[Critical!!]

[The target has received 44,099 damage.]

[The target has suffered irreversible damage! All stats are reduced by 20% and all speeds are reduced by 50%!]

[The target has resisted.]

[The cutting has failed.]

[The target has exposed his weakness! If you hit the target within 30 seconds, an unconditional critical hit will be applied! The critical damage applied will be 1.5 times higher!]

[...!]

[!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

[Your powerful sword has separated the world!!!]

“...!?”

The Hero’s stance collapsed. He knelt down and a fountain of blood spurted from his chest and was absorbed into the red tail, as if the red tail was seeking more blood. This was an attack that ignored a certain amount of defense, dealt additional damage in proportion to the current health of the target, unconditionally applied a critical hit and had a high probability of activating the cutting effect.

The destructive power of Space Sword decreased the Hero’s health gauge by five bars. The Hero immediately recovered a considerable amount of health due to the First King title but it was obviously huge damage due to the consumption value.

It happened when the gods were restoring the split apart world. Kraugel was used to the bitter taste of the potion that he had taken several times already and used White Light Steps. The Hero’s red-purple aura was at its peak so Kraugel wanted to avoid a long battle.

A fierce battle ensued. The Hero used the silver thread in cooperation with the two red tails to attack Kraugel, like a spider attacking the prey caught in his web. However, the prey didn’t get caught in the web. He avoided the binding of the silver thread and the strikes of the red tails in one motion, linking it with a counterattack.

The Hero gritted his teeth. It was hard for him to use his footwork because the swords that emerged from Kraugel’s inventory were stabbed into the floor, blocking the path and making it difficult to use a skill. In the end, the Hero swapped weapons to Grid’s Greatsword.

Then instead of Cray’s Power, he pulled out Yetima’s Power. The Direct Descendant’s Sword, which was activated when a greatsword was equipped, fell like a lightning bolt. The vibration of the atmosphere when the greatsword fell physically pressured Kraugel and forced him to put on the brakes.

“Kuek...!”

It was only a cut on the shoulder but Kraugel lost one-sixth of his health from the blow. Considering the inherent characteristic of a Sword Saint to decrease the damage of sword type weapons and the effect of Impenetrable Skin that he obtained after reaching level 300, it was a damage that couldn’t be denied.

The battle continued. The Direct Descendant’s Sword was on cooldown so the Hero once again swapped to the Enlightenment Sword and opened Cray’s Power. Kraugel took a potion from time to time and gradually showed resistance to the black flames. The characteristic of a Sword Saint allowed him to communicate with the Enlightenment Sword and he started to read the timing of when the Enlightenment Sword would release the flames.

“Belial’s Power. Queen of Mocking and Violation.”

The Hero turned off his safety device once his health fell below 40%. There were suddenly two heroes.

『 What...! 』

『 G-Grid is able to summon clones!! 』

『 T-T-They might be illusions but... 』

Having clones was similar to an assassin’s skill. It was already unbelievable that the blacksmith Grid could use swordsmanship and magic. Now the assassin’s skills were added. The impact on the commentators and the crowd was great. The disturbed commentators stuttered while some distracted audience members poured their drink on the person in front of them.

Meanwhile, Kraugel was calm. His Super Sensitivity had reached a high level and this allowed him to tell which one was the main body. It was a lie to say he wasn’t concerned about the existence of the clone but the sky who looked down on the earth from above wasn’t easily shaken.

"I understood it at the end of my admiration.”

Kraugel’s body started to be covered with silver energy. It was the activation of his stage three buff skill. Kraugel, who became as sharp as a sword, cut through the Hero’s clone and approached the main body. The Hero was using Linked Kill Wave Pinnacle. There was a powerful stab, filled with enough strength to destroy all life in the space it hit.

"I have become one after understanding.”

Kraugel’s body was solid as he used ‘Wear the Sword’ and integrated with it. The attack was unable to pierce his body. Instead, the durability of the White Tiger Sword dropped sharply.

“Linked Kill Wave Pinnacle!”

The Hero had God's Command activated. He used the ultimate attack twice in a row to continuously damage Kraugel’s White Tiger Sword. Noticeable cracks appeared on the White Tiger Sword but Kraugel wasn’t nervous. He was aiming to end the battle.

"I am a sword and there is nothing I can’t cut.”

The last verse was over and the ‘Poem Praising the Sword’ was complete. It was a buff that when equipping a sword, 5~11 times the attack power was added to the next skill.

