After Ten Millennia in Hell

Oh Kang-Woo's face froze when he saw a pink apron beneath Vaal Zahak's black robe.

The image of an evil demon taking a frail girl hostage was destroyed by that pink apron.

'Why is he wearing that?'

His head hurt.

It was as if karma for having used Vaal Zahak as a housekeeper was coming back at him.

A great mood had been set up, but it had been shattered by just one apron.

He was worried about how Reynald would react.

'Authority of the Watcher.'

A translucent sphere appeared. Kang-Woo used the sphere, which could go through walls, to scout the room Reynald was in.

Reynald was frowning and trembling in anger. He didn't seem to care about the pink apron.

'Phew.'

Judging by Reynald's reaction, it seemed the situation he had feared didn't happen.

Reynald was pacing in the room while contemplating whether or not he should tell Gaia about the situation.

It wasn't hard to imagine what decision he'd make.

'If it's Reynald…'

He would face Vaal Zahak alone and would gladly jump into a trap if it were to save a little girl's life.

—Because he was a righteous man.

He was a hero who had to protect the weak and save the world.

—Because he was Reynald.

'Like I'd thought…'

Being righteous was exhausting.

Kang-Woo smiled. He raised his head, and Si-Hun's sword was being swung at him.

Clang!

He parried it with his own sword.

A heavy shock spread through his hand.

Si-Hun's physical specs had improved a lot from all of the training he'd done in the past few months.

The sword danced. As if a dragon was twisting its body, a barrage of enormous sword energies continuously struck Kang-Woo's sword.

Clang, clang, clang!!

'At this point, I think he's already stronger than Tian Wuchen.'

The disciple had surpassed the master.

Kang-Woo smiled while looking at Si-Hun swinging his sword. He had not been wrong about his certainty that Si-Hun would be the only person besides himself who would become strong enough to face the princes of Hell.

Si-Hun had become scarily strong and was still becoming stronger.

'Good.'

He changed his weapon to a spear.

He had started the spar to separate Gaia and Si-Hun from Reynald, but now he couldn't help but wonder about Si-Hun's limits.

'You're gonna have to try a bit harder, Si-Hun.'

The sword and spear clashed. The training room shook while a loud sound echoed out.

Materialized Qi wrapped around Si-Hun's sword. It was a technique called 'condensed Qi' in martial arts novels.

An intense heat storm swept away the surroundings.

Kang-Woo smiled in satisfaction and drew out more demonic energy.

'Because you'll have to do Reynald's share of the work as well.'

There was a lot of weight on Si-Hun's shoulders.

* * *

Boom!!

The surface exploded.

A golden light rushed along the giant canyon, which looked as if a god had split with a hammer.

Reynald…

The hero from another world was running with all his might to save the life of a little girl.

Rumble!

A thick smoke rose.

He was running at supersonic speed, creating a sonic boom. The surface split, and his breath became heavier.

But he couldn't stop.

The poor little girl who had been captured by the demon king…

He was so desperate to save the life of a little girl whose name he didn't even know.

'I hope I'm not too late!'

He couldn't help but be bothered by the fact he wasn't able to tell the Guardians members about what happened, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Demon King Vaal Zahak was an evil demon who didn't have tears or blood.

If Reynald had told the Guardians members, Vaal Zahak would most definitely have killed the little girl instantly.

He couldn't let that happen.

"Lord Tirion…"

'Please grant me the strength and wisdom to get through this trial.

'Please save the life of the innocent girl.'

After a short prayer, he reached the place where he had seen Vaal Zahak.

"Vaal Zahak!"

Rumble!!

He stopped and roared ferociously.

A hazy billow of smoke soared into the sky.

He could see that Vaal Zahak was looking at him while grabbing the girl's neck.

[So you've come.]

Vaal Zahak laughed mockingly.

Reynald unsheathed his sword without hesitation. His magnificent golden sword, Del Lain, showed itself.

Golden light burst out from the sword that had received Tirion's grace.

But…

[Why are you standing still? Didn't you draw your sword to kill me?]

"Kuh."

Reynald couldn't swing his sword. He glared at Vaal Zahak while biting his lip, looking at the girl in Vaal Zahak's hand.

The little girl was as beautiful as a doll. She had white skin and black hair, and her eyes shone as if they were gems. She looked so frail that it seemed she would break if one wasn't careful enough.

Looking at the girl that Vaal Zahak was holding hostage made him grip his sword even tighter.

"Vaal Zahak, do I cry now?" the girl whispered.

[Yes.]

The little girl and Vaal Zahak were talking, but Reynald was too far away to hear them.

"KYAAHH!!"

The girl, trapped by the evil demon king Vaal Zahak, screamed.

"P-Please save me, Mr. Hero!" the girl shouted to Reynald, tears dripping from her eyes.

After hearing the girl's shout, Reynald shouted in an urgent voice, "Get away from her, Vaal Zahak!"

Vaal Zahak laughed at him.

[Do you want to save this girl?]

"I told you to get away from her!"

[KAHAHAHAHA!! Pathetic! Why are you becoming so enraged over the life of a mere little girl?]

"YOU BASTAAAARD!!!"

Reynald's expression distorted. Golden energy burst out of him, shaking his surroundings.

While he was bursting with rage, the girl and Vaal Zahak continued to secretly talk to each other.

"… What do we do now?"

[Huhu. Now my pawns will kill him.]

