episode_0057

As I’ve said many times, Yeom Hyeong-ok’s Secret Palace is a Secret Palace I cleared dozens of times while playing The Incompetent Hero’s Success Story.

It was a unique dungeon with no explicit CG scenes despite being an adult game, and I enjoyed clearing it because the rewards were quite substantial. There was no better place for leveling, you know? It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I had most of the tricks for this place memorized.

And yet, this time, a secret door leading to the 15th floor appeared.

It was thrilling.

The condition for activating the secret door gimmick could be easily figured out without much thought.

‘You must reach the 14th floor with the Flame Emperor. The secret door probably didn’t open because I’ve never even seen the Flame Emperor’s corpse until now.’

In the game, the point of arrival at the Flame Country is after the Flame Country has fallen.

Due to the nature of the game, where you can only choose options within a set script, the condition of heading to the 14th floor of Yeom Hyeong-ok with a living Flame Emperor is not easily met. Even if that weren’t the case, the Flame Emperor is like the king of the Flame Country.

Meeting such an individual, and bringing him here, is nearly impossible.

So, fulfilling this condition this time was a product of pure chance.

Therefore, what lies ahead is uncharted territory, even for me.

‘But suddenly, a Vermilion Bird here? That’s just ridiculous.’

I never imagined I would meet one of the Four Divine Beasts on the lowest floor of Yeom Hyeong-ok.

Of course… While progressing through the White Lotus story, you inevitably meet the White Tiger. And since I had already met the Black Tortoise, another of the Four Divine Beasts, I vaguely thought I might meet the other Divine Beasts again someday.

But I never imagined I would meet one again so soon.

“Moreover, in this unexpected place… Or rather, is it because it’s this place that I could meet her?”

A prison that confines the shining flame….

Was the shining flame referring to the Vermilion Bird before my eyes?

What on earth was the first Flame Emperor doing?

“My name is Vermilion Bird.”

Crack… crackle crackle….

Whoosh…

Just by existing in this space, Vermilion Bird began to heat the surroundings harshly and intensely.

At the same time, each of her steps leaves a trail of flames, and the sound of quietly burning flames crackling can be heard near my ears.

Hot air spreads relentlessly in all directions, engulfing the space.

A unique presence that completely dominates the space itself.

This presence was definitely similar to when I met the Demon King of Annihilation.

“Descendant of the Oathkeeper, the time has come to fulfill the ancient oath.”

“Oath… you mean?”

“Yes.”

Even amidst the overwhelming presence Vermilion Bird was exuding, the Flame Emperor barely maintained his composure and asked Vermilion Bird.

Vermilion Bird lightly nodded, and at the same time, glanced at me.

“However… Before fulfilling the oath, it seems there is someone here who is not needed to fulfill it.”

Vermilion Bird’s red eyes met mine.

【Intuition】

【Intuition】skill detected a slight ominousness. At the same time, Vermilion Bird lightly raised her hand.

Snap~!

She lightly flicked her snow-white finger.

“!”

Whoooooosh!!!

Then, without the slightest warning, a pillar of flames shot up.

If it hadn’t been for the danger detection by 【Intuition】, which activated before the attack began, I probably wouldn’t have been able to avoid the pillar of flames and would have been swept away instantly.

Of course, even if I were swept away, I wouldn’t die instantly because of my ridiculous magic stat, but there would be no way to stop my clothes from burning.

I’d rather not suddenly run around naked.

“He avoided it?…”

“Attacking out of the blue, how rough.”

“…Indeed. He has already far surpassed the limits of a human. The realm of a demigod… no. He has already transcended even that realm by a wide margin.”

“Quite a generous assessment. But I don’t know if you know this saying, but those who point a gun must be prepared to be shot themselves. You’re prepared for having attacked first, right?”

I drew my holy sword and lunged forward as if propelled by a spring, kicking off the ground.

Due to the extremely rapid acceleration, the already heated air felt even hotter as it directly collided with my skin.

[【Status Condition: Burn】 has been inflicted.]

[【Samadhi Fire】’s passive effect activates. Damage from 【Status Condition: Burn】 is reduced.]

[HP decreases by 0.05% per second.]

“0.05% per second! That’s 2000 seconds!!!”

2000 seconds is enough!

【Sword King Secret Art】+【Space Slash】+【Breath of All Things】

“Earth Cleaver”

Crackle crackle!!!!

A pure white flash descending upon the world.

It was a desperate, distance-ignoring strike that ignored the opponent’s durability and cut through Vermilion Bird’s body in one fell swoop.

“!! She was cut?!…”

The Flame Emperor’s eyes widened as if greatly surprised by the extraordinary sight of a Divine Beast being cut.

