After Ten Millennia in Hell

Surrounded by demonic beasts, the old man seemed out of place. However, that wouldn't be the case at all if he were observed based purely on the energy that he exuded. Much like the demonic beasts around him, he was filled with demonic energy.

If anything was out of place, it was that the demonic energy flowing out of the old man's body was overwhelmingly thicker than the demonic energy around him.

"Good."

Anton Sidorovich, the white-haired old man, smiled, deepening the wrinkles on his face. He nodded while looking at the demonic beasts crowding the Manchurian Plain.

'With this, we've proven it.'

This was the Demon Cult's first large-scale summoning. Before this, they'd gained experience by doing small-scale summonings, but they were finally putting their plan into action now.

The large-scale summoning was the first step of that plan. They wanted to test a hypothesis before they set their plan into motion.

Anton laughed. The test was a huge success.

'The Gaia System is getting weaker.'

The Gaia System was the Earth's defense mechanism that the Demon Cult had been trying to destroy for a long time. It had been stopping the Demon Cult's long-cherished goal, but it was gradually weakening. The entity that had been blocking their plan’s progression was finally starting to disappear.

'With this, they will also become stronger.'

Anton's heart beat faster.

The Aspects of Evil who stood at the pinnacle of the Demon Cult would be able to make their move soon enough.

[Human.]

"Hmm?"

A being walking beside Anton spoke to him. It was an ugly creature with bat wings, goat horns, and red skin. Unlike the demonic beasts that were closer to animals, this being had an intelligence similar to a human’s. It was one of the beings of Hell who always sought to fulfill their desires.

"Kekeke. What is it?" Anton replied.

[Are we headed toward the human army right now?]

"Yes, that's correct."

[Hehehe. I see.]

Uttar, the demon from the Fifth hell, let out dark demonic energy.

To him, humans were lowly, insignificant, and weak creatures. They were mortals suitable as livestock who should only crawl on the floor. Yet, Hell’s opinion of humans had been greatly overturned due to one man, and Uttar didn't like that.

[I, Uttar, will prove that humans are, in the end, just that… Humans!] Uttar said in a spirited voice.

"Ah, I think you'll have to leave that for later."

[What?]

"We have something else to do first."

Anton took something out of his pocket. It was a photo of a young man with a sharp look—the person who had meddled with their plan in Sapporo.

'I heard that he's participating in this war.'

Anton heard that this person had also gotten into a conflict with the Chinese.

"Hmm."

He looked at the photo with great interest.

'I'll have to talk to him.'

Anton had to know how someone who could easily overwhelm a cardinal wasn't that well-known and why he had gotten in the way of the last summoning.

'He isn't like Alec Osborne.'

After seeing the man through Akiyama, Anton was sure of it. He hadn’t felt a blazing sense of justice or hostility toward the Demon Cult from the man.

'Those eyes…'

He was used to seeing eyes like the man's. They were mad eyes full of desire for power, shining with madness and bloodlust. Anton knew a lot about humans like that.

'He's like me.'

Considering that, it wasn't hard to imagine what the man desired.

'I'm going to drag him into the cult.'

Anton didn't think it would be hard to get the man to join them. After all, the Demon Cult could offer what no one else could—immortality and power. For a normal human, it was very hard to resist either of them.

If someone capable of easily overwhelming Akiyama joined them, he would be helpful to their future plans.

If he refused…

'I'll make him pay for having meddled in our plan.'

Anton displayed a chilling smile.

If the man could be a bother to their plan, then taking him out in advance was the correct decision.

[And what do we have to do?]

"We have to go meet someone. I would like you to be there for support just in case."

Seeing how that young man Oh Kang-Woo had been able to overwhelm Akiyama so easily, his strength had to be at least at the level of a World Ranker. It was better to have as much backup as possible while facing a powerful person whom they didn't have much information about.

[Hah!] Uttar let out a laugh. He glared at Anton with a burning gaze. [I listened to what you had to say as thanks for having summoned me, but you are crossing the line. I am a demon, human. Do not order me around.]

"Hmm."

[I want to eat humans. I will pretend I did not hear your request for my support.]

Uttar turned away.

While making a troubled expression, Anton called out to him, "Lord Uttar, I apologize, but I hope you will refrain from acting rashly."

[Hmph. Is waging war against humans acting rashly? Who do you think I am? I am Uttar of the Fifth H—]

"No, that is not what I am talking about. I am just saying that you should refrain from doing things that are against the will of the Demon Cult," Anton said in a warning tone.

[What?]

Uttar laughed in disbelief.

He stared at Anton, who was asking him to be obedient. He thought his insides would turn upside down while looking at Anton's arrogant look.

[You must be out of your mind—!]

Uttar raised his giant hand.

