Ch.84Chapter 84 – The Lion King (1)

“Doesn’t it feel like the ground is rumbling? Or is it just me…”

“Really? I don’t notice anything.”

“I’ll check it out.”

A few members of the Sword First Guild who couldn’t understand North Korean were casually chatting. A detection-type hunter concentrated and expanded his sensing ability. With his suddenly broadened awareness, he detected the presence of mana-bearing entities.

“Huh? Something’s coming our way. The number is… fifty?!”

“What?!”

“And with this much mana, they’re not low-level undead!”

The group became agitated. The platoon leader, who was in command, quickly assessed the situation.

‘The kid said the monsters’ movement route was different from usual. They must have discovered our presence. The Death Knight unit is hunting us. Should we run? Or stand and fight?’

He hesitated to flee because an important checkpoint lay ahead—the location of the nuclear storage facility and also their extraction point where transport aircraft would pick them up when leaving Pyongyang. Abandoning that spot would jeopardize the completion of their mission.

Yet fighting meant facing fifty Death Knights, high-level undead. According to the kid’s explanation, there might be Durahans mixed in, but either way, it was a daunting prospect. Of course, with two S-rank hunters, immediate defeat was unlikely, but he worried about enemy reinforcements arriving during the battle. Even S-rank hunters would eventually collapse from exhaustion.

As the platoon leader wavered, Shin Jaehyuk calmly proposed a strategy.

“We can’t accomplish anything like this. Let’s split the team earlier than planned. As per the original operation, Team A and the Sword First Guild will lure those Death Knights away from the nuclear storage facility. We’ll keep moving toward the gate with the Death Knights following us. Team B will hide here and enter the nuclear storage facility once the Death Knight legion moves away.”

“Brilliant…!”

Even the platoon leader thought it was an excellent plan. This way, they could achieve both objectives: assaulting the gate and stealing the nuclear weapons. Plus, it would keep monsters away from their retreat point.

The downside was the risk. Team A and the Sword First Guild members would have to engage the Death Knights while fleeing, potentially attracting more undead from the surroundings.

‘But that level of risk is unavoidable… This is our best option.’

Trusting in the power of the two S-rank hunters, the platoon leader quickly issued the improvised orders.

“Good! Did you hear that? Team B, hide and wait here. The rest of us will quickly flee toward the gate while luring the mobs! Move now!”

The ground tremors grew stronger. Now everyone could hear the sound without enhancing their hearing. Soon, that terrifying army of death appeared beyond the treacherous mountain path, emanating an incredible aura that made it suspicious how no one had noticed their approach earlier.

“Shit…! It really is a Death Knight unit! How is this possible?”

Their numbers had grown to nearly one hundred, perhaps joined by others en route. Each one emanated dark energy comparable to an A-rank hunter, befitting high-level undead that everyone dreaded facing. The black knight on a ghost horse who appeared to be their leader possessed an extraordinary power that even the Sword Ghost could sense.

The Sword Ghost let out a soft groan.

“Hmm…! A direct confrontation would be dangerous.”

Even if he could somehow defeat their leader, his guild members would never survive. Moreover…

‘Could I even win if I fought?’

The Sword Ghost gulped. Sweat ran down his spine. A master recognizes another master, and the Sword Ghost could see the extraordinary swordsmanship in the black knight. The way he held his sword, his gaze, his posture—all supported this assessment.

Hearing the Sword Ghost’s warning, the platoon leader issued his final order.

“A frontal assault seems impossible! We’ll break through on the left side! Get down the mountain and hide in the city! The mountain path is rough, so those armored corpses won’t easily follow! If you get separated, regroup at the location explained during the briefing!”

“Yes sir!”

As the humans turned to flee with a resounding shout, the Death Knight on the ghost horse drew his sword and pointed it at them. Then the legion of death knights, numbering a hundred, advanced to return the living to dust.

Thud- Thud- Thud-

Shin Jaehyuk gripped his spear and mace firmly as he watched the wave of black knights advancing fiercely.

“Alright, Kwak Taewoo… Let’s buy them time to get down the mountain. We’re going after their leader. You’re not scared, are you?”

