Ch.53Chapter 53 – The Final Martial Contest (2)

Azazel had been predicting her victory for a long time.

It wasn’t simply due to her superior abilities, but because of the rules of the world they had previously belonged to.

‘I’ve been cultivating my power longer than that trash.’

In the original work “I was Possessed In Idle Game,” time was crucial. As characters in the novel, they grew stronger according to the time invested, following the idle game setting.

Basically, one would grow stronger even when idle, but manual control would make that growth much steeper.

‘I can definitely win…!’

Azazel raised the corners of her lips gently, displaying confidence. Unlike Kang Si-woo who spent his days womanizing, she had continuously cultivated her power at the northern monastery.

If she could claim victory at last, Bing-yeon would think differently of her. She regretted not recognizing such a good man earlier.

‘And then I’ll make my brother fall for me slowly. This time, I want to experience being loved, not just one-sided affection.’

The person who had scolded Kang Si-woo for his harsh words and comforted her. For Azazel, who had no one to lean on, that had been a great comfort.

Someday, she wanted to enchant her master Bing-yeon and make him unable to suppress his feelings for her.

– Azazel, do you think you can win?

While she was indulging in happy fantasies, the tentacles on her back wriggled and spoke to her.

Her Outer God companion Morgidian, who had shared her joys and sorrows for a long time, couldn’t shake off an uneasy feeling.

Things were going too smoothly.

Even though their opponent was the Outer God Shub-Niggurath.

Despite the difference in rank between Outer Gods, beings beyond human comprehension…

“Of course, Lord Morgidian.”

Azazel spoke while recalling the martial arts she had learned from Bing-yeon. She had practiced punching until her knuckles bled and calluses formed.

Wasn’t that what the other disciples who had competed before had done as well?

It was merely third-rate martial arts, equivalent to beginner-level magic.

But in this world, some had reached the position of tower master with just that. Endless repetition of the basics allows one to see beyond them.

“If I don’t win this time, who else will bring medicine to my brother?”

Azazel could feel the heated atmosphere of the tournament as she stepped onto the arena.

People’s expectations for the finals had increased after the first-ever tie result. The rules had originally been set as best of three, not anticipating such a situation.

The Ice Dragon Fate Sect was the first to break this precedent.

“If I lose, my brother might have to fight. I’m at least perceptive enough to know that.”

– Yes, no matter how strong that man is, he can’t defeat the Outer God Shub-Niggurath.

“Besides… I personally want to beat that horny bastard to a pulp.”

Azazel clashed her fists together to build up her fighting spirit. Unlike others, she had tentacles on her back, making her advantageous for learning fist techniques.

Bing-yeon knew this, which is why he recommended the Six Harmonies Fist to her.

“The technique used by the person Sister Bi-wol fought earlier is the same as what I learned.”

Azazel had witnessed with her own eyes how powerful the martial art was when Kim Hyul used it. With this, she could easily subdue Kang Si-woo without using her Outer God’s power.

“Today, I’ll put an end to this wretched relationship.”

Her tightly clenched fist filled with strength.

* * *

Waaaaaah─!

Cheers and shouts erupted from the other martial artists as Azazel walked through the passage and stepped onto the arena.

One reason was that Verdandi, who had the appearance of someone from the West, had used the Six Harmonies Swordmanship to create plum blossoms in this space.

Bing-yeon had preserved the pride of the martial artists who feared the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament might end with Western mana or magic.

“The Dragon and Phoenix Tournament finals…! This heated atmosphere is heading toward its conclusion!”

Cheon Cheon-mu responded to the crowd’s enthusiasm, using his sound technique to commentate in a loud voice.

“From the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament, we have Azazel from the West, who is said to use the Six Harmonies Fist, just like Kim Hyul earlier!”

Azazel showed a slightly shy attitude upon hearing this explanation. Could she have ever imagined fighting with so many people’s expectations on her shoulders?

This was something she would never have experienced had she remained alone at the northern monastery.

“And facing her is Kang Si-woo from the Seongyeong School…!”

Eventually, a familiar name was heard, and a black-haired man climbed onto the stage. To Azazel, he was someone she once had a crush on, but now worse than an enemy.

“…Kang Si-woo.”

“Azazel, I’ll tell you one last thing.”

Kang Si-woo opened his mouth with a sinister smile while looking at Azazel.

“Are you really going to follow that sickly chicken of a man instead of me?”

Seeing him smile as if entranced by some ominous energy, she clicked her tongue.

She had thought things were going too smoothly. He must have made a contract with an Outer God, just as she had.

But,

“My brother Bing-yeon is not someone a horny dog like you should casually mention.”

Azazel wasn’t one to be intimidated by such things. An Outer God’s divinity is too great and powerful for a mere human to handle.