However, before he could swing a ridiculously big fist, Anton took out a book made out of black parchment.

At that moment…

Crack—!

[Kurgh! Wh-What the—?!]

Dozens of black hands emerged from the floor and grabbed Uttar. An enormous force weighed him down.

[Kargh!]

His skin was torn apart, his bones were crushed, and he was forced to kneel. Uttar's eyes were full of astonishment.

"I trust that you will listen to me."

Anton laughed. Powerful demonic energy swirled around him.

After all, he was Anton Sidorovich, an Apostle of Evil. He was recognized by the Aspects of the Cult and was even stronger than an average demon from Hell.

[D-Damn human!] Uttar roared.

"What a shame."

Tap. Anton closed the book.

The countless hands that had emerged from the floor tore Uttar apart.

A heavy silence fell over them.

* * *

"All forces, prepare for battle!" Cha Yeon-Joo's shout spread through the plain.

The nervousness of the Players in formation was openly displayed on their faces. From their point of view, all they saw were horrible creatures running toward them.

"D-Damn," one of the Red Rose Guild members uttered while clenched his trembling hands.

Everyone else was in a similar state. The demonic energy flowing out of the approaching army of demonic beasts pressured the Players greatly.

"Stay sharp! This is different from the Day of Calamity! We now have the power to fight against monsters!" Yeon-Joo yelled.

Hearing that, everyone gulped.

They recalled the Day of Calamity—a day when countless people had died and many countries had collapsed.

"Y-Yeah!"

"We can do this!"

The Korean Players cheered each other up so they wouldn't feel so anxious.

Yeon-Joo turned her head and saw the Chinese Players in a formation of their own.

'There are so goddamn many of them.'

China had so many Players that one couldn't help but be impressed.

'I guess they're also in a similar situation.'

She couldn't understand what they were saying since they were speaking in Mandarin, but it seemed like they were cheering each other up too.

'I get it.'

There weren't just ten to twenty thousand demonic beasts; there were at least fifty thousand of them. It would be weird if the Players weren't scared.

'But still…'

Yeon-Joo clenched her hands and recalled the Day of Calamity. The sight of people being slaughtered by an endless swarm of monsters resurfaced in her mind.

The current situation was different from back then. She and the rest of the people here had enough strength to fight against the monsters.

"GRRAARR!!"

"KIIEEKK!"

The roars of the monsters got closer. The Players readied their weapons.

Yeon-Joo hurriedly took out a piece of paper from her pocket. Written on it was the strategy she'd spent the past three days thinking up.

"Mage classes, prepare to cast!"

The basics for most battles was to start with ranged attacks.

"And then, uhh... So, tanks should block the charge of the demonic beasts and then back off! Then make a V-shaped formation and lure the demonic beasts into the formation! And…" Yeon-Joo kept reading from the paper.

"Yeon-Joo, if you keep talking like that, no one will understand you."

"Ngh…"

The commander of the Hwarang Corps, Jang Hyun-Jae, walked toward her while sighing.

Many Korean Players from different guilds had gathered here as one. They didn't have much time to train together, so there was no way they'd be able to pull off such a complex formation.

"Uhhh... S-So..." Yeon-Joo uttered.

She'd crammed the art of war over the past three days. However, once it was time to put it into practice, she couldn't remember what commands to give.

Yeon-Joo frowned and thought, 'This isn't for me.'

Commanding didn't suit her. She was more suited to fighting.

"Hyun-Jae ahjussi[1], I think you should do it," Yeon-Joo voiced.

She gave the megaphone to Hyun-Jae, who was next to her, and smiled. Red chains emerged from her wrists while emitting a red light.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot to say something," Yeon-Joo said. She took the megaphone back from Hyun-Jae and shouted through the megaphone, "Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be! Think of it as a massive EXP event! Let's take this opportunity to get tons of EXP!"

Some people laughed, and the tense mood became more relaxed. There were also some Players whose eyes lit up after hearing the mention of experience points.

"Hah," Hyun-Jae laughed in disbelief.

He never imagined that Yeon-Joo would motivate the Players in such a way.

"Let’s go, guys!! Oh, right. Some of you aren't part of my guild. Well, anyway! Do your best, everyone! Don't die and don't get hurt!"

Yeon-Joo’s ridiculous commands didn't include a strategy or formation, but they had an extraordinary effect. The Players laughed, and no one seemed scared anymore. Rather, they were getting excited.

Boom. Yeon-Joo stomped on the ground, and a heavy vibration radiated outward.

"DEMACIA!!!"[2] she shouted, her voice spreading through the battlefield.

The battle began.

1. Ahjussi is a form of address that young people use for middle-aged men. ☜

2. Demacia is the name of a kingdom in League of Legends, and it is used as a battle cry by characters from the kingdom. ☜