“Heok… heok…”

A stone chamber inside the Einherjar ruins.

Woohyuk gasped for breath while facing Atreus.

They had been battling for over a day, but there was no sign of an end.

“It's been a long time since I've faced someone so difficult. For a human to contend against me… this is a first,” Atreus said as he stared at Woohyuk in admiration.

No matter how much if one possessed the greatest weapon of the demons, humans were humans.

Woohyuk basically had a fragile body, and his growth was limited.

Of course, there were exceptions, but Woohyuk's case went above and beyond an exception.

He deserved to be called the reincarnation of Archangel Rafael.

“It looks like you haven't had the opportunity to battle with the Einherjars in Valhalla, Atreus. When it comes to stats alone, they're not far behind me,” Woohyuk replied in a tired voice.

“That's right, but you're still something different. It's a bit difficult to express in words.”

Woohyuk had an atypical trait that even DemiG.o.d Atreus couldn't understand.

The trait was not wholly from the spirit of the archangel, yet it didn't directly correspond to the power of a demon.

Woohyuk possessed something like a seed before germination. It was still uncertain what would spring from the seed during this period, but its existence itself made Atreus feel unease.

“According to the words of one of the ancient demons, when I was an archangel, I injected something into my own soul. Maybe that's the reason,” Woohyuk replied.

“… If so, it might be part of the Odyssey Plan. Anyway, try to wake it up. It might help you grow,” Atreus commented, showing a favorable att.i.tude toward Woohyuk.

Although Woohyuk was an opponent who he'd have to fight to one's death, Atreus thought it was worth to pay homage to Woohyuk.

Woohyuk also humbly and respectfully accepted his advice.

“I'll try.”

“By the way, I think we'll have to end this soon. It's not good for me either to keep hitting and receiving like this.”

Atreus possessed an advantage in terms of physical strength, but he was concerned with Woohyuk's demonic powers.

Woohyuk possessed the potential power to destroy the world.

The power was on par with the Creator's, so it would be difficult for Atreus if Woohyuk's demonic powers consumed him and decided to run rampant.

As Atreus prepared his final blow, Woohyuk also cleared his mind.

'This is it.'

Currently, Liandry's skill blockade was in a cooldown state.

Woohyuk was at a disadvantage up to this point, and it was a great opportunity for Atreus.

Tak!

Atreus jumped first and rushed toward Woohyuk.

He exhibited agile movement, unlike before.

Atreus had been hiding some of his power while giving and receiving blows with Woohyuk, and this time, he was going to use this hidden agility move as his hidden card.

'… Fast.'

Atreus' agile movements were difficult to follow, even when Woohyuk heightened his senses to the max.

In addition, considering that the Thunder Lord Spear could be used for a total of three attacks at the speed of light, it was a very dizzying situation.

Woohyuk instinctively used Dantalion's exclusive magic spell with Liandry's Ring.

SAck!

Woohyuk's alter-images spread everywhere and confused Atreus, who was narrowing the distance.

However, Atreus fired a ruthless spear attack at one of the images without any signs of agitation.

Hwi-Ah!

A blue flame afterimage followed along the curve drawn by the thrown spear. The blue flames quickly wrapped around Woohyuk.

Because of the battles so far, he couldn't fool Atreus any longer using alter-images.

Woohyuk clenched his teeth and teleported to an alter-image.

'Is it time to use Baal's abilities?'

He had a hidden card that he still held behind.

The Black Constellation, Baal's main demon magic spell.

When activated, it was awakened for an hour, greatly increasing the power of all stats and skills, and was able to release some of his own potential power.

With the long journey he had made so far, he was able to mobilize a number of active and pa.s.sive skills that he learned along the way, such as the Blood Power of Hong Yuri and Sieg's Dragon Armor.

Baal's spell could be considered ridiculous, and there was no particular penalty.

However, the caster's mana would continuously drain during the casting period.

