Red's face was peculiar. His clean, oval face was hairless, his eyes were sharp, and a tongue darted in and out of his long mouth.

He looked like a snake! To reiterate, he wasn't a human being.

'He's like the Breaker Guild's Black Lion, Raon.'

Black Lion, Raon, was a player who'd completed a unique quest to become an anthromorph, or more specifically, a lion man. He was the most well-known player that successfully changed races.

But it seemed like Red had changed his race too!

'Is he... a Lizardman?' Kang Oh examined Red's hands and feet.

His hands were long, and he had five fingers like normal. The size of his feet were normal too. He didn't even possess a Lizardman's trademark tail.

"He doesn't look like a Lizardman..." Kang Oh muttered. 'What exactly are you?'

Red had no intention of answering him.

"Die." Red's true voice was bizarre, like the sound of a rattlesnake's rattle.

Kuhaahk!

The shadow beasts rampaged about like wild horses. They either shot their long, black tongues at him, or attacked with their claws or talons, which looked to be more than 30 centimeters long.

However, Demon Sword Ubist was the shadow beasts' mortal enemy.

Swish, slash, swish!

Demon Sword Ubist danced through the air, ripping apart the shadow beasts like fruit caught in a blender.

However, the shadow beasts were nothing more than a distraction.

Red slammed his shadow scythe onto the ground. Then, shadow spikes surged from below. To make matters worse, spikes popped out of the shadow beasts' bodies too.

Spike Hell!

It felt like he was trapped in a forest filled with black spiked trees.

He felt cold all over, as if ice was pressed all over his body.

Kang Oh simultaneously attacked and defended. He relentlessly swung Ubist while pointing Sarahoff at Red.

Lightning Breath!

He cleaved through the shadow beasts, causing them to disappear in a puff of black smoke or be absorbed, which left a path forward for his Lightning Breath.

Crackle!

Red positioned his scythe vertically in front of him. Then, the shadows coalesced into an oval, coiled 'shield'. It was as if it were a snail's shell.

Suck.

The lightning blast was sucked into the vortex. This was one of Infinite Shadow's item effects, 'Shadow Snare', which imprisoned a skill or spell.

Red immediately swung his scythe diagonally. Shadow Snare was also capable of releasing the imprisoned effect right back at its user.

Crackle!

The returned Lightning Breath destroyed a few shadow beasts and devoured Kang Oh.

However, it did almost no damage to him. His Draka set reduced lightning damage by 90%.

Kang Oh finished off the shadow beasts, rushed at Red, and swung his sword.

As the game's most powerful Assassin, Red had the speed and reflexes to match; he immediately swung his shadow scythe.

However, Kang Oh was far superior at close-range combat. Red had no way of dealing with Demon Sword Ubist.

"Ugh." Red grabbed his injured chest like a wounded beast, and quickly backed off.

"Where do you think you're going!?" Kang Oh immediately chased after him, but the shadow beasts got in his way.

Kuhaahk!

Kyahahk!

Thus, Red was able to widen the distance once more. Then, Red did what he was best at in this world: overcoming his enemy with sheer numbers!

"Rest in peace!"

Summon Shadow Beast!

He had summoned 100 more shadow beasts.

Spike Hell!

The floor, the corners of the room, the ceiling, and the shadow beasts were covered in countless spikes!

Tentacle Hell!

Unsteady, black tentacles popped out too.

At the same time...!

Red repeatedly swung his scythe.

Shadow Boomerang!

V-shaped shadows flew at Kang Oh in formation like a flock of migratory birds.

If an ordinary player had faced this onslaught head-on, then they'd say something like 'Shit' and give up. It was impossible to dodge all of this.

But Kang Oh was a bit special. It was only natural. He'd already seen how the abyss could devour the shadows!

'I'll deal with you all in a single blow!'

Kang Oh stabbed Sarahoff into the ground, and tightly gripped Ubist with two hands.

Whoosh!

