Chapter 197
Komak, the second-in-command of the Red Storm Brigade, looked around the Steel Fortress and muttered,
“What a complete mess.”
The Steel Fortress was a natural stronghold unlike anything they had ever seen.
If managed properly, it could house ten thousand people.
Nowhere in the desert was there a place this secure.
It was almost strange that such a place had remained undiscovered until now.
The problem was the awakened who were supposed to defend it.
Most of them staggered around, drugged, unable to properly use their skills.
It was baffling how they had managed to protect the fortress until now.
They were no match for the Red Storm Brigade.
The brigade were warriors hardened by the desert.
Though they lived by plunder, they did so for their families.
They chose that path to feed and protect them—and not one of them regretted it.
To live, they killed their enemies.
To protect their families, they took what belonged to others.
Justice and morality had long since disappeared.
There was no reason to feel guilt.
“Aaagh!”
“P-please… spare me…”
Even as Steel Fortress awakened screamed and died, Komak felt nothing.
One of them charged at him.
“You bastard! What the hell—why are you attacking us?!”
His bloodshot eyes burned with rage.
From his perspective, it was only natural.
They had been asleep when suddenly invaders stormed in and started slaughtering everyone.
“So what?”
Whoosh!
Something shot out from Komak’s waist—
Two palm-sized discs.
They flew at terrifying speed toward the attacker.
“This kind of—ghk!”
The awakened tried to strike them down with his sword—
—but was split clean in two.
The razor-sharp discs sliced through both blade and body.
A terrifying display of power.
This was Komak’s skill: Death Discs.
With this alone, he had risen to second-in-command.
He showed no restraint.
Whirrr—
“Aaagh!”
“Ugh!”
The discs flew wildly through the air, cutting down anyone who approached.
Corpses piled up.
Blood flowed like a river.
He looked like the very embodiment of death.
Then his gaze shifted—
To an old man and two children trembling nearby.
Holtran, Jacob, and Lucy.
Whirrr—
The death discs shot toward them.
Their true target was Holtran—but Jacob and Lucy stood too close to escape unharmed.
Komak didn’t hesitate.
“Enough already, you bastard.”
At that moment, Levin stepped in front of them.
Purple electricity burst from his body and struck the discs.
Clang!
For a moment, the connection between Komak and the discs was severed, and they fell uselessly to the ground.
Komak frowned and glared at Levin.
“What are you?”
“What do you think? A person.”
“Judging by your clothes, you’re not from the Steel Fortress. Leave. Walk away now, and I’ll let you go.”
“You’re funny. Is this your place? You’re an invader, yet you talk like you own it.”
“Valuable things should belong to those who recognize their worth. This place is no different. We can make better use of it than those drugged fools. For the sake of the people here, it’s better if we take control.”
“And you think you’ll treat them well once you do?”
“……”
“I know your kind. You’re hyenas. You feed on rot and live by plunder. You’re not the kind of people who protect others.”
Levin’s words were sharp.
Komak’s expression hardened.
“You’re begging to die. If that’s what you want, I’ll grant it.”
Whirrr—
The fallen discs spun rapidly and rose back into the air.
Levin’s body turned ghost-like as he spoke,
“Let’s see who dies.”
“A curious ability. That must be your skill. But you won’t escape my Death Discs.”
“Who said I’m running? Don’t tuck your tail and run, old man. I’m ending this.”
Crackle!
Purple lightning surged across Levin’s entire body.
“Die!”
Seeing the flashing lightning, Komak launched the Death Discs.
Boom!
Levin and Komak clashed, lightning scattering in all directions.
“Ah!”
Startled by the sparks flying close by, Brielle pulled Jacob and Lucy back to protect them.
The Steel Fortress had already become hell.
Countless corpses lay scattered.
The wounded groaned everywhere.
It wasn’t just the awakened.
Many ordinary people had died as well.
They were those who had tried to resist the Red Storm Brigade.
Though powerless, they had stepped forward to protect their home—and paid with their lives.
The Red Storm Brigade showed no mercy to those who stood in their way.
When they crushed someone, they crushed them completely.
That was their rule.
And the one who created that rule—
was Urtian.
“Kill anyone who resists. Spare only those who submit.”
“I’ve heard that somewhere before.”
At that moment, someone cut in and blocked Urtian’s path.
It was Zeon.
Shing—
In an instant, a curved, abnormal blade was drawn from Urtian’s waist.
His weapon—shamshir.
Without hesitation, he thrust it toward Zeon’s neck.
That was Urtian’s way.
He didn’t waste time on unnecessary conversation.
At that moment, Urtian moved to cut his opponent’s throat.
