Chapter 357 – Part 2 – Demon Balzark

1.5 million combat power.

That guy was definitely the final boss of the hidden dungeon.

As Choi Seong-min approached, Balzark stared intensely at him.

He could certainly feel the intimidating presence befitting a boss.

[I wondered where that fresh human scent was coming from, and here you are.]

The system translated Balzark’s words.

[To dare invade my territory. You’re not in your right mind, prey.]

“What are you saying, you monster bastard?”

Though he shot back, the creature couldn’t understand Choi Seong-min’s language and just continued speaking on its own.

[For prey to arrogantly walk around alive. This is unacceptable.]

Purple energy flowed from the demon’s body and gathered in its hands.

[Prey should be torn up nicely for eating.]

Balzark’s figure instantly disappeared and took position behind Choi Seong-min.

[Die.]

Just as the fingertips condensed with purple energy were about to touch Choi Seong-min’s back.

Choi Seong-min, who had turned around, aimed for Balzark’s heart.

‘Slash.’

Both attacks reached their targets at the same time.

Perfect timing where both would inevitably take damage.

However.

Ting-

Balzark’s attack was nullified by the Counter trait.

Stab-

Choi Seong-min’s dagger pierced deeply into Balzark’s heart.

[Keueoook!]

Balzark spat blood with a shocked expression.

He never expected to be hit by a human who was merely prey.

Though he had taken the heart so easily, Choi Seong-min knew.

‘Demons have two hearts. This won’t kill him.’

He knew that the other side of the chest also had to be pierced to kill it.

That’s why Choi Seong-min tried to deliver the next attack.

But Balzark, sensing the threat, flapped his wings and created distance.

Though the creature flew up instantly, Choi Seong-min had expected this and already cast Shadow Step.

[What?]

While Balzark was startled at being caught from behind in mid-air, Choi Seong-min’s dagger moved.

‘Throat Slash.’

Slice-!

Before Balzark could even crash to the ground.

Thud- Thud-

The head reached the ground first.

Then the body fell with a thud, and it seemed like it was over, but.

Bubble bubble bubble-

The severed neck’s cross-section began bubbling and regenerating.

‘I heard about this in the strategy, but what an absurd guy. To think he can regenerate even his head.’

Unless both hearts were removed, the creature would continue regenerating and reviving.

That’s why as soon as he reached the ground, he thrust his dagger into Balzark’s body, but.

Ting- Ting-

The dagger bounced off, as if he became invincible while regenerating.

‘Can’t be helped. I have to wait.’

He waited until the head regenerated, then immediately stabbed the dagger at the moment the invincibility wore off.

‘I need to kill him in one shot. Otherwise, it’ll become troublesome in many ways.’

Choi Seong-min struck the invincible body several times.

Ting- Ting- Ting- Ting-

It wasn’t a meaningless act.

‘Good. Defense ignore will trigger on the next attack.’

He was preparing to kill for certain.

Bubble bubble bubble-

The head that had been sprouting from the severed neck began to take shape.

As the demon’s eyes, nose, and mouth opened and regeneration was nearly complete.

Choi Seong-min, who had been using stealth and timing his moment, changed his eyes to those of a lion targeting prey.

[Hehe, I’ve returned from death…]

‘Now. Slash.’

The moment Balzark opened his eyes, the dagger drawing a red line stabbed into his right chest.

Staaab-!

The defense ignore effect triggered, penetrating deeply.

[Kheuk, keurreuk!]

Balzark, who had lost his heart immediately upon revival, convulsed and slammed his head into the ground.

Thud-!

[You have defeated Demon Balzark!]

[You have obtained an S-rank Magic Stone.]

[You have obtained an S-rank Magic Stone.]

[You have obtained Demonic Aura.]

[You have obtained Balzark’s Ring.]

[You have obtained a Supreme All Stats Rune.]

[You have obtained 700 Sun Fragments.]

‘Is it because I knew the strategy? I won more easily than expected.’

It was hard to believe that such a guy had 1.5 million combat power.

