Episode 530. Fake Dungeon (2)

The space in the center of the Fake Dungeon trembles.

Currently, because the owner of the magic circle is Lucifer, Lucifer is also the one controlling the magic power inside.

Ta-ang- The Underworld’s magic power exploded, and Lucifer’s deep malice and murderous intent struck Lee Hoyeon’s body.

Lucifer’s two eyes shone red, and huge black wings spread open.

“To think I’d show this kind of appearance in the human world. Since no human has ever seen my horns and wings, you may consider it an honor.”

Lucifer gathered the overflowing Underworld magic power in the Fake Dungeon magic circle towards the center.

Lee Hoyeon, feeling the murderous intent emitted by the crazed demon, keenly realized the gap between himself and Lucifer once again.

It was slightly different from the sensation of being overwhelmed in every aspect he felt when he first met Im Sol.

Like a puppy meeting a tiger for the first time.

It felt like encountering an entirely different species.

“Machaeongung Deploy.”

Lee Hoyeon deployed Machaeongung, shaking off the Underworld’s magic power that was pressuring him from all sides.

Unlike himself, who had to exert his full power, Lucifer before his eyes even felt relaxed.

He probably couldn’t imagine himself losing in this environment.

‘… It’s been a while since a fight like this.’

A battle where they risked their lives against each other.

At least he had drawn out his maximum true strength in the sparring match with Im Sol, but he hadn’t actually risked his life.

His experience was fundamentally different from Lucifer’s, who crossed the line of death every single day from the Underworld.

Thump. Thump.

However, Lee Hoyeon’s body assumed a combat readiness like a gladiator who had surpassed daily life-or-death struggles.

Lee Hoyeon’s possessed [Combat Sense] enabled him to withstand the murderous intent wafting from Lucifer.

“I’ve seen this magic before. It’s surprising you can use it even in this environment, but you’re underestimating me.”

Lucifer had seen Lee Hoyeon’s magic power before.

Although it was mysterious magic he couldn’t penetrate at all, competing for territory with him in an environment as close to the Underworld as this was sheer arrogance.

Pa-ang-

The Underworld’s magic power flowing from Lucifer’s body gradually increased.

A storm of magic power enveloping the entire area.

The ominous magic power vibrated the inside of the space, pressuring Lee Hoyeon.

“This place is my territory, Lucifer’s. Since no one who trespassed into my territory in the last few decades has survived, you are lucky.”

“What bullshit, really.”

Lucky, honorable-he’s a damn arrogant bastard.

Lee Hoyeon, his face covered by the wind whipping like crazy, checked the surrounding magic power.

Lee Hoyeon’s ultimate move, Machaeongung, couldn’t exert its power properly.

This was because Lucifer’s magic power was too strong, receiving assistance from the magic circle itself.

Lee Hoyeon glared at Lucifer, standing tens of meters away, and clenched his teeth.

When facing a formidable opponent you think you absolutely cannot beat, you must find an aspect where you can gain an advantage over them.

For example, strength, speed, numerical advantage.

Even other factors.

‘If I can’t seize the territory, there’s no chance of victory.’

The inside of the dungeon was already filled with Lucifer’s Underworld magic power.

Continuing the battle in this environment is tantamount to suicide.

I must deploy Machaeongung, whatever it takes.

Lee Hoyeon raised his magic power once again.

“… Machaeongung Deploy.”

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The shimmering blue magic power around Lee Hoyeon’s body began to turn indigo.

The spreading waves of Machaeongung began to dominate the surrounding space.

Machaeongung, mixed with the Underworld’s magic power used in the sparring match with Im Sol.

Machaeongung, exerting dominance over the surrounding magic power, countered Lucifer’s magic and established Lee Hoyeon’s territory.

“Hooh….”

Lucifer’s eyes widened as he saw Lee Hoyeon skillfully handling the Underworld’s magic power.

It wasn’t magic that could be dismissed just because he was human.

Moreover, seeing him display that level of magic in this place where his own magic power was dispersed meant it was safe to say Lee Hoyeon’s skill was far above Lucifer’s estimation.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how much you’ll entertain me.”

Lucifer reached out his hand towards Lee Hoyeon.

The pitch-black magic power gathering before him gradually grew in size.

It was a simple magic blast, but the momentum contained within it was extremely intense.

“….”

Lee Hoyeon saw the magic blast gathering in Lucifer’s hand and immediately activated Arc.

The three magic spheres spinning around his body simultaneously formed the strongest magic Lee Hoyeon could use.

‘Eclipse.’

The magic power swelled up as if about to burst.

A blackened sun depicted from the three Arcs.

Lee Hoyeon continued his calculations even while activating an Arc behind his back.

Shining his golden eyes, he calculated the trajectory of the magic blast Lucifer would shoot.

The distance between Lucifer and himself was just about tens of meters.

It was a distance where he could close in instantly if he used acceleration.

‘I need to inflict maximum damage with the first attack.’

As always, the timing when the opponent lets their guard down is the biggest opportunity.

Lee Hoyeon knows Lucifer’s abilities, but Lucifer doesn’t truly know Lee Hoyeon.

I must aim for that opening.

No matter how sturdy Lucifer is, he won’t be able to withstand a Spiral hit at close range.

“Indeed. Are you thinking of attacking with firepower? I know your possessed abilities are excellent, but your confidence is sky-high, trapped in the well of the human world.”

Although the magic power contained in that black sun was immense, it was not comparable to Lucifer’s.

Lucifer brushed his hand away with a calm expression.

The magic blast gathered in front of his hand was fired in a straight line towards Lee Hoyeon.

Kwa-ang-

The single stream of magic blast suddenly split into three, surging towards Lee Hoyeon.