'The win or loss will be decided from this upcoming confrontation anyway.'

This moment when the opponent's hidden card was revealed was the best opportunity to use his own hidden skill.

When Woohyuk activated Black Constellation, burning black flames covered his body.

HwRrrrrrr!

With just this one spell, his aura and influence seemingly swallowed up everything surrounding them.

However, Atreus continued to narrow the distance with an expression of expectation.

“I knew you would use Black Constellation last. Because that's the most powerful of the 72 Demon King's abilities.”

Of course, that didn't mean the DemiG.o.d would be pushed back by Baal's powers.

In other words, everything was determined by how calmly one judged the situation and responded to the other's attack in a timely manner.

Hwi-Eek!

Atreus attacked again, wielding the Thunder Lord Spear with force.

Blue flames rose and spread out wherever the spear moved.

With a roar like thunder, a fierce wolf head appeared from the spear.

[Fenrir].

It was a mythical beast who threatened the G.o.ds. Fenrir, along with the giant serpent Jormungand, had clashed against the G.o.ds during the last Great Demon War.

'Ah. So, the ident.i.ty of that flame was Fenrir.'

It was quite weird that the flame didn't succ.u.mb or fade against Verserios' black aura.

The G.o.d of Blacksmithing probably used his power to seal Fenrir within the Thunder Lord Spear.

However, even Fenrir was not enough to contend against Woohyuk's awakened state.

Go-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!

Woohyuk's eyes turned red and blood swirls covered the area.

He created another absolute s.p.a.ce within Asura's absolute s.p.a.ce.

Faced with another absolute s.p.a.ce, this time filled with blood and vampires, Atreus completely lifted Fenrir's restraints.

“Grrrrrr!”

Fenrir popped out of the Thunder Lord Spear and bit the throat of a conjured vampire.

Of course, the vampire didn't suffer losses unilaterally. It caused a wave of blood to smash onto Fenrir's body, causing a number of injuries to Fenrir.

While the two conjured minions fought, Woohyuk and Atreus continued to exchange blows as well.

KRang!

The two's auras and power collided, distorting the surrounding s.p.a.ce.

The blood vortex within the absolute s.p.a.ce bent sideways from the aftermath.

Naturally, tremendous counterforces from the clash spread like waves over their bodies.

“Keuk…!”

Woohyuk grit his teeth and competed with Atreus, pus.h.i.+ng Verserios with all his might against Atreus' spear.

This stalemate was difficult to maintain, even though he had fully awakened by activating Black Constellation.

The backflow of blood and the pain of his bones being pulverized into dust dominated his whole body, but Woohyuk could not withdraw.

Withdrawing meant defeat and death.

When the two men were fighting a mental power fight with their weapons against each other, Fenrir shredded a vampire into two with its sharp claws.

ChwAh!

Red blood scattered everywhere, and the summoned vampires lost shape.

Immediately afterward, Fenrir returned to the Thunder Lord Spear.

When it joined their battle, Woohyuk could feel that Atreus was gaining the upper hand in their balance of power, little by little.

HwRrrrr!

Blue flames gradually encroached upon and extinguished the pitch-black mana aura surrounding Verserios and gradually approached Woohyuk.

In preparation for this emergency, Woohyuk used Sieg's skill, Indomitable Fighting Spirit.

To overcome his human limitations, he would become an immortal for 10 minutes.

At the same time, he used Lilith's Unholy Grail to amplify Verserios' magic as much as possible.

As a result…

Crack!

The Thunder Lord Spear was unable to withstand the sudden overflow of might and rebounded off.

No matter if Fenrir was used, even if it was a masterpiece of a master blacksmith, the spear couldn't be compared to a representative weapon of the demon race.

However, Atreus was also once a DemiG.o.d hero, so he wouldn't lose so easily.

Flas.h.!.+

With a bright blue flash, Atreus' figure disappeared.