‘Could it be that my potential combat power is even higher than that?’

That might be it, since his combat power had already risen to 950,000.

That meant it had increased by 150,000 in 5 hours and 30 minutes.

Compared to when he was going through A-rank dungeons and increasing by 50,000 per day, this was a dramatic rise.

‘It rose quickly because the opponents were at an appropriate level.’

It probably updated faster because the monsters could withstand his damage.

‘I should be able to conquer even stronger dungeons than this.’

After facing Balzark, he realized.

That his potential combat power far exceeded 1.5 million.

‘Since I easily killed a 1.5 million combat power monster, couldn’t I also easily kill Kogo who has the same combat power?’

With such thoughts, he checked the items.

The most noticeable thing was, of course, the Sun Fragments.

‘700 Sun Fragments came in. Thank goodness.’

This brought his fragments to 2,100.

He had achieved his target amount on time.

‘What’s this? Demonic Aura?’

[Demonic Aura]

-Classification: Possession

-Grade: S

-Effect: Skill damage increased by 25%. Additionally, causes fundamental fear when intimidating targets.

-Durability: Infinite

-Usage Restriction: S-rank or higher (Bound)

-Description: The unapproachable aura of a noble demon can be felt.

‘Ho. 25% skill damage increase?’

Possessions were good because they activated just by having them and didn’t take up equipment slots.

‘However, due to usage restrictions, I need to be S-rank to benefit from it.’

S-rank was right around the corner, so it wouldn’t be a problem.

[Balzark’s Ring]

-Classification: Ring

-Grade: S

-Effect: All stats +150, health regeneration speed increased by 3,000%.

-Durability: 30,000/30,000

-Usage Restriction: S-rank or higher

-Description: A ring imbued with demonic power. You won’t get tired easily.

Health regeneration was different from wound healing.

‘Health is a kind of stamina. It’s the power to not get tired.’

If such health regeneration increased by 3,000%, there would be little chance of getting tired.

‘The all stats option is also not bad.’

The rewards were definitely more generous than the dungeon’s level.

Even a rune that increased all stats by 30 had appeared.

‘I just finished one dungeon and earned a tremendous amount of runes.’

Calculating, the all stats increase so far was 270.

Including what came from hunting mobs, he had obtained 7 S-rank Magic Stones, 6 S-rank equipment pieces, and 1 S-rank possession.

In terms of value, roughly over 20 billion won.

‘But what I want isn’t these miscellaneous items.’

Choi Seong-min headed to the altar in front of him.

There was a small spring at the center of the altar.

He took out the Sun Fragments he had collected from his inventory.

Splash-!

He dropped all 2,100 at once.

Light sprang from the spring.

It gradually became brighter until it was difficult to keep his eyes open.

At that moment, Choi Seong-min’s heart became peaceful.

Warmth.

It was as if the sun was illuminating the entire cold and dark world.

[You have offered tribute to the Spring of the Sun.]

[The Spring of the Sun has regained its lost power.]

[The Spring of the Sun washes away the village’s curse.]

[Peace and rest come to those who suffered from the curse.]

It was peaceful.

It felt like the blood-stained parts of Choi Seong-min’s heart were being washed away.

[You have successfully conquered the Spring of the Sun!]

[2,100 Sun Fragments have been confirmed.]

[Rewards will be determined based on the number of fragments.]

Messages appeared, and the rewards were determined shortly after.

[The Sun God is pleased and bestows rewards.]

[You have obtained a Legendary Weapon Exchange Ticket.]

[You have obtained a Core of Magic Power.]

This was why Choi Seong-min had coveted the Spring of the Sun.

Because it gave a legendary item exchange ticket and a Core of Magic Power as rewards.

Choi Seong-min, who had obtained both rewards, smiled with satisfaction.

‘To give two of something that’s hard to get even one of. This is a completely balance-breaking dungeon, isn’t it?’

He understood why God had added the condition of a solar eclipse.

‘I can only use the exchange ticket when I become S-rank, so I’ll have to postpone the combination for later.’