"Transcend Storm Sword.”

A storm of silver and green energy started to mangle the Hero. The Hero naturally responded with Revolve but Transcend Storm Sword was a multi-stage skill. Only the first stage was countered while the rest of the stages hit the Hero. The God Hands flew to block the Hero but they were once again blocked by the sword.

“Kuaaaaah!”

The Hero screamed. He was struggling to cope with this pain as something hit the barbs of Triple Layers. The blades of Transcend Storm Sword dispersed like needles and poked through the gap. It was the power of the skill, Watch Attack. Due to the residual effect of Space Sword, a critical injury occurred every time an attack hit.

The shield created by the First King effect completely disappeared and the bars decreased. Three bars, two bars, one bar. The effect of Transcend Storm Sword lasted 1.5 seconds but the Hero’s health gauge fell by a huge amount. Then once it fell to 10%, it was restored to 30% thanks to Tiramet’s Power.

“What is this...?”

"Is this real...?”

The people predicted the Hero’s victory. It was because every time the clone’s health gauge fell by one bar, the Hero’s clones increased. At this moment, Kraugel looked like someone who opened the Pandora’s Box that shouldn’t be opened, not a challenger about to win. The moment that Transcend Storm Sword ended, a smile appeared on the Hero’s face.

The four clones surrounded Kraugel, blocking and evading his sword while using Pinnacle. Since the clones only had 10% of the original’s attack power, it wasn’t a fatal injury. However, the clones had bought the Hero enough time. The Hero used Fly to get away from Kraugel and then activated Restraint. Kraugel couldn’t afford to block the energy that came from the sky instead of the ground. The pressure from the clones was too great. However, there was good news.

[The energy of Quick Command is overwhelming you.]

[You have resisted.]

Now Kraugel was also a legend. There was no power in the world that could control Kraugel unless it was a skill that completely disregarded resistance.

“Heaven and Earth Rupture.”

He used a skill he had previously acquired on the East Continent. Kraugel’s sword crushed the ground and the sky. The Hero in the air and the clones on the ground all suffered great damage. Kraugel flew through the piles of rocks scattered on the cracked ground.

"Weapon Ascension.”

The sword moved from the bottom towards the Hero. The sword energy eventually pierced the Hero soaring in the sky. It was like the trail left behind by a dragon soaring in the sky, shattering the clouds to reveal a higher expanse of the sky.

『 The Hero...! 』

『 He has suffered a serious injury...! 』

After Transcend Storm Sword, the Hero was properly hit by Weapon Ascension. His blood fell down and wet the ground. The commentators analyzed that the Hero had lost all health and entered the invincible state. Kraugel predicted that the Hero would focus on buying time for the moment.

Yet what was the reality? Kraugel’s eyes widened as he turned his gaze from the damaged Hero to the ground.

On the ground, the four clones standing side by side were surrounded with a red-purple fighting energy. His Super Sensitivity was telling him something. One of them was real!

‘Why?’

Kraugel’s mind became more and more complicated. A little while ago, his Super Sensitivity told him that the Hero was floating in the sky. That’s why he didn’t hesitate to use one of his ultimate skills.

‘The Hero’s clones must have a higher concept than Super Sensitivity.’

...Or there was a skill that could exchange the Hero with one of the clones.

It was one of these two options. The latter was more credible.

It happened while Kraugel was thinking quickly and judging the situation.

“100,000 Army Massacre Sword.”

The Hero and three clones released the waves of energy with a slight time difference. Precisely 120 red-purple energy blades flew through the sky like firecrackers and reached Kraugel’s side. It was the ultimate power that partially injured the evil dragon Bunhelier. It might be a ‘degraded version’ but it was a higher-order force that had a history and legend beyond the Transcend Storm Sword and Weapon Ascension that Kraugel had used before. It wasn’t superior in terms of sheer power but there were no ‘gaps’ since it was a legacy left by the Undefeated King.

In other words, Kraugel couldn’t avoid it.

“...!”

The chain of explosions destroyed the stage of breaking the hero. Pine trees disappeared instantly, cliffs flew away and no traces of Kraugel could be found. The hundreds of cameras shooting in real time shook like crazy, making the 100,000 spectators and billions of viewers feel nauseous.

The first person to recover his spirit was Grid in the waiting room. He was shocked by the Hero’s skill that made good use of Queen’s Distortion.