As long as he had a little girl as a hostage, Reynald couldn't recklessly take action. Vaal Zahak just had to make Reynald realize how strong a mage with their safety guaranteed could be.

Vaal Zahak snapped his fingers.

[Arise, army of the dead.]

Demonic energy spread from his fingertips and seeped into the ground.

Space distorted, and a black Rift appeared.

What emerged from within were twelve Death Knights. The Death Knights were riding skeleton horses covered with blue flames. They drew their swords.

[Knights of death, tear his skin apart and drink his blood. Cut the body of this lowly mortal with your swords.]

His eye sockets shone with a yellow light.

[Kill my enemy.]

Rumble!

The Death Knights raised their swords and rushed along the canyon on their skeleton horses.

"HWOOOO!!"

It was the cry of the dead.

The ghastly howls that subconsciously instilled fear into the living spread through the canyon.

"You bastards…"

Even after hearing their howls, Reynald didn't tremble. The golden light protected his body and mind. He raised his sword.

"Unforgivable."

A cowardly demon king hiding behind a frail little girl held hostage… Reynald could neither forgive nor compromise with him.

Reynald swung the sword covered with golden light toward the Death Knights charging in his direction.

Slam! Boom!

Although it was a clash between swords, the sound that resulted from it did not sound right.

The Death Knights, clad with demonic energy, clashed with Reynald.

While Reynald was fighting fiercely, Vaal Zahak cast magic.

[Kekeke. I never thought that my ill fate with that eyesore would continue in another world.]

"I hate him too."

The girl Reynald was risking his life to protect was frowning, and she was about to cast magic…

But Vaal Zahak stopped her.

[Don't rush. If he feels demonic energy from you, it would ruin our plan.]

"… Can you beat him by yourself, Vaal Zahak?"

[Hehehe. Who do you think I am? I dyed the continent of Aernor in fear, the strongest and most evil—]

"So, can you beat him or not?"

[…]

Vaal Zahak's yellow eyes flickered.

[Ngh. It wouldn't be easy with a frontal assault. That man is a hero who has received the blessing of Tirion.]

But…

A creepy laugh leaked out.

[I have also received power from Master. And right now, I can one-sidedly attack him, so there's no need for you to act,] he said confidently while pouring the magic he'd cast at Reynald.

Bone spears drilled out from the ground and targeted Reynald.

"Kurgh!!"

Reynald swung Del Lain and blocked Vaal Zahak's attacks, but he couldn't fight back.

One small mistake, and the little girl's life could be in danger.

"Dammit…"

The hero's expression darkened.

Vaal Zahak kept one-sidedly attacking him.

* * *

'Good.'

A smile appeared on Kang-Woo's face, who was watching the battle with his left eye.

Vaal Zahak's attacks were one-sidedly hitting Reynald.

As time went on, Reynald became noticeably more fatigued.

'Tsk, pathetic.'

Kang-Woo was expecting it, but he couldn't help but feel that Reynald was too pathetic. He was taking every single attack without fighting back at all due to Echidna, who was pretending to be a hostage.

How could he not call that pathetic?

'Although it's true that hostages are used for this very purpose.'

Armed police officers also couldn't easily neutralize kidnappers for that same reason. But even considering that, Kang-Woo couldn't help but sigh at how Reynald was dealing with the situation.

'Does he seriously think anything is going to change if he keeps taking the attacks?'

Kang-Woo was so frustrated that he wanted to step into his shoes, but that was not an option. Whether Reynald was righteous or stupid, what mattered was that everything was going as Kang-Woo had envisioned.

'Good. Just keep being attacked and die.'

Kang-Woo was cheering for Vaal Zahak. He was doing better than Kang-Woo had expected. Echidna's performance of asking Reynald to save her from time to time was also great.

Reynald vomited blood and collapsed onto the ground.

'It's almost over.'

Judging by Reynald's state, Kang-Woo was starting to see an end to this stupid play.

Kang-Woo looked in pity at Reynald, who was spewing blood while desperately trying to get up.

'Nothing's gonna change even if you do that.'

Kang-Woo smirked.

The hero who had raised his sword to protect a little girl… A powerful opponent… A hero who had been brought to the brink of death due to a cowardly tactic.

It was the perfect situation for a cliche powerup, but the world was not so generous.

'Life isn't easy, man.'

Injuries led to weakness, and rage led to simple-mindedness. Blood loss led to slowness, and desperation blunted movement.

Powering up in the worst possible scenario was something that only happened in manhwa and novels.

Reynald collapsed to the ground.

A smile appeared on Kang-Woo's face.

'It's over.'

He thought they'd cleanly gotten rid of Reynald.

It was at that moment…

Fwoosh!!

An enormous blinding ray of light burst out of Reynald's body.

"Huh?"

What the hell was this?

Kang-Woo looked at Reynald in confusion.

Reynald, who had collapsed on the ground, slowly got back up. An explosive amount of golden energy surrounded him like armor.

His body, which had been covered in wounds, instantly healed. All the Death Knights attacking him were swept away with just one attack.

'Wait just a fucking second.'

Kang-Woo couldn't understand what was going on, and he became uneasy.

'Did he seriously power up?'

It seemed that the cliche he'd brushed off and laughed at for being too unrealistic had happened.

Kang-Woo covered his face with both hands as if his head hurt.

It was as if the plan he had carefully constructed had been ripped to shreds.

"For fuck's sake…"

'What a comfortable life you have.'