Chapter 168
Surviving With An Sss-Rank Inventory Chapter 168
Episode 168
: A giant demonic beast rampaging through the muddy swamp of the Demon World.
The beast called Death Stalker had the shape of a scorpion with green carapace surrounding it.
“Shhh!”
Death Stalker fearlessly raised his tail towards a human who had set foot in the land of the devil.
Cheeeeeek!
The poison spewing out from the tail made the ominous Demon World even more horrendous, and the humans facing the Death Stalker quickly kicked the ground.
Faba Park!
The man who showed speed at which Death Stalker could not even react properly was none other than a man who was said to be the strongest in the Empire.
Suddenly!
Gunther’s sword swung, and Death Stalker’s large claws were cut off in one go.
“Keeeeeeek!”
A Death Stalker screaming in pain and running wild.
Without showing any mercy to the Death Stalker, Gunther swung his sword once again and cut off the man’s head.
Coo!
The heavy Death Stalker fell to the floor as if he had fulfilled his duty, and Gunther muttered as he shook off his sword, which was covered in sticky blood.
“It’s been a while, but it’s such a terrible place…”
This wasn’t Gunteo’s first time in a place called Magyeong.
Over the past several decades, Gunther has frequently performed missions to explore the Demonic Land according to the emperor’s orders.
I felt it every time, but the magic beasts of the Demonic World were truly picky.
The magic beasts were not a threat to Gunther’s skills.
However, the number of demonic beasts, with no end in sight, was enough to burden even Gunter.
‘Anyway, were the demonic beasts of the Demon World this powerful? I heard that Akrich was defeated…’
Gunther thought to himself as he looked at the dead Death Stalker.
As mentioned earlier, Gunther has experience fighting numerous battles with demonic beasts since ancient times.
However, the strength of the demonic beast he was currently facing was the strongest among the demonic beasts that Gunther remembered, so he felt doubtful.
‘It may mean that even if Acrich dies, there are still signs of the Demon Lord’s resurrection.’
Gunther has come to Magyeong under orders from the current emperor to find Dio, a key figure in the Eastern Allied Forces.
However, in addition to looking for Dio, Gunter felt that something was happening in the demonic world that was not unusual.
There was a need to explore the magic world a little more deeply.
However, it was good that we were able to quickly reach the depths of the Demon Realm with the help of the imperial family’s best magic corps…
‘This original Demon Realm is so wide that I don’t know if we will be able to find it in time.’
Gunther looked around the empty plains of Ma-gyeong.
It’s already been a few days since I wandered around the devil.
Here, rather than finding any traces of Dio, Gunther only encountered numerous demonic beasts.
And that too, as I felt the strange phenomenon that each demon I encountered seemed to be getting stronger.
“Or maybe I’m old.”
Gunther laughed and put the blood-stained sword into his belt.
At first, Gunther was not dissatisfied with defeating the demonic beasts, as it was an appropriate place to sharpen his skills for the rapidly changing world ahead.
But the battle continues endlessly.
Gunther felt increasingly anxious as he cut down the magical beast that showed no signs of abating.
Because His Majesty’s mission was the top priority for him.
‘I don’t have time to waste time like this. We have to somehow catch up with the Luna Church that acted earlier.’
Gunther thought of the Luna Church, which was always one step ahead of the Empire.
The denomination has already sent a person named Archbishop Paul to Magyeong.
If he finds Dio rather than Gunther, the empire’s position will be in trouble in many ways.
‘If Paul finds Dio and kills him…’
Now that the Holy Kingdom is falling, the Empire must take advantage of the Luna Church’s loopholes.
The core of this is Dio.
From the Empire’s perspective, they wanted to capture Dio and fight together against the Luna Church.
And this emperor’s intention is something that Gunther also agrees with.
‘Still, he won’t be easily defeated.’
Gunther remembered Dio, whom he had met in Malobon, the capital of Bertio.
Gunther was aware that Dio at that time had achieved far greater achievements than his son Delcid.
‘What was I doing at that age?’
Like I said before, is it because I’m older?
Gunther recalled his younger days compared to Dio, who remembered him even though he was carrying out the emperor’s duties.
‘Yeah… I was looking for guys who used swords here and there. Like Delcid now.’
Gunther when he was young and Delcid now only valued the unmanned path.
That’s why I couldn’t help but compare it even more to D.O.
Dio was different from Gunther himself and his son.
Even though he was strong enough, he was not greedy about becoming stronger.
He seemed to know how to use his strength.
Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to take the lead in subduing the Demon Lord, which no one has dared to do.
‘People are excited. To the hero who can defeat the devil.’
Gunther knew the story after hearing it from the Allied forces who returned from the Majyeong expedition.
The current Dio is much stronger than when we met before.
‘Perhaps there will be no one as suitable as him to succeed me.’
As the emperor’s sword, Gunther holds an important role in protecting the empire and continent from evil.
When I get older and retire someday, I was thinking of passing this position on to my son, but these days, the person called Dio keeps popping up in my head.
