Ch.157The Prelude to War Is Dangerous (3)

Spain is known as a surprisingly strong hunter nation relative to its population.

While it couldn’t quite compare to Italy or the UK, they still possessed a formidable fighting force that could hold its own anywhere.

As such, they were already busy preparing to tackle the gate with their own strength.

“Is that true? You’ll cooperate with us to conquer the massive gate that appeared today…?”

The Spanish Hunter Association showed obvious delight at my expressed intention to tackle the dungeon.

It was only natural, considering they must have witnessed the peaceful situations in Japan and Italy despite the current crisis.

“I don’t need help. I’ll clear it alone, so everyone stand back.”

“I’ll relay your message to my superiors, but that might be difficult to arrange.”

Judging by his response, it seemed that even as vice president of the association, he lacked the authority to make such decisions.

Seriously, why are association presidents always absent in these organizations?

First America, then Korea, and now here—it’s truly mysterious.

“Honestly, I don’t care either way, but you probably should.”

“Pardon?”

Right now, inside this massive gate lurks a being with divine status.

Naturally, sending hunters would only result in meaningless deaths.

“It doesn’t matter who you send. You can’t clear this dungeon with your power anyway.”

After hearing my completely confident statement, Vice President Andre contemplated briefly before making several phone calls from a different spot.

Then, with a somewhat flustered attitude, he made a request.

“If that’s the case, would it be acceptable to send just one hunter to observe the process? Of course, we won’t interfere or claim any rights during the procedure.”

“Well, I suppose that much is fine.”

After all, Earth’s humans need to know who their true enemy is.

Such information needs to be shared to raise awareness and motivate them to seek greater strength.

Frankly, the current hunters were far too ignorant of reality.

“I just hope they don’t become completely demoralized…”

“Those who do were only meant to go that far. Besides, humans are surprisingly persistent creatures.”

That’s why I survived until the end and eventually reached the pinnacle of an entire planet.

Even if not to my level, there must be others somewhere with similar potential.

Having accepted the association’s condition, I arrived at the newly appeared Second Gate accompanied by Song Hayeon and Camila, an S-rank hunter from Spain.

Camila wore an expression full of discontent, but honestly, that wasn’t my concern.

We stepped into the gate entrance, and soon our vision blurred as a completely new space revealed itself.

It resembled an ancient arena, reminiscent of the Colosseum.

“No minions this time either?”

“Doesn’t seem like it. I don’t sense any presence.”

Just like with Tindalus before, the opponent clearly prioritized achieving objectives over maintaining appearances.

Ignoring the basic rules of dungeons, they were completely fixated on eliminating their targets.

As if confirming this thought, something undetectable sat in a meditative position at the center of the arena, waiting for us.

“Is that the enemy you mentioned?”

After confirming the opponent’s appearance, Camila pushed past us to take the lead position.

I could understand her intentions without much thought, so I quietly sighed.

“Show yourself. I, Camila, will be the one to defeat you.”

What a foolish act.

Of course, with her skill level, she couldn’t even measure the opponent’s capabilities, but knowing this made me shake my head involuntarily.

Soon, the figure that had been motionless like a statue began to stir and offered a response.

“Those without qualification cannot set foot in this sacred space.”

With just that single sentence, Camila’s body was flung helplessly through the air.

Seeing the confusion in her eyes as she failed to comprehend the situation, I quietly emitted my aura to protect her.

Had I not done so, her body would have been torn to shreds beyond recognition.

Whoosh!

Thud.

Eventually, Camila’s body, which had been rising as if sucked into a black hole, landed on the ground. Only then did she seem to realize how close she had come to death, breathing heavily.

Watching the scene, I quietly uttered a single sentence.

“When you return, make sure to report everything you’ve seen and heard here. That’s your role.”

“…Huff! Hah!”

Completely overwhelmed, Camila retreated to the spectator seats without offering any rebuttal.

After observing this sequence of events, the opponent looked at me intently and revealed his name.

“So you are the agent of death. My name is Bargante, the War God, the one who will deliver defeat to you.”

“That’s irrelevant. So what rank are you?”

I had already gathered most of the information through my battle with Tindalus. In the end, that was the only detail that mattered to me.

“How arrogant. You dare speak of such standards when you haven’t even reached divinity yourself.”

“What’s wrong with mentioning it? I already defeated that Tindalus or whatever his name was.”

This wasn’t boasting or exaggeration—it was reality. Facing my attitude, Bargante continued quietly.

“I, Bargante, am a true warrior of the 3rd rank, not to be compared with that mere fish-man.”

If that statement was true, he was certainly an opponent I couldn’t underestimate.

I had expected an enemy surpassing Tindalus would come, but already at the 3rd rank? It seemed the opposing forces had more reserves than I had thought.

“…Master, will you be alright?”

“No need to worry. Just stay back.”

My reason for bringing Song Hayeon to this battle was simple.

Despite their grand titles like “divine beings,” these were enemies she might have to face directly someday.

The process of understanding their powers and characteristics in advance and steeling her resolve was absolutely necessary.

“So, what’s your special ability? If you have something to show, don’t waste time and get on with it.”

In response, Bargante gradually released his divine power, enveloping the entire arena with it.

As the surroundings became filled with his divine energy, Bargante quietly chanted a spell and revealed his ability.

“In this arena, only sacred duels between opponents are recognized. Receiving help from others is forbidden, as is summoning familiars.”

In other words, the opponent had brought a perfect counter-pick to kill me.

‘This would definitely be poison to a necromancer.’

The enemy wasn’t stupid after all.

Having been defeated once, they had now prepared a clear countermeasure for their attack.

If I were an ordinary necromancer, I would have been defeated without being able to exert any power in this situation.

“The problem is, that doesn’t really matter to me.”

“…Whether that’s bluffing or not will naturally be revealed soon.”

As the arena’s power began to take full effect, Bargante kicked off the ground and launched a punch at me.

Swoosh!

The power contained in that fist was immeasurable. It truly held enough force to split mountains and part seas.

However, I didn’t dodge Bargante’s attack and simply took it head-on.

After all, an attack of that level couldn’t possibly bring me peace.

“Now I see clearly. You haven’t accurately assessed me either, have you?”

If that had been the case, he wouldn’t have staked everything on such a one-dimensional fact.

“I’ve already grown accustomed to divine power, so attacks like that won’t kill me.”

I had taken considerable damage when blocking Tindalus’s lightning before.

But that was due to my lack of understanding of divine power, not because the attack was at an insurmountable level.

The result was now clearly manifesting in reality.

“What… What kind of trick did you use?”

Regaining his stance, Bargante summoned divine power throughout his body and sent a dragon-shaped energy wave toward me.

‘…This is really something else.’

To be honest, it was certainly an incredible power. Each simple attack was at a level no human could possibly reach.

However, true to his name as a war god, he was merely repeating attacks imbued with pure will.

And I can state with certainty that such attacks cannot drag the current me into the abyss of death.

“…You must have severely underestimated me. To step in so fearlessly with just this level of power.”

I am the Lord of Death.

I understand life and death better than anyone and have drawn infinitely close to those concepts.

Without understanding this, they could never harm me, no matter how long they tried.

“You’re no different from that sea god. Just a loser who was satisfied with your position for ages and eventually submitted to someone else.”

Whoosh.

Rustle!

My aura spread in all directions, beginning to fill the interior of the arena.

What unfolded was neither a warrior’s battlefield nor a divine realm, but the land of the dead.

From within that unfathomable swamp, I merely uttered one phrase.

“Seal of the Netherworld.”

Immediately after, the final destination of all beings with will once again arrived in the mortal world.