“Of course not… I’d regret missing such a generous XP event.”

Kwak Taewoo grinned without showing any fear. Shin Jaehyuk raised his weapons and chanted.

“Light—”

A brilliant golden light enveloped his weapons. Shin Jaehyuk took a lance charging stance, aiming forward.

“I’ll clear the path. You support me!”

BOOM!

The paladin charged, kicking off the ground. Like a golden meteor, he rushed toward the army surging from the front like a tidal wave.

“For The King-!!!”

“Long Live The King-!!!!!”

When the golden spear met the black armor, a massive explosion sent half a dozen Death Knights flying into the air. Shin Jaehyuk continued forward without losing momentum. Like Moses parting the Red Sea, the golden light cut through the black current.

Kwak Taewoo, now wearing his armor-type artifact, followed behind Shin Jaehyuk, swinging his sword. The talisman at his waist emitted a holy light that weakened the surrounding undead, and his sword, filled with killing intent, tore through the Death Knights’ armor as they flowed past him.

The Death Knights threw themselves in layers to block the two men’s valiant charge, but they were swept away like fallen leaves. When the distance to the target leader was reduced by half, Shin Jaehyuk confirmed the black knight’s position.

“Your light, in my hand!”

As Shin Jaehyuk chanted the holy spell while running, spears made of lightning formed in the air and shot forward, melting the undead in their path. One of those spears flew toward the leader Death Knight who was observing the battlefield from atop his ghost horse.

‘Did I hit him?’

But the black knight simply tilted his head, avoiding the lightning aimed at his head. The black knight looked at the culprit who had dared to target him, then gestured behind him. In response, an additional Death Knight army, seemingly twice as large as the current force, revealed itself.

“What! Reinforcements already?”

Kwak Taewoo exclaimed in dismay. They had almost broken through the wave of monsters and were about to target the leader, but now another wave was approaching. He glanced back to check on the others and saw the Sword Ghost holding back Death Knights trying to chase after his guild members, protecting the rear as they descended the mountain.

Shin Jaehyuk pressed his spear tightly against his side and shouted.

“If we just kill their leader, their command structure will collapse! Then the remaining ones will be relatively easy to deal with!”

But he wasn’t the only one with that thought. The leader on the hill pointed his sword at Shin Jaehyuk. Then the Death Knight unit positioned on either side of him simultaneously raised their weapons—weapons that didn’t match their title as knights of death at all.

“What kind of knight uses guns…!”

Before he could finish speaking, the leader gave the signal, and they opened fire. A shower of bullets, stained black with dark energy, poured down like rain from the high ground.

“Ugh! Lord, you are my rock, protect this soul from evil!”

Shin Jaehyuk hastily raised a celestial barrier, and as soon as the shield covered them, the rain of bullets hammered against the holy barrier.

“That was close… But what do we do now?”

Kwak Taewoo asked as he dispatched a Death Knight inside the barrier.

They couldn’t stay like this forever. Each bullet was gradually eroding Shin Jaehyuk’s holy power. With his holy power, he could endure all day, but the problem was the increasing number of enemies and the hunters in the rear. Even the Sword Ghost had managed to take cover behind trees, but such cover wouldn’t last forever.

They needed to do something.

Should he just trust his regeneration ability and fight while taking bullets? It was possible for him, but Kwak Taewoo couldn’t endure that. If he lowered the barrier, they’d be riddled with bullets within seconds.

Even though awakened ones could strengthen their bodies with mana, their skin didn’t become as tough as steel, making firearms dangerous even to awakened ones. Moreover, those bullets were enhanced with dark energy. Even a single hit would cause the dark energy to invade the wound, rampaging and preventing healing.

‘Kwak Taewoo is wearing an armor-type artifact, but those bullets are enhanced with dark energy… The dark energy of A-rank high-level mobs would quickly destroy the artifact.’

What should he do? As Shin Jaehyuk considered various options, he reached a possibility—an absurd assumption. With a gambling spirit, he shouted in the Eden language.

“HALT! In the name of Paladin Longinus, I challenge you to a duel! Knight, if you know honor, accept this duel!”

‘A strong undead means it has lived a long time… If that leader is an undead born in Eden…!’

