Chapter 109: Hero vs. Hero (1)

Although the Goddess’s Protection was weakening, there had been a belief that they were safe.

They thought they had never let their guard down, but at some point, their vigilance slipped. The pressure from the monsters continued to mount.

The demon tempted them and showed them a way to flee from the fear.

The emergency bell rang. It was a gloomy sound that echoed in the evening. Knowing what it meant, the people closed their windows and doors.

The children burrowed into their mothers’ arms, seemingly terrified by the incessant ringing of the bell.

Feeling the warmth and trembling of the children huddled on both sides of her, the mother closed her eyes and offered a prayer.

However, even prayer could not stop her trembling.

“Lower it!”

“The monsters have already entered!”

“You damn bastards, are you trying to kill your comrades and sell out all the villagers?”

The traitors who lowered the drawbridge were skewered on spears, never seeing the prosperity they hoped for in the future.

The City of Protection.

Terrible roars erupted from the entrance where the monsters had been allowed in for the first time.

“Damn it, those sons of bitches! I knew something was wrong when I had an ominous dream today.”

The guard spat out a curse and gripped his spear tightly. His colleagues were the same. They wanted to turn around and run away right now, but they couldn’t.

“Stop them from coming in!”

The number of guards currently gathered was twelve, and there were already twenty monsters that had entered.

Zombies with six arms began to run, laughing grotesquely. The guards, prepared for death, did not avoid the zombies’ charge and collided with them.

Squelch!

Sharp spearheads pierced the zombies’ torsos. However, the zombies, who could not feel pain, opened their rotten mouths and laughed weirdly.

“Aaargh!”

A soldier screamed. In order to save his captured comrade, another soldier struck a zombie’s neck with his spear blade.

As the head flew off, the zombie’s movements slowed down. Thanks to that, the captured soldier survived, but the one who swung the spear had his torso bitten by another zombie.

“Damn it!”

“You pieces of shit!”

They couldn’t even manage one-on-one, so they couldn’t stop a greater number of zombies.

Furthermore, the zombies swarming in now were not just ordinary zombies, but warriors created by the Demon King.

The soldiers entangled with the zombies fought with literally everything they had. When a spear broke, they pulled out a dagger.

When they lost their dagger, they swung their fists.

“Get it together!”

A comrade who had suffered a bleeding injury repeatedly fell, unable to stand properly.

The soldier who blocked the front to protect his falling comrade felt his own helplessness.

Swish, swish!

At that moment, the sound of tearing air was heard, and the zombies’ bodies staggered significantly. It was reinforcements.

Comrades who hadn’t even properly put on their armor pulled their bowstrings, saving their allies in danger.

“Those Unit B bastards! I won’t give them shit about being late for their shift changes anymore!”

The zombies began to fall one by one. In an instant, their numbers were halved, and they helped their injured comrades away from the area.

However, there was a reason why they could not view the situation optimistically.

‘The Hero of Betrayal…!’

A Hero was emitting an ominous energy while wearing pitch-black armor. He was just watching with a sword in his hand.

If that guy moved, it was over.

Everyone knew it. This was their only chance, while he wasn’t moving.

Crank, creak!

Dozens of zombies on the rising drawbridge entered again. The only lucky thing was that the gate was closed.

“Ha….”

Dozens of zombies alone were a headache. But of all things, there was also a monster called a Parasitic Mushroom among them.

The Parasitic Mushroom was a mushroom the size of a person.

It had no attack power, but this monster was extremely dangerous. It scattered spores everywhere, and people without resistance would die from the poison.

Those who died had a certain probability of becoming zombies. In such a densely populated area, a single Parasitic Mushroom could cause an enormous disaster.

“Destroy the Parasitic Mushroom first!”

The guards fired arrows. The arrows pierced into the damp body of the Parasitic Mushroom. The creature let out a strange cry and began to waddle toward the village.

“Damn it!”

Curses automatically escaped their lips.

The guards who were about to chase after the Parasitic Mushroom felt a chill down their spines.

For reasons unknown, the man in black armor who had been watching until now moved.

The Fallen Hero glanced at the soldiers who had closed the drawbridge. The Hero raised his sword high.

Crackle!

A pitch-black aura formed. Seeing it, the soldiers trembled.

Whoosh!

When the Fallen Hero swung his sword, the sword aura that had gathered severed the left chain of the drawbridge.

Clang!

As one chain broke, the drawbridge tilted to one side. If the other side also broke, there would be nothing to pull up the closed drawbridge.

“You son of a bitch…!”

The Ninth Hero, Taelder, was playing with them right now. He was merely watching them struggle before him and his overwhelming power.

It was like an absolute being crushing an ant crawling on the floor with his thumb.

“Die, you bastard!”

The leader of Unit B fired an arrow with his bow pulled to the limit.

Ping!

The HP Shield appearing on the Fallen Hero’s body refused even the approach of the arrow. The Fallen Hero raised his sword.

Once again, a dark sword aura gathered at the tip of the blade to sever the last remaining chain of the drawbridge.

Whoosh!

The gathered sword aura flew out. The guard who had closed the drawbridge grit his teeth and hugged the chain.

Crack!

He felt his back being torn apart.

The man, coughing up blood as he hugged the chain of the drawbridge, felt his consciousness fade.

He felt like he was going to die right now. His back was hot as if it were on her.

It was so painful that the blood vessels in his eyes burst, making his surroundings look red.