“Moving positions and then using 100,000 Army Massacre Sword. Repeating the same thing again...”

It happened in only two seconds. The Hero moved between the three clones to fire 100,000 Army Massacre Sword at 100% power, causing the energy blades to cover Kraugel.

“Kraugel...”

Grid’s eyes shook. He didn’t want the result to be Kraugel losing to himself from one year earlier. Then...

“…”

Kraugel wasn’t a weak person for Grid to worry about.

『 W-Wings...? 』

On the screen, the series of explosions ended and the camera regained focus, revealing the image of Kraugel. Wings of light wrapped around Kraugel’s body. Sometimes they flashed white and sometimes black.

“This is...”

Kraugel’s face revealed through the gap in the wings was distorted. It was remarkable when considering his personality, which avoided expressing emotions. Anger. It was anger toward himself.

“Ruson’s Power!”

The Hero on the ground perceived the risk. He entered the ‘hunger’ state due to Kraugel’s blood and his movement speed greatly increased. Then he used Fly to reach Kraugel. He approached while moving to the left and right in unnatural trajectories at a speed that couldn’t be followed with the naked eye. It was brilliant and intimidating.

-Linked Kill.

-Transcended Link.

-Pinnacle Kill.

-Wave.

-Pinnacle.

The voice of the Hero, which was recorded using the Alarm spell, rang from all directions. Kraugel had to be confused by the illusion that he was surrounded by dozens of heroes. It would be a big mess if he couldn’t keep up with the Hero who was constantly changing positions.

Nevertheless, Kraugel wasn’t confused. The Hero couldn’t deceive his senses.

“Falling Sword.”

37 swords emerged from Kraugel’s inventory. The swords spread out like a fan and poured down like rain towards the Hero. The Hero’s judgment was quick. He immediately used Freely Move to avoid all 37 swords and approached Kraugel. Of course, he was completing his footwork at the same time.

"Grab the Adam’s Apple.”

“...Cough!”

Kraugel’s action was faster than the sword dance. The cracked White Tiger Sword pierced the heart of the Hero, who was caught in a tight grip. The Hero entered the immortal state while the winged Kraugel opened the distance. Six seconds later. Kraugel recovered all four swords he had directed against the God Hands and aimed them at the Hero. The Hero was unable to withstand the bombardment and died.

That was the moment when Kraugel won. The Grid of one year ago was defeated by today’s Kraugel.

"Waaahhhhhhhh!"

There was thunderous applause. The 100,000 spectators filling Beijing Olympic Stadium stood up to give a standing ovation. Not a single person was sitting and it was an unprecedented spectacular sight.

“You’ve suffered.” Grid in the waiting room also stood up and clapped. The awe and praise he gave Kraugel were sincere. There wasn’t a single bit of pretenses. “I knew you would win.”

Duguen! Duguen! Duguen! Grid’s heart seemed like it was about to burst. He wanted to run to the stage right now and apply for a duel with Kraugel.

“...Even so, I have to endure it.”

Grid watched his trembling and sweating hands and eagerly hoped for the demon king’s subjugation to start. In this day, Korea’s Eat Spicy Jokbal won a gold medal in the escape the labyrinth event while Carrie of Australia and Richter of Canada won gold medals in block building and tree cutting respectively.

From the United States and China’s viewpoint, the medals situation was very messy. The 4th National Competition only had the PvP and demon king subjugation events remaining. The first ranked country was still unconfirmed. It was too much of a variable when a minimum of five gold medals could emerge in the demon king’s subjugation. The PvP gold medal was also important.

"The PvP medal is obviously mine.”

“...”

Zibal, who had the hidden card of his magic machine, was as strong as usual. However, Haster was mute. The zipper across his mouth was closed all day. He had realized that the confrontation he had a long time ago with Kraugel was fake.

‘In the first place, I wasn’t worth dealing with?’

However, he couldn’t deny it. The only one who mattered to Kraugel was Grid. Haster hadn’t reached them yet. The world that he had been seeing was too narrow. Everything was ruined and Haster withdrew from PvP. It would be embarrassing and humiliating to expose himself to the world in his current state.

On the other hand, Zibal’s nose rose even higher. "Did he resign because he was scared? Well, it couldn’t be helped since he knew my real strength.”

If he knew this would happen, he would’ve hidden his magic machine during the selection test.

“This year’s PvP is going to be boring.”

Zibal felt regret.