Red flames reminiscent of blood were erupting from Vermilion Bird’s shoulder.

Anyone could clearly think she had suffered a critical wound, but I, who held the sword, could feel it.

‘There was no sensation of cutting.’

I don’t know if I dealt any damage or not. But one thing is certain, it’s not a critical wound.

As proof, Vermilion Bird’s expression was no different than before.

Still with a relaxed expression, Vermilion Bird glanced at her shoulder and said.

“Hmph… Certainly, the power is quite remarkable. If it were another of the Divine Beasts… the White Tiger or Azure Dragon, they would have certainly suffered a critical wound from this strike. One who has reached the realm of the gods as a human. You can be proud.”

“Thanks for the compliment. But it doesn’t seem like I’ve dealt any real damage to you?”

“Of course not. Can you cut flowing water? Can you cleave burning flames?”

Whoosh!!!

“! Flames from where she was cut?!…”

“So you don’t die easily? As expected of a phoenix.”

The flames erupting from her shoulder burned so fiercely as if trying to completely incinerate the cut itself, and soon the wound itself completely disappeared.

I had already guessed that she wouldn’t die from this much anyway.

I readjusted my sword and took stance.

【Sword King Secret Art】+【Space Slash】+【Breath of All Things】

“If I have to cut flames, I will gladly cut flames.”

【Earth Cleaver】+【Mountain Cleaver】+【Sea Cleaver】

“Triple Strike.”

It’s not an ultimate technique.

But it’s something close to an ultimate technique.

A triple strike of Sword King Secret Art delivered in a very short time.

Flashes of pure white light, resembling the sword’s blade, are drawn.

Horizontal slash, vertical slash, stab.

Tearing apart Vermilion Bird’s limbs and piercing her heart.

“Do you really think you can touch my body with such simple and crude swordsmanship?”

“!”

Whoosh!!!

However, the more wounds I inflicted, the hotter and unbearable flames erupting from her body inversely invaded my body.

“Judgment.”

The rough flames are compressed in an instant.

The flames, compressed like a small dot, are released.

[【Strong Qi】 is activated. Magic power is continuously consumed while 【Strong Qi】 is maintained.]

“Tch!!”

Screeeeeech!! Whoooooosh!!!

The explosion of flames bursting like a beautiful flower.

That explosion was split apart by a dazzling, golden dawn of strikes mixed with pure white.

After splitting the explosion, I ran without delay.

【Sword King Secret Art】+【Space Slash】+【Breath of All Things】+【Strong Qi】

“Earth Cleaver”

“!”

Whoooooosh!!!

A massive attack that would split this entire floor erupted.

Perhaps it was burdensome to openly withstand an attack imbued with even 【Strong Qi】, as she flapped her snow-white wings and evaded the attack.

“So you could cut flames with that attack just now?”

“….Impudent!….”

Flames ignite erratically.

Here it comes.

【Sword King Secret Art】+【Intuition】+【Counterattack】

“Verdict”

“Mountain Cleaver!”

The erratically igniting flames explode in an instant, and dozens of pillars of flames, and explosions of flames, engulf me.

I evade the pillars of flames and cut apart the explosions.

This was done several times in a single breath.

Bang! Bang bang bang!!!

As if exchanging punches with each other, I readjust my sword and prepare to counterattack the moment I parry Vermilion Bird’s attack.

【Sword King Secret Art – Revised】

“Continuous Cleaver”

Rampage.

I simply, endlessly swing and cut with my sword.

Until sharp slashes fill a certain area.

Bang!!!

“Ugh!!!….”

As expected of a being called a Divine Beast, or perhaps it’s because she’s called the phoenix Vermilion Bird, it’s truly amazing how she’s managed to endure despite each and every attack containing the power of a sure-kill strike.

However, the amount of red flames erupting from the wounds engraved all over her body is gradually decreasing.

In some places, blood was even seen flowing instead of flames.

Just a little more and I’ll catch her!

“Here I go! Sword King!….”

“Wait a moment!! Wait!!!”

“Secret Art?!”

Clang!!!

The Flame Emperor’s voice pierced my ears the moment I was about to swing my sword.

I barely changed my sword’s trajectory, narrowly slashing past Vermilion Bird’s side.

“?”

“Please calm down for a moment. The Divine Beast Vermilion Bird has merely come to me to fulfill the oath that the first Flame Emperor made.”

“But she attacked first.”

“So please, for my sake, let her go. I beg you.”

Not an order, but a request.

I sighed and sheathed my sword at his bowing request.

“….”

“So Vermilion Bird, would you also withdraw your power and have a conversation?”

“….Fine.”

[【Status Condition: Burn】 effect disappears.]

Ah, but I won this time.