Chapter 900
Chapter 900

The Murray Kingdom was surrounded by mountains and the sea. It didn’t boast the excellent infrastructure of the empire or a variety of quests like the Overgeared Kingdom, but it had its own advantages and was quite popular among players.

Tens of millions of players belonged to the Murray Kingdom and one tenth of them were active in the capital of Juden.

There was a disturbance in the city.

 The guards moved quickly, the army was dispatched and then there was a sudden explosion and screams.

“No way...”

Thousands of players heard the noise and rushed to the scene. They felt surreal as they saw a knight in red armour and a soldier in shabby army fighting.

They jumped into the air and exchanged blows at a speed that wasn’t visible. It was reminiscent of the confrontation between Grid and Kraugel in the PvP finals of the 3rd National Competition. No, this confrontation was far more devastating.

“Asmophellllll!”

The knight in red armour, Singuled roared angrily. Every time he wielded his sword, a glow broke everything in its path.

Even the high walls surrounding a mansion were destroyed after being pierced by the glow. It was terrible to imagine what would happen if a person was hit by that attack.

Then what about the blond soldier facing him?

He burned everything in his path, leaving a blaze of light.

 Dust rose due to the explosions and it seemed like this entire area would turn into ruins.

"There were such NPCs?”

“Where did these monsters... Heok!”

“A-Avoid it!”

The players watching the fight between Singuled and Asmophel panicked. It was because Singuled’s sword hit the ground and destroyed a 100 metre radius around it.

"Keuk...!”

Asmophel rose in the air due to the backlash that occurred from his collision with Singuled’s sword and groaned when he landed.

His face distorted with pain just stimulated Singuled’s anger.

"This is mere pain from a stab...!”

He had a homeland and his homeland protected his family.

Singuled was all about his homeland. He was proud that he was a citizen of the great empire that dominated the continent and was willing to devote himself to it.

It was the same 12 years ago. He embraced his homeland’s will and headed for the battlefield, fighting without shame. He tore out the hearts of the enemies for the glory of his country and was wounded.

However, he wasn’t welcomed with the people’s cheers or the emperor’s praise when he returned home. He was met with the sharp spears of swords of Asmophel and thousands of soldiers, who he believed to be colleagues.

'Enemy who betrayed your homeland, don’t resist.’

‘...’

It was the landscape of hell. His parents, wife and children’s heads were hanging in this beautiful city.

On that day, Singuled fled and vowed with all his heart. He would surely get revenge. He would cut Asmophel’s tongue, dig out his eyes, cut off his limbs and scatter them like trash in front of Asmophel’s family!

“Asmophel! Until you feel that much pain...!!”

How could he penetrate the empire to reach Asmophel? For the past 12 years, he had only been thinking of a way to sneak into the empire.

Asmophel showing up here was unexpected good luck for Singuled. He didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

“Ohhhhh!”

Singuled’s sword energy injected into the ground became stronger and the earth was eroded.

It was a sharp sword energy that collapsed the ground and led all living creatures above the ground to death. The centre contained Asmophel.

“Cough!”

Asmophel’s skin had no turned blue. Every time he coughed, the blood vessels of his neck and face swelled like they were going to burst.

Death was approaching. Asmophel wanted to accept this death. He wanted to escape the bridle of the sin he had committed with death and he hoped it would release the grudges of his old colleagues.

However, his king gave him a mission. He couldn’t die until he accomplished his mission.

A burst of flames exploded from Asmophel’s sword, neutralizing Singuled’s sword energy.

 The shaking earth stopped and all the plants and people standing on it were freed from death.

"I cut off your father’s head.”

Asmophel confessed as he cut his neck with a knife.

 It wasn’t a deep cut. It was just enough for blood to flow out.

"All the soldiers who hurt your family were following my commands.

Asmophel kneeled in front of Singuled and wounded himself all over.

 He cut his eyes, ears, mouth, neck, chest, arms, waist and legs with a knife, as if splitting the skin of livestock.

“What crazy thing are you doing?” Singuled asked.

"When you kill me later on, dismantle my body and throw it to the beasts, I hope that you will feel more at ease.”

Asmophel said to Singuled.

“It will happen sooner or later. Until then, please hold off until I repay the favour I owe to the king I serve.”

“...”

“I don’t dare ask for forgiveness. I’m just sorry. I committed a great sin against you and your family.”

“...”

An unpleasant feeling swept over Singuled.

Perhaps the object of revenge that he had been cursing for 12 years...

"Singuled, come with me to the Overgeared Kingdom. Piaro is waiting for you.”

“...Boss?”

***

The results of his confrontation with Hexetia were a big joy for Grid.

He was the benefactor of a god, everyone in the world knew his name and the blacksmiths, including himself, enjoyed a great benefit. Grid could feel a sense of pride and superiority.

He was filled with nervousness and anticipation at the thought of the dwarves who inspired Pagma becoming interested in him.

However, not everything was good. His position was captured by someone in hell and there mention of 1st Great Demon Baal was worrisome.

Who was the presence in hell and why was Baal mentioned? Grid was afraid after finding out he became the target of someone in hell. At this moment, his fear became reality.

[The presence in hell who has captured your location has arrived on the ground.]