Azazel herself had spent years in isolation to refine and control Morgidian’s power.

There was no way he could have perfectly made it his own in just a few hours.

“So that’s how you want to play it?”

Kang Si-woo burst into laughter seeing Azazel’s resolute attitude. He still seemed to think of her not as a living human, but as a character he could play with as he pleased.

Unlike other protagonists, Kang Si-woo had never experienced being on the brink of death; he had merely been sucked into this world while playing a smartphone game in the real world.

“…You’ll regret it.”

“You’re the one who’ll regret it.”

The two glared at each other with murderous intent as they prepared for battle.

* * *

Kang Si-woo was similar to Verdandi as a hero, but in reality, they were completely different. He had neither a sharp holy sword nor holy armor to protect against all attacks.

His ability, like the hero he played in the game, was to “command” the character in his smartphone.

A game where you leave it alone to earn resources, use those resources to draw characters, and then push through events or stories.

That was the setting of the original work “I was Possessed In Idle Game,” where Kang Si-woo and Azazel came from.

‘But that’s all in the past now.’

Azazel gritted her teeth watching Kang Si-woo immediately take out his smartphone. Normally, companions they had lived with would have appeared from there.

‘We can’t be commanded without affection points.’

The Kang Si-woo as a player and the one in the real world were completely opposite in character, almost like separate individuals.

Like a playboy who carelessly wielded his lower body, treating people like Azazel as mere tools for his use—it seemed no one would follow his commands.

“As expected, it’s not working.”

After taking out his smartphone toward Azazel and trying to use his command ability, Kang Si-woo concluded with disappointment.

“Too bad, but your scheme has failed.”

If she had had a certain level of affection, he could have commanded Azazel and given her orders or made her move at will.

“…Because I despise men like you the most.”

Her affection level had been reduced to the point of going negative. Azazel found the very fact of exchanging words with Kang Si-woo unpleasant.

Kwaaang─!

Azazel’s fist and tentacles struck simultaneously. The tentacle curled like a mace was Bing-yeon’s ingenious method for using the Six Harmonies Fist.

Utilizing existing elements like this was one of the essential skills of an author.

“Kheuk…!”

Kang Si-woo let out a groan after being hit in the solar plexus and face. His nose bone broke and bled, and he immediately collapsed, seemingly unable to stand up anymore.

– Azazel, something’s strange.

Sensing something off, Morgidian used his tentacles to bind Kang Si-woo’s arms and legs. It was a precaution in case he tried to touch his smartphone to call companions.

“What is? He’s surprisingly weak, which is actually fortunate. As expected of trash…”

– Doesn’t it seem like the opponent didn’t resist at all and just took your attack?

At Morgidian’s question, Azazel’s expression changed as if she had realized something. Just a moment ago, he had seemed to have received power from Shub-Niggurath.

‘Why didn’t he resist at all?’

A chill ran down Azazel’s spine.

The opponent had fallen too easily, as if he had been aiming for this situation.

Immediately sensing danger, Azazel took the measure of wrapping her tentacle around Kang Si-woo’s smartphone and crushing it, but.

“Heh, hehahahahahaha….”

Seeing this, Kang Si-woo laughed like a madman, looking up at the sky. His black pupils contained starlight.

Despite it being midday with the sun high in the sky.

– Dangerous, Azazel. Something’s not right…!

“If I knock him unconscious, wouldn’t it be fine?”

Azazel calmly attempted to strike pressure points using her tentacles. The Six Harmonies Fist uses every part of the body as a weapon.

No matter what Outer God power one had, there were limits to what could be manifested through a mere human vessel.

“Knock me unconscious? You?”

Tuk, tuduk.

Even though she struck the pressure points that should have rendered him unconscious, Kang Si-woo remained conscious. Rather, he twitched his facial muscles as if finding her attempt amusing.

“…I see, you’ve already given up on being human.”

Azazel realized something while pressing the pressure points. Kang Si-woo had already become Shub-Niggurath’s plaything, transforming into a being different from humans.

His appearance remained the same, but what constituted him and his soul had been filled with something completely different.

“I’ll do anything to get a limited character…!”

“What nonsense you spout.”

Azazel struck his chest with a straight punch again as she watched Kang Si-woo speak while twisting his neck 90 degrees, but.

“Haha! Your cotton punches don’t even hurt! They say if you lose here, you won’t be able to save the life of that Bing-yeon or whatever cripple!”

He continued speaking as if nothing had happened, and soon the pieces of the smartphone that Azazel had destroyed floated up.

“Well then, let’s see you struggle.”

The smartphone pieces reassembled into their original form. Watching this, Kang Si-woo laughed maniacally.