Player who Returned 10,000 years Later

Slam-!

KangWoo punched Baek KangHyun in the head.

Baek KangHyun flew backward and destroyed the concrete floor.

[Ugh… As expected, you're someone mysterious.]

Even if he'd fused with a demon and had become bigger, he could feel the pain spread through his head.

He wasn't sure where was someone as strong as KangWoo had been hiding

[I guess I'll have to figure it out from now on.]

Baek KangHyun laughed. An explosive strength flowed through him.

Although he didn't look like a human anymore, he didn't care.

It also wasn't important that he'd obtained immortality and had obtained a body that didn't need food…

What was important was the strength!

—All the strength that the body of a demon provided you with.

"How stupidly sturdy."

KangWoo frowned, his hand radiating in pain from the punch.

Although it had been a clean punch, he wasn't able to deal much damage.

That's how strong Baek KangHyun's demon body was.

'I'll have to finish within a minute.'

The effect of 'Kraken's Rage,' which increased his demonic energy stat, lasted for a minute.

It seemed like it would be hard to hunt Baek KangHyun in that short period.

"Hmm…"

KangWoo let out a small moan.

It wasn't that he was cornered yet—he had a way of resolving the situation in one hit.

But…

'Not yet.'

The risk was too high, so he couldn't easily use it.

'Anyway, the current goal is to end things within a minute.'

KangWoo lowered his body.

If he wanted to eliminate Baek KangHyun in a minute, there was one thing he had to do…

"Oof."

He took a deep breath, concentrated, and summoned up his demonic energy.

"Bident."

He used the Authority of Dark Spear and Hellfire, and a black spear with a dark fire burning around it appeared.

KangWoo didn't stop there and put more demonic energy into it.

The blade of the spear was split into two and began twisting, creating a winding one.

'Gae Bolg.'

He used three different Authorities and created a spear.

The demonic energy inside his body began to shrink quickly.

KangWoo grabbed the spear and got in stance to fight.

[What an unbelievable guy.]

You could see the nervousness in Baek KangHyun's eyes.

He subconsciously knew that there was a formidable force in the spear that KangWoo had just made.

[Not bad.]

He laughed.

He wanted to test the strength that was flowing through his body.

[I like this!]

It was a shout that was full of madness.

Demonic energy began gathering in his fist, and a giant gauntlet was formed.

Boom-!

Baek KangHyun and KangWoo…

The two monsters clashed again.

"Hmph!"

KangWoo lowered his body and swung Gae Bolg as if he were swiping the floor.

Baek KangHyun stomped the ground and jumped. KangWoo changed the direction of Gae Bolg and aimed it at Baek KangHyun.

[How persistent!]

Baek KangHyun put his two fists together and used them to smash KangWoo.

Gae Bolg and the gauntlets clashed.

KangWoo was pushed back from the shockwave of the impact.

"Ugh."

He felt his body being shaken.

His sight became blurry, and his body shook.

"Pft."

KangWoo spat blood. His sight returned to normal.

'I won't be able to win against him with strength.'

He wouldn't be able to handle KangHyun’s strength without the Authority of Divine Power.

But if he used it, he wouldn't be able to maintain the Gae Bolg—he wouldn't have a way to deal critical hit damage anymore.

Clang-! Boom!

The breathtaking fight continued.

They exchanged tens of life-threatening blows each second.

At first glance, the fight seemed close.

But as time passed, it was KangWoo who was at a disadvantage.

'Five seconds left.'

There wasn't that much time left.

KangWoo narrowed his eyes. It was time to make a decision.

He pulled Gae Bolg back.

He turned his body half away and lowered his stance.

He took a step, and Gae Bolg shot forward.

[How dare you!]

Baek KangHyun extended his hand.

KangWoo extended his arm toward the hand that had the spear. Even if he had to use his arm as a shield, he planned to make the attack successful.

A smile appeared on Baek KangHyun's face, and he grabbed KangWoo's arms with the gauntlet made of demonic energy.

And then something happened…

"Ugh?!"

A confused voice came out of KangWoo's mouth.

He could feel his strength going down. Gae Bolg became smoke and disappeared.

[Hahaha! You fell for it! Since you were hurrying, I knew you'd drop your guard like this!]

"What… Did you do?"

KangWoo frowned.

* * *

The moment the gauntlet touched his body, KangWoo suddenly lost control over his demonic energy…

And then a gauntlet had appeared over his own arm.

It was as if someone had put a lock on it.

He was confused at the unexpected turn of events.

Baek KangHyun laughed in a relaxed manner.

[This is what's called a demon's Authority.]

"Authority…?"

[Yes. It's the power of an Authority.]

With an expression that made him look like he was drunk, KangHyun raised his gauntlet.

[If you're touched by the gauntlet that has the 'Authority of Seals,' you won't be able to use your strength anymore.]

