Chapter 110:
Chapter 110:
Chapter 110
His eyes shone with such uprightness. The eyes of someone who believes themselves to be absolutely right.
It pissed Seo Gangrim off. Whenever they met in their past lives, Seong Eui-gyeol would look at him in this way. A gaze that seemed to say 'you are a criminal'.
Seo Gangrim stared at him and spoke.
"Do you attack people based solely on rumors circulating amongst others? What if they are false charges?"
He knew well that Seong Eui-gyeol had built his reputation by catching various awakened criminals and hunters of similar ilk. However, one question Seo Gangrim had was, Seong Eui-gyeol's actions right now seemed rather abrupt.
Although Seong Eui-gyeol did look down on Seo Gangrim in their past lives, he never laid a hand on him.
'I wasn't wanted by the Bureau either, so why did he come to catch me?'
Seong Eui-gyeol still didn't relax his battle stance and spoke.
"I don't fully believe in rumors either. But recently, I heard stories from victims."
"Victims?"
"Yes. Didn't you attack innocent members of a sect!"
His voice was filled with anger. Attacking innocent sect members, Seo Gangrim have no memory of such a thing. Then a bad hunch hit him.
"Could the sect you're talking about be Sura Sect?"
"So you remember now. The people of Sura Sect you killed."
Seo Gangrim did have conflicts with Sura Sect but he was the victim. Also, since they were civilians he didn't kill them.
"Where did you hear that news?"
"The leader of Sura Sect told me herself."
"Do you... know what kind of place Sura Sect is? I heard they are associated with gangs."
"Are you trying to deceive me with lies? Sura Sect eliminates demon beasts to protect citizens, and has donated large sums of money!"
Sura Sect was carrying out various activities ever since the sect was established to change their image. As Seong Eui-gyeol said, they made donations here and there, and stories of Sura Sect saving ordinary people were featured in various media. Appointing the seemingly benign Shin Ara as sect leader also helped revamp their image. Due to that, although rumors of Sura Sect being gangsters circulated, people's reactions weren't bad. They were being called righteous gangsters, like vigilantes. Seong Eui-gyeol also seemed to defend Sura Sect.
This fool, being toyed with by Shin Ara's hands. With just a little fuel added to his sense of justice by her, he moved according to her will.
Seong Eui-gyeol, taking an attacking stance towards me, declared.
"I will hear no more excuses! Submit!"
At the same time, Seong Eui-gyeol charged at Seo Gangrim.
They were evenly matched in rank, but Seo Gangrim had the higher stats. Still, Seong Eui-gyeol was not an opponent he could be careless against.
Seo Gangrim promptly activated 'Frostflame' to bind Seong Eui-gyeol's feet.
[The ability 'Frostflame' is activated!]
[Insufficient magical power, activation canceled!]
Seeing the cancellation message, Seo Gangrim swore internally. He had used up too much magic power fighting the Diamond Guard earlier. It seemed activating an ability with multiple elements consumed even more magic power.
Just then, Seong Eui-gyeol's longsword flew towards Seo Gangrim's head.
-Swish!
Seo Gangrim immediately raised Chiljido to block the attack, thinking that he could withstand such an attack.
Seong Eui-gyeol seemed to realize this as well, gritting his teeth and shouting.
"As expected, your skills are as outstanding as the rumors say...!"
"......."
"Yet you use these skills not to help people but to kill them!"
Seo Gangrim could try to explain it's a misunderstanding, ask him to listen. But instead of answering, Seo Gangrim only swung his sword. If this could be resolved through conversation, SEong Eui-gyeol wouldn't have attacked from the start.
[Due to insufficient magic power, the ability 'Fighting Instinct' is deactivated!]
As Fighting Instinct was canceled, Seo Gangrim felt strength rapidly draining from his body.
If not for the Diamond Guard, he could have won this fight easily.
Since things turned out like this, he had no choice but to buy time and wait for the others to come help.
Seo Gangrim pulled away from Seong Eui-gyeol and spoke into the earpiece.
"Where is everyone's current location?"
[Master, sorry! I'm still dealing with Frostfire demon right now...!]
[We just left now. Is the situation not good?]
It seemed like it would take too long for them to join Seo Gangrim.
'Could I hold off Seong Eui-gyeol in this state?'
Seong Eui-gyeol was looking for an opportunity to attack, not looking tired at all.
At this, after quickly forming a plan, Seo Gangrim gave them new instructions.
[What? Why are we doing that...?]
"No time to explain. For now, do as I said..."
-Swish!
A sharp sword whizzed past Seo Gangrim like an arrow. At the same time, a gash split open on his cheek and blood trickled down.
Killing intent permeated from Seong Eui-gyeol's sword.
"Did you request for reinforcements? How cowardly!"
"If we're talking cowardly, aren't you more so for luring out the Diamond Guard?"
"That was for the sake of justice! For justice, sullying my hands a bit..."
The man's completely insane. It seemed pointless to converse any further. All that was left now was a battle of swords.
-Clang, clang!
With the sound of iron ringing in my ears, Seo Gangrim was doing a pretty good job of parrying his attacks. But he knew this isn't the extent of Seong Eui-gyeol's abilities. And that he is the worst matchup for Seo Gangrim.