‘No, how did this happen?’

It wasn’t a great demon. It would’ve been clearly stated if it was a great demon.

‘The presence was looking for me in hell, isn’t a great demon and is motivated enough to appear on the ground as soon as my location was discovered...’

Grid was about to identity the presence. It was his clone.

The clone who was born in order to kill Grid. According to Yura’s testimony, this was still the clone’s purpose. He was looking for Grid to kill him.

'Yes, it is highly likely to be my clone.’

This raised other questions.

‘How did the clone break out of hell?’

Yura said the clone looked like Grid when he used Blackening.

His clone died while using Blackening and fell to hell. It maintained Blackening afterwards and could exist in hell.

In order to him to climb out of hell, he had to release Blackening. The moment he lifted Blackening, he would be pronounced dead and cease to exist. Of course, this was what Grid assumed based on his personal experience.

‘There might be other ways. In the first place, the clone is a difference existence from me.’

Grid shook his head to get rid of the thoughts.

The method that the clone used to escape hell wasn’t an important issue right now.

The clone that even Great Demon Belial was wary of was already here. He also wasn’t a great demon so he wouldn’t receive a penalty. It was likely that he could boast more strength than Belial on Earth and he was aiming for Grid.

 He would naturally advance to the Overgeared Kingdom and there was a high possibility that many people would become injured in the process.

Grid had to stop him.

‘Where is he?’

He knew where Grid was but Grid didn’t know where he was.

‘What should I do?’

Grid wasn’t that worried about it. He had a person he could go to.

"Call the 10 meritorious retainers and Sage Sticks right now.”

“Yes!”

It was a problem that couldn’t be solved by worrying alone so he would meet with his colleagues. The Overgeared King had so many talents that he didn’t feel any doubts.

***

A red light flashed and sirens rang.

[TEX-214098 processor has started]

The head of Satisfy’s management team, Yoon Nahee frowned at the warning.

"Isn’t TEX the code for clones? What is the problem with this clone?”

Satisfy had hundreds of thousands of doppelganger monsters and  spells that could create a clone of someone. It was extremely common.

The actions of a clone couldn’t have an adverse effect on Satisfy’s world view. However, the supercomputer Morpheus was reporting a risk.

Why?

‘...Ah?’

Yoon Nahee wasn’t convinced of the reason for Morpheus’ fuss. She bit her nails and thought, ‘Am I working overtime today for a ridiculous reason?’ when she realized.

There was one presence whole survived all types of variables.

“Him...?”

It would be a long day of work.

Yoon Nahee put her bag back down and wore her white coat again.

"Checking code name 214098... G-Grid’s clone!”

The team members reported it right now. It was as Yoon Nahee expected.

Hundreds of monitors in the office were broadcasting the image of Grid’s clone.

What was wrong with the background? It wasn’t the dark hell feel with lava but was a lush green forest.

"214098’s position isn’t hell? How did he appear on the ground?”

Her team members increased their typing speed.

 They planned to analyze the cause of this outcome by calculating 214098’s route.

“It is Baal’s entertainment.”

At this moment, Lim Cheolho appeared and spoke. His complexion was very good and he looked excited. He seemed decades younger than usual.

“Baal...? Are you talking about S-003?”

“Yes, the 1st Great Demon Baal.”

The presence equipped with the most advanced artificial intelligence. He experienced the first ‘tedium’ of all virtual creatures in Satisfy and pursued ‘entertainment.’

In Satisfy’s history, he was a simulation that preceded Satisfy’s formal opening and created all sorts of variables, such as helping Pagma. This made Satisfy’s worldview more extensive and complex.

Now this happened.

"Following Agnus, Grid has stimulated Baal’s interest. Baal has sensed it. The presence of the Five Miracles who will soothe his tedium.”

"Then the reason why Grid’s clone was able to escape from hell...”

"Your guess is right. It is Baal’s will, not an error. In Satisfy, it can be described as a god’s blessing or a demon’s curse.”

“...”

On the monitors, Grid’s clone started to move.

Just as Grid opened new skills with the goddess blessing, the clone also opened up new skills. Grid grew stronger in the process of repeated battles and quests and the clone was the same.

Would the present players be able to withstand the huge catastrophe that had been brought to the ground by Baal?

'...It will be hard unless the Five Miracles join forces.’

It might be possible with an army but great losses would be suffered.

The clone’s combat ability was too high and he had too many skills. It was possible for millions to be slaughtered.

“...Hah.”

Yoon Nahee burst out laughing.

Originally, most of humanity was supposed to be wiped out by the insane dragon Nevartan event or the other species event. However, Grid intervened along with Kraugel and Kir and saved humanity.

‘Now humanity is in danger due to Grid.’

What did this mean?

It was fate. The unscientific reasoning that results were determined by something superhuman and couldn’t be jumped was being realized in virtual reality.

“Haha...”

A scientist thinking about fate? Laughter could only emerge.

The laughing Yoon Nahee suddenly heard Chairman Lim Cheolho’s voice.

"I have gone through this a long time ago.”

Lim Cheolho noticed that Yoon Nahee was now thinking about fate.

‘Once this happens...’

Grid will do something big.