Have you ever seen a broken dam, and the resulting flow of water? The darkness that radiated from his jet-black greatsword looked exactly the same.

Everlasting Darkness!

"Huaahp!" Kang Oh swung Ubist in a wide arc.

Kuwaaaah!

Ubist's darkness consumed everything in its path.

* * *

Burkan and Darion began fighting the Evil God Worshippers in their way.

Normally, the Invincible Gladiator would prove to be more powerful than either of the two disciples.

However, that wasn't the case for Darion. Plus, the fact that they were in their home base only served to empower the two disciples.

Finally, Lubatchi and Garup were reinforced by countless Evil God Worshippers and demons.

A large-mouthed demon even managed to devour the rescued gladiator.

Ultimately...

Burkan and Darion were forced to fight for their lives.

Fortunately, no other Evil God's Disciples showed up.

'The worst possible scenario would be if Sraka showed up.'

The Devil's Sword, Sraka. He was a Grandmaster, someone that even Burkan couldn't hope to beat. He was truly relieved that he didn't sense his presence anywhere.

Of course, that didn't mean the situation was in their favor.

Burkan's expression stiffened by the minute, and Darion was beginning to breath haggardly.

At some point...

Darion's lips turned black. He'd been exposed to a demon's poison for far too long.

"Haha, die!" Garup, who possessed bronze teeth and beast arms, charged at the staggering Darion.

Darion gritted his teeth and somehow managed to swing his gladius. However, he couldn't stop Garup's attack.

Bam!

Darion fell to the floor, and Garup opened his mouth wide.

Kyaa!

True to his name, Garup attempted to eat him while he was still alive.

"Not going to happen!" Burkan's eyes lit up with rage. 'Over my dead body!'

Fighting Spirit's Aura!

His gladius unleashed a giant, mighty aura.

"Kuhaahk!"

The aura cleaved through Garup's side. However, Garup possessed Super Regeneration. His torn flesh was quickly restored to its proper state.

"Bow before the Great Jaila!"

"Writhe under the lashes of Jaila's whip!"

The nearby Evil God Worshippers began casting their wicked spells.

Curse of Obedience!

Everlasting Pain!

Lubatchi, whose body was covered in tattoos of people writhing in pain, thrust his hands at Burkan.

His specialty lay in his physical might and destructive capabilities!

He preferred to kill his enemies by ripping them apart with his bare hands.

"Uhaahp! Not a chance!" Burkan roared, and swung his gladius several times.

The title of Invincible Gladiator was well earned. Burkan repelled every attack that came at him while also killing one of the Evil God Worshippers; he even left a gash in Lubatchi's shoulder.

"Die, die, die!" Lubatchi charged at Burkan, his eyes filled with madness. However, he was pushed back and rolled on the floor.

Swish.

A demon, which resembled a giant toad, extended its giant tongue and wrapped it around Darion's foot. If it pulled him in, then it'd be able to swallow Darion whole.

Before it could, Darion pulled his foot and slashed the tongue with his sword.

Kyahahk!

The demon shook. Darion gritted his teeth and raised his gladius into the air.

Giant's Sword!

His gladius radiated gray energy, which coalesced into a giant blade.

"Huaahp!"

The giant gray blade swept through everything in its path. Countless Evil God Worshippers and demons fell to the floor.

Burkan and Darion continued to fight for their lives. However, it was an unwinnable fight. There was no way they'd be able to get through the group of Evil God Worshippers and demons.

To be more specific, Burkan would be able to escape somehow if he were alone, but he was weighed down by Darion.

Darion was acutely aware of that. The poison was spreading, worsening his symptoms, and his blackening lips twitched.

"Master, please escape."

"I don't want to hear it," Burkan said firmly, unwilling to even consider it.

"Please. At this rate, we'll both die."

"I'll save you no matter what!"

No good teacher would abandon their student!

Darion was touched, but that only motivated him even further.

'Should I instead... throw myself at their perimeter?'

If he died, then Burkan would be able to escape without him.