"I guess I'll have to use this."
Saying so, Seong Eui-gyeol raised his hand with a flourish. And at the same time, an illusion of scales appeared. One hand holding a sword, the other holding scales, it was a quite familiar sight. It was the symbol of the goddess of justice, Dike.
[The ability 'Scales of Sin' is activated!]
In an instant, it felt like the surroundings were painted black. An enormous illusion of scales floated in the sky.
Seong Eui-gyeol shouted reverently and confidently.
"Oh divine one, deliver punishment on the more wicked between the enemy and I!"
[Ability] Scales of Sin
[Grade] Dragon Second-classs
[Description] Selects a target and compares karma between caster and target. Penalty is inflicted on the one with more karma, severity increases with amount of karma.
The parallel scales began tilting at Seong Eui-gyeol's shout.
-Creak...
And without a moment's hesitation, the scales tilted towards Seo Gangrim. At the same time, several message windows popped up before his eyes.
[Penalty incurred due to effect of 'Scales of Sin'!]
[All abilities reduced by 20%!]
[Magic power required to use abilities increased by 20%!]
[10% additional damage taken from attacks!]
Seo Gangrim's body grew heavy and his breathing became ragged in an instant. Even one penalty was burdensome, with three stacked it was killing him.
Seeing him like that, Seong Eui-gyeol clicked his tongue and spoke.
"If the scales had tilted my way, I might have believed it was a misunderstanding... As expected, you are a villain."
"Ha."
Seo Gangrim smiled mockingly.
There was no point in saying something like that now, after he'd charged at Seo Gangrim with the intention of killing him.
Seo Gangrim spat out the blood pooling in his mouth and aimed his sword.
"Shut up and attack, you hypocrite."
"....!"
Flustered, Seong Eui-gyeol immediately began his onslaught towards Seo Gangrim.
-Clang, clang, swish!
It was the same attack as before but the situation was completely different. For Seo Gangrim, just following Seong Eui-gyeol's attacks was exhausting. Seo Gangrim barely blocked several attacks and wounds rapidly accumulated on his body.
"You're stubborn! Give up and accept your punishment!"
The frequency of attacks slipping through Seo Gangrim's guard gradually increased. The enemy's weapon was a longsword but Seo Gangrim felt like he was being bashed by an enormous mace.
[Hyung-nim, all done!]
Shin Sooah's voice came through the earpiece.
[Master, done!]
'Was it finally finished?'
At the same time, Seong Eui-gyeol's sword flew towards Seo Gangrim's heart.
-Swish!
Seo Gangrim barely twisted his body and the sword slipped past his vital point, piercing his shoulder blade instead. Red blood trickled down the sword. He had no strength left. As he sank to his knees, Seong Eui-gyeol looked at his with eyes as clear as midwinter.
"You lasted long. I commend you. But now, it's over."
Seong Eui-gyeol raised his sword overhead like an executioner.
"Don't you find it strange?"
"Huh?"
"Why did I let you attack me?"
"You're bluffing...!"
-Kwaaang!
Just then, thick dust obstructed their view. Seo Gangrim saw Seong Eui-gyeol startled, taking steps back. He then looked up with large pupils.
"Why is the boss...?!"
Through the dust, the Diamond Guard appeared dragging its massive body. Although ice still stuck to parts of its body, they were all shattering like broken glass. The wounds covering its body seemed to have been washed away without a trace.
-Kwaaang!
The Diamond Guard immediately struck its golden hands at Seong Eui-gyeol.
Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Seong Eui-gyeol barely dodged but more blows followed in succession.
"Kuh...! Just what is this!"
Seong Eui-gyeol didn't seem to understand the situation. Well, that was only natural. Since he didn't know about the enhancement devices.
When Seo Gangrim checked everyone's locations earlier, they were all far from the boss' zone. The chances of him enduring until they arrived seemed low. On the other hand, the enhancement device was relatively close by to them.
[Hyung-nim, are you okay? Why did you tell us to activate the device...?]
"I had to revive the Diamond Guard again."
As the automatic recovery took effect, the Diamond Guard began moving once more. And the Diamond Guard prioritizes attacking whoever is the biggest threat first when there are multiple enemies. In other words, it attacked the unharmed Seong Eui-gyeol before the battered Seo Gangrim. That's why he intentionally took the last attack. He couldn't have it perceiving him as the more dangerous existence.
Although Seong Eui-gyeol frantically blocked the Diamond Guard's attacks and counterattacked, it was all futile due to the enhancement device's effects.
As he was driven into a corner, he shouted in a screechy voice.
"Oh divine one, deliver punishment on the more wicked between the enemy and I!"
As if responding to his call, the scales appeared and began moving. Seong Eui-gyeol looked up at the sky with a smile, as if certain of victory.
Slowly, the scales started tilting. Towards Seong Eui-gyeol instead of the Diamond Guard.
[No karma exists for 'the Diamond Guard'.]
"What? That can't be...!"
If he thought about it a bit, it was obvious. The Diamond Guard was sealed away until just now, and didn't kill anyone after being freed. So of course it wouldn't have any karma.
[Penalty incurred due to effect of 'Scales of Sin'!]
[All abilities reduced by 20%!]
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