"Then…"

[Yes. You can't use the power of a player anymore.]

KangWoo tried to move the demonic energy within himself again, his expression hardening.

But it didn't move…

He had other powers besides the strength he had gained as a player, but it seemed like that strength was also sealed.

At that moment, he was just like his old self before he’d fallen into Hell.

Paf-!

"Cough!"

KangWoo fell to the ground after being kicked.

Blood flew out of his mouth, and his consciousness became blurry.

[Hahaha! How about that? You acted so high and mighty without realizing how big the world really is!]

"…"

Baek KangHyun laughed out loud. He smiled after seeing KangWoo on the floor.

[Yes. Being on the floor like that suits you.]

KangWoo tried to stand up…

But the weight of the gauntlet over his left arm was quite considerable.

Since he couldn't use the demonic energy, it was as if a giant stone was pressing down on his arm.

'This is the worst…'

The situation was worse than when he'd returned to Earth.

At least, that day, he was able to use demonic energy. KangWoo turned his head to the gauntlet.

He had to find a way to free himself from it.

He tried to pull it away with his right hand.

But it was impossible.

He'd used all of his strength, but the result was the same.

[Haha. There isn't a way to free yourself from it.]

Baek KangHyun kicked KangWoo while laughing.

KangWoo's body rolled on the ground.

"Cough!"

He vomited blood.

After walking toward KangWoo, KangHyun grabbed him by the collar.

KangHyun was over three meters tall, so KangWoo's body was lifted into the air.

[I know people like you very well.]

"…"

[You stupid people that believe that the entire world is theirs. You arrogant and cheeky bastards.]

Baek KangHyun's eyes full of anger and resentment weren't targeted at KangWoo.

[It's time to pay the price.]

Baek KangHyun's body trembled from excitement.

He remembered the name of the person that had made him taste defeat…

Fujimoto Ryoma.

The one that, after the world ranker test, had thrown his life to the bottom.

The thought of stepping over that man made KangHyun want to dance in excitement.

Fwoosh-!

Baek KangHyun threw KangWoo.

KangWoo tumbled and came to a rest next to the bodies of the other players.

[Where's that arrogant attitude of yours, huh?]

Baek KangHyun made fun of him.

Looking at KangWoo rolling on the ground made him feel refreshed.

[Let's end this. It was a good fight.]

"…"

KangWoo looked at him silently, which made Baek KangHyun laugh.

"KangWoo…!"

At that moment, he saw Echidna approaching him desperately.

After seeing KangWoo on the floor and the demon looking down at him, she understood the situation.

"Move away from KangWoo!"

She widened her eyes and tried to use her strength.

"Huh?"

But just like KangWoo, she couldn't use her demonic strength.

The source of Echidna's strength was KangWoo's demonic energy.

"K-KangWoo?"

Echidna became pale.

[You're the little miss that was next to him?]

Baek KangHyun looked at Echidna and approached her while laughing.

"Kyaa!"

Baek KangHyun grabbed Echidna.

She punched him with her little fists.

[You're quite a cute girl.]

He laughed at her attacks that weren't strong enough to even tickle him.

He tightened his grip on her throat.

[You seem to have quite a good relationship with him… I wonder how he will react after seeing you explode.]

"Put me down! This body… Only KangWoo!"

Echidna tried to free herself.

Baek KangHyun laughed out loud once again.

"…"

KangWoo glared at Baek KangHyun.

He grabbed a sword that was near a player that had died.

[Hahaha! Do you think you'll be able to face me without being able to use your strength?!]

Baek KangHyun laughed at KangWoo.

While ignoring his words, KangWoo gripped the sword in reverse.

"You asked me who I was.”

KangWoo swung the sword.

He didn't aim the sword at Baek KangHyun. He stabbed his left arm, which was locked by the gauntlet.

Stab-!

Since his power as a player and his demonic energy had been sealed, he only had as much strength as an average adult male.

He wouldn't be able to cut his arm with one swing.

—He didn't care.

He smashed his left arm with the broken sword as if it were an axe.

Blood poured out.

His skin was torn apart, and his flesh was exposed. His muscles were cut, and bones were broken.

Rather than cutting his arm, it was as if he was tearing it down.

[What…?]

Baek KangHyun's eyes widened.

KangWoo didn't stop.

Crack-! Crack!

White, glistening fragments of bone fell to the ground.

A horrible pain spread through his body.

He ignored it.

His arm, which was being torn away piece by piece by the broken blade, became tattered.

The moment the broken blade pierced his arm, he twisted it.

His muscles were cut.

Blood poured out from the cut veins, and the flesh that was connecting the hand and the arm was forcibly cut.

And then…

His left arm, still covered in the gauntlet, fell away from his body.

"Now I'll show you who I am."

KangWoo smiled, baring his white teeth.