Kang Oh and Dukeram's duel in the Nazrak Plains was the climax of the battle.

It was at this moment that Dukeram, who'd gone from the 'Invincible Emperor' to the 'One and Only God', lost his title as strongest.

However, half of the playerbase still believed that Dukeram was the strongest. After all, Dukeram had retained his position as rank 1. His accrued wealth, achievements, etc. had kept him firmly in the top spot.

Although he'd officially lost to Kang Oh once, the Empire Guild was still alive and well.

People believed that Kang Oh needed to completely destroy the Empire Guild in order to take rank 1. They also said that this was his best chance to do so.

After all, the Alliance was advancing towards the strategic stronghold, Saw Rock Fortress, after defeating them in battle.

If the Alliance defeated the Empire once and for all, then the Empire Guild would be labeled as the 'instigators' of the war, and would be punished accordingly.

Kang Oh was of the same mind.

He planned on taking advantage of this opportunity, and destroying the Empire Guild once and for all. Kang Oh would be so thorough that they'd never be able to come back!

Thus, Kang Oh and Sephiro were riding on Waryong's back, and heading for the south. It was due to Gheor and Han Seol's request.

"Ould has requested reinforcements. Please head for Golden Road Fortress," Gheor said.

"The 3rd Corps' strength has increased significantly. Black Wolf, what remains of the Death Eagles, the Iron Horse Squad, and Taker have joined them," Han Seol added.

Black Wolf and Taker were both Masters. To make matters worse, God Spear Kantos, as well as his son, Fabio, were also Masters.

Ould, Olando, and the Eagle Corps' rankers would find it difficult to deal with them.

"But won't you need us to take Saw Rock Fortress?" Kang Oh asked.

Although Golden Road Fortress was an important strategic location, protecting it wasn't nearly as important as capturing Saw Rock Fortress.

"Of course. So please go with Mr. Sephiro. We just need you to come back in four days. That's when we'll begin our siege," Han Seol said.

In other words, head for Golden Road Fortress, quickly deal with their enemies there, and then return for the siege. Their method of transportation would obviously be Waryong.

"Your skill and strength are equivalent to a full-fledged corps, so if you go across multiple battlefields, you'll be able to deal a huge blow to their troops and force them to come up with a solution," Gheor said.

"For free?"

If they wanted his help, then they'd need to pay. That was the basics of business, after all!

"What do you want? We'll do our best to... No, we'll give you whatever you want."

"I want two things. First, gold."

"Alright." Gheor immediately agreed.

"You'll give me as much as I want?"

"Yes. Cost is no object. In exchange, bring me the heads of the Empire's Masters."

"300,000 gold for each."

That amount was the real life equivalent of 900 million won ($900,000 USD). 900 million!

"Kantos, Fabio, Taker, and Black Wolf. If you kill three of them, then I'll give you 1 million gold. Of course, if you kill all of them, then I'll give you 1.5 million gold instead."

"You sure are generous!"

Kang Oh was plenty rich already. However, it wasn't enough to satisfy him. He couldn't call himself a 'tycoon' yet.

"What's your second request?"

"Please give me as many upper-immediate level SS-rank items that you can before I leave."

If he used Gluttony on an SS-rank item, then he wouldn't have to be afraid of Kantos or anyone else. After all, he could fire as many Divide the Seas as he wanted with unlimited Stamina, so he was as good as invincible.

"Got it." Gheor nodded his head.

"We have a deal!"

Kang Oh slapped his hand and smiled.

"In exchange, you have to come back in four days and participate in the siege."

"Of course. But I'll be just as expensive."

"You're good enough to warrant your high price," Gheor said honestly. He hadn't been kidding when he said that Kang Oh was as strong as a corps.

After that, Kang Oh received four pieces of SS-rank equipment from Gheor. Although they were fantastic items, they were still upper-immediate tier; they weren't the best of the best.

They were incomparable to Kang Oh's equipment. However, they were perfect to use as fodder for Gluttony!

Then...

Gyaahk!

Waryong shrieked, breaking him out of his reminiscence.

"I see it. Golden Road Fortress," Sephiro said.

He could see a sturdy fortress that lay atop a hill from afar.

* * *

The morale of the Empire's 1st Corps, which had returned to the Saw Rock Fortress with their tails between their legs, was at rock bottom.

"Tch, take a look at the vibe around here. It's like we're at a funeral."

"Following the Battle of the Nazrak Plains, a ton of players joined the Alliance... The Empire won't lose, will it?"

"Oh, c'mon, there's no way..."

"Seriously, think about it. Dukeram was beaten, the captains were killed, and we lost more than 200,000 troops. It was a crushing defeat!"

"Hoo, should we switch sides before it's too late?"

"Isn't it too early for that?"

"Maybe. Let's keep an eye out for now."

Players that'd joined the Empire, swayed by the promise of a 'Player Aristocracy' or massive rewards, were beginning to gossip amongst themselves.

However, the war wasn't over yet. They still had a chance to win.

"Please take care of it," Dukeram said, his face dark and gloomy. He had lost way too much at Kang Oh's hands.

"Leave it to me."

Jegal hadn't lost his touch. No one could match him when it came to conspiracies.

'I didn't plan on setting this in motion, but things don't always go as planned. I have to succeed at this no matter what.'

Jegal sported a resolute expression. His body was completely covered; a helmet concealed his face, collared clothes protected his neck, and he wore gloves and other long clothing. None of his skin was visible, as was intended; he needed to keep his identity a secret.