He was already looking forward to it.

What kind of EX-rank item would come from combining the legendary weapon and the Core of Magic Power.

‘First, becoming S-rank is the top priority.’

S-rank wouldn’t be a problem.

The lacking combat power could be easily raised with just one day of hunting.

* * *

“O-oh, you’ve arrived, Great Hero!”

“Butler. You don’t look well? Is something wrong?”

“N-no. By the way, about the meal…”

“Didn’t I tell you last time? I’ll eat outside from now on.”

“Ah… understood.”

Choi Seong-min watched the bowing butler for a while before entering the mansion.

Thud-

Only then could butler Hwang Seok-gyu catch his breath.

“Phew. I’m going crazy from the fear…”

Hwang Seok-gyu was afraid to face Song Chi-hyeon.

Though he was trying not to show it, knowing that his thoughts could be read.

‘He must know. When I tremble just from facing him like this…’

Instinctive fear couldn’t be hidden.

‘Even now, just thinking about that time still gives me chills…’

Ten days ago, Hwang Seok-gyu had cleaned up dozens of corpses by himself.

‘To mercilessly kill his own subordinates… Even Great Hero Kwak Min-cheol wouldn’t do this.’

While cleaning up the corpses, he had one thought.

Absolutely, absolutely not to die so miserably.

He must survive, he wanted to live.

With that mindset, he resolutely finished the cleanup and decided to side with Song Chi-hyeon.

But enduring also had its limits.

At midnight, the butler made a call as usual.

To Kwak Min-cheol, his master.

-Yeah. Speak.

“There’s nothing particular to report today either.”

-Useless parasite bastard. Nothing today either?

“…I’m sorry.”

-Did you forget whose grace allowed your maggot-like life to unfold?

“…I haven’t forgotten.”

-Then you should repay that grace by bringing me something! Damn!

“S-sorry.”

-Hang up, you bastard!

The butler sighed after ending the call.

‘To have to make false reports like this every time…’

He couldn’t even mention that Song Chi-hyeon had come home late from somewhere.

It was because of Song Chi-hyeon’s request not to reveal his whereabouts.

‘Request? More like a threat…’

The butler was suffering from insomnia lately.

Every time he fell asleep, he dreamed of being dismembered by Song Chi-hyeon.

Now he couldn’t even sleep properly from fear.

‘Do I have to repeat this life until I die…?’

Honestly, he was exhausted.

Even though he was exhausted, the butler didn’t forget his duty.

He sent the recorded conversation with Kwak Min-cheol to Song Chi-hyeon.

‘Great Hero Kwak Min-cheol is scary too, but…’

Song Chi-hyeon, who was close by, was more frightening.

‘I’m like a fly that doesn’t know when it might die…’

The thought that he might also be discarded like the subordinates someday wouldn’t leave his mind.

‘Rather than worrying like this, I’d rather…’

The butler’s eyes turned to the mansion’s windows.

The light in the room where Song Chi-hyeon was had gone out.

He seemed to have just gone to bed.

‘Isn’t now the opportunity? The chance to escape!’

Though Song Chi-hyeon had threatened to find and kill him within half a day if he ran away.

‘Honestly, if I run now, could he find me? He doesn’t even have tracking abilities.’

Knowing Song Chi-hyeon’s traits, he thought it might be possible.

‘I guarantee he absolutely won’t find me.’

Hwang Seok-gyu, who decided to execute the plan he had thought about many times, headed to his room.

He took the luggage he had packed ready to leave at any time and quietly left the mansion.

‘I’ll distance myself from both Kwak Min-cheol and Song Chi-hyeon.’

He had considered returning to Kwak Min-cheol, but there was no way he would leave alone someone who had already made false reports.

Rather, staying away from both would be the wisest choice for the future.

That’s certainly what he should have done, but…

“Where are you going this late at night?”

Hearing Song Chi-hyeon’s voice from behind, Hwang Seok-gyu thought.

Maybe running away wasn’t the worst choice after all.