks.

They had grown in that short time while the battle continued.

That wasn’t all.

The cadet Nam Daeun’s attacks were inflicting wounds on Lucifer, and Moon Surin was commanding the entire battle.

If it weren’t for Rebecca and Moon Surin’s backup, she would have died more than ten times.

“Scarlet! Watch your back!”

While Scarlet was lost in such thoughts, the battle continued.

Alice, holding her sword with one hand, cast magic towards Lucifer with the other.

“Hup!”

She slashed down with her sword on Lucifer’s shoulder approaching from the left, and countered with magic for a follow-up strike.

At the sharp attack, Lucifer too momentarily stepped back and regrouped.

“… You’re annoying.”

Lucifer frowned, looking at his regenerating shoulder.

He didn’t feel the battle was difficult, but time was being delayed for too long.

Lucifer, who had been trying to preferentially capture the humans posing a threat, decided to change his plan.

‘Deal with the gnats first.’

Lucifer injected magic power into the muscles all over his body.

He focused everything into strength and speed to crush the humans before him.

“I underestimated humans too much. From now on, you are humans recognized by me, Lucifer.”

“What is that crazy goat bastard saying?”

Lucifer’s muscles became even more bulging.

Maintaining dignity was put aside for a moment.

Bursting with magic power, Lucifer found his first target.

Peolreok-!

First, the most annoying human. He tore apart the blond-haired human who only ran away quickly.

Spreading his wings, Lucifer shot forward, leaving afterimages.

“Keup…!”

Scarlet bit her lip, having dodged Lucifer’s attack by a hair’s breadth.

Whatever he did, he became even faster and stronger.

Moreover, he wasn’t using his magic power to target people far away; he was focusing all his strength on himself.

Alice and Irene joined forces to help Scarlet, but Lucifer’s attacks were targeting only Scarlet.

Kung-!

Chwajajak-!

One stomp of his foot made the ground tremble, and the Underworld’s magic power pressed in from all directions.

Even if dozens of meters were put between them, he closed the distance in one step and struck down with his giant fist.

Seureureuk-

Scarlet used Moon Surin’s telekinesis to deflect Lucifer’s attacks as much as possible.

It was obvious her body would turn to dust if she took one head-on, so she intended to buy time.

‘Wounds are piling up.’

While Lucifer was targeting Scarlet, the others weren’t just standing by.

With no interference, they could accumulate damage on Lucifer much more easily.

She just had to hold on a little longer.

“Ngh…!”

But Scarlet couldn’t deflect all of Lucifer’s attacks.

Unable to avoid one attack, Scarlet took it, and grazed by Lucifer’s fist, she vomited blood.

Just once.

The attack had only grazed her, but her vision blurred.

“Scarlet!!”

Paaak!

Simultaneously, Lucifer’s magic cannon approached.

Originally, Lucifer’s magic cannon had great power but required time, but this time it was completed at an unexpected timing.

‘I can’t avoid this…!’

From Lucifer’s attack, having fallen into a groggy state, Scarlet had no room to dodge the magic cannon.

Moon Surin’s magic power was pulling Scarlet’s body away, but Lucifer’s magic cannon, forcibly following, was much faster.

Filled with ominousness, the dark red magic power approached right before Scarlet’s eyes.

Could she survive being hit by that?

Tightly.

Scarlet unconsciously closed her eyes.

However, as time passed, no pain was felt.

Scarlet, who had peeked her eyes open, looked at Lucifer’s magic cannon, split in two by blue magic power.

And she found a man standing protectively in front of her.

“Remember how I saved you in France? I’m repaying that now, okay?”

Lee Hoyeon, turning his head, smiled as he looked at the blinking Scarlet.

Seeing the clueless look on the tsundere Scarlet was quite amusing.

“… If you had just stayed silent, it would have been touching, but you’re ruining the mood. And besides, I almost died back then. I took the attack in your stead.”

“Getting hit by that guy now means instant death, instant death.”

Lee Hoyeon smiled and looked at Scarlet.

As he looked at Scarlet, the conversation they had in the training ground back then came to mind.

• I don’t know if I should say this, but the life of a father with a baby feels like simple labor, working in a factory.

I couldn’t properly grasp what Rebecca had said back then, but now I think I understand.

How different were the gazes of these women towards me compared to my gazes towards women.

Once the fight with Lucifer is over, I’ll be able to view this relationship more seriously.

“When this fight is over, I’ll confess to you.”

“… Stop talking nonsense.”

“Then I’ll at least buy you a meal. Not something like cheese soft tofu, but something delicious.”

Scarlet smiled at Lee Hoyeon’s nonsense.

Lee Hoyeon’s physical condition is not normal.

No matter how much a Saint tries, someone on the verge of death cannot be made normal just like that in just one hour.

Even now, he must be standing there, enduring the pain.

Despite being in that condition, he was the same as usual.

That fact reassured her.

‘My whole body hurts.’

Kkuuk.

Lee Hoyeon’s fingers, stirring up magic power, trembled uncontrollably.

Even after receiving an hour of intensive treatment from Baek Ahyoung, it was this bad.

No, Baek Ahyoung must be the amazing one, bringing a dead person back to life in just one hour.

“Lee Hoyeon. Are you okay?!”

“Yeah. Don’t worry.”

Lee Hoyeon smiled at Alice, who approached, clenched his trembling fist tightly, and enveloped his body with magic power.

If I said there was no fear at all, it would be a lie.

The pain received from Lucifer was still vivid.

But now, Lee Hoyeon was not alone.

“Are mere humans gathering before me and proudly puffing out their chests?”

“Yeah. We are, you bastard.”

Dugun.

Lee Hoyeon’s combat senses began to warm up his body.

His condition couldn’t be called good.

His magic circuits were still incomplete, so the output wasn’t proper, and Blood Beat had to be used carefully.

He shouldn’t even dream of using Eclipse or Sky Piercer.

In contrast, Lucifer’s expression just looked uncomfortable; outwardly, not a single wound was visible.

It wasn’t that there was no damage at all, but with his monstrous regeneration, he had restored all wounds.

… Despite all that, the thought of losing didn’t occur.

Because he was with the heroines?

Standing before Lucifer, the option of defeat couldn’t be drawn in his mind.

What remained was only the confidence that he could win.

“You’re dead. You goat bastard.”