‘Damn it, damn it, damn it!’

He hugged the chain with his trembling body. He would probably die. But if this chain broke, the drawbridge gate would open, and all the villagers would die.

The guards rushed toward the Fallen Hero.

Courage had sprouted from the valiant fight of their comrade who threw his body to protect the chain.

The Fallen Hero laughed mockingly and raised his sword.

Slash, thud!

It was a one-sided battle.

The guards were all swept away like bugs by a single sword strike from the Fallen Hero. It was frustrating.

A spear blade that did not contain Magic Power could not penetrate the Fallen Hero’s shield energy. He was literally invincible.

The boy, Theo, sat down and stared blankly at the situation.

The Parasitic Mushroom jumped inside, scattering spores like crazy.

The guards who were defeated by the Hero were crawling on the floor like helpless bugs.

The boy’s eyes met the guard’s.

The man, who could not even stand up because of a large sword wound on his stomach, gestured to the boy. He told him to run away quickly.

The Fallen Hero raised his sword.

The man who sacrificed his life to protect the drawbridge chain had already become a cold corpse.

Still, he was wrapping his body around the chain. Taelder sent his sword aura as it was.

Whoosh!

The man’s body was torn apart along with the chain.

Rumble!

The drawbridge fell straight to the ground. In the thick clouds of dust, an army of undead began to enter the Goddess’s City.

“How boring.”

Taelder felt bored. He, who was the strongest knight, became a Hero.

By becoming a Hero, he received the Goddess’s Protection and the System’s Blessing.

He, who was already strong, became even stronger and moved to subjugate the Demon King.

However, he kept feeling doubt in his heart. Humans are weak.

The existence called a king was merely ruling by relying on bloodlines.

There was no reason to be loyal. Taelder changed his mind. He decided to become a subordinate of the Demon King, who possessed mighty power.

When he became a subordinate of the Demon King and took over his army, he felt a catharsis he had never felt before.

The pleasure felt from trampling on arrogant bugs, despite their weakness, was indescribable.

At the same time, he also felt a deep sense of loss.

Thanks to receiving both the Goddess’s Protection and the Demon King’s Protection, he had become too strong.

“How boring.”

The Fallen Hero Taelder turned around.

His subordinates, seeing the fresh prey their master had intentionally left alive crawling on the floor, rushed toward them, each trying to eat first.

The fresh prey, the boy, stood up.

He tried to run, but with his legs trembling, even walking was his limit.

The boy shuddered, feeling the disgusting body odor from behind him. A giant shadow covered his body.

It was the end. At the moment the boy’s eyes were tightly shut—

Swish! Splat!

Something fell and rolled on the ground along with body fluids. It was the severed head of the Parasitic Mushroom.

“!”

The boy hurriedly looked back. A man walked leisurely toward the monsters as if he were taking a stroll.

The boy, Theo, found himself following the man with his eyes. It wasn’t just the boy.

The guards who were struggling with wounds and the women fleeing while holding their children were all looking at the man as if possessed.

I crossed dimensions through the Gate made by the Overseer.

He said the Gate he made wouldn’t have time discrepancies like other Gates. Is this the difference between a master and an ordinary person?

Information gathering about the Other World was being carried out by Olivier.

“Hero, don’t you think it’ll be dangerous if you don’t close the city gate?”

The tiny fairy clinging to my shoulder right now. No, calling it a fairy is a bit embarrassing. Let’s just call it a Navigation.

Olivier’s clone followed me. It’s good that it’s convenient for collecting information and providing guidance.

“I’m going to charge you for everything. Did you think it was free? My clones all receive a salary.”

Ah, yes. I see.

‘Was the Hero originally that kind of image?’

I looked at my junior, who was wearing black armor.

“Of course. Do you know how scared I was?”

Scared, my foot. This girl was currently riding on my shoulder and pulling on my cheeks.

The guy called the Ninth Hero seemed to be enjoying himself quite a bit.

The kid who was being chased by the monster stared at me blankly. I walked toward the kid. Seeing the kid frozen like a plaster statue made me feel sorry for him for some reason.

I stroked the kid’s head. Only then did I feel him flinch, as if the plaster statue magic had been undone.

“Could you go call some people?”

Hearing my words, the boy slowly nodded. He’s a good listener.

The zombies bared their rotten teeth at me. I wonder if the guy called The Immortal has something like rhinitis. To think he drags these things around.

“Gwaaaargh!”

“Ugh, the smell!”

Squelch!

I unintentionally swung my sword reflexively because of the stench. Four zombies cut by the sword were sliced at once, staggered, and fell.

The guards looked at me. Even though their injuries were severe, their pupils were greatly dilated as they looked at me.

“Now then.”

I swung the Two-Handed Sword in a large arc.

Crack!

The sound of flesh being sliced and bones being crushed echoed refreshingly. I swept away the zombies that were swarming around all at once.

I should set up a cenotaph for the noble warriors who overcame fear and sacrificed themselves for others.

“Let’s do a handover.”

[Phase 1 has begun]
[Phantom Step LV Max has been activated]
[Close Combat LV Max has been activated]
[Hero’s Authority: Weapon Master has been activated]
[Hero of Salvation has been activated — Attack Power increases based on the number of people to protect]
[Current applied value: Attack Power increased by 210%]
[Innate Barrier has been formed]
[Expelling Darkness has been activated]

“You’re screwed now.”