Burkan knew exactly what he was thinking. He quickly said, "Survive. The 100 Fighters will be here soon."

"Mm." Darion bit his lip.

That wasn't a good decision. The poison had burnt his lips and his actions only caused him more pain.

Darion gripped his gladius, his brow furrowed.

'I have to stay alive long enough for the 100 Fighters to get here and take Master away!'

Darion steeled himself, his eyes filled with determination like that of a brave lion.

"C'mon, you bastards!"

* * *

It was like a hurricane had blown through.

That's what the battlefield looked like in the aftermath of Everlasting Darkness.

Everlasting Darkness had destroyed all of the shadow beasts, as well as Red's spikes and tentacles. However, Red was nowhere to be seen.

At that moment...

Camisado!

Red suddenly appeared behind Kang Oh and swung his scythe. It was a completely undetectable attack. What's worse, the scythe made no sound either. That was Camisado's strength.

However, Kang Oh's Hyper Intuition made him immune to surprise attacks. He immediately turned around and sliced through Red with Ubist.

Swish!

Strangely, Red's body was split in half. He didn't feel any resistance either.

'It's a fake!'

That's right. It was a fake. To be more specific, it was a shadow clone. His Hyper Intuition had actually been used against him.

The shadow clone had been bait. However, his Hyper Intuition had tricked him into believing that that was the real one.

'Then where's the real one?'

If he's not in back of him, then he's probably in front! Kang Oh turned back around. However, he felt a chill run down his spine again, and then felt pain as if someone had smashed his back.

The true Red had reappeared and sliced through Kang Oh!

Reaper Slash!

This Assassin skill always inflicted a critical hit. Also, there was a small chance that it'd instantly kill its target, regardless of their HP or defense.

"Tch." Red looked disappointed. Reaper Slash's skill hadn't activated.

Instead, Kang Oh cried out, shards of light spilling from the wound by the dozen.

"Ugh."

Red swung his scythe again. He used Reaper Slash again! The shadow of a skull followed his scythe, a byproduct of the skill.

However, Red had been too hasty. Kang Oh extended Sarahoff and the world began to slow.

Transcendent Blade!

The unbelievably light sword and Transcendent Blade had incredible synergy.

Stab!

Sarahoff pierced through Red's body.

"Keheok!"

The sudden impact stopped him from following through with his attack.

'Now.' Kang Oh simultaneously swung Ubist and Sarahoff in an X motion. Then, he reversed course, swinging them in a V motion like outstretched wings.

Darkness Strike!

Two waves, one of a black beast and another of a bird in flight, struck Red head-on.

Boom!

The mighty waves swept through him, pushing him into the air. He quickly manipulated the shadows and created a black barrier around him. However, shadows were nothing before Ubist!

Mad Wind's Sword!

Kang Oh relentlessly swung his twin swords. His blades were quick, powerful, and precise!

3 seconds. That's how long it took for him to break Red's barrier.

'I got you!'

Kang Oh repeatedly attacked Red like a raging storm. He didn't give him a chance to retaliate. Even Red wouldn't be able to withstand this.

He finished him off by knocking him unconscious.

Whack!

He struck the top of Red's head with the flat of Ubist's blade.

Red fell to the floor. Kang Oh stashed his swords and tightly wrapped Red in Darkness Chain.

"The 100,000 gold is mine." Kang Oh grinned.

It was a lot easier than he'd expected it to be. He was able to beat him without using Gluttony or Devil Trigger after all.

'I'm like his mortal enemy.'

Kang Oh was definitely his mortal enemy. Demon Sword Ubist nullified Red's ability to control shadows, and Kang Oh's Hyper Intuition made his Assassin skills useless against him.

"Haha, let's go to the Security Bureau." Kang Oh dragged the Darkness Chain along with him.

However...!

All of a sudden, a giant shadow surged from behind him.

"What's that?" Kang Oh turned around in shock.

[You have discovered the Abyss Eating Snake, Kaik.]