At that moment…

Woohyuk instinctively turned his body and stabbed Verserios directly behind him.

Pu-Wook!

Slice!

Different kinds of dull sounds occurred almost simultaneously.

The Thunder Lord Spear cut off Woohyuk's left arm while Verserios pierced Atreus' heart.

Eventually, the battle was decided by the smallest of differences.

Whack!

Atreus glanced down at Verserios' blade sticking into him, spewing red blood from his mouth.

He knew that his death was imminent, so he opened his mouth to speak with a resigned look, “It's a little disappointing. I thought my last attack would be successful.”

“… I'm also familiar with this type of duel,” Woohyuk answered.

“I'm not angry. Instead, I feel like you will make my wish come true.”

The advent of the Demon Lord would destroy the limitations and restrictions of the current system and open a new era.

If he were to be used as a sacrificial goat at the alter to bring down the system, he would agree.

SRrr~

Atreus calmly closed his eyes. His body started turning into blue particles and began to scatter in the air.

'Is it finally over?'

It seemed like they battled each other for about a day and a half.

It was only half the time from his previous life's battle with the Amazonian female warrior Pentesilia, but his mental and physical exhaustion was twice as much as that time.

“… Keuk.”

When Atreus disappeared, Woohyuk stared at his left arm, which was cleanly cut off and lying atop the stone chamber floor.

As his tension relaxed, his pain intensely increased.

It was the result of using the attrition and exchange strategy to win the fierce one-on-one duel.

'But I have the Power of Resuscitation that I received from Hevnia.'

There was a cooldown of one day, but the ability's limitation didn't diminish the cheat-like aspect of the spell.

After restoring his left arm to its original state, Woohyuk picked up the armament left behind by Atreus.

[Immortal Armor] 

Type: Armor 

Grade: S (Growth Type) 

Durability: 500,000

Description: Not damaged by weapons of cla.s.s A or lower. Consumes the enemy's equipment and absorbs the abilities inherent in it once the enemy is defeated.

[Thunder Lord Spear] 

Type: Weapon

Grade: S (Growth Type) 

Durability: 450,000

Description: You can summon Fenrir, the Frost-Fire Wolf. The user may attack 3 times at the speed of light (10 minute cooldown time for reuse).

'It can be said that this is the ultimate armor.'

It was a masterpiece produced by the G.o.d of Blacksmithing with great care.

Meanwhile, since he already possessed Verserios, the Thunder Lord Spear was not particularly something he could use.

After considering his options, Woohyuk decided to absorb the Thunder Lord Spear into the Immortal Armor.

Rumble.

Black energy emanated from the dark-colored metal and corroded the Thunder Lord Spear upon contact.

Afterward, a series of system messages appeared in front of Woohyuk.

[Immortal Armor has consumed the Thunder Lord Spear.]

[As a result, an ability has been added to the Immortal Armor.]

Woohyuk once again opened the status information window and checked the changes.

[Immortal Armor] 

Type: Armor 

Grade: S (Growth Type) 

Durability: 500,000

Description: You are not damaged by weapons of grade A or lower. Consumes the enemy's equipment and absorbs the abilities inherent in it once the enemy is defeated.

Predated Ability: Can summon Fenrir, the Frost-Fire Wolf.

'Aren't all the abilities absorbed?'

Light attribute skills and abilities, like the Thunder Lord Spear's speed of light attacks, didn't seem to mesh with the Immortal Armor.

Furthermore, it seemed that the armor's properties re-initialized when the owner changed.

When Woohyuk wore the Immortal Armor, another system message came up.

[Epic Quest: 'Einherjar's Legacy' has been completed.]

[The recipe for Combat Vampires has given as a reward for completing the quest.]

[You have completed all four epic quests.]

[You have achieved an incomprehensible achievement! You will be given the opportunity to challenge for a Divine Throne seat.]

[Please check the newly updated epic quest for details.]