"Then, if you'll excuse me." Jegal stood atop the magic circle he'd prepared. "Kuwang!"

His destination was Kuwang.

It was a military fortress that was in between the central region and the western grasslands, and also the location of the 'Monster Road'.

Sometime later...

A rumor began to spread across Kuwang.

Apparently, the western anthromorphs had joined forces with the Empire, and it was only a matter of time before they conquered Kuwang and the central region.

It was also said that one of the three great tribes, the Ruman Orcs, was at the center of it all.

* * *

The clouds of war were gathering.

At least, that's how Kang Oh and Sephiro felt as soon as they reached Golden Road Fortress.

"Welcome!"

"Thank you for coming."

Kang Oh and Sephiro were welcomed by both Ould and the Eagle Corps' executives.

Then, they immediately discussed the looming battle.

Golden Road Fortress wasn't high enough, nor were its walls thick enough to call it 'impregnable'. At the same time, it wasn't established in dangerous terrain either.

In exchange, the five nearby castles protected the main fortress, as well as each other, making it extremely difficult to conquer.

However, the 3rd Corps, which now included the Death Eagles and the Iron Horse Squad, had managed to capture one of the five castles.

This would have a domino effect. If they weren't stopped, then the other castles would soon follow. And in the end, the 3rd Corps would capture Golden Road Fortress. Without the other castles, the main fortress would be completely defenseless.

"They'll aim for Lenoc Castle next. I assume the Iron Horse Squad and the Death Eagles will be there. I'm sure they'll keep us from moving our forces there as well," Ould said.

"Then what about me?"

"I've already sent some skilled adventurers to the castle. Mr. Kang Oh, Mr. Sephiro, please go to Lenoc Castle. Please work with the adventurers to fend off the Iron Horse Squad and the Death Eagles."

'Taker and Black Wolf are first, huh.' Kang Oh thought of their bounties, and nodded his head.

"Understood."

Sometime later...

Kang Oh and Sephiro rode on Waryong's back, and reached Lenoc Castle.

It was much smaller than the Golden Road Fortress. However, the castle walls were thick, and it was capable of housing several soldiers and rankers.

'Now we just wait for them to arrive.'

Kang Oh rested in the corner where there was shade, ready to fight at a moment's notice.

Sephiro entered a private room in order to give Waryong some rest.

Kang Oh closed his eyes, and thought back to his fight with Dukeram.

That fight was extremely educational.

Whenever he thought back to it, he had a clearer understanding of his flaws or weaknesses.

'I didn't maximize the effectiveness of my demon swords. If I had, I would've been able to beat Dukeram easier.'

Due to Gluttony's limited duration time, he hadn't been able to use Sarahoff's 'Frost Demon's Domain' properly.

Frost Demon's Domain slowly lowered his opponent's core temperature, weakening them as the battle went on. Thus, it was extremely effective in long, drawn out battles.

Plus, he regretted not making use of Blood's flight ability. Flying in midair could've given him the advantage he needed.

'It would've been better had I started out as the Frostblood Demon, making full use of its unique abilities, and then used Ubist after.'

Kang Oh could transform into three different types of demons. However, he hadn't made use of all three of these forms against Dukeram.

It wasn't because it wasn't the correct situation for it.

If he had made Dukeram fight against his different forms, then he would've had an even greater advantage.

However, the battle was so intense that he couldn't actually put it into practice.

Kang Oh decided to engrave Valan's advice deep in his heart. 'You're not a Swordsman; you're a Demonic Swordsman. Don't forget that.'

He was a swordsman that used demon swords. In other words, he wielded the power of darkness.

That was what Kang Oh was.

However, Kang Oh had fought too much like an ordinary 'Swordsman'. Then again, he had opened Dukeram up at the end by transforming Ubist into its beast form.

'Darkness, blood, and cold. I have to get better at using their unique abilities. I need to get a better grasp on my Dual Demon forms too, which combines their power!'

'I'm a Demonic Swordsman!' Kang Oh said to himself once more, and then recalled his fight with Dukeram.

At the same time, he remembered something.

'Put my feelings into my sword... If I swing my sword in anger, then it'll become wilder.'

The reason he was able to use Divide the Sea in the first place was because he had focused on cutting Dukeram. He hadn't thought of anything else but that.

However, his technique was still sloppy.

After all, Valan's Divide the Sea was far more powerful than his.

If he wanted to be as strong as Valan, no, even stronger than him, then he needed even greater emotions. And in order to transfer these feelings to his sword, he would need to give it his all in training.

If he could keep fighting against strong opponents like Dukeram, then it'd be even better.

Sometime later...

Kang Oh opened his eyes. The castle walls had become a lot noisier.

"Enemies!"

"They're here!"

That's what he had been waiting for.

Rat-a-tat-tat!

Armored horses charged at the castle, far in front of the rest of the enemy troops. It was the Iron Horse Squad. Kang Oh could see Taker at the front.

Black Wolf and his surviving members flew in the air atop five Death Eagles.

Kang Oh grinned.

They were perfect test dummies to try out what he'd learned in his fight against Dukeram.

Kang Oh leapt off the castle walls. He couldn't just sit by and wait for them.

He wielded Sarahoff in one hand, and Blood in the other. Then, he activated Devil Trigger. As he fell from the castle walls, his appearance changed.

Ice horns protruded from his red mask, red bone armor covered his breast, glacial gauntlets and greaves protected his arms and legs, and white streaked wings unfurled from his back.

The Frostblood Demon had appeared!