At the immense power vibrating the space, Lee Hoyeon also swallowed.

The reaction was fast.

He knew the magic blast would split into three streams.

The small Eclipses created from the three Arcs countered each magic blast.

The Eclipses, colliding with Lucifer’s magic, shattered, and he blocked the falling fragments with a Rune barrier.

Everything up to this point was within expectations.

Breaking through the magic blast, Lee Hoyeon accelerated his body.

Lee Hoyeon’s enhanced magic power and Machaeongung.

And the acceleration, combined even with Blood Beat, was incomparably faster than any previous acceleration.

In an instant, amplifying his tremendous speed, Lee Hoyeon reached Lucifer’s side, leaving a blurry afterimage.

Pa-jijijik-

Simultaneously, a Spiral formed in his hand.

Lightning capable of inflicting a fatal wound even with a mere brush pulsed from Lee Hoyeon’s hand.

“… Hmm?”

The moment Lucifer, who hadn’t noticed Lee Hoyeon yet, turned his head.

Lee Hoyeon’s Spiral collided with Lucifer.

Kkwajijijijik-!

The Spiral, swallowing the ominous magic power, spun rapidly, and Lee Hoyeon, unable to overcome the recoil, was flung far away.

“Kuh…!”

Kwa-ang!

Engulfed in the huge explosion, Lee Hoyeon closed his eyes.

The Spiral, having collided with Lucifer’s magic, disappeared with a tremendous roar.

After a moment, once his vision recovered, Lee Hoyeon looked straight ahead and discovered a moving figure within the smoke.

“… Is it a space-accelerating technique? You use quite interesting magic.”

Tap- Tap-

Lucifer, brushing the dust off his tuxedo, walked out of the smoke calmly.

And he looked down at Lee Hoyeon, seemingly not surprised at all.

Lucifer’s demonic eyes were, after all, part of his body.

His innate reflexes and physical abilities allowed him to quickly handle dangerous situations, even if he couldn’t read Lee Hoyeon’s magic power.

“… You crazy monster bastard.”

Lee Hoyeon didn’t change his expression, but he felt a devastating despair.

The Spiral definitely landed properly.

Lee Hoyeon certainly sensed the touch felt on his fingertips.

‘But there isn’t a single wound?’

Perhaps Lucifer had done something in that short time.

Since the biggest opportunity was missed, it was obvious the battle would become more difficult from now on.

“You’re strong.”

Meanwhile, Lucifer still wore a smile.

Truly unbelievable strength.

Just by a mere human exchanging blows with him, Lucifer’s interest exploded.

“You have certainly far surpassed the human species. I, Lucifer, the official successor to the Demon King, acknowledge you.”

“Stop with the acknowledgments and honors already. It’s annoying.”

All the bastards from the Underworld were strange, and Lucifer was indeed not normal either.

“However, it’s reckless. You cannot defeat me by fighting that way.”

“Shut up.”

I acknowledge Lee Hoyeon’s strength.

Now Lucifer saw Lee Hoyeon as a completely different species from other humans.

However, this fight being possible was thanks to Lucifer’s restraint rather than Lee Hoyeon’s strength.

If he abandoned the thought of capturing him alive and exerted his full power, he could crush him anytime.

Lucifer knew that well, and even Lee Hoyeon knew it too.

“If you’re such a strong being, you must be feeling it too. I am stronger than you, and you are weaker than me. The possibility of me dying by your hand is minuscule. So why aren’t you giving up the fight?”

“… I told you to shut up. I don’t want to fight bastards like you either, you son of a bitch.”

Who do you think willingly risks their life out of sheer enjoyment?

The only crazy people who enjoy fighting while risking their own lives are demons or those living in the Underworld.

Lee Hoyeon, an ordinary human more than anyone, never had such strange thoughts.

However, this side also has things to protect, and circumstances.

Closest among them are the women he loves.

And the people trapped in the dungeon because of Lee Hoyeon.

Broadly speaking, even the entirety of this world.

Everything rests on Lee Hoyeon’s shoulders.

As heavy as his shoulders are, it means there are many things he must do.

“I also have many things to take responsibility for…. I have to clean up the shit I’ve made.”

If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have made things like the Fake Dungeon magic circle in the first place.

Lee Hoyeon straightened his body and raised his magic power.

Anyway, there have hardly ever been opponents weaker than himself.

What Lee Hoyeon has to do is always the same.

Clinging onto the opening until the very end and killing the opponent.

Therefore, I absolutely cannot give up.

“Hooh….”

His golden eyes, contrasting with Lucifer’s shining red demonic eyes, scanned Lucifer’s magic power.

Lucifer felt curiosity watching Lee Hoyeon burn with fighting spirit.

Lee Hoyeon was a human strong enough to be counted among the best in the human world, and among them, it was safe to say he was the only one capable of resisting Lucifer single-handedly.

Yet, what could be the cause making that human so desperate?

‘The Fake Dungeon magic circle.’

Perhaps the secret lies here.

Lucifer looked back at the magic circle once again.

“Is it for the trapped humans?”

The first candidate: humans.

Lucifer couldn’t understand it, but feeling sympathy as the same species was something that could easily happen.

However, the strange point was that the owner of this magic circle was Lee Hoyeon.

Those humans were originally destined to be trapped.

‘No. The cause making Lee Hoyeon so desperate….’

Lucifer recalled the point that had raised his doubts about the magic circle.

One particular spot.

There was an area created with as much meticulous effort as a healing space.

“Right. There were special humans gathered in one place. Those humans were the target.”

“….”

Lee Hoyeon’s heart stirred.

Hidden emotions leaked out.

His demonic eyes read Lee Hoyeon’s emotions again.

Lucifer wore a relaxed smile, seeing Lee Hoyeon’s reaction.