That method had brought down countless enemies.
But this time, it failed.
Clang!
The shamshir was deflected just before reaching Zeon’s neck.
Zeon had blocked it using his superheated gauntlet.
“Hmph.”
Urtian sneered and swung the shamshir again.
The blade relentlessly targeted Zeon’s vital points—but none of the strikes landed.
Ting! Ting! Ting!
The gauntlet either deflected or blocked every trajectory of the attack.
Only then did Urtian’s lips twitch.
He realized his opponent was no ordinary fighter.
As he swung the shamshir fiercely, he asked,
“Good! You’re worthy of facing me. What’s your name?”
“What do you need it for?”
“I’ll remember your name for a long time.”
“Don’t talk like I’m already dead. I’m not in the mood.”
“There’s no reason to consider the feelings of someone who’s about to die.”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Even as they spoke, their clash intensified.
Every collision sent sparks and sweat flying in all directions.
Urtian was genuinely surprised.
He wasn’t even using his full power—or any skills—and yet he was still overwhelmingly strong.
Faster and stronger than humans.
Not simply because he was an elf—
but because he himself was born powerful.
That was why a non-human elf had become the leader of the Red Storm Brigade.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
His shamshir swept like a storm.
But none of his attacks could wound Zeon.
Zeon was just as fast—and just as strong.
Their physical abilities were evenly matched.
This was the first time Urtian had experienced something like this.
“Good!”
Shuaa!
With his shout, intense light burst from the shamshir.
Aura enveloped the blade.
Its power multiplied instantly—and so did Urtian’s speed.
He moved faster than the eye could see.
It felt as if he had shifted into a higher gear.
Zeon matched him.
Whoooosh—
Zeon moved at high speed, leaving afterimages behind.
Boom! Boom!
The two clashed while racing through the Steel Fortress at terrifying speed.
“Ugh!”
“Gah!”
Anyone caught in their path was blown away screaming.
Urtian’s eyes turned cold.
He was an A-rank awakened.
Though he had once lost to Lee Jiryung, that was only because she had become S-rank.
He had never lost to anyone of the same rank.
Swinging his shamshir, he muttered,
“Aero Bomb.”
Boom!
The air exploded right in front of Zeon.
The blast sent Zeon flying backward into a wall.
This was one of the reasons Urtian had rarely been defeated.
Like Levin, he was a dual awakened.
With one hand, he wielded his blade.
With the other, he cast magic.
The two forms of attack meshed like gears, pressuring Zeon relentlessly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
While the shamshir pinned him down, Aero Bombs bombarded him.
Dozens detonated in succession, collapsing nearby buildings.
“Ah!”
From a distance, Holtran watched in shock.
To him, it looked like Zeon was being completely overwhelmed.
Then—
Within the thick cloud of dust, a red flash flickered.
It resembled the eyes of a beast.
A chill ran through Urtian’s chest.
Instinctively, he raised his shamshir to guard.
Boom!
A powerful impact struck him.
A fist-sized fireball had hit.
Had he taken it directly, he would have been seriously injured.
“Guh!”
He groaned under the force.
At that moment, Zeon emerged from the dust.
As he swung his fist, a rain of fire poured down.
It was his signature—Fire Rain.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Damn it!”
Urtian bit down hard and swung his shamshir like a madman.
The fire was split, deflected, scattered.
“Huff…! Huff…!”
His muscles bulged as if they might burst.
Veins writhed like snakes beneath his skin.
He had pushed himself to the absolute limit just to neutralize Zeon’s attack.
His muscles spasmed.
His heart pounded violently.
Zeon unleashed Fire Rain again.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Once more, flames filled Urtian’s vision.
“Don’t underestimate me, human!”
He leapt into the air and swung his blade.
Aura surged, creating a violent wind.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Fire and blade collided, shaking the underground cavern as if it might collapse.
“Boss!”
“Are you alright?!”
Seeing Urtian in danger, members of the Red Storm Brigade rushed in.
They surrounded him upon landing.
Urtian glanced at his shamshir.
It was a dungeon artifact.
And now—it was chipped and cracked.
“Tch… It was one of my favorites.”
Without hesitation, he threw it away.
One of his subordinates immediately handed him another blade of the same type.
Gripping the new shamshir, Urtian said,
“Be honored. Not I—but we will face you.”
Individually strong—
but far stronger together.
That was the Red Storm Brigade.
Watching them gather around Urtian, Zeon spoke,
“Then we’ll face you together as well.”
“We?”
“Yes… we.”
At that moment—
Behind Zeon, mounds of sand began to rise one after another.