The character Dio is far ahead of Delcid in terms of both skill and reputation.
If you suggest it to the emperor, you will be able to use it to protect the empire right away.
“Shhh!”
Perhaps because it stayed in one place for a long time, a new Death Stalker rose up from under the ground.
The Death Stalker’s claws, which were breathing heavily, perhaps in anger at the death of a colleague, hit Gunther.
However, by the time the Death Stalker was approaching through the tunnel, Gunther had already taken action.
Phew!
Gunther climbed on top of Death Stalker’s head and swung his sword.
As a result, Death Stalker was unable to even utter a scream and died instantly.
‘It’s not just one guy. I guess I’m the type that is attracted to the smell of blood.’
Even though Gunther had subdued the Death Stalker, he still felt the vibrations rumbling beneath the land of the Demon Lord.
Gunther, who was about to draw his sword again in preparation for the demonic beasts that would surely flock again, sensed something strange.
‘Did you pass me by? Wait a minute…’
Gunther raised his head and followed the path of the demonic beasts moving under the ground.
‘That…’
Although it was quite far away, Gunther could definitely feel it.
A being as powerful as yourself.
And he too seemed to notice his presence.
Parbat!
Gunther kicked off the ground without delay and ran forward.
Every time he approaches his destination, the corpses of the demonic beasts are lying in rows.
Gunther sensed that the person in front of him was a member of the Luna Church who came before him.
He was the archbishop of the holy kingdom of Atra, the strongest holy knight in the holy kingdom, and…
his old friend, Paul Eppenhaus.
* * *
The scary thing about Death Stalker is not only because of its powerful poison.
A kinship consciousness that cannot exist in a demonic beast.
Death Stalker surprisingly had camaraderie.
Because of this, they had a habit of gathering in groups when their own people were in danger, and they still gather together to save their people.
However, this time I chose the wrong opponent.
“Whoosh-whoosh-”
Dozens of Death Stalkers with their bodies brutally mutilated.
Among them, Death Stalker, who was barely alive, struggled to escape out of fear.
Push!
However, the merciless sword that would not let this go took Death Stalker’s life.
A place that suddenly became quiet.
In this place decorated with Death Stalker’s corpses, only two people stood facing each other in silence.
“It reminds me of old times.”
Gunther opened his mouth, looking at his old friend, who did not even look like a priest.
“Do you remember when we were young?”
“….”
Despite Gunther’s unexpected question, Paul didn’t respond at all.
These two knew without saying anything.
By whose order did it come deep into the demonic realm?
For what purpose are you exploring the magic world?
But conversations about it were inconsistent.
The days when we paved the way for the sword together are long gone.
Now that your own beliefs are firmly established.
Because Gunther and Paul were enemies who had to cross swords with each other.
For the emperor and for the saint.
“I’ve never lost to you except once.”
Was it to suppress the momentum?
Gunther smiled and said to Paul.
This was an extremely childish provocation.
However, perhaps because Paul was used to Gunther’s words, he ignored it and opened his mouth.
“Well, am I already senile? “I think I won in sparring recently.”
“I saved your face back then. “Don’t you know that?”
Gunther smiled brightly at Paul’s words and continued.
Their conversation seemed like a close childhood friend chatting as they grew older and reminisced about their past.
Without any worries.
Without any selflessness.
“Let’s stop the small talk here. “I guess we’re both busy.”
Paul cut off the conversation coldly and raised the sword that had cut down the demonic beast just moments ago.
“It’s still not fun.”
Gunther expressed his sorrow inwardly at Paul’s hostile reaction.
But I can’t help it.
Because our respective positions were never light enough to have a proper conversation with an old friend.
Throw in!
Gunther perked up.
He had fought fierce battles with numerous demonic beasts while wandering in the Demon World, but as a sword master, there was no way he could have been this exhausted.
And that position was the same for Paul.
In keeping with Gunther’s energy, Paul also exuded divine power.
“okay. Would you like to hang out for the first time in a while?”
Gunther was the first to gain momentum and take the fight, but deep down he hoped that Paul would avoid his match.
Although the relationship between the Empire and the Luna Church was not very good, it did not mean that one side was trying to destroy the other.
In any case, weren’t both powers aiming to protect the continent?
Moreover, the goal of finding Dio was also the same now.
Even though what they wanted from Dio was different, Gunther had a greater desire to resolve the issue through conversation with Paul.
But I don’t know Gunther’s feelings.
Paul, who knew but pretended not to know, pointed his sword at Gunther.
“Come with all your might. “Maybe…this match could be our last fight.”
“…As expected, you are no fun.”
Gunther swallowed his laughter as he looked at Paul, who never changed even after so many years.
But Paul wasn’t the only thing that didn’t change.
Gunther still tried to control the fighting spirit that surged when he faced a strong person.
The opponent is the only being on the continent who can compare to oneself.
Even though he had an important mission under the Emperor’s orders, Gunther was happy.
This is the moment when I cross swords with an old friend again.
Survive as an SSS-level warehouse character