He didn’t have high expectations, but surprisingly, the black knight responded. He raised his hand from atop the ghost horse, and the intense gunfire ceased.

‘He understands?’

Shin Jaehyuk’s eyes widened. It was good news, but not entirely good. An undead with intelligence is more fearsome than a mindless one.

The black knight spoke. A cracking voice flowed from beneath the black helmet.

“Longinus-?”

“Yes! That is my name! If you’ve heard of my reputation, and if you’re not a coward who knows no honor, draw your sword and face me squarely!”

“Longinus…”

The black knight suddenly dismounted from his ghost horse and trudged forward.

“Longinus…! Indeed, with that holy power, I cannot disbelieve.”

Wondering why he kept calling that name, Shin Jaehyuk watched as the black knight removed his helmet. Then Shin Jaehyuk’s eyes widened to the point of tearing.

“You…!”

“It’s been a long time, my friend.”

Once-golden hair, now withered and white, flowed like a lion’s mane. The eyes of the deceased had lost their luster and were gloomy, and beneath the decayed, torn cheek flesh, muscles and gums were clearly visible.

Despite the changes, there was an unforgettable face. A face that should have been buried in hell hundreds of years ago. Shin Jaehyuk uttered the name of his old comrade with a voice that seemed about to tear.

“Kyle Leonhart…!”

“Yes, it is I. It’s been hundreds of years.”

“How are you…?!”

His comrade who had met his end in hell hundreds of years ago was now a Death Knight.

What devilish trick was this? Shin Jaehyuk staggered momentarily, dizzy at the cruelty of fate.

“You, who promised to slay demons together to protect humanity, have become a demon’s pawn…!”

“Hundreds of years is enough time to change a person. Especially if those hundreds of years are spent in hell.”

Was this cynical black knight really the king he had known? Shin Jaehyuk was confused by the disparity between his living appearance and current state.

“What happened…”

“I should be asking you that. I heard you were killed by Beelzebub, so why are you on Earth? And with such a different appearance from when you were alive.”

The black knight stroked his pale chin. Though it was clearly the face he knew, Shin Jaehyuk tightened his expression and closed his mouth at the sight of his too-unfamiliar friend.

“Well, this too must be the guidance of fate…”

As Kyle Leonhart muttered to himself, Shin Jaehyuk whispered to Kwak Taewoo, ensuring the black knight couldn’t hear.

“Escape now while the Death Knights have stopped moving. Retreat with the Sword Ghost. I’ll buy time.”

“What? I can’t do that. We can win if we keep fighting.”

Kwak Taewoo objected, burning with fighting spirit. But Shin Jaehyuk gestured quietly toward the mountain ridge. The sun was already setting.

“We’ll be at a disadvantage at night. Unlike undead who find targets by life energy, we can’t see in the dark. Retreat quietly and prioritize the gate assault.”

“What about you?”

“I… have unfinished business with him. I’ll head to the gate when it’s done. You go ahead.”

It was the right decision. Seeing Shin Jaehyuk’s resolute gaze, Kwak Taewoo raised no further objections. Instead, he secretly took out a scroll from his subspace and placed it in Shin Jaehyuk’s hand.

“…It’s a teleport scroll. Use it immediately if you’re in danger.”

“Thanks. But I won’t need it.”

Shin Jaehyuk confidently grinned and raised his spear. Kwak Taewoo nodded slightly and ran at full speed toward the rear. Seeing this, Kyle moved to gesture, but Shin Jaehyuk struck the ground with his spear to stop him.

BOOM-

“Look at ME!”

The mountain shook as if an avalanche was about to occur. The black knight turned his gaze away from the fleeing Kwak Taewoo and back to the paladin.

“…Good. I prefer the nuisance gone.”

“…Same here.”

The black knight lowered his greatsword. A two-meter-long zweihander, heavily damaged by time, with chipped edges and rust—practically an antique. Yet the lion’s head clearly carved on the cross guard gleamed fiercely, threatening its enemy.

“Come. It’s time to settle our long-overdue reunion, my friend…”

Kyle Leonhart, once the great Lion King but now the King of the Dead, beckoned